Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

The desire to stay informed is directly at odds with the need to not be constantly enraged.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

We are learning that “working class” means “white” for way too many people.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

Disagreements are healthy; personal attacks are not.

“But what about the lurkers?”

Hot air and ill-informed banter

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

Finding joy where we can, and muddling through where we can’t.

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

He really is that stupid.

If you still can’t see these things even now, maybe politics isn’t your forte and you should stop writing about it.

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

Every decision we make has lots of baggage with it, known or unknown.

You are here: Home / Politics / Republican Stupidity / What Some Fools Believe

What Some Fools Believe

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The firehose of stupid is too fast for me to keep up. In the last 24 hours:

* Joe Arpaio said he’s going to hold a press conference to announce the results of his Obama birth certificate investigation.

* Romney says that Santorum needs to give back the delegates that he won in Michigan because Democrats crossed over.

* Romney was against the Blunt-Rubio Amendment an hour before he was for it.

In case you think I’m exaggerating about the stupidity, take a look at Memeorandum this morning. It’s a dozen items on the Blunt-Rubio bill and contraception, the story of a racist GWB-appointed federal judge, and Limbaugh calling women sluts.

Reader Interactions

106Comments

  1. 1.

    Chyron HR

    Joe Arpaio said he’s going to hold a press conference to announce the results of his Obama birth certificate investigation.

    Didn’t Judge Cueball already break this story last night?

  3. 3.

    Trakker

    Rush Limbaugh is a national embarrassment and proof positive that Republicans have no principles. None.

  4. 4.

    tomvox1

    I would just add this bit of MSM concern trolling from the Times about the “downsides” of Obama’s “new” optimistic tone:

    Still, while Mr. Obama has enjoyed a strong few weeks with improving poll numbers and economic data, there is danger in the optimism strategy. Things could turn at any moment and make him seem out of touch, with oil prices rising and foreign policy crises looming in Iran and Afghanistan and with European debt. Some liberals argue that the optimistic tone is out of step with the country’s mood and that a campaign highlighting his differences with Republicans on economic issues has more promise.”

    Bonus points to Helene Cooper for getting “some liberals” in there to both disagree with the president and reinforce the “fact” that real liberals are naturally pessimistic.

  7. 7.

    MattF

    The conviction among wingers that they could beat Obama with practically any breathing candidate always seemed weird to me– the recent tremors make me think that the prospect of Obama winning in November is starting to sink in, even for the crazy.

  9. 9.

    cathyx

    Can that investigation possibly come up that Obama isn’t a citizen? Obama’s already released it and the matter has been settled. What new info can he have investigated but revealing the actual certificate?

  11. 11.

    samara morgan

    And you foolish bioluddites continue to pretend that there isnt a biological basis for conservatism.
    ;)

  12. 12.

    MattMinus

    Was that judge’s joke really racist? It was tasteless and inappropriate, but the thrust of it was that the president’s mom fucked a dog at an orgy, not anything racial.

    Am I missing something?

  13. 13.

    Elizabelle

    It is a calvacade of stupid.

    A political ad at the Clarendon rail stop that has offended some riders and lawmakers is protected by the Constitution and won’t be taken down, Metro officials said Wednesday.
    __
    The ad reads “Barack Obama wants politicians and bureaucrats to control America’s entire medical system. Go to hell Barack.”

    Metro says that its advertising “has been ruled by the courts as a public forum protected by the First Amendment.”

    This bothers me a lot. Ad should never have been allowed, and it’s opening up a Pandora’s box.

  14. 14.

    Gin & Tonic

    @cathyx: He’ll hold a press conf to say “Of course the President is a natural-born-citizen; and I’m a moron for believing otherwise.”

    Oh, March 1, not April 1, sorry.

  15. 15.

    Punchy

    Hasn’t Sheriff Dumbfuck painted himself into a corner? His report almost has to find Obama’s BC a “fake”. Otherwise, the teatards will crucify him. But if/when he announces the Pres illegitimate, wont they then demand that he go and arrest the President?

    Or is this announcement going to be limp, with a “we dont know for sure, but suspect its phony” conclusion that the teatards will accept but not force him to act? And why do I even care about this shit?

  18. 18.

    Gin & Tonic

    @MattMinus: I’m not fluent in racist wingnut, but I think the racist thrust is that fucking a black man is roughly equivalent to fucking a dog.

  19. 19.

    Scott

    Still don’t know why Arpaio isn’t sitting in one of his own tents in the middle of the desert wearing pink underwear. How hard could it be to prove that this schmuck is corrupt?

  20. 20.

    debit

    So, is anyone going to call their republican rep and ask them if they think Rush is wrong?

  21. 21.

    Face

    @Punchy: To maintain Tard Cred, he’s got to gin up some bullshit about fonts and watermarks. To maintain Establishement GOP Cred, he’s got to say otherwise. I’m guessing he’ll instead announce that he’s gay.

