Breaking 30
Moving in the wrong direction.
Mr. Bush’s overall approval rating has fallen to just 28 percent, a new low, while more than twice as many (64 percent) disapprove of the way he’s handling his job.Two-thirds of Americans remain opposed to the president’s plan for sending more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq — roughly the same number as after Mr. Bush announced the plan. And 72 percent believe he should seek congressional approval for the troop increase.
This ought to be a fun State of the Union. Will the GOP Congress stand and applaud? Their president just lost them both houses of Congress and his constituency is smaller than the human papillomavirus. Republicans who have to face the voters in ‘08 are terrified of getting photographed too close to president plutonium. But sitting on their hands, like they did in the Clinton years, would telegraph weakness and embolden the terrorists Democrats.
I might tune in after all.
***Update***
Some think that Bush didn’t lose Congress. Interesting. Some relevant data points:
- Who masterminded the idiotic Stay the Course parade in Congress during summer ‘06? Oh yeah, Karl Rove. Way to use dying Americans as a partisan wedge.
- #1 issue for many voters: Iraq.
- By November ‘06 stay the course had become a humiliating albatross for the GOP.
- Somebody decided to dump GOP resources into Senate races in deep-blue Maryland and New Jersey. The idea was apparently to fake out the Dems, who ignored it and instead knocked off three conseravtive-state GOP Senators in nailbiters. Who was that strategic genius? Why, Karl Rove. It’s one of his tics (see, Bush in California).
- Karl Rove answers to George Bush.
- Karl Rove does not answer to anybody in Congress.
- Photo ops with Bush proved to be campaign-killers. Jim Talent.
The GOP would have lost Congress no matter what, maybe even if Abramoff (speaking of which) hadn’t taken out several before the ballots opened. The Senate, however, was a tossup. If I had bet money I would have wagered on the GOP keeping it. Losing that house took work, and I don’t doubt that most Republicans know whose brainy little turd of a strategist is responsible.
srv
I predict he’ll kiss Liebermann.
I truly hope Bush goes down with a spectacular fight. If we don’t end up with a Constitutional crises in the next two years, the next wacko will just just claim precedence.
Dungheap
I hear the White House is clamoring for a Purple Finger Reprise.
I’m interested in seeing who Bush invites as gallery guests. I imagine it’ll just be Laura and Barney.
Mr Furious
I’ve been smart enough to avoid the last few…this one might be worth it.
The Other Steve
I’m waiting for Jim Webb’s response.
Richard Bottoms
This has been so much fun since November.
I especially watching wackos like Sam Brownback and all the rest of the dying Republican party run their feeble campaigns for the White House.
George Bush has destroyed their party and my only regret is the 3,000 dead soldiers in took to make enough of the rest of the country realize what fools they’ve been to buy this bullshit for six years.
demimondian
What do you mean, wrong direction? I think it’s the only way that W has gone in the right direction in six years in office. I mean, it’s a pity that he never actually led the country in the right direction, but he certainly led the country in misdirection. Just a small misunderstanding.
Jay C
It will be interesting to see the starboard blogosphere’s reflex reaction to the inevitable “bounce” (probably all the way up to 30-31% approval) Dear Leader will most likely get from tomorrow’s SOTU - no doubt the diligent lads & lasses at RedState and the NRO Corner are already thumbing through their thesauri looking for new words of praise for the Decider-in-Chief’s stern decisiveness or decisive stern-ness or whatever. We can be sure, however, that the terms “victory” and “sacrifice” will get a good workout – even if (typically) out of context.
Pb
The Daily Show had a nice (video) quote from last year’s SOTU—italics were quoted, although I think the full quote is more damning:
That is, when you consider that the politician in question currently not listening to “our military commanders” is the same one who made the speech—no wonder he’s going to talk about health care?
rachel
Why “inevitable”? The last time he spoke publicly, his numbers dropped.
The Farting Housecoat
Gloat if you must, but we’re praying for the President tonight. The burden of keeping an entire nation of ingrates safe from those whose only purpose in life is to cause them harm is a heavy one, but this is a man who is strong enough to get the job done.
Sleep peacefully tonight because George W. Bush, and God, are watching over you.
Pb
rachel,
There’s almost always at least a fake bounce (if not a real bounce)—because at this point, the people who tune in to the SOTU are generally more likely to support Bush anyhow, and then the networks do these ‘instant reaction’ polls of people who watched it to guage their opinions, so for the first numbers that come out, there’s some bias in Bush’s favor built in.
jake
I have an advance summary of Bush’s speech. Here it is in its entirety:
You’re welcome.
Richard Bottoms
Fuck you George Bush and anyone stupid enough to still think you have a clue as to how to lead this nation.
Pb
I’ve gotta say, the US Presidential Speeches Tag Cloud (1776-2007) is pretty darned nifty.
stickler
Oh, come on, Jake. You forgot the most important part: blaming a bunch of Americans.
(applause)
Look! A rabbit!”
And then Redstaters and Tacitus and all that ilk can cackle and point chubby fingers at The Enemy Within.
(That would be Dan Rather, everybody at the AP, Ted Kennedy, Jon Stewart, and pretty much every member of the 61% who disagree with President Strategery.)
srv
Tacitus is defunct, thank god, and I don’t think anybody reads his new site.
TenguPhule
May your prayers be as effective as the ones the GOP made on Nov. 2.
TenguPhule
Corrected based on the latest intelligence.
