Regarding Mitt Romney: Let The Speculation Begin
[guest post by Dana]
Mitt Romney published an op-ed in the Washington Post critical of President Trump and his lack of character:
The Trump presidency made a deep descent in December. The departures of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, the appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president’s thoughtless claim that America has long been a “sucker” in world affairs all defined his presidency down.
It is well known that Donald Trump was not my choice for the Republican presidential nomination. After he became the nominee, I hoped his campaign would refrain from resentment and name-calling. It did not. When he won the election, I hoped he would rise to the occasion. His early appointments of Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Nikki Haley, Gary Cohn, H.R. McMaster, Kelly and Mattis were encouraging. But, on balance, his conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions last month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.
It is not that all of the president’s policies have been misguided. He was right to align U.S. corporate taxes with those of global competitors, to strip out excessive regulations, to crack down on China’s unfair trade practices, to reform criminal justice and to appoint conservative judges. These are policies mainstream Republicans have promoted for years. But policies and appointments are only a part of a presidency.
To a great degree, a presidency shapes the public character of the nation. A president should unite us and inspire us to follow “our better angels.” A president should demonstrate the essential qualities of honesty and integrity, and elevate the national discourse with comity and mutual respect. As a nation, we have been blessed with presidents who have called on the greatness of the American spirit. With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.
The world is also watching. America has long been looked to for leadership. Our economic and military strength was part of that, of course, but our enduring commitment to principled conduct in foreign relations, and to the rights of all people to freedom and equal justice, was even more esteemed. Trump’s words and actions have caused dismay around the world…
Of course, right out the gate, it’s funny to watch those who who pinned the ridiculous “binders of women” label on Romney, and blamed him for a woman’s death from cancer, now cheering him on for his bravery in speaking out against Trump. It’s also equally funny to see Trump’s base not just bash Romney for going after Trump, but for going after him in a #FakeNews outlet!
Both President Trump and GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel came out responded to Romney’s op-ed in separate tweets:
Some people are suggesting this is Mitt’s first move toward a run in 2020. The GOP is obviously concerned about the possibility, given a sudden push to thwart any Trump primary challenge coming just two hours after Romney’s op-ed was published:
A member of the Republican National Committee, fearing primary challengers to President Trump in the wake of incoming GOP Sen. Mitt Romney’s scathing op-ed, is urging fellow committee members to change the rules to thwart intra-party threats to Mr. Trump in 2020.
In an email obtained by CBS News, Jevon O.A. Williams, the national committeeman for the Virgin Islands, urged fellow elected RNC members Tuesday night to push for an “unprecedented” rule change in the wake of the Romney op-ed’s “calculated political treachery.” Williams wants to close “loopholes” in the nomination in a way that would make it tougher for even token challengers to Mr. Trump to enter the fray. The Washington Examiner first reported the letter.
Specifically, Williams urged fellow RNC members to change Rule 40, which requires a candidate for the nomination to garner support from a majority of delegates in at least five states or territories in order to be placed on the nominating ballot at the Republican National Committee Convention. Williams also called for a resolution to declare Mr. Trump the presumptive nominee in 2020, calling for both of those moves to take place at an RNC winter meeting later this month.
“While President Trump would win re-nomination it wouldn’t come quick and it wouldn’t be inexpensive. Any contested re-nomination campaign—even a forlorn hope—would only help Democrats,” Williams wrote. “Accordingly, I am asking for your support to take the unprecedented step of amending the rules to close loopholes in the re-nomination campaign, including Rule 40.”
In light of Romney’s political history and policy stands, and the fact that he is not the “streetfighter” that Trump is (which his base loves), it’s very hard to see Trump’s populist followers shifting their support from Trump to a gentlemanly billionaire with a solid, working moral compass and less than hard right political stands. Moreover, this is the same Mitt Romney who went to meet with Trump after he was elected to kiss his ring, and praised Trump and his first year accomplishments.
There is the possibility that its Trump’s success or failure at building his wall that will be the determining factor for his supporters and fellow Republicans looking ahead to 2020, and not whether a president has character, is ethical, has executive experience, and has a complete understanding of history, law, politics, and how government works. Because those qualities obviously no longer matter to the GOP.
(Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.)
–Dana
UPDATE BY PATTERICO: Good for Mitt. I’m not going to hail him as some kind of hero; his allowing himself to be used during the hunt for a Secretary of State is consistent with his long history of lacking backbone at important moments. That said, it’s important that a Senator say screamingly obvious things like this on his way in, and not just on his way out. It could conceivably give courage to others to do so.
The United States of America is the closest thing I have seen in my lifetime to the story of the emperor who has no clothes. All you need to do to make the congruence perfect is tweak the story a little. In the tweaked version, the emperor has no clothes, and emperor’s enemies all scream that he is naked and make up false claims about a deadly rash on his naked buttocks. Meanwhile, his supporters pretend not to notice his naked body and, when asked about it directly, uncomfortably say that the emperor’s clothes may not be what they themselves would wear, but let’s focus on what’s important and next question please.
Mitt here is clearly saying that the emperor has no clothes. That should not be an act that takes courage, but for an incoming Senator it is — although the amount of courage required in Utah is considerably less than would be required almost anywhere else.
I say we applaud Mitt for this op-ed, but it’s still Mitt. If you think this is the beginning of a long Senatorial career of proudly standing on principle, you’re bound to be disappointed.
UPDATE BY PATTERICO x2: Here’s Rand Paul demonstrating a distinct lack of the sort of courage Romney has displayed:
And *you* want to signal that you're kissing the ass of President Trillion Dollar Deficit. Go do anatomically impossible things to yourself. https://t.co/aaGQlTlkg3
— Patterico (@Patterico) January 2, 2019
UPDATE BY DANA: McKay Coppins sums up Romney’s appearance with Jake Tapper on CNN, which you can watch here:
Thoughts?
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:36 amRonna Romney McDaniel?!
Uncle Willard musta cut you outta the Will, dear.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:47 amThose qualities certainly don’t matter to the Democrats, either. So who cares?
Ingot9455 (0433d6) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:47 amWe are entering tough times.
He should just try to stay alive until 2024, where he’d be a youthful looking 78 and the calm port after a storm. If he continues to be petulantly “NT” or even considers switching parties (if the Manchin-Opioid-Problem Solvers drive the next budget agreement with bones for a wall – which may give him cover), does that trigger a recall election in Utah?
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:50 amClosing the loopholes is silly, come on in the waters fine.
