Peering inside the right-wing apparatus

Operationally, you have to be impressed by the conservative movement’s message discipline and ideological control. Here’s one interesting way that’s achieved.

With a Republican takeover of the House quite likely, new conservative politicians will be coming to Washington looking to hire staff. So the House Republican Study Committee, headed by U.S. Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, recently sent out an email advising job hopefuls how to proceed. According to Roll Call, the email strongly encourages applicants for House jobs “to submit your résumé and complete the ideological questionnaires at the following two websites.”

The two sites listed are a job bank for conservatives run by the private Heritage Foundation, and a similar operation at conservativejobs.com. Both sites appear to serve as clearinghouses for conservatives seeking employment within the right-wing establishment.

At the Heritage site, applicants are asked where in the movement they seek to be placed: In academia? On congressional staff? As a lobbyist? In a faith-based group or think tank?

Then, in addition to standard questions such as job experience, education, etc., applicants are asked a series of ideological questions designed to test their unswerving loyalty.

For example, they are asked if they agree or disagree with a series of policy statements, such as:

  • “The education industry should be opened to increased competition through vouchers or tax credits for private schools.”
  • “People should be able to invest a portion of their Social Security payments in a personal account.”
  • “The U.S. needs nationalized health care.”

In addition to questions such as “name your personal hero/heroine” (the correct answer is surely “Ronald Reagan”), applicants are then asked for reactions to a list of organizations and individuals:

jobbank

At conservativejobs.com, the positions available include a job at the Koch Foundation in Arlington, Va., a development officer at the Bill of Rights Institute, and a systems administrator for “Western Senator.” And the system used to vet candidates for those jobs is similar to that at the Heritage Foundation.

On a scale of 1 to 5, applicants are asked to rate their agreement with a long list of statements, including:

  • “Homosexual activity should be incompatible with service in the U.S. military forces.”
  • “The U.S. should get approval from the United Nations before engaging in any military action abroad.”
  • “Political action committees should be further regulated so they cannot abuse our election process.”
  • “Employers should be allowed to replace striking workers permanently with new employees.”
  • “America is a land of many cultures, therefore no mandated preference for one language over another is acceptable.”

As Roll Call reports:

Mike Gonzalez, Heritage’s vice president of communications, said the service has helped place “good conservative staffers” in congressional offices for years.

“There is obviously a lot of interest by conservative groups in finding and placing good conservative staffers in potentially new positions,” he wrote in an e-mail. “ Heritage has a full time employee running our job bank and it has been finding and vetting good conservatives for years — we place around 100 people per year and have numerous congressional offices every year seek out potential employees.”

The clear intent and effect of such a system is to discourage thinking outside the box and painting outside the lines. In the long run, such enforced uniformity is probably harmful — to both conservatives and by extension the country — because new ideas and ways of thinking are effectively squashed.

But in the short term, the message discipline is highly effective.

(H/t to Steve Benen at Political Animal)

315 comments Add your comment

Don't Forget

October 27th, 2010
11:08 am

Glen Beck isn’t a terrorist he’s an opportunist. It’s all about the money. Armageddon stroganoff anyone??

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:08 am

Del, two weeks ago you couldn’t have given a good crap about NPR if you’d been restricted to a diet of bran flakes and Ex-Lax.

But trot out Juan as the Victim of the Month, and all of a sudden it’s a scary and dangerous “left wing organization.”

(and please. “Billion heirs?” When I post a screwup like that, I at least acknowledge my innate capacity for stupidity. Embrace yours!)

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:09 am

USMC DAWG @ 11:04 :

You can’t get anymore hypocritical than a liberal.

India 3/4 Ooo Rah !

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:09 am

USMC – unless you can provide a direct quote from me stating that I support any such comment, how about you enjoy a nice hot cup of STFU

Jay

October 27th, 2010
11:11 am

Thomas, I don’t know how NPR would explain the Roberts thing. I can’t.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:11 am

“Republicans are pretty sure they know everything”- Jefferson @11:06

No, Jefferson, just more intellectually honest than you and Democrats that support:

Affirmative Action
Illegal Immigration
High Taxes
Welfare
Racial Politics
Weak National Defense
Unions
ETC.

