Christine O'Donnell wins Republican primary for Senate

September 15, 2010 8:31 AM

Tea Party candidate and Sarah Palin endorsee Christine O'Donnell - a former chastity lobbyist - has defeated the longest-serving Congressman in Delaware's history by six percentage points to claim the Republican nomination for Vice President Biden's former Senate seat - despite Karl Rove's televised statements to Sean Hannity that she says "nutty things": It does conservatives little good to support candidates who, at the end of the day, while they may be conservative in their public statements, do not evince the characteristics of rectitude and truthfulness and sincerity and character that the voters are looking for.

RedState comments:

I didn’t have many (or any) good things to say about Christine O’Donnell … but that ends now. The woman, whatever her faults, has to be given credit for having something that has been sorely lacking in the GOP’s Senate Caucus; Guts - with a big scarlet capital G. So finally, I do have something good to say about the lady - she took on an entrenched incumbent with a 10-to-1 monetary, a hostile media, not to mention a weak and comfortable on its knees DE GOP and walloped them all.

Which leads me to think that she just might have it in her to do it. Which means we owe her our support. Fighters are what we’ve been demanding for decades - we’ve just been given (another) one. So let’s get to work.

posted by Joe Beese (430 comments total)

Democrats have historically come out in full force in favor of Castle in general elections. Republican Delawareans blew it on this one. Luckily.

Go, Chris.
posted by Pax at 8:33 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

It does conservatives little good to support candidates who, at the end of the day, while they may be conservative in their public statements, do not evince the characteristics of rectitude and truthfulness and sincerity and character that the voters are looking for.

I can't believe these Karl Rove was able to form these words without choking to death on them. Wait, no, I can believe it. Because Karl Rove can do those kinds of things.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 8:37 AM on September 15, 2010 [32 favorites]

It does conservatives little good to support candidates who, at the end of the day, while they may be conservative in their public statements, do not evince the characteristics of rectitude and truthfulness and sincerity and character that the voters are looking for.

In the way that Karl Rove does?
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:37 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

Jinx.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:37 AM on September 15, 2010

I can't believe THAT Karl Rove...
posted by Salvor Hardin at 8:37 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

something something reap the whirlwind something.
posted by rtha at 8:37 AM on September 15, 2010 [5 favorites]

I did not need to be reminded of Joan Osborne, MTV.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:39 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

You know... I'll bet she masturbates. Just every now and again.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:40 AM on September 15, 2010 [39 favorites]

I understand being against pornography.

I respect the idea of reserving sex for marriage, though I disagree.

But being against masturbation? That's just crazy talk.

Also: Democrats pick up a Delaware Senate seat in November! Woo-hoo!
posted by BitterOldPunk at 8:40 AM on September 15, 2010 [11 favorites]

Looks like the GOP didn't want to win in Delaware. Senator Coons has a nice ring to it...
posted by inturnaround at 8:40 AM on September 15, 2010

Delaware GOP's thoughts on O'Donnell, from not even 2 weeks ago:

"She's not a viable candidate for any office in the state of Delaware," state party chairman Tom Ross, who is backing Castle, said in a telephone interview. "She could not be elected dog catcher."
posted by rkent at 8:40 AM on September 15, 2010 [10 favorites]

Interesting Frumforum post too: The Real Winner of the Republican Primaries:

The real action in this election cycle was in the Republican primaries, they are almost over, and we already know who won: (drum roll, please!) President Obama. American conservatives have suffered a crushing and lasting defeat. The center of gravity in American politics has shifted permanently and irreversibly to the left (and conservative ideology will eventually follow).

The saddest thing is that this conservative calamity is mostly self-inflicted. More and more conservatives get Oprah-cized (one of their favorite leaders, Sarah Palin is sometimes called “the conservative Oprah”, and in my humble opinion Glenn Beck deserves that title too). They now believe that expressing their feelings (e.g. by nominating quixotic candidates) is more important than trying to influence government policies (e.g. by nominating viable candidates). They withdraw from practical politics and instead join a protest movement. They march in the streets in tricorn hats while the liberals (whom they unwittingly help to put in office) are creating new entitlements and raising taxes...

...Even if Republicans capture the House this November, they will have a barely functional majority – a 225-210 split is about the best we can realistically hope for – and will be almost certain to lose the House again in 2012, potentially even by a worse margin than in 2008. Such a scenario would be devastating to conservative causes, since Obama would claim that his own re-election victory combined with his party wrestling the House from the GOP (and expanding their Senate majority) gives him a clear mandate to implement his agenda (rather than pursue bipartisanship).

posted by TheophileEscargot at 8:40 AM on September 15, 2010 [30 favorites]

I can't believe THAT Karl Rove...

isn't in jail for treason?
posted by waitingtoderail at 8:40 AM on September 15, 2010 [46 favorites]

What kind of craziness will the GOP have to propose to bring these crazies in to win future elections?
posted by uraniumwilly at 8:41 AM on September 15, 2010

yeah... gotta give the Baggers their due, they may have single-handedly salvaged a terrible year for the Democrats into a mere lackluster one. The initial DE polls have O'Donnel something at something like 17 points disadvantage. Castle reportedly has no intention of endorsing the anti-masturbation winner.
posted by edgeways at 8:42 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

As exultant as I would like to be about this, given what's happened with Angle, Paul, Miller, etc., this year, I would not write Christine O'Donnell off. Rove may have just made one of the worst series of comments he could have possibly said in a career full of stupid comments. The best part is that Rove, who started out as a dirty tricks peddler in college and never looked back, is now getting a real dose of his own dirty medicine.

I love O'Donnell's "I'm not a trust fund baby" comment given Rove's actual background -- get him where it hurts. (Rove is a college dropout; O'Donnell has a degree. The years that Rove did attend college were on a scholarship.)
posted by blucevalo at 8:43 AM on September 15, 2010

I remember when Ronald Reagan won the Republican nomination in 1980 and Jimmy Carter won re-election because he was too conservative and had a history of making stupid movies, ridiculous statements and making insane statements about Medicare and Social Security. Carters second term was a marvel and propelled america into the bright future it enjoys today with a strong industrial base and diversified green economy. Imagine if the global economy was reliant on petroleum from the middle east, or what the Iranians could be doing with export earnings from billions of dollars a day.


That's weird while I was posting this the whole world shimmered and now it seems that someone edited wikipedia to say that Reagan won. Also everyone keeps saying how I shaved my goatee. What a strange day.
posted by humanfont at 8:45 AM on September 15, 2010 [93 favorites]

In fact, WILMINGTON, Del. — A senior aide to Rep. Mike Castle told POLITICO the nine-term congressman will not be endorsing newly-minted GOP Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell.

"She is a con artist who won by lying about Castle's positions and her own life," said Kate DIckens, a Castle aide. "Out of state support was enough to pull her through yesterday so she can rely on it through November."
posted by Pax at 8:45 AM on September 15, 2010 [8 favorites]

I can't believe Karl Rove.
posted by Babblesort at 8:47 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

It's like the Republicans and Democrats are in a race to see who implodes first.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:47 AM on September 15, 2010 [9 favorites]

You know... I'll bet she masturbates. Just every now and again.

Given the correlation demonstrated over the last couple decades between fire-breathing family values rhetoric and hypocritically awesome levels of sexual deviancy, I'd bet she has double-ply wetsuits delivered weekly.
posted by fatbird at 8:49 AM on September 15, 2010 [31 favorites]

Conservatives Trash Karl Rove After He Insists O'Donnell Says 'Nutty Things'
posted by R. Mutt at 8:50 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

List of inventors killed by their own inventions.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:50 AM on September 15, 2010 [112 favorites]

I can't believe these Karl Rove was able to form these words without choking to death on them.

Karl Rove is very smart and managed to keep the GOP in power throughout the majority of this decade. Remember how Bush got promoted as a compassionate conservative? He knows you don't win elections by appealing to ideological purity. The fact the candidate herself seems to be grossly unqualified and apparently unethical, shows the political naivety of the Tea Party movement. The believe in the message above all else, and in a society with a free and independent media, that just doesn't work.

More importantly though, Sarah Palin is picking up political allies. She's taking a huge risk, but with an even greater payoff. If her candidates start winning national elections, candidates she practically made herself, she has a real chance of upending the GOP. It is all or nothing, if these candidates lose, there's no way she's got a chance at president. She seems willing to destroy the GOP for her own gain, and that's just astonishing, but so fitting with who she is.

Let them squabble, they had a real chance of turning this into another '94 election. If the economy picks up and Democrats manage to maintain control of either house, they'll basically get a free pass for a few election cycles.
posted by geoff. at 8:50 AM on September 15, 2010 [16 favorites]

The Democrats will find a way to get her elected.
posted by swift at 8:50 AM on September 15, 2010 [38 favorites]

I think y'all are misunderestimating Mr. Rove.

By right away "yielding" Delaware's coveted Senate seat on the basis of this upset, he is feeding raw red meat to the Republicans whose instinctive response is to work against O'Donnell. He is steeling them to get over that and vote the Party, not the Woman.

That pull quote from Rove is sheer political activist catnip. CBS first makes it look like he is saying it about O'Donnell, then uses it again to make it look like it's about Castle.
posted by chavenet at 8:51 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Where Will Christine O’Donnell Get Her Campaign Money Now?
posted by homunculus at 8:51 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Conservatives Trash Karl Rove After He Insists O'Donnell Says 'Nutty Things'

This is maybe the best thing I've ever heard. Hopefully very soon, they will all cannibalize themselves. There will be one left, perhaps Palin, taking on an apprentice such as Bachmann or even O'Donnell, like the Sith.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:53 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

I can't believe Karl Rove.

...isn't BUTTER.
posted by jquinby at 8:54 AM on September 15, 2010 [15 favorites]

heh that Pavelyev article is funny to read. I mean much of it I hope is true, but it is all emotional wah wah wah based. Which I guess is 90% of all political writing, but this just seems so.. distraught. Keep writing like that Pavelyev, whatever you can do to depress the R turnout.
posted by edgeways at 8:54 AM on September 15, 2010

Guts - with a big scarlet capital G

Wait, what? Scarlet Letter? Like The Scarlet Letter, the badge of shame for all to see?

There's mixing your metaphors, and there's just not doing it right at all.

I think GWB would be proud.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:54 AM on September 15, 2010 [9 favorites]

Theophile Escargot: Well, Frum was long since excommunicated from the true conservative movement for much the same insistence on the real and the rational.

So... whatever he says we can just ignore.

So... go Tea Party!
posted by Naberius at 8:54 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't thing people should assume the electorate won't vote a complete idiot into the senate.
posted by binturong at 8:57 AM on September 15, 2010 [9 favorites]

Finally, I agree with the Tea Baggers on something. Karl Rove's job as an analyst with Fox News should end. Oh, I'm sure we disagree on the reasons why, but at heart, I think both they and I, too, feel that he is a giant walking bilge-pump. That doesn't make him wrong about O'Donnell.
posted by beelzbubba at 8:59 AM on September 15, 2010

RedState's resident plagiarist writes:

As a friend of mine in the business of campaigns and elections has said, electing moderates simply to secure a majority for Republicans is a self-defeating proposition. We’ve seen this play out time and again. Career politicians abhor principle, and adore power and fecklessness. Their presence in Washington provides constant aid and comfort to the Left. They dilute the brand, confuse voters and sell out conservatives just at the moment they are needed most. It’s not about being right rather than winning, it’s about the definition of winning in the long term, which cannot be done with elected politicians who don’t believe in conservatism.

Substitute "Democrats" for "Republicans", "Right" for "Left", and "liberals" for "conservatives".
posted by Joe Beese at 9:01 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

I love watching the Tea Party snake gnaw on the Republican Party rat.
posted by elder18 at 9:03 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

She'll get elected. You guys are so fucked.

Oh wait, I live here too.

Also when living elsewhere it's on the same planet.

Doom!
posted by Artw at 9:04 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

The problem with presenting your client with a really stupid idea in the hopes that he/she will recognize its stupidity/ugliness and pick the idea you wanted all along is that your client (in this case the American electorate) might just pick the stupid one.
posted by reformedjerk at 9:05 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Continuing the Scarlet Letter theme, I look forward to a mashup of this image with some gutsy picture of O'Donnell.

Also, who chose her picture for this page? Look, a collection of professional head shots of politicians with the women in professional clothing just like the men, and SURPRISE! Here's fun-loving Christine O'Donnell, ready to hang out (and a surprisingly low -but not scandalously low- cut top, showing some shoulder to boot!)

Furthermore, congrats to O'Donnell on getting her her bachelor of arts degree in English literature on Sept 1, 2010, 17 years after attended the commencement ceremony for her graduating class.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:05 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

I love watching the Tea Party snake gnaw on the Republican Party rat.

I was thinking more along the lines of this.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:06 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

I can't believe Karl Rove.

Generally a safe position to take regardless of the circumstances. Even, up to and including, the sky being "blue" and water being "wet". The man is a professional liar who lies like a pro.
posted by quin at 9:08 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

[Michelle] Malkin seems to agree. "Rove came across as an effete sore loser instead of the supposedly brilliant and grounded GOP strategist that he's supposed to be."

"Effete"... Now that is striking at Rove where it hurts.

Note that the O'Donnell campaign tried smearing Castle as having Teh Gay.
posted by Joe Beese at 9:08 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

In the link above she called Rove "unfactual" which I'm sure she meant in relation to her truthiness
posted by victors at 9:08 AM on September 15, 2010

You know... I'll bet she masturbates.

I'll bet she scourges herself for her sins while she does it though.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 9:09 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

Just before this I was looking at a slideshow of all the stars of the Tea Party. (including fappy O'Donnell as I now call her)
posted by Webbster at 9:10 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

But being against masturbation? That's just crazy talk.

You just have to love a candidate for high office who has the moral compass of Betty (Draper) Francis.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:13 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

That pull quote from Rove is sheer political activist catnip. CBS first makes it look like he is saying it about O'Donnell, then uses it again to make it look like it's about Castle.

CBS didn't make it look like anything. Those were Rove's words. Anyhow, saying disingenuously "This is about Castle's bad votes" means nothing buried under the preceding Rove statement that O'Donnell is a nutjob.

This is not a Rove master class. This is a bigtime Rove goof. When Michelle Malkin calls a Republican an "effete sore loser," your ass has officially been kicked.
posted by blucevalo at 9:14 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

This isn't a Rove goof, this is Rove "proving" that he's not just a GOP house organ. It's OK to prove it here, because the stakes are low - O'Donnell will not be elected (Delaware is not ready for that level of crazy); he knew it and used the opportunity to burnish his street cred by keepin' it real. This is Rove taking steps to insure his continued relevance. He knows yelling "Yay O'Donnell! Everything any republican ever does is just and good!" will not make for good TV.
posted by Mister_A at 9:18 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

See if he does this with Rand Paul, where there's something at stake (a legitimate shot at winning Bunning's old seat).
posted by Mister_A at 9:19 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

[Michelle] Malkin seems to agree. "Rove came across as an effete sore loser instead of the supposedly brilliant and grounded GOP strategist that he's supposed to be."