Narciso (a305e8) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:53 amIf Ms. “Stormy” McDaniel wants to criticize “disappointing and unproductive” Republicans, she should start at the same place Uncle Mittens did.
She, and everyone else who abandons morality to defend Trump, needs to go.
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:59 amIf you don’t win the election, you get nothing. You get worse than nothing. You get negative.
If it doesn’t win honest votes it’s pointless.
In-your-face rhetoric wins more votes than it loses. If someone sees a weak horse and a strong horse, naturally they will select the strong horse.
And then you get at least some of what you want.
Ingot9455 (0433d6) — 1/2/2019 @ 11:20 amAllahpundit looks at the hypocrisy of Trump’s stooges trying to rig the primaries for him:
He also notes that Romney got a larger share of the popular vote in 2012 than Spanky did in 2016, and against an incumbent, at that.
That said, like Allahpundit, I really don’t think Mitt plans to run in 2020 – he’s just taking a stand for what’s right.
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 11:20 am“She, and everyone else who abandons morality to defend Trump, needs to go.”
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:59 am
Because writing off 47% of the electorate wasn’t enough.
Munroe (2f02d5) — 1/2/2019 @ 11:25 amUPDATE BY PATTERICO: Good for Mitt. I’m not going to hail him as some kind of hero; his allowing himself to be used during the hunt for a Secretary of State is consistent with his long history of lacking backbone at important moments. That said, it’s important that a Senator say screamingly obvious things like this on his way in, and not just on his way out. It could conceivably give courage to others to do so.
The United States of America is the closest thing I have seen in my lifetime to the story of the emperor who has no clothes. All you need to do to make the congruence perfect is tweak the story a little. In the tweaked version, the emperor has no clothes, and emperor’s enemies all scream that he is naked and make up false claims about a deadly rash on his naked buttocks. Meanwhile, his supporters pretend not to notice his naked body and, when asked about it directly, uncomfortably say that the emperor’s clothes may not be what they themselves would wear, but let’s focus on what’s important and next question please.
Mitt here is clearly saying that the emperor has no clothes. That should not be an act that takes courage, but for an incoming Senator it is — although the amount of courage required in Utah is considerably less than would be required almost anywhere else.
I say we applaud Mitt for this op-ed, but it’s still Mitt. If you think this is the beginning of a long Senatorial career of proudly standing on principle, you’re bound to be disappointed.
Patterico (115b1f) — 1/2/2019 @ 11:32 amThat was two years ago, no one of any consequence denounced Obama, for his injuries to the body politics, both at home and abroad.
Narciso (a305e8) — 1/2/2019 @ 11:41 amI think it is fine to criticize Romney’s politics if you wish. What makes me shake my head is the near-automatic jeering, name calling, and even attempts to call him a child molester. The fact that Romney could literally punch out such people in the real world does little to make me feel better. I hate gossiping character assassination.
We don’t like it when when the Left does that kind of thing. Yet we have no trouble doing it ourselves.
Here is the question I ask myself: does my response look all fake macho and sneering, like Ace? If so, I need to reconsider my point of view.
You don’t have to agree with me, and not many people do. But I have had to read, literally for years, ignorant and hateful comments about a decent man. It’s fine to suggest that that decent man shouldn’t run for President, or even Senator, or perhaps should spend his time with his grandchildren and enjoy retirement.
It’s the needlessly personal crap that makes me shake my head, usually as part of some silly macho posturing.
I’m with Patterico on the overall topic.
Simon Jester (984e98) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:00 pmUPDATE BY PATTERICO x2: Here’s Rand Paul demonstrating a distinct lack of the sort of courage Romney has displayed:
Patterico (115b1f) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:05 pmHe hasn’t put forth any:
Narciso (211740) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:12 pmhttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/where-mitt-romneys-attack-on-donald-trump-went-off-the-rails
As if that’s some high bar to reach. That’s not what Mitt is doing. He is attacking Trump’s character and exposing him for the grifter we know him to be. Because unlike the alternate universe Rand apparently lives in, where the vast majority of people are not virtuous in comparison to Trump, here in the real world, virtuous people who live out their principles with consistency, don’t need to signal it. Their daily lives give evidence to it. Rand knows this, and that’s why it’s so depressing to see this flimsy defense of Trump by attacking Mitt. Talk about some flagrant signaling…
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:23 pmWell some cheap shots have greater purchase, we know pikachu is a rabid mogwai but how about our new guest physicist.
Narciso (211740) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:23 pmFurther, why does a man whose vetted background turn up literally nothing that would evidence a lack of virtuous living, need to signal anything to anyone or shame Trump, whose own vetted background turned up a trove of anything but virtuous behavior? Just stop it.
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:26 pmRand Paul is one of those guys who makes me scratch my head and go “What happened to you, Dude?” Hard to trust a purported Libertarian who goes in for Macho Signaling.
Appalled (d07ae6) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:27 pmUPDATE BY PATTERICO x2: Here’s Rand Paul demonstrating a distinct lack of the sort of courage Romney has displayed:
Romney’s courage on the deficit:
“We must repair our fiscal foundation, setting a course to a balanced budget.“
Armed with such platitudes, what hill would we not die on for this guy?
Munroe (bbc587) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:28 pmIt’s like the python how to do it sketch:
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2019/01/in-re-romney.php
Narciso (211740) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:35 pmRobert Costa just tweets:
Interesting that Trump’s response to Mitt was fairly restrained – no name calling and the like, which is unusual for him. But that the WH feels threatened enough by the op-ed (Romney) to deflect and rebut whatever Romney has to say about the op-ed, is telling.
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:38 pmIt’s media day for Willard; the yet-to-be-sworn-in junior senator from Utah and 2012 GOP loser presidential candidate– w/multiple planets in his future– is gonna moralizing about life on this one w/CNN’s Tapper. On the level; ‘talking trees’ forecasting 47% chance of tweets. Be kind to your pets.
“Everything is jake.”- Johnny Hooker [Robert Redford] ‘The Sting’ 1973
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:38 pmRomney’s courage on the deficit:
“We must repair our fiscal foundation, setting a course to a balanced budget.“
As opposed to our current President who vowed to cut taxes, fund a huge infrastructure project, leave entitlement programs alone, increase defense spending, yet somehow balance the budget. The best you can say about that is that you know he’s full of bullstuff, and only pandering to the most delusional and dumb among his audience.
JVW (54fd0b) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:40 pmInteresting that Trump’s response to Mitt was fairly restrained – no name calling and the like, which is unusual for him.