AnneJ
And under everyone’s seat, there will be …. a pony!
GOP4Me et al
Exactly. Why don’t the Democrats understand that people are trying to kill us out there? It takes a strong leader to keep us safe. A leader with vision, and the courage to carry out that vision. I may not agree with every single decision Bush has taken, but no one can say he doesn’t have to guts to do what he sees he has to do. Can anyone make the same claim for John Kerry? How about Hillary Clinton?
Amen. May God preserve these United States of America.
Jonathan
Because George Walker Bush damn sure hasn’t.
Jonathan
The oath to be taken by the president on first entering office is specified in Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
It seems that the one thing George Walker Bush hasn’t done is preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, that which he took an oath to do.
DaleGribble
Didn’t you guys hear? God has already fulfilled his magic quota for the month by getting the Colts to the Superbowl. It looks like the country is doomed until February, but even then, who knows if God doesn’t waste his magic on a sports team again.
poppinfresh
At this point, is there really anything at all that can save George W. Bush from being the worst president in history?
I mean, come on. Look at Iraq and tell me that’s not worse than anything Nixon ever did. We’ll be looking back on this mess for years, and going “goddamn Bush, that asshole”. He’s going to become a political football on par with refering to Vietnam or Watergate, shorthand for “arrogant asshole who can’t do anything right”.
We’re just waiting out the next two years like jailbirds on the final stretch before furlough. He can talk all he wants, but barring some major miracle in Iraq that propels him to uncomfortable mediocrity, he’s doomed. Forever.
The Farting Housecoat
GOP4ME: Thank you very much for your kind statement. And let me say this, those here who have written off the President because of polling will be very disappointed over the next few months.
Enough said.
OCSteve
Not even close. IMO it had nothing to do with Bush and everything to do with Congress itself. I and those I know of like me did not vote against Republicans because of anything Bush did or did not do. We were sick and tired of a corrupt, ineffective (even though they had the majority), and fiscally irresponsible Congress. It was after all not a Presidential election.
And those Congressmen who supported and enabled Bush for the last 6 years but now want some distance from him are political cowards. As always, re-election is more important than anything. These people check the polls before they take their first piss of the day. Maybe if we had a poll that showed 85% of Americans want their representatives to resign and just go away they would reflexively follow the suggestion.
And don’t take this as necessarily being support for Bush – it is just continued anger at those useless empty suits on the hill.
poppinfresh
I know you’re just a troll, Farting Housecoat, but hey, why not?
I’m non-partisan. I am what you would call an “independant”; hell, until the lead-up to Iraq, I leaned right on a lot of issues. I have no investment in hating Bush, hating Republicans, or hating their motives, beyond what I find personally offensive and against my values as a libertarian-inclined citizen. Which lately is a lot, but that’s neither here nor there.
That said, the Republican party to me is radioactive for a couple decades at least. The next time I have a beef with Democrats, I’ll be voting for Ross Fucking Perot instead. Grover Norquist, Karl Rove, et. al. will have to be long dead and powerless, the party humbled and reformed, and libertarian small-government types firmly in power before I even DREAM of voting for anything that was ever in the same ROOM as a goddamned elephant.
And I’m not the only one, not by a longshot.
So no, I’m not going to be ‘very disappointed’. I’ve been beyond disappointed for a long, long time, and George Walker Bush can sit and spin.
The Farting Housecoat
poppin: I think you missed the point. That being Bush is about to deliver a stunning series of very incredible successes, successes that will both raise the American public’s appreciation for what he has done and the admiration of the world for its greatest freedom fighter.
As someone who has turned his back on America and a meaningful peace, I am sure that will disappoint you very much.
farmgirl
Doesn’t Holden get a pony for under-30% Bush approval numbers?
The Other Steve
Agreed. Bush has done to the Republicans, what LBJ did to the Democrats.
Interesting that both morons were from Texas.
poppinfresh
You’re trying too hard- a good troll has to be believable, and nobody could possibly be that intellectually bankrupt and ridiculous outside of a right-wing radio show.
A good troll has to lure the victim in. You’ve gotta let it flow! Darrel’s pie-loving, for instance- now that’s genuine.
The Farting Housecoat
poppin: Believe what you must. I’m sure you have all sorts of explanations for your treachery.
poppinfresh
Oh, my treachery is easy to explain: Osama bin Laden bribed me with spanish gold dubloons.
That, or the Republican Party is a fantastical construct of idiots, villains, yes-men, and ideologues. Take your pick on the origins of said treachery, I guess they both work.
Marcus Wellby
Great themes from past SOTU:
1. Mars, bitches
2. Steroids in baseball
3. Manimals
I think given the great and important topics of the past, the only worthy topic for tonight’s will be “belly-button lint and a new federal department to deal with the problem”.
RSA
I wish I could, but there are terrorists under my bed.
. . .beginning with the announcement of his secret identity; in reality, he is Super-W, faster than a speeding car bomb, more powerful than an IED, able to crush insurgents with a single bound.
Tim F.
Nice, two posts and our housecoat friend has already resorted to character assassination. You could almost say that the president’s opponents hate America and want the terrorists to win, n’est-ce pas? Oh wait, you did. Please forgive me for ever taking you seriously.
BTW, 28%. Woo.
poppinfresh
Tim, you fool! I have no character to assasinate, I’m a godless liberal*!
*I’m not, but I don’t support Bush, so same diff.
