Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

Come on, man.

T R E 4 5 O N

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Republicans do not pay their debts.

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

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

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

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

… among the most cringeworthy communications in the history of the alphabet!

This fight is for everything.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

You are here: Home / Photo Blogging / He’s Always Watching You, America

He’s Always Watching You, America

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Josh Romney sees into your soul and he has found it wanting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND NOW IT’S TOO LATE FOR YOU HE HAS YOUR SOOOOOOOOOOOUL.

Reader Interactions

159Comments

  7. 7.

    Enhanced Mooching Techniques

    That has to be the classic manger trying to brow beat an employee with out getting dragged off to HR look. Only problem for Josh is Obama is the president and doesn’t have to worry about Josh giving him a crappy job review.

  10. 10.

    shortstop

    I love this so much, and not just for crazyass Josh. Ann is looking at Obama like he’s something stuck to the dog’s behind. How do you be a candidate’s wife for 20 years and still be completely unable to hide your emotions? Guess there are some basic human skills money can’t buy.

  15. 15.

    comrade scott's agenda of rage

    Does anybody know what the Rmoney boys do for a living? Do any of them have a day job? Or a facsimile of a day job?

  16. 16.

    aimai

    Can someone please post just the clip of Obama telling Romney off for Libya comments? I can’t find it and I won’t get a chance to watch the whole debate until tonight. People on another thread said Obama showed his “This is my drone face” look to Romney and I really want to see it.

    aimai

  18. 18.

    Bruce S

    Ann Romney looked VERY unhappy with her Mitt right after the debate – dreams disappearing at the hands of this guy who couldn’t have even been ordained in her awesome church just a few short decades ago.

    Didn’t look to me like the families did that handshaking and greeting thing after the debate – bad blood!

  20. 20.

    ...now I try to be amused

    You sure his name isn’t spelled Joshh? The Romneys have that trailing double-consonant thing going, like Mitt and Tagg.

    Heyyy, I think I see a baseball theme here. Where are Batt and Balll and Hitt and Outt?

  23. 23.

    shortstop

    @Bruce S: She was clearly deeply pissed off, but I think it’s at Mitt having to go through so much and be insulted so profoundly for a job he should just have been handed.

  27. 27.

    gocart mozart

    @aimai:
    here’s the transcript aimai:

    MS. CROWLEY: Governor, if you want to reply just quickly to this, please.

    MR. ROMNEY: Yeah, I — I certainly do. I certainly do. I — I think it’s interesting the president just said something which is that on the day after the attack, he went in the Rose Garden and said that this was an act of terror. You said in the Rose Garden the day after the attack it was an act of terror. It was not a spontaneous demonstration.

    PRESIDENT OBAMA: Please proceed.

    MR. ROMNEY: Is that what you’re saying?

    PRESIDENT OBAMA: Please proceed, Governor.

    MR. ROMNEY: I — I — I want to make sure we get that for the record, because it took the president 14 days before he called the attack in Benghazi an act of terror.

    PRESIDENT OBAMA: Get the transcript.

    MS. CROWLEY: It — he did in fact, sir.

    So let me — let me call it an act of terrorism — (inaudible) —

    PRESIDENT OBAMA: Can you say that a little louder, Candy? (Laughter, applause.)

    MS. CROWLEY: He did call it an act of terror.

  41. 41.

    Forum Transmitted Disease

    He’s having flashbacks to being forced to eat after his father is done consuming whatever he wants.

    I think this pic ends whatever budding political career he may or may not have been considering.

  45. 45.

    Bruce S

    @shortstop:

    Mitt cannot fail – he can only be failed!

    Probably some staffers heads will roll at the hands of Madame Annetoinette. Or Josh will just make them burst into flames with his Deadly Laser Eyes. Because, you know, they got their talking points for Willard from FOX NEWS!!!!! And he fell off the Epistemic Closure cliff in front of tens of millions.

  51. 51.

    shortstop

    @Violet: It may be super girly-girl, not to mention catty, of me to note that Ann and Michelle were wearing the same shade of fuchsia last night, and the upstart descendant of slaves who’s trying to brainwash our children into liking vegetables wore it about a thousand percent better.

  58. 58.

    comrade scott's agenda of rage

    @Violet:

    The others are “real estate investors” or some such.

    Meaning they play Monopoly and given what they know of their father, they’re playing with other people’s money.

    In other words, like their father, they’ve never really had a job.

  64. 64.

    Violet

    @shortstop: I noticed they wore the same color as well. Michelle looked awesome, as usual. Ann looked…frumpy, I guess? I’m not quite sure how she looks so bad since she’s attractive and has tons of money.