I was actually going to mention that the President deserved credit for not flying off the handle and issuing a Tweet storm about his entire history with the Romney family.
JVW (54fd0b) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:42 pmThe Babylon Bee nails it:
David Longfellow (8cba7a) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:42 pmThe Babylon Bee nails it:
David Longfellow (8cba7a) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:42 pmhttps://babylonbee.com/news/follower-of-joseph-smith-urges-nation-to-reject-morally-flawed-leaders
how many tatters exactly is willard willing to see die in syria
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:43 pmNo doubt Willard has an extra $10,000 in his pocket to make bets thanks to Trump’s tzx cuts.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:48 pmJVW, does he deserve credit for being an adult, or is he worried he might further offend his base (and risk losing supporters) if he pushes back too hard against a virtuous man? Was this really a mature response, or one of utter and complete self-interest (while looking ahead at 2020)?
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:49 pmP.S. I’m going with option #2.
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:50 pm“The best you can say about that is that you know he’s full of bullstuff, and only pandering to the most delusional and dumb among his audience.”
JVW (54fd0b) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:40 pm
You’re way too harsh on Mitt.
Munroe (728bdd) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:50 pmThat’s a silly criticism, Mormonism isn’t orthodox christianity in several respects,
There was nowhere near the response to Obama, he was mostly basenji.
Narciso (211740) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:54 pmJVW, does he deserve credit for being an adult, or is he worried he might further offend his base (and risk losing supporters) if he pushes back too hard against a virtuous man?
Unlike Hillary, I believe that people can be redeemed. I’m hoping that the President has turned over a new leaf in the New Year and is going to dial back his attacks on the rest of his party. He might just find that some of his fellow Republicans reciprocate his grace, and perhaps a President united with the Senate majority can combat some of the inanity that is sure to emanate from the House over the next two years and a cohesive Republican party with a common agenda can go into the 2020 elections with all its candidates on the same page.
Yeah, whom am I kidding?
JVW (54fd0b) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:57 pmThey did little with the full deck of options:
https://www.conservativereview.com/news/video-surfaces-of-wapo-op-ed-contributor-chanting-death-to-america/
Narciso (211740) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:58 pmAn elevator in every garage…
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:59 pmstupid willard moved to the state with the worst most vile food in america
and he did it on purpose cause he’s consumed with the lust for power
i feel sorry for his family
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:03 pm@36. Salty and flat, eh, Mr. Feet.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:06 pmNo, he published the Op-ed in the Washington Post (which is far more delibeately political) and it was cited and written about and two sentences were quoted by David Leonhardt, who is regular Op-ed columnist for the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/opinion/romney-trump-republican-party.html
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:07 pmOnline, the New York Times piece links to thw Washington Post Op-ed:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mitt-romney-the-president-shapes-the-public-character-of-the-nation-trumps-character-falls-short/2019/01/01/37a3c8c2-0d1a-11e9-8938-5898adc28fa2_story.html
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:09 pm“He might just find that some of his fellow Republicans reciprocate his grace”
JVW (54fd0b) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:57 pm
You mean like when he graciously endorses a Senate candidate who had previously attacked him, the candidate accepts and wins the election, then the candidate rips him a new one in an op-ed? And, the attack is supported on conservative blogs?
Munroe (025c2b) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:11 pm33. JVW (54fd0b) — 1/2/2019 @ 12:57 pm
Right now, he’s having too much fun attacking the Democrats. He doesn’t attack members of his own party except when they criticize what he’s doing, which most don’t.
Mitch McConnell is completely staying out of the shutdown negotiations except to say that he will not introduce n the floor any bill that President teump has not agreed to sign.
He may yet change his mind if this goes on for a few weeks. But even then, he’ll quietly tell Trump that the Senate (and House) are prepared to override a veto.
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:13 pmQuesiton: Why, if I’ve been excoriated by Trump supporters these past two years when posting criticism of Trump’s outrageous tweets: They’re just tweets.They don’t matter. Watch what he does, not what he says., then why are Trump loyalists/politicians/media people criticizing Mitt for what he has said? After all, isn’t the point you’ve been trying to make and convince us of, is that words don’t matter, only actions? Or is that standard just for certain people?
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:15 pmOh good grief, Sammy Finkleman, of course you’re right (at#38)! I was reading another article about the op-ed in the NYT and forgot to change the link. Thank you for pointing it out. Correction made.
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:20 pmYou think this really matters, he was silent in the second debate on substantive issues, he went along with the thread bare narrative against roy moore, he foolishly abets the Iranian proxies in yemen, from my last link, and I raise again some of my questions from the last thread,
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-conservative-in-the-age-of-trump/
narciso (d1f714) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:22 pmcorrection made
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:26 pmRomney’s actions follow his words. He’s unfaithful in the past and now his words back it up.
Lots of people are paid a good salary by the mainstream media to attack Trump. Why do it for free?
Ingot9455 (0433d6) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:27 pmI think that’s very unfair.
Senator Paul offers a full range of incall services to the big-spending reprobate in the White House.
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:29 pmR.I.P. “Mean” Gene Okerlund
Icy (228bf3) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:35 pmAlso, R.I.P. Bob Einstein a.k.a. stuntman Super Dave Osborne.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:38 pmI’ve updated the post with a summation of Romney’s interview with Jake Tapper. He claims he is not running, saying: “No, I am not running again.”
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:39 pmRomney also said that he stands with Republicans about the shutdown:
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:40 pm“I think I would have been a good general, but who knows?”
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:41 pm– Cadet Bonespurs, today
Rand Paul, on a phone call with reporter Benny Johnson:
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:47 pmAww, Super Dave! 😢
Icy (228bf3) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:57 pmi can’t in good conscience defend Mitt Romney on this
he really blew it here
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/2/2019 @ 1:58 pmIf anyone doubted the value of those two extra seats the Republicans will have in the Senate tomorrow–along with the kicker of the Senate doors hitting Flake and Corker in the posteriors on the way out–Romney’s inability to restrain himself from Trump bashing until he has spent even a single day in the Senate should do the trick. Also, either he will die in the Senate or he will end his political career there, as his predecessor did. He has no interest in being a 1 percenter in the primaries, or becoming the second “independent Republican” to finish third in Utah in the past four years.
M Scott Eiland (b16b32) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:10 pmIs that … a life-sized photo of Donald Trump on the table in front of him during today’s cabinet meeting?
Bat. Sh!t. Crazy.
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:13 pmYou think Romney needs to spend time in the Senate to form an accurate impression of Donald Trump’s character?