@@

October 27th, 2010
11:11 am

Ideological conformity? We’ll have to wait and see who gets hired. Seein’s how conservatives hold differing opinions on a whole lot of issues, could be someone who thinking is expanded.

But the Obama Administrations!!??!!

Section VIII. Miscellaneous

(57) If applicable, please list the names, addresses and phone number of cohabitants within the last ten years. A cohabitant is a person with whom you share bonds of affection, obligation, or other commitment, as opposed to a person with whom you live for reasons of convenience (a roommate).

(58) Please provide the URL addresses of any websites that feature you in either a personal or professional capacity (e.g., Facebook, My Space, etc.)

(59) Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage.

(60) Have you had a complete physical within the past year? Please describe your overall health and any medical treatment you are currently receiving.

Awfully nosey if you ask me. Too much so.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:13 am

USinUK,

We’ve all read your naive BLATHER. And you can keep your cup of garbage.

Del

October 27th, 2010
11:13 am

“and all of a sudden it’s a scary and dangerous “left wing organization.” Scary and dangerous, no, left wing, yes. Scout bagged one…your turn. They’re really leaving themselves open this morning.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:15 am

@@ – no nosier than any background check you would get if you worked for any other high-level federal agency

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:15 am

USMC – it’s called a scroll bar … feel free to use it.

Del

October 27th, 2010
11:15 am

USMC DAWG… by my count has bagged two.

BADA BING

October 27th, 2010
11:17 am

Hey, where in that application is the part about having to step on people’s heads?

Left wing management

October 27th, 2010
11:17 am

So why all this lingering chatter about the NPR episode of last week?

Could it be because it illustrates the seismic shift in the media landscape that we’ve seen over the last decade?

The funny thing is you see people on here claiming NPR is a captive to the “Far Left”, etc., which on its face is so laughable as to not even be worth a response. But what makes this more serious is that you can clearly see, from the vociferousness of these claims, that these people genuinely believe this stuff and are not just going through the rhetorical motions. They really see what NPR represents as just as ideologically driven as they are.

The interesting part of this is NPR’s colossal naivety in thinking that by continuing to occupy a reasonable center in this environment that they can stay clear of the ideological turmoil that they find themselves in. They’re not going to make it that way.

Normal

October 27th, 2010
11:18 am

What were we saying earlier this morning? Oh yeah, Good Manners, Don’t Leave Home Without them. Oh well, some never learn or worse still, maybe never taught.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:18 am

There goes UsinUK with the “Bumper Sticker” gotchas. Real cute by the way.

Get out of the way and let the responsible men and women do the heavy lifting.

larry

October 27th, 2010
11:18 am

Bob J Perry who funds American Crossroad, who was founded by none other than ……………………..

turd blossom himself. You want to talk about scary!!!

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:19 am

USinUK:

I choose pillows at dawn !

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:19 am

USMC – “We’ve all read your naive BLATHER”

oh, and I take it that means you can’t find any quotes from me saying that I support that sentiment.

in the spirit of Doggone (and Emily Post) – I accept your apology.

Jefferson

October 27th, 2010
11:20 am

As you can see, a hit dog hollars.

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:21 am

“I do not like this Uncle Sam,
I do not like his health care scam..
I do not like these dirty crooks,
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals,
I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like this speaker Nan ,
I do not like this ‘YES, WE CAN’.
I do not like this spending spree—
I’m smart, I know that nothing’s free.
I do not like your smug replies,
when I complain about your lies.
I do not like this kind of hope.
I do not like it. nope, nope, nope!”

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:21 am

Scout – :lol: – now, that’s funny.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
11:21 am

del

Your perception is only your reality…the only thing bagged today is testosterone fueled backslapping….

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:23 am

“Get out of the way and let the responsible men and women do the heavy lifting.”

:lol: well, that leaves you out of the conversation.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:25 am

Jay 10:34 – then NPR should fire most of their “news analysts”. I think a simpler solution is to just withdraw government funding. Oh boy. How are we on this topic again?….

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
11:25 am

“labeled an exact group of the Muslim faith, by the way they dressed themselves”

and if I walk past you on the street, will you know MY religion by the way I am DRESSED?

