Mitch Daniels the last, best hope for GOP sanity
Joe Klein speaks for many, I suspect:
This is my 10th presidential campaign, Lord help me. I have never before seen such a bunch of vile, desperate-to-please, shameless, embarrassing losers coagulated under a single party’s banner. They are the most compelling argument I’ve seen against American exceptionalism. Even Tim Pawlenty, a decent governor, can’t let a day go by without some bilious nonsense escaping his lizard brain. And, as Greg Sargent makes clear, Mitt Romney has wandered a long way from courage. There are those who say, cynically, if this is the dim-witted freak show the Republicans want to present in 2012, so be it. I disagree. One of them could get elected. You never know. Mick Huckabee, the front-runner if you can believe it, might have to negotiate a trade agreement, or a defense treaty, with the Indonesian president some day. Newt might have to discuss very delicate matters of national security with the president of Pakistan. And so I plead, as an unflinching American patriot — please Mitch Daniels, please Jeb Bush, please run. I may not agree with you on most things, but I respect you. And you seem to respect yourselves enough not to behave like public clowns.
Personally, I’d be shocked if Jeb Bush runs, because he’s smart enough to know that Bush fatigue is a major obstacle and because he has made no noises to date about a candidacy.
I also won’t be shocked if Mitch Daniels declines. The cast of characters that Klein describes as “a bunch of vile, desperate-to-please, shameless, embarrassing losers” hasn’t assembled itself accidentally. They have materialized because that’s what the GOP base demands at the moment. This is an electorate motivated for the most part by resentment, fear and paranoia, and it’s looking for candidates willing to tell them that their resentment, fear and paranoia are fully justified. At this point, whoever does that best will probably be the nominee.
I doubt Daniels can play that game very well. That’s not who he is, and unlike Mitt Romney, he doesn’t seem willing to pretend otherwise. In weighing whether to run, Daniels has to decide whether a very different, more sober message has a chance to be heard in this environment.
If he decides the answer is no, there’s no market for what he has to sell, it will say more about the state of the modern Republican Party than anything from Joe Klein or other pundits.
– Jay Bookman
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450 comments Add your comment
Mick
March 30th, 2011
12:06 pm
I remember george wallace running for president in 1972, he had a lot of fans in jersey…..damn yankees..
Keep Up the Good Fight!
March 30th, 2011
12:07 pm
I think DDR left Canadian Mounties off her hot list.
md
March 30th, 2011
12:07 pm
“damn yankees..”
Yeh…..I hope they lose every game this year………….
getalife
March 30th, 2011
12:08 pm
w,
I lied.
So?
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:09 pm
getalife….it is ok we are all used to it.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
March 30th, 2011
12:09 pm
uh oh….I agree with md about them damn yankees… it is Aprils Fools already?
kayaker 71
March 30th, 2011
12:09 pm
Let’s make a list of Demo candidates to substitute for Bozo. Maybe start with Hank Johnson. Or that dude from South Carolina. Or maybe we could resurrect Cythia McKinny if we could talk her off of that Arab gun running boat. Then there is always that Blank Panther patriot that was just trying to protect” his people.” Cold cash Jefferson, Marion Berry, John Edwards, Rham Emmanuel…. the list goes on. Sort of gives you a big boner, don’t it. Off to the gym to make my heart sweat. Save the TaTas…..
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:10 pm
Kayaker……HAHAHAHAHA I actually laughed out loud on that one.
neal
March 30th, 2011
12:11 pm
If a braindead, uncompetent community organizer with a secret past, no birth certificate, zero experience, spent 20 years in one of the most racist and anti-American churches in the nation, and bf’s with a murdering terrorist can become President then a family pet could win the next election
getalife
March 30th, 2011
12:11 pm
w,
I thought I would unite with you cons and lie like you always do.
