Year: 2012
A Bout of Craziness in the 2012 Election Would be Good for the GOP
A cleansing bout of craziness in 2012 could be just what the GOP needs. I’m talking about a nominee so far to the right that conservative populists get their fondest wish — and the Republican Party is forced to learn from the result. Namely, that there is such a thing as too extreme. … Giving conservative activists everything they want in a presidential nominee would ultimately be clarifying for the Republican Party… There’s nothing like losing 40 states to refocus the mind.
— John Avlon, writing in The Daily Beast.
Republican Party Is Now Strapped to the Roof of Romney’s Car
Republican voters are now the political equivalent of Mitt Romney’s famously abused dog Seamus. Mitt has put voters on the roof of his car, and he’s driving for the nomination whether they like it or not. More accurately, he’s sputtering toward the nomination as the roof-bound electorate periodically poops on his parade.
— Robert Shrum, writing in The Week.
Santorum Says Romney Lacks a ‘Core’
This is someone who doesn’t have a core. He’s been on both sides of almost every single issue in the past 10 years.
— Rick Santorum, on CBS’s This Morning, about Mitt Romney.
The Nation Commissions an Experiment in Foxification
In the latest issue of The Nation magazine, Marvin Kitman deconstructs how Fox News works — by watching a whole bunch of Fox News. Read “The Fox News Effect.” It’s very funny.
Nine Years Ago Today – Bush Announces Invasion of Iraq
On March 19, 2003, George W. Bush announced that he had ordered the invasion of Iraq, an action later revealed to be based on either the biggest deception or the most egregious incompetence (take your pick) in the history of U.S. military engagement — a disgrace to the nation or a war crime (again, choose for yourself) for which Bush and his vice president were never held accountable.
Transcript:
Romney in 2002: ‘I Will Preserve and Protect a Woman’s Right to Choose’
Was he lying then or is he lying now?
Those Crazy Florida Drivers: Rep. Alan Grayson Hits a Bus
When former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) hit the side of an Orlando transit bus earlier this month, it’s doubtful he meant to give opponents in his race to represent a newly drawn Congressional district rich deposits of metaphors to mine. But boy, did he.
- Nat Sillin, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee: “If you thought the only thing reckless about Alan Grayson was his big-government, tax-and-spend agenda, think again. It turns out on the road to destroying jobs, he’s endangering innocent bystanders in more ways than one.”
- Mark Oxner, Republican running for the new Dist. 9 seat: “Alan Grayson’s driving record is bad, but his voting record is even worse. His progressive policies would run our economy under the bus. His driving may be a threat to our streets, but his political views are a threat to our future. One of the scariest things you can hear: ‘I’m Alan Grayson, I’m from the government, and I’m driving over to help.'”
- Julius Melendez, Republican also running for the new Dist. 9 seat: “[Grayson’s] imperfect driving isn’t the important issue in this race. My driving record isn’t perfect either, but…If the voters of District 9 vote for him, he’ll drive the budget and our future the way he drives his Mercedes Benz.”
Dave Barry on Florida: ‘Everybody drives in the left lane, at speeds ranging all the way from Indianapolis 500 down to Car Wash’
Critics point to a history of vehicle violations that might be considered excessive outside of Florida, where according to humorist and Florida resident Dave Barry, the state “automatically issues a driver’s license to every new arrival, including stranded whales. We have so many motorists driving into buildings down here that in some areas you’re safer standing in the middle of the street, where they’re less likely to hit you.”
No Rush, Apparently. Limbaugh Just Now Joins Twitter
Showing that he is a hip and happening dude, despite the fact that his average listener is a 67-year-old man, Rush Limbaugh is jumping right into the end of the last decade with his Twitter debut.
Rush knows social media is a more effective means of sending a message than using his show. But then, so is speaking into a can attached by a string to another can.
Tweeting at the handle @Limbaugh, the host began his foray into the social networking site by sending out links to articles criticizing the liberal group Media Matters.
One thing Rush is right about is that social media is a more effective means of sending a message than using his show. But then, so is speaking into a can attached by a string to another can.
“I’ve decided to actually activate it now and use it for strategic purposes since it has become such an effective means of informing people outside the bounds of this program,” Limbaugh explained.
Not totally getting it, however, Rush is his usual pushy self even on Twitter. His tweets come with instructions.
“Good story by @jeff_poor @DailyCaller. He gets it right, @mmfa wrong as usual. Read and Retweet.”
Santorum Pledges to Ban Porn If Elected Pope, Er, President
The Republican presidential candidate and staunch social conservative wants to ban hard-core pornography. He calls it “toxic to marriages and relationships” in a new statement posted on his official website.
“America is suffering a pandemic of harm from pornography,” the former Pennsylvania senator writes. “It contributes to misogyny and violence against women. It is a contributing factor to prostitution and sex trafficking.”
He demands a crackdown on the distribution of hardcore pornography on the Internet, in addition to material on cable/satellite TV, hotel/motel TV, retail shops and through the mail.
What qualifies as “hardcore” remains unclear.
