Obama’s poker instincts on view in presidency
The other day I stumbled across a Time magazine piece published back in July 2008, soon after John McCain and Barack Obama had emerged as their parties’ nominees. The premise of the piece was that both men liked to gamble, and that “games of chance have been not just a hobby but also a fundamental feature of their development as people and politicians.”
McCain, for example, loves to play craps, which the piece describes as “a game for showmen, Hollywood stars and basketball legends with girls on their arms.” Dice in hand, money on the table, a crowd gathered along the rails to cheer him on, a craps player basks in attention and adrenalin.
“For McCain, jaunts to the craps table helped burnish his image as a political hot dog who relishes the thrill of a good fight,” the Time piece notes, “even if the risk of failure was high.”
I’m usually wary of pieces that attempt to psycho-analyze candidates, especially when viewed through a single lens such as their choice of gambling outlets. But in hindsight, McCain’s subsequent behavior validated the Time thesis. A few weeks after the piece appeared, he rolled the dice in a high-stakes gamble on Sarah Palin, and did so again when he announced that he was suspending his campaign to rush back to Washington to save the American economy. Neither gamble paid off, but they were consistent with his personality.
Obama, on the other hand, is a poker player by nature. As an Illinois state senator, he was a regular in a weekly late-night poker game among lobbyists and fellow legislators. Interviewing other regulars in those games, the Time reporters found that Obama had a reputation as a conservative player. He’d fold losing hands quickly, but if he chose to stay in the game, it usually meant he had calculated the odds and was in it to win. Rather than force things, he patiently let the game come to him:
“The stakes were low enough — $1 ante and $3 top raise — to afford a long shot. Not Obama. He studied the cards as closely as an 11th-hour amendment to a bill. The odds were religion to him. Only rarely did he bluff….”
Obama’s play-to-win approach drove other players crazy. Former state Sen. Larry Walsh, a conservative corn farmer from Joliet, once got ready to pull in a pot with a four-of-a-kind hand. But Obama had four of a kind too, of higher rank. Walsh slammed down his cards. “Doggone it, Barack, if you were more liberal in your card-playing and more conservative in your politics, you and I would get along much better,” he said.
In hindsight, that also seems to have been prescient. As president, Obama has tended to abandon losing hands quickly, often to the frustration of liberal supporters who want to see him fight it out. However, when he draws a strong hand, the last few years have proved that he plays it well and reaps maximum advantage from it.
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
893 comments Add your comment
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
9:55 pm
You might recall that the EIC was a product of the Reagan administration, designed to make work more desirable than direct government payments,and to essentially remove some wage pressure on low-paying employers. Prior to EIC, those funds were being paid in direct welfare. To get an EIC, you have to have a job.
Yes, thanks for the reminder, Mr. B. Pretty generous for a person making around 20K per year to add on another $8500 in EIC, though.
Brosephus™
February 27th, 2012
9:55 pm
However, if the long-term goal is to create a color-blind society, creating laws which either favor or disfavor individuals due to their racial identity will never get us there.
You’re absolutely right about that. I’d counter that, when the people see fit to govern themselves accordingly, laws will no longer be necessary.
getalife
February 27th, 2012
9:55 pm
We are cleaning up your mess del.
Things are getting better and they can’t build enough cars to keep up with demand.
willard wanted the auto industry to fail.
He will lose .
Brosephus™
February 27th, 2012
9:56 pm
I think the 500 is done. That track and the SAFER barrier are done…
JKL2
February 27th, 2012
9:59 pm
Brosephus- I’d file that talking point in the back of the filing cabinet never to be used again, if I were you
Actually I don’t know anything about the story. I’m just telling you based on my driver’s license still says I live in Peoria (a mile from the Mossville plant) and my brother-in-law who’s a production manger in East Peoria.
Jm
February 27th, 2012
9:59 pm
Scout, I’m not up to speed on the absolute latest. The last thing I read was about a month ago. Its a complex issue, but everyone needs to help pay for the health care and have some skin in the game.
That said, in my opinion, injured war vets should be completely protected and grunts should be the next least impacted. Well paid officers and working retirees with employer health care should have a lot more skin in the game. And even then I think the benefits of those that are most impacted will still be far better than typical private sector health care, as they should be.
