Patterico's Pontifications » Gingrich Getting Ripped Up In His Own Blog Comments for Having Supported Scozzafava

11/2/2009

Gingrich Getting Ripped Up In His Own Blog Comments for Having Supported Scozzafava

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 7:52 am

I haven’t seen vitriol like this since Anne Applebaum posted her dishonest defense of Roman Polanski. Sample comment:

U sir are a fool, U sir are done. U sir are a fool, stick a fork in U. U are done. FOOL!!!!

That’s one of the kinder ones.

Comments (140)

140 Comments

I’m old enough to remember when Gingrich was the one challenged the entrenched GOP, accusing them of settling for ‘democrat lite’ and being too cozy with the Democrats. Now Gingrich is the establishment urging people to support whoever has an (R) next to their name. Wow.

Comment by steve sturm — 11/2/2009 @ 7:56 am
He needs to go away. Nobody likes him and he’s stupid.

Comment by happyfeet — 11/2/2009 @ 8:06 am
What the hell does real change requires real change mean anyway? That’s just dippy. That woman Newt was lewdly drooling over in New York isn’t real change she’s just a greasy dirty socialist.

Newt is insipid and even more of a pansy than Meghan’s useless daddy I think. Newt is not the future.

Comment by happyfeet — 11/2/2009 @ 8:11 am
Gingrich was as close to a technological visionary as you’re likely to see among politicians. Now Newt’s just Algore Lite.

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 8:13 am
Sad that Newt lost his way. Somebody send him a flashlight.

Comment by PCD — 11/2/2009 @ 8:16 am
I’ve been asking about Eric’s whereabouts for awhile now, since he was quite adamant about how we were all just a bunch of loser – traitors for supporting a candidate that actually reflected real conservative ideals. He chastised anyone who would dare to question his Eye of Newt. Where oh where are you, Eric?

Comment by Dmac — 11/2/2009 @ 8:16 am
seems a bit silly. seriously, who cares what he thinks. and bluntly it was defensible to say that in NY state you should tack to the right. of course, i am glad hoffman and owens are down to a two man race, but i an’t going to condemn any republican for supporting her.

Comment by A.W. — 11/2/2009 @ 8:16 am
Gingrich has been had by the Democrats so many times. He blew his chances for long term power when Clinton outwitted him in the government shutdown in 1995. Gingrich was too quick to cash in with his book deal when he needed to be keeping his wits about him. Now, he is just a sad remnant of what he was in 1994. Armey was a big part of the 1994 revolution and he quit when the Republicans started wallowing in the trough. Now he is back with the tea party folks and seems to be keeping relevant.

Comment by Mike K — 11/2/2009 @ 8:21 am
– He blew his chances for long term power when Clinton outwitted him in the government shutdown in 1995. –
Nerves of jello.

Comment by cboldt — 11/2/2009 @ 8:52 am
Can’t Dede just go away gracefully? Maybe go back and run for the Working Families Party and hang out with her card-check and stimulus lovin’ friends @ ACORN again …

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 8:52 am
A current democrat doing anyhting gracefully? Are you serious?

Comment by Dr. K — 11/2/2009 @ 9:11 am
#

seems a bit silly. seriously, who cares what he thinks. and bluntly it was defensible to say that in NY state you should tack to the right. of course, i am glad hoffman and owens are down to a two man race, but i an’t going to condemn any republican for supporting her.

Comment by A.W. — 11/2/2009 @ 8:16 am

______________________

See, if she was pro-abortion or pro-gay marriage or both that would be one thing. Except she supports card check and the stimulus bill. As far as I can tell, she supports gun rights, but I’m just basing that on the NRA endorsement. She’s not a moderate Republican, she is a mainstream Democrat. That wouldn’t be a problem if she was running as a Democrat.

NY-23 is a conservative district. It’s farmers and soldiers at Fort Drum, a long way from NYC. Why wouldn’t we run a conservative candidate, in a district that has been Republican for two decades?

Look, the issue I have with moderates is this: the Republican Party does not represent everyone. We will never win Nancy Pelosi’s district, and we never should. Triage is the way to go:

1: districts where we can elect conservatives to speak for conservative principles
2: districts where we run squishy moderates who will vote with us 60% of the time, and can be allowed to vote against some things to keep their seat
3: districts where we don’t compete at all, and should not be spending money, time, or star power on, and should not be diluting the brand with people like Scozzafava.

The moderates have been assuming that NY-23 is a type 2, when it is really a type 1. That is the issue. Moderates are too quick to assume that the ground is most fertile for a squish. If you add the type 1 districts and the type 2 districts, you get a working majority. We should be focused on winning back seats that belong to the GOP based on our core values of liberty and free markets. Why are Montanna and Nevada represented by Democrats? What part of the gun toting individualistic West is gung ho for affirmative action and government healthcare? The moderates cast off the base in search of a “permanent Republican majority” and now your health care is being hijacked by a socialist from Nevada and another from Montana, because the moderates decided we needed a “compassionate conservatism”
because when “somebody hurts, government has got to move”.

Oh, and having destroyed the Republican majority with No Child Left Behind and amnesty and Medicare Part D the moderates gave us John McCain (New York Times endorsed! True conservatives are loved by the NYT!) and after getting beaten soundly they whine that the party wasn’t centrist enough. After our candidate called that socialist moron “my friend” and agreed with him on everything. How much more centrist can you be then a bipartisan bailout?

Thanks a lot to all the moderates out there. Really. God I’m glad Reagan is dead. He’d weep to see what became of the GOP. Remember folks, a dyed in the wool conservative is about to win Virginia by a huge margin. This proves that we need to be more moderate. David Frum will be along to explain in a moment. Meanwhile Christie is a right wing ideologue, not a me too squish, which is why that race is within the margin of error.

Comment by Britt — 11/2/2009 @ 9:12 am
I’ve always liked and respected Armey – those who call him a RHINO are truly ignorant of the man’s beliefs and convictions. And Mike’s correct – Armey really detested Delay and his army of K – Street lobbyists. He predicted when he quit that their unchecked hubris would be the undoing of the GOP majority – he was right. Armey never cared for the social wars inside the GOP, he just wanted to govern using sound conservative principles – and he also wanted to win.

Comment by Dmac — 11/2/2009 @ 9:15 am
I think this actually turned out well, especially if Hoffman wins. Maybe next time the “big tent” wackos will think twice before forcing some liberal masquerading as a conservative on us. I’m thinking we should have a contest for a new word or phrase to describe this shark-jumping moment for Newt and the GOP–happyfeet don’t you have some suggestions? Maybe we can call these RIMO’s Newtons or something just to get the point across.

Comment by Rochf — 11/2/2009 @ 9:23 am
Remember folks, a dyed in the wool conservative is about to win Virginia by a huge margin. This proves that we need to be more moderate.

McDonnell de-emphasized the social issues and ran as a conservative pragmatist. I’d like to see more like him in the GOP.

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 9:29 am
#

Remember folks, a dyed in the wool conservative is about to win Virginia by a huge margin. This proves that we need to be more moderate.

McDonnell de-emphasized the social issues and ran as a conservative pragmatist. I’d like to see more like him in the GOP.

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 9:29 am
____________

I’m a Virginian, I know what kind of campaign he ran. The WaPo ran over a hundred stories about his thesis, so everyone knows that he’s a hardcore conservative anyway. It didn’t bother them. Something else from his thesis:

“The giftedness of the Republican philosophy is that it embraces the talents and worth of all peoples, while Democrats seek to shepherd a nation of powerless incompetents.”