Bob In Pacifica
Purple finger response? Wrong finger.
Jim Webb response? How about “Galveston”?
Now I need to get a passport to cross into Canada. Now he wants to tax people who are lucky enough to have health insurance.
Fool.
Keith
I want to watch to see how much he smiles (does he change his facade?), how much applause there is, and how he finishes “The State of the Union is…” (and whether that one’s delivered with a smirk and head bob)
RSA
Don’t forget the jiggery jaw.
PeterJ
I’m totally agreeing with you on this. In the next election every republican that’s up for reelection should have as many photo-ops as possible with the President. After that the US map would be almost entirly blue.
One can dream.
More likely in 2008 the only republican congressmen who won’t issue a restraining order against Bush are those who are running unopposed.
Bombadil
Try your hand at SOTU Bingo. (PDF file)
H/T BiPM at Daily Kos.
CaseyL
Don’t Presidents usually end that with “strong, and getting stronger”?
In Fuckwit’s case, that would at least be accurate: America is 72% united around the proposition that George Bush is the worst thing to happen to the US since WWII.
Fe E
I for one can hardly wait for the SOTU, I’m curious to see if he smirks like a frightened primate (that’s purely coinicdental with one of W’s less flattering nicknames). I wonder just how divorced from reality this exercise will be. And of course the reaction from congress and the country should tell us if impeachement is really still off the table.
Jimmy Mack
Don’t forget that Clinton was in the 30s for most of his first term and he certainly turned it around popularity-wise. Don’t start writing Bush’s obituary just yet…
Tim F.
Jimmy,
Here is a chart of historical presidential approval ratings. I suggest that you paste it somewhere close to your monitor as a reminder to look things up so other people don’t have to do it for you.
ThymeZone
From the collected utterings of George Bush.
How could anyone not love this guy?
rachel
...Twenty, twenty-two, twenty three! Twenty-three SOTU Bingo cards! Mwahahaha!
Jimmy Mack
Could you find a chart with a smaller font, Tim? I’m almost able to read that one without glasses.
Tim F.
Jimmy, you’re starting to test my patience. Just use the magnifying glass tool and scroll around. You can try starting at the bottom right. If I can find it on my crappy low-res 14” monitor then I bet you can do the same.
demimondian
Texas. None of the others matter.
Zifnab
snicker
Yes, I’m sure he’ll skyrocket back up to the 90s he enjoyed as Post-9/11 Chump-in-Chief any day now.
Sorry, but you can only be the Messiah once.
Zifnab
Screwed! Because you elected San Fransisco Values for President! Now we’ll never catch Osama bin Laden!
Officious Pedant
That’s the way to go, Jimmy, definitely.
Take that whole “I got shown to be a mouthpiece for rightward spin, but let’s talk about font size!!”
Wow.
The Other Steve
This is interesting…
“Unbeknownst to me, certain people in the White House were thinking we had to federalize Louisiana because she’s a white, female Democratic governor and we have a chance to rub her nose in it,” he said.
Fascinating how the Whitehouse works.
And Jimmy Mack wonders why Bush is down at 30%. My guess is after the SOTU address tonight he’ll hit 25%. The man just doesn’t know how to be President. He thinks it’s all about politics.
The Other Steve
It’s obviously a forgery. The fonts and kerning are all wrong!
Zifnab
Don’t forget, the WSJ is a bastion of the left wing media. Who knows where they got those numbers?
Krista
BTW, Tim, did you get a chance to take a peek at my email? I would have sent one to Tom in Texas (who, by the way, should probably change his handle, seeing as the acronym is just way too giggle-worthy), but his email isn’t listed on the home page.
Officious Pedant
Farting Housecoat,
I’m curious about your assertion. I wonder if you could give me any insight as to these stunning successes to which you refer. Now, since people who support the President seem to be able to spin any failure on his part as a resounding success, and any challenge to him as beneficial to the Republican Party (well, maybe not this past November, but you get my meaning), let’s level the playing field.
I assert that this man is going to spend the next two years making the same mistakes he’s made for the last six. His “plan in Iraq” will fail, not because it’s the wrong thing, but because it’s too little, way too late. He will continue to insist, as will you, that his lack of interest in polls (yeah, right) is a mark of his determination, when, in reality, it’s a mark of his arrogance/ignorance. When you create a nation for the people, and by the people, their opinion as to how they want it run is pretty crucial in terms of policy, don’t you think?
Bottom line: you pick some benchmarks, and we can discuss them as they dribble over the ledge into the memory hole. Sound fair?
Faux News
Take that whole “I got shown to be a mouthpiece for rightward spin, but let’s talk about font size!!”
Wow.
Sigh, the Troll known as Jimmy most def needs some work. Ok Jimmy, watch the master the Troll known as “Darrell” at work. Do NOT complain about the font size. Ignore the chart then post a comment about the need to invade Iran and how the DemocRATS will try to block it. Result: The Mushroom Cloud over NYC.
Right now Jimmy you’re at 2/10. A few more Darrell tactics e.g. hijacking a post by changing the subject, could easily bring you to an 8/10.
Good luck son.
Perry Como
4. Automan
chopper
mmm, american jelly…
sfHeath
Housecoat (if you’re still around):
We’ve heard that success in Iraq is weeks away – every week for the last four years. Why are the next couple of months going to be any different?
