Politico Stirs The GOP Pot

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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.

Continue reading Politico Stirs The GOP Pot →

Shorter Ace: ‘Bitches Lie’

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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.
 

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

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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

 

Sean Hannity Flummoxed By Michelle Malkin

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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.

Republican Fascism And Raaaaacism

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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.

‘Embattled.’ IYKWIMAITYD.

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Shortly after reporters begin to call a politician “embattled,” it’s usually not long before he announces he needs to “spend more time with his family.” See if you can figure out why this particular politician became “embattled” recently:

Receipts from embattled Southaven Mayor Greg Davis reveal . . .

Uh-oh. “Reveal” – if you’re a politician, you know you’re in trouble when they use that word.

. . . that he had the city pay for wide-ranging expenses . . .

Well, OK: “Expenses.” I’m sure these were entirely legitimate expenses. But what does “wide-ranging” mean?

. . . including thousands of dollars worth of liquor, expensive dinners at a local restaurant . . .

No harm, no foul.  The mayor was probably entertaining VIPs –businessmen who might want to locate their next factory in Southhaven. “Economic development,” etc. I’m sure it’s legit, but if the citizens object, Mayor  Davis can just reimburse those expenses to make everything hunky-dory.

. . . and a visit to an adult store catering to gay men while on a recruitment trip to Canada.

Oh.

Might be kind of a problem there. Because this guy’s the mayor of Southaven, which isn’t in Connecticut and isn’t a suburb of New York. It’s in northern Mississippi and is a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee:

Davis conceded publicly for the first time in an interview with [the Memphis Commercial Appeal] that he is gay and has struggled to keep the issue from affecting his public life as mayor of Mississippi’s third-largest city.
“At this point in my life and in my career, while I have tried to maintain separation between my personal and public life, it is obvious that this can no longer remain the case,” Davis said Thursday afternoon at his Southaven home. “While I have performed my job as mayor, in my opinion, as a very conservative, progressive individual — and still continue to be a very conservative individual — I think that it is important that I discuss the struggles I have had over the last few years when I came to the realization that I am gay.”

Yeah. He “came to the realization” only after he got himself elected mayor. I’m sure Davis never had the slightest inkling or suspicion that he might be sexually attracted to men until “the last few years.” But never mind when it was that the mayor first “came to the realization” about all this. Because I’m sure the voters in Southaven will be forgiving toward this liberal Democrat.

. . . Davis, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2008 on a conservative, family-values platform . . .

Oh.

Davis spent thousands of dollars at the Mesquite Chop House in Southaven and thousands more at local liquor stores. Also included in the receipts is a charge for $67 at Priape, a store in Toronto that is described by its website as “Canada’s premiere gay lifestyle store and sex shop.”
Davis said he didn’t remember what he bought at the store . . .

Look, I can’t imagine what that $67 was about, but couldn’t the mayor have at least bought this stuff at an American store?

Because they sell everything at Amazon. IYKWIMAITYD.

And, finally:

“I had already planned to take off and spend time with my family over the holidays,” Davis said.

Some things are entirely predictable. NTTAWWT.