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:15 pmMitt will work to restore fiscal sanity, border security and military preparedness.
With Trump gone, and Kamala in, deficits will stop, “infrastructure” projects can began, the FBI can rehire McCabe, and the border secured. All without all the rancor of Trump.
I know this because Bill Kristol, the National Review martini-sippers, and the S.E. Cupp cruise-ship conservatives say it is so-right? And if not, well, don’t fight it; let the slow drip of resignation into your veins began. The Important Thing you see, (this is the Thing to remember, the Important Thing), is that the purity of Mitt and Jonah Goldberg be untouched by events! That they able to attend the usual parties, not be chased from restaurants, and the GOP not be stained by any hint of practicality.
And just think! We can sign the Paris Agreement, the TPP, and up our dues to the UN! We want to be liked right?
PPS: Rest assured, Mitt will be celebrated for his graceful, dignified, utterly ineffectual “I don’t even ruffle my ascot” campaign against Trump, just like the last time.
PPSS: if you doubt any of this, just think of how golden all would be if Trump had lost in 2016.
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (5e0a82) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:20 pmwell that’s a surprise, no one could have seen coming:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/powerful-antitank-missiles-put-u-s-forces-in-middle-east-at-risk-11546347600?mod=e2tw
narciso (d1f714) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:21 pmIndeed, we’ve only regretted the defeat of a competent and ethical conservative like Ted Cruz once Donald Trump took office, and that has been continuously.
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:26 pm@50. He ran from La Jolla to run in Utah. Once bitten by the presidential bug, it’s a bite that keeps itching to be scratched.
Should be amusing watching the young senior senator from Utah keeping the older junior senator in line. If not a king, be a kingmaker, eh, Willard.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:32 pm@50. Postscript. It’s fairly galling for an old fella who has yet to even start the job he has just been hired to do banter about another gig a few years out. That’s wht you’d expect from Little Marco.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:38 pmalways siding with the enemies of America:
https://dailycaller.com/2019/01/02/cnn-grills-brother-of-detained-american/
narciso (d1f714) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:43 pmTrump Basher – how many Supreme Court Justices and lower Court Judges that Hillary would have appointed would have made you happy? You don’t like has tweets, too Damn Bad!
LYNN HARGROVE (740caa) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:43 pm59. With Trump gone, and Kamala in, deficits will stop, “infrastructure” projects can began, the FBI can rehire McCabe, and the border secured. All without all the rancor of Trump.
We have been forced to accept a lot of very unlikely courses of events in the past few years, but Kamala Harris (and Cory “Spartaputz” Booker, and Elizabeth “Below Average” Warren, among others) has shown no sign of any ability to capture the imagination of Democratic voters that could let them win the nomination, much less defeat Trump (or whoever is the Republican nominee in the unlikely event that Trump decides to take his ball and go home). If they did, that milquetoast joke from Texas wouldn’t be attracting so much excitement.
M Scott Eiland (b16b32) — 1/2/2019 @ 2:46 pmMitt can say what he wants as long as his actions are in line with conservative principles and the constitution.
Hopefully he won’t delay any judge confirmations to make petty points and be able to separate his feelings from the business at hand.
Lots of Flakes and Mitts feelings are hurt by Trump. Flake could rarely rise above it (he did with Kavanaugh) Mitt is already signalling his feeling are gonna be oh so important to the entire world when they are not.
Mitt. Go Flake yourself
steveg (a9dcab) — 1/2/2019 @ 3:04 pmLet preface this that I really REALLY wanted Mitt to be our President in 2012… or in any year. He’s not perfect and it’s a bit “big government honk” for me, but I think he would’ve been one of the greats in history.
But, I’m kinda flummoxed at his intention to publish this right before he swears in as Senator.
He’s saying the same things that EVERY anti-Trumpers has said… so, it’s nothing new. Trump voters/supporters KNOWS Trump is of low character and *is* a grifter… and also is a wrecking ball.
Being constantly reminded of this smacks of sanctimonious finger-wagging, it’s understandable that the Trump supporters would lash out to Mitt…especially since he had to grovel towards Trump during the transition.
As a political junkie, like Dana, I can’t wait to see the same media who has accused Mitt of giving cancer to a women, having binders of women, etc… to have new found respect again.
I think we need to stop looking for the ideal person/hero/’perfect President’ who holds our oval office and look at this from a transactional perspective. This need, to be able to adulate our presidents, regardless of actual policy outcomes, is part of the problem. Remember how we used to mock Obama supporters by saying “not a cult”? I don’t think we’re even at that level outside of the small hardcore MAGA crowds.
Simply stated, I think most of us agree that Trump is a product of a primary system, where the establishment were repudiated by the GOP primary voters. AND THEY STILL ACT LIKE THEY DON’T KNOW HOW WE GOT TRUMP!
Did we cut spending?
Did we repeal Obamacare?
Other GOP promises?
No? Well then, enter Donald Trump. For that matter, enter Lindsey Graham 2.0(!!!) and Rand Paul 3.0(?) here as they are politicians calibrating their responses to tap into the current maga-spheres. It’s all about influence. Yes, I think it’s a shame that we don’t have more “principled” politicians…but, that doesn’t mean we need to be blind that they’re people too who wants to maintain positions of influence.
Yes, Trump’s signature plank is the border wall…and Democrats would loath to play any part that would give him that signature campaign win. But, I also think that if he doesn’t get it, his voters/supporters will still vote for him since he’s obviously fighting for those things.
Can you name someone or some bill that the GOP fought tooth and nail? Last time would be the Kavanaugh hearing… before that? Maybe Ted Cruz’s unsuccessful filibuster of the budget in 2012 because the Obamacare? What about before that? I know Trump gets mocked with “but he fights” as he is an equal opportunity fighter to anyone who attacks him… but, this shouldn’t be discounted as this was something GOPer has wanted in a politician since GWB saying zilch during his tenure.
Not to mention, Trump ought to get massive credit for reshaping the judiciary and simply being the “not-Hillary Clinton” President.
Don’t get me wrong here… some of the things Trump have done makes my head hurt… and I’m not saying he shouldn’t be criticized (I echo his inital Charlotteville response as a major WTF). But, I can also take solace that Hillary Clinton isn’t the President either…and that’s fricking awesome.
At least acknowledge that the system created the binary choice: HRC v. Trump.
Those were the crappy cards we were dealt with.
One was going to be President… and you can give a lil’ head nod towards Trump for defeating HRC. And my ask to other GOP supporters is to keep the friendly fire at a minimum and try not to give Democrats any more ammo than necessary that would otherwise impede your favored polices that Trump would enact.