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:00 pm
In reality: “Tax Year 2012 maximum credit:— $5,891 with three or more qualifying children”
If that’s the case, then the other $2600 must have been collected as income tax = a little more than 10%.
Atlanta 1
February 27th, 2012
10:00 pm
That article drew 700 plus comments
You people really do not like each other do you?
Mr_B
February 27th, 2012
10:05 pm
Bruno: I think Jay corrected your 8.5K to less than 6K. Let’s compromise on 7.25K. You want to try to raise three kids on $27,500 a year, most likely without medical insurance?
JKL2
February 27th, 2012
10:06 pm
they both- ongoing concerns about the state’s business climate.
Sounds strangely like “taxed out of the state”…
Thanks for backing me up.
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:06 pm
I’d counter that, when the people see fit to govern themselves accordingly, laws will no longer be necessary.
Well, we’re nearly 50 years in. Are we anywhere near an endpoint??
Thulsa Doom
February 27th, 2012
10:07 pm
Earned income tax credit- isn’t that the one going where you can claim up to 3 kids? A friend of mine works at a casino in MS. Tax time a boatload of poor people come in and blow their refunds gambling. They get their refunds using the credit which is fine. Perfectly legal. But you can only get it for 3 kids. So what the welfare moms with 4 or more kids do is sell the extra kids name and social to someone else who applies for and gets the tax credit. Biggest scam going with that credit.
Jm
February 27th, 2012
10:08 pm
Too bad Cat didn’t build in Savannah. With JCB in Savannah, there would have been real synergies with the labor pool and training. Although perhaps better competition for skilled labor (from Cat’s point of view)……
Old Timer
February 27th, 2012
10:09 pm
Once you know the nation does not keep its agreement to its miliatary and veterans ………… recruitment will suffer or the quality will go down.
Maybe, but anyone who’s over 50 knows how the political game is played. The military and most veterans vote overwhelmingly Republican. In politics, you strike at your adversaries and spare your friends. It’s the same principle with government employees, who overwhelmingly vote Democratic. Therefore, a Republican politician will do everything possible to put the hurt on government employees. Your principles and vision are laudable, but you express them like a 7-year-old in a civics class. These politicians don’t give a hoot about the long-term consequences of their actions. The election is in November of this year, not 20 years from now.
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:10 pm
You want to try to raise three kids on $27,500 a year, most likely without medical insurance?
You gotta toss in the other extras, Mr B, like subsidized child care and WIC money. And don’t forget the father(s) of the children, one of whom is likely living in the house. Think more in the $60K + range.
Angry Blogger
February 27th, 2012
10:10 pm
Atlanta 1 – buzz off you jerk. Just kidding.
jm
February 27th, 2012
10:13 pm
Bruno, I agree more people should pay income taxes and the EITC, food stamps, welfare, and unemployment are being abused. That needs fixing big time.
But it won’t solve the deficit or spending completely. The sad fact is Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have to be on the chopping block to fix the budget. Though liberals will defend those all the way to the bottom of the ravine too…..
Mr_B
February 27th, 2012
10:13 pm
Love to continue the conversation all, but gotta work tomorrow. Wiedersehen.
Thulsa Doom
February 27th, 2012
10:14 pm
You get a lot of other benefits too. A doctor’s practice I deal with one of the women there gets $1600 a month for section 8 housing subsidy- $400 each for 4 kids. According to the section 8 rules each kid has to have his own bedroom, there has to be 2 or more bathrooms, etc. The lady rents a $250,000 house and after the subsidy her rent is $6. She also gets a pretty good chunk of money in food stamps and of course the kids are all on medicaid. Now this lady has a job at the Doctor’s office but apparently she qualifies for all this because the 4 kids belong to her daughter who abandoned them- her crack habit she deemed more important. Its kinda interesting when you see just how much money in benefits people can rack up at taxpayer expense. I’m starting to believe these reports that its become statistically smarter to be poor, reap something like $32,000 or whatever it is a year in total benefits from the govt, and make money on the side in cash or under the table- selling stuff at flea markets, on ebay, dealing drugs, or just working under the table for a relative or friend’s small business. No wonder there’s more people on food stamps than ever.
TaxPayer
February 27th, 2012
10:15 pm
Awwww. Isn’t that nice. Those Occupy Wall Streeters actually look out for each other and don’t leave those in need behind.
