1

Good Morning Morons. Today is January 5^th, 2012. On this day in 1643 the first divorce in the American colonies was granted in MA.  On this day on 2012 the press tried to cover up or otherwise downplay Supreme Leader ObamaÂ’s major steps in eliminating the Senate as a conforming agency and his ultimate rise to power as a communist dictator. (Future almanac entry in non-disclosed foreign country)

2

Obama to reveal today how he will complete destroying the military

Our current traitor and crook & chief will give another speech today. This time he will reveal how the military will be changed to deal with absorbing all the budget cuts. IOW his increases in trillions for socialist failed programs will come out of the military.  His goal is to turn it into a toothless tiger, undermanned and underarmed, with lawyers controlling everything.

Every time a modern Democrat has taken office this has been the result. And every time it has resulted in a major war. What are we going to do this time when we are already involved in major wars?  Hey I am all for cutting the military budget if we get congress totally out of the procurement process and we fix the way the military gives out contracts.

3

Washington Times take on Obama's further slide into a dictatorship

They start out trying to be somewhat balanced (balanced meaning calling this what it is) but then they stretch themselves into outlandish contortions trying to make out like he as a valid argument. They try to hint that Bush made these kinds of appointments but even in that they openly admit that he made valid recess appointments until Dirty Harry started with the “proforma sessions” to block them.

I suspect this will be the tack of all the MFM, including Fox.

 

Fox only talks about the shitty board members appointed and doesn't even go to the Constitutional authority.

4 Some people will have to sacrifice their political lives to fight Obama's power grab. So....no fight.

5

If this kind of shit wasn't destroying the country it would be funny

Fed says expand Fannie, Freddie role to aid housing

The Fed, in a paper sent to lawmakers on Wednesday, outlined an array of steps that could be taken to help the housing sector, including allowing Fannie and Freddie to provide cheaper mortgages to a broader pool of homeowners.

Since the MFM still blames Wall Street per their operating instructions from the communists who are still running the country, Bonehead Ben and Taxcheat Timmy can out this kind of shit with impunity. The very organization and policy that resulted in the collapse is being pushed even harder.  Keep in mind that NONE of those policies have yet to be removed and are never likely to be removed.

The only thing F&F need is to expand their list of former employees by 100%. In short, it needs to be totally eliminated and allowed to go bankrupt. I am also thinking that the fed has become a political tool and also needs to be eliminated.

6

Perry is not dropping out - good

But The Hill tries to attack him over it.

The Texas governor also called the Iowa primary “a pretty loosey-goosey process” and Iowa “a quirky place" in an attempt to downplay the results. Perry finished fifth of six candidates contending for the win.

Yes and you and the rest of the Democrat PR media try to up-play Mutt wining with that stupendous 30K vote total. I have county council reps elected with higher vote totals than that. Iowa is a blue State and caucuses are shit.  No conservative candidate should drop out until at least two reliable red States weigh in. Either that are change the stupid rules that allow Iowa and NH to go first.

BTW, Fox reported yesterday that all his SC events had been canceled (F&F). I guess they lied.  What is funny is Bachmann said she would continue, Perry say he would reassess, and then bother revered with Bachmann dropping out and Perry staying in.

7

Non-doomy good news. OK woman shoots intruder who broke in to her house with a 12G shotgun thus rendering the time delay for law to arrive problem moot.

She was a young window with a child. They had already broke in through the front door and back door then kicked in the bedroom door. Where they learned that you do not bring a knife to a gun fight.

Police say no charges will be filed.

8

Government Motors to move production of electric cars to China

Proving once again that union leadership does not give a flying fk about its members. Also proves that electric cars are a total loser. Question: Will the newly bulked up and illegal chicken-shit labor board sue them the way they did Boeing who didnÂ’t move anything? Ans: hahahahahaha  FYVNQ

9

First discussion of NH on my list the major MFM papers is in USA Today

We should all know it is now a two-man GOP race. There are no other people with a chance. This is what we get for Iowa and NH being first. Do you think id=f SC was first and Mutt came in with < 1% they would be calling for him to drop out?

10

Nikki Haley and McAsshole RINO to campaign with Mutt in SC

This is very disappointing for me. This may help Mutt some but it sure as hell is going to hurt her in the long run. This is the second strike against her for me. The first was when she signed into law the ATV law that allowed cops to enter private property to stop kids on 4 wheelers and required special training. This law had been vetoed last year and they simply dished it up again.

11

And thatÂ’s it for this morning. I have to go into town later today to pick up drugs should be interesting as now I have to pay all charges with no insurance.

Yesterday was the worst day ever over at the damn oncologist.  Went in at 08:45 and first they said must see Dr then no did not need to see him. Then lab folks screwed up blood work. Then by the time they actually ordered drugs from pharmacist they were backlogged.  They didnÂ’t actually start giving me drugs until 13:30. I didnÂ’t leave the building until 16:30 and it was 17:30 by the time I got home.

12 morning all
Vic, what happened to your health insurance?

13 Damn, Vic's on fire this morning! Oh, and Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of miserable failure.

14 Obamacare raised the rates so much this year we had to switch to a new policy which starts out with a $5K deductable after which they cover everything.

Its not bad but I have to dish out $5K first. The other bad thing is the offset for that was a Health Savings Account but they haven't credited out deposits yet because they only activated it Jan 1.

I figure that $5K will just be money lost because they have jacked up the floor for income tax medical deductions to an amount that the average person will have to go bankrupt to meet.

15 ,,,law the ATV law that allowed cops to enter private property to stop kids on 4 wheelers and required special training. This law had been vetoed last year and they simply dished it up again.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 06:59 AM (YdQQY)

Morning Vic / All...Vic, would you provide a good link to this story please?

16 Gingrich: I don't own a vacation home in New Hampshire because, unlike some people, I'm not rich. (from Hot Air) Damn, Newt. He's really fucking pissed.

17 Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 07:10 AM (zLeKL) Muahaha. Cant wait for saturday.

18 So, who's with me on getting this SCOAMF impeached?

19 ...for income tax medical deductions to an amount that the average person will have to go bankrupt to meet.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 07:06 AM (YdQQY)

With you on this one, Vic.  Self-insured with a $3k front-end and just received my renewal (02.12) which is 12% higher than '11; '11 was 7% higher than '10.  Wrote my A-hole D senator (Sherrod Brown) last year and sent him a new letter this year.  Thanked him for his helping raise my rates and again asked him for an explanation to square these unprecedented rate hikes with the ObamaCare promise of lower rates.  No...I wont hold my breath for a reply. 

20 18 So, who's with me on getting this SCOAMF impeached?

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 07:13 AM (zLeKL)

Ask me later, I'm working on my tan right now.

21 "The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves." - George Washington

22

Morning Vic / All...Vic, would you provide a good link to this story please?

Posted by: billygoat at January 05, 2012 07:09 AM (60EzG)

I had saved a link for that because neighbors were asking about it. But link had expired. Have  to go find new one.

Here is the final draft of the law as signed into effect in May

 

My biggest beef is with items F & H.

 

My next door neighbor was allowed her 12 year old to ride up and down the street, sometimes carrying the 6 year old. No helmets, no training, no nothing. And this wih a cop living in the house directly in front of her.

23 Fucking lying slimeballs: The recess appointment of Richard Cordray on Wednesday as director of the consumer bureau finally gives the fledgling agency the legal standing to supervise those types of financial enterprises, something it has lacked since the bureau was created with the signing of the Dodd-Frank financial regulation act in July 2010. NY Slimes.

24 I said it yesterday, and I'll say it again. Something stinks about Perry staying in after saying he was going home. Mitt needs another not-Romney in S.C. Without Perry there, the two other guys, Santorum and Newt are splitting up around 60% of the vote instead of 45-50%. I'm not saying Perry was bought because I don't know. I am saying though, Perry knows what we all know, which is that he's not going to be nominated, and he's not going to be President. So why is he still there? His presence now helps Mitt and only Mitt. It's like he took over the role from Bachmann.

25 So, who's with me on getting this SCOAMF impeached?

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 07:13 AM (zLeKL)

He should have been impeached after the first6 year but it simply is not going to happen.

26

So, who's with me on getting this SCOAMF impeached?

_{*does Forrest Gump wave*}

I certainly don't expect anyone in the Republican leadership to challenge him on this, although each and every one of them should.

It might even get a little bit of media attention if all of them were united for once. But as someone upthread noted, it would kill the careers of anyone who did, so, FORE!

We are so boned...

27
I am also thinking that the fed has become a political tool and also needs to be eliminated.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 06:56 AM (YdQQY)

I think Alan Greenspan intentionally sabotaged the economy during GHW Bush's term.

28 His presence now helps Mitt and only Mitt. It's like he took over the role from Bachmann.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 05, 2012 07:19 AM (Gc/Qi)

We don't know what it will do in SC the polls are old and were never very reliable to begin with according to their own internals.

29 I'm still researching whether or not what he did was actually Constitutional. If we have an air-tight case, we can do this.

30 It might even get a little bit of media attention if all of them were united for once. But as someone upthread noted, it would kill the careers of anyone who did, so, FORE!

Actually there are several articles out there with Republican leadership talking about it. Not a single one of them said anything about impeachment or taking ANY action at all. IOW nothing but more tired rhetoric so I didn't link them.

I am about 1 election short of abandoning entirely the Republican Party and heading for Wyoming. IOW going Galt.

31

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 07:06 AM (YdQQY)

Oh, so you have an HSA.  I like those.  Although it is kind of a pain to keep track of what precisely qualifies as a "medical expense" for the purpose of using HSA dollars.

But I did find out that you can reimburse your HSA account later if you have out-of-pocket expenses now for which there isn't enough HSA money to cover.

Actually I'd think that having an HSA is great for someone who goes to the doctor a lot, because once you hit that $5K deductible, everything is covered - no copays, nothing.  That is good.

32 Some folks would call someone who made $1.6 Million from one consulting job "rich".  Maybe you shouldn't have spent half a mill at Tiffany's Newt!

33 "The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves." - George Washington

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 07:16 AM (zLeKL)

I'm afraid the vote will go overwhelmingly for "slave" as long as they give away free iPhones.

Good morning folks, and thanks for links, Vic.

34

I think Alan Greenspan intentionally sabotaged the economy during GHW Bush's term.

It wasn't just Greenspan. I found something a few months back that pretty much curled what's left of my hair. It seems that there was a coordinated effort to bring us to our knees economically, conveniently just in time for a presidential election.

Be sure to click the link in my post. But be warned, you might not like what you find, namely that we are truly hated by the rest of the world (but you knew that already).

35 Impeachment seemed to turn Bill Clinton from a flabby, man-boobed, Mayor-McCheese-lookin, freckle-wienered, pill-poppin', schnoz-rapin', Foster-killin', hickdouche, into the greatest hero in Democrat historah! So, maybe Obama needs him some 'o dat sweet sweet 'peachment.

36

My next door neighbor was allowed her 12 year old to ride up and down the street, sometimes carrying the 6 year old.

Locally, we had a 12 year old girl, who went to school with my kids, die after losing control of an atv, hitting a bump and flipping the thing on her head.

I cannot for the life of me understand why people thing powerful motor vehicles are childrens toys.

37

I don't understand why they are letting him get away with this. Someone said that Teddy Roosevelt did something similar because the senate has to recess between the two sessions and he can make his appointments then so why not let him now? However, it is not in recess because they republicans are just doing what the fucking harry reid douchebag dems did to Bush and trying to block the appointments (which is fine-turn about is fair play) but this SCOAMF needs to quit thinking he's king.

Liberals: 1 step away from tyranny

38 We switched to a high-deductible plan last year as well - with an HSA.  It's ok, but cash management at the beginning of the year can be fun.

39 Actually I'd think that having an HSA is great for someone who goes to the doctor a lot, because once you hit that $5K deductible, everything is covered - no copays, nothing.

I had figured I would hit that 5K in Feb but may even be earlier. Problem is the HSA is not catching up to it. Will not have that problem next year BUT hopefully will not have all these damn chemo trips after March.

That is assuming the communists in congress (CC) do not eliminate the HSA. 

40 @dagny, yeah I've read about that option, too. If it was a genuine option then it's ok.

41 I'm still researching whether or not what he did was actually Constitutional. If we have an air-tight case, we can do this.

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 07:23 AM (zLeKL)

I saw a link to a story over at Instapundit that said something along the lines of even if it's not strictly unconstitutional that under Dodd-Frank, the people appointed like this have no authority to do their jobs. Something like that anyway, but I'm not a lawyer and don't even play one on TV so that's a fuzzy interpretation at best.

42 yeah, Democrats tend to think of ideas like HSA's and FSA's as "tax loopholes" because they let you spend your own money tax-free - teh horror!!!!

43 Call you reps today people, if we let Obama get away with this shit unscathed, the republic truly is dead.

44

Perry is not dropping out - good

Yeah, but let’s examine this as a “defining moment”.

Why arenÂ’t some of the people who support Perry asking a few What The Fuck questions about how this was handled?  This goes to the subject of suitability for the office. 

Are we to believe that Perry or the group of advisors he has surrounded himself with hadnÂ’t contemplated a scenario in which he placed 5^th in Iowa?  It appears everyone in the country knew he was going to come in 4^th or 5^th, but for some reason it came as a total surprise to him.  It was so much of a surprise that it seems evident no discussion occurred about how the campaign was going to handle the loss and if it would go forward.

According to PoliticoÂ’s interview with some of PerryÂ’s advisors, they werenÂ’t even informed prior to his decision to continue on to South Carolina. 

Is Perry in such a bubble that he didnÂ’t know what the likely outcome of Iowa would be?  Are his advisors so bad that they wouldnÂ’t know or if they did, wouldnÂ’t sit down with Perry for five minutes to talk over what the response would be?  Announcing that he was going back to Texas to reassess the campaign certainly seemed to be the act of a flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, third class, amateur operation.

Just sayin.

45

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 07:06 AM (YdQQY)

yeah - I switched last year, and thankfully nothing serious happened to me last year so I have a fair bit piled up in the HSA account already

of course now, my employer has switched health insurance providers so now I have to move everything from my old HSA account to my new HSA account (ugh)

46 er, 45 was in respond to Chi-Town Jerry, sorry

47 Call you reps today people, if we let Obama get away with this shit unscathed, the republic truly is dead. Posted by: mugiwara at January 05, 2012 07:33 AM (KI/Ch) Unfortunately most people are blissfully unaware of what's going on

48

I cannot for the life of me understand why people thing powerful motor vehicles are childrens toys.

Posted by: kdny at January 05, 2012 07:28 AM (FmSSd)

The problem is you can not legislate away stupid.

As I said only parts of this are really bad though. Requiring a helmet is common sense but a training course for a young kid is a waste of time and totally useless. Allowing cops to go on private property to enforce vehicle laws is total BS besides being unconstitutional as hell.

49

Colorado was pretty much delivered to Obama yesterday.  The anti-abortion folks qualified for a third time to get a proposal to outlaw abortions on the ballot.  Also, the pro-marijuana folks submitted twice the number of signatures necessary to get a legalization proposal on the ballot.

I think Obama will benefit greatly from an increased turnout of otherwise unmotivated students and independents.  If this isn't a Democrat strategy, it should be.

50 Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 07:26 AM (s7mIC)

morning chemjeff -- I also have an HSA...keeping track of what qualifies really isn't a big deal at all.  As for an HSA being good, anything that lowers your AGI is good!

51 Off to work, folks.. have a great day!

52

Posted by: Nash Rambler at January 05, 2012 07:36 AM (oxgwp)

Colorado seems to be turning into the hippie paradise of the Mountain West.

53

We don't know what it will do in SC the polls are old and were never very reliable to begin with according to their own internals.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 07:21 AM (YdQQY)

I think Perry decided to stay in because, at least in part, Bachmann dropped out. And, what the hell, he's got the money to go all out in SC, and he's wasted this much of our time and his own already, why not? Mitt's not going to win or lose the nomination just on what happens in SC, I don't think. If one of the didn't run bunch actually possessed a spine, I wouldn't be that surprised is someone new still jumped in the race, but being the spineless lot that group of possibles is, probably not.

54

Posted by: billygoat at January 05, 2012 07:38 AM (60EzG)

well, I just looked up the list on my insurance co.'s website, and it was formidable

55 Allowing cops to go on private property to enforce vehicle laws is total BS besides being unconstitutional as hell.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 07:35 AM (YdQQY)

With you there on this, Vic...have to check into this law with the AMA...

56 ...for income tax medical deductions to an amount that the average person will have to go bankrupt to meet.

Which is intentional, but y'all knew that.


The Hendricks County Flyer, which has been showing up at my house since I moved in, had a long article about how Mitch Daniels wants to keep all state politics out of the Super Bowl. Was going to share the link but they don't have it online.  Pretty sure the Indiana Democraps won't let that happen...everything has to be political.  Packers players are already talking about how they can't wait to re-visit their homie Obama.  *sigh*

57

Yeah, I'm off to the salt mine too. Y'all have fun and try not to trash the place.

And Vic, keep on rockin' dude, IYKWIM.

58 I find it quite hilarious the President is telling congress when and when they are not in session. And congress is saying dick about it.

59

I cannot for the life of me understand why people thing powerful motor vehicles are childrens toys.

Posted by: kdny at January 05, 2012 07:28 AM (FmSSd)

Oh please...I started riding at 11...powerful dirt-bikes at that.

60 And congress is saying dick about it. Posted by: McLovin at January 05, 2012 07:42 AM (j0IcY) I would not assume that will be the case. Wait till they actually come back before accusing them of that. You may be correct, but get back to us in 3 weeks.

61 #44  Perry never said he was dropping out.  The conlusion that he was dropping out was made by various pundits who said that "reassess" meant "quitting."

Also,  since Politico's "interview" was mostly 2 quotes from 2 different people along with a lot of non-sourced material,  I give them zero credibility. 

I think Perry's low-key reassessment comment was superior to Newt's temper tantrum.  Newt has been in this longer than Perry,  so what's HIS excuse for not envisioning that he was not likely to win Iowa?

62 So, who's with me on getting this SCOAMF impeached? Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 07:13 AM (zLeKL)

Not Boehner or McConnell, that's for sure.  I haven't even heard those milquetoast fucks make a comment on it.  If they did, it sure wasn't very incendiary.

63

"Senator Scott Brown said he supports President Barack Obama's decision to name Richard Cordray as the nation's chief consumer watchdog."

 

Wow !  I'm like totally (NOT) shocked by this position!!  Who needs enemies with friends like this?

 

64 Requiring a helmet is common sense but a training course for a young kid is a waste of time and totally useless.

Yes and no on this one, Vic.  Helmets -- yes, along with proper riding gear for off-road.  Training -- yes, because it provides for the teaching of what vehicles can and can't do and the application of gear specific apparel.  Should the government mandate such training though?...no.

65 If we can get one member of the House to look into this, it would be great.

66 I cannot for the life of me understand why people thing powerful motor vehicles are childrens toys.

On one hand, I want to agree.  On the other hand, when my grandfather was 12 he was working with farm machinery. Then again, a 21st-century 12-year-old has been taught to be as mature and responsible around work and machines as 5-year-olds were in the 1930s. Kids today are swaddled in bubble wrap (until they're turned loose on the highways at age 16 to get themselves killed texting while driving...).

67

well, I just looked up the list on my insurance co.'s website, and it was formidable

Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 07:40 AM (s7mIC)

cj -- in fairness, I've no pre-exists and my med requirements are pretty simple.  That said, it wasn't difficult for me to determine that certain dental, eye and oddball med were either comp or non-comp.  Frankly,  I run all med anything through my HSA account...if I'm wrong, I'll say I'm sorry...when asked.

68 #62 An impeachment would tie up the Congress and make democrats rally around the SCOAMF.  Guaranteed election loser for GOP,  this close to the presidential election.  You pick your battles, and while this seems to me to be unconstitutional, most of the public will not see it as something important.

Besides,  you can impeach,  but unless the Senate convicts,  it does absolutely no good in getting Obama out of office.  And the Senate is not going to convict. Period.

I realize this isn't a popular answer,  but I am speaking the truth.  Boehner is wise to make statements and hold his fire in this situation.  Perhaps a court challenge, a defunding, or other legislative maneuvers would slow this down. Unfortunately, given the situation we are in, impeachment is not a good idea.

69 Training -- yes, because it provides for the teaching of what vehicles can and can't do and the application of gear specific apparel.

Training is only as good as it is enforced. If a parent is stupid enough to allow young kids on the road in a real ATV or mini-bike do you think they are going to monitor and enforce training.

I see government required training to be just another gov bureaucracy funded by yet another gov tax. As the years go by of course it will expand to another empire.

70 South Carolina going for Mittens!!?

71  Obama is indeed not Satan but a Constitution stomping, stuttering clusterf**k of a miserable failure.

72 @68: I see, not letting Obama get away with trampling on the Constitution is politically harmful. Sounds good. I guess it's a good thing the Founders didn't think that way. I bet signing the Declaration was thought of as politically harmful, too.

73 If the Republican Party refuses to fight on any hill why in the hell should we vote for them? That is my question.

74 Oh well, people are willing to stick with their own personal not-Romney. In the mean time, I'm going to go out on a limb here and try to read the left's minds... at this point, they won't mind Mitt as their opponent in November. They are willing to accept Obama as a one-termer because he was finally able to get their one true love signed into law. With Mitt, they know it will never go away. So in November Mitt/Barack... it doesn't matter. Not much anyway. I will support the last not-Mitt in this election cycle, but seeing how Perry and the others are willing to split the not-Mitt vote, Mitt can't lose.

75 Training -- yes, because it provides for the teaching of what vehicles can and can't do and the application of gear specific apparel.  Should the government mandate such training though?...no.