Unity.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
March 30th, 2011
12:14 pm
neal…and yet all the polls show that no republican can beat Obama head to head right now…so when do you sign up Spot?
sags
March 30th, 2011
12:14 pm
Jay,
And the quacks needed to recruit a NON-American, Kenyan born Marxist to put on their ticket. Your point?
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:15 pm
getalife…..brillant comment….
You mean kind of like this?
“I will close Gitmo”
“I will bring our troops home”
“no more earmarks”
“I will disclose to the public all that is included in bills before they are passed”
and on and on and on….
GREAT WORK!
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:16 pm
Getalife….how about this one….
“I never had sexual relations with that woman”
You mean like that right?
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:17 pm
Keep…..and we are still nearly two years out.
Who was leading the polls this time in the last election?
Kamchak
March 30th, 2011
12:18 pm
Birthers.
neal
March 30th, 2011
12:18 pm
Yet I bet you dont believe the newest Quinnipiac poll that shows half of those polled do not believe Odumba deserves a second term.
Typical kook hypocrite
DebbieDoRight
March 30th, 2011
12:19 pm
GeorgeW: Doggone….why would you need to post the businesses he owns….they are legal.
To deliberately bait you guys into speaking the truth, if you can. Repubs are notorious in their anti-gay stances and rhetoric yet the poster said he’d rather “vote for someone who owned a business than…” so I was just seeing if that was actually true or not; if he’d vote for a guy who owned a gay business, who shared his views on repub causes, or if he was just blowing smoke up his butt.
Paul: If people would think past sound bites we’d be better off.
Amen.
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:20 pm
Debbie…so you admit you are baiting……at least you are being honest…..cant say so much for getalife.
Get Real (the original)
March 30th, 2011
12:20 pm
Left wing management….Joe Klein is on another planet, perhaps you live there as well
WOW
March 30th, 2011
12:21 pm
“and yet all the polls show that no republican can beat Obama head to head right now”
Skittles Poop doesn’t realize that we have another year until the campaign begins.
DebbieDoRight
March 30th, 2011
12:21 pm
Debbie….What is that vibrating noise coming from Debbie’s post?
Too funny!!!
AmVet
March 30th, 2011
12:21 pm
kayaker, trot out that list in 2016.
To do so now, reeks of desperation.
The Uppity Muslim juggernaut is probably laughing at the “competition” being mentioned so far…
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:22 pm
Debbie….ha
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:22 pm
Do you guys think Hillary is going to run against him?
hahaha!!!!
March 30th, 2011
12:24 pm
So what ever happened to all those gay male prostitutes in Chicago that had “relations” with the Messiah?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
March 30th, 2011
12:25 pm
wow…what no whine about how you don’t name call first when you start off posting name calling?…..
Wait a year…it’s not going to get any pretty for the Republicans and a few states that went red will be headed blue (if not already blue) and a few govs could be in real trouble…..
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:26 pm
Keep…..yeah we saw what happened in the last election to the “blue” states…..priceless.
retired early
March 30th, 2011
12:27 pm
Jay
You probably read the interview NPR did with former SC conservative Republican Bob Inglis who got ousted by a Tea Party candidate. The man is in shock from his encounter’s with his “new” party base.
I can’t empathize enough that if you love your country…. read this interview.
Here is the link:
http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/08/bob-inglis-tea-party-casualty
carter
March 30th, 2011
12:28 pm
This next election will be hilarious. Because you all know good and well our Ne-Comm media like Jay is going to allow the blue lipped, big earred wonder pretend as though he is a brand new candidate without a 4 year track record proving to be the worst President in US history.
Just you watch
Get Real (the original)
March 30th, 2011
12:30 pm
Keep Up the Good Fight!
Dream On Pal, it is not going to happen.
I do admit it is challenging to get the addicts weaned off the government narcotic, but at least the Republicans are stepping up to the plate to try and reduce budget deficits. Too bad the Democrats included Obama do not have the man berries to drive the process on the federal level.
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:30 pm
carter….I agree….if we think he leans too far left now….if he is elected he will have nothing to lose…..just watch how far he tries to push his radical agenda.