  22. 22.

    dmsilev

    @cathyx: I assume that the conclusion will be that the evidence is inconclusive and more Hawaiian vacation time research is needed.

  24. 24.

    The Ancient Randonneur

    This isn’t crazy as much as it is emblematic of the modern GOP:

    Jones says his philosophy is National Socialism (Nazi for short) and he was once a member of an Illinois Nazi party. “Officially,” says Jones today, “I don’t belong to any party except my own, the America First Committee” — harkening back to a group, among them fascist sympathizers, that opposed U.S. entry into World War II. Accordingly, Jones wants to end the so-called “war on terror” and is “completely against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the deployment of troops to other countries.”
    …
    Despite his party identification, Jones remains a registered Republican, he says. He told Patch he votes for the GOP “90 percent of the time.” That doesn’t, though, shield the GOP from rhetoric that derides “the current Repugnant Republicans.”

    He’s Ron Paul without the phony folksy schtick.

  26. 26.

    ned

    The Right Wing doesn’t have a firehose of stupid. They’ve got a friggin’ geyser. It’s bottomless and propelled by hot, foul-smelling gases. Step too close and you’ll get burned.

  27. 27.

    Egg Berry

    On the front page of big journalism right now. Apparently, andrew breitbart died last night. Really. I can’t link for some reason.

    Edit: although some on twitter are saying it might be a hoax or hack.

  29. 29.

    Elizabelle

    @Egg Berry:

    Andrew passed away unexpectedly from natural causes shortly after midnight this morning in Los Angeles.
    We have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a dear friend, a patriot and a happy warrior.
    Andrew lived boldly, so that we more timid souls would dare to live freely and fully, and fight for the fragile liberty he showed us how to love.

    Good point re the hacking, because link won’t work and there is nothing about this on other outlets (quick Google search).

    Happy warrior? Happy?

  30. 30.

    General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero)

    livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/weekly-jobless-claims-fall-by-2-000

    Weekly jobless claims fell by 2,000 last week to 351,000, according to the Labor Department. That number matches a four-year low reached a few weeks ago.

    This kind of sustained jobless claims for weeks under 400,000, could well portend another good month of job creation via the BLS report that comes out tomorrow. It could even be a blockbuster 300 grand +. Whereupon Republicans can be expected to freek out and tie boards to their asses for another dive into the national uteri. Sheriff Arpaio should time his big presser on his O birther investigation, to blunt the real world damage of an improving job market. I’m serious, and it’s scary.

  32. 32.

    Trinity

    Whoa! Breaking: Andrew Breitbart has died. No joke. Check twitter for links to Fox story.

  33. 33.

    gelfling545

    @cathyx: I expect that Arapio will announce that he is not “satisfied” with the evidence of the kind that that people and institutions accept every day in matters of birth and citizenship.

  37. 37.

    Wilson Heath

    Thes are desperate and evil people. It’s a good thing they aren’t heavily armed.

    Wait.

    Oh shit.

  39. 39.

    Egg Berry

    @brettvk: some twitterers say there’s family confirmation. Also, the site link is on drudge, so it’s probably getting slammed. Lots of people trying to get confirmation.

    Edit: the daily caller said it got confirmation from joel pollack of breitbart.com

  41. 41.

    Scott

    If it’s not a hoax (and I still think it is one), it would need to be pointed out (1) Drinking oneself to death isn’t “natural causes,” (2) Is he dead, or is he just hiding from Shirley Sherrod? and (3) He’s a terrible person, and the world would be better if he’d never have lived.

  44. 44.

    Elizabelle

    If true, I don’t know how quickly you could say “natural causes”. Didn’t he have some kind of substance abuse problem?

  45. 45.

    Villago Delenda Est

    If he indeed is dead, and died of natural causes, then, as was the case with Broder, justice has not been served.

  46. 46.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik

    The firehose of stupid is too fast for me to keep up.

    It really does feel endless, doesn’t it?

  47. 47.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @rlrr: Actually no he wouldn’t be. There was a very convoluted law in 1960 concerning residency requirements for mothers under a certain age to confer citizenship on their children. Stanley Anne would not have qualified. I will try and get you a link from Fogbow.

  48. 48.

    Gromitt Gunn

    @MattMinus: don’t think that we have forgotten that you were one of ABL’s main stalkers, along with Kola, Interrupted.

  49. 49.

    Face

    How does one die at age 43 of “natural causes”? What’s so natural about dying at age 43?

  50. 50.

    Yevgraf

    @Egg Berry:

    some on twitter are saying it might be a hoax or hack.

    If it isn’t a hoax or hack, one can only hope that his corpse was found on top the naked corpse of that asshole O’Keefe, and there is videotape of the cocaine and rough trade play involved.

