Bachmann Makes Her Case That She is Qualified to be President (and Paul Ryan Pron)
[Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here. Or by Twitter @AaronWorthing.]
A week or so ago I said
I like Bachmann, but I like her as a legislator, not as an administrator. But look at her resume. Here’s her official bio. And here’ the wikipedia page, if that can be trusted. I see nothing there that suggests she has enough executive experience to be President.
But you know, I always prefer that a person defend themselves, because usually they will do the best job, so here’s Bachmann on why she is qualified:
The Hill’s blog transcribes her words thusly:
I have a very broad, extensive background.
I’m a student of many years. I’ve studied a number of, a wide berth of topics. I sit currently on the Intelligence Committee. We deal with the classified secrets and with the unrest that’s occurring around the world. I also sit on Financial Services Committee.
But again, I’ve lived life.
Tomorrow, I’ll be celebrating my 55th birthday, and I’ve had a wide, extensive life. And again, my background is a very practical, solution-oriented vision.
Yeah, I don’t know about you, but I am underwhelmed and unmoved. She isn’t ready to be president. I mean, sure she would do a better job than our current President, but that’s not exactly reaching for the stars, you know?
No, what I said at the time still applies:
It might be the case that by next year Americans will be so sick of Obama that they will vote for almost anyone else. I am just about there myself and have been there for well over a year. But it is still important to offer a real alternative, not just someone who’s chief argument is that they couldn’t possibly be worse.
And you know, if we have to pick a Representative with little executive experience, couldn’t it be Paul Ryan?
Here’s video of Ryan explaining his budget proposal:
[Posted and authored by Aaron Worthing.]
“And you know, if we have to pick a Representative with little executive experience, couldn’t it be Paul Ryan?”
Yes. It is possible to show true leadership from congress, and Ryan has done the best job of that. There are a few others who act like leaders, and Bachmann is one of them, but we have to make an argument to swing voters that our candidate is qualified to be president. It’s critical we made this argument with a strong resume. I think that resume has to include being reelected as governor. That’s a completely different category of experience, with hard learned lessons and a different circle of trusted advisors. America needs someone who can lead.
In my heart, I think Ryan and Bachmann and Palin could lead quite well, but what about the heart of a swing voter? They can be persuaded better with a reelected governor because, frankly, that makes more sense.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 12:17 pmHe’s f*cking with Medicaid. Goodbye Tea Party vote!
Kman (5576bf) — 4/6/2011 @ 12:19 pmHe’s alledgely f*cking with Medicaid. Good bye hypocritical marxist vote.
Fixed for reality you lying pig.
DohBiden (984d23) — 4/6/2011 @ 12:42 pmI prefer Ryan’s medicaid proposals, and unlike Kman, I actually go to Tea Party rallies (havent’ in some time, but I will go to the next one near me!)
Kman’s claim that the Tea Party doesn’t stand with Ryan is absolutely ridiculous. Ryan’s budget has inspired the Tea Party. We needed this.
Kman doesn’t really care that he’s not making sense. Once again, he said something he doesn’t believe because it is a carrier for a nasty concealed insult.
Kman wants to explain that he isn’t poor or disabled, and that he thinks the poor and disabled are losers. They aren’t elite. They suck. That’s what he means when he claims the entire Tea Party is on Medicaid.
When a bona fide working man, like Joe the Plumber, or Althouse’s husband Meade, or a non union skilled laborer, tries to be part of our political process without being on the democrat plantation, Kman’s ridicule is extremely common.
I love it! These idiots are blowing their advantage by exposing their contempt for the uncredentialed class of Americans who recognize what’s going on with our debt crisis.
Yes, Kman, more and more of these people, some on Medicaid, will support the Tea Party. And that must scare you a lot if you’re letting the mask slip.
When Kman insults someone for being poor, or tells a story about infertility while slurring it as being ‘barren’, or otherwise tosses a nasty comment that doesn’t make much sense, you can bet that he’s insulting someone. 95% of the time it’s Aaron.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 12:53 pm“I’ve studied a number of, a wide berth of topics.”
TimesDisliker (bc4437) — 4/6/2011 @ 12:55 pmHoly sh*t. Bachmann needs some people looking out for her; it seems like she’s getting the same kind of advisors that allowed Sarah Palin to get ‘sweetie-pied.’
Okay, that’s too rich to be true. Now you have me thinking you’re a liberal plant.
Kman (5576bf) — 4/6/2011 @ 12:59 pmGetting that sweetie pie derisive treatment can actually be helpful if you’re representing normal people in Congress. Palin is a rare exception who was much more effective out of power, hammering Obama, than she was in power, thanks to lawfare, but even then I think she would be doubly effective as a Senator who is hammering Obama all the time.
Bachmann should run for president to help steer the debate. She will help us produce a better nominee who is on record responding to her debate points. I just don’t think it’s ideal to trust anyone with the oval office without them being a reelected governor.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:02 pmI’m very liberal, Kman. Classically, but still. I’m not ashamed of it, and I bash republicans all the time very openly.
Meade’s retired / a business owner, or something like that. I wasn’t attempting some subtle dig. He’s a working man, rather than the kind of journalist democrats tend to revere, and this outpouring of insults from the amazing serious of trolls at her blog shares an element with your contempt for the needy in this thread.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:05 pmWhatever you think of their respective qualifications, neither has a snowball’s chance.
Ryan is a geek. Well spoken, smart, but he’s not inspiring. And for good or bad, a candidate has to inspire. Director of OMB, sure. President, not so much.
Bachman doesn’t have a great reputation among the mushy middle and has said things that can be easily twisted to further the damage. It isn’t deserved, nor is it fair, but it is there nonetheless and it isn’t something she can overcome.
steve (369bc6) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:11 pmGood god, if the experience in Wisconsin, hasn’t taught you anything, which apparently it hasn’t,
narciso (b545d5) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:21 pmI think the experience in Wisconsin taught me something I’ve said a few times before. You can’t beat the machine with a weak candidate. Prosser’s statistical tie wouldn’t have happened had he been a great judicial candidate (his outbursts cost him). Not that I blame anyone, even Prosser, for that. It’s just a fact of life.
It also taught me that the unions are quite weak. they barely moved the needle on a minor election in a small state, after the media outlook there was radically favorable to them.
If we nominate the right candidate, we probably will end Obama’s administration!
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:26 pmI like Ms Bachmann and think she is smart and telegenic and that she often does a very good job in interviews and with speeches. I think she has a clear vision of what she believes, and why. She has an important role to play in conservative politics. But I don’t think she is ready to be president of the US and moreover I think her candidacy seriously undermines an important team R. campaign argument that Barry was/is neither qualified or seasoned enough to run, either. His poor and erratic performance has demonstrated what happens when the president is not a proven leader with real executive experience. It’s disheartening to see that Bachmann has so little self awareness that she thinks poor struggling America in 2012 will hop on a presidential wagon driven by yet another relatively untested newcomer.
elissa (907483) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:34 pmI think she is great. She is hardly a weak candidate. She has been out front and expressing her views. I would say the strongest candidates are the women and the minorities and the white males are the weak ones.