Peadawg
March 30th, 2011
12:30 pm
I take back what I said about Obama and his bracket…seeing as he picked favorites the entire way I realized he hardly put any effort into it. That’s about the same as being President…..
WOW
March 30th, 2011
12:30 pm
“what no whine about how you don’t name call first when you start off posting name calling?…..”
Name calling????? Keep, you post POOP and SKITTLES in most of your posts. Not my problem if you don’t like your own words used against you.
carter
March 30th, 2011
12:34 pm
If Americans are stupid enough to reelect this walking calamity to another 4 years if hell then they deserve the Nazi state it will surely bring
Some People are stupid
March 30th, 2011
12:34 pm
1.5 trillion dollar deficits and you try and cut 61 billion..I guess thats a good ole college try.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
March 30th, 2011
12:35 pm
wow…you’re full of poop but do prove that most of my posts include those words…… nice whine though. You do a great constant whine about how others do things that you do constantly……no personal responsibility and no credibility.
Aren’t you over your limit on whining?
retired early
March 30th, 2011
12:35 pm
George W and WOW
Please read the interview from my link provided @ 12:27.
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:36 pm
Some….I would take $61Billion….wouldnt you?
George W
March 30th, 2011
12:38 pm
Ok Retired…..and?
Peachtree St.
March 30th, 2011
12:38 pm
If Obama was any more stupid he would be a squirrel
Kamchak
March 30th, 2011
12:39 pm
…then they deserve the Nazi state it will surely bring
Godwin’s Law.
Too funny.
And predictable.
Some People are stupid
March 30th, 2011
12:39 pm
George W-
From a 1.5 trillion dollar deficit…..I actually would say, when you guys get serious…call me and quit wasting my time.
Left wing management
March 30th, 2011
12:40 pm
Actually, to state my principle more precisely:
The more one approaches conservativism, the more incoherent and irrational one becomes.
Exhibit 1: Donald Trump.
Now that he has deliberately tracked conservative in an attempt to woo the GOP base, he is by necessity compelled to accommodate himself to delusional thinking. Hence his newfound openness to ‘birther’ arguments.
It’s simple folks, If you’re on the GOP/right, you’re incoherent and irrational, extremist. If you’re in the center or the Left (they’re one and the same) you’re by definition reasonable and rational. Thus Joe Klein, Jay Bookman, Left Wing Management, Michael Moore, and other illustrious names are all centrist and rational. And left wing. It’s all the same.
retired early
March 30th, 2011
12:41 pm
George W
Actually read the thing…then we can talk.
liberty bells
March 30th, 2011
12:42 pm
Jay, Joe Klein does not speak for me. Your side is desperate to convince Americans that Washington DC is something other than organized crime. That is why your side will never endorse Herman Cain, a competent and proven leader, unlike the current bad joke of a leader, your heralded messiah. Jay, I know you HATE conservative small government types, but if we don’t retake the reigns of power now, America is finished. Your side, with GE and Goldmann Sachs, has spent us and rewarded themselves, right into the poor house.
Chris Matthews
March 30th, 2011
12:43 pm
Joe Kleln speaks for all the haters who can’t face the facts that anybody will do a better job than Obama!
Paul
March 30th, 2011
12:43 pm
getalife
“Fox was the last to cut him off and gave him another thirty seconds.
Then attacked high gas prices.
Too funny!”
If he’s got all of them ticked off, he must be doing something right.
Gator Joe
March 30th, 2011
12:45 pm
Jay,
I hope the Republicans continue on their path to self-destruction and ever increasing wierdness. Reelection for President Obama will be certain and the laughs they [Republicans] provide will continue. This is not your father’s Republican Party, but rather a racist, bigoted, narrow and simple minded shadow of what once was.
