Via memeorandum, I see that Tom Tancredo is dropping out of the Presidential race.
Does anyone have any idea why he waited around this long to quit? And what Republican does this help the most?
by John Cole| 47 Comments
This post is in: Politics
Via memeorandum, I see that Tom Tancredo is dropping out of the Presidential race.
Does anyone have any idea why he waited around this long to quit? And what Republican does this help the most?
This post is in: Media, Popular Culture, Republican Stupidity, I Read These Morons So You Don't Have To
You knew this would happen. I find it amusing that people don’t realize that Time’s Person of the Year has never been about rewarding people. It’s always been about recognizing impact.
Still, it doesn’t surprise me that greater Wingnutia is whining about Time Magazine choosing Vladmir Putin – even when there’re so many reasons, good and bad, that Putin has had a tremendous influence during his reign as Emperor of Russia. Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin have made the list in years past. I guess they (conveniently) forgot those ones.
But you know. It’s all about finding an excuse to write a “the MSM is biased” post. Stupid, really. Obviously, they wanted King George on the cover for a third time.
by Tim F| 45 Comments
This post is in: Religion, General Stupidity
In case you haven’t seen it yet, this ought to please John. Honestly, try to write a narrative piled deeper with schadenfreude than these pitched battles within the religious right over who is and isn’t religious right enough.
On the one hand you have Catholic bigot and permanent victim Bill Donahue throwing down with young Earth creationist and anti-gay bigot Mike Huckabee. Donahue knows full well that the old protestant fundie position, which ranks Catholics somewhere between Jews and yard trimmings, never died so much as it went quiet from political necessity. The coalition held so long as it promoted vaguely Christian leaders like Ronnie and George Dubya who lay the Jesus on much thicker in their politics than in their lives (it matters that neither attended any specific church). But when a guy steps forward who isn’t afraid to wear hard-line sectarianism on his sleeve, Catholics like Donahue know full well their place in that hierarchy.
Then you have multiple-choice Mitt Romney’s battle with himself. Does he support religious tests for political office? It depends on the religious test. When it applies to muslims, you bet he does. Affirmative again when the question is whether America should pick leaders out of the the vaguely pan-Christian “people of faith” category that the religious right encompassed for a while. A guy who puts a tagline like “freedom requires faith!” into character-defining speeches is one rum-and-coke away from glossolalia.
Or anyway, so it would seem until someone brings up the LDS church. Then talking about a candidate’s religion is not just wrong but contemptible (and incidentally, death at the polls).
To sum up, judging Muslims, atheists and vaguely Christian “people of faith” is good. Judging Mormons is very, very bad. As with so many other issues Romney is like one body inhabited by two guys. Or just one of the smarmiest, most opportunistic, sucking character vacuums who ever lived.
The Coalition Of Permanent Victims Now Victimizing Each OtherPost + Comments (45)
This post is in: Domestic Politics
David Rubenstein paid over $21 million for the document, dated 1297, which was the foundation for modern democracy and the US constitution.
In other news, Dick Cheney, George Bush barred from National Archives.
Magna Carta to Go On Display at National ArchivesPost + Comments (43)
Personally, I see nothing wrong with this ad on its face. Huckabee is a Christian, and if he wants to use his campaign funds to wish America Merry Christmas, so be it – even if it’s probably not a genuine Christmas wish:
In fact, this ad is probably a more shrewd political move that you might think. You and I know there is no “War on Christmas”. That’s just silly. But all the talk about this ad from left leaning papers, Democrats – the controversy that is sure to come up over it – will certainly play into the irrational fearmongering by the right. They’ll see Huckabee as the person who’s not afraid, like so many candidates are, to come out and say “Happy Birthday, Jebus.” They’ll use the critical newspaper articles, blog posts, punditry, etc. to prove that there is a War.
On our side, we’d be much better off saying Huckabee has every right to air a commercial like this, and not give the right what they want. If you’re going to criticize the ad, do it by criticizing Huckabee’s obvious attempt to create a controversy using the partiarch of his religion.
You don’t think there’s a War on Christmas? Watch what happens when I do this ad!
He may be “Mr. Nice Guy,” but there’s no question in my mind that this is the motive.
Update: I already see this all over the morning news shows and newspapers. So yes, we’re playing right into it, aren’t we?
Mike Huckabee during the debate: “Jesus was too smart to run for public office.”
Mike Huckabee today: “Screw it! I’m recruiting him anyway!”
by John Cole| 97 Comments
This post is in: Republican Stupidity, Blogospheric Navel-Gazing, General Stupidity
I am not sure if you heard it or not, but there has been a rumor circulating that now that the semester is over, I was assaulted viciously by a left-wing bottle of Scotch and a box of cigars.
I am here to tell you that this was a hoax that I fabricated out of nothing. In fact, it was I who planned on assaulting the Scotch.
Consider this another open thread.
by John Cole| 88 Comments
This post is in: Republican Stupidity
About Jonah Goldberg’s new book is that this whole “liberals are fascist” argument is going to morph from something idiot frat boys would argue after three credit hours in poly sci. and a dozen Mickey’s Big Mouth and would be laughed out of the room to something that idiots like Peggy Noonan and David brooks will peddle with straight faces on Hardball.
That it will probably also be a best seller is also depressing.