This time from Mitt Romney’s biggest fan:
If, as Bob Beckel asserted this AM on Fox & Friends, there is a political bombshell about to be dropped on the Obama campaign, it wouldn’t be coming from the McCain campaign as there is no upside for him to be hitting Obama now.
Team Hillary by contrast has every reason to throw everything into the fray before the superdelegates declare en masse for Obama.
I am not worried about any “bombshell,” but I am tired of hearing about one. Right now, we have been subjected to days of hype, and I don’t think that is an accident. It is as if folks are simply spending weeks prepping the ground preparing people to expect a bombshell, they can release some weak nonsense, and then pretend it is a big deal. While the “bombshell” will fizzle, the psyops will have been successful enough to make people think it is a big deal even when it isn’t. Right now, their goal is mainstreaming this and trying to get the chattering classes in the press and on the cable networks to talk about it. If they can get Chris matthews to speculate about the “bombshell,” they will have succeeded.
Additionally, were something legitimately troubling released before the convention that was damaging to Obama, it would be quite easy for the majority of the Democratic party to quickly rally around Hillary Clinton as the nominee, who, despite losing to Obama, will have earned about 49% of the delegates and 50% of the popular vote. It is not like all of the Democratic eggs are in the Obama basket- there is a quite popular fallback candidate, and as Obama voters, unlike some Clinton supporters, have repeatedly expressed a willingness to vote for Hillary in the fall (some of us less than others after the odious campaign she has run, but really- John McCain is four more years of Bush and no chance to clean out the bureaucracy and uncover all the rest of the crap the Bush clan has done), it is hard to get too worked up about this alleged “shoe drop.” Yes- Democrats will lose the Andrew Sullivan vote, but if there is something out there that is devastating to Obama, the party will continue on, and John McCain is STILL a horribly flawed candidate.
Sure, I will be upset if Obama is not the nominee, but I will get over it if there is something out there that legitimately disqualifies him from office. Not to mention, I think Obama cares enough about the country that if it became clear he could not win, he would drop out himself.
So bring it on NoQuarter. Bring it on Hugh. Bring it on Bob Beckel. No one cares.
DFD
Any bombshell will be a dud.
Doug H. (Fausto no more)
Generally, whenever I hear someone say ‘We have something really really big, but we can’t show it to you, but its there, just trust us,’ I know immediately there’s nothing there.
Agent Flowbee is desperate to the point of believing that
Wenck and SteinerRoger Stone will save him from the horrors of an Obama presidency.Karmakin
Well if you’ll get over it, why not encourage Obama to drop out in the interests of unity and defeating McCain?
I kid I kid!!
Actually, one element to this whole thing that really bothers me is because Obama is actually a pretty reasonable, upright guy, people expect more from him. The onus is on him (and his supporters) to always take the ultra-high road, one that’s unreasonable, to be honest.
I grew up with this stuff to be honest, and quite frankly, it’s really damn frustrating. It’s a form of bullying that makes me nauseous.
El Cid
OMG! What if they find some sort of religious guy who said sumpin crazy??? That would totally sink Obama but not McCain because they’re cain’t be no crazy right wing religious types!
D.N. Nation
Ahh, Hooters Hewitt. Just movin’ on from one wrong thing to the next.
Otto Man
Given Obama’s track record at knocking back the GOP bullshit, it’d have to be a huge bombshell for him to get knocked out.
Anything less than Mark Foley territory and he’d probably find a way to inflict damage on the GOP with it. He’s proving himself to be a judo master when it comes to turning political attacks around against those who start a fight with him.
El Cid
Oh! I hope they caught Obama lookin’ in that Colorado dude’s daughter’s window with the big-head alien puppet on the grainy night-vision!
4tehlulz
TAPES OR GTFO
cleek
apparently the bomb went off prematurely and blew the entry off the Fox & Fiends website.