"Effete"... Now that is striking at Rove where it hurts.

Note that the O'Donnell campaign tried smearing Castle as having Teh Gay.

How ironic.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:19 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

I'm picturing myself Scrooge McDucking into a giant vault of schadenfreude right now. The vault has a frowny face on it instead of a dollar sign, natch.
posted by codacorolla at 9:20 AM on September 15, 2010 [7 favorites]

"There will be one left, perhaps Palin, taking on an apprentice such as Bachmann or even O'Donnell, like the Sith."

The Sith lord is Lieberman, I've known that for years...as to who is the apprentice, well, take your pick. Palin isn't smart enough to be the lord....seriously.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 9:23 AM on September 15, 2010 [6 favorites]

"She could not be elected dog catcher."

Of course she couldn't. It would be chaos. Every time one of the poor buggers licked its own balls she'd haul it off to the pound.
posted by MuffinMan at 9:23 AM on September 15, 2010 [32 favorites]

O'Donnell has zero chance of winning in the general. It's worth digging into the numbers on this election, as "feebog" at Daily Kos has done:

Christine O'Donnell won her primary over Mike Castle with a little over 30,000 votes last night. But lets put this in perspective, there are over 600,000 registered voters in Delaware. Christine O'Donnell won with 5% of the possible vote. 5%. And Mike Castle lost with about 4% of the total possible votes. In other words, those fired up Republicans, you know the ones who have a massive enthusiasm gap working for them, made up just 9% of the possible electorate last night....

Past performance does not always translate well when it comes to mid-term elections, but I thought it would be useful to look at the last mid-term Senatorial race in Delaware:

There were about 241,000 votes cast in the 2006 Senate election. Tom Carper got 171,000, his Republican oponent 70,000. Thats right, Carper won by over 100,000 votes. About 40% of registered voters voted in this race, Carper got 71% of the vote. Assuming similar turnout in this general election, O'Donnell will need at least 120,000 votes to beat Coons. In other words, four times the votes she got last night. So where is she going to get them? Well, undoubtably some moderate Republicans will hold their noses and vote for her anyway. And she will get some small percentage of indepenent, conservative leaning voters. Democrats? Not so much.

Of course Coons should run like he is 10 points behind right up to election day. But I like the way the numbers look right now.

posted by beagle at 9:25 AM on September 15, 2010

Fuckin'-A. You get what you pay for...
posted by PuppyCat at 9:26 AM on September 15, 2010

This isn't a Rove goof, this is Rove "proving" that he's not just a GOP house organ.

To whom does he have to "prove" that he's not just a GOP house organ? The only people who would care whether he's a house organ or not are the very people he's pissing off by calling O'Donnell a nutcase.

I don't follow your reasoning.

This is Rove taking steps to insure his continued relevance.

Again: to whom?
posted by blucevalo at 9:27 AM on September 15, 2010

I, for one, wish the Tea Party success, my wildest hope is that they secure 10-15% of the seats in Congress. More importantly I hope they have irreconcilable strategic differences with the Republican party (and Democratic but that's seems certain). This will bring about the following key institutional changes that are long overdue (in my opinion).
- The super-majority of 60% being attainable by a single party becomes nigh impossible, forcing coalition building and breaking the enforcement of individuals toeing the "party line" despite their constituency or true feelings on the subject.
- It will establish that a grass roots* organizational effort can establish a viable party alternative to the duopoly we've had for some many decades. This might inspire other parties to become more viable and organized.

I fervently hope that Tea Party doesn't enjoy wild success, since I don't agree with many of their core platforms, but I am strongly in favor of additional parties being added into the mix.

With multiple parties that reflect the population's make-up, political divisiveness as the last couple of decades would be political suicide, rather coalition building would be the way to political survivability (at least I would hope that would be the outcome). I also have more faith in a coalition approach to governing than any single party approach (regardless of the party in question).

*I know it might be more astro-turf than grass roots, but breaking the mindset of the two-party system is what's important.
posted by forforf at 9:27 AM on September 15, 2010 [6 favorites]

I hope* this means a pick-up for the Democrats, but even if she (or any of the other extreme tea party candidates) wins, how realistic is the idea I've heard tossed about that these candidates will still screw the republicans by creating fractures within the party voting? Are the days of the extremely unified and whipped republicans over?

(*Especially in this case, since she's clearly into social repression, mainstream Democrats don't do that much for me either...)
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 9:29 AM on September 15, 2010

Let's see if her opponent, Coons, has the courage to stand up in favor of masturbation.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 9:29 AM on September 15, 2010 [18 favorites]

Ceiling Cat Christine O'Donnell is watching you masturbate.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:32 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Let's see if her opponent, Coons, has the courage to stand up in favor of masturbation.

"[T]here's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation" - Pierre Trudeau

Small government for the win!
posted by Orange Pamplemousse at 9:34 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

You know... I'll bet she masturbates. Just every now and again.

No, she teabags. Everyday.
posted by orthogonality at 9:34 AM on September 15, 2010 [7 favorites]

O'Donnell v Eddie Izzard. 1998.

This woman is a goddamned fool.
posted by Decani at 9:34 AM on September 15, 2010 [18 favorites]

Romney endorses O'Donnell.
posted by blucevalo at 9:36 AM on September 15, 2010

Politically Incorrect August 1998: Martin Mull, Jasmine Guy, Eddie Izzard and Christine O’Donnell
posted by homunculus at 9:37 AM on September 15, 2010 [5 favorites]

Gah!
posted by homunculus at 9:37 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

How would tea party senators break the deadlock in the Senate?

They are MORE conservative than the republicans that are already blocking every single step by the democrats.

You think the tea partiers would vote WITH the democrats just to piss off the republicans?

They are stupid and self centered, but not THAT stupid.

They will simply vote against everything. Because that's all they have. They have no ability to vote "for" anything, because their base demands they go to Washington to start dismantling it. Their only call to action is to be a wrench in the cogs of government.

I'm calling it now: next year's budget will not be passed, and we'll have governmental shutdown again, just like the last time the patients got the keys to the asylum.

Only this time they're not trying to run the car out of gas, they are trying to pour sugar in the tank.

These tea baggers are stupid and idiotic, as well as entertaining, but they are also scary as hell. The fact they are unqualified and have no real policy ideas or platforms are ADVANTAGES to their base, not liabilities.
posted by discountfortunecookie at 9:37 AM on September 15, 2010 [9 favorites]

Beatcha to it, homunculus!
posted by Decani at 9:37 AM on September 15, 2010

There's mixing your metaphors, and there's just not doing it right at all.

Ya mean like Christine O’Donnell using "lock, step, and barrel"? National Review says that "It's almost as good as “insinnuendo” (the first Daley) or “refudiate” (Palin)."

Heck, election TV is real Reality TV!
posted by Man with Lantern at 9:39 AM on September 15, 2010

Still, some mights say her performance on Grey's Anatomy makes up for the dismal Batman movie.
posted by Artw at 9:39 AM on September 15, 2010

Like most Americans, I have always looked to Karl Rove for accurate, impartial analysis & commentary. It saddens me greatly to see him trade that in for purely partisan political advantage. In the interest of retaining its reputation for Fairness & Balance, Fox News should immediately fire Mr. Rove for his inexcusable breach of ethics and blatant disregard for Sarah Palin.

Also, they need to mention Sharon Angle's fundraising website more often to ensure a level playing field that gives her a comfortable margin and makes her election a certainty in these troubled times.
posted by scalefree at 9:39 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Meanwhile, in New York:

Carl Paladino won the Republican gubernatorial primary last night in New York, and his victory speech was filled with the same populist anger that helped him beat one-time frontrunner Rick Lazio. "If we've learned anything tonight," Paladino said, "it's that New Yorkers are as mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!"

Peter Finch has probably worn out his tomb rolling around in it the number of times that phrase has been used by teabaggers this year.
posted by blucevalo at 9:40 AM on September 15, 2010 [6 favorites]

As part of the C. O'D. package, you also get:

... creationism, in essence, is believing that the world began as the Bible in Genesis says, that God created the Earth in six days, six 24-hour periods. And there is just as much, if not more, evidence supporting that.
posted by Joe Beese at 9:41 AM on September 15, 2010

Well, at least the Tea Party people weren't kidding when they wanted change. Throwing out experienced GOP leaders and installing young earth creationist masturbatory-tsk-tsk-ers?

That's kind of awesome. I feel like I'm in some future alternate reality where things have gone horribly wrong and the gameshow Blade Runner is on televsion.

Please let me know when people are jousting on the backs of flying ostriches to determine public office.
posted by Theta States at 9:41 AM on September 15, 2010 [9 favorites]

I can't believe Karl Rove.

...isn't BUTTER.

Karl Rove is made from BACON! Delicious delicious bacon. Spread the word.
posted by sebastienbailard at 9:42 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Let's see if her opponent, Coons, has the courage to stand up in favor of masturbation.

I know it's been 15 years, but let's not forget that a Democratic president had to fire his surgeon general when she made pro-masturbation statements. I wouldn't be surprised if her viewpoint is still the mainstream one.
posted by dirigibleman at 9:43 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

humanfont, I think we're on the same drugs.
posted by Theta States at 9:44 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Karl Rove is made from BACON! Delicious delicious bacon. Spread the word

Oh yuck, now I'm picturing the climactic flashback from Suddenly Last Summer with Rove as Sebastian and the Internet as the herd of Greek boys.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:46 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

For ME? Why thank you, but my birthday isn't for DAYS.
posted by The Whelk at 9:47 AM on September 15, 2010

Hipster Kill! Pull bacon from this guy if you want to live!
posted by Artw at 9:49 AM on September 15, 2010

Don't make bacon unappetizing, please.
posted by waitingtoderail at 9:51 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

But being against masturbation? That's just crazy talk.

You know, when I was in college, I knew a girl -- a bit older than me -- who (because of her upbringing) never masturbated. She also hadn't yet had sex with anyone. The level of lust this woman possessed was immense, and I was the lucky man whom she ultimately decided to take it out on.

So the college-age me says, hey, don't knock being against masturbation -- there might be an upside.

she soon learned her upbringing was a bit wrong, and left that no-masturbation thing behind pretty quick after that
posted by davejay at 9:52 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

There's a larger question raised by the Karl Rove controversy, namely are there any more conservative analysts or commentators who maintain a public facade of impartiality but who secretly are just using the media platform as a front for their true work as political operatives (also known as "moles" according to Sarah Palin)? Maybe we could compile a list of suspects to give conservatives a starting point for who to denounce next.
posted by scalefree at 9:55 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

blucevalo:

To whom does he have to "prove" that he's not just a GOP house organ? The only people who would care whether he's a house organ or not are the very people he's pissing off by calling O'Donnell a nutcase.

He wants to stay on the Sunday politico chat circuit, and he wants to be taken seriously on that circuit as more than just a GOP house organ, so he will occasionally disagree with some republican about something. That reputation will help him attract more viewers and book more appearances on more shows, allowing him to sell more books to a wider audience, etc.
posted by Mister_A at 9:59 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Also, a little controversy is never bad for ratings. So sure, Rovey, go get into it with O'Donnell! It sells TV ads!
posted by Mister_A at 9:59 AM on September 15, 2010

But being against masturbation? That's just crazy talk.

Who cares?! More for the rest of us!

Wait...
posted by brundlefly at 10:00 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

You know... I'll bet she masturbates. Just every now and again

She does wear eyeglasses, now and again.
posted by R. Mutt at 10:02 AM on September 15, 2010

Mod note: comment removed - you know where you can take your "let me tell you about my masturbation practices" comments.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:02 AM on September 15, 2010 [6 favorites]

If this incompetent fundy nutjob gets elected I'm going to presume that we're all living in the bad future scenarios in "A Mind Forever Voyaging".

And on the way to "The Handmaid's Tale"
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:02 AM on September 15, 2010 [7 favorites]

I hope this isn't an unfairly personal thing to say, but in thinking about this I keep coming back to the fact that Ms. O'Donnell is not married. This means that she either a) has, in her own eyes, committed some very major sins or b) is a 40-something-year-old virgin. I don't think the latter is wrong, but it's certainly unusual.
posted by naoko at 10:07 AM on September 15, 2010 [9 favorites]

Don't make bacon unappetizing, please.

It's for your own good! This bacon worship has gone too far!
posted by Artw at 10:07 AM on September 15, 2010

some people say she has no chance in the general election, but I say those people are all a bunch of wankers.

ba-dum tssh
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:08 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

As for Paladino: Ew.
posted by naoko at 10:10 AM on September 15, 2010

And on the way to "The Handmaid's Tale"

Or maybe "The Handjob's Tale".
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:11 AM on September 15, 2010

If this incompetent fundy nutjob

I've lived in Delaware for 8 years, and this is EXACTLY what she is, MUCH more than Sarah Palin. Palin is a sensible centrist next to her. She has run for some sort of public office every election cycle since I've been here, and her gigantic election signs (which have always featured her picture so that you understand she's hawt) have littered the landscape every two years. These signs espouse her fundie/fringy views, and I don't think I'm alone among Delewareans who have, up until now, chuckled at the billboards of this unelectable nutjob. Then the tea party came along, and I'm not laughing now (still hopeful for Coons though).
posted by mreleganza at 10:14 AM on September 15, 2010 [6 favorites]

Weird, she keeps having money problems. Not exactly someone you'd want overseeing public funds, no?
posted by nomadicink at 10:15 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Take heart, progressive people. This is the fracture in the right which will eventually separate reasonable people with conservative values from unreasonable people who think all non-white non-protestants are unAmerican terrorists. Hopefully that will also fracture the left, separating reasonable people with liberal values from unreasonable people who think that everything should be free and all businessmen are evil.

When moderate, hard working politicians are ousted by someone who literally believes that lying is never okay - even during diplomatic negotiations by the President - the end of the two party system is finally drawing near. That, or the end of our nation.

Either way, I'm stocking up on pop tarts and personal lubricant.
posted by notion at 10:17 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Puerile discussions like this only make those candidates seem purer in the eyes of their supporters. Best to address policy stances, not their genitals. This really shouldn't even be an issue.

So bumper stickers reading: "I whack it . . . and I vote!" are out of the question?
posted by ND¢ at 10:18 AM on September 15, 2010 [10 favorites]

Best to address policy stances, not their genitals.

Given that her policy stances apparently involve my genitals, I say hers are fair game as well.
posted by blucevalo at 10:18 AM on September 15, 2010 [23 favorites]

Almost never at the same time though.
posted by ND¢ at 10:19 AM on September 15, 2010 [8 favorites]

I don't think the latter is wrong, but it's certainly unusual.

I certainly am not going to judge, because I don't know what she does in private, but I also realize that personal hypocrisy has rarely stopped someone from telling others how to live their lives.

(And when in doubt, I tend to fall into thinking that people do what they want regardless of their public stated opinions.)
posted by quin at 10:19 AM on September 15, 2010

I take comfort in imagining that if O'Donnell, Angle, Paul, actually get to DC, the ensuing mess will either be tragedy or farce, but not good governance, and that this would either destroy the country (OK, fine, if that's what it's gonna be) or end the GOP as we know it and leave only a rump rightwing Bircher wacko minority.

