Patterico's Pontifications

5/16/2012

Does 04 + 08 = 12?

Filed under: 2012 Election — Karl @ 7:19 am



[Posted by Karl]

William Galston of Brookings recently published “Six Months to Go: Where the Presidential Contest Stands as the General Election Begins,” which compiles a wealth of polling to paint a fairly gloomy portrait of Pres. Obama’s reelection prospects:

Today, while Obama enjoys about a three-point edge over Romney, his electoral support remains well short of 50 percent. His job approval remains significantly lower than that of the past five incumbents who won their reelection contests and is actually two points lower than Jimmy Carter’s was at this point in 1980. (It is four points higher than George H. W. Bush’s job approval in 1992, however.)

Other yellow lights are flashing as well. One recent survey found that only 46 percent of the people think that Obama deserves to be reelected, versus 49 percent who do not. He receives mediocre grades for his handling of the economy and job creation. Another survey found fully 48 percent of the electorate would “never” vote for Obama, suggesting a ceiling below his 2008 share of the vote. (The corresponding figure for Romney was 46 percent.) And despite some recent improvement, key parts of the Democratic base remain less excited about the 2012 contest than are their Republican counterparts.

Read The Whole Thing, but the vast majority who don’t can get a flavor of it from TIME’s Michael Scherer.

The reactions to Galston’s report seem misguided.  David Brooks wonders why Obama isn’t getting “crushed”, as the “economic climate is as bad as or worse than it was in 1968, 1976, 1992 and 2000, years when incumbent parties lost re-election.”  Brooks concludes that Obama is benefiting from the Emerging Democratic Majority (despite Galston noting the lack of enthusiasm among said Majority) and because the president is just so gosh-darned likeable, what with the creased trousers and all (although the new USAT/Gallup poll is one of several showing Romney’s favorables climbing).

The unlikely duo of James Pethokoukis and Juicebox Mafioso Ezra Klein explain how Brooks gets it wrong, arguing Obama’s buoyancy may be explained by the economic fundamentals and incumbency (although Klein does the latter implicitly).  I generally agree with them about the economics, but less so regarding incumbency.  John Sides, one of the co-creators of Klein’s Wonkblog model, concedes the model overestimated the incumbent party’s vote share in 1992-2008, and that the model’s estimates for 2012 also feel a bit too optimistic for Obama.  Similarly, Alan Abramowitz’s “Time For a Change” model, which gives Obama a good chance of winning a second term with modest economic growth and an approval rating in the low- to mid-forties has over-predicted the vote of the incumbent candidate by at least 1.85% in each of the last four presidential elections.

Any discussion of why Obama isn’t being “crushed” is disappointing because  early head-to-head polls are not very reliable in predicting election results.  The classic case is May 1980, when Carter was ahead of Reagan by 9%, despite a much higher misery index than today.  A more useful reaction might be to treat Galston’s report as a prism through which to view the Romney and Obama campaigns.

For example, the report suggests Romney has two major problems.  First, only 31% of Americans think Romney has a clear plan for fixing the economy — even worse than the 36% who think Obama has one.  Second, Galston takes seriously the possibility that Obama could gain traction if he succeeds in painting Romney as a right-wing extremist (I tend to doubt this is possible, but it will not be for lack of trying).

The main lesson for Romney seems to be that he should not only critique Obamanomics, but also spend more time on Romneynomics.  Granted, the election is mostly a referendum on Obama and Romney’s 160-page economic plan is more a plan to have a plan than a plan.  Nevertheless, Bill Clinton did alright in 1992 as the Man With a Plan, so Mitt ought to mention his more often.  It might be even better to bumper-sticker a few big ideas because few will read the 160-page version.

Moreover, while Romney rightly focuses on controlling government spending, Matt K. Lewis is likely correct that talking up economic growth is at least as important politically.  If done well, this approach would also blunt the left’s campaign tactics.  Again, Bill Clinton would be the model here: Romney can be the guy who is working on America’s real problems, while Team Dem is focused on petty distractions.

Furthermore, this approach would help exploit the myriad problems for Obama that Galston identifies.  The issues most important to Americans, chiefly the economy, do not favor Obama.  Thus, Team O is left with a strategy which is essentially an amalgam of 2004 and 2008.  It draws on 2004 by relying on mobilizing supporters more than persuading swing voters.  It draws on 2008 insofar as that mobilization is confined to a subset of the coalition Obama won 3+ years ago (largely the demographics of the supposed Emerging Democratic Majority).  As Sean Trende observes in his book, The Lost Majority, Obama won a higher percentage of the vote than Bill Clinton ever did, but Obama’s coalition was demographically narrower.  The political perfect storm that swept Obama into office has been replaced with the Obama record; Obama’s available demographics will have narrowed accordingly.

Obama’s reelect strategy is visible in the daily headlines, but typically not considered in toto. (Jay Cost came pretty close to it.)  Political junkies notice Obama’s student loan policy is a sop to the young, the absurdly fictional “Julia” a pitch to single women (esp. single mothers), the reversal on same sex marriage a balm for Hollywood’s big donors, gay rights activists and the media, and so on.  Brooks views these positions as the sort of small-ball politics Clinton used successfully in 1996, which has it backwards.  Clinton played small-ball to appear more conservative and reach for the center as the economy ramped up; Obama is taking positions to pander to his base as the economy limps.

This is crucial to note because, in a larger sense, it is nothing new.  Barack Obama’s approval ratings have declined from lofty heights because he has governed as What Swing Voters Haven’t Liked About Democrats For Decades.  His response to the recession was an orgy of spending that made the prior profligacy of George W. Bush look frugal by comparison.  Then, as as the economy failed to respond, Obama spent a year pursuing the progressive Holy Grail of more socialized healthcare.  If there is a lasting negative reaction among independents to the hoopla over Obama’s reversal on same sex marriage, it will be because they judge it as not only merely political, but also as another example of Obama pandering to the left instead of working on the economy (not unlike the backlash to Bill Clinton getting drawn into the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” issue early in his presidency).  Obama is campaigning as he has governed — as an Old Democrat pandering to interest groups, engaging in big-spending crony capitalism while failing to address our structural economic concerns for the common good.  Mitt Romney, if he recognizes the opportunity, could turn Obama’s campaign strategy into a goldmine for himself.

–Karl

332 Responses to “Does 04 + 08 = 12?”

  1. Ding!

    Karl (f07e38)

  2. dude, Karl, give up already.
    A mormon draft dodger that supported the draft and the Viet Nam War can’t become either President or the CinC.
    The dems are just waiting to get closer to November to explode that little memetic nuke.
    The Democratic October Surprise.
    Fortunate Son.
    Did you dig how O timed his support for SSM with Romney’s gay-bullying story surfacing on the MSM?
    Look for O to make a strong foreign policy statement simulcast with MORMON Draft-Dodger Romney.

    wheelers (333e65)

  3. Karl, Bishop Willard is the WORST GOP nominee evah.
    WTF were you guys thinking?

    wheelers (333e65)

  4. Nishi is mental.

    JD (faa1d8)

  5. How did that immigration amnesty prediction work out for yu, crazy nishit?

    JD (faa1d8)

  6. How did that immigration amnesty prediction work out for you,, crazy nishlt?

    JD (faa1d8)

  7. Well, I always knew that the nutty fake was half baked.

    Now we see she is only half there.

    No cat.

    Colonel Haiku? A haiku to madness for this morning?

    Simon Jester (edfa65)

  8. JD, there should be a list of nonsense from trolls, so that when they are allowed to use the Internet again after time in the halfway house…we can post and enjoy their Greatest Hits.

    Did you like the oh so tolerant fake Sufi using a religious bigot dog whistle?

    Simon Jester (edfa65)

  9. nishi – What is the Islamic position on abortion and SSM?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  10. Daley, she really doesn’t know much about the topics she claims to support. Again, I think she likes how saying she supports those positions makes her feel…about herself.

    Simon Jester (edfa65)

  11. The economy is in shambles.

    When so many people’s bank accounts are suffering, voters tend to be more concerned about jobs and the economy, as opposed to fetishizing over who’s a “chickenhawk,” or the fact that an honorable American practices the faith of his fathers.

    The Democrats realize this.
    That’s why they’re manufacturing distractions away from prolonged national conversations about the economy, by sending the clowns out to juggle bowling pins and throw water balloons.

    Besides, if Democrats or “centrists,” “moderates,” “independents,” and other clueless voters were passionately opposed to electing a President who didn’t serve in the military, they would not have voted for Clinton over Bush, Perot, or Dole, and they would not have voted for Obama over McCain.

    And I don’t think the kooky lefties really want to enter in to a conversation about a candidate’s religion, considering Obama’s connections to Farrakkhan and Reverend Wrong…and the fact that Barack’s daddy was a confirmed bigamist.

    Elephant Stone (0ae97d)

  12. _____________________________________________

    Nishi is mental.

    Ideological instincts in various people probably are inherent, particularly if they’ve been leftwing since around their teenage years and are currently well past their 40s. I guess the same thing applies to people who’ve been conservative from their youth onward. But since the typical path is for people (who aren’t also innately deficient in common sense) to gradually move right as they grow older, intrinsic conservatism doesn’t seem like an aberration or flaw of the human mind.

    Brooks concludes that Obama is benefiting from the Emerging Democratic Majority

    Or a variation of Argentina-itis, Mexico-itis, Greece-itis, Venezuela-itis, France-itis, or, at the local level, Detroit-itis or Oakland-itis. Namely, an area where no matter how screwed up things become or are, a majority of people think and act like lemmings. Liberal lemmings.

    Mark (2d5b49)

  13. Gotta admit I never thought for a moment Shinola Spokesmodel would be a disaster as a campaigner.

    However, the seas weren’t rising, the glaciers weren’t receding, peak oil never came. No $100 Billion down the borehole on Green Shoots, Kentucky Ice Storm leads to Crystal toasts in WH, Tennessee and RI floods lead to .. crickets, green girl friend BP’s oil feet deep on the Gulf floor results in seizures of private cleanup vessels for EPA violations,..

    He was always a useless f*ck, even as a campaigner, the self-pleasurers just climaxed too early n’ often and the fantasy don’t woik no mo’.

    gary gulrud (1de2db)

  14. I think you’re missing the forest for the trees (or maybe the other way around). Obama isn’t suffering in the polls because of what he has done per se, but rather because what he has done hasn’t made things better. Most voters (and especially the voters who are up for grabs) don’t know or care about the specifics of a government agency or how much government is spending or whether someone else is getting their taxes raised or whether someone else is getting some government earmark…. those are all symptoms, and voters care only about the effect.

    What they do care about is how they are doing and how they think they’re going to be doing. Are their taxes going up, are they spending more money for gas and health insurance, what are their chances of keeping their job and getting a raise? In other words, the effects of government policies.

    Because of this, it isn’t necessary for Romney to come out with a super-detailed plan for the economy. Rather, he needs to continue to blast the effects of Obama’s policies, the high gas prices, the number of people out of work and underemployed, the fear that their health care is going to suffer, that savings earn next to nothing in interest – all this reinforces voter unhappiness with the way things are going.

    Then Romney needs to offer up broad brush fixes by emphasizing the effects of his proposals. Lower gas prices by increasing exploration and drilling (without specifying where). Give seniors a decent return on their savings by ending the easy money policies of the Fed (without getting into issues of Fed independence). Get businesses hiring again by relaxing job crippling regulations (without specifying which ones). The lack of detail will annoy Washington insiders and policy wonks, but to the voters, it will be enough for them to conclude that the effects of Romney’s policies will be different from Obama’s.

    steve (369bc6)

  15. Sry, this isn’t nonsense.
    Romney had a religious deferment and sat out Viet Nam in France as a Mormon missionary. He marched in support of the Viet Nam War and the draft.
    Do you think this isn’t going to get airtime before the election?
    hahaha
    There’s pictures and video.

    wheelers (333e65)

  16. Someday, we’ll find out what it is exactly that elicits David Brooks to write these off-kilter columns.

    Is he too reliant upon antihistamines ?
    Did he fall and bump his head ?
    Maybe he just enjoys being invited to the cool cocktail parties. Perhaps he has a fetish for nice slacks.

