Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Take your GOP plan out of the witness protection program.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Prediction: the GOP will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

No one could have predicted…

Let’s finish the job.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Consistently wrong since 2002

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

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

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

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

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Reader Interactions

191Comments

  2. 2.

    Steve

    “On Thursday morning, Rep. Paul Ryan was the guy who bow-hunted for fun and posed for pictures of his P90X workout. On Thursday night, he had been unfairly bullied by an old guy.” –Dave Weigel

  4. 4.

    PsiFighter37

    Joe did himself good. That said (and I’m keeping my inner freak-out in as good control as I can), it served to give the base a quick high, but I’m not really sure there’s going to be a lasting impact.

    I think it’s wrong to be this depressed on what is generally a pleasant fall evening in NY. I was going to pick up more booze on the way back from dinner, but I decided that I need to dial it back a bit (especially since this upcoming Tuesday will do a number on me). So I’m just left with the sickening feeling that we are sliding towards oblivion with 3.5 fucking weeks left.

    Goddammit.

  7. 7.

    The Dangerman

    Sounds like a fine idea for after the election (assuming the Good Guys win): Freaks, OUT!

    Actually, with all the pissed off Righties (same assumption), I could see a secessionist movement someplace. Shit, if they’d leave, I’d give them Alaska and some warm coats.

  8. 8.

    arguingwithsignposts

    It’s almost like they all had some kind of paper or electronic communication with all the words of the day sent to them.

    As I said earlier, I am so tired of the Tone Patrol.

  9. 9.

    geg6

    @raven:

    Seriously. I’m +5 tonight and was feeling pretty damn good. A co-worker had her last day and she’s moving on to Yale, which, as a staffer at very small campus of a recently-humiliated public university, we consider a reflection on us. Biden kicked some ass last night, as witnessed by the right wing and MSM freakout about how mean he is. I was feeling okay, but dude is harshing my mellow big time.

  10. 10.

    amk

    Amazing how they repeat their talking points all across the board. Do these nutz get the same memo just before they go on air ?

    Their faux poutrage made my day though.

    eta: arguingwithsignposts beat me to it.

  14. 14.

    Political Observer

    Wow, Obambi CRASHING in Nate Silver forecast! Romney has best day of polling yet! Virginia now projected to go RED!. Florida and NC lost as well. Colorado slipping.

    Congratulations, President-Elect Mitt Romney.

  16. 16.

    beltane

    @raven: Alcohol is a well-known depressant. I’ve always liked PsyFighter37 but I think he should stay away from the alcohol and perhaps experiment with Ecstasy instead.

  17. 17.

    jwb

    @amk: I always had a sense that it was a flow chart set in binaries: If A, then X; if not-A, then Y, everything gamed out on those binaries to lead to plausible if still largely made up negative attributes. If Biden laughs, then disrespectful. If Biden doesn’t laugh, then weak, etc.

  18. 18.

    Cacti

    Last night’s smackdown was entirely predictable when you considered the fact-free narratives entering the event…

    Joe Biden is dumb (he’s not)

    Paul Ryan is a towering intellect (he’s not)

  19. 19.

    El Cid

    Mitt Romney’s a loudmouth, lying, interrupting, moderator-ignoring jackass in that debate, and suddenly he’s a super-in-control Presidential figure and Obama was merely a teleprompter-readin’ ACORN stooge.

    Joe Biden laughs and sneers at Ryan’s pathetic, mean, devious lies and loads of bullshit, and suddenly it’s the most insulting unstatesmanlike behavior they’ve ever encountered.

    Yeah. Fuck ’em.

    Cry in your fucking soup, cretins.

  20. 20.

    PsiFighter37

    @amk: Nah, calling it quits for the night. Going to a 10K with the fiancee tomorrow, so I need to get a good/early night’s rest.

    That said, the right wing realizing that their blue-eyed faux-intellectual got flayed alive last night has been delicious. My doubt on the topline effects of the race are nebulous, but it sure was fun to watch. After the election (which we hopefully win), he goes back to being some obscure backbencher that no one in Washington takes seriously.

  21. 21.

    Cacti

    And last night more or less proved my theory.

    Paul Ryan is the kind of guy who would cry if you punched him hard enough.

