Thinking Right

By jbmlaw

January 29, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this

Good evening all. Since Guiliani was my second choice, I perceive that I offer a jbmlaw curse to anyone I am inclined to support in the primary. (And indeed I do not recall picking a non-incumbent winner in a presidential primary, although I supported Nixon in 1968 - not quite old enough to vote then.) With great trepidation I move on to my third choice, Mitt. Just to preclude the curse, however, I will vote for Fred next week anyway.

By jbmlaw

January 29, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this

Pall Mall Can’t Spall. Giuliani.

By Camus

January 29, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this

You were right, Glenn!!

Rudy 9iu11iani trounced both Ron Paul and the Rev Huckleberry. The Florida strategy paid off big time!

Consider me awed.

By Camus

January 29, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this

You were right, Glenn!!

Rudy 9iu11iani trounced both Ron Paul and the Rev Huckleberry. The Florida strategy paid off big time!

Consider me awed.

By Camus

January 29, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this

Republicans everywhere continue to lament their inability to vote for Reagan ‘08. The lawyer-like jbm, making lemons out of lemonades, decides that since he can’t vote for a corpse, he’ll vote for a near-corpse instead.

Yes, I am enjoying this.

By Glenn

January 29, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this

Well, I’d call it a noble failure, except that it’s been an extraordinarily poorly run race so far, and as I was of little help I feel partly to blame, in a peckerwood way. (So poorly run that even the Dem neophytes who feign worldliness can make a parlor game of the campaign’s post mortem—-its flaws were that obvious.)

What I am certain of is that McCain is a faux conservative, Romney a truth-challenged faux conservative, and Huckabee just plain faux. All three of them have chatterboxed their way to fame & fortune by meeting leftists half way. This is no time for that kind of compromise; that is the worst, most facile kind of unearned cynicism. Real scumbucket stuff.

Rudy was the authentic conservative, not in the Schlafly sense, but rather by his fruits. McCain’s conservative (as distinguished from his moderate or even liberal) fruits? Scant and fitful. Romney’s conservative fruits? Limited to the private sector. Huckabee’s? Non-existent. Rudy’s? Surprisingly extensive, and all of them right under the noses of Manhattan liberals who still resent him for his dexterity.

That nonsense about incest was shameless oppo crap (and quite expensive, I understand). The libels about his multiply felonious lobbying? Straight out of Hillary’s shop, brought to you by CNN care of Bloomberg—-that’s the established trapline. The stuff about his billing the City for his “affair”? Impossible. Not possible. Not billable, not voluntary. In every case the press was either too tendentious or too utterly broken to perform even the rudiments of Journalism 101. They dislike Rudy; they distrust Romney; they like McCain; they love Hillary.

Still, how ludicrous to base a campaign on Rudy’s 9/11 performance, as if one cent should have been spent on media buys to tell the American People what they already knew searingly. How lame to bet all-in on national security for content and Florida for field of battle, instead of hammering home a three-point message wherever the primaries and caucuses took him. (Skipping either Iowa or NH if necessary.)

The rap on Rudy for years has been that he’s too arrogant and independent to be anyone’s No. 2. His only shot at VP is to throw in with McCain (not Romney) now, immediately, to show that he can toe the line and subordinate himself and then, that he can keep his commitments loyally. McCain thinks he’s going up against Hillary, and Rudy the Prosecutor, Rudy the Actual New Yorker, Rudy the Partner of one of the largest multinational law firms in the world, will be very helpful against her. Moreover, McCain knows how it feels to be discounted for VP because of a perceived excess of vanity and independence.

If Rudy does not hitch to McCain, then he will be out of politics for the time being, and free to go after those who have harmed him tortiously in the past months. The Public Figure Doctrine never did excuse actual malice, and those Paisans have elephantine memories.

By Dennis

January 29, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this

I hate to bust youze guys bubbles, but do you really want and trust any of these dudes to lead you and the country?

Awed? Awed?!

Sure, they’ve got the connections, the money, the corporations running to suck up to them. But, hey! Do any of them really give a damn about YOU?

And I’ll be truthful, I feel the same way about the Dems, but on this 2008 go’round, I just can’t vote Republican. And if Hillary gets the nomination, I probably won’t vote at all.

Some of the stuff I read on these posts sometimes — and I wonder, just what does it take to get some folks mad instead of bending over and saying, “Kick me in the … some more.”

You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

By Glenn

January 29, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this

Dennis,

I’m not a McCainiac, but that man is nobody’s tool, least of all Big Business’s. He resents them more than even you do. Know why? He thinks they corrupted his party. He also knows the extent to which they corrupted the Democratic Party. (As witness where Bill’s and Hillary’s real money comes from.) So if that’s your hang up, then McCain’s your candidate (unless you want to stand on ceremony with Dr. Paul).

In any event, prosperity comes from enterprise, big prosperity from big enterprise. We need prosperity. The trick is to get it without giving in return any of our patrimony. That was Theodore Roosevelt’s specialty. TR is McCain’s lifelong political hero. My wife, who worked for the man for two years (something I refused to do), says that his staff knows the extent to which he’s made use of the Congressional library. TR stuff. Like, all of it.

This is not some psych profile or something, just a tell to keep in mind.

I could understand your mistaking Romney for a plutocrat. Who knows? Maybe he is one. The man is mistaken for a lot of things, some of which he actually is. Make sense? No. Exactly.

What we ought to do now, Dennis, is learn as much as we can about Obama. The press is asleep at the switch as usual, and the guy is a virtual unknown. Hillary’s oppo shop is trying to fill a vacuum of background knowledge on him, and anything derived from her manipulators is no “knowledge” at all. Who the hell is this guy? A Chinese plant? A Stalinist sleeper? A dying satyr, like JFK? A born leader and patriot? A cheap, lazy opportunist, like Jesse Jackson or Ross Perot?

