The toy department.

Wow. The people calling this the “most astonishingly tasteless thing I’ve ever read in a newspaper,” are somehow …selling it short. For those of you too time-starved to click through, here’s the lead on Mark Whicker’s column yesterday in the Orange County Register:

It doesn’t sound as if Jaycee Dugard got to see a sports page.

Box scores were not available to her from June 10, 1991 until Aug. 31 of this year.

She never saw a highlight. Never got to the ballpark for Beach Towel Night. Probably hasn’t high-fived in a while.

She was not allowed to spike a volleyball. Or pitch a softball. Or smack a forehand down the line. Or run in a 5-footer for double bogey.

Now, that’s deprivation.

The rest goes on to lay out the last 18 years in sports for this newly freed captive, who as you recall spent that time not in some wacky Rip Van Winkle state of suspended animation, but as a literal sex slave to a monster. Of course, now that she’s been out for a few days, she might want to, you know, catch up on the sports pages and have a few laffs:

Mike Tyson now makes fun of himself in movies. …For the most part, fans have stopped doing The Wave. …USC is one of college football’s elite programs, three coaches later.

And so on, until he winds up with this extended fart:

Congratulations, Jaycee. You left the yard.

I showed it to Alan. He said, “He probably turned it in six minutes before deadline. His editor was too busy to deal with it and punted it to the desk, where they ran spellcheck, slapped a hed on it and pushed the button.” I might add: And everyone who had a problem with it figured it had likely been approved from on high. And there were three copy editors handling a work load that was previously handled by 12. And anyway, we just had a meeting where we were urged to be “edgy,” and here goes nothin’.

There’s always the strong possibility he’s a dumb jock-sniffer who really thinks the worst part about such an ordeal would be missing the early career of Tiger Woods. But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and credit him instead with profound cluelessness. Code of the Columnist and all.

OK, then. I’m not going to talk about the guy from South Carolina, but you all are welcome to. What’s to say, anyway? That he violated some code of conduct? Of course he did, but this is the same chamber that saw the caning of Charles Sumner, after all. (Technically, it was the Senate, also where Dick Cheney told Sen. Leahy to go fuck himself, but I don’t think bad behavior is confined to one chamber.) Again, though, it’s the strong b.s. factor, the fact that these very people were the ones wringing their hands over the death of civility and Bush Derangement Syndrome just a few short years ago. Obama can take a little trash-talk, although I find it amusing that it was Rahm Emanuel who put the word out that he wanted an apology on his desk, soonest. (I can’t find the cite for that, but I read it last night.) I wish he’d added, “and the motherfucker’s finger, I want that too,” and who knows, maybe he did, and that exchange is merely lost to the mists of time:

Politics aren’t for the weak of stomach. The Brits survive Question Time, and they’re famously polite.

Anyway, the first lady wore sleeves last night, so I hope we can all be happy about that.

Boy, I’m mellow and forgiving this morning, aren’t I?

Mellow bloggage: Bookmark 5 Second Films, and hit “random” a few times the next time you’re on hold. Today’s home-page film contains mild profanity. HT: Mr. Felsing, down Charlotte way, via FB.

Kudos to yesterday’s comments, which slaughtered, filleted, consumed and excreted California Assemblyman Michael Duvall so I didn’t have to, as well as whoever pointed out that the lobbyist who hauled his old-man ashes probably shouldn’t lose her job over this, as she’s pretty much just sticking to the job description. May I just add, however? Ewwww.

(A slight tangent: I was trying to decide if Kate could handle “The Hurt Locker” and watched a clip online of the first seven minutes. The soldiers are using one of those remote-control bomb-investigation ‘bots, and bantering over it: “Just stick it in.” “You stick it in.” “Pretend it’s your dick.” And so on. I asked a friend if men talk about anything else, and he pointed out, correctly, that he hardly ever talks that way with his friends. And yet, here’s Assemblyman Duvall chatting up bodily fluids with a colleague. Again: Ewwww.)

They can’t win, so they’re playing the dog card: The Detroit Lions produce a pet calendar for charity. Aw, what nice young men.

Now we’ve seen everything: Hef files for divorce, cites infidelity. Hers.

