The Other McCain

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

‘Signs of Strain Within the Campaign’ UPDATE: You Call This ‘Rumors’?

Posted on | July 3, 2011 | 26 Comments

Politico has a story today about “speed bumps” for the Herman Cain campaign, a couple parts of which I’ll quote:

The move . . . comes after weeks of swirling rumors between Cain’s staff and volunteers in the Hawkeye State accusing each other of affairs, homosexuality and professional misconduct.
“A lot of volunteers, who worked hard for five months, are all leaving the campaign,” said one Iowa volunteer.
Other signs of strain within the campaign are more visible.
One Cain supporter, who attended an overcrowded rally for the candidate, witnessed [Tina] Goff break down in tears when the event flooded into the hallway and was eventually forced to move to a larger auditorium nearby.
Charlie Gruschow, one of Cain’s remaining Iowa staffers, was shocked by the resignations, but that he didn’t think it would make a dent in Cain’s Iowa support.

OK, in order of appearance:

  • Affairs? Homosexuality? Professional misconduct? I find it hard to believe that Politico would just throw those kinds of “swirling rumors” out there without any source or, y’know, actual facts. Exactly who is accusing whom of what? You can’t just suggest stuff like that without any substantiation at all.
  • Tina Goff, who subsequently quit the campaign, “broke down in tears”? Because an event was overcrowded? To quote Tom Hanks: “There’s no crying in baseball,” and I dare say there’s no crying in politics, despite Speaker Boehner’s tendency to get choked up from time to time.
  • Charlie Gruschow is still on board Team Herman. This is important, because Gruschow is one of the key Tea Party people who backed Cain early.

I blogged this situation Thursday, and have continued making inquiries about the story. There has been a perception among some of Cain’s supporters — and I mean people who are 100% pro-Herman — that the work of his campaign staff hasn’t been exemplary, and that some opportunities have been missed as a result. But I hasten to point out that Ronald Reagan had serious trouble with his staff during the 1980 campaign, and Reagan didn’t fix that problem until after the New Hampshire primary. So any Chicken Little sky-is-falling reaction among Cain’s supporters is obviously premature.

UPDATE: OK, the “swirling rumors” were obviously what had to be chased down first. What I have learned is that a former Cain staffer was once reportedly the treasurer of a local gay-pride organization in a midwestern state (not Iowa). So there’s your “homosexuality” rumor nailed. As to the rumored “affairs,” I am told that two former Cain staffers were reportedly boyfriend and girlfriend and were said to be engaged in (horrors) premarital cohabitation.

I’m not sure what  “professional misconduct” is being alleged, but if this is the best they can do on the “homosexuality” and “affairs,” you can figure the rest of the “swirling rumors” don’t amount to much.

Please note (a) both of these rumors involved former staffers, (b) none of these “scandals” — if you can call them such — involved the candidate, and (c) I didn’t get any of this from the Cain campaign, but from independent reporting involving sources of my own.

No names are named, because that’s not necessary. As far as I can tell, these “swirling rumors” were molehills that some disgruntled person (or perhaps opposition researchers for GOP rivals) had tried to pretend were mountains.

For Politico to have reported such nonsense — evidently without even trying to track down the facts — is a goddamned disgrace to the profession of journalism, and if I were the editor of Politico, I’d fire the hell out of whoever was responsible for it.

UPDATE II: Please excuse my profanity. The ability to cuss a blue streak was once more or less a prerequisite in the news business, and I challenge any Old School editor to say that this craptastic Politico “rumors swirling” business does not deserve denunciation in the strongest possible terms.

Also, I was angry, because I’ve been covering Cain’s campaign since before there was even a campaign and to think I’d been scooped — beaten — on something really juicy caused me to spend two hours on the phone trying to track down this “swirling rumors” stuff. Then to realize that it was such utter trivia . . .

Oh, hell, no. You don’t do that to me on the Sunday before 4th of July and not expect me to be angry about it.

Now the delayed reaction: Exactly who was originally responsible for the “swirling rumors”? Was this some disgruntled Cain supporter? Because that would be a really lowdown backstabbing way to roll. Or was this “swirling rumors” stuff spread by another GOP candidate’s campaign? Because if I ever were to find out that a Republican was doing a dirty trick like this to Cain, I will name some fucking names.

Excuse my French.

Category: Election 2012, Herman Cain, Iowa

Satan Reads This Blog

Posted on | July 3, 2011 | 47 Comments

And by “Satan,” of course I mean Amanda Marcotte:

The story begins with a man named Thomas Ball, who committed suicide in the most horrific way, by setting himself on fire in front of a New Hampshire courthouse. . . . Despite the deep wrongness of his cause . . . a number of anti-feminist types have declared him a hero and a martyr for their cause. Ball also characterized himself as a Tea Partier and his act as an act of violent protest against the state, and calls for insurrection and revolt. This has caused his base of support to expand dramatically, and you’re seeing Glenn Reynolds and his wife supporting this act of violence. . . .
Well, now all sorts of wingnuts are flipping out and calling me “evil”, and even, flatteringly, comparing me to the whore of Babylon. . . .