We've had right wingers in power before, but few like this lot.

These people are weird, both conniving and stupid at the same time. But one thing they certainly are is hubristic, and that will be their downfall.
posted by fourcheesemac at 10:20 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Eh, best and most likely case is that they'll just turn your government into a total clown show and then leave Obama with the blame, then he'll sneak back in because he'll be running against a really scary lunatic and you'll have a rerun of Clinton's second term, and then it's all too far off to predict.
posted by Artw at 10:23 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

you know where you can take your "let me tell you about my masturbation practices" comments.
Yeah! All the way to Washington!
posted by Wolfdog at 10:25 AM on September 15, 2010 [9 favorites]

Eh, then address the policy stances.

The wide ones?
posted by fourcheesemac at 10:26 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

O'Donnell v Eddie Izzard. 1998.

I tend hate watching these kinds of shows, where no one listens and everyone talks over each other (and my beloved Eddie Izzard was very much guilty of this here), but this one was just mesmerizingly weird. According to O'Donnell:
- Lying is always wrong, and if a Nazi comes to your door and asks if you are sheltering Jews, God will step in and provide some way that you can both save the Jews and not be at all deceitful.
- School shootings are caused by not only the lack of prayer in schools, but also the sexual revolution.

Wow.
posted by naoko at 10:26 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

> Weird, she keeps having money problems. Not exactly someone you'd want overseeing public funds, no?

Well, fewer public funds = smaller government = TEA PARTY WIN!!!1!11!
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:31 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

you know where you can take your "let me tell you about my masturbation practices" comments.

Yes: AskMe

(just remember to phrase it in the form of a "is this normal?" question)
posted by briank at 10:36 AM on September 15, 2010 [6 favorites]

I am seriously having a hard time wrapping my head around the much reported polling data that indicates Republicans will win many seats in the coming midterm elections. I secretly (well, not any more) hope this is just a ruse by the press to make the right feel comfortable and lull them into a false sense of security. Of course, I also thought that a lot of what George Bush said in 2000 was just political pandering, and he wouldn't follow through on some of his idiotic ideas. I was wrong about that, too.
posted by Xoebe at 10:42 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

As for Paladino: Ew.

From TPM:

Paladino has responded to the email brouhaha at a press conference, declaring he's not a racist, and adding:

To any of the ladies I've offended, I apologize. I say this to the men out there who have never opened a graphic image on the Internet: Don't vote for me. For those who have, I welcome your vote.

So there is no difference between seeing garbage and throwing it in the trash, or seeing it and forwarding it? Gross.
posted by R. Mutt at 10:42 AM on September 15, 2010

This isn't a Rove goof, this is Rove "proving" that he's not just a GOP house organ.

Yes, and we know what kind of organ he actually is...
posted by mephron at 10:44 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Yeah that shitty appology is like going to schools wearing only a trench coat and exposing yourself and then saying "If never been naked dont vote for me. But if you have been naked I want your vote."
posted by Green With You at 10:48 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Carl Paladino won the Republican gubernatorial primary last night in New York

It doesn't much matter. Unless he (A) dies or (B) murders and devours a baby on live television, Andrew Cuomo is the next governor of New York.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:50 AM on September 15, 2010 [5 favorites]

Mod note: If you've got questions about moderation, write to us at the contact form or take it to Metatalk. In the mean time, lay off the casual sexism "I'd hit it" stuff or sojourn farkward.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:50 AM on September 15, 2010 [5 favorites]

mephron: "Yes, and we know what kind of organ he actually is..."

I was thinking that's more of an orifice than an organ.
posted by notsnot at 10:53 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

Oh Great Unmitigated Wizard of Zot, THAT'S who she is? That blank-smiling absurdity generator that was on MTV warning me of the dangers of masturbation on MTV back when I was in college? She was the first one I ever heard say this. (Don't masturbate, because it givz u teh GAY!!!)
posted by el_lupino at 10:53 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

That Izzard thing is so ...odd that I wonder if we all just accidentally WILLED it into existence.
posted by The Whelk at 10:53 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

I can't believe these Karl Rove was able to form these words without choking to death ...

Turns out, after decades of shit coming out of his mouth, he has developed the ability to breathe through his ass.
posted by exogenous at 10:56 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

It doesn't much matter. Unless he (A) dies or and (B) murders and devours a baby on live television, Andrew Cuomo is the next governor of New York.

FTFY. And if that happens he's going to be much, much more. Like a Senator or something.
posted by The Bellman at 11:04 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

All I ask is the press makes a big note out of her endorsing O'Donell.
posted by nomadicink at 11:04 AM on September 15, 2010

Yes: AskMe

Oh. I thought it was Projects.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:07 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm enjoying this I wouldn't even lie to the Nazis thing. Gee, I can only dream of achieving that level of moral superiority.
posted by lullaby at 11:08 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Rove strikes back.

Palin smacks down Rove.

This election has always been about the war inside the GOP. Always.
posted by Ironmouth at 11:09 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

She won single-handedly!
posted by CunningLinguist at 11:10 AM on September 15, 2010 [14 favorites]

el_lupino: Oh Great Unmitigated Wizard of Zot, THAT'S who she is? That blank-smiling absurdity generator that was on MTV warning me of the dangers of masturbation on MTV back when I was in college? She was the first one I ever heard say this. (Don't masturbate, because it givz u teh GAY!!!)

Well, I can't exactly disagree with her on that one. Though my experience is actually based in the real world. My own masturbatory habits prove her theory, and it turns out all the guys I've masturbated with have also turned out to be gay.

Between that, not paying our debts and helping Democrats win elections they might have otherwise lost, it actually looks like she and I might have a lot in common.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:10 AM on September 15, 2010 [10 favorites]

When moderate, hard working politicians are ousted by someone who literally believes that lying is never okay - even during diplomatic negotiations by the President - the end of the two party system is finally drawing near. That, or the end of our nation.

Either way, I'm stocking up on pop tarts and personal lubricant.


Isn't that a bit redundant?
posted by flarbuse at 11:14 AM on September 15, 2010 [7 favorites]

The Democrats will find a way to get her elected.

Talk like that is what gets fools like this elected. it ain't the dems.
posted by Ironmouth at 11:15 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

[comment removed - you know where you can take your "let me tell you about my masturbation practices" comments.]
...
I thought it was Projects.
posted by StickyCarpet at 2:07 PM on September 15 [+] [!]

Epony-incredibly disgusting.
posted by The Bellman at 11:19 AM on September 15, 2010 [13 favorites]

I hope this isn't an unfairly personal thing to say, but in thinking about this I keep coming back to the fact that Ms. O'Donnell is not married. This means that she either a) has, in her own eyes, committed some very major sins or b) is a 40-something-year-old virgin. I don't think the latter is wrong, but it's certainly unusual.

She has a boyfriend (also her campaign manager) who bought her house a day before the foreclosure sale to save it for her. That's some boyfriend, given the circumstances.
posted by Ironmouth at 11:25 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Palin smacks down Rove

Mean Girls-in-training, take note: this is how it's done.

I have absolutely nothing against Karl Rove," she continued, "or any of the guys who have much fatter resumes than I will ever have...
posted by Joe Beese at 11:26 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

Ironmouth:
Rove strikes back.

Palin smacks down Rove.

This election has always been about the war inside the GOP. Always.
posted by Ironmouth at 1:09 PM on September 15 [+] [!]


I'm wondering if it will be just this cycle or if this is something that will be more drawn out. I'd expand on this point but Kevin Drum said it better.

I'm just curious because if the Tea Party causes the GOP to not win big in the midterms (as is almost a tradition when the powers are leaning toward one party), a logical move might be to decide that this isn't the direction the GOP should take. But when you're dealing with a group that is not only unconcerned with logic, but seems to actually revel in acting illogically, WTF is going to happen?
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:26 AM on September 15, 2010

Karl Rove is very smart and managed to keep the GOP in power throughout the majority of this decade.

People keep saying this about Rove, but I would disagree. In 2 Presidential elections against 2 weak Democratic challengers, he managed only the slightest of victories. And then, the constant mis-steps of his chosen one handed everything resoundingly to the Dems.

Strictly speaking, given the anti-Clinton wave Bush rode in on and the successes of the Republican Congress in the '90s, we should have been looking at a generation-long Republican control of all 3 branches of the U.S. government. Instead, 8 years later, we had a Democratic president and nearly had a Dem super-majority in Congress.

Yes, the Republicans may reverse this in the coming years, but it will be despite Rove, rather than because of him.
posted by coolguymichael at 11:27 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

No matter how this plays out, I see the Tea Party shooting themselves in the foot. Either they don't win as many seats as they would have gotten with generic Republicans short term, or they get elected, and then mainstream America sees how terrible their policies are and throws them out.

Add in the fact that the Tea Party is largely based on defending white Christian privilege, and comprised largely of older people, and I don't see them having much of a presence in the future. They will become either a historical footnote like the Know-Nothing Party, or just a tiny pocket of crazy like the John Birch Society.

And it's kind of a shame. Even though I'm diametrically opposed to them politically, our nation really does need more political parties than just two big ones that dominate. What would be great is a far-left party gaining power to show Glenn Beck and his terrified followers some real socialism, rather than this half-hearted, pro-business mild regulation we've been getting from the current batch of Democrats.
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:28 AM on September 15, 2010 [6 favorites]

Add in the fact that the Tea Party is largely based on defending white Christian privilege

The most succinct description of the Tea Party I've heard, ever.

"Joe McCarthy's Ghost" just came up on iTunes. eerie.
posted by Ironmouth at 11:34 AM on September 15, 2010 [5 favorites]

- Lying is always wrong, and if a Nazi comes to your door and asks if you are sheltering Jews, God will step in and provide some way that you can both save the Jews and not be at all deceitful.

She is revealing about herself that obedience is the highest virtue, and all other values are defined accordingly. This mentality is common among born followers, but they obviously can't be trusted with state secrets, and they would never win a serious battle. Yet I don't imagine she practices anything what she preaches, because absolute believers are always in denial (self-convince mode).
posted by Brian B. at 11:41 AM on September 15, 2010 [5 favorites]

Ouch: Rove hits back O'Donnell, and does a total hatchet job on her.

I agree this wasn't a bad day for Rove. Instead, what we're seeing here is 1) Rove making a longer-term bet using his credibility, and 2) smacking down the tea partiers. If O'Donnell loses (as seems very likely), Rove will point to him saying it early on to re-establish his expertise as a talking head and a consultant, and further will point to that as saying to the tea partiers "you got your way, and screwed it up for all of us, now let the adults run things again."
posted by fatbird at 11:42 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

you know where you can take your "let me tell you about my masturbation practices" comments

here

I hope this isn't an unfairly personal thing to say, but in thinking about this I keep coming back to the fact that Ms. O'Donnell is not married. This means that she either a) has, in her own eyes, committed some very major sins or b) is a 40-something-year-old virgin.

Or she is a non-practicing lesbian. I don't know about anyone else, but pictures of her set off my gaydar.

In the mean time, lay off the casual sexism "I'd hit it" stuff or sojourn farkward.

Heh, I was wondering why there were no comments like that. I guess there were.

I would venture to guess the only reason she won the GOP nomination is that she is younger and more attractive than her opponent. Repressed voters picking the (new) sexy (and virginal) librarian? Surprise, surprise.

"She makes me want to touch myself, but she tells me I'll burn in hell for it"
posted by mrgrimm at 11:43 AM on September 15, 2010

Rove fights back: "I believe the questions [about] why she had a problem for five years with paying her federal income taxes, why her house was foreclosed on and put up for sale, why it took 16 years to settle her college debt and get her diploma while she went around for years claiming she was a college graduate. I think a lot of voters in Delaware are going to want more than she is offering to them right now, and we'll see."
posted by blucevalo at 11:45 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

"I have absolutely nothing against Karl Rove," she continued, "or any of the guys who have much fatter resumes than I will ever have....

Interesting choice of words.
posted by goethean at 11:46 AM on September 15, 2010

Re: Lullaby,

Who really thinks Christine O'Donnell would be hiding Jews in her house in the first place?
posted by Naberius at 11:51 AM on September 15, 2010 [10 favorites]

Christine O'Donnell Compares Herself to Reagan.

"Christine O'Donnell says Sarah Palin's endorsement made all the difference in her campaign, criticizs 'Republican cannabalism'and shrugs off doubts from Karl Rove and other Republicans that she's unelectable: 'They also said that Ronald Reagan wasn't electable.'"*

posted by ericb at 11:55 AM on September 15, 2010

Yes, the Republicans may reverse this in the coming years, but it will be despite Rove, rather than because of him.

Rove's dark genius is more evident in the 2000 Bush v. McCain primary race.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:59 AM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

"I have absolutely nothing against Karl Rove," she continued, "or any of the guys who have much fatter resumes than I will ever have....

I can't decide if she's actually trying to be witty with that and the "Bless his heart" line or if it's just a coincidence. (Rove is widely rumored to be an atheist.)
posted by KirkJobSluder at 12:03 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

No hate for Carl Palladino, the Repub nom for Gov of NY? That dude is fuckin' crazy. I mean, hold onto your hats, folks, the crazy is strong in that one.
posted by angrycat at 12:05 PM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

Add in the fact that the Tea Party is largely based on defending white Christian privilege, and comprised largely of older people, and I don't see them having much of a presence in the future. They will become either a historical footnote like the Know-Nothing Party, or just a tiny pocket of crazy like the John Birch Society.

Or we get a repeat of the Weimar Republic. The GOP will work hand in hand with any teabaggers, if will help their agenda of opposition at any cost.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:08 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

It's all fine and dandy to hear what Palin and Rove think, but let's get to the real analysis with Joe the Plumber.
posted by wcfields at 12:09 PM on September 15, 2010 [7 favorites]

Carl Palladino, the Repub nom for Gov of NY? That dude is fuckin' crazy.

The image of Paladino on WNYC's front page this morning makes him look like a zombie before he's had his morning coffee. I thought it was a pretty funny choice.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:14 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

It seems that the only real difference between the GOP and the Tea Party is the degree to which they are hypocritical about extramarital sex.

Saying that these two parties are disjoint sets and that a teabagger victory is a loss for a Republican ignores the fact that they both support virtually all the same policies.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:15 PM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

> and then mainstream America sees how terrible their policies are and throws them out

The GOP's backers seem to prefer that their candidates impose massive (and massively profitable) political change as quickly as possible-- and then, if need be, get thrown out, rather than compromise and struggle to keep their seats warm and secure.

For swift and radical changes, they depend on aggressive use of post-election "honeymoon" periods; for long-term, subtle influence, they depend on lobbyists and their media machine.

(The Dems, by contrast, seem to treat holding on to a seat, as opposed to using that seat to impose change, as their Victory Condition-- probably because whereas the Republicans happily and proudly view themselves as agents of something larger and more powerful-- the Interests of the Rich and Righteous-- government is the strongest tool the Dems have.)