Wayne (b37235) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:35 pmWhat on a resume qualifies one for president? Is a senator better than a representative? Is a life long politician a good qualification? I would think her qualifications are better than Huckabee or Romney and Newt (where has he been the last decade). But I see RINOs having problems with female candidates.
I’m neither for nor against Bachmann but it intrigues me how quickly conservatives label Republican candidates as stupid, not ready, or weak. You’d think we’d have learned by now.
DRJ (fdd243) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:39 pmSeems to me like conservatives sometimes parrot the Democrat talking points. Michelle Bachmann never seems stupid when I see her on TV.
kansas (7b4374) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:43 pmIt’s a competition, so the person with more experience leading an administration successfully in a way that dealt with problems most similar to those the USA faces, is more qualified than someone who has never led an administration.
Really? I’m not seeing a lot of sexism from moderate Republicans. I see some on the right being very passionate and ready to emulate the effective identity politics the democrats use all the time. Don’t agree that Palin is electable in swing states? You’re sexist! I guess Jeannine Garafalo gets it, but I don’t.
If there are substantive criticisms of a woman, don’t deflect to some vague accusation of bigotry. That does not help the woman very much.
DRJ, Reagan was a successful governor. there’s so much of Reagan in politicians like Palin and Bachmann, and Palin especially has success as an executive (though not my ideal level of it), but Obama’s problems were not merely ideological (as you know). He has a hard time leading.
Since we do have candidates who have proven an ability to handle an administration, it’s a risk we don’t need to take.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:49 pmPaul Ryan was the man yesterday. He is the adult, and his presentation was a stark contrast to the petulant Obama. I guess I have a geek bias, but there is just something reassuring about the truth and facts. I grown so wary of politicians, so wary.
Wayne (b37235) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:51 pmit betrays a huge lack of imagination that she can’t think of a way to take herself to the next level shy of being the goddamn president
That used to be an office of some repute, but clown candidates from Team R like Bachmann Romney Palin Gingrich Pawlenty cheapen it yet further than even bumble has done.
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:52 pmMaybe this sells Bachmann short. Running for president doesn’t necessarily have to have an endgame of personally winning the general election. I think only Bolton has really been clear about this possibility, but others have it in mind. It gives you more of a platform to change policy.
Palin has mastered using that platform to affect the debate. Bachmann can do the same. I’m picturing a debate with various candidates, and they all know the viewers will be reflecting on Bachmann’s points when they are talking.
Further benefits include setting the stage for political moves down the road, such as running for Governor or Senator. Bachmann will have a better network of supporters.
so perhaps she isn’t so naive as to think America will go with another executive newbie. Either way, I’m glad she’s running.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:55 pm==cheapen it yet further than even bumble has done==
Mr Feets, please reconsider. Nobody can out-bumble bumble.
elissa (907483) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:56 pmyes Elissa quite right but when Team R offers America a parade of vapid vanity candidates they are complicit in the cheapening of the office what bumble has so heartily defiled
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 4/6/2011 @ 1:58 pmWell Dustin I hear comments about conservative females, even from Republicans that I don’t see about men. I certainly see a Palin or Bachman as more intelligent than a Huckabee or Romney. But I never here about them being dumb or unqualified. I see things like I like her doing what she is doing which to me sound very paternalistic. If my accusation sounds vague, then I have failed. I think their is bigotry against the women.
But is governor the only qualification for president? They have no foreign policy experience. We can find lack of experience in everyone.
Wayne (b37235) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:00 pm“Bachmann has called for phasing out of Social Security and Medicare:”–wiki
Good for her.
She has the right idea.
Get rid of the federal nanny state, and get rid of our interventionist foreign policy (U.S. out of the U.N., NATO, etc.) and we’d be in fat city.
Dave Surls (59512e) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:00 pmRomney is a dumb dumb bunny he uses the the power of the state to force people to buy health insurance and then thinks he can lie about if cause he has pretty hair.
Good luck with that you vapid dolt guess what when they call you a “perennial candidate” that is NOT a compliment you insipid ponce.
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:03 pmabout *it* I mean
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:04 pmDRJ
bachmann is not stupid. and not weak. but she is not ready.
just because reagan was smeared doesn’t mean all criticism of qualifications are smears.
that being said, if she is the nominee, she has my vote just by not being obama.
Aaron Worthing (e7d72e) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:07 pm==Further benefits include setting the stage for political moves down the road, such as running for Governor or Senator. Bachmann will have a better network of supporters==
Dustin, I generally agree with this observation and see your point. However, I am very concerned about spreading campaign cash and energy between too many candidates this time. With the economy it’s going to be a real struggle to get contributions. I want us to have a solid R war chest for the big dance and not tap people out too far in the primaries to the extent that we won’t have enough to counter Obama’s and the union’s billions.
elissa (907483) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:09 pmFirst, there’s no doubt in my mind that Bachmann and Palin are indeed far more intelligent than Huck or Romney. And let me amend my point a bit. Huck was a taxer. Romney was a failure as governor (though many think I am simply not able to give him a fair shake, so grain of salt, I guess).
Someone with no executive experience, such as Bachmann, is more qualified to be President than Romney or Huck, whose experience proves the wrong things about their leadership direction. Romney in particular is no leader if he changed core principles when the going gets tough.
I have myself said I worry there is bigotry against women somewhere on the right. I recall talking to someone about Palin in 2008, who responded that women are not Biblically appropriate commanders in chief. so sure, I concede the problem is out there. but those folks were extremely conservative.
I think the concern from moderate Republicans against Palin or Bachmann is ideological combined with practical (election winning). At the very least, I think it doesn’t do Palin or Bachmann any good to dismiss nonsexist arguments as sexist.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:11 pmI hadn’t thought about that. That’s a good point.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:12 pmI think she is probably a witch.
JD (3ee1ee) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:16 pmShe hasn’t denied it. I’ll update her wiki.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:17 pmI think she is probably a witch.
I think your probably a brainless jackalope.
DohBiden (984d23) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:18 pmdoh
he was just joking, lighten up.
Aaron Worthing (e7d72e) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:24 pm“she has my vote just by not being obama”
AW: I’m curious, is there any Republican for which the above wouldn’t be true?
steve (369bc6) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:25 pmI’d vote for Obama over Arlen Spector or Larry Craig. Really, even Obama has more character than those two.
For some reason I recall Malkin talking about the worst GOP Senators when she was worried Mccain was going to pick Lindsey Graham to be the VP. And I believe Graham would be a senior administration member today had Mccain won election. Picking Palin was a very good move for Mccain, but it wasn’t sincere, and perhaps wasn’t a very good move for Palin, as it turns out.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:32 pm@30
Did she turn you into a Newt?
malclave (1db6c5) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:34 pmI definitely do not want to have a beer with this woman maybe we could have a nosh but I get to pick where and when we get there I could say sweetie these thingers are even more tasty if you don’t talk – try it – and then we could thoughtfully munch on our tasty comestibles in congenial silence.