That’s fire in the belly, that’s unabashed conservatism, and that’s a man who is going to crush his opponent tomorrow.

Comment by Britt — 11/2/2009 @ 9:41 am
McDonnell isn’t so great. I’m holding my nose to vote for him. A moderate would clean his clock in this state: its Obama and the infestation of radicals in the democratic party that will confer M’s victory.

Comment by SarahW — 11/2/2009 @ 9:47 am
He’s always been thus, despite his thesis twenty years ago, that the Post made such a big deal about. Odd how they didn’t make a fuss about someone else’s thesis, which actually applies to policy

Comment by bishop — 11/2/2009 @ 9:47 am
Sad that Newt lost his way. Somebody send him a flashlight.

/i>

Make that a flashlight lite

Comment by liamascorcaigh — 11/2/2009 @ 9:49 am
I think you are both right. The social conservative issues need not be emphasized if the credentials of the candidate are known. Right now, the focus should be on economics and the free market. We have a stark choice between people who don’t believe in the free market and those who do. I don’t think we have ever had such a clear choice. The social left has also over reached the past couple of years. The enviros have discredited the green movement in my opinion, for example. Cap and Trade would be the second of the one-two punch to the economy and everyone who is not deluded knows it.

The recent scandals in the green movement have shaken the confidence of any who have an open mind.

Stories like this one make the point about religious freedom. There is no need to belabor it.

Comment by Mike K — 11/2/2009 @ 9:52 am
I don’t understand what is going on with some of those that use to represent the GOP in the 80’s and 90’s…doing commercials and hang out with those Donks that are running our country into the ground faster than a Kamikaze pilot in WWII. Right now our country is in the midst of an economic crisis that we haven’t seen since the depression – a result of Donks and their “spread the wealth” party line, and RINO’s that are all concerned about being buddies with Pelosi, Reid, Sharpton and others…

It’s time for a real conservative to step up and lead a conservative movement to take back government at all levels (city, county, state and national), to push for our children to be educated to succeed, to put people back to work, small business to start up and grow and to get government out of our lives, and keep their hands out of our wallets. A government that can reform health care by going after the ambulance chasers (like Silky Pony and his wife), make our military strong to protect our country and our friends, and tell our enemies to not push us.

Until that happens, and RINO’s stop speaking out for the GOP, the GOP at any level will not get a dime from me – my money will go to TRUE conservatives that are running for office…

Comment by Infadel Mataween — 11/2/2009 @ 9:56 am
It gets better–Dede is now appearing at Owens’ rallies.

Comment by Rochf — 11/2/2009 @ 10:01 am
I’m thinking we should have a contest for a new word or phrase to describe this shark-jumping moment for Newt and the GOP–

Newtering…

Comment by political agnostic — 11/2/2009 @ 10:05 am
Truly, the man is a visionary. Who else would have had the foresight to back the 3rd-party candidate after it was shown he was likely to win?

Comment by Scott Jacobs — 11/2/2009 @ 10:08 am
#

#

McDonnell isn’t so great. I’m holding my nose to vote for him. A moderate would clean his clock in this state: its Obama and the infestation of radicals in the democratic party that will confer M’s victory.

Comment by SarahW — 11/2/2009 @ 9:47 am

__________________________
I think Deeds can be quite fairly considered a moderate. I posted this comment at another blog, giving my take on the bluing of VA.

I don’t think Deeds is a bad candidate so much as I think the supposed blue shift of my Commonwealth is not as it may appear to some. Yes, Northern Virginia is diverse and moderate and blah blah the WaPo gets swoony blah. The blue shift is based on four men and five races:

Mark Warner’s run for Governor in 2001
Tim Kaine’s run for Governor in 2005
Jim Webb’s Senate win in 2006
Obama winning the state in 2008
Mark Warner winning the other Senate seat in 2008

VA Governors cannot win consecutive terms, which is why we have a new one every four years.

Warner, a successful businessman, spent twice as much as Mark Earley in 2001, and Earley had a hard primary fight. Warner’s pitch was being a moderate, even conservative Democrat. He won with 52% of the vote. Jim Gilmore, his predecessor, was seen as a bit of a bungler and was not incredibly popular. Earley had been AG under Gilmore, so he had that association working against him.

Kaine in 05 was seen as a continuation of the popular and effective Warner. The GOP ran an absolutely abysmal candidate in Jerry Kilgore, who was AG while Kaine was Lieutenant Governor (Each office has a separate election, no running mates). Warner had an approval rating above 70% and threw that in with Kaine. A moderate GOP third party campaign also drew off Kilgore votes. Kaine ran as a moderate, vowing particularly not to commute death sentences. Kaine won with 52% of the vote.

Webb ran against George Allen, beating him after the “macaca” video went viral. Webb ran as a moderate, gun toting, “fighting” Democrat with a rural background. He is a decorated veteran and Reagan Administration official. Allen ran a terrible campaign and Webb won with 49% of the vote, coming in 0.3% ahead of Allen.

Obama flooded the state with money in 2008, galvanized the black vote, ran attack ads everywhere, called up every college student in the state (except me!) to stump for him, and of coursed ran as a centrist, post partisan, moderate Democrat. He got 52% of the vote.

Warner ran on Obama’s coattails, and remains enormously popular due to his successful term as Governor. He draws a lot of the independents because of his temperament and competence. His opponent was Jim Gilmore, the man he succeeded as Governor. Warner again outspent his opponent (9:1), ran unopposed while his opponent had a primary challenge, and of course ran in a very good year for Democrats. He came in with 65% of the vote.

See, I argue that the blue shift of VA is not a systemic shift, but due to these four men, who they ran against, and what the general mood was at the time. Notice how all four of these men ran a centrist campaign, all of them claiming to be a new kind of Democrat. I argue that it was a series of weak GOP opponents, and a national political climate that favored Democrats in the last two elections, which caused these five races to come out blue. VA is still a red state. Not Texas, not Oklahoma, but maybe more like Indiana or Tennessee. I think it’s still 5 points to the right, not a true tossup the way Ohio or Florida is. You have to be a moderate Democrat with lots of money, a weak opponent, good charisma and a friendly or neutral political climate to win in Virginia. That’s happened a lot in the last decade, but I think it is a series of single victories more then a fundamental shift.

As for Deeds, the issue is that the Dem heartland in VA is Northern Virginia. He has done nothing to appeal to those transplanted government workers, lobbyists, and lawyers. He prefers to run in “Deeds Country” (his term) which means the Shenandoah Valley, and the hills of the southwest and western parts of the state. Which, well, isn’t as solid blue as he thinks it is. Oh, and Deeds has already lost to McDonnell, in 2005. He never really had a shot, but the other two Dems in the primary were Yankee carpetbaggers. Plus, he doesn’t have the money, doesn’t have the charisma, doesn’t have a weak opponent, and doesn’t have the favorable political climate. So he’s gonna get beaten bad. The WaPo tried to sink Bobby Mac with the thesis story, but that didn’t work (one more sign that the blue shift has been overstated). Bolling, the LG, will be reelected, and Ken Cuccinelli will win the AG slot, making an all GOP administration for the first time in years. In four years, McDonnell will gear up to challenge Warner for his Senate seat, and Cuccinelli will run for Governor. AG is traditionally the on deck spot for Governor.

Comment by Britt — 11/2/2009 @ 10:14 am
btw, i know this is off topic, but the poll numbers in NJ are making me psyched. I said before on this forum that if the dems lose NJ it is very likely to so terrify them that they won’t dare pass health care reform or cap and tax, except maybe in really, really mild versions.