By KYJurisDoctor

January 29, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this

GREAT news for John Mcain. Now let’s rid ourselves of Mitt “I’ll flip flop on any issue” Romney.

http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2008/01/as-expected-here-mitt-ill-flip-flop-on.html#links

By KYJurisDoctor

January 29, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this

GREAT news for John Mcain. Now let’s rid ourselves of Mitt “I’ll flip flop on any issue” Romney.

http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2008/01/as-expected-here-mitt-ill-flip-flop-on.html#links

By UGA75

January 30, 2008 3:57 AM | Link to this

As a lifelong Republican, I can assure you that if McCain is the nominee I will never under any circumstances vote for him. There is no difference between John and Ted Kennedy, except John hasn’t killed any women we know of. McCain is the ultimate Republican in name only (RINO), so should he get the nomination, we will be left with Democrat A or B, but no conservative voice anywhere to be heard.

Romney isn’t the ideal Candidate, he is a Yankee, doesn’t like the South or the people who live here, he does resemble a waffle or a pair of flip flops;but comparing him with McCain makes Romney looks like the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan.

A vote for McCain is a vote for the Democratic leadership and positions. Just check how many Republican Senator’s McCain has co-sponsored bills with, then check how many Democrats he has co-sponsored bills with, including the famous Kennedy-McCain Amnesty. No wonder the Georgia Democrats are having trouble deciding which of 3 Democrats to vote for, Clinton, Obama, or McCain.

By Political Foreskin

January 30, 2008 5:32 AM | Link to this

McCain’s problems stem from his war record. We are expected to believe that a sidewinder missile just accidently went off while he was parked on a deck filled with refueling jets? Can we let a loose cannon like that have his finger on the button? What if the ICBMs he controls just happen to go off?

No, it’s Hillary(Hillary). Hillary(Hillary). Hillary 08 I am I am, Hillary 08 I am!

And you can too.

By Ron Paul Supporter

January 30, 2008 6:39 AM | Link to this

Now I like the Gigilo even LESS if he suppports the socialist McCaint, who will destroy the republicans. BUT, what this does is to further FUEL the rEVOLution of Dr. Ron Paul, who might just get 40+% as the Independent candidate for President!

McCaint is a foolish choice, Florida.

By Bitter EX democrackkk

January 30, 2008 6:47 AM | Link to this

Anyone know the background on McCaint’s wife? Where did all her money come from? Hmm?

RonPaul/Romney 2008!

By RealRep

January 30, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this

Mike looks forward to Febraury 5th!

To Giuliani - ADIOS!, buttface clown. Lots of daylight between mayor and President.

A vote for Romney is a vote for Hillary.

Huckabee ‘08

By Mid-South Philosopher

January 30, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this

Good morning, Jim,

It would seem that the real Republicans are on the verge of rejecting the corporatist element that has dominated the party since 1988. McCain’s victory in a closed primary…especially in Florida…over the heir apparent, as designated by Hannity, Limbaugh, and others, shows that the power of the corporatists is slipping away.

The election on the Republican side has been all about change.

Romney has changed his mind about abortion, gay marriage, and governmental influence in health care.

McCain has changed his mind about immigration and the Bush tax cuts.

Even Rudi, who likely is done now, changed his mind about the nature of judges to appoint.

The one candidate, of relevance,who has not changed is Huckabee. He, of course, admits to being an evangelical Christian and that is the kiss of death with the media. It doesn’t matter that he is the only candidate who supports a true tax reformation plan. It doesn’t matter that he is the only candidate to favor true education reform. He might mention Jesus in the White House, and we just couldn’t have that! He is still perceived as being soft on crime and he is not opposed to a tax increase…albeit…a “fair tax” increase.

Ron Paul hasn’t changed, and he has offered some interesting ideas for domestic policy, but his ardent opposition to taking the fight against Islamist fanatics to those Islamist fanatics is troubling.

Super-duper Tuesday should tell the tale. We shall see.

By GaVoter

January 30, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this

Well, if Ron Paul cannot garner enough delegates for the presidential nomination, maybe he’ll take second place:

McCain/Paul in 2008

I might even vote for:

McCain/Giuliani in 2008

I don’t know though — Giuliani is such a hard name to spell or pronounce for that matter. That’s why we should just skip the VP slot and vote:

Paul in 2008

It’s simple, one syllable, easily chanted.

Paul Paul Paul

By Jack

January 30, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

If huckabee had concentrated more on the fair tax and less on the bible he would be doing much better at the voting booth.

By WTF?

January 30, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

As a native New Yorker who lived through the tyranny & hypocrisy under the Rudolph Guiliani administration, I was ecstatic last night that he came in third & will now concede.

And I am very thankful he did not ride the 9/11 gravy train all the way to the White House. Americans are paying attention.

By ron

January 30, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

John McCain will be the lesser of two weevils on the Repub side and Hillary The lesser for the Dems.Hardly a good way to choose a President.Now let’s see-ponder ,ponder,which one can hurt me the least.Giving the country to Hillary and Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi should make one shudder with fear.Substitute the name John for Hillary and we have the status quo on the Iraq war.After that it’s up for grabs.Substitute the Name Mitt and he and Harry will spend their time talking to Joe Smith.He would give Nancy her big plane though.Nancy would like that.

By OneForTheRoad

January 30, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

I don’t know about any of these “choices” we’re being given for presidential candidates. I care about the economy but it’ll work itself out if we leave it alone. I mean — come on — it’s the politicians that are most worried about the economy. They’re afraid that the tax cuts are coming whether they like it or not because there are fewer decent paying jobs (except for government jobs and CEOs), less spending (except currently by the government), no savings (except by government employees), higher inflation (that currently affects everyone except the government), and falling real estate prices. So, what’s a politician to do in order to ensure his survival? Raise taxes? Leave real estate appraisals artificially elevated? Make new sales taxes? A 30% tax on water? FEES? Hand out more Monopoly[tm] money? Tell people what they want to hear? (What do they want to hear. One thing I’ve got an abundance of is good writers especially with this strike going on. Some of them are really good with that fiction and science fiction and I know some economists that can really work magic with numbers…)

By Camus

January 30, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

I hate to interrupt as the wingnuts assemble their circular firing squad, but how can I resist?