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:37 pmNot enough foreign policy cred…
She needs to stick to being a gadfly, sticking it to the left without presenting a high-profile lightning rod for their retaliation.
Just my two cents.
Bob Reed (5f2db5) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:42 pmyou can come too Bob but what say I take care of the tip
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:44 pmI’d be happy to join y’all, happyfeet.
What say we nosh some of those delectible cupcakes you often speak of. Summer lemonade, perhaps…
Bob Reed (5f2db5) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:46 pmUnless you’re still off of them, that is.
Bob Reed (5f2db5) — 4/6/2011 @ 2:46 pm_____________________________________
It might be the case that by next year Americans will be so sick of Obama that they will vote for almost anyone else. I am just about there myself and have been there for well over a year.
“Just about”? I was there from before and after November 2008—however, I’m assuming when you say “vote for almost anyone else,” you’re not referring to an unknown competitor to the current occupant of the Oval Office who’d be as liberal as, if not more leftwing than, he is. After all, nothing in the resume of Obama gave me any reason to question my early skepticism and cynicism. If anything, now in 2011 I’m even more turned off by Jeremiah Wright’s buddy.
Mark (411533) — 4/6/2011 @ 3:21 pmmark
well, like what if the republicans by some crazy set of events nominate rev. wright.
what if they nominate a person we currently consider credible, like, say, Jindal and they discover the bodies of 20 hobos in his basement that he personally videotaped himself killing? i would be a little hesitant to vote for the serial killer. i mean i didn’t say i wouldn’t vote for the serial killer, but i would be hesitant…
Aaron Worthing (e7d72e) — 4/6/2011 @ 3:29 pm__________________________________________
I think the concern from moderate Republicans against Palin or Bachmann is ideological combined with practical (election winning).
Dustin, I’d have no problem voting for Bachmann and believe her philosophy probably is more firmly rooted than that of a variety of “centrists”—-which in 2011 means someone who by the standards of, say, the 1950s is pretty damn liberal. However, I’m aware that there is a fair amount of foolish progressive sentiment percolating among a good number of people in America — and throughout the Western World in general — that for purely tactical reasons (and if the nomination were up to me) I’d hesitate to pull the lever for Bachmann.
Plus, I suspect there is a percentage of conservatives (male and female) who are guilty of double standards when it comes to a candidate based on gender. IOW, some rightists who regrettably (and idiotically) would rather vote for a liberal male instead of a conservative female.
Mark (411533) — 4/6/2011 @ 3:30 pmRemember “Vote for the crook. It’s important.”?
Milhouse (ea66e3) — 4/6/2011 @ 3:32 pm_________________________________________
well, like what if the republicans by some crazy set of events nominate rev. wright.
Aaron, that truly would be an ultra-ultra-ultra-liberal alternative to Obama. LOL.
Mark (411533) — 4/6/2011 @ 3:32 pmOh, and Aaron, it’s “pr0n”, not “pron”.
Milhouse (ea66e3) — 4/6/2011 @ 3:33 pmBachmann’s presentation lacks a seriousness in the same way Palin’s presentation does. The impression matters.
There’s a cheerleader persona with these women on the right (including McDonnell) that is off putting to me. It has less to do with their femininity and more to do with practiced affectation.
Do I think they need to be post-menopausal and wear sensible shoes? No. I do however think that a lot of voters are Palined out and the next up-and-coming candidate should work very hard at presenting herself as seriously as possible. Bachmann may have some convincing to do.
Ironically, I observe that this,
I have myself said I worry there is bigotry against women somewhere on the right.
…is followed by this,
I definitely do not want to have a beer with this woman….I could say sweetie these thingers are even more tasty if you don’t talk
…so yeah, there is certainly something there on the right – maybe not bigotry per se, but seriously, can you picture anyone other than Mrs. Daniels referring to Mitch Daniels as sweetie?
Dana (9f3823) — 4/6/2011 @ 3:40 pmI’d seriously consider vote for Obama against the following “Republicans”: Bloomberg, Giuliani, Lindsay Graham, Huckabee, Bill O’Reilly, David Duke, James Baker, George Voinovich, just for starters.
Milhouse (ea66e3) — 4/6/2011 @ 3:41 pmsummer lemonade and you know what? chef tiffini who creates the cupcakes she also has a red velvet pecan cupcake for to celebrate National Pecan Day on April 14! And also new this season are Espresso Blast and Green Tea Wasabi.
I wonder which one Michelle will pick?
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:03 pmAs far as Bachmann’s qualifications, it would seem that the last presidential election made it quite clear that qualifications were neither here nor there as long as the candidate had enough star-power, charisma, and money behind him (or her).
Dana (9f3823) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:05 pmBachmann’s politic are about as close to perfect as it gets, if you ask me.
She has NO executive experience at all, but she does have a lot of experience working in the federal government (if you think that’s a plus).
If it’s her or Obambi…it’s definitely her.
“i mean i didn’t say i wouldn’t vote for the serial killer”
I suppose in theory there are worse things than having a liberal Dem in power…but, only in theory. In real life there isn’t anything that’s going to run for office, and possibly win, that’s worse.
Dave Surls (59512e) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:05 pmMaybe not sweetie Dana but I could say hey Mr. Daniels you big doodlehead what do you think about the deficit? And he’d be all, “the deficit is an existential threat, happyfeet.”
He’s unflappable like that.
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:07 pm________________________________
maybe not bigotry per se,
Since happyfeet does support the idea of same-sex marriage, not sure what exactly is fueling his sexist comments. IOW, if the thought of two dudes being romantically involved and getting it on doesn’t elicit a subtle cringe — and even a lot of liberals, if they’re being honest with themselves and others, will admit to a “bleech” gut reaction — and if the person who doesn’t cringe at same-sex behavior (among males, less so among females) also is sexist towards women, then who knows what lurks in the corners of that individual’s mind. And I’m not even factoring in the matter of a high percentage of homosexuals being of the left.
Mark (411533) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:08 pm______________________________________
I’d seriously consider vote for Obama against the following “Republicans”:
Most of them are less liberal and have less of a flaky, scroungy background than Obama. For example, Giuliani is a liberal, but in general terms that makes Obama an ultra-liberal. Or, to some, Bloomberg is an ultra-liberal, but then that means Obama is an ultra-ultra-ultra liberal. So when push comes to shove, I’d vote for the alternative, with the exception of David Duke.
Mark (411533) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:16 pmMaybe not sweetie Dana but I could say hey Mr. Daniels you big doodlehead what do you think about the deficit? And he’d be all, “the deficit is an existential threat, happyfeet.”
Well there you go: you *ask* Mr. Daniels what he *thinks*, clearly wanting a reply; yet with Ms. Bachmann, you simply tell her, don’t talk.
