Patterico's Pontifications

4/11/2008

Obama on Small-Town Americans (Updated)

Filed under: 2008 Election — DRJ @ 6:30 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

At a weekend a fund-raising event with wealthy San Francisco donors, Barack Obama reportedly singled out small-town Americans who “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them” (audio and full transcript at the link):

“But — so the questions you’re most likely to get about me, ‘Well, what is this guy going to do for me? What’s the concrete thing?’ What they wanna hear is — so, we’ll give you talking points about what we’re proposing — close tax loopholes, roll back, you know, the tax cuts for the top 1 percent. Obama’s gonna give tax breaks to middle-class folks and we’re gonna provide health care for every American. So we’ll go down a series of talking points.

But the truth is, is that, our challenge is to get people persuaded that we can make progress when there’s not evidence of that in their daily lives. You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

For an intellectual who has spent his entire adult life in a professional career, Obama (and his wife, for that matter) are pretty good at digging holes.

H/T cfbleachers.

UPDATE 4/12/2008Obama doubles down:

“But before a raucous crowd in Terre Haute, Ind., Friday night, Obama not only repeated many of the same lines, he expanded on them. “When I go around and talk to people, there is frustration and there is anger and there is bitterness. And what’s worse is when people are expressing their anger, and politicians try to say, ‘What are you angry about?'”

“Of course they’re bitter. Of course they’re frustrated. You would be, too — in fact, many of you are,” Obama said.

Obama also returned fire on both his critics.

“Here’s what’s rich: Senator Clinton says, ‘I don’t think people are bitter in Pennsylvania. I think Barack’s being condescending.’ John McCain says, ‘He’s obviously out of touch with people.’ Out of touch? John McCain, it took him three tries to figure out the home foreclosure crisis was a problem and to come up with a plan for it, and he’s saying I’m out of touch? Senator Clinton voted for a credit card-sponsored bankruptcy bill that made it harder for people to get out of debt — after taking money from the financial services companies — and she says I’m out of touch?

“No, I’m in touch. I know exactly what’s going on. … People are fed up. They’re angry and they’re frustrated and they’re bitter, and they want to see a change in Washington.”

— DRJ

179 Responses to “Obama on Small-Town Americans (Updated)”

  1. I dedicate this post to Levi:

    “Because everyone is stupid by default, and it’s really easy to stay stupid. It actually requires a little bit of effort to be smart, so there’s not as many smart people as there are stupid people. And because we live in a democracy, stupid people’s votes count just as much as smart people’s. Thus, George Bush.”

    DRJ (a431ca)

  2. Isn’t Obama opposed to NAFTA and the free trade agreement with Colombia? And yet he accuses others of clinging to anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

    This man is not fit to hold the office he seeks.

    Steverino (6772c8)

  3. Sorry, DRJ. I should have come to you with this link, but I don’t know the best way to do that yet.

    Anyway, …

    So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.“

    The get bitter…you mean like when they call us a mean, lazy, slothful country? When they say we are the US of KKK America? When they say God Damn America? Like that kind of bitter?

    The cling to guns…you mean like the gang violence between the Crips and the Bloods? You mean like the inner city crime statistics using weapons to commit armed robbery, rape, aggravated battery…that kind of clinging to guns?

    Clinging to religion…you mean like not denouncing black liberation theology after it has been outed as an incendiary cocktail of racial and class warfare? Or more like clinging to the Nation of Islam where white people are called the devil and Jews are accused of being garbage and following a “gutter religion”…you mean that kind of clinging?

    Anti-immigrant sentiment, you mean like hatred toward Korean and Jewish shopowners, fights with Latinos by gang members and calling a Jewish neighborhood “Hymietown” and disparaging Italians and their “garlic noses”…that kind of anti-immigrant sentiment?

    And trashing NAFTA and the Columbian trade agreements…do you mean that kind of anti-trade sentiment?

    You know for some fringe hard leftists, there really are no mirrors in their glass houses.

    [cfbleachers: I saw this story on TV but I also owe you a H/T for raising it so I added it above. Anytime you want to email me, you can use drj432-at-yahoo.com but I’m sometimes lax in checking my mail. Thanks again. — DRJ]

    cfbleachers (4040c7)

  4. Now, remembering what stef has said about Elton John, we can only go by what people say, and not infer what they must have meant.

    Steverino (6772c8)

  5. “And because we live in a democracy, stupid people’s votes count just as much as smart people’s. Thus, George Bush.”

    Which would presume all the smart people wanted John F kerry to be president. Which is um….stupid.

    buzz (ab76d9)

  6. long ago, talking to a biz buddy, i said “borrowing a line from lincoln, the lord must have loved stupid people, because he made so many of them.”

    buddy says “lincoln said that??”

    assistant devil's advocate (a83422)

  7. They cling to bowling, too….wonder why he forgot to mention that.

    driver (faae10)

  8. These people are just elitist snobs … and not very smart ones at that.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  9. Three years ago, Obama was a state Senator from the black political machine on the south side of Chicago. He’s never done anything of note outside that small world and it shows. Those small town people in PA are “typical white people” and you know how they are.

    Mike K (86bddb)

  10. As a typical white person coming from a small Pennsylvania town, I can assure Barry Hussein that this honkey mf’er will never vote for a racist demogogue who espouses socialist and pacifism. My dinky little hometown has a memorial statue dedicated to the local Union soldiers who died to help end slavery. Those carpetbagging jackasses Ebony and Ovaries are both clueless, prevaricating elitists who may have conned the elite media and glitterati but not normal white men who are capable of rational thought. Ugly Brit Homosexual Elton John is another horse’s ass with his misogyny claims about people against sHrillary. She’s far from ideal, but I’d choose a black woman who prays ten times a day Condi Rice over either Hill or the clueless mulatto who dangles from the hindquarters of Rev. Wright for 20 years.
    “F” Barry Hussein and the camel he rode in on and the Chrissie “I squat to pee” Matthews type tingling leg media buffoons.

    madmax333 (24a00f)

  11. Damn, madmax, I wish I’d said that.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  12. Herein lies the problem with impressionable minds being littered with the flotsam and jetsam backwash of class warfare and racial warfare.

    Michele and Sen Obama really don’t know this country…at all.

    “Small town” people…known by other names in the effite, elite and soon to be obsolete …fringe leftist movement as …”flyover country”, inbred Jeds, rubes, hicks, white trash, trailer trash, mouth-breathers, …are incapable of resisting their “mean, angry, slothful, racist, gun-toting, Bible-thumping” ways…and need to be dealt with.

    You know, like children. Stupid, irrational, angry…children.

    When you have been brainwashed and indoctrinated into a narrow and pernicious worldview, pretty words and lofty speeches contextualizing it, is like putting lipstick on …well, Maureen Dowd, for instance.

    The more Michelle and Sen. Obama come into the light, the more the mask slips off. The first hints should have come early…in his book, when a white basketball teammate tries to empathize with him, after feeling awkward and clumsy at an all black party…does young Barack help his friend through that moment?

    In the words of Rev Eric Lee…NO, NO, NO. Young Barack says he wants to physically assault…punch…his teammate.

    His instinct is to lash out at those who want to empathize and reach out.

    Just as Rev. Wright does, and Farrakhan does and Rev Moss does and Rev Meeks does and Michelle did and Rev. Lee did.

    Anyone who seeks to reach across the divide offering a hand in kindness…is slapped across the face. These are not the instincts of a healer, they are the instincts of a divider.

    When young Barack turns 12 or 13, he renounces his mothers race. He reads Malcolm X and identifies saying he wishes he could extract every drop of his white blood from his veins. These are not the instincts of a healer. These are the instincts of a divider.

    When Rev. Wright makes his vile and vicious statements, Sen. Obama does more to embrace him than to divorce him. These are not the instincts of a healer, these are the instincts of a divider.

    When Michelle writes her thesis, she renounces the “white world”, she displays her lack of pride and bitterness…these are not the instincts of healers, these are the instincts of dividers.

    When Sen Obama takes off his flag from his lapel, when he doesn’t put his hand over his heart for our pledge or our National Anthem, he isn’t seeking to unite, he is signaling his separation.

    Sen. Barack and Michelle Obama see a country through a very narrow prism. And for 75% of this country, they apparently want to bend your light to fit it.

    cfbleachers (4040c7)

  13. If elected, Obama will teach America about the Three Rs: Rifles, Racism and Religion.

    Bradley J. Fikes (1c6fc4)

  14. Steverino, I disagree because I’m pretty sure this is what he meant to say:

    You go into these urban areas of Pennsylvania and, like a lot of inner city hellholes in the Midwest, decent jobs are hard to find, mostly because they require a minimum level of education. Unfortunately, most of the inhabitants are barely qualified to make change at McDonalds. Studies show that lack of a high school diploma and teen pregnancy are surefire guarantees of prolonged poverty; but in spite of Democrat control of most cities and public school administrations, nothing has improved for 25 years …And yet they voted for local and state Democrats through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive Democrat administration has said that somehow these inner cities are gonna regenerate and they have not.