And now I’m off to write a short essay in Russian, using lots of past tense. I still can’t find the bathroom in Moscow, however.

Posted at 8:36 am in Current events, Media |
 

69 responses to “The toy department.”

  1. moe99 said on September 10, 2009 at 10:10 am

    I do think you are going too lightly on Rep Wilson. The man’s own party leaders condemned him and forced an apology out of him within an hour of the speech’s conclusion. When a friend watched the WGN morning news this AM, the resident GOP hack/commentator wouldn’t even look into the camera when he fielded this question. I couldn’t find one source out there willing to give this guy even a hair’s breadth of rationalizing excuse for his behavior, and that includes Fox:

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/09/congressman-yells-lie-obama-speech/

    He had to unplug his website and his office phone. He had to apologize to everyone under the sun. He raised $100k for his opponent overnight. His own party leaders threw him under the bus. But I am sure Rush will be a big defender today.

    And he did violate House rules with his behavior:
    http://rules.house.gov/archives/house_decorum.htm

    Which makes him subject to censure.

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  2. MichaelG said on September 10, 2009 at 10:19 am

    Geez, Nance, take it easy on that “old man” stuff.

    KCRA played the whole tape without editing or black outs. They also identified the guy to whom Duvall was talking and the date and purpose of the meeting. I was not surprised to hear Duvall’s seatmate say that he wasn’t listening and that he doesn’t remember what Duvall was saying. “Who, me?” This has to be a world record for the shortest sex scandal ever.

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  3. nancy said on September 10, 2009 at 10:20 am

    I’m not forgiving him, Moe. I’m just taking a marker on calling one of their guys a liar in an inappropriate forum, too. Escalation! Divisiveness! It’s the way of American politics!

    And Michael: The thing with old men is, you gotta love ’em first. I don’t think the rules apply here.

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  4. Jeff Borden said on September 10, 2009 at 10:29 am

    I believe, by and large, we live in an age of political pygmies. No one will ever speak of Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell or John Boehner as great leaders or even good politicians. In Congress, it seems, it’s the mediocre and not the cream that rises to the top.

    Rep. Joe Wilson is the shortest among them. . .a vulgar little man with a reputation within his own party as a showboating bomb-thrower. Yet this speck of a politician may have done more to advance health care reform than all the lovely words President Obama has devoted to the issue. He has galvanized the Democrats and underscored the futility of even trying to work with the GOP. So, even as he has shown the nation his classlessness, if that is a word, he has unwittingly helped move forward health care reform.

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  5. coozledad said on September 10, 2009 at 10:32 am

    I think the reason Duvall was cashiered so quickly is the rest of the assembly wants to wish it into the cornfield. It’s unlikely he was the only douche gumming up the stairwell, and speaking of that, the cleaning staff ought to be voted a hazardous duty bonus.
    For some reason, this whole thing reminded me of Altman’s MASH, when they miked Houlihan’s bed to the PA system. I think they ought to randomly fire up those Mics every now and then to see if it makes the assemblymen as jittery as randomly shocked lab rats.

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  6. Peter said on September 10, 2009 at 10:43 am

    Jeff, you are so correct. When I was much younger, there was a lot of grumbling about the senile old coots from Dixie that were gumming up Congress, but just you wait until they’re cleared out and you’ll see so much improvement, and then when Newt’s turn came and how it would be a new day in Congress, and then when Nancy was in charge and how it won’t be business as usual anymore and how’s that working out for you?

    You know it’s bad when you start to pine for Wilbur Mills.

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  7. Jeff Borden said on September 10, 2009 at 10:47 am

    Way to go Joe Wilson!

    His opponent collected more than $100,000 in campaign contributions in the hours after the esteemed douchebag from the Great State of South Carolina acted like a drunk at last call. Wilson won election last time around with a less than muscular 53% of the vote. If we’re lucky, his outburst will cost him his seat.

    BTW, Duvall is now denying he had any sexual relations with the lobbyists, but instead was just “trash talking.” And one of the women identified as his bedmate –the one who lobbies for Sempra Energy– is denying she had sex with the middle-aged frat boy. Sempra has issued a press release saying the same thing.

    Good times in Sacramento.

