Patterico's Pontifications

12/9/2011

Sockpuppet Friday — None of the Above Edition

Filed under: 2012 Election,General — Karl @ 9:30 am



[Posted by Karl]

As usual, you are positively encouraged to engage in sockpuppetry in this thread. The usual rules apply.

Please, be sure to switch back to your regular handle when commenting on other threads. I have made that mistake myself.

And remember: the worst sin you can commit on this thread is not being funny.

—-

Second look at a brokered convention?  That’s been a running gag on Allahpundit’s Twitter feed throughout the GOP presidential debate season.  But RedState’s Erick Erickson seemed to be serious about it yesterday:

[T]wo stories — the failure of the political press to get the stories right and the failure of the political consultant class to get the candidates right — are not written about enough. And both impact the horserace for 2012. And the muddied stories of both these problems may interweave directly to a brokered convention. I think it is time to move beyond wishful thinking and take seriously the idea of having a brokered convention with someone other than the current crop of candidates becoming the nominee. And that, for the first time, adds a new candidate to this week’s horserace, *** None of the Above.

I think the Weekly Standard’s Jay Cost would be onboard with it, too: ” Our nomination process is a joke. The more I’ve studied the history of nominations, the more convinced I am of its gross inferiority to the past way of doing business. I could go on and on…”  Looking at the polls, Nate Silver observes: “Republicans are dangerously close to having none of their candidates be acceptable to both rank-and-file voters and the party establishment. It’s not quite clear what happens when this is the case; there is no particularly good precedent for it…”

Count me as skeptical, especially given the current populist bent of the grassroots GOP.  However, since caucuses and primaries came to supplant smoke-filled backrooms of party insiders, the GOP has still continued to nominate establishment candidates.  Reagan was arguably an exception, but after Ford declined to enter the race, Reagan was the consensus candidate in public opinion polling and “next in line” after nearly beating Ford for the nomination in 1976.  The only question is how much worse the establishment candidates would be if not checked by grassroots sentiment.

–Karl

194 Responses to “Sockpuppet Friday — None of the Above Edition”

  1. Perry for President 2012

    Sarah Palin (fb8750)

  2. I used to support abortion rights for decades.

    But then I took an arrow in the knee.

    Mitt Romney (cb3719)

  3. Bob Dole and I are available.

    John McCain (7b4374)

  4. Alma 3: 6 “And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.”

    The Book of Mormon (cb3719)

  5. A – Always

    B- Be

    C – Clueless

    Always. Be. Clueless. ALWAYS BE CLUELESS!

    Alec "Brass Balls" Baldwin (b35806)

  6. Too bad I’m a conservative now. Everybody’d be saying how prophetic I was making sure Alec Baldwin got cast as the prototype a**hole of the Internet.

    David Mamet (b35806)

  7. Ironically, Mr. Baldwin, you could actually have played Words with Friends during your entire ride with us.

    Greyhound Bus Lines, who knows Alec Baldwin wouldn't be caught dead inside one of our fine vehicles (b35806)

  8. I gave up my 17 day second-trip-to-Hawaii-in-as-many-weeks vacation just so I can get those stupid Rethuglicans in line on my payroll tax thingy. Michelle and the girls are going separately but, my my MY vacay!!!!

    I sacrifice so much for you. You’d think you’d all be thanking me.

    Barack Obama (b35806)

  9. Hawaii is Asia. Kansas is Texas. Obama is awesome.

    Obama hippiebot, who left OWS to start work on the 2012 campaign (b35806)

  10. Hi everybody, Vin Scully here in beautiful Angels’ Stadium in beautiful Anaheim, California. It’s TIIIIIIMMMMMME for Angels baseball! And, I’d like to thank Arte Moreno for the $50 million over 5 years!

    Vin Scully (255b30)

  11. WHY IS RICK PERRY SO CORRUPT?

    Rachel Maddow reports on Perry’s ‘pay for play’, where via the use of ‘quarters’ he allowed his children to ‘play’ murder simulators such as Time Crisis.

    This is a disturbing pattern. Just last year, Rick Perry took a plane ride FOR FREE. He got to look down at the pretty mountains and eat peanuts in exchange for a speech on the balanced budget amendment. Is there no depth to which this corrupt aggie f*ck won’t sink?

    We asked President Barack Obama for more:

    Maddow: President Obama, while you show America how easy it is to run a completely ethical administration, do you find it troubling that Rick Perry accepted a free plane ride, and even was provided with a mansion before non-partisan activists, probably Tea Partiers from Fox News, burned it to the ground?

    Obama: Yes.

    And there you have it. Rick Perry: national disgrace. Clearly the state of Texas is the most corrupt in the world. Just look at this chart we created to prove to you that Texas’s government grew at the same rate as Detroit’s! Is there any reason to doubt that this conclusively proves that Texas is actually a hyper liberal hellhole?

    We decide. And we decide no there isn’t.

    Case closed.

    The MFM (cb3719)

  12. I hate the Angels. Hate.

    JD (554e77)

  13. That flight attendant was a rude, thoughtless little pig!

    Smart Alec (9af951)

  14. A I D A

    Attention: does your iphone sexting, AKA ‘Scrabble’ have your attention?

    Interest: are you interested in playing with your ding dong in the airplane lav?

    Decision: WILL YOU IGNORE THAT LOSER STEWARDESS? She earns less in a year than you do in a day!

    Action: [Censored]

    Tony Weiner (cb3719)

  15. We are going to stay here until Congress provides me with a clean extension of unemployment benefits –
    but Michelle and the girls will fly to HI on AF-2 as scheduled;
    I can’t penalize them for the disgraceful lack of action on this critical matter by a Do Nothing Congress.

    Barack Obama (a9c4a9)

  16. Where am I and what am I doing here?

    Rick Perry (bf33e9)

  17. Rick, you are raping little girls and turning them retarded because you were BRIBED by Merck!!!!!!

    A little birdie told me.

    Michelle Bachmann (cb3719)

  18. I got to take myself a Permanent Vacation
    The sky’s the limit, but my plane won’t fly
    My nose is clean and lordie don’t need no sedation
    Yeah, yeah, and that’s the reason why

    Teh One-And-Done (9af951)

  19. Nobody spews more hot gas than me!

    Duh Rickster (9af951)

  20. I think I deserve another vacation spanning the better part of a month at a cost of millions to taxpayers.

    Why punish me, subjects, by not giving me eight such vacations a year?

    It’s your fault my husband will have to fly out there a few days later, practically doubling the cost.

    Not going on an exotic vacation is not really an option. Why on earth would we do that? It’s not our money, stupid.

    Michelle Obama (cb3719)

  21. Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race. […] The Negro, evidently, is receiving the reward he merits.

    EPWJ and Joe Smith in Unison (cb3719)

  22. Confucius say: “Do-nothing Congress much preferred over do-everything-wrong Commander in Chief.”

    Charlie Chan (9af951)

  23. You poll respondents are all idiots! Don’t you know that not only has Newt failed to meet the deadline for inclusion on the ballot in ANY state, he also kicks old people, hates puppies and eats small children!

    Epic Wedge (9af951)

  24. Anybody got a billion dollars they can loan me? It’s just for a few minutes and I’ll bring it right back.

    Jon Corzine (7051ab)

  25. I made a sockpuppet once! I named it “Lefty”.

    But eventually I had to retire him.

    My other sockpuppet — Righteous Righty — kept getting mad at Lefty, repeatedly hitting him in the head.

    Sadly, Lefty wasn’t big enough to fit over the cast.

    Sorry for the off-topic

    DohBiden (9af951)

  26. Hey Corzine give me fellatio.

    AlecBaldwin (ef98f0)

  27. What creates Newts?

    WITCHCRAFT.

    Conclusive proof that Newt Gingrich is conspiring with Christine O’Donnell to elect Mitt Romney!

    FAKE FAKE FAKE FAKE FAKE OMG

    EricPondersWitchcraftJohnson (cb3719)

  28. Righty patriots are like nazis.

    AlecBaldwin (ef98f0)

  29. To help save the economy, I am pleased to announce that beginning next month the Immigration Department will start deporting seniors, instead of
    illegals, in order to save my Obamacare and lower Social Security and Medicare costs.