Granny Godzilla
March 30th, 2011
12:46 pm
kayaker 71
March 30th, 2011
11:49 am
Granny,
Why do Swedes with blond hair and blue eyes have to be so….. anyway, yeah, the neighborhood needs community organizers, they just should not be elected president. We need pizza delivery boys too, but don’t elect them to Congress. People like Hank Johnson are your heroes?
“The nation’s job is to produce welfare, not make a profit”. I would just settle for a neutral balance sheet. And what kind of welfare do you mean
the neighborhood needs cheerleaders, but we never should have elected him president…..
and let me point out that both John Adams and Jesus Christ were community organizers.
Tommy Maddox
March 30th, 2011
12:46 pm
Well, ya might want to check the latest polling from Quinnipiac University. I think the golden boy is starting to tarnish a little.
hahaha!!!
March 30th, 2011
12:47 pm
LWM,
And I guess Rosie O’Donnell, Bill Maher, Rev. Wright,Sean Penn and Charlie Sheen are bastions of sanity since they are as entrenched in liberalism as one can get. Am I right?
LOL!!!!!
Get Real (the original)
March 30th, 2011
12:48 pm
Left wing management
“Actually, to state my principle more precisely:
The more one approaches conservativism, the more incoherent and irrational one becomes.”
We can agree to disagree as I could not disagree with you more…
carlosgvv
March 30th, 2011
12:52 pm
A study of American History suggests these past 20 years have given us the worst political candidates ever seen in the Republican and Democratic Parties. One can only wonder when the patience of the American people will finally run out and what the results of that will be.
Get Real (the original)
March 30th, 2011
12:53 pm
Gator Joe
Time to head back into the swamp budrow, as you need another shot or two of moonshine. Based on your statements the shine appears to have completely melted your brain…
@@
March 30th, 2011
12:55 pm
Debbie:
Your husband calls “IT” that? As long as he’s not transplanting “IT”. If so, you’ve got a problem.
Getalife:
chambliss is a horrible senator like we expected.
Didn’t I read somewhere that Chambliss and Durbin were huddled up somewhere?
Reid’s stance puts him at odds with not only a majority of Republicans, but also with members of his own party. Moderate Democrats in the House like Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.), ranking member on the House Budget Committee, have acknowledged that Social Security needs fixing and have spoken out in favor of reform, as have several of Reid’s colleagues in the Senate. Even Sen. Bill Nelson (D., Fla.), up for reelection in 2012 (in Florida!) has expressed a willingness to consider reforms to Social Security.
Meanwhile, the four Senate representatives who served on President Obama’s bipartisan deficit commission — Tom Coburn (R., Okla.), Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), Kent Conrad (D., N.D.), and Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) — have teamed up with Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R., Ga.) and Mark Warner (D., Va.) to try and negotiated a long-term budget compromise based on the commission’s recommendations, which include reforms to Social Security such as raising the retirement age to 69 by the year 2075 and means testing of benefits.
I’ve always found Harry to be an odd little man. Is he gonna be odd man out?
I’m hoping so. Putting fear into old folks? He should be ashamed of himself. Today’s seniors have nothing to fear. I watched Paul Ryan (luv his new haircut btw) make it clear on Greta last night. I repeat….”Today’s seniors have nothing to fear.”
Say it with me, Getalife….TODAY’S SENIORS HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR!!!!! YOUR BENEFITS, WILL, IN NO WAY, BE AFFECTED!!!!”
I wouldn’t wanna say something nice about Dick Durbin, but if he can deliver SS Reform, I will.
AmVet
March 30th, 2011
12:55 pm
Well, ya might want to check the latest polling from Quinnipiac University. I think the golden boy is starting to tarnish a little.
Tommy, I already addressed that earlier today in my 10:43 and 10:47.
Since August of ‘09 there has been little movement…
Jack
March 30th, 2011
12:56 pm
Anybody but Obama. I mean anybody. I’d even vote for Hillary if she was on the GOP ticket.
DebbieDoRight
March 30th, 2011
12:58 pm
Please read the interview from my link provided @ 12:27.