If the Kavanaugh hearing has taught me something… it’s that we should keep the Democrat party out of power for as long as possible.
As for Mitt… I hope this was something he felt he needed to declare his independence to the MAGA crowd, which if you knew anything about Utah, is smart politics for him. So, while many of you are cheering Mitt because you think it makes him principled… at least acknowledge that there’s a political calculus here because Utah isn’t a big Trump state.
Wow… didn’t realize that this was a wall-o-text of my meandering thoughts!
whembly (b9d411) — 1/2/2019 @ 3:08 pmR.I.P. Daryl Dragon, the “Captain” in The Captain & Tennille
Icy (228bf3) — 1/2/2019 @ 3:19 pmshe left him when his health started failing
tacky little muskrat woman
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/2/2019 @ 3:34 pmIt is very possible to hold these two thoughts simultaneously. At least for me. YMMV:
Yay for his judicial appointees. Good job there. Boo for his tweets, which may unnecessarily provoke our enemies and ratchet up tension between nations, as well as being self-contradictory, misrepresentative, and even dishonest about matters concerning that which impacts Americans everywhere. These sort of tweets may also lead to unnecessary and confusing messes which someone else will be forced to clean up as best they can. And, had he instead used self-control and resisted the urge to shout out, there may not be a resulting frustration among his own party members, staff and the American people at large.
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 3:49 pmMeh. This is all about “open borders” Mitt annoyed that Americans want to decide America’s future instead of accept a permanent decline into a 3rd world socialist mess.
NJRob (ce94ac) — 1/2/2019 @ 3:50 pmof course they leave out the context from the debka link
https://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-hosts-palestinian-terror-group-sparking-fears-of-new-attacks/
but this is the outfit, sami al arian raised funds for, his associate at the university of florida, becamw a major official in Syria, Ramadan shallah,
narciso (d1f714) — 1/2/2019 @ 3:50 pmReality check: in 2012 Donald Trump sharply criticized Romney for alienating the Latino vote with his “mean-spirited” immigration policy.
By the way, can you point to even a single instance where Romney advocated “open borders” (i.e. unlimited legal immigration), or is that something you just made up?
Dave (fef735) — 1/2/2019 @ 4:11 pmmittens made me get Massachusetts health care, Obama made me get Massachusetts health care stage 2
mg (8cbc69) — 1/2/2019 @ 4:17 pmSounds like b.s. works like b.s. mittens is far from being a conservative. Love you some Gruber, idiots.
like your dr. keep your dr.
mg (8cbc69) — 1/2/2019 @ 4:19 pmPelosi must be mittens speech writer.
mg (8cbc69) — 1/2/2019 @ 4:28 pmNJRob @ 71,
Perhaps you missed comment:
Dana (023079) — 1/2/2019 @ 4:31 pmI’m not seeing the big issue here. Romney said he would support Trump when the president did something supportable, and not support Trump’s unsupportable words and acts. Any Republican worth his/her salt should take that same position and, to me, that is a conservative approach toward moving this nation forward.
Paul Montagu (da2fa4) — 1/2/2019 @ 4:57 pmI didn’t Dana. That’s politics as usual. No different than they liar in Ohio who voted for the heartbeat act when he thought it wouldn’t pass and then turned against it when his vote would’ve overridden Kasich’s veto.
The swamp as usual.
NJRob (ce94ac) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:13 pmMitt Romney is fun to make fun of. Like Politburo and potato shortage.
Am joking. Is no potato shortage. Is too many people want potato.
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:18 pmWe shall see, Romney has already flop flipped in the past, Fidel o flake seems encouraged
Narciso (744500) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:19 pmHe said Obama’s illegal DACA recipients should be allowed to stay for no reason at all. No concession by the left.
So he starts from a point of loss and then wants to negotiate. No thanks.
NJRob (ce94ac) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:19 pmBack when he the bete noire:
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/765553110/McKay-Coppins-Mitt-Romney-wants-to-follow-you-on-Twitter.amp&ved=2ahUKEwiEkIPVu9DfAhUHKawKHUOiB9gQFjABegQIChAB&usg=AOvVaw0ZfeEasiuy1nR9m4t5oS8n&cf=1
Narciso (744500) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:33 pmwillard says build the dang fence
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:43 pmWhen they do ‘The Lyle Waggoner Story’ hope Willard auditions for the gig.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:44 pm@84. Willard says your table is ready, too, Mr. Feet. No tipping.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:46 pmknitting book and broom – i set them down!
lead the way old chum
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:49 pmAnd on and on…
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 5:52 pmTrump: Let’s face it, the Soviets were right to invade Afghanistan
Trump’s understanding of Afghan/Soviet history could fit on a Post-It note, one of those really small ones. He just makes it up on the fly.
Paul Montagu (da2fa4) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:03 pmHe’s an idiot.
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:14 pmBut so is Mattis.
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:15 pmAll officers are.
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:16 pmIt’s an indispensable qualification.
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:16 pmThe more idiot they are, the higher they rise in rank.
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:17 pmMattis is a general. Do the math.
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:17 pmWell no, the USSR thought Amin who was actually on their side a little like diem for us was an enemy, that never works our well.
Narciso (744500) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:19 pmBut yet here’s another equation: Mattis left two days ago and, today, Trump made up his own ahistorical story about why the Soviets invaded Afghanistan and why the USSR collapsed. Apparently, there was no one there for Trump run his story by to see if it was in the same ballpark with reality.
Paul Montagu (da2fa4) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:49 pmNarciso (744500) — 1/2/2019 @ 6:19 pm
No, I don’t think that’sen understood well. I think the deposing of Hafizullh Amin was actually an attempted de-Stalinization by Brezhnev. They thought he was too tyrannical. He had never been their choice in the first place, having deposed the previous pro-Soviet ruler. But because they were caught in the act because Jimmy Carter had diverted U,S, spy satellites to the general area to photograph more because if the Iranian hostage crisis, it was taken as the first Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and U.S. support for the opposition was upgraded. The people to help were picked by Pakistan’s intelligence agency and were all some variety of Islamist – those are the only people they chose to help and organize and that’s the root of al Qaeda and all terrorism that is Islamic religion based (previously, Arab and other terrorism had a different ideology)
Sammy Finkelman (3d8315) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:04 pmThe Afghani war did have a more serious impact than Blake gives it credit for, in that it allowed a lot of families to discover via the experience of family members drafted into the army, the problems within the Soviet military, encouraged discontent among those wounded or those with friends and family killed. It brought people face to face with the Soviet sclerosis.