Posted by: billygoat at January 05, 2012 07:48 AM (60EzG) 

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 07:52 AM (YdQQY)

Vic -- I agree with training, but I specifically said NOT mandated by the government.  Frankly, same applies for adults.  If someone is stupid enough to get a powersports vehicle and then hop on and ride without knowing one iota about the vehicle...well, you'll deserve what you get.  Even though I grew up with m/c's I've taken AMA courses (both refresher and specialized) multiple times in my lifetime.  You can never be fully prepared and I always learn something new...and btw, all of my training wan not via government requirement.

76 I see, not letting Obama get away with trampling on the Constitution is politically harmful. Sounds good. I guess it's a good thing the Founders didn't think that way. I bet signing the Declaration was thought of as politically harmful, too. Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 07:57 AM (zLeKL) What she is saying is that "impeachment" is a waste of time and a dead end. Challenge it in court, try to cut spending, challenge him on every little thing that comes before Congress because of this, but impeachment will go no where

77 I will support the last not-Mitt in this election cycle, but seeing how Perry and the others are willing to split the not-Mitt vote, Mitt can't lose.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 05, 2012 08:00 AM (Gc/Qi)

As I said earlier, we need to let at least two Red States go by before going with a real conservative dropping out. And BTW, I don't consider FL to be a reliable Red State.

78 @Burt
There is a 90% chance of santorum going nowhere. The race keeps switching not-romney's. If perry does well,  he can reclaim the fire and slay the mitt! He is the one they fear. He is Dovahkiin, Dragonborn!

79 What she is saying is that "impeachment" is a waste of time and a dead end. Challenge it in court, try to cut spending, challenge him on every little thing that comes before Congress because of this, but impeachment will go no where Why will it go nowhere? If they made the case to the public, they could get them on their side.

80

Jesus, I got 20 out of 25 right on the O'Reilly quiz.  Which is pretty good since I never watch O'Reilly.

In other "news" I am officially sliding into deep depression. 

81

Why will it go nowhere? If they made the case to the public, they could get them on their side.

The MFM will never permit the case to be made to the public.

82

Jesus, I got 20 out of 25 right on the O'Reilly quiz.  Which is pretty good since I never watch O'Reilly.

Posted by: Truman North at January 05, 2012 08:05 AM (I2LwF)

15/25...never watch him either.  Did poorly on the pop-culture q's.

83 Court OKs Barring High IQs for Cops

A man whose bid to become a police officer was rejected after he scored too high on an intelligence test has lost an appeal in his federal lawsuit against the city.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld a lower courtÂ’s decision that the city did not discriminate against Robert Jordan because the same standards were applied to everyone who took the test.

84 @83 @84: So what you're saying is that we are effectively powerless. That's what you guys are saying.

85 Why will it go nowhere? If they made the case to the public, they could get them on their side. Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 08:04 AM (zLeKL) Besides the fact that Democrats control the senate? It's even doubtful that the Republican Congress could muster enough votes to vote out a bill of impeachment. It could probably not even be accomplished this year, and would bollix up the entire election year in which we are trying to get rid of obama. Go after him in the courts, go after him in the Congress on funding, go after obamacare and hope the Supreme Court comes down on our side, go after his failed policies, go after his blatant partisianship, go after the fact that he is an asshole and a liar. But don't waste what time and resources we have on an impeachment process that will go nowhere.

86

Police say no charges will be filed.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 06:58 AM (YdQQY)

Feel good story of the day.

Cool and partly cloudy here this morning. Accoustically perfect as i can hear the semi's 7 miles away!

87 Frankly,  I run all med anything through my HSA account...if I'm wrong, I'll say I'm sorry...when asked.

Yeah, but it's the "when asked" part that worries me, because the "asking" involves a deep anal probe from the IRS.

88 I'm telling you we can explain this to the public. It's a blatant violation of the Constitution. It's different than what happened under Clinton because they had to rely on "high crimes and misdemeanors". There was debate on whether or not lying under oath was a misdemeanor. This is different. The Constitution explicitly forbids what the President has done.

89 Yeah, but it's the "when asked" part that worries me, because the "asking" involves a deep anal probe from the IRS. Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 08:13 AM (s7mIC) The definition of what is a medical expense is pretty broad. I mean unless your buying a BMW and claiming it's for your bad back?

90

@84: So what you're saying is that we are effectively powerless. That's what you guys are saying.

That's pretty much how I feel until we have a conservative President and effective control of both houses.

91

11 years old? Glad you lived through it, Billygoat.

I was not arguing anything about the law. I am not a nanny stater.

92 @ 10 Vic

I'm with you there. Nikki Haley pissed me off when I read that she was backing Mittens. I think Newt is going to do really well here in the Palmetto State. My friend had his first robocall on his cell before the Iowa tally was in.

93 I'm telling you we can explain this to the public. It's a blatant violation of the Constitution. It's different than what happened under Clinton because they had to rely on "high crimes and misdemeanors". There was debate on whether or not lying under oath was a misdemeanor. This is different. The Constitution explicitly forbids what the President has done. Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 08:14 AM (zLeKL) your passion is admirable, but did you ever hear the expression: "Tilting at Windmills"?

94 Court challenges, block funding, blocking other appointments, political messaging. You don't drop nuclear bombs on Greneda. Especially with a strong northern wind which will blow all the radiation back on you. Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for Life at January 05, 2012 08:15 AM (OWjjx) Well said.

95 Yeah, but it's the "when asked" part that worries me, because the "asking" involves a deep anal probe from the IRS.

Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 08:13 AM (s7mIC)

meh...I've been audited before; I'm extremely organized and have ALL supporting docs...for anything.  I agree with 92 above...

96 How can you argue with the Constitution? If people cry racism or whatever (which they will), explain that it's not, and the President violated the Constitution.

97 “Government of the banks, by the banks, for the banks!”

98 From my Comcast homepage:   'Pretty Little Liars'

The girls begin to turn on each other.
Watch Now

 

"turn on each other," not "turn each other on," and more's the pity

99 101 How can you argue with the Constitution? If people cry racism or whatever (which they will), explain that it's not, and the President violated the Constitution.

Because then the argument will become, "but those Republicans are violating the _spirit_ of the Constitution by holding these phony pro forma Senate sessions!!11!!"  And then it just becomes a political tussle.

100 Haley and McRino campaigning I doubt will do good to soften the mittens hate in SC. For some reason, he is not liked there. Good. Hope to God Perry catches fire.

101 Morning all, and thanks Vic. Every time I see your posts, I hum "What's the news, across the nation?" from "Laugh-In." As long as SCOAMF is turning into Salvador Allendé, is it too much to ask the brass up in the Pentagon to act, ahem, accordingly?????

102

#1. Paul is spent.  (and a little "out there")

#2. Newt is not a conservative-at all.

#3. Santorum could not win his last 'state' election.

#4. I want to see what Perry can do in a conservative friendly state like South Carolina.

#5. I wish people would stop trying to run off the guy I want to vote for.  So he doesn't speak well, anyone who speaks as much as these guys do are going to goof-up now and then.  Let the MFM re-play Obama's 57 states screw-up over and over, we all know he said it, yet he is President.  If Perry is as bad as you people say he is then why worry about him?  Why would Newt or Santorum worry about him?

103 That is a difference between us and them.  We look at rules, they look at intentions.

For us, if a rule is just, we obey it, and if it doesn't lead to the intended outcome, then we change the rules.

For them, if the intended outcome is not met, then they do whatever it takes to reach that outcome, even if the rules are broken.

104 Because then the argument will become, "but those Republicans are violating the _spirit_ of the Constitution by holding these phony pro forma Senate sessions!!11!!" And then it just becomes a political tussle. ---- The best part about that is if Reid makes that claim. After all, he and the Dems tried to do this to Bush. So that's another arrow in our quiver.

105 Ooh, there's something.  My second LSAT score was 5 points higher than my first one, which is not a negligible difference.

106 Posted by: Case at January 05, 2012 08:21 AM (FD6YW) Agreed, except for one thing. Santorum not winning a prior election doesn't matter. Not that I am remotely comparing, but both Lincoln and Reagan lost prior elections and still went on to win the presidency. And yes, I am a fan of Perry, his debate performances notwithstanding.

107 What if it was a more harmful violation? What if the President decreed that Congress could not override a veto? That's against the Constitution too. Would you think that impeaching the President over that would be politically harmful? I doubt it. So why would that obvious violation be better to impeach than this one?

108

Joffen, I suspect you can get 50% +1 of people to agree with you.  Maybe even fairly easily so.

But you will never get 50% +1 of political elites to agree with you.  They play for the other team.  Ruling class vs. country class.  That's the game that is, right here, afoot.

109 But Joffen, I admire your adherence to principle and your passion.  I think we're all as sick and as angry about this as you are.

110

11 years old? Glad you lived through it, Billygoat.

I was not arguing anything about the law. I am not a nanny stater.

Posted by: kdny at January 05, 2012 08:16 AM (FmSSd)

OK...no worries, kdny...sorry I was short. 

Yes, 11...all I ever wanted was to be on bicycles (and then) m/c's.  Loved them and still do.  Thankfully, my oldest brother (14 years my senior) taught me well and stressed the 'ATGATT'  (all the gear all the time) school...well before it was popular.  I think Vic expressed it best...you can't legislate stupid...natural selection.

111 Plenty of good reasons to not give up on Perry, sure. But here's a couple questions: if Perry couldn't get over what, 10% in Iowa, a state he really hit hard, why expect him to do better in S.C.? Also, WHY ARE WE NOT SEEING ANY CURRENT POLLS IN S.C.??? We see polls for everything else, but not this? That doesn't smell fishy to everyone?

112 But here's a couple questions: if Perry couldn't get over what, 10% in Iowa, a state he really hit hard, why expect him to do better in S.C.?
------------------
Lets see if he can reclaim the Not Romney vote once again. Newt is suicide bombing as well.

113 The one thing Mitt says that I do take at face value is that if presented with a law repealing Obamacare, he would sign it. Why --- cause to not do so automatically insures he has a primary challenger in 2016.

No it doesn't.  It insures a lot of lecturing on the part of 'realists' as to why doing so is a bad idea.

I do agree though that he would sign it, but I doubt there would ever be anything to sign.  If I can play Nostradamus, what I think is likely is that McConnell and Boehner, historically not men of great courage or resolve, will accept Mitt's silly executive order copout as having done something and move on to legislation saying Hot Dogs are All-American or other such stupidity.  When the executive order ploy is defeated by the courts (which it will be), everybody will throw up their hands and say they tried.  

In order to repeal Obamacare, you need a president who makes it an issue and puts pressure on the crier and the man with no chin.  Mitt Romney won't do that.

114 Oh, and regarding Obama's recess appointments when Congress isn't technically in recess... what did we get? A couple Supreme Court Justices? A new SecDef? Someone to replace SloJoe at Veep? No? Congress isn't going to impeach Precedent Obama over a few more pencil pushers in the federal government. Especially when there is, indeed, precedent for it. T.R. did it too.

115 #3. Santorum could not win his last 'state' election.

Bachmann certainly wasn't quick enough to retort that fact when assailed by the Santorum line, "But unlike you (who might fight some battles), I WIN ALL OF MY BATTLES." What's done is done.

/remember how long it took the internet to accept the spelling of Obama's name? Santorum will forever be underlined as a misspelling.

116 That doesn't smell fishy to everyone? Posted by: BurtTC at January 05, 2012 08:26 AM (Gc/Qi) Well the Lowlands in SC can get that way with the Tides.

117 Perry needs to go to The Citadel, and instead of giving a boring policy speech, give an illegal benediction at a meal then grant a weekend amnesty. That's a couple of k primary votes right there.

118 I will support the last not-Mitt in this election cycle, but seeing how Perry and the others are willing to split the not-Mitt vote, Mitt can't lose.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 05, 2012 08:00 AM (Gc/Qi)

I will, too. And if Perry doesn't do very well in SC, it'll be time for him to get out. That's a state, unlike Iowa or NH, where he should do well if his campaign is ever going to do well anywhere outside of Texas. Distant 3rd or whatever there won't cut it for him. Given the field arrayed against Romney (and with the one solid conservative with an actual record in the race running an utterly crappy campaign so far), I'm not sure it was ever very likely anyone else would be the nominee, but as whacky as this primary season has been so far, let's wait at least a little while longer before we say it's over.

119

Ooh, there's something.  My second LSAT score was 5 points higher than my first one, which is not a negligible difference.

For the insanity of cthulhu, tell me that you are taking the LSAT for fun and not because you are planning on going to law school.  Seriously, it is so so so not worth it, unless you have a full ride or someone else is othewise paying for it.  If so, then go.  If not, do anything else at all.

Remember, the LSAT tests how well you take the LSAT.  I say this as someone who scored in the 99+ percentile on it back when the dinosaurs roamed. 

Vic, I hope you are doing better today.

It is not as cold in my office today which is slighly sad as I had a stack of old files I was going to use to make a bonfire.

120

And thatÂ’s it for this morning. I have to go into town later today to pick up drugs should be interesting as now I have to pay all charges with no insurance.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 07:00 AM (YdQQY)

Depending on how the costs of your medications impact your finances, have you considered contacting the drug manufacturers?  Mr. Cop is a nurse and she tells me that many of the drug manufacturers have programs to help people defray the costs of their medications. 

Good luck.

121 "But unlike you (who might fight some battles), I WIN ALL OF MY BATTLES." What's done is done.
-----------
Santorum also comes off as a whiny bitch in debates. I hope Perry's military record helps in SC

122 Barack Obama is stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

123 if Perry couldn't get over what, 10% in Iowa, a state he really hit hard, why expect him to do better in S.C.?

Two reasons: Iowa is essentially a blue State and Perry said he would kill ethanol subsidies and mandates. Mutt said he would keep them and donned his cornbrerrow.

Of course, SC grows some corn as well, just not as much as Iowa. What Perry needs to do is get Mutt's gun control record out here. I have seen about 5 of his adds now and a few from Mutt, but Perry never mentions Mutt's gun grabbing shit in MA.

124 Barack Obama is stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure Mussolini Fascist.

/explained by a New Deal Democrat.

125 I watched a spot from Mitt's campaign about 5 times last night on the TV.  I'm in Florida.  The man surely has his machine up and running.

126
How can you argue with the Constitution? If people cry racism or whatever (which they will), explain that it's not, and the President violated the Constitution.

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 08:18 AM (zLeKL)

The MFM will simply say "Bush did it, too", and everybody will believe it. Then there will be calls that Congress is wasting its time on partisan politics rather than trying to get things done, calls of racism, calls of a witch hunt, etc.

Most people would believe some if not all of the claims and the Democrats would benefit greatly from it.

Remember how the government shut down worked out? Or Clinton's impeachment? It would be political suicide.

127 Pardon me, while I think out loud.

Texting While Driving Statistics:

About 6000 deaths and a half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers every year.

So, where is the lobby to outlaw texting devices?

For the children.

128 Depending on how the costs of your medications impact your finances, have you considered contacting the drug manufacturers?

It will be only a short term impact. After I meet $5K they will pay for everything. Sorry I wasn't clear.

129 Now can we impeach Satan?  Er, Not-Satan?

130 BREAKING NEWS15:20 Mubarak prosecution seeks death sentence for former Egypt ruler (Reuters) I'm guessing he will not be inviting obama to his next birthday party?

131 Santorum also comes off as a whiny bitch in debates. I hope Perry's military record helps in SC

Posted by: Flapjackmaka at January 05, 2012 08:33 AM (FKQng)

Yeah, keep in mind why McShitty won with 30% last time. The Graham wing of the State GOP was controlling the Party. Funny things went on like running out of ballots at polling places near Myrtle Beach at 10 a.m. 

This time the Haley wing is running the party which I thought was good until she endorsed Mutt the gun grabber. This is one big problem with a woman governor (and most women politicians), the second amendment is one of those optional amendments for them.

132 What we need is for some of these super-PACs to start running TV ads and educate the public about all the ways Obama is trampling the Constitution and arrogating more and more power to himself. Also very effective is to contrast these moves with Obama's soaring 2008 campaign rhetoric about bringing the country together and being transparent. Unfortunately, the White House has made a cynical but correct calculation that Congress is as popular right now as the clap, so pissing them off is a good strategy. Whining from the GOP Senators about process and precedent while Obama struts around as the savior of consumers is a guaranteed loser. We have to take this fight away from the elected retards in Washington and straight to the people, or we are screwed. There are some very good YouTube videos on all of Obama's lies and usurpations. We can all do our part by sending these around to everyone we know, writing letters to our local newspapers, etc. Bitching on blogs about our spineless GOP reps in Congress is both stupid and futile.

133 Especially when there is, indeed, precedent for it. T.R. did it too. Ah, but Obama didn't do that. Roosevelt pushed those recess appointments throught in the moments between the closing of one Congress to the next. The 111th Congress ended Jan. 3rd. Obama made the unconstitutional appointment the next day. It was not a recess appointment. The Roosevelt Precedent was not used.

134 I'm with you BurtTC about Perry staying in. I think maybe Perry was thinking about dropping out but then experienced some heavy duty strong-arming from the Party & the powers that be to stay in Tues. night/Wed. AM. The more non-Romneys in the race, the more splintering of the competition and the less chance of their boy Romney getting coronated in a seamless fashion.

135 Any South Carolina morons? Is Rock Perry ad bombing the state? I hope SOMEBODY does point out mitts gun record.

136

Texting While Driving Statistics:

About 6000 deaths and a half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers every year.

So, where is the lobby to outlaw texting devices?

For the children.

Tell you what, I'll listen to the whining about distracted driving when there's a movement to forbid driving with having children in the car.  I'd rather be driving next to a 16 yo girl breaking up with her bf over twitter while driving then some poor parent who is attempting to wrangle a passel of children. 

137 On top  of that when Roosevelt did it he was soundly condemned and it was used against him when he ran amoung other things. It was a real dirtbag thing to try to do and his action wasn't as egregious as Ofucknuggetmarxistdouche.

138 regarding the "Recess" Appointment Let us think of this as a Kinetic Staffing Decision. There. All better.

139 The more non-Romneys in the race, the more splintering of the competition and the less chance of their boy Romney getting coronated in a seamless fashion.

Posted by: jeannebodine at January 05, 2012 08:47 AM (byR8d)

Really!? I think Perry HATES Romney.

140 Will there be all these calls for Santorum to drop out when he does less than 1% in NH?

There the winners will be Mutt the D with an R after his name followed in a distant second by RP the pot king and joo hater. Everyone else will be in the back of the pack.

141 Is Rock Perry ad bombing the state? I hope SOMEBODY does point out mitts gun record.

Posted by: Flapjackmaka at January 05, 2012 08:48 AM (FKQng)

I have seen a lot of adds from him but I don't watch the networks and I don't watch much TV period.

142 At the risk of sounding bigoted, I have a question for South Carolina morons: Who will all the Southern Baptists vote for? The Mormon, the Catholic, or the guy with three wives who also is now a Catholic? Isn't this why it makes sense for Rick Perry to stay in the race there? Won't all those veterans vote for the one guy who actually served, when none of the others did? Won't the real Southerners be inclined to vote for the one real Southerner left in the race? \

143 Mubarak prosecution seeks death sentence for former Egypt ruler (Reuters)

Let that be a lesson to anybody else who behaves as an ardent ally of the United States!

144 Thanks to all of you who agreed with me about the futility of impeachment at this late date.  I especially liked Malamutt's analogy to nuking Grenada.

I also think Obama would welcome an effort to impeach.  He would be on TV every day railing against a political Congress who isn't concerned about the people.  He is baiting Boehner and hoping he bites.  Thankfully,  Boehner isn't as stupid as that.

The unconstitutionality of these appointments is pretty difficult to explain to people who don't pay much attention to Congress.  I think defunding as much of the positions as is possible would be a good idea.

Alternately,  hold up something else in Congress that Obama wants brought forward.  Or start calling every one of his cabinet officers over to the House for questioning.   Governors should start howling about the coal rules EPA is going to push forward.  Call in Governor Daniels and Governor Perry to explain the hardship this will cause.  Bring in some business people and families to testify.  Get a southern Indiana single mom to cry no national TV about her electric bill.

It's  shame I don't get consulted by people in DC.  LOL!

145 So no victory for Romney will count because he's supposedly a natural favorite in Iowa and NH, but if Perry wins in SC where he's supposedly a natural fit, then that will be definitive. Got it.

146

Tell you what, I'll listen to the whining about distracted driving when there's a movement to forbid driving with having children in the car.  I'd rather be driving next to a 16 yo girl breaking up with her bf over twitter while driving then some poor parent who is attempting to wrangle a passel of children.  than some idiot from Maryland.

I'm starting to believe that any female under the age of 40 should not have a driver's license. What is their problem? They will not let you in. Around here if you see an African American girl from Maryland you should just go ahead and crash your car into a tree. She will do everything she can to cause an accident. Older AA men are the exact opposite. Since when is it an insult to try to merge? White women apparently don't grasp that in slow moving traffic you have to watch the car in front of you. Husband is on his 6th new bumper. Always a woman, always white, always dumb.

147 How come, they don't pass helmet laws for automobile drivers?

I mean, after all, they were able to jam it down the throats of Motorcyclists in most states.

Am I to believe, no one suffers head injuries in auto accidents?

148
It was not a recess appointment. The Roosevelt Precedent was not used.

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 08:46 AM (zLeKL)

Get it through your thick skull. Facts don't matter.

Example: Everybody knows Clinton's impeachment was all about sex. Most people believe it and will always believe it.

149 I just got an email from a fellow Obama-hater with all of the parts of the Declaration of Independence that we rarely read: the bill of presentments against King George. It's pretty interesting in light of the discussion today about the SCOAMF, and other than the phrase about arming the Indian Savages, it could all be written today. This is the stuff that needs to go viral so average voters can start to understand how seriously this President has undermined our basic laws, precedents, and institutions, and put us further down the road to tyranny.