  22. 22.

    TexasMango

    @PsiFighter37: OK. You need to stop. Just stop or go away. Why do you have to bring your negativity here?

    Stop drinking and call OFA and ask how you can help. I live in Texas, but I make calls to swing states. Having an idea of what the Obama Campaign has made it impossible for me to get hysterical about Obama’s chances. WE ARE GOING TO WIN. The R-Money campaign can’t fuck with what we’ve got going on on our side. They have racists in the South and the MSM spinning for them. That’s all.

    An idol mind is the Devil’s workshop and you are proof of that.

  25. 25.

    Political Observer

    @El Cid:

    Keep the whining up. You’re gonna need a lot of practice for the next eight years of President Romney.

    Say it with me now–“I, Willard Mitt Romney, do solemnly swear…”

  26. 26.

    Political Observer

    So who is going to be Secretary of State? Attorney General?

    I think John Bolton is already at the front of the line for the former position.

  32. 32.

    El Cid

    @Political Observer: Who was whining? Fictional “GIMME MAH 15 CENT” character, please, who was whining?

    What is it I fear? You think I am fearing a Romney victory?

    I’m not sure about those cookies. I don’t, I don’t think you made them. No, no, you got them, you got them from the local [Bakery!] 7-11, or whatever.

  37. 37.

    Keith

    @Cacti: You are correct, sir. I couldn’t believe Chait was predicting an epic pooch-screw by Biden, but he’s just another weak-kneed Dem who bought into GOP mindtricks.

  38. 38.

    PsiFighter37

    @Political Observer: Any other asinine predictions you have to offer up? That has to be one of the stupider predictions I’ve ever read. You have less idea of what to pull out of your ass than GWB reading about goats in front of a bunch of children.

    Orin Hatch for AG? Fucking stupid.

  39. 39.

    Political Observer

    @El Cid:

    Yes, I think you’re shitting your pants in utter terror along with all the other liberals here.

    I love it!

  43. 43.

    Political Observer

    @PsiFighter37:

    I do know Eric Holder is going to have to go back on the Affirmative Action Circuit, and the best John Kerry can hope for now is being the ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the next decade.

    Suck. On. It.

  44. 44.

    Political Observer

    Maybe Obambi can join Jimmy Carter building houses come January. He’d be working harder than he is now.

  45. 45.

    El Cid

    @Political Observer: You are incorrect. You may examine my comments here. My pants, unlike those of Paul Ryan’s fluffers, are remarkably scat-free.

    GIMME MAH 15 CENT I DUN POSTED I GOTS TA BUY MAH FUNYUNS I’M TIRED OF CHEF BOYARDEE I NEED CRUNCHY FOOD

  48. 48.

    Political Observer

    McGovern. Carter. Mondale. Dukakis. Gore. Kerry. Obama.

    Christ, where does your party find these losers?

  50. 50.

    TexasMango

    @gogol’s wife: You’re most welcome. It’s going to take a lot more than polls of old white people and cross tabs that look nothing like the real electorate to scare me. Fuck the haters, the whiners, the hysterics and the MSM.

    And most of all fuck Willard Romney and the GOP. WE ARE GOING TO WIN.

  58. 58.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    You can tell how desperate the trolls are by how many times they have two or more comments in a row.

    Of course I have our Mr. Observer here piefiltered, but the flopsweat still shows.

  61. 61.

    Alison

    You know how in a couple recent threads, people have talked about how this is their #1 political blog and they come here daily, and what a great community we have, and how cool it is that real friendships have been made, and so on?

    Yeah, then this fucking idiotic loser shows up and ruins half the fucking threads, and apparently getting rid of him isn’t deemed necessary.

    I enjoy the conversations we have here, even when folks are disagreeing. I fucking hate when the conversations are this dumbass purposely being ridiculous because his life is apparently that fucking pathetic, that that’s how he has fun. It would be nice if this shit could get nipped in the bud. But not my blog, not my rules, I guess.

  62. 62.

    Political Observer

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    They’re all either failed candidates or failed Presidents.

    Mondale is the biggest loser though. Hilariously, he’s the only Presidential candidate in American history to lose an election in all 50 states because of his failed senate run in 2002.