And its worth noting that everyone knows that in 1993, the dems lost both the VA and NJ governor’s races. in other words, it makes it look like we are on the way to repeating the history of 1994. Democrats will be running for cover.

The only danger is that while bill clinton believed in almost nothing, i suspect that obama is a true believer. he might still fight for health care even as it goes down in flames. that is the x factor here. but even then i doubt he will be able to save the bill.

Comment by A.W. — 11/2/2009 @ 10:35 am
Obama does what he’s told.

Comment by happyfeet — 11/2/2009 @ 10:55 am
I agree with Fikes. Less white-supremacist ghost writers and flat-earth believers, and more focus on problem-solving. Education, Transportation, stuff like that.

Comment by carlitos — 11/2/2009 @ 10:58 am
Carlitos

Wow, now there is some good trolling.

Comment by A.W. — 11/2/2009 @ 11:01 am
Newt was looking for GOP insider support for a run at the presidency in 2012. He knew who and what Scazzavava was, but he sold his soul to Party bosses, and sold out Conservatives, to prove he’d play ball with the RINO establishment.

Newt miscalculated and now he’s beclowned himself. He should apply for a job on MSNBC, they might like to hear what he thinks, I sure don’t.

Comment by ropelight — 11/2/2009 @ 11:01 am
We will find out how bad Newt beclowned himself when Gretta stops having him on her show.

Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 11/2/2009 @ 11:10 am
A.W. – I am the same carlitos. I just don’t think that the Palin / Jindal wing of the party has much chance in a national election. Glenn Beck’s ratings notwithstanding.

Comment by carlitos — 11/2/2009 @ 11:17 am
I think Republicans have lost elections by compromising their principles. Conservatives need to talk about small government, government waste and lower taxes. At the federal level those issues are the most important thing. Social issues should be handled at the State level.

Comment by Zelsdorf Ragshaft III — 11/2/2009 @ 11:25 am
No let’s keep the wannabe marxist ghostwriters; (hat tip, that means an unacknowledged author) and the characters from fringe and/or Logan’s run
like Dr. Holdren, some more time to work things out, what could possibly go wrong?

Comment by bishop — 11/2/2009 @ 11:26 am
Gingrich has been irrelevant since 1999–this incident just re-confirms that. He’s just another pundit now.

Comment by M. Scott Eiland — 11/2/2009 @ 11:35 am
Carlitos

So which is glenn beck, Jindal and sarah palin? white supremacist ghost writers, people living in north america that believe nonetheless that the earth is flat, or both?

Sorry its silly hyperbole and you know it.

Comment by A.W. — 11/2/2009 @ 11:41 am
I just don’t think that the Palin / Jindal wing of the party has much chance in a national election. Glenn Beck’s ratings notwithstanding.

Comment by carlitos

Palin is an example of a candidate who will not have to mention religion. She was pretty libertarian in Alaska, contrary to the furious misrepresentation of Democrats who were trying to damage her. She needs to do some work on her foreign policy credentials but I can see her doing what McDonnell did in VA. The left will be raising hell about religion while she talks about the economy and energy policy, on which she is an expert.

I’m not saying she is the candidate but the field is pretty open right now. Jindal has not done a good job with his speaking opportunities. He was inept on health care for example.

Mitch Daniels might come into focus next year.

Comment by Mike K — 11/2/2009 @ 11:49 am
Right, Jindal’s forte is health care, but outside of two OpEds, really hasn’t moved the ball. Hers is energy and the ramifications from that, ie the scramble for oil that has China and Russia cozing up to Iran and Sudan, as well as the domestic situation, involving the pipeline
:http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=165548298434 Daniels has a strong angle on the budgetary situation, it’s wide open race, as you say Mike

Comment by bishop — 11/2/2009 @ 11:59 am
The GOP has frightened, shammed, and coerced Conservatives into supporting Republican and RINO candidates for years by raising the specter of a Democrat victory.

It’s always the same question, “Would you rather be true to your Conservative principles, or would you rather see the Democrats win again?” Could it be made any more clear than Scozzafava in NY-23?

It’s time to turn the tables on the GOP. Ask them if Republicans would rather lose to the Democrats or will they field honest and reliable candidates that principled Conservatives can support?

I’d like a straight answer from the GOP, but I don’t trust them to tell the truth. Actions are the only honest response, and I’m on the sidelines till I see the evidence. And, yes, I’d rather let Democrats win that be stabbed in the back by false allies.

Comment by ropelight — 11/2/2009 @ 12:11 pm
It was silly hyperbole, you’re right. But think about it:

- Palin (who seems like a sensible libertarian type) chose Lynn Vincent to write her book. Vincent recently collaborated on another book with Robert Stacy McCain, who is some kind of neo-Confederate loony tune. Hot Air actually lets him blog over there, which is stupid.
- Jindal had something to do with faith healing or exorcism when he was in college.
- Mike Pence can’t answer a simple yes / no question about evolution.
- In one of the debates, Brownback, Huckabee and Tancredo raised their hands that they don’t “believe” in evolution.

Seriously, are Republicans trying to write Olbermann’s jokes for him?

Comment by carlitos — 11/2/2009 @ 12:32 pm
Come on, linking the Sullivanized LGF site,
nowadays, is practically a Godwin’s law violation.
Because Vincent is a friend of McCain, who wrote
a letter to an article in a journal. That’s powerfully weak ‘guilt by association’. Plus you really can’t separate Olbermann and joke, because
they are one in the same.

Comment by bishop — 11/2/2009 @ 12:42 pm
The evolution thing is a great example of pandering by the GOP politicos. Hugh Hewitt and I have had some e-mail exchanges on this and he has seemed to shift a bit when challenged. I don’t know how much of her book Palin wrote and it hasn’t come yet although I preordered it. Jindal is no expert on health care. His op-eds were lame.

I disagree with you on McCain but may have missed some objectionable writing.

Comment by Mike K — 11/2/2009 @ 12:43 pm
Oh God, I didn’t check that link before I replied. I don’t know what happened to Charles but it isn’t good. I am a registered commenter at LGF and I am about to delete the bookmark. He is in Sullivan territory.

Comment by Mike K — 11/2/2009 @ 12:44 pm
Carlitos

> Palin (who seems like a sensible libertarian type) chose Lynn Vincent to write her book

And you know this, how?

And then you attack the other mccain for racism. Well, sorry, but you are going to have to come up with something better than an LGF post. If you haven’t noticed Charles has gone a little off the deep end of late, and at the expense of his honesty. When he falsely claimed that 1) obama didn’t bow to the Saudi king and 2) bush did, and then 3) changed the post without admitting it, that is when he lost me. Too bad. There was a time when he stood up for truth.

> Jindal had something to do with faith healing or exorcism when he was in college

Well, with an allegation so specific, I guess I have to believe.

Indeed, you seem to be attacking the very idea of faith or at least faith healing, which is funny because you presented no facts there, or even specific allegations, so you are expecting me to believe you… on faith.

But do explain to me how that works when we are talking about faith healing. A man’s son is in the hospital dying of some horrible disease and a man says, “hey, can I and my friends pray for your son’s health?” And you think that the father is somehow deranged just to give it a shot, and that the people actually praying for the kid are somehow nutcases?

> Mike Pence can’t answer a simple yes / no question about evolution.

And who is that?

> In one of the debates, Brownback, Huckabee and Tancredo raised their hands that they don’t “believe” in evolution.

It reminds me of a moment in the Simpson’s video game. Early on, Bart says of a dinosaur skeleton (paraphrase): “that is one of those skeletons that Flanders said God put in the ground to fool us.” Later on they meet God and discover the earth is a video game and that God merely put dinosaur bones in the dirt to please the nerds who demand continuity.