    Several government studies confirm that older people are easier to catch and many will not remember how to get back
    home.

    President Obama (7051ab)

  30. I don’t know what the heck you were thinking
    It’s gonna, gonna take a better man, I’m betting, to win my hand,
    I’m not gonna play your game, I don’t like the high stakes,
    I’d rather sit alone at home palying one more round of, Old Maid

    I’m quitting, (quitting), quitting,(quittin)g, quitting, I’m quitting you
    Like a gambler leaving Vegas, boy, you know that I’ll miss you
    But I’m quitting, (quitting), quitting, (quitting), quitting, I’m not kidding I’m kicking you,
    Cause you’re my bad habit and I’m quitting

    Cold turkey, I don’t know what the heck you were thinking
    It’s gonna, gonna take a better man, I’m betting, to win my hand,
    I’m not gonna play your game, I don’t like the high stakes,
    I’d rather sit alone at home palying one more round of, Old Maid

    I’m quitting, (quitting), quitting,(quitting), quitting, I’m quitting you
    Like a gambler leaving Vegas, boy, you know that I’ll miss you
    But I’m quitting, (quitting), quitting, (quitting), quitting, I’m not kidding I’m kicking you,
    Cause you’re my bad habit and I’m quitting
    Cold turkey, giving you the cold shoulder,
    Off, like a band-aid, one quick sting, then it’s over

    Off the Band (wagon) Perry (9af951)

  31. Think of the Negro, cursed as to the priesthood…. This negro, who, in the pre-existence lived the type of life which justified the Lord in sending him to the earth in the lineage of Cain with a black skin, and possibly being born in darkest Africa—if that negro is willing when he hears the gospel to accept it, he may have many of the blessings of the gospel. In spite of all he did in the pre-existant life, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the celestial kingdom. He will go there as a servant, but he will get celestial glory. Mark Peterson, Brigham Young University replacement for some dude they excommunicated because these guys were totally sane.

    Fake FAKE FAKE OMG

    Where is Herman Cain’s birth certificate? He never registered it with Ohio!

    Has Sarah Palin ever proven that she is Herman Cain’s mother? I didn’t think so, because Newt Gingrich is a fake candidate!

    EricPondersWhyJohnson (cb3719)

  32. Last time I use that lyrics site!

    I'm Teed Off! (9af951)

  33. He will go there as a servant, but he will get celestial glory.

    My favorite part. They will be my servants, but get glory. So no harm no foul, brotha

    EricPondersWhyJohnson (cb3719)

  34. Newt, when did you stop supporting the Klan?

    EricPerryWhippedJohnson (9af951)

  35. I will bet you $5,000,000 that Breitbart is given a parking ticket eventually.

    EricPondersWelchingJohnson (cb3719)

  36. Newt, when did you stop supporting the Klan?

    About 1980, of course, since basically that’s a generation after the rest of society realized how bigotry is horrible.

    EricPondersWhiningJohnson (cb3719)

  37. But I did go to france to tell everyone how great it would be if they hated black people too.

    No wait, that wasn’t me. That was that draft dodging coward.

    EricPondersWineJohnson (cb3719)

  38. I will bet you $5,000,000 that Breitbart is given a parking ticket eventually.

    Comment by EricPondersWelchingJohnson — 12/9/2011 @ 11:48 am

    Just sold my car, brah. PONY UP!

    Andrew Breitbart, who's gotten pretty good at having the last pwn (3e92e3)

  39. The Holy Trinity is incomprehensible to mere mortal man. I mean, that’s the whole idea, right? Read The Bible in order to NOT understand? I mean . . . Come on! “God in three persons”? What the heck is that all about? Who is he, anyway — Sybil?!

    This Dust In (9af951)

  40. I never made a bet with you.

    /jedi mind trick

    I never made a bet with you.

    EricPondersWelchingJohnson (cb3719)

  41. I do admit, it’s pretty funny when someone claims they are too humble to understand the workings of the holy trinity (obviously such people are the real racists!), but then pretends they understand why it’s horrible to claim blacks were a cursed inferior race in 1995 (obviously such people are the real saints). I mean, what is that?

    That’s why I ponder Tenant Farmer Billiards. It’s the game of serious men.

    EricPleasesWomenJohnson (cb3719)

  42. Boy, I sure wish all of you Romney apologists would stop bringing up the subject of his polytheistic religion. Because every time that one of you does bring up his polytheistic religion it becomes incumbent upon me and me alone to remind you all that he belongs to a very, very scary polytheistic cult.

    This isn’t fun for me, you know! Lord how I wish you guys — and you know who you are — would stop bringing this up!

    Dust Bunnies (9af951)

  43. Polytheist!

    Booga booga!!!

    Dust In Time (9af951)

  44. If you think supporting abortion rights is not very Christian, well you’re just trashy. No, if you want to have class, you have to concede that abortion rights are just as Christian as a Pro Life perspective. There is no room for your daring to criticize someone. This is called ‘tolerance’.

    It’s just a coincidence that this is the 50th time I’m twisting reality to the breaking point to explain how criticizing Mitt Romney with provable facts is somehow deeply immoral.

    And of course, it’s very intolerant for a Christian who believes in the Trinity to think it’s beyond man to understand, and actual understanding of such matters is not the real point of reading the Bible. Why, talk about self loathing! These people have faith? Faith is trashy. No, you’re not a real christian unless you can diagram transubstantiation.

    Some whiny nag (cb3719)

  45. Ya know, I think maybe Herman Cain is a Lamanite

    EricPissesWhineJohnson (9af951)

  46. This is Dustin… not a sockpuppet.

    I’ve never used the word polytheist on this blog, nor have I ever criticized anyone for being a polytheist. Nor have I ever called Mormonism a cult, nor have I ever discussed anything even remotely related to whether Mormonism is polytheist. In fact, I have never commented on the spiritual details of Mormonism, and am being criticized because I said this primary is not a referendum on Mormonism, which I do not think is a relevant matter in this primary.

    The person suggesting I’ve brought those things up is a coward.

    Man up, and take on the arguments I’ve actually made. I have not one concern for the particulars of Mormons. As far as I’m concerned, they think Jesus was their savior and that’s the central component of my own faith too.

    I’ve been defending Mormonism from this ‘not real Christianity’ attack for years, but some cowardly Romney fans think calling Romney opponents anti-Mormon is an effective way to smear them.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  47. One million abortions PLUS Osama bin Laden . . .

    New high score, baby! Whoo whoo!!!

    Barack Got-Game Obama (9af951)

  48. And yeah, I think the trinity is not meant to be understood. It’s a matter of faith. I have no problem with people who disagree with me, but that’s my personal view: that there is a trinity and I don’t understand it.

    The idea I’m being intolerant of those who have that view is a dishonest and cowardly argument.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  49. I have no problem with the cowards that disagree with me.

    Dust In The Wind (9af951)

  50. Thanks, Dustin. I wondered what the heck I was missing.

    carlitos (49ef9f)

  51. I have no problem with the cowards that disagree with me.

    No, I have a problem with cowardly lying about me.

    Saying I’ve been trashing Mormons as polytheists is a lie, and you are a coward for that sort of attack. There’s really no way around this. You owe me an apology for that, and if you’re a real man you will acknowledge your mistake.

    I have no problem with those who disagree with me on spiritual matters. I have loved ones who pray east to Mecca, and I have loved ones who are penecostal and I have loved ones who are atheists. It would not change my view of Mitt Romney or Rick Perry if they swapped faiths. I see these men as responsible for fighting to reduce entitlement spending and other spending, and that is my primary factor in evaluating them.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  52. And I will freely admit I am biased against Romney and have been harsh in dissing him as a flip flopper with no principles to guide him. If you want to take me on for that, I welcome it. That is what I want to do… let’s argue about politics.

    If Romney were calling on Mormonism to explain his leadership, maybe then it would be relevant. Like when Obama names his memoirs after Rev Wright’s sermons and employs some of Rev Wright’s arguments. But every time I’ve seen Romney asked about his faith, he says it’s not relevant, and I just don’t think it is. The guy has been much more moderate than the church’s views, at least in my opinion, anyway.

    So let’s stop pretending this is about Mormonism. That is a good way to deflect, but it’s not honest.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  53. and no problem, Carlitos.

