Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

Bad people in a position to do bad things will do bad things because they are bad people. End of story.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

T R E 4 5 O N

You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2008 / There Oughta Be a Law

There Oughta Be a Law

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We’re just cruising through all of 2008’s greatest hits:

In Rick Santorum’s perspective, no presidential candidate should ever be allowed to use a teleprompter on the campaign trail.

The former Pennsylvania senator expressed his unorthodox view in his latest attack of the speech reading device Sunday afternoon, according to CNN. While campaigning at a restaurant in Gulfport, Mississippi, Santorum questioned the authenticity of any candidate using a teleprompter.

“See, I always believed that when you run for president of the United States, it should be illegal to read off a teleprompter,” he said. “Because all you’re doing is reading someone else’s words to people.”

Meanwhile, half the Republicans in Mississippi and Alabama think Obama is Muslim.

Reader Interactions

54Comments

  2. 2.

    scav

    Nothing but Speaking in Tongues on the Campaign Trail. How else can we be sure it’s GSD speaking through them? Yup, snake-handling, next up.

  3. 3.

    butler

    So true. But why stop there? Shouldn’t having any notes or prepared text also be illegal?

    Just imagine how great the Gettysburg Address could have been if Lincoln hadn’t been reading from his crib sheets.

  4. 4.

    different-church-lady

    “See, I always believed that when you run for president of the United States, it should be illegal to read off a teleprompter,” he said. “Because all you’re doing is reading someone else’s words to people.”

    OK, so if I write my own speech, will I or will I not be allowed to load it into a teleprompter?

    Think, Ricky, THINK…

  5. 5.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    This is idiocy, and Santorum should know that Obama would still speech circles around him with no prompter.

  6. 6.

    different-church-lady

    @butler:

    Shouldn’t having any notes or prepared text also be illegal?

    All forms of preparation and forethought should be illegal — levels the playing field.

  9. 9.

    Brachiator

    In Rick Santorum’s perspective, no presidential candidate should ever be allowed to use a teleprompter on the campaign trail.

    Jeebus used a teleprompter.

    What’s wrong with these people?

    Meanwhile, half the Republicans in Mississippi and Alabama think Obama is Muslim.

    They also believe in UFOs. Just sayin’

  10. 10.

    Hal

    “And I also think everyone should have to provide their college transcripts! And also, build a time machine to take people back to the moment of their birth to prove they are us citizens!”

    also,

    “Because all you’re doing is reading someone else’s words to people.”

    So if you don’t read off a teleprompter, the words are your own? Santorum doesn’t use speech writers?

  12. 12.

    bemused

    Rick looked sickly on the Today Show this morning. He could barely keep his eyes open and I wondered if he was going to keel over.

  13. 13.

    Rick Taylor

    Meanwhile, half the Republicans in Mississippi and Alabama think Obama is Muslim.

    And of the remainder, 75% aren’t sure what religion he is.

  14. 14.

    jonas

    So….you should have to memorize the other person’s words in advance and then recite them instead?

    Other “new rules” from Santorum:

    President must wear a huge American flag cape and giant crucifix around neck and carry an M80 machine gun at all public appearances.

    Hail to the Chief to be replaced with a choir of monks chanting the “Te Deum” at state functions

    President should never read books, reports or memos, etc. because that’s just “looking at words someone else has written.” Also, reading betrays college education, which is “for snobs”.

  15. 15.

    Paul in KY

    A friendly aquaintance of mine, a young, somewhat entitled man who happens to be a former Young College Republican, has at least a tenuous grasp on reality when he agrees that if Rih is the nominee, us Democrats can ‘just sit back and laugh your asses off’.

    I laughingly agreed.

  16. 16.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    When the Texans finally gets around to seceding, can we convince them to take Mississippi and Alabama w/ them?

  19. 19.

    MikeBoyScout

    Deep Thought:

    While Rmoney is a lock for the GOP nomination in 2012, a Silver Medal showing by Santorum makes him the default front runner in 2016.

    Go GOP!

    No, I really mean go. Get on outa here. Scat!

  20. 20.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    @Rick Taylor:

    And of the remainder, 75% aren’t sure what religion he is.

    But… 100% are absolutely certain about his race…

  21. 21.

    Daaling

    Greenwald Apologist Cole just phoning it in this morning. Must be so hard to sit on your ass in front of the computer drinking coffee goggling “Obama is a muslim” then basically just copying/pasting whatever you find.

  22. 22.

    The Other Chuck

    Spoken like the loser you are, Rick. And it’s sad, I really wanted you to get the nom and finish the job of destroying the Republican Party once and for all.

    Rih has more delegates, but I think he’ll flame out before Newt and drop out first.

  24. 24.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    @The Republic of Stupidity: (Obscure book reference alert) Now that the Soviet Union no longer exists, there’s no real reason for Texas to secede.