Glenn, your bitterness will destroy you. Stop and smell the roses. And while you’re at it, please get a grip. Your assertion that the press “loves” Hillary is disconnected from reality. This woman has received more negative press over the past 19 years than any person except Bill. An entire media industry has been built around the foundations of Clinton Hate. So please, ammend this error…I will assume that you were blinded by your bitterness over the failure of Rudy’s brilliant strategy.

Which failure I predicted here over a month ago, only to be met with gales of derisive Glenn-isms. Just wait, said Glenn. You’ll see, said Glenn. Well, I’m not one to say I told ya so…

By WTF?

January 30, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Does Rudy Giuliani even have the numbers to help McCain as a 2008 running mate? He may do more harm than good to his campaign.

By MELO

January 30, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this

As long as Mcain wins, we all good.Yu cannot give the country to The Mormon, that is heresy.They b*** more than one wife,incest is rampant in their ranks and the guy is a liberal, look his record.He is now using his money to try and buy the whole of America.We need to stop his agenda and let him know we cannot be bought.Let him bankrupt himself and use whatever millions he wants to buy television time.The more he does, the more we see his wry, dirty and insincere smile and how he is a crossdresser.No substance at the core.We need a war hero to run this country, not these so-called business types(Bush and Cheney included) who have sold the country to the chinese and middle eastern oil men. Mccain vs Hilary,exciting!

By GaVoter

January 30, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

Let’s try to cut Glenn some slack. He did stand by his man after all. All the way down, down, down to Florida where he went down…But, I digress. Time to move ahead. Wooten’s probably right. It’ll be Mitt in 2008 but it’ll be because he has the money to pay for the race — not because he’s the better pick, not because he’s a conservative. That can be remedied though:

Romney/Paul in 2008

By ron

January 30, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

Jim,I didn’t miss the Romney- McCain race part.Stand by your man.

By Camus

January 30, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

I realize that Wooten pays no heed to my humble suggestions for column topics. But like Mitt, I know not to let rejection get me down.

So please, Jim, a few words on how little the endorsement of Rudy Nine-eleven will mean to the McCain campaign. Something along the lines of your little encomium to Sen. Ted Kennedy a few days ago would go a long way to comfort the tender sores of the Romney partisans.

By Redneck Convert

January 30, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

O me! I don’t know why the Lord didn’t answer the prayers of all of us down at the Church of Holiness, but it looks like the Rev. Huckabee lost big time. Maybe the Lord wants to put that librul McCain in the White House to test us, like He done so many times in the Bible. Test us, I mean, not put McCain in the White House. McCain wasn’t even borned back then when God created the earth 4 or 5 thousand years ago so the Lord couldn’t of put him in a White House.

I know I got my troubles this a.m., but I feel sorriest for poor jbmlaw. Poor fellow, he first went for Fred Thompson. Then when Fred slept thru most of the primarys and dropped out he went for this yankee Giuliani. Now it looks like Giuliani will drop out probly because of too many women and not enough sleep. So poor jbmlaw is going for the Mormon Romney. I reckon the Lord is testing jbmlaw more than the rest of us put together. Its what you get when you are a crooked half lawyer that can’t make up your mind.

Anyhow, if McCain wins in the end it will be the Lords Will. We will just have to put up with making the illegals citizens and not allowing Big Money to buy elections and put on viscuous campaign ads and all the stuff this librul stands for. Leastwise, we will get a war with Iran out of the deal. In the end the Lord will Deliver Us and send us a new George W. Bush after we wander around in the wilderness a few years.

And poor Sister Dusty. She got her heart set on Giuliani and now he’s going to leave her at the altar, so to speak. I can’t hardly imagine what she must be going thru this a.m. My advise is just stay out of her way today.

Anyways, the world goes on and people still drink beer so I got to make my deliverys today. Have a good day everybody.

By Dennis

January 30, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

By Glenn January 29, 2008 11:07 PM Dennis, “What we ought to do now, Dennis, is learn as much as we can about Obama. The press is asleep at the switch as usual, and the guy is a virtual unknown…Who the hell is this guy? A Chinese plant? A Stalinist sleeper? A dying satyr, like JFK? A born leader and patriot? A cheap, lazy opportunist, like Jesse Jackson or Ross Perot?

Some good questions, Glenn. but watch out. Next thing you know folks on here will peg you as being another Dennis who’s always a pessimist.

Do you suppose our government snoops have not checked Obama out?

Nut, given the reading of some of James Bamford’s books, and another good one, “The Invisible Government”, I will be the last to say, Obama couldn’t be anything more than a straight arrow.

Well, actually, you don’t need to read any books. Just look at the deceptions of our present administration and its cohorts. Jesus!, we’re almost prisoners in our own nation as it is (and might as well be if the telecom industry gets immunity for the illegal spying on Americans prior to 9/11, and six plus years after that).

That’s where, in part, I was coming from on last night’s post about being kicked in the a_ _. I haven’t seen anyone on here even remotely concerned about it. I watched the hearing yesterday, and let me tell you, it’s damned scary to see congresspersons so taken in with immunity and lying so to try and get it - including Saxby Chambliss.

“My wife, who worked for the man for two years (something I refused to do)….”

You didn’t care to get involved in campaigning?

Corporations are scared of Americans.

You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

By HIDT

January 30, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

Read this: By NEDRA PICKLER Associated Press Published on: 01/30/08 DENVER — Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday, ending a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters’ sympathies but never diverted his campaign, The Associated Press has learned.

Think Nedra has noticed Edwards is a looker? Reads like she’s in love.

