1 So the message is, Pawlenty is is all Gung-Ho and fearless sniping at Romney... Until he's in the same room with him. NOT a Winning Strategy, T-Paw.

2 Cut spending? But that limits the amount of money *we* can spend when *we* hold the reins of power!

3 "I'm also unemployed," Romney replied, with a smile.

As I said in the earlier thread, I hope he stays unemployed.

By Wednesday afternoon, the House had voted on a half dozen of Broun's budget cutting plans, easily rejecting all six.

Obviously we need some more primaries until they get the message.

4
why are Republicans in the House taking a pass

Because they're freakin' morons who can't do math and haven't been reading Monty's DOOM posts.

5

"I'm also unemployed."

Nope, not a gaffe.  It's a joke.  Poking fun at himself, in fact.

Obama can't do it because, you know, he's responsible for the problem.

Mitt can.

Not insensitive or whatever PC shit.

6 Nothing so pretty as the back of a man's head!

7 2 Cut spending? But that limits the amount of money *we* can spend when *we* hold the reins of power!

Posted by: The GOP Leadership at June 16, 2011 03:51 PM (xy9wk)

I hate to tell you this, but the GOP leadership largely voted for those cuts. It was the other members who were a problem.

/Sock noted.

8

Self immolation without representation is tyranny. This shithouse is old and busted, need to find a new place where the kids are hip.

As I was saying on a different thread- Belize or Costa Rica to get work at the soon to be built medical tourism facilities, or Czechoslovakia because of the beer, women, and a PM that told Stutters to get bent.

 

9 Shaka, when the walls fell...

10 They're not going to get the job and then take away the only real power of the job....that goes for Rs as well as Ds.

What we need are people who hate the idea of being politicians.

11 I hate to tell you this, but the GOP leadership largely voted for those cuts. It was the other members who were a problem.

Could that be because the knew it had no chance of passing anyway?

12

Dave Weigel (I know)

Evidence proving the blind squirrel theorem.

13

So am I allowed to talk about Palin?

Anyway, that was a bad joke by Romney. It makes him seem out of touch. I dont think he will be the nominee if he is attacked on his record.

14 Our representatives suck.  What else is new? 

15
let's talk about the people who are actually running, for a change

16 Is how it's being reported really how it played out?

If so, then Mitt's joke plays right into all the lib memes about him (and R's in general) without being self-effacing. Between doubling down on AGW and this, it's almost like there's a frigging script. Lord help us.

17

"I'm also unemployed," Romney replied, with a smile.

Fortunately for him he said it now. Six months from now he'd be crucified.

18 Every Republican since Lincoln has worked to increase the size and scope of the Federal government...and you're surprised by this behavior?

 WTH is wrong with you people?

 The Republicans are the party of small government, but every time they've held power, they've increased its power and size. Believe what they say, just don't believe your lyin' eyes, eh?

 You keep sending the same people - or the same kinds of people - to D.C. and they keep doing the same thing, over and over...while you keep expecting things to change.

...Are ya stupid? ...or are you just zombies, unable to think for yourselves, unless a politician tells you what to think, say, do...and how to dress and where to live and work...and what to eat, drink or smoke?

 Don't get me started on the longer history of the same behavior by the Democrats.

 (The Anti-Federalists were right, but The Federalists won the argument.)

 Hint: It isn't about left vs right. It's about government vs the people.

19 You know, I'd love to have read your opinion, Drew, the day after Reagan had the "I paid for this microphone" moment.

20 Yeah I'm sure the NY Times reporter had an accurate account of what Romney said. At least it wasnt described as a Snidely Whiplash smile. Though I'm certain it was implied.

21 On one of Dr. Broun's bill, every leadership member voted aye except Cathy McMorris Rogers. The vote to virtually eliminate funding for Food for Peace was dicier (3 leadership members), but there were only 64 GOPers who voted for it altogether.

The difficulty is that the members didn't want to be seen as taking food from starving women and children. They are afraid of the Dems' narrative.

22 WILL WORK AS MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD FOR FOOD

23 Wow, neither has any chance of winning their own state in a Presidential election and we are supposed to give a damn? Lets talk about only those candidates that can plausibly win their home state. No ALGORES for 2012 - otay? Lets not fuck up a slam dunk.

24 Ah, the mutli-millionaire who has devoted the last 6 years or so of his life and several millions dollars of his own money to running for President doesn't have a job. See, he's just like you! Or it's funny! Or something.

When you're a rich, urbane patrician, don't run from it, feature it. Go with noblese oblige. 

The proles eat that shit up.

25

"I'm also unemployed."

Nope, not a gaffe.  It's a joke.  Poking fun at himself, in fact.

Posted by: Emperor of Icecream at June 16, 2011 03:52 PM (epBek)

Mitt is a millionaire and so not really unemployed.  The statement risks angering some truly unemployed people and will not win him any converts.  It's something he'd be better off not saying.

26

don't feel like attacking our side right now so here's some good news, the Dem biased Gallup (look up it's History and connections to Democrat plotics) has been polling Obama's re-election effort against a generic GOP guy/gal since February.

In Feb he polled at a tied 41-41

in Apr he polled at a tied 45-45

in May he lead 43-40 (post-Bina laden bounce)

now he polls losing 39-43

btw Obama was at 49-53 the last month after Bin Laden's death in Gallup, now he's down to 46% and he's at 45% in Ras

Ras is the pollster i'd reccomend to look at the most, where he's losing as well.

27 It's not really what I'd call a funny joke.

28

...Are ya stupid? ...or are you just zombies

No, I'm a ginger.  If you'll just stop that pesky squirming, I'll be taking that soul from you.  Now, now, I need it more than you.  I'm hungry. 