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:18 pm
But it won’t solve the deficit or spending completely. The sad fact is Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have to be on the chopping block to fix the budget. Though liberals will defend those all the way to the bottom of the ravine too…..
Agreed, Jm. The welfare abuse is more of a moral issue for me. Runs contrary to my own upbringing.
Getting the budget on track is an extremely hard sell. While my confidence in the Repubs is shaky at best, I have no confidence at all in the Dems to do the right thing.
They BOTH suck
February 27th, 2012
10:21 pm
JKL2
Thanks for being a jack ass
I showed where they wanted to be close to their REGIONAL Headquaters, close to a port, etc.
There were numerous factors and Caterpillar is still headquartered in IL with numerous operations in IL
Still waiting on you to back up your “cold day” comment
Guess it will be a “cold day” before you can provide that…….
Have a great night
getalife
February 27th, 2012
10:24 pm
Ignoring corporate welfare as usual. Take a position and stay true to that position cons.
Anyhoo, the safety barrier looks okay but the track does not.
Old Timer
February 27th, 2012
10:26 pm
I paid for Social Security and Medicare for almost 50 years of my working life, and I’ll need to live at least another 10 years just to break even on the contributions that my employers and I made. At age 70, 10 more years of life is very questionable for me. That your political buddies chose to keep borrowing those contributions to spend on their pet projects, including wars of choice, is not my problem. You sound like the deadbeat who is driving the new pickup and now doesn’t want to repay the auto loan. Stop writing as though SS and Medicare are just so many government handouts.
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:26 pm
A doctor’s practice I deal with one of the women there gets $1600 a month for section 8 housing subsidy- $400 each for 4 kids. According to the section 8 rules each kid has to have his own bedroom, there has to be 2 or more bathrooms, etc. The lady rents a $250,000 house and after the subsidy her rent is $6.
Doom–I get at least as mad at all of the men who don’t have enough pride in themselves to marry the mothers. They usually live in the house, but are conveniently left off the official roster.
jm
February 27th, 2012
10:28 pm
“I have no confidence at all in the Dems to do the right thing.”
Bruno, agreed. At least certainly not Obama.
Brosephus™
February 27th, 2012
10:29 pm
Actually I don’t know anything about the story. I’m just telling you based on my driver’s license still says I live in Peoria (a mile from the Mossville plant) and my brother-in-law who’s a production manger in East Peoria.
Well, it doesn’t sound like your story is the same story that Catepillar told the media. I can only go by what I read in the news as my brother-in-law works in law enforcement here in the Metro area as opposed to being a production manager.
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:30 pm
I’ll need to live at least another 10 years just to break even on the contributions that my employers and I made.
OT–Are you counting any type of interest on your contribution, or just the gross figure?? If what you’re saying is true, the break even point is 15 years. Not too bad. Or did you start early, and accept the lower payment??
Brosephus™
February 27th, 2012
10:30 pm
Well, we’re nearly 50 years in. Are we anywhere near an endpoint??
That’s a question that can only be answered by the actions of the people. I wish I knew the answer myself. After a while, you kinda get tired of people looking at you as though you’re some kind of charity case as opposed to being damn good at what you do.
Thulsa Doom
February 27th, 2012
10:35 pm
Bruno,
I am in fact mystified as to why the govt doesn’t go after men who simply refuse to accept the responsibilities of raising their kids and pass it on to the taxpayer. I guess they think just being a sperm donor is good enough. Now its possible M was exaggerating about this woman’s benefits but seeing as how she was the office manager and this woman a co-worker I doubt it. And I can’t understand how I should have to subsidize each kid having his own room. My mom grew up in a 15 kid household with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. They didn’t get anything from the govt. And I had to share a room when I was a child although later in my teens I got my own room. Its a little ridiculous if what the woman was telling me is accurate about the benefits.
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:36 pm
After a while, you kinda get tired of people looking at you as though you’re some kind of charity case as opposed to being damn good at what you do.
It’s a Catch-22, Bro. The special laws feed into the perception, which reinforces the need for the laws. Seems to me the only way out of the cycle is to ditch the special laws. It’s likely that a certain amount of prejudice will always be with us, but places like Brazil show that it doesn’t have to be that way.