  63. 63.

    Political Observer

    Should red “only POLITICIAN in American history”, actually.

    So at least Obama will never be THAT much of a loser.

    Bush only lost because of Perot and because Clinton pretended to be a Republican.

  64. 64.

    Anya

    “A delusion is a belief held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary.”

    Arguing with someone with delusions is pointless. Please. Stop. Really. Stop!!

  65. 65.

    dk

    The victory for Biden was resounding based on the reactions on FoxNews and the general right wing freak out. Slice it any way you like, Biden ate Ryan’s lunch.

  67. 67.

    Cacti

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    Your list doesn’t really work: Some of them were elected. Also, I believe your side has the most recent one termer.

    Must have been painful for it to watch Ryan become the intellectual heir of Dan Quayle last night. Even down to the JFK reference.

    Why does every breck girl GOP pol compare himself to Jack Kennedy? Is it because there’s never been a Repuke Prez who was considered a symbol of virile masculinity?

  68. 68.

    amk

    @Alison: Hey, bj fp’ers are totally cool, totally tolerant, dontchaknow ? first amindmint and all that. Or something like that. who the fuck knows what turns on fp’ers.

  70. 70.

    beltane

    I find the dancing monkey trolls to be far less offensive than the more polished concern trolls. The only thing that bothers me is that six months into a Rmoney presidency, with the bot’s approval hovering at the 27% mark, the dancing monkey will be nowhere to be found while the concern trolls will be with us always.

  72. 72.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    @Alison: It would be nice if this shit could get nipped in the bud. But not my blog, not my rules, I guess.

    Agreed, though I sorta get where the rules are coming from. If it were my blog, I’d throw bums like PO out (I like the Stick Rule they use over at Pandagon).

    Still this piker is nothing like Troofie of Sadly, No! used to be. That dumbass could really stink up a thread.

    Though it might well be the same guy, just with cramped up hands from typing so much horseshit over the years, and some weird sclerotic wasting disease and orange eyeballs from eating seventy three million billion TONS OF CHEETOS.

  73. 73.

    ulee

    Obama should have shown up and debated. He alone is responsible for his polling freefall, and that’s what it is. I hope it stops soon, but it is real and I’m sick of people telling those of us who are rightfully very concerned to chill out. It’s his fault, not Sully or the Republicans or the media. Colorado and Florida have turned towards Romney on Silver’s site. Anyone who isn’t concerned is an idiot.

  74. 74.

    The Dangerman

    @Cacti:

    Why does every breck girl GOP pol compare himself to Jack Kennedy?

    Kennedy cut taxes (of course, what goes unmentioned is the fact the marginal tax rate was far higher under Ike).

  75. 75.

    eemom

    @Political Observer:

    You’re right, we’re fucked. President Romtron it is.

    Now run along and fill out some employment apps. I hear Ann’s hiring stable boys for Rafalca’s new DC digs.

  79. 79.

    Cacti

    @eemom:

    Now run along and fill out some employment apps. I hear Ann’s hiring stable boys for Rafalca’s new DC digs.

    Are you kidding, he already has the only job available for people who lack the sophistication to twirl signs next to stop lights.

  81. 81.

    TexasMango

    @ulee:

    Some of us were so concerned about Obama winning that we started working to get him reelected a while back.

    Some of us whine about what Obama has done wrong creating a constant feedback loop of negativity on the internet.

    Who are the idiots?

  85. 85.

    Sarah, Proud and Tall

    @Alison:

    PO is a sad loser with a tiny, cheeto-stained dick who will vanish forever (or at least for about 18 months) at about 6pm on 6 November when the results from Ohio and Florida come in and it finally becomes clear that Romney is the latest failed bet from a party with no ideas and no future.

    If people didn’t respond to him, he wouldn’t be able to take over the threads. If I ban him just because he pisses you off, then it’s a small step to banning mclaren or anyone else who says things that the alleged majority here disagree with here, which is entirely contrary to the whole purpose John expressed in setting up his blog – that people would be able to say what they want.

    If you want someone banned, take it up with Cole, but don’t get your hopes up.

    ETA: I miss BoB. At least he was funny.

  88. 88.