Dubya was something of the paradigm case: The backlash against him and the Congressional GOP in 2006 was much, much less important than all the changes his crew rammed through in 2000- 2002.
posted by darth_tedious at 12:15 PM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

For those who weren't following along, she was "debating" lying versus honesty on the old "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher" program. She said that lying was always bad, even if the Nazis were at your door asking if you had any Jews inside.

To be fair, this is the same stance Kant took on deception.

The premise is silly. The SS didn't go around and politely asking if you had Jews hiding in your attic.
posted by geoff. at 12:20 PM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

She won single-handedly!
posted by CunningLinguist

pick a reason to flag: anti-eponysterical
posted by sebastienbailard at 12:22 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

I agree this wasn't a bad day for Rove.

Any day that a fringe candidate who couldn't get elected dogcatcher three days ago (and is now the potential cause for the GOP having control of the Senate slip through its fingers, but Karl has to grit his teeth anyway) gets in a good dig about Karl's grand panjandrum status followed by Sarah Palin getting in a dig in about Karl's weight?

Bad day for Karl.
posted by blucevalo at 12:24 PM on September 15, 2010

I for one am thrilled that Paladino got the nomination, if only because it allows me to bring up bestiality porn as a legitimate topic of civilized conversation. [SFW]

The racism, secret love child and throw-welfare-bums-in-jail-so-they-can-learn-to-wash-themselves are just bonuses, really. But that he brought bestiality porn into mainstream political discourse is a great advance for us all.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:26 PM on September 15, 2010 [6 favorites]

The thing about O'Donnell's comebacks to Rove is that, like Palin before her, almost everything else that comes out of her mouth has no basis in reality. She's saying that the reason Rove is upset about her winning is because her winning last night proves them wrong. He -- and many others -- didn't say she couldn't win the primary; they just said if she won, Republicans were sure to lose the seat.

If anything, I think the Republicans should do their best to support O'Donnell, as much of a waste as it seems. If they don't support her, the Tea Party faithful can complain that if she'd been supported, she could have one. If they do and she still loses big, the argument can be made for a different direction.

Okay, so now I'm trying to use logic against a Tea Party person -- a waste of time -- arguing for Karl Rove and giving the Republicans election advice -- a waste of my soul.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:27 PM on September 15, 2010

I'd say the dems are safe....unless she drives a pickup truck.
posted by TrialByMedia at 12:32 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Rove is widely rumored to be an atheist.

When he visited my school a couple years ago he said something along the lines of “I've never been lucky enough to be a man of faith.”

I have it on audiotape somewhere.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 12:32 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

No hate for Carl Palladino, the Repub nom for Gov of NY? That dude is fuckin' crazy.


He just did a marvelous 10 minutes on CNN, mostly about why he will seize most of Manhattan if elected to stop all mosque building. It's not a First Amendment issue because it;s not about freedom of religion, he said, but it IS a First Amendment issue because it's about "the American people speaking out" against Islam.
He opposes abortion even in the case of rape and incest ("the baby can be adopted") and vowed to battle the "demons" in Albany, even though he has "no political ambition."

Yes. Much crazy. But Cuomo - or, "Status Cuomo" as Paladino calls him - better watch his back. Crazy aside, he's refreshingly forthright and blunt in a way pols never are anymore.
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:34 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Wow, it's only slightly more than two years since McCain picked Sarah Palin to run for VP and she seems to be close to taking over the Republican Party.
posted by octothorpe at 12:37 PM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

Crazy aside, he's refreshingly forthright and blunt in a way pols never are anymore.

It's true. And plus, Status Cuomo could be a great slogan. You'd just have to figure out what kind of mascot would appear at all of Cuomo's rallies holding up that sign.
posted by blucevalo at 12:44 PM on September 15, 2010

I'd totally vote for Status Cuomo.
posted by yeti at 12:50 PM on September 15, 2010

she seems to be close to taking over the Republican Party

I think you mean they. "Sarah Palin" is a team. A concerted effort. A universe of power and money using her as the dimwitted tip of their iceberg.
posted by tapesonthefloor at 12:51 PM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

This thread is a laugh riot and terrifying.
posted by WPW at 12:52 PM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

Can't vote, batin'!
posted by schoolgirl report at 12:53 PM on September 15, 2010 [17 favorites]

You know... I'll bet she masturbates. Just every now and again.

I have it on good authority that she does not "masturbate." She does, however, take frequent "treatments," including "pelvic massage" to induce "hysterical paroxysm" as a preventative measure against the dangers of "female hysteria."
posted by Hylas at 1:05 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh, boy, Teh Crazy™ and Teh Stupid™ are now brands of the Republican party.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:36 PM on September 15, 2010

To be fair, this is the same stance Kant took on deception.

I think (and I know next to nothing about philosophy, but the Nazis at the door thing is the example we used to discuss Kantian ethics in my high school English class like 10 years ago (why we were discussing Kant in English class I don't recall)), that Kant would say that yes, lying would still be objectively wrong in that situation, but that it would be a lesser wrong than the alternative and that you should do it anyway, just, you know, with the awareness that you had done something wrong. Had O'Donnell said that, that would have been one thing.

To the best of my understanding, Kant's response would not have been, "Don't worry, the LORD will provide you with a totally non-sinful solution!"
posted by naoko at 1:38 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

> The SS didn't go around and politely asking if you had Jews hiding in your attic.

Actually, as a practical matter, they probably did (though not necessarily "politely"). And if they didn't believe you, or if they felt like it, they doubtless hauled you off, killed you on the spot, or did something of similar unpleasantness.

Nonetheless, they probably did ask, just on the possibility that someone might be cowed into making their jobs easy-- or might, in practice, actually be as fanatical and/or dimwitted as O' Donnell portrays herself.
posted by darth_tedious at 1:40 PM on September 15, 2010

Truthfulness? Unfactual? Jesus, we deserve what we get.
posted by Foam Pants at 1:46 PM on September 15, 2010

Oh the Born-Again-Christian, Hyper-Christians, I-found-Jesus. Oh they are among the worst. Not for they religious facade, they are lying out of their teeths and exploiting credulity. Ask Jack Abramoff and his cronies, get a look at Casino Jack and the United States of Money. Tea Party probably works on the very same principles and schemes.
posted by elpapacito at 1:56 PM on September 15, 2010

needs lolamericandemocracy tag.
posted by modernnomad at 1:57 PM on September 15, 2010

But Cuomo - or, "Status Cuomo" as Paladino calls him - better watch his back. Crazy aside, he's refreshingly forthright and blunt in a way pols never are anymore.

The most recent polls I could find, from mid August, have Cuomo up 60-27 over Paladino. Paladino was polling only marginally worse than Lazio.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:58 PM on September 15, 2010

Oh sure, no one thinks Paladino can *win,* I'm just saying the race is going to be more unpredictable and amusing than expected.



Meanwhile, Rush is not happy with Karl. Not at all.
posted by CunningLinguist at 2:10 PM on September 15, 2010

Watch: Rachel Maddow on Christine O'Donnell's Anti-Masturbation Video.
posted by ericb at 2:11 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Charles Pierce, Esquire magazine:

"Once O'Donnell's victory was assured, the requisite thumbsucking over What It All Means got dialed up to 11 almost immediately. [MSNBC's Chris] Matthews was the wildest, divining a secret hidden block of frustrated Hillary Clinton voters who had been marinating in frustration since the 2008 primaries and were bleeding from the teeth to vote for anyone with ovaries, even someone who spent the 1990's inveighing against the evils of jacking off.

... O’Donnell is a creature of an age in which politics have no meaning beyond performance art. She is the Creature From The Green Room, with no apparent public career beyond being available whenever some teenage booker from the cable shows needed someone to say something reliably stupid… Her resume is so thin as to be opaque, and a lot of it seems to be a lie. She seems to be something of a deadbeat, and 'U.S. Senator' seems to be her idea of an entry-level position.

... She is what politics produces when you turn them into a game show and the coverage of them over to a generation of high-technology racetrack touts. She is what you get when political journalism reduces politics to numbers on a scoreboard, divorcing them from the real world consequences of what are increasingly seen as cute little eccentric decisions.

She is what politics produces when we abandon self-government for self-gratification. And that’s the real obvious irony in her victory on Tuesday night, and the only thing about it that truly matters. Christine O’Donnell’s campaign is a successful exercise in angry, misfit masturbation[.]"

posted by ericb at 2:18 PM on September 15, 2010 [28 favorites]

ericb: Watch: Rachel Maddow on Christine O'Donnell's Anti-Masturbation Video.

In case someone else accidentally parses it the same way I did, the above is in fact, Rachel Maddow discussing Christine O'Donnell's Anti-Masturbation Video; she was not, in fact, a participant, which would have been something else.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:20 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Craziest Things Christine O'Donnell Has Ever Said.
posted by ericb at 2:20 PM on September 15, 2010

Rush now after Rove.

I think they'll find he won't cave like the rest of the GOP usually does. I'm no fan of Rove, but the man has exactly zero to lose.

This intense defensiveness suggests they know that November might not be the huge win they act like it will be.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:27 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Christine O’Donnell’s Website Stripped Of All Information.

"Christine2010.com, O’Donnell’s website, now resolves to nothing more than splash page asking people to donate. There is no content, contact info, or biography.

However, until at least '9:32 last night, there were several other pages, including one titled About Christie,' another explaining, 'Why Christie?' another supposedly debunking smears against O’Donnell, a list of endorsements, and several press releases. Here is a screen grab, recovered from Google cache, of the many options a visitor to O’Donnell’s website would have had, had they visited her site before it was stripped.

The URL for all of these pages now direct to an error page. Could O’Donnell be trying to reinvent herself?"

posted by ericb at 2:28 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

I honestly don't know O'Donnell from a fence post except from this tread, but she kinda sounds like an east coast Michele Bachmann. Michelle would have serious trouble winning anything bigger than her right of center district (hell she actually has trouble winning that district, and only has because of vote splitting from the Independence party).
posted by edgeways at 2:32 PM on September 15, 2010

that Kant would say that yes, lying would still be objectively wrong in that situation, but that it would be a lesser wrong than the alternative and that you should do it anyway, just, you know, with the awareness that you had done something wrong.

Not to derail this too much, but this is wrong and is one of the main objects made to Kant's categorical imperative. How crazy is this, an associate professor actually used the Gestapo example in his paper on the matter. You have to do some philosophical hoop jumping or rely on later philosophers interpretations to get around this. But the CI as it stands with Kant would say that lying is wrong in all circumstances.

Of course if you followed the CI you wouldn't have allowed the Nazis to take over in the first place. It is worth noting that Kant also took an extreme view on political violence, so you wouldn't be doing yourself any favors by killing the Gestapo or fighting against the regime.
posted by geoff. at 2:32 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

This intense defensiveness suggests they know that November might not be the huge win they act like it will be.

Insha'Allah
posted by 2bucksplus at 2:35 PM on September 15, 2010

This intense defensiveness suggests they know that November might not be the huge win they act like it will be.

Or Rush is just making sure he has a ride on the gravy train of Teabag money, which is smart given the billionaires and Murdoch bankrolling the party from behind the scenes.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:36 PM on September 15, 2010

Christine O’Donnell’s Website Stripped Of All Information.

Huh, somebody else also seems to have christineodonnell08.com now. (Check out the Endorsements page.) Maybe she didn't make her domain renewal payments when she wasn't making her house payments.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 2:36 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

The SS didn't go around and politely asking if you had Jews hiding in your attic.

That dude in Inglorious Basterds was pretty polite.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:37 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

that Kant would say that yes, lying would still be objectively wrong in that situation, but that it would be a lesser wrong than the alternative and that you should do it anyway, just, you know, with the awareness that you had done something wrong.

Nope, he specifically wrote an addendum called "On the Supposed RIght to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns" in which he talks about a murderer who comes to the door and asks if your friend is inside - he concludes you should still tell the truth because it is the right thing to do.

He doesn't conclude that God will save you or your friend but basically makes a case that if the murderer should find your friend because you try to send him in the wrong direction, then your friend's death is your fault, whereas if he finds him because you told the truth, it can't be blamed on you, as you did the right thing. Basically everyone has to do the right thing for Kant's morality to work.
posted by mdn at 2:42 PM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

What a Kant!
posted by Artw at 2:44 PM on September 15, 2010

Say what you will about Rove, but the dude doesn't back down from a fight. I am a little surprised about the over-the-top reaction from Rush, but not the Palin Mediocrity's attacks.
posted by Mister_A at 2:50 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Could O'Donnell be trying to reinvent herself?

You know who else veered sharply to the center after winning his party's nomination?
posted by Joe Beese at 2:50 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

I don't believe for a moment that the Tea Bag movement is about winning elections. Its about generating news for FOX, Rush, Beck et al so that their viewers remain aptly glued to their stations, keeping their ratings up and spending every last dollar on gold scams and viagra until those viewers all die of old age or medical conditions that could have been treated if they'd chose to treat them with medicine instead of prayer.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:53 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Anti-Bush in the anti-verse?
posted by Mister_A at 2:53 PM on September 15, 2010

That was @Joe Beese...
posted by Mister_A at 2:53 PM on September 15, 2010

You know who else veered sharply to the center after winning his party's nomination?

The bizarro world Obama who existed only in your imagination?
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 2:56 PM on September 15, 2010 [7 favorites]

Pontius Pilate?

Imran Khan?

Herwald Ramsbotham?
posted by edgeways at 2:57 PM on September 15, 2010

Ah, thanks geoff. and mdn. It appears that my vague memories of high school were rather off-base. Wtf, Kant.
posted by naoko at 2:58 PM on September 15, 2010

(Nevertheless, I maintain the the categorical imperative is not exactly what O'Donnell had in mind.)
posted by naoko at 2:59 PM on September 15, 2010

Phil Esposito?
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 2:59 PM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

Pretty sure it's not Hitler...
posted by Artw at 3:00 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Mangosuthu Buthelezi?
posted by Mister_A at 3:01 PM on September 15, 2010

Ooh! It's Hjalmar Branting innit?
posted by Mister_A at 3:07 PM on September 15, 2010

It's definitely not Ted Kennedy.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 3:08 PM on September 15, 2010

Ouch.
posted by CunningLinguist at 3:17 PM on September 15, 2010

You know who else veered sharply to the center after winning his party's nomination?

The bizarro world Obama who existed only in your imagination?

Seriously, nothing he has done has been any different than he said he would do. Nothing. Stimulus? Check. Health Care Reform? Check. Financial Sector Reform? Check. And what's up now? he's pushing for exactly what he said he'd do, renewing Bush tax cuts for the middle class while reverting back to Clinton era rates for those making over $250,000.
posted by Ironmouth at 3:28 PM on September 15, 2010 [5 favorites]

Good golly, I love Jasmine Guy. Always happy to have a reminder of that fact.
posted by Eideteker at 3:33 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'm personally enjoying watching the Republicans self-immolate. It's one thing to 'throw the bums out', but now we're getting a good luck at the bums we'd be replacing them with, and I bet we don't see the huge numbers of Democrats losing seats that we thought we would.
posted by empath at 3:35 PM on September 15, 2010

Seriously, nothing he has done has been any different than he said he would do

I'd agree that voting Obama into office was a better choice than voting in President Palin-via-McCain, but to claim that he's a man of his word is ridiculous:

¶  Obama Voters Protest His Switch on Telecom Immunity (related MeFi thread)

¶ "Mr. Obama would create a public plan for individuals who cannot obtain group coverage through their employers or the existing government programs, like Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Children would be required to have health insurance. Subsidies would be available for those who need help with the cost of coverage.