By GaVoter

January 30, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

I thought I saw something from Bob Barr about our dwindling freedoms as well. He’s right, you know. Fear is our own worst enemy. Even worse is that fear in the hands of politicians. So, suck it up, I say. I say to you politicians who yearn to find the enemy within — look in a mirror.

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

PoFo,

A politically forensic observation: any attempt to show up McCain’s service record will backfire, as he no doubt knows. The public’s minds, in that regard, are inexorably fixed on something other than deck accidents or midnight mystery tours of Cambodia replete with souvenir boony hats.

Camus,

Partly because you write well, I don’t really mind your relishing your defeat of Rudy Giuliani. It is a little surprising that you have any powder left, however, as I urged you in vain several weeks ago to keep it dry.

Evidently you don’t recall your assumption that to forego Iowa is to lose the race—-an error. And it would seem that you don’t recall your assertion of more than a month ago that Rudy had vacated the race—-another error. And apparently you don’t recall that at that time I informed you that the man had decided to gamble his fortunes and other people’s promisory moneys on Florida, all-in, such that you’d do well to hold your fire until then. And it must be simple convenience for you to ignore that I mentioned to you weeks ago my conclusion that Mr. Giuliani’s grand gamble was mysteriously dire—-in other words, foolhardy.

That is the inventory of my erstwhile “derisive Glenn-isms”. And incidentally, do you suppose that you are a poster child for the fight against the politically derisive?

In any event, that was back before you could have known that Rudy’s Florida strategy was a last-ditch effort at damage control: control of the damage to his campaign done by those who convinced him to stick to a single, wholly gratuitous multimillion dollar message—-in Morse Code, 9-1-1—-instead of a steel-jacketed three-point staccato inevitably encompassing the economy. (As that is was several of us, outside your earshot, in fact urged; it’s wisdom c/o Rollins & Russo, and Ailes.) The significance of his McCain endorsement—-which will be an active and continuously vocal one, as he has the Vice Presidency in view—-is that it boxes Huckabee into a Romney endorsement and brings to McCain a formidable weapons system of anti-Hillary countermeasures.

As for your bizarre assertion that the mainstream media (other than Fox News?) have gone over to the Hillary Hate industry, I have three words: Krippendorf Content Analysis.

By Mike

January 30, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

Just the thought that the presidentail choices might be McCain or Hillary is enough to make me throw up! I wonder if “None of the Above” would win that race??

And by the way, when will the media stop trying to paint their favorites in a good light by changing the language that is used to describe them or their policies. Now it’s “progressives” instead of “liberals”, and “disadvantaged” instead of “poor” and on and on.

I long for the days of the constitution, and weep at its slow demise.

By Adam

January 30, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

It’s certainly not looking good for a conservative voice in the general election. Mitt, even with a history of changed opinions, is the last hope and he appears to be fading fast. Hillary has too much steam for Obama to catch her and we will be left with a McCain / Clinton choice. Sad prospect!

Expect to hear all sorts of optimism about McCain’s crossover appeal in a general election, but make no mistake. Conservatives will sit it out and in the end the dems and clueless independents will vote Hillary in a landslide. Best quote is that of Coulter, “John McCain is Bob Dole minus the charm, conservatism and youth.”

By jbmlaw

January 30, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

Dear Redneck @ 9:20, “I feel sorriest for poor jbmlaw. Poor fellow, he first went for Fred Thompson. Then when Fred slept thru most of the primarys and dropped out he went for this yankee Giuliani. Now it looks like Giuliani will drop out probly because of too many women and not enough sleep. So poor jbmlaw is going for the Mormon Romney. I reckon the Lord is testing jbmlaw more than the rest of us put together. Its what you get when you are a crooked half lawyer that can’t make up your mind.” What do you mean “half?” Besides, I make up my mind a dozen times on every issue. The last time the Lord tested me I got a C minus, so I guess I need to study more.

Advance note to HIDT: after next week Mrs. jbmlaw and I will be fleeing to a remote corner of a remote state, where internet access is sporadic, so I will cede the blogname to you for a couple of weeks.

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Adam, cool Coulterism and a credible analysis from you; I for one buy it (except for that crucial part about the Hillary landslide).

By Disgusted

January 30, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

I long for the days of the constitution, and weep at its slow demise.

Yes, as I was stripping off the remainder of my clothes to undergo a rectal check during screening at the airport on Monday, I wondered what had become of my constitutional rights during this era of strong security in the face of terrorism.

By profit

January 30, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

A vote for McClown is a vote for four more years of war, for the opening of a third war, this time against Iran, and the complete and total destruction of the American dollar. On a lighter note, our Quack lawyer claims to be a corporate lawyer with a corporate supplied limo and driver: that is less than belivable: jmb spend far too much time on the internet, blogging mindlessly, to hold a high level corporate position. If however, by some miracle, he should be telling the truth, I believe his position should be eliminated and the legal services he allegedly provides outsourced. Clearly JMB cannot be doing much, and dumping him will save his salary and perks, which should go directly to the bottom line. I believe it is more likely that jmb is a fake lawyer - why would a real high level corporate lawyer risk his position and reputation by blogging the nonsense jmb blogs on the ajc, and I suspect other websites? Some of the comments he makes are clearly against most corporate codes of behavior (do not make enemies, do not say anything that could embarass the company, etc). No, imho, jmb is either a government lawyer, or a fake lawyer wannabe. your play, clown

By getalife

January 30, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

So, Clinton kicked some major a-ss in Florida. Obama busted in lying about not shaking her hand and donated more Rezko slum lord thousands to charity with more to come with his scandal. This guy can’t be trusted.

rudy and Edwards are history.It will be Clinton vs McInsane and Clinton will destroy that little more war monger.

Bet on it.

By Auntie Kepila

January 30, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

Aloha, jbmlaw!

By OneForTheRoad

January 30, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

Adam,

I would have thought McCain to be Dole minus the viagra — commercial, that is.