150 I'd rather be driving next to a 16 yo girl breaking up with her bf over twitter while driving then some poor parent who is attempting to wrangle a passel of children. 

Posted by: alexthechick at January 05, 2012 08:48 AM (VtjlW)

alex...I drive a lot for work; always have.  Worst/fastest for conditions drivers IMO?...Moms in minivans / most of time with kids in minivan.  Next are teenage boys, but the former trumps the latter.

151 Won't the real Southerners be inclined to vote for the one real Southerner left in the race?

Well what scares me is they tend to vote for the "establishment" candidate in the past. But that may have changed in 2010 with the election of Haley. But she got her bounce from a Sarah Palin endorsement.

And as I said earlier the last poll was far away and worthless to begin with. 75% of the respondents say they are likely to change their vote before the primary.

And I don't think most of the Republicans in SC consider him being a Mormon as a problem. A LOT, however, will consider being pro-life in MA a big problem. And if they find out an even bigger lot will have a problem with support for gun control.

152

Who will all the Southern Baptists vote for? The Mormon, the Catholic, or the guy with three wives who also is now a Catholic?

I happen to be a convert to Catholicism but my husband wasn't the "other man" who converted me. Seriously, Calista got him to convert because she, as the office slut, is such a good Catholic? Also, I've seen Newt in person. Apparently he had either a rough time with teenage acne or he was the world's last smallpox victim but either way: spreading them for Newt is all about money not "love". *shudder*

153 I remember when I was a kid, back before cell phones.  There were no car accidents.  Good times, good times.

154 It will be only a short term impact. After I meet $5K they will pay for everything. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 08:39 AM (YdQQY)

It's still worth a shot, $5K is a not inconsequential sum of cash.  Hell, we contacted the manufacturer of my GERD medication and my copay went from $50 to $25 and we have a traditional insurance policy.

If you don't think you're getting good care, don't hesitate to go elsewhere.  You might have to drive further/stay overnight but we still have the best healthcare in the world (for now). 

Nine years ago, Mrs. Cop was diagnosed with a very rare form of brain tumor (about 12 new cases in adults per year) and the local docs didn't know what the f*ck to do.  We went to the Cleveland Clinic and later found one of the world's experts worked an hour away from us in the Cincinnati area (he see about half of those new cases every year).  First words out of his mouth were, "I can help you," to Mrs. Cop.  Long story short, it wasn't fun but she's made a full recovery.

 

155 So no victory for Romney will count because he's supposedly a natural favorite in Iowa and NH, but if Perry wins in SC where he's supposedly a natural fit, then that will be definitive. Got it.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 05, 2012 08:55 AM (hiMsy)

That is partially correct. Iowa and NH should be among the last States in the union scheduled for Republican Primaries.

156 Posted by: rockmom at January 05, 2012 08:56 AM (A0UFZ) Hey could you email that to me? john_stevens820@yahoo.com Thanks!

157
Will there be all these calls for Santorum to drop out when he does less than 1% in NH?

There the winners will be Mutt the D with an R after his name followed in a distant second by RP the pot king and joo hater. Everyone else will be in the back of the pack.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 08:51 AM (YdQQY)

Santorum hasn't shot himself in the foot multiple times. Just give it time.

158 Miss Marple, I also think the GOP needs to start thinking outside the box here. They need to stop the whining about process and start hitting Obama where he lives, which is in his own mirror. I'm thinking the House should immediately pass a resolution that says since the President now has decided when the Senate is on recess, the House has decided that the President has abdicated his job to campaign, and therefore his salary is being cut and all public funds for his travel withheld, and if he refuses to comply the House will hold hearings every day and publicize every penny of taxpayers' money that is being spent on him campaigning, every single time he leaves Washington this year.

159 #154  rockmom,  instead of "arming the Indian savages"  substitute "arming the drug cartel savages" and voila!

160

Santorum hasn't shot himself in the foot multiple times. Just give it time.

He's going to bleed all over that sweater vest.

161

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 08:59 AM (YdQQY)

I want to know why Palin isnt doing shit. She said this year will be "unconventional". She could greatly help a not romney.

162 I also think the GOP needs to start thinking outside the box here. They need to stop the whining about process and start hitting Obama where he lives, which is in his own mirror. I'm thinking the House should immediately pass a resolution that says since the President now has decided when the Senate is on recess, the House has decided that the President has abdicated his job to campaign, and therefore his salary is being cut and all public funds for his travel withheld, and if he refuses to comply the House will hold hearings every day and publicize every penny of taxpayers' money that is being spent on him campaigning, every single time he leaves Washington this year. But that's political suicide!!!!

163 #163  Send an email to Boehner with that!  That is a GREAT idea! 

I have wanted someone to detail the White House spending for some time.  I still want to know who is paying for all of those ugly clothes!

164 I want to know why Palin isnt doing shit.

Now that is the $64K question. She should have announced not in the race a lot earlier and said she would make a decision at a later date for who to endorse.

That would have meant something early on but I think waiting as late as she dis to say no run was a huge shot in the foot for her.

I don't think and endorsement by her now would mean as much as it did in 2010.

165 Oh, and BTW, the House Committe on Oversight has already called Cordray for a hearing on January 24. Hilarity will ensue. Patrick McHenry is the chairman of the subcommittee and he is the guy who called Elizabeth Warren a liar last year and then refused to apologize. He has a giant pair and this hearing should be some must-see TV.

166 Joffen,  no it's not.

It is a sure-fire way to turn the tables on him, illustrate his unconstitutional behavior,  and embarrass him about the money he is spending.

I think you are not understanding PR very well. 

167 Heritage: Members of Congress react to Obama's abuse of power. I think if they know they have the public on their side, they will do something about it.

168

I want to know why Palin isnt doing shit. She said this year will be "unconventional". She could greatly help a not romney.

Posted by: Flapjackmaka at January 05, 2012 09:02 AM (FKQng)

She's too busy helping herself in the tabloid icon/reality TV arena to be bothered with anything as trifling as the future of the nation.

169 A LOT, however, will consider being pro-life in MA a big problem. And if they find out an even bigger lot will have a problem with support for gun control.

Vic gives Perry, Santorum and Perry a blueprint for votes, will they follow it? Doubt it. I really think most these campaigns are run by overeducated idiots that think only they know the secret to success, despite getting spanked over and over again. Newt will go with OWS philosophy of  class warfare, Perry will talk about Texas and Santorum, well he ain't got money to do much of anything.
Maybe they'll get it, we'll see.

170

Posted by: rockmom at January 05, 2012 09:01 AM

Yep.

171 Hey could you email that to me? john Thanks! Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 09:00 AM (zLeKL) Gee I'd be careful about posting your email on here so publically

172 #169  Saw Palin on Fox last night.  Her commentary was merely rehashing points for each candidate.  No real passion except for a perfunctory anti-Obama statement.

Something happened between last spring and October.  Don't know if she was threatened, if there are health problems with her or someone in the family, if some in family got cold feet,  just don't know.

Very strange and curious,  for sure.

173 I don't think and endorsement by her now would mean as much as it did in 2010.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 09:05 AM (YdQQY)

I think it would corral the blind as fuck not romneys.

174 OK I just emailed that idea to Boehner, and also to Rush Limbaugh. if you hear it today on his show give me credit!!

175 Man, Vic, sorry to hear about your medical crapola.  It's bad enough being sick without all the bureaucratic hassles and incompetence.

@16 
I can't believe the Party is seriously considering running a rich corporate guy in the midst of Obama's (and the media's) class warfare.  Last time we ran an albino against the first black president and this time we're going to run a millionaire.  Fabulous. 

176 138 rockmom

Touché

177 I think if they know they have the public on their side, they will do something about it.

40% of the public still loves SCOAMF except for being sad he hasn't been a bigger dictator sooner.

178 The only people I have seen right now with a lot of money are Mutt and Perry. Ron Paul has a lot of grassroots ground support from the young dope crowd which is good for caucuses but not worth much of a shit for anything else.

Santorum will have to hit some huge money bombs between Iowa and NH to get a lot to campaign in SC. If I was him I would not waste any money in NH. He hasn't got a chance there at all. And neither does Perry or Newt.

179 40% of the public still loves SCOAMF except for being sad he hasn't been a bigger dictator sooner. Doesn't a majority want him gone?

180

This Won't Play Well In South Carolina - Red State

Over at Red State, Erickson lists reasons why Santorum is doomed in South Carolina and they are valid issues:  Santorum, while in office, voted against National Right to Work legislation, voted to retain Davis-Bacon Act, and stood against DeMint's position on earmarks - in 2010, showed up in S.C.a few weeks before DeMint's re-election and said DeMint was wrong on earmarks.

The right to work/Davis-Bacon positions could possibly kill him off in other states as well, IMO.  Earmarks?  We'll see.

181 Endorsing someone who will likely drop out in a month is no way to build a name as kingmaker. If Palin hasn't done it yet, I wouldn't be holding my breath. Too little, too late, too risky.

182

177 #169  Saw Palin on Fox last night.  Her commentary was merely rehashing points for each candidate.  No real passion except for a perfunctory anti-Obama statement.

Something happened between last spring and October.  Don't know if she was threatened, if there are health problems with her or someone in the family, if some in family got cold feet,  just don't know.

Very strange and curious,  for sure.

Posted by: Miss Marple at January 05, 2012 09:09 AM (GoIUi)

IÂ’m not sure what the rules are for a paid FOX political commentator as far as endorsements for one candidate.

Anyone know?

183 >>If the Republican Party refuses to fight on any hill why in the hell should we vote for them? That is my question.
Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 07:59 AM (YdQQY)

It's pretty clear that the GOP is not a true opposition party. They are professional second bananas much like the old Washington Generals were for The Harlem Globetrotters for decades.

The Whole Republican operation needs to be gutted and replaced on the run with a grassroots type organization with the values of The Tea Party.

The walking dead establishment of the current GOP has survived far too long with the meme of "Now Is Not The Time", the fraternal twin of "Not This Hill", resulting in the US being delivered to the brink of tyranny. I will say again that the marxist MFM is the mortal enemy of individual rights and freedoms. Where is the analysis of the current war on the Constitution by the thugs currently in power?

184 177 miss marple it was so boring...i was trying my best to stay awake through the commercial because hannity was going to ask her about her "you better listent to ron paul" comments but i fell asleep........

185

The right to work/Davis-Bacon positions could possibly kill him off in other states as well, IMO.  Earmarks?  We'll see.

Posted by: JoAnne at January 05, 2012 09:12 AM (8DdAv)

Wow, I never found that when I did all that research. Yeah, any mention of supporting unions in SC right now would be a massive killer after that Boeing fight in Charleston.

186 Oh, I didn't know Perry hated Romney, back to the conspiracy theory drawing board.

187 Santorum will have to hit some huge money bombs between Iowa and NH to get a lot to campaign in SC. If I was him I would not waste any money in NH. He hasn't got a chance there at all. And neither does Perry or Newt.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 09:12 AM (YdQQY)

Santorum raised one million. Whoopde doo. The guy wont last, like Mitt in NH, he has been living in Iowa for years.

188 187 Endorsing someone who will likely drop out in a month is no way to build a name as kingmaker. If Palin hasn't done it yet, I wouldn't be holding my breath. Too little, too late, too risky.

That's what it is.

189 Q: When is it acceptable for conservatives to allow a blatant violation of the Constitution?

190 #180, LMAO! I had not thought of it that way. But I don't think you are necessarily right about Romney. I think average voters do not see him as a rich politician, they see him as a rich businessman who earned his money. And as a capable CEO in a time when we have a SCOAMF who has made a fucking mess of everything he touches. Poll after poll is showing that large majorities of voters think big government is scarier than big business, they think the biggest problems today are unemployment and the debt and not income inequality. The whole OWS thing was a gigantic flop, and that was nothing but a test run for Obama's campaign. It seems obvious to me now that Obama is not going to run strictly on class warfare, he is going to run as the avatar of progress against a retrograde do-nothing Republican Congress. And Harry Reid has apparently agreed to be castrated in order for him to do that. Romney's pitch so far I think is a pretty effective counter to this, namely that Obama is a failure who is in over his head, was unqualified for the job and hasn't learned anything about how to govern in four years, is doing nothing now but blaming other people for his failures, and needs to be replaced by an adult CEO who knows how to get shit done. It isn't going to thrill all of us ideological warriors who want our nominee to go around calling Obama a Marxist-Fascist-Cloward-Piven-demon-succubus, but it is going to be effective.

191 Two new posts at my place.  One was in the can already, the other is in response to yesterday's events.

192 “Although a President may fill such vacancies through the use of his recess appointment power … the Senate may act to foreclose this option by declining to recess for more than two or three days at a time over a lengthy period. For example, the Senate did not recess intrasession for more than three days at a time for over a year beginning in late 2007.” Guess who said this?

193 195 Q: When is it acceptable for conservatives to allow a blatant violation of the Constitution?

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 09:17 AM (zLeKL)

Don't work yourself into a frenzy, you'll only give yourself an ulcer.

194 I think average voters do not see him as a rich politician, they see him as a rich businessman who earned his money.

Who knew that being so unpopular that you didn't run for re-election, and losing a race for the Senate could be played as assets in a run for President?

195

I want to know why Palin isnt doing shit. She said this year will be "unconventional". She could greatly help a not romney.

Posted by: Flapjackmaka at January 05, 2012 09:02 AM (FKQng)

Watched her last night on Hannity and thought, " Man, she's turning into a real hack."  Lots of opinions with no real meaning anymore.

196 My local talk radio host is talking about a get-together of the non-Romney  conservative candidates in order to choose one with the goal of consolidating the conservative vote to try to stop Romney. Anybody hear anything about that?

197 Romney's pitch so far I think is a pretty effective counter to this,
-----
Except his whole record at bains will be looked into, and it makes nice attack ads.

198 21 "The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves." - George Washington

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 07:16 AM (zLeKL)

A slave in every sense of the word but chains. But no less real. A slave to the unproductive, to the government and to those who pay no taxes. Only criminals will be free because it is cheaper to whip the law-abiding and extort their money.

199 I want to know why Palin isnt doing shit. She said this year will be "unconventional". She could greatly help a not romney. Posted by: Flapjackmaka at January 05, 2012 09:02 AM (FKQng) Because she's scored some sweet TV contracts and doesn't want to rock the boat.

200

 

190 177 miss marple

it was so boring...i was trying my best to stay awake through the commercial because hannity was going to ask her about her "you better listent to ron paul" comments but i fell asleep........

Posted by: phoenixgirl all in for perry at January 05, 2012 09:14 AM (Ho2rs)

I wish Palin had only said that republican candidates should pay attention to PaulÂ’s supporters on fiscal issues instead of demanding everyone adopt all the views printed in his newsletter.  Did she say we should start gassing Jews too?

201 More good jobs numbers out this morning, which is a harbinger for good news on that front tomorrow. As I've been trying to tell all of you, the economy is improving and will be more than solid enough by next summer to guarantee Obama's re-election.

202

Watched her last night on Hannity and thought, " Man, she's turning into a real hack."  Lots of opinions with no real meaning anymore.

Posted by: JoAnne at January 05, 2012 09:20 AM (8DdAv)

FIFY.

203

She was a young window with a child. They had already broke in through the front door and back door then kicked in the bedroom door. Where they learned that you do not bring a knife to a gun fight.

Police say no charges will be filed.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 06:58 AM

What's interesting is that she felt the need to ask the 911 operator if it would be okay for her to shoot them.  But she did things right.  She protected her baby and used a shot gun. 

204

My local talk radio host is talking about a get-together of the non-Romney  conservative candidates in order to choose one with the goal of consolidating the conservative vote to try to stop Romney. Anybody hear anything about that?

Fox and Friends mentioned something similar this morning. As they put it, there was a report that "GOP elites" were being asked to get together in Texas to come together and throw all support behind one not-Romney. Who knows whether there is any actual substance to these stories.

205 Really!? I think Perry HATES Romney.

I don't think he does.  Of the candidates in the race, I think he dislikes Paul the most.

I think Gingrich may have developed some hatred for Romney at this point, however. 

Legal Insurrection had an interesting post up about how 2008 went down and how much of the animosity the candidates felt toward Mitt was because of the attacks he made on them, which were primarily from the Right.  It pointed out that the resentment stemmed from candidates who were more conservative than he was in their actions over the years being accused of being too liberal from a guy who had recently undergone his conversion on those issues.  It really resonated based on what happened this year as well. 

206 That milk story really reinforces the real inflation rate

207 202 My local talk radio host is talking about a get-together of the non-Romney  conservative candidates in order to choose one with the goal of consolidating the conservative vote to try to stop Romney. Anybody hear anything about that?

Posted by: jeannebodine at January 05, 2012 09:20 AM (byR8d)

Doubt it, all these guys are ego driven. Till there's undeniable evidence they don't have a chance, they're in it for themselves. A coalition right now is an admission of defeat for any single one of them.

208 Everyone should keep this in mind as well, the next solid Red State with a primary after SC is way down the road Mar 3 with GA. And it may not even be really a red State anymore. Dems have come real close there lately.

These Republican primary dates are totally hosed.

209 Can you picture either Newt, Santorum or Perry stepping aside voluntarily to let the other have a clear shot a Mitt.

I could actually see Perry doing it.  1) He's way behind in this race already.  2) While I'm sure he was (is) working hard for the nomination, it's different when you want to be President, and when you're running because you feel an obligation. 

The problem with that, of course, is that I think Perry is actually the best candidate for the job, so if he did that, I'd have no one I could back enthusiastically.

210 Hey, Greg, are you still sticking to that 'But I'm really a conservative' shit you used to try?

211 Posted by: Y-not at January 05, 2012 09:24 AM (5H6zj)
I think he hates romney after touching his shoulder in debates, being a douche, etc.

212 So, it's official. Obama is now a dictator.

213 @196
I dunno.  I think the class warfare stuff is effective. 

This is funny.  LI has a post up about Romney and his taxes. 

214 1) He's way behind in this race already
----
I dont know why it seems like I'm the only one who thinks he can reclaim the not romney mantle.

215 So, it's official. Obama is now a dictator.

It may not be "official," but he is, in fact, a dictator.  Whether he really seizes the power the Republicans refuse to defend or not remains to be seen, but I don't think there's much doubt to the outcome (politically speaking) if he did.

216 >>I think he hates romney after touching his shoulder in debates, being a douche, etc.

Honestly, I don't know.  Obviously!  But Perry doesn't strike me as a guy who carries around a lot of hatred in his heart. 

217

Everyone should keep this in mind as well, the next solid Red State with a primary after SC is way down the road Mar 3 with GA.

Isn't FL a closed primary? I know that FL is only a barely red state across the board, but a closed primary should probably make up for that.

218 I dont know why it seems like I'm the only one who thinks he can reclaim the not romney mantle.

Oh, I do.  I'm simply pointing out that of the !Romneys, he's the one most likely to be able to swallow his ego for the good of the party.

219

In other "news" I am officially sliding into deep depression. 

Posted by: Truman North at January 05, 2012 08:05 AM (I2LwF)

Already there. Would you like some Zoloft? The dreams are cool...

220 Yeah, Joffen is right, it is stupid to use the "T.R. did it too!!!" defense for the Cordray appointment.  Besides the fact that the timing is different in this case, what T.R. did was outrageously egregious (appointing 160 people in the mere seconds in between two sessions of Congress), AND it was also mostly military commissions, not exactly hugely controversial things.

But I'm thinking this might end up working in our favor.  What I think our team needs to do now is to blast Obama from here to eternity on the lawlessness of this appointment, but on Cordray's first day on the job, he should be immediately sued the first time he gets up to take a piss on official business.  It might tie up the whole stupid board forever.

221 Posted by: Greg at January 05, 2012 09:23 AM (pftd6)

Yeah I'm sure the numbers will be staggering. Only another thirty years of those fabulous December numbers and we'll be back at 5% unemployment.

222

49- Colorado Republicans have no idea how to form a strategy to win. It's as if they want to lose.

223 Isn't FL a closed primary? I know that FL is only a barely red state across the board, but a closed primary should probably make up for that.

Yes, FL is closed but it is a purple State. But it has gone red more than Iowa and NH. The problerm with Fl is South Florida with all the transplanted snowbirds and Hispanics.

224 Joffen, it is never "acceptable," but when the only option to counter it is impeaching the President, over an obscure appointment, that is not a winning strategy. That's all we are saying. As pissed as I am about this Cordray appointment, I am a damn sight more pissed about the unauthorized war on Libya, the signing statement Obama just issued last week ignoring half of the defense authorization bill, the complete hash made of the payroll tax, and the lack of a freaking federal budget for three years. I would like to hear someone start making a case that Obama is basically a home invader, he has come in to our government and pretty much ransacked it just to score cheap political points. There seems to be no level to which he will not stoop to score a point. His has become a presidency of all tactics, all cynicism, no vision, and a pretty much total abandonment of everything he ran on in 2008. Aside from the policy differences which are huge, this alone should get him fired.

225

We all remember from the beginning that Romney ignored Cain and Bachmann and Santorum and only saw a threat in Perry and Gingrich.

Now, the meme (have you noticed it everywhere?) is all these people who want Romney to win are suddenly very very concerned all these Not-Romneys are splitting Santorum's not-romney vote!

226 The blog Legal Insurrection has been posting a few anti Romney ads from when he ran years ago for office in Mass. The same blog has a lot of interviews from the 2008 campaign with the people Romney ran against, and what they thought about him. They even have the interview where McCain said he would not argue with Romney since wrestling with a pig is futile. All in all, it points to the fact that Romney is beatable. Nothing on that site is anything that has not been out there and available to Obama. It also makes it clear that Romney is not a nice person. BTW, if anybody has an IPAD and could post a few hints about how to link on them, I would so appreciate it!