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  8. moe99 said on September 10, 2009 at 10:49 am

    http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/09/a_victim_of_his_own_paranoia.php#more?ref=fpblg

    THIS is why what Rep Wilson said was so important.

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  9. LAMary said on September 10, 2009 at 11:00 am

    I don’t think of Duvall as old. He’s two years younger than I am. I think of him as a middle aged asshole. A 100% Family Values score, self righteous putz who is getting laid by younger hot women, delusional, selling out his constituancy for spanking priveleges, asshole. And ewwwwww yet again.

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  10. Sue said on September 10, 2009 at 11:02 am

    Backing up a little, I would like to mention that MMJeff’s comment yesterday referencing Ed Wood was hilarious. I didn’t see the response – did he stand in front of a curtain?
    And of course Wilson’s outburst was awful, but… why now? Because it took place in the hallowed halls of congress? Up until now there has been no or very little outrage when elected officials (or their staff members, haha) send racist emails, agree with birthers, think an Obama hunting tag is a good idea, and don’t bother to politely or impolitely correct lunatics who compare the president to a man who killed millions of people. One of the things I’ve been sitting back and waiting for is our “have you no sense of decency” moment, the incident that finally wakes people up. Maybe this is it. I doubt it.

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  11. ROgirl said on September 10, 2009 at 11:27 am

    How perfect! Wilson’s act is going to symbolize the turning point in this process for the Republicans, much like the moment last fall when McCain told the crazy woman at his rally that Obama isn’t an Arab. Before that, the thinking wing of the Republican party had let the wingnuts gain momentum on the insanity and lies that they had used to divert attention from their losing campaign, but McCain apparently realized that it had veered into dangerous territory. The fact that the man from South Carolina just happens to be a Congressman and he did it during the President’s speech is priceless.

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  12. Judith said on September 10, 2009 at 11:32 am

    Rep. Mark Souder in his tele-conference last night repeated his claim that there is possible euthansia in proposed legislation. He read from the bill, stating it is not the same language passed in 2003 and 1992 with lots of R votes. MS also declared that what he has called the great safety net, that ER’s take everyone, he now regrets is true. He said it was activist judges who made ER’s treat everyone, not Congress. I don’t know the background, but it seems evident thtat MS would support a rollback of care–as he said, ACCESS to health care is a right, but no one should expect someone else to pay for the care. Isn’t that why we buy insurance–so that we pay for others and they pay for us? Wouldn’t a larger base, like universal coverage, just enlarge this philosophy?

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  13. MarkH said on September 10, 2009 at 11:42 am

    RE: Cooz #5 – “You’re a BAD man! You’re a VERY BAD MAN, Joe Wilson!”

    Hold on, just a second, there, mary. We haven’t seen photos of the lobbyists yet, so don’t automatically equate young with hot. Further laughs may be in store. Especially when one of them tries to capitalize with a Larry King appearance or Vanity Fair article.

    And, moe, regarding the reason for Joe Wilson’s outburst: since you have studied and downloaded the healthcare bill, where in there is a provision for enforcement of the rules keeping publically finded health insurance benefits from illegal aliens?

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  14. jcburns said on September 10, 2009 at 11:56 am

    Lord..er..Congressman Charles Boustany kinda had the look of someone who wasn’t at all sure the teleprompter was his friend and that he really was buying into all the words that came up on it for him to read…so he would just plod ahead and say the damn words, somewhat askance.
    And there was something oddly wrong with his lapels and shirt collar, but I’m the last person to be able to cast stones in that sartorial arena.

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  15. Jolene said on September 10, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    I do think you are going too lightly on Rep Wil­son. The man’s own party lead­ers con­demned him and forced an apol­ogy out of him within an hour of the speech’s con­clu­sion. . . I couldn’t find one source out there will­ing to give this guy even a hair’s breadth of ratio­nal­iz­ing excuse for his behav­ior, and that includes Fox.

    Actually, Barney Frank, speaking on Rachel Maddow’s show immediately after the speech, brushed aside Wilson’s outburst, remarking that it was tame compared to what goes on in the British parliament and that the president is “a big boy” and tough enough to take it. Not surprising, perhaps, as Frank is known to enjoy a sharp remark himself.