  70. 70.

    cckids

    @Violet:

    Does this woman have a stylist? She looks terribly dressed here.

    There was an article in the Times about her stylist, I’d never heard of him; he did some work for Nancy Reagan & I believe Laura Bush as well. Got in some nasty, snarky shots at Michelle for wearing “discount” clothing from J. Crew, said it would fall apart immediately. He came across as an aging, wannabe stylist to the stars. Definitely second or third tier forever.

  74. 74.

    shortstop

    @Violet: She dresses like some old Chicago ladies I know who’ve filled their Rogers Park high-rise apartments with foil wallpaper and metallic throw pillows. A less moneyed Ann would be wearing appliqued sweaters.

    @schrodinger’s cat: It was. Pepto doesn’t come in that color around here…;)

  75. 75.

    Lurking Canadian

    Maybe if real estate doesn’t work out, this dude can get a gig on Grimm as some kind of human/gargoyle hybrid.

  76. 76.

    bemused

    @cckids:

    Well, there you go. She’s filthy rich enough to find and hire an excellent stylist but she chooses someone who thinks the old, dowdy first lady look is the bee’s knees.

  77. 77.

    elmo

    @BobbyMac:

    I do see the superficial resemblance you’re talking about in the features, but mein Gott no, he doesn’t actually look like Landau in the aggregate. Landau radiated warmth and charm, even in Mission Impossible and Space 1999.

  78. 78.

    PurpleGirl

    @Violet: She doesn’t have a stylist… if she does, she needs a new one with style.

    She doesn’t seem to have created a personal style for herself. She seems to dress on the principle of “I like the color and design”. Maybe she goes to too many different stores and just buys what she sees and like.

    Yes, the shawl (or whatever it is) does look like a remnant. Or as my mother might have called it — Eastern European Bedspread.

  84. 84.

    Steve Crickmore

    So glad to find out Balloon Juice commentators don’t judge others by their appearance, as our more superficial opponents are wont to.

  86. 86.

    shortstop

    It’s not bad enough that y’all are libeling a good man, a decent man, a family man you should feel lucky has agreed to lead this nation and bring us back to good times, but now you’re attacking his children. I thought liberals were all about protecting the children. Hypocrites! What have those boys ever done to you except selflessly give up military service so they could serve America by helping their dad run for president?

  93. 93.

    cckids

    @Steve Crickmore: We aren’t judging her by her clothing, we are judging the clothing itself. And it’s kinda hideous.

    Not that that is a clue to character; I know several people who dress like the dog’s dinner who are wonderful human beings. Ann Romney is not one of them.

  94. 94.

    West of the Rockies (formerly Frank W.)

    They all just look like privileged, self-satisfied, snugly-sheltered WASPS to me. (Is Wasp still an acceptable term? And, yes, I know that as Mormons, they sure ain’t WASPS.)

    “The rich are different from you and me….”

  96. 96.

    Chris

    @shortstop:

    It’s not bad enough that y’all are libeling a good man, a decent man, a family man you should feel lucky has agreed to lead this nation and bring us back to good times

    If Romney loses, I’m considering writing one of those generic “we regret to inform you you’re not hired” corporate letters and signing it “Sincerely, The People You Like Being Able To Fire.” Possibly to send to his campaign, post on Facebook, troll right-wing blogs with, or whatever.

  97. 97.

    Violet

    @Steve Crickmore: I don’t really care what Ann Romney wears, but everyone is judged by their appearance to a certain extent. Part of it is just biological–“are you one of us”– and unfortunately it’s just part of being human.

    People know Ann Romney has money. She’s in a very prominent position. So people wonder why she dresses so poorly. It’s clear her clothes are expensive, but they’re poorly chosen for her or by her. She could project a stronger image if she dressed differently.

  101. 101.

    schrodinger's cat

    @shortstop: Well there are a lot of (internet) famous Mormon fashion bloggers, most of them are much younger than Ann though, they seem to think throwing together a lot of designer brands and pancake make-up is OMG fashun.

    an example

    and another one

  102. 102.

    Forum Transmitted Disease

    So glad to find out Balloon Juice commentators don’t judge others by their appearance, as our more superficial opponents are wont to.

    @Steve Crickmore: Shut the fuck up, you hideous loser. I’m willing to bet that it’s impossible to distinguish between your cheeks and your testicles.

  103. 103.

    PurpleGirl

    @Violet: People know Ann Romney has money. She’s in a very prominent position. So people wonder why she dresses so poorly. It’s clear her clothes are expensive, but they’re poorly chosen for her or by her. She could project a stronger image if she dressed differently.

    Exactly. You hit it on the head.