What do we make of that?
Dana (9f3823) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:18 pmI’m a terrible person
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:26 pmDana, you win the argument every time, but I don’t think you will every convince happyfeet. He never seems to have anything good to say about conservative women. And I’m putting it nicely when I say it that way.
PatAZ (d09837) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:26 pmDamn those pesky little Fruedian slips… heh.
Dana (9f3823) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:28 pmWell, PatAZ, I’m sure if you and I took him out for cupcakes and lemonade, he would be overcome by all the collective sweetness and fairly dazzled by our conservative smarts & charms. Sweeties indeed!
Dana (9f3823) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:32 pmRomney, Trump, Huckabee
There’s the front row in the horse race.
I’d take Bachmann over them. I’d praise Jesus for a month for Palin over them. I realize Happyfeet has picked Mitch Daniels (which is an excellent choice), but wouldn’t he prefer Bachmann to these three?
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:36 pmThe “scared of their shadow Republicans” that post here both crack me up, and are so dismaying. Sure Bachmann’s creds are thin. Yet they are far thicker than our current WH occupant, even after his two years in executive office.
But of course, you will gain entry to far more costal cocktail parties if you denigrate, obliquely or not, the real libertarian/tea party/conservative candidate. The sad reality is that while the host of this site laments “inappropriate” language against political opponents, this site tacitly acquiesces to the rules of ‘polite’ conversation purposely dictated upon you by the left. You are agreeing to a battle in which the rules are written by your opponent.
A long way to say that while Bachmann, or Palin are not my first choice, it really pisses me off that this site is so willing an accomplice to leftist driven/media foisted political assassination of both women.
bains (c37f09) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:39 pmThere’s an undefined(undefinable?) something there where even if a woman (R or D)said the exact same thing a man said, many folks will still say they don’t like the woman…happened to Hillary too…
Maybe it’s just human nature, but that’s the way it is.
Any way where are the real R candidates? And,no Huck, Romney, Guilani aren’t them…
flicka47 (116346) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:45 pmbains,
In which way is this site a willing accomplice to leftist driven political assassination? Are you referring to specific commenters, the author of the post…? If you are going to make an accusation, it’s very helpful to cite specific examples. Then those that you are accusing have an opportunity to refute and/or explain their comments.
Dana (9f3823) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:48 pmWhat are you referring to, specifically?
Most of the comments here are favorable of these women, and Aaron’s favorable of her too, while noting the fact that we need someone with executive experience.
Everyone is going to have to face a bunch of scrutiny. Mitch Daniels, Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin… they have to face a lot of honest scrutiny if they want the oval office, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
I have no idea why you think it shows fear for someone to be open about the reality we face in swing states. I think it’s a lot more sheepish to ignore reality and then curse RINOs for a presidential loss, or even say it’s great to lose those elections to purify the party.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:49 pmBachmann’s a very decent candidate and an excellent fundaiser and tactical campaigner.
In debates she can be devastating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yScuRet-F5Q
Her reply starts at 2:48 ish
EricPWJohnson (b6ab2f) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:55 pmAs far as execuive experience, this is a fleeting at best requirement.
What people are really looking for is leadership, someone who’s ideas can rally a people towards common goals and common standards
Executives, are valuable, but a technical executive in governance is usually first and foremost a good leader.
The last thing I want is a “expert” in plodding government execution of meandering programs with floating standards that vary from region to region.
EricPWJohnson (b6ab2f) — 4/6/2011 @ 4:59 pmAre there really people that question Republican candidates qualifications anymore? Hell, I have more foreign policy sense and economic sense than douchebag-in-chief. At least you can find my former classmates. And I’m a much better golfer (not that that takes much).
timp (d01845) — 4/6/2011 @ 5:14 pmDana: Exactly
PatAZ (d09837) — 4/6/2011 @ 5:18 pmBachmann is very sneeky and if you give money to her she will give it to Romney. She’s going to have trouble getting reelected and as for running for Pres I think she’s a straw horse for Romney. I see her and her husband more and more as the Christian gustapo and besides she would never withstand the media. Do you think any of the Reps would survive the media attacks? How much would they NOT go after Obama for?? just like McCain did and not bring up Wright and all the other creepy facts. Why was the lame duck session so productive and look how fast things got done, now they can’t even do the budget. I think Gov Palin set the bar and let’s see who can survive and be the next president. I have my vetted inside and out pick! :)grrrrr
jann (4f3355) — 4/6/2011 @ 5:24 pmObama wouldn’t be a better president if he had more experience. Bush sucked his second term after a pretty good first term. Lincoln had the same exact experience as Bachmann has. Reagan was not a better president for being governor of California. He was worse for the experience because he became too comfortable with compromising with Democrats. Palin quit as governor to become an activist like Obama was, and she’s not less qualified for president because of the move.
Seriously, does “politial experience” even sound complimentary? It’s like “lawyering experience”.
j curtis (747c72) — 4/6/2011 @ 5:35 pmI like Bachmann a lot–but putting her in the same sentence, and trying to make some sort of leadership equivalency with Reagan and Lincoln? Seriously, dude?
elissa (907483) — 4/6/2011 @ 5:53 pm____________________________________________
Seriously, does “politial experience” even sound complimentary?
I’m always suspicious of that term — or “experience” in general — if it’s being used by a person who actually mostly dislikes the ideological biases of the person/candidate that’s being critiqued. For example, the various liberal voters/pundits/analysts who will clam up about the nature of someone who’s a novice, but a novice that leans left (Hi, Obama!), while grumbling about a “lack of experience” if the person being judged is merely just a bit untried and untested, but is also quite (or even somewhat) conservative.
Mark (411533) — 4/6/2011 @ 6:12 pmAaron in this post and Patrick in many.
It is Patterico’s site – he has all the opportunity. His problem – and I agree with him quite often – is that when challenged from the right, is that he reverts to DA mentality. (He wants to win the case and facts be damned.)
The results: this site promotes the “safe” Republicans. The insidious side effect is that this site covertly savages the “unsafe”, either willingly or consciously.
I have lived in the LA basin, on the Potomac, and on the Hudson; I know invasive, I know subversive.
No, Dana, what really sets me off is when I hear the Party GOP telling me that I should vote for Republican ascendancy when they are only marginally better than our current fascist leaning government.
On this site, Patrick seems unwilling to call a spade a spade
bains (c37f09) — 4/6/2011 @ 6:19 pmMea culpa. It’s so handy to have a place I can go to find out which GOP candidates are smart, strong, and/or ready and which are not. It will save me so much time during the tedious nominating process. The list, please.
DRJ (fdd243) — 4/6/2011 @ 6:34 pm…so yeah, there is certainly something there on the right – maybe not bigotry per se, but seriously, can you picture anyone other than Mrs. Daniels referring to Mitch Daniels as sweetie?
Comment by Dana — 4/6/2011 @ 3:40 pm
Come on, Dana, please don’t play the vag card.