    General Stuck

    @ulee:

    I’m pretty sure Obama has taken responsibility for the first debate, of three. But there is no real “polling freefall” as the prevailing state of elections in this country remains at about 50 50, as it has been for a decade or so. Which means the few points lead Obama had was from soft support, by people that likely didn’t vote for Obama in 08. They are voters by and large, looking for about any reason to vote for the republican, and were also likely telling pollsters they supported Obama now, because Romney was so FUBAR’d they couldn’t say yea for him.

    And if you understand campaigns and debates during them, especially POTUS debates, there is the phenom called ‘who wins the post debate’, that is probly as important as the the debate itself. And it should not be lost on anyone that going batshit freakout by Obama’s so called supporters does not help with the post debate debate. And who ends up winning that. Not to mention we have two more debates, that kind of puts the chicken little shit in perspective.

  92. 92.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    @Sarah, Proud and Tall: If I ban him just because he pisses you off, then it’s a small step to banning mclaren or anyone else who says things that the alleged majority here disagree with here, which is entirely contrary to the whole purpose John expressed in setting up his blog – that people would be able to say what they want.

    This is why I say I sorta understand where the rules are coming from: this is an honorable principle by which to run a blog.

    Just saying, if I were non-lazy enough to have a blog, I’d handle it differently. But that’s a different universe.

  94. 94.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    @1badbaba3: Except, as I pointed out, he included Obama and Carter, you know, actual presidents. Doesn’t quite match the Lions.

  96. 96.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    @ulee: I’m sick of men with shaved heads and face mullets.

    Yeah, it’s a look I’ve been eagerly awaiting for the relentless march of fashion to sweep aside. It’s very popular in my techie line of work.

  97. 97.

    jwb

    @Alison: Meh, PO is a harmless punching bag who seems to think it’s doing some kind of brilliant psyops on us or something. I find it amusing, especially when it starts dropping ALLCAPS bombs.

  100. 100.

    dr. bloor

    @General Stuck:

    Post of the Day. The magnitude of his lead in recent months was always based on folks who were either (1) waiting for a reason not to vote for him, (2) make decisions based on the direction of the prevailing winds at any given moment, or (3) both.

    All about Ohio now.

  101. 101.

    catclub

    @Sarah, Proud and Tall: “If people didn’t respond to him, he wouldn’t be able to take over the threads.”

    I have previously suggested silent banning, in which the banned person can see their own posts but no-one else does. That is contrary to what you describe for the blog. But how about silent banning of those who respond to the trolls. Only _they_ see their response. The result is that the troll is ignored and no-one has to say “Do not feed the troll.”? Also, the troll cannot take over the thread.

    Yes, I know it would take active judgement, and some software changes in the blog code, but should be doable. Whatever software that is triggered by mispellings of soshulizm could be called whenever the troll is being responded to.

  102. 102.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Xecky Gilchrist: mclaren, blingee and others have been banned for short times, or permanently. But a ban is only as good as the intent of the person who’s been banned. Blingee keeps showing up because (I can’t remember if blingee is derpf or timieee) it’s an asshole. same with PO. the only person I know who ever actually obeyed a ban here was the tokoloco

  103. 103.

    jwb

    @ulee: It would be nice if you had Obama’s back instead of whining yourself into the fetal position. Shit, grow a backbone and get to fucking work helping the campaign.

  104. 104.

    Alison

    @Sarah, Proud and Tall:

    If people didn’t respond to him, he wouldn’t be able to take over the threads

    I REALLY don’t like this argument, because it puts the onus on the commenters, who have no control over the blog, instead of the bloggers, who own the thing. And considering how many people read and comment here, you are just never going to get everyone to agree to never respond to someone who posts dozens of comments in a thread. Some new person is always going to wander in and see his shit and respond because that’s what you do in a thread. Even if the regulars all agreed to never respond to him, that wouldn’t stop the problem. And again, I just don’t see why the whole responsibility should be on us…especially considering how repugnant his comments have been getting lately, as opposed to just dumb.

  105. 105.

    ulee

    @General Stuck: That soft support comes from soft headed people, the same morons who voted in Bush in 2004. Obama should have known better than to phone it in. Biden knows this. I’ll bet Biden is pissed at Obama for his lame performance, and he should be.