    As is so often the case, Ta-Nehisi Coates has an interesting take (actually three short comments) on the incident, including additional details re the caning of Charles Sumner.

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  16. LAMary said on September 10, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    Mark, there are photos of the Sempra lobbyist online here and there. She’s hot in a trampy lawyer sort of way. Lobbyists often look like the way drug reps used to look before the drug companies had to clean up their act.

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  17. Catherine said on September 10, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    The First Lady’s brooch was fab. She knows we know about her delts, even if they’re covered.

    And, contributions to Wilson’s opponent are heading toward a quarter mil, here: http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/19079

    Did anyone else look at the dog pix? I’m going off to research Bernese mountain dogs now.

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  18. Jenine said on September 10, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    “The Brits sur­vive Ques­tion Time, and they’re famously polite.”

    Mmm, no. Maybe you’re thinking of Canadians? Brits are famously reserved but I wouldn’t describe their politics as polite.

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  19. Sue said on September 10, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    Jenine, according to Kate Beaton, the way Canadians get things done (at least at the start of their famously polite country) was to “bicker all day and party all night”.
    That might be where we’re getting it wrong.
    Or our partying isn’t the right kind (I’m looking at you, Assemblyman Duvall).
    Anyway:
    http://beatonna.livejournal.com/56549.html

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  20. beb said on September 10, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    Rep. Wilson probably thought he was at home and was just yelling at the TV, something I often did, something I often do the confusion of the cats the the distress of my wife and child.

    I sometimes think a British style “Question Time” where the President has to stand before Congress and field questions from the bat-shit crazees in office would be a good thing. Then, too, I’d like to see that guy from Monty Python dressed in the suit of armor come around and smack Chuck Todd over the head with a chicken evey time he’s acts like a douche.

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  21. Jenflex said on September 10, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    Wilson’s opponent is now up to $285K in fundraising.

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  22. LAMary said on September 10, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    I’d rather see Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Graham Chapman in drag smacking Chuck Todd with their handbags.

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  23. Rana said on September 10, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    And of course Wilson’s out­burst was awful, but… why now? Because it took place in the hal­lowed halls of con­gress?

    Sue, I think that’s definitely part of it. Our Congress-critters have long had this sort of tacit agreement that all’s fair outside, where one is trying to rabble-rouse and so on, but inside, you should put off that mask and be nice to your colleagues. What Wilson’s done is breach that comfortable fiction, that all the rabble-rousing is political theater meant to placate the plebes, and his action shows that if Obama continues to believe that all his colleagues are nice reasonable people when they’re not play-acting on the hustings, he’s mistaken and foolish. They – at least Wilson, anyway – have demonstrated that they in fact mean what they say to their consituents. It’s not an act.

    *waves to the other Kate Beaton fan*

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  24. Jolene said on September 10, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    What is it we don’t like about Chuck Todd?

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  25. Sue said on September 10, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    Rana, I have her book and the “I am anxious for someone to invent the T-shirt” T-shirt. If history were taught like that, everyone would be history-brilliant.

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  26. Dorothy said on September 10, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    Catherine I did look at the dog pictures. Bernese mountain dogs are very handsome animals. I was pleased to see so many Golden Retrievers represented in that photo spread! Being the owner of a Golden mix, I am partial to them. My previous dog was one, too. But as I advance in age I’ve been thinking that we might need to switch to smaller breeds. I’ve been yanked off my feet a couple of times by those boys when they see a bunny or deer, and it makes me worry about breaking some valuable body part as I crash towards the ground.

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  27. Jolene said on September 10, 2009 at 2:03 pm

    That is, indeed, a handsome Berner. I looked into getting one before I adopted my now-departed Australian Shepherd and might have gotten one if I hadn’t fallen in love w/ the Aussie.

    In my research, I encountered a woman who bred Berner pups, and she warned me that I’d have to be prepared for lots of vacuuming. In describing how the hair they shed ended up everywhere, she said, “Oh my lord, it’s in the ice cubes.” And she was trying to sell me a dog!

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  28. moe99 said on September 10, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/you-lie-not-the-first-time-rep-wilsons-emotions-got-the-best-of-him.php

    This was not the first time for Wilson. What. A. Dick.