"He would also create a National Health Insurance Exchange, a regulated marketplace of competing private health plans intended to give individuals other, more affordable options for coverage. The public plan would compete in that Insurance Exchange, advisers said."
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:37 PM on September 15, 2010 [5 favorites]

Well, he did at least try for the public plan. But aside from specifics, Obama clearly ran as a centrist and governs as a centrist. He was never running on the left. Democrats running for President haven't run on the left in quite a while (except for ones like Kucinich, and look how well they do in primaries).
posted by wildcrdj at 3:44 PM on September 15, 2010

It's unicorns all the way down around here.
posted by Artw at 3:45 PM on September 15, 2010

He was never running on the left.

Whatever else, he was most certainly marketing himself as a leftist alternative during the election. Hope. Change. His subsequent actions, however, have more or less put lie to that.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:50 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

The bizarro world Obama who existed only in your imagination?

Arianna Huffington, June 30, 2008:

As part of this process, I looked at the Obama campaign not through the prism of my own progressive views and beliefs but through the prism of a cold-eyed campaign strategist who has no principles except winning. From that point of view, and taking nothing else into consideration, I can unequivocally say: the Obama campaign is making a very serious mistake. Tacking to the center is a losing strategy.

Additional examples available on request.
posted by Joe Beese at 3:58 PM on September 15, 2010

Judging by the complaints about legislation, a lot of people seem to be under the mistaken impression that Obama was ever elected Congress.
posted by one more dead town's last parade at 3:58 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

¶ "Mr. Obama would create a public plan for individuals who cannot obtain group coverage through their employers or the existing government programs, like Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Children would be required to have health insurance. Subsidies would be available for those who need help with the cost of coverage.

"He would also create a National Health Insurance Exchange, a regulated marketplace of competing private health plans intended to give individuals other, more affordable options for coverage. The public plan would compete in that Insurance Exchange, advisers said."

Blazecock, that's not the public option, dude. That's the new plans which cover people who can't get insurance any other way. They are in HCR.

The public option would be for any one who wished to join it, not just individuals who cannot obtain group coverage through their employers or the existing government programs. This is called PICP, the Pre-Existing Condition Plan.

Nice try.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:01 PM on September 15, 2010

Democrats running for President haven't run on the left in quite a while

This sums up why the Teabag victories are devastating to the country, and why Democratic candidates and regular Americans should be shitting bricks. What is now considered centrist has moved to the Republican Party, ffs. In this larger picture of this political shift, Obama really does become a communist-terrorist-Muslim.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:02 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Oh good another thread where we can argue about whether Obama is a disappointment or not. This time for sure!
posted by shakespeherian at 4:02 PM on September 15, 2010 [7 favorites]

Health care exchanges here, starting Jan. 1, 2014.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:04 PM on September 15, 2010

Yeah seriously, not again with this. It's so freaking boring.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:04 PM on September 15, 2010 [5 favorites]

Nice try.

At this point, l can only put my hands up and shrug.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:04 PM on September 15, 2010

Oh good another thread where we can argue about whether Obama is a disappointment or not. This time for sure!

The derail is ever-present. But Joe Beese posted this thread, so you can expect it. Ironically, for those of you keeping score, its about how absolutely crazy and right-wing the GOP is, but then derails into "Obama no better than Republicans."
posted by Ironmouth at 4:06 PM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

We haven't had the bit about how awesome Anwar al-Awlaki is yet.
posted by Artw at 4:08 PM on September 15, 2010

At this point, l can only put my hands up and shrug.

Seriously, you misrepresented that news report as saying he promised a public option. You tried to make the program for pre-existing conditions in the news report appear to be the "public option." But the report said it was for those with pre-existing conditions and who couldn't get insurance. Those provisions are in the bill. The public option was for anyone who wanted it. Not the same thing.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:08 PM on September 15, 2010

Ironically, for those of you keeping score, its about how absolutely crazy and right-wing the GOP is, but then derails into "Obama no better than Republicans."

It's also about masturbation.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:10 PM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

This sums up why the Teabag victories are devastating to the country, and why Democratic candidates and regular Americans should be shitting bricks. What is now considered centrist has moved to the Republican Party, ffs. In this larger picture of this political shift, Obama really does become a communist-terrorist-Muslim.

Why are they devastating? These are the Republicans voting amongst themselves. As they have a right to. They are allowed to believe this crap. We have to turn it against them.
posted by Ironmouth at 4:10 PM on September 15, 2010

Crazy and delusional beats defeatist and apathetic.
posted by Artw at 4:15 PM on September 15, 2010

Seriously, you misrepresented that news report as saying he promised a public option

I didn't misrepresent anything. Please take the time to read the article:

In the biggest domestic policy proposal so far of his presidential campaign, Mr. Obama, the Illinois Democrat, said he would rely on a combination of the existing employer-based system and a new government program to make health insurance accessible to everyone.

This public option is detailed in his campaign materials:

(2) NEW AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS. The Obama-Biden plan will create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals purchase new affordable health care options if they are uninsured or want new health insurance. Through the Exchange, any American will have the opportunity to enroll in the new public plan or an approved private plan, and income-based sliding scale tax credits will be provided for people and families who need it. Insurers would have to issue every applicant a policy and charge fair and stable premiums that will not depend upon health status. The Exchange will require that all the plans offered are at least as generous as the new public plan and meet the same standards for quality and efficiency. Insurers would be required to justify an above-average premium increase to the Exchange. The Exchange would evaluate plans and make the differences among the plans, including cost of services, transparent.

Obama promised a public option and reneged on it. I don't regret voting for him, but let's at least be honest about this stuff.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:17 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

O'Donnell got a congratulatory text from former GOP congressman Mark Foley:

C I'm sooo excited about ur win im spankin it, r u spankin it? ooops, gess not. luv u M
posted by MikeMc at 4:22 PM on September 15, 2010

So, Joe, was this entire post a set up for you to justify soap boxing? Because you have now effectively derailed your own post and substituted your favorite topic. Frankly I'd cast a suspicious eye to any political post you'd make here as gyob fodder.
posted by edgeways at 4:22 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Please note that saying Obama moved to the center after he won the nomination is not, in and of itself, a criticism of the President. If you like, you can say that he did it to get elected so that he can be the Greatest President Ever that he currently is. That's a matter of opinion.

What you can not say is that he didn't so move. Because that's a matter of historical record.
posted by Joe Beese at 4:24 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Everyone has now changed their mind on this, congratulations everyone! Now the fight can continue, but with the names switched! EXCITING
posted by shakespeherian at 4:27 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

I wouldn't be surprised if her viewpoint is still the mainstream one.

It's never been the mainstream viewpoint. As Jesus said to the Onanites "Let him who hath a free hand cast the first stone".
posted by MikeMc at 4:28 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Because you have now effectively derailed your own post

That things have apparently reached the point where, to set off such a display, I need not criticize the President by name - but merely make a point about campaign strategies by using an old joke that must be alluding to Obama, based on the fact that it can be interpreted as critical, and that I always criticize Obama - is admittedly my fault.
posted by Joe Beese at 4:45 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

So, Joe, was this entire post a set up for you to justify soap boxing? Because you have now effectively derailed your own post and substituted your favorite topic. Frankly I'd cast a suspicious eye to any political post you'd make here as gyob fodder.

This is uncalled for, edgeways. Joe Beese made one throwaway joke in reply to ericb's comment. The derail happened when a bunch of people, you included, decided to pile on that comment. Ironmouth, if anyone, deserves the majority of the credit for this derail. Artw brings up another tangentially related grievance with Joe. He only comments again to respond to someone calling him delusional.

Now you, one of the first participators in the derail, accuse him of making this FPP in order to criticize Obama's record as President. Why? Because he's critical of Obama, and those criticisms are somewhat related to in his initial one liner in response to something someone else said 200 comments down in this thread? I guess he was just biding his time, right? Give me a break.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 5:02 PM on September 15, 2010 [8 favorites]

The Categorical Imperative depends on how you phrase the question:

Q:What if everyone went around lying all the time?
A: Come in, Mr. Gestapo, the Jews are in the attic.

Q: What if everyone quietly acceded to political terror all the time?
A: Sorry, Mr. Gestapo, haven't seen any Jews around here for a while. Pardon me while I shoot you in the face.
posted by Jimmy Havok at 5:04 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

let's stop the infighting and scheme to take those motherfuckers down

or at least make hilarious comments about them
posted by angrycat at 5:05 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

[expletive deleted]
eh, I don't know if I piled on that comment, but sure ok.

I actually enjoy a lot of JB's non political contributions to the site, but, as even he has just admitted, he has primed himself pretty well for people to read into vague political comments. Perhaps that is unfair, perhaps it is plausible deniability. I am sure I was not the only one who saw who posted the FPP and wondered when he would attack either the president or Democrats-in-general. Again, that is perhaps an uncharitable thought. But it exists. I am not a mod, and I fully expect neither you nor Joe nor 99.5% of Metafilter really gives a rat ass what I think. I, personally, believe that Joe's political passion and particular positions make it a minefield subject, one difficult to avoid gyob territory. While I don't really bear Joe any hard feelings, I am tired of the direction he is able to steer political posts in with a few simple sentences, intentional or not, though. And in actuality my response to the "You know who..." comment was a failed attempt to influence responses to it into a more lighthearted humor response rather then have it go down the predicted "grr" direction.

I'll disengage now, and meander elsewhere and wish you all a good evening.

cheers
posted by edgeways at 5:33 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

edgeways: I am sure I was not the only one who saw who posted the FPP and wondered when he would attack either the president or Democrats-in-general. Again, that is perhaps an uncharitable thought.

Take the grudgewank to meta? Please?
posted by KirkJobSluder at 5:48 PM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

The SS didn't go around and politely asking if you had Jews hiding in your attic.

They would have, in the unlikely scenario that people brave enough to hide Jews were also dumb enough not to lie about it.
posted by roystgnr at 6:07 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Take the grudgewank to meta? Please?

Maybe the whole whether Obama is sufficiently less evil be a metatalk thread, but I don't think your characterization of "grudgewank" is fair.
posted by angrycat at 6:57 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Let's see if we can't steer this puppy back on course. "I think you're an ass": Conservative media finally discover what the rest of us have always known, that they're all intellectually lazy, dishonest hypocrites.
posted by scalefree at 7:05 PM on September 15, 2010

Ooh! And I've just found this little nugget of crazy in O'Donnell's past. O'Donnell warned of "orgy rooms" in college dorms. This lady knows way too much about deviant sex not to have experienced any.
posted by scalefree at 7:12 PM on September 15, 2010

O'Donnell compares herself to Éowyn in The Lord of the Rings, says Tolkien presents "a very good balance between men and women and the extreme attitudes of femininity."
posted by blucevalo at 7:19 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

blucevalo: O'Donnell compares herself to Éowyn in The Lord of the Rings, says Tolkien presents "a very good balance between men and women and the extreme attitudes of femininity."

This is probably the first time I've ever felt shame for being a Tolkien fan.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:30 PM on September 15, 2010 [6 favorites]

angrycat: Perhaps the political topic should go there if people won't shut up about it in unrelated threads.

Patently (and admittedly) unfair speculation as to the motives of the author of a FPP definitely should go elsewhere.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:53 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Oh hey, this answers my question: Christine O'Donnell Has Had Sex
posted by naoko at 8:03 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh hey, this answers my question: Christine O'Donnell Has Had Sex

"I'm Zoot, just Zoot."
posted by maxwelton at 9:19 PM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

Well, he did at least try for the public plan.

Your definition of "try" and my definition of "try" must be very different.
posted by zardoz at 9:27 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh hey, this answers my question: Christine O'Donnell Has Had Sex

Why does it not surprise me that a hidden role in this entire twisted narrative is played by probable shame over Eastern Seaboard mommy and daddy who were "not strict" enough Catholics?
posted by blucevalo at 10:28 PM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME OF THE ORGY ROOMS?!!!
posted by dirigibleman at 11:22 PM on September 15, 2010 [4 favorites]

I can't believe these Karl Rove was able to form these words without choking to death on them.

I can't believe Karl Rove can say "rectitude" without giggling like Boss Hogg.
posted by rokusan at 12:52 AM on September 16, 2010

Well, to be fair, masturbation is a manifestation of Cultural Marxism, just like atheism, marijuana smoking, disrespecting one's elders and betters and slouched postures.
posted by acb at 3:05 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

You know who else veered sharply to the center after winning his party's nomination?
posted by Joe Beese


Every single candidate for president of the last 100 years at least? Pretty much the standard playbook.
posted by fourcheesemac at 4:48 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

The interesting thing is that the GOP have lost control of their party. If nothing else, I'm investing heavily in popcorn futures.
posted by unSane at 5:17 AM on September 16, 2010 [2 favorites]

Newsweek: Tea Party's wins fuel a 'civil war' within GOP

"Although O'Donnell won with a small percentage of votes in one of the nation's smallest states, her victory reverberated across the nation and widened a chasm separating conservative insurgents and their Tea Party allies on one side, and mainstream Republicans and centrists on the other.

'It's official: There is now a civil war within the Republican Party,' said Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and John McCain. 'The good news for Republicans is the Tea Party is capturing the anti-establishment energy in America. The bad news is that includes the Republican establishment.'"

posted by ericb at 6:50 AM on September 16, 2010

Video: Jon Stewart On Tea Party Wins: 'How Will Democrats Fuck This Up?'
posted by ericb at 6:55 AM on September 16, 2010 [2 favorites]

naoko: Oh hey, this answers my question: Christine O'Donnell Has Had Sex

Ah, so we're looking at the "Amazing Grace" model of conservative religious politics.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:14 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Christine O'Donnell: AIDS Gets Too Much Gov't Money, Condoms Wouldn't Stop It (Video):

“TPM has unearthed a 1997 C-SPAN video that shows O'Donnell voicing concerns that a drag queen ball ‘celebrates the type of lifestyle which leads to the disease,’ objecting to terming those with AIDS ‘victims’ and calling AIDS a consequence of a certain ‘lifestyle which brings about this disease.’

After complaining that ‘there is a gross disproportionate allocation of funds’ going to AIDS treatment and prevention in comparison to resources designated to combat heart disease, O'Donnell compared living healthier to changing the ‘lifestyle’ that she said lead to AIDS.

‘When somebody finds out that they're at high risk for heart disease, they cut out the fatty foods, they start exercising, they quit smoking. However, our approach to AIDS, when you're in a high risk behavior, is to eliminate the consequences so that you can continue in your lifestyle which brings about this disease,’ O'Donnell said.

Referring to people who get AIDS as victims, O'Donnell said, was ‘the kind of spinning with words and manipulating words that empowers the bias when it comes to AIDS.’