I read it. I was like …….”wow”. Thanks for that link, I’ve emailed it to all my friends (and a few enemies).
AmVet
March 30th, 2011
1:03 pm
Jack, GWB again?
retired early, good article.
That is why the Tea Party is so laughed at.
They feign being some dynamic NEW political entity, when in reality all they are is the lunatic fringe of the GOP’s lunatic fringe.
How do we fix the problem that most Americans see us as way too far to the right? We move even farther to the right!
Otay.
They could not find the reasoned and reasonable political center with countless GPS devices…
williebkind
March 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
This is too funny! The liberals want to pick the conservative candidate for the republican party. Two things race through my mind! One, the liberals want to disguise a liberal as a conservative to run for office. Two, the liberals are really scared of losing the white house and are trying to have a say in who will be the next president. The liberals are too funny! Really, some call Jesus an organizer. How desperate.
George W
March 30th, 2011
1:11 pm
retired…..I did.
George W
March 30th, 2011
1:12 pm
AmVet….GWB again? ABSOLUTELY!!!
James
March 30th, 2011
1:23 pm
Bookman, you are so biased that you have no credibility on any political subject, especially the Republican Party.
Darwin
March 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
Jay – I understand. “When you read the right wing bloggers here, you can understand why the Republican field is full of crazies.”
the red herring
March 30th, 2011
1:30 pm
Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Tim Pawlenty all are good candidates. Don’t know much about mitch daniels but heck anything beats what we have now. This has been a money spending carnival show from the beginning. At least no republican will have to worry about playing a round of golf or taking a vacation anymore after Obama since that’s most of what he’s done since he was elected. I guess to liberals like Jay it really doesn’t matter that the guy hasn’t done what he said he would do but instead has sought to saddle us with a made-in-the-dark healthcare plan that will break the country. Oops sorry Obama’s already accomplished that hasn’t he? Oh well it doesn’t matter they’ll just do another QE and we can all enjoy our $5 loaf of bread soon.
poison pen
March 30th, 2011
1:31 pm
Jay, they actually have assembled, their in the White House now.
Left wing management
March 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
Ok, Get Real, fair enough.
Master Mothera
March 30th, 2011
1:48 pm
To give you an idea of how bad He Who Walks on Koolaide’s speech on Libya was there has been no mention of the topic by the ajc lapdogs. All the GOP, Democrat, Temperance Party candidates have in common is they offer an infinite improvement over the idiot who sits in the White House when he’s not playing golf. Get here 2012.
Get Real (the original)
March 30th, 2011
1:56 pm
LWM…Kool
Harry Callahan
March 30th, 2011
2:19 pm
“This is an electorate motivated for the most part by resentment, fear and paranoia”
LMAO at Bookman. Like the left doesn’t promote “resentment, fear, and paranoia” regarding any and all of the following;
rich people
corporations
Koch brothers
tea party
health insurance
guns
etc, etc, etc, ad nauseum….
Joe Mama
March 30th, 2011
2:20 pm
Darwin — “Jay – I understand. “When you read the right wing bloggers here, you can understand why the Republican field is full of crazies.”
This.
Robert
March 30th, 2011
2:21 pm
The only GOP candidate who has a chance to beat President Obama is Michael Steele, Past GOP Leader. He has earned the right to lead the GOP. For example he showed great courage in the face of homegrown terrorism displayed by the “tea party” whose weapons of choice are hatred, fear and rage/mob mentality against minorities, women, gays & lesbians and Muslims & Jews. The whole world saw the hatred and bigotry displayed by the “tea party” during the 2010 midterm elections as well as heard their call to battle (take back my country) and saw the majority of poor, uneducated White Americans embrass the “tea party” and vote for the entire GOP ticket regardless of the candidates experience. The American People have never seen organized terrorism at the ballot box. The GOP needs to clean-up the mess left behind by the “tea party” and apologize immediately to the American People on the House and Senate Floor and promise to never let any terrorist group(s) dictate how the American People should be governed. The GOP needs to show great courage and elect Michael Steele as the next GOP nominee for President of the USA.