By profit

January 30, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

getalife: Hillarity the clown is also owned by the pro israel clowns, and she will continue the war of extermination against the arab peoples of the world, just like the neocons.

By TW

January 30, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Glenn – condolences on last night. Though I disagree with a great many of your premises, I must say that the one thing Rudy had going for him, in my humble opinion, is that the likes of you were in his camp. I do hope that you will continue to post here, as I get more out of a day of following your thoughts/facts than I do from a month of MSM. Were it a perfect world, the likes of your intellect would drive elections. Sadly, it is instead the gas from Coulter, Dobbs, Rush, etc. that will continue to shape our ignorant mass.

By OneForTheRoad

January 30, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

I hear there are some new approaches being tested in airports. One of these is considered to be really thinking outside the box — something we seem to do as well as swiss watchmakers. Anyway, the idea is to simply offer “parallel” flights to all cities. One flight will be advertised as being for elderly and the scantily clad and others who can be clearly seen as incapable of commiting some horrendous act. Now here’s the brilliant part — the other flight will be advertised as one for radicals, extremists, and those that just can’t get along with others. Once we have them on the plane, a Senator (or two) will personally escort them to Guantanamo and show them to their new private quarters. Brilliant! Don’t you think.

By Disgusted

January 30, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

[t]he other flight will be advertised as one for radicals, extremists, and those that just can’t get along with others. Once we have them on the plane, a Senator (or two) will personally escort them to Guantanamo and show them to their new private quarters. Brilliant! Don’t you think.

But perhaps jbmlaw, Duh, and Dusty will consider Guantanamo too confining and warm for their tender natures.

By Dusty

January 30, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Well, all the pundits here have spoken and if there is anything new , where is it?

Guiliani may pull out. He took a chance.

McCain is a war hero. Let him lead a parade.

Romney runs zigzag.

The Democrats are double zero.

Looks like I will write in jbmlaw just to keep him here. He’s trying to run off and leave us. Now if we could get Redneck to run somewhere…..Nawwww. What would we do without our trailer trash?

By profit

January 30, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Dusty, there is a erlynmeyer flask that needs emptying, then do be a good little lab tech, and make a fresh pot of coffee, chop chop.

By Dusty

January 30, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

Disgusted@10:42

The weather at Guantanamo would be just fine but the company of so many resident liberals already there would be suppressive.

By Dusty

January 30, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

Profit,@10:50

Be a good little retiree now. You are not an engineer on a train anymore, but you can play Choo choo as much as you like.

By Adam

January 30, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

My earlier prediction of a Hillary landslide is based on the fawning coverage she will receive once the nominations are secure. John McCain makes the mistake of thinking the NY press actually likes him because of his “maverick” image. As he will soon learn, they will drop him like a hot rock in favor of their real candidate Hillary. After all, to them the real importance of a Democrat in the White House is the appointment of all their hip cocktail party cronies to regulatory offices.

The only caveat is Bill and his insatiable need for attention. We can only hope he continues to wag his finger at the camera saying “shame on you”. What irony. Keep reminding everyone why we were so releived to be rid of you the first time.

By jbmlaw

January 30, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

Dear Auntie @ 10:24, mahalo.

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Thanks, TW, that’s just plain kind, and I appreciate it.

Give my girl Malkin another chance, though, would you? You didn’t even do her the honor of a mention in today’s TW Rogues Gallery! Left or Right or insufferably in between, we’re failing to put our best pundits forward, and Michelle has the potential to be one of the exceptional entries from Team Right. Besides which, she’s awfully beautiful, and even lacks the Adam’s Apple that secretly makes PoFo’s personal Eros a very bad boy.

PoFo,

Am I starting to get it now? Did you mean that McCain’s manifest psychological peculiarities stem from his military service and wartime failings? Mm-m-mn.

Dennis,

Did I not “care to get involved in ampaigning?” Yes and no. I got involved in Rudy’s run I could do. What I mean is that this was the first time in 25 years that I’ve been able to choose whom to support and how, rather than to have those things decided for me by the need to eat and pay the mortgage. That’s why I didn’t join dear friends on the McCain bus; because I was free for once to be a purist and to join what looks to be, in spite of such as Jim, a growing group of similarly whimsical conservative purists.

Two not really MySpacey things about that. (As I mean to use myself as an illustration.) First, doffing the professional cynicism feels just great, and true. Second, words within my reach can’t express how wonderful it feels to regain something lost: my political FREEDOM to act, as a voter and inveterate electioneer, on public matters that matter to me, and to live my life the way that limousine lib Jefferson would have us do. It’s exactly as he and his equals said it would feel!

Perhaps only those who’ve reached these shores from some repressive place can share this splendid feeling of agency and purpose, the beauty of an unfettered pursuit of “Truth, Justice and the American Way!”—-the right to vote for and support the candidate, the cause, of one’s choice. I’m totally diggin it!

Incidentally, I think there’s an important place for your kind of “pessimism”. You guys are the claxon-bearing advance guard. As such, you belong on point in the Hunt for the Real Obama. And who knows? Maybe he’s the antacid specific to your kind of pessimism. Would be nice!

By GaVoter

January 30, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Even with the added cost, I would like to see the presidential election on its own cycle. It needs to be separated from Senate and Congressional races by at least one year. Make it an odd-year election and maybe even throw in state-level races to help spread out the cost.

By deegee

January 30, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

We were told last summer that the immigration issue would destroy McCain’s chances with GOP voters. Florida is a state with one of the highest concentrations of illegal alien workers in the country. McCain won Florida with registered republican voters alone, no independents. Tancredo is gone, Thompson is gone, Ron Paul is nothing more than a curious novelty item. Wouldn’t it have been better to have avoided demagoguing an issue that simply doesn’t resonate with the majority of people in this country? It will be interesting to see how the tone of the debate changes as the remaining candidates go a courtin’ our new citizen voters.