Del

October 27th, 2010
11:26 am

Mick, It’s fun at times though! bagged two.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:27 am

USinUK: “Get out of the way and let the responsible men and women do the heavy lifting.”

well, that leaves you out of the conversation.”

That was clever. Really:-)

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:28 am

USinUK:

Don’t laugh. You ever been hit with one of those old fashioned feather pillows? It’ll knock you silly ……………… :o

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:29 am

I think a simpler solution is to just withdraw government funding.

What, the 10 percent or so? however will they function?

(funny how that didn’t happen back when all three branches were Gooperific. it’s like… I dunno, maybe actual conservatives and Republicans and such respect the work NPR does, and their constituents would be pissed off if their local affiliates were threatened? naw, crazy stuff.)

David Granger

October 27th, 2010
11:29 am

Oh, my word! Conservative politicians actually want to hire conservative staff? The very idea! Unlike liberal politicians, of course, who don’t care what their staff’s political philosophy is…right, Jay?

And operationally, you have to be impressed with the Democratic Party’s “apparatus”. When the ballot pops up on voting machines in Nevada, for example, the checkbox for Harry Reid is ALREADY SELECTED! And who has the “maintenance contract” for these machines? Why that good old, “non-partisan” union–the SEIU.

Some Republicans…especially in elections that would be real embarrassing for the Democrats to lose (Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Barney Frank, the “Obama” senate seat in Illinois)…might just win the election, only to lose the vote count.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:30 am

sfd – I know its only 10%. So what’s the big deal? End it, everyone wins.

Tommy Maddox

October 27th, 2010
11:31 am

Jay – you speak of ideological control. Are you taking note as to why so many democratic politicians are being taken to the cleaners? They complied with ideological control i.e. “vote for stimulus, Obamacare, etc. and we’ll take care of you in the election”.

Talk about lemmings leaping off the cliff w/no parachute.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:31 am

“and if I walk past you on the street, will you know MY religion by the way I am DRESSED?”- Doggone/GA

Yeah if you are wearing a burka that covers everything but your eye slit.

Doggone/GA, Am I allowed to wear a burka w/ an eye slit into a bank?

Are you going to feel comfortable with that?
Honestly?

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:32 am

USMC DAWG – “Honestly?” Those are high expectations. Don’t get your hopes up.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
11:34 am

Hi USinUK your 10:08 is spot on…funny I just posted a similar rant on Cynthia’s spot this morning.

Gator Joe

October 27th, 2010
11:35 am

Jay,
I wonder how many of the NPR bashers actually listen and voluntarily contribute to NPR? I’ll bet few if any. Loyal listeners and contributors, such as myself, view the medium as an excellent source of news and information, both local, national, and worldwide. Does NPR make mistakes? of course they do. I’ll also bet that most of the bashers learned of Mr. Williams’ firing from Fox “News” and probably never listened to him on NPR.

@@

October 27th, 2010
11:35 am

Why is it that some of my posts totally misappear into jay’s O-zone? I’ll divide it into two separate.

USinUK:

I’ve worked for government…not at the federal level, but for local bigwigs (politicians). Nowhere in my application did they require such in-depth personal info.

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:36 am

This is the kind of stuff that you liberals come up with :

Headline: “Rhode Island to vote on dropping ‘Plantations’ from its name”

“PROVIDENCE, R.I. – This state’s official name — The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations — is more than just a mouthful. To many, it evokes stinging reminders of Rhode Island’s prime role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Voters next Tuesday will decide whether to change the name by dropping the words “and Providence Plantations.” The issue has been debated for years, but lawmakers last year authorized a ballot question for the first time following an impassioned debate over race relations, ancestry and history.”

What’s next …………. changing Washington, D.C. to Lincolnville?

@@

October 27th, 2010
11:37 am

Not sure what point that makes, RW. There’s not a hint of ideological enforcement in that Obama document, just standard background stuff. In fact, it drives home just how different the GOP approach is.

I saw nothing in the GOP’s approach that would “call into question” one’s most intimate and personal life.

Talk about invasion of privacy…not only the applicant’s but the people with whom they have relationships!!??!!

SHEESH!!!!

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:37 am

Gator Joe 11:35 – you’d be wrong with your bets.

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:37 am

So what’s the big deal? End it, everyone wins.