Harry Callahan
March 30th, 2011
2:22 pm
“That is why the Tea Party is so laughed at.”
“They feign being some dynamic NEW political entity, when in reality all they are is the lunatic fringe of the GOP’s lunatic fringe.”
Yes, strict adherence to the Constitution and abhorence of out-of-control government spending and deficits certainly represents “lunatic fringe”……………..at least in the minds of brain-dead liberals, anyway.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 30th, 2011
2:26 pm
@Robert
You need to do quite a bit of research on the Tea Party, a little too much Olberman for you I assume…
Joe Mama
March 30th, 2011
2:26 pm
Henry Callahan — “strict adherence to the Constitution”
Yes, the birthers say that, too. Doesn’t make it true.
Harry Callahan
March 30th, 2011
2:26 pm
Robert @ 2:21…
Congratulations…this post is easily the most delusional rant I’ve read on this blog in at least a week.
Harry Callahan
March 30th, 2011
2:27 pm
“Yes, the birthers say that, too. Doesn’t make it true.”
The fact that Obama SAYS he was born here doesn’t make that true either.
Harry Callahan
March 30th, 2011
2:29 pm
“the majority of poor, uneducated White Americans embrass the “tea party” and vote for the entire GOP ticket regardless of the candidates experience”
I thought you liberals loved and celebrated the poor…well, unless they vote Republican, and then you mock and ridicule them.
Poor people who depend entirely on goverment handouts are to be loved, honored, and respected, but poor people who say to government “no thanks, I can do it myself” are mocked, hated, and ridiculed.
Liberals are so funny.
Joe Mama
March 30th, 2011
2:30 pm
Harry Callahan — “The fact that Obama SAYS he was born here doesn’t make that true either.”
Nor do the shrieking claims of people like Orly Taitz make it false. BTW, has she paid her fines and court costs yet for wasting the court’s time with that frivolous matter down in Columbus?
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 30th, 2011
2:30 pm
@Joe Mama
I am a Republican, please explain why I am “crazy”. Is it because I want less govt, lower taxes, less spending, less regulation, stronger position on terror, etc…
I assume you are very happy with Obama, please, can you list a few reasons why?
DBA
March 30th, 2011
2:30 pm
The Tea Party will devolve into an outreach program for the far right Christian extremists, get caught up in moralizing and fade into obscurity… just wait and see.
DBA
March 30th, 2011
2:34 pm
the red herring: “Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Tim Pawlenty all are good candidates.”
But you can scratch Christie off that list. He appointed a Muslim judge and is having to defend that appointment in the face of extreme right wing anger. This will be used against him and will sink him in the primaries.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 30th, 2011
2:34 pm
@DBA
Of all Republicans, what percentage do you believe are the “Tea Party”??
Joe Mama
March 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
Mike — “I am a Republican,”
I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. I’m a firearm-owning, college-educated disabled veteran. And an *EX*-Republican.
“please explain why I am “crazy”.
I didn’t say *you* were. I agreed with another person’s post when he said he could understand why the Republican field was full of “crazies.” I don’t believe that poster called anyone *here* “crazy” in that post.
“Is it because I want less govt, lower taxes, less spending, less regulation, stronger position on terror, etc…”
On some of those things, we agree. On some, we do not. And on some, I suspect that we disagree on how to accomplish them.
“I assume you are very happy with Obama, please, can you list a few reasons why?”
Your assumption is incorrect.
I am disappointed in President Obama. But I have neither heard nor seen any compelling reason to vote for anyone in the Republican Presidential field next time out. He’s not what I had expected and hoped for, but he’s far from the disaster many here would paint him as.