    Brooks asks why Obama isn’t getting crushed in the polls, but here’s a celebrity President who makes more television guest appearances than Don Rickles, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Jack Hanna of the Columbus Zoo all put together during the past 40 years, and he still only crests generally in the mid-40s…sometimes reaching 47%.
    And in some recent head-to-head match-ups with Romney, our rock star President is around 42 or 43 %.

    I don’t know what “number” Brooks is looking for as a sign that Obama is in trouble.

    When reading the polls, it’s important to keep in mind that about 46 or 47% of people pay zero federal income taxes. And that on top of that number, there is a percentage of Americans who receive a paycheck from taxpayers (whether at the federal, state, or county level)—a welfare check, food stamps, or an actual paycheck as compensation for work. And a high percentage of those people (but not all) tend to vote for the party that doesn’t want to cut spending or cut taxes.

    As a result, Obama has a pretty high built-in voting block that is a floor for how low his numbers can sink in the polls.

    Does David Brooks ever take that in to consideration ?

    Elephant Stone (0ae97d)

  17. nishi! good morning to you we’re all in our places with smiles on our faces now

    now that you’re back

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  18. Think about the optics! Any discussion of Romney’s french missionary sexitime during Viet Nam brings up two themes that are toxic to the electorate– Romney’s mormonism and his religious deferment. He didn’t serve.
    That is why he can’t talk foreign policy– its radioactive for him.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  19. In all fairness to wheelers Willard really is a horsesh*t offering given the problems–Congress being numero uno–we have on tap.

    Remember the mother who bore you just one moment and be honest:

    Any of a million citizens could have beaten Smegma Breath in 2012. A felon came close in WV and he’s going to lose in AR.

    gary gulrud (1de2db)

  20. I don’t see how one can use GHWB’s numbers since that was a three-way race and he got hammered from the proto-Tea Party right as well. Clinton won with a mere 43%. It is not clear at all what would have happened if Perot had stayed out of it.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  21. Hai feets.
    Have some shins.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  22. thank you! I have no musics for you at all…

    been going through a musical dry spell really

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  23. Wonder how much the Dinkins Effect is factoring in the various polls. Invariably some white respondents when polled will not be honest with pollsters in fear that their honest and negative views of African-American candidates will be viewed as racist. And nmsot of these people (oridnary white persons as per Obama) will crawl over broken glass to vote against him.

    But ES is also right-we have almost half the electorate with their hands out on a daily basis.Will they get off the couch in November?

    Will these 2 things cancel each other out?

    Generally Brooks should have been discredited after his various quasi-sociology nonsense, be it bobos, or nobos or hobos. New this week-ESPN males!Brooks is so hellbent on discerning a Big Trend that he …makes it up. And recall his love of American Greatness-more war for everybody!

    Bugg (6cf7f9)

  24. I think this election is going to be the Year of the Troll. Imagine how cheap it will be for campaigns to hire legions of pimply-faced boys who all think they’re the smartest kid in the room.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  25. I like this it’s sorta killers and sorta retro and best of all it’s summertimey

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  26. Now it’s about Vietnam? What happened to Bain capital laying off workers?

    Gerald A (cc0aaa)

  27. wheeler’s cat/nishi, your opinions are so hilarious because they have no relation to reality at all. You seem to live in some strange alternate universe and think that bringing your “insights” from there results in you being in possession of deep thoughts.

    To the contrary, you are utterly out of touch with the American electorate.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  28. Actually I thought it was about Romney putting his dog on his roof.

    Gerald A (cc0aaa)

  29. By the way, I don’t know offhand what our host’s Terms & Conditions are, but the drumbeat of “Mormon Mormon Mormon” I’m seeing here seems a violation of many such.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  30. 19. A better model would be Clinton/Dole/Perot.

    Turnout 49%. Succubus gets Dole’s count tho, 40% of popular vote.

    gary gulrud (1de2db)

  31. Nishi/Jenn/Kate/Whatevs is baaaaaack! Just in time to try and insult every conservative possible during this election season.

    Sideways jenn, sideways!

    ∅ (721840)

  32. if nishi tells you Obama is gonna play the mormon card you can take it to the bank

    National Soros Radio has loads of material in the can ready to roll

    me personally I think Obama better figure out an argument for how to defend his economic stewardship, but it might could be he’s having a hard time with that

    Elizabeth Warren is as perfect a distillation of his entire economic policy as you’ll ever see, and well, the voters seem to be a bit put off by her

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  33. Oh, I have no doubt, happyfeet, that the Democrats will attempt to inflame bigotry in the effort to reelect Obama. Its what they do.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  34. but the media will do most of the heavy lifting really don’t you think? – or will Obama have his fingy pints all over it?

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  35. When Bush was in power, there was a book on the emerging Conservative majority. Now, there is a book on the emerging Democratic majority. The truth is we don’t have a majority. We have a Center Right country that loves its big government policies.

    Obama might be likeable, but that alone won’t put food on the table. Obama will be sent packing or people will start eating dog as that is what they can afford.

    MyOpinion (4ff715)

  36. happyfeet, Obama’s campaign had its fingerprints on the faux hazing story.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  37. CNN is absolutely frantic to get out “New housing starts up 2%” this AM as proof things are getting better.

    http://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-home-starts-jump-april-131400949.html

    However, since building permits declined lets say outlook mixed, at best.

    9 million homes in foreclosure pipeline, 1 million commercial properties bank-owned. A 2% increase on zero means a rich wife or two couldn’t find a kitchen she liked.

    gary gulrud (1de2db)

  38. “When Bush was in power, there was a book on the emerging Conservative majority. Now, there is a book on the emerging Democratic majority. ”

    The book titled “The Emerging Democratic Majority” was published in 2002.

    VetthePrez (77ac66)

  39. Thank you VetthePrez, some people here are neither bright nor informed.

    [NOTE: This comment is not by the real JD — DRJ]

    JD (e55ee0)

  40. National Soros Radio has loads of material in the can ready to troll

    FIFY

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  41. One of the trolls is sockpuppetting me, again.

    JD (0d91a1)

  42. nishi – Where did Obama serve, apart from ACORN?

    I thought it was about the war on the wimmin folkses?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  43. Who would have thought, 3 short years ago, the it would be the Republicans hammering on the economy and the Dems talking endlessly about social issues.

    Dole lost talking about the glorious 50’s, and Obama will lose harking back to the halcyon 70’s and the Carter and McGovern presidencies.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  44. nishi – Howzat ESCR stuff working out for you? Clone a human soul for urself yet?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  45. The book titled “The Emerging Republican Majority” was published in 1970.

    MyOpinion (4ff715)

  46. “The Republican War Against Women: An Insider’s Report from Behind the Lines ” was published in 1998.

    MyOpinion (4ff715)

  47. Razzie had NC last month giving Mitty by 2 at 46%.

    The Gay Marriage bump? Mitty by 8 at 51%.

    Willard can just do as he might most desire, put his feet up at Torrey Pines, suck down margaritas ’til Tampa.

    WH Lawn Jockey been tossed from the mount.

    gary gulrud (1de2db)

  48. gulrud, your little pet name for Obama is offensive.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  49. raaaaaacist.

    VetthePrez (77ac66)

  50. Nevertheless, Bill Clinton did alright in 1992 as the Man With a Plan,

    That was a BIG LIE. He got Goldman and Sachs to vouch for it. That’s how I knew Goldman and Sachs was a dishonest company (although I should have known before if I had read more. It’s all in the book “Den of Thieves” by James B. Stewart. But you know, if someone is continually dishonest, they’ll show it in a lot of ways. If it is not one thing, it’s another.)

    I knew it was a big lie, but a lot of people were impressed. He ran an ad which showed him working at a table.

    It didn’t surprise me in the slightest when he abandoned his plan as soon as he was elected (claiming new information but that’s nonsense)

    Then he came up with a new plan, which was also a lie. It involved raising taxes a few percentage points on the highest brackets. He knew the economy would grow regardless, because of monetary policy, which he understood was the key determinant. (Knowing it was coming I think a few Clinton insiders sold stocks while it was still 1992. I think Hillary did, except she had too anyway. There was some story I read)

    Clinton carefully arranged things so that his legislation would pass by a single vote in both the House and the Senate with all Republicans voting no. That set up his claim that the recovery – whatever recovery or economic growth happened over the next few years – was due to this legislation which all the partisan Republicans opposed. Rush Limbaugh and others even were predicting disaster.

    But he also promoted a health care plan. That never made it out of committee but was heavily criticized. The result of all of this was that Republicans gained control of both Houses of Congress, the House of Representatives after 40 years, because many people were convinced that a situation with all Republicans voting no and Democrats split a little meant the Democrats were partisan (to get a complete shutout the legislation must actually be bad, and the heavy Democratic vote for it was the result of partisanship) and this was important because health care legislation was still on his plate. Peopl didn’t want President Clinton to have this control of Congress and Newt Gingrich became Speaker.

    Mitt ought to mention his more often.

    Mitt has no plan. He thinks he doesn’t need one, not to get elected and probably not to govern. Not to get elected because equations prove the incumbent loses in a bad economy so long as people remember he economy is bad (they might focus on other things if he doesn’t remind them) and not to govern because he probably believes the president has no influence on the business cycle.

    Sammy Finkelman (8a20da)

  51. Mitt has no plan. He thinks he doesn’t need one, not to get elected and probably not to govern. Not to get elected because equations prove the incumbent loses in a bad economy so long as people remember he economy is bad (they might focus on other things if he doesn’t remind them) and not to govern because he probably believes the president has no influence on the business cycle.

    He has to have a plan to get deficits under control, at least to where they are declining if not actually gone. If not then he’s an incompetent empty suit like the current Prez. Based on what I know about him I don’t think he’s incompetent.

    Gerald A (cc0aaa)

  52. Trying to explain how to fix the economy is too complicated for a presidential campaign in present circumstances. Paul Ryan has explained it and nobody has read his plan. Gas over $4 and unemployment over 8% make the point pretty well that present policies are not working. Vetoing the XL pipeline is another easy to understand action.

    A majority of the voters already know the gay marriage thing was a pander to donors. The real debates in the fall will hammer the nails in. Reagan didn’t get ahead of Carter until the debates.

    Mike K (326cba)

  53. 48, 49. Thanks, very occasionally I’ve done well.

    Our strap-on POTUS is now passe. The new model is Japanese with butt implants.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  54. what’s wrong with calling Joe Biden the White House lawn jockey?

    redc1c4 (403dff)

  55. first West Virginia, and now Arkansas

    the Obama wave of inevitability isn’t quite as tall as some would have you believe.

    redc1c4 (403dff)

  56. steve (14),

    I think it’s fair to say that I’ve written the economy turns mostly on the economic fundamentals dozens of times. And that this is why Obama is forced to go heavy negative on Romney. But I do think the fact that Obama went off on client-state liberalism as the economy failed to recover robustly is part of why Obama is where is now, and why the ostensibly positive part of his campaign looks the way it does.

    Sammy (50),

    The Clinton plan was a big lie. Doesn’t mean he didn’t get political mileage out of it, which is what I’m discussing.