Think on this – any military action in Iraq that is not concurrent with a successful reconstruction effort is doomed to failure. If Bush’s latest non-plan succeeds, I’ll eat crow and I promise I’ll vote Republican for the rest of my life. If it doesn’t succeed, what will you do? Support the next “plan”?
Jimmy Mack
Thanks, Tim. I’m not the most technically adept.
It backs up what you said, but Clinton did dip into the 30s for a bit in 1994. So I wasn’t completely wrong (about the polls, not my problems with my viewer).
GOP4Me et al
Nice sarcasm. Obviously, you were born yesterday, because you don’t seem to remember 9/11/01 at all. Typical of the leftist opinion around here, though. Were you people living in a cave when America came together to reject Islamofascism and stand behind the banner of unity and liberty? Where were you guys, baking friendship cakes to bring to Osama’s birthday party or something?
Newport 9
OK, Jimimac, since you don’t know how to read charts, I’ll read this one for you. Clinton’s approval ratings fell below 40%, briefly, on two occasions: the summer of ‘93 and the fall of ‘94. After ‘95 they never dropped below 50%. By contrast, it’s been about two years now since Smirky’s approval ratings have been above 50%.
And I still say it’s a shame that you can’t sue someone for stupidity.
Zifnab
Of course, that was during the Republican Revolution of ‘94 when NO ONE liked Democrats, period. If you recall, Clinton won in ‘92 because of a split election between Bush and Perot. Without the libertarian vote, the mainstream GOP couldn’t rally the base. Clinton didn’t even garner a full 50%, sweaking by with only 42% and winning only Arkansas with a clear majority – the other states he won through plurality. Assuming the 19% that went to Perot wasn’t going to land in Clinton’s lap had the Independent not run, Clinton made a steady – abet shakey – climb through his 8 years in office. Despite scandal, he still managed to leave office in the 60s, after proving to a wary nation that not all Democratic politicians wanted to raise your taxes and spend all your money on welfare and entitlements.
Bush, ironically enough, has done the exact opposite. He’s completely gutted the conservative philosophy, proving that Republicans WILL spend all your money on entitlements and (corporate) welfare while gutting government benefits like Education and Medicare – effectively giving you less return on your investment into the government system, which so might go so far as to say is the same damn thing as raising your taxes.
AnneJ
The news we’ve all been waiting for… Free air for everyone!
Punchy
I’ll quibble with your use of “inevitable”. This guy is SO bad at pronounciations, enunciations, insinuations, elucidations, context, syntax, analysis, and grammar that every time his top hole opens, he loses a few disciples.
I bet this sinks him further. I bet this train-wreck of a “speech” puts him undy 25% in 3 days or less. People are just beginning to hear how dumb this clown is; tonite they can actually see it in person.
Sherard
Ah, more fun with Balloon Juice. Bush just lost them both houses of Congress?
? Golly, if I didn’t know otherwise, I could have sworn that a constant theme over the last 6 months to a year has been the corruption of GOP congressmen. Certainly if Bush were wildly popular, that would have helped, but there is no imaginable way that was going to happen with the country at war in Iraq, no matter how it was going.
But, as usual, ignore the facts and choose the ones that fit the narrative.
Jimmy Mack
Uh, I said they were below 40 briefly in 1994. What’s your problem?
Jimmy Mack
I do wonder if we’ll see any kind of a boost in Bush’s approval ratings after tonight. Not a big one but maybe enough to push him over 40 again. Not that polls are them most important thing.
chopper
inasmuch as ‘for a bit in 1994’ is not anywhere close to ‘most of his first term’, yeah you were way off.
demimondian
Given that you’ve sworn to a lot of equally false things over the years, whats one more?
JWeidner
Mmmmmmm, cake.
You know, it’s funny, Osama was over at the house just the other day for my son’s 2nd birthday. He showed up at the door and I joked with him just like I always do…. “Hey! How you been, Laden?”
Of course, he tried to give my 2 year old an AK-47 as a birthday present, to which I said, “Now Osama, you know we don’t give guns as presents to 2 year olds. Wait until he’s 3.”
So next year should be a real hoot!
Andrew
I predict he’ll go for 2nd base right there with Laura and Condi watching.
GOP4Me et al
That was pretty insensitive of him, considering how you guys are anti-guns and whatnot. I guess someone’s not caring and sharing as well as you are!
Newport 9
First Jimimac:
Second Jimimac:
So, being utterly wrong about Clinton’s popularity qualifies as “I wasn’t completely wrong” in JimiWorld.
That’s it, I’m emailing my Congressman: it should be legal to sue someone for stupidity.
Steve
Oh, right. Bush never could have been popular, even if he had prosecuted the war perfectly and everything was going great. Keep telling yourself that.
Newport 9
I predict he’ll go for 2nd base right there with Laura and Condi watching.
That’s it, you are now responsible for my next ten years of psychological counseling.
JWeidner
Now hold on just a second. Liberals can own guns too. I myself happen to own a 12 gauge shotgun.
I keep it handy to threaten the religious types who come to proselytize on my doorstep.
srv
Well, obviously, the whole hydrogen initiative went so swimmingly, I’m sure he’s got even brighter ideas now. Don’t bother with CAFE standards, let’s just have more corn subsidies.
This guy is the worst parody of a leader in the history of the world.
Bombadil
Well, then, Sherard, why don’t you choose, then. What lost Congress—the corruption of the GOP or the incompetence of George Bush? Which was it, boyo?
Zifnab
Over the shirt? Or do you think he’ll try to score some soft, wrinkled man-nipple?