    I don’t mind if people want to rag on me in the sockpuppet thread… a few weeks ago I was Perry’s lover (since he’s gay, ha ha ha ha ha). I honestly have no problem with Mormons at all. I actually have a high opinion of their family values, even though I have a different faith.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  54. Hmm, I wonder if those posts were really about what I said, and were slyly “attributed” to Dustin in order to cajole him into ‘breaking the fourth wall’ . . .

    Milhouse (9af951)

  55. Radar: “Huh?”

    BJ: “Major Dustin has no sense of humor.”

    M*A*S*H* (9af951)

  56. Dustin is NOT Perry’s gay lover! It’s not true, I tell you!

    No, no, no, no, no, no . . . please let it be untrue! *sob*

    EricPerryWhoreJohnson (9af951)

  57. Hmm, I wonder if those posts were really about what I said, and were slyly “attributed” to Dustin in order to cajole him into ‘breaking the fourth wall’ . . .

    Comment by Milhouse — 12/9/2011 @ 12:45 pm

    Yeah, I am being trolled, of course.

    But that’s OK. Trolls have this rule where they win if you react to them, and I just don’t recognize that rule. Whoever did this was just called a coward, and in their heart, they know that’s correct.

    If my daughter came home to tell me she was marrying a Mormon, I would be thankful. That’s the extent of my bigotry against them.

    BJ: “Major Dustin has no sense of humor.”

    Comment by M*A*S*H*

    Yeah, clown nose off to rail about this, and then when it’s shot down, clown nose on. Har har har. Those comments really are so witty and funny, rather than just trying to take my name to say things I didn’t say.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  58. No, no, no, no, no, no . . . please let it be untrue! *sob*

    Comment by EricPerryWhoreJohnson — 12/9/2011 @ 12:50 pm

    See, that was actually funny. See the difference? Both Eric and I are biased Perry fans, so the ‘humor’ is to take our fandom to the next level and laugh about it.

    Much unlike if I just took the name of someone I don’t like and started saying things they don’t agree with.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  59. Is there anything bad about private sector unions?

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  60. Dustin is not a bad person.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  61. And since Dustin is Dustin and not a sock puppet, I should point out that #53 is a sock puppet, not me.

    The real Milhouse (ea66e3)

  62. Is this polytheism? Most Christians would disagree, but having distinct deities is an honest basis for this claim.
    Comment by Dustin — 12/6/2011 @ 12:11 pm

    Dust in case you missed it (9af951)

  63. And since I’ve been indirectly accused (in Dustin’s guise) of pointing out the fact of Mormon polytheism in order to scare people or something, I feel obliged to point out that this is a silly accusation. Why would I regard Romney’s polytheism as more scary than Huntsman’s, or than the rest of the candidates’ trinitarianism? Sure, from their POV they’re still monotheists, even if they can’t fully explain how, but from mine they’re not, so why would I prefer any of them over a Mormon? I don’t care how many gods a president thinks there are, so long as he believes in the constitution.

    The real Milhouse (ea66e3)

  64. And since Dustin is Dustin and not a sock puppet, I should point out that #53 is a sock puppet, not me.

    Comment by The real Milhouse

    So the coward is admitting he was ‘slyly’ attributing Milhouse’s views to me? And he wasn’t trying to be funny… he really wanted me to think Milhouse said that while complimenting himself, Glenn Greenwald style.

    Yeah, that’s about as sly as a box of rocks.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  65. Perhaps, to avoid “the worst sin you can commit on this thread is not being funny,” we should all append “-puppet” to the end of each and every puppeted screen name in this thread. That way, the unfunny posts will be clearly identifiable.

    Oh, wait . . .

    It's like KISS without the makeup (9af951)

  66. Comment by Dust in case you missed it — 12/9/2011 @ 1:01 pm

    Wow, that is very dishonest of you. I note you failed to link this comment, and you cut out the context that would show I wasn’t actually talking about Mormon polytheism, but rather was discussing Milhouse’s point about the trinity that I personally believe in.

    Let me link it for you.

    And let me quote it too:

    . Saying it’s beyond our capacity to understand doesn’t reconcile a contradiction.

    I guess the idea here is that the issue is resolved by something that breaks basic reasoning such as identity logic. Or maybe something about God’s nature allows him to be in three forms at the same time, while remaining one entity (this is the easiest way for me to resolve it).

    but don’t say that Christians say that.

    I think there’s a variety of things Christians will say about it.

    Each is necessary, and each is distinct, and yet all are one.

    Is this polytheism? Most Christians would disagree, but having distinct deities is an honest basis for this claim.

    Comment by Dustin — 12/6/2011 @ 12:11 pm

    That’s the comment. Am I asserting anyone is polytheistic? No. Am I talking about Mormons? No. Am I somehow just trying to slip that word in, as suggested above? Obviously not. I’m discussing an interesting comment someone else made, while explaining how there is a logical basis for Milhouse’s opinion, but most Christians (in my opinion) would disagree.

    So the coward hunts for my using the word, which the only time he can find is my replying to someone else’s using it with ‘is that right?’

    Dustin (cb3719)

  67. Who said that Dustin is a bad person?

    Not Me (9af951)

  68. Racist high-tech lynchers

    Herman Cain (554e77)

  69. Perhaps, to avoid “the worst sin you can commit on this thread is not being funny,” we should all append “-puppet” to the end of each and every puppeted screen name in this thread. That way, the unfunny posts will be clearly identifiable.

    I admit I’m not being funny. Sorry, but someone decided to smear my name. I have every right to call them a dishonest coward. The fact is I’m very hard on Romney, and at least one of those fans appears to take it too personally and decided to smear me.

    The guy wasn’t laughing when he typed that out. He was clenching his fists and foaming at the mouth that I dared criticize a politician. For God’s sake. You don’t see me freaking out every time someone rags on Perry for stuttering stupidly.

    But it wasn’t funny either. By all means, if you want to make an actually funny joke at my expense, go for it.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  70. The reason I read passive aggressive dishonesty into everything is that is exactly how I operate.

    You mean there are people who honestly admit they prefer one candidate to another and then provide facts to explain where they are coming from? What kind of game is that?

    That’s naive and not ready for prime time.

    Objective Concerned Conservative (cb3719)

  71. “None of the Above…”

    What an utterly absurd assertion. Let me just say– and let me be very blunt about this, in all candor, the question of none of the above is all about one of the above. Me. The one who is polling above all the rest. Me. It’s simply stunning in the face of an election I’ve decided is as crucial as that of 1860. Did I mention that every election I’ve ever been in is as dire as the election of 1860? No matter. I believe I am as important to this country as Churchill, Christ and Ronald Reagan were to saving Western Civilization. No matter, as most of you probably attended American public schools and have no idea who Churchill was. Did I mention Ronald Reagan? There. I just did. Again. I won’t mention Christ again because that brings to mind the Ten Commandments and I’ve broken all of them. But it also brings to mind Charlton Heston. And he was a celebrity, just like me. And Ronald Reagan. Did I mention Ronald Reagan yet? There. I just did. Again. Why am I obsessed with the election of 1860? The answer should be obvious. The Lincoln-Douglas debates were crucial to the election of the first Republican president. The fact he was a liberal Republican and that election precipitated the bloody Civil War with the conservative South taking up arms in a treasonous rebellion against the United States government, the Constitution and the principles of its Founding Fathers by waging war on its citizenry, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans is not the issue. Forget about Robert E. Lee being a traitor to America. I’m a historian. I know. And something you know nothing about if you went to an American public school. And if I’d succeeded in killing off Public Broadcasting, you’d never have seen Ken Burns’ program about it, either. Who is Ken Burns? Most of you assume he’s Montgomery Burns’ nephew. “Ay caramba!” No matter. By the way, that was for the Hispanic vote. What is important is the Lincoln-Douglas debates went on for hours over days and days and the opportunity for me to talk for hours on end about me faking my way through it with the bluster of faux historical references sounding like I know what I’m talking about is an opportunity you should not be denied. Because it gives me a chance to talk more about me. Because as well all know, 68 year old men with multiple marriages, affairs and the capacity to be on several sides of one issue within a week can change. And as a celebrity, like Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan, and as a highly paid, unregistered lobbyist who plays a historian on TV, let me be frank in saying that those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it. Which is why any American who looks into my history will be disillusioned, disappointed, disheartened and dissuaded from even considering nominating me. No matter. Because you won’t. Because Americans do not know their own history. Or mine. And those who do not learn from it are condemned to repeat it. Did I mention that already? No matter. Did I mention Ronald Reagan? There, I just did. Again. Did I mention I often stand in front of a mirror and debate myself and always win? No matter. =inhale= What an utterly absurd assertion…

    Newt Gingrich (9d1bb3)

  72. Dang. Romney fans are really pissed off today. Granted, it’s probably just the one fan, but he’s really pissed off.

    Not bad, Newt. I think you’re confusing those who think Romney’s problem is that he’s liberal, when the real problem is that he’s untrustworthy.