    Karl (f07e38)

  57. Basically if the economy stays lackluster Romney has a chance. If it gets better, he loses no matter what. If it gets worse, he wins no matter what. IMHO, those are the bottom lines, as it were.

    Alex (2125df)

  58. 55. And Slick is reprising his “you can tax me and the rich 100% and it won’t fix the deficit. The middle class will have to contribute.”

    Preparing the ground for 2016, he’s causing the rubble of Il Douche to bounce.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  59. 57. “If it gets better”, IOW, if benevolent aliens invade and save the world.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  60. “Alex” got tired of sock puppeting me.

    JD (266e42)

  61. Yeah, what is going on? I am reading through the Zimmerman comments and confused as I am doin so quickly (190+ comments)….. can u summarize? I gotta go for the rest of the afternoon soon, but should be around tongiht. However, Diablo 3 is a serious distraction.

    Alex (2125df)

  62. Right now I see the economy getting better and Romney losing. But who knows…. there is a lot of data that indicates the POSSIBILITY of improvment in the next 6 months. But only possibility. And Europe just might explode.

    Alex (2125df)

  63. If it gets better, he loses no matter what.

    further proof that medical marijuana is effective.

    redc1c4 (403dff)

  64. daleyrocks, Obama was TOO YOUNG to be a draft dodger like Bishop Willard.
    I think Obama’s served pretty ably– he got OBL, didn’t he?
    Thats why you can’t swiftboat Obama with Seals grousing about him spiking the football–because that opens up a whole can of fugly worms for Romney. It would remind people that Romney supported Viet Nam and the draft while getting a deferment. A MORMON missionary in France deferment. He can’t claim his mexican heritage because he has to claim his polygamy heritage too. He’s alienated gays and women and if the election were held today he would lose veterans to Obama by seven points.

    And I’m saying you are smoking crack if you think the media is going to ignore this for the next six months.
    Its coming.
    😉

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  65. nishi reveals its complete disconnect from reality once again.

    AD-RtR/OS! (b8ab92)

  66. you can only kill osama bin laden precisely one time is the problem

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  67. Mr. AD how is that a nice thing to say

    nishi has a mind like a diamond I think

    she’s fast and she is thorough and sharp as a tack – she’s touring the facility! She’s picking up slack!

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  68. Last time i looked through a loupe, there was no “gray matter” contained in diamonds. Some times they’re cloudy, buy that doesn’t mean that they can reason.

    AD-RtR/OS! (b8ab92)

  69. i have personally heard hispanic american peoples say “I don’t know if I want a mormon to be president”

    and I don’t see how this is surprising

    both the right and left in poor pitiful America have given themselves over completely and utterly to identity politics

    and Romney knows it. That’s why he’s focused on the economy with the same ferocious intensity Obama demonstrated when he was hunting down bin laden in Pakistan

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  70. Religious Bigotry knows no ethnic boundaries.

    AD-RtR/OS! (b8ab92)

  71. Nishlt is in bugf@cknutzland.

    JD (266e42)

  72. All right ‘who read from the book,’ and invoked Imhotep?

    narciso (1c125b)

  73. 68. What I love is intolerance cannot be justified and cannot therefore be tolerated.

    And no one sees a problem with that.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  74. 67. Almost like the Dimmis are focussed on passing a budget. A thousand days are as one to him who waits on Dingy H.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  75. 60. I wonder if it’s found a gender it can rest with.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  76. Ah, Mr. Feet. You and nishi need to have a relaxing spa session together, complete with those little sections of mandarin oranges, chilled.

    She is no diamond. Not even cubic zirconia.

    Nishi has posted on many topics, and pretty much each time been shown to, um, not know anything about the topic at hand. Ranging from science fiction to physics to Sufism.

    I think her grasp of politics is about a firm as her grasp on reality.

    So ask her out, dude. Give her something to talk about other than her delusions. Heck, I’ll chip in for a spa weekend for the two of you.

    No cilantro needed.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  77. But at least she found the last half of the name she posts on here…though JAW would be very, very unhappy to see his name used in conjunctions with her punctuation-challenged rants.

    Spa day with Mr. Feet…versus more bizarre rants here.

    Seems like an easy choice to me. Who else wants to chip in?

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  78. some Kennedy wife offed herself? really?

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  79. A lot of people dislike the Kennedys (like me), but they have a LOT of tragic events in their lives. I’m kind of sad.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  80. that’s just the most effed up family they make the Kardashians seem normal and well-adjusted

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  81. I hate to see tragedy, even if some of the members of the family are jackholes.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  82. it just never ends

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  83. There was a something named nishi,
    Who would go on threads and do pissy.
    Somebody said, “Nishi, you’re nuts”,
    It said, “I derail threads lots,
    But if I leave, you’ll miss me”.

    Ignore it or engage it, guys, your choice.

    How’s the Sufi thing going, nishi? Here’s the punchline “donkeys”. Tell me the Nazreddin Hodja story.

    nk (875f57)

  84. I think Obama’s served pretty ably– he got OBL, didn’t he?

    And here I was under the impression the Seals got him. But what do I know?

    Gerald A (cc0aaa)

  85. Karma is a bitch:

    http://minx.cc/?post=329326

    Mrs. Butterworth’s trialing the Marxist’s economic plan. Wonder if it will ever come up again.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  86. lawl, I’m jus’ tellin’ Karl the truth.
    as sure as Romney’s gay-bullying and mexican polygamy commune heritage grabbed the news cycle, Romney’s draft dodging Viet Nam history is going to get play.
    you can’t stop it.
    its just a question of when.
    im thinkin’ closer to the election…so it will be fresh in the voters minds.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  87. nishi, you are not telling anyone that “truth” because your bizarre fantasies have nothing to do with reality. Other than there is a presidential election this year in both your universe and ours.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  88. SPQR – a village is missing it’s idiot.

    JD (318f81)

  89. Of all those, Pethikouris, is probably the only worthy one, Lewis, doesn’t specify what a growth
    agenda entails, really,

    narciso (1c125b)

  90. It has been crazytown around here today.

    JD (318f81)

  91. It was like the fuzzie wuzzies from Dreamcatcher,
    traipsed through here,

    narciso (1c125b)

  92. See, this is what I mean:

    …mexican polygamy commune …

    Risperidone Gal doesn’t remember that the President’s father was a polygamist, as was his grandfather.

    Which kind of trumps what Romney’s great grandfather did, yes?

    But then, this is her theme song:

    http://youtu.be/zAlNrtcPCLw

    The CrazyTrain is back in Patterico-town, apparently. Jeez.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  93. In fact, I am wishing I had a mix board, and could record “Risperidone Gals, Won’t You Come Out Tonight.”

    Or escape from psychiatric custody, anyway.

    My offer still stands for the spa experience.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  94. Maybe something a little more up to date;

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w

    narciso (1c125b)

  95. Ms Cat–I am very curious. Just which voters do you think the “Romney draft dodging Vietnam thing” (whatever the heck you think that is) is going to affect when “thar she blows!? Whose votes will Mitt be “losing”? The anti war peeps? The yoot vote? The Code Pinkers/Socialists? The illegals? The military vets and families who despise the current C in C? Who?

    elissa (8973bf)

  96. narciso, I am thinking more of a stadium vibe is in order:

    http://youtu.be/IeyN2YfAwas

    Elissa, if you know nishi, then you know that she is a fundamentally dishonest poster, full of crazy provocation. Her admitted history is as a “griefer,” who only posts to cause trouble. Mr. Feet likes her, which continues to mystify me.

    Personally, I like her creative (non) use of that whole limiting business of grammar and punctuation.

    But if you research her assertions, you will find that most of them have only a veering relationship to reality. True, she could be right about some things.

    I’ll let Wayne speak for me:

    http://youtu.be/QOKociU8t_Q

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  97. Embryonic stem cell research
    Immigration reform / amnesty
    Optics
    Bugf@cknutz

    JD (318f81)

  98. Well looks like Jug-eared first secret is out:

    http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/05/new-film-dreams-from-my-real-father-claims-obamas-real-father-was-commie-frank-marshall-davis-trailer/

    Wonder if they’ll show the stills Frank shot of Ann in open-toed heels and pearl earrings.

    That would be the second.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  99. i don’t think this is gonna be much of a foreign policy or a national security election so I think harping on Vietnam is not gonna move the dial

    plus the whole vietnam thing has gotten stale stale stale

    we had draft dodger clinton and then Bush’s national guard thing and then kerry and his silly purple hearts and then McCain made us all never want to hear another freaking word about it

    unless Mr. Governor Mitt picks Jane Fonda for his running mate I think we’re done and done with the whole vietnam thing

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  100. Mr. Simon it’ll be fun to have nishi’s input as the election progresses

    hopefully this time she’s wrong

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  101. For the third secret I quote a line from the Demigod to his Australian paramour:

    “On a straight line from Muntser to Yeats Eliot manifests the same ecstatic vision”.

    Caveat: Quoting dreck from memory I may have inadvertantly improved the Pigskin Sh*tsacks prose. IOW, he’s an imbecile with a savant’s gift with unalloyed BS.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  102. == I think harping on Vietnam is not gonna move the dial
    plus the whole vietnam thing has gotten stale stale stale
    we had draft dodger clinton==

    Yes. poor Nishi’s stuck in a time warp I’m afraid, and has sort of lost touch with the current electorate. But I’d still like to see her answer my question to the best of her ability.

    elissa (8973bf)

  103. Her admitted history is as a “griefer,” who only posts to cause trouble.

    Isn’t it great the outlet the Internet has given marginal personalities?

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  104. 104. LOL

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  105. But a real comment on all this polling stuff: Events can overturn things in a heartbeat.

    For example, I see no reason that Obama should stick with Biden after all the grief he’s given and will continue to give. Look for some drama there at the Dem convention. I would expect Hilary to be the VP choice if Obama is in trouble. Bill will insist.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  106. I agree Slow Joe is probably toast. And that there will be big drama around a replacement. I’m not sure about the Hilary VP thang, though. I’d bet Barack is familiar with the Vince Foster incident. Perhaps I am sometimes too cynical.

    elissa (8973bf)

  107. I don’t know, elissa. I agree that Biden is a fool, but he has always been a fool, and a nasty dishonest one at that (ask Clarence Thomas).

    Our President is many things, but able to admit a mistake is not one of them. Keep in mind that, if he dumps Biden, what is to prevent Biden from still being the gaff-o-matic problem he has long been…as a booted VP? When is the last time that has happened? And it today’s overheated media environment?

    Furthermore, I think of the political costs: if the President boots Biden now, then some will say, heck, why did you pick that nutjob in the first place? What does that say about yoru judgement?

    Unless Biden’s health turns bad, come to think of it. Hmmm.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  108. i think antichrist lite’s is to leave things to where our pitiful little country is so rapaciously jacked that there’s no point in positioning a successor to preside over it

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  109. oh shoot

    that was supposed to say antichrist lite’s plan

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  110. lawl, if the media went down for teen Romney’s gay-bullying story, they are are going down for his mormon missionary draft dodging story. Its inevitable.
    Romney needs 65% of the white people vote to beat Obama–not my math, Michael Medved’s math.
    Anything that peels off white people votes hurts him. Most homosexuals are white people, lol.
    The draft dodger story hurts him twice– it reminds white people that Romney has no mil experience, and that he is a mormon.
    65% of Americans want out of A-stan. How many of those are white people do you think?
    How many vets and serving are going to vote for a draft dodger for CinC?
    The military is one of the right’s core constituencies. That is why Clinton could win without mil support– not a core constituency for the left– but that may be changing. Obama is up by seven with veterans.
    Grouped minorities are achieving parity with white conservative christians in the electorate.
    Distributed Jesusland (the 2008 Jesusland map minus the cities) can still win local elections, but there may never be another republican president.
    Bishop Romney is just an awful candidate. He has zero appeal for the constituencies the GOP needs to court, and he has plenty of unsavory skeletons in his closet where the media will worry every bone. He’s alienating the media right now, Palin fashion, but he doesn’t have her mom chops to protect him.