Bombadil
He’ll do it by cutting Social Security benefits so older drivers can’t afford to buy gas.
Bombadil
Oh, that’s just great. I’m going to be trying to get that image out of my head for the rest of the afternoon.
ThymeZone
And he’ll take the base.
And later, when the lights have gone off and the crowds have gone home, he’ll score with Joe in a night of homo-neocon debauchery that would shock Liberace.
Oh yeah.
chopper
mars, bitches.
ConservativelyLiberal
What do you mean that Bush is down to 28% approval!? I heard that approval was over 70%!
Oh, wait… That was for impeachment…
Nevermind…
Disclaimer: I pulled the 70% number out of the same place Bush gets his intelligence assessments, the nearest rectal cavity available. But I would be willing to wager that my assessment is a lot more accurate than theirs ever were.
Krista
For the love of all that’s holy, Zifnab….WHY?
Sojourner
Bush didn’t even win a plurality in 2000. A true recount in Florida would have saved a whole lot of lives and the reputation of our once-proud nation.
Punchy
By “forcing” oil companies to raise the price to $7 a gallon, while “forcing” American carmakers to ensure their $50K SUVs break down after 6 months, preventing Gas Wasters from buying so much damn gasoline.
ConservativelyLiberal
The Farting Housecoat Says:
Fixed.
dreggas
Between the stink of the union tonight and this gem:
Liz Cheney wants a pony
today is going to be fun as hell. I plan to make lots of popcorn for tonight’s festivities but just wish I had some while reading through the comments posted in response to the above.
SeesThroughIt
Ah, now there’s something we could all enjoy! There’s gotta be a way to make this happen….
And as for our new troll, I found this statement funny:
Not just because of the lamebrained talking point contained therein, but because, grammatically speaking, the troll just trolled himself. He claimed that he is the one who “has turned his back on America and a meaningful peace” because introductory clauses always modify the first noun that follows. So, farting housecoat, by did you turn your back on America? Is it because you hate it? Hate freedom? Want the terrorists to win?
Paddy O'Shea
I can’t believe you guys are falling for this Farting Housecoat spoof. The link goes to the Pajamas Media logo.
For a spoof to exist and prosper there must first be a pool of gullible types daft enough to believe in it.
Looks like that condition has been met here at Balloon Juice.
jg
So we’re the reason Darrell exists?
ThymeZone
We can’t believe that you fell for our spoof of falling for this Farting Housecoat spoof.
Have another potato smoothie.
Bombadil
Jeebus. Your own, I hope.
dreggas
Ok wrinkled man-nipple has to be one of the funniest things I have read lately.
Bombadil
Nah, we’re just throwing peanuts into the monkey cage, hopping to get more reactions. Kind of like, “Let’s see if we can get it to fling its own poo again!”
The Other Steve
You know. They don’t even like Bush in Texas.
Southern Methodist University is trying to prevent him from even building a Presidential library.
Paddy O'Shea
ThymeZone – You mean to say you’re this dull on purpose?
Too much sunshine, eh?
ThymeZone
I usually say what I mean to say.
That’s my tricky way of getting it over your head.
pharniel
not to change the subject too much, But i was surfing AoS (They had the nifty bi-plane dinaosaur stuffs) and someone made a fake state of the union addres. ONe of the commentors talked about pulling all our tropps to the boarders and mining the hell out of them.
I had a small though, wouldn’t this be a good idea?
aside from pissing off turkey can anyone think of a downside to mining the hell out of the jordon, syrian, iranian and saudi borders and then pull back to kurdistan?
Seems to me that would make the government happy (rebuild fortifications) and keep turky from being pissed off that we mined the boarder.
Faux News
Oh Puhleeze, 2nd base with Lieberman? McCain already went there! As this MoveOn video from wonkette shows:
http://wonkette.com/politics/i.....230454.php
Zifnab
I believe their exact complaint was “We don’t feel like putting up with the right-wing hate-University bullshit that will be the backbone of this institution. Frankly, we’re overworked and underfunded enough as it is not to take flak for being ‘too liberal’ every other semester. Also, we don’t have space for that many lies.”
ThymeZone
Paddy’s Potato Smoothie Recipe:
Two medium sized potatoes
One cup water
Teaspoon chives
Dollop of sour cream
Combine all ingredients in blender, process on high speed for 30 seconds.
Enjoy!
Andrew
Okay then, to steal from Arrested Development, Bush and Lieberman will have to go here.
dreggas
Bush + Lieberman + Cheney + McCain = Daisy Chains For Jesus
ThymeZone
Okay now.
Zifnab
Maybe you weren’t around during the Princess Diana “Please, for the love of god, stop using landmines” years. They had armloads of documentaries from Vietnam and Korea, as well as parts of Africa and Easter Europe, telling horror story after horror story concerning what mine-fields do to anyone living near mine-infested areas.
Mine-Fields do an exceptional job of slaughtering numerous innocent civilians long after whatever conflict they were designed to contain has ended.
Krista
/adds to cart
ThymeZone
That’s why we call them “Darrell Parks.”
Andrew
I thought it was “Darrell’s Fun Time Historical Re-enactment Park and Conservatorium.”
Paddy O'Shea
Thyme Zone’s recipe for his famous Arizona Cosmic Debris Trailer Pie:
1 dog, boiled.