Chris Johnson
I would have to see it to believe it. I can’t really imagine anything that would either stop me voting Obama, OR convince me that it’s an acceptable thing to vote Hillary after the way she’s carried on. I’m quite capable of voting total Democratic coattails and then writing in Obama or something, to try and get a devastating Dem majority while still rejecting Hillary. The one thing I won’t do no matter what, is stay home or fail to vote on all the downticket stuff.
Dreggas
Unless there is footage of him doin’ the dirty with a white congressional paige screaming “Take that Honkey” I doubt it will have that big of an effect. Further, since nothing has been released yet it’s beginning to get old. Then again even the Clinton Campaign is buying into it
Just Some Fuckhead
I look at a nobombshell/mildbombshell/hideousbombshell as a win/win/win. No bombshell, obvious win. Mild Bombshell, we get to see Obama’s masterful political acumen showcased. Hideous Bombshell, we get to see HRC try to win the general with all the class and popularity of Tonya Harding.
ThymeZone
We have just described the rationale for blogspoofing. If you can shift the spotlight, you own the stage.
This is another aspect of that wonderful, subtle phenomenon we learned about two years on Kevin Drum’s website, “Dynamite in the Distance.” You don’t have to actually have anything, you just have to create doubt and concern. Once you do that, the doubt and concern become … well … the concern. This is something the GOP has polished to a fine art.
The remedy is facts. Facts are our friends.
With facts, and turnout, you can defeat the doubtmongers.
NCProsecutor
Why’d he write this silly post?
Why’d he give this nonsense the time of day?
Why’d he fail to mention that this thing has already been pre-debunked?
Why’d he do it, y’all?
Sigh.
D.N. Nation
Additionally, there’s this at No Quarter:
Yes, we should take these people seriously. (Also, Obama wins the nomination because he won the votes, dummy.)
phobos
There’s a logical explanation: The UFO that was supposed to deliver the tape to Roger Ailes mysteriously crashed in the Nevada desert. The Bigfoot courier was unaccounted for in the wreckage and is presumably on the run.
Zifnab
I’m just sick and tired of how the Republican Party has become the “default” choice after 2000. If the Democratic Candidate is in doubt, if he has flaws, if there is a single policy position you find distasteful… well, you better vote Republican just to play it safe.
Since when did McCain become synonymous with “none of the above”? Oh yeah, the Republican Primary.
Davebo
It’s not even fun anymore to tease the Clinton supporters at Johnson’s place these days.
I only hope we don’t see mass suicides come next week.
attaturk
Have you noticed the original FoxNews Beckel post that led to the linked post HAS DISAPPEARED INTO THE ETHER!
Apparently, even too much bullshit for FoxNews.
Librarian
Yeah, a bombshell. Just like when every time somebody in Iraq finds some old shells left over from the Iran-Iraq war lying around, Hannity breathlessly announces that the WMDs have been found. That kind of bombshell.
Dreggas
If they had only drank the kool-aid while waiting for the UFO…
El Cid
Since Hillary is so fond of bringing up 1968 (JUNE!!!), why do they never mention that in 1968, the party insiders took the nomination from the leading vote-getter McCarthy to hand it to the establishment, pro-war Humphrey who hadn’t campaigned in a single primary.
And Humphrey, the pro-war centrist favored by party insiders, lost and gave Nixon his first term.
Everything, but everything with these people is always blaming the liberals and the hippies and the doves.
They formed the Democratic Leadership Council in the mid-1980s because they were convinced Reagan proved they had to oust the liberal and labor Democrats.
And they largely did.
And then with the help of Ross Perot, they won a squeaker of a Presidential campaign. Instead of a narrow victory, this supposedly proved all their convictions.
So, next, they governed largely by pushing through Republican-originated legislation specifically aiming for doing so via conservative Democratic minorities and Republican majorities against Democratic majorities.