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  29. Rana said on September 10, 2009 at 3:11 pm

    “Oh my lord, it’s in the ice cubes.”

    That is hilarious!

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  30. Jeff Borden said on September 10, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    I see that an enterprising conservative website in South Carolina is giving away 50 “I’m With Joe Wilson” shirts, which also dub him “America’s Congressman.”

    Hell with the swine flu. It’s the stupid that is clearly contagious.

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  31. moe99 said on September 10, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/sep/09/joe-wilson/joe-wilson-south-carolina-said-obama-lied-he-didnt/

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  32. Jean S said on September 10, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    Wilson’s opponent is up to nearly $300k? fantastic.

    Berners are indeed fabulous, but I live in rain country, so the Wet Dog Factor must be taken into account. I have enough trouble with my German shorthair mix….how the hell does hair get into the refrigerator, anyway?

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  33. Julie Robinson said on September 10, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    Jean, my Mom has cats and the stuff simply floats around in the air. As well as every other surface.

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  34. Rana said on September 10, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    Julie – I experienced this today, at work. Normally I don’t notice our cat’s hair, because it is dark and short and not too floaty, but today I was copying a few pages out of our textbook for my teaching assistant, and I had to keep blowing hair off the pages. I guess I know where the cat was napping this week!

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  35. LAMary said on September 10, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    There are four of us in this office who own multiple pets. I keep a sticky roller thing on my desk and everyone de-furs as they arrive.

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  36. Dorothy said on September 10, 2009 at 4:21 pm

    Doesn’t your dog shed at all, Jean?? We have two dogs and their fur is everywhere. I keep lint brushes handy in several places so I can wipe off the fur after Augie gets up on the couch overnight. All they have to do is walk through the room and little puffs of hair float through the room. (Think Pig Pen in the Peanuts cartoons).

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  37. Sue said on September 10, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    Wimps. I keep a roll of shelf paper handy when I’m ironing. That gets entire sleeves or legs fur-free.
    Big leagues, that’s me.

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  38. deb said on September 10, 2009 at 4:29 pm

    ROgirl, i hope you’re right and that this goofy outburst is a turning point. but my fear is that it will just further inflame the wingnuts who’ve been waiting for something exactly like this — someone who’ll express their views in a highly visible way. while we’re all cackling with glee over this misstep, a lot of other people are out there cheering wilson on, and that it’ll ratchet up their hysteria another notch or two. these people scare me.

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  39. deb said on September 10, 2009 at 4:30 pm

    oh, and that sports column? yeesh. i’ve known some fine sports writers over the years, but a disproportionate number of them have been knobs. there’s a reason we used to call ’em “sports bozos.”

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  40. Sue said on September 10, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    Wilson’s opponent has gone over 400,000. That’s 200,000 a word.
    Wilson is at 180. As in $180.
    http://slatecard.com/slatecards/SupportJoe

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  41. Jeff Borden said on September 10, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    Deb,

    Your fears are reasonable, but my take is that Wilson essentially is preaching to the choir. By now, we know there is at least 25% to 30% of the American public who simply will not be swayed by reason, who respond largely to dog whistle politics, who cheer boors and ignoramuses. So, yes, I’m sure Joe Wilson is being lionized among those sad souls.

    But it’s moderates and independents who swing elections. Last fall, they were repulsed by the horrible behavior of the crowds who came to see John McCain and, especially, Sarah Palin. They ran in droves to the Obama camp. How many moderates or indys want to identify with a loud-mouthed, rude, ignorant goober like Wilson? In a single moment, he crystallized the views of the Republican Party in front of a national television audience, who saw GOP leaders like Eric Cantor typing away on his Blackberry; who saw the sneers on the faces of Lindsey Graham,John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, who saw smug-looking white boys in suits holdings badly-lettered cardboard signs in Congress like some refugees from the Young Americans for Freedom.

    Joe Wilson destroyed any notion that the GOP wants to discuss health care reform in any meaningful way. He made this president –who has done far more to reach across the aisle than I want to see given the strength of his election numbers– look like an adult among children.