  104. 104.

    Citizen_X

    @Steve Crickmore:

    So glad to find out Balloon Juice commentators don’t judge others by their appearance, as our more superficial opponents are wont to.

    Are you kidding? If the look on that guy’s face doesn’t set off klanging alarm bells in your head, then 40 million years of primate evolution have gone to waste.

  105. 105.

    gogol's wife

    @BobbyMac:

    I love that picture. He’s about to pour that whiskey down Cary Grant’s throat and then send him out behind the wheel of a car down a winding mountain road. But Cary survives!

  107. 107.

    Highway Rob

    This must be the first time anyone, ever, has accused a Romney of having anything to do with soul. Don Cornelius is spinning in his grave.

  109. 109.

    retr2327

    Amazed no one’s said it yet: if he stole my soul, that gives him one more than his father has.

  110. 110.

    MaryRC

    @schrodinger’s cat: I’m sorry I followed the link to the interview with the designer … so depressing when you come across this kind of stupidity. Of course he’s not going to say that he’ll vote Democratic when his major client is Ann Romney. But saying this about Romney …

    [Romney’s] not someone who’s just giving us B.S. and telling us what he thinks we want to hear. Yeah, this abortion issue offends me. However, I don’t really think that’s him in his heart, and it may be just the Christian right pushing him, but once he gets in, he’ll be the man he is and true to himself.

    Whatever that may be.

  111. 111.

    shortstop

    @schrodinger’s cat: I had no idea this was going on. This has been instructive.

    OT, now I keep thinking of Jeff Tweedy singing “One percenters…don’t know nothin’….about my soul….ABOUT MY SOUL.”

  112. 112.

    kindness

    My soul, eh? No offense to anyone out there but if that dude wants to play with my soul he’s never going to be able to go back into the Temple again. He will never again be able to look at an Elder and proclaim his innocence and faith.

    And that’s just from the banned fluids he’d pick up from me let alone the psychadelic moments from my past I would certainly push down his gullet of a brain. That man will be putty in my energy.

  113. 113.

    Steve Crickmore

    Sorry to spoil on the fun and satire. I suppose I do seem like a kill joy. More seriously ..(well some people really do take these type of photos seriously), there are several photos such as this, of Hillary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, etc. which dwell on ridiculous lizard conspiracy theories. All are the consequence of the red eye or iris effect of the camera, which, in this photo, is even more pronounced with the bearded gentleman sitting the front row.

  114. 114.

    Hal

    @Keith:

    “Do not dare enter the Neutral Zone, or you will perish.”

    Ha, total Romulan. Must be here on an extended survey mission with his Android Mittbot.

    Also, was Michelle Obama there? I realized I haven’t heard anything about her reaction to the debate. Maybe Anne’s you people face distracted from that.

  116. 116.

    aimai

    @kooks:

    Holy SHIT! Do you mean to tell me that Romney had the nerve to continue with his canned Fox news attack after Obama recounted meeting the bodies at Andrews Airforce Base? I’d seen the second half of the clip but not the first. If I’d been Romney I’d have vomited in my shoes after the first half. I can’t believe he pursued that line of attack. Nauseating.

    …does it sound funny for me to say thanks to everyone who posted the longer clip for me?

    aimai

  122. 122.

    1badbaba3

    @schrodinger’s cat: She’s trying way too hard with that outfit. I believe Stacy and Clinton would say dressing too young ages one terribly.

    Um, er, that’s what I’ve heard when my wife has it on. Yeah, yeah, I don’t watch, myself.

  125. 125.

    LAC

    Ahhhhooos….DAMIMUS!!!!

    Jaysus, dude, what’s with the eye fucking with the Manson lamps? And her majesty just looked like there was a miscount of the silverware.

  126. 126.

    Patricia Kayden

    This post is hilarious! But no, Zandar, he doesn’t have my soul. I’m stronger than that.

    Mrs. Romney doesn’t looked too pleased, does she? Overall, a very bad night for The Bots.

  127. 127.

    LanceThruster

    Almost all the people in that audience shot remind me of the claymation figures Eastern block productions shown by Jean Marsh for KQED’s International Festival of Animation.

    All seem to have features tweaked as if for caricatures.

    Nothing against any of them as we all look like we look…but they do comes across as quite severe on the whole.

  128. 128.

    Patricia Kayden

    @Hal: Michelle was there and I saw her greeting attendees at the conclusion of the debate. Beautiful as usual.

  129. 129.

    schrodinger's cat

    @1badbaba3: Love Stacy and Clinton, don’t have cable so haven’t seen them recently. WNTW is one of TLC’s better offering, no shame in admitting to seeing it, its not like Honey Boo Boo or that show with elebenty kids. BTW if you get an opportunity you should watch the original British WNTW with Triny and Susannah.