Well no, not really. You’re talking about the funding they get from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which does a lot of good work, and I wouldn’t end that radio broadcasting component of the organization’s mission.

Furthermore, it seems a strangely reactive thing to suggest, given that the most valid criticism I’ve heard of NPR’s firing of Juan Williams was that it seemed to be rather… reactive in nature. If it were a long-simmering issue, NPR probably could’ve handled it better, and more quietly.

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:38 am

Doggone/GA:

> “A young Arab asks his father,” What is this weird hat that we are wearing?”
>
> The father replied, “It’s a “chechia” because in the desert it protects our
> heads from the sun!”
>
> The son then asked, “And what is this type of clothing that we are wearing?”
>
> His father then replied, “It’s a “djbellah” because in the desert it is
> very hot and it protects your body!”
>
> The son then asked, “And what are these ugly shoes that we have on our
> feet?”
>
> His father replied, “These are “babouches”, which keep us from burning our
> feet when in the desert!”
>
> The son said, “Tell me, papa…why are we living in America and still
> wearing all this crap?”

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:39 am

I wonder how many of the NPR bashers actually listen

haha. You make a funny!

(And yeah, I am quite familiar with the right wing broadcast idiots I criticize. Heard them unfiltered, without any help from the likes of Media Matters, for years now. In Limbaugh’s case, literally decades.)

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:39 am

@ jm:

I know. It is funny to listen to my liberal friends and the pseudo-intellectuals, like the one across the pond, that pontificate about these great (Marxist) ideas of “fair” and “level playing field” and “equality” and “Hate speech”, etc. They are the most intellectually dishonest lot.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:41 am

sfd – if you don’t understand the value of an independent media, and the principle of keeping government funding out of media (how would you feel if the Government gave $200 million every year to Fox?), then I can’t help you.

See the rules regarding VOA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_America

“Under § 501 of the Smith–Mundt Act of 1948, the Voice of America is forbidden to broadcast directly to American citizens. The intent of the legislation is to protect the American public from propaganda actions by its own government.[29] Although VOA does not broadcast domestically, Americans can access the programs through shortwave and streaming audio over the Internet.”

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:42 am

@@ – “not at the federal level, but for local bigwigs (politicians). Nowhere in my application did they require such in-depth personal info.”

well, that’s not the same, now is it?

my friends who worked at previous white houses had to fill out something similar, as has another friend who applied to work with the CIA. they need to know if there is anything in your past which could be damaging to the administration or could open you up to blackmail.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
11:44 am

This npr thing has got me baffled; never once listened to it. I do however have xm/sirius satellite radio with over 300 stations, yet I only really listen to about five or six different channels. No commercials and freedom from the fcc – thats what I’m talking about.

Abrazos

October 27th, 2010
11:45 am

“Get out of the way and let the responsible men and women do the heavy lifting.”

You mean like Jim DeMint? Sharron Angle? Rand Paul? Michele Bachman? Christine O’Donnell? Tom Price? Joe Barton? Mitch McConnell? And…Newt, Sarah and company? You can’t help but wonder how these people survived in the real world before they found their true callings as the childlike narcissists with sociopathic tendencies that they are today.

If these geniuses are the “responsible men and women” whose leadership this nation has to look forward to, Lord help us. The only comfort is that their outsize egos will not permit cooperation with anyone, therefore accelerating their own demise from within.

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
11:46 am

“Yeah if you are wearing a burka that covers everything but your eye slit.”

You apparently do NOT realize that wearing a burka, for instance, is a social norm, not a religious requirement…and that IN those societies women of all religions might be wearing them just to prevent being targeted. So tell me – again – that you could decide MY religion by what *I* am wearing.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:46 am

we have a “marxist” … how long before we get a “socialist”???

MaJo

October 27th, 2010
11:46 am

Jay, is it your assertion that conservatives are somehow different from liberals in their desire to only hire people that match their views? Are you saying that if I wanted to join the staff the a liberal counterpart to the organizations you describe, that my political views will not be vetted in any way?

JDW

October 27th, 2010
11:47 am

@JM “how would you feel if the Government gave $200 million every year to Fox?”

If they turned into a non partisan nonprofit that took no or limited advertising that would be ok. My bigger problem with Fox is that they are funding the Republican Party.