    And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to pipedreams of reparations or racial paranoia or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

    capitano (03e5ec)

  15. So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter…

    You at least must give Big O credit for knowing all about bitter. It dogs him around the domicile and preaches to him every Sunday.

    allan (a757d4)

  16. My liberal friends tell me “It’s all about the context”. And you need to understand that Obama delivered those comments in the home of Ann and Gordon Getty on what is aptly described as “Billionaire’s Row” in Pacific Heights in San Francisco. My same libral friends tell me that the Getty mansion in San Francisco has an interior that would put a Medici Palazzo in Florence, Italy to same. For all of my fellow red neck, mouth breathing, squirrel frying friends(where is Huckabee when we need him!) that means that the Gettys were able to, and probably did, spend more on decorating the room where the Obamessiah spoke than a dozen of us will earn in a lifetime. They are rich dudes–400 of them (and yes they can all fit in one room in this modest mansion in San Francisco) who paid $2,300 a pop (or at least that’s what they reported–I suspect several of them gave a heck of a lot more) to hear the Great One.

    I got an e-mail early this week transmitting an e-mail from a San Francisco fellow who had attended the event. The attendee thought that Obama was a great and inspiring speaker. I mean these rich doofuses either needed someone to explain the strange cultural customs of the squirrel fryers to them, or else he was simply stating what they knew to be the obvious truth.

    Can you spell “Effete Elite?” Or, since we’uns is jes simple folks and can only handle four letter words, how about “Snob” or “Jerk”

    Mike Myers (31af82)

  17. where is Huckabee when we need him

    It makes me physically ill to read that line…

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  18. Or, since we’uns is jes simple folks and can only handle four letter words, how about “Snob” or “Jerk”

    Or as I often so colorfully put it, to all the canidates: “Fuck” and “y’all” (hey, it’s four letters… get off my back).

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  19. Big O is wrong about small town people but not in the way you might think. I personally know people who are very much like the people he is describing but they don’t all live in small towns and they arent all underemployed. They live in many situations with or without jobs and have many reasons for their anger, frustration, or bigotry….all carefully justified and rationalized too. Except for the real live full on rednecks who arent going to rationalize anything for anyone f*ck you very much.

    Making it all about lack of jobs is oversimplifying. Does Obama’s oversimplifying make him more of an “elitist” than any other presidential contender? Nah.

    It does bring up his inexperience again though.
    He and particularly his wife keep forgetting that now, everything, they say and do, they are always always ON. And it will be even more so if the man mangages to get into the white house.

    EdWood (a29242)

  20. Ah, I saw elsewhere the rest of O’s speech where he tries to pull his foot out of his mouth (you forgot to post that part DRJ, not that it really helps him) at least he knows when he’s stepped in it.

    EdWood (8300f1)

  21. A wiser, less retarded man would know to not step in it in the first place…

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  22. No wonder Hillary’s in it to win it. This guy is stupid.

    Vermont Neighbor (e7ed47)

  23. Mr. Obama, could you please explain “psychological projection”?

    htom (412a17)

  24. Ah, I saw elsewhere the rest of O’s speech where he tries to pull his foot out of his mouth (you forgot to post that part DRJ, not that it really helps him) at least he knows when he’s stepped in it.

    Ed, one of the few things Obama has going for him is his speaking ability. But here he is on the campaign trail, trying to speak extemporaneously, and insulting everyone around him.

    Maybe he only speaks well when he has carefully prepared notes?

    If that’s the case, he has all the mental acuity of an actor.

    Steverino (6772c8)

  25. What is it going to take to admit that Barry is a racist?
    I am outraged at the pass the MSM gives this guy. He should lose his candidacy, and be investigated for any other affiliations/ideation of racist values.
    Why should this man even serve as Dog Catcher? Had a candidate of any other racial extraction provided the same insight to racial values, he/she would be gone.
    With so many other decent, fair-minded men and women of any color available to run ,why do the Dems have to pick the worst?
    New bumper sticker:
    SACK BARRACK

    paul from Fl (47918a)

  26. Why can’t those crackers in those nowhere burgs quit their bitchin’? When Barry O’s elected he’s gonna deliver a big helping of hope and change to them. Are they stoopid or something?

    daleyrocks (906622)

  27. “If that’s the case, he has all the mental acuity of an actor”

    – Steverino

    An actor, huh? I guess we’d better elect him to two terms and idolize him for an entire generation.

    Leviticus (d7e3df)

  28. I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

    It smells like……

    It smells like victory.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  29. An actor, huh? I guess we’d better elect him to two terms and idolize him for an entire generation.

    Problem is, Obama didn’t have the KGB monitoring his activities because they percieved him a threat…more than 20 years before he ran for president.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  30. EdWood #21 (emphasis supplied):

    “Ah, I saw elsewhere the rest of O’s speech where he tries to pull his foot out of his mouth (you forgot to post that part DRJ, not that it really helps him) at least he knows when he’s stepped in it.”

    I didn’t forget anything. The link goes to a Huffington Post article that purports to have a complete transcript of Obama’s remarks. If you want to highlight a different portion of the transcript, feel free.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  31. He sure knows he stepped in it now (h/t Little Green Footballs): Obama concedes remarks were ill chosen.

    MUNCIE, Ind. – Democrat Barack Obama on Saturday conceded that comments he made about bitter working class voters who “cling to guns or religion” were ill chosen, as he tried to stem a burst of complaints that he is condescending.

    “I didn’t say it as well as I should have,” he said.

    As Obama tried to quell the furor, presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton hit him with one of her lengthiest and most pointed criticisms to date.

    “Senator Obama’s remarks were elitist and out of touch,” she said, campaigning about an hour away in Indianapolis. “They are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans.”

    Paul (4e4a20)

  32. I’ve updated the post to add Obama’s recent statements. They are being reported as a quasi-apology or – as in Paul’s link – regret over ill-chosen words, but Obama’s remarks don’t sound regretful or apologetic to me. It sounds like Obama is saying he’s right and we didn’t understand what he was really saying.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  33. DRJ – That sounds like one of John Kerry’s patented, I’m sorry if some of you were too stupid to understand what I meant, apologies.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  34. I work at a university, and Barry’s condescending attitude reflects the majority on any campus.

    What a shock it must be for him and his equally privileged and whiney wife to encounter The Other–Americans!

    Patricia (f56a97)

  35. I’m having fun imagining Mayor Daley pulling out his hair over this. Or maybe not. Maybe grinning gleefully. Obama is not going to be President, he is not going to challenge Mayor Daley for Mayor of Chicago, he will probably not be re-elected to the U.S. Senate, and he will fade into obscurity like Carol Moseley Brown.

    “Give your enemy food to eat and water to drink for you shall heap coals of fire upon his head and the Lord shall reward you.”

    If anybody knows gangster tactics (real gangsters not the street trash who call themselves that), the Daleys do. Obama will know that the Daleys were not his best friends, hopefully, not when St. Peter tells him so but when he and his wife actually have to work for a living.

    nk (6b7d4f)

  36. An actor, huh? I guess we’d better elect him to two terms and idolize him for an entire generation.

    Just as soon as he finishes two terms as governor in highly populated states, I might agree with you. Until then, shove your snark.

    Trouble is, Reagan spoke extemporaneously much better than Obama has so far.

    Steverino (6772c8)

  37. And, he wrote much better, too!

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  38. DRJ – Levi was poking around the site earlier. It’s too bad that after you dedicated this thread to him he has avoided it. I just don’t understand it.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  39. “Until then, shove your snark.”

    -Steverino

    Heh heh heh. I rule.

    Leviticus (362bf3)

  40. Daleyrocks,

    No loss. Leviticus is a better advocate for liberal ideas than Levi.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  41. Heh heh heh. I rule.

    You don’t rule when you’ve been posterized.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  42. DRJ – Levi was poking around the site earlier. It’s too bad that after you dedicated this thread to him he has avoided it. I just don’t understand it.

    What do I have to say about gossipy bullshit like this that I haven’t said before? Conservatives seem to think they ‘follow politics’ because they endlessly dissect the most pointless, insignificant little details about the most mundane non-happenings. You don’t have to dig nearly as hard to find some horrifying detail about the Bush administration that’s had actual disastrous consequences for our country, economy, and military, and here you all are, again, breathlessly speculating about how this proves Obama’s some sort of Communist sleeper agent. I mean what the fuck does a story that Obama told about his 12 year old self say about Obama as a 46 year old Presidential candidate? This is all you do all day, it’s all you’ve done for years. Lord knows you haven’t governed (you’re in charge of that right now, remember? OH WAIT! The President you elected is a universally hated disaster, better pretend like he never existed!) You’d call yourselves informed because of gossip like this? Savvy navigators on America’s political high seas? You people don’t even understand anything about modern liberalism in America, you just unquestionably buy right into the Rush Limbaugh approved and mass produced caricature. Was Clinton’s presidency anything at all like the extremely socialist administration that you all fear Obama will run?

    The basic story here is that Obama was blunt, and that’s about it as far as I can tell. He’s outlining all the ways in which the Republican establishment has duped people into voting for Republican candidates, even as it has worked out against their own economic interests, with trivial wedge issues like illegal immigration and this weird brand of inauthentic G.O.P. political Christianity. The Republican distractions that flood and overwhelm the public discourse are a significant part of the problem, as many liberals such as myself see it, and I think it’s great that Obama not only recognizes it as such, but has the balls to address it publicly.

    None of this is any different from what I’ve said about Republicans and the way they inflate these bullshit non-stories before, but why don’t we try something different in this case, since you did specifically ask for my opinion about this one, and abstain from dozens of comments insulting my intelligence and ridiculing my existence? Could you try responding to what I actually say for once?

    Levi (76ef55)

  43. Why should we?
    All you do is spew profanity and non-logical thinking (if what passes for thought in your cancerous cranium can be so classified).
    Unfortunately, Levi, you’re not even comic relief anymore, just tiresome.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  44. Levi – Could you try responding to the actual topic of the thread for a change.