The point of that story is that if you believe that God is omnipotent and omniscient, anything is possible. So it is possible that all of the scientific evidence supports evolution but a rational man can nonetheless believe that it didn’t happen that way. and there is nothing wrong with that. Why you and Charles Johnson insist of some kind of evolutionary loyalty oath is beyond me.

> Seriously, are Republicans trying to write Olbermann’s jokes for him?

My God, I think we just discovered Olberman’s viewer.

(Singular “viewer” because apparently there is only one.)

Comment by A.W. — 11/2/2009 @ 12:58 pm
- In one of the debates, Brownback, Huckabee and Tancredo raised their hands that they don’t “believe” in evolution.

So what?

So fucking what?

79% of Americans think that “creationism” should be taught alongside
evolution in public schools; only 20% thought evolution should be taught
without mentioning creationism.
–”Survey Finds Support Is Strong for Teaching 2 Origin Theories,” James
Glanz, The New York Times, Mar. 11, 2000.

Comment by Michael Ejercito — 11/2/2009 @ 1:13 pm
Carlitos

Btw, i suggest you follow your claims around a bit before posting them. the other mccain disputes that he made the racist comments at all. funny CJ doesn’t seem to mention that.

http://rsmccain.blogspot.com/2009/10/oh-joys-of-internet-anonymity.html

So what proof do you offer the guy said anything like that?

Comment by A.W. — 11/2/2009 @ 1:14 pm
A.W., Carlitos has been around here for a long time, and a lot of us have also met him personally, so ease off.

Comment by nk — 11/2/2009 @ 1:19 pm
> Palin (who seems like a sensible libertarian type) chose Lynn Vincent to write her book

And you know this, how?

Uh, from the press release?

And then you attack the other mccain for racism. Well, sorry, but you are going to have to come up with something better than an LGF post.

Did you read the post? Because it was sourced. Here is a better link – http://holocaustcontroversies.blogspot.com/2009/10/meet-robert-stacy-mccain-neo.html – those usenet postings are his. And they are batshit crazy.

> Jindal had something to do with faith healing or exorcism when he was in college

Well, with an allegation so specific, I guess I have to believe.

Well, would you believe Bobby Jindal if he told you?

Physical Dimensions of Spiritual Warfare

December 1994 By Bobby Jindal

…

The students, led by Susan’s sister and Louise, a member of a charismatic church, engaged in loud and desperate prayers while holding Susan with one hand. Kneeling on the ground, my friends were chanting, “Satan, I command you to leave this woman.” Others exhorted all “demons to leave in the name of Christ.” It is no exaggeration to note the tears and sweat among those assembled. Susan lashed out at the assembled students with verbal assaults.

Jindal also claimed that this healing session cured the woman’s cancer. Sorry – not buying it. More importantly, stuff like this makes it easy for Republicans to get painted as televangelist-types.

Indeed, you seem to be attacking the very idea of faith or at least faith healing, which is funny because you presented no facts there, or even specific allegations, so you are expecting me to believe you… on faith.

I am asking you to read his own words, not accept anything on faith.

But do explain to me how that works when we are talking about faith healing. A man’s son is in the hospital dying of some horrible disease and a man says, “hey, can I and my friends pray for your son’s health?” And you think that the father is somehow deranged just to give it a shot, and that the people actually praying for the kid are somehow nutcases?

No, but if they conduct an exorcism and claim it cures the boy’s cancer, then they are indeed nutcases.

> Mike Pence can’t answer a simple yes / no question about evolution.

And who is that?

A fiscally-conservative rising star in the Republican party, the rep from IN-6.

> In one of the debates, Brownback, Huckabee and Tancredo raised their hands that they don’t “believe” in evolution.

It reminds me of a moment in the Simpson’s video game. Early on, Bart says of a dinosaur skeleton (paraphrase): “that is one of those skeletons that Flanders said God put in the ground to fool us.” Later on they meet God and discover the earth is a video game and that God merely put dinosaur bones in the dirt to please the nerds who demand continuity.

The point of that story is that if you believe that God is omnipotent and omniscient, anything is possible. So it is possible that all of the scientific evidence supports evolution but a rational man can nonetheless believe that it didn’t happen that way. and there is nothing wrong with that. Why you and Charles Johnson insist of some kind of evolutionary loyalty oath is beyond me.

When people start denying science, they scare me. This is the kind of stuff that has mothers refusing to give their kids the flu shot. My ‘flat earth’ remark was directed at this phenomenon. Evolution is not for you to ‘believe’ – it is real. You may as well not believe in daylight or computers.

> Seriously, are Republicans trying to write Olbermann’s jokes for him?

My God, I think we just discovered Olberman’s viewer.

(Singular “viewer” because apparently there is only one.)

I turn him off when he does sports at this point. He’s a tool. And this exchange of ideas is over. Sorry for participating.

MikeK – I am registered over at LGF too (although I never comment), but I think Charles is actually making some good points about this stuff. Your mileage may vary.

Comment by carlitos — 11/2/2009 @ 1:33 pm
Something is very very sick and twisted when a disturbed and creepy backwoods white trash hick person like Huckabee can even imagine himself the nominee of the Republican party. Romney and his Romneycare are gay gay gay. Jindal is a dork. Smart, nice guy. Hopeless dork. The final test of Palin’s suitability of higher office will be in whether or not she knows better than to run for president. I think she’ll pass the test. I hope so anyway. Too bad Mark Sanford turned out to be such a flake. He might could have been president.

The sad thing is that the whole episode where the Republican ones nominated Meghan’s useless daddy as their actual nominee for president has pretty much destroyed their credibility as a governing party. There’s no evidence that Republicans can select a nominee based on principles and not simply let the dirty socialist media do the selecting for them.

Michael Steele. LOL.

Comment by happyfeet — 11/2/2009 @ 1:35 pm
I think I meant suitability *for* higher office… or the suitability *of* Palin *for* higher office is maybe what I was going for.

Meghan’s useless daddy.

What were those people thinking?

Embarrassing. And also it’s one of those mistakes that can become defining. Like molesting a chicken or getting caught wearing a dress.

Comment by happyfeet — 11/2/2009 @ 1:39 pm
“…disturbed and creepy backwoods white trash hick person like Huckabee…”

A politician from Hope AR, with very disturbing personal dysfunctions…
but, enough about Bill Clinton!

Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 11/2/2009 @ 1:42 pm
Bill Clinton. We had no idea how good we had it with Bill Clinton. Not til this year anyway. He was a douchebag but he was his own douchebag not a servile bought and paid for Soros toady.

Comment by happyfeet — 11/2/2009 @ 1:45 pm
feets, you are en fuego today. Thanks for that.

Comment by carlitos — 11/2/2009 @ 1:47 pm
Next time we nominate Meghan’s funbags. Then there is no running mate problem.

Comment by carlitos — 11/2/2009 @ 1:47 pm
carlitos

I don’t know RS McCain but I understand his views on the Confederacy and the war between the states.
Today’s world wants to make it all about slavery and paint everyone who fought for the South as racist.
Many white southerners are proud that their ancestors answered the call of duty to defend the southern states and that they served and (often died) honorably and bravely.
Sen. James Webb (D-VA) has spoken on behalf of the Sons of the Confederacy and has acknowledged the bravery and selflessness of the young men who went to fight a war that to them had nothing to do with racism.

Comment by SteveG — 11/2/2009 @ 2:06 pm
Carlitos,

> those usenet postings are his.