  106. 106.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @catclub:

    Yes, I know it would take active judgement, and some software changes in the blog code, but should be doable.

    You do know where you are, right?

  109. 109.

    Alison

    And look, I get that banning isn’t something to do all the time. I’m fine with disagreement, with dumbness, etc. And I realize that people just make new emails/names and whatever and come back. It’s just that this guy in particular has been excessively appalling and way way too prevalent. Like I said, he’s managed to basically ruin many threads. It’s just frustrating to see it happen over and over. But I know there’s no magic solution, sadly…

  111. 111.

    The Dangerman

    Pie installed and works! Obviously, it takes little to please me in my state of sobriety.

    Now, play nice, I’m gonna go watch the Shuttle totally bone traffic on the 405 (the 405 near LAX is always the shits, so it’ll be hard to tell the difference).

  114. 114.

    debbie

    The highlight of my radio listening today was Anne Coulter telling Glenn Beck she thought Biden was “horribly rude.” The lack of self-awareness!

  115. 115.

    ulee

    @jwb: I’m not in a fetal position. I’m hoping Obama wakes up, and not just in front of adoring crowds. I’m not a political activist. I’m voting for Obama in November. That’s enough. I have to go to work in the morning.

  118. 118.

    TexasMango

    @ulee: Yes you are. And if I’m an idiot for actually working on the campaign to get Obama elected while you complain and concern troll on the internet so be it. But I know which is more likely to result in victory om November 6th. If I had your attitude, I would’ve quit.

    If the phone calls to voters in swing states don’t work then you can call me an idiot. In the meantime have fun on Andrew Sullivan’s fainting couch. Some of us have work to do getting PBO 4 more years and don’t have time for whining and worrying.

  119. 119.

    magurakurin

    Mclaren doesn’t belong in the same category as a genuine troll like PO. PO is almost certainly paid and with an agenda. Mclaren is a strange person (not that there is anything wrong with that) who has some out there thoughts, but from time to time says something interesting. I almost never agree with Mclaren, but I really don’t think Mclaren’s intention is to just stir up shit, or genuine ratfucking. I believe that Mclaren sincerely believes what they believe, even if a lot of the times it seems batshit fucking insane.

    So, altogether different animal. Mclaren is a genuine commentor on this blog, albeit few people’s favorite one, PO is a paid ratfucker. But it’ll be gone soon enough, when the checks stop coming.

    Mclaren, Mclaren is forever. :)

  120. 120.

    El Cid

    Obama’s record on unemployment is better than Reagan’s. Just sayin’.

    Oh, his impact on the debt is better, too.

  121. 121.

    General Stuck

    @ulee:

    Obama should have known better than to phone it in.

    Shoulda coulda woulda. A great way to waste energy and precious time. Politics, and especially elections are not conducted in a vacuum as a straight line proposition. Sometimes they are, other times there are a number of factors in play, that can spin out serendipitous favor for your side. From what looks like lasting defeat. I bet Obama gives us a real time lesson on that sort of thing, next go around. ETA in fact I am certain he will.

  122. 122.

    debbie

    @ arguingwithsignposts:

    Althouse wrote the same thing this morning. I figure it must be a new talking point.

  126. 126.

    beltane

    @debbie: Yes, civility, of all things, is their new talking point. They seem to be pushing this talking point particularly hard with the Christian right who are known for their oh-so-civil ways in dealing with people they think are going to hell.

  127. 127.

    ulee

    @TexasMango: Jesus man, please stop congratulating yourself by throwing around these overused terms like whining and concern trolling. You sound like a whiner.

  129. 129.

    Sarah, Proud and Tall

    @Alison:

    Like I said, Cole’s blog, Cole’s rules. I’m just a guest here too.

    PO pisses me off every day. He’s repetitive, stupid, inane, racist and (worse) not in any way entertaining, and yet he somehow manages to push the buttons of almost everyone here. I imagine nuking him every time, but I don’t do it because I don’t think Cole would do it. If he becomes personally abusive then I will ban him, but if just being annoying or even repugnant was the criteria for banning, then it would pretty much be Kay sitting here talking to herself.