    NotRomney/NotRomney 2012!

    My Legacy wasn't Deval Patrick (cb3719)

  73. The all-Democrat stimulus that was passed in early 2009 will accelerate the timing of the start of the recovery

    Mitt Romney on a Wednesday (cb3719)

  74. No, Mitt, I disagree. The all-Democrat stimulus passed in early 2009 has been a failure.

    Mitt Romney on a Wednesday afternoon (cb3719)

  75. Ye gods, can’t we all just get along?!?!

    the Colonel Haiku who has been working and missed all the fun (687f10)

  76. The principles that Ronald Reagan espoused are as true today as they were when he spoke them.

    Mitt Romney making a pot of coffee (cb3719)

  77. Look, I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to that godawful stain on America that was Reagan-Bush. Sheesh.

    Mitt Romney drinking his coffee (cb3719)

  78. Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land for 20 years, we should sustain and support it.

    Mitt Romney, 2006 (cb3719)

  79. Well, that [Obamacare] is what we did in Massachusetts, and that is, we put together an exchange, and the president’s copying that idea. I’m glad to hear that.

    Mitt Romney, 2009 (cb3719)

  80. We hired a lawn, a lawn company to mow our lawn, and they had illegal immigrants that were working there.

    Mitt Romney (cb3719)

  81. I will not sign a no-new-taxes pledge. Gosh.

    Mitt Romney running in MA (cb3719)

  82. I’m proud to be the only major candidate for president to sign the tax pledge.

    Mitt Romney running outside MA (cb3719)

  83. I do not support any new legislation of an assault weapon ban nature.

    Pistol Packin' Mitt Romney (cb3719)

  84. I just signed a piece of legislation extending the ban on certain assault weapons.

    Governor Mitt Romney (cb3719)

  85. TARP got paid back and it kept the financial system from collapsing…. It was the right thing to do.

    Liberal Mitt Romney (cb3719)

  86. I’m not willing to sit back and say too bad for Michigan, too bad, too bad for the car industry.

    /I guess he doesn’t flip flop on everything, actually.

    Liberal Mitt Romney (cb3719)

  87. Comment by President Obama — 12/9/2011 @ 11:30 am

    When you come to deport all of the seniors, don’t forget a generous supply of body-bags.

    Col. Troutman (a9c4a9)

  88. I’m a complex man. Those above are all actual quotes to show just how sophisticated / schizophrenic I am. I stand by 100% of half of those, depending on who I’m talking to.

    But boy, I do love it when people mock Newt for being a smarty pants.

    Mitt Romney (cb3719)

  89. I’ve spent my entire life in the private sector. No. Really. That’s supposed to be a joke.

    Mitt Romney (9d1bb3)

  90. I have no idea what I’m talking about, I’ve never
    seen a Michael Bay or a Lethal Weapon film either;

    http://www.popmatters.com/pm/tools/full/143987

    jonathan kirby (87e966)

  91. Someone is off his meds again.

    Colonel Haiku (687f10)

  92. Think of what happened after 9/11. The minute before there was any assessment, there was glee in the [Bush] administration because now we can invade Iraq, and so the war drums beat.

    /also a quote

    And Haiku, if quoting Romney’s flip flops is an insane way to criticize him, I guess I’m insane.

    But at least I’m also honest. For what it’s worth, Romney, Perry, and Newt would all run the government better than Obama, but we’re in a primary right now, and if Romney’s fans can’t tolerate honest criticism of the most liberal candidates, that’s their problem, not mine.

    Ron Paul, piece of garbage (cb3719)

  93. And it’s multiple people ragging on Romney.

    I know to the Romney devotee, that’s incomprehensible, but bashing Romney is good clean fun that most people enjoy.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  94. colon
    irritated
    in colonel
    haiku
    gesundheit

    Kaopectate (9d1bb3)

  95. And to think, they called me, mad at the Universite
    y (ps; you really are madder than a bag of hatters)

    elizabeth warren (87e966)

  96. Mormons ate my baby.

    Meryl Streep (bf33e9)

  97. God told me to take my 45% approval rating in Texas and run for President of the United States. I swear this wasn’t my idea. I’m not that dumb. Heck, I may not even win the primary in my own state the way this is going.

    The Big Guy has a strange sense of humor sometimes.

    Rick Perry (bf33e9)

  98. Rick – That there’s some funny sh*t.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  99. Romney entered the Massachusetts State House in January 2003 with a flashy favorability rating of 61 percent. After demanding cuts to fix a $650 million budget hole, voters rewarded him in March 2003 with a 61 percent job approval rating as well, according to a University of Massachusetts-Lowell poll.

    That was Romney’s zenith. By November 2004, voters were souring, and a Suffolk poll found his favorable rating had dropped to 47 percent.

    A year later, that rating sank another 14 points. Just 33 percent of Bay State voters had a favorable opinion of Romney in 2005, according to Suffolk, while 49 percent were unfavorable.

    Things did not improve in 2006, when Suffolk found that his unfavorable rating had risen to 55 percent while his favorable remained stagnant.

    By November 2006, as he closed out his increasingly absentee term, his overall job approval rating had cratered to 36 percent. He’d also begun ducking reporters, notably dodging questions after a menorah-lighting ceremony outside his office.

    “To know Mitt Romney is to dislike him,” said Thomas Whalen, a Boston University political science professor. “That is the moral of the story.”

    And that’s why I’ve won so many elections and you’ve lost so many.

    /winks obnoxiously and does a lame finger pistol maneuver while clucking his tongue twice

    Rick Perry (cb3719)

  100. The man that bought my house for me sold me my house? Going to prison.
    The man responsible for choosing my successor to the US Senate? Going to prison.

    Me, myself & I? We’re above the fray, baybee! Whooo!!!

    Barack U-Can't-Touch-This Obama (9af951)

  101. And it’s multiple people ragging on Romney.

    I know to the Romney devotee, that’s incomprehensible, but bashing Romney is good clean fun that most people enjoy.

    Comment by Dustin

    Mitt Romney is a big guy and he can withstand the withering dithering of the pajama class, Dustin. Since I’ve been busy with work today, I was playing catch-up and perusing the thread and noticed a large amount of picking on you.

    I know you have a tendency to wilt under pressure and lash out, like a wounded hamster , hence my “can’t we all get along” post. But do carry on.

    Colonel Haiku (687f10)

  102. Romney’s laser focus on his presidential aspirations led to a political blunder that cost him dearly. He wagered his future on running a slate of 100 Republicans against a Democratic state Legislature in 2004 in a very blue state – and they all lost. Romney, Whalen said, spent the rest of his term using his post as a springboard for his next gig – the presidency.

    “It was so blatantly obvious he was planning to leave town,” Whalen said. “People saw it as a cynical ploy.”

    A week of polling now shows that Romney is dropping in early-voting states. The more he campaigns, the more ground he seems to lose.

    But you, know who cares that Romney slate of candidates lost 100% of the time that year. It’s not like we need a nominee who can help push congressmen in red states and blue states in 2012. No biggie.

    “Romney has a coldness, an aloofness about him. It’s hard to warm up to him,” said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato. “That’s the reason he doesn’t wear well. He aims to please constantly, he desperately tries to please, but he doesn’t.”

    This makes me want to give him a hug.

    Newt’s going to crush Romney like a bug, and not because of anything special about Newt.