    And Karl, I’m sure you remember what Nate always says…..
    Demographics is destiny.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  111. The media is an insatiable maw for sensationalism.
    How can Romney try to deflect the inevitable draft dodger stories?
    By screaming religious bigotry I guess.
    In 2008, a lot of folks said Palin was treated differently from a male candidate.
    I guess we shall see.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  112. By analogous I mean Palin felt her family should be off limits to the media– Romney will make the argument that his religion is off limits.
    I personally don’t think the media will buy that for Romney. After all, JFK’s catholicism was a legit topic. They might be a little shy right now, but we are still six months away.
    As soon as theres some blood in the water, the feeding frenzy will begin.
    And unlike the gay bullying story (he said/she said) theres pictures and video.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  113. Heres an add pre-made for the DNC.
    Mitt Romney – Fortunate Son Protested Against the Anti-War Protesters

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  114. I see that Nishi worked her typing hand loose from the straitjacket again.

    Icy (2d8439)

  115. Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s estranged wife just died under mysterious circumstances. No word yet on whether his last words to her were “Why don’t you go jump in the lake!”

    Icy (2d8439)

  116. the press covered up an adulterous envious hypoctite, Edewards, a lreft wing Chicago hack, Obama, who’s previous accomplishment, was looting
    the funds for the Chicago public schools, for his lefty buddies, another leftwing gigolo, Kerry,
    and painted them as demigods.

    Meawhile they spread adulterous and corruption runors, about folks who had no such blemish, who
    had fought the establishment, at no small cost.

    narciso (1c125b)

  117. Ah yes. The clarion call of beautiful hopenchange rings out from nishi’s analysis of democrat 2012 election strategy. The powerful shining beacon illuminating the Obama mantra of “no red states or blue states, just the United States” continues to stand strong and proud. The tolerance and respect for individuals’ religious practices and beliefs–ideals that were borne on the shoulders and blood of our land’s earliest settlers and codified by the nation’s founders, safely lives on at DNC and OFA headquarters.

    elissa (2484cc)

  118. interesting you bring up Kerry, narcisco.
    Kerry is the polar opposite of Romney in the domain of war fighting.
    Kerry served in Viet Nam and returned to criticize what he came to believe was an immoral and unwinnable war.
    Romney supported that war, even going so far as to march in support of the draft he avoided by being a mormon missionary in France.
    Fine to send other american kids into the meatgrinder, right narcisco?

    elissa, we not only have freedom of religion in America, we have separation of church and state. That means you christofascists don’t get to impose your religion on others just because you were here first.
    And Thomas Jefferson codified the separation of church and state. Wasn’t he a founder?
    lol

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  119. If risperidone isn’t working out, nishi, there is always aripiprazole.

    Seriously, lady, you have a history of self-admittedly stirring up trouble with bizarre statements (you have called yourself a “griefer” more than once). You have been tweaked repeatedly for claiming great knowledge when, um, it was not warranted. You clearly need help beyond a spa day with Mr. Feet.

    Leaving aside your unusual literary style. Seriously.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  120. nishi, I made up a limerick for you. Won’t you make one up for me, my darling? I’ll start you off:

    There was blogger called nk,
    Thought hiself better than common clay

    Won’t you finish it, my swan?

    nk (875f57)

  121. Nk, I admire your forthrightness, and always have.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  122. Thank you, Simon. Some things are crises, some things are not.

    nk (875f57)

  123. There are lots of people who see the word differently than I do, and I appreciate hearing those differences in a civil fashion. But people who are jerks, and post simply to cause trouble, well, they don’t merit polite behavior. In my opinion.

    And sometimes, the poster is nuttier than a Payday bar.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  124. My proble with nishi is that I believe her to be a phony.

    Her latest scam is Sufism. I doubt she has read the Rubaiyat, she has no clue about Nazreddin Hodja stories, and Idries Shah is the guy who makes her pita with falafel. Now, she could find all three things on the internet, in seconds, but she won’t bother. She is not interested in learning.

    nk (875f57)

  125. I noticed that, too. Ditto with SF, physics, history, biology, and current events.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  126. But you know the Sufi tenet, nk: once you let the head of a camel into your tent, you soon get the other end too.

    Which is why I don’t like her games. Kind of a Broken Window concept, but for the Internet.

    Simon Jester (a51dc4)

  127. Obama is up by seven with veterans.

    According to what poll?

    Gerald A (cc0aaa)

  128. Gerald – Wheelerz lulcat nishidiot just makes stuff up. It is what she does.

    JD (266e42)

  129. And Thomas Jefferson codified the separation of church and state. Wasn’t he a founder?

    How did he do that?

    Gerald A (cc0aaa)

  130. I know JD. I just want to see what kind of non sequitur she comes up with.

    Gerald A (cc0aaa)

  131. And Thomas Jefferson codified the separation of church and state.

    Nishi demonstrates the utter ignorance of the whacky Left. Just making up stuff out of whole cloth.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  132. ==we not only have freedom of religion in America==

    Well, apparently everybody has that freedom except Mitt, who you, nishi, seem to think should not be able to practice his Mormon religion without ridicule even though it affects you not a whit, and the private Catholic institutions not being able to abide by their tenets even though that doesn’t affect you a whit, either. Come to think of it, what do the words “freedom of religion” even mean to you? What do you think it meant to the Pilgrims and Puritans and Jews who settled the 17th century wilderness that became the United States?

    elissa (f72979)

  133. elissa, everyone is free to practice their religion in america– but no one is free from ridicule. therefore ridikkulous beliefs get ridiculed.

    Mormonism is easily ridiculed. dead baptism, amerindians as one of the lost tribes, magic underwear, Jesus wrote the Constitution?tant pis.

    What do you think it meant to the Pilgrims and Puritans and Jews who settled the 17th century wilderness that became the United States?

    Oh, I dunno….what did “religious freedom” mean to the Native Americans that got wiped out and relocated and had their kids sent to white christian re-education boarding schools internment camps?
    You can bury your heart at Wounded Knee or bury your uterus at Waco….it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference in Distributed Jesusland.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  134. Cleanup on Aisle KRAZY!

    JD (e4883a)

  135. Odd then, wheeler’s cat, how the Obama supporters objected to people looking into the preacher of the very church Obama attended. Your religious bigotry seems to forgive Obama’s outlandish religious affiliation.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  136. SPQR, i didn’t object.
    not a’tall.
    Romney’s supporters are doing it again this cycle. But again, the media is going to go after juicy low hanging fruit. Romney is not gettin’ a by on his religion.
    and Obama wasn’t a bishop in Wrights church.
    Romney is an ordained bishop in the mormon church….order of magnitude different.
    Again, Im explaining why Romney can’t talk about foreign policy.
    Because he was a mormon missionary in France while other american kids his age were bleeding and dying the Nam.
    dinky dau
    😉

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  137. Mormons aren’t allowed to conduct foreign policy. Everyone knows that. Nishi is bugf@cknutz. A hate filled ESCR zealot. Certifiable lunatic. Hate hate hate hate hate is all she has.

    JD (e4883a)

  138. wheelers cat, your utter ignorance of … well, everything, but not least the Mormon religion shows. The Mormons have lots of lay “bishops”. Its not the same as being a Catholic bishop.

    But no fact will dissuade you from your course of bigotry.

    And you are not explaining anything about the foreign policy issue – because nothing about Vietnam service qualifies one to speak or not to speak about foreign policy.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  139. “Again, Im explaining why Romney can’t talk about foreign policy.”

    nishi – Obama wasn’t in Vietnam either. How can he talk about Vietnam.

    U mak kno senz grrrl.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  140. nishi – Obama wasn’t in Vietnam either. How can he talk about Vietnam Foreign Policy.

    Clinton was not in Vietnam. Could he talk about foreign policy.

    Crazee grrrrlllll.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  141. More mushrooms for nishi!

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  142. A Mormon bishop is about the equivalent of a deacon in an episcopal church. They don’t shape church policy or anything. And every baptized male is a priest at about 12.

    Are we to believe that a presidential candidate who sat in David Duke’s church for 20 years, had him baptize the children and perform the wedding wouldn’t and shouldn’t face the same scrutiny?

    Ghost (6f9de7)

  143. sigh.
    so thick, these pattericates.
    Romney can’t talk foreign policy because he was a draft dodger, not because he wasn’t in Viet Nam.
    Heres my question….can a man who dodged the draft on a religious deferment become President and CinC?
    jus’ askin’.
    😉

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  144. i think Romney can be president and commander in chief even if he dodged the draft cause of we’ve had dodgy presidents before and they did more or loss ok, some better than others

    but it’s certainly not a bar to electability if it were Romney would never have gotten the nomination!

    and then we’d be in a fine pickle wouldn’t we

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  145. elissa, we not only have freedom of religion in America, we have separation of church and state. That means you christofascists don’t get to impose your religion on others just because you were here first.
    And Thomas Jefferson codified the separation of church and state. Wasn’t he a founder?
    lol
    Comment by wheelers_cat — 5/17/2012 @ 6:10 am

    — Kitty got into the catnip again!

    Icy (97f32a)

  146. Draft deferment and draft dodging are not the same thing. Not even close. Vietnam era draft dodgers fled to Canada and hid out to avoid their induction number. OTOH, people asked for and were granted all kinds of legal deferments by their draft boards: (some temporary to be sure, some questionable to be sure) for being married with a family, for being in college, for medical conditions, for religious/ethical reasons such as pacifism Quaker, etc. If the draft board knew where to find you and could change its mind, it was legal. If the draft board didn’t know where you were it was a different story, and you were considered to be on the lam from the law.

    What was Mitt’s situation?

    What was Bill Clinton’s situation?
    I’m trying to remember—-was Clinton ever commander in chief?

    http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/democrat/clinton/skeletons/draft.shtml

    elissa (f72979)

  147. Heres my question….can a man who dodged the draft on a religious deferment become President and CinC?
    — Well, if a man that dodged the draft by going to school in England while not inhaling could do it . . .

    Romney is not gettin’ a by[sic] on his religion.
    and Obama wasn’t a bishop in Wrights church.
    Romney is an ordained bishop in the mormon church….order of magnitude different.

    — So, your point is that Obama isn’t really sincere in his religious beliefs, but Romney is? Agreed!

    Icy (97f32a)

  148. Nishi is just a tired unsuccessful poseur, folks. I’m sure it is tough sitting around all day, feeling poorly. But then she gets to come here and speak Troof to Powder.

    Her very goal (self-admitted, again) is to argue and insult others.

    Laugh at her, or pity her. But please don’t take her seriously at all.

    That is what she lives for.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  149. And remember this, friends: Nishi doesn’t do any work at all looking things up, or thinking deeply. She wants to inflame and upset, with the goal of making other people dance to her silly fake tune. It makes her feel empowered and successful and vindicated (because life has not recognized her Great Genius, I would wager).

    Look to her history. That’s all you need to do.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  150. Mr. Governor Romney seems to have developed a healthy amount of expertise in an array of matters wholly unrelated to mormon stuff for example he knows about the investings and the olympic games and how to govern a relatively important state and how to transport wup wups and how to find missing persons.

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  151. nishi is a girl with uninterrupted prosperity she uses a machete to cut through red tape I think. Her fingernails shine like justice and when she speaks her voice is dark like tinted glass she’s nishi!

