The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Minnesota Republican Resigns Post Over Allegation of ‘Inappropriate’ Relationship

Posted on | December 18, 2011 | 24 Comments

This news was a shock to me, involving allegations — and we must stress that these are only allegations at this point — against a female politician whom I have actually met:

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch resigned from her leadership post the day after fellow Republicans confronted her about allegations that she had an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member.
“We’re here today with a lot of humility and some sadness and even shock,” interim Senate Majority Leader Geoff Michel said Friday at a hastily called Capitol news conference. . . .
Koch could not be reached for comment Friday. Michel and the others refused to identify the staffer by name.
Michel and other senators said they had heard from several staffers over the past two weeks that Koch was having a relationship with one of her direct subordinates. They said that when they confronted Koch on Wednesday night, she didn’t admit to the relationship or deny it.
“Her response to the conversation was …’I think I need to consider resigning,’ “ said Assistant Senate Majority Leader David Hann, R-Eden Prairie. . . .
Not long after the news conference, Michel announced that Michael Brodkorb, who was Koch’s powerful communications chief, was no longer employed as a Senate staffer, effective Friday.

(Via TPM and Memorandum.) Gays are celebrating Koch’s downfall because she was an opponent of same-sex marriage. And enemies of Michele Bachmann are celebrating because Koch endorsed Bachmann’s presidential campaign in October. 

As I say, I actually met Amy Koch while I was in Iowa in August. It was at a reception at the Iowa Governor’s Mansion, and I got a photo of Sen. Koch posing with Caffeinated Thoughts blogger Shane Vander Hart:

Of course, this was perfectly innocent, although I’m sure when I get to Iowa next week Shane will kill me for posting this. But how were we to know, in August, that Sen. Koch would subsequently be embroiled in a scandal? And I think this illustrates another unfortunate aspect of such a situation: Once a person is accused of an “inappropriate” relationship, this creates a shadow of suspicion about all of their other relationships.

Maybe Shane and I can hold a joint press conference in Iowa:

Bloggers Claim ‘We Did Not Have Inappropriate
Relations With That Woman, Senator Koch’

 

Category: Minnesota, Scandal

‘Fatwa’ Against Bollywood Actress

Posted on | December 18, 2011 | 27 Comments

Model and actress Veena Malik’s appearance on cover of the men’s magazine FHM caused a huge controversy in Pakistan, including threats of a fatwa from a Muslim cleric:

She claimed she only posed topless for FHM, but that photos were doctored to make her look completely naked.
Since the pictures appeared of her, with just an ISI (an acronym for the Pakistan spy agency) fake tattoo on her arm, she has been the subject of death threats from militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba.
The Lahore-based militants issued a statement saying: “She has made fun of all Muslim women and brought shame to the entire nation. Veena Malik will be dealt with accordingly on her return to Pakistan.” . . .
And prominent Muslim cleric Maulana Abdul Qawi warned of a fatwa against Malik for shaming Islam.
Malik said attitudes in Pakistan were from the ‘Stone Age’, adding: “The things I have done in life, I have the guts to stand by. This is my body; this is my life.”
Vowing not to back down she said she was being vilified by her compatriots.
“This attitude, I’m sorry, is in the society. When they say they have become modern, grown up, that’s wrong. They still live in the Stone Age.”
In a text to journalists Pakistan’s military press office said the scandal was “the height of humiliation for Pakistan, done by a Pakistani on Indian soil”.

(Via Memeorandum.) There was a two-day panic after Veena Malik’s manager said she went missing Friday, but today the news came that she was “fine and in a hotel in Mumbai.”

The concerns for her safety highlight the “Stone Age” attitudes Malik had complained about. Americans may agree that posing for nude photos is shameful, but nobody has issued a fatwa against Lindsay Lohan.

Category: Pakistan

Politico Stirs The GOP Pot

Posted on | December 17, 2011 | 7 Comments

by Smitty

According to Politico, a phalanx of Herman Cain accusers disguised themselves as the House GOP and staged a telephonic cat fight* over the Senate’s two month payroll tax holiday package:

In a private conference call on Saturday afternoon, rank-and-file House Republicans complained bitterly about the contents of the deal, which would extend through February the president’s Social Security tax cut, unemployment insurance and Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors. The sweetener of a provision requiring the president to expedite consideration of the Keystone XL oil pipeline wasn’t enough to offset the bitterness of a deal that gives the president two more months to pillory Republicans on a tax cut that is one of his most popular policies.
Republican leaders were warned that they could expect a rebellion if lawmakers are forced to vote on the Senate version of the bill, according to a source on the line.