Janet
February 27th, 2012
10:37 pm
C’Mon guys, let’s whoop it up in here! Go Obama, The GOP guys R eating themselves alive and all U have to do is cruise cruise cruise! Be true to yourself. Be the player…patience…common sense win it
Old Timer
February 27th, 2012
10:40 pm
OT–Are you counting any type of interest on your contribution, or just the gross figure?? If what you’re saying is true, the break even point is 15 years. Not too bad. Or did you start early, and accept the lower payment??
I’m counting just the gross figure—no interest that could have been earned on the same contribution amount. And pray tell, how is a 15-year break-even for a 67-year-old such cool beans? In other words, just about every retiree is bound to live another 15 years, right? Have you looked at an insurance mortality table lately?
The point I’m making is that treating SS and Medicare as though they’re mere government handouts, like Medicare or WIC, is grossly misleading. Moreover, SS at least would be completely solvent if politicians hadn’t borrowed its funds to pay for wars and tax cuts we couldn’t afford. Now that the inevitable hard times are here, the two programs are treated as though they’re so much welfare to be diced and sliced as part of the effort to balance the budget.
getalife
February 27th, 2012
10:41 pm
Janet,
Four more years.
Easily.
jm
February 27th, 2012
10:41 pm
“why the govt doesn’t go after men who simply refuse to accept the responsibilities of raising their kids”
Doom, not to defend any of the party’s behavior on this. But you can’t squeeze blood from a stone…..
Neutering perhaps? Who’s first?
Brosephus™
February 27th, 2012
10:41 pm
Doom
Simple answer to that issue of subsidizing other people’s kids… family planning. No condoms + no abortions = many more kids. I wouldn’t even try to push abstinance as a viable option, because how many people do you know who are going to voluntarily give up gettin’ some?
—————————
Bruno
It’s not the laws feeding into the perceptions, it’s those outdated mentalities that refuse to die. The problem with our country is that it was founded with prejudice woven into the fabric. I don’t see any way to remove prejudice from our country. 50 years may seem like a long time to some, but when there was still Klan activity going strong well into the 1980’s and 90’s, that mindset will be here for another 50 years. I think the laws will neuter themselves when people quit thinking with their prejudices. The laws are a product of the mindset.
jm
February 27th, 2012
10:42 pm
OT – you should be PO’d at the democrats for spending the money
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:43 pm
The GOP guys R eating themselves alive and all U have to do is cruise cruise cruise!
Relax, Janet, there’s still a long way to go. It will be a new game once a Repub candidate is settled on. No different from 2008 when Hillary was blasting Obama as unqualified and Obama’s campaign was calling Bill a racist.
jm
February 27th, 2012
10:44 pm
“outdated mentalities”
I like old fashioned people. I like old people. I think they have a lot of good values that the younger generation has lost.
So you dismiss old people all you want Bro, but not me.
Tom Middleton
February 27th, 2012
10:44 pm
Jay, with that failed level of basic comprehension, I’ll bet $10,000 of Mitt’s money Santorum was home-schooled.
jm
February 27th, 2012
10:45 pm
over and out
getalife
February 27th, 2012
10:45 pm
Old Timer,
We got your back while the cons and the gop stab you in the back.
Brosephus™
February 27th, 2012
10:46 pm
jm
Quit overreacting to stuff. Where have I said anything about dismissing old people? Are you really that dense, or are you just trying to stir sh*t up?
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:48 pm
In other words, just about every retiree is bound to live another 15 years, right? Have you looked at an insurance mortality table lately?
Actually, yes, that and more. Think of it this way, that average mortality for men is 78 and for women 81. But those figures include all of the folks who died young, so that the average expectation once you reach 67 is actually higher than simply subtracting from 78 or 81. Does that make sense?? I’ll see if I can find the expected age of death for the group who makes it to 67.
Brosephus™
February 27th, 2012
10:49 pm
Well, I’m out. I’ll miss the end of the race, but better that instead of oversleeping in the am. Besides, I’ve had my fill of jm’s delusions for the day.
Catch y’all later..
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:50 pm
Here you go, OT, a table of life expectancy at different ages:
http://www.efmoody.com/estate/lifeexpectancy.html
For 67, men can expect 14.2 more years, women 17.7. But this table was compiled in 1996, so the numbers are likely even higher.