    Coat tails (cb3719)

  103. If insanity and honesty work for you, Ron Paul, have at it. Float that boat.

    Colonel Haiku (687f10)

  104. I know you have a tendency to wilt under pressure and lash out, like a wounded hamster , hence my “can’t we all get along” post. But do carry on.

    Comment by Colonel Haiku — 12/9/2011 @ 3:09 pm

    Yeah, I’m wilting.

    Only, I’m not the weirdo who is so angry he sockpuppeted me a bunch of times in this thread, and then (I guess) admitted he was “slyly” just attributing a position to me I argued against.

    I think that kind of crack up shows someone’s got thin skin.

    And I think you’re projecting. My noting I don’t hold the view that some coward claimed I did is a pretty normal way to react to that kind of thing.

    I think it’s pretty clear I’m bugging you guys a lot more than y’all are buggin’ me. The only guy I’m really ragging on is Mitt Romney.

    And we’ll let the polls decide if he can handle it.

    Not Romney 2012 seems to be a winning bet.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  105. There’s heart break and then there’s The HeartBreak of Dustin®.

    Colonel Haiku (687f10)

  106. Only, I’m not the only weirdo who is so angry

    Comment by Dustin

    FIFY, no thanks required…

    Colonel Haiku (687f10)

  107. Heartbreak? Romney’s losing, Haiku. What is there to be heartbroken about?

    That some coward claimed I was criticizing Mormons as polytheists?

    All I had to do was note I never said anything like that. Whoever did that knows what that makes him. Let him keep on hiding. That pleases me.

    Your problem is that you project all the time.

    You see, I don’t need to lie about what you say when we disagree, because I’m very direct about what we disagree about. Whoever is bashing me for trashing polytheistic Mormons had something else he was really butt-hurt over, but knew he couldn’t beat me on the merits of that issue, so he had to make something up.

    I guess I’m living rent free in your heads, but if it’s any consolation, I (or more honestly, we) would have enjoyed trashing Romney either way. That’s what you’re really mad about.

    That’s the funniest joke in this thread.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  108. Dude before the EPA considers your verbal feces an enviromental hazard I suggest you shut up Colonel.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  109. Where did the humor go? Rick Perry makes one self-deprecating remark and his fans go nuts.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  110. The question of being reamed by Romney is simply absurd. It’s fantasy to even consider. It’s the kind of ‘trumped’ up diversion I’d expect to be hyped by the media elite. To be… or not to be. Maybe. Reagan would have liked that kind of Shakespeare quip. He was an actor. And a celebrity, too, just like me. Did I mention Ronald Reagan? There, I just did. Again. Notice how I mentioned my good friend Donald Trump in a subtle way, too? He’s a celebrity, just like me as well. Because like the Donald–see, we’re on a first name basis, as all us celebrities are– I was a well paid member of the media elite not too long ago who delivered fair and balanced commentary– especially when I was talking about me. Just like Donald does. Which brings to mind another Donald– Donald Duck. He was cartoonish, too. And he was a Disney creation. Walt Disney was a Republican, too, and a friend of Ronald Reagan, like me. Did I mention I worked with Ronald Reagan? There, I just did. Again. Did you notice I said with, not for? No matter. We celebrities always work together. Mitt has nothing to fear from me. Mitt needs to understand that Reagan liked his jelly beans and I was nothing more than a jelly donut in his kitchen cabinet, as it were. See, I mentioned Reagan again. Of course, you have no idea what a kitchen cabinet really means because you’re not a historian like me. Or celebrities like the Donalds, both Trump and Duck, and like Reagan and like me. Did I mention Ronald Reagan again? There, I just did. And like a jelly donut, I am void of any substantive value to speak of; am powdered white on top, with gooey red stuff in my middle and two holes, one at each end. So Mitt can eat me. =inhale= The question of being reamed by Romney…

    Newt Gingrich (9d1bb3)

  111. Fanning nuts. That’s a Perry supporter.

    Jock Strapp (9d1bb3)

  112. Where did the humor go? Rick Perry makes one self-deprecating remark and his fans go nuts.

    Comment by daleyrocks — 12/9/2011 @ 3:38 pm

    ???

    Bash Perry all day long. It’s amusing only because the guy is a non-factor at this point. There’s no reason to defend him. He’s not going to be the nominee. I already found it a shame Gov Daniels isn’t going to be the guy. I wish Paul Ryan had run. Perry was the best of the rest, but I am fine with Newt Gingrich.

    Anyone But Romney. That’s what I really want.

    Daley, were you the guy who tried to suggest I was discussing the polytheism of Mormons? I thought we were pretty much friends, even though we have angrily disagreed about whether Romney was a much more liberal governor than Perry.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  113. “Daley, were you the guy who tried to suggest I was discussing the polytheism of Mormons?”

    Dustin – Not me, you should have been able to tell that from the writing style, but I also don’t think it’s polite to try to out people on the sock thread.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  114. “we have angrily disagreed about whether Romney was a much more liberal governor than Perry.”

    Dustin – That’s just what you believe we are arguing over. I’m arguing over honesty.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  115. Not me, you should have been able to tell that from the writing style,

    I can’t tell what your writing style is, but you don’t need to bolster your denial. I simply asked you a straight question. Thanks for the answer.

    , but I also don’t think it’s polite to try to out people on the sock thread.

    I’m sorry I was impolite to whomever tried to smear me as some kind of anti polytheist because he can’t handle the arguments I’ve actually made.

    Oh, OK. I’m not sorry.

    Thing is, if someone did that to you, you know I’d call them out for it.

    And what’s really amusing is that this person already noted they did that because they want to “break the fourth wall”. I think what he’s trying to say is that he was trying to out people in the sock thread. Not that he was successful.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  116. “We have eight Supreme Court judges. When you see his… appointment of two, from my perspective, inarguably… uh… activist judges… uh… whether it was… uh… not… not… Notonayor… [Des Moine Register throws lifeline, rep asks Perry, “Sonia Sotomayor?”]… uh, Sotomayor…”

    – Governor Rick Perry

    Governor Ricky Perry (687f10)

  117. Even with the EPA NYs water is polluted because people meaning leftys don’t know better.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  118. # 115 is true, it happened today and IT. IS. FUNNIER. THAN. SH*T.

    Governor Ricky Perry (687f10)

  119. Dustin – That’s just what you believe we are arguing over. I’m arguing over honesty.

    Comment by daleyrocks — 12/9/2011 @ 3:59 pm

    You’re calling me a liar, daleyrocks? Shouldn’t you be able to show me lying, then?

    But you can’t. You say I’m a liar because I call Romney a liberal on spending because he signed into law Romneycare, a hugely expensive bill that has lost over twenty billion dollars.

    When you analyzed how Romney and Perry are the same on spending, you relied on ‘rates’ and ‘inflation’ and I replied ‘how much did Romneycare cost so far’ and you never replied.

    The thing is, MA’s per capita government is much bigger than Texas’s, and Texas is growing economically (not just per capita) while MA isn’t. So I disagree with you that their rate of growth being similar shows that Perry and Romney have the same record.

    I think Perry’s keeping Texas’s spending low for twelve years is much more impressive than Romney’s.

    You say we’re arguing over honesty. Where am I lying, exactly?

    You guys just can’t handle a bona fide argument about this stuff without smearing the person criticizing Romney. It’s not enough to disagree. I must be dishonest for thinking Romney is pretty damn liberal and increased MA’s taxing and spending.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  120. # 115 is true, it happened today and IT. IS. FUNNIER. THAN. SH*T.

    Comment by Governor Ricky Perry — 12/9/2011 @ 4:05 pm

    It is funny. I’m not sure that it’s ‘funnier than sh*t’ though.

    It’s about as funny as when Romney said Asia was a country.

    Because Perry is conservative, his stupid gaffes will get plenty of coverage, and Lord knows he makes a lot of them.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  121. “Dustin – That’s just what you believe we are arguing over. I’m arguing over honesty.

    Comment by daleyrocks — 12/9/2011 @ 3:59 pm

    You’re calling me a liar, daleyrocks? Shouldn’t you be able to show me lying, then?”

    Dustin – This is not the thread for this discussion. I have proved your talking points wrong repeatedly, but you keep using them just like EPWJ.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  122. Help me Jesus! Help me Jewish God! Help me Allah!

    Aaaaaaaah!