The two month tax holiday passed 89-10 in the Senate. Interestingly, as you read Power Line, it was the $1 trillion continuing resolution to fund the government that was the harder sell, passing 67-32, eliciting some high dudgeon from some geezer named John McCain (a relative of the marquee name on this blog, I guess)

“Here we are again,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). “Not one member of this body has read the 1,221 pages of this bill representing $915 billion of the taxpayers’ money. Here we are with 15 minutes to consider a document representing $915 billion of taxpayers’ money filled with unauthorized, unrequested spending.”

Hey, you know, Senator McCain: that’s 1,221 more reasons why nominating your war record in 2008 and sending it on a bus tour around the country was a suck-tacular idea. Furthermore, it underscores the dangers of allowing the media and the cranial rectalitis setGOP elite decide whose ‘turn’ it is to fumble the ball.

One could rant further about the clowns in charge, but what we really need here is a of
Separated at Birth gag.

Read more

Category: Democrats, Republicans

Bibi, You Rock

Posted on | December 17, 2011 | 9 Comments

by Smitty

Keep on rockin’, Bibi. Maybe you’ll teach #OccupyResoluteDesk something about leadership, in spite of himself.

Via Barbara

Category: Barack Obama, Israel

Shorter Ace: ‘Bitches Lie’

Posted on | December 17, 2011 | 63 Comments

A grossly unfair oversimplification of Ace’s argument? Sure.

But in a multi-candidate Republican primary campaign where everybody’s cutting each other to ribbons, who can complain — if anyone even notices — when I gratuitously play the sexism card?

And isn’t Ace calling the lady a liar?

Michele Bachmann lives in a strange world. People talk about “moral relativism.” Presumably they would claim she’s not a moral relativist.
But truth is an objective fact, is it not?
Ms. Bachmann seems to confuse premises which are politically helpful to her for premises which are actually true.
That seems like moral relativism to me — the world is not as it is, but as I perceive it to be.

Ace is talking about the assertion by Bachmann “that we’ve been hearing all across the country, that money is changing hands” — candidates paying for Tea Party support. Professor William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection says:

You know I have a big problem with Michele Bachmann making statements which are not supported by facts and then repeating them endlessly.
Her campaign is up to much worse in South Carolina, where her local campaign manager has suggested that the Gingrich campaign has paid off Tea Party leaders for support.

Professor Jacobson has hopped aboard the Gingrich bandwagon and is savagely lashing Newt’s critics, as is his right. But notice that this pay-for-play accusation comes from South Carolina, which is to the GOP what Chicago is to the Democratic Party: The dirtiest place on the planet.

A South Carolina Republican primary is always fought according to the Al Davis rule — Just win, baby — and they never heard of a “fair fight.” So either:

  1. Bachmann’s S.C. guy Wesley Donohue is just slinging mud against Gingrich; or
  2. Gingrich and perhaps unnamed others are indeed bribing Tea Party activists for their support.

Are the pay-for-play accusations unproven? Yes, but so were the sexual harassment accusations against Herman Cain, yet the accusations were enough to drive Cain out of the race. And furthermore, just because Bachmann can’t prove that the Gingrich campaign is paying for endorsements doesn’t mean that Bachmann is lying when she says she has “been hearing all across the country” that such shenanigans are afoot.

Maybe the people telling Bachmann this stuff are paranoid, and certainly it is irresponsible for a candidate to repeat such stuff without proof. But you can accuse Bachmann of being a loose cannon without saying she’s engaged in “moral relativism.”

Grossly unfair oversimplification, you see.

Being aboard the Santorum Express myself, I should be happy to sit quietly while Michele Bachmann is accused of lying. Bachmann and Santorum appeal to the same pool of social conservative voters who are crucial in Iowa, so if Ace and Professor Jacobson are calling her a liar, the “smart” thing to do would be to say, “They’re right! You can’t trust that lying hussy!”

Ah, but why do what’s merely “smart,” when genius is an option? Because Professor Jacobson is a Gingrich supporter, and the two-bank carom shot is this headline: 

Gingrich Supporter Calls Bachmann a Liar

But did I say genius? Here’s Ace proclaiming his own allegiance after Thursday’s debate:

I thought Perry did well. He’s still my pick.

Ah, so here we have a three-bank carom:

Gingrich, Perry Supporters: ‘Bachmann Lies’

As I’ve said before, Ace is ax-grinding against Bachmann because he’s still butt-hurt about the way she carved up Perry in the Tampa debate three months ago.

Dude: Let it go. It’s not worth it.

But I’m “Not Good Enough for BlogCon,” so nobody ever listens to me.

UPDATE: Ron Paul is a uniter, not a divider:

Ron Paul Takes Swipes at GOP Rivals,
Says Michele Bachmann ‘Hates Muslims’

That should boost Bachmann’s InTrade rating. Damn it.
 