    And you have to remember she was bang on about how 2008 unfolded, and her observations about the youth vote were especially accurate.

    This time though I fear her crystal ball is cloudy.

    Outlook not so good!

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  152. Simon, Thanks. Believe me I know all about the person who currently posts as “wheeler’s cat”. I am aware that attempting to correct her, or to reason with her is a fool’s errand and a waste of time. I do worry, though, how many others there are out there exactly like her–making sh*t up, posting completely false statements as if they are undisputed truth, and preaching the hate both on line and in the printed media.

    elissa (f72979)

  153. Mr. Feet, I don’t understand you. Nishi has admitted only posting to cause trouble, not to debate. She states as facts things that are just plain untrue, repeatedly (even on minor issues). Despite any disagreements I have had with you, you are very seldom rude to other posters (other political figures, well, that’s different). It’s a point of pride with you, and I have come to respect that aspect of your personality.

    Nishi is intentionally rude to people here. She intentionally argues for the sake of argument. Name me two times she has written anything remotely normal on this blog, rather than arrive, guns blazing, to speak Troof to Powder.

    And I don’t think she was spot on about much of anything that wasn’t common knowledge in 2008. I don’t feel like the assembling the laundry list of crazee that she gifted this blog with over the years.

    So…my offer stands: you two should have some sparkling water and avocado salads while getting pedicures. You clearly have some weird crush on this, um, suboptimal person. So ask her out and be done with it. Write a blog together. Put together a decidedly odd podcast. We all have friends who are attracted to very weird people, and we just let them get it out their systems.

    In other words, even with the disagreements you and I have shared, I consider you to be a person of quality, and you are supporting someone who demonstrably is the antithesis of that.

    Jeez.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  154. Elissa’s link reminded me of something, before I go back to work outside.

    In a closet on the 3rd floor there is an access panel to the attic that does not seal well. There is currently a dead squirrel in there.

    Yesterday I said to look on the bright side, when my daughter is running for president in 40 years and is asked if she has “any skeletons in her closet”, she can say, “Well, there was a squirrel skeleton in a closet once, but that was a long time ago, and it wasn’t really my closet.”

    MD in Philly (3d3f72)

  155. Oh, I know, elissa. I’m not trying to be the hated Hall Monitor. I just believe in the Broken Window model, kind of a Gresham’s Law of blogging: bad people can drive out the good people.

    There are many, many good people who post here, with many ideas (a number of which I do not agree with). It’s instructive and interesting to read those comments (in fact, more so when I do not agree). What I do not care for is silly ass trolling.

    Which is all nishi has ever done. And the goal, again, is to make everyone skitter about assembling reasonable responses to comments she pulls from her drug-addled nether regions. Fun for her, apparently.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  156. beep beep uh huh she’s a bad bad girl Mr. Simon…

    nishi is interesting she brings a perspective often lacking and she’s not afraid to stretch a meme to its breaking point. I think she’s fun to read and furthermore I think her heart’s in the right place.

    I think she passionately believes her beliefs and she’s engaged in this great messy horrifically scary and disappointing and exciting experiment we call America.

    Good on her I say. At the very least she reads and shares the ideas what percolate in the bowels of the left so people what are strapped for time don’t have to go out of their way.

    Personally I hadn’t thought about Romney’s draft situation very much lately. So that’s a thing, huh? Who knew?

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  157. Oh, Mr. Feet…. I have seen you get irritable and drop the unusual syntax and communicate normally. You clearly believe in much that is behind your personal style.

    But you cannot for a moment believe that this other person believes much of what she writes, other than as reflexive disagreement. She likes like a Persian rug about what other people believe and have said and experienced.

    And she only posts to be (as she puts it, for the umpteenth time) a griefer. To cause trouble for others. Not to illuminate or to discuss or even to disagree.

    I give up. I look at the many things she has written to insult people you claim to respect and like, and I throw up my hands.

    Gotta be some weird crush thing.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  158. good luck getting feets to the spa: he won’t even meet up for a beer. 8)

    redc1c4 (403dff)

  159. we will do that someday Mr. red I promise I promise

    meanwhile rolling stone has a handy spotify playlist for to help us mourn the passing of the Donna Summer

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  160. <i. Romney is an ordained bishop in the mormon church….

    They don’t have an ordained clergy. That’s why his holding that office was temporary.

    Sammy Finkelman (d22d64)

  161. oh i meant to link this

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  162. “Draft deferment and draft dodging are not the same thing.”

    elissa – I don’t think nishi was alive at the time to understand the difference and nuance is wasted on the insane.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  163. haha, feets!

    Personally I hadn’t thought about Romney’s draft situation very much lately. So that’s a thing, huh? Who knew?

    If the JIT news cycle went for teen Romney as a gay-bully, and went for the “mormon polygamy commune” on Romney’s mexican heritage, I’m pretty sure mormon missionary Romney in France during the Nam is gonna get some airtime.
    Its just a question of when.
    😉

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  164. Oh, please tell me that “…went for the “mormon polygamy commune” on Romney’s mexican heritage,..” is a big deal to you, nishi. Please.

    Mr. Feets says you passionately believe and research everything you write. So tell us what you think.

    I really want to hear you say that you think polygamy in one’s ancestors should prevent someone from becoming President.

    But then, you aren’t serious. Just being a jerk, as usual. And a bigoted jerk who doesn’t do any homework at that.

    Simon Jester (a75754)

  165. And I hope that people pile onto you with your hypocrisy and nuttiness every freaking time you post.

    After all, that’s what you do when you post, fake Sufi.

    Simon Jester (a75754)

  166. Hey, I have a better idea, nishi. You are very much standing up for Truth. That’s what you keep saying.

    So why don’t you go help out Aaron take on some really bad people, who are trying to hurt him personally and professionally?

    A lot of other people are. Why not you?

    Unless you are just a slacker poseur. Prove me wrong, and do something positive!

    Simon Jester (a75754)

  167. nishi how much has the commune thing or the gay-bashy haircut thing really moved the dial though? It seems like Mr. Governor Romney is still in the game so far.

    He’s done a good job so far keeping this election about the economy. He’s disciplined, this Romney fella, and these attacks give him the opportunity to demonstrate that.

    So far anyway that’s what it looks like to me.

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  168. this elections ID about the economy, and it sucxors which is why the SCOAMF and all his idiot supporters are desperate to make it about anything else.

    kind of hard to ride to victory on the coattails of double digit unemployment and inflation.

    redc1c4 (403dff)

  169. *IS*

    stupid keyboards designed by little people for their tiny fingers.

    redc1c4 (403dff)

  170. All children and grandchildren of polygamists should be disqualified from the presidency.

    JD (764530)

  171. how about just “all relatives of politicians”?

    redc1c4 (403dff)

  172. It’s fun to take a few humorous shots at these left wing trolls in response to their idiocy, but ultimately, she’s succeeding in hijacking the thread.

    If she were sincere in establishing a dialogue, a la an E.J. Dionne or Jonathan Alter, that would be one thing.
    Those two guys are irrational left wing nuts, but at least they’re interested in actual civil dialogue.

    But instead of talking about how awful Obama is, we’re talking about how awful the troll is.

    Elephant Stone (0ae97d)

  173. wheeler’s cat forgets that Bill Clinton dodged the draft via ilegimate deferments. And that Obama’s own father was a polygamist.

    wheeler’s cat / nishi remains an ignorant buffoon. I know – that’s not news.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  174. one more time.
    Obama “evolved” on gay marriage SIMULTANEOUSLY with Romney’s gay-bullying making headlines.
    Do you really think the media is going to give Romney a pass on NOT SERVING while being a MORMON missionary in FRANCE during the Nam?
    I dont. It doesn’t matter what you think of me. Im curious about how Bishop Willard is gonna respond.
    truth, feeds, I don’t think Romney’s gay bullying moved the needle much.
    That affects youth and gays who mostly are not voting for Bishop Willard anyways.
    However… the military is a core republican constituency. Romney can’t afford to lose ANY white people votes.
    He needs at least 65% of the white people vote to beat Obama.
    The best St Ronnie ever did was 60%.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  175. France is how Vietnam got so effed up to begin with

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  176. Have they figured out, yet, that Ovama only intends
    lip service of gay marriage, I know Mrs. Harold Evans is uncommonly dense, but what of the rest.

    narciso (1c125b)

  177. but yeah Team R has a dickens of a time with the young people lately

    but I think old people are gonna break Romney’s way this time – I think if I remember right they broke Obama’s way last time

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  178. Well Pikachu they did hold Indochina for nearly 80 years, the Radicals (the liberals of their day)
    having started the intervention. Generations later,
    DEGaulle would send the last expeditionary force in ’46, then had the gall, to denounce our efforts.

    narciso (1c125b)

  179. no here it is – old people went mccain… but he got only a little more than half of them

    I think it’s likely Romney will do much better with the codgers than McCain did

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  180. speaking of holding stuff we shoulda held onto the philippines I think

    I had the spaghetti of the filipino people this week

    it was delicious like I can’t even tell you

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  181. Do you know those little magnetic tiles that you put on the refrigerator, to make poems and such?

    http://magneticpoetry.com/

    We should do that with some of our resident trolls. Particularly the ones with loose neural connections and impaired dopamine receptors.

    Simon Jester (a75754)

  182. but man look at that chart at 181… young people really really really detested Team R back then

    Mr. Governor Romney has his work cut out for him… best he can hope for probably is that young people are unenthused

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  183. They are looking for jobs, Mr. Feet. And here is the secret no one talks about. Lots of young people have been taught to never take responsibility for their own plight, to blame whatever for their own lack of successes.

    So they recognize it when high officials continually blame their issues on prior administrations.

    I believe that lots of young people are going to forget to register in time this year. Especially as Team Romney keeps posting what the President promised, versus what he delivered.

    Especially when he took an anti GWB position (=closing Gitmo inmmediately) and then doubling down once elected.

    The awful truth that is becoming clearer and clearer? This President is just like the guy in high school who ran for Vice President, who smiled with his teeth only. Kind of a multiracial Eddie Haskell. A Chicago-fied Mr. Haney.

    Simon Jester (a75754)

  184. I think that’s a good working hypothesis Mr. Jester

    but I talk to young people a lot and I’m not feeling it

    it makes sense logically though

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  185. of course where I live we get more of certain varietals of the young people than I think is the usual mix in America proper

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  186. As opposed to South Florida, I beg to differ pikachu, we give your little redoubt a run for your money, and it’s rare that we have a total wipeout
    like you had in 2010.

    narciso (1c125b)

  187. Two approaches work, Mr. Feet, and I am talking with 18 – 22 year olds every day.

    1. Get them to start talking about “politics as usual” with regard to the President. Point out the history of the gay marriage thing with the President, and they soon say, well, yeah, that is political. You just shake your head and say, I wonder what the guy does believe in? They shake their heads,too. I also like telling them that the President agrees with Dick Cheney’s view on gay marriage…and then bring up the “up to the states” business. They don’t believe me, and I encourage to look it up…not on ThinkProgress or RightWingNews, but on CNN.

    This realization that “hope and change” is actually “more of the same” reduces their fervor on election day.

    2. I like to bring up the list of things that the President said during the campaign, versus what he is doing now…and how it is different when he does it. Young people are very, very sensitive to hypocrisy in others. For example, running a deficit was unpatriotic and un-American according to the President during his 2008 campaign. Except when you double it and more, apparently. Young folks will then say that it was what the President inherited, and the reply, quietly, is well, when will he be responsible for what he does?

    They always come back with he is better than Romney, and it is wonderful to ask why. They bring up money issues, and I love talking about 300,000 dollar sinecure jobs and real estate sweetheart deals and how much money the DNC takes from EVIL AWFUL CORPORATIONS.

