(Mike Thompson via GoComics.com)
__
Looks like R-money’s handlers have finally accepted that he’ll never be as butch as Dubya (speaking of setting the bar low), so they’re going for the Full Herbert Walker:
With presidential campaign rhetoric almost exclusively concerned at the moment with issues of character — as corruption, secrecy, and honesty become major themes in both sides‘ talking points — the Romney campaign could begin using the candidate’s sympathetic wife as a shield.
In an interview with BuzzFeed about the Obama campaign’s recent assault on Romney’s personal finances, a Romney adviser repeatedly brought up Ann Romney’s name unprompted, arguing that the attacks were aimed at her as well.
“I think when they refer to Mitt, suggesting there was something illegal or untoward about how they managed their financial affairs, they’re talking about Ann by extension, because she signed those tax returns.” the adviser said. The insinuation of Ann Romney’s culpability, he argued, is one reason the campaign believes that Romney partisans are not the only ones who will see Obama’s attacks as underhanded. “It’s not just right-wing Republicans — I’m talking about business leaders, officials in the [George] H.W. [Bush] administration, who are frankly shocked by what [Obama’s campaign] is saying.”
The adviser added, “Nobody’s perfect, but there’s a level of decency that shines through with Gov. Romney and Ann and the family that no one can deny.”
Sure, if you spell “decency” P-R-I-V-I-L-E-G-E. Nobody wants to pick on an MS sufferer who’s been trapped in the Romney stockade since she was a teenager, but it’s been thirty years since “Bar” Bush had so much fun needling that wop Ferraro, and without St. Reagan’s aura “Poppy” couldn’t fool the voters into a second term, remember?
… The last time she became central to the campaign conversation — when a Democratic strategist mused that the stay-at-home mom had “never worked a day in her life” — Republicans immediately put the Obama campaign on defense and used the ensuing “mommy wars” to help improve her husband’s image with women. And polls back up the idea that Ann Romney is popular — at least among those who know she is. Twenty-seven percent of independents give her a “favorable” rating against an “unfavorable” number of only 15% — but the rest say they don’t know her well enough to form an opinion.
There’s that number again! John Rogers, you are truly a prophet for our times. So, Lady Ann has the Crazification Factor in her corner, but more than half of those “independents” are hers to lose. Between the Olympics and Mitt’s journey to Jerusalem, I’m sure Ann can find something dismissive and tone-deaf for the media to tiptoe around.
More seriously, here’s Ed Kilgore at the Washington Monthly:
Pew reports “few [voters] want to hear about Romney’s wealth, family, religion.” Problem is, what they do want to hear about (his gubernatorial record, his taxes, and his record at Bain) are all topics Mitt refuses to discuss at this point.
Although, if the dressage competition doesn’t provide any good visuals, Paul Constant at Seattle’s Stranger shares the good news (for Democrats) that Herman Cain is still auditioning for Romney’s “loveable sidekick” role…
Tonal Crow
There once was a robot named Romney,
Whose ludicrous claims came so calmly,
To Britain he went,
But back home was sent:
“If you vote for that ass you’ve gone balmy”.
—
Tag: Romney’s worse than Sarah Palin.
Yutsano
I’m at work. I’m sick. But at least my work queue is dead as a doornail.
JWL
The adviser added, “Nobody’s perfect, but there’s a level of decency that shines through with Gov. Romney and Ann and the family that no one can deny.”
No, no there’s not. There’s definitely not. A level of decency, I mean.
Tony J
@Tonal Crow:
Nice, but it’s barmy.
OTOH, it is pretty balmy outside.
Tonal Crow
Sure. If by “decency” you mean “say-anything sliminess in the service of unbounded greed for power”.
—
Tag: Romney’s worse than Sarah Palin.
Tonal Crow
@Tony J:
I’ve seen both, with “barmy” being labelled an older usage.
—
Tag: Romney’s worse than Sarah Palin.
dmsilev
@JWL: There’s a level of decency, sure enough. It’s just that the level in question is roughly 500 feet below sea level.
Greed Is God
Tragical Mitt’s Tory Tour
Enhanced Voting Techniques
First time I have ever heard decency defined as taking cheep shots at everyone one you meet.
You know, between the passive aggressive lecturing, finicky eater, stubbornness, empathy issues and whining I am beginning to wonder if Mittens has aspergers syndrome. So far the only thing he has been shown to be good at is bean counting, which fits that. He even has that mommy figure thing going with Ann Romney.
That line “he has a good heart” is what me and my friends use when we are explaining my housemate who has aspergers to people who are upset with him.
Ash Can
Yeah, give Ann a more prominent role in the campaign. That’ll fix things. Brilliant.
Jay in Oregon
@Greed Is God:
Damn, man. SO stealing that.
It’s funny watching the #tcot flunkies and conservatives on Twitter bringing their weak sauce to the #RomneyShambles tag.
“I bet Obama thinks England is one of the 57 states! Har har!”