29

The Democrats are brilliant politicians. They create programs called "Food for Peace." With a name like this they're practically daring the Republicans to screw with it.

What's next, the Keep Grandma Alive bill? Who's gonna vote against that? And when it's law, who's gonna vote to defund it?

30

"I'm also unemployed."

Nope, not a gaffe.  It's a joke.  Poking fun at himself, in fact.

Posted by: Emperor of Icecream at June 16, 2011 03:52 PM (epBek)

I can sympathize with Mitt's predicament. I hate being unemployed. Have to pay for all my trips out of my own Trusty Fund.

31 The difficulty is that the members didn't want to be seen as taking food from starving women and children. They are afraid of the Dems' narrative.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at June 16, 2011 04:00 PM (ITYRW)

That's the problem with politicians today.  They pull at the heart strings when it's by no way the duty of the federal government to have a hand in ANY of that shit.

Whatever happened to churches, charities and non profits?  Don't THEY do all that stuff on the generosity of the AMERICAN PUBLIC?!?

Where in The Constitution does it state that the federal government will 'feed the poor?'

32 Mitt spoke like a millionaire would speak to another millionaire. He just doesn't get it.

33 11 Could that be because the knew it had no chance of passing anyway?

No. Hensarling, Price, and Roskam are the most conservative members of the leadership (see their ACU ratings) and they would have voted for it regardless. Cantor and McCarthy may have taken it to look more fiscally conservative or because they really believed it, I don't know. Not entirely familiar with Sessions or Carter so it's hard to make a judgment.

34 #18 I was wondering (out loud on several threads even) when this fucking know-it-all blowhard would show up.  How ya doin Warren? 

35
What's next, the Keep Grandma Alive bill? Who's gonna vote against that? And when it's law, who's gonna vote to defund it?

Posted by: Soothsayer at June 16, 2011 04:03 PM (G/zuv)]

"Save Grandma from being kicked over the waterfall". Sooner or later a bucnh of someone is gonna have to take the 1-term bullet and fix this mess.

36

Oh, I'm just rolling on the floor laughing my ass off at the joke the multimillionaire said. The fact that he has nothing to worry about, that's he's not concerned about having enough money to buy groceries or pay his bills just makes that one almost as funny as The Vapid One's® "shovel-ready" joke the other day. He's just like me after three years of funemployment, just exactly like me!

Stop it, Mittens, you're killing me here.

Oh, I think I just wee wee'd myself a little bit.

37 Posted by: AmishDude at June 16, 2011 03:59 PM (T0NGe)

What's that got to do with anything?

38 5

"I'm also unemployed."

Nope, not a gaffe.  It's a joke.  Poking fun at himself, in fact.

Obama can't do it because, you know, he's responsible for the problem.

Mitt can.

Not insensitive or whatever PC shit.

Posted by: Emperor of Icecream at June 16, 2011 03:52 PM (epBek)

No, its stupid.  Its like hearing a rich guy talking about how tough the economy is now and he understands our pain because he can't get anyone to buy his house #6 for $3 million dollars, or can't buy a new Lear Jet.

39 I can eat 50 eggs! How about you, so called Conzz?  How many can you eat?!!eleventy!!!

40 Romney might have done better to say he was there to let them interview him for his next job.

41

No, its stupid.  Its like hearing a rich guy talking about how tough the economy is now and he understands our pain because he can't get anyone to buy his house #6 for $3 million dollars, or can't buy a new Lear Jet.

Posted by: buzzion at June 16, 2011 04:07 PM (oVQFe)

Gulfstream, Lears are too small. Can hardly fit my polo equipment.

42 That's not a botched joke, Mr. Kerry. THIS is a botched joke.

43

Posted by: The Robot Devil at June 16, 2011 04:06 PM (g3OU+)

I've never understood why a guy never ran and made it a point he'd only serve 1 term. then he could fix the mess in 1 term, leave most likely hated or polarizing and then History says he was a good President.

Polk & Hayes each promised to only run for 1 term. that was in the 1800s...

44 Hotair is making a big deal out of this Palin/Perry/Rudy poll over whether to run or not.It's just many other candidates supporters supporting other winnable caandidates not to run because their candidate would lose. Alll 3 should jump in.

45 I'm also undertaxed.

46 32 That's the problem with politicians today.  They pull at the heart strings when it's by no way the duty of the federal government to have a hand in ANY of that shit.

Whatever happened to churches, charities and non profits?  Don't THEY do all that stuff on the generosity of the AMERICAN PUBLIC?!?

Where in The Constitution does it state that the federal government will 'feed the poor?'


Norman Dicks told Dr. Broun he was violating his Hippocratic Oath by offering those amendments. It was disgusting, absolutely disgusting. They weren't incredibly large except for the cut to Food for Peace, yet Dicks accused him of endangering children.

The Rs really need to stop being so intimidated by Democratic scare tactics, too. By showing that the conference can be split (or even worse) because the Dems make emotional arguments just encourages the Dems. I understand the commercials would look bad, but they need to stop being so afraid of explaining.

47

Posted by: Flapjackmaka at June 16, 2011 04:10 PM (gElkm)

I only see Perry jumping in, the other 2 i'd be shocked if they ran.

48 Mitt fell out of the right crotch. We know it, he knows it, now shut up about it. How will you help fix the Country? That's all we want to know.

49

"I'm also unemployed."

Nope, not a gaffe.  It's a joke.  Poking fun at himself, in fact.