Kishnevi (8f6228) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:09 pmIf one reads sebestyen’s 1989, he accords much importance to the Afghan intervention as a first domino. I think the second British afhan war ending in 1880, probably has been more on point
Narciso (744500) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:14 pmIf they change the rules to try to stop Romney from challenging, he should run as an independent. It is beyond hypocritical for Trump’s thugs to change the rules when the GOP, to its everlasting regret, did not change the rules on Trump when he threatened a 3rd party run.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:24 pmWell not exactly, yes Sayyaf and hekmatyar, Khalis (who bin laden was given sanctuary by) and Haqqani were the most vicious fighters but not necessarily the most effective.
Narciso (744500) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:26 pmI say we applaud Mitt for this op-ed, but it’s still Mitt. If you think this is the beginning of a long Senatorial career of proudly standing on principle, you’re bound to be disappointed.
I would rather someone stood on decency than principle. I’ve had quite enough “principle” in my life and very little of it was anything but posturing.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:26 pmIf Romney ran and won in 2020, he’d have a good shot at two full terms, health permitting. IF Trump wins renomination, the next Democrat will enter the white House no later than 2024 and probably 2020.
I cannot think of a single (eligible) Democrat who Trump would surely beat. Yes, he has his diehard support, but he has lost the middle and you cannot win with just the GOP, and he doesn’t have all of that. His only hope is a Democrat who is more repellent, and a Democrat Party stupid enough to choose such again.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:31 pmOK, guys:
Mitt’s the GOP nominee. Who do you vote for? Mitt, or let the Commies have it?
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:34 pmThe “rule change” they’re talking about is to dissolve the NRC’s standing committee on primary debates. How that became “to eliminate a primary challenge to Trump”, as far as I can tell from the #FakeNews stories on the internet, was from some Georgian on the RNC getting a bad Mason jar of moonshine (or too much of the good stuff).
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:36 pmNo he’ll drop the ball, like he did on 2012.
Narciso (744500) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:37 pmHere is the question I ask myself: does my response look all fake macho and sneering, like Ace? If so, I need to reconsider my point of view.
This. There are so many people here who come off like the drunken yahoo leading the lynch mob in some western film, who backs down the moment the sheriff says “You die first.”
I’d name names, but that would break the rules. So, if the shoe fits, be offended.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:39 pmThe “rule change” they’re talking about is to dissolve the NRC’s standing committee on primary debates.
Actually, if they got rid of the debates in a Romney vs Trump fight, it wold work for Romney, not Trump. The debates give voters a mostly unfiltered view of the candidates; without them it’s just what the reporters want to show. Does Trump really think he’ll get a fair shake there?
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:41 pm“He’s an idiot….But so is Mattis.”
It’s a really peculiar thing to say….in comparing Mattis’ resignation letter….with Trump’s claim of the Soviet Union attacking Afghanistan because of terrorists…..well….one of them seems to be a deeper thinker….or are you just illustrating absurdity with absurdity?
AJ_Liberty (165d19) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:43 pmNo, I have genuine contempt for the military culture and the people at the head of it.
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 7:53 pmthe bergdork mattis military is very confused
confused like are you there god it’s me jimmy confused
maybe they just need time to do the necessary process work to become a centered, capable, and trustworthy organization but maybe they’re just corrupt and no good like what happened to the Secret Service and the boy scouts and the catholic church
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/2/2019 @ 8:08 pmYes it’s a stupid argument, I dont have good answers but I dont have the certainty that we’ll prevail as I thought maybe 15 years.
Narciso (744500) — 1/2/2019 @ 8:15 pmm some Georgian on the RNC getting a bad Mason jar of moonshine (or too much of the good stuff).
Per the part quoted in the main post the advocate is from the Virgin Islands, which produces some nice rum, but probably doesn’t have that much clout in the GOP.
Kishnevi (53ba3f) — 1/2/2019 @ 8:30 pmAnother triumph of optimism over experience…
They are all repellent. Perhaps not to the same degree as HRC, but that’s a pretty low hurdle to clear.
Only Trump could make Biden sound intelligent and sane by comparison.
Dave (1bb933) — 1/2/2019 @ 8:42 pmIt’s more than that, considering that folks are talking about canceling the South Carolina primary in order to move Trump along to nomination. I remember when Bernie Bros were complaining about how super-delegates were undemocratic, but it seems to me canceling a primary and giving the state to Trump would be just as undemocratic. Even more undemocratic is the RNC member’s proposal to “to change the rules, endorse Trump and declare him the de-facto nominee, heading off any primary challenge.” But no big deal, it would only disenfranchise those Republicans who’d prefer to vote for anyone other than Trump.
Paul Montagu (da2fa4) — 1/2/2019 @ 8:45 pmLink
There is the possibility that its Trump’s success or failure at building his wall that will be the determining factor for his supporters and fellow Republicans looking ahead to 2020, and not whether a president has character, is ethical, has executive experience, and has a complete understanding of history, law, politics, and how government works. Because those qualities obviously no longer matter to THE HACKS NOW INVESTING THE UPPER REACHES OF the GOP.
FIFY. A lot of the rank and file support Trump only because the only alternative is supporting the Democrats, or giving them aid and comfort. But the syphilitic Yosemite Sam who currently holds the Democrats at bay isn’t the only way forward, and certainly cannot hold them off for much longer anyway.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 9:43 pm*INFESTING also works.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 9:44 pmThose qualities eventually did matter to Tillerson, Kelly, Mattis, McMaster, Cohn, Haley, Flake, Corker, Romney, Ryan and any number of GOP Congressmen, by choice or otherwise.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 9:50 pmBut no big deal, it would only disenfranchise those Republicans who’d prefer to vote for anyone other than Trump.
It might even run afoul of the Guarantee Clause. Hard to do, but it might.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 9:52 pmOnly Trump could make Biden sound intelligent and sane by comparison.
Compared to Trump, Biden is George Marshall reborn.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 9:53 pmBlocking primaries would lead to credential problems. No state is required to honor such a coup and place such a questionable “nominee” on their state ballot. This is one of those stupid ideas that only comes from the Trumpist fringe, by people who are only sober long enough to send an email between drinks.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/2/2019 @ 9:57 pmNo state is required to hold a Presidential erection (I know, childish, but I couldn’t resist) at all. The legislature can straight out appoint the Electors. Florida did, in 2000, as a backup in case Bush v. Gore was not resolved by the date the Electoral college voted.
nk (dbc370) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:07 pmNo, Joe Biden is the blithering idiot, who they turned to instead of general mcrystal they sent him to pester Karzai who was supposed to be our ally, hes such a colossal (redacged)
Narciso (942a13) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:13 pmWhose screwed up everything except when authors the drug czar (ironic apoiler) but also created fisa.