227 So, it's official. Obama is now a dictator. Only if we let him.

228 Apart from Newt, who eats enmity for breakfast, I really doubt the "hatred" people are projecting from one candidate to the other exists. Not everyone takes every competition or disagreement as a need for waging campaigns of wholesale destruction. They are rivals, not enemies. Adults, not hysterical adolescents.

229 I dont know why it seems like I'm the only one who thinks he can reclaim the not romney mantle.

I think he can, too.

There's no point in having all this doom and gloom.  There've been a couple of dozen delegates awarded.  It's too early to give up. 

230 Posted by: rockmom at January 05, 2012 09:31 AM (A0UFZ) --- I can appreciate that, but I would argue that this will be easy. It is a direct violation of the actual wording of the Constitution. You really can't argue against it. Well, you can and I'd love to see the Democrats try.

231 Oh, I do.  I'm simply pointing out that of the !Romneys, he's the one most likely to be able to swallow his ego for the good of the party.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 09:29 AM (8y9MW)

Santorum is a non factor now. He wont be living in other states for years to win primaries. Newt is kamikazing himself. Not other not romney but perry left.

232 Now, the meme (have you noticed it everywhere?) is all these people who want Romney to win are suddenly very very concerned all these Not-Romneys are splitting Santorum's not-romney vote!

There is a lot of concern about Perry and Gingrich. 

I find it funny that there is no concern about Romney not improving in Iowa over his last attempt. 

233 Joffen, The various legal blogs have been all over this issue. You can read about it at Legal Insurrection, Volkah, and others.

234

>>In other "news" I am officially sliding into deep depression. 

Posted by: Truman North at January 05, 2012 08:05 AM (I2LwF)

Get some exercise in outdoors in the middle of the day. Light deprivation is tough thing this time of year, especially in The NE where it's chilly and it's counter intuitive to go out.

235 Adults, not hysterical adolescents.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 05, 2012 09:33 AM (hiMsy)

Did you fall off your chair in hysterical laughter when you wrote that? Because I did when I read it.

236

I'm starting to believe that any female under the age of 40 should not have a driver's license. What is their problem? They will not let you in. Around here if you see an African American girl from Maryland you should just go ahead and crash your car into a tree. She will do everything she can to cause an accident. Older AA men are the exact opposite. Since when is it an insult to try to merge? White women apparently don't grasp that in slow moving traffic you have to watch the car in front of you. Husband is on his 6th new bumper. Always a woman, always white, always dumb.

Posted by: dagny at January 05, 2012 08:55 AM (TCgts)

I'll be sending you a bill for a new keyboard.

On my last two extended trips to MD, I coined for myself the phrase Entitled Female Driver syndrome.  "Sure, honey, go ahead and exit from three lanes over"; "Oh, you needed to go straight through the intersection from the inside of the two 'Left Turn Only" lanes?  How thoughtless of me to not anticipate your needs" and etc ...

237 #235 John McCain seriously hates George W. Bush, and especially Karl Rove. He thought he had a clear path to the GOP nomination in 2000 and Bush/Rove took it away from him. He has never forgiven them. This is the only reason he ran for President in 2008, just to prove to those goddamn Bushes that he could get the nomination. He ran a shitty campaign after that because he didn't actually want the job anymore.

238 I would like to hear someone start making a case that Obama is basically a home invader, he has come in to our government and pretty much ransacked it just to score cheap political points. There seems to be no level to which he will not stoop to score a point. His has become a presidency of all tactics, all cynicism, no vision, and a pretty much total abandonment of everything he ran on in 2008. Aside from the policy differences which are huge, this alone should get him fired.

Posted by: rockmom at January 05, 2012 09:31 AM (A0UFZ)

That would be an excellent strategy but I doubt that the party of stoopid, with its leftover shitstains that commandeered McCain's wonderful campaign, are capable of making it; particularly with an uncompelling speaker like Willard, who has a hard time not sounding like a whiny mangina when confronted with a heckler.

239 I thought we had a agreed to run Greg's dick through Maet's paper shredder bomb thing?

240 Okay. 

I understand that most everyone here does not support Romney and does not want him to be the nominee.  I get that.

But I do not understand the scorched-earth, defeat-Romney-at-all-costs mentality.

I tepidly support Romney, sure.  I think he brings some positive attributes but I also see the many negatives that he has.

Now a guy that I definitely do not want to win is Newt.  I don't want a guy in charge who has more ideas than sense, and I'm just skeptical of putting another academic in charge.  But even still, I generally respect him and I don't want to run him off the road or anything.  I won't vote for him, but I am not out on a mission to destroy him or something.  But when it comes to Romney, my impression is that a lot of his detractors see him as some sort of threat that must be stopped by any means necessary.  I don't get it.

Perhaps someone could explain this to me.

241 The US Constitution only lives and breathes for democrats.

242 They are rivals, not enemies. Adults, not hysterical adolescents.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 05, 2012 09:33 AM (hiMsy)

Back in 2007, Mitt Romney's campaign accused Mike Huckabee's campaign of using 'floating crosses' in an ad as a subliminal attempt to attack his Mormonism.

What was that you were saying about then not being hysterical?

243 I thought we had a agreed to run Greg's dick through Maet's paper shredder bomb thing?

We would have, but we couldn't find it.
No, not the paper shredder- that was all set up and ready to go.

244

In other "news" I am officially sliding into deep depression. 

Posted by: Truman North at January 05, 2012 08:05 AM (I2LwF)

----

You're probably off the thread, but I hope you can resist that. 
Try to focus on the small joys in your life for a couple of days and put this politics stuff aside.  It will still be here when you are back from your break.
 Hang in there!

245 Thanks for the very depressing links, Vic.  It all sucks, but that doesn't detract from the fact that you rock. 

I'm starting to think that we need to reassess the name Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Failure.  Obama is not failing at what he wants to achieve.  Far from it. 

More aptly put, he's a Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Traitor. 

246

The problerm with Fl is South Florida with all the transplanted snowbirds and Hispanics.

That's definitely an issue with the general election but I wonder how much it will matter in a closed primary.

And the snowbirds are a massive problem for other reasons; I wonder how many snowbirds are registered to vote in multiple states. Any type of voter reform should take this into account as well, though I am not quite sure how that can be done without some type of compatibility between state voter databases.

247 I can appreciate that, but I would argue that this will be easy. It is a direct violation of the actual wording of the Constitution. You really can't argue against it. Well, you can and I'd love to see the Democrats try. Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 09:35 AM (zLeKL) They're not trying, they are just gloating that once again they have the Republicans crying about process and precedent while they score on the policy. And because the media have embraced Obama's tactics-above-policy strategy, they care only about "who wins" and that is how they are playing this, just like they played the two-month tax-cut deal.

248

On my last two extended trips to MD, I coined for myself the phrase Entitled Female Driver syndrome.  "Sure, honey, go ahead and exit from three lanes over"; "Oh, you needed to go straight through the intersection from the inside of the two 'Left Turn Only" lanes?  How thoughtless of me to not anticipate your needs" and etc ...

I've recently taught two boys to drive. A large part of the curriculum was "TAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES FEMALE MARYLAND DRIVER SPOTTED". They then had to prove to me that they were 1. Watching her every stupid move and 2. Taking evasive measures.

I'm not kidding.

249 I tepidly support Romney, sure.  I think he brings some positive attributes but I also see the many negatives that he has.

I haven't seen a single damn positive (conservative) attribute in his actual record.

Mostly all his supports push is the BS electability meme. I actually thing he is almost worse for electability than RP the joke candidate.

250 I can appreciate that, but I would argue that this will be easy. It is a direct violation of the actual wording of the Constitution. You really can't argue against it. Well, you can and I'd love to see the Democrats try.

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 09:35 AM (zLeKL)

In a political sense, process arguments are non-starters, really.

251
But I do not understand the scorched-earth, defeat-Romney-at-all-costs mentality.

Why does Romney get to take cheap shots and shit all over everybody but the other guys can't respond in kind?

252 More aptly put, he's a Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Traitor. 

Posted by: Lady in Black ~ still carrying a torch for Perry at January 05, 2012 09:41 AM (ycuSb)

Now that's a good one.

253 251 I thought we had a agreed to run Greg's dick through Maet's paper shredder bomb thing?

We would have, but we couldn't find it.
No, not the paper shredder- that was all set up and ready to go.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 09:39 AM (8y9MW)

You get the magnifying glass and I'll get the tweezers...

254 #253 No, he is still a miserable failure as President, and especially as the President he promised to be in 2008. He has just figured out a clever way to hide his failures by blaming others and getting the media to go along with his new tactical strategy. In fact, this new strategy is an actual admission that he has failed, so he isn't even going to try anymore.

255
Why does Romney get to take cheap shots and shit all over everybody but the other guys can't respond in kind?

They can't?  What's stopping them?

256 I haven't seen a single damn positive (conservative) attribute in his actual record.

Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 09:42 AM (YdQQY)

He's white.

257 #211 The get-together in Texas includes James Dobson and Gary Bauer.

I'm not losing sleep over what those guys decide to do.

258 And the snowbirds are a massive problem for other reasons; I wonder how many snowbirds are registered to vote in multiple states.

If I am not mistaken they found a LOT of that when they purged the rolls a few years ago. They were voting absentee in NY and by ballot in FL.

And nobody went to jail.

259 I'm starting to think that we need to reassess the name Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Failure.  Obama is not failing at what he wants to achieve.  Far from it. 

More aptly put, he's a Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Traitor. 

Posted by: Lady in Black ~ still carrying a torch for Perry at January 05, 2012 09:41 AM (ycuSb)

I completely agree

260 But when it comes to Romney, my impression is that a lot of his detractors see him as some sort of threat that must be stopped by any means necessary.  I don't get it.

Perhaps someone could explain this to me.
----

I don't trust Romney on an ideological level, nor do I think he has demonstrated any evidence that he would have the chops to fight the Democrats in DC.  His resume is not that impressive to me, frankly.

And I've grown to dislike him on a personal level this election cycle, so I cannot envision doing anything more than pulling the lever for him -- and I'm not 100% sure about that, depending on what more chinks in his armor are exposed when the Democrats finally take the gloves off.  So the main argument for him - electability - rings very hollow to me. 

261 In a political sense, process arguments are non-starters, really.

And?

This is what makes me so angry about this.  Is this some political maneuver at which we're going to frown down our noses, or is this an assault on the Constitution?  Because if it's the former, then why all the sturm und drang?  If it's the latter, then there is no "process argument," it's an argument about our Founding Document.

262 I haven't seen a single damn positive (conservative) attribute in his actual record.

Well here are two things.

He introduced a bill in MA that would have reinstated the death penalty.  It was of course not approved by the D legislature.

He campaigned on maintaining the status quo w.r.t. abortion laws - not restricting them but not liberalizing them either.  Well the D legislature did try to liberalize them, and he vetoed it.

Perhaps you consider this weak sauce, and I understand if you do.  I agree that he is not a rock-solid conservative but I think it is a bit unfair to say that he hasn't done ANYTHING conservative.

263 Went shooting for the first time last night with Mrs CUS.  Hit the tape first time.  It was a blast, but having problems focusing on the front sight.  I'll have to talk to my eye doctor.  Fired a Ruger and a Glock 9mm.  That went boom real loud.

Next up, getting a 24-7 G2 for the house.

264 260 More aptly put, he's a Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Traitor. Posted by: Lady in Black ~ still carrying a torch for Perry at January 05, 2012 09:41 AM (ycuSb) Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Dictator.

265 More aptly put, he's a Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Traitor.

See, now I'm in a quandary.  Do I adopt this as my new line, or keep SCOAMF?  SCOAMT sounds almost as good...

266 There IS going to be a meeting in Texas, but it is of big donors and donor organizations, not of candidates (for example, James Dobson, Focus on the Family).  The intent is to consolidate support behind a non-Romney.

267 So, it's official. Obama is now a dictator.

There are always options.  You simply have to accept the likely consequences.  And that, as in anything, is the hardest part.

Interesting times, indeed.

268 http://bit.ly/zkSAQI $5000 bucks to learn how to camp.

269 How could MA made their abortion laws any more liberal than they already were?

270 How could MA made their abortion laws any more liberal than they already were?

Abortion legal through the 4th trimester?

271 But I do not understand the scorched-earth, defeat-Romney-at-all-costs mentality.

Nothing wrong with that strategy if this was a two man race. Right now either Gingrich, Santorum or Perry has to seperate themselves from each other. That ain't happening and they're running out of time. I think if Gingrich was as smart as he claims he would go after Perry or Santorum in SC and take one out of the race. Vice versa with Perry. I still don't think Santorum has enough money to go on the offensive with anyone.

272 >>Abortion legal through the 4th trimester?

Well, maybe that was Mitt's idea behind introducing the death penalty bill!  ;-)

273 If it's the latter, then there is no "process argument," it's an argument about our Founding Document. Exactly. Let's let the Republicans know we have their backs. Yes, they piss us off sometimes, but this is an assault on the Document that our whole country was founded on.

274 But when it comes to Romney, my impression is that a lot of his detractors see him as some sort of threat that must be stopped by any means necessary.  I don't get it.

Perhaps someone could explain this to me.

Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 09:39 AM (s7mIC)

I oppose Romney because I don't think he can beat the JEF.  I would be satisfied with him in office and a conservative Congress holding his feet to the fire but the guy polls in the mid 20s and I don't see that changing when the commiecrats and MFM start a scorched earth campaign against him, which you fucking-a-well know they will.  Then we'll have the post McCain claims of how we conservatives didn't support poor Mittens.  Fuck that shit; I'll vote for him no matter what but people like me aren't who need to be convinced that the JEF needs to go.

275 They can't?  What's stopping them?

Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 09:44 AM (s7mIC)

Because that would be 'scorched earth, defeat Romney at all costs?'

276 Is this some political maneuver at which we're going to frown down our noses, or is this an assault on the Constitution? Because if it's the former, then why all the sturm und drang? If it's the latter, then there is no "process argument," it's an argument about our Founding Document. Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 09:46 AM (8y9MW) we are not arguing that is not a violation of the Constitution or that the Congress and/or effected parties should not take "appropriate" action to both overturn this and make obama and the Dems pay a huge political price for doing it. all we are saying is, as someone else said earlier, this is not the case to pull the "Nuclear" option out over. Impeachment is a drastic measure. And in this case it will not only not be successful but may backfire politically. It's very much like the line from "A Few Good Men": "It's the difference between paper law and trail law"

277 New Defense Plan to Slim Down Military

Boy, it sure is surprising how how easy it is for Dems to cut, cut, cut when it comes to defense, while every other government department is sacrosanct and already ultra-lean and efficient and needs every penny. Oh so very surprising.

278 We hear that Greg is here, and we've come a callin'.

Every word of his we read, send our pants a-fallin'.

279 Well, our country was founded on the Declaration, but you guys get my point.

280 Chemjeff, I think a lot of what is stopping his opposition from confronting Romney is his vast money supply. There was talk that his PAC (which is putting up negative ads on others) was actually funded by his own money. Also, have you noticed that when Gingrich says anything about Romney he is accused of sour grapes and abandoning his positive campaign??? Even Fox has been down playing all legitimate criticism of Romney by his rivals. And as a Romney supporter, that should concern you. They will not be shielding him in the general, so he is being set up.

281 New Defense Plan to Slim Down Military Boy, it sure is surprising how how easy it is for Dems to cut, cut, cut when it comes to defense, while every other government department is sacrosanct and already ultra-lean and efficient and needs every penny. Oh so very surprising. Posted by: Waterhouse at January 05, 2012 09:53 AM (FUYSU) B ut they are strong supporters of the Soldiers remember?

282 I saw/met Gary Bauer at "Artie's" restaurant in Fairfax VA. He caught me staring at him in the waiting area while I was trying to figure out who he was. I was forced to start going for the awkward apology shrug and look away when his name hit me and I stuck out my hand and introduced myself. Very, very nice guy. Shorter than I thought.

283 Vic, here ya go:
http://tinyurl.com/drbb4

284

I've recently taught two boys to drive. A large part of the curriculum was "TAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES FEMALE MARYLAND DRIVER SPOTTED". They then had to prove to me that they were 1. Watching her every stupid move and 2. Taking evasive measures.

I'm not kidding.

Posted by: dagny at January 05, 2012 09:42 AM (TCgts)

Well done.  Your graduate-level driving course should include a prerequisite step of anticipating and stating out loud what the MD-EFD will stupidly do next.  Passing score is 2 out of 3 correct.

285 $5000 bucks to learn how to camp.

LOL. And idiots will pay to learn it. Picture that on an applicant's transcript, then picture the potential employer laugh his ass off.

286 They can't?  What's stopping them?

Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 09:44 AM (s7mIC)

Because that would be 'scorched earth, defeat Romney at all costs?'

Because any criticism of Romney is, of course, by definition scorched earth.

287

We hear a lot of "anyone can beat Obama". I disagree. I think Mittens can beat Obama. Newt? probably not. Perry? no. Santorum? Hell no. etc...

The only poll I have seen with a Republican beating Obama has been Romney. It's not by much, but it gives me some hope. It's just my gut level feeling. Beating Obama is all that matters to me. I really don't care if I have to sell my soul to club rino this time around.

288 People like Dobson and Bauer are just some of the public faces.  There are a lot of people involved here, even in this group that one never sees or hears about.  This is not a trivial event.  Very large amounts of money are involved, but, even more important is the organizational heft providing volunteers and votes.  It will be interesting if they reach a consensus (even more interesting if this is just cover for an agreement already reached, as rumors suggest).

289 Unless and until a major MFM outlet condemns Obama's cynical tactics, he is going to continue to do it and get away with it. The biggest problem we have now is a media that is totally in the tank for whatever Obama thinks is good for him politically. When George Bush went overboard with the signing statements and the recess appointments and the questionable legal opinions, the supposedly "impartial" media jumped all over him for it. Obama does exactly the same shit and they applaud, because it helps him politically.

290

And as a Romney supporter, that should concern you. They will not be shielding him in the general, so he is being set up.

Same opponent. Same campaign. 2008 redux.

I think some people secretly don't want to kick out the Historic First black president after just 1 term.

291 >>How could MA made their abortion laws any more liberal than they already were?
Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 09:49 AM (YdQQY)

Not only that but they welcome and subsidize any and all illegals. Obama has 2 illegal relatives living in separate locations there. Instead of going to Chicago where he has connections they pick MA, what does that tell you?

And if you're a corrupt dem pol who do you think will be paying your retirement in 15 years, aborted fetuses or illegals?

MA is following the Clownifornia Nosedive Into Oblivion Model. That's why I left.

292 Dont forget, by 2005, Mitt was already running for president.

293 . all we are saying is, as someone else said earlier, this is not the case to pull the "Nuclear" option out over.

A clear usurpation of the the authority of another supposedly co-equal branch of government "is not the case to pull the 'Nuclear' option out over?"  What would be, then?  Does he actually have to have a crown fashioned for himself and have the Speaker of the House crown him God and King of America?

WTF, folks: what part of "assault on the Constitution" are we not understanding?  If he's willing to do this, why on earth should we believe he's not willing to do just whatever he wants?

294 And because the media have embraced Obama's tactics-above-policy strategy, they care only about "who wins" and that is how they are playing this, just like they played the two-month tax-cut deal.
Posted by: rockmom at January 05, 2012 09:41 AM (A0UFZ)

It's moved well beyond tactics-above-policy. It is tactics-above-law. The federal government has gone rogue and members of both political parties are down with that. The only way this is going to change is to reduce its size, significantly.

295 Well time to go to town. bbl

And Chemjeff, I guess that he vetoes the "morning after pill". I don't think that was much.

296 296 So we've finally found the elusive "Republican Establishment"?

297 The only poll I have seen with a Republican beating Obama has been Romney.

General election polls at this stage are meaningless.  Romney has never run a national campaign nor has he ever served on the national stage.  We have no idea what will come out when he's finally under pressure, except for having early indications that he doesn't do well in those situations (Bret Baier interview, whining at the debate, $10000 bet, passive-aggressive touching the other candidate, and accusing Perry of being an anti-Mormon bigot when some minister the organizers chose to introduce him made theologically-based criticism of Mitt's religion). 

Newt is really the only one of the bunch that has been subjected to national level media vetting. 

I am personally pretty confident about Perry because he has run against very dirty Democrats in Texas and because the attempts during this primary by Mitt, Crazy Eyes, and others to show that he is scandal-ridden have produced a big nothing-burger. 

298 Why does Romney get to take cheap shots and shit all over everybody but the other guys can't respond in kind?
Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk
........
You know full well it is different with Romney.

The Romney haters want him destroyed - completely and utterly destroyed and don't give a flying fuck that he will probably end up being the nominee.

The whole thing then becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

299 This is not a trivial event.
Posted by: texette at January 05, 2012 09:56 AM (cUNTM)

Yes it is, just a bunch of nobodies deluding themselves into thinking they're doing something.

300 Is this some political maneuver at which we're going to frown down our noses, or is this an assault on the Constitution?  Because if it's the former, then why all the sturm und drang?  If it's the latter, then there is no "process argument," it's an argument about our Founding Document.

That IS a process argument.  You're getting into details about what technically constitutes a recess, why waiting three days is important, etc.

Try to see it from the point of view of someone who doesn't dislike Obama.  Suppose this person hears that Obama made a "controversial" appointment to a "consumer watchdog group" because he technically didn't follow the correct procedure.  Is this person going to say "Oh, I don't want this guy in a consumer watchdog group because he didn't dot the 'i' and cross the 't' in the correct order!"  Probably not. 

And then you will have the policy arguments of whether this stupid consumer board is a good idea or not (technically irrelevant to the discussion, but the Dems will bring it up to throw dust into the air), and then you will have the partisan arguments of "but those mean Senate Republican meanies are just blocking Obama no matter what, so he has to do something!11!!1!!"

Put it all together and I think the technical process argument is not nearly as strong as you think it is.