If a man said “I hsve a wide berth of experience” he would get GWBushed. This is not about a problem some Repub men have with women, it is about getting a candidate who doesn’t embarrass him/herself, and us when we promote him/her.
Another thing, is if Palin or Bachmann were mugly they would be running for President of their PTA. You can’t have it both ways.
TimesDisliker (bc4437) — 4/6/2011 @ 6:38 pmbains, you were asked for specifics, and went off into a rant about DAs and some basin.
Yes, Patterico, who didn’t write this post, wants to win the presidential election. I’m not sure what’s so bad about that.
You made an accusation of character assassination, and so you’re the one coming across as the half cocked prosecutor to me. Wouldn’t be be smarter to tell us why Bachmann (or whoever) would make a great president than to start this kind of ugly personal argument, based on some dog whistle I can’t hear?
Are you helping your candidate get elected, or just condemning the impure cowardly Republicans who don’t agree?
We’re on the same team, here.
—
DRJ, I don’t think the idea is to be condescending towards you, but rather to intelligently reflect on your point that Reagan was underestimated.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 6:40 pm_______________________________________
Given things like the following, even if Obama’s rival in 2012 is a big turd lying on the grass, I’ll vote for the turd.
Mark (411533) — 4/6/2011 @ 6:54 pmAl Sharpton!
Ya know, Team D won’t even pass and sign the short compromise bill over $12 billion in cuts. That’s so measly. What pettiness. The troops have been told they won’t be paid, despite many of them being deployed and expected to work. Imagine being deployed right now, knowing it’s possible your family won’t get the money they need to pay the rent.
Already, Obama has gone way too far with this shutdown. The GOP won an election, and both Obama and the GOP promised to make cuts.
Obama described the Republicans like this, in 2006 “For the last six years we’ve been told that our mounting debts don’t matter”. I’m pretty sure the GOP did think the debt mattered, but failed to lead us out of debt.
I guess little things like this are why I don’t think we should compare Bachmann or other candidates directly to Obama. Sure, he had no experience, but he’s so far below acceptable in basically any metric I can come up with.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:04 pmDustin, I need a list of the GOP candidates who are smart, ready, and strong. After all, Lee Stranahan has pointed out we conservatives are missing important organizational machinery to help us on the path to winning, and now Aaron Worthing has clarified that some candidates just aren’t ready. So here I am, open to being told what to think and who I can consider supporting.
DRJ (fdd243) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:04 pmMark–you do know what to post in order to make heads explode. Still, what really would the president himself be able to contribute to an important meeting which involves gritty negotiation and actual compromise in order to try to keep the government running. I’ve reached the conclusion that in addition to his character flaws and obvious personality disorders, Obama may suffer from ADHD.
elissa (907483) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:07 pmI think it’s very hard to tell who will be/what will make a successful candidate.
The narrative can be made to be whatever you want- is the person lacking experience or are they someone who is independent and not a “Washington Insider”, and how do you make one spin work.
It seems what makes a successful candidate is to sound really good while saying nothing worthwhile. Meanwhile, let those who think they can lead, lead. If Ryan is successful leading the budget fight, there you have it. If Ryan can’t lead a winning budget fight because too many people in and out of the media want to pretend that financial disaster will not happen (to them anyway) then maybe the second coming of George Washington couldn’t win.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:10 pmDRJ,
I’m glad the right doesn’t work that way. I’m glad that Lee’s criticism of the right’s scrambled nature is going to apply in 2, 10, 100 years.
If Bachmann can hold her own in the debates, against opponents who I think are “ready”, such as Mitch Daniels or Rick Perry, or against opponents with at least some executive experience, such as Gov Palin or Romney or T Paw, then go Bachmann.
I agree with Aaron that some candidates just aren’t ready, but I think I understand where you’re coming from. We’ll have a much better idea of who really isn’t ready after the first few debates (that Palin agrees to appear on).
Let’s think about what the President of the United States is responsible for. I honestly think it’s pretty fair to say that no one is ready for that. Even in the best of times, you have a very screwed up bureaucratic machine, requiring a lot of supervision. Just keeping the government constitutional would require an amazing President.
But there’s more. The President submits budgets (supposedly), leads us in a time of war, has to think ahead about resources and threats, and somehow set some kind of legislative agenda that must include a lot of very important reforms to how much spending the government does.
I feel like I’m insulting you to lay that out. Obviously you know all this, and obviously you take it seriously and don’t need my help understanding this. Maybe Bachmann can handle all that. She’s sharp, and she’s right about many issues the president needs to be right about. But unlike a few people in this thread, I think being the President requires skills that have little to do with policy positions, and the only people I will trust are those who have shown those skills of management over a government well enough to be reelected.
Again, I apologize if this comes across as condescending rather than an attempt to explain my POV (I don’t speak for Aaron, and I don’t know who he thinks is qualified, but I require fiscal hawks willing to defend America abroad who have been reelected as governor, and I am waiting for Mitch Daniels to prove he’s that guy in the debates).
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:14 pm“Romney, Trump, Huckabee”
“There’s the front row in the horse race.”
Sounds more like a Three Stooges reunion.
Dave Surls (4ae434) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:15 pmOh yeah, and they also have to win the support of people in Missouri and Florida and New Mexico and Ohio. Some of them will make the call based on very little information, or personality, or even without thinking too much about politics. And after Obama’s golf tour, I think a lot of swing voting Americans are most receptive to replacing him with someone we can show them is a reliable executive.
Do you think I’m telling you not to support Bachmann? That’s basically right. I am asking people to reserve their support for people who would have beat Harry Reid in Nevada, and beat Murkowski in AK, and Crist in FL, and also people who have this one core argument of being provably more than a political pundit in congress.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:20 pmHe was a very attractive man, but I don’t think his personality would have stood a chance in today’s political world.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:21 pmNow this has got to be the greatest flavor happyfeet; in a kind of, “peanut butter in my chocolate”, way.
Bob Reed (5f2db5) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:26 pmPlease God, nominate this crack pot in 2012. There will be such great times had. As I recall, Bachmann attends a church that teaches Catholicism is the religion of the Devil, and that the Pope is the “whore of babylon”.
Should be fun, what with all the Wright comparisons.
Tom (e1f38f) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:40 pmTom, “as I recall” is not a very persuasive argument.
She’s not a crackpot. She was an IRS lawyer, a cofounder of a school, an amazing mother (look into it) and quite a legislator. She represents social conservatism, which is not ‘crackpot’, but a legitimate POV.
Obama had his babies baptized by a man who hates this country very much and is a racist. He attended that church for decades. That says a lot about him, as an American. Bachmann being a protestant who doesn’t think catholics got it right is hardly on that level.
In fact, when I googled her name and “whore of Babylon”, I see nothing of your accusation about the Pope, but rather an amazing number of leftists who think Bachmann is the whore of Babylon.
Maybe you should tell them to chill out.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:46 pmAnd you know, if we have to pick a Representative with little executive experience, couldn’t it be Paul Ryan?