  131. 131.

    JWL

    It’s probably been noted up-thread, but he also looks like a Vulcan.

    Recall that Spock was able to impose his will over an individual via a mind control technique from a certain distance away.

    Which explains why a secret service agent backstage was heard muttering over and over again, “Praise Allah”.

  132. 132.

    Elizabelle

    Josh does look like a Vulcan.

    And he does not like seeing his dad get pantsed on national TV.

  133. 133.

    MTiffany

    And that, ladies and gentleman, is the face the second coming of George W Bush has chosen to wear.

    It’s not too late to dodge that bullet — vote for Obama.

  134. 134.

    cmm

    That face does an amazing job of looking angry and petulant at the saame time. It is very…Joffrey.

  136. 136.

    chuckieboy

    Here is an idea that will outdraw all of the debates and provide some most needed laughter to everyone who is exhausted from all this bullshit. Michelle and ann in a no holds barred street fight. I would pay to see Michelle take ann’s lily white fat loose ass to the woodpile.

  137. 137.

    sharl

    @LanceThruster: I loved that series! The animations were – no surprise – somewhat uneven in quality, but I consider even that something of a positive attribute. Lots of entertainment and education to be had there, and sometimes these two qualities were found in the same work.

    I need to check on DVD availability of those old shows.

  138. 138.

    CAfan

    Zander, Thanx for the pic of sour-faced Ann R.
    I’d noticed that shot last night. Wondered how to find it again to check that she looked as angry as I thought.

    Do you think that both spouses wearing pink was part of the debate rules? Could the debate commission be that idiotic?

  139. 139.

    Sammy

    @RinaX: Is Josh the son who took the illegal pages of notes from Mitt after the first debate? You know, those pages that Mitt tried to put in his right pocket the in his left before his son took them from him?

  140. 140.

    DonkeyKong

    “The heads. You’re looking at the heads. I, uh – sometimes he goes too far, you know – he’s the first one to admit it!”

  141. 141.

    LanceThruster

    @DonkeyKong:

    Hey, man, you don’t talk to the Willard Mechanism. You listen to him. The man’s enlarged my mind. He’s a poet warrior in the classic sense. I mean sometimes he’ll… uh… well, you’ll say “hello” to him, right? And he’ll just walk right by you. He won’t even notice you. And suddenly he’ll grab you, and he’ll throw you in a corner, and he’ll say, “Do you know that ‘if’ is the middle word in life? If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you”… I mean I’m… no, I can’t… I’m a little man, I’m a little man, he’s… he’s a great man! I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across floors of silent seas…

  144. 144.

    Dream On

    Bela’s not dead. Poor Bela.

    I think the Unmentionable Offspring looks very Hammer Film-worthy.

  150. 150.

    nellcote

    The pink outfits were a nod to breast cancer awareness month. The Prez was wearing a pink rubber bracelet.

  154. 154.

    Larkspur

    @Steve Crickmore: Steve, if I were a public person whose photo was always being taken, I’d have about a zillion opportunities to make fun of myself. It’s just a thing. You get a lot of photos taken, a certain percentage of them are going to be weird. I’m usually highly sensitive to wanton meanness, but I don’t think this is such a situation.

    Also, I think Josh bears a startling resemblance to Aimee Mann, and I love Aimee Mann. Also, cckids, Aimee appeared in a Buffy episode, although she was not a demon or a minion. Her line was, “I hate playing vampire towns”. I agree with you and am currently giggling.

  155. 155.

    lewp

    Josh totally got that look from the Donald, who tried to use it against Obama at the White House Correspondent’s dinner last year. You know, when Obama was lauding Trump for firing Gary Busey instead of Meat Loaf, and how those were the types of decisions that would keep him up at night (as opposed to the decision to take out Bin Laden, which he’d basically just made). The Donald was giving him the same stone-faced-scowl-with-evil-eye look the whole time. And to similar effect.

  157. 157.

    RadioOne

    there are so many horror movie/tv show comparisons we could use with that picture of him, that I’m not even going to bother offering an example. Quoting Sarah Palin: “all of them, any of them.”

  159. 159.

    halfcynic

    @Violet: I think there’s something about the New England wealthy Republican WASP aesthetic that values the dowdy, played down look; i.e. it’s not just her. Money is important for its own sake, not to actually indulge in sensual pleasures. Also, style is…tacky.

    Mind you it doesn’t explain the Pepto pink: the signature shade should be that particular shade of faded clapboard grey-blue.

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