    It’s a start. It’s really up to Romney’s people.

    Simon Jester (a75754)

  188. the phrase “net spending cut” haunts me Mr. Jester

    I wish it haunted president fruitless

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  189. ‘words just words’ except for making ;electricity prices necessarily skyrocket,’ you can take that to the bank.

    narciso (1c125b)

  190. yes, young folk especially don’t like hypocrisy. If they get wind of how much the Obamas are worth they’ll want to know why he isn’t volunteering to pay more taxes himself. Then again, they may wonder how they got to be worth as much as they are. Those books must have sold well.

    MD in Philly (3d3f72)

  191. I’ve never given this thought much credence before, but maybe — just maybe — Sloe Joe WILL be replaced on the ticket this fall.

    Icy (97f32a)

  192. Icy, I think that the only way that can work is if Biden gets ill or such. And even then, it will make Obama look bad (i.e., “Why did you pick him in the first place?”). It was a dumb choice originally. Rookie.

    Simon Jester (a75754)

  193. c’mon feets….the greys voted overwhelmingly for Sick Grandpaw with accessory Back-up Bimbo last time around.

    get yer facts straight.
    Romney is toast because of demographics. The horse-race media, Rassmussen fake-polling and the conservative punditocracy are falsely keeping your animal spirits up.

    45 million youth voters…..they aint voting for Bishop Willard.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  194. Will you write in your dervish, nishi?

    nk (875f57)

  195. And the rest of America ain’t voting for a man who admits he isn’t American as he thinks he was born in Kenya.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  196. It is soooooooo cute how the nishimonster spews out the same drivel, year after year.

    JD (605175)

  197. Its really unbelievable that someone so unqualified, so incompetent, so smarmy, so dishonest and with such a disreputable past got elected President as Obama did.

    It was really a bizarre moment for American history.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  198. he greys voted overwhelmingly for Sick Grandpaw with accessory Back-up Bimbo last time around

    hi nishi it wasn’t that overwhelming really did you see #181?

    I think the takeaway is more that the 65+ age demo was the only one McCain was actually able to win, in spite of campaigning for months and months with the express goal of convincing people he would be a better president than Barack Obama

    mission not accomplished

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  199. SPQR…yes isn’t it? It was a landslide, 365 to 173 ec votes.
    Awful tall hill to climb with a one-percenter white guy robot mormon bishop draft dodging gay-bully on your backs.
    😉

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  200. feets, McCain won the white people vote 55% to 43%.
    If Romney wants to beat Obama in November he needs 65% of the white people vote.
    Can’t be done.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  201. Hey, nishi: if you are wrong, will you never post here again?

    I mean, because you are so sure and all.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  202. Old, young, black, white, women, gays, one percenters, Jesuslanders. You really groove on your identity politics, right? I guess you’re not all that sold on the traditional American melting pot concept, then, Ms. Cat?

    elissa (5acf19)

  203. What is going to be Obama’s problem is that all that sweet sweet Wall Street has abandoned him because of his incompetence.

    SPQR (a2f6cc)

  204. so SPQR, you admit that the one percent is trying to buy the election?
    😉

    and not me elissa. ax feets. i been talking demographics as long as we have known each other.
    the right is all about identity politics. Your share of the melting pot is lily white and older… and why your party is doomed to a demographic extinction event unless you start courting youth, women, the dark-skinned and gays.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  205. No, wheelers_cat, I admit that the one percent already own the Democratic Party – which campaign donation data shows that the Democratic Party depends upon donations from the one percent more than does the GOP.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  206. Some orderly should lose their job for losing track of the genocidal eugenecist nishi/wheeler.

    JD (605175)

  207. It won’t matter much, kate/jenn/whatevs. Eventually, everyone will belong to some victim’s group™ vying for preferential treatment. At that point, it’s every man/women/transhuman/indistinguishable/whatevs for him/her/itself. The fabric of society will break down, and who knows what happens after that. I’m positive the alligator will eat you last!

    ∅ (721840)

  208. 210. “i been talking demographics as long as we have known each other.
    the right is all about identity politics”

    Restricting our discussion(cough), to demographics, the youth, e.g., 50% of college grads without prospects save a 1:1000 shot with big business sitting on all that cash that vote, mostly white, is gone. Perhaps not sentiment, but will.

    Gays needing only lip service scarcely account for 1.5% of the population. Hermaphrodites and union bosses are a negligible proportion(despite their representation in the Ogabe admin).

    Hispanics will be a wash with Mexican unemployment at mid-5%. No day laborers remain stateside.

    Academics are disgusted with the gutless duplicity and turn out will be way down.

    That leaves blacks who may vote exclusively for Step Init but only in 80% the numbers of 2008.

    White working class Democrats are livid with the incompetence and will stay home.

    See 1996, 49% turnout. Reverse the party players. And I’m an Indie who will likely be writing in.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  209. 184. Being a codger, yet with friends 50% older than me, I think Schlong will hold steady with the demographic.

    Retirees after liabilities have 47 times the assets of 35 year olds heading families.

    The old-timers making up a disproportionate plurality of the TEAs are completely disgusted with their options. But the rest worry about the losses they’ve already suffered during the current Depression.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  210. The reality is that under Obama’s incompetence, this spring we are seeing four times as many give up looking for work each month as are finding jobs.

    Recovery from a recession has never been this bad or this slow, and its directly attributable to Obama’s and the Democrats’ policies. That’s why the Wall Street money has abandoned Obama and that’s why voters will abandon him too in November.

    Sadly, it will probably take nearly a decade to fully recover from the damage that the Democrats and Obama did for the last four years.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  211. If Romney wants to beat Obama in November he needs 65% of the white people vote.
    Can’t be done.

    Comment by wheelers_cat — 5/18/2012 @ 10:48 am

    I thought it’s the Vietnam thing that you’re counting on. Or do you have split personalities?

    Gerald A (138c50)

  212. Or do you have split personalities?

    You have no idea who you’re talking to! Nishi/jenn/kate has so many personalities her shrink charges her for group therapy.

    ∅ (721840)

  213. 216. I know a lot of the Right is convinced ABO is self-evident Wisdom but consider:

    1. The Boehner calculation to capitulate on CR11, CR12, the Debt Ceiling and the McConnell surrender.

    2. The small majority the GOP will gain opens the door to Collins, Brown, Coburn, Graham, McCain, et al., with similarly disposed Dimmi exhibitionists to control the Senate in Gang of 14 Deux.

    3. That Romney is an opportunistic triangulator.

    Not that persuasion is intended just 15% of the electorate know the worst is yet to come.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  214. the right is all about identity politics

    your party is doomed to a demographic extinction event unless you start courting youth, women, the dark-skinned and gays

    Damn! We’ll have to stop pandering to old hetero white males by saying Obama’s destroying the economy!

    Instead we’ll have to come up with a bunch of separate issues that are each designed to appeal to a different slice of the population. That way we can finally get off this absurd Republican identity politics.

    I hope I can get through to the Romney campaign and warn them to stop talking about the economy before it’s too late.

    Gerald A (138c50)

  215. Uh oh! Looks like now Fauxcahontas Warren is caught plagiarizing recipes. Recipes she submitted in her name in 1984 to the obscure POW WOW CHOW cookbook. The POW WOW CHOW cookbook that her staff found out about and told the press that it helped prove her Indian heritage. Apparently Liz did not expect Al Gore to invent the internet or plan on Google inventing the search engine when she word for word “borrowed” the 1979 crab recipes published from the New York Times News Service. You cannot make this stuff up!

    elissa (5acf19)

  216. Gary–I’d much much rather have Scott Brown in the U.S. senate than Liarjawea Warren.

    elissa (5acf19)

  217. 221. Over at Prof. Jacobsen’s, he wondered whether Mrs. Butterworth’s opponent, who produced the 10,000 signatures could make 15% at State convention.

    Some party official emailed to query why he thought that might be a problem.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  218. 222. Oh I like Brown, despite his being a victim, but there’s only so many Democrats one can give a pass at any one moment.

    I mean, tolerance isn’t tolerance if it’s mandatory.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  219. nishi has a point about the demographics Team R does yeoman’s work in alienating young people and people what are other than white (and educated people and urban people and etc)

    but I think we still have a contest defined more by turnout and battleground states than one wholly defined by demographics

    but at some point the alienated demographic chickens will come home to roost if Team R doesn’t ditch the identity politics and figure out how to broaden its appeal

    happyfeet (a55ba0)

  220. Meanwhile, the Democrats are trying to throw off a challenger in the Democratic primary who is showing solid support against Obama in the Arkansas Dem primary. They are terrified that Obama will suffer an embarrassment similar to that in the recent West Virginia primary.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  221. Elissa – that is amazing

    JD (605175)

  222. 221. So now we know why she wanted to connect with Indians. To sell a book. Is this actually the oldest claim he made?

    The Hot Air web site includes video – a Ken Burns style parody letter from Elizanbeth Warren to her campaign manager

    (Ken Burns style I assume because this goes into 19th century American history)

    http://hotair.com/archives/2012/05/18/too-good-to-check-did-elizabeth-warren-plagiarize-her-recipes-in-pow-wow-chow/

    Many comments there like:

    “Princess Elizabeth Warren, Chief Plagiarizer of the Faux Cherokee Nation.”

    “how is this any different from owe’bama false claimin’ to be Kenyan to shop/sell books?”

    (And in 1991, his father had been/was Finance Minister, which he wasn’t. But maybe all that was the fault of his literary agent)

    Her new campaign slogan:

    Elizabeth Warren: The female Joe Biden!*

    *Also a Native American version of Joe Biden

    I just tried that recipe -It was delicious, except for the arrowhead inside one of the blue crabs.

    I will cite no more forever.

    Paleface Betty Crocker discovered the American Indian use of Bac-o-bits and came out with Baco-os. It ranks right up there with the theft of Okalahoma in white mans’ crime against the Indians.

    Everyone knows the French have been stealing their recipes from the Cherokee for many centuries.

    I think we all know what this means, Elizabeth Warren is a descendant of Huguenot Refugees

    The editor was Warren’s cousin.

    Apparently factual.

    Custard’s Last Stand?

    The two crab recipes appear on pages 308 and 309 of The New York Times 60-Minute Gourmet

    I highly recommend that you read the Amazon reviews for Pow Wow Chow. Many are solid gold hilarious!

    Sammy Finkelman (d22d64)

  223. Elissa, in her defense they are pretty good recipes.

    Sure, Liz Warren is a liar and a thief, but this sounds tasty.

    I’m a little confused about why Liz Warren thought cognac and Worcestershire were Cherokee related, and I also don’t understand why she specifies that the mustard needs to be imported. But I’m tempted to make some of this stuff this weekend.

    Dustin (330eed)

  224. JD–Can’t you just see Scott Brown relaxing in the evenings with his family–all clinking their wine glasses to the Cherokee Princess while laughing their butts off?

    elissa (5acf19)

  225. Someone writes he found two more examples in her work (before hearing about the “Pow Wow Chow” book)

    And there’s a comment that begins like this:

    Here is an old family recipe that I was fortunate enough to get from Ms. Warren when we both served on the Descendants of George Armstrong Custer Association for Civil Rights . It was published in the 2004 Harvard Law School Faculty Christmas/Kwanza/Hanukkah/Ramadan/Great Spirit Cookbook. (BTW, Dershowitz’s pickles are great!) She said it came unchanged from a handwritten, dog eared piece of note paper directly from her Cherokee Great, Great Grandmother. It’s been passed down through the women of her family since then.

    Enjoy!