    Its just a shame that it wasn’t Lord Jiggles. I’d actually go to church and light a candle in thanks for that answered prayer.

  54. 54.

    Michael Demmons

    Today is a good day for political discourse in the US. Andrew Breitbart was a terrible, miserable human being. And I don’t mind saying that. I’m not going to pretend he was an honorable person who was just standing up for causes he believed in. I’m not going to pretend he was just a Happy Warrior!

    He was an awful man.

  55. 55.

    Egg Berry

    Abc says l.a. Coroner has confirmed he died. MUST CREDIT EGG BERRY!

    (sorry, just seemed appropriate)

  58. 58.

    Tom Levenson

    @Cacti: Sorry, but I read “one asshole lighter” as something you use to light assholes.

    Proctology for the home handyman.

    Why yes, I haven’t had my coffee yet. Why do you ask?

  60. 60.

    gnomedad

    Can we now unleash a torrent of rants about how Breitbart is getting all this publicity while our brave troops who gave their lives for us are uncelebrated?

  61. 61.

    Villago Delenda Est

    CNN reports Breitbart’s attorney has confirmed his death at 43. MUST CREDIT EGG BERRY!

  62. 62.

    Rosalita

    “natural’ causes could mean heart… can happen at the age. But I guess we’ll know shortly.

    Jeez, where’s JC on this?

  64. 64.

    Steve

    Is Romney seriously going to keep whining about Santorum getting crossover votes? Either he thinks there’s still serious doubt about the primary or he’s just flailing. It’s certainly not a winning message for a national audience to argue that Democratic and Independent votes don’t count and you have to give them back.

  65. 65.

    Yevgraf

    @PeakVT:

    Him dying of a heart attack at 43 wouldn’t surprise me after seeing that video.

    Yesterday was a hellish ride in a handbasket that failed. Today, I’m walking with a spring in my step.

  66. 66.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @gnomedad:

    Alas, people doing actual important things, not celebrities, die every day, but still our celebrity obsessed Ferengi Controlled Infotainment Networks concentrate on well known names, even for nefarious, fascistic reasons, like Andrew Breitbart.

  67. 67.

    The Ancient Randonneur

    Convicted felon James O’Keefe’s benefactor is indeed dead according to many sources. Remember folks, Cole will be very upset if you say anything mean about Convicted felon James O’Keefe’s benefactor now that he is dead. What I find shocking is that he was only 43. Dude didn’t look a day over 53.

  68. 68.

    rlrr

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    I seem to remember there being enough of a grey area in the 1960 law to confer citizenship for someone in that situation. Anyway, it’s moot since only a complete loon believes Obama was born anywhere other than Hawaii…

  70. 70.

    WaterGirl

    My first words this morning were “holy fucking shit”.

    Uttered after reading the racist email sent by a federal judge. Story at Benen’s place about the totally racist federal judge who forwarded a mind-blowing racist email about President Obama.

    Wow. I think the “story” in the email message is worse than the photo of Barack as a monkey (with monkey parents, I believe). Un-fucking-believeable.

    I bet Barack blows a stack on this one, privately of course, since they basically said his beloved dead mom fucks animals at parties.

    I am really angry about this, and really sad for our country, This federal judge needs to be recalled. What the hell is wrong with these people?

    Edit: I see that this is already being discussed upthread.

  71. 71.

    General Stuck (Bravo Nope Zero)

    I don’t speak ill of the dead, with the exception of Dick Cheney, who is dead but still walks the earth.

  72. 72.

    debit

    I really hope there isn’t going to be any finger wagging about respecting the dead. The man was a shitstain and took delight in harming people. Happy warrior my ass.

  75. 75.

    TooManyJens

    American political discourse is greatly improved by Andrew Breitbart no longer being involved in it, but I can’t say I’m glad he’s dead. I just wish he would have become a better person.

  76. 76.

    Cacti

    @WaterGirl:

    This federal judge needs to be recalled.

    Unfortunately, Federal Judges can only be removed by impeachment.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if the House wingnuts passed a resolution commending his bravery.

  79. 79.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik

    @debit:

    My take here is: Speak not ill of the dead.

    So I will pay my respects to the family, tip my hat, and not speak of him again.

  82. 82.

    elmo

    I really, really want the Georgetown student to sue Rush Limbaugh for defamation. Accusing somebody of being a prostitute is defamation per se: damages are presumed and don’t have to be proven. She isn’t a public figure, so Times v. Sullivan doesn’t apply. Even if she is, I think the “actual malice” standard is met: he knew the accusation to be false when it was made.

    Hell, even imputing unchastity to a woman is defamation per se in many jurisdictions. Seriously, somebody tell me why suing him for defamation wouldn’t be both a great way to shine a spotlight on the issue, AND a potential payday to the young woman?