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:47 am

if you don’t understand the value of an independent media, and the principle of keeping government funding out of media (how would you feel if the Government gave $200 million every year to Fox?), then I can’t help you.

well jm, if you haven’t come out of your own little cubby hole and seen how civilized nations typically have publicly funded broadcast outlets to provide news and information to their citizenry that isn’t subject to the status of enormous media corporations’ bottom lines, then I can’t help you.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:48 am

Abrazos – there are a lot of good Republicans that are going to be swept in office this year. They’re not on your list because they don’t get publicity. Either because they’re boring (but good) or because of media bias. I don’t care which. Our media is stupid and doesn’t add value to our country any more.

Peadawg

October 27th, 2010
11:48 am

Scout @ 11:38

HAHA!!

Mick

October 27th, 2010
11:48 am

**I know. It is funny to listen to my liberal friends and the pseudo-intellectuals**

It’s a lock that they know that they are not talking to the sharpest tool in the shed…

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:51 am

JDW – NPR: “a non partisan nonprofit that took no or limited advertising that would be ok.”

What a joke. As if non-profits are different than for profits nowadays. The lines between the 2 have become so completely blurred its absurd.

See:
Graduation rates for for-profit universities versus graduation rates for non-profit universities in the lower academic tiers
See SCAD’s operational model
Any / all of the non-profits where execs get paid huge sums (ie, take profits out through comp, not distributions).

No helping liberals. They just don’t get it.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:51 am

Well Abrazos,
I will put up those that you have mentioned against the people like Cynthia McKinney, Harry Reid, Barney Frank (& lover), Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Rahm Emanual, Al Franken, Maxine Waters, Barbara Boxer, Charlie Shumer, Charlie Rangel, the Congressional BLACK caucus, the Congressional HISPANIC caucus, and all of the other morons, Hank Johnson, etc.

BADA BING

October 27th, 2010
11:51 am

USMC…..what is the law about wearing a burka into a bank? I can’t wear a ballcap and sunglasses into my bank. Equal rights anyone?

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:51 am

JDW – VOA by definition is non-profit. Hope you can get their broadcasts. I’m glad you believe in propaganda. Move to China please.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:52 am

Liberals are suckers.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:53 am

Mick – 11:48 – well, you know how it is, there’s always one in the bunch …

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:53 am

USinUK has a promising career path for a bumper sticker or T-shirt company.

“is it Marxist or Socialist…. find where I said…Blah, Blah, Blather…

Left wing management

October 27th, 2010
11:53 am

jm 11:52:

What’s a ‘liberal’ ?

Mick

October 27th, 2010
11:54 am

**No helping liberals. They just don’t get it.**

Neither do the people who use labels, sterotyping to make a point..

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:55 am

@@

October 27th, 2010
11:55 am

USinUK:

my friends who worked at previous white houses had to fill out something similar, as has another friend who applied to work with the CIA.

You can claim that statement as truth, but until you produce evidence, it’s nothing but hotair.

We’re not talking about high-profile individuals here. We’re talking about lowly staffers in whose personal life no one is interested. And what the hell does a persons health have to do with performing some mundane (no heavy lifting) required job?

I’ve got a hallway to paint. Hasn’t your employer got something for you to do? Does your fragile health preclude you from working too hard?

Schnirt.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:56 am

left wing mgmt – the folks who think government can do things effectively….

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
11:57 am

Peering inside the left-wing apparatus:

“DEMS OUTSPEND GOP IN ELECTION…”

“CHICAGOLAND: ‘Glitch’ with vote-by-mail system; Hundreds of thousands may be disenfranchised…”

“Residents cry foul over ballots in PA…”

“VEGAS: ‘I WENT TO VOTE AND HARRY REID’S NAME WAS ALREADY CHECKED’… ”

” N CAROLINA: I VOTED REPUBLICAN AND MACHINE CHECKED DEMOCRAT… ”

“REID ‘FREE FOOD’ AT TURNOUT EVENTS…”

“UNIONS ‘GIFT CARDS’ FOR VOTES…”

“Voting Machine Techs Are SEIU…”

“OBAMA TO HUNT FOR JOBS — IN INDIA… ”

“‘The View’s’ Behar: Angle ‘going to hell, this b****’… ”

“REPUBLICANS ‘GOTTA SIT IN THE BACK’… ” (is this the hope and change we were promised?)