    The thread is not about George Bush or something Obama said as a 12 year old. It is about something he said at a San Francisco fund raiser last week that he is attempting to do major damage control on as week speak. It’s not some Republican fantasy Levi. Your guy screwed up once again. Can you focus and stay on topic.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  45. Trolls never stick to topic, because that contradicts the voices in their head.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  46. Levi – Could you try responding to the actual topic of the thread for a change.

    Again, I’d like to point out that I wouldn’t have posted anything in this thread had I not been specifically called out, by name, by both you and the thread starter, to do so. And all you’re gonna say is ‘I’m going off topic,’ when I do what you ask, and give my opinion? Why would I ever want to talk to somebody like you?

    The thread is not about George Bush or something Obama said as a 12 year old. It is about something he said at a San Francisco fund raiser last week that he is attempting to do major damage control on as week speak. It’s not some Republican fantasy Levi. Your guy screwed up once again. Can you focus and stay on topic.

    And I’m telling you, after you asked me, that I fully agree with what he said, and commend him for doing so. I didn’t just leave it at that, though, I actually explained why I agree with him, you just don’t want to confront that explanation. You’d rather insist that it’s too crazy, that I’m too stupid, blah, blah, blah, for you to even waste your valuable time addressing my answer to the question that you asked me.

    Tell me something, what do you think an honest liberal would say about this story? If I’m such a crazy, deranged liar, what would a real liberal, whatever that might mean to you, what would his response be? You obviously don’t give a shit about what I say, so how would a reasonable liberal react?

    Levi (76ef55)

  47. Trolls never stick to topic, because that contradicts the voices in their head.

    I’m a troll? Even as threads are being dedicated to me, even as people clamor for me to give my opinion? I’ve been here a few weeks, and already I got me a nice little conservative entourage following me from thread to thread, you’re one of them.

    Additionally, if all you’re going to do is toss insults at me, you could at least put some effort into making them funny. Why waste everyone’s time? A put-down is only a good put-down if it’s hilarious. Kindergarteners would be embarrassed for you if they read that shit.

    Levi (76ef55)

  48. Rather than address the topic of Obama’s eltism Levi, AGAIN AND AS ALWAYS, projectile hurls a profanity laced invective of nothing that invites even a remote hint of desire to engage in civil disagreement. All you ever seem to do is display yourself for the immature, stark, raving ass that you are.

    Jack Klompus (6637b8)

  49. I mean what the fuck does a story that Obama told about his 12 year old self say about Obama as a 46 year old Presidential candidate?

    According to him, it means that he’s got foreign policy experience. No, wait. That was the 6-10 year old Obama. My bad.

    The basic story here is that Obama was blunt, and that’s about it as far as I can tell.

    Yeah. People care about their religion, the Second Amendment, illegal immigration, and they’re xenophobic racists because of the economy. I advise Barack to run hard on that message.

    He’s outlining all the ways in which the Republican establishment has duped people into voting for Republican candidates, even as it has worked out against their own economic interests, with trivial wedge issues like illegal immigration and this weird brand of inauthentic G.O.P. political Christianity.

    You must have missed the Clinton bashing portion of the Gospel According to Obama.

    The Republican distractions that flood and overwhelm the public discourse are a significant part of the problem, as many liberals such as myself see it, and I think it’s great that Obama not only recognizes it as such, but has the balls to address it publicly.

    Again, I suggest several million dollars of advertising dedicated to disseminating that message.

    None of this is any different from what I’ve said about Republicans and the way they inflate these bullshit non-stories before, but why don’t we try something different in this case, since you did specifically ask for my opinion about this one, and abstain from dozens of comments insulting my intelligence and ridiculing my existence?

    You might want to mention that to Mrs. Clinton.

    Pablo (99243e)

  50. Illegal immigration has pushed down wages in the less-skilled job sectors, disproportionately affecting minority – especially black – americans and its a “wedge” issue?

    That’s pretty delusional. I really think you need to avoid the brown koolaid.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  51. Hahaha!

    Okay Jack, let’s go ahead and talk about Obama’s ‘elitism.’ What’s your problem? Did you read what I’ve said about this story, that I agree with what Obama said? You’d call Obama an ‘elitist’ for thinking that he has better ideas for running the country than the base of the Republican party? That’s called being a liberal. I could make the same argument against conservatives, ‘Oh Bush and McCain are elitists, they think they know what’s good for us, that’s why they want this war to keep going.’ See how that works?

    Obama’s worried that people are focused on the wrong shit, those perennial Republican wedge issues like gay marriage and abortion, and ignoring the important stuff, like the economy and the environment and real national security. That’s not being elitist, he just wants to take the country in a different direction, one that agrees with his political philosophy, and not yours, or NASCAR fans’. Conservatives do the same thing, McCain and Bush think that liberals don’t understand the terrorist threat, and they want to do something different on that issue because they believe they have better ideas about how to handle it than us, but that doesn’t make McCain and Bush elitists, it makes them conservatives.

    Levi (76ef55)

  52. Notice that people who decide to opt for a Republican in an election are “duped” into doing so. Raising concern about the substance of what a candidate says are “distractions” and are “inflations of bullshit nonstories.” Seriously, dude, are you not able to look at the tone of your own opinions and recognize the smarmy contempt that reeks off of you? You choose the easiest route to dismiss the intellect and values of your political opposites. Raising questions about what a politician says about people whose President he wishes to be, is not inflating “bullshit nonstories.” Can you understand that? Are you so dense that you can only deride another opinion with playground level insults?

    Jack Klompus (6637b8)

  53. “Obama was blunt….. He’s outlining all the ways in which the Republican establishment has duped people into voting for Republican candidates…”

    I wouldn’t say he was blunt, he just didnt flesh out what he meant to say very well. (there is a post at Huffpo where he give a longer explanation about what he meant)

    Obama was NOT blaming everything on Republicans in that speech. He blamed the last TWO administrations and said that people were voting on specific issues like gun control and had stopped voting for candidates based on work or economic issues.

    You could say he was trying to attack BOTH of his contenders for the presidency by making small town anger and frustration a problem caused by the Clintons and the Republicans. It’s just that he botched his attack.

    Maybe he isn’t good at speaking extempore, or maybe he hasn’t gotten it yet that every time he farts it’s going to be analyzed and pronounced opon (“He farted in front of the FLAG, Obama will NEVER be president now! How could such a vile racist unpatriotic named after terrorists person ever be allowed to lead this great nation!!!!! pant pant).
    Or maybe people occasionally screw up trying to articulate thier ideas in a speech (last 7 years of presidential speeches ring a bell?) and his little bumble says nothing about him. GW didn’t bring down nuclear armageddon on us coz he bumbled a speech, niether will O, or Hill or Prez. McCain when he screws up who is Sunni and who is a Shia for the 500th time.

    EdWood (3045b3)

  54. Liberals always say one thing to the people, then when they think they are alone, they tell the truth to their kindred kind. Obambi got caught at it. The elites love to brag to each other how clever they are.

    bill-tb (26027c)

  55. So even he is genuinely “worried” about people’s values, for what purpose is he so worried? Does he feel that there needs to be a change in people’s beliefs, particularly the, one might say somewhat important, beliefs about religion, the 2nd Amendment, and immigration issues? Does Obama believe that there’s something wrong per se with people and they need to be changed? Or does it just frustrate him because of how those beliefs might not jibe with his political agenda and therefore cost him votes? Does it not smack of eltism to deliver these remarks to a room of some of the wealthiest people in the country who wear their fashionable liberal politics like their million dollar jewels? Get together with your rich friends and make tut tut remarks about the distateful values of a crude stereotyping of middle America, yeah really endearing.

    Jack Klompus (6637b8)

  56. Illegal immigration has pushed down wages in the less-skilled job sectors, disproportionately affecting minority – especially black – americans and its a “wedge” issue?

    That’s pretty delusional. I really think you need to avoid the brown koolaid.

    It’s not nearly as an important right now as a number of other things. And the conservative stance on immigration is still heavily inflated by xenophobia racism. I mean, I can buy the arguments about how it’s not a smart thing for our economy and public services, but when you morons start in about how English needs to be the official language, well that reveals your true motivations, in my view. You’re all racists!

    Levi (76ef55)

  57. Seriously, dude, are you not able to look at the tone of your own opinions and recognize the smarmy contempt that reeks off of you?

    Haha! Dude, ‘smarmy contempt’ is exactly how I would describe my disposition towards George Bush and everything and anyone that had anything to do with him getting into office. You put it better than I ever could.

    Levi (76ef55)

  58. Hire a good copyeditor. All you really needed was:
    “’smarmy contempt’ is exactly how I would describe my disposition”

    Jack Klompus (6637b8)

  59. Levi #47,

    I want to clarify something you misunderstood about my first comment. I wasn’t “calling you out.” My hope was that you would see how silly you sound and that you would take a page from more productive liberal commenters like Leviticus, voiceofreason2, Aplomb, Aphrael, EdWood and others.

    I realize we all get angry at some discussions and say things a little over-the-top now and then. You are almost always over-the-top. IMO that’s not productive or helpful, and that’s a shame because it’s important to have a debate with conservative and liberal views well-represented.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  60. Another Levi gem:
    “when you morons start in about how English needs to be the official language, well that reveals your true motivations, in my view. You’re all racists!”
    My god you are such an insufferable asshole it’s almost comedy gold.

    Jack Klompus (6637b8)

  61. Liberals always say one thing to the people, then when they think they are alone, they tell the truth to their kindred kind. Obambi got caught at it. The elites love to brag to each other how clever they are.