By GaVoter

January 30, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Even better, what about having elections every 3 or 4 years but have one-third of all the politicians selected at random (maybe 6 months to one year in advance) for the election. I’d bet a scheme could be concocted that would really drive the special interests, lobbyists, politicians, etc., plain crazy. I like it already.

By Curious Observer

January 30, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

I found delicious poetic justice in Romney’s crushing defeat in the Miami area, where so many Hispanics live. His demagogic expel-them-all stand on illegal immigration sowed the wind, and he reaped the whirlwind. It is all an object lesson for politicians who want to gain the support of hard-liners, while more and more immigrants of Hispanic heritage gain voting rights.

Are you listening, conservative Republicans?

By ron

January 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

We can always have an election like the one in Kenya.That would keep everyone hopping.

By getalife

January 30, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

The karma is coming.

Get ready for President Hillary Clinton.

By GaVoter

January 30, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

ron,

Not exactly my idea of “heads will roll” as was said in the corporate environment when something went seriously awry.

By Curious Observer

January 30, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

We can always have an election like the one in Kenya.That would keep everyone hopping.

Ron, Wooten is mine. You and your machete can go after anyone else. He can hop, but he can’t hide.

By HIDT

January 30, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Holy cow, Christmas in February! I’m all aquiver.

By OneForTheRoad

January 30, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

The King Memorial in Washington D.C. will be built from Chinese granite. Tis a sad day indeed when it is cheaper to haul a rock from China than from Georgia to D.C. After all, there’s plenty of perfectly good rock in Stone Mountain and I bet it has very low Radon content to boot.

By HIDT

January 30, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

Geography quiz: Which remote state has these remote corners? Trenton, St. Mary’s, Bainbridge and Dillard.

By Ace Mulholland

January 30, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Unfiretruckinbelievable. Six days to go til The Tuesday and Bob and I get pulled off Obama and put on Si-bilious Control for a full 24 hours with no, repeat no, sleep. And she doesn’t even HAVE OUR POLITICS! She’s a damn Barry Lover and NOW traitor, for godsakes. How completely stupid.

Now we’re behind the 8-ball in the Obama shop and the only thing that’s sticking is Bob’s Rezko smack. And all the stuff I placed to take the heat off Hillary? Thanks to frickin KANSAS two full news cycles past that I should’ve been using to spin the stuff my guys embedded. But NO.

Hillary and Bill and McCauliffe have got to decide once and for all whether they run the Party or run the campaign. Sure, we’ve got Reeps to beat, but it’s not like we don’t have to eliminate Barak first! Terry’s just lame enough to think that Mr. 911’s pullout means we won that one and now we can concentrate on the others. As far as Bob and me are concerned, that just means we won’t have Bloomberg’s people to pick up our breeders anymore. Because that guy’s getting serious and without Rudy on his mind anymore now Hill’s in his way, so no more cooperation from him.

Now we’ve got to come up with not only all new stuff but with new outlets for it also. Where am I supposed to go? CNN’s too chickenshot to “break” anything without Bloomberg. The Times is off limits again, because “it expects too much” from her in return. Kos is too downstream and way too George. And they blow stuff anyway. The L.A. Times maybe? The Bee? Do they still have any readers left? Because Bob’s got the Chicago papers on board and I love the guy but I’m damned if I’m going to let him scoop me twice in a row. I’ve got to pay the rent too.

Maybe your guys’ paper? We like that guy Luckovich, and you guys were real troopers on our Rudy dirt. And you’ve got Tucker too. She’s always game. Bless her.

By Jack

January 30, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

I heard a good point the other day regarding illegal aliens. The Republicans wanted the amnesty bill to go through because when the bill of rights was in the works, the Republicans were against it forever losing the black vote. They don’t want to forever lose the Hispanic vote.

By Shar

January 30, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

Okay, I’ll set myself up for all the ridicule I’m sure I have coming, but I don’t get it. I just don’t get it. Why all this Republican loathing for Senator McCain? Surely the GOP faithful respect the views of more than the hawks, inveterate spenders and crusading moralists of their party, and they can welcome and respect the element that is more moderate and more able to work with others who may be outside of their ideological cast. The far divisive fringes of both parties have been exposed for the destruction they bring, and the economic, foreign policy, military and domestic disasters that the present Administration has piled up, along with a 75% disillusionment rate nationally and the crucial role that independent voters play in choosing the next president, must have penetrated even the most thick-skulled that another far right presidency is as unwise as it is unlikely. Mr. Romney sent a shudder through moderates when he said that “there is no freedom without religion”, and I believe that, should he be the GOP nominee, he will stumble over that remark as well as his changes of position.

Senator McCain would seem to me to embody most of what Republicans want - he’s socially conservative, hawkish, more fiscally restrained than most and a war hero to boot. He got slapped down on immigration, but that one stand does not explain the persistent and longstanding hatred that he has inspired in his own party. Is it his across-the-aisle cooperation? His calling the Administration on torture? Yet that does not explain the party’s vicious treatment of him in 2000, or the visceral howling from the most abrasive of the far right megaphones.

I don’t agree with him on a great many issues - most, actually - but I would certainly vote for him over Senator Clinton, if that is my choice (which I don’t believe it will be) precisely because I believe that he would not box out contrasting opinions, as Mr. Bush has done, and that he is an honorable man who respects the country more than he does party affiliation. I also believe that he means to do good, which is more than I can say for Mr. Romney or Sen. Clinton. Why, why is this electable man so reviled?

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

OneFERoadie,

That’s a great point, about the quary. Architect/Sculptor’s Chinese too, I believe. Here the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. was the first President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the people in charge of his bogus memorial are so religion-free postmod politically correct that they tap a country where practicing Christians are once again hunted animals. Cool.