The lib “apparatus” goes on and on. I’m serious, you cannot make this shlt up.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:58 am

Liberals think titles and designations mean something. Liberals think government can solve problems. Liberals think businesses are bad. Liberals think people are bad.

Liberals aren’t too bright.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:58 am

Exactly BADA BING!

You can’t wear a hat and glasses in a bank, but if you require a muslim to not wear a full length Burka….YOU’RE A RACIST! No USinUK, I am not going to go dig up the law for you…

And the Leftwing will call you an UGLY American if you go to London and don’t drink your hot Tea with cream… because you should adapt to their culture.

jt

October 27th, 2010
11:59 am

Herein lies the single application question to become a Libertarian

True of False…………

I own myself.

You either pass or you remain a slave.

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:00 pm

I do have to question the efficacy of my posts. They’re only going to get you liberals fired up to go vote.

Meanwhile, our country needs you to stay apathetic from your lost faith in the savior, so the rest of us can try to go fix it.

So I retract all my previous statements. You guys are great. Don’t worry, Obama’s still president and the Dems are going to do well….

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
12:00 pm

USMC – “USinUK has a promising career path for a bumper sticker or T-shirt company”

awwwwww, diddums! and you have a promising career path in the agricultural industry the way you sling the … ahem … “fertilizer” around …

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:00 pm

More of the left-wing apparatus

“Though Obama is off the campaign trail for three full days this week, he’s personally targeting key Democratic constituencies from the White House, holding conference calls with union activists and campaign volunteers, and doing interviews with radio stations that draw largely black audiences. He’ll also target younger voters when he tapes an appearance on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” on Wednesday.”

Key democratic constituencies, union activists, radio stations with largely black audiences. Riiiiight, just the kind of hope and change we were promised.

@@

October 27th, 2010
12:01 pm

Since Lamp has brought up disenfranchised voters, what’s the status on our military ballots. Will they be disenfranchised due to government screw-ups?

THAT, my friends, would be a crime. Not the first time it’s happened either.

Disgusting incompetence!!!!!

Now I’m off to paint…sanding and patching. Extensive wall prep makes for a perfect paint job.

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:02 pm

USinUK
October 27th, 2010
12:00 pm

Speaking of “fertilizer”, Obamacare = Obamanure.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:02 pm

What’s wrong USinUK… You can dish out the rubbish, but you bloody well CAN’T TAKE IT.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:03 pm

jm@11:58

You clearly are obsessed with imaginary enemies; as an antidote I suggest you check out the movie rambo, first blood and meld with the rambo character then you will probably feel better or worse since that might be your preference..

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:04 pm

If the Republicans had done a better job actually running the country and fixing things, like actually running through their SS reform, I’d have more faith in them. Right now all I can have is Hope. It’s probably about as promising for me as for the people who hung their hope on Obama.

We’re screwed.

http://www.pimco.com/Pages/RunTurkeyRun.aspx

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:05 pm

**you bloody well CAN’T TAKE IT.**

As if you actually had something of intelligence to say so far…

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:07 pm

jm
**We’re screwed**

No, you’re screwed! My life isn’t dependent on who is in power. Try to think two moves ahead and you’ll be ok.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
12:10 pm

USMC – :lol: – yeah. your intellectual prowess is so … scary. in fact, I have yet to see you contribute anything of substance today … all you’ve done is attack me.

THAT is the “adults talking” to which you referred earlier???

Left wing management

October 27th, 2010
12:10 pm

Thanks, jm, that’s what I wanted to know. You say:

“Liberals think titles and designations mean something.” // But, don’t they in fact?

“Liberals think government can solve problems.” // So if there’s no government, then no one and nothing is governed and you have widespread disorder, as is the case after a natural disaster for ex. Sounds to me like w/o govmnt we would have nothing but problems.

“Liberals think businesses are bad.” // Again, what’s a ‘liberal’ ? Who right now really thinks businesses are bad other than perhaps certain Marxists? FYI Marxists are not strictly speaking liberals. Market fundamentalists, on the other hand, are.