O'Donnell also took issue with government spending on preventative programs. ‘A lot of the money that we're spending goes to things that we know will not prevent AIDS, but indeed will continue to spread the disease,’ she said. ‘A lot of our money goes to distribute condoms in high schools, and a lot of our money goes to distribute material that is literally pornographic.’”

posted by ericb at 7:18 AM on September 16, 2010 [6 favorites]

can we skip this part and get to the point where we all hit her with shoes?
posted by The Whelk at 7:34 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Preferably Manolos.
posted by blucevalo at 7:40 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

fourcheesemac:

You know who else veered sharply to the center after winning his party's nomination?
posted by Joe Beese

Every single candidate for president of the last 100 years at least? Pretty much the standard playbook.

I'm sorry - I usually think FTFY is pretty obnoxious - but I have a small correction:

"Every single winning candidate for president of the last 100 years at least? Pretty much the standard winning playbook."

I definitely wish Obama would have done more with health care options, but to say what he has done isn't a lot, bordering on huge, is really dismissing the fact that as of July/August 2010, there are a lot of high-risk people who have health insurance who didn't before.

And I know the details of this because I had three weeks to create the requirements to change the systems in the states we cover that didn't fight it (which is to say the states that didn't take the money offered immediately. Like it or not (and I'll be perfectly honest, the health care industry does a lot of which I'm not proud but because of my own pre-existing conditions, I swallow a part of my outrage because in doing so, I get insurance too -- I couldn't do the same working for a pharmaceutical company), while there is still more work to be done, progress has been made, and while the President had won elections and a majority in both parts of Congress, he did not have the support of many members of his party on health care reform at all and the public option never had total public support. It will take more than changing the members of government to get it; it will require a shift in the minds of much of the electorate.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:46 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

I can't believe these Karl Rove was able to form these words without choking to death on them.

I can. Very easily. I think that to people like Rove (and James Carville), politics is a sort of game. They are very good at playing the game. I don't feel bad about lying through my teeth when I play Diplomacy, because that's just how you do it (actually, I suck at Diplomacy. I'm a lousy liar). I don't think that this makes them bad people exactly, but I don't think it makes them good people. They just don't see politics the way the rest of us do.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 8:18 AM on September 16, 2010

"I fervently hope that Tea Party doesn't enjoy wild success, since I don't agree with many of their core platforms, but I am strongly in favor of additional parties being added into the mix."

There is no Tea Party. Every single one of these "Tea Party candidates" is a registered Republican. Every. single. one.
posted by mr.curmudgeon at 8:35 AM on September 16, 2010 [5 favorites]

Rove caves, backs O'Donnell.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:44 AM on September 16, 2010

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you world's largest land invertebrate!
posted by The Whelk at 8:48 AM on September 16, 2010 [8 favorites]

Sarah Palin's advice to Christine O'Donnell:

"She’s going to have to learn very quickly to dismiss what some of her handlers want. Remember what happened to me in the VP. … So she’s going to have to learn that, yes, very quickly. She’s going to have to dismiss that, go with her gut, get out there, speak to the American people.Speak through FOX News and let the Independents who are tuning in to you, let them know what it is that she stands for, the principles behind her positions."

posted by ericb at 8:52 AM on September 16, 2010

O'Donnell on C-SPAN, December 1996: "It's a misconception that you, quote unquote, can't legislate morality. The reality of that statement is that if you don't legislate one morality then you are legislating somebody else's morality. So you can't get around legislating morality.

"We sit there and scratch our heads and wonder why sexual harassment is out of control in this country. It is because we are setting a precedent through our pop culture, through the songs that penetrate the airwaves and the sitcoms that are on television that are just saturated with sexual themes, that respect no boundaries. We need to just do a U-Haul of our pop culture. I think legislators, Hollywood film producers all need to reevaluate why they are doing what they are doing ... We end up feeding a demon, feeding a monster and we are feeding this appetite so much that our generation is going to self-destruct quite honestly."
posted by blucevalo at 8:53 AM on September 16, 2010

Rove caves, backs O'Donnell.

Yeah. Yesterday was a super-duper great day for Karl!
posted by blucevalo at 8:56 AM on September 16, 2010

Speak through FOX News

That is the most depressingly relevant piece of advice right there.
posted by Theta States at 8:56 AM on September 16, 2010 [3 favorites]

I think they should stay very far away from "did she ever have sex?" Very far away. TPM is getting a little far along on that.

Remember Palin and the baby born out of wedlock?
posted by Ironmouth at 8:59 AM on September 16, 2010

The reality of that statement is that if you don't legislate one morality then you are legislating somebody else's morality. So you can't get around legislating morality.

She must be a Canadian version of a Manchurian Candidate, getting her policies from Neil Peart's lyrics. Delaware will be eating back bacon and sporting mullets by the end of the year!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:12 AM on September 16, 2010

We need to just do a U-Haul of our pop culture.

So, Britney Spears decals on the trailers instead of random state attractions, then?
posted by hippybear at 9:25 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

getting her policies from Neil Peart's lyrics.

I know you're intending to be funny, but you don't know what you're talking about if you think anything she's said has anything to do with Peart or his lyrics. The Way The Wind Blows is a pretty good example of how he feels about being a thinking person in a world full of religious nuttery.
posted by hippybear at 9:27 AM on September 16, 2010

Hippybear, I think Blazecock was riffing on "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice!"
posted by notsnot at 9:31 AM on September 16, 2010

Wasn't Peart an Objectivist back when that sort of thing involved atheism?
posted by acb at 9:32 AM on September 16, 2010

Let it be known that on Thursday, September 16, 2010, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh succeeded in their bloodless coup and became the official leaders of the Republican Party.

When you make a truly evil and despicable man like Karl fucking Rove tuck his tail and run, you've done something. The man isn't even running for any office. What does he have to fear from Limbaugh? Something big. Limbaugh has the dirt on all the old-guard republicans. He's the information enforcer.

Palin/Limbaugh in 2012.

I've got to get my fucking affairs in order. How hard is it to find a job in western Europe?
posted by discountfortunecookie at 9:35 AM on September 16, 2010 [4 favorites]

getting her policies from Neil Peart's lyrics

She seems more like a Poison or Bon Jovi fan to me.
posted by blucevalo at 9:48 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

When you make a truly evil and despicable man like Karl fucking Rove tuck his tail and run, you've done something. The man isn't even running for any office. What does he have to fear from Limbaugh?

Remember Malkin calling Rove "effete" yesterday? Limbaugh might have decided to skip the code words.

How's that shit sandwich tasting, Karl?
posted by Joe Beese at 9:54 AM on September 16, 2010 [3 favorites]

It's a misconception that you, quote unquote, can't legislate morality.

Ah, the new American Taliban have arrived.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:13 AM on September 16, 2010 [2 favorites]

This is probably the first time I've ever felt shame for being a Tolkien fan.

While those of us who slogged through The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, tiring of each song and multi-paragraph description of the weather--we're the ones sitting here with big grins.

Remember what happened to me in the VP

Yeah, you got slammed and the other guys won.

I think that might be her point. If she had not listened to her handlers so much, she would have been more successful. I would disagree.

What does he have to fear from Limbaugh?

Everything. Not only being "outed" (for his possible atheism or homosexuality, or any other "immoral" behaviors), but being excluded from power and access. Losing work.

Rove caves, backs O'Donnell.

Well, not exactly. I didn't watch the video, but he just clarified his position, right? He doesn't back down to the point of saying his previous analysis was wrong. In fact, he defends it:

"My job as a Fox analyst is to call it as I see them," Rove explained this morning. "My job is not to be a cheerleader for every Republican."

posted by mrgrimm at 10:20 AM on September 16, 2010

I didn't watch the video, but he just clarified his position, right?

Yesterday:

I wasn't frankly impressed as her abilities as a candidate.

... [does] not evince the characteristics of rectitude and truthfulness and sincerity and character that the voters are looking for.

... there were a lot of nutty things she has been saying...

... serious character problems...

Today:

Look, I endorsed her the other night. I was one of the first to do it.

So he endorsed a candidate with "unimpressive" abilities and "serious character problems" who says "a lot of nutty things"?

Then again, he also said yesterday:

... she attacked him by saying he had a homosexual relationship with a young aide with not a bit of evidence to prove it.

Maybe that's what he approved of.
posted by Joe Beese at 10:33 AM on September 16, 2010 [3 favorites]

Joe Beese: It's almost like Karl had a TIA that made him act like a human being with moral clarity.
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:38 AM on September 16, 2010

"When somebody finds out that they're at high risk for heart disease, they cut out the fatty foods, they start exercising, they quit smoking."

I see Miss O'Donnell does not know me very well.
posted by mreleganza at 11:39 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't know where the National Review gets this number but there must be some rich Palin-bots:

But amid all the discussion of O’Donnell’s past problems with personal and election finance, it neglects to mention one thing: she’s raised close to $1 million in the last 36 hours.
posted by readery at 12:50 PM on September 16, 2010

And that would be a lot of money for Delaware as seen on OpenSecrets.org
posted by readery at 1:00 PM on September 16, 2010

Delaware will be eating back bacon and sporting mullets by the end of the year!

So you have never been below the canal in Delaware.
posted by Pax at 1:23 PM on September 16, 2010

I have a healthy sense of skepticism about self-reported fundraising on O'Donnell's own site.
posted by Shepherd at 1:37 PM on September 16, 2010

Holy shit she thinks the Clintons had Vince Foster killed.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 12:40 PM on September 16

So does Limbaugh. And so would Palin if she knew who Vince Foster was. She'd probably take an Alaskan stab at it and guess it was Monica's boyfriend.
posted by discountfortunecookie at 2:17 PM on September 16, 2010 [5 favorites]

Thank you for giving me the name of my next band: Alaskan Stab.
posted by mreleganza at 2:29 PM on September 16, 2010 [4 favorites]

This woman is comedy gold:

O'DONNELL: Bill, if we — if we approach this complicated bioethic issue with our heads in the sand, the other end is in the air.

O'REILLY: My head isn't the sand, Christine. I have the biggest head in the world. There isn't enough sand on the beach in Hawaii for my head to be in there.
posted by blucevalo at 3:03 PM on September 16, 2010

from blucevalo's link:

O'Donnell:

American scientific companies are cross-breeding humans and animals and coming up with mice with fully functioning human brains.

Fuck me, I want a mouse with a fully functioning human brain.
posted by angrycat at 3:23 PM on September 16, 2010

Fuck me, I want a mouse with a fully functioning human brain.

Pinky and the brain
pinky and the brain
One is a genius, the other insane.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 3:49 PM on September 16, 2010 [3 favorites]

Fuck me, I want a mouse with a fully functioning human brain.

Fear of those is why I use a trackball.
posted by hippybear at 3:50 PM on September 16, 2010 [2 favorites]

But amid all the discussion of O’Donnell’s past problems with personal and election finance, it neglects to mention one thing: she’s raised close to $1 million in the last 36 hours.

Sounds shady, but I'm certain the FEC and IRS will be doing their jobs on this one.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:30 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't know, don't most donors hedge their bets by waiting until the morning after the election to back a candidate?
posted by KirkJobSluder at 5:32 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Wow, Rovey Rovey Rove. I think he made a big mistake-he's just officially ceded control of the party to the lunatic fringe. This is not good for the GOP; may be good for the USA though.
posted by Mister_A at 6:28 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

"It seems women may only serve amongst the elves and other mystical creatures of Christine O’Donnell’s fantasies, not the U.S. military."
posted by naoko at 7:31 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

Pinky and the brain
pinky and the brain
One is a genius, the other insane.

Somebody should tell her that that's not a documentary.
posted by acb at 1:28 AM on September 17, 2010

Dateline: The Future. The Senate Appropriations Subcommitte co-chaired by Alvin Greene and Christine O'Donnell met today to remind us that we are truly fucked.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 7:08 AM on September 17, 2010

whose Republican primary victory upended the calculus for future control of the United State Senate
posted by mrgrimm at 11:40 AM on September 17, 2010

The Christine O’Donnell Digest: Everything You Wanted To Know About Her (And Some Things You Didn’t).

The Old Adventures of New Christine — "a digest of O’Donnell’s own words on everything we have learned about her."
posted by ericb at 12:04 PM on September 17, 2010

Chris Floyd addresses the left-wing blogosphere's freakout over the O'Donnell victory by taking a wider perspective:

It's true that O'Donnell has taken the politically risky step of denouncing America's national pastime -- masturbation -- and has, over the years, supported any number of positions that put her on the far side of common sense. But one struggles in vain to find that she has advanced anything remotely as radical -- or lunatic -- as the idea that the President of the United States is some kind of intergalactic emperor who holds the power of life and death over every living being on earth in his autocratic hands. Yet this is precisely the position proclaimed -- openly, before Congress, God and everybody -- by the highly educated, intellectually sophisticated, super-savvy Laureate of Peace currently residing in the White House.

This same president has also fought tooth and nail -- often in open court -- to shield torturers, escalate pointless wars of aggression, relentlessly expand a liberty-stripping Stasi-style security apparatus, give trillions of tax dollars to rapacious financiers, health-care corporations, insurance companies and bloodstained war profiteers, while launching cowardly drone missile attacks on the sovereign territory of close ally, killing hundreds of civilians in the process - and has just signed off on the biggest arms deal in history with one of the most viciously repressive tyrannies on earth.

So I'm sorry, but I just don't see how a putzy, klutzy, wilfully ignorant Tea Partier from perhaps the most corrupt state in the Union is somehow more dangerous than the people we have in power now -- including a Vice-President who for decades was the senator (and corporate bagman) from this very same most corrupt state in the Union, and used his power to advance a "Bankruptcy Bill" that was one of the most savage class-war attacks on working people -- and the poor, and the sick, and the vulnerable -- that we have seen in many a year. Then again, as far as I know, Joe "Bankruptcy Bill" Biden has never publicly condemned the practice of masturbation.
posted by Joe Beese at 1:22 PM on September 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Old Adventures of New Christine — "a digest of O’Donnell’s own words on everything we have learned about her."

With Palin, Bachmann, and now this childish woman, the level of discourse in our political life is as close to play-ground reasoning and rhetoric as it has ever been. I shudder to imagine where we are going as a nation.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:23 PM on September 17, 2010

And Anwar al-Awlaki finally shows up in the thread, thanks Joe!

Why is it people only refer to him obliquely rather than using his name or giving any details, I wonder?
posted by Artw at 1:26 PM on September 17, 2010

And Anwar al-Awlaki finally shows up in the thread, thanks Joe! Why is it people only refer to him obliquely rather than using his name or giving any details, I wonder?

You're just assuming that Floyd is referring our fellow citizen. When he describes the President as someone "who holds the power of life and death over every living being on earth in his autocratic hands", he might also be referring to any of the death warrants Obama signed for people overseas.

(Do you suppose he uses a special pen for that? Maybe a pen that Abraham Lincoln used to authorize an execution of a Confederate prisoner? Or just whatever's at hand when he clears out the afternoon paperwork?)