    If the Obamas are ‘elites,’ and the McCains are worth many tens of millions more than the Obamas, does that make the McCains super-elites?

    Levi (76ef55)

  62. “the McCains are worth many tens of millions more than the Obamas, does that make the McCains super-elites?”
    So what if they are? You’re side of the political divide is always crowing that Republicans are rich, white, and assorted other evils and that “progressives” are the model of tolerance and care about the working class and common man. Hardly a valid rejoinder.

    Jack Klompus (6637b8)

  63. EdWood #54,

    I generally agree with you but when a candidate like Obama runs a campaign that claims words matter, I don’t have a lot of sympathy for him when his opponents point out that his words matter, too.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  64. I mean, I can buy the arguments about how it’s not a smart thing for our economy and public services, but when you morons start in about how English needs to be the official language, well that reveals your true motivations, in my view. You’re all racists!

    Huh?

    English is only spoken by a single race? I think you’re the one who needs to examine his bigotry, Levi.

    Rob Crawford (b5d1c2)

  65. So even he is genuinely “worried” about people’s values, for what purpose is he so worried? Does he feel that there needs to be a change in people’s beliefs, particularly the, one might say somewhat important, beliefs about religion, the 2nd Amendment, and immigration issues?

    It’s not that he’s worried about people’s values, he’s worried about the political charlatans who seek to manipulate people by exploiting their values. It’s these mouthpieces, your Hannitys and Limbaughs, that advocate ludicrously extremist positions like state-sanctioned torture and perpetual, economy-eroding war, that drape themselves in religiosity and faux patriotism, then insist they’re defending the ‘values’ of the common man, that trouble liberals like Obama and myself.

    That’s not to suggest that we should be shutting down Hannity’s radio show, liberals obviously bear part of the responsibility for losing these sorts of demographics. But it is…. hard, I will say, for our side to counter Republicans because they’ve co-opted religion. Religion generates unreasonable certainty, that’s why Republicans target these low-income, very religious demographics. Abortion is the most illustrative example. For years the Republicans have been saying they’re gonna stop abortion, stop the killing, restore good Christian morality to government, bring about a culture of life, and where are we decades later? Abortion’s no closer to being criminalized and we started a war that’s killed or displaced millions of poor foreigners. And yet, pro-life Christians line up to vote for Republicans each and every cycle, why is that?

    The Republican establishment cares about the religious right in this country insofar as it gets them elected. They know that if you just throw them a bone every once in awhile, like this retarded stem cell ban we’ve all been forced to endure, they’ll continue happily voting Republican, no matter how un-Christian the policies are. Religious people, again, are certain. They’re psychologically predisposed against self-criticism or re-evaluation. That’s why they’re targeted by Republicans. It’s an almost entirely dependable voting bloc that you don’t have to do anything for once you’re in office, hell, you can even cause them all to lose their jobs and homes and they don’t waver. How sweet is that?

    Does Obama believe that there’s something wrong per se with people and they need to be changed? Or does it just frustrate him because of how those beliefs might not jibe with his political agenda and therefore cost him votes?

    He seems to be more worried that those beliefs don’t jibe with the Republican political agenda, either. He’s watching these loyal G.O.P. constituencies come back to the Republicans over and over even after years of getting screwed by them. Those people aren’t being represented in government by anyone.

    Does it not smack of eltism to deliver these remarks to a room of some of the wealthiest people in the country who wear their fashionable liberal politics like their million dollar jewels? Get together with your rich friends and make tut tut remarks about the distateful values of a crude stereotyping of middle America, yeah really endearing.

    ‘Million dollar jewels?’ Gimme a break, complain about the McCain’s millions of you wanna bitch about rich candidates.

    Levi (76ef55)

  66. DRJ, Yes, which is why he is having to scramble not to try and get his words back. He blew it and he knows it. People complain about candidates that seem bland and plastic and speak in cliches and platitudes but it seems like such a risk to make some definitive statement coz then you really have to stay consistant with that statement. That was why I was wondering earlier if Obama (and Ms Obama) really get it that they are ON all the time now. Maybe everyone here is right and they know it but just cant themselves.

    EdWood (3045b3)

  67. Its just another indication that Obama – the cult adoration of his acolytes notwithstanding – is too amateurish to be in this race.

    That the race is neck and neck for the Democratic nomination shows just how poor the candidates are, and how pathetic the Democratic party has become. Definitely not the party of adults.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  68. when you morons start in about how English needs to be the official language, well that reveals your true motivations, in my view. You’re all racists!”
    My god you are such an insufferable asshole it’s almost comedy gold.

    I’m serious about this. I get most of the arguments against illegal immigration, they make sense. It’s not good for the economy, for the environment, for public health, etc., I’m down with that. But the Republicans always lose me when they take the ‘Let’s ban Spanish!’ leap. That doesn’t make any logical sense to me whatsoever, and conjures up images of red-faced Republicans screaming at some Mexican kid in the Burger King because they put ketchup on their Whopper. I know racist bullshit when I smell it.

    Levi (76ef55)

  69. I’m one of those rednecks from a small town (Jim Thorpe) in the rural part of Pennsylvania, and I’m not the least bit offended by Barack Hussein Obama’s words — because I knew, all along, that that was how the leaders of the Democratic Party felt. I switched my registration from Republican to Democratic, just so I could vote against Hillary Clinton on my birthday 🙂 and I’ll still do so, but, come November, I’ll be voting for John McCain. (I’d vote for Satan before I’d vote for a Clinton.)

    As it happens, our 42nd President will be at the Jim Thorpe Area High School — only a few blocks from my humble abode — tomorrow afternoon, making a campaign stop for his darling bride. In the local barber shop this morning, the guys were joking that he was bringing Monica Lewinsky with him! 🙂

    Alas, I won’t see either Miss Lewinsky or Mr Clinton! The Clintons have lied to me enough over the airwaves; I don’t see any particular need to have Mr Clinton lie to me in person, so I shall decline the honor of attending.

    Dana R Pico (c36902)

  70. That the race is neck and neck for the Democratic nomination shows just how poor the candidates are, and how pathetic the Democratic party has become. Definitely not the party of adults.

    If Obama’s such a ‘poor candidate,’ why has he only crushed John McCain in campaign fundraising? Why are more people registering as Democrats than Republicans? Why has Democratic turnout trounced Republican turnout this primary season? Why has Obama received more campaign contributions from soldiers in Iraq than John McCain?

    If Obama and Hillary are poor, McCain is downright garbage.

    Levi (76ef55)

  71. Levi (is this the same as Leviticus?) wrote, and DRJ quoted above:

    Because everyone is stupid by default, and it’s really easy to stay stupid. It actually requires a little bit of effort to be smart, so there’s not as many smart people as there are stupid people. And because we live in a democracy, stupid people’s votes count just as much as smart people’s. Thus, George Bush.

    Yet, oddly enough, the less educated you were, the more likely you were to have voted for John Kerry. If you never finished high school, you more probably voted Democratic. The more productive your were, and the more money you earned — things we associate with increasing education and intelligence — the more probable it was that you voted for George Bush.

    A hint: it really isn’t hard to look up this kind of stuff. Indeed, someone who made “a little bit of effort to be smart” would probably have done so before making a statement like the one you did.

    Dana R Pico (c36902)

  72. (I’d vote for Satan before I’d vote for a Clinton.)

    One’s just a trademark owned by the other.

    Levi, do take a logic course some day, your ignorance of the most basic logical fallacies lead you to commit about two per sentence. Most annoying.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  73. Levi asked:

    If Obama’s such a ‘poor candidate,’ why has he only crushed John McCain in campaign fundraising? Why are more people registering as Democrats than Republicans? Why has Democratic turnout trounced Republican turnout this primary season? Why has Obama received more campaign contributions from soldiers in Iraq than John McCain?

    Could it be because the Republican contests are over, the nominee decided, and it’s the Democratic race that’s the only action left?

    Now, as it happens, I’m one of those people who changed my registration from Republican to Democratic — shameless blog plug alert — but it was solely so that I could vote against Hillary Clinton. Come April 23rd, I’ll be reregistering as a Republican. That might explain some of the increased Democratic registrations.

    Dana R Pico (c36902)

  74. Dang! Forgot to set off Levi’s quotes in a blockquote above.

    Dana R Pico (c36902)

  75. Not to mention, Dana, that for quite some time the trend has been for higher turnout in Democratic primaries. His “points” are all non sequitur.

    But Levi, being ignorant of every topic upon which he opines, will cover that up with more profanity, I’m sure.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  76. I want to clarify something you misunderstood about my first comment. I wasn’t “calling you out.” My hope was that you would see how silly you sound and that you would take a page from more productive liberal commenters like Leviticus, voiceofreason2, Aplomb, Aphrael, EdWood and others.

    I didn’t misunderstand anything, don’t worry. Others have called me out, in this thread and elsewhere, and they tend to be the same people who always insist that I shut up and stop disturbing the circle jerk.

    I realize we all get angry at some discussions and say things a little over-the-top now and then. You are almost always over-the-top. IMO that’s not productive or helpful, and that’s a shame because it’s important to have a debate with conservative and liberal views well-represented.

    Just because you’re moderating these threads doesn’t mean you’re a good judge of whether or not liberal views are being well-represented. I’m a liberal, don’t you think I’d be in a better position to make that call? What does something as vague as ‘you’re too over the top’ even mean? What do you expect me to do?