“Liberals think people are bad.” // Assuming for a moment that there’s actually an opposition betw conservative and liberal, wasn’t it conservatives who thought people were bad and the liberals were the one who believed people were inherently perfectible through social improvement? This isn’t consistent with any kind of conservativism we used to be familiar with, as for ex. what was espoused by William F. Buckley for ex. How do you explain this turnaround in conservative thought? Isn’t it now closer to the truth to say that it’s the people we used to know as ‘conservatives’ who have turned out to be the real dangerous Utopians and starry-eyed extremists?

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:10 pm

Priceless…..

“Bookie says GOP can’t lose House, pays bets early…”

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:11 pm

Oh Sorry Mick, I didn’t see much out of you either, Mr. Intelligent.

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:14 pm

USinUK
October 27th, 2010
12:10 pm

Good grief! You’ve been in this game long enough to know you won’t find any substance from bloggers. That is, of course, except from me…. :cool:

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
12:14 pm

So is all the right wing whining we’re hearing about “voter fraud” (beautifully summarized by Leg Lamp @ 11.57–thanks!) of late:

1) a GOP get-out-the-vote/stir-up-da-base thing; or

2) some preemptive excuse-making in anticipation of a poorer-than-expected showing next Tuesday?

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:14 pm

USMC DAWG

I am just responding to your chest thumping and superiority complex, get beyond that and there might be some debate..

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:15 pm

Mick 12:07 – no worries for me. I’ve already got money in Canada. But I’m sad about the state of our country. Call it national pride or whatever. We’ve lost our way apparently…. sad to see our country go down the tubes. I’ll be fine.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:16 pm

@ USinUK:

What am I supposed to say now… “I know you are but what am I?”

Your Cute “Gotchas” are not to be misunderstood, necessarily, as “intelligence”.

You do the same thing. Let’s move on.

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:17 pm

stands for decibels
October 27th, 2010
12:14 pm

Nah, just catching the libs with thier hands in the cookie jar……as usual.

Oh yeah, I’m glad you thought my post about the left-wing apparatus was “beautifully summarized”. You see, USinUK, I told you I had substance to my blogs. :lol:

Paul

October 27th, 2010
12:17 pm

Still speaking of Juan Willliams? Something that seems to be lost in this is a reading of NPR’s code of ethics:

“10. In appearing on TV or other media including electronic Web-based forums, NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist.”

There is nothing else about how views can or cannot be expressed when operating outside NPR. It does not state ‘opinions.’

NPR officially said ““His remarks on The O’Reilly Factor this past Monday were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.”

The VP for News said it was because his remark was bigoted and crossed the line.

NPR has a problem. It doesn’t say the ‘outrageous views.’ It doesn’t say ‘mainstream views.’ It doesn’t say ‘harmless views.’ It says ‘views they wouldn’t express as an NPR journalist.’

Given what NPR ‘journalists’ have said on other forums, and on NPR, that appear in conflict with NPR’s Statement of Principles of “”Unbiased” means that we separate our personal opinions – such as an individual’s religious beliefs or political ideology – from the subjects we are covering.” well, it appears there may be a bit of an issue of unfair treatment compared to others. Of a minority journalist.

NPR’s made quite a mess of it.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:17 pm

Mick you sound a little insecure. But let’s move on, this is getting childish don’t you think?

Normal

October 27th, 2010
12:18 pm

I don’t recall that a hat and sun glasses were a part of a religious dress code…is this a case of cultural misunderstanding or just ignorance running amok?

thomas

October 27th, 2010
12:18 pm

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
11:25 am

No, I would not however….. if you are in a burka? maybe… a male in a Kippah? maybe…….cetrtain types of Vestment? think I would have a good clue.

But you are correct they could be in costume, or actors or actresses?

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
12:19 pm

Leg Lamp – 12:14 – well, where the heck have you BEEN all week???!!!

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:20 pm

Normal
October 27th, 2010
12:18 pm

“or just ignorance running amok?”

If you’re talking about Obama’s policies, then yes, it is ignorance run amok.

RB from Gwinnett

October 27th, 2010
12:20 pm

Jay, are you blocking my posts for some reason? I’m feeling like mike/notmike here.