Ketchup
Wonder Bread
Six pack of Bud
Flies
Oregonian
Consider this scenario: A president is starting the seventh year of his term. He faces a hostile Congress that wants to turn the nation in a different direction. Persistent loud voices in the media question the president’s honesty and integrity. The public is nervous about large problems looming on the horizon.
Ignoring the personal slurs, the president goes out and delivers a stirring speech. He talks about Osama bin Laden, Social Security, health care coverage, and global warming. He speaks of America as being a force for peace and he pledges to strengthen and modernize a weakened military. He emphasizes fiscal discipline and the need to maintain a balanced budget. He also pledges to reach across the divide and work with members of the opposing party. The speech is a resounding success and the American public rallies to support the president and his agenda.
A Republican pipe dream for 2007? No, it’s actually a history lesson from 1999.
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS.....ranscript/
Go back and read the speech, just to remember what it was like when our nation had a leader with vision and courage. Does anyone really believe that Bush will have comparable achievements to report? Does anyone really believe that he will be so honest about facing the nation’s problems? Our definition of “leadership” has fallen a long ways in eight years.
pharniel
oh yha, minefields suck balls for anyone living near them, but they are also excellent defensive positions.
and yha, i tend to subtly block out anything that’s summed up as ‘won’t somebody think of the children’, even if it’s valid because, well, let’s just look at what normally comes with that pitch shall we: anything that the speaker doesn’t approve of being banned.
Games – causes kids to go on killing spreees. we need to ban them, think of the children.
the internet – preditors. think of the ch ildren.
online gaming – think of the children.
Landmines just happend to be a ligitimate issue, otoh right now we’re between a rock and a good fisting, so it was just a thought.
pharniel
and it’s got to be a better idea than ‘surge’
at the very least yo uthen charge the iraqi government in oil and get the hell out of dodge.
The Other Andrew
Jimmy Mack—Bush somehow getting back over 40% would be considered a “big” jump, at this point.
In terms of polls, I think tonight will probably be a wash, for the most part. If he’s going a bit green and making (dishonest) noises about working with the Democrats, it’ll probably tick off some of the talk-radio right. This is especially true if he talks up his path-to-citizenship angle on illegal immigration. I’m sure there are a few gullible moderates that will give him the benefit of the doubt for the umpteenth time, but that won’t last long.
Meanwhile, MSNBC is breaking news about Cheney being heavily involved in the Plame affair. Something tells me there are more bombshells to come, which will hopefully keep Bush in the 20s.
jenniebee
Could we play a game where we guess which of the new trolls is a pseudonomous Mark Noonan? I’m betting my virtual $$$ on Farting Housecoat.
dreggas
OOOOoooooooo this day just gets better and better.
Steve
It’s amazing what a tight lid they’ve kept on the Plame case, all things considered. We’ve had virtually nothing to go on aside from Marcy Wheeler reading between the lines of the court filings. If Ken Starr had been in charge of this case, we would have seen every detail of the prosecution’s allegations spelled out in the Washington Times, chapter and verse.
Punchy
Can I get this in English? ;)
Face
The son of Rosa, eh? I had no idea
Punchy
Please help me wipe the half-chewed food off my monitor.
pharniel
Sure.
Instead of attempting to pacify baghdad and getting mired in what surly will be a massive Charlie foxtrox, our forces pull out to the (offically) hostile boarders and then setup defensive aparati (mines are the weapon of choice in the third world).
After setting up said permiter we then have our troops pull back to the Kurdish controlled northern Iraq where we slowly pull them out through fellow Nato Member Turkey.
As this plan allows us to pick a side in the cival war (kurds), prevents the whole ‘arms trickling from accross the boarder’ jackalope AND provides some arguably real security to the Iraqi govenrment (whoever that winds up being) and gives us a freindly line of withdrawl it seems like a better idea than a surge.
I just was surprised to see an almost reasonable sounding plan on AoS.
Of course the original plan was something about going whole hog on iran and being a beligerant ass, I just took the core of it and pared it down to an idea that might actually work in reality.
ThymeZone
See, Paddy, lame adolescent imitation of my comedy gold just makes you look like
a foolmore a fool than you already are.Have you considered changing your handle, your personality, your material, and your underwear?
Just a friendly suggestion.
Punchy
Please un-acronym for the dumbasses like myself. If I hadda guess, I’d say “Ace of Spades”? Is there such a site, or is it just a kick-ass riff by Judas Priest?
ThymeZone
PS - Paddy, if you can only do one, do the underwear.
Please. Do what’s right.
Andrei
Yikes… You have Fitzgerald saying Libby lied and Libby saying he’s being set up as the fall guy and won’t go down without a fight. Right before the State of the Union, falling poll numbers and violence breaking out all over the Middle East
ABC News on Libby Trial
This is going to get out of control VERY quickly.
Zifnab
link
Maybe this is where Jimmy got his “30%” number from. Of course, Jay Carney isn’t the best source of information.
~link
Oops. I guess in Carney land 1 equals 23 Senators and 133 Representatives. But seriously, who’s counting?
Zifnab
Gak I totally screwed up those links. This is what I get for writing over a sandwich. The second post is Lisa Vorderbrueggen of the ContraCostaTimes and the post got edited after the fouled statement. sigh Ignore me.
dreggas
While I tend to abhor disorder, the internal chaotic part of me wants a ring side seat.
TenguPhule
Problems here.