  130. 130.

    arguingwithsignposts

    The other difference between PO and some of the other troll-esque commenters is that PO doesn’t ever seem to acknowledge the past. Every day is a new day of trollery, with new talking points, etc. At least tokoloco, mclaren, derpf, timii, etc. have memories.

    Heck, PO even seems to have forgotten UNLIMITED CORPORATE CASH!

  131. 131.

    ? Martin

    @lamh35:

    Man At Romney Rally In Ohio Wears Shirt Saying “Put The White Back In The White House”

    It’s all about race with you people, isn’t it?

  132. 132.

    El Cid

    Why did Ronald Reagan let unemployment get all the way up to 10.8 when Obama never let it get above 10.0?

    Gosh, Reagan sucked compared to the competent black guy.

    Also, Obama never had several hundred Marines stuck in a barracks in support of an Israeli invasion of Lebanon get blown up, or have 2 tall buildings knocked in New York knocked down by simulator pilots on his watch.

    Why are Republican leaders like Ronald Reagan so much worse than this Kenyan Muslim Indonesian black guy?

  133. 133.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @El Cid: Oh, his impact on the debt is better, too.
    I know it’s like yelling at the tide, the wind or the bookers on Meet The Press (“Is Senator McCain available?”) in terms of a public that has largely forgotten the Iraq War, but it would be nice if some of our professional political media would remember that The Deficit that’s going to eat David Gregory’s children, or his hair ‘product’, is largely a creation of Ronald Reagan. Hell, if Dick Cheney knew and acknowledged it, it oughtn’t to be too much to ask of Jim Lehrer, Bob Shieffer and Candy Crowley, all of whom are older than me.

  134. 134.

    beltane

    If PO is not DougJ trolling us he has got to be some high school kid with liberal parents who is doing this to act out. Before my son got a steady girlfriend he used to troll Justin Beiber fans on FB and other forums. I have faith that PO will also find happiness one day and leave us old people alone.

  135. 135.

    ChrisNYC

    @ulee: Take a look at what the Fla number is based on — one good poll for Romney from Rasmussen (ahem, worthless) and one from another GOPer ARG. (Nate appears to have taken that nutso Mason Dixon poll out of the forecast, he had it in there last night — total mess that poll, more than Ras even.) The other two most recent FLA polls show Obama up by 4 and by 1. Geez, Silver still shows Obama winning both now and on e day even with the crap Ras and ARG polls.

    IOW You’re spreading disinformation. There’s a concerted effort going on by the GOP to say all is lost for Obama in FLA, probably more for his own donors than to freak Obama supporters out. If Romney can’t show real confidence in FLA, given his apparent stalling in OH, all this talk of how poor his map is is going to gobble up his campaign right quick.

  137. 137.

    TexasMango

    @ulee: I thought you had to go to work?

    You were whining and got called on it because it doesn’t do any damn good and people are fucking sick of it. Now go ahead and take you ball home since you’ve had “enough”. Most of us have enough of the negative bullshit anyway.

  138. 138.

    jwb

    @ulee: If you want to win, no, voting is not enough. You think no one else here has to get up and work in the morning? What a shit you are, and you don’t have Obama’s back.

  140. 140.

    1badbaba3

    @Alison: Well, I think we ought to be able to deal with a little crap, not unlike life itself. We shouldn’t have to run from these clowns.

    Unless, of course, that’s what usually happens.

  144. 144.

    beltane

    You people chased PO away and now he’s been replaced by a dour concern troll. It does make me nostalgic for BOB who trolled with a unique voice.

  145. 145.

    Mnemosyne

    Anyone else noticed that the trolls have been coming in pairs lately? First there’s an obnoxious screamer like PO, and then almost immediately a Very Concerned Liberal Who Is Just Like You shows up.

    Is it one person sock-puppeting him/herself, or does Rove have enough money coming in that he can bankroll two separate trolls just for us?

  146. 146.

    OzoneR

    @PsiFighter37: Look, Mitt Romney is going to win. The country is only going to fall apart in four years and Hillary Clinton will wipe the Oval Office floor with hi in 2018.

    It’s sad Barack Obama got hosed the way he did, but Romney’s schtick won’t last long in the WH.