    Levi (76ef55)

  77. Could it be because the Republican contests are over, the nominee decided, and it’s the Democratic race that’s the only action left?

    No, it couldn’t be. Because even when the Republican race had some ‘action,’ if you could call it that, all of those things were true. About turnout, registration, fund-raising, all of it. This was only a couple of weeks ago, you don’t remember any of this happening?

    Levi (76ef55)

  78. Levi writes in discussion of religious voters:
    “They’re psychologically predisposed against self-criticism or re-evaluation. That’s why they’re targeted by Republicans. It’s an almost entirely dependable voting bloc that you don’t have to do anything for once you’re in office, hell, you can even cause them all to lose their jobs and homes and they don’t waver. How sweet is that?”
    You could not summarize more perfectly the attitude that the Democratic Party establishment takes toward urban and minority voters. I suggest you live in Philadelphia for one year and witness your disparaging remarks about your caricature of Republican voters come vividly true to life.
    Another Levi gem:
    “images of red-faced Republicans screaming at some Mexican kid in the Burger King because they put ketchup on their Whopper. I know racist bullshit when I smell it.”
    I’ll bet you revel in these caricatures of your political bogeymen that you create. Again you just show what an insufferable asshole you are with remarks like this. You’re not insightful, you’re certainly not funny. You’re leaving a rich body of work that reveals what crass, ill-informed stereotypes you peddle in and what should be clear evidence, in your OWN WORDS, of why people here do NOT have a very pleasant opinion of you as a person.

    Jack Klompus (6637b8)

  79. Not to mention, Dana, that for quite some time the trend has been for higher turnout in Democratic primaries. His “points” are all non sequitur.

    Okay then brainiac, if Obama’s such a poor candidate, then why does Democratic turnout continue to increase? Do you know what a non sequitor is?

    Levi (76ef55)

  80. Sometimes, I think the best thing John McCain could do for his candidacy would be to go on a long vacation, get a lot of rest and come back in November. By then, he might find that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have completely disappeared. The Democratic Primary looks like two punchdrunk fighters trying to hand the bout to the other.

    For example, just when it looked like the Hillary-Bosnia flap was starting to blow over, here comes Bill appearing before the usual crowd of curious onlookers (“Hey Bob, didn’t that guy used to be a president?”) explaining how Hillary screwed up the Bosnia story. According to Bill, she made the claim at 11 at night when she was tired from lack of sleep. Big deal, said Bill. Problem was, Hillary said it multiple times-and not at some late hour as Bill claimed. Then Bill stuck it in even farther, asking his listeners to understand how it is to be sixty years old and tired. You know, plays tricks on your memory don’t it? Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not interested in having someone as commander-in-chief who is starting to lose her memory due to old age. Not that I believe that; on the contrary, Hillary’s selective memory is astounding. As for Bill, he is starting to remind me of Pete Rose at an autograph show.

    Anyway, I have a question for those Clinton-admirers out there: Are you starting to realize that the Clintons-both of them-are nothing more than a couple of BS artists?

    Meanwhile, just as our “bringer togetherer” presidential candidate, Barack Obama, was starting to put the Wright deal behind him-at least in the minds of the Democratic voters-he stepped in it himself. This time, it was not the words of his wife, Michelle, nor the words of his pastor, but his own words. In San Francisco, speaking before an audience of well, “San Franciscoers” (inside joke), Obama described the backwoods, gun-totin’, bible-thumpin’, minority hatin’, immigrant-bashin’ hicks that populate Pennsylvania. You know, people right out of the cast of “The Deer Hunter”, people who are not too receptive to a “46-year-old- black guy” like him.

    What is it about those people in Pennsylvania? First, their own Governor, Ed Rendell implies that they are racists and not willing to vote for a black candidate. Now Obama delights an elite San Francisco audience with his own description of a Dickensian Pennsylvania inhabited by steel workers and coal minors.

    As a personal comment, I lived in Pittsburgh from 1987-1990, and I happen to have a high opinion of the folks there. (Pittsburgh, unlike Philadelphia, which is a classical Eastern city, would be classified more as a Midwestern city culturally.)

    But I digress. Obama’s remark was ridiculous. After first defending himself defiantly in Terre Haute from criticism by Hillary and the McCain campaign, Obama admitted that he chose the wrong words. Indeed.

    I am having serious doubts about Obama-specifically on his honesty (in speaking about Wright) and his judgement. As for his experience, he is obviously lacking. I seriously suspect that there is a side to the Obamas that they are hiding. It would be great if the mainstream media started asking him more pointed questions-which they don’t. The msm was forced to discuss the Wright issue. Hopefully, they will be forced to examine the relationship between Obama and former (unrepentent)Weather Underground bomber, William Ayers (now Professor William Ayers). That is yet another story out there that relates directly to Obama’s fitness for president.

    Meanwhile, the Great Sausage Race stumbles toward the finish line.

    gary fouse
    fousesquawk

    fouse, gary c (7b7c7c)

  81. Gary, how can you doubt Obama’s judgment? His campaign makes sure the word is printed on every podium before he speaks …

    SPQR (26be8b)

  82. Levi, if you want to know what the logical fallacy of non sequitur is, you’ll have to google it for yourself. Pretending you know by demanding that I explain a word I’ve already used is pretty transparent frankly.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  83. Oh, and Levi, the Republican nominee was clear more than a couple of weeks ago. As you would know were you not completely ignorant of what you opine upon.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  84. You could not summarize more perfectly the attitude that the Democratic Party establishment takes toward urban and minority voters. I suggest you live in Philadelphia for one year and witness your disparaging remarks about your caricature of Republican voters come vividly true to life.

    The urban and minority blocs are in the same boat all these jobless ruralites are in, George Bush is using the government to help big business screw them over. Religion is the only thing keeping rural communities in the Republican column. I think you’re saying that Democrats exploit race and plays up black victimhood to hang onto the black vote the same way Republicans exploit religion to hold onto the religious vote, the difference is that Democrats actually do things to help these groups when they’re in power. With Republicans, all you get is lip service. And foreclosure.

    I’ll bet you revel in these caricatures of your political bogeymen that you create. Again you just show what an insufferable asshole you are with remarks like this. You’re not insightful, you’re certainly not funny. You’re leaving a rich body of work that reveals what crass, ill-informed stereotypes you peddle in and what should be clear evidence, in your OWN WORDS, of why people here do NOT have a very pleasant opinion of you as a person.

    If I’m just full of ill-informed stereotypes, why don’t you shatter my illusions? Convince me that there’s an ounce of logic or reason to forcing people to learn English, or refusing to print government documents in Spanish. Just try to convince me.

    Levi (76ef55)

  85. Levi, if you want to know what the logical fallacy of non sequitur is, you’ll have to google it for yourself. Pretending you know by demanding that I explain a word I’ve already used is pretty transparent frankly.

    Non sequitor means does not follow.

    Now please, kindly explain how your use of it applies to what was being said. To recap, someone said Obama is a poor candidate. I refuted the idea, supported it with the fact that Democratic turnout has dwarfed Republican turnout among a number of other things, and then you dismissed everything I said as ‘non sequitor.’ I don’t see how it applies. How does it?

    Levi (76ef55)

  86. Oh, and Levi, the Republican nominee was clear more than a couple of weeks ago. As you would know were you not completely ignorant of what you opine upon.

    I’m completely ignorant of what exactly? You don’t think I know when McCain became the nominee? You just think I’m pretending to be interested in politics? You don’t think I’ve been following along for the last few months? Does George Bush give out secret medals for mindlessly arguing semantics or something?

    Levi (76ef55)

  87. “Illegal immigration has pushed down wages in the less-skilled job sectors, disproportionately affecting minority – especially black – americans and its a “wedge” issue?”

    Now, I don’t know who brought this up, but – as far as the construction trades here in SoCal are concerned – it is an accurate statement.

    Entire segments of the construction trade that used to be occupied by Black workers, are now almost exclusively Hispanic, and at a lower wage level.

    So, someone can have the satisfaction of saying:
    I told you so!

    Levi is still a BDM troll.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  88. That sentence was originally mine, Another Drew. Who knows what happened to the poor thing when captured by Levi, he probably tortured it.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  89. “the difference is that Democrats actually do things to help these groups when they’re in power.”
    Possibly the biggest laugher line of the lot. Phiadelphia’s underclass has been entrenched long before the all-evil Bush’s reign of terror over them. Billions and billions of local tax dollars are spent on “human services”, i.e. government social service bureaucracies, in the inner city and you still would get your ass handed to you walking around the rough neighborhoods of Philly and I’d gather other large cities. I would love for you to see the poverty, despair, crime, and dysfunction among “these groups” and cast the entire blame on GWB and Republicans. That one-dimensional explanation has little if any merit and just allows you to wallow in your simple-minded, rhetoric-laden politics that sees every ill in human society as a result of the perfidy of your political foes.

    Jack Klompus (6637b8)

  90. Levi #77:

    “Just because you’re moderating these threads doesn’t mean you’re a good judge of whether or not liberal views are being well-represented. I’m a liberal, don’t you think I’d be in a better position to make that call? What does something as vague as ‘you’re too over the top’ even mean? What do you expect me to do?”

    First, I am not a moderator. I guest blog. There are no moderators here, which is why every comment posts automatically. The only person who has the authority to remove a comment is Patterico, and he’s pretty liberal about what he allows.