I think a lot of people out there aren't nearly as in favor of following the rules for the rules' sake as we are when it comes to the Constitution.  A lot of people are just content to know that the Constitution was obeyed "in spirit" and that is good enough for them.  How else do you think the mushy middle ever got comfortable with the idea of a "living Constitution" to begin with?

301 Unless and until a major MFM outlet condemns Obama's cynical tactics

Okay, just like it's time to stop blaming "the Establishment" for the crappy primary season, it's time to stop blaming "the Media" for the fact we continually lose the PR war.  You cannot convince me that the media is significantly more in the Neo-Marxist tank now than they have been since at least Reagan.

There are ways to fight that fight, and the Republicans could use them: they choose otherwise.

Talk Radio and blogs are a start, as is Twitter, but how about some legal patronage (that is: paying out of GOP coffers or specific official's "private" funds) for actual conservative media?  Nothing at all wrong with that- it's their money after all- and it would be better than sitting and wringing their hands.

Or how about actually being combative on the stupid Sunday Morning shows?

302 #250 Huckabees attacks on Mormonism were anything but subliminal. But you know that. #257 Romney had about a 1000 vetoes of liberal legislation that came out of the 85% democrat legislature. This includes the in state tuition for illegals and morning after drug. He started with over a billion dollar deficit and ended with over a 100 million surplus without raising taxes. He issued an EO to allow State Troopers to inquire about resident status. He declined to participate in the NE greenhouse initiative. These are but a few of the conservative actions and positions of Romney while Governor. But again you know that.

303 A clear usurpation of the the authority of another supposedly co-equal branch of government "is not the case to pull the 'Nuclear' option out over?" What would be, then? Does he actually have to have a crown fashioned for himself and have the Speaker of the House crown him God and King of America? WTF, folks: what part of "assault on the Constitution" are we not understanding? If he's willing to do this, why on earth should we believe he's not willing to do just whatever he wants? Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 10:00 AM (8y9MW) Because it has absolutely NO CHANCE of being successful. It is even doubtful the Congress would vote a bill of impeachment and there is NO CHANCE of conviction in the Senate. And it would not even be done before the Election. And that's just for starters.

304 Newt is really the only one of the bunch that has been subjected to national level media vetting.

Yeah and got taken down by it, don't forget that.

305 Because any criticism of Romney is, of course, by definition scorched earth.

No that is not at all what I'm saying.

It's absolutely understandable and justifiable to criticize Romney for his flip-flops, for instance.  I don't think that constitutes "scorched earth".

But c'mon, to want to form a coalition whose sole purpose is to stop Romney?  That goes a little bit beyond complaining about his flip-flops.

306 face it folks there is no hill the gop is willing to take a stand on.....ever......not one......

307 _{Also, have you noticed that when Gingrich says anything about Romney he is accused of sour grapes and abandoning his positive campaign??? Even Fox has been down playing all legitimate criticism of Romney by his rivals. And as a Romney supporter, that should concern you. They will not be shielding him in the general, so he is being set up.}

This. Everyone keeps saying how electable Romney is but how will he react when he's attacked 24/7? He's not a great off-the-cuff speaker, hell, he's not that great a speaker in general. He gets flustered easily, he insists on seeing which way the wind blows before taking a position on an issue. All the fighting he does seems to be through proxies and do we know he won't come off like John McCain, saying nice things about ODicko? I'm worried about how electable he really is.

308 What ever happened to the cable TV network that Kelsey Grammar was going to get up and running that catered to conservative thinking?  Anyone?  I don't have cable.

309

Lincoln--one of them, anyway.

By the way, how is your UV microscope working out?  Which one do you have?  Fellow rock lover, here.

310 If students began looking at classes on a cost/benefit basis and extrapolating how the chosen class will help them in the future, we would see less fluff and more real stuff.

This assumes they are capable of doing the math; many aren't.

Maybe itÂ’s not the actual cost of a college education that is the real problem. ItÂ’s the classes that are taken while they are there.

There is severe bloat, both in the number of worthless-in-the-real-world majors and I've-got-tenure-and-I'll-bloviate-about-whatever-I-want-to elective courses.

311 I think a lot of people out there aren't nearly as in favor of following the rules for the rules' sake as we are when it comes to the Constitution.  A lot of people are just content to know that the Constitution was obeyed "in spirit" and that is good enough for them.  How else do you think the mushy middle ever got comfortable with the idea of a "living Constitution" to begin with?

I sincerely hope you're wrong.  Because if you're not, the only thing left is to burn it all down.

I don't have to make it a "process" argument at all- even though the process is the focus of the argument.

"By himself deciding that he could declare when the Senate is in recess, Barack Obama stated that the Congress is subservient to, not co-equal with, the Presidency.  This strikes at the very heart of our Republic- setting the President up as a ruler, instead of a Representative of the People's interests."

312 I think a lot of people out there aren't nearly as in favor of following the rules for the rules' sake as we are when it comes to the Constitution. A lot of people are just content to know that the Constitution was obeyed "in spirit" and that is good enough for them. How else do you think the mushy middle ever got comfortable with the idea of a "living Constitution" to begin with? ---- Sucks to be them, they've got some learning to do. Besides, it wasn't obeyed "in spirit". and if they bring up Bush, bring up the fact that these tactics were used by Dems 4 years ago and Bush respected the Constitution enough that the tactics worked. All this talk of recess appointments is pointless because the Congress is not in recess.

313 >>Yeah and got taken down by it, don't forget that

Sure.  I guess it remains to be seen how worked up voters - who I'm told are soooo eager to get rid of Obama - will be about a decade-old scandal. 

My point is merely that the electability argument with respect to Mitt doesn't impress me.  He has not been vetted and he's spent the past few years of his retirement, excuse me 'unemployment,' playing it safe.  He won't be able to do that if he's the nominee.  

314 Memo to our enemies all over the world: The "President" and the Administration is going on record that we will no longer be able to fight 2 Wars at the same time. So just coordinate your attacks on us and our interests world wide, and you'll probably be able to blackmail us into getting what you want. Great stratigery. Kinda like announcing the date when we are going to withdraw from a conflict.

315 His mormonism does hurt us in the general though. Everybody will be learning about the tenets of mormonism on the nightly new every night if he is the nominee.

316 Slightly O/T, but the comment Allen G made about using GOP coffers to educate brought another thought to mind. Yesterday there was a post about a song supposedly written by a third grade class honoring the OWS movement. I think that the tea partiers should do similar things. What would be more current than children learning songs about the original tea party, and how the new tea party is reaching back to find the resolve to strengthen our country?

317 It's a tiny pocket one. I'm embarrassed to say it's still in the box., It's farging freezing down here and my "set-up" is in the shed. I'll give a full report once I get going again. I'm also kinda looking forward to the "wraparound headlamp with magnifying loupe" I got. I can't wait to see just how geeky one man can look.

318 Our schools in Central Florida finally all rated C and above.  Amazingly they did this after there was a significant budget cut and some teachers were laid off.  Course it was explained that this means that "the ones that are left are working twice as hard", instead of well then I guess we didn't need all that dead weight and extra money to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.  Blah..

319 Because it has absolutely NO CHANCE of being successful. It is even doubtful the Congress would vote a bill of impeachment and there is NO CHANCE of conviction in the Senate. And it would not even be done before the Election. And that's just for starters.

Posted by: nevergiveup at January 05, 2012 10:04 AM (i6RpT)

And so we...give up?

320 315, exactly Mittens = McCain - the hero part

321 Because it has absolutely NO CHANCE of being successful. It is even doubtful the Congress would vote a bill of impeachment and there is NO CHANCE of conviction in the Senate. And it would not even be done before the Election. And that's just for starters.

Well, I guess I'm glad you're willing to let the Constitution die because we might lose politically.

Politics- even the Presidency- isn't the end, people, it's the means.  The end should be Liberty- which requires that everyone be bound by the rule of law.  If we're unwilling to defend that, then we're agreeing that not everyone is bound by the rule of law.

And that's a premise I do not accept.

322 darklord it's not giving up when you don't even try the gop is cowardly at best......

323 Obama Fun Fact:

While Congress celebrated the holidays, Barky recess-appointed a Coupon Czar to clip out all of the juiciest deals from PetSmart, Target, and Best Buy flyers.

324 It's absolutely understandable and justifiable to criticize Romney for his flip-flops, for instance.  I don't think that constitutes "scorched earth".

But c'mon, to want to form a coalition whose sole purpose is to stop Romney?  That goes a little bit beyond complaining about his flip-flops.

Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 10:05 AM (s7mIC)

Some people take those flip-flops as signs he's a liar.  I would think you would be able to understand why people might want to stop a lair.

325 And so we...give up? Posted by: DarkLord© for Prez! at January 05, 2012 10:10 AM (GBXon) nobody said anything about giving up. if you read the whole thread we who are against impeachment have said over and over again that there are remedies left to fight this. The Courts are one, funding is another, a strangle hold on other appointments is another, fighting obamacare and hoping for a positive Supreme Court ruing is another. Fight obama and the dems at every turn and make them pay thru the nose for this.

326 liar, not lair.  This morning sucks.

327

But c'mon, to want to form a coalition whose sole purpose is to stop Romney? That goes a little bit beyond complaining about his flip-flops.

Yes, it goes to complaining about the fact he's a dishonest, lying, principle-less nihilist who will say absolutely anything and means nothing.

John McCain was wrong, Obama was a bad man. And a bad President.

And Mitt Romney is a bad man and he will make a terrible President. I am morally opposed to Mitt Romney. Under no circumstances can I support a party led by him.

328 Talk Radio and blogs are a start, as is Twitter, but how about some legal patronage (that is: paying out of GOP coffers or specific official's "private" funds) for actual conservative media? Nothing at all wrong with that- it's their money after all- and it would be better than sitting and wringing their hands. Or how about actually being combative on the stupid Sunday Morning shows? Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 10:04 AM (8y9MW) Good news for you, Allen - check Politico this morning. There is being launched as we speak a new conservative counterpart to the Center for American Progress/ThinkProgress/TPM/HuffingtonPost empire. There is serious money behind this and they have hired some serious journalists to start investigating abuses in government and break stories that will then have to be covered by the MFM. It's a little late, but not to late to have an impact in this campaign. They have a war room set up and they are going to do the Media Matters thing and dog every statement made by the White House, the liberal media outlets, etc. One thing that needs to be highlighted about this Cordray appointment is that the CFPB does not even have an Inspector General. Its budget is not subject to Congressional approval. Its regulations are not subject to the normal 14-day Congressional review before publication. It was set up as a rogue agency with no Congressional oversight whatsoever, and now the President has gone even more rogue in appointing its Director without the consent of the Senate.

329 But c'mon, to want to form a coalition whose sole purpose is to stop Romney?  That goes a little bit beyond complaining about his flip-flops.

Not really, chemjeff.  Romney has been running full-time for five (six?) years.  He has not moved his numbers at all, primarily because it seems conservatives have rejected him (mostly because of Masscare, but also because of his history of flip-flops).  They are banking on Romney winning in the general by pulling in Independents, but it seems to me Indies will be much more susceptible to class-warfare arguments than conservatives and we do not know how Mitt will hold up to full-bore media vetting. 

So it seems to me it makes sense for conservatives to say "hey, let's find someone who really appeals to more of the party, especially the base" and run him. 

People may feel personal animosity toward Mitt, but that does not mean that the desire to find and coalesce behind a conservative candidate to defeat Mitt is irrational. 

330 You know full well it is different with Romney.
Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at January 05, 2012 10:02 AM (f9c2L)

Yeah, the difference is he's *your* guy, so it's out of bounds to criticize him.

331 Court OKs Barring High IQs for Cops

A man whose bid to become a police officer was rejected after he scored too high on an intelligence test has lost an appeal in his federal lawsuit against the city.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld a lower courtÂ’s decision that the city did not discriminate against Robert Jordan because the same standards were applied to everyone who took the test.

Lord knows we don't want anyone with a brain to be holding a gun, or figuring out who the bad guys are.

332 Everyone keeps saying how electable Romney is but how will he react when he's attacked 24/7? He's not a great off-the-cuff speaker, hell, he's not that great a speaker in general. He gets flustered easily, he insists on seeing which way the wind blows before taking a position on an issue.

Not only that, but when he's challenged by somebody in a debate he always reacts by getting this creepy grin and laughing; that sends out a horrible image and I wish the dumbasses that are coaching him would tell him to quit that shit immediately.

333 Posted by: jeannebodine at January 05, 2012 10:06 AM (byR8d)

ITA.  Romney doesn't handle criticism well and does appear to get easily flustered.  I don't see any pit bull in him, which will be absolutely necessary to defeat this criminal bastard in the WH and his Chicago machine thugs.  It's going to be ugly....very, very ugly.  And will Willard have the ability to throw down the nasty?  I don't see much evidence.  He's warm milk.  He's "In Living Color's" caricature of white people, ala the Smothers Brothers in their argyle sweaters.  IF he's the nominee, I can only hope that America will have had all of Obama they can take and will send him packing regardless of Romney's shortcomings. 

334 Well, I guess I'm glad you're willing to let the Constitution die because we might lose politically. Politics- even the Presidency- isn't the end, people, it's the means. The end should be Liberty- which requires that everyone be bound by the rule of law. If we're unwilling to defend that, then we're agreeing that not everyone is bound by the rule of law. And that's a premise I do not accept. Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 10:11 AM (8y9MW) Fine fight whatever fight you want. But in the end you know there will be NO Impeachment and NO Impeachment proceeding. This is all just an intellectual argument.

335 from CDR M's Iran link, does anyone have Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi's mailing address? I would like to send him a well thumbed compendium of Mahan's works.

336 One of the benefits of being an aging Texas Belle is that "geekiness" is considered just another "charming eccentricity" as long as one's jewelry and makeup are good.

337 315  Romney is probably as electable as McCain

338 The Courts are one, funding is another, a strangle hold on other appointments is another, fighting obamacare and hoping for a positive Supreme Court ruing is another. Fight obama and the dems at every turn and make them pay thru the nose for this.

The Courts are out- the Supreme Court has routinely (especially of late) ruled that they're not getting between the President and the Congress- that the congress has a way to chastise the President- Impeachment.  And no one else will be ruled to have "standing."

"Strangle holds" on appointments are what got us 4 unconstitutional non-recess appointments, remember?  If we're not going to do anything about it now, why would he be afraid to do it later?

"Hoping for a positive Supreme Court ruling" is rather like hoping for a winning hand at poker- yeah, you might get one, but is this really the strategy you want to stake your house-payment on?

And if they're not going to fight over something this blatant, this egregious, why should I believe that the Republicans will "fight Obama and the Democrats at every turn?"

Funding might have worked- if we hadn't already funded the government all the way through 2012 with an Omnibus, and given Obama unilateral power to raise the debt ceiling.  But we were told those were also "process" arguments we couldn't win.

339

Classical eduation, con't.:

The oldest is reading Calvin and Hobbes to the younger two.

340 nobody said anything about giving up. if you read the whole thread we who are against impeachment have said over and over again that there are remedies left to fight this. The Courts are one, funding is another, a strangle hold on other appointments is another, fighting obamacare and hoping for a positive Supreme Court ruing is another. Fight obama and the dems at every turn and make them pay thru the nose for this. ------- The only reason I oppose these tactics is because this is a violation of the Constitution, therefore the consequences MUST be severe.

341 Besides, it wasn't obeyed "in spirit".

Well I think you can make a plausible "in spirit" argument, along the lines of:

The purpose of the recess appointment power is to permit the President to make appointments when the Senate is not available to give its advice and consent.  Since, with the pro forma sessions, the Senate is still not available to give its consent (since it's not a real session of the Senate), but nevertheless technically is not in recess, so based on the Senate's abuse of its power, it is not permitting the President to make recess appointments.

I don't agree that it is as strong of an argument as the one presented here, that the Senate is free to decide however it wishes what constitutes 'recess' and the President just has to suck it up, but nevertheless I can see the plausible argument on the other side.  And it still sorta-kinda makes sense in a Constitutional "in spirit" way.

You can even make an originalist argument, i.e., was this what the Founding Fathers _really_ intended when they granted the President the power to make recess appointments?  That the Senate would just stick around forever in pro forma sessions and not permit anyone to be appointed?  Again I think it's a stupid question to ask but it will be asked if the impeachment train really does get rolling.

342 And Mitt Romney is a bad man and he will make a terrible President. I am morally opposed to Mitt Romney.

What? He may be a political opportunist but his political sins aren't that much different then any of the other candidates. They're all politicians in the end. But a bad man? C'mon.

343 Don't Obama's invalid recess appointments basically consign those agencies to legal oblivion? Every action they take will end up in court with a plaintiff asking "Who sent you?"

344 I think all of the candidates, including Romney, should be careful with a scorched earth strategy. Republicans have been burned before with their own short-sighted circular firing squad. I'd prefer Perry to Romney. Thing is, Perry better get with it and win New Hampshire, SC, and Florida.

345 There is being launched as we speak a new conservative counterpart to the Center for American Progress/ThinkProgress/TPM/HuffingtonPost empire.

You got a link to that?  I don't go swimming in the muck and mire that is Politico if I can avoid it.

346 I think all of the candidates, including Romney, should be careful with a scorched earth strategy.

Well unfortunately Romney already started firing shells at everybody with that insipid "Perry Scheme!" claim.  So the scorched earth has already begun.

347 Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 10:17 AM (s7mIC) ------- Well, let's not be afraid to have this debate. When Clinton was impeached there were good arguments on both sides as to what constituted 'high crimes and misdemeanors". Clinton still got impeached. So, yes. Let's have this debate.

348 >>Thing is, Perry better get with it and win New Hampshire, SC, and Florida.

Perry has no chance in NH.  Mitt will win NH.  It's practically (one of his) home state. 

I wish Gingrich and Perry would form an alliance, but it's too early for that to happen.  I guess the best we can hope for is for Perry to pick up some of the Bachmann supporters, not that I expect she'll endorse him but merely because it makes sense from an ideological standpoint for them to shift to Perry. 

349 341  I can only hope that America will have had all of Obama they can take and will send him packing regardless of Romney's shortcomings.

I'm tired of hope (and change).

350 Besides, you know full well that the Dems will cry foul when a Republican tries to use this tactic. So let's just nip this bullshit in the bud.

351 Someone said Romney is not a pit bull (bull dog?).  I guess that's true.  But it's not that he's not a fighter, it's just that the tactic he uses -- making attacks from the shadows using surrogates and proxies -- is not one that will work in a head to head fight in the general election. 

352 292 -- As a Virginia resident who frequently travels to MD, I completely agree with your assessment of that socialist state's drivers.  As soon as I cross the bridge, I go on full-alert.  The most fun is driving around the Bethesda and Chevy Chase areas where you get the MD-EFD's and the D.C. drivers.  My ire is then compounded by seeing all of the Obama bumperstickers on their cars.

353 Sorry but I am  don't think a coaltition to stop anyone other than TehWon will really work.  It's a bad precedent(no pun intended) for future elections.  Think of the so-called GOP elites gathering together a bunch of hand-picked candidates to stop a Conservative Tea Partier.  Besides, this is a one man job these guys are applying for, they should be able to win on their own two feet.  They need to show us why they will be the real Won, not get someone else to bite the bullet for them.  And no I am not a Romney supporter, I don't like any of these people but I am ABO.

354 I think some of you are unnecessarily frightened by what happened in 2008 with John McCain. Unlike McCain, Mitt Romney actually wants the job and will fight for it. He is not going to look like a grumpy old man against the young and exciting Obama, in fact Obama himself has aged substantially and Romney looks about the same age as him now. And Romney is going to have a shit-ton more money to spend than McCain did. Do not underestimate what is going on with American Crossroads and the other super-PACs. They are raising scads of money and it's all going to be used to beat the living shit out of Obama on TV and everywhere. We didn't have any of that in 2008. Democrats are actually really scared about this. There are conservative groups preparing the same kind of online grassroots campaign program that Obama had in 2008. Our side learned a lot form that campaign. Obama is a failed President with no skills for the job, and Mitt Romney has been a successful businessman who turned around businesses, turned around the Olympics, balanced budgets as Governor, believes in America, and will make America strong again. This is going to be the campaign.

355 Thing is, Perry better get with it and win New Hampshire, SC, and Florida.

I'm for Perry and even I admit he has NO chance in NH.  He will probably do as badly there as in IA.   I'm praying for a very, very strong finish in SC, however.  I'm in SC and haven't seen any recent polling.  Strangely, this cycle is not like '08.  There were R signs everywhere this time 4 years ago, from many candidates.  I've only seen two recently.  A large one for Perry along the highway and a large one for Gingrich at a very busy intersection. 

356 Okay, fine Joffen
You explain to the disinterested, mushy middle, why it was a bad thing for Obama to appoint a "consumer advocate" in order to get around an "obstructionist Senate" without getting into arcane and technical details and Constitutional nit-picking.

357

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 10:16 AM (8y9MW)

Heh.

This party is useless.

358

Why has the price of gas jumped almost 30 cents?

 

And no, no I don't miss MD drivers. Driving here can be frustrating, but it's because people lack urgency, not that they are driving to drive through you.

359

By which I mean to say, since that was probably cryptic, AllenG is right.

We're basically 5-15 years out from Venezuela.

360 They are raising scads of money and it's all going to be used to beat the living shit out of Obama on TV and everywhere.

Am I a bad person if I admit to liking the sound of that?

361 @361
Besides, this is a one man job these guys are applying for, they should be able to win on their own two feet. 

How can I put this gently? 

What candidate wins without help?  All these folks are doing is deciding who to back.  There's nothing wrong with that. 

362 My oldage crush on Zooey Deschanel took a hit today when I got my first look at the Indie Rock grungy douchebag she married. (Although she gets some props for divorcing him.) (But drops again when I find out she's a typical liberal giving only 1,500 a month to charity out of 95,000 earned per month. 22,500 for clothes but that's women.)

{my heart is broken}

SHE'S SINGLE AGAIN!