Oh, horseshit. That's the same kind of tin-eared thing that Obama would be rightly chastised for if he had said it in the same setting.

50 btw I cut Romney slack on this one, but his joke def. will fall flat w/ "the folks"

51 With all the talk about people getting sued for shit others say, can't Paul Ryan sue whomever had the ad displaying him pushing the old lady off the cliff?

Talk about false representation.......

52 A typical GOP voter asked me "Who is this Paul Lenty guy people keep mentioning?"

53

No, I'm a ginger.  If you'll just stop that pesky squirming, I'll be taking that soul from you.  Now, now, I need it more than you.  I'm hungry. 

A hungry ginger attorney?  Oh man, that is too horrifying to contemplate.  It's like the trifecta of evil.

54 Bachmann voted against the final bill a little while ago. I assume that's because she wanted more of the proposed budget cuts to be enacted.

55 At a campaign event in Florida today, the 2012 Republican frontrunner met with a group of unemployed workers who talked about their challenges looking for jobs in the struggling economy.

After they concluded, the former Massachusetts governor suggested he should tell his own "story," according to the New York Times' Jeff Zeleny.

"I'm also unemployed," Romney replied, with a smile.

You're also an asshole. But, hey, who's keeping score?

56 Pierre Call-me-Pete DuPont never tried to act common, yet he had the common touch.

Of course, he never got the nomination either, so maybe it Damned if you do ...

57

No, its stupid.  Its like hearing a rich guy talking about how tough the economy is now and he understands our pain because he can't get anyone to buy his house #6 for $3 million dollars, or can't buy a new Lear Jet.

 

No, its not.  Its self-deprecating humor.  The idiocracy doesn't get it, but I do and so should you.  Republicans shouldn't be on the side of the idiocracy.

 

Good laird, I hate primary season.  We'll spend the next year with foaming hyperpartisans shrieking about nothings like this.

Romneycare?  Ethanol? AGW? Trivia, apparently.  What really matters is MITT ONCE HAD A DOG ON HIS ROOF AND HE JOKED HE WAS UNEMPLOYED.

58
Is Obama gonna be reelected? Well, let's find out. You remember the pointy-faced dink professor Alan Richtman, right?

Richtman has a 13-keys to victory thingy. #5 and #6 are the most "key" in my opinion.

True or False?
• KEY 1: Party mandate. After the midterm elections, the incumbent party holds more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives than it did after the previous midterm elections.

• KEY 2: Contest. There is no serious contest for the incumbent-party nomination.
• KEY 3: Incumbency. The incumbent-party candidate is the sitting president.
• KEY 4: Third party. There is no significant third-party or independent campaign.
• KEY 5: Short-term economy. The economy is not in recession during the election campaign.
• KEY 6: Long-term economy. Real per capita economic growth during the term equals or exceeds mean growth during the previous two terms.
• KEY 7: Policy change. The incumbent administration effects major changes in national policy.
• KEY 8: Social unrest. There is no sustained social unrest during the term.
• KEY 9: Scandal. The administration is untainted by major scandal.
• KEY 10: Foreign/military failure. The administration suffers no major failure in foreign or military affairs.
• KEY 11: Foreign/military success. The administration achieves a major success in foreign or military affairs.
• KEY 12: Incumbent charisma. The incumbent-party candidate is charismatic or a national hero.
• KEY 13: Challenger charisma: The challenging-party candidate is not charismatic or a national hero.

 

59

"I'm also unemployed." Nope, not a gaffe.  It's a joke.  Poking fun at himself, in fact.

I thought that joke was shovel-ready... Turns out it wasn't as shovel-ready as I thought...

60

>>> So, Pawlenty will take shots at Romnney on Fox News and Twitter but not while he's standing 5 feet from the guy. As the kids say, #FAIL

Actually I commend Pawlenty for not shitting on another republican during the debate.  Why is this bad?

61 Nope, not a gaffe. It's a joke. Poking fun at himself, in fact.

Nope nope. He said "unemployed." People don't genuinely—or even convincingly falsely—self-deprecate in official terms.

"I'm looking for a job, too, as you know. [Insert shortest pause-for-laugh ever.] And if you help me get it, I'll help you—and all Americans who in these times of blah blah" is a passably fake-self-mocking back-into-broadcast-salesman-mode politician joke. "I'm also unemployed" is what an evil robot says.

Dude is fucked up, and it shows.

62 52 With all the talk about people getting sued for shit others say, can't Paul Ryan sue whomever had the ad displaying him pushing the old lady off the cliff?

Posted by: © Sponge at June 16, 2011 04:12 PM (UK9cE)

If Paul Ryan switches parties, then, yes.

63

Oh, horseshit. That's the same kind of tin-eared thing that Obama would be rightly chastised for if he had said it in the same setting

Because, uh, Obama is employed, his job is keeping people employed, and he's screwed it up. Duh.

64 Norman Dicks told Dr. Broun he was violating his Hippocratic Oath by offering those amendments. It was disgusting, absolutely disgusting. They weren't incredibly large except for the cut to Food for Peace, yet Dicks accused him of endangering children.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at June 16, 2011 04:10 PM (ITYRW)

Again, with the earlier conversations on this blog, can't he sue for that?

None of what he said was remotely true, so it's slander, or something, right?

65

Oblig,

your argument would be more convincing if you weren't certifiably brain dead.  Remember, the 'moron' thing is also a joke.  Do I need to explain to you what a joke is?  Apparently so.

66 Hey fuckface! Yeah you! Fuck you and your stupid ideas.

Catch me if you can.

TIMMEH!!!