    Second, I think it’s over-the-top to use frequent profanity and to repeatedly tell other commenters how stupid they are. (FWIW, I think it applies to liberals and conservatives.) If you really feel people here are stupid, I don’t know why you would want to comment here. If you don’t, then your purpose is to be dramatic or petulant. Neither is the hallmark of a reasoned debate.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  91. Barack Obama’s remarks are not only telling but disturbing as they resonate of remarks made by Adolf Hilter regarding Jews.

    Thank you for your time.

    The Outlander (2b5b49)

  92. “Convince me that there’s an ounce of logic or reason to forcing people to learn English, or refusing to print government documents in Spanish. Just try to convince me.”

    I won’t try to convince you because I am simply one of the dumb people here but I know that after 11 years of working in public schools,I have seen a multitude of Spanish speaking parents completely in the dark regarding their children’s truancies/petty crimes/education because their English speakinng children lie to them in Spanish. There is not always a translator available and Spanish speaking parents believe it is incumbent upon the school to provide them a translator whenever they need one. However, it is not always feasible. Unfortunately, too, the kids often blame the school for targeting them, the parents believe them, and then the complaints end up at the district level.

    It works out beautifully for the kids – they not only get away with the lies, they also have it reinforced that they can get away with increasing truancy/petty crime, etc.

    Knowing the language that their children speak would only empower parents to more effectively determine what their kids are up to and to communicate with school officials.

    Without wishing to sound trite, language is power, and I habitually see willfully powerless parents who expect others to do the heavy lifting for them.

    Dana (fd88d5)

  93. Possibly the biggest laugher line of the lot. Phiadelphia’s underclass has been entrenched long before the all-evil Bush’s reign of terror over them. Billions and billions of local tax dollars are spent on “human services”, i.e. government social service bureaucracies, in the inner city and you still would get your ass handed to you walking around the rough neighborhoods of Philly and I’d gather other large cities.

    At least Democrats address the issue, what’s the Republican stance on poverty? ‘Wait for the tax cuts I just gave myself to trickle down upon you! Pull yourself up by the boot straps!’ That about sums it up, doesn’t it? I’m not too keen on the idea of the government perpetually propping people up, but if we’re ever going to get anywhere on these issues of social and economic inequality, there’s going to have to be some sort of public institution to provide that bridge, isn’t there? You just want to wait for it to happen all on its own?

    I would love for you to see the poverty, despair, crime, and dysfunction among “these groups” and cast the entire blame on GWB and Republicans. That one-dimensional explanation has little if any merit and just allows you to wallow in your simple-minded, rhetoric-laden politics that sees every ill in human society as a result of the perfidy of your political foes.

    I don’t blame poverty in America on George Bush, but I blame him for not doing anything about it for the past 8 years, that’s fair, isn’t it? Bush is playing ball for the corporations, and regular Americans and the poor are taking the brunt. They’ve lost jobs to closures and outsourcing, lost their houses to an unregulated, predatory mortgage industry, they’re paying more for everything because of more expensive oil, and health insurance and college costs are increasing every year. Your guys are trying to bring back the lazy fair (can’t spell it, the French word, you know what I mean) economics of the 19th century that brought us child labor and rat shit in the food supply. It’s not gonna work any better today than it did back then. The stumbling economy should be telling you that….

    Levi (76ef55)

  94. Levi – I’m not surprised you are backing Obama’s original comments to the hilt. That’s your automatic patellar response. Contrary to your statements above, this kerfuffle originated on the left, at Huffington Post, as opposed to the right. Don’t blame the people here for something the loony left brought up to talk about, something you do repeatedly.

    I’m with the commenter above, I think it was cfbleachers, if you think Obama was right, I recommend a full court press on the politics of fear, xenophobia, religion as an opiate of the masses, and anti-trade stances for Obama as a way to win the votes of those heehawing Ezekiels in flyover country. They love to be lectured on why they feel the way they do by big city liberals because they are too dumb to figure it out, why they adopted religious faith falsely that they have had since birth instead of because they needed black street cred, they love being lecture on guns by gun control nuts and probably most of all they love pushing one for english and two for spanish.

    The Politico, I forget whether they lean left or right, has a nice piece explaining why they think it is a winning strategy for Obama:

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9561.html

    Enjoy Levi. You just get more stupid as time passes.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  95. Levi, your comments are just more examples of your divorce with reality. Literally everything you write about the Bush administration is just flat out false. You claim Bush has done nothing about poverty but social spending has been going up during the Bush administration. Government provided benefits have increased in both amounbt and scope. Employment is up, long term unemployment down, etc.

    Your entire understanding of America’s economy is just flat out wrong.

    It is a constant with you. Your every opinion is found to be based upon “facts” that are not.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  96. These numbers appeared in the NRO Corner recently:
    Key Labor Market Statistics in 1996 and 2008
    March 1996 March 2008
    1. U.S. Unemployment Rate 5.5% 5.1%
    2. Number of Long-Term Unemployed 1.33 million 1.28 million
    3. Average Weeks Unemployed 17.3 weeks 16.2 weeks
    4. Median Weeks Unemployed 8.3 weeks 8.1 weeks
    5. Not in Labor Force because discouraged over job prospects 451,000 401,000

    SPQR (26be8b)

  97. First, I am not a moderator. I guest blog. There are no moderators here, which is why every comment posts automatically. The only person who has the authority to remove a comment is Patterico, and he’s pretty liberal about what he allows.

    Great?

    Second, I think it’s over-the-top to use frequent profanity and to repeatedly tell other commenters how stupid they are. (FWIW, I think it applies to liberals and conservatives.) If you really feel people here are stupid, I don’t know why you would want to comment here. If you don’t, then your purpose is to be dramatic or petulant. Neither is the hallmark of a reasoned debate.

    As stupid as I believe all of you to be, you’re getting people elected, which troubles me. Stupid people running the government, what could be worse? Anybody that genuinely cares about the survivability of this country should be very interested in what’s going on with the modern conservative movement, because there’s never been a group so dumb that had so much power.

    Levi (76ef55)

  98. Levi – You can’t even describe the tax cuts honestly, so why is it worth engaging you.

    “At least Democrats address the issue, what’s the Republican stance on poverty? ‘Wait for the tax cuts I just gave myself to trickle down upon you! Pull yourself up by the boot straps!’ That about sums it up, doesn’t it? I’m not too keen on the idea of the government perpetually propping people up, but if we’re ever going to get anywhere on these issues of social and economic inequality, there’s going to have to be some sort of public institution to provide that bridge, isn’t there?”

    Bush’s tax cuts took millions of people off the tax rolls. Repealing them would increase taxes for the average income family (around $62,000) by $1,800. Tax cuts are for people actually paying taxes. Welfare and other social programs are not related to taxes, somethig liberals frequently forget when they talk about tax cuts. Obama thinks rich means income of $75,000 per year. Do you? When you talk about tax cuts for the rich Levi, what exactly are you talking about? Can you define your terms please?

    Also, what are these issues of social and economic equality you raise? Are you suggesting that everyone should make the same amount of money and that it should be regulated by the government? What issues do you mean? Do the people get to vote on these issues?

    daleyrocks (906622)

  99. Okay, Levi, thanks for your response.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  100. Additionally, if all you’re going to do is toss insults at me, you could at least put some effort into making them funny. Why waste everyone’s time? A put-down is only a good put-down if it’s hilarious. Kindergarteners would be embarrassed for you if they read that shit.

    They’d be funny to you if you weren’t such a retard.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  101. None of this is any different from what I’ve said about Republicans and the way they inflate these bullshit non-stories before, but why don’t we try something different in this case, since you did specifically ask for my opinion about this one, and abstain from dozens of comments insulting my intelligence and ridiculing my existence?

    This from a commenter that thinks anybody who disagrees with him is a retard.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  102. Levi, you keep talking about stupid people.

    But everytime you explain one of your opinions, you use “facts” that aren’t.

    You seem to have your IQ evaluations inverted.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  103. Oh looky here:

    They know that if you just throw them a bone every once in awhile, like this retarded stem cell ban we’ve all been forced to endure, they’ll continue happily voting Republican, no matter how un-Christian the policies are.

    See, everyone and everything that disagrees with Levi is retarded.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  104. Judged in a vacuum, Bush’s tax cuts might arguably have been good for the economy, but since he didn’t cut spending and started a ridiculously expensive war, those tax cuts only amplify the economic problems Bush created by increasing spending and starting the Iraq war! It’s a viscious cycle.

    Everyone sounds pretty impressed with the shape of the economy as Bush rounds third, is that accurate? Conservatives honestly believe we’re in better economic shape, both as a country and as individuals, after 8 years of George Bush? Is that what you’re all saying?

    Levi (76ef55)

  105. Paul, want to bet any money that Levi can’t correctly articulate what the “stem cell ban” actually is?

    SPQR (26be8b)

  106. I am suddenly struck with the gut-level belief that Levi thinks “Idiocracy” is actually a valid worry…rather than an utter rip-off of “The Marching Morons.”

    Foxfier (74f1c8)

  107. Abortion is the most illustrative example. For years the Republicans have been saying they’re gonna stop abortion, stop the killing, restore good Christian morality to government, bring about a culture of life, and where are we decades later?

    Ever think that maybe there some opposition to making those changes?

    Retard.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  108. It’s an almost entirely dependable voting bloc that you don’t have to do anything for once you’re in office, hell, you can even cause them all to lose their jobs and homes and they don’t waver. How sweet is that?

    That description better fits the black voting bloc.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  109. Levi, our current economic issues have only the most tenuous connection to the amount of the Federal deficit.

    You really have no clue about economics.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  110. Just because you’re moderating these threads doesn’t mean you’re a good judge of whether or not liberal views are being well-represented. I’m a liberal, don’t you think I’d be in a better position to make that call?