363

360 There's an intersection that I have to go through every morning and evening. The right lane is for traffic going straight and right turns, the left lane is left turn only. The right lane backs up because there is more traffic going right and straight than left and because the straight traffic has to wait for the light. It's a wait but not that long. Maybe one full cycle. Anyway, there are cars that stay in the left lane and then try to beat the straight traffic at the light by whipping in front of them. Maryland drivers every damn time. I'm in Va. It's like they come here to cause wrecks.

I'm assuming their socialism spreads to their driving: Everybody should be able to use every lane all the time even there are other cars in it.

364 This year IS different, I believe.  Paul will stay to the bitter end.  I don't think it is unlikely that we have at least 3 candidates until the primary season is over.

365 You explain to the disinterested, mushy middle, why it was a bad thing for Obama to appoint a "consumer advocate" in order to get around an "obstructionist Senate" without getting into arcane and technical details and Constitutional nit-picking. ----------- I see nothing wrong with defending the Constitution. Was Clinton impeached over a blow-job?

366 Fuck New Hampshire. Haven't they gone all Massachusettes and Vermonty anyway. Aren't they mostly libtard urban escapees anyway?

367 As bad as Juan McLame is/was you do realize that he would have won had the economy not shit the bed. He was ahead in the polls right up to the month before the election.

368 Another reason for this scorched earth thinking is, time is really running out. If Mitt places top two or three in both SC and FL he would pretty much have this thing wrapped up way before Super Tuesday.

369 What? He may be a political opportunist but his political sins aren't that much different then any of the other candidates.

Romney is an outlier by factors. He has never meant a goddamn thing he has ever said.

Why do Romney supporters believe him? There isn't 1 issue he's every been consistent on.

370 You got a link to that? I don't go swimming in the muck and mire that is Politico if I can avoid it. Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 10:19 AM (8y9MW) I can't post links on this computer. I saw it on Politico this morning, it may be picked up by other conservative media later in the day if you can't bring yourself to go there. It's really damn good news. I'm getting really tired of all the armchair quarterbacks on the blogs whining that our side isn't fighting hard enough. We have people putting together a massive, massive campaign infrastructure this year that is going to equal whatever Obama does. They may not be the household names, and you may not get the Perfect Conservative Telegenic Fighting Non-Elite candidate you wanted, but this game is on and we are going to win it.

371

Was Clinton impeached over a blow-job?

The vast majority of people think that's exactly why.  The vast majority of people need flashcards to remind them to breathe. 

372 >>Aren't they mostly libtard urban escapees anyway?

Lots of folks live in NH and work in MA.

373 @378: Here's the link

374 Mitt Romney has been a successful businessman who turned around businesses
--------
Didnt Bain get $10 million bailout? Buy out Damon corp who had excessive medicare fraud? Bain is full of attack ads waiting to happen. The 1994 kennedy attack ads are brutal. On top of that he wont release tax returns. This helps the msm

375

Besides, this is a one man job these guys are applying for, they should be able to win on their own two feet.

How? Vote for himself 15 million times? Candidates do not win elections. They are awarded elections. They don't win them.

376

Romney is an outlier by factors. He has never meant a goddamn thing he has ever said.

Why do Romney supporters believe him? There isn't 1 issue he's every been consistent on.

Posted by: Entropy at January 05, 2012 10:30 AM (pu3AL)

Yeah and the same could be said for all the other candidates, they're freak'n politicians.

377

We hear a lot of "anyone can beat Obama". I disagree. I think Mittens can beat Obama. Newt? probably not. Perry? no. Santorum? Hell no. etc...

The only poll I have seen with a Republican beating Obama has been Romney. It's not by much, but it gives me some hope. It's just my gut level feeling. Beating Obama is all that matters to me. I really don't care if I have to sell my soul to club rino this time around.

Posted by: lurker lurker at January 05, 2012 09:55 AM (O7ksG)

Once again Axelrod tells us who the SCOAMF wants to run against. Thanks David.

378 Seriously has there ever been a top tier Republican candidate that did not get an endorsement from at least one of his state's two Republican Senators? Or garnered less than half of the state's Republican congressional delegations endorsements? That should be a strong indicator.

379 I see nothing wrong with defending the Constitution.

There is nothing wrong with defending the Constitution.  (Well, the defensible bits, anyway.)

But it is quite different to defend the "idea" and the "spirit" of the Constitution, vs. defending every single written letter of the Constitution.

Was Clinton impeached over a blow-job?

Is that directed to me, or to the mushy middle?  You and I know the correct answer.  To everyone else, the answer is - yes he was impeached over a BJ.

380 Romney is an outlier by factors. He has never meant a goddamn thing he has ever said. Why do Romney supporters believe him? There isn't 1 issue he's every been consistent on. Posted by: Entropy at January 05, 2012 10:30 AM (pu3AL) Some people might actually think that is a feature and not a bug. 80% of the electorate is not ideologically consistent. Right now they are looking for anyone that seems to know what the hell he is doing and has a plan to create jobs. They really don't care that once upon a time, Mitt Romney said he was pro-choice. Why did you believe Reagan was pro-life? He signed the most liberal abortion law in history in California and did exactly nothing in 8 years as President to restrict abortion in any way.

381 As bad as Juan McLame is/was you do realize that he would have won had the economy not shit the bed. He was ahead in the polls right up to the month before the election.

Posted by: Truck Monkey at January 05, 2012 10:30 AM (jucos)

I think the worthless POS would've found a way to fuck it up anyway.  He ran one of the worst campaigns I've ever seen and would have been a horrible President.  We'd be looking at complete carnage in November.

382 I really think some of the pro-impeachment-now crowd should take a moment and chat with their apolitical friends a bit in polite conversation about the Constitution.  I'm willing to bet more than a few of them will take the Ezra Klein approach, i.e., "oh it's a fine document but it is a bit old, and could stand to be updated here and there".

383 371  I think you're right about that.  When we're on the road and someone is doing something stupid, my husband automatically says "Maryland driver" and, invariably, that's the case.  Stay safe!

384 I see nothing wrong with defending the Constitution. Was Clinton impeached over a blow-job? Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:29 AM (zLeKL) Go ask your next-door neighbor that question. You probably won't like the answer.

385 @Chemjeff, you and I both know that what Obama did was wrong. What are we going to do about it? Are we going to do our best to explain to people why it was unconstitutional or are we just going to let ignorance prevail?

386 To everyone else, the answer is - yes he was impeached over a BJ. Posted by: chemjeff at January 05, 2012 10:34 AM (s7mIC) I thought he was impeached because he has no taste and got that BJ from a fat ugly girl, not to mention she was one of my tribe. A shanda!

387 Well, the defensible bits, anyway.

Pray tell, what are the "indefensible bits" of the Constitution?  I may not like the 16th & 17th Amendments (I think those are the ones, I'm really not as clear on that as I should be), but I will defend them as long as they are part of the Constitution. 

I may also act to repeal them, but until that day anyone who just ignores them is in violation of the Constitution.

388

And no, no I don't miss MD drivers. Driving here can be frustrating, but it's because people lack urgency, not that they are driving to drive through you.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 05, 2012 10:25 AM (XdlcF)

Hey, don't lump us Baltimorons in with the shitheads in Montgomery county.  Sure, the majority of the assholes here are stupid libtards, but the driving is no where near as bad as the clowns in the DC suburbs...

389 Are we going to do our best to explain to people why it was unconstitutional or are we just going to let ignorance prevail? Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:38 AM (zLeKL) Explaining to people how obama violated his oath and the constitution and common decency is drastically different than starting an unwinable impeachment proceeding that might actually damage our chances to oust the prick in Nov

390
I may also act to repeal them, but until that day anyone who just ignores them is in violation of the Constitution.
------

Well, it's not like the guy in the White House or the Dems in Congress took an oath oath to uphold the Constitution. 

391 393 @Chemjeff, you and I both know that what Obama did was wrong. What are we going to do about it? Are we going to do our best to explain to people why it was unconstitutional or are we just going to let ignorance prevail?

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:38 AM (zLeKL)

Must I point out that Ignorance has not only prevailed (note who is President) but it has taken up residence in the public ass, in company with their heads.

392 A clear usurpation of the the authority of another supposedly co-equal branch of government "is not the case to pull the 'Nuclear' option out over?"  What would be, then?  Does he actually have to have a crown fashioned for himself and have the Speaker of the House crown him God and King of America?

WTF, folks: what part of "assault on the Constitution" are we not understanding?  If he's willing to do this, why on earth should we believe he's not willing to do just whatever he wants?

I don't think that crown thing would do it. In fact even if he molested a 9 year old girl on live TV - I don't think the Democrats in the Senate would vote to convict in an impeachment trial - although I do think the House might return articles of impeachment for the latter. I say might because 300 counts of  felony murder aren't enough to get them to do anything.

393 Look.  I appreciate the difficulties of impeachment.  But if we're going to do anything short of that, we'll have to accept the vast amount of damage he'll do so long as he's acting without practical impediment.

If there was some way the 'foot soldiers' in the bureaucracy could be held accountable for executing unconstitutional directives and policies, that might slow things down.  Good luck with that, though.

He's ignored the law and the Constitution before.  Pray tell, exactly how do you think the alternatives will fare any better at all?

394

Why do Romney supporters believe him? There isn't 1 issue he's every been consistent on.

Posted by: Entropy at January 05, 2012 10:30 AM (pu3AL)

Hey, that's not true, I've never wavered in my support for state run health care.

395 If ignorance has prevailed, then why do we trust that Obama will be defeated in November?

396 Hahaha at the DC/Maryland drivers. In 1989 I moved to San Diego from DC. I got a job with a new state assemblyman there who won a special election and immediately had to campaign for the full term. I ended up driving him to a lot of events. He told me I scared the shit out of him, but I was just driving the way everyone in DC drives - like a maniac. I hated driving out there, everyone really is laid back and doesn't seem to care that it takes them an hour to drive a mile on the freeway.

397 Well, it's not like the guy in the White House or the Dems in Congress took an oath oath to uphold the Constitution.

Yeah.  If Congress doesn't stand up to him on this, what's to stop him from creating a budget by Executive Order?  Or to enact laws by EO?  I mean, it's just a procedural thing- he's acting in the public best interest over that intransigent congress...

398 179 rockmom, you just undid it. You contacted Boehner to actually expose himself? As if Boehner isn't a corrupted problem. As if Rush will be anything other than the Republican Party water boy he's always been, given that the Republican Party has successfully usurped any Tea Party support, converted into neoconservative alliance as promised by Jeb Bush (please, please, another Bush!), all with your help and blessings, take note. Shirley, with the best of intentions.

“Government of the banks, by the banks, for the banks!” 

As if greed doesn't manipulate a SCOTUS voice, misdirecting every governmental branch and bureaucracy. Nothing new, except the lengths taken.

Elitists certainly convinced neoconservative voters not to expose or express disappointment at the booth. Misery loves company. Denial feels so comfortable, easier than repentance. All things being relative, and the utter disregard for the metaphysical differentiation between what is right and wrong, what's the big deal? If you get away with crime, there's no crime. You have precedence for when you get caught, to get off the hook. There couldn't be any connection between cause and effect given the idiotic public disconnect from scientific observational technique. It's so much easier to reject/mute the heretical voice bucking the corrupted system that would actually DO something to re-assert Constitutional Governance. Denial of complicity?

The Constitutional Republic that you all pretend to long for has a campaign in the works. However, rather than admitting any wrongdoing of your own, intentional or not, ignorant or not, from commission or omission, you'd rather keep the corruption growing than attempt to work within the very Constitutional Framework that neoconservatives feign to worship. Exactly which constitutional point does Gabe or Ace actually take as their hill worth dying on? Where's the Ace of Spades line drawn in the sand? That's it: torture the homeless hobos, stay addicted to valu-rite, remain an immature adult unwilling to commit, and complete the SDB syndrome by refusing to admit his own flaws. Better to reproduce whole cloth sold against the only candidate whose platform planks are all US Constitution as American Governance? Since when has Ace personally accepted responsibility for every comment on his blog as his own? No one in their right mind would demand that, at least not of a friend, or of someone who belongs within your own ideology. But like a spoiled brat, demand more from your opponent than you expect from yourself, all the while beating the chest over bees of virtue in bonnets (metaphysics apply when convenient?).

Insanity? That would rather accept authoritarianism than kick ass to be independent and equal under the law, all laws enforced across the board. Assholes would rather convert to authoritarianism than insist on the responsibilities of Liberty. Neoconservatism doesn't uphold Liberty; it dissolves Liberty and Justice for All. Check the record. Neoconservatism refuses to tolerate old fashioned conservatism. Any inconvenient article in the Constitution is outmoded, no longer relevant, inconvenient. And if you argue to preserve the integrity of the Constitution, go to hell. So what's being conserved? NOT the US Constitution, but organized crime as governance. We not only forfeit our rights as citizens, we pay more for our subjugation.

The only "good" government is small and confined to limited power, divided so as to avoid monopolization and abuse. So far as the present is concerned, "keep it simple, stupid" seems to suffice. Given perpetual failure, delete the failed policy v. "stay the course".

Of Libertarian primary sources, it's easier to stay ignorant and enjoy that as if bliss? Knowledge is power. But there's no power from knowledge without the hard work to use what is knowable. The difference between good and evil? Only at that point when deceit is conquered does one begin to accumulate wisdom. And the razor's edge of truth is not known for comfort, though it's said to set us free.

Call on Boehner and Rush. BBQ flying pigs.

399 Yeah. If Congress doesn't stand up to him on this, what's to stop him from creating a budget by Executive Order? Or to enact laws by EO? I mean, it's just a procedural thing- he's acting in the public best interest over that intransigent congress... THIS Suppose he passed Obamacare by EO? We would all be shitting ourselves with rage.

400 Pray tell, what are the "indefensible bits" of the Constitution?

The 3/5 Compromise? All most people understand about that is the gross over-simplification/misrepresentation "the Constitution says black people aren't people!"--which could indeed be indefensible if that's what it really said. 

Probably the part where the importation of new slaves was outlawed after a generation, but slavery in general wasn't.  Again, because normal people aren't taught/don't understand/don't care about how the document was written or what the alternatives were.

401 391 371  I think you're right about that.  When we're on the road and someone is doing something stupid, my husband automatically says "Maryland driver" and, invariably, that's the case.  Stay safe!

Posted by: Hoplite Housewife at January 05, 2012 10:37 AM (kvDix)

Funny...the people here in the Baltimore suburbs say "Pennsylvania driver" the same way.

402 Pray tell, what are the "indefensible bits" of the Constitution?

Well I do think Article III is written far too broadly, and I don't like that there is no final check on the powers of the federal government by the people themselves via some sort of national referendum.  Those are two of my complaints anyway.

403 403 If ignorance has prevailed, then why do we trust that Obama will be defeated in November? Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:43 AM (zLeKL) Because he has a record now, and it will be easy to point out to the ignorant masses that he has not delivered on a goddamn thing he said he was going to four years ago. Even morons can see and hear Obama's own words saying that if he has not turned the economy around in three years we are looking at a one-term proposition. Expect to hear that comment about 50 times a day come October.

404 If ignorance has prevailed, then why do we trust that Obama will be defeated in November? Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:43 AM (zLeKL) I don't trust he will be defeated in November. And I am dead set against anything that might risk damaging the prospects of defeating him in November.

405 403 If ignorance has prevailed, then why do we trust that Obama will be defeated in November?

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:43 AM (zLeKL)

I don't trust in that. I pray he will be defeated. The fuckheads who voted for the stupid son of a bitch in the first place are still out there, still fuckheads, but will hopefully closet their stupidity by staying home next November.

406 Posted by: HeatherRadish at January 05, 2012 10:45 AM (/kI1Q)

That doesn't make the bits indefensible, it makes the people ignorant.

When I've had those very arguments, I've gotten reactions from "Hmmm... I didn't know that," on one end of the spectrum to "You lie!" on the other.  Of course, the "You lie!" folks are liberals who can't face the fact that Conservatives are better on virtually every issue than Liberals.

407 403 If ignorance has prevailed, then why do we trust that Obama will be defeated in November?

I don't *trust* that he will be defeated.

The mushy middle will have to be fooled into voting for our guy.

408 Because he has a record now, and it will be easy to point out to the ignorant masses that he has not delivered on a goddamn thing he said he was going to four years ago. Even morons can see and hear Obama's own words saying that if he has not turned the economy around in three years we are looking at a one-term proposition. Expect to hear that comment about 50 times a day come October. ---- I think the American people are cognizant enough to recognize an obvious attack on the Constitution.

409 , and it will be easy to point out to the ignorant masses that he has not delivered on a goddamn thing he said he was going to four years ago.

Because the evil greedy racist Republicans wouldn't let him help us!

410 What he did:  Blatantly ignored the Constitution to appoint functionaries to key boards and agencies with great influence over the ability of the economy to function.

Why should you care:  Because if there is no practical impediment to the President doing as he pleases, then in a real sense you have no rights.  Police/soldiers/thugs can be arbitrarily quartered in your homes.  For that matter, your homes can simply be taken away.  And you'll have no recourse, or even ability to complain without penalty.


How's that for starters?

(I thought about adding in 'And he can ship you off to labor for the Chinese to pay off our debts', but it seemed a bit over the top.  Granted, that probably means it's coming down the pike, but still.)

411 Because he has a record now, and it will be easy to point out to the ignorant masses that he has not delivered on a goddamn thing he said he was going to four years ago. Even morons can see and hear Obama's own words saying that if he has not turned the economy around in three years we are looking at a one-term proposition. Expect to hear that comment about 50 times a day come October. Posted by: rockmom at January 05, 2012 10:46 AM (A0UFZ) Your more optimistic than I am. Remember the Fools rule: Nothing so fool proof that an real fool can't fuck it up

412 I think the American people are cognizant enough to recognize an obvious attack on the Constitution.

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:48 AM (zLeKL)

Really?

413 Well I do think Article III is written far too broadly, and I don't like that there is no final check on the powers of the federal government by the people themselves via some sort of national referendum.  Those are two of my complaints anyway.

Those aren't indefensible parts, they're "not parts."  The problem with Article III (and I sort of agree with you) is that they are not specific enough (they left stuff out), and the lack of checks on Gov't by the People is also an exclusion.  There's nothing to "defend" because there's nothing there.

And complaining that there are things you would like to change (like the 16th & 17th Amendments, for instance) is far different from calling any part of the Constitution "indefensible," which the original post was by referring to "the defensible parts."

414 Yeh sorry Hedgehog. Mostly I was trying to survive Andrews to Waldorf and back or the Beltway.

415 Wow, the stupid is strong in the comments on the link in the sidebar to the Guardian.

416 I think the American people are cognizant enough to recognize an obvious attack on the Constitution. Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:48 AM (zLeKL) Really? Posted by: maddogg at January 05, 2012 10:49 AM (OlN4e) hey does the name Charles Rangle ring a bell?

417 Suppose he passed Obamacare by EO? We would all be shitting ourselves with rage. Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:44 AM (zLeKL) Well, he did come damn close by ramming it through under reconciliation, and all it did was cost him the freaking House of Representatives and his veto-proof majority in the Senate. Ask Speaker Nancy Pelosi how great that strategy was. Sorry to tell you, but the appointment of a bureaucrat is not going to piss people off like taking away their Medicare did.

418 He told me I scared the shit out of him, but I was just driving the way everyone in DC drives -

So, were you the equivalent of an OWS-er behind the wheel? Entitled to occupy whatever bit of roadway you wanted?

419 Posted by: DarkLord© for Prez! at January 05, 2012 10:48 AM (GBXon) ------- Perfect. Just perfect.

420 Are we going to do our best to explain to people why it was unconstitutional or are we just going to let ignorance prevail?
Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:38 AM (zLeKL)


The choices aren't merely "let him get away with it" or "impeachment".  We fight him on it, but we fight him in the correct way.

Here is a thought (just spitballing): Why not impeach Cordray?

421 Sorry to tell you, but the appointment of a bureaucrat is not going to piss people off like taking away their Medicare did. --------- If we equate what he did with other things he could potentially do, like DarkLord mentioned, we can get the public on our side.

422 Why do Romney supporters believe him? There isn't 1 issue he's every been consistent on.

Posted by: Entropy at January 05, 2012 10:30 AM (pu3AL)


Actually there's one: MassCare.

He has YET to back off on this one point in his Governorship. He's blathered about repealing ObamaCare but then he goes and states the Mandate is legal. He really, really is proud of what he did in Mass.

I think we should show him what we think of his Governorship in the Primaries. (and I think so far we have.)

26% does not a winner make MITT.

Beating a come behind no campaign structure evangelical by 8 pts doesn't a winner make.

Go Perry, Go Santorum, Go Gingrich. Go to hell Ron Paul.

Mr. Romney, I quote these verses for your contemplation:

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."

Rev. 3:15-16

423 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 10:49 AM (8y9MW)

The point is, I can't really defend the Constitution *as is*, without any modification, as the Constitution that I would like to see, and neither can you since you want to repeal the 16th and 17th amendments.  That is all I meant.

424 @428: I argue that violation of the Constitution is a serious crime, and should be punished with removal from office.

425 Impeaching Corday gives him legitimacy by default.

426 Here is a thought (just spitballing): Why not impeach Cordray?

Because to Impeach him is to grant the argument that the President could appoint him in the first place.

Though it might be fun simply to rule anything done by Cordray, until he had been properly confirmed by the Senate, as null and void.

You might even get some Democrats (you might get enough to pass the resolution, but probably not enough to break filibuster, though) to sign on with that.

427

Once again Axelrod tells us who the SCOAMF wants to run against. Thanks David.

Posted by: An Observation at January 05, 2012

I'm impressed. You cracked the code. I am David Axelrod.

428 I think the American people are cognizant enough to recognize an obvious attack on the Constitution.

How many times did they re-elect FDR?