67

Actually I commend Pawlenty for not shitting on another republican during the debate.  Why is this bad?

Posted by: dan-O at June 16, 2011 04:14 PM (bRLuD)

The 11th commandment is NOT supposed to protect republicans from being hypocrites and not calling out bad policy from other reps. By that metric, Regean broke his commandment a lot. What it means is do not attack personally.

"He is a mormon dont vote for him". for example.

68 Actually I commend Pawlenty for not shitting on another republican during the debate. Why is this bad? Posted by: dan-O at June 16, 2011 04:14 PM (bRLuD) Then why shit on Romney AT ALL?

69

I don't think saying nothing was the right move for T-Paw here.  But something with a little more substance would have been better.  Remind people that you're not taking shots at Mitt just to take shots, but because there are real policy differences that people should care about.

Pawlenty needs to make this less reality show and more debate on the substance.

70

"He is a mormon dont vote for him"

Posted by: Flapjackmaka at June 16, 2011 04:17 PM (gElkm)

Ok.

I was having trouble deciding, so thanks.

71 Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at June 16, 2011 04:13 PM (ITYRW)

I hate that grandstanding crap.

She, Rand Paul and others who do that are simply shitting on people who are getting as much as they can and trying to be more pure than them.

What if everyone did that? Would we get more cuts or no cuts at all? I think we all know what the more likely outcome is...no cuts at all. It's like voting present.

Vote yes, pocket the cuts and then start working to get more.


 

72

 It's like the trifecta of evil.

You say evil, I say alternately moral . . .

73 What part of "according to New York Times reporter' did you guys miss?

74

You say evil, I say alternately moral . . .

I get the best lines here.  I am SO using that one...too.

75

Vote yes, pocket the cuts and then start working to get more.

I'd agree with that. just keep passing cutting spending bills and watch it add on. if the Senate/President stops them, it's not on the House. I'll take ANY cuts when I can.

76 Again, with the earlier conversations on this blog, can't he sue for that?
None of what he said was remotely true, so it's slander, or something, right?
Posted by: © Sponge at June 16, 2011 04:15 PM (UK9cE)

Article I Section VI of the US Constitution.

77 65 Again, with the earlier conversations on this blog, can't he sue for that?

None of what he said was remotely true, so it's slander, or something, right?

Rep. Dicks revised his remarks so that they wouldn't sound so mean. Give me a break...

78 I want to give that little Ron Paul geek a wedgie. And then pop him in the mouth.

He thinks he's the smartest idiot in the room.

TIMMEH!!!

79 We're not going to balance the budget this way, we still need to get after so-called "entitlements" but we damn well should be cutting at every opportunity.

As has probably been said a thousand times before, they're not called The Stupid Party for nothing.

80 Just spitballin' here, but it seems that Mitts and Dear Reader are both pursuing a 'no other option' plan. Hardcore conservatives and libs are going to hold their noses and vote their side regardless of of how lousy their candidate actually is. So both these clowns are trying to find a way to lure the undecideds and uninformed voters somewhere in the middle.
 
Thus you have Mitts doing his AGW shtick and not running very fast from healthcare mandates; the JEF occasionally does things that piss off union leaders or lets an oil well or two get drilled in the Gulf.
 
There are no firm plans from either of these bozos on what to do with the skyrocketing deficits; none, nada, zip. Both are relying on the 'then a miracle happens' approach.
 
Lots of red meat for a pessimist like me.

81
Mitt, you're not only unemployed -- you're fired!

82
What's that got to do with anything?

Posted by: DrewM. at June 16, 2011 04:07 PM (WNzUA)

Oh, because everything's a misstep and, I think, the day after Reagan said "I paid for this microphone," you and a lot of others would have jumped ugly on him saying that this was a gaffe, showed that he couldn't control his temper, demonstrated that he was arrogant and wealthy, etc.

Sometimes, when you walk, you stumble over a crack in the sidewalk.  You still get where you're going.

83

And on that third example, why aren't the Repubs doing their job when it comes to cutting the budget? Why aren't they up there crowing about the cuts they've made to spending?

What part of actually "cutting the deficit" do they not understand? They have a golden opportunity to do what they were elected to do, which is to take a chain saw to the bloated budget that we have thanks to Queen Nancy and her lovely bride, Harry Reid.

They should be cutting up a storm and attacking the JEF and the Dim-controlled Senate for not doing the will of the people.

And then I remember what this post is about.

84

 Posted by: GnuBreed at June 16, 2011 04:24 PM (ENKCw)

Unfortunately, I can't find any holes in that analysis.

85
With all the talk about people getting sued for shit others say, can't Paul Ryan sue whomever had the ad displaying him pushing the old lady off the cliff?
Posted by: © Sponge at June 16, 2011 04:12 PM


Mr. Ryan, when did you stop shoving your grandmother off a cliff?

86 This was good though, IMO:

"Senate votes 73-27 to do away with ethanol subsidies"

87 Posted by: AmishDude at June 16, 2011 04:25 PM (T0NGe)

Welcome to the internet.

FTR- I would have loved it if someone told King to stop acting like a spoiled brat and Democratic mouthpiece. Mitt actually came closest a couple of times.

88 I don't want Mitt to be POTUS for several reasons that have already been so well stated here. I will say this about him. He has never pretended he did not come from money. I respect that. It's those that come from money and pretend they are aw schucks plain folk that I detest far more.

89

Gee, what do these three stories have in common.

Oh that's right--NO Ballz GOP.

90

>>> Then why shit on Romney AT ALL?

Don't get me wrong, I am all for the republicans fighting it out amongst each other. 