And when the Democrats lost Congress from 1994 – 2006 and laid the groundwork for the Bush Jr. triumvirate, still, still, still the party and its pundits claimed that the lessoned learned was to get rid of those darned liberals and lefties and laborites and especially the anti-war or not pro-war types.
Now, because Obama was against the Iraq war, they tried to play this bullsh*t McGovern / 1972 analogy yet again, but they couldn’t do it too well because they simultaneously had to portray the centrist liberal mainstream Obama as an extreme dangerous pacifist liberal and as an insensitive economic royalist — and THIS from the people who pushed NAFTA through against a Democratic majority.
And if somehow Obama fails to win, they will once again take it as proof that establishment types should always choose the nominee who is more center-right and more hawkish and more corporate.
Just Some Fuckhead
Yup, it would suck to have to wait that long. I’m crossing my fingers for middle of this week.
Just Some Fuckhead
Yup, it would suck to have to wait that long. I’m crossing my fingers for middle of this week.
Andrew
I’m just waiting for Kodos and Kang to pop out of their Obama and McCain suits and laugh about the two-party system.
Napoleon
In my gut I have felt for several months now that this has changed to the Dems now and into the forseeable future being the default choice.
Crusty Dem
Come on people, this is from Larry “Maxwell Smart” Johnson. Whatever CIA credentials he once had, he’s never been right about ANYTHING. This is the guy who published a report in July 2001 stated that terrorism was not a major threat. A guy who claimed that Rove had been indited on multiple counts in the Valerie Plame case. A guy who piled on the “Obama gay hooker cocaine in a limo” garbage, even after the obvious lies and the failed polygraph. His only demonstrable skill is getting people riled up with lies and innuendo.
The funniest thing about all this is that despite his continual garbage, even he doesn’t know what is on the “mystery tape”. He “knows” it’s horribly devastating, he “knows” it will make HRC the nominee, but has no idea what it is. Quite frankly, even if there turned out to be a damning tape released tomorrow, it would almost certainly be no more than a dumb luck guess, since they clearly know no more than I do if I claimed there would be a major earthquake tomorrow and California would fall into the sea. It could happen, doesn’t mean I knew anything.
What a bunch of ratfuckers.
w vincentz
The “bombshell” is hidden under the WMD’s somewhere in the Iraq desert near Syria.
Scott H
Oh God, it’s Campaign Big Brother with all this scripted rubbish. This week, Hilly will find a Huey Newton t-shirt in the back of Barry’s closet , and everybody will be jumping up and down pissing themselves.
Doug H. (Fausto no more)
That’s an insult to Agent 86.
Teak111
What bombshell would cause me to go off Obama?
An affair-please
BJ from an intern- been there done that
gay affair- none of my business (but getting warmer)
land deals with the Chicago mobsters- everyone makes mistakes
Former coke addict- hmmmmm, maybe, he is kinda skinny
Smoker- I know he is trying to quite
Two wetsuits and a sex toy- interesting, any video?
he and his wife are swingers- well, i’d have to see proof
serial groper- Arnold has that covered already
Secret love child with Abrmaoff’s mistress- could happen
BFF with DC mayor- crack kills
Smoked a doobie in college- who hasn’t cept mccain
Diddled law school student- what did she look like?
Has only one testicle- does that make him less manly?
Is black- what?
grumpy realist
Yeah, given the smarts over at Larry’s right now, I suspect this “tape to end all tapes” is probably someone jumping up and down in hysteria pointing out that Barry is the father of two BLACK children…..
I think “wanker” was an epithet written for that crowd. No, scratch that–simply a description.
Stooleo
Crazy Larry supposedly has some tape of Michelle Obama going off on some rant that will strike fear into the feeble little hearts of the super delegates. Booman has the details.
PSoTD
Bob Beckel. Bob Beckel. Bob Beckel.
Yep, it IS shorter to say that pointless political has-been!