429 Don't forget the Democrats have their share of spectacular campaign fuck-ups too. Anyone remember Rathergate? Remember the attacks on Dan Quayle that almost immediately backfired? Don't put it past these commie fucks to try something stupid like that again this year. They will undoubtedly go into overkill about Bain Capital, and the average Joe just isn't going to see good old nice Mitt Romney as a modern day Simon Legree.

430 The point is, I can't really defend the Constitution *as is*, without any modification, as the Constitution that I would like to see, and neither can you since you want to repeal the 16th and 17th amendments

Sure I can.  To people who are politics wonks, I do all the time.  The difference here is that I'm "among friends" as it were, and figured you could tell the difference between defending the Constitution (yes "as is") while accepting that it can still be changed.  In fact, you would have to, since the means for those changes are written into the document itself.

431 Saying a black man has a poor record is raaaaacist!

432

Ok, I'll work my way thru the rest of the comments here (no new posts about gardening tips or whatever Ace's new hobby will be?), but you all have so far convinced me to not yet give up on Perry.  I'm sure that'll take a load off his mind...

I'm trying to be practical about this.  If it were my choice I'd jettison Santorum and leave the not-Romney fight between Perry and Noot, but Santorum did manage to "win" Iowa and they didn't.

433 Hopefully every candidate is smart enough to add "dissolve/disband Consumer Protection czardom" to their list of things they'll do/sign immediately upon assuming Office.

434 432 @428: I argue that violation of the Constitution is a serious crime, and should be punished with removal from office.

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:53 AM (zLeKL)

And I argue (as Devil's Advocate) that violation of the Constitution is a serious crime, and should be punished with... undoing what was done.  So just de-appoint Cordray.  No harm no foul, right?

Or, I might argue (again, as Devil's Advocate) that violation of the Constitution is a serious crime... but it is the Senate that is violating the Constitution, "in spirit", by holding these fakey pro-forma sessions.

So how do you maintain your desire to impeach Obama in light of these two alternate hypotheses, IN ADDITION to the constant drumbeat of Dem propaganda of "they just want to remove Obama because they're racist bitter clingers!!!1!!1!!!"

435 They will undoubtedly go into overkill about Bain Capital, and the average Joe just isn't going to see good old nice Mitt Romney as a modern day Simon Legree.

From your keyboard to God's ears.

436 416 I think the American people are cognizant enough to recognize an obvious attack on the Constitution.
_______

Especially all the ones who applauded that bit in his recent speech where he talked about how he had a duty to act without the Congress if they were being obstructionist.

437 >>Aren't they mostly libtard urban escapees anyway?
Posted by: dagny at January 05, 2012 10:29 AM (TCgts)

More in the south around Manchester and Concord and The Lake region where Mitt has his "cottage".  And just above the Mass border where a lot of NH residents commute to work in Mass.

Up north not so much.

438 #434 I work in the banking industry, and believe me, there will be a shitstorm of litigation the first time Cordray tries to do anything under the new powers of the CFPB. Banks feel they have nothing to lose in the court of public opinion anyway, they are sick of being Obama's whipping boys, and they are pissed as hell about this appointment. He can't touch the big banks anyway, the point was to get him after the payday lenders and mortgage brokers and student loan ripoff artists that are not banks. Lefties are very deluded that somehow this guy is going to be the one to put Jamie Dimon in jail and break up Goldman Sachs and "nail the people who destroyed the economy." LOL. There are almost no non-banks left to go after. Goldman Sachs is a bank now, as are Morgan Stanley and GMAC.

439 And I argue (as Devil's Advocate) that violation of the Constitution is a serious crime, and should be punished with... undoing what was done. So just de-appoint Cordray. No harm no foul, right? Really? This is such a weak argument that I'll just ignore it for now and move on to the next one. Or, I might argue (again, as Devil's Advocate) that violation of the Constitution is a serious crime... but it is the Senate that is violating the Constitution, "in spirit", by holding these fakey pro-forma sessions. Two tactics worth mentioning. Just aruge from the wording of the document itself, and two, point out that the Democrats did the exact same thing a few years ago.

440 441 Hopefully every candidate is smart enough to add "dissolve/disband Consumer Protection czardom" to their list of things they'll do/sign immediately upon assuming Office. Posted by: Lincolntf at January 05, 2012 10:56 AM (Qjh0I) It needs to be couched more generically and pro-taxpayer, as in "enact legislation requiring an Inspector General for every federal agency, requiring all agency budgets to be subject to Congressional approval, and require Congressional approval for all regulations with an estimated economic impact of over $100 million." Not "let's repeal the Consumer Watchdog Agency." Then Congress can just defund the bastard.

441 If the RINO GOP Senate doesn't impeach Obama after the House removes him from office then I'll never again vote for any RINO Republican in any election at any level of any government. Better that we have Democrats in charge than to lose slower with RINOs. I'm a red meat conservative and when I don't get fed I cry in the corner and I wet myself. To prove my point and to send my messages. Step up or step off, chumps.

442 He can't touch the big banks anyway, the point was to get him after the payday lenders and mortgage brokers and student loan ripoff artists that are not banks.
---------------
Doesnt stop the left or media.

443 That "Obama's not Satan" thread is pretty damn funny.

444 I dont see how anyone can support romney after seeing his tax plan. Coulter has burned so many bridges going full out romneytard.

445 "Goldman Sachs is a bank now..."

Posted by: rockmom at January 05, 2012 11:00 AM (A0UFZ)

Are they still a bank holding company? Didn't they revert to their former status? I recall something about that last year.

446 As for the media, I'm starting to wonder some sort of rework of the First Amendment to deal with philosophical or political monopoly in the press isn't in order.  (Because the current arrangement works so well to ensure the function and well-being of the Republic...)

447 I really wish Perry could gain traction.  Gingrich will not be elected President.  Period.  He is very smart but just not likable.  I have no real problem with Santorum but, as many here pointed out, he couldn't even win his own state.  Plus he has the reputation as being a crazy religionist.  My brother, who is conservative but not very political, said "I think that Santorum is crazy and I couldn't vote for him."  He is a rational 50 year old engineer and he has this opinion.  Santorum won't win.  Shit, I'll vote for Mittens if I have to, I just hope I don't have to...

448 People should stop calling these "Recess" appointments since there was no recess. They were extra-constitutional appointments and should be treated as such.

449 Or, I might argue (again, as Devil's Advocate) that violation of the Constitution is a serious crime... but it is the Senate that is violating the Constitution, "in spirit", by holding these fakey pro-forma sessions.

The Democrats control the Senate, still.  It is the Democrats who cannot get these nominees through the Senate and who must have agreed to the pro-forma sessions (inasmuch as the Vice-President is the President of the Senate, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate is a Democrat, and the Majority Leader is still a Democrat).  So why would Democrats hold pro-forma sessions to block Obama's nominees?  Either they're not, and they're holding them for some other reason- in which case they're not "violating the spirit of the constitution" at all- and Obama is just throwing a hissy fit because he's not getting his way, or they have good reasons to spike the wheel of their own ostensible leader.

Which is it?

450

I'm impressed. You cracked the code. I am David Axelrod.

Posted by: lurker lurker at January 05, 2012 10:53 AM (O7ksG)

Nah, just another paid Astroturfer.

451 While we all are debating constitutional law school points obama is on TV devastating the Military and making it sound like we should thank him for that. I am against anything that weakens the chance of getting rid of this prick in November.

452 I wouldn't worry about Obama cutting the military before the election since it would add to the unemployment figures. However, if he wins expect Obamageddon.

453 I think the American people are cognizant enough to recognize an obvious attack on the Constitution.

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:48 AM (zLeKL)

I wouldn't give a lot of people that much credit

454 Vic.....Thanks for the links. So sorry to hear you're being put through the ringer, by both the insurance and the doctor's office. Shit. That's brutal. .....We're getting raped by our insurance company too, and we haven't even filed any claims. Thanks, Barky!

455 Did you see Gingrich's new ad? It made  me explode with.... happiness.

456 I wouldn't worry about Obama cutting the military before the election since it would add to the unemployment figures. However, if he wins expect Obamageddon. Posted by: Mr Fever Head at January 05, 2012 11:13 AM (SzAZ7) ???? I guess you must have missed the last 3 years. He is cutting the shit out of the Military?

457 2 Obama to reveal today how he will complete destroying the military

From the article: "The strategy to be announced by Panetta and Dempsey is meant to accommodate about $489 billion in defense cuts over the coming 10 years, as called for in a budget deal with Congress last summer."

IIRC, the BCA did not give an exact number but the accepted number became $350B/10yrs, which became $450B/10yrs, which is now $489B/10yrs. Obama also already cut outside of that.

*FY 2013-2017 budgets will be reduced by $260B, with $25B in cuts in FY 2012, $40B in cuts in FY 2013, then $40-50B from FY 2014-FY 2017.

458 I'm pretty sure Obama's appointment is unconstitutional (The New Republic)

459 Guess which Republican supported Obama's recess appointment of Cordray?

http://tinyurl.com/6tnnh2k

“I refuse to take `no’ for an answer,” Obama said.

Brown said he agreed with the Democratic president.

“I support President Obama’s appointment today of Richard Cordray to head the CFPB. I believe he is the right person to lead the agency and help protect consumers from fraud and scams,” Brown said in a statement.

“If we’re going to make progress as a nation, both parties in Washington need to work together to end the procedural gridlock and hyper-partisanship,” he added.

oy vey

460  I think the American people are cognizant enough to recognize an obvious attack on the Constitution.

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 10:48 AM

Considering the past elections, I seriously doubt that.

As for an impeachment drive right now...I see no future in it. Let say we get organized, it would take some time, probably a couple of months to really get going. Then you have to convince Congress that it's a good idea right in the middle of primaries. Let say we get enough of them to go along...now it's summer. Then there is the organization of committees, legals, etc. Now we're up to Fall, right before the election. Will it make people sympatheitc to Obama? Maybe, and that's a maybe I'm not happy with. Meanwhile all the attention is on the Dems saying the Repubs have nothing else so they're grabbing at straws, etc. so instead of us concentrating on what Obama has done wrong we end up defending ourselves. We could lose some seats rather than gain any. Obama gets re-elected, good chance of that. Impeachment goes forward but doesn't stop Obama from doing what he wants.

Meanwhile Obama has nothing to lose so he goes forward with all kinds of things that would scare the hell out me. I have no problem with any groups organizaing an impeachment effort but our main focus should be to get rid of Obama this Fall. I'm sorry but a good general plans and knows that takes time. And I'm not certain we have enough time and can take the chance it will work before the election. But you go ahead and do what you think is right and will work.

461 Posted by: nevergiveup at January 05, 2012 11:11 AM (i6RpT)

And this is the most important point! While everyone around here bashes Romney, who is the alternative?

Santorum? No.
Gingrich? No.
Perry? No.

This anti-Romney sentiment is understandable from a philosophical perspective, but in the real world there has to be an alternative. Sure, I want Perry to win the nomination (actually I want Ryan), but it probably won't happen. So if we all get our wish and Romney gets bounced, who is the logical choice who has the best chance of defeating Obama?

462 Here is another (officiallly made by his campaign) Gingrich ad, not so heavy on Mitt attack, more positive on him. But he does call mitt's tax plans for what it is.

463 466 I'm pretty sure Obama's appointment is unconstitutional

(The New Republic)

Yeah, his own party is imploding, really.  Obama really is going rogue.

464 5 hrs already? wtf is wrong with Ace's blogging software that there isn't a new poat up yet? Entertain me bitches!

465

463 Did you see Gingrich's new ad? It made me explode with.... happiness. 

Heh. ....Good ad. .....But it's from 2007. McCain ran it in the '07 primaries.

McCain even had it on his facebook page.....until it got scrubbed, right before he endorsed The Willard.  

466 There have to be some Dems who are planning for life after Obama and Reid. Not only for political self-interest but also because they're the ones who are going to have to deal with the messes this Admin makes. Obama will be living in seclusion watching Bill Ayers write his Presidential memoir while the pols are shoveling his shit for years to come.

467 Sarah Palin will be giving a "special keynote address" at the February CPAC meeting, according to a HA link.

468 467 Guess which Republican supported Obama's recess appointment of Cordray?

sorry,

Guess which Republican supported Obama's NON recess appointment of Cordray?

469 Posted by: nevergiveup at January 05, 2012 11:16 AM (i6RpT)

You beat me again.

470 Santorum's on yesterday's Levin show, too.  So odd to hear him speak... thanks to Rove and company.

471 Karl over at Hot Air Greenroom makes the case for not giving Romney a pass on his record in Massachusetts. 

472 It's already almost noon and this is it?  Jeezus Ace, you need to run a tighter ship.

473 Satan and Panetta on TV right now, gobbling all the air out of the room, this morning's poll-tested message being let's cut defense.

474

Heh. ....Good ad. .....But it's from 2007. McCain ran it in the '07 primaries.

McCain even had it on his facebook page.....until it got scrubbed, right before he endorsed The Willard.  

Posted by: wheatie at January 05, 2012 11:19 AM (oPkw3)

Really? I havent seen this one. Well, it still hurts poor mittens.

475 Posted by: Aunt Cranky at January 05, 2012 11:22 AM (JoeF6)

Well, if the choice is silence or reading descriptions of his latest explosive bowel movement; I'll take silence.

476 "ThereÂ’s a lot at stake for Obama in ThursdayÂ’s announcement, which caps nine months of work on a vision for the Pentagon that recognizes the need for austerity in defense spending. The process, kicked off by the president with an April announcement calling for at least $400 billion in Pentagon spending cuts to help reduce federal debt, has been criticized by GOP lawmakers for putting budget numbers ahead of strategy."

_/Politico

477 Posted by: Deanna at January 05, 2012 11:18 AM (YVcIJ) -------- Good assessment of some of the fears on this thread (I assume). However, it relies on a lot of "ifs" not going our way. Suppose we successfully make the case that this is a violation of the Constitution? I really think it would be easy to do. (Read that TNR article for example). If we got the public on our side, he's a dead man. Shouldn't we at least try? It's the Constitution for chrissakes!

478

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at January 05, 2012 11:08 AM (8y9MW)

My Devil's Advocate argument is what the Obama flacks will say, not the party hacks.  And besides IIRC the only reason the Senate is holding pro forma sessions is because the House refused to agree to a concurrent resolution to adjourn.  So it's still the Republicans' fault anyway.  As the Devil's Advocate might argue.

479 Precedent Obumbles, shittin all over Harry Reid's Senate seat since 2009.

480

482.....Really? I havent seen this one. Well, it still hurts poor mittens.

Oh yeah it does. It's still a gread ad. .....I'm hoping that having McLoser's endorsement will hurt him.

481 Please read that TNR argument fellas. Let me know if we have a case or not.

482 (FKQng)

That's a great hash. "Fuck You Next Grievance".

483 Hedgehog -- no offense meant to Baltimorons.  I agree that Montgomery County drivers are a breed unto themselves.  

484 Anyone interested in whether WI Gov Scott Walker has a chance to win his recall election should pay attention today at noon (central time) when the Milwaukee DA announces more charges and arrests of Walker aides/staffers in his neverending John Doe probe.

485 My Devil's Advocate argument is what the Obama flacks will say

I know.  I was answering it.

So it's still the Republicans' fault anyway.  As the Devil's Advocate might argue.

Wait, so you're arguing that voters are low enough information to get drawn in by their first argument, but high enough information to listen to their rebuttal to our rebuttal?

486 @464 ???? I guess you must have missed the last 3 years. He is cutting the shit out of the Military? Troop numbers have continued to increase in 2010 and 2011. The military is being prepared and expects major cuts but they have not arrived in force yet. I would expect that if Obama is re-elected the services will be completely hollowed out to pay support for our professional poor.

487 Anybody listening to lying jackal Panetta on how much better out military will be after trillions in budget cuts.  

488 Please read that TNR argument fellas. Let me know if we have a case or not.

They don't actually present an argument.  They simply say that the Executive, as a coequal branch, gets to decide if the Senate is in session or not, and the two branches get to duke it out as "political question".

489 So I ended up logged in to work until 11 pm last night, trying not to smash my computer while the software one of our clients forces us to use continually crashed and made me wait two minutes to log back in. My wife walks down, sees me at the kitchen table and says, "You look really sexy." I said, "How's that? I'm working." "I don't know, it's just a turn-on to see you working." "Why, because you can see me making the money you'll be spending?" "Yeah. That's probably it." I was almost offended, but then I realized that this is how a Sugar Daddy interacts with his woman normally. I just had never seen myself in that role. It was like I was experiencing The Pimpening for the first time and Sean Connery wasn't there to guide me through it.

490 Shouldn't we at least try? It's the Constitution for chrissakes!

Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 11:25 AM

Sure, but it shouldn't be our focus.  Unfortunately once any well-know figure attaches themselves to an impeachment movement it will gain headlines.  Then it will free up Obama to do as he likes, not that he already hasn't to a certain extent.  But it will get worse. 

I suggest a quiet movement, mostly legal discussions first.  Keep it off the front page until after we see how the election looks.  Trust me on this, no matter how legitimate we see it, the Dems and their allies the media will make it look like anything but legitimate.  And can we count on enough support from Congress?  Sorry but I really don't think so.  Personally I think it will actually just help Obama, sad but true. 

491 Obama 2012: because we have changed the definition of recess, unemployed, and bipartisanship, now a "vote" means ballot cast for any Democrat.

492

Perry should stay in this until after Super Tuesday. .....That is when the full brunt of the Red States will begin to have their say.

Iowa Caucus Circus --- Not even a Red State. It's interesting that they would favor the three guys who are least likely to beat Barky.

New Hampshire? --- Not a Red State either. Why do they even matter? Obama will win there.

The Party of Stupid is living up to it's reputation of letting the media and the Dems chose their candidate.

493 . Shouldn't we at least try? It's the Constitution for chrissakes! Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 11:25 AM (zLeKL) No for the very reason she and the rest of us have been talking about. It would hardly even get started by Nov, it will fail, and it would very likely hurt our chances of unseating him.

494 ObamaÂ’s major steps in eliminating the Senate as a conforming agency and his ultimate rise to power as a communist dictator.

???

TARKIN: The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us.
I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council
permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept
away.

495 Via Althouse: 

"Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate said during a Tuesday conference call that the petitions will be turned in to state election officials on Jan. 17. They need 540,208 for both [Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch] to trigger recall elections. 

Recall organizers said on Dec. 15 that they had 507,000 signatures for Walker but would not give a number for Kleefisch. Tate is still refusing to say how many signatures they have for her, but he says enough will be turned in to force a recall. 

Tate says they are on track to get 720,000 signatures for Walker."

Why not tell us the numbers? Why did they previously announce the number they had for Walker but clam up about Kleefisch? Could they be reserving the option to say they failed to get enough signatures?



Most of the articles I've seen over at Althouse's suggest Walker is not at any appreciable risk of losing a recall vote.

496 The TNR article was interesting--the author couldn't find a legal case to back up Obama's decision, and was somewhat perplexed as to the timing as well.  The comments gave only political arguments--the only salient legal ones were about the definition of a 'recess', and given the lack of legal definition, I suspect deference would go to Congress--and Obama would get hosed again.

Interesting.  No idea if it means anything for us though.

497 So bloggers day off then?

498 Joffen--there are some serious discussions of this at Volokh Conspiracy. Apparently,it's not as open-and-shut as it appears. There are less risky ways to move against this. Remember that the House impeaches--but the trial would take place in Harry Reid's Senate.

499 495 Anybody listening to lying jackal Panetta on how much better out military will be after trillions in budget cuts. 

Obama is using the Budget Control Act as an excuse but the Administration has already admitted that they undertook this exercise before it was ever signed. Also, the Pentagon is cutting far more than was required.

500 Heh.  Neither Timothy Noah nor the TNR commenters seemed to realize that the "three day rule" has its origins in the Constitution itself.  So much for being the "smart set".

501 The new poll in NH say the great Saintorum is at 8%....... so much for a big boost. Gingrich is right there with him. heh

502 @506: Thanks for the recommendation; great site.

503 Meh. This CFPB "recess" appointment isn't going to gain much traction on either side, I think. It's just not important enough to enough people. That's bad, because it's an egregious abuse of power by Obama and won't be a super-effective stick to bash him with because what's the big deal, brah? I don't even know what that agency is or does and any time you require me to learn something to understand why I should be outraged, I lose interest. It's also good, because when the House refuses to fund this asshole and hamstrings his bullshit agency, the same low-information voters are not going to understand why they should be outraged at "Republican obstruction" of this agency. Because they're not interested in whatever indirect benefits they're promised this appointment will bring. Too thinky. So, as much as I'd like to hope this is a chance for the kill-stroke, it's not. It's another opportunity to chip away, but no one's going to bring articles of impeachment.

504 @Joffen - I think the key here is to remember that impeachment is not just a legal process, it's a political process as well. I read Tim Noah's piece. It could be that Obama thinks, heads he wins, tails the GOP loses. If there's a Supreme Court challenge or even an attempted impeachment over this, if he wins it, it's a clean win. If he loses the court challenge, he runs against the court that passed Citizens United (against big corporate interests) *and* the GOP congress for standing with big banks and against consumer protection. (If Romney is the nominee, hoo boy, it's tailor-made.) If the GOP actually goes for impeachment - which I think everyone doubts considering this is an election year - then he's a martyr for the same causes, in addition to everything Deanna said, and it won't happen without Dem votes anyway, which means it won't happen. In other words, I think he actually wants the public battle you're calling for, and it's probably a trap. That's a political analysis, anyway.

505 AllenG, it will feed into the Dem narrative that it's all just political stunts by Republicans to get back at Obama.  The Constitutional issue will get swamped out by the desire for Dems to make it a partisan issue.  That is the problem.

506 By the way, where did that "Generic Republican" person go?  He seemed to be doing so well there for a while...

507 Watching the contortions liberals are going through to justify Obama's usurpation would be a lot more enjoyable if this didn't just destroy the separation of powers our government was built on.