    (Mason at 5:18 PM)

    Sammy Finkelman (d22d64)

  226. Dustin–heh, are you seriously suggesting that crab, mayonnaise and Worcestershire are not the first things that pop to mind when you think about the Cherokee of the Great Plains’ traditional cooking ingredients?

    elissa (5acf19)

  227. I admit I hadn’t known about that native American tradition.

    I learn something new every day. It does kinda reek of the NYT (but in a good way).

    Dustin (330eed)

  228. Sammy–thanks for mentioning the Amazon “reviews” for POw Wow Chow. I finlly got a few minutes to go there to check it out. You’re right. The ratings and creative writing to support them in all 33 of the reviews are great fun! (And, such a surprising amount of very recent activity for such an old book.)

    elissa (5acf19)

  229. elissa – Is Obama’s Bow Wow Chow recipe book on Amazon yet?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  230. Not that I saw, Daley. But one of the Pow Wow`Chow’s reviewers was “begging” for a book with some good time-tested dog recipes from our connoisseur in chief.

    elissa (5acf19)

  231. Eventually, Elizabeth Warren’s book agent will reveal that in a 1991 marketing pamphlet for the writers represented by that particular agency, Warren’s bio said that she was born in Kenya born in a tee pee on a Cherokee reservation, but that it was all “a mistake” and obviously it’s because Obama must have told her he was born in Kenya Warren must have told her she was born in a tee pee on a Cherokee reservation it’s Bush’s fault it’s Romney’s fault she has no idea how that information ended up in the pamphlet and if you’re asking questions it’s because you’re a jerk Republican racist, and can’t we talk about the important issues like birth control, same-sex marriage, and how Ted Kennedy leaves women to drown in Chappaquiddick Bay but that didn’t stop me from re-electing him to seven more terms Scott Brown probably likes to drown puppies in the bathtub and that’s a good reason to not re-elect him.

    Elephant Stone (0ae97d)

  232. All of these analyses are more-or-less the same kind of thing–sifting through the ever-vaster mountain of data to see which group will be stupider than which other group, and how much stupider they will be, and how many votes one kind of stupid will generate or lose versus another kind of stupid.

    And the politicians know this, of course. They have no real ideas about how to save our country–they want only to be the one who takes more advantage than the other guy of the most amount of stupid.

    The whole thing is an incredibly destructive exercise in lowest-common-denominator politics.

    ulyssesmsu (6dfeda)

  233. Scam alert!

    http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/05/please-no-one-tell-jerry-brown-about-this.php

    Moonbeam obviously intends to skim 70% of Federal money for State operations. Most of the money actually spent funding labor will be for curtains.

    Of course there’s the hurdle of getting the Fed to fund both sides of the scam. GLWT

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  234. Comment by wheelers_cat — 5/18/2012 @ 9:53 am
    c’mon feets….the greys voted overwhelmingly for Sick Grandpaw with accessory Back-up Bimbo last time around.
    — Stay classy, Nishi. BTW, when it comes to ‘backup bimbos,’ nobody beats Sloe “Oops, I Did It Again” Joe.

    Romney is toast because of demographics.
    — And you’re toast because you’re (probably) toasted. That’s okay, though. You just keep right on flogging that meme.

    45 million youth voters…..they aint voting for Bishop Willard.
    — Really. You think that 45 million “youth voters” are going to turn up at the polls in November. Keep dreaming.

    Awful tall hill to climb with a one-percenter white guy robot mormon bishop draft dodging gay-bully on your backs.
    Comment by wheelers_cat — 5/18/2012 @ 10:46 am

    — All I can say is Thank God you’re NOT one of those liberals that has to identify people (cf. Alex > Tamron Hall > “black lady”) by what group they belong to. If you were, it would make you quite pathetic.

    If Romney wants to beat Obama in November he needs 65% of the white people vote.
    Can’t be done.
    Comment by wheelers_cat — 5/18/2012 @ 10:48 am

    — Bullwinkle: “Hey Rocky, watch me pull some numbers out of my ass!”
    Rocky: “Again? That trick never works!”
    Bullwinkle: “This time for sure! Presto!”

    Comment by wheelers_cat — 5/18/2012 @ 11:59 am
    so SPQR, you admit that the one percent is trying to buy the election?
    — The concept of “liberty” just simply eludes you, doesn’t it.

    the right is all about identity politics. Your share of the melting pot is lily white and older… and why your party is doomed to a demographic extinction event unless you start courting youth, women, the dark-skinned and gays.
    — You should re-read this passage of yours over and over until the ironic hypocrisy of what you wrote truly sinks in.

    Icy (ae54ba)

  235. Icy, I’ve linked this a dozen times at least. I know Karl has read it.
    Its Michael Medved in 2010, No Political Future for an All White GOP.

    The math here is brutal and eye-opening. If Obama in 2012 wins the same percentage of the combined black, Asian and Hispanic vote that he won in 2008 (82 percent), then in order to beat him the GOP candidate would need to win an unimaginable 65 percent of all white voters — whose numbers include such stalwart Democratic constituencies as gays, atheists, Jews and union members.
    The 65 percent threshold represents a far higher percentage than Ronald Reagan won in his landslide against Jimmy Carter in 1980, or even his history-making 49-state re-election-sweep against Walter Mondale in ’84.

    Again, my point is that Bishop Willard Romney is the candidate with a thousand glass jaws. And the ones Santorum and Gingrich didn’t hit during the nomination process are now fair game for the media and the dems.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  236. nishi, my dearest love,

    Won’t you complete that love limerick for me?

    nk (875f57)

  237. I am kicking a baby.

    Guys, please respond nicely to nishi or just ignore her.

    nk (875f57)

  238. nk, I’m known for kicking babies.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  239. Democrats can count on the black vote but not necessarily the Hispanic vote, except in states like California. At page 7 of the link, a Pew study indicates the Republican share of the Latino vote has increased from 30% in 2006 to 38% in 2010 in House of Representative elections.

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  240. Michael Medved, movie reviewer. I just spent the whole day with a preschooler, I can’t take any more.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  241. Oh…..but you are stupid.
    Still. its not your fault.
    The Republican Brain.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  242. i see someone still can’t find the litter box…

    no wonder some people hate cats.

    redc1c4 (403dff)

  243. Hey, nishi, let’s be clear:

    Did you just call DRJ “stupid”?

    C’mon. Own up.

    Simon Jester (c7e870)

  244. Oh, and nishi? Since you like to suggest books, here is one for you:

    http://www.amazon.com/Schizophrenia-For-Dummies-Jerome-Levine/dp/0470259272/

    But the book you recommended? Partisan phrenology. But it makes a person with your life feel oh so superior.

    I just cannot wait until you go away again. Get help.

    Simon Jester (c7e870)

  245. Was that Friedman, or Darrell Hammond doing Sean Connery?

    narciso (1c125b)

  246. “And the ones Santorum and Gingrich didn’t hit during the nomination process are now fair game for the media and the dems Charlie McCarthys and teh Edgar Bergens.”

    Colonel Haiku (c5ecf9)

  247. So what, narcisco?

    Demographics is destiny– Nate Silver

    The event horizon/singularity point is where grouped minorities >= white conservatives.
    Then you are as dead as the whigs and the dinosaurs.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  248. Hate hate hate self-loathing hate hate hate is all the serial griefer has. Year after year. Note how it will not diiscuss the abject failures of its preferences. Optics and created narratives. Nothing more. TEH SINGULARITY!!!!!!!

    JD (605175)

  249. JD, just ask the little poseur to explain literally anything she writes. She can’t. All she has are bumper sticker thoughts. Right out of Goldberg’s’ new book.

    I think Nk should write a limerick about her. A biting wit, he has!

    Simon Jester (c7e870)

  250. My favorite times with nishi and her drug-addled posts are when she tries to sound all science-y.

    Simon Jester (c7e870)

  251. Sad one trick pony
    needs to get a life; seek out
    new hobbies and friends

    elissa (70ae3a)

  252. life is a banquet
    but cat always dyspeptic
    from same old menu

    elissa (70ae3a)

  253. Elissa, those were fun. As for entitled snobbish felines, go to YouTube and look up “Henri the Existential Cat”. There are two videos, and they will make you laugh this morning, I’ll bet!

    Simon Jester (c7e870)

  254. the “republicans” per se are very per se “white” and less per se “educated” than non-republicans plus also they hate “gays” and non-naturalized “latinos” and/or “hispanics”, which puts a lid on their big tentyness with “yoots” and people what are other than white per se, none of which has anything to do with fiscal sustainabilitah, which is worrisome cause of… math

    save us Marco Rubio ur our only hope

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  255. Jeez. Mr.Feet, we will agree to disagree on stereotyping, I guess.

    Watch the Henri videos and smile. And have a tasty mimosa or perhaps some menudo this lovely morning. We all need to laugh more. Me especially.

    Simon Jester (c7e870)

  256. i see your existential kiki fuff and raise you an existential muffin

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  257. Actually its been shown that lefties believe more junk science than righties, like the anti-vaccination nonsense.

    SPQR (d71dc6)

  258. wow feets pretty crappy existential subtitling.
    they translate tant pis as “let us part” but it actually means “too bad”.
    and no Rubio isn’t going to save your bacon.
    hispanics see him as a coconut (brown outside, white inside) or as a cobo (colonized brown).
    You are extinct already but the tiny little auxiliary brains in your dinosaur hips haven’t gotten the message yet.
    😉
    a toute a l’heure

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  259. SPQR

    like the anti-vaccination nonsense.

    like Michelle Bachman?

    lolllololll11!

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  260. I did, Simon. https://patterico.com/2012/05/16/does-04-08-12/#comment-968355

    I challengerd her to write a similarly mocking one for me. I even gave her the first two lines.

    Yesterday, I asked my ten-year old to punch me twice (in the stomach, my face is much harder than a ten-year old’s hands). I want her to know how to mix it up. She did it.

    nishi marches to the beat of a different drummer.

    nk (875f57)

  261. good catch nishi – teh animator there is actually super palsy walsy with my favorite local artist person

    she’s so cool she’s from the land of bulgaria, which is far

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  262. hispanics see him as a coconut

    what I usually hear is that mexican-americans think cuban-americans are snotty

    i.e., they think they’re better than us

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  263. Hate hate hate self-loathing hate hate hate is all the serial griefer has. Year after year. Note how it will not discuss the abject failures of its preferences. Optics and created narratives. Nothing more. TEH SINGULARITY!!!!!!!

    JD (605175)

  264. Yup, and they think Puerto Ricans are quajiros (hillbillies).

    nk (875f57)

  265. “Hate hate hate self-loathing hate hate hate is all the serial griefer has.”

    JD – It’s a good thing nishi is not one of those bigoted lefties who like to put people in boxes based on the color of their skin, sexual preferences, religious beliefs, and stuff like that, you know, identity politics.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  266. nishi nishi bo bishi banana fana fo fishi

    nishi!

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  267. Karl Rove was on Fox News Sunday and admitted that the 2012 General Election state by state map, which shows Obama favored, is all wrong and out of date. They use the last polls and some states haven’t been polled in a long time. For South Carolina he’s using a poll from December and he shows it as a tossup, but he doesn’t believe that.

    The polls are not taken from the same time period for each state, so that makes the whole map here http://rove.com/election worthless.

    Sammy Finkelman (8a20da)

  268. Nishi is just a poseur. And I meant what I said. I want her to bet about one of her silly and ignorant ideas that she thinks are so cutting edge, and if she loses, she goes away forever. No sock puppeting allowed.

    Works for me.

    Mr. Feet can get her number and then socialize one on one.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  269. Hey, nk, that was pretty good!

    I know that the Colonel has the market on haikus, but still.

    Krazy Kat bragging
    Polls show future hope and change
    Not the way she dreams

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  270. “Nishi is just a poseur.”