Narciso (942a13) — 1/2/2019 @ 10:14 pmElizabeth Warren approves of Trump’s plan to cut and run in Syria.
Dave (1bb933) — 1/3/2019 @ 12:16 amThe 1 party system we have is b.s. All republicans are democrats. Look at what the 1 party system can’t do. Burn this mutha to the ground, Donny. I will most likely never vote again so I don’t give a sh!t who wins anything. I will protect my family, my properties, my health and all weapons are spit shined. The rest of this world can burn like a dried tumbleweed. Romney is a commie.
mg (8cbc69) — 1/3/2019 @ 12:29 amAbout time some Captains were made Generals. Our Generals are bought and paid for puppets. What good is a military if you keep refusing to let your troops win. We used to beat the snot out of everyone, now we hold the kleenex to their nose as they stab us in the back. Our military has degraded into a force of pillows. We have the weapons to eliminate bad groups of people and won’t. We suck as a nation of chickens!its.
mg (8cbc69) — 1/3/2019 @ 12:38 amLet Romney become the leader of The Stupid Party!!!
mg (8cbc69) — 1/3/2019 @ 12:54 amlmmfao at the limp wrist who is a proven quitter many times over.
Mittens could be a star on The Wives of Orange County.
mg (8cbc69) — 1/3/2019 @ 1:02 amAre you drunk when you post stuff like this?
I don’t mean that as an insult, I’m genuinely curious.
Dave (1bb933) — 1/3/2019 @ 2:18 ammg posts are the morning rooster of this site, usually.
urbanleftbehind (8241bf) — 1/3/2019 @ 4:16 am“No, I have genuine contempt for the military culture and the people at the head of it.”
I guess I don’t get this. Military service is voluntary these days…..and the culture…as I understand it….emphasizes things like discipline, teamwork, sacrifice, duty, honor, pride, courage, politeness, strength, community, etc. A warrior ethos is certainly not for everyone….but the job kind of requires being able to kill people and…perhaps…make the ultimate sacrifice. I’m proud of my military…and the sacrifices they make to do the job. Think about being deployed for 6 months away from your family…away from your creature comforts…performing a mission where people can die. Now contrast that with our other societal cultures…political….business….entertainment. Is the military culture really the one that should draw your contempt? As the kids say, really?
AJ_Liberty (165d19) — 1/3/2019 @ 5:24 amI see it and its partners, the weapons makers and provisioners, as a gigantic bureaucracy cum racket, and its worship by so many people as a kind of fetish or paraphilia. Yes, there are a great many individual soldiers who exemplify all the fine things you list, but there are just as many whom I consider to be murderers, thieves, and despoilers of women given the opportunity, and the rest of them time-serving drones and poseurs leeching off the taxpayers.
nk (dbc370) — 1/3/2019 @ 5:46 amafghanistan lol
happyfeet (28a91b) — 1/3/2019 @ 5:57 amnk, there are some that would apply all those points to law enforcement and corrections, of course we wouldn’t be talking multi billion ships, subs and fighter aircraft.
urbanleftbehind (8241bf) — 1/3/2019 @ 6:25 amYou packed a bit in there. Certainly I agree that the military is an expensive operation….and it has all of the inefficiencies and waste of any big government-run endeavor. I also agree that many people seem to ignorantly call for more and more military without any consideration of strategic need or cost. It is also true that defense contractors and the systems that they develop are expensive. However, if you stop building submarines, for example, then in 10 years all of that specialized expertise goes away to other industries….and you spend even more when you inevitably need to replace submarines down the road. The good side is that these are good high-tech American jobs….that will lead to civilian sector technological innovations…like the internet….that benefit us all. So the idea that the Boeings, Lockheeds, and Northrops are the bad guys just doesn’t ring true….they’re the manufactured Hollywood boogeymen.
I think what gets missed from any discussion of military spending is strategic thinking…..your military R&D dollar today is looking out at the world 30 years from now….and trying to forecast the intentions and capabilities of the bad actors of the world. That’s what people like Mattis and Kelly do….with the help of a lot of smart people. Dismissing it all as phallic worship…and drunk binge spending….seems to miss the seriousness of the activity. The anti-Chinese cruise missile that we develop today may be the key to stopping South China Sea expansion in the future. It’s just not all corporate welfare….but we’re generally not presented it that way for partisan political reasons.
As per murderers, thieves, and rapists….it just seems like a blanket slur…like Trump complaining about Mexican illegal aliens…despite the actual stats. Are there more bad actors in the military then lawyers….news people…entertainers…..steel workers going out to blow off steam? I agree one should not be pollyannish about the military…but I respect that there is at least a creed and an effort to aspire to good conduct (hence the big public news when someone like Petraeus is exposed…think about if businessmen sexual affairs regularly made the news!). In politics, there frequently doesn’t even appear any effort to model character. That’s why the loss of Mattis, Kelly, and McMaster from the administration is such a loss…maybe not perfect individuals….but they all understood what is meant by character and leadership. Trump…not so much.
AJ_Liberty (165d19) — 1/3/2019 @ 6:42 amWell let’s look at that, who did we have as our adversary the Soviet union, and who did we have as allies, and how did it shake out.
Narciso (91b483) — 1/3/2019 @ 6:46 amTake jalahuddin haqquan
Narciso (91b483) — 1/3/2019 @ 7:38 amhttps://mobile.twitter.com/pspoole
The problem is the dems sought the ‘peace dividend’ which is what they always wanted to do in the 80s. Then ubl came calling.
Narciso (91b483) — 1/3/2019 @ 7:44 amIn the 80s, Reagan pretended to be planning to topple Qaddafi, 25 years later it was done, now what?
Narciso (91b483) — 1/3/2019 @ 7:58 amMeanwhile back at the ranch:
https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fopinion%2Fwhite-house%2F423558-exculpatory-russia-evidence-about-mike-flynn-that-us-intel-kept-secret
Narciso (91b483) — 1/3/2019 @ 8:08 am“The problem is the dems sought the ‘peace dividend’ which is what they always wanted to do in the 80s.”
The term “Peace Dividend” was coined by H.W. Bush and Thatcher.