We’re really supposed to be excited about this guy, yes? He’s talking about cutting future spending, as if he can make plans for future congresses.
Spenders can force future congresses to spend on their eternal schemes. This Republican House is spending billions of dollars on socialist Democrat spending ideas going back decades. Cutters can’t force future congresses to cut a nickel.
j curtis (747c72) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:47 pmWell, what do you want Paul Ryan to do about that, JC?
I think what he’s doing is facing America directly with an honest appraisal of what we need to do to for our country’s ‘existential threat’. He’s taking his case to the voters.
Is that quixotic? I think America has a real chance of waking up.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 7:55 pmAt the time I was not a big Reagan fan, but his “there they go again” response to the left’s criticism was a winner in the public eye at the time.
We’re really asking for someone to do a nearly impossible job. Everybody is out to make you look like an idiot or fool, they’ll find a way to criticise over the width of your tie or the length of your pants, you’ll either not be devoted enough to your family or not redicated to the job.
So in the end you need someone with the courage of their convictions who will not let the BS get to them. It’s scary to think things will have to get even worse before the American people stop flirting with politicians who lie to their face.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 4/6/2011 @ 8:01 pmYou think anybody else, would screw up this badly,;
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/nbc-s-brokaw-saudis-so-unhappy-obama-adm
narciso (b545d5) — 4/6/2011 @ 8:17 pmnarc
but… but… Obama bowed to them! didn’t they respect his self-debasement?
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 4/6/2011 @ 8:19 pmnarciso, when gas is $5 a gallon, don’t complain, just buy a Volt. That’s Obama’s answer.
The AP just scrubbed a story where Obama was off the teleprompter and was accidentally too honest.
Lindsey Graham could do worse, btw. I have no doubt about that. Obama is trying to sneak under the radar, but Graham’s the kind of tyrant who openly waxes about taking away basic freedoms.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 8:24 pmThough the thing I find most amazing about Obama’s reaction on energy, whether in screwing up relations with the Sauds or his lecturing struggling Americans, is how hopelessly out of touch this guy is.
If someone is having a hard time putting gas in their car, they cannot afford a new hybrid car. Those tax rebates for GM’s Volt do not wind up helping poor people. they help unions sell junk, and they help yuppies pay for $50,000 compact cars.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 8:26 pmNot to mention the impact on food production, any
narciso (b545d5) — 4/6/2011 @ 8:33 pmkind of industrial development, Bishop from the Alien films had more empathy,
Well, what do you want Paul Ryan to do about that, JC?
Acknowledge it, for starters. Once it’s acknowledged that the game is rigged to end badly, then you can begin to change the game. For instance, if you want future congresses to be fiscally disciplined, you force the discipline through constitutional amendments.
If it’s so far gone that it can’t be fixed with the Constitution, then it’s time for independence movements in some salvagable states. Everything else is a waste of time.
j curtis (747c72) — 4/6/2011 @ 8:47 pmSecession is less realistic than some kind of Constitutional amendment. You’ve got a great point that a balanced budget amendment is an essential component to reform.
But still, the real problem is convincing Americans. So many are on government assistance, or hope for entitlements at the expense of their own kids and grandkids. This is highly unnatural, and Ryan’s plan makes the case for trying to be more responsible.
Sure, the next congress after the one that passes this budget could abandon it. Just as the next one could interpret away a constitutional amendment somehow. The real problem has something to do with our values as a country.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 8:57 pmThe last constitutional amendment, that passed, was on congressional pay raises, you haven’t seem them
narciso (b545d5) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:01 pmobserving this law have you.
Elissa
Bachmann has served twice as long in congress as Lincoln did, in fact Lincoln was until Obama, arguably on paper the least experienced candidate to win, of course this is arguably to an infinite degree
EricPWJOhnson (b6ab2f) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:04 pmNarciso – on the contrary, they do observe it.
The amendment merely says that no law varying the compensation of congresspeople shall take effect until after the next election.
*before the amendment was ratified*, Congress passed a law calling for automatic cost of living adjustments. There’s been no need for a new law since.
this is violating the spirit of the law, sure. but it’s wholly consistent with the *letter* of the law.
aphrael (fe2ce4) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:06 pmEric
as i said the last time… we weren’t smart in choosing lincoln. we were lucky.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:07 pmit’s a salvage operation!
First we have to salvage Tennessee cause of I just found out that’s where they make the pringles! Trust me you’ll be wanting some tasty pringles as this progresses.
happyfeet (71628d) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:12 pmmy name is Jose Socrates
and I have bad news
happyfeet (71628d) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:14 pmThe democrats remind of me of the German national workers parties what with their crony captialism and naked anti-semitism. They were also pro-unions and anti-religion.
DohBiden (984d23) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:17 pmAaron
I dont think we will have the problems of an over oppressive progessive populist movement under a President Bachmann, just quiet, boring, dull, conservative leadership, slowly rolling back the almost 90 years of progressive dismantling of the institutions that made this country what it used to be
Meanwhile in a smaller city in Texas..
Perry has already fired two warning shots – his hand maidens in the Texas house cut 23 billion from the elderly and the children and he is forcing a litmus test on State University professors – actually rating them for effectiveness
Wisconsin, has it lucky
EricPWJOhnson (b6ab2f) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:39 pmeric
> I dont think we will have the problems of an over oppressive progessive populist movement under a President Bachmann, just quiet, boring, dull, conservative leadership, slowly rolling back
You have to be good at administration to resist the pressure of all those dems entrenched in our administrative state.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:54 pm‘As I recall, Bachmann attends a church that teaches Catholicism is the religion of the Devil, and that the Pope is the “whore of babylon”.’
Yeah, that’s pretty much what all protestant denominations taught for centuries. The concept of the papacy as antichrist is pretty much standard protestant doctrine, though I don’t think too many people take that particular point seriously, nowadays.
And, since Bachmann is a Lutheran…
Dave Surls (4ae434) — 4/6/2011 @ 9:55 pmdave
i was never taught that the pope any kind of whore or that catholicism is the religion of the devil. just that they were wrong.
Presbyterrian, here, and you might have seen where i said my wife is catholic.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 4/6/2011 @ 10:04 pmDave
I am Lutheran as well, never heard any of that
EricPWJOhnson (b6ab2f) — 4/6/2011 @ 10:10 pmI know Christians who go on mission trips to Brazil to make Baptists out of Catholics, and even they wouldn’t say the Pope is the antichrist/devil/whore of Babylon. I’ve never heard such a thing, even though I’ve heard plenty of Catholic bashing.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/6/2011 @ 10:15 pmDustin
Catholic bashing ahhh the good old days…
Married one though….
EricPWJOhnson (b6ab2f) — 4/6/2011 @ 10:37 pmTimesdisliker @ 6:38 p.m.,
Come on, Dana, please don’t play the vag card.
The vag card? That’s a new one on me. So the counterpart of that would be, what, the d*** card?