And you know this, how exactly? Given that he has denied their authenticity, what is your proof? I mean just how hard do you think it would be for me to impersonate you? I type in your nick and next thing you know, I am typing all kinds of horrible things in your name. I suppose next you will tell me wikipedia is accurate and trustworthy on controversial topics.

> Well, would you believe Bobby Jindal if he told you?

Well, seeing that I have to pay to actually source it, I guess we are still left with… faith.

> A fiscally-conservative rising star

That I have never heard of.

> When people start denying science, they scare me.

Well, then when they are asked about what the scientific evidence shows v. what their faith says, let me know. But you are missing an important nuance.

I mean, my god, America became the foremost superpower in the world, and cracked the secrets of the atom with most Americans not only believing in creation, but being taught it in schools. But to a weird segment of the population this perfectly ordinary set of beliefs practically makes them wet their pants. “Creationists! Run for the hills! Ooooh, they are so scary.” Sheesh, lighten up and get a little perspective.

> Evolution is not for you to ‘believe’ – it is real.

Well, you are conflating evolution as a present process, with evolution as an origin. As a current process, yes, evolution is presently happening. But as an origin, well, honestly I don’t know. And guess what, unless you have a time machine, you don’t either. It is only a surmise, yes, based on all available scientific evidence with the limitations inherent to that statement. All of science is founded on the assumption that all physical phenomenon can be explained without resort to the devine. You act as though your evidence of evolution disproves the possibility of creation. But a system of logic cannot disprove something that it simply assumes away; the best you can do is prove that you can explain things without resort to the devine, but that doesn’t disprove the devine.

So the scientific evidence says evolution and the big bang and all that, but if you believe in God, like I do, literally anything is possible. It could be that god created the universe in such a manner that it appeared he did nothing; or maybe he created the universe in 7 days and made it look like he didn’t.

The thing you have to grasp is that faith is unfalsifiable, and thus all the evidence in the world can’t make a person believe anything. And it is wholly consistent to say, “the scientific evidence supports the theory of evolution. But I believe we were in fact created by God.”

And indeed, if a person acknowledges that evolution is presently happening, and that the scientific evidence points toward evolution as our origin, then what difference does it make that they don’t believe that this is actually how we got there? Your quest for ideological purity is more than a little creepy.

> And this exchange of ideas is over.

Good. (Doing my victory dance.)

Comment by A.W. — 11/2/2009 @ 2:14 pm
Conservatives need to talk about small government, government waste and lower taxes. At the federal level those issues are the most important thing. Social issues should be handled at the State level.

That’s a reasonable way of muting the tension between social and libertarian conservatives, at least at the federal level.

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 2:19 pm
^”I work here is done.”

Comment by Dmac — 11/2/2009 @ 2:25 pm
Of course, that last comment wasn’t directed at Bradley.

Comment by Dmac — 11/2/2009 @ 2:26 pm
Again, I agree with Bradley (and ZR III), and will do so this time without any snark or nasty generalization of any kind.

Comment by carlitos — 11/2/2009 @ 2:31 pm
Thanks, carlitos. No worries, Dmac.

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 3:02 pm
Btw, am i the only one who thought the highlighted comments was lame:

> U sir are a fool, U sir are done. U sir are a fool, stick a fork in U. U are done. FOOL!!!!

Sheesh, that is lame. C’mon, we can insult better than that.

Comment by A.W. — 11/2/2009 @ 3:05 pm
I wonder how many of those nasty anonymous comments are from republicans? Seems like a fine place for the opposition to rob grenades.

Comment by Kevin Murphy — 11/2/2009 @ 5:34 pm
that would be “lob” grenades….

Comment by Kevin Murphy — 11/2/2009 @ 5:37 pm
When people start denying science, they scare me.

Why does that scare you?

79% of Americans think that “creationism” should be taught alongside
evolution in public schools; only 20% thought evolution should be taught
without mentioning creationism.
–”Survey Finds Support Is Strong for Teaching 2 Origin Theories,” James
Glanz, The New York Times, Mar. 11, 2000.

Comment by Michael Ejercito — 11/2/2009 @ 5:38 pm
Creationism shouldn’t be taught in schools cause of it’s just using kids as pawns in an argument between stupid insecure adults what have way way way too much time on their hands.

It makes no difference whatsoever where people came from originally, does it? No. It just doesn’t and it’s a silly thing to waste your time wondering about and you sure shouldn’t waste precious youth thinking on it. That’s just not good time management.

Comment by happyfeet — 11/2/2009 @ 5:46 pm
How does teaching both “deny science?” I’m much more worried about the anti-vaccination people, 9/11 truthers, etc.

Where I worry about the young-Earth creationists is when they cripple otherwise sensible politicians’ ability to cogently answer a simple question. e.g., here is how Pence could have done things, vs. the exchange I linked.

Q – “Do you believe in evolution?”

A – “Of course. In my home state of Indiana, we see evolution happening every day as organisms are studied in the most sophisticated ways on the campus of Purdue and Indiana University. We Republicans are solidly pro-science and I that’s why we support blah blah blah initiative which is based on facts and science.”

Contrast that with what Pence said.

Comment by carlitos — 11/2/2009 @ 5:51 pm
carlitos – Had he mentioned Purdue or IU, I would have organized against him

We should spend more time listening to the wisdom of happyfeet.

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 6:12 pm
I still don’t know about those McCain quotes. I agree that some weird stuff can be posted and not traced. We’ve seen it here. I also know people who have strong feelings about the Civil War. For example, there is a whole school about what would have happened if Lincoln had let the South go. Slavery was a feature of economic activity going back to prehistoric times. It was a major economic factor until the Industrial Revolution. The fact that it persisted in the South was a peculiarity of the cotton economy. It exists today in Africa and the Middle East.

My uncle’s father was indentured as an apprentice in 1876. Many people came over here indentured for years in return for their passage. The difference between them and slaves was the limited period of time they were indentured. A friend of mine is an OB who went to Tuscaloosa on the faculty of U of Alabama medical school. While there he got to know some people whose great grandparents owned slaves and they had some discussions about it. For example, not far from the city is a steep bluff where bales of cotton were pushed off the cliff to be loaded on paddle wheel steamers to go to New Orleans.

They told him that the slave owners would hire Irishmen at ten cents a day to catch the bales and load them on the steamer. They did not use slaves because the slaves were too valuable for that dangerous work. The Irish were cheaper.

Those kinds of thoughts sound a but like those comments attributed to McCain. Slavery was an evil to those enslaved and it is in principle immoral to do so but the world had slavery for thousands of years. There is quite a bit of revisionism in discussions of race these days. I posted a comment about leftists and taxes over at another blog and the immediate reply was that this was racist. It sounds like a parody but isn’t.

Comment by Mike K — 11/2/2009 @ 6:16 pm
That was a hilarious exchange, Mike K., reminiscent of our low quality trolls here making up irrelevant and false “factoids”.

Comment by SPQR — 11/2/2009 @ 6:24 pm
I case you all missed it, some of happyfeet’s comments above fall in the insta-classic category.

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 6:06 pm
Kevin

I also suspect that most of those alleged comments are from a single source as the words are just about the same

Dmac

I havent been hiding BTW – there is now a 9 hour tme difference (11 in California) between where I live and this blog originates from

Dmac

I defended Newts contention that the local voters of a district have the right to elect their own representatives – and I still stand by that fundamental right to representation.

I also just made another multi thousand dollar payment to the IRS for that “[object]” we business owners love having to pay that extra 7% Reagan tacked on to pay for star wars stuff that never made it outside the lab.