  83. 83.

    gnomedad

    @WaterGirl:

    Story at Benen’s place about the totally racist federal judge who forwarded a mind-blowing racist email about President Obama.

    FTA: “struggles with allegations” of racism? That’s some soft-peddling for Maddow’s place.

  87. 87.

    Cacti

    @debit:

    The man was a shitstain and took delight in harming people. Happy warrior my ass.

    Two words for anyone who thinks Breitbart deserves any post mortem respect:

    Shirley Sherrod

  88. 88.

    rlrr

    Cebull, an 11-year veteran of the federal bench, was a George W. Bush nominee.

    Elections have consequences…

  89. 89.

    PIGL

    cue concern trolls tsk tsking our lack of respectful sorrow at this untimely and tragic demise. We are better than that, they will say.

    Screw that, I says. Ones betterness relative to ones enemies is proved by defeating them. Or at least, as in this case, by outlasting them.

  90. 90.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @rlrr:

    Of course only the idiots think the birth certificate is a forgery, cause they want to believe it. Can’t have that “other” person in the WH. I just pointed it out because lots of people believe that line about “doesn’t matter where he was born” when technically that is not true.

  91. 91.

    Schlemizel

    If only Dimbarts end was the end of the line. My guess is there will be two new assholes raise to replace him.

  92. 92.

    elmo

    re: Breitbart. I have decided to believe that his untimely death is another data point, along with that meltdown he had at CPAC, in confirmation that there really was something seriously wrong with the man. Lack of blood flow to the brain can cause all kinds of unfortunate things, from erratic behavior to paranoid delusions. The poor man was just having a series of strokes in public, and couldn’t help what was happening to him.

    Poor bastard.

  93. 93.

    4jkb4ia

    @tomvox1:

    I am refusing to read that first. I am going to read about Snowe first. I also see a “Tensions Could Push Gas Up to $5 A Gallon” story on the front page, and I am wondering what has happened to my newspaper. This is bald scary speculation unlike the journalistic stylings of Judy Miller.

    The way Sargent had the Romney hour-before-he-was-for-it story, Romney is claiming to be talking about two different Rubio amendments at different times, because he was asked about “the Blunt-Rubio amendment which allows employers to ban providing female contraception” and Rubio has a contraception amendment also. And then this morning Romney claims that some state law is being talked about. This could almost be a wink and a nudge from the Romney campaign because his first what can be assumed to be gut-level answer was perfectly fine, and he wants you to believe that he’s not paying that much attention to this great test of loyalty to the wingnuts.

    Breitbart dead! I never thought of him as anything but a loathsome fraud but this is horrible. And he is way too close to my age.

  94. 94.

    peach flavored shampoo

    I can’t say I’m glad he’s dead

    I can. A true, dedicated piece of shit asshole to the nth degree. Bet it’s hot where he is.

  95. 95.

    Yevgraf

    @rlrr:

    Cebull, an 11-year veteran of the federal bench, was a George W. Bush nominee.
    …
    Elections have consequences…

    “Gore is the same as Bush.”

    -Ralph Nader, 2000

  96. 96.

    4jkb4ia

    Memeorandum….Limbaugh calling women sluts

    I give up. Limbaugh knows exactly what to do to get attention and incredulous sputtering from average liberals like me. That’s half the point of his whole show.

  97. 97.

    Culture of Truth

    Accusing somebody of being a prostitute is defamation per se

    Probably not in this case, because it was obvious in context that Limbaugh was not making a factual assertion but making using a metaphor to cast aspersion on her character.

    Too bad about Breitbart, he did seem wound a little tight though.

  98. 98.

    Elizabelle

    @elmo:

    I’d like to see that suit, too.

    Someone needs to bring Limbaugh and his radio stations to heel.

  100. 100.

    catclub

    @elmo: “potential payday”
    accent on potential, since he will have hordes of lawyers to beat hers into the ground.

    Kinda like going into a publicity war with someone who buys ink by the rail-tanker load. Rotsa ruck.

  102. 102.

    Bobby Thomson

    At this difficult time, my thoughts go out to the family and friends of Davy Jones.

    Imagine being forever connected in death with an asshole who subsidizes defamation and attempted rape.

  103. 103.

    Neldob

    The beginning of the end of the Republican party is rearing its ugly head out of the end of the Republican party. Or something like that. May he and the whole Republican party rest in peace.

  104. 104.

    Bobby Thomson

    @PIGL:

    Ones betterness relative to ones enemies is proved by defeating them. Or at least, as in this case, by outlasting them.

    Living well is the best revenge.

  105. 105.

    Bubblegum Tate

    @elmo:

    You know what would be awesome? If she won, like, $10 million from Jabba the Rush, then donated it to Planned Parenthood.

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