    By your own logic, we are in better position than you to expound the “Republican” platform. Because you are posting here doesn’t mean you are a good judge whether or not conservative views are represented. And since, by your own admission, you don’t make any effort to differentiate nuances between conservatives (“I don’t have the time to figure out every difference, get over it”) is all the proof we need that your judgement in such matters is lacking.

    Retard.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  111. #105
    …but since he didn’t cut spending and started a ridiculously expensive war, those tax cuts only amplify the economic problems Bush created by increasing spending and starting the Iraq war!

    Would that be the war that Kerry and Clinton voted for?
    Now that Democrats control both houses of Congress, how much have they cut spending?
    What exactly are the “economic problems” caused by increased spending the Iraq war?

    Perfect Sense (b6ec8c)

  112. Everyone sounds pretty impressed with the shape of the economy as Bush rounds third, is that accurate? Conservatives honestly believe we’re in better economic shape, both as a country and as individuals, after 8 years of George Bush? Is that what you’re all saying?

    Yup.

    Prove that it isn’t. With links to actual proof, not opinion, assumptions and conjecture, since you don’t accept that from anyone else.

    And if you answer with only opinion, assumptions and conjecture wthout any proof to back them up, not only are you a retard, but by writing only those with no effort, you are proving your own statement:

    Because everyone is stupid by default, and it’s really easy to stay stupid. It actually requires a little bit of effort to be smart, so there’s not as many smart people as there are stupid people.

    Remember that? The statement that dedicates this thread to you?

    Paul (4e4a20)

  113. From Protein Wisdom:

    Donk Duet [Dan Collins]
    Obama: Unelectable, that’s what you are
    Unelectable though near or far
    Though the rants of Wright may hinder me
    Her transparent lies screw Hillary
    Never before has someone been more

    Hillary: Unelectable in every way
    That’s why I am here, that’s why I stay
    That’s why, Barry, it’s delectable
    That someone so unelectable
    Thinks that I am unelectable, too

    Obama: Unelectable in every way!
    Hillary: That’s why I’m still here, the crap you say!
    Both: S/he thinks her/his shit’s undetectable–
    How can one so unelectable
    Think that I am unelectable, too?

    daleyrocks (906622)

  114. Paul, want to bet any money that Levi can’t correctly articulate what the “stem cell ban” actually is?

    Heh.

    I noticed he no longer provides links to back up his statements after Pablo and I carved his a** like the firsr summer pig roast some weeks ago.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  115. Paul, I got a bunch of slices too. He is certainly about the dumbest troll I recall visiting here. He is persistent, though.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  116. Guys, wise up. Levi has your number. He’s right when he says that one comment of his is enough to make you his entourage. You’re not just feeding him. You’re sticking a line in your veins and transfusing him. I’ll bet you a dollar that he’s the most conservative troll under another name on leftie sites.

    nk (6b7d4f)

  117. nk – Elitist

    daleyrocks (906622)

  118. Levi,

    You really should start your own blog. With open comments. You will be successful.

    I mean it seriously and with all the goodwill in the world. You have a talent for provoking discussion. Follow Patterico’s example and be tolerant of the discussion you attract within the limits of decency.

    Just Google Blogger. It will guide you the rest of the way. And it’s free.

    nk (6b7d4f)

  119. NK’s right, Levi. You have a talent for essays.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  120. Go for it Levi – Name it the Bitterness Express or something. All on board.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  121. I would recommend a whimsical and memorable but otherwise non-imposing name. For example, I believe “Patterico” was what Patterico’s father called him as a child. Let your readers take their own meaning from it — don’t force it on them.

    nk (6b7d4f)

  122. On names, I rather like mine– it’s from a Magic card, that said “only a fool fears foxfire.”

    It’s always a bonus if your name is unusual, yet easy.

    Foxfier (74f1c8)

  123. Guys, wise up. Levi has your number. He’s right when he says that one comment of his is enough to make you his entourage.

    Not when I string him up with his own comments.

    Ever notice, nk, that when I show up, he immediately stops commenting?

    Paul (4e4a20)

  124. *puts on conspiracy cap*

    He’s never seen with you…so he IS YOU!!!!

    *evil, insane laughter*

    Foxfier (74f1c8)

  125. PauLevi?

    DRJ (a431ca)

  126. PauLevi?

    DRJ, there’s no way I could fake such an utter lack of facts, logic, reason or ethics.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  127. Besides, I’ve aready been accused of writing Staunch Brayer’s comments also.

    Remember, our host is the blogosphere’s expert on sock-puppetry.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  128. Foxfier #123,

    If we are talking about the same thing, I played with foxfires when small, on our farm. Ball-shaped, very fragile mushrooms that glow in the dark?

    nk (6b7d4f)

  129. NK- I’ve never seen it, personally; I’ve wished to, often.

    But I do think it’s the same thing the card was talking about.

    BTW– if anyone was confused…I was teasing Paul.

    Foxfier (74f1c8)

  130. We knew you were teasing and also that Paul is not Levi.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  131. It’s the internet. You HAVE to mention this stuff. *grin*

    Foxfier (74f1c8)

  132. Wait a minute. Isn’t Levi from Montana?

    The picture is becoming clearer.

    Pablo (99243e)

  133. Ok. Help me with this. I created a blogspot and I want to give everybody the codes so that everybody can do anything he/she wants anytime. Anybody interested? More important, how do we keep out the spammers? Or should we allow spammers since each and every one of us can do anything we want to the blog anytime we want? Including deleting it forever?

    Patterico, will you allow me to start this experiment in blog anarchy by posting the username and code words here?

    nk (6b7d4f)

  134. nk – What are we bitter dumb jobless hicks supposed to do when we aren’t in church handling snakes and speaking in tongues, out shooting something, chasing down hobos and illegal immigrants, lusting after our relatives, cleaning our one good tooth, if we can’t take out our bitterness on some idiot on the internet who’s presidential candidate doesn’t understand a thing about us but claims he and the government can solve all our problems because he can change things. Yeah right.

    Pull my finger.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  135. daleyrocks –

    *twitch*

    My family name is Hicks.

    Worse yet, my DAD is David Hicks. Not the terrorist.

    I twitch a lot….

    Foxfier (74f1c8)

  136. nk, you can activate a captcha which will keep the spambots from posting. Go to Settings > Comments and enable word verification. That way, any human can post.

    Pablo (99243e)

  137. Foxfier – Twitching can be good in certain situations. Did you hear the one about the guy in the nursing home who met the woman with parkinsons….

    Is your family name where the expression came from? I’ll think of another word to use going forward – rubes or something like that if I remember.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  138. No, Pablo. I meant anybody being a team member. Is it possible?

    Levi, if you want it, it’s yours. I’ll email you the passwords and you can change everything except the URL. You can immediately change the password so nobody else could access it and you could pick any header you like for it.

    nk (6b7d4f)

  139. nk, is that likely to be a problem? If it becomes one, you could always just change the password periodically.

    Pablo (99243e)

  140. Pablo,

    email me at anybody.onymous@gmail.com if you want. I’ll email you back the passwords. You’ll see what I mean then.

    nk (6b7d4f)

  141. Is your family name where the expression came from?

    No, my family–with typical English logic– comes from the name “Richard.”

    Richard=>Rich=>Rick=>Hicks.

    Although I am a ranch kid by breeding.

    Foxfier (74f1c8)

  142. Obama does damage control (via Exurbanleague).

    DRJ (a431ca)

  143. Foxfier – I was just kidding around.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  144. Did Obama say anything that is untrue? Small town folks DO cling to the Second Amendment and religion.

    Obama is just another tax and spend liberal, and I wouldn’t vote for him. Despite this, what he said is true.

    Rudy (2f7ea6)

  145. Rudy – Please explain why what Obama said is true, especially if you are religious, hunt, jobless, and live in a small town and so can speak with authority about such matters.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  146. Did Obama say anything that is untrue? Small town folks DO cling to the Second Amendment and religion.

    Well, yes. He said that these beliefs, along with racism, xenophobia and economic isolationism are held dear because of the economic policies of Clinton and the Bushes. It is untrue to suggest that small town folks universally feel that way, and it’s also wrong to suggest that those who do feel any of those things do so because of national leadership.

    Pablo (99243e)

  147. But the Republicans always lose me when they take the ‘Let’s ban Spanish!’ leap.

    Who’s called to ban Spanish? What’s wrong with saying government business will by default be conducted in the dominant language?

    Rob Crawford (b5d1c2)

  148. By your own logic, we are in better position than you to expound the “Republican” platform. Because you are posting here doesn’t mean you are a good judge whether or not conservative views are represented. And since, by your own admission, you don’t make any effort to differentiate nuances between conservatives (”I don’t have the time to figure out every difference, get over it”) is all the proof we need that your judgement in such matters is lacking.

    You’re sort of right. By my logic, that should be true, but it ain’t. People don’t necessarily have to be part of a political faction to know and understand it. I know quite a bit about the Republican platform, in fact, I’d posit that I probably know more about it than most Republicans. It’s not that hard to ‘get’ Republicans and George Bush, their ideology and policies have been on prominent display for the past 8 years.

    On the other hand, it’s become pretty clear in my time here that none of you understands or even cares to understand modern liberalism in America. These threads are all the same; Obama says something, then all of you take turns calling him an elitist, socialist, black liberation Communist-Nazi. It’s all uninformed speculation based on a few statements taken out of context and who Obama went to church with. There certainly haven’t been any honest, reasoned dissections of Obama’s liberalism, at least while I’ve been here.