This is not about a problem some Repub men have with women, it is about getting a candidate who doesn’t embarrass him/herself, and us when we promote him/her.
I’m not sure of the point you are making but perhaps you misinterpreted mine: I was responding to Aaron’s comment, I have myself said I worry there is bigotry against women somewhere on the right. And I agree there is something there – not bigotry, but a bit of a double-standard. Women running for office lead with their physical appearance, take the scrutiny, and then what comes out of their mouths follows (policy, stands, principles, etc). We saw this during the last campaign – entire articles were written about such things: Hillary’s pantsuits, Hillary showing a little decolletage, Hillary’s wrinkles, Palin’s clothes, hair, glasses, sexy black boots, etc. I don’t recall McCain or Obama’s outfits or hair receiving the same public critique. Men running for office have it a bit differently: what comes out of their mouths leads.
Anyway, I’m not playing any card,simply making an observation and in light of it, amused at the irony of hf’s comments. I don’t tend to get too exercised about the issue.
Dana (9f3823) — 4/6/2011 @ 10:55 pmDo I hear Rand Paul? He’s an MD. That means he has met a payroll, dealt with bureaucracy, paid business taxes, and managed his medical practice as well. And his heart’s certainly in the right place.
{^_^}
JD (bcdcf2) — 4/6/2011 @ 11:36 pmJD
He also owns several business’ as well – or is a part owner in some.
Problem with Rand is that he doesnt suffer fools easily, wont lie, like me he absolutely doent believe in any entitlements for any reason other than for wounded, retired and disabled military, and civilian govt workers, and thinks each state should almost be its own country
go figure
EricPWJOhnson (b6ab2f) — 4/7/2011 @ 12:23 amDana
I totally disagree about a “set” bigotry on the right.
We still as a country dont accept women totally as equals do to many factors – 99% of them have to do with males fearing loss of their traditional roles.
However these things are changing
My oldest went in front of the board of Colonels at the USMA and lobbied quite bluntly for a real job this summer to be one of the three seniors in charge of military training at Buckner this summer (women are still not allowed combat positions)
She got her job….
Change – its coming whether they like it or not
EricPWJOhnson (b6ab2f) — 4/7/2011 @ 12:41 amMichelle is the representative of the District just north and east of mine. And I wish she was my rep, instead of Betty McCollum.
That said, I don’t think Michelle has the administrative experience that I would want in a President. She is smart. She drives the lefties nuts. But she is a bit lacking in the executive experience on the resume.
Loren (998d8f) — 4/7/2011 @ 7:24 amDana said: The vag card? That’s a new one on me. So the counterpart of that would be, what, the d*** card?
Yes, that is correct.
If you are agreeing with Aaron that something is there on the right, and that there is a double-standard, that is one thing. But Michelle Bachmann is not ready for primetime. Just because Obama is not ready for primetime does not make Bachmann an acceptable candidate.
There is a double-standard, and when it works for women (nice appearance, leading to attention not otherwise granted) there doesn’t seem to be any protest. I was not shocked by Bachmann’s appearance, I am actually pleased that her and Palin, etc. can be sexy Republican women. I am shocked by her ability to express herself and malaprop “berth” when she clearly meant “breadth.” Being a 55 year-old woman who has “studied” as a main qualification, is shocking.
Ask yourself this: if Bachmann had a (D) and made her exact statement above, wouldn’t you be goofing on her as ‘the best they could do’?
TimesDisliker (3fabdc) — 4/7/2011 @ 8:24 amJD, the problem with Rand Paul is that he’s not electable, which is another way of saying he’s more of an honest leader than a politician.
You know, Obama met a payroll too, if you count his enormous election operation. And of course, the only people who don’t roll their eyes at this explanation are his loyal fans. When we run someone who doesn’t have, at a minimum, Romney/Palin levels of executive experience (been a governor, but not reelected), we lose a very important card we should want to play against Obama’s poor leadership skill. We want to show swing voters we’re offering them a government administrator.
It’s similar to how nominating Romney would cost us the Obamacare card to some extent. Only I also think this experience of succeeding as Governor is also what this country really needs.
Eric, congrats to your daughter. That’s very impressive, and you must be very proud.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/7/2011 @ 9:57 amI agree that Rep. Bachmann is a capable, persuasive communicator & public servant who’s head and heart are in the right place despite the occasional malaprop and now-constant attempts by the MSM to Palinize her.
I also agree that she is not yet qualified to be President in a decades-long period of growing threatening crises.
Bush 43 substantially lowered the bar of Presidential qualifications, but Obama took the bar and threw it in the Chicago River.
In my opinion Obama is by far the least qualified POTUS in American history both in temperment (childish, arrogant, hubristic, petty, self-absorped, thin-skinned, etc) and experientially (never had a real job in his life and no, token law partner and token law professor dont count. Neither does community agitator).
Their must be NO question of the next GOP POTUS nominee’s background and proven record of lifetime achievement, especially in comparison to Obama.
Although smart, likable and a potential future US Senator or Governor of Minnesquito, Ms. Bachmann does not yet have the life experience and career accomplishment needed to give voters a clear reason to dump Abu Ouama.
Semper Fi. Carry On.
Mike D (cfd823) — 4/7/2011 @ 1:12 pm==Obama is by far the least qualified POTUS in American history both in temperament (childish, arrogant, hubristic, petty, self-absorped, thin-skinned, etc) and experientially (never had a real job in his life and no, token law partner and token law professor dont count.==
Mike D, that is such an important observation. Had Obama actually done some things, (worked and produced in a high pressure structured environment, and had some job experience with assignments that required him to work in a team to get results) his inappropriate-for-the presidency character traits and the temperament issues that you mention would have been more widely known. The media would not have been able to create candidate Obama out of whole cloth. There would have be co-workers, clients, customers, bosses, and others who would have set the record straight.
We need to prevent that type of “oopsie” from ever happening again when the US presidency is at stake.
elissa (b2da86) — 4/7/2011 @ 1:41 pmBachmann. Perfect figurehead for the teabaggers.
Cray (022bf4) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:02 pmPolitifact is not reputable. They are selective and even aggressive in their analysis of ‘facts’.
I love how liberals can’t just argue someone is a liar by pointing to facts. They need some kind of pretend objective authority with liberal bias. Seems like you wouldn’t act that way if you had a better argument.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:04 pmBachmann. Perfect !!! A real intellectual.
Cray (022bf4) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:07 pmYeah you voted for obama you loser so no credibility on crazy quotes.
DohBiden (984d23) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:10 pmI like how he uses the word teabaggers but yet he is the first to decry ad hominem attacks.
DohBiden (984d23) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:11 pmCray,
this buzzfeed link is really interesting.
Did you read it? Most of those quotes are not extreme at all. According to your link, the craziest think Bachmann has ever said is that “all cultures aren’t equal”. Obviously this list is targeted at people who abhor dissent from extreme leftist dogma.