As to your question: What dark motive do you suspect? That we're deliberately clouding the issue of whether the President has the right to execute an American citizen without trial by omitting the fact that he's a Muslim?
posted by Joe Beese at 2:10 PM on September 17, 2010

"Muslim" referring to the citizen, not the President - in case there was any doubt.
posted by Joe Beese at 2:16 PM on September 17, 2010

I suspect you're delioberately omitting his identity because he's an utter shitbag, which gets in the way of his cause célèbre status.
posted by Artw at 2:22 PM on September 17, 2010

Well, Joe, I don't know if you subscribe to the theory of the Overton Window, but getting people like O'Donnell into office is definitely going to move it in the wrong direction, and I think that, for all his failings, Obama is moving it in the right direction.

We've seen some strong motion of the window in my own state, simply because people were electing more liberal Democrats whenever there was an open seat, even though the DINOs are still there and still strong. It's a slow process, but we can see it working, and even the DINOs are being pulled along.
posted by Jimmy Havok at 2:26 PM on September 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

We're seeing the decaying of democracy. We used to believe we needed to elect individuals with vision and who cared about the country, hoping they could lead not only by understanding our problems but thinking of solutions and then educating us as to why we need those solutions, even when they are difficult or counterintuitive. That ideal seems to be dead. We want to elect people who are no more idealistic or altruistic than the guy we talk to in the bar or the woman next door. The politicians only want to do what the masses want, even when it is bad for us in the long run. You want to cut taxes? Done! You want to kill terrorists? Done! You want to keep gays from marrying, women from abortions, and guns in your streets? Done! The only time they go against popular demands is when their funders' interests are affected (see bank bailouts, e.g.).
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:29 PM on September 17, 2010

I suspect you're delioberately omitting his identity because he's an utter shitbag...

When he is convicted of a capital offense after due process, I promise to let you gloat over his execution as much as you like.

But I trust you'll want whichever Republican next occupies the White House, when he or she kills their own American citizen, to have a more precise justification than "utter shitbag".
posted by Joe Beese at 2:34 PM on September 17, 2010

Christine O'Donnell Energizes Religious Right Crowd.
posted by ericb at 2:37 PM on September 17, 2010

We're not trying to take back our country. We are our country.

"Unlike certain others we could name..."
posted by Joe Beese at 2:43 PM on September 17, 2010

But I trust you'll want whichever Republican next occupies the White House, when he or she kills their own American citizen, to have a more precise justification than "utter shitbag".

People linked to Anwar al-Awlaki

Yeah, he's just an everyday Joe. This could happen to anyone, really, one day you;re walking down the street the next you're on a list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists and all of a sudden the National Security Council decides that you're not going to get any special protection because you lived in the US when you were 7. What a slippery slope.
posted by Artw at 2:57 PM on September 17, 2010

An argument that would apply to everyone else on that list, and not just Anwar.
posted by Artw at 3:04 PM on September 17, 2010

Until Osama bin Ladin is convicted of a capital offense after due process, let's all bear in mind that these allegations against him are based on vapor-thin rumors and our autocratic president's thirst for blood.
posted by shakespeherian at 3:05 PM on September 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

Until Osama bin Ladin is convicted of a capital offense after due process, let's all bear in mind that these allegations against him are based on vapor-thin rumors and our autocratic president's thirst for blood.

If al-Awlaki's guilt is as obvious as you imply, the government can enjoy their slam dunk prosecution. What they can not do is ask us to take their word it. Not after telling us that Guantanamo housed "the worst of the worst". (In other words: "utter shitbags")

By the way, how is that closure going?
posted by Joe Beese at 3:24 PM on September 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

Last I heard the Senate voted not to fund it...

I'm sure Chris Floyd will tell us why an O'Donnell victory would turn that around though.
posted by Artw at 3:54 PM on September 17, 2010

I'll bite and say that the rule of law demands due process, which is broken in regards to death-penalty cases. The government in my opinion shouldn't execute anyone.

That said, I trust Democrats a bit more to protect my due process rights than Republicans, and have since I spent a sick day watching Poindexter admit that Reagan was rubber-stamping every harebrained idea the CIA sent him. But doubtless I'll get yelled at for stealing Art's candy when I vote for them next Wednesday.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 3:59 PM on September 17, 2010

Although I suppose I could press those buttons with extra emphasis.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 4:11 PM on September 17, 2010

Not if the death panel gets you first.
posted by Artw at 4:43 PM on September 17, 2010

If al-Awlaki's guilt is as obvious as you imply, the government can enjoy their slam dunk prosecution.

I'm sure they'd honestly love to, but I sort of doubt he'd make his court appearance.
posted by shakespeherian at 5:31 PM on September 17, 2010

I'm sure they'd honestly love to, but I sort of doubt he'd make his court appearance.

Are you really making the argument that rights to due process under the rule of law are dependent on compliance with court summons?
posted by KirkJobSluder at 6:35 PM on September 17, 2010

Is this in relation to the capture-or-kill order on bin laden as well or just the one on anwar?
posted by Artw at 6:45 PM on September 17, 2010

Artw: Well, any as the principle at stake applies to just about any fugitive.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 6:53 PM on September 17, 2010

Are you really making the argument that rights to due process under the rule of law are dependent on compliance with court summons?

No, I just think it's silly that Joe Beese said that they should just try him in court, because how exactly is anyone supposed to do that?
posted by shakespeherian at 6:54 PM on September 17, 2010

Thank you, that answers my question.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:07 PM on September 17, 2010

So just to be clear here - the United States has long had a policy where it will attempt to capture or kill people such as Osama Bin Laden who it beleives to be an imminent terrorist threat, and what you object to is that Obama has not stopped that, and his clarification of the situation regard Anwar al-Awlaki is irrelivant to that?
posted by Artw at 7:15 PM on September 17, 2010

And, in fact, lets get really clear: Do you believe that bill Clinton should not have attempted to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden in the late 90s?
posted by Artw at 7:20 PM on September 17, 2010

Triple-barreled question, 10 yard penalty on the play.

I find capture-or-kill orders combined with the willingness to drop fairly heavy ordinance on locations to be ethically problematic. But then again, I don't actually expect my political representatives to share my ethical commitments, and am willing to compromise on a least-evil basis.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:22 PM on September 17, 2010

So... I'm going to take that as a no?
posted by Artw at 7:28 PM on September 17, 2010

And, in fact, lets get really clear: Do you believe that bill Clinton should not have attempted to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden in the late 90s?

Probable yes, in that I don't see how it's possible to give Clinton license to conduct peacetime assassination operations that doesn't tacitly give license to American sponsors of terrorism like Eliot Abrams.

So... I'm going to take that as a no?

Probably, because it wasn't an honest question, it wasn't even a coherent question, and you've shown no interest in actually hearing an answer.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:40 PM on September 17, 2010 [2 favorites]

Now granted, I'm going to vote straight-ticket Democrat because while I disagree with hawkish Dems, they're not as evil as Abrams. But the political process can tolerate disagreement and discussion.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 7:48 PM on September 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

Probably, because it wasn't an honest question, it wasn't even a coherent question, and you've shown no interest in actually hearing an answer.

Well, giving the answer you seem to want to give (no, Clinton should not have tried to kill Bin Laden) is rather tricky, what with the subsequent massive terrorist attacks and all.

Unless you meant that he should have killed Bin Laden prior to 9/11, in which case how is the situation with Anwar all that much different, exactly?
posted by Artw at 8:15 PM on September 17, 2010

To make it really, really clear, I'm a pacifist. This isn't remotely realistic in current politics, so I play the politics of the possible by casting a vote for somewhat hawkish Democrats over actively evil Republicans year after year. Most of us who identify as moral pacifists do likewise.

But I'm not going to join in a chorus of "America, Fuck Yeah" over capture-or-kill orders either. Taking out bin Ladin with a drone or sniper may be pragmatically justified, but I'm just not going to be morally comfortable with it. But that's fine, we don't have to all agree on the same issues to work together.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 8:41 PM on September 17, 2010

Artw: I've made my opinion clear and no longer have the patience for your wankery. Have a good evening.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 9:12 PM on September 17, 2010

Christine O’Donnell to Bill Maher (October 1999): "I dabbled into witchcraft — I never joined a coven. But I did, I did. … I dabbled into witchcraft."
posted by ericb at 7:19 AM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Taiwanese animated story of the rise of Christine O'Donnell (there is chicken-choking).
posted by dirigibleman at 7:36 AM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Washington Post:

"In other O'Donnell news that may or may not be related, Bob Schieffer tweeted Saturday that the candidate has pulled out of a scheduled appearance on CBS's 'Face the Nation' on Sunday. She is still scheduled to appear on 'Fox News Sunday' at 9 a.m."

posted by ericb at 8:34 AM on September 18, 2010

October 2001:

"O'Donnell: I believe psychics are either kooks or they’re tapping into a real power ... It’s not a holy power, it’s an evil power ... Psychics exploit the human being's natural desire that longs for something higher.

Maher: I would say the exact same thing about religion. (applause)

O'Donnell: The same way a pimp exploits the natural desire to be with the opposite sex ... psychics put people in spiritual harm, the same way pimps put people in physical harm."

posted by ericb at 8:41 AM on September 18, 2010

She is still scheduled to appear on 'Fox News Sunday' at 9 a.m.

O'Donnell has now canceled that appearance, as well.
posted by ericb at 8:44 AM on September 18, 2010

CNN:

"'It turns out Miss O'Donnell has treated her campaign funds like they are her very own personal piggy bank. She's used that money to pay for things like her rent, for gas, meals and even a bowling outing. And that's just flat-out illegal,' said Melanie Sloan, the [Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics] executive director. ... 'For example, in 2009, Miss O'Donnell wasn't a candidate for anything, yet she had numerous campaign expenses, things like travel and gas, and yet she had no actual campaign'"

posted by ericb at 8:47 AM on September 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

Next time a tea partier says the "movement" is all about fiscal responsibility and not a nativist, anti-intellectual, knee-jerk, reactionary throwback to Goldwater and McCarthy with contemporary racist undercurrents, please ask them how O'Donnell is any expert in fiscal responsibility.
posted by CunningLinguist at 9:04 AM on September 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'm guessing that O'Donnell is pulling out of all these appearances because her handlers have realized she's not ready for prime time and are working to make sure she doesn't end up pulling a Palin during interviews.

Either that, or she's been reading the press about herself and has herself realized that she's a wide target and doesn't want to go before the guns.
posted by hippybear at 9:21 AM on September 18, 2010

come on, this is all just faux-shocking, let's get it out there: President O'Donnell.
posted by wallstreet1929 at 2:56 PM on September 18, 2010

It turns out Miss O'Donnell has treated her campaign funds like they are her very own personal piggy bank

Hoho! So that's why she's not on the news programs. She's toast.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:46 AM on September 19, 2010

O’Donnell Campaign Gives Conflicting Reasons For Canceling Sunday Show Interviews.
posted by ericb at 10:01 AM on September 19, 2010

"O'Donnell appeared on the political talk show on 22 different episodes, and Maher has said he will air a clip of O'Donnell every week until she agrees to appear on his show."

Bill Maher:

"'It's like a hostage crisis,' Maher said. 'Every week you don't show up, I'm going to throw another body out.'"

Drip. Drip. Drip.
posted by ericb at 10:14 AM on September 19, 2010 [2 favorites]

Who doesn't like a midnight picnic on a satanic altar?
posted by Artw at 11:05 AM on September 19, 2010

Rove: O'Donnell should explain 'witchcraft' comments
posted by CunningLinguist at 11:33 AM on September 19, 2010

This is like Christmas.
posted by The Whelk at 11:46 AM on September 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

The born again evangelicals eat this stuff up. The more heinous you sinned in your early life the greater the power of your witness when you turned your life around. In their frame of refernce, she has admitted to being a sexual deviant in early college and decided with the help of the Catholic church, prayer and Jesus to live a life of chastity and obedience to God's will. She is out there spreading the word of God and the light of Christ. Your snarky contempt for her redemption is just Satan setting your sinners heart against her and God's mission. It confirms her redemption in the eyes of her followers.
posted by humanfont at 1:33 PM on September 19, 2010 [5 favorites]

When I got out of Catholic School, I fully believed in magic, witchcraft and satanism and dabbled in it a little myself, largely because I also believed that masturbation was a sin and if I was going to hell anyway, I might as well go all out. Of course, I was 14-15, not a mature adult, but I can see an otherwise sane, rational person believing in that kind of thing if they were sheltered enough.
posted by empath at 2:37 PM on September 19, 2010

I also had an ex who was raised by some people who got involved in a UFO cult, who was the most sane, logical person you'd ever meet, except that she genuinely believed she was abducted by aliens when she was a kid, because her step-mom basically saved her life when her mom died and her dad lost his mind, and she just didn't want to believe that someone she loved so much was batshit insane enough to make up something like that.

It was just one of those things we didn't talk about.

Of course, none of this has much to do with whether someone who believed those kinds of things is qualified to hold public office. I guess the question is whether she still believes that witchcraft and satanism are a real thing.

I kinda hope we're not at the point where people who believed stupid things when they were young are forever disqualified from holding public office. People do actually get older and wiser.

That said, this lady seems to be a crook, and totally unqualified for the job, regardless of what her religious beliefs are.
posted by empath at 2:43 PM on September 19, 2010

Wiccan Community Upset With O'Donnell, Calls Witchcraft Comments "Teaching Moment".
posted by ericb at 2:29 PM on September 20, 2010

They would say that, the picnic happy heathens!
posted by Artw at 2:37 PM on September 20, 2010

It's saddening that the offhand witchcraft comment is what's getting traction, when in reality, it's her petty larceny that should be getting attention. She's apparently a grifter, but her abuse of campaign funds is getting a total pass from the major news outlets, so far.
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:43 PM on September 20, 2010 [1 favorite]

Not entirely. CNN just had a segment on this pretty tough Dem ad. (What struck me was the DSCC running against Washington, which is run....by Dems.)
posted by CunningLinguist at 3:58 PM on September 20, 2010

She's apparently a grifter, but her abuse of campaign funds is getting a total pass from the major news outlets, so far.

Well, Rachel Maddow called her a professional Senate candidate (3 runs for office in 5 years) and called her out for spending campaign funds for her personal expenses... so I don't think it's a total pass...
posted by hippybear at 4:57 PM on September 20, 2010

CunningLinguist: "Not entirely. CNN just had a segment on this pretty tough Dem ad . (What struck me was the DSCC running against Washington, which is run....by Dems.)"

That is possibly one of the most incompetent lines of attack I've ever seen. Given a preposterously unqualified loony-bin outsider, they decide to portray her as a part of the Washington elite? And they make that connection by claiming she's a profligate spender, just like the Washington elite... which is what the Democrats currently are? WTF.
posted by Rhaomi at 5:01 PM on September 20, 2010 [1 favorite]

The mistake in that ad was to say "fit in with Washington" when they should have said "fit in with her Republican colleagues." However, given that she's trying to run as the outsider, it might be a sensible plan of attack, especially if Coons has a history of fiscal responsibility behind him.
posted by Jimmy Havok at 5:26 PM on September 20, 2010

Okay, now we're getting somewhere. O'Donnell sidesteps specifics on funds front and center, CNN.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:29 AM on September 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

O’Donnell Argued Gays Suffer From An ‘Identity Disorder’.
posted by ericb at 7:19 AM on September 21, 2010

Conservatives Question O’Donnell After ‘Witchcraft’ Comment: ‘It’s Creepy,’ ‘Adds To An Aura Of Oddness’.
posted by ericb at 7:20 AM on September 21, 2010

Bill O'Reilly: Christine O'Donnell Said Some 'Crazy Stuff' On My Show.
posted by ericb at 7:23 AM on September 21, 2010

Bill O'Reilly: Christine O'Donnell Said Some 'Crazy Stuff' On My Show.