  147. 147.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Mnemosyne: I thing there’s a Troll Signal somewhere, and I have noticed it. It’s almost eerie how they’ll all show up at certain times. Maybe they’re flash-trolling.

  148. 148.

    beltane

    @Mnemosyne: I don’t think the trolls who come here are up to Karl Rove’s standards. We get the B-listers. If you want to see truly clever, destructive concern trolling in action head on over to DKos and watch people fall for their sh*t every single time.

  149. 149.

    Gravenstone

    @arguingwithsignposts: I submit that PO (et al) is actually a franchise. They hand the keys to a different flunky every few days, hence the failure to acknowledge a past the current user may be totally unaware of. Also helps explain the swings in posting styles.

  150. 150.

    El Cid

    I DUN POSTED ON THAT LIBRUL BLOG YOU SAID YOU’D PAY ME MAH 15 CENT GIMME MAH 15 CENT I WANT THEM CANDY CORN FLAVORED OREOS

  151. 151.

    Jewish Steel

    @Mnemosyne:

    almost immediately a Very Concerned Liberal Who Is Just Like You shows up.

    I agree that this happens. But I’m afraid Obama has already lost this election. Sadly, like my many liberal friends, I will not be voting.

  159. 159.

    SectionH

    @Judas Escargot, Acerbic Prophet of the Mighty Potato God: I never thought it could happen, but I burst out laughing when I caught Rush Turd* today. Srsly, he was just so sputtery. I usually just slam the OFF button on my aunt’s radio if he’s spewing, but today, somehow something made me pay attention. He was off the charts terrified, and it was sooooooo satisfying.

    *family speak for assholes who are Asshole A. Assholes III. And he in fact is. Plz don’t ask me how I know.

  166. 166.

    James E. Powell

    @ulee:

    Do you think that going on and on about something that happened over a week ago, that everyone heard or saw, that has been analyzed and talked to death is a useful way to spend your time?

    It’s not like Romney/Ryan moved up in the polls because they have some great ideas or have anything to offer that hadn’t been offered before.

  167. 167.

    trollhattan

    @Political Observer:
    “I, Willard Mitt Romney, do solemnly swear…to take up drinkin’ and whorin’ forthwith. Whaddya say, campaign chums, first rounds on me, then we’re goin’ to Cabo for a six-month bender. After that, I’m taking back the trust funds from those worthless cockbiter sons of mine and giving it to Greenpeace. Yeaaaaarrrrgh!”

    Pretty sure that’s what you meant.

  174. 174.

    brashieel

    There are few things as satisfying as kicking off “Chaos on Bullshit Mountain.” Can we assign Joe Biden the job of finding new ways to troll the right over the next four years? I think he’d enjoy it, and man would it be fun to see.

  175. 175.

    SectionH

    @Sarah, Proud and Tall: You need a drinking game or a race, possibly combined, but don’t have power staplers then. that sort of thing.

    I must admit that Mr SectionH noticed a huge influx of bright,shiny mail from nearly every R candidate in 2010. Not just once or twice, but daily. Same guys, slightly different meme. It sounded pretty bad. Not that staplers are involved with slick bulk mail, but you did make me think of paper.

  177. 177.

    dogwood

    Since when did Romney pulling ahead in Florida become such a catastrophe in this election? The candidates have traded small leads in that state throughout the entire cycle. I guess I can’t get too exercised now because I never bought into the idea that this election was going to be a landslide due to all of Romneys miscues and his terrible personality. I’ve always assumed that Obama would more than likely lose Florida, NC, and Virginia. It seems that too many people think that because states like this went blue for one cycle they are now “blue” states. They’re not. Don’t forget in ’08 Obama benefited from that drawn out primary battle that put more states in play and provided organizational structures. This is a much different election, but I’d still rather be in Obama’s position than Romney’s.

  179. 179.

    LD50

    @debbie: This from the woman who jokes about feeding rat poison to liberal justices. It’s like the wingnuts want to dismantle the whole concept of hypocrisy.

  180. 180.

    AxelFoley

    @Political Observer:

    McGovern. Carter. Mondale. Dukakis. Gore. Kerry. Obama.
    __
    Christ, where does your party find these losers?