But communism’s dead the Russians, Chinese and North Koreans are our new BBF buddies just like France.

w

[note: fished from spam filter, unchanged. --Stashiu]

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 6:42 pm
Kevin

I also suspect in addition to they’re not being Republicans that the majority of those comments are from a single author. The wording and diction are almost identical.

Dmac

I apologize for sleeping – there is a huge time difference between where I live and this blog 11 hours or so.

I defended Newts record – which I posted links to.

I defended his statement that the voters of NY-23 have a fundamental right to vote for their own representation in Washington. something that Palin and Thompson feel strongly against.

I also questioned the accusations that DeDe is to the “Left” of the entire Democrat Party in NY. I posted links to it showing that indeed she was a stronger conservative and had an 83% rating from the School of Political Science at the University of Chicago – I posted links to that as well

I also posted some of her sponsored legislation – posted links to that as well

I also strongly feel that lying, demonizing, and having a campaign of personal destruction is not the type of electioneering that in the end wins the hearts and minds of voters in the long run. I believe the owner of this blog has poised this question to the readers more than once as well.

I know these new called conservatives worship at the altar of Reagan, and to justify that blind hero worship – that in the opposite direction of DeDe actual record there is a huge distortion of Reagans achievements which now are passing into legend instead of fact

Speaking of Reagans achievement, our family just made another multi thousand dollar payment of the “Reagan Tax cut” – you know – that 7% increase in the flat tax on dollar one that “Reagan” = Peace be unto him = used to fund research that never ever made it out of the star wars lab

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/ProgData/taxRates.html

So I need another Reagan like I need another 7% flat tax

I just wonder if all Americans had that 7% tax on their salaries back – would the foreclosure rate been as high? Would Consumer confidence be soo low?

Just askin

And no I stated several times that I was not a supporter of DeDe -

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:00 pm
I defended his statement that the voters of NY-23 have a fundamental right to vote for their own representation in Washington. something that Palin and Thompson feel strongly against.

That’s a howler for the record books.

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 7:03 pm
I defended his statement that the voters of NY-23 have a fundamental right to vote for their own representation in Washington. something that Palin and Thompson feel strongly against.

EricPWJohnson, would you explain why you believe Palin and Thompson feel strongly against voters’ fundamental rights, etc, etc….I don’t follow…

Comment by Dana — 11/2/2009 @ 7:09 pm
73

Yeah – absolutely hiarious having to vote for someone that didnt raise a penny from My-23 voters – doesnt even live in the district – who owes his very success not to his record (naurally he doesnt have one)but to Pan NewYork political activists – who cant debate, wont debate, and is relying on a wave of Obamanation to bring his – dont bother me with the issues of NY-23 – I’m a conservative – trust me – to be the voice of the voters of NY-23

Yeah serves them right for even asking to have fair representation of their views – as long as they comport with Glenn, Sarah and Freds.

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:11 pm
Dana

Does Fred and Sarah live in NY-23?

And all that Pan New York PAC money they raised for him?

Hmmmm

So if I am a local politician – I need to pass “their” litmus test or otherwise I’ll be demonized as a scumbag by Beck and ridiculed and called unamerican scum by Fred and Sarah

Just in a local election…..

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:14 pm
What in the &)#@* was that gibberish?

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 7:14 pm
And people feign surprize that DeDe is devasted and pissed…..

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:15 pm
Fikes

post a link to Fred and Sarahs voter registration please – ask em when did they give a rats ass about NY-23 before?

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:16 pm
I meant #75 in my last comment, but #76 also qualifies.

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 7:18 pm
EPWJ,
Why don’t you post a link where Palin and Thompson say the voters in that district shouldn’t have the
“fundamental right to vote for their own representation in Washington.”

Back up your claim or don’t waste our time with such nonsense.

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 7:22 pm
Oh good Allah. What a bunch of nonsense.

DEDE IS THE GREATEREST CANDIDATE EVAH AND SHE IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE RIGHT’S HERO RONNIE RAYGUN WHO WAS AN EPIC FAILURE BECAUSE I POSTED LINKS BEEYOTCHES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 7:23 pm
Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:14 pm

Hm, and Joe Biden lives in NY23?

Bill Clinton sent letters out exhorting Dems to contribute to Owens’ campaign. How is that any different?

So, an ex-governor and an ex-senator campaigning for Hoffmann – how about I raise you one very popular ex-president? Who do you think is the greater influence?

“…I’ll be demonized as a scumbag by Beck and ridiculed and called unamerican scum by Fred and Sarah”

Oh boy, you really need to cite these accusations.

Comment by Dana — 11/2/2009 @ 7:27 pm
I guess EPWJ missed that article explaining how Hoffman’s business is in NY-23, and that his house was in the district until the last re-apportionment when the boundary moved.
But, he’s on a roll, and we don’t want details to slow him down any.

Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 11/2/2009 @ 7:30 pm
“…I’ll be demonized as a scumbag by Beck and ridiculed and called unamerican scum by Fred and Sarah”

Methinks you give yourself a wee bit too much credit.

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 7:30 pm
Dana

Joe Biden I already know is an idiot

But in his defense – he didnt annoint Bill Owens

Biden did not come in and say “you know what – NY-23?” I just dont think that you know whats best for you and we the Pan New York Democrats are going to run him off and pick OUR candidate instead and in addition to that he’s not going to live in your district, answer questions from local voters, and even bother with the issues of NY-23″

Small but very nuanced difference

sorry I was not as clear as I’m usually not

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:32 pm
So if I am a local politician – I need to pass “their” litmus test or otherwise I’ll be demonized as a scumbag by Beck and ridiculed and called unamerican scum by Fred and Sarah

Beck called her a scumbag? They called her unamerican?? Are you on drugs or another pathological liar?

Comment by Gerald A — 11/2/2009 @ 7:33 pm
AD

Hate to break your heart but having a business in one district does not ever make you a resident – he also has business interests outside the state as well.

Voter registration laws in New York are pretty self explanatory.

Its where you live not its where you live and work

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:34 pm
Gerald A

Yep – do you listen to his radio show?

Not as sanitized as TV is it?

Believe me – please apply this new bar of accuracy to everyone

As Shep says its the only way to be fair and balanced….

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:36 pm
Biden did not come in and say “you know what – NY-23?” I just dont think that you know whats best for you and we the Pan New York Democrats are going to run him off and pick OUR candidate instead and in addition to that he’s not going to live in your district, answer questions from local voters, and even bother with the issues of NY-23″

Nobody “picked” Hoffman (other than the voters if it comes out that way). You’re a congenital fabricator/hallucinator. It’s probably more accurate to say Scozzafava was “picked”.

Comment by Gerald A — 11/2/2009 @ 7:37 pm
JD

Just for you – awww look at the Carter SSI rate in 1980 then look at PBUT Reagans rate in 1989….

oooohhhh

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/ProgData/taxRates.html

tingles are running up my leg….

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:39 pm
Well, if he’s in violation of the voting laws of NY, I’m sure your friends over at Owens/Scozzafava will be in court on Wednesday morning petitioning to have the election overturned.
Strange that the NY SoS would have had the temerity to list Mr. Hoffman on the Election Ballot if he was not in compliance with those laws.
Boy, those NY Pols really have big ones.

Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 11/2/2009 @ 7:39 pm
#89

What are you talking about?

Did Beck call her a scumbag or not?

Did Thompson and Palin call her “unamerican scum” or not?

Comment by Gerald A — 11/2/2009 @ 7:39 pm
Gerald

whatever you need to justify picking a guy out of the blue cause he wasnt deDe

whatever you need….

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:40 pm
gerald

yes they did

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:40 pm
whatever you need to justify picking a guy out of the blue cause he wasnt deDe

whatever you need….