ODDOWL
March 30th, 2011
2:37 pm
President Barack Obama will be re-elected in a landslide in 2012. If i was a Republican, i wouldn’t get my hopes up for a Republican Presidential victory in 2016 either. We the People, [ie] Democrats are going to nominate Sect. of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice. These two very strong Democrat Women will be unbeatable in the Presidential election. Newt Gringrich is advising Johnny “one note” Boehner to shut down the Government. Does that mean that Grinrich is having another affair with some young big booty Girl ??? Callista, hire yourself a sex scandal private investigator and a divorce lawyer.
Sandra
March 30th, 2011
2:37 pm
@Jimmy 62<
You want to fault the Democrats (specifically Obama) for being in bed with BIG Business.? Have you been asleep all these years and especially this last election where we get the best Congress that big business (albeit through anonymous donors….can you say Kock Brothers?) can buy.
Are you just playing at being ignorant or just downright stupid?
Rational
March 30th, 2011
2:37 pm
Harry, no reason to doubt that he was born here, I mean why should we? Looking at the facts, we have to assume he is an American citizen, as he has a US Passport. And also looking at the facts, we have to assume that he showed his birth certificate to the passport office when he applied. A rational assumption would say that the person who took his passport application would be the one on the TV screaming the loudest if it said he was a naturalized citizen, and not born here. However I digress, the usual argument that the person asking to see the birth certificate is crazy simply for asking is not a rational or coherent response to the request. I see no reason to not show a certified copy of the certificate, but I do have to believe it exists.
As a side, the closest to a rational argument I could think of for him not showing it would be if it lists his race as white – then he wouldn’t be the first black president and much of the hype would be gone. But that still doesn’t make a good argument for not showing it, or for making the people that ask to see it out to be crazy lunatics for expecting the conditions for becoming President under the Constitution to be adhered to.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 30th, 2011
2:45 pm
Still waiting for someone to mention a few reasons why Obama deserves another term….
Is it the failed Health Care Bill, maybe the Middle East policy that even Democrats can’t quite explain, how about the closing of Gitmo (wait that hasn’t happened), what about raising taxes on the rich (hasn’t happened), maybe the way he handled Japan (absolutely pathetic job)???
Please let me know why I should vote for Obama??
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 30th, 2011
2:46 pm
@Rational
With all due respect, I think I will pass on ASSUMING the president of my country is a natural born citizen, pardon me for wanting some proof on that issue, call me a “crazy” Republican…
marc
March 30th, 2011
2:46 pm
poor runners, poor policy, 8 years of Bush and push back on the Fox News agenda..spell defeat for the Republicans…it won’t matter who gets their party nomination…. and watching the tea party fanatics and abrasive mouth pieces Hannity, Rush and Beck lose…will make it feel so good many in the country will feel they won…..lol. what a booby prize.
Joe Mama
March 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
Mike — “maybe the way he handled Japan (absolutely pathetic job)???”
How, exactly, is a disaster in *Japan* a job for the US President to handle?
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 30th, 2011
2:54 pm
@Joe Mama
My point was typically a US president immediately comes out and addresses his nation when the “worst” catastrophe is the history of the world has occurred. To let his country and the rest of the world know that America will do everything in their power to assist….
All I say was Obama taking a trip to South America and filling out his college hoops bracket on ESPN, hell of a leader………
Robert
March 30th, 2011
2:55 pm
Harry Callahan @2:26pm
What Facts are you disputing?
1. The only GOP candidate who has a chance to beat President Obama is Michael Steele, Past GOP Leader.
2. He has earned the right to lead the GOP.
3. For example he showed great courage in the face of homegrown terrorism displayed by the “tea party”
4. whose weapons of choice are hatred, fear and rage/mob mentality against minorities, women, gays & lesbians and Muslims & Jews.
5. The whole world saw the hatred and bigotry displayed by the “tea party” during the 2010 midterm elections
6. as well as heard their call to battle (take back my country) and
7. saw the majority of poor, uneducated White Americans embrass the “tea party” and
8. vote for the entire GOP ticket regardless of the candidates experience.