    Simon – A pop fashionista two digit hipster griefer, IMHO.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  271. nishi one sick cat
    put teh lie in coconut
    and drink it all up

    Colonel Haiku (2f3306)

  272. And then the girl finds out that he lied, and is angry. So she just f***ed him because he was from the neighborhood of her future husband!?! I know I am repeating myself but I find this reasoning incredible. *

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  273. Seriously, check out Jonah Goldberg’s new book. It reinforced a lot of thinking I have been having the past few years about how we “bumper-stickerize” or “twitterize” our political opinions.

    Trolls could just be trolls. But I hear similar sort of things from supposedly intelligent pundits.

    And Colonel? That was brilliant. Especially because of the line following: “…is there nothing I can take?…” to fit our drug addled poseur.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  274. Mr. Feet, I was just out to brunch with my family, and the server told us that many college kids now drink a mixture of orange juice and Tecate beer at breakfast and brunch—calling it a “Brass Monkey.”

    This explains a lot.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  275. hah!

    brass monkey! that funky monkey!

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  276. lemme get this straight
    she’s stuck in the middle with
    teh DeeBag Chopra?

    Colonel Haiku (2f3306)

  277. Not really Safe For Work (language and dietary pornography), but shows what happens when frat boys get a budget to cook and a popular YouTube channel:

    http://youtu.be/wZDv9pgHp8Q

    The lead fellow used to be a substitute high school teacher in Montreal.

    I was in sickened awe by this, thinking about the fall of Western Civilization. And then I remember stories about Roman vomitoria.

    Mr. Feet: this is a breakfast. I hope we can all build our own Breakfast Fortresses, to keep out the H8Rs.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  278. you know Mr. Jester you can eat tasty breakfast like that every day if you fortify it with cigarettes but if you quit smoking then you have to start making Good Choices

    it’s so not fair

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  279. Simon,
    I have lost over twenty pounds so far this year. I think I gained five or so back just watching that video.

    Machinist (b6f7da)

  280. They are horrifying, but funny, Machinist. I honestly don’t see how they do those shows. They can’t be eating all that. Profane and funny and oh so politically incorrect.

    Then there is a female version, called “My Drunk Kitchen,” that shows a difference in style.

    Anyway, the Epic Meal Time people eat more bacon than even Glenn Reynolds recommends.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  281. Oh, and Machinist? I’m glad you didn’t see Epic Meal Time’s “Taco Night,” featuring “El Gigante.”

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  282. Breakfasts find a particularly vulnerable cord with me. I love a good breakfast with all three food groups,
    -bacon/sausage group
    -hashbrown group
    -pancake/waffle/cinnamon roll group

    It’s one abuse I miss, though I still hit the first group.

    Machinist (b6f7da)

  283. it’s time the english language got its ass well aquainted with the mellifluousness of the phrase

    breakfast salad

    you’ll thank me when you get laid after 50

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  284. Most everything else I am finding easy to give up.

    Machinist (b6f7da)

  285. Well, I suppose so, Mr. Feets:

    http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2011/08/breakfast-salad/

    But I am pretty sure even the healthiest of breakfast ideals can be perverted.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  286. Machinist, I have given up cinnamon rolls. Sigh. But the good news is that I work with 20 year olds daily; I can bring them the items and at least watch them enjoy the things.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  287. “breakfast salad” has no place here unless breakfast is in the late afternoon as it often is now. I have been coming closer with salads with tuna lately. I wanted to eat more tuna mixed with mayo but had trouble finding a vector without bread or crackers. I tried lettuce wraps and putting it on celery but this was lame so I put it in salad instead of dressing. Success!! Lettuce, celery, a little tomatoes, a few croutons, lots of salt and pepper, and tuna stuff. A yummy vehicle for tuna for folks who don’t like fish much and won’t touch sushi except to put it on a hook for bait.

    BUT NOT IN THE MORNING!!!!

    Machinist (b6f7da)

  288. Simon – Thanks for the video. I remember the Taco night version. Horrifying. Back in the day I would have saved money and just skipped the food ingredients.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  289. Just for you, Machinist, from the sublime Pioneer Woman website:

    http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  290. What is salad?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  291. #289,
    You are a true saint of a man. I do miss the cinnamon rolls and pancake I used to have every weekend but it has been less painful than I expected.

    Machinist (b6f7da)

  292. daley, you should check out “My Drunk Kitchen” as well.

    Also, on Epic Meal Time, they have a “Meatza” episode: a pizza made entirely of meat. Gulp. Or is that Atkins Positive?

    Sorry for the off topic information. But I had a good brunch with my family, and thought I was feeling grumpy. Thanks for the fun…

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  293. GET THEE BEHIND ME, SIMON SATAN!!

    Machinist (b6f7da)

  294. The Pioneer Woman does have some good recipes. And some of my students can be cajoled into making these items….

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  295. This is what I am making for the family tonight.

    http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/05/barbecue-chicken-sandwiches/

    Peace be upon you all, and fingers crossed (yet again) that things work out well for Patterico and Aaron.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  296. pfft.
    ax feets how often I’m right.
    i predicted Obama would win, that Michelle would be the black Jackie Kennedy, that the ACA would pass, and that immigration would become THE voting issue for hispanics and latinos.

    Rubio and Nikki Haley and Jindal are all cobos…colonized browns.
    Thats what my hispanic friends say.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  297. Um. Make a bet. Then go away. You are an offensive troll. If Mr. feets likes you, go have dinner with him. You are dishonest and mental. And worst of all: a sad little poseur, trying to claim knowledge and insights you get from ThinkProgress. If that.

    Sad.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  298. She’s really beyond parody, sad,

    narciso (1c125b)

  299. “Thats what my hispanic friends say.”

    I seem to remember that Deb Frisch used to justify her racial slurs and “black speech” as being OK because she had a black friend. Interesting the way these minds work.

    Machinist (b6f7da)

  300. Rubio and Nikki Haley and Jindal are all cobos…colonized browns.
    Thats what my hispanic friends say.
    Comment by wheelers_cat — 5/20/2012 @ 12:45 pm

    — Because they’re “off the reservation”? Because they dare to think of themsves as Americans first? Kitty might wanna check herself in the mirror; look for signs of being a patronizing exploiter of minorities.

    [What does this make Elizabeth Warren, then? An inside out coconut?]

    Icy (ab44b5)

  301. “themselves”

    Icy (ab44b5)

  302. do you know where I was WRONG feets?
    i thought Sarah Palin would always be with us.
    and behold….she has utterly vanished.
    Patterico can go ahead and ban me. most conservative sites do.

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  303. hahahaha
    the last entry at SarahPac was April 8.
    I was so wrong.
    😉

    wheelers_cat (333e65)

  304. Sliced tomato, onion, your canned fish of choice, olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper to taste, feta cheese, crusty bread.

    nk (875f57)

  305. Some people like it with strong, sweet coffee.

    nk (875f57)

  306. Interesting, nk. I am very fond of gyros, as well. I recently made a wonderful lamb pita dish—marinated the lamb with yoghurt, garlic, cumin, and some anise. Grill the meat, slice it up, put in pita with tomato and onion and taziziki (sp) sauce.

    As for trolls who want to be banned, well, that says a whole lot about them. Sad little poseurs. I still think that a great play could be written “My Dinner With A Nutjob,” where Mr. Feet hosts nishi for a sumptious banquet of vegan delights. The dialogue would be very cutting edge.

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  307. Plus, I don’t think it is just conservative sites that ban this arrogant, ill-informed, and nasty person. But I could be wrong! Maybe she is a heroine to many, besides Mr. Feets!

    Simon Jester (7bec13)

  308. 314, 315. Well my pronouncements, especially the ‘good until dates’ may not be as successful as 50:50 but I’d hazard Jimmy Hoffa’s dumpster will get another guest within 18 months. No, not ‘Cuda.

    Palin came up golden in NE and someplace else recently, she at least has a future.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  309. She was big in supporting Fischer, and played not a small measure in the Murdock win in Indiana,

    narciso (1c125b)

  310. SF Nan and Dingy are whistlin’ past the graveyard with talk about taking back the House and hanging on to the Senate.

    The knives are collected for sharpening and the Mau Maus will dance again. You don’t ‘eff things up this bad and ride off into the sunset to be found quietly retired another day.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  311. Patterico will not ban nishi. He is very tolerant of stupiduty, otherwise I would not be here.

    nk (875f57)

  312. me three.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  313. 325. Mike Shedlock explains to those like me, dilettantes, that the collapse of credit precludes hyperinflation worries, and for the forseeable future. Otherwise Austrian economists are keen.

    But this printing money to goose the markets on no earnings has run its course. Banks in Spain and Greece are empty because no one wants pesetas or drachma at the opening exchange rates.

    IOW, we cannot walk back from the brink. Congress will not wrap themselves in glory before 2013, China will up our prices for everything to keep their necks intact. The suck is on whatever the central banks do now.

    Checkmate.

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  314. via SDA:

    http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/

    140 Billion extracted from banks on the Continent deposited in UK. Belgian banks lost 120 Billion alone.

    What? No mattresses?

    gary gulrud (d88477)

  315. Sliced tomato, onion, your canned fish of choice, olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper to taste, feta cheese, crusty bread.

    /nods approval

    Dustin (330eed)

  316. Reminds me of what my father would make for breakfast on those mornings Mom wasn’t around. Very fond memories.

    Dustin (330eed)

  317. Comment by Karl — 5/16/2012 @ 12:53 pm

    Sammy (50),

    The Clinton plan was a big lie. Doesn’t mean he didn’t get political mileage out of it, which is what I’m discussing.

    He got mileage out of the idea of a plan.

    You shouldn’t suggest that somebody else should use Clinton’s misleading campaign as a model.

    Romney thinks all he has to do is say the economy is bad. He also takes credit for grwoth in Massachusetts. The Democratic counter is that Massachusetts still ranked about a low in terms of growth among different states.

    Now what exactly did Mitt Romney supposedly do in Massachusetts in 2002-2006? Certainly not tax cuts with his legislature. What if anything did he do?? I suppose there are alwasys somew trivial things he can cite, but nothing any economist would take seriously.

    Logically Massachusetts just simply rode up and down with the national economy and it stayed in the same relative position.

    Sammy Finkelman (d22d64)

  318. The Democrats may be right, that nothing happened. And Republicans might be right if they argued no change was made in Democratic policies, but that’s not what Mitt Romney is trying to say.

    He’s trying to say that, in some unknown way, his being in office improves an economy.

    I don’t think even Clinton could pull that thing off. He never tried. He attributed economic growth to legislation that every single Republican member of Congress voted against, which he made sure would not have a single Republican vote, and also arranged that it passed by just one vote in both the House and the Senate (so he could argue every mnember of Congress was crucial)

    It didn’t work exactly as planned. When his failed (but maybe still alive) health care reform was added to the mix, the result was Republicans took both Houses of Congress because people weren’t born yesterday and this partisan split (all Republicans on one side, and some Democrats on the Republican side) was attributed (correctly) to Democrats being more partisan, not Republicans being superpartisan, as Clinton
    intended. We hadn’t seen splits like that before.

    And that almost scared some people about the Democratic Party. The picture was that Clinton got most Democrats to go along with legislation so bad or controversial that it didn’t get a single Republican vote and he might do again with something even worse.

    Sammy Finkelman (d22d64)

  319. From Instapundit:

    HUMILIATION: In Kentucky, 42 percent of Democrats pick ‘uncommitted’ instead of Obama. “The results come on the heels of West Virginia’s Democratic primary earlier this month where a felon incarcerated in Texas took 41 percent of the vote from the president.”

    SPQR (26be8b)


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