1. Officially siding with the Kurds = Bad Idea
Yes, they’re the most friendly to the US in Iraq. But they’re as radioactive as the Israelis when it comes to relations with other countries there. Additionally the current Kurdish leadership is snuggling with Iran, which might make for an interesting future diplomatic cutout, but
is not one we really want to see in control of the Northern Iraq oil fields.
Additionally, if either of the other two sides wins control of Iraq, they’re really not going to be happy that we picked the side that didn’t win.
2. Using Mines = Bad Idea. Aside from the PR damage, that ends up killing lots of other people who sneak across the border aside from arms smugglers. Like refugees, people visiting families, even the odd regular smuggler who’s just trying to make a living while avoiding guards who need to be bribed (i.e. unofficial border taxes). Which ends up making more enemies from relatives/tribes that were not hostile before. Most of the weapons were already in Iraq to begin with anyway.
3. Turkey isn’t going to help if we side with the Kurds. To maintain credibility with their own citizens they’d have to deny us access from the North if we did.
There’s just no way to unfuck this goat. The Iraqis are going to fight it out and it’s better for our troops if they aren’t there when it all comes crashing down.
dreggas
So they did fuck a goat? There’s that beastiality Santorum worried about!
Punchy
Entropy’s a bitch.
Zifnab
Karl Rove kinda reminds me of James Carvell, in the sense that he’s supposed to be some kind of political genius and yet there’s very little evidence to back it up.
Both won Presidential Elections with less than 50% of the vote. Both encouraged playing political dirty pool. Both were put up against relatively uninspiring candidates in 2nd term races. Both saw Congress and the Senate slip out of their grasp.
Yeah, if I’ve got to pick between Dean or one of these two jokers, I think my choice is clear.
Face
Yes, I know it’s only January, but this is my nomination for P.o.t.YEAR. They simply just don’t get any better than this…
Bombadil
Zifnab, as was pointed out in the comments, Carney doesn’t even know who sits behind the president at the SoTU speech.
Man has no credibility at all, and he’s dragging Time down with him.
BARRASSO
Great themes from past SOTU:
1. Mars, bitches
2. Steroids in baseball
3. Manimals
4. Automan
I’ll see your Automan and will raise you Misfits of Science
dreggas
Great themes from past SOTU:
1. Mars, bitches
2. Steroids in baseball
3. Manimals
4. Automan
AXIS OF EVIL
You Forgot AXIS OF EVIL
!
Zifnab
Strategery?
dreggas
OBYN’s practicing there love with women.
Rome Again
Whooo-hooo, yee doggies! This looks like it’s gonna be interesting. KKKarl might be in a bit of trouble, here, huh?
dreggas
OBGYN’s even.
pharniel
AoS == Ace of Spades, yes
now to address:
1. Officially siding with the Kurds = Bad Idea
Yes, they’re the most friendly to the US in Iraq. But they’re as radioactive as the Israelis when it comes to relations with other countries there. Additionally the current Kurdish leadership is snuggling with Iran, which might make for an interesting future diplomatic cutout, but
is not one we really want to see in control of the Northern Iraq oil fields.
Additionally, if either of the other two sides wins control of Iraq, they’re really not going to be happy that we picked the side that didn’t win.
fair enough. which is why I wanted to bounce it off people. I know turkey hateses the kurds with the burning passion of a thousand undying suns, but i am of the opinion that if we made a joint nato op out of it and balanced precariously we could keep both sides happy.
then i remember who’s in charge at state and cry.
3. Turkey isn’t going to help if we side with the Kurds. To maintain credibility with their own citizens they’d have to deny us access from the North if we did.
The only way I can see this workin is if it is a true withdrawl. and on the way through we re-locate and/or have some ‘freindly fire accidents’ on some targets that the turkish military would like to see gone.
There’s nothing like 100k+ troops that are supposedly on your side moving through to keep the really crazy people from doing crazy things.
It’s a hail mary, but at least this ball is catchable.
amen.
ThymeZone
It could. It could be Watergate Redux, where the bad actors turn on each other.
It helped save the country 30 years ago, maybe it will again.
dreggas
New Republican Slogan:
Loyal until Indictment
Rome Again
Pay no attention to that extra comma, I found it under my pillow, and since I live with space issues, I had to put it somewhere.
Rome Again
Indictment is ripe for Libby testimony, his name says it all, every time I hear I. Lewis Libby, I think he’s taking an oath.
Zifnab
When all this is said and done, I’d love to find out the whole Libby Trial is just a kabuki theater setup before Fitzgerald goes after Rove’s balls with a stapler.
I mean, it’s almost too perfect. I could totally see a plea-bargin pre-signed and sealed, waiting for Fitzgerald and Libby to spill out all the gruesome details before settling out of court. Libby gets a token sentence. Fitz gets a star witness. And Rove gets to be in the hotseat.
dreggas
I mean, it’s almost too perfect. I could totally see a plea-bargin pre-signed and sealed, waiting for Fitzgerald and Libby to spill out all the gruesome details before settling out of court. Libby gets a token sentence. Fitz gets a star witness. And Rove gets to be in the hotseat.
I’ve been thinking this all along. Nail the smaller fish on things like lying and get them to squeal on the big fish. Fitz has been probing the defenses and found a small hole in the armor with regards to Libby lying. Libby squeals under some sort of deal and the flood gates open.
I bet turd blossom isn’t going to go down without taking everyone else with him. Like I said above, the republican slogan via this administration is “Loyal until Indictment”.