Thank you Bob Beckel for providing syllable reduction in future political blogging. BobBeckeling is now the term I’ll use for the activities of hacks.
chiggins
Smoker- I know he is trying to quite
Dude, if he can restore constitutionality to the executive branch, clean out the rot, and make us a citizen in good standing with the world community again, I don’t care. Tell me what brand and where to send the cartons.
So bring it on NoQuarter.
NoQuarter. NoIntegrity, NoEthics, NoCredibility, and NoFuckingWay for that matter. Man, what a horrible human being that guy turned out to be.
Just Some Fuckhead
It’s worse than that. He is the father of two mixed-race children. Wait ’til the Republicans find out. We’re doomed.
Karmakin
The funny thing is that the latest state by state polls have Obama winning right now.
And I’m willing to say, right up front, that right now is his FLOOR. Just at the end of a very embattled primary, where a lot of shit has been flung in his direction. People say that the Republican attack machine is worse, but frankly, I don’t see it. They’re worse because most Democrats are incapable of fighting it. Obama isn’t. And quite frankly, if his little “stunt” tonight is any indication, he’s going to turn it up a gear.
But El Cid above is correct. At least in the blogosphere at large, the anti-Clinton sentiment was more of an anti-DLC…the same thing that we’ve been fighting against for several years now. Clinton supporters who are STILL too blind to recognize that, well..fuck ’em. The only way you can not see that is if you don’t WANT to see it.
Just Some Fuckhead
In fairness to HugeNitWit, Mitt Romney is one fine-looking man. I mean, I’m pretty straight most of the time but when I see him on TV, I just feel a total gayass longing to hold this man in my arms and stroke his beautiful hair and dot his eyes with gentle but urgent kisses. I imagine it’s prolly the same way for Hugh.
Cain
Keep in mind that Michelle isn’t just a politician’s wife, she’s got her own position at the University of Chicago Medical Center to consider. She’s just too professional to say something so trashy that would embarass her and her employer. So I don’t believe this BS for one moment.
Once it is released and we find out what a farce it, full flammage mode should be initiated…
cain
Tsulagi
I don’t think there’s a “Whitey” tape, or at least not one that would live up to anywhere near the hype. While Michelle Obama has said a thing or two not politically smart during this election cycle like “first time proud of country,” I don’t think she’s stupid.
If Hillary supporter types had the tape, it would be out by now. The only one who would benefit in not releasing now a really damaging Obama tape if it existed would be McCain. Best timing for him would be after Obama is the official nominee and after the convention.
But if McCain supporters held the vaunted Whitey tape for months until after the convention, sizable points could be made holding it that long was a completely crass political act with no class. Many Republicans would cheer that, but you’d likely lose a fair number Independents sick of political gamesmanship. I’d put money down the tape as advertised doesn’t exist.
NCProsecutor
Why’d he wait so long?
passerby
Yeah, I’m tired of this boogie man stuff too.
I think the truth is that if there was anything big and bad enough to knock Obama out, the Clinton campaign would’ve already used it.
After all, they wanted to keep the bush/clinton/clinton/bush/bush/clinton(?)/clinton(?) train rolling.
T
KCinDC
John, I think you’re wrong about the psychology of the “bombshell”. If you build up something for days as a truly amazing, game-changing story, and keep delaying and delaying and raising expectations, that makes people more likely to reject some lame piece of garbage that you try to pass off on them, not less. After all this, if Larry doesn’t have something truly earthshaking, all he’s accomplished is making himself a bigger laughingstock.
nightjar
What bullshit.
Yeah right Matthews and Cole. Why are you still harping on this nonsense. Your going to throw BO under the bus for Michelle saying the awful whitey word. Everyone knows she is going to speak her mind and say impolite things about injustices and it will shock the wingnut world and those who say they’ve left but still with one foot in it. And Obama will not quit because of this silliness, even if you will cole.
I’m with dreggas on the situation.