I so embrace your idea of using Stone Mountain instead. On the face are some garish outcroppings already half-quarried. The one shaped like Stonewall Jackson is especially begging to be shipped to DC. Jackson’s exegesis vs. MLK’s: The Final Victory. Maybe they could get Gen. Honore to haul up in an old Patton Tank and blow the chunk off for free!

By Jackie

January 30, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Quietly, Alan Greenspan announced he did not think the economic stimulus package being put together would ward off a recession. If Greenspan uses the Recession word, I tend to think it is going to being long and deep. Looks like our “tax-cutting chickens are coming home to roost.”

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

Edwards, in his concession speech just now, reflecting on the day he announced his candidacy: “We came to New Orleans, a city that had been abandoned and forgotten by our government…”

[Thanks a lot, dearheart, Pride of UCLA. You must be so proud today to have run this scam artist’s campaign. You and he know damn well that the Bush Administration and first the GOP and then the Democratic congresses BOUGHT New Orleans, wall-to-wall, and at highway robbery rates too. Good riddance to you, to him, to the Trial Lawyers Assn.]

By @@

January 30, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

The American voter was looking for something other than conventional Washington Jim. Rudy fit the bill.

While McCain gives me pause, he’s admitted to lacking skills in economics. Again….Rudy fits the bill and would support Bush’s tax cuts. McCain’s waited a long time to get to this point. My guess is he’s not gonna blow it. His one-shot conservative legacy hangs in the balance. It’s one thing to be a Senator in a lion’s den of Democrats. It’s another to be a sitting President.

Watching the returns last night, there was a little snippet covering the blogs. Something was mentioned about MoveOn’s plans to attack Rudy should he get the nod in Florida. If MoveOn hates a contender, it’s because they’re threatened by him (Rudy).

Many in the media are speculating on a McCain/Giuliani ticket and find it a powerful one indeed. So here’s the deal as far as I’m concerned….

I’ll dip my toasted Rudy in the milque that is McCain and leave the Democrats with their soggies in the general.

By babyazzed lib i want my mommy

January 30, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

That estrogen filled prissy boy Edwards has finally bowed out.

Hillary is unelectable.

The Clintoon racial tag team on Obama. (Please keep it up, Bill)

The Kennedys have essentially told the Clintoon regime to go f themselves, and the extreme liberal demoncat feminazis have their jock straps in a wad.

The lib media has a big collective orgasm over McCain’s victory in Florida while wishfully saying that conservatism is dead (in your wet panty dreams, girls).

The hard left wing New York Times has a great piece titled The Billary Road to Republican Victory.

It truly doesn’t get any more fun than this.

By HIDT

January 30, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

I’d go out and watch if they shot Jackson off the mountain.

By OneForTheRoad

January 30, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Glenn,

I secede to your most venerable application of stone. And, what more fitting salute for mothballed hardware before we bid adieu to more Georgia military bases.

By Brian

January 30, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

“Senator McCain would seem to me to embody most of what Republicans want - he’s socially conservative..”

BZZZZZT! Try again Shar. Go look up McCain’s stance on Bush’s tax cuts.

“Yet that does not explain the party’s vicious treatment of him in 2000,..”

Kinda like how the Bill & Hillary are treating Obama now, no?

By OneForTheRoad

January 30, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Someone get Luckovich on the line. I think we got ourselves another toon in his sights.

By OneForTheRoad

January 30, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

Someone get Luckovich on the line. I think we got ourselves another toon in his sights.

By Tuesday's Gone

January 30, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

While McCain gives me pause, he’s admitted to lacking skills in economics

Holy F@ck! Have u heard of the economic crunch were in now? Hello, Like the current president was a f@#cking economic whiz kid? Seven straight years of growing deficit! Bazillionare dollar medicaid welfare giveaway! And a one time 1000 dollar check to stimulate the economy!

Genius! the government just paid for the crown on my molar, while increasing the federal deficit through China supplied loans.

Great economist, gonna be hard to follow this act!

By Copyleft

January 30, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

Shar: You’ve put your finger on the problem… You find him reasonable and tolerable.

The fact that any Democratic or liberal voter doesn’t recoil in horror from McCain is what REALLY bothers the fanatics of the far right. Because, in their twisted little minds, that means McCain must be a “liberal.”

Sanity is not what the talknazi crowd is looking for—ideological purity and gay-bashing, warmongering hatred is. And so far, none of the GOP candidates have offered enough of that. Thus the discontent.

By deegee

January 30, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

More blowback from the economic stimulus plan. Until congress works out the details of the corporate stimulus plan, corporations are putting capital purchases on hold. No one wants to buy anything right now. They want to wait and see if they can get a better tax deal from the government under the stimulus plan. Isn’t this always what happens when congress puts on a dog and pony show for the masses?

By Carl

January 30, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

Ain’t McCain the cat who got drunk and shot that fella in the face?

By @@

January 30, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

Goodness me Tuesday…calm down.

I was just over at Luckovich’s where some poster left this:

[[At his weekly pen-and-pad session with reporters, Hoyer criticized the Bush administration for creating “a deep deficit.” When asked if the stimulus package would raise that deficit further, Hoyer said, “Yes, but every economist will tell you a balanced budget is good but they will also tell you that there are times when the creation of a deficit is necessary. This is one of those times. These are unique times.”]]

[[“I think it [deficit spending] is justified because we are trying to stimulate the economy,” said Hoyer.]]

[[Following his remarks on reducing the deficit, ?????Hoyer called congressional earmarks (pork barrel projects) “an investment in our community.” He also said he would not agree to commit to the proposed six-month moratorium on earmarks that Republicans have requested.?????]]

Democrats! Tax AND SPEND!

It’s comin’ and goin’ buddy. There’s always Ralph Nader. I read over there that he’s opened up an exploratory committee in his bid for the presidency. He doesn’t like Clinton, McCain or Obama.

Life in politics….it is what it is and you get a crown?