I just think that during the debate, broadcast live on CNN internationally, it isn't the time to do it.

It seems to me that during the debate, showing a bit of camaraderie and hammering on Obama in unison is the ideal.  And that is what they were all doing, so good for them (including Pawlenty).

91 Article I Section VI of the US Constitution.

Posted by: DrewM. at June 16, 2011 04:22 PM (WNzUA)

That says privilege from arrest.  Arrest is interpreted as suing?

huh....

92 I think the people who want the repubs to attack each other are really saying they want the repubs to do Obamas work for him.  Why not, though, as he has been  given that advantage all his life.

93 I'm in this greenhouse, because of global warming. And I must scrutinize this corn. Scrutinize it.

94

Hint: It isn't about left vs right. It's about government vs the people.

Translation: I voted for Barak Obamma, and now I have the gall to come here and lecture conservatives now that I've "come to my senses."

95 They voted down 2 billion in cuts, or you could say, they voted down cuts which would have reduced the deficit by 0.1%, gotta stop calling congress a bunch of crack whores, it's utterly unfair to the respectable ladies who trade BJs for crack.

96 84 And on that third example, why aren't the Repubs doing their job when it comes to cutting the budget? Why aren't they up there crowing about the cuts they've made to spending? [...]

Well, they did cut some, but the difficulty (from these stories I've read) is that they're spooked. You have a problem when you have amendments where most of the committee heads, leadership, and assorted others are voting one way and half or more of the conference another. That wasn't the case with every bill, obviously, and the conference voted for some great amendments, but they're being cowed by Dems in other areas.

As for crowing, the GOP leadership will be doing that tonight at 7:30pm EST in their usual presser and likely on blogs as well. Once again, they're making some great points by way of social media and few people are hearing or seeing them. They need to address this.

97

I don't think saying nothing was the right move for T-Paw here.  But something with a little more substance would have been better.  Remind people that you're not taking shots at Mitt just to take shots, but because there are real policy differences that people should care about.

Pawlenty needs to make this less reality show and more debate on the substance.

It was a Tweet.  How much more substance can you expect in 140 characters?

98 If I'd of taken the bait from that little King bitch and confronted Romney, what do you think the headlines would've been?

So fuck off.

TIMMEH!!!

99 99, Good point.

100 Posted by: © Sponge at June 16, 2011 04:31 PM (UK9cE)

No but Congressional debate is privileged.

The bigger issue and the distinction Ace was making is...it's almost impossible for a public figure to sue for defamation or slander. The people Weiner tweeted with aren't. That's why talking about them in the same way we talk about public figures is legally dangerous.

101
what's this?

there's a soundbite of b-Jay Carney saying, "We created 2.1 jobs."

102 T-Paw: Giant Pussy.

Run, Rick, Run. Perry 2012.

103 And now a word from our President: http://santaclaritacitybriefs.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/sign.jpg Any idea what the "TIGER" thing stands for?

104

Perry 2012.

Two coifs enter. One coif survives.

105
""We've created more than 2.1 private sector jobs," Carney said. Carney quickly followed that comment by adding a "million" to the 2.1 number."

Heh.

RCP has the vid.

106 Amendment descriptions

Descriptions and vote totals

Roll call votes


What the Clerk's office should do is combine the descriptions with the roll call votes. It would make it much easier.

107 Hopefully Perry learns from this and enters the race hitting Romney hard.  Just one or two very direct confrontations on this and Romney will implode. 

But Perry also has a lot to learn from Romney's mannerisms, which seem extremely carefully crafted and nearly perfect.  I think Perry is up to that task.

108
Even the 2.1M figure is a farce.

Accounting is different in the Age of Obama -- all credits, no debits.

109 >> Any idea what the "TIGER" thing stands for?

Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery

That must be in the 2nd Five-Year Plan.

110 They cut some funding for the "know your farmer, know your food" program. I didn't realize we had such a program.

111 The real problem, IMO, is that the repubs allowed themselves to participate in a debate that asked no questions about the economy or the debt.  We need to concentrate on those issues.  Pawlenty is running on those issues, so is Romney, so are all the other candidates.  It is Obamas job to discredit our candidates.  Our candidates job is to put their ideas out there and let us decide whose ideas are best.  I don't want our candidates to do Obamas job for him.

112 I think Perry is up to that task.

One thing that I like about him is that he strikes me as a ruthless political animal and we could use one of those.

113 111 Sorry, make this prohibition of all funds:

They cut some funding for the "know your farmer, know your food" program. I didn't realize we had such a program.

114 Ok, I am on the Perry please run bandwagon too.  But let me get this straight, one debate takes Pawlenty out?  Really?  Are we going to let the media tell us who our candidate is again?

Are we really going to choose socialist healthcare loving, AGW believer Romney by default?  Another liberal northeastern republican?  Why join the jump on T-Paw now meme?

115 #18 I was wondering (out loud on several threads even) when this fucking know-it-all blowhard would show up.  How ya doin Warren? 

Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at June 16, 2011 04:05 PM (agD4m)

If making a major party is so easy, I'm sure we would be happy to join the one he starts, as soon as he gets off the internet chat threads and does so.

116
Gas is slowwwwwwly trickling down. It's amazinghow slowly these prices fall but they zoom right up if someone at OPEC farts from indigestion.

It's $3.61/gal up here.

117
So it's down like 35 cents.

Thanks, Obama.

118 Any idea what the "TIGER" thing stands for? Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Oh brother. You're serious, aren't you? Perhaps one of Barry's new economic stimulus plans will be America Advancing Research and Developing Voter Assistance for Reeducating Kids, or AARDVARK.