508 I'm starting to give up on the idea of peaceful coexistence with the red rat bastards.

509

Instapundit has a great article up on 'what happens if Obama loses', buy several unhappy-to-even-think-it progressive (natch) jouralistas.

From their pens to God's ears.

510 Red Headed scrunt comparing Obama's recess appointments to Bush's appointment of Boltan. That is the comparison we are going to get at its best. NOTHING at all said about the violation of the recess rule.

We have ZERO friends in the MFM, including Fox. 

511

I have spent most of the morning dealing with a client that is an utter, utter idiot and am seriously considering having my lunch consist of an entire box of Godiva. 

AllenG mentioned that Obama's a SCOAMF, right?  Please assume me that there are some things that are a certainty in this crazy world.

 

 

512 I don't even know what that agency is or does and any time you require me to learn something to understand why I should be outraged, I lose interest. Which is why the agency doesn't matter, and shouldn't be our focus. We need to keep the focus on the violation of the Constitution.

513

No matter what the argument is....or how bad the infraction is.....you think the Senate would impeach the "first black President"? .....In an election year?

No way. ....Barky McClusterfuck has a license to steal, cheat, lie and fuck us up as bad as he wants to. .....And he knows it.

514

Jim Messina, campaign manager for Obama for America, e-mails Obama supporters:

The path ahead for Romney — or whichever of the Republican candidates is going to emerge from this process — is sadly and starkly very clear: to run even further to the extreme right, and make even more dangerous promises that threaten not only the progress we’ve made but the fundamental fabric of American society.

From NRO via weasel zippers

515 This will come back to bite liberals. Maybe not now but when we have a new Republican president. Sadly, what is being lost is the rule of law.

516

Posted by: A Liberal AoSHQ Reader, Really! at January 05, 2012 11:43 AM (ZiYQG)

You seem like a decent guy for a lib, so honest queston here. Trap or not, would the left be screaming for impeachment right now?

517

assume = assure

That's it, time to start drinking.

518

511 -

In a very real way, the reason we (whoever it is "we" are, the right, Republicans, conservatives, etc.) seem to always be fighting an uphill battle to get "the people" to understand why we take the stands we do is because "the people" collectively, are idiots.  We know this already.

Sometimes we forget it when we're in the middle of a fight though.  It's hard and it's frustrating when the left can trot out whatever stupid argument they want, and both they and we know the default position in going to be that "the people" are going to agree with them.  Usually.

519 520 I don't even know what that agency is or does and any time you require me to learn something to understand why I should be outraged, I lose interest.

> Which is why the agency doesn't matter, and shouldn't be our focus. We need to keep the focus on the violation of the Constitution.


"And, in this case, the CFPB [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] itself shatters precedents, as well as specific Constitutional provisions, on checks and balances in regulatory agencies. Once a director is appointed, Congress has no effective oversight of the bureau through the appropriations process, as it does with other agencies."

520 It's also good, because when the House refuses to fund this asshole and hamstrings his bullshit agency, the same low-information voters are not going to understand why they should be outraged at "Republican obstruction" of this agency. Because they're not interested in whatever indirect benefits they're promised this appointment will bring. Too thinky.

So, as much as I'd like to hope this is a chance for the kill-stroke, it's not. It's another opportunity to chip away, but no one's going to bring articles of impeachment. Posted by: Empire of Jeff
..............
If only.. This POS agency is totally out of the control of Congress.  It is funded 100% by the Federal Reserve.

Does that change your mind at all?

521 What's all this about Godiva's box?

522 Not only Alex is Obama a fucking SCOAMF but he makes Mike Vick and Ben Rothlesburger look like people you would want to bring over your house to date your sister.

523 Could they be reserving the option to say they failed to get enough signatures?

I'm not sure why they need that option when it's been announced that obviously fake signatures (who knew there were so many people in Madistan named after Nazis?) won't be disqualified.

524 Up until now, the Pelosi-style absolute Party loyalty (reinforced by granting "blue dogs" dispensations when they were meaningless to outcomes) has held. But can it hold forever? I'm not expecting a big spate of Party-switching or anything, but some Dems have to be willing to go full anti-Obama or take their chances on his coattails. Which would you choose in a red/purple State?

525 @mugiwara - Sure. That's what a certain percentage of hardcore activists do in each party when the other side gets randy with executive power. I remember some very far left folks screaming for impeachment and prosecutions over "enhanced interrogation techniques" because it was obviously, without a doubt, 100% against the law and unconstitutional. It didn't happen because the law was arguable and the political will wasn't there. A case can always be made. Know what I mean?

526 Is this thread slow cause everyone is waiting for a thread? We're nearing 600 damn.

527 The CFPB was created by Dodd-Frank and the 111th Congress.

"The central mission of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans — whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products."

528 Not only Alex is Obama a fucking SCOAMF but he makes Mike Vick and Ben Rothlesburger look like people you would want to bring over your house to date your sister. not to mention the Gatlin boys

529 the same low-information voters are not going to understand why they should be outraged at "Republican obstruction" of this agency


But they do understand "Obama is trying to help us and Republicans are trying to stop him!" Conveniently, that will be the only POV they will hear--whatever this business-strangling regulations agency really does will be presented as the functional equivalent of food stamps.

Meanwhile, I've got a break room full of "educated" white collar workers (60% of their paycheck comes from the DoD) bitching about "Bush's wars were so expensive" and no clue that the Senate Dems haven't written a budget since Bush was in office.

530
Which would you choose in a red/purple State?

/shake shake shake

We must face the challenges of our time.

531 The important question we all want answered:

How big IS Michelle Obama's butt?

532

535 -

I read that three times, and I'm still not sure it's English.  How does a government agency "make" markets?

533
Is this thread slow cause everyone is waiting for a thread?

/shake shake shake

 Shared sacrifice.

534 Why ask the liberal AoS commenter, ask Harry Reid and Obama who had the opposite opinion when Bush was president. Don't worry though next republican admin they will be screaming again. I mean do you seriously think these selfsame fucks won't use the nuclear option if a right wing SC justice dies?

535

"Men are stupid and dumb"

Neil Cavuto touched on this last week. .....Commercials which portray that "Men are dumb".

He's right. ....Just watch the commercials out these days. Whenever there is a man/woman, husband/wife, portrayal of some situation.....the man is always portrayed as stupid and dumb. .....Unless it's a black guy, then he is the well-educated smart one in the group.

536 543:

Gramsci works on Madison Ave too...

537 LOL, just picked up the mail. Got a flyer from the Mutt campaign. Title across the top in big letters; "Mitt Romney" - Conservative

hahahahahaha; how many stupid and clueless voters who watch NBC every night will believe that? The SOB does not have a conservative cell in his body, much less an entire bone.

And no I do not want to see him "destroyed". I want to see him change that R to a D.

538 No new thread yet? 

Btw, happy birthday HeatherRadish!  (saw it on FB) 

539 I was almost offended, but then I realized that this is how a Sugar Daddy interacts with his woman normally. I just had never seen myself in that role. It was like I was experiencing The Pimpening for the first time and Sean Connery wasn't there to guide me through it.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at January 05, 2012 11:34 AM (vzFJV)

Jeff, look at it from an evolutionary perspective. Deep down inside your wife sees, not a guy getting pissed off, but rather a mighty hunter returning to the cave with a carcass thrown over his shoulders. This meat will feed her and her children, thus fulfilling a major evolutionary drive for her. Naturally, since you are a mighty hunter who brings much meat, she is driven to mate with you. So it's not "sugar daddy" so much as "guy who brings dead antelope, which makes me hot." You're welcome.

540 You guys have been left unsupervised all this time?? Yikes. How much broken furniture is there??

541 LOL, just picked up the mail. Got a flyer from the Mutt campaign. Title across the top in big letters; "Mitt Romney" - Conservative hahahahahaha; how many stupid and clueless voters who watch NBC every night will believe that? The SOB does not have a conservative cell in his body, much less an entire bone. And no I do not want to see him "destroyed". I want to see him change that R to a D. Posted by: Vic at January 05, 2012 12:09 PM (YdQQY) I just got one also here in NJ

542

544 543:

Gramsci works on Madison Ave too...

It's disgusting. ....Which is why I brought it up. Even the commercial brainwashing is against white males, it's not just the news pundits. ......Moreover, white straight males. I should have mentioned that gay males are often portrayed as the 'smart one' too.

543 And no I do not want to see him "destroyed".
-----
He is trying to play to the NLRBB anger in SC. I think Perry could have the best results doing that since he fights that shit. I really hope he doesnt win SC either. The romneybots at hotair are becoming insane. The ones here at least have sanity.

544 MassCare + Rx prescription required to delete any "over the counter" status for a purchase for Vitamin C or aspirin, etc... how much worse an endorsement could Romney get from having kissed McCain's re-election senatorial ass?

Romney/McCain '12

545 540 535 -I read that three times, and I'm still not sure it's English.  How does a government agency "make" markets?

That was just for starters. The following is from "Core Functions":

"The consumer bureau is working to give consumers the information they need to understand the terms of their agreements with financial companies. We are working to make regulations and guidance as clear and streamlined as possible so providers of consumer financial products and services can follow the rules on their own."

Congress established the CFPB to protect consumers by carrying out Federal consumer financial laws. Among other things, we:

* Conduct rule-making, supervision, and enforcement for Federal consumer financial protection laws
* Restrict unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices
* Take consumer complaints
* Promote financial education
* Research consumer behavior
* Monitor financial markets for new risks to consumers
* Enforce laws that outlaw discrimination and other unfair treatment in consumer finance

546 So we have outsourced standing up to unfair taxes to China as well?

Ye gods.

547 Gee wonder why they are so upset? 

Posted by: Billy Bob, the guy who drinks in SC at January 05, 2012 12:12 PM (hXJOG)

My guess is that they want to run against Romney and Perry staying in makes one more "NotRomney" whose character needs assassination.

That sh*t takes time and costs money.

548

545 -

Count me among the "I don't want him destroyed" crowd too.  Because I'm virtually certain he's going to be the R nominee.  Which would explain why most people, both other candidates and right leaning media types who aren't on Team Romney, aren't trying to destroy him either.

The end game, I suppose, might be to try to force this mush into actually leaning right if he ever makes it to the White House. I'm not sure we can expect any better result than that from this whole sordid process.

549

551 Billy Bob,

Maybe so. But I find it disgusting and insulting. .....It doesn't make me want to buy those products, at all.

550 This commercial thing is part of the reason why I seldom watch TV anymore (that and virtually every show I've tried to watch, even Burn Notice, has turned into teh suck).  At least video games provide fan-service and try to flatter their buyers (most times). 

Anyhoo.

Iranian Threats Reflect Intensifying Confrontation over Its Nuclear Program

551 not a guy getting pissed off, but rather a mighty hunter returning to the cave with a carcass thrown over his shoulders.

BBQ flying pigs

552 We are working to make regulations and guidance as clear and streamlined as possible so providers of consumer financial products and services can follow the rules on their own." Posted by: Miss80s at January 05, 2012 12:16 PM (d6QMz) Translation: You fuckers are idiots that can't read a contract, big nanny gubmint is here to make it easier for you. But we are going to extort the hell out of you for it.

553 "Even the commercial brainwashing is against white males, it's not just the news pundits. ......Moreover, white straight males. I should have mentioned that gay males are often portrayed as the 'smart one' too."

Where have you been? TV and movies have done this for decades. Conservative try and point it out. Progressives counter that we're a bunch of repressed ninnies with persecution complex.

All the bullshit about equality is just that. When a commercial tells your child they can grow up and be anyone, or anything they want, they're only speaking to minorities, gays and girls. But not girls who like Prince Charming.

White christian male? You're fucked.

554 Pretty long thread.  Must be a lot of top headline comments.

555
If Mitt wins the nom, will Newt endorse and campaign for him? Probably not.

I know that makes some of you giggle with glee, but it hurts us just as much as hurts Romney.

This is not a good year to be petty. We cannot afford douchebaggery in the GOP in  '12.

556 The last remnants of the old republic have been swept away.  Fear will now keep the states in line.  Fear of this battle station...

557 549 You guys have been left unsupervised all this time?? Yikes. How much broken furniture is there??

Posted by: laceyunderalls at January 05, 2012 12:13 PM (pLTLS)

Define "broken."

558 549 You guys have been left unsupervised all this time?? Yikes. How much broken furniture is there??
________

No problem. We have duct tape.

559 News from Sipsey Street on F&F.

560

It's disgusting. ....Which is why I brought it up. Even the commercial brainwashing is against white males, it's not just the news pundits. ......Moreover, white straight males. I should have mentioned that gay males are often portrayed as the 'smart one' too.

Posted by: wheatie at January 05, 2012 12:15 PM (oPkw3)

Yep, tear down the society's resistance to socialism by denigrating the dominate culture and submerging it in the basest culture possible.

Which also explains why "hip-hop" is such a big deal...

561 So it's not "sugar daddy" so much as "guy who brings dead antelope, which makes me hot." You're welcome.

The dead chipmunks I am leaving strewn about the living room aren't getting the job done.

562 We cannot afford douchebaggery in the GOP in  '12.

Posted by: Soothsayer at January 05, 2012 12:21 PM (sqkOB)

We shouldnt elect a douchebag as nominee then. The guy is a gigantic glass jaw.

563 Joffen, It is an outrage, true. But it is not necessarily a scandal. A scandal requires collective outrage. And when you have to explain the nuances of pro-forma sessions, the undefined state of recess, with no legal precedent to establish a bright-line rule, and the stakes - non-Cabinet level appointments to obscure (to most people) bureaucracies, you've lost the audience you need to make a scandal.

564
Newt is out there saying what a lot of others are saying: 75% of Republicans do not want Mitt Romney.

Well, guess what, Newt? 87% of Republicans don't want you.

565 Well, guess what, Newt? 87% of Republicans don't want you.

Posted by: Soothsayer at January 05, 2012 12:23 PM (sqkOB) 

Everyone's surged except Mitt. They have gone to other places. Anywhere but Mitt. So that is the reason for the 75% thing.

566 566
If Mitt wins the nom, will Newt endorse and campaign for him? Probably not.

Yes he will.  Newt can be mean but he doesn't hold grudges like that.  Also, he's a team player.  Newt especially will one day call you human debris who is stealing oxygen from the rest of us and then turn around and call you his good friend and colleague.

567 AllenG mentioned that Obama's a SCOAMF, right?  Please assume me that there are some things that are a certainty in this crazy world.

Yes, I did.

Though I also was handed a delimma: continue using "SCOAMF" or change to "Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Traitor," or "Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Dictator."

568
Reality Bites^tm

569 Time for a quick laugh via Doug Ross?

570

556 -

Actually it's starting to make sense! They're the agency who writes all the fine print we get with all our financial dealings... the stuff NOBODY reads.  All to help better inform/educate us consumers.

Gah, I hate the word "consumers."

571 Goldman Sachs is a bank now..." Posted by: rockmom at January 05, 2012 11:00 AM (A0UFZ) Are they still a bank holding company? Didn't they revert to their former status? I recall something about that last year. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJconservative) at January 05, 2012 11:06 AM (nEUpB) Nope. Still a bank, and Dodd-Frank prohibits them from converting back to a nonbank. And they are totally hosed by the Volcker Rule.

572 "We shouldnt elect a douchebag as nominee then."

Ummm... when the choices are Shit Sandwich, Douchebag, Butt-Hurt Wanker, and Crazy Uncle Kookoobananas, exactly what would you suggest?

Point being, the people who really should run, and that we need to run, are neither stupid, nor crazy enough to consider it. The people that do run are selfish, narcissistic, power-hungry elitists.

573
I dunno, A-D.

We (I) said the same thing about Huckabee in '08. I was surprised to see Mike on the stump for McCain...alongside Romney.

So maybe you're right.

574

Neil Cavuto touched on this last week. .....Commercials which portray that "Men are dumb".

Personally, I don't care. Listening to them is like listening to one of Obama's speeches - they just come across like Charlie Brown's teachers talking: waaah, waaaah-wah, wah, wah.

575

@ #8:

I do think that, at a certain point, union leadership has made enough money.  I can't remember where I got THAT idea, though.

576 Nope. Still a bank, and Dodd-Frank prohibits them from converting back to a nonbank. Posted by: rockmom at January 05, 2012 12:25 PM (A0UFZ) Shakedown socialism...

577

564.....Where have you been? TV and movies have done this for decades.

Well yeah, the women's-products-commercials have been doing it for quite a while.

But now it's everything. .....From car commercials to beer to tools. The message is the same: "White guys are the stupidest members of our species".

And I am pissed off about it.

578 It is an outrage, true. But it is not necessarily a scandal. A scandal requires collective outrage. And when you have to explain the nuances of pro-forma sessions, the undefined state of recess, with no legal precedent to establish a bright-line rule, and the stakes - non-Cabinet level appointments to obscure (to most people) bureaucracies, you've lost the audience you need to make a scandal. Well, it just happened yesterday so even the most scandalous scandals don't become an outrage right away. We need to explain it in simpler terms. I am not so naive that I think we can get this ball rolling easily. I am also aware of the major pitfalls. However, I am still convinced this can be done. The debate we are having is not whether or not the law was violated but whether it is practical to pursue impeachment. We can all agree that the Constitution was violated, yes?

579
btw, CCCCCXXXXXXXXXI'st!

580 LOL, just picked up the mail. Got a flyer from the Mutt campaign. Title across the top in big letters; "Mitt Romney" - Conservative

Heh. That's almost as bad as Neville Chamberlain - Man of Action.

581 Apparently Rush is getting onboard. He can be a real asset in situations like this. You gotta admit, he can simplify the issue a lot better than most people. "A President gone rogue...living outside the Constitution"

582
er, DXCIVth!

583 New thread up

584 "However, I am still convinced this can be done."

This is not the hill for planting flags. Focus on Reid v Bush and hypocrisy regarding Pro Forma sessions if you choose. But that's the best you can do with this shit-burger the Senate handed us.

585 So what's up? Hot Air block the HQ ip?

586

Neil Cavuto touched on this last week. .....Commercials which portray that "Men are dumb".

He's right. ....Just watch the commercials out these days. Whenever there is a man/woman, husband/wife, portrayal of some situation.....the man is always portrayed as stupid and dumb. .....Unless it's a black guy, then he is the well-educated smart one in the group.

Posted by: wheatie at January 05, 2012 12:05 PM (oPkw3)

The ad agencies must think that people buy into that BS. And there's home security commercials ( I think it's Brinks') and it's always a middle aged white guy breaking into a house in the middle of the afternoon until the alarm scares him off.

587 . However, I am still convinced this can be done. Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 12:29 PM (zLeKL) Why? Why do you think it can be done? You have evidence from recent History? Numerous examples? Aside from the Clinton impeachment, which took for ever and failed?

588 new thread but its an oprn thread

589
wow today is George and Martha's wedding anniversary.

253rd anniversary

590 571....Yep, tear down the society's resistance to socialism by denigrating the dominate culture and submerging it in the basest culture possible.

Which also explains why "hip-hop" is such a big deal... 

Yup. It is disgusting and depressing. ....Maybe the only hope we have, is to just let it all destroy itself.

At any rate, with this meme being pumped into people's brains, that thing about "Anyone can beat the first hip-hop President" is total bullshit. ...It's going to be a very tough fight.

591 Why? Why do you think it can be done? You have evidence from recent History? Numerous examples? Aside from the Clinton impeachment, which took for ever and failed? I am convinced because we have the facts and the Constitution on our side. Are you saying we will lose with the Constitution?

592 It isn't just that the women are the ones buying shit that commercials belittle men, most men power dvr thru commercials anyway since they have the remote.
The last time I watched a commercial was during the Super Bowl and then just for shits and giggles.
What is really aggravating is that they are getting harder to avoid on teh internets.

593 From DOD's news page: Defense Strategic Guidance (pdf)

594 Does that change your mind at all? No. Your assumption is that I disagree with you. My work life is already regulated by the FTC and the OFIs and Attorney Generals of all 57 states. This new bullshit bureau is going to add more regulations on top of the federal and state laws, some of whom already conflict so badly that there is no possible way to be in compliance, no matter what you do or don't do. I fucking GET it. I'm not who you have to make your case to. You have to make your case to enough of the 52% of the fuckwits that elected this asshole in the first place. Does THAT change YOUR mind?

595

590 -
...We need to explain it in simpler terms.

Hey I know!  Let's get the agency responsible for helping CONSUMERS understand financial products better to write those terms for us... oh wait...

The irony stick, it doth cut. We bleed.

596 I don't think Ace cares about the furniture, Lacy, but his special beer is at risk and that will bring down the wrath of Ewok on us.

597 I am convinced because we have the facts and the Constitution on our side. Are you saying we will lose with the Constitution? Posted by: Joffen at January 05, 2012 12:35 PM (zLeKL) I'm saying what your proposing hasn't a chance to either succeed or even get off the ground.

598

All the bullshit about equality is just that. When a commercial tells your child they can grow up and be anyone, or anything they want, they're only speaking to minorities, gays and girls. But not girls who like Prince Charming.

White christian male? You're fucked.

Everyone knows equality of results = forcing everyone equal to the least common denominator. I'm not saying a female gay minority is specifically lesser, but whomever is the least among all, all will be made equal to him.

Same reason that economically, it always results in 'trickle-up poverty'.

Go out and find the worst most negative stereotype, and then denigrate anybody who overperforms it.

599 605 From DOD's news page: Defense Strategic Guidance (pdf)
________

Heh. "...create new opportunities for burden-sharing." Gotta love bureaucratese.

600
New Defense Plan to Slim Down Military






Notice that they haven't started using the term "peace dividend" yet.

Yet.

601 I donÂ’t usually add my comments, but I will in this case. Nice work. I look forward to reading more.