You can read the whole thing, but only if you first say your prayers and cover your computer with garlic to ward off Her Diabolic Evilness. Otherwise, you might become possessed and cut your hair in bangs. (So as to hide the “666” on your forehead.)

It should be noted that I am anti-suicide as much as I am anti-terrorism and anti-feminism. If we’re assigning a five-star rating system to evils, suicide is at least four stars, slightly below terrorism and feminism, which are among several evils tied at 4-and-half stars. (Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is 5 stars.)

Neither did I proclaim Thomas Ball “a martyr and a hero,” and I think both Glenn Reynolds and the Instawife would dispute Marcotte’s tendentious characterization of their writing on this subject.

And I didn’t “compare” Amanda Marcotte to the whore of Babylon. Evidently, metaphor and hyperbole were among those subjects omitted from the curriculum, along with humor and self-awareness, at the Demonic Advanced Mephistophelean Nerd-Blogging Institute for Trolls and Cat-Hoarders . . . Read more

Category: Blogging, Feminism, Rule 4

Genesis 12:3

Posted on | July 3, 2011 | 19 Comments

“And I will bless them that bless thee,
and curse him that curseth thee . . .”

Disagreements about foreign policy are one thing. Jew-hating is something else. When someone says, “Zionists not welcome,” watch out.

Da Tech Guy informs us that some unpleasantness has developed among counter-jihad bloggers, requiring me to say: I’m with Pamela Geller.

I stand by my concern about the increasing antisemitism in the ranks of the admins at the EDL. We have no intention of breaking with the EDL if they purge these antisemitic elements. If they do not, they will be finished as a force for good in England. I was immediately reassured that these rogue elements would be routed out. End of story.

Like Da Tech Guy, I come to this controversy without any knowledge of the backstory that caused Baron Bodissey to address an open letter to Pamela, and with no enmity toward anyone involved in this dispute. I note that my friend Stogie at Saberpoint signed the open letter, as did Diana West. Given that these people were staunch allies of Pamela during her war with Charles Johnson, I do not doubt the seriousness of the controversy, nor do I question the sincerity of their concern.

On the other hand, if Pamela detects a tendency toward anti-Semitism among some members of the English Defense League, shouldn’t concern be directed toward dumping the Jew-haters — or at least correcting a dangerous misimpression — rather than chastising Pamela?

Leaving aside entirely whatever led to this dispute (again I profess ignorance of the backstory), doesn’t it seem politically prudent for the EDL to err on the side of caution as regards any hint of tolerance toward anti-Semites? And if Pamela had cause to complain, doesn’t this suggest that at least the EDL has been less cautious than they should have been?

Better the blessing than the curse, I say. And some people might be surprised how faithful God is to His promises.

UPDATE: Thanks to Zilla of the Resistance for calling attention to the post with which Pamela Geller stirred up this blog storm, including this key sentence:

Notorious blogger Max Blumenthal at the Huffington Post have even gone so far as to call the EDL “Atlas’s Thugs.” And I never wavered.

Read the whole thing. Again, I profess ignorance of the backstory, but surely the fact that she’s hated by Max Blumenthal is all the justification any conservative needs to support Pamela.

Category: Atlas Shrugs, Great Britain, Islam, Israel

Michele Bachmann Boogies!

Posted on | July 3, 2011 | 23 Comments

Will this cost her the Baptist vote?

Shane Vander Hart has more of Bachmann’s Des Moines Tea Party rally.

I hadn’t realized, or perhaps didn’t remember, that Shane lives in Iowa. (Note to self: Apply for sofa-crashing privileges.)


Category: Caffeinated Thoughts, Election 2012, Iowa, Michele Bachmann, Religion, Tea Party, Video

FMJRA 2.0: Light & Magic

Posted on | July 3, 2011 | 4 Comments

The Beast of Babylon Wears Bangs: Amanda Marcotte’s ‘Pure Feminist Evil’

Dude.

Rule 5 Sunday: Just Another High

Legalize Fireworks Now!

Good News: College Democrats Succeed in Recruiting Stupid Ugly Losers! (Video)

Euro-Doom Looming?

Expecting the Unexpected

KIA: Cars for Creeps? Company Claims Brazilian Agency’s Ad Was Unauthorized

FMJRA 2.0: No One Driving

‘Brady Bunch’ Mom Florence Henderson’s Wholesome Image Will Never Be the Same

LIVE AT FIVE – 06.27.11

‘World’s Largest Natural Breasts’?

VIDEO: Greek Meltdown?

The Semi-Smear

‘Marriage’ Is A Complete Concept

BREAKING: Blagojevich Convicted

Happy Anniversary, ‘Recovery Summer’

Other People’s Children

Arrest of British LulzSec Hacker Renews Questions About Barrett Brown’s Activity

LIVE AT FIVE – 06.28.11

Did Obama’s Campaign Manager Help Spin Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’?

‘A More Perfect Union’?

LIVE AT FIVE – 06.29.11

Dear Stacy

LIVE AT FIVE – 06.30.11

Obama Must Be Defeated

Greeks Riot as Parliament Approves Budget Cuts to Avoid Debt Default

Mark Halperin Apologizes for Being Right

Labor Unions Kill Jobs. Period.