119 right ... not hammering a fellow Republican is the same as not hammering a sworn enemy ...  some sense of equivalence you got there ...

120 Duty vs. destiny
 
When I have (and see here) enthusiasm about a possible candidate, it comes down to this. West and Christie see fixing things as a duty and fuck popularity. Dear Reader (I have a gift, Harry) and Mitts have their personal destiny as a guiding light. Neither is too concerned with the amount of destruction left in their wake as long as they win. Mount Rushmore awaits their chiseled visages. Or the 100 trillion dollar bill.

121 119 That's one corny sock.

122

Polk & Hayes each promised to only run for 1 term. that was in the 1800s...

Posted by: YRM at June 16, 2011 04:09 PM (UzBwz)

I think Hayes ran a second time and was beat by Cleveland. So much for promises.

123
The bigger issue and the distinction Ace was making is...it's almost impossible for a public figure to sue for defamation or slander. The people Weiner tweeted with aren't. That's why talking about them in the same way we talk about public figures is legally dangerous.

Posted by: DrewM. at June 16, 2011 04:37 PM (WNzUA)

Understood.

 

124 We've created more than 2.1 private sector jobs Uhh, you've created the need for 2.1 million jobs because the economy, I hear, needs to produce 125,000 jobs a month just to keep up with population growth. By lasting this long in his term, Obama has allowed the need for (runs to calculator...) 2.125 million additional jobs to develop in 17 months. Way to go.

125

You'd think Paulenty was trying to be first to leave the race.

After Gingrich, that is.

126 These guys are not in the same league campaign wise as Obama. He will clean their clock on the campaign trail, when you can't tell a joke or what is happening is they are forcing a joke stupidity is released. Same thing as last time with everyone wishing for Romney to be himself, comfortable in his own skin. He is not. Obama is. Same for T-Paw can't confront Romney in person then you do it in the media, die by the sword. Race card will be pulled and these guys cannot fight out of a paper bag. A shame for us.

127 Or the 100 trillion dollar bill. You can buy mine, cheap.

128 >> Oh brother. You're serious, aren't you?

Sadly, yes. I looked it up a while back.

It's fuckin' Orwellian.

129 My comment in the previous thread:

Mitt's like that MFer in a job interview that always tries to find a connection to the shit on his resume.  Instead of just saying, "no, no real experience with that, but I have no doubt I could learn it" he has to come up with some tenuous-at-best relationship to himself.  So, to show he "feels their pain" he comes up with bullshit like this.

This is insulting to the unemployed.

It also happened during the debate.  Mitt practically gave that ret. Navy guy a virtual slobberjob instead of just having the courtesy to answer the damn question. And then Pawlenty (cut from the same cloth) slobbered all over the guy after that.  It was sickening and completely insincere in appearance.

130

"Anyway, that was a bad joke by Romney. It makes him seem out of touch."

Are you trying to suggest that Mitt Romney is not actually out of touch ... but this joke makes him seem that way even though he's not really.

Or doesn't the joke reveal that he is out of touch? And that a $200 millionaire can in no way relate to the problems facing someone who is unemployed, cannot even get an interview, is losing their house, facing divorce and trying to avoid the prospect of losing their children.

Because I don't think Mitt Romney really cares about us as people. We're a means to his end. And this comment reflects that reality.

131 " Ok, I am on the Perry please run bandwagon too.  But let me get this straight, one debate takes Pawlenty out?  Really?  Are we going to let the media tell us who our candidate is again?

Are we really going to choose socialist healthcare loving, AGW believer Romney by default?  Another liberal northeastern republican?  Why join the jump on T-Paw now meme?

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at June 16, 2011 04:46 PM (ldUCK) "

Yeah, this is totally unfair.  It sure seems like whoever is Romney's biggest threat is hit with massive almost universal flack.  Much of it totally unfair.  For example, Mitch Daniels is a 'pussy' and a RINO because of something one of his appointees did, really outside's Mitch's control.

As soon as Rick Perry is a threat, he will get exactly the same thing.

Romney will not attack him to his face.  It's not like Romney did to Pawlenty, asking him why he's critical of Romneycare if he isn't talking about it to Romney.

I don't think the debate mattered.  But I don't think Pawlenty has it in him to really dig into Romney the way we need our candidate to dig into Obama.  Pawlenty can prove me wrong, but I just don't think he's that kind of person.

132 130, I felt that way too, The Navy Vet just wanted his question answered. A quick "thank you for you service" would have sufficed.

133 Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at June 16, 2011 04:39 PM (ITYRW)

Thanks for the links

134

I'd like the Republicans to take a Palestinian approach to budget talks and the debt ceiling. The Palestinians basic approach is to wish for Israel to be completely destroyed and all the Jews killed and then negotiate from there.

The Republicans need to try the same approach. To get any sort of raise on the Debt Ceiling, ask the Democrats which 2 government Departments they're going to agree to eliminate and what are their proposals to cut $1.2 Trillion from next years spending. Once those preconditions are met, then talks about raising the debt ceiling can begin.

Sadly, not going to happen. I don't know how long the country could keep going even if the deficits were *slashed* to *only* $1 Trillion a year.

 

135

>> Any idea what the "TIGER" thing stands for?

Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery

Oh.  Dear.  God.   That may be worse than the PATRIOT Act.  It's a close call.

Crap, I know I'm not making this up, didn't some company have people bitching about project names so they started using a computer program that picked from the names of lakes and rivers and stuff and someone flipped out when Titicaca came up?  Something like that.