Greed Is God
@Jay in Oregon:
My small contribution to today’s festivities.
aimai
How do we know she signed those tax documents? Facts not in evidence at this point.
jl
Romney should watch his wife’s dern horse dance in the Olympics, IMHO.
Goofy people, the Romney camp. I don’t understand. They act like nincompoops and jackasses on important stuff, and they they do weird not very nice symbolic gestures.
So, now Romney will not watch the horse dance, that will be just swell. People will be reminded of the Romneys’ $77K a year horse, and that Romney is too weird, or cold, or uninterested to watch the thing, his wife’s ‘therapeutic’ horse dance for the Olympics.
Fine with me. Keep it up Mitt. I like it.
Yutsano
@aimai: I don’t doubt she did, as that’s a direct tax fraud even Willard can’t get out of. But I’d bet $10000 she doesn’t have the first clue what’s in them.
Gin & Tonic
People joke about that “retroactive retirement”, but I was thinking today, he is an adherent of a religion that posthumously baptizes people. If you can convert someone’s faith after they’ve died, what’s to stop you from retiring 3 years earlier than you actually did?
NonyNony
@jl: To be fair, Romney had hit a “no decision is a good decision” point with the horse thing. Going makes it a photo op for mockery. Not going is as you said.
Personally I’d go if I were in his shoes. I’d say “Of course I’m going to go – this is really important to Ann and I want to be there for her. What kind of husband would I be if I wasn’t there to support her in this?”
Hm. On second thought that’s probably a bad thing for a Republican nominee to say. It makes it sound like he takes interest in his wife as a person, and that might alienate some of his base.
Tony J
@Tonal Crow:
Really?
I just checked and, yes, it appears that both are acceptable variations. Though ‘balmy’ in any sense other than temperature has fallen right out of fashion on this side of the Atlantic at least.
Learn something new every day, I do.
Calouste
@Tonal Crow:
Unfortunately, you have been misinformed. The word with the meaning you are looking for is most certainly “barmy” in colloquial British English. (former long term British resident speaking here)
Tonal Crow
@Calouste: Hmm, sources are conflicting. Anyone have an OED handy?
Greed Is God
Obama: You’re in a stadium, sitting in the stands, when all of a sudden you look down…
Mitt: What one?
Obama: What?
Mitt: What stadium?
Obama: It doesn’t make any difference what stadium, it’s completely hypothetical.
Mitt: But, how come I’d be there?
Obama: Maybe you’re at a photo op. Maybe you want to be president. Who knows? You look down and see a mare, Mitt. It’s dancing toward you…
Mitt: Mare? What’s that?
Obama: [irritated by Mitt’s interruptions] You know what a horse is?
Mitt: Of course!
Obama: Same thing.
Mitt: I’ve never seen a horse… But I understand what you mean.
Obama: You turn around and you ignore the horse while it performs its act, Mitt.
Mitt: Do you make up these questions, Mr. Obama? Or do they write ’em down for you?
Obama: The horse performs its act, its mane glistening in the hot sun, dancing its legs off trying to get your attention, but it can’t. Not without your help. But you’re not helping.
Mitt: [angry at the suggestion] What do you mean, I’m not helping?
Obama: I mean: you’re not helping! Why is that, Mitt?
[Mitt has become visibly shaken]
Obama: They’re just questions, Mitt. In answer to your query, they’re written down for me. It’s a test, designed to provoke an emotional response… Shall we continue?
MattF
Well, ‘decency’ but with a few little foibles. E.g., cowardice, dishonesty, ruthless pursuit of self-interest. I’ll allow that it’s an open question whether he really grasps the extent of his own creepiness.
aimai
@Yutsano:
I’m just kidding, Yutsano. I think we should treat this like the conservatives did the “Whitey” tapes–the imaginary tape that was going to have Michelle Obama calling white people “whitey” which so many were holding out for as the holy grail of oppo information during the last election. I want to see people demanding that Ann prove she signed those taxes by procducing them for the public.
aimai
NonyNony
@aimai:
Grod no. Those people looked ridiculous.
Honestly? I think Ann Romney does a brilliant job of writing her own material for us. Might as well leave her alone and just let her speak for herself.
JPL
Today I received a phone call from a citizens united group who wants donation to release a movie that will get rid of Obama for good. My reply was oh, just ducky so we can have Mitt who is London today embarrassing all Americans.
Assholes all of them
scav
@Tonal Crow: Oddly enough, I do, only one of the compact ones from 71. My old job had the best discard shelf. As of 71, Barmy is what you want, although the first meaning is “of, full, or covered in barm ; frothing” only getting down to flighty in def. 3. Balmy is 1. Yielding or producing balm. 2. of the consistency of balm ; resinous 3. delicately and deliciously fragrant 4 deliciously soft and soothing …. TINY print. I think balmy is probably an eggcorn for barmy.
Elizabelle
@Yutsano:
Be well soon.
My mom reports that Romney’s dissing the Brits made the top of the CBS Evening News.
Bully.