    Funny you got Obama on your list, but he kicked your boy’s ass four years ago and he well on his way to stomping RMoney’s ass, too.

    You stupid bitch. Go eat a bag of salted dicks.

  183. 183.

    fuckwit

    I would like that we evolve past the fucking ape-man macho alpha-male bullshit to the point where we can choose representatives based on who is going to (or has been) implementing policies that are correct for our long-term success as a country (and a planet).

    Until then… I need more alcohol.

  184. 184.

    WaterGirl

    Has any of the media today, besides Rachel, reported on any of the positions held by the people who debated last night?

  185. 185.

    Paula

    Why such concern? I’m no activist, as talking directly to people about politics will probably result in injury to one or both of us. But after all this time one should be able to draw comfort from one thing: if people vote for the Republican candidate a scant 4 years after Republican policies dismantled our society and our economy, then THEY DESERVE TO GET FUCKED SOME MORE. Sorry, but if you vote and vote for Romney, or are too lazy/too naive to vote against him, then you’re welcome to have Wisconsin: the National Edition.

  186. 186.

    Applejinx

    I wonder if Limbaugh really is freaking out. Some of these folks are privy to the reality of how things are going for them. It’s easy to forget that when they coordinate all of the mainstream media to put over a consistent, un-real reaction to a thing like the VP debate.

    I like the idea of them dumping all the downticket stuff and trying for the prize- but some of them have to be jaded enough to make the real calculations- or consider that they are getting played. Some of them will be keeping track of how well vote-suppression is going, of the chances for just plain contradicting the real vote and making stuff up when things go wrong.

    I’m not interested in what the hired lackeys are saying, I’m interested in the reaction of the inside guys- or those who are privy to the real calculations.

    I like the idea of Limbaugh flipping out.

    Try and adjust to the idea that our desirable end game involves keeping the Presidency and the Senate, taking the House thanks to the GOP abandoning downticket races, and then coping with a Vietnam-like ‘low-grade disturbance’ civil war, with continuing terrorist action and most Americans being hunted in the streets and their homes by rightwinger terrorists, many of whom are sincere (and not all of whom will simply kill their families and themselves when they act, like that guy recently).

    This is the GOOD outcome. It’s the outcome of marginalizing these people and blocking their access to power and the belief they’re being listened to by the general public. It also tends to harden sentiment against them.

  187. 187.

    Enhanced Voting techniques

    This is kind of funny, Romney is wining because he lied in a debate. Odly I think Rassumen kind of has a point about all this that this Romney bounce is all hype; it’s all about whose feeling good enough to talk to the pollster.

    The other thing I notice it’s all about the debate performance, not about Obama as president.

  188. 188.

    Matt McIrvin

    @El Cid: It’s a good point. When Obama was romping in the polls, one of the big Democratic-pessimist/Republican-optimist points was to cite political-science models predicting that he should lose according to econometric variables. It was no good to argue that such things mean very little in the face of actual polls saying the opposite.

    Now? He’s down in the polls, but the econometric data is actually way better. The same people who were fretting/crowing about his loss six months ago should be predicting reelection. I don’t know if it actually makes any difference in and of itself, but it’s definitely a thing to point out.

  189. 189.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Paula:

    But after all this time one should be able to draw comfort from one thing: if people vote for the Republican candidate a scant 4 years after Republican policies dismantled our society and our economy, then THEY DESERVE TO GET FUCKED SOME MORE.

    Their kids don’t. And the rest of us don’t. Minorities particularly don’t deserve to get fucked over because too many white people have a fixation on Republicans. That’s the thing about democracy; you can say the people get what they deserve but the people aren’t a homogeneous mass.

  191. 191.

    priscianusjr

    @dogwood:

    Since when did Romney pulling ahead in Florida become such a catastrophe in this election? The candidates have traded small leads in that state throughout the entire cycle.

    Going by Huffpost’s Pollster, which crunches a huge number of polls, Obama was leading in FL pretty much all year — until the debate, but I don’t understand the dynamics of the recent Romney rise, which started two weeks BEFORE the debate and kept rising steadily until a few days ago.
    http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2012-florida-president-romney-vs-obama

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