 

136 I wonder what has been the most absurd, actual acronym to make it into the Federal Register. The DREAM Act is not there yet, thank Gaia, but that is pretty obnoxious. "Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors"

137 Mitt Romney = Richard Nixon without the paranoia and mean streak.

138 Today In GOP  Drew M. Stupidity —DrewM.

--um, quoting wavy davy weigel #fail

139 So was Mitt misquoted or what?  Put some knowledge.

140 WTF, yes indeed. Anyone recall Gerald Ford's awful WIN buttons, Whip Inflation Now?

141 WTF!!!......FTW!!!

142 130 Oh you are so right! It felt very condescending, it was too slick not a very real thank you. Even though they may feel that way it was just to goopy. These guys don't get it, people don't trust you, be less of salesman and more of an American like us.

143

Romney can't talk to ordinary everyday people because he's never been one.   He'll need to figure that shit out quick or this kind of stuff will keep happening.   It wasn't a very funny joke to the lady he was taking a pcture with yesterday when he jumped and squeeled trying to act like she pinched him.   He had to explain, and she said, "I'd never do that."   Shit like that ain't gonna get it.

As to Pawlenty...Buck up buttercup.   If you're brave enough to say shit behind someone's back, be brave enough to say it to their face.

144 Steve King offered his promised amendment :

King (R-IA)  Prohibits the use of funds to make payments relating to the final settlement of claims from in Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation.

Y 155      N 262

With this one, I'm wondering whether some of the newer members understood the history behind the amendment and why King is concerned about this.

145 What has four wheels and flies?  ORomneycare!  No, that's not quite right.  Where does ORomney care belong?  Four wheels and flies!  No, that still not quite right.  If ORomenycare had four wheels and could fly . . . .

146 On the House votes: THIS is our problem. It's fun to trash Obama and all (and he deserves every bit of it and more) but the simple fact is that the President canny spend one penny unless Mom and Dad say it's okay. The House and Senate are Mom and Dad. All new spending must originate in the House. You want to stop our budget problems? Screw the President and let's get every last worthless leech out of Congress. Give me a Congress full of competent, sensible people and Obama can stay... until the first day that the new Congress meets and they impeach the scumbag. On Romney: I hate Romney. I like making fun of him every chance I get, but folks... this one was a joke. I am unemployed and I laughed when I first read it elsewhere. There is way too many other worthwhile things to trash Romney on without resorting to some sort of class warfare/ political correctness nonsense. Yeah, he's rich and doesn't need to work. Good for him! He's running for a job that pays less that he earns in interest each year and less than he's personally spent on running for the job. Good for him! No snarc intended. Now about Romneycare and AGW...

147 Even the 2.1M figure is a farce.

Accounting is different in the Age of Obama -- all credits, no debits.

Yep.  I couldn't figure out how they accounted for their numbers, or the lefty talking point that "Obama created more jobs since 2010 than Bush did his entire term", so I looked it up.

They're ignoring all the jobs lost in 2009.  Starting early in 2010, non-farm private payroll has increased by about 2.1 million, but overall we're still about 2 million jobs below the already low numbers of Jan 2009.

Nifty graph here.

148 Romney has been telling that lame joke and several others on the trail for a while now. He sucks as bad in person as he does at televised debates. The media was just waiting to give the bad news until after GOP polling dropped and the debate "buzz" died down.

149 @151 Man, that is a frightening graph. And it makes it clear that lefty talking point is a flat lie.

150 He sucks as bad in person as he does at televised debates.

Romney wasn't so bad in the debate.

I've seen the guy, at the Ames Straw Poll 4 years ago (he's not going this year).  He's impressive in person.  Definitely not my candidate, but he does pretty good in person.

151 Yes George, I do. And when you turned them over it said NIM, No Instant Miracles.

152 No Instant Miracles. I think the current POTUS would disapprove of that. Doesn't sell well.

153 A Choice of Two Futures
(Andrew Klavan on the House Budget vs Obama's)

154 I'll take The Stupid Party for $1000, Alex.

155 Hardcore conservatives and libs are going to hold their noses and vote their side regardless of of how lousy their candidate actually is.

Who says?

156 M80s, when do we get some real dope on the budget battles left? Or to put it differently, at what point do we learn if the new GOP House is willing to use their full arsenal, or if it's business as usual? What's the next big battle?

157 Yes, it is far to early to count someone out based on a shitty CNN debate. However T-Paw at some point has to take off. He has consistently polled in the bottom tier of the polls. Up until Huck dropped out Romney, Huck, and Palin consistently polled in the top tier. When Huck dropped out Romney picked up his supporters. But that will not last. Palin has also been dropping since it is becoming more and more evident that she is not going to run.

158 You wouldn't be a bump in the road in Mittt Romney's America, because you would spill my chardonnay! I'll be here all week. Next week I'll have Secret Service protection. Try the veal. Take my wife!

159 Well, I think I'll stay away from the Lucifer's Banhammer thread. There may be carnage if'n peoples ain't careful.

160 160 M80s, when do we get some real dope on the budget battles left? Or to put it differently, at what point do we learn if the new GOP House is willing to use their full arsenal, or if it's business as usual? What's the next big battle?

These are just appropriations bills which may never be passed by the Senate. Looking at the amendments, they largely did well by themselves except for several groups of amendments by the same individuals. The real test is going to be what they can get from the debt limit and how the conference votes on that. If they can get a good deal involving real cuts and reforms, they should take it (IMO) and make their case instead of looking at the polls.