    Joe Wilson is a douchebag. No question. But I think he did the president and the health care reform efforts a great service. I’m thanking him personally by sending $50 to the guy who is opposing him next year.

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  42. LAMary said on September 10, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    “And there was some­thing oddly wrong with his lapels and shirt col­lar, but I’m the last per­son to be able to cast stones in that sar­to­r­ial arena.”

    Yeah. His collar was very strange, sort of oversized and rounded. I was distracted by it. Between Jindal looking like a marionette when he entered for his State of the Union rebuttal and the guy last night looking like I don’t know what, you have to wonder what is going on with the GOP image guys.

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  43. nancy said on September 10, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    If you heard Max Blumenthal on “Fresh Air” today, you’d be more on Deb’s side, Sue. Scary stuff.

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  44. ROgirl said on September 10, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    Deb, the crazies won’t be deterred, and this will probably spur them on to the next thing that outrages their pea brains, but I think it made a lot of people who were on the fence realize that this crossed the line.

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  45. jeff borden said on September 10, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    The GOP has no bench. There isn’t a soul out there like Ronald Reagan, who was a conservative to his soul but who also was a smiling, friendly, avuncular figure offering a vision of a brighter tomorrow. The Republicans today come across as angry, fearful, obstreperous and behind the times.

    GOP insiders are talking up people like Eric Cantor as an up-and-comer. He has the intellect, but he has no magic. The guy is Nyquil in a suit. Bobby Jindal may yet recover from his disastrous introduction to the American public, but I’m betting his big moment in the spotlight was his last. Plus, there is so much weirdness about the guy, including his involvement with an “exorcism” when he was in college. Sarah Palin can raise a shitpot full of money and energize the base, but she is absolutely unelectable.

    The people who might save the party by appealing to independents and moderates, such as Christine Whitman of New Jersey or Charlie Crist of Florida, are demonized by the base. They could be very competitive in a national race, but how the hell do they get through the primaries, which are dominated by the evangelicals and the hardcore wingers??

    I really wasn’t kidding. Joe Wilson IS the face of the Republican Party.

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  46. moe99 said on September 10, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    And Joe Wilson was not the only one making loud, derogatory noises last night:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/09/AR2009090902298.html

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  47. Jeff Borden said on September 10, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    Anybody see the Census Bureau figures today? We added another one million people to the ranks of the uninsured between 2007 and 2008, while the number of Americans living in poverty rose to 13.2%. Median family income also took a dive in that time period to $50,303.

    Sheesh. We’re not even maintaining the status quo. We’re regressing.

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  48. brian stouder said on September 10, 2009 at 6:01 pm

    Regarding the violent assault on Senator Sumner, it is also worth noting that Brooks attacked Sumner while Sumner was seated – and the desk was bolted to the floor. In Sumner’s desperate attempt to protect himself, he actually ripped the desk from the floor. And, not for nothing, it is also worth noting that Brooks wasn’t a senator – but instead a representative, and that according to other accounts I have read, other senators were present – including Judge Douglas himself – and simply watched, without doing anything to intervene.

    Aside from scumbags of the past, when I saw this article I eagerly read it, thinking I’d see a reference to that one columnist and screenwriter who brought down a White House advisor –

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32657885/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets

    but this expectation was not met.

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  49. brian stouder said on September 10, 2009 at 6:10 pm

    The Repub­li­cans today come across as angry, fear­ful, obstreper­ous and behind the times.

    And those are the sane, stupid ones! Today I wnet to lunch an hour earlier than usual, and on the car radio I heard ol’ “Lonesome Rhodes” Beck (as Olbermann calls him) – and honest to God, he sounds sick! He’s deeply into encouraging violence, martyrdom, and anger – and somewhere in his sick-sounding ‘sense of urgency’ he wove in Star Wars and Yoda! By that time, I had arrived at Wendy’s, and I’d had quite enough….

    but we ain’t talkin’ ‘dog whistles’ with Beck and Rush; it sounds like overt incitement to violence, to me.

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  50. Scout said on September 10, 2009 at 6:45 pm

    Brian, which is why Beck’s former advertisers have been bailing like fleas off a wet dog. There’s crazy and then there’s bat shit insane and nobody wants to be associated with that, at least not in the corporate world.