    Governor Ricky Bobby Perry (687f10)

  123. Another pointless donnybrook.

    🙄

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  124. “And what’s really amusing is that this person already noted they did that because they want to “break the fourth wall”.”

    Dustin – I thought that was what another commenter was suggesting the sock was doing.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  125. I admire honesty. I don’t practice it, but I admire it.

    Dustin Pee Wee (687f10)

  126. What Daleyrocks doesn’t understand is that ‘increases to the rate of growth’ style arguments are fundamentally misguided.

    Texas’s state controllable spending, per capita, shrank over the course of 12 years. Vs Romney, whose Romneycare is bankrupting the state according to MA’s treasurer.

    I dispute the analyses that are created solely to show that Perry and Romney are exactly the same on spending. They just plain aren’t. Texas simply is a lot more conservative on spending than MA is. Romney may have managed to keep a huge government growing BY PERCENT at a similar rate as Texas for a few years, but that percentage would therefore be a much larger increase per capita than Texas’s, since Texas has a lower per capita spending level to start with.

    This is how I’m a liar, Daleyrocks?

    And how in the hell are we not arguing about how liberal Romney is? You say this isn’t what we’re disagreeing about, but it plainly is. Your replacement of that with ‘dishonesty’ is typical of what I’m finding when dealing with Romney’s ‘objective’ fans.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  127. There is no Gorilla Glue that can hold me together!

    Dustin Pee Wee (687f10)

  128. I thought that was what another commenter was suggesting the sock was doing.

    Comment by daleyrocks — 12/9/2011 @ 4:13 pm

    Yeah, it sure was intended to look like Milhouse said that, not as a sockpuppet mocking Milhouse for laughs, but an actual effort to mislead people.

    Pretty cowardly.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  129. What the Hell! This ain’t fair! My pants… who stole my pants!?!?

    Dustin Pee Wee (687f10)

  130. But if it makes the coward feel better, yeah, that smear of me bugged me a lot. Well done.

    I see Daleyrocks’s crusade against ‘dishonesty’ doesn’t appear to extent to that particular bit of it. Seems he’s mostly interested in my ‘dishonest’ claim that Romney is more liberal on spending than Perry was, even though he also appears to be denying that is what we’ve been arguing about.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  131. We’ll be right back with more of “The Cowardly Cowards From Coward County”, starring Dustin Smarmypants.

    Dustin Pee Wee (687f10)

  132. When will leftys stop complaining about the MSG in Chinese food!

    D'OH Biden (687f10)

  133. What the Hell! This ain’t fair! My pants… who stole my pants!?!?

    Comment by Dustin Pee Wee — 12/9/2011 @ 4:19 pm

    Pants are for sissies who don’t have my gorgeous quadriceps.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  134. Dustin Smarmypants.

    I only come across that way when telling people not to lie, Sir Robin.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  135. When will my sockpuppet get to truly complaning about Iran.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  136. I only come across that way when telling people not to lie, Sir Robin.

    Which is very, very often.

    You’ll find that’s the common thread when I’m ticked off. You can argue that Obama is the best president in the history of the world without making be angry. You can say Romneycare is a great idea without making me angry. If that’s what you think, let’s argue about it, and that’s good fun.

    But, for example, saying Milhouse’s point about the Trinity is ‘intolerance’? Or anyone discussing their view that it’s not meant to be understood by us is ‘bigotry’? I think that’s bad faith, and I’ll call it out. I think that’s a dark path of thought, too. Let people disagree without getting that affected by it.

    Sorry, Romney fanboys, I’m not a dishonest person. I just really, really don’t think Romney should be the nominee because he was, to my honest evaluation I can repeat 100 times, liberal on taxation, liberal on spending, and liberal on many other issues, then a shameless flip flopper with no character or guiding philosophy but the pursuit of power via the pander.

    It just so happens that when you call a liar out, so begins a web of projection and ugliness, and I happily do my best to sustain a constant ‘that’s BS’ reply. I do wear out eventually, so maybe you three should hang in there.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  137. Someone is sockpuppeting Dustin.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  138. What Daleyrocks doesn’t understand is that ‘increases to the rate of growth’ style arguments are fundamentally misguided.

    I have no idea what you are talking about.

    You’re calling me a liar, daleyrocks? Shouldn’t you be able to show me lying, then?”

    I did not call you a liar, your smears of Romney and comparisons with Perry’s Texas figures have been dishonest, consciously or unconsciously, omitted key context, and distorted.

    Texas’s state controllable spending, per capita, shrank over the course of 12 years.

    Hey, so did Romney’s over his four years as governor.

    “I dispute the analyses that are created solely to show that Perry and Romney are exactly the same on spending”

    Well if the measuring technique to show Perry’s spending declined over his term applied to Romney yields the same results, you can say both governors held spending steady. Your bogus claim that Massachusetts spends 50% more than Texas is irrelevant. If I live in a place my pocket gets picked by both state and local governments to provide basic services. I care about the total amount of pocket picking not who is doing it. In Texas the pocket picking is split pretty evenly between the stateand local governments. In Massachusetts, the state does 2/3 of the pocket picking. An honest commenter take that into account in making a bogus claim that Massachusetts government expenditures are 50% higher than in Texas. Combine state and local and look at them and revise your claim about big Massachusetts government.

    I replied ‘how much did Romneycare cost so far’ and you never replied.

    I think you must be blind given the number of times I’ve discussed Romneycare. I have not fled the discussion. It costs what it costs. You have not answered my question about what Rick Perry is doing about the cost to Texas of it’s much larger problem with uncompensated care. Don’t think that is not costing Texans money already.

    I see Daleyrocks’s crusade against ‘dishonesty’ doesn’t appear to extent to that particular bit of it.

    If Patterico wants to give me a badge, I’ll be a thread policeman for your thin skin on sockpuppet threads. I did not know one was required.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  139. “Someone is sockpuppeting Dustin.”

    Dohbiden – Dustin is sockpuppeting Dustin and pretending to be thin skinned, unreasonable and rehashing stale talking points.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  140. the moose louse, Milhouse, is loose in the house!

    Canada Dan (687f10)

  141. Romneybots accusing others of thin skin?

    How predictable in it’s irony.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  142. The Republicans are stepping up to ensure that I win in 2012. Thank you, thank you!

    Barack Who'sSane Obama (049cdd)

  143. ya know I ain’t playin’
    so hear what I’m sayin’
    yeah OG is in da house
    that’s right grandmaster milhouse
    ya know tucas is a booty
    and a booty is a butt
    ya might think me kinda rudey
    but I be sayin’ what’s what
    you can call me King Putz
    cuz I’m nothin’ but kosher cutz
    this ain’t the white cliffs a Dover
    but ya won’t be passin’ over
    it’s me, the Main Boy
    packin’ da kosher joy toy
    jus’ call me Master Blaster
    the pimpin’ Head Boss
    with da Hot Sauce

    Milhouse the Gefilte Rapper (687f10)

  144. Too many guns and Mexico will tip over.

    hank johnson (87e966)

  145. Word.

    Milhouse the Gefilte Rapper (687f10)

  146. OK. I’m tired of this.

    The thread is not funny because it is filled with infighting.

    I do not see the concept of charity being practiced. Let us not judge another as a “liar” — on either side — unless there is irrefutable proof of it. Proof that gives the other guy the benefit of the doubt, takes account of his arguments with an open mind, and overcomes those arguments in a way that cannot be contradicted.

    I am not following every detail of all the infighting, but folks like Dustin, daleyrocks, Colonel Haiku . . . you’re not liars. Any of you.

    So anyone making overblown accusations, please think twice.

    Patterico (f724ca)

  147. Hear, hear. I like discussions and disagreements but this stuff is driving people away. Furthermore, the sockpuppet threads are being corrupted with comments used as an excuse to get even with political rivals. I thought the sockpuppet thread rule was comments have to be funny. IMO that means it has to be funny to most of the readers, not just to the one leaving the comment.

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  148. he’s agitated
    or is he constipated?
    he’s just doh biden

    Colonel Haiku (687f10)

  149. The place has degenerated from the ‘Argument Clinic’ straight into abuse, all that’s missing
    is the 16 ton anvil that punctuated a python segment.

    hank johnson (87e966)

  150. (Tweet!!!) (Throwing flag) Newt at 70 and 109. Personal foul. Too long of a BS post. Ok, we get it, Newt is a long winded SOB.