Their biggest problem is that too many are paralyzed by the Dems and their demagoguery. They somehow feel that a situation will just go away if they ignore it. But the Dems are going to accuse them of a myriad of things regardless of what they do, so they need to get out there, go on offense, and be engaged. Hiding or criticizing those who speak too loudly about certain subjects only reinforces the Dems' arguments, and it's making the mushy middle uncertain.

161

#98

It was a Tweet.  How much more substance can you expect in 140 characters?

So don't fucking tweet it.

162 Posted by: progressoverpeace at June 16, 2011 04:56 PM (G/MYk)

Considering you're not in house counsel, no one really gives a shit about your opinion. That's sort of the whole point, neither you nor I get to decide how close Ace is going to go to that line. He does.

Should you decide these are simply not bounds in which you can live, the internet is a large and wondrous place, fell free to explore other corners of it.

163 Well, I think I'll stay away from the Lucifer's Banhammer thread. There may be carnage if'n peoples ain't careful.

Posted by: George Orwell at June 16, 2011 05:26 PM (AZGON)

That's exactly why I'm lurking here.

Nothing against Ace or the rest of the morons but the atmosphere has been, um, heated lately and I wish to stay FAR away!

164

Romney will not attack him to his face. 

No.  One of his people will release an incredibly clumsy attack in a way that has Romney's fingerpints all over it.  Romney's problem, besides being half squish, is that he kinda sucks at politics.

165 This thread, I mean.

166 The real test is going to be what they can get from the debt limit and how the conference votes on that. So, will this take place around the time the current debt ceiling accounting gimmicks run out at start of August?

167 Regarding cutting budgets:

Here's a thought experiment. Congress passes EVERY budget cutting amendment proposed. Every. single. one.

What is the end result?

Really, what is the worse that would result at the Federal level?

Pretty close to what some of us would support, methinks. I would.

168 170 So, will this take place around the time the current debt ceiling accounting gimmicks run out at start of August?

It's supposed to happen by August 2nd, though there are some who want it done sooner. The Biden Commission is supposedly making some progress even in the area of Medicare, but nothing is set in stone. If that Commission breaks down-- which it likely will over taxes-- then they will have to fashion a short-term bill. They may actually end-up doing just that because they're discussing so many things right now that it's hard to see how they'll make the deadline.

169 >> Any idea what the "TIGER" thing stands for?

Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery

Oh.  Dear.  God.   That may be worse than the PATRIOT Act.  It's a close call.

Hah. Wait until I roll out ZEBRA, wingnutards!

- oh, that would be Zero Employment, Barry's REAL Achievement.

Fore!

170 171 Regarding cutting budgets:

Here's a thought experiment. Congress passes EVERY budget cutting amendment proposed. Every. single. one.

What is the end result?

Really, what is the worse that would result at the Federal level?

Pretty close to what some of us would support, methinks. I would.


The difficulty with that is that the libs usually offer amendments to cut spending where it is needed most, especially with regards to defense. If they think something is cruel or unnecessary, they try to cut funding or eliminate it. They already played this game with the defense budget.

171 The Biden Commission is supposedly making some progress even in the area of Medicare, but nothing is set in stone. If that Commission breaks down Dare you suggest a commission chaired by Biden might fail its appointed task? /rhetorical question

172 175 Dare you suggest a commission chaired by Biden might fail its appointed task?

/rhetorical question

The fact that they are actually talking about some important subjects tells me the Admin. is worried about their reelection bid. It's not just Boehner and Cantor with their butts on the line here-- it's Obama and Biden. So they will do the usual and blame the Rs when the time comes but in the meantime they will try to accomplish whatever polls well.

173 So what will poll well? One doubts that any serious reduction in entitlement spending will. What do the bad guys have to trade? Just whining about cutting military spending will not be enough. Hell, we cannot even cut a lousy half billion for a freaking cultural center, as noted earlier today in another Andy thread.

174 177 So what will poll well? One doubts that any serious reduction in entitlement spending will. What do the bad guys have to trade? Just whining about cutting military spending will not be enough. Hell, we cannot even cut a lousy half billion for a freaking cultural center, as noted earlier today in another Andy thread.

A Medicare system which allows a premium support option might poll well, since it would be considered "less extreme". Tax reform with lots of goodies for the lower and middle class would be another one. Certain types of spending cuts such as corporate welfare gets broad support, too. So the Admin. will take a look at those and try to get a deal because they've been touting how important that is for ages now. They'll still be kicking the Rs in the shins while they do it, but they need this deal in order to preserve what little credibility they have left.*

_{*Which I would argue they don't have any, but apparently that isn't necessarily true with the mushy middle.}

175 (The Anti-Federalists were right, but The Federalists won the argument.)

 Hint: It isn't about left vs right. It's about government vs the people.

Posted by: Warren Bonesteel at June 16, 2011 03:59 PM (E7Z1r)

Indeed, they were very right. Some of them accurately predicted our very problems. None of this is a new phenomena.

176 174 The difficulty with that is that the libs usually offer amendments to cut spending where it is needed most, especially with regards to defense. If they think something is cruel or unnecessary, they try to cut funding or eliminate it. They already played this game with the defense budget.

Have they ever gone so far as: Eliminate the Army, USMC, CIA? Because even though we may all have our favorite cause, project, or program, they are all on the serious chopping block.

Look at UK, and what they have become of their former selves. And they had some colonies to sell off.

If we could get entitlement reform spending cut back to something that wouldn't grow back into the monster it is now, it might be necessary to give any other budget retrenchment in other areas.

Call their bluff, if you will.

177 LGF? Please don't go "all the way" LGF I would hate to see Ace of Spades end up like LGF ;-)

178

179

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181