    Nancy, tasteless does not even begin to decribe that awful sports column. That piece of foul smelling crapola falls squarely under “Dear God, what were they thinking?”

    Sue, what is this “ironing” of which you speak? 🙂

    Finally, to all who have expressed outrage over the excremental behavior of Rep. Wilson – I’m with you. I’m hopeful that it has put that faction of the GOP under the harsh light of reality – one that shines squarely on what they have become. Anyone that unprepared for polite society does not belong in a representive position. During all those years when Bush spoke proven lies in front of Congress he was afforded the respect given to the highest office of the land. No less should be expected of Republicans, no matter how much they may disagree with policy.

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  51. coozledad said on September 10, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    This is what a coward looks like when he’s shitting razor blades. Max Cleland was right. This guy is straight up chickenhawk garbage, and a serial prevaricator. A lowlife even by the standards of his party.
    I hear he’s pilfered about 180 bucks from his district’s Skoal allowance.
    http://tpmtv.talkingpointsmemo.com/?id=3390516&ref=fpblg

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  52. Jolene said on September 10, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    Rob Miller, Wilson’s opponent, now has raised more than 500K. Pretty impressive, but the election is more than a year away. Unless something else happens, I’m not confident his bad behavior will have much of an effect.

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  53. Jeff Borden said on September 10, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    Cooz,

    Agreed. Wilson looked like he was ready to cry. Our favorite Size XXXXL bloviator is mad today that Wilson apologized. Said bloviator continued to prop up the lie that Wilson embraced, despite the words included in the reform package that clearly articulate no illegal immigrants will be eligible. I wouldn’t trust the big tub of goo he if told me the sun rises in the east.

    Another day. . .another outrage.

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  54. Jean S said on September 10, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    another day, another outrage indeed. And “big tub of goo” pretty much says it all.

    on the dog front: that was a rhetorical question on the shedding. This short-haired dude of ours sheds all the freakin’ time. It never ceases to amaze me when I open the fridge or a kitchen drawer and–yep, black hairs. Swiffers rule.

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  55. del said on September 10, 2009 at 10:53 pm

    I hope Wilson gets his clock cleaned come election time but I think our system’s a bit too authoritarian and obedient when it comes to presidential speeches. All the standing O’s during the State of the Union? Get real. Enough already. There’s gotta be a way to politely but openly voice or hint at dissent during a speech. No rude “you’re a liar!” yells, mind you, but something more subtle. An Ivy league hiss, a ruffling of papers, etc. The first time I saw the Brit MP’s doing it to their Prime Minister (maybe the “Question Time” Nance mentioned) I was shocked. But then the idea grew on me. We’re too authoritarian – especially the GOP. That’s why they’re so pissed at Wilson.

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  56. del said on September 10, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    Still,I was so pissed off when I first saw Wilson’s outburst that I fantacized about how to exact political revenge against him, thinking, as Moe said — What. A. Dick. But I’ve calmed down now.

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  57. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on September 10, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    Back to the 1850s a moment — to be fair to the Little Giant, Stephen Douglas, and his fellow senators, when Sen. Sumner was being beaten by Rep. Brooks, there was an even crazier fellow who was Brooks’ “second,” since they envisioned the caning as a sort of duel, but didn’t want to treat Sumner as a social equal, so they beat him (really, and you think the subtext couldn’t have been any worse than the actuality).

    While Brooks was smashing his hard rubber cane over Sumner’s head, and the much larger and stronger Sumner struggled to tear loose his anchored desk, the second (Louthitt? I’m not sure of the name) stood by with a handgun and warned off anyone from aiding Sen. Sumner. It was only when the Massachusetts senator managed to get loose enough to start moving away that the surrounding crowd began to press in, and the two South Carolinians bolted for the door.

    Given that Douglas was about as tall as a hat stand, we have to give him a pass for not jumping into the fray. But it must have been quite a scene.

    Oh, and i had no polyps at all in today’s colonoscopy. Life is good.

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  58. brian stouder said on September 10, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    There’s gotta be a way to politely but openly voice or hint at dis­sent dur­ing a speech.