    Any way, while we like to talk about being free of the federal government here, and while Texas is one of the few Republican states that pays more in taxes than it gets, our governors still run the state expecting to be helped when disasters strike. We couldn’t go it alone.

  25. 25.

    slim's tuna provider

    having experienced obama unplugged in law school, i would completely support that rule. i think obama unplugged is even better than his speeches.

  26. 26.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    @slim’s tuna provider: If I were a Republican campaign manager, I would make my candidate watch what Obama did to the Republicans at that retreat. I know Santorum is playing to the crowd, but does he really want to chance taking on Obama alone?

  27. 27.

    BDeevDad

    Seriously, he needs a teleprompter:

    “This is my first trip to Cape Girardeau,” Santorum told the crowd. “Jo Ann’s been bragging on you a long time. It’s good to be in the hometown of Rush Limbaugh, which some people see as a trip to Mecca.”

  29. 29.

    scav

    “Because all you’re doing is reading someone else’s words to people.”

    Logically, this does almost rule out his quoting chapter and verse of scripture at us, doesn’t it? Just stop reeling off some other entity’s words to us.

  31. 31.

    shortstop

    I think Santorum actually does write his own speeches — actually, his own extemporaneous remarks. And it shows, not to his credit.

    I am having a really good time watching this unapologetic hierarchical authoritarian run his mouth…all the way to sharply mounting unfavorables.

  32. 32.

    Amir Khalid

    @BDeevDad:

    “… It’s good to be in the hometown of Rush Limbaugh, which some people see as a trip to Mecca.”

    So Mr Frothy is comparing a visit to the hometown of Rush Limbaugh to a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual and communal experience among fellow believers. Is he then a Limbaugh worshiper?

  33. 33.

    Rafer Janders

    “See, I always believed that when you run for president of the United States, it should be illegal to read off a teleprompter,”

    Illegal, eh? So, what does he picture happening here? You read a speech, and the local cops then come and arrest you for the crime of reading out loud?

    And are they then allowed to Mirandize you? Because all they’re doing then is reading someone else’s words…

  34. 34.

    Rafer Janders

    @BDeevDad:

    Aiyee! Aiyee! Secret Muslim! Santorum is a secret Muslim! My god, the reference to Mecca, suddenly it’s all so clear….

  37. 37.

    gnomedad

    “See, I always believed that when you run for president of the United States, it should be illegal to read off a teleprompter,” he said.

    OK by me — that’ll give Obama an even bigger advantage. Of course, this is just Dog Whistle for “Obama is stupid”. As well as a cunning stealth Muslim-Communist, of course.

  40. 40.

    Nutella

    Speaking of Santorum and how ridiculous he is, here are some good points about why his ridiculousness is still dangerous.

    I know, it’s HuffPo, but he’s right. If we just laugh at how stupid Santorum is or just try to refute his points with logic, we lose. One of the most important reasons why the Komen and Fluke issues got so much traction is that they harnessed a strong emotional reaction. Years of reasoned takedowns of Komen’s business practices and Limbaugh’s nasty words didn’t do any good but a strong emotional reaction did.

  41. 41.

    runt

    Obama’s teleprompter must be impeached!

    Also too, did you know that Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address down on a piece of paper? What a fraud! Everyone knows that real political superstars write notes on the palm of their hands.

  43. 43.

    Redshift

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    If I were a Republican campaign manager, I would make my candidate watch what Obama did to the Republicans at that retreat. I know Santorum is playing to the crowd, but does he really want to chance taking on Obama alone?

    No, but he knows he’ll never have to. That’s why he can invoke this particular bit of lizard-brain stupidity with impunity.

  46. 46.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    Cue found footage of Rick Santorum using a teleprompter in 7…6…5…4…

    I’d be surprised if he didn’t read this screed off one.

  49. 49.

    dmsilev

    @scav:

    Logically, this does almost rule out his quoting chapter and verse of scripture at us, doesn’t it?

    I’m going to stop you right after that first word there.

  51. 51.

    ExurbanMom

    Just watching MSNBC, home sick today, and Jonathan Capehart has the line of the day: with Romney getting all southern this week, “it’s like he’s on safari in his own country.”

    Exactly.

  52. 52.

    Meg

    @different-church-lady:

    OK, so if I write my own speech, will I or will I not be allowed to load it into a teleprompter?

    He just wants to drive home the point about the myth that Obama is an empty suit, who could not possibly be writing his own speeches. But at the same time he is also a Harvard smart ass elitist.

  54. 54.

    Arclite

    Hahahaha. What a douche. Obama doesn’t need a teleprompter. The dude is seriously smart, whatever disagreements I have with him. I’d love to see him wipe the floor with Santorum in a debate.

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