Darkrose
Meanwhile, back home, Bobby Jindal is trying to convince everyone that Americans don’t care about what dem furriners are saying:
”
Which, of course, begs the question: why’s he making such a big deal about meeting with Very Important People if Americans only care about what’s going on here?
cxs
The Buzzfeed piece just makes me blind with rage. Where was this concern about transitive slamming of the spouse in 2008? I don’t know why this of all things pushes my buttons so hard, but it makes me seethe.
On a positive note, I’m glad Mrs. Obama is in London to provide a contrast to Mitt the Shit.
Tonal Crow
@scav:
Thank you. I will stand corrected by that authority. “Barmy” Mitt is, he is, “barmy” is what he is. BTW, I loved reading the OED in college. I never knew what bit of arcana I’d find.
—
Tag: Romney’s worse than Sarah Palin.
MattF
@Tonal Crow: A little-known fact: a lot of public libraries have institutional subscriptions to the online OED. Not only that– these subscriptions are often accessible online to anyone with a library card. Worth looking into.
Brachiator
Something a little lighter.
some great Civil War photographs
On the front line of American history: Remarkable photos capture life in besieged Washington during the Civil War
WereBear
I think he’s just a spoiled brat. I mean, you look at that list, and it’s your typical toddler; nothing wrong with it at that age.
Tonal Crow
@MattF:
Ooo! You’ve made my (somewhat nerdy) day!
—
Tag: Romney’s worse than Sarah Palin.
Greed Is God
Mitt’s going for Olympic gold in the Upper Class Twit competition.
rikyrah
Ann
‘YOU PEOPLE’
‘ IT’S OUR TURN’
Romney is as worthless as her husband.
muddy
@Tonal Crow: My sister has an OED, I don’t know what year but it’s huge and has its own lecturn. We often resort to it as gentle post-prandial fun.
Njorl
Romney is willing to acknowledge running a successful company, saving the Olympics and being a governor, but all details are off the table, including which state he governed.
Tonal Crow
@Greed Is God:
FTW!
—
Tag: Romney’s worse than Sarah Palin.
Horrendo Slapp (formerly Jimperson Zibb, Duncan Dönitz, Otto Graf von Pfmidtnöchtler-Pízsmőgy, Mumphrey, et al.)
I never thought of this before now, but you can’t spell “privilege” without “vile”. And I think the Rmoneys prove the point flawlessly.
TheMightyTrowel
@Tonal Crow: Just checked the online version for updates:
Barmy: (from ‘barm’: the froth that forms on the top of fermenting malt liquors and is used to leaven bread. Yeast. Leavening.) 1. Of, full of, or covered with barm; frothing. 2. Full of ferment, excitedly active, flighty. 3. balmy adj. 7 (of which it is an altered form, after barm n.2). slang.
Balmy: (from ‘balm’ an aromatic substance made from a mix of tree resin and various oils.) 1. Yielding or producing balm. 2. Of the consistency of balm; resinous. Obs. 3. Delicately and deliciously fragrant. 4. Deliciously soft and soothing. 5. Of wind, air, weather, etc. (combining senses 3, 4): Deliciously mild, fragrant, and soothing. 6. Of healing virtue, medicinally soothing. 7. ‘Soft’, weak-minded, idiotic. Also as n. (see quot. 19031). See also barmy adj. slang. 8. absol. Sleep (Cf. sense 4.) slang.
Scott
I hope people are not thinking the Romney’s did anything illegal because I’m sure everything passes legality. Folks got to push on the real issues which is that the legal system is rigged in the Romney’s favor. That is the real issue.
ABL
SINCE WHEN!?
Tonal Crow
@TheMightyTrowel: Thanks! Definition (1) of “barmy” and definition (7) of “balmy” both accurately describe Romney. He’s frothing with idiotic bilge, when he’s not lying his backside off.
Hypatia's Momma
@Greed Is God:
I hope this competition has the same final obstacle as the Monty Python one.
scav
@ABL: That’s not decency shining, although I’m beginning to think it might be radioactivity. That or an oncoming train.
schrodinger's cat
Ann Romney wears jeans? I thought she wore designer duds. I vaguely remember an article in the NYT style section applauding her fashion sense. Apparently she doesn’t have a stylist, or so the article said.
JCT
Is it too much to wish for the fine British audiences at the Olympic venues give Mitt a nice round of boos? Would be fun….
kc
“Nobody wants to pick on an MS sufferer who’s been trapped in the Romney stockade ”
Oh, come on, she wasn’t a child bride, and she hasn’t been trapped, for crying out loud. And I can’t be the only person who’s getting a little tired of the MS being trotted out constantly. She’s on CNN right now, looking healthy ad a horse, and dressed like a Palm Beach socialite.
Splitting Image
Romney’s decency shines out like a shaft of gold when all around it is dark.
Hypatia's Momma
@Splitting Image:
Which is to say, not at all.
SpaceSquid
Ugh. How long before someone tries to convince us that any attack on Mitt is really an attack on his wife, because by critising him, you’re suggesting she was stupid to marry him.
That said, if Mitt’s advisors have reached the “maybe you should hide behind your wife?” stage of the proceedings, that’s probably good news.