    Up until Wilson’s ejaculation, the story might have been the moment when the president made some reference to complications within his bill (or some such) – and drew sustained, derisive laughter from the Republicans. This was all fair, and within tradition.

    Hell – it took us 130 years to get presidents to actually, personally speak their messages to congress in real life, let alone giving the congress the chance to applaud or chuckle or icily ignore what a president says. (as opposed to simply delivering written statements and being done)

    I will agree that – along with press conferences, it would be nice to see the president occasionally take questions from members of congress, ala “question time”.

    And one notes, when watching that on C-SPAN, that Prime Minister’s question time is absolutely as “authoritarian” as any American political tradition. If they think a questioner is too obviously reading their question – that will get the questioner gales of “boos” and disapproving shouts of “reading!”; and while a clever questioner might enrobe a barb in the guise of a question, if she or he goes too far, then THAT will draw hisses and boos also, from the assembled Members of Parliment (and shouts “OwDuh! OwDuh!” from the chair)

    And indeed, I seem to recall reading that the Brits are rethinking the usefulness of Question Time

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  59. brian stouder said on September 10, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    Jeff – regarding the clear colonoscopy – Huzzah!! Huzzah!!

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  60. moe99 said on September 10, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    Jeff–seconds on the huzzahs for your all clear colonoscopy. The preparation is far worse than the procedure.

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  61. alex said on September 11, 2009 at 12:28 am

    Oh, and i had no polyps at all in today’s colonoscopy. Life is good.

    I’ll say. If I had a stick up my ass like you do yours, Jeff, I’m sure they’d be Rx’ing antihypertensives and analgesic butt creams too.

    Wish me luck on mine. I’m due for my first screening colonoscopy in three years. And I’m one of the blessed few who can’t say the sun hasn’t shined there.

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  62. ROgirl said on September 11, 2009 at 7:00 am

    The Brits do have rules regarding language in the House of Commons, and abusive language, described as charges of lying, being drunk or mischaracterizing words, are considered nonconforming. It questions the good faith of a speaker and closes down debate. Of course, the President’s speech wasn’t a debate.

    BTW, Wilson once worked for Strom Thurmond.

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  63. coozledad said on September 11, 2009 at 8:35 am

    I hope they do something with health care reform soon, otherwise my first colonoscopy’s going to have to be a DIY with a harmonic balancer puller and a flashlight. I’m looking for something that looks like jellyfish, only smaller, right?

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  64. Snarkworth said on September 11, 2009 at 8:46 am

    Cooz, if you see a coral reef in there, you’re in big trouble.

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  65. del said on September 11, 2009 at 8:52 am

    When you mentioned flashlight cooz it reminded me of tapeworm hunting procedures that I dare not mention before breakfast.

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  66. del said on September 11, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Brian, that’s interesting stuff on the Brits Question Time. I like the idea of shouting “reading” when questions are too prepared. Speeches should be prepared but when it comes to a president addressing members of Congress a little more extemporaneous, honest and less advocatory style would help. And in this country I don’t think that congressmen ever get to question the president publicly.

    I was told recently that some German cities have 3 mayors; so put off are the Germans by reposing power in a single person nowadays. Dunno if it’s true though.

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  67. coozledad said on September 11, 2009 at 9:09 am

    del@65:The only one I’m familiar with involves a bowl of rotten milk. If I ever have any tapeworms, damn if I’m not keeping them.

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  68. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on September 11, 2009 at 9:13 am

    I now have fiber optic pictures to prove it — i am a perfect a**hole.

    Y’know, i’m listening on MSNBC to the broadcast from 9/11/01, and remembering that of Katie Couric & Matt Lauer that morning, the best tone and communication in those frantic and baffling hours was delivered by . . . Al Roker. Couldn’t believe how much i was tensing up as the clock went to 9:01, 9:02, then 9:03, and . . .

    You could tell Al got it first.

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  69. Julie Robinson said on September 11, 2009 at 9:42 am

    Yea, those drugs they give you for the c-procedure are GREAT. Best I’ve ever had. Wish I could have been taking them the night before as I never once left the bathroom. I can’t believe that people willingly do colonic cleansings. I’d prefer childbirth–it was much shorter.

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