By OneForTheRoad

January 30, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

So much for writing off a mere 100 billion in sub prime debt. UBS is down 12B so far and the bond insurers are looking bleaker every day. Things sure look like they got a ways to go to reach bottom. Oh well! What’s a few billion amongst friends.

By Flaming Wacko Lib Nutter

January 30, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

I could vote for McCain. I think he’ll take the country in a direction I like. Yep. Go, man go!

By 10fore

January 30, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

Looks like our “tax-cutting chickens are coming home to roost.”

Hmmmmm. I seem to remember it was DEMOCRATS who were always whining and pushing finance companies to give out more home loans to sub-prime people - all for the plight of the less privilidged and underclass. Still, you wouldn’t know it by all the media and Dem politician hysteria, but 94% of all mortgages are still current and paid on time. Some crisis. That said, everyone knows tax cuts stimulate the economy. Even JFK knew it. The amount of sheer ignorance on this board is amazing. Not amazing, however, is that most of it comes from the left, especially on economic issues. When taxes are cut, government revenue is raised, and everyone is happy - except those who don’t get any tax cut because they don’t pay any taxes. See figure 1 on federal recvenue and tax cuts, geniuses. Hey, if I go out and buy a $40,000 SUV with a $1,000 rebate, does that mean that those who did not buy a $40,000 SUV are to get a rebate check too? How idiotic can the loon left get.

By Tuesday's Gone

January 30, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

@@,

Here’s the thing. I’m not advocating more taxes, but the one time rebate/giveaway is useless. Give me a one time thousand dollar and i’ll pay for my crown (which i was getting anyway)and keep the money i was gonna dole out in the bank.

Give me a plan that gives me an extra 300 or 400 a month, through less taxes or whatever, and i’ll invest that money, and I think a lot of people, especially younger folks, would start building portfolios with this extra cash instead of taking a 4-day 3 night carnival cruise on a one time welfare check from uncle sam.

Admittedly, I do get angry, when i hear people lament about a canidate’s potential weakness. “Lack of experience” is my favorite. We didn’t care about that two presidential cycles ago when the republican nomination was given to a one-term governor, with no other political experience.

I think people on both sides of the aisle now understand, what happens when we vote for someone with too little experience (as demonstrated by the obvious surge for Mccain and Hilary)U get a giant clusterf@#ck!

By The Avoidable Truth

January 30, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

Copy….Left!

Very few conservatives are rabid dogs driven by their reactions to liberal mirages. Some of them are. They’re not even as numerous as neo-Marxist Democrat dinos (in other words the American professoriat), and five-eighths of them live in a gated community in Colorado Springs.

McCain’s resume includes a liberal record and a moderate record, as well as a conservative one. That’s why his appeal is both so broad and so unacceptable to a somewhat larger GOP minority of conservative purists.

By getalife

January 30, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

McInsane is a w clone with the same old policies except more wars.

Good luck with that losers.

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

Hi @@ the Cool,

There’s also a group of Gore ex-staffers and other loyalists, including a few Republicans, who want to draft him. Mr. Gore’s being coy with them, so they’re encouraged. I personally wish they wouldn’t do that to him, but that’s just solo mio.

Bummer about Rudy, huh. Trust you realize that we won’t have heard the last from him after today. Not by a longshot. He’s still the Hillslayer. So, something to look forward to.

Any preferences, McCainwise or Romneyward?

By Lily Toad

January 30, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

Hey Bama, Ho Bama, Bama Bama Hey! It’s Obama in 08!

By Lily Toad

January 30, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

Hey Bama, Ho Bama, Bama Bama Hey! It’s Obama in 08!

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

babyazzed liboduh @ 1:37,

Couldn’t agree more. It doesn’t get any more fun than this. Can’t even remember when it ever was so much fun.

And I go back a ways!

By getalife

January 30, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

Stop your whining and crying and get ready for President Hillary Clinton.

The karma will be beautiful and has already started with the gop retiring in droves.

The latest is Tom Davis and has brought a big smile from President Bill Clinton.

Bwa.

By Curious Observer

January 30, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

When taxes are cut, government revenue is raised, and everyone is happy - except those who don’t get any tax cut because they don’t pay any taxes. See figure 1 on federal recvenue and tax cuts, geniuses.

Of all the lies told by the Dubya supporters, the whopper is that the 2003 tax cuts paid for themselves. It’s simply a lie. In the year following the 2003 tax cuts, the federal tax cut was $60.8 billion. In that same year, revenue increased $100 million. Even a moron can see that these tax cuts will never come close to paying for themselves.

Nice try, buddy, but implying that the GW Bush tax cuts paid for themselves and actually raised federal revenues beyond that is simply a lie. And we wonder why the federal deficit has grown out of control? Well, the problem isn’t spending alone.

By Glenn

January 30, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

get,

Do you ever read back over your stuff and realize that you’re incapable of taking on other than your own Kossent straw men? Now who exactly is whining and crying, big boy?

By Ace Mulholland

January 30, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this

Hey man, didn’t you get wordup? We’re supposed to say “former President Bill Clinton”. Hill’s orders.

You’re doing a great job though. Keep it up. And ignore that guy. He doesn’t even know that more of our stuff comes to you from MoveOn than Kos. Fool tool.

By getalife

January 30, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

Well, you and Ace are Glenn.

Deal with it and stop whining.

Bwa.

By Pop Quiz!

January 30, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Question number 1: Which policy is more fiscally prudent? a-Tax and spend, b-Borrow and spend.

Question number 2: If taxes = revenue, and spending = expense, then how do you balance the budget?

Question number 3: The better example of responisble money management would be: a-Collecting sufficient revenue to pay the existing bills, b-Borrowing money to pay current expenses and hoping the bills go away.

Question number 4 (Essay question): For those of you who whine about taxes, what is it about “Pay as you go” that you find so offensive?

By Ace Mulholland

January 30, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

If you guys are going to continue to carry water for us you need to learn to IGNORE WINGNUTS HERE. I know what I’m talki