    Sockpuppet Umpire (a1fcca)

  151. (Tweet!!), (throwing flag). Ok Dustin and Daleyrocks, get back to your respective corners of the sandbox and BEHAVE!
    Lets try to in some small measure act like adults.

    Sockpuppet Umpire (a1fcca)

  152. Too many botox and Nancy Pelooza will tip over.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  153. Nope, I have no idea what happened to $1.2 billion of my client’s money.
    Nay, Nay you can’t touch me. I’m an Obama buddy.

    Corzine (a1fcca)

  154. Ok honey, you go ahead to the islands. I can get another flight in a few days. Don’t worry about the double cost of going. The peons love me.

    Obamaman (a1fcca)

  155. Too much infighting and Patterico will tip over…………………..Wow that was lame.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  156. Guns? What guns? Honest Congressman, I have no idea what you are referring to. And that money thing, bah.

    Holderman, US AG (a1fcca)

  157. Patterico – He did it first!

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  158. it’s a knickknack patty black give the frog a loan

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  159. patterico’s blog
    is for polite discussion
    not pencil-neck geeks!

    Colonel Haiku (687f10)

  160. I thought the sockpuppet thread rule was comments have to be funny. IMO that means it has to be funny to most of the readers, not just to the one leaving the comment.

    Yeah, I tried to institute a rule early on that it’s not supposed to be a way to take cheap shots at other commenters. That rule is breached too often.

    Patterico (f724ca)

  161. your smears of Romney and comparisons with Perry’s Texas figures have been dishonest, consciously or unconsciously

    “Dishonest” is a charged word that implies conscious and deliberate falsehood.

    Patterico (f724ca)

  162. “Dishonest” is a charged word that implies conscious and deliberate falsehood.

    Thanks for the tip, Patterico. May I quote you?

    Eric Holder (687f10)

  163. No Stedman in your case dishonest is right on.

    Dohbiden (ef98f0)

  164. ““Dishonest” is a charged word that implies conscious and deliberate falsehood.”

    If the shoe fits, so be it. I have repeatedly shown the distortions in the comparisons and errors in statements, conscious or unconscious.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  165. Perry dishonest? You can’t cheat an honest man. Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump.

    W.C. Fields (9d1bb3)

  166. Compare:

    ““Dishonest” is a charged word that implies conscious and deliberate falsehood.”

    and:

    I have repeatedly shown the distortions in the comparisons and errors in statements, conscious or unconscious.

    Bolded to make the comparison easier.

    If it’s possibly unconscious, calling it “dishonest” is unnecessarily tendentious.

    Patterico (f724ca)

  167. Yeah, and we Texans like our steaks tendentious and medium rare. So there.

    Rick Perry (9d1bb3)

  168. The thread is not funny because it is filled with infighting.

    Of course the thread is funny, it’s just that conservatives have no sense of humor. It’s a thread about nothings. And doncha just hate it? Because you could win. I mean, c’mon…. Newt? Mitt? Michelle? Rick? The other Rick? Ron? Jon? Herman? Donald? Chris? Tim? George? John? Paul? Ringo? What’s not to laugh about? Oh wait– never mind.

    Jerry Seinfeld (9d1bb3)

  169. Hey, if you like your Sockpuppet Friday, you can keep your Sockpuppet Friday.

    B Obama, oretty bad at math but at least can count the number of comments in this thread (3e92e3)

  170. Yeah!! This thread is supposed to be for US, not you guys! Check the headlines once in a while, willya?

    Stupid famous people everywhere, jockeying for their turn in Ye Olde Sockpuppet Stocks (3e92e3)

  171. “If it’s possibly unconscious, calling it “dishonest” is unnecessarily tendentious.”

    When you have a commenter with an admitted bias making highly charged comments about a Republican candidate for President, trying to show him in as poor a light as possible while dubiously claiming to be objective, that commenter may not be consciously aware of a dishonest statement or comparison he is making. Dishonesty by omitting information making a comparison, such as Massachusetts state government representing 67% of government state and local government expenditures, while in Texas, the state only accounts for 50% of total expenditures and adding the two together bring total government expenditures in the two states much closer together, does not make the comparison unconsciously more honest.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  172. daley,

    I don’t know if you’re missing the point deliberately or innocently, but I’ll state it one more time and then let it go.

    I don’t really care about the specifics of your argument. Let’s assume for the sake of argument that Dustin’s argument omits important details that are relevant to the fairness of his point.

    My only point is this:

    If you are willing to concede that he is not intentionally (“consciously”) trying to be dishonest, it poisons the conversation to call his points dishonest, in my opinion. Which contributes to fighting and an atmosphere of unpleasantness which has other bad side effects.

    I have been very busy and have not followed the specifics of the arguments. But I believe all the participants to be honest and decent people. I would very much prefer to see you all give each other a little credit.

    Patterico (f724ca)

  173. @171/172 Yada, yada, yada. See, no sense of humor!

    Jerry Seinfeld (9d1bb3)

  174. It’s All Your Fault, Dad.

    Jenna Bush Hager (bf33e9)

  175. Let me just say, in conclusion, speaking as a highly paid pseudo-historian, that it is Tiffany crystal clear to any American paying attention, that the past is prologue. Particularly my past. Which should scare the corn out of all of Iowa and every other loyal American who loves Ronald Reagan and opposes the left-handed, socialist, communist Kenyan Obama. Bib I mention Ronald Reagan? There, I just did. Again. =inhale= Let me just say…

    Newt Gingrich (9d1bb3)

  176. re: #173… who are these people?!?!

    Colonel Haiku (6e258b)

  177. re:#176 – Looooozas!

    Louis DePalma (9d1bb3)

  178. @112- Bash Perry all day long.

    You betcha. Fred Garvin, Bash Perry, male prostitute. I like it.

    Fred Garvin (9d1bb3)

  179. Conservatives oppose and support sharia.

    Lefty (ef98f0)

  180. Dustin is sockpuppeting Dustin and pretending to be thin skinned, unreasonable and rehashing stale talking points.

    Comment by daleyrocks — 12/9/2011 @ 5:01 pm

    For what it’s worth, I keep trying to be friendly about this. I’ll get ticked off, but I then try to say ‘hey, we’re friends with a major disagreement about this issue, right?’

    These overtures are not returned… in fact, they appear to be ignored.

    But I’ll also note I don’t think Daleyrocks is dishonest. I quoted his comment complaining of my ‘stale’ points because I do not really care to keep bringing this up. The reason I explain my view repeatedly is because my integrity keeps being challenged, and my reason for thinking what I do of Romney hasn’t changed (And I think it’s pretty obviously sincere and honest).

    If you don’t like my stale argument, maybe you shouldn’t reference it in a way that draws it back out to be explained again?

    Thin skinned is an interested way to describe me. If you look at what drew me out to complain, it was that someone (Icy?) said I was trashing Mormons for being polytheists. There have been a few attempts to suggest I’m a bigot and I will rebut those if I see them, every single time.

    If you want to troll me, call me a bigot. Is that being thin skinned?

    I laughed at jokes at my expense in this thread, and I think the reason there are so many is that I’ve upset three Romney supporters with my very harsh analysis of him. So perhaps I’m not the only one with thin skin.

    I appreciate Patterico’s comments… and there’s a reason I’m not replying to these by sockpuppeting Haiku or Daley or Icy. I am fully aware of how irritating this feud is and I’m not interested in making the blog this unpleasant.

    Also, it’s clear Patt isn’t really taking sides here… Daleyrocks is a respected commenter and I respect him too when he’s not calling me a liar.

    If I’m wrong about Romney, Romneycare’s cost, etc, then that is a sincere mistake on my part and I actually want someone to explain this to me.