Davethulhu (fab944) — 1/3/2019 @ 8:18 amThe story they aren’t covering:
https://nypost.com/2019/01/01/iranian-mullahs-lock-on-power-is-now-shakier-than-ever/
Narciso (91b483) — 1/3/2019 @ 8:22 amA story published by a major newspaper in the nation’s largest city isn’t being covered?
Dave (1bb933) — 1/3/2019 @ 10:02 amHeh! They’ve already been in power longer than any of their predecessors in that country in the last hundred years.
nk (dbc370) — 1/3/2019 @ 10:44 amOT. Congrats to the PRC on the successful and historic landing of their Chang’e-4 spacecraft and rover on the ‘far side’ of Luna. Red Moon; brand-engineering, well-played by Worldwide Wang.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/3/2019 @ 10:46 am@141. The Big Dick made assets available to ‘remove’ him in the autumn of ’69. The players involved said ‘thanks all the same,’ took a vote and ‘nixed’ Nixon’s offer.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/3/2019 @ 10:53 amNoting that Trump appeared to be at cross purposes with his VP yesterday, what will Bad Orange Man’s reaction be if he enters a room with unfamiliar secret servicemen or a “hero/medalist” wearing tacti-cool gear, Mike Pence and John Roberts holding a big book?
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/3/2019 @ 11:19 amAll republicans are democrats.
You are further out on the branch than I thought. If you can’t tell the difference between Cruz and Bernie …
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/3/2019 @ 11:39 amIn the 80s, Reagan pretended to be planning to topple Qaddafi
Reagan’s attack on Libya included a few direct shots at Qaddafi. They missed, but killed some around him. It was a deniable assassination attempt, just as the bombs accidentally dropped inside the French embassy compound were deniable rebukes to the French refusal to allow overflight.
What did it do? It got Qadaffi to stop supporting terrorists directly. Later, W’s attack on Saddam got Qadaffi to stop working on WMDs.
Neither of those actions threw Libya into anarchy, empowered terrorists or opened slave markets. THAT took bold and courageous leadership from Hillary and Obama.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/3/2019 @ 11:45 amMemo to Nancy:
Saddam used kids as prop, too.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/3/2019 @ 11:51 amSo did Hitler and Stalin.
Kevin M (cb624b) — 1/3/2019 @ 12:00 pm@153. But not as colorfully multicultural.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 1/3/2019 @ 12:05 pmThere were a couple Tucker Carlson mini-mes front and center; so much for the purported war on people that look like him (his quote during the Kavanaugh hearings).
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 1/3/2019 @ 1:09 pmMitt needs to realize that the game is played according to how the refs rule rather than by a strict individual and personal interpretation of the rules. If the refs are not calling xyz a foul today, then it is not a foul and the game proceeds accordingly. I remember listening to a Mormon waxing self-righteous about BYU’s football team and how they had lost but had played “the right way” and now Mitt reminds me of him.
Converting to basketball, the Democrats are running a full court press, contesting every ball, bumps, slaps, so many fouls it is hard for the refs to call and the refs have since become numb to contact. Republicans needed to proceed accordingly and that is why Trump won. He responded to pressure with pressure. It is not the way Catholics, Mormons, Lutherans or Episcopalians like to play and feel any win that results from that style to be “tainted”.
steveg (a9dcab) — 1/3/2019 @ 3:53 pmHey, Haiku! Happy New Year!
I scoured the internets to find a joke you’d like:
nk (dbc370) — 1/3/2019 @ 4:28 pmGeneral Custer is out hunting with his Indian guide Tiptoes-Through-The-Tulips. They’ve been riding for a while, not seeing anything, when the guide stops, gets off his horse, lies down, and puts his ear to the ground. He looks up at Custer and says: “Buffalo come.” Custer asks, “How can you tell?” And the guide says: “Ear sticky.”
Happy New Year to you, nk! That’s a keeper!
Colonel Haiku (ef3fae) — 1/3/2019 @ 5:18 pmAnd here’s one in return…
The Lost Chapter of Genesis
Adam had been moping around all day in the Garden of Eden and God finally said, “Adam, what’s up with all this moping?”
Adam told God that he was lonely. God said He could fix that, no problem.
In short order he could make a partner for Adam, and she would be called a “woman.”
God told Adam that the woman would collect his food, cook it for him, and care for all his needs and wants. She would also agree with all his decisions and not question his authority as head of the family.
God also said that she would bear his offspring and not bother him in the middle of the night if the kids woke up and started crying.
She would never nag him and would admit when she was wrong. She would also freely give him love and passion whenever he needed it.
Adam said, “Wow, that’s a great partner! What is this woman-person going to cost me?”
And God replied, “An arm and a leg.”
Adam thought for a minute, then asked, “What can I get for a rib?”
And the rest is history….
Colonel Haiku (ef3fae) — 1/3/2019 @ 5:23 pmHeh, coronello, Romney was the one who dissed Reagan in the 94 senatorial debate, in order to curry favor with the dems. They still squashed him like a bug.
Narciso (69bae6) — 1/3/2019 @ 5:31 pmHeh!
nk (dbc370) — 1/3/2019 @ 5:35 pmI’m not sure if anyone posted this or mentioned it here, but I think Tucker Carlson’s opening on his show last night was well said and spot on: https://youtu.be/6lN1MbhV4t4
Colonel Haiku (ef3fae) — 1/3/2019 @ 5:53 pmIt goes on for several minutes and I found little, if anything, to quibble with. Watch it, you’ll be glad you did.
Colonel Haiku (ef3fae) — 1/3/2019 @ 6:11 pmFwiw:
https://amgreatness.com/2019/01/03/stuck-in-the-middle-with-mitt/?fbclid=IwAR3awDC5uqMRMHQ5ulXz6dygGhRzwXnbb4Cp3bJ4vdZMWgdCE-qxIZL1bj8
Narciso (69bae6) — 1/3/2019 @ 6:24 pmYes tucker is very good, as compared to Vanderbilt or God help us, Chris hayes, and I really didnt like tucker Carlson before. Not like Jon Stewart, because he asks a question we dont have an easy answer to.
Narciso (4e0637) — 1/3/2019 @ 7:55 pmI think Carlson cuts thru the BS, narciso. It would take a sea change to turn the ship in this direction, but what a wonderful world it could be.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 1/3/2019 @ 8:59 pmThis is the carp our possum concerns itself with:
https://e-pluribusunum.org/2018/12/20/senate-passes-evidence-based-policymaking-bill-setting-up-historic-win-for-open-government-data/
Narciso (124c08) — 1/4/2019 @ 6:52 am