9. The American People have never seen organized terrorism at the ballot box.
10. The GOP needs to clean-up the mess left behind by the “tea party” and
11. apologize immediately to the American People on the House and Senate Floor and promise to never let any terrorist group(s) dictate how the American People should be governed.
12. The GOP needs to show great courage and elect Michael Steele as the next GOP nominee for President of the USA.
Ever since President Obama was elected by a majority of the American People homegrown terrorist group(s) such as the “tea party” (aka, klansmen, skinheads, etc.) have tried to re-package themselfs as a legitimate political party. The American People are sick and tired of hatred and bigotry. It’s time for all Americans to act civil or prepare for another civil war. Enough is Enough.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 30th, 2011
2:59 pm
@Robert
So, what kind of “terrorism” have you seen personally from the “Tea Party”?? I mean are you comparing them to terrorists that kill innocent people? Have you personally been “terrorized” by the “Tea Party”?? Have the “Tea Party” killed innocent women and children?? If they have, I agree with you 100%. If not stop using the term terror because it makes you look so foolish…
Atlanta 1
March 30th, 2011
3:00 pm
Compared to the ‘winner’ that is in the office today – most of these candidates have a good shot at ‘winning’.
What does that say about our sitting President and the Democrats.
Answer – about the same that we can say about the Republicans..
Thulsa Doom
March 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
“This is an electorate motivated for the most part by resentment, fear and paranoia, and it’s looking for candidates willing to tell them that their resentment, fear and paranoia are fully justified. At this point, whoever does that best will probably be the nominee.”- Jay
Really Jay? Seriously? What a bunch of gobbledeegook. Let’s talk about who plays on fear, resentment, and paranoia.
Fear- Dems play on black America’s fear of racism, senior’s fear of their medicare or soc sec being cut, fear of any govt program or benefit being cut and people being put on the street. Talk about fear.
Resentment- Good Grief. Does anyone play the resentment card better than the Dems when they talk about the rich not paying enough in taxes- the wealth envy card. Class warfare is the Dem modus operandi.
Paranoia- Oh my. Isn’t this what the Dems always preach when they talk about the Christian right turning us into some kind of theocracy, when they talk about the Patriot act and how all Americans are going to lose their civil rights because the govt can listen in on phone calls to selected terrorist states, when they tell black people that the voting rights act will be repealed and that blacks will lose the right to vote. That kind of paranoia? Unreal.
Joe Mama
March 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
Mike — “My point was typically a US president immediately comes out and addresses his nation when the “worst” catastrophe is the history of the world has occurred.”
It’s hardly the worst in terms of either earthquake magnitude (IIRC last year’s Chilean quake was worse, and if not, the one in 1960 was), tsunami deaths and destruction(the Indian Ocean Tsunami was *far* worse) or nuclear accident (Chernobyl was *far* worse).
“To let his country and the rest of the world know that America will do everything in their power to assist….”
He did that. Did you miss it?
“All I say was Obama taking a trip to South America and filling out his college hoops bracket on ESPN, hell of a leader………”
Well, at least he didn’t freeze up in front of the cameras while reading “My Pet Goat” with a bunch of preschoolers.
Lil' Barry Bailout
March 30th, 2011
3:02 pm
Vote for the Idiot Messiah and get a $7500 rebate when you purchase a Government Motors automobile!!
Rational
March 30th, 2011
3:02 pm
Woodstock Mike – you’re missing my argument. I’m saying that right now, we’ll have to assume that the birth certificate exists as it doesn’t appear that he is going to release the birth certificate. I agree, I would rather see it, and I’m not calling you crazy for wanting to either. I’m saying that while I would have to assume, as it is the only thin that makes sense, that there is a US birth certificate for him, the argument against it is just as strong and made stronger by the leftists that only respond to requests to see it by saying that the people making the request are crazy. I said I saw no real reason why he shouldn’t release it.