Who “picked” him? What are you talking about? What drug are you on? Seriously.

Comment by Gerald A — 11/2/2009 @ 7:42 pm
gerald

yes they did

Really? Got a link.

Comment by Gerald A — 11/2/2009 @ 7:42 pm
The Khat-ship must have come in from Kenya!

Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 11/2/2009 @ 7:43 pm
JD

Just for you – I know you love info

More of Reagans the bestist bestest best – Bush evil republican rino taxer –

http://stuff.mit.edu/afs/sipb/contrib/wikileaks-crs/wikileaks-crs-reports/RS21706.pdf

Obviously this is in error – it shows that Bush – while hardly having a deficit in the first few years in Office had a much much lower tax rate than Reagan

got to be a mistake cause its not what bloggers believe? (its on page 7 and it shows that the only time since one year in 1965 that the effective tax rate fell below the 30 benchmark under Bushrinoscum)

http://stuff.mit.edu/afs/sipb/contrib/wikileaks-crs/wikileaks-crs-reports/RS21706.pdf

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:47 pm
The peyote from Sinaloa!

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 7:48 pm
EricPWJohnson – the incoherent is strong in this one.

Comment by SPQR — 11/2/2009 @ 7:49 pm
Eric, you are reframing your argument: you asked,

Does [sic] Fred and Sarah live in NY-23?

And all that Pan New York PAC money they raised for him?

I then pointed out that Biden doesn’t live in NY 23, either, which you then shifted gears and stated that you think Biden is an idiot. It ignores my point, which is not everyone who campaigns for a candidate lives in the district the election is being held in. You know this. So it’s an invalid point to even bring it up.

You then addressed (negatively) the money raised the PAC money raised for him by Thompson and Palin (I assume). How is that any different than MoveOn.org raising money for Owens? Or President Clinton exhorting Dems to contribute?

Biden did not come in and say “you know what – NY-23?” I just dont think that you know whats best for you and we the Pan New York Democrats are going to run him off and pick OUR candidate instead and in addition to that he’s not going to live in your district, answer questions from local voters, and even bother with the issues of NY-23″

No, he didn’t but neither did Palin nor Thompson. What you don’t seem to recognize is that there is a reason Dede felt it best to suspend her campaign – and that reason wasn’t Palin or Thompson or anyone else. It was that it was very clear Hoffman was gaining traction and she knew it was a losing game. Who made that decision? Who is that caused the numbers to change in regard to support increasing for Hoffman and decreasing for Dede?

You give politicians far more credit than the grass roots voters themselves. And that is precisely why we are excited to see Hoffman in the running. He recognizes that it is the grass roots citizens that should and do make the difference, not the politicians. Citizens first, politicians second. The decline of Dede was already in play before Palin and/or Thompson voiced their support. And again, give the people some credit: if they believed Palin/Thompson to be irrelevant, their support of Hoffman would not have a made any difference whatsoever.

I wish you could give the *people* more credit than what you give the politicians.

Comment by Dana — 11/2/2009 @ 7:49 pm
Gerald

No its in your court that you claim that

Beck doesnt exaggerate

Sarah Palin doesnt use biting words on stump speeches

And that Fred Thompson doesnt use plain people talk

Sure I can see Beck folding his hands and quitely saying – well even though she has solid conservative endorsements her political posturing as of late – leaves me weary that she may fold under increased pressure…..

Yeah that sounds like any of these three….

Nice sidebar though – good comeback to – gee I have nothing so lets go off trail tactic….

I know you are unable to address the main issues here so thank you for responding

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:50 pm
Dana

No you are reframing the argument – the National Party did NOT pick Bill Owens

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:52 pm
The mescaline from Baja!

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 7:52 pm
Dana

The grass roots issue is an apparently false one

What was Hoffman polling before Cuda and after Cuda?

What was his campaign finances before Thompson and after Thompson

What does fox News Beck show charge for 20 minute pure infomercial softball hosted campaign commericals? did they offer DeDe 20 minutes to rebutt?

Grass roots my rear end – What was it again 5% Hoffman before the mana from Fox Heaven arrived? (as a grass roots benchmark Kinky Freidman got 11% with no commericals and no campaign appearances)

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 7:55 pm
Brother Bradley…I don’t think Eric has that extensive of a logistics operation.
You must remember that he’s somewhere in the ME (UAE, IIRC).

Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 11/2/2009 @ 7:58 pm
Ad

Shishka pipe baby!

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 8:00 pm
I wonder if they did offer Dede time… according to Neil Cavuto, they always do as a matter of policy. Knowing Dede’s politics and habits somewhat well, I suspect she refused. She would have been great news for Fox… I can’t imagine they wouldn’t love to have her on, and I can’t imagine she’d have the backbone to take real questions from one of the remaining bits of journalism out there.

Dede Scozzafava has a very long voting record that anyone can research. She is an extremist. She is no moderate. Some like to call her that, for various reasons. She is too far to the left for the democrat party, in my opinion. The democrats should consider excluding her so that they can remain viable… huge spending extreme social liberals who do not respect basic voting rights really ought to be anathema to either party. The idea that she’s a moderate republican is actually sillier than most views out there.

gingrich showed, at the very least incompetence. He failed to vet Dede, or understand what’s going on in the country. He ruined the great Contract with America movement too, in my view. I think he’s a smart guy, but very much a beltway politician. An insider. We probably do need them, but they aren’t in charge of any movement that’s going to succeed.

Comment by Dustin — 11/2/2009 @ 8:00 pm
AD – RtR/OS!,
You mean he’s on this planet! Physically, I mean.

Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 11/2/2009 @ 8:01 pm
EricPWJohnson writes: Nice sidebar though – good comeback to – gee I have nothing so lets go off trail tactic… and the irony meter blows up from an overload in a shower of sparks.

Comment by SPQR — 11/2/2009 @ 8:01 pm
Oh good Allah. THIS IS REALLY TIRESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 8:03 pm
BB…His physical presence is very tenuous, I believe.

Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 11/2/2009 @ 8:06 pm
Oh good Allah. STFU YOU STOOPID WINGNUT RACISTS THAT LIVE AND BREATHE HATE AND RACISM AND FEAR OF POORLY DRESSED LOUSING CAMPAIGNERS NAMED DEDE WHO WOULD BE THE TRUTH THE LIGHT AND THE WAY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IF ONLY THEY WOULD LISTEN TO ERIC AND QUIT LISTENING TO RUSH AND GLEN BECK AND THOMPSON AND THAT SNOWBILLY PALIN BECAUSE ERIC KNOWS STUFF THAT YOU IGNERT REDNECKS DO NOT KNOW AND DEDE WAS WRONGED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS NEVER REALLY A REPUBLICAN AND RAN UNDER THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY A WHOLELY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF ACORN AND HAS NOW ENDORSED THE DEM BECAUSE SHE IS THE GREATEREST RETHUGLIKKKAN SINCE THAT FAILURE FAILURE FAILURE RONNIE RAYGUN WHO YOU FETISH WORSHIP WHILE IGNORING THAT HE WAS THE WORSTEST PRESIDENT EVAH BECAUSE ERIC SAID SO AND HE WILL JUST KEEP ON RANTING AND RAVING ABOUT HOW GREAT AND ALL-KNOWING HE IS UNTIL YOU ACKNOWLEDGE HIS GREATNESS

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 8:07 pm
Eric, you’ve got some kind of problem with moderate republicans like Hoffman, and that’s fine with me… but your argumentation doesn’t make any sense.