Amazon Goes Galt, Cuts Off California to Avoid Internet Tax in Zimbabwe, U.S.A.

Self-Proclaimed Pagan Rob Taylor Lectures Conservatives on Morality?

Jeff Bezos Is John Galt

LIVE AT FIVE – 07.01.11

Nothing Jeopardizes My Pawlenty Support Like The Thought Of McCotter Running For POTUS

New York Times to Herman Cain: ‘Hey, You’re Kind of Black, Aren’t You?’

Newt’s Jewelry Industry Stimulus Plan

Daily Beast Writer Claims Obama Is a Victim of Washington’s ‘Pundit Class’

Ruh-Roh: Rick Perry Staffing Up In Iowa? And What About Sarah Palin? In Or Out?

Why Doesn’t Obama Come Right Out And Say “Democrats Want to Raise Taxes”?

Top linkers this week:

  1. (tie) The Pro From Poca and The Lonely Conservative (10)
  2. Troglopundit (7)

Thanks to all for their links this past week. You know where to send your links; do it by July 8 if you want to be numbered among the worthy.

Category: FMJRA Award

The 7 Millionth Hit Approaches

Posted on | July 3, 2011 | 23 Comments

The SiteMeter total this morning was nearing 6,990,000 visits, meaning that we are now within 10,000 hits of the 7-million mark.

As we are currently averaging more than 8,000 hits a day, we should cross this traffic threshold tomorrow, the 4th of July, which seems entirely appropriate. Incidentally, we set a new record for monthly traffic in June — nearly 300,000 hits — and we thank all our readers, as well as all the blogs who’ve linked us. According to e-Referrer.com, our Top Ten sources of traffic are:

10. Google
9. Conservatives4Palin
8. Legal Insurrection
7. Yahoo
6. Memeorandum
5. Ace of Spades HQ
4. Twitter
3. Our former Blogspot site
2. Hot Air
1. Instapundit

One of the common complaints of newbie bloggers is that it’s impossible for them to break through into the top ranks of the blogosphere, because Big Bloggers hog up all the traffic. But notice that two of our top referrers — Conservatives4Palin and Legal Insurrrection — didn’t even exist when I started blogging full-time in March 2008. Read more

Category: Blogging, How to Get a Million Hits on Your Blog

Ghouls for Ginsberg?

Posted on | July 3, 2011 | 10 Comments

Jason at RightKlik recoils at the liberal ghoulishness:

Apparently apropos of nothing in particular, the New York Times has now started the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Death Watch™ . . .
Category: Supreme Court

John Cornyn Endorses Obama on Taxes

Posted on | July 3, 2011 | 24 Comments

No sooner had I urged Republicans to call out President Obama for his “tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires” rhetoric than Texas Sen. John Cornyn goes squish:

Texas Sen. John Cornyn this morning laid out a political blueprint for comprehensive tax reform, declaring that he favors raising taxes on some American businesses by closing corporate “tax expenditures” as part of a “revenue neutral” deal that lowered overall tax rates. . . .
The San Antonio Republican said there is bipartisan support for “revenue neutral” tax reform that eliminated “tax expenditures” while lowering the rates paid by the vast majority of businesses.
“Our tax code is riddled with a lot of tax expenditures that don’t make sense,” said Cornyn, citing federal subsidies to the ethanol industry as one example of an unjustified corporate tax break.
He rejected the contention from some Republican conservatives that closing tax loopholes amounts to a politically unacceptable tax increase.
“That’s revenue neutral,” Cornyn said on Fox. “That’s not raising taxes.”

Well, senator, when you begin by ceding Obama’s rhetorical premise, how to you expect to win the argument? Don’t you understand that Obama is not negotiating in good faith, and that a pro-growth tax deal of the sort you describe is not possible under the current administration? Does it not then follow that no such “revenue neutral” reform is possible until Obama is defeated?

We remember that it was Cornyn and the National Republican Senatorial Committee who endorsed RINO Charlie Crist against Marco Rubio in the Florida primary.

UPDATE: Permit me to acknowledge that so-called “tax expenditures,” commonly called “loopholes,” are a bad idea in general. In his 1991 book, Parliament of Whores, P.J. O’Rourke produced his own balanced budget plan that included a complete zeroing-out of loopholes. But O’Rourke’s budget was a draconian slash-and-burn — Grover Norquist’s wildest libertarian wet dream — that saved billions through cruel simplicity, e.g.: “I got rid of all transportation spending. Let ’em walk.”

Are Obama and the Democrats ever going to agree to O’Rourkean spending cuts? Oh, hell, no. And the fact is that we wouldn’t have reached the debt-ceiling limit until 2013 if Obama, Pelosi and Reid hadn’t gone on a massive two-year deficit-spending spree. Having thus forced this crisis upon us prematurely, then, why do Democrats now get to insist that “millionaires and billionaires” pay the freight for their failed Keynesian policies?

Screw that. Let ’em walk.

Category: Barack Obama, Budget, Senate, Taxes, Texas
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