Category: Ace of Spades, Legal Insurrection, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, South Carolina, Tea Party

No, Jesse Jackson, Jesus Was An #Occupier To About The Extent You Are Worth Two Hoots As A Reverend

Posted on | December 17, 2011 | 4 Comments

by Smitty

And neither was Martin Luther King an #Occupier:One wonders whether the #Occupie weenies grasp that you are just a tool of the 1%, Jesse? Why don’t you do the entire planet a favor and just retire, sir?

People who call themselves Christians should keep in mind:

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt 7:22-23

Goes for me, too, lest I get too overconfident.

via Gateway Pundit

 

Category: #Occupy

Sean Hannity Flummoxed By Michelle Malkin

Posted on | December 17, 2011 | 30 Comments

by Smitty

At American Power:

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Endorses Mitt Romney
Well, what’s amazing is Nikki Haley is touted as a “tea party favorite.”

But Michelle Malkin calls Romney a progressive at the video. She calls Gingrich a progressive as well. It’s an excellent discussion, and badly needed. Sean Hannity’s a little flummoxed with Michelle. Should the grassroots be lining up behind Gov. Haley for a Romney endorsement? It’s all about beating Obama, right?


My take on all of the suddenly tight undergarments in the press is that they don’t get the subtle wisdom of the Tea Party. Sure, conservatives learned the lesson of Perot in ’92: excessive purity buys eight years of Bubba in the White House. However, there are a variety of reasons to refuse to coalesce around any candidate until the GOP convention:

  • All of the candidates need a friendly napalm shower to vulcanize them for the campaign proper, when Obama shows just what a transformational, healing unifier he is. The GOP nominee will stand accused of everything short of being a terrorist insurgent from Bulungi. Prep responses now.
  • When the Tea Party lends its support, the nominee had better know that the Progressive Era isn’t restin’, ain’t pinin’ for the fjords, it is effing DEAD. Actual reform had better ensue, or the nominee can expect backlash. Tea Partiers are getting their realpolitik in early.
  • Also dead: the whole cult of personality thing. Personal regard is where you find it, and it’s great if you can be friendly toward your candidate, and they toward you. But they Are Not Your Friend. Whoever gets to come in and tidy up after #OccupyResoluteDesk is going to have to make tough calls. Step on toes that might be connected to your feet. Club your illusions about rapid policy improvements like a baby seal.

Romney is being quite savvy in lining up the Christine O’Donnell and Nikki Haley support. These are the fresh faces that can hopefully give him a personality transplant, at least temporarily.

Category: American Power, Michelle Malkin, Politics, Republicans

Republican Fascism And Raaaaacism

Posted on | December 17, 2011 | 11 Comments

by Smitty

Yet another superb Bill Whittle outing:

Now that you have a clear idea of the historical basis for ‘fascism’, here goes Larry Johnson:

The core of conservatism is the belief in the inalienable rights of the individual and the limits imposed on Federal power in order to protect and preserve those rights. But none of the Republicans, with the exception of Ron Paul, believe in the limited power of government. To the contrary.
All willingly embrace the claim, first by the Bush Administration and now by Obama, that the Federal Government can declare a person a “terrorist” or a “terrorist supporter” and hold that person indefinitely without recourse to a court. If you are younger than 38 years old you probably do not remember much of the Cold War with the Soviet Union and Communist China. But there was a time when the United States resolutely opposed and fought against those authoritarian regimes. Yes, fascists and communists. Those governments insisted they could declare someone an enemy of the state and, by virtue of their declaration, do whatever they wanted to that person.

Johnson’s theory seems to be that the United States Constitution was somehow ratified everywhere, and that the rights of our citizens apply universally. The nearest I can come to agreeing with Johnson is saying that, yeah, the notion of the Laws of War is firmly rooted somewhere in the past, probably in the roaring ’20s, before they got around to outlawing war in the early ’30s, and proceeded to gear up for WWII.

Yes, one can largely agree with the complaints about Senate Bill 1867, especially where it seems to blow by posse comitatus. Or at least the some Congressmen can explain the missing nuance here:

Racism was another topic in Whittle’s essay. On that topic, Stogie over at Saberpoint actually has links to Ron Paul’s (in)famous newsletters, which end up being kind of ho-hum, for a bit of light perusal:

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am not a supporter of Ron Paul. Paul is a paleolibertarian, and as such, holds foreign policy views that seem similar to those on the far left. For that reason, I cannot support him as a candidate. However, truth is truth and fair is fair. Ron Paul’s views on race are often tactless and unhelpful, but not necessarily wrong.

Category: Conservatism 101, Culture, Ron Paul
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