Of course it was grass roots. All the big guns said Hoffman was the wrong way to go. Palin’s support basically exists on her bloody facebook page… that’s grass roots. Individuals all over the country money bombed him… his low polls initially are due to his completely new campaign. You always start low when you’re an unknown.

Anyone can claim something isn’t grassroots… once a grassroots effort is successful, it’s easy to say it’s just too big and successful to be authentic. But if this ain’t grassroots, than very few things are.

I’m glad the 23rd district won’t be represented by Owens, an honest politician, or Scozza, a dishonorable character. The voters get to decide, and Scozza took GOP money and knowingly screwed the GOP. That’s unfortunate, but we will see more democrats attempt to use connections to steal GOP nominations. I hope they all drop out and endorse the democrat. Thanks to that move, the GOP simply cannot be blamed for this loss. Scozza and Owens are now linked by the Donkey.

Comment by Dustin — 11/2/2009 @ 8:07 pm
JD…Put down the Single-Malt, slide-back from the keyboard, and ask for Help!

Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 11/2/2009 @ 8:10 pm
The grass roots issue is an apparently false one

No, it isn’t.

What was Hoffman polling before Cuda and after Cuda?

Eric, you do realize that Palin is a private citizen, don’t you? She has a Facebook page as her voice. It doesn’t matter what his polling was before, she supported him and people followed: so what? This is how campaigns go. Think back to when Senator Obama’s greatest bump in polling came.

What was his campaign finances before Thompson and after Thompson

Again, Thompson is a private citizen now. That he could influence other private citizens to support and/or donate to the campaign is the nature of the beast. Stop acting like this never, ever happens. Private citizens and the grass roots are the foundations of a candidate…(unless you have the unions behind you!)

What does fox News Beck show charge for 20 minute pure infomercial softball hosted campaign commericals? did they offer DeDe 20 minutes to rebutt?

Did MSNBC or CNN offer her 20 minutes – for free – to rebutt, or just have air time? What’s your point?

Comment by Dana — 11/2/2009 @ 8:18 pm
dustin

I agree with you – however let me introduce this…

NY is a VERY liberal state – I grant you that – However the University of Chicago rated her as 83% on a scale of “New York Liberalism” vs “New York Conservative” which meant that 82% of the entire assembly was more liberal than her – its entirely possible that Hoffan could rate 100% or higher – and I agree that Hoffman IS the better candidate

the question is losing that seat forever…. If its taking millions to finally beat down deDe and he wins by 5 in a republican district

This was a colossal waste of precious money and political capital to get a guy with no agenda or leadership qualifications thats going to motivate weak Republicans to be more conservative

Hoffman isnt a Delay – he isnt a game changer – other candidates fighting for resources are pissed that he (not even being a Republican) is getting about 80% of the money meant for all the 434 other races as well.

Also the NRA is not in the habit of endorsing and campaigning for extremists….

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 9:00 pm
I just re-read this thread. Surreal.

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 9:01 pm
Dana

I see it somewhat differently – see here’s my reasoning and context:

IMO
Palin is about as Private a citizen (she has several political pacs – so that is a misleading characteristic and gets speaking fees based solely on her political affiliation with the Republican Party) as Barack is

Fox News Beck show took an activist interest in Hoffman to promote him, purely to beat DeDe – And now with that momentum – granted purely from the media – He is leading Owens for about 6 months until he will not be in the limelight and lose to Owens next year as DeDe will be campaigning with moderates to send him back to his district.

This was a destructive and stupid calculation made by people outside of NY-23.

Also this blog has well documented the power and success of out of control media and their endorsements of liberal candidates – of the local media’s distortion of opponents records, and so and so forth.

The right wing media is doing the same

This is what I’m worried about – I dont want either media shining of crap ponies for sale as race horses….

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 9:08 pm
EPWJ…This is now, 2010 is another day.

Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 11/2/2009 @ 9:09 pm
JD

Aww

you mean that you just discovered that Father Reagan really did raise taxes?

Hey some time I need to talk to you about white lies, Easter and Bunnies, what really goes into hotdogs and having to make choices for governance

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 9:10 pm
Ad

yes we can all bury our heads in the sand but in January (90 days away) many candidates have to start the process of qualifying for office in many states.

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 9:12 pm
No thanks.

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 9:13 pm
JD, this seems about right for the past couple of days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E78GkEWHx5k

Comment by Eric Blair — 11/2/2009 @ 9:18 pm
It okay JD

It takes baby steps – we all fear it at first

It like when I became a father to three girls

Spinal removal surgery is not that horrific – all you feel is alot of pressure then a huge pinch and then the spine rips free.

we all go through transformations – different but its okay

Seriously I appreciate your comments JD I really do

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 9:21 pm
Surreal

Comment by JD — 11/2/2009 @ 9:23 pm
Since everybody is going all out here, I need a clarification:

What is a “moderate” Republican?

And, just so I have an accurate baseline:

What is a “moderate” Democrat?

Thanks!

Comment by Ag80 — 11/2/2009 @ 9:25 pm
Always….

Well I’m heading out for a few hours on the Arab street

Have a good day – lets get more out of district candidates with no knowledge or interest in local issues elected in all 435 districts

Because thats what the founding fathers were envisioning

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 9:25 pm
Ag80

Anyone that figures that out is going to make millions polling for political candidates

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 9:28 pm
EPWJ, if you’re going out, get toasted and forget the addy to this place. It will be better for all of us if you did.

Comment by John Hitchcock — 11/2/2009 @ 9:29 pm
John, no disrespect intended, and I haven’t read 99% of the comments Eric has left, but he seems to be polite enough. Of course no one’s arguments are perfect, and I think he’s made a few errors of reasoning or fact, but I’ve seen liberal commenters on here that are so, so much worse. Personally, the arguments here are the main reason I read this blog!

It’s the internet, though, so some degree of hostility is going to exist.

I read and Ace thread today that was nothing but echoes. What a shame, because that’s a great blog.

Comment by Dustin — 11/2/2009 @ 9:35 pm
John

If you want me banned email patterico

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 9:40 pm
Dustin, I’ve said the same thing to Lovey. Maybe not in those words…

Comment by John Hitchcock — 11/2/2009 @ 9:42 pm
With lovey, emperor, etc, we are completely in agreement.

Maybe I’ve missed what you’re worried about (no need to bring it up, though… you’ve got nothing to prove). I just haven’t been able to keep up with the internets given my work.

Comment by Dustin — 11/2/2009 @ 9:44 pm
Oh, and for the record, Darwinists scare me by their rejection of science.

Comment by John Hitchcock — 11/2/2009 @ 10:51 pm
John

Darwin is overrated (just kidding)

I did survive my walk and even though it was or I am a bit toasty – just wanted to give you a warm feeling that I’m still around

Comment by EricPWJohnson — 11/2/2009 @ 11:17 pm
When the governor of a state so broke that it’s
“borrowing” from the paycheck of every citizen just to keep the mechanism turning, is brought a bill to pay for improvements to a San Francisco Peir, so that sea lions will have a comfortable place to bask in between Salmon dinners, and instead of sending a detachment of game wardens with rifles to disperse the seals back to hell where they came from, he sends the bill back with a cutely worded veto to the assemblymembers who had the gall to think California would or could pay for such a thing.
That’s a moderate Republican.

Comment by papertiger — 11/3/2009 @ 5:23 am
And for baseline, a moderate Democrat is a candidate without an easily researchable voting record, lying to voters in the hope of unseating a Republican.
There is no such thing as a two term moderate Democrat because they will have lost the sheeps clothing in the first term.

Comment by papertiger — 11/3/2009 @ 5:37 am