El Cid
I heard on the internet that they got a secret tape of Obama faking the moon landings.
John Cole
Hunh?
I have done more for Obama than any other candidate I have supported in two dozen years, and you are accusing me of wanting to throw him under the bus? Did I flinch during Rev. Wright?
Having said that, if something explosive and awful comes out, I am not in a suicide pact with the Obama campaign. I want McCain defeated.
Kevin Hayden
The GOP considers Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin to be ‘bombshells’. All I see is a horsey lookin’ gal and a sneering boylike dwarf, both with pretty hair.
Johnson, on the other hand, doesn’t even have the hair… anywhere.
As a drag queen, he’s only got the drag going on.
Mnemosyne
I think the guy who has the incriminating videotape is the same guy holding the tapes of the CEO of Procter & Gamble admitting that they tithe to the Church of Satan and of Liz Claiborne and Tommy Hilfiger saying they don’t like minorities wearing their clothes.
Oh, and he probably has the arthroscopic footage of the gerbil being removed from Richard Gere’s ass, too.
nightjar
I didn’t say “wanting” to throw Obama under the bus. I said your were “going to throw” him under the bus. I have no idea what you want. You can’t take a principled stand about not accepting guilt by association for Rev Wright and not accepting it for Michelle (in case a mendacious rumor might be true). A rumor among several with murky origins and very different from the one you cited in yesterdays original thread.
“
Well all I can say to this is if your going to get weak kneed about reported use of the word “whitey” maybe you should get out those Barr for prez signs and plant ’em in your yard today. Until then, I’ll be in yawn status until BArack himself actually says or does something worthy of angst.
And btw, how did your support of Obama turn out with the Wright flap? I heard it worked out pretty well.
Tsulagi
I’m not. Wouldn’t take that much.
If there were a tape of Michelle Obama riffing off some Wright themes in the heat of a moment saying things like “God damn whitey,” “Whitey is the source of all evil in the U.S. of KKKA,” and/or “Whitey created AIDS to kill poor black people,” her hubby would be toast as a presidential candidate. Badly burnt toast. You could kiss that magical unity shit good-bye.
In that situation, wouldn’t be Cole or anyone else throwing B.O. under the bus. It would be Michelle driving the bus popping wheelies on his body. If you think not, you’re on the same reality plane with the Rapture Riders.
As I said earlier, I’d put money down such a tape doesn’t exist.
nightjar
That brown stuff on your nose might fall off and you’d slip on it.
El Cid
I heard they got a video showing Michelle Obama admitted to killing JonBenet Ramsay just cause she was too purty a white girl.
machiado
The only “rumors” I’ve read recently are about Bill Clinton and Gina Gershon. Do Clinton supporters really want to play this game, because if Hillary becomes the nominee (or even the VP candidate), we will hear about Bill Clinton’s “possible” indiscretions non-stop.
brent
I love that these clowns are ridiculous enough to believe that Michelle Obama used the word “whitey” like she’s imitating some Richard Pryor movie from the 70’s. I am black and I don’t think I have ever heard a black person, however they felt about white people, use the term “whitey” my entire life except on television. Its absurd. And anyone who has actually heard black people of Michelle Obama’s generation speak much would know it was absurd but that includes basically no one at No Quarter. Its hysterical really.
hmr
I agree with Brent totally. I am a black lawyer and agree that I have never heard a black person use the term “whitey.” Even more, twenty years ago, when Obama joined this church, Michelle was a new lawyer at Sidley and Austin LLP in Chicago. Sidley & Austin is one of the largest law firms in the WORLD. Sorry, no lawyer from Harved Law school who chooses to go work at one of the most elite law firms in the world is going to stand in the pulpit of a church and rant about whitey. not.going.to.happen.ever. Even after she left the firm she worked in the corporate world. Anyone black person who works in the corporate world is not going to publically rant about “whitey.” the tape is bogus. I’ll believe it when I see it.
rachel
Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.