    What I’m saying, essentially, is that I know more about your side then you know about mine.

    Levi (76ef55)

  149. Who’s called to ban Spanish? What’s wrong with saying government business will by default be conducted in the dominant language?

    I was exaggerating, but not by much. So tell me, what purpose does saying the government will conduct it’s business in English serve?

    Levi (76ef55)

  150. What I’m saying, essentially, is that I know more about your side then you know about mine.

    That’s what you are saying. But what you are showing with your comments is that you actually understand neither.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  151. A usial like any liberal demacratic bigot he has shown why he dont deserve the whitehouse

    krazy kagu (d982eb)

  152. Levi wrote:

    Possibly the biggest laugher line of the lot. Phiadelphia’s underclass has been entrenched long before the all-evil Bush’s reign of terror over them. Billions and billions of local tax dollars are spent on “human services”, i.e. government social service bureaucracies, in the inner city and you still would get your ass handed to you walking around the rough neighborhoods of Philly and I’d gather other large cities.

    At least Democrats address the issue, what’s the Republican stance on poverty? ‘Wait for the tax cuts I just gave myself to trickle down upon you! Pull yourself up by the boot straps!’ That about sums it up, doesn’t it? I’m not too keen on the idea of the government perpetually propping people up, but if we’re ever going to get anywhere on these issues of social and economic inequality, there’s going to have to be some sort of public institution to provide that bridge, isn’t there? You just want to wait for it to happen all on its own?

    Levi, we had a very generous welfare program for generations, and it didn’t work. Why ought we to keep throwing good money after bad, on programs which do not work, just to show that we are compassionate?

    There is one, and only one, solution to poverty: get your ass off the couch and go to work! very time we try to be compassionate and make it easier for people to keep their dead asses on the couch, and not have to work for a living, we are keeping them in poverty, not lifting them out of it.

    Dana R Pico (c36902)

  153. Levi, in comment #98, describes conservatives:

    As stupid as I believe all of you to be,. . .

    You’ll understand, then, that others might have a similarly negative opinion of you?

    Indeed, I’m not sure why you’d say such a thing: telling people that you think they are stupid — and the phrase “all of you” would certainly mean that you think that every last one of us who disagrees with you is stupid — and then making a point you wish to push is necessarily the best way to persuade people that you are right or have pressed a serious point.

    Dana R Pico (c36902)

  154. What I’m saying, essentially, is that I know more about your side then you know about mine.

    This from a commenter that claims he doesn’t have the time to learn the “nuances of each conservative position” so he puts them all in a single group, and says “get over it.”

    Which brings us back to your not making an effort:

    “Because everyone is stupid by default, and it’s really easy to stay stupid. It actually requires a little bit of effort to be smart, so there’s not as many smart people as there are stupid people.

    Retard.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  155. There certainly haven’t been any honest, reasoned dissections of Obama’s liberalism, at least while I’ve been here.

    You mean the public image Obama is tryng to cultivate?

    Sorry, Levi. We know the difference between an object painted gold, and an actual piece of gold.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  156. So tell me, what purpose does saying the government will conduct it’s business in English serve?

    Look at immigrants who speak English and their level of economic success versus those who don’t speak English. If you’re going to live and work in another country it is unquestionably in your best interest to speak the native language. If you have to learn English, you will. If you can eke by without it, the odds that you won’t increase greatly.

    Pablo (99243e)

  157. Haw haw, here is a link from Wonkette.

    news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/04/13/poor-bit
    ter-americans-should-cheer-up/

    When Hillary and McCain manage to beat Obama to death with their bogus “elitist” meme they will then turn it on each other in the general election. If the list at the bottom of the article is any sample of the ammo these guys are going to have then McCain is definitely going to win. He’s Way less elitist. All the brave, courageous, intelligent, educated, innovative, and spunky small town people everywhere already know this of course coz although he allegedly admits to not being an economics kind of guy, and keeps messing up who is sunni or shia (these gotchas courtesy of Huffpo and Crooks and liars of course), JMc IS pro-gun, pro-life, and anti-gay marriage, I forget how he thinks about immigration is that a flip flopper for him?

    EdWood (726c30)

  158. Haw haw, here is a link from Wonkette.

    Yeah, like Ken Layne is a credible source.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  159. Levi:

    “What I’m saying, essentially, is that I know more about your side then you know about mine.”

    I doubt it. We were all liberals, too, when we were your age.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  160. I just keep thinking that when I get my next job I’m going to stop going to church, put down my rifle, be all about gay marriage and open borders immigration and support the Smoot-Hawley type trade restrictions the democrats favor. Right now, though, I’m all about teh bitterness. It’s scary like how Obama can read my mind.

    Gotta go to the store though and buy another twelve pack and dynamite some fish for dinner, otherwise the wife and kids won’t eat. It’s fun too!

    daleyrocks (906622)

  161. Daleyrocks: You can come visit us in the backwoods of Pennsyltucky. Instead of dynamitin’ fish in the Lehigh River, we gots deer and bears that keep walkin’ through the yard, so’s we just pop one when the food gets low in the freezer. Drag the carcass down to the butcherin’ shed in the back, and the freezer’s full again.

    ‘cept, o’ course, what we gives to the dogs.

    T’night, right after Bill Clinton’s speech at th’ high skool, we’re having bear steaks and beans and taters. C’mon over!

    Dana R Pico (c36902)

  162. Daley, if you were a REAL redneck, you’d get one of them old crank teliphones, toss the lead-wires into the pond, and give it a couple of turns…

    That’s how a REAL edneck fishes… 🙂

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  163. Out yonder in West Texas, we ketch rattlesnakes for Sunday supper. It tastes jest like chickn.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  164. Yeah, I’ll bet Obama fishes like a sissy, jest like he bowls.

    daleyrocks (906622)

  165. “We were all liberals, too, when we were your age.”

    Ah, the age of innocence ignorance…good times, good times.

    Dana (59f0fc)

  166. Heh.

    Y’all plain folk are funny.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  167. DRJ, really? I’d heerd that chicken tastes just like rattlesnake and sur ‘nuf once I stole sum, they was rite.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  168. What I’m saying, essentially, is that I know more about your side then you know about mine.

    So? Geez whiz, Louise, we are more important to you than you are to us? Who woulda thunk it?

    nk (6b7d4f)

  169. Well, I for one know about Modern Liberalism;
    aka, Multi-Cultural Fascism.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  170. 156:

    We know the difference between an object painted gold, and an actual piece of gold.

    That’s why the more we learn about Obama (and that wife of his), I can’t figure why Caroline Kennedy would group him with her father.

    JFK, with all his connections to the dark side of being a Kennedy, had compassion and an understanding of decency. Were Obama to possess either of those (he doesn’t), it would’ve occurred to him to bail long ago on that pastor/mentor/baptiser of his. Just a real poser.

    It’s scary that many people have no problem with these startling new facts about BHO’s thinking and choices. I honestly think Obama is the enemy of my enemy candidate.

    Vermont Neighbor (629f2e)

  171. That’s why the more we learn about Obama (and that wife of his), I can’t figure why Caroline Kennedy would group him with her father.

    Because she and most everyone else on the Left have idealized JFK and his presidency, rather than look at actual facts.

    JFK would have never made it into the primaries as a Democrats with his platform on taxes (a rising tide lifts all boats) among other issues.

    Paul (4e4a20)

  172. “We know the difference between an object painted gold, and an actual piece of gold.”

    – Paul

    “Painted gold” because he’s black?

    Racist.

    Leviticus (b987b0)

  173. Who said “because he’s black?” You made that up. Are you vying with the other Levi over who can look like the bigger idiot? Perhaps Paul should refer to you as “Retardicus” just to keep your respective identities clear.

    Xrlq (b71926)

  174. I was attempting to parody the Fringe Left. I was being sarcastic. I was kidding. Yikes.

    You’ve seen a lot of wacky comments if you thought mine was serious.

    Leviticus (b987b0)

  175. … Although the whole “Retardicus” sentiment must’ve been bubbling close to the surface for it to boil over so quickly.

    Leviticus (b987b0)

  176. JFK would have never made it into the primaries as a Democrats with his platform on taxes (a rising tide lifts all boats) among other issues.

    Paul, I know that Levi would have to understand that re Camelot. (JFK was his mother’s liberal – and no relaton to Obama.)

    Vermont Neighbor (629f2e)

  177. You’ve seen a lot of wacky comments if you thought mine was serious.

    Indeed I have, but that’s no excuse for my falling into the sarchasm, something I usually poke fun at others for doing. My bad.

    … Although the whole “Retardicus” sentiment must’ve been bubbling close to the surface for it to boil over so quickly.

    Don’t take it personally. The only reason that name occurred to me so quickly was that the post reminded me of another commenter. I won’t tell you the other commenter’s name, but will tell you that he:

    1. Really is a retard.
    2. Posts under a name similar to yours.

    Put differently, the connnection between “retard” and the first half of your name was well established, but through no fault of your own. Thus, it only took one post with the name “Leviticus” plus content reminiscent of the other guy for the moniker “Retardicus” to practically write itself.

    Xrlq (62cad4)

  178. Don’t worry about it. I’ve misinterpreted my fair share of intended parody on this site; sometimes it’s hard to convey sarcasm through a keyboard.

    Leviticus (b987b0)

  179. Here’s a useful link for those instances guys. The best rendition of the song, too, in my opinion.

    nk (6b7d4f)


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