And watch the Freepers go nuts on Bill here.

They're calling out Fox as a sellout for the front row seat at the WH.

I've been saying for so long that this election has always been about the split in the GOP, not Obama. The Dems, for all of their problems don't have a standing GOP gov and a sitting GOP senator running against their own party's elected candidates for US Senate.

Plus, anybody been watching the polls of late? Seems like the generic congressional has been trending Dem for some time, with 4 polls in the last week showing Dems leading. The local polls for actual races seem way better than you'd expect.
posted by Ironmouth at 12:00 PM on September 21, 2010

Fox Poll: Dem Chris Coons is beating O'Donnell 54-39 among likely voters. 60% call her unqualified. Castle would have won easily.
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:20 PM on September 21, 2010

hahahahahahaha. One Freeper refers to "Tokyo Rove." hahahahahahahahahahah
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:22 PM on September 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

The rhetoric has stepped up and now Chris Coons is a Marxist. The knuckleheads don't seem to think that calling him a Socialist will suffice.

The former corporate counsel for Gore-Tex is a marxist?

He has a pretty impressive resume, former Truman Scholar, graduate of both Yale Law and Yale Divinity, but writings from his junior year at Amherst when he spent a semester in Kenya prove he is a marxist.
posted by readery at 12:46 PM on September 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Look at Coons's Wikipedia page, and you'll see that he wrote a college paper where he referred to himself as a bearded Marxist. Of course, self-mockery doesn't play well in the Freep mind.
posted by Jimmy Havok at 5:51 PM on September 21, 2010

What did I tell ya?

First post primary poll has loony Paladino onky 6 points behind the invincible Cuomo.

"He’s within shouting distance and — you can count on it — he will be shouting,” Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac Institute, said in a statement.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:43 AM on September 22, 2010

Young Abstinence Comics
posted by homunculus at 9:54 AM on September 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Christine O'Donnell Says She'd Stop The Whole Country From Having Sex.
posted by ericb at 7:55 PM on September 24, 2010

WitchesForChristine.com!
posted by ericb at 8:05 PM on September 24, 2010

From Somewhat Topical Ecards
posted by CunningLinguist at 10:14 AM on September 25, 2010

If Evolution Is Real, 'Why Aren't Monkeys Still Evolving Into Humans?'
posted by CunningLinguist at 10:18 AM on September 25, 2010

I suppose if I didn't understand evolution I too might be skeptical of it. What an idiot.
posted by Green With You at 2:17 PM on September 25, 2010

Of course that was 12 years ago so maybe she's thought about it for a little bit more than the 5 minutes she apparently put into it at the time.
posted by Green With You at 2:20 PM on September 25, 2010

maybe she's thought about it

Ask her.
posted by Jimmy Havok at 9:34 PM on September 25, 2010

A similar flavor of crazy: Angle posits autism diagnoses are tools of evil socialists.
posted by angrycat at 4:09 PM on September 27, 2010

God, can you imagine Tea Partiers and the vaccine freaks teaming up?
posted by Artw at 4:12 PM on September 27, 2010

What exactly do you mean by the "vaccine freaks", Artw? Perhaps if I understood that, I could understand also the connection between your comment and angrycat's comment directly above yours (which I'm assuming prompted your comment).
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:41 PM on September 27, 2010

Hie thee to the archives if you've missed that whole thing, flapjax. Or don't and save yourself a lot of headdesking.
posted by cortex at 5:48 PM on September 27, 2010

Tea party coloring books. It's for the CHILDREN!
posted by angrycat at 12:29 PM on September 28, 2010

Christine O'Donnell Says She Studied At Oxford But Evidence Suggests Otherwise.
posted by ericb at 1:21 PM on September 28, 2010

Look, she went to the Oxford campus, and then she studied her watch, trying to figure out what time it was. So lay off already.
posted by Jimmy Havok at 7:12 PM on September 28, 2010

Christine O'Donnell Says She Studied At Oxford But Evidence Suggests Otherwise.

As much as I truly think that O'Donnell and Bachman and Palin and Paul are bad for America, this particular indictment won't resonate very far outside of academia and those already against O'Donnell. That kind of résumé fudging will get a George O'Leary canned at Notre Dame, but go back a century and read Eugene Field on the character of the Senate & its candidates back then. No one predisposed to voting for O'Donnell will draw any kind of distinction no matter how much we doth protest.

It reminds me of a guy I know who used to put on his CV that he was a Fulbright Scholar. Instead, he paid his way to be part of a seminar on curriculum development put on under the auspices of a couple of PIs who had Fulbright grants. He maintained to his Dean that the 3 week seminar was put on under the aegis (he didn't use this word--I don't think he knows what it means) of Fulbright Organization (again, he wouldn't know that there isn't such a thing) and that they had to study, which (QED) made him a Fulbright Scholar. Those of us who've applied for Fulbright money and the like thought it was a bid deal to have somebody circulate their materials with this sort of blatant misrepresentation, but even in those circles it got a huge ho-hum. So O'Donnell can lie about Farliegh Dickinson & Princeton & Oxford, and if any one brings it up, we (academics, Dems, and lefties) just look like a bunch of whiny eggheads. Ok, that's probably true, but just once I'd like to see one of these loons hoist on their own petard.
posted by beelzbubba at 7:47 PM on September 28, 2010

A second school calls her a liar.

posted by CunningLinguist at 10:38 PM on September 28, 2010

Apparently, she can lie about her education. Not exactly a follower of Kantian CI. I just wish some of this would stick with Delawarians. I can't vote in their elections.
posted by beelzbubba at 6:41 AM on September 29, 2010

Gold-Dispensing ATMs Are Coming to the States
posted by Artw at 10:30 AM on September 29, 2010

Christine O'Donnell Posted False Oxford Claim On Second Website, Site Spokesman Says.
posted by ericb at 12:31 PM on September 30, 2010

Gold-Dispensing ATMs Are Coming to the States

Damn it. I had almost put my highwayman day's behind me, but if people are going to be carrying gold bars?

I'm going to have to practice my "Stand and Deliver!"...
posted by quin at 1:02 PM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

wouldn't it make more sense to steal the ATM?
posted by The Whelk at 1:07 PM on September 30, 2010

Well yeah, probably. But the ATM isn't going to be impressed by my mask and cape.

Embracing the look of the thing is at least half the fun of the endeavor.
posted by quin at 1:22 PM on September 30, 2010

Racist NY candidate for Gov almost punches a reporter in a face, does threaten his life
posted by angrycat at 1:35 PM on September 30, 2010

Racist NY candidate for Gov almost punches a reporter in a face, does threaten his life

Watching the video makes Paladino look like the good guy. The reporter was basically poking him in the chest while yelling at him (and apparently taking pictures of Paladino's children?)

Anyway, not as clear-cut an incident as the link-text connotes.
posted by mrgrimm at 3:36 PM on September 30, 2010

Yeah, I could've made the link text better.

The context is that (as per a bystander) Palladino in recent days told a reporter that reporters should be investigating Cuomo's "paramours" and asking Cuomo's wife about the divorce.

The Post did a story on Palladino's "paramour" and child by same. There was a photograph there, I believe, but the particular journalist that got threatened didn't send the photographer out on a gotcha mission -- in the video the journ. protests that he's not able to do that.

So we've got: A candidate making allegations and refusing to substantiate them and threatening the reporter in mafiosa language.

The reporter was a jerk in the video, but as Burhanistan sez, kinda par for the course for the NY post.

But maybe not so par the course for a candidate for govenour.
posted by angrycat at 3:56 PM on September 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

Maher’s 3rd Clip Features O’Donnell’s Spiritual Dabblings Beyond Witchcraft.
posted by ericb at 3:07 PM on October 2, 2010

Frank Rich | New York Times: The Very Useful Idiocy of Christine O’Donnell.
posted by ericb at 10:19 AM on October 3, 2010

Christine O’Donnell Knows China’s Plans To Invade USA.
posted by ericb at 1:48 PM on October 4, 2010

New O'Donnell ad: I am not a witch.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:13 AM on October 5, 2010

Exactly what a witch would say! I demand she submit herself to public dunking, it's the only way we can be sure of the truth!
posted by Artw at 5:50 AM on October 5, 2010

Check her for suspiciously-shaped moles!
posted by The Whelk at 5:55 AM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

This woman is obviously not versed on how ingrained The Holy Grail is into Internet culture.
This will only result in hilarity.

And silliness.
posted by Theta States at 6:04 AM on October 5, 2010

She bears the devils mark! Call Vincent Price!
posted by Artw at 6:04 AM on October 5, 2010

"She turned me into a Newt! Gingrich!"

...

"What else floats in water?"
"Bread!"
"Pork!"
"Very small governments!"
posted by cortex at 7:03 AM on October 5, 2010 [6 favorites]

I'm not a witch. I'm nothing you've heard. I'm you.

None of us are perfect, but none of us can be happy with what we see all around us--politicians who think spending, trading favors, and backroom deals are the ways to stay in office.

I'll go to Washington and do what you'd do. I'm Christine O'Donnell, and I approve this message.

I'm you.

posted by mrgrimm at 8:38 AM on October 5, 2010

I was going to say even addressing the witch issue was a mistake, but I think that commercial actually handles it well. I honestly think she might need to tell some people she's not a witch.

I would have probably kept quiet and not even addressed it: let journalists look like fanatics or news clowns if they want to pursue that story.

She's best off staying quiet and not taking the bait on all the "nutty" coverage. If she takes "the high road" and shuts out journalists, all the nutty stuff looks like a media conspiracy to take her down, which fits perfectly into her "outsider" campaign.

I don't know how making a very light joke of the witchcraft thing will work. We'll see. I would have advised against. If I were her, I'd want that comment forgotten, but it may be too late..

I would find it oh-so-refreshing if witchcraft became one of the central campaign issues.

Hey, that reminds me. It's 4 weeks until election day. Let the campaign season begin! The battle for Superintendent of Public Instruction is gonna be tight!
posted by mrgrimm at 8:55 AM on October 5, 2010

Now we see the beginnings of the slick marketing backed by huge dollars that national political campaigns have become. Look at that photograph in the link, the soft focus, the careful plotting of the message. It was done by professional propagandists (advertising folk). We're getting sold our leaders the way we get sold cars, booze, deodorant, and laundry detergent. And with less honesty.
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:25 AM on October 5, 2010

Hmmm. I meant this link.
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:28 AM on October 5, 2010

I think to be on the safe side, she should reassure us that she's not a pig-fucker, a movie pirate or a dog-kicker as well. Just to cover the bases.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:57 AM on October 5, 2010

I didn't realize she had actually fucked a pig. That makes things interesting.

Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell and Democratic Senate candidate Chris Coons will participate in a nationally televised debate on CNN on Oct 13th.

How embarrassing.
posted by mrgrimm at 11:11 AM on October 5, 2010

In related news: Tea Party, Joe The Plumber Now Targeting Man's Best Friend.
posted by ericb at 11:22 AM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

I didn't realize she had actually fucked a pig.

Well, so far, she certainly hasn't denied it, is all I'm sayin'.
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:48 AM on October 5, 2010

In related news: Tea Party, Joe The Plumber Now Targeting Man's Best Friend.

That's pretty good, but it's still the dogoodnik liberals telling people what they can do with their own property (even if that property includes animals in hellish conditions). I see it spun the other way just as easily.

Contrary to what you might think, the Humane Society is "not your local pet shelter but an east coast fundraising organization" and an "extremist organization" like PETA.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:05 PM on October 5, 2010

Contrary to what you might think, the Humane Society is "not your local pet shelter but an east coast fundraising organization" and an "extremist organization" like PETA.

Oooh, that is grim, mister.
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:54 AM on October 6, 2010

Every major contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination who isn’t currently holding office and isn’t named Mitt Romney is now a paid contributor to Fox News.
posted by Artw at 2:25 PM on October 6, 2010 [5 favorites]

They used to use the American Red Cross as a temp agency for out-of-office Republicans. I think I prefer it when Fox News fills that role.
posted by Jimmy Havok at 3:29 PM on October 6, 2010

i want credit for coining - "Christine the teabagging witch" okay?
posted by agservices at 7:53 PM on October 7, 2010

Christine O'Donnell's latest ad: 'I didn't go to Yale.'

Yeah ... that's right. And you didn't go to Oxford and Claremont Graduate University in California, as you have previously claimed!
posted by ericb at 7:35 AM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I bet she did go to Yale.
posted by CunningLinguist at 11:03 AM on October 8, 2010 [6 favorites]

Anybody watching SNL lately and if so what are they doing with this fertile, fertile material?
posted by angrycat at 1:06 PM on October 8, 2010

I didn't go to Yale, either! I should run for Congress!
posted by rtha at 1:18 PM on October 8, 2010

Yeah -- but you went to Dartmouth, AMIRITE?
posted by ericb at 1:20 PM on October 8, 2010

Anybody watching SNL lately and if so what are they doing with this fertile, fertile material?

Oh, they're having fun!
posted by ericb at 1:22 PM on October 8, 2010

Yeah -- but you went to Dartmouth, AMIRITE?

Totally different from those secret-society-having-egghead-being Yalies! We spent all our time throwing up at frat parties and skiing down stairways!
posted by rtha at 1:30 PM on October 8, 2010

And I hear that Yale is totally gay! ; )

The Gay Ivy!
posted by ericb at 1:33 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

O’Donnell On Whether Global Warming Is Man-Made: ‘I Don’t Have An Opinion On That’.
posted by ericb at 1:46 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Anybody watching SNL lately and if so what are they doing with this fertile, fertile material?

Oh, they're having fun!

Last Saturday's parody of the "I am not a witch" ad.
posted by mrgrimm at 10:38 AM on October 11, 2010

I saw that parody, and I have to tell you, the original was better.
posted by Mister_A at 11:58 AM on October 11, 2010

Last Saturday's parody of the "I am not a witch" ad.

"...since I moved to Delaware from the Black Forest of Germany almost 3,000 years ago."

Madame, I knew Frau Totenkinder. I feared Frau Totenkinder. Madame, you are no Frau Totenkinder.
posted by homunculus at 8:16 AM on October 12, 2010

The original was perfect. SNL was just stabbing for relevance.

"In what sense, Burhanistan?"
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:56 PM on October 12, 2010

"What's the 'meaning' of these 'quotes'?"
posted by Mister_A at 1:32 PM on October 12, 2010

"In what respect..."

Oh, all of them.
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:39 PM on October 12, 2010

I stand corrected.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:48 AM on October 13, 2010