    Anyway, I also wanted to say I really like the sockpuppet threads. I think someone decided to get in a fight with me in a way where it would be difficult for me to respond directly, and well, that’s not really necessary. But I’m just as prone to getting ticked off sometimes, so no hard feelings.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  181. …”If you want to troll me, call me a bigot. Is that being thin skinned? I laughed at jokes at my expense in this thread, and I think the reason there are so many is that I’ve upset three Romney supporters with my very harsh analysis of him. So perhaps I’m not the only one with thin skin.
    I appreciate Patterico’s comments… and there’s a reason I’m not replying to these by sockpuppeting Haiku or Daley or Icy. I am fully aware of how irritating this feud is and I’m not interested in making the blog this unpleasant. Also, it’s clear Patt isn’t really taking sides here… Daleyrocks is a respected commenter and I respect him too when he’s not calling me a liar. If I’m wrong about Romney, Romneycare’s cost, etc, then that is a sincere mistake on my part and I actually want someone to explain this to me. Anyway, I also wanted to say I really like the sockpuppet threads. I think someone decided to get in a fight with me in a way where it would be difficult for me to respond directly, and well, that’s not really necessary. But I’m just as prone to getting ticked off sometimes, so no hard feelings”
    … I tried to post commentary properly… by the book. But they fought me at every turn. If daleyrocks and icy wanted to walk around with their shirt tails hanging out, that’s all right. Let them. Take the troll line. Defective equipment, no more, no less. But they encouraged other posters to go around scoffing at me, and spreading wild rumors about posting in circles. And then Old Romneystain. I was to blame for daleyrocks incompetence and poor postmanship. Daleyrocks was the perfect poster but not Dustin Queeg. Ah, but the strawberries. That’s-that’s where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes…but I proved beyond a shadow of a doubt and with, with geometric logic that a duplicate key to the ward room did exist and I’d have produced that key if they hadn’t pulled me out of action. I, I know now they were only trying to protect some fellow poster…… Naturally, I can oly cover these thing from memory… If I’ve left anythingout, just ask me specific questions and I’ll be glad to answer them… one by one…

    Dustin Queeg (9d1bb3)

  182. “queeg

    adj; describes someone or something that is awkward, or out of place.”

    Hmm. Learn something new every day. Ya got me there, Icy.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  183. Dustin, none of this is EVER personal to me. In that spirit, I would prefer to refrain from voicing an opinion on whether or not you are thin-skinned. I just don’t see why you feel the need to repeatedly use words like “coward” and “man up”, or demanding that a sockpuppet unmask him/herself, or opining that by choosing to not respond a commenter is lobbing a personal insult and/or displaying cowardice. Have you considered the possibility that they are allowing you to have the last word?

    [FWIW, the Dustin Queeg post was NOT me, although I’m still wondering why who-wrote-what matters at all.]

    Icy (58301d)

  184. Yeah, I tried to institute a rule early on that it’s not supposed to be a way to take cheap shots at other commenters.

    Wow, that’s basically all I’ve done. I must not understand sockpuppetting then.

    What??? (721840)

  185. I would prefer to refrain from voicing an opinion on whether or not you are thin-skinned

    Uh boy….

    EricPWJohnson (2a58f7)

  186. Wow, that’s basically all I’ve done. I must not understand sockpuppetting then.

    Comment by What??? — 12/12/2011 @ 5:39 am

    We sympathize. We know it’s tough getting us to stick around when you’re flush with sockpuppet power, but we’d appreciate your making the effort. Thanks.

    the Common twins, Courtesy and Sense (325a59)

  187. I’m still wondering why who-wrote-what matters at all.

    It matters to me because someone (you?) left a bunch of extremely dishonest comments about me, and I think people who debate like that are cowards.

    When I said ‘man up’, I think I was very clear. If you can’t debate me on the things I’m actually saying… if you have to pretend I said the opposite of what I did to promote this ‘I’m offended by your bigotry’ crap, that is misguided and wrong. And I’ll refute such comments.

    I would prefer to refrain from voicing an opinion on whether or not you are thin-skinned

    Except in this catty way.

    Anyway, if it’s thin skinned to note that the person who suggested I was saying the exact opposite of what I said is lying, then I guess I’m thin skinned.

    And if it’s thin skinned to run around lying about people, to suggest their motives are bigoted, then I guess you are thin skinned.

    Dustin (cb3719)

  188. Wow, that’s basically all I’ve done. I must not understand sockpuppetting then.

    I’ve done it too. I’ve actually mocked Milhouse for being a pedant a few times… probably months ago, though, and in a humorous way that hopefully wasn’t mean spirited. I also have mocked Eric a few times, but he’s got thick skin.

    I have to admit that much. I’m not saying people who have fun at the expense of people they disagree with online are horrible bastards. I’m saying if someone seriously tries to deceive people about what I say or think, I’m going to rebut that.

    Anyway, a few Romney fans are so invested in this fake objectivity that their need to lash out in Romney fandom was bound to come out here. Perhaps these people won’t need to do that if they just admit they favor Romney. I don’t see what folks are losing when they admit their bias. No one is stupid enough to fall for ‘I’m being objective’, right?

    Dustin (cb3719)

  189. ATTENTION, EVERYONE!!!
    DUSTIN HAS NEVER SAID ANYTHING THAT HAS OFFENDED ME. NOTHING . . . EVER.

    ATTENTION, EVERYONE!!!
    I HAVE NEVER NEVER NEVER EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT DUSTIN IS A BIGOT, AND WISH TO REPEAT HERE AND NOW THAT I DO NOT THINK DUSTIN IS A BIGOT.

    Icy (8e81e4)

  190. I ate the strawberries.

    Icy B.Cawze (9d1bb3)

  191. “ATTENTION, EVERYONE!!!
    DUSTIN HAS NEVER SAID ANYTHING THAT HAS OFFENDED ME. NOTHING . . . EVER. ATTENTION, EVERYONE!!!
    I HAVE NEVER NEVER NEVER EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT DUSTIN IS A BIGOT, AND WISH TO REPEAT HERE AND NOW THAT I DO NOT THINK DUSTIN IS A BIGOT…”…
    I tried to post commentary properly… by the book. But they fought me at every turn. If daleyrocks and dustin wanted to walk around with their shirt tails hanging out, that’s all right. Let them. Take the bigot line. Defective thinking, no more, no less. But they encouraged other posters to go around scoffing at me, and spreading wild rumors about posting in circles. And then Old Romneystain. I was to blame for dustin’s incompetence and poor postmanship. dustin was the perfect poster but not Icy Queeg. Ah, but the strawberries. That’s-that’s where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes…but I proved beyond a shadow of a doubt and with, with geometric logic that a duplicate key to the ward room did exist and I’d have produced that key if they hadn’t pulled us out of action. I, I know now they were only trying to protect some fellow poster…… Naturally, I can only cover these thing from memory… If I’ve left anything out, just ask me specific questions and I’ll be glad to ice them over them… one by one…

    Icy Queeg (9d1bb3)

  192. I’ve done it too. I’ve actually mocked Milhouse for being a pedant a few times… probably months ago, though, and in a humorous way that hopefully wasn’t mean spirited.

    That’s OK, I am a pedant. I care about getting things right, not just nearly right.

    That’s why we got into that whole discussion of whether the trinity can be understood in the first place; I was trying to be precise and fair about standard Xian trinitarianism, and to distingish it from the blatant polytheism of Mormons. If I didn’t care about fine distinctions I’d have just said that Xians and Mormons are both polytheists, except that Mormons have many many more gods that Xians do. That is what I actually believe, after all. But to state it like that would be unfair to Xians, because it would ignore the fact that Xians don’t think of themselves as polytheists, and have actually come up with a reasonable argument for why they are not. That I don’t accept that argument doesn’t mean I can pretend it doesn’t exist. So I presented the Xian argument — that the three entities of the trinity are simultaneously one, in a way that only seems not to make sense because we’re not built to understand it — and was immediately attacked and called a bigot and all sorts of nasty things. Makes me wonder why I bother being fair, except that you just answered it above: because I’m a pedant and can’t help trying to express myself as precisely as I can.

    My point, though, was that quite beside the issue of trinitarianism, Mormons are polytheist for quite another reason, because they actually believe in the existence of a vast number of separate and completely independent gods, who are not mysteriously all one.

    Milhouse (ea66e3)

  193. The Icy man cometh! Ooooooooooo, I just love Broadway!

    Harvey Fierstein (9d1bb3)

  194. I wonder if one of these days Patterico or Karl will actually post a thread about polytheism.

    Could happen

    I guess

    Icy (8e81e4)


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