Pooh
Sorry TZ, Paddy wins this round 10-8.
Pooh
Motorhead, philistine.
Lemmy is god.
ThymeZone
Traitor.
Paddy O'Shea
When the going gets tough, Out Of Thyme Zone’s pals head for the door.
TZ? Your kids that don’t look like you have saved you the tail.
Pooh
Proudly.
Sometimes you get the
bearLeprechaun, sometimes it gets you.ThymeZone
Edited.
Rome Again
Your crystal ball needs new batteries Paddy, it’s giving you erroneous information.
Paddy O'Shea
Roam Again – He’s all yours, sweetie. Just make sure he soaks his teeth first.
Rome Again
All mine? Hardly.
ThymeZone
Paddy, is it true you are introducing a new line of Potato Jewelry?
I think the Spud Ring is going to be your greatest creation.
lard lad
Nancy Pelosi will be seated right behind President Numbnuts for the State of the Union speech, correct? Well then, I guess we know what the kool-aid drinkers will be watching for tonight:
“Did you see that!? Pelosi looked at her watch! Here, I’ll rewind the tape so you can see it again!”
“Oh my GOD… she’s scratching her nose!”
“She yawned! She yawned! Where’s the respect, I ask you!?”
“Pelosi is… shifting uncomfortably in her chair. Is she, perhaps, too bored to attend to the words of our Commander in Chief?”
“Did she just… oh my GRACIOUS. Did Ms. Pelosi just make a, um, an up-and-down masturbatory motion with her fist?”
...and so on, and so on. Seriously, I feel for Nancy. Listening to a Bush speech without displaying an iota of impatience, contempt or soul-rending boredom… can’t even imagine what drug you’d need to get through such an ordeal.
Rome Again
Something tells me Bush is eating lots of beans today.
Jake
Nice.
Why isn’t her head bowed in prayer?
Who is she looking at? I bet she’s passing secret signals to Hussein “Blow ‘em up” Obama!
Look at her outfit. I bet you could feed a family of 12 with what she paid for it.
Rome Again
Fixed! The only family they care to have fed is one of the Christian stripe. All others can starve.
Zifnab
Why isn’t she in the kitchen?!
TenguPhule
You don’t know the half of it.
Think of it like the English/Irish feuds/wars.
Only the Kurds are smarter, better armed and smell better.
Krista
We share him between us.
Rome Again
I don’t mind sharing. Growing up, I was taught that sharing is good. :)
dreggas
One could only hope after all it is the proper way to salute the wanker-in-chief.
Pooh
This would be the greatest moment in the history of BushWorld, with the possible exception of “Mars, Bitches!”
ThymeZone
I would leap to the DVR to make sure it is saved, knocking over a lamp, scattering the cats, and throwing my laptop to the ground.
PeterJ
Anyone remember how Bush handled the spyplane that the Chinese forced to land? Obviously that was pre 9/11, which we all know now “Changed Everything”(tm). Had it not happened, then Bush would have been gone in 2004, Bush can thank 9/11 for his second term, and since 9/11 no longer is working to give him a boost, he will not recover to any decent rating. If a major attack would happen during his last two years he probably would head towards a sub-Cheney rating.
Someone should get him a copy of ‘My Lame Duck’.
Quack! Quack! Quack!
Rome Again
I would leap to the DVR to make sure it is saved, knocking over a lamp,
, and throwing my laptop to the ground.
There will be no scattering of pretty kitties, my Stormy is protesting such acts of violence.
Rome Again
Preview is my friend
Jonathan
It isn’t generally known but the title of the story Bush was “reading” in the Florida classroom on 9/11/2001 is “The Pet Goat” not the more commonly cited “My Pet Goat”.
/nitpick
dreggas
Anyone remember how Bush handled the spyplane that the Chinese forced to land? Obviously that was pre 9/11, which we all know now “Changed Everything”(tm).
the spy-plane incident was supposed to set-up who the next “great threat” would be ala China. Then along came 9-11. Rumsfeld, prior to 9-11 was trying to drum up a veritable cold war situation with China since they believed their majority would be sealed as long as America had some great enemy. In truth these asshats longed for a return to the cold war days so they could use their scare tactics in elections.
9-11 was way too convenient.
Rome Again
Sorry dreggas, I disagree. The spy plane incident didn’t really turn a lot of heads. But PNAC was planning for “a new pearl harbor incident” long before that. I think it was just another direction for fearful Americans (Bushites) to dart their eyes at, personally.
Keith
Anyone want to wager on the color of the tie tonight? Solid red or solid blue? I don’t think he’d wear a yellow tie to subconsciously show sympathy for the troops because he doesn’t want to risk conveying cowardice, so it’s either PowerRed or PowerBlue.
BTW: I’m going with the subconscious intent on conveying “*I’m* the one being bipartisan”, so he will wear PowerBlue.
Rome Again
I’m with ya Keith. He’s wearing blue more and more these days.
Keith
Powder blue with dots???? WTF? In times of wars, we need certainty…wait, no, he’s reaching out to the blue Democrats but also to the dots of GOPers still in the House. Or the dots are Blue Dog Democrats.
Face
Holy Effin’ Christ am I an idiot. Of course Motorhead…saw ‘em in concert. Jesus…I’m so mad at myself I may beat myself
offup.GOP4Me et al
IOW, the English stink to Heaven. And their cops don’t carry guns, either.
“Fe, fi, foe, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman…”