The huge goofy photos are gradeschool level argumentation.
Like I said, it’s interesting. You’re sooooo mad at Bachmann, and yet you don’t appear to have a good reason to be.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:13 pmThe huge goofy photos are gradeschool level argumentation.
Coming from someone who uses the word teabaggers. 😆 your a tease.
DohBiden (984d23) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:16 pmWell at least the ‘teabaggers’ slur is effectively nasty, and great at getting under the skin of good people. It’s just another version of ‘nigger’, the last great democrat slur to spit out endlessly, just to show ya how they feel.
I get that. Yeah, it’s impotent and stupid, but at least it accomplishes something (pisses me off).
The huge goofy photo thing, repeated over and over at Cray’s link is just pathetic and childish. it’s embarrassing.
I guess I’m really distinguishing between the gradeschool antics of a bully from the gradeschool antics of an imbecile.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:20 pmJay Nordlinger at National Review admits, the term “teabagger” was introduced to the political lexicon by Tea Party movement leaders themselves:
The first big day for this movement was Tax Day, April 15. And organizers had a gimmick. They asked people to send a tea bag to the Oval Office. One of the exhortations was “Tea Bag the Fools in D.C.” A protester was spotted with a sign saying, “Tea Bag the Liberal Dems Before They Tea Bag You.” So, conservatives started it: started with this terminology. But others ran with it and ran with it.
Fox News Griff Jenkins coined the term while urging viewers to “Tea Bag the White House,” plus Charles Krauthammer referred offhandedly to the “Tea Bag protests.”
The teabaggers named themselves.
Cray (022bf4) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:29 pmSmells like Yelverton, links like Yelverton, I’d say it’s a yelverton.
narciso (cfef6a) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:33 pmLOL. ‘the teabaggers names themselves’.
No they didn’t. I go to Tea Parties, and it was really offensive when Anderson Cooper joked that it’s hard to protest when your mouth is full. He was talking about my family with a scrotum in their mouth. That isn’t what some old lady said when she referenced the Boston Tea Party. They didn’t know about sexual deviance like that.
So the hardcore angry left wants to be extremely nasty in their rhetoric, but the truth is that it’s totally unpersuasive. If you had something smarter to say, you’d say it, but instead…
Bachmann lives rent free in your head, and wins the argument without even trying.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:39 pmIf someone called the coffee party the Fat Arse Gloryphiles I’d say if someone calls them a certain word that rhymed with hag I’d say they named themselves…..but I won’t.
DohBiden (984d23) — 4/7/2011 @ 3:46 pmteabaggers
named
themselves.
Cray (022bf4) — 4/7/2011 @ 4:21 pmteabaggers!
Cray (022bf4) — 4/7/2011 @ 4:25 pmWow. You have really explained why Bachmann is wrong about something. Great job!
Meanwhile, Bachmann is promising to donate her check to a military charity, for the entire time the military isn’t paid during a government shutdown, thanks to Obama’s horrible decision to use the finances of military families as a bargaining chip.
I do not know of any other politicians who have yet agreed to follow Bachmann’s lead on this, but I think there will be many. Gohmert has made a last ditch effort to have this issue resolved, so neither side can use it during a government shutdown (bill to pay the troops, nothing else). Of course, the GOP’s CR already pays the troops, but Reid and Obama rejected it.
Meanwhile, Cray is trying to prove that nice old ladies who brought up the boston tea party were actually inviting perverts to slur them with jokes about sexual teabagging. That’s his argument.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/7/2011 @ 5:03 pmI know a democrat who says it’s OK to call black people ‘nigger’ because some black rapper used that term. Apparently, he thinks one black person using the term gives him the right to disrespect all black people. He refuses to see them as individuals, and he takes pride in his ability to show extreme disrespect for not good reason.
What do you think of that argument, Cray? I think you love that argument, democrat.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/7/2011 @ 5:07 pmThe Urban Dictionary, is quite a ‘den of scum and villainy’ Dustin, the fact that it exists at all,
narciso (cfef6a) — 4/7/2011 @ 5:49 pmsuggests something deeply wrong in the culture, the fact that the left was so acquainted with that definition, and not an expression of economic and political liberty is even more distressing,
Aaron
We dont need a technocrat, bureaucrat, diplomat or aristocrat, we need someone that will lead the country to the right, for the right reasons
EricPWJohnson (b6ab2f) — 4/7/2011 @ 5:57 pmThe truth is whether it’s Bachmann, or Palin, or Miller, there are forces that drive the narrative
a certain way, and then are rewarded for it, like
this fellow:
http://www.ktva.com/news/alaskas-view-from-the-hill/Alaskas-Senate-Seat-is-Not-the-Tea-Partys-Says-Murkowski-114386104.html
narciso (cfef6a) — 4/7/2011 @ 6:13 pmYeah, Narciso, Alaska was a travesty. Murkowski got support from the GOP, agreed to accept the results of the primary, and then ran against the GOP nominee. That stings for two reasons. One for the obvious, but the second because it’s apparent that the Tea Party is not nearly as politically potent as it needs to be.
I know that sounds like an eeyore comment, but I’m just saying it’s shocking to me that Palin’s pick wouldn’t win Alaska. I don’t want to be dissapointed in Ohio or Florida or Virginia.
Miller was a great candidate, in my opinion. Not perfect, but great. but the media is a powerful enemy. Corrupt groups, who will be even more desperate in the 2012 race, are powerful enemies.
Could Bachmann have beaten Murkowski in AK? Or Reid in Nevada? And hell, we’re just talking about Senate seats. What happens when Obama runs, with 3-4 years of extremely high level executive experience, and a major reduction in his golf score average?
If Obama is running against, say, Paul Ryan, the media will successfully convince a lot of swing voters that it’s just too much responsibility for an untested leader, and even though this is extremely unfair, given their shilling for Obama in 2008, that narrative will be extremely successful.
Reality bites.
Frankly, I am not sure Mitch Daniels or Rick Perry are satisfactory answers until I know more about their platform, and have heard them debate, but I know it would be a monumental mistake to pit Obama against someone without a governorship on their resume.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/7/2011 @ 6:23 pmRyan has shown himself to be extremely courageous, almost what I had wished Newt had been, when I rooted for him so many years ago,
narciso (cfef6a) — 4/7/2011 @ 6:35 pmRyan = courage. Agreed.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/7/2011 @ 6:41 pm“Cray” claims that “teabaggers named themselves”, and yet only the first of his links uses that word, and there’s no date on it. From the context it seems more likely to me that it was taken after “teabagger” became a slur. Nordlinger’s article certainly doesn’t document any use of the term by the TEA Party movement before Anderson Cooper used it.
As for the supposedly stupid quotes from Bachmann, that are supposed to show how stupid she is, every single one of them is either a correct statement of fact or a perfectly intelligent opinion. I don’t agree with all of them, but they’re far from stupid.
Milhouse (ea66e3) — 4/8/2011 @ 10:19 am