Thulsa Doom
February 27th, 2012
10:52 pm
“because how many people do you know who are going to voluntarily give up gettin’ some?”
Bro,
Well ya got me there. You’ld have a really hard time convincing me to voluntarily give up getting some.
getalife
February 27th, 2012
10:52 pm
I will go with he is that dense.
Thulsa Doom
February 27th, 2012
10:55 pm
Bruno and old timer,
A good rule of thumb and stat to remember because I’ve looked at plenty of mortality tables is the 65 attainment number. If you attain the age of 65 you then have over an 80% chance of living another 20 years according to the latest data. That number is of course expected to go a little higher incrementally as medicine continously improves. This is a U.S. stat of course.
JKL2
February 27th, 2012
10:55 pm
they both- Thanks for being a jack ass
I’ll take your word for it since you are the expert in that subject.
Stick with the name calling and try to avoid subjects you know nothing about.
They BOTH suck
February 27th, 2012
10:58 pm
JKL2
You have a great night
You have yet to back up your claims and continue to ignore FACTS and want to only see what fits your narrow mind and narrative
Thulsa Doom
February 27th, 2012
10:59 pm
jm,
Well ya know Congressman Paul Ryan did push that little ole lady over a cliff in her wheelchair. Just sayin…
Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:59 pm
IMO, the only rational solution to saving SSI is to gradually raise the minimum age of participation. The 65 figure was chosen a long time ago when folks didn’t live as long. Too many recipients and not enough contributors now.
They BOTH suck
February 27th, 2012
10:59 pm
So has Bro told you earlier……… File those talk pts. You can use them when you are around others who buy into your rhetoric
Good night to all
JKL2
February 27th, 2012
11:10 pm
they both- You have yet to back up your claims
Try this one: (I heard it’s from a really reliable source)
Try this onehttp://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120208/NEWS05/120209797/caterpillar-rules-out-relocating-plant-in-illinois#ixzz1ndmpIzdZ
Thulsa Doom
February 27th, 2012
11:12 pm
Bruno,
That is the only rational choice-raising the medicare age. Unfortunately its also just not fair. I’m in my mid 40s so they are talking about people 45 and under raising the age to 67 or even 68. That’s just not right even though it does make sense. But then again its not fair right now. For example on my medicare beneficiaries they paid a part B premium of $99 in 2009 when they aged in, the ones aging in in 2010 paid $110 for their part b, the ones in 2011 pay $115 that are aging in. That’s a big difference in just 2 years.
They BOTH suck
February 27th, 2012
11:16 pm
JKL2
You mean the article that along with state issues it mentions being close to a port and its regional headquarters..
Yeah I read it… Difference between you and I…. I pointed out the business climate issue but you have avoided the other issues because it doesn’t fit your rhetoric
And yet not ONE quote about a “COLD DAY”
Still waiting…….. No Cold Days in the forecast……
They BOTH suck
February 27th, 2012
11:18 pm
TD and Bruno
SS and Medicare will both require changes in age and benefits to be viable over the long term……
The bickering needs to come to and end and some sort of plan needs to be hashed out and the voters can punish who they wish, but to both of your points…. changes needed to be implemented to bolster these programs
Republicans Had 8 Years Of INSANITY and Now They ALL Have Gone MAD
February 27th, 2012
11:23 pm
@Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:26 pm
A doctor’s practice I deal with one of the women there gets $1600 a month for section 8 housing subsidy- $400 each for 4 kids. According to the section 8 rules each kid has to have his own bedroom, there has to be 2 or more bathrooms, etc. The lady rents a $250,000 house and after the subsidy her rent is $6.
Doom–I get at least as mad at all of the men who don’t have enough pride in themselves to marry the mothers. They usually live in the house, but are conveniently left off the official roster.
*************************************************************************************
YOU Republicans Had 8 Years Of INSANITY and Now YOU ALL Have Gone MAD.
Hypocrites….Liars……
Satan is waiting on all of you.
Republicans Had 8 Years Of INSANITY and Now They ALL Have Gone MAD
February 27th, 2012
11:26 pm
@Bruno
February 27th, 2012
10:59 pm
IMO, the only rational solution to saving SSI is to gradually raise the minimum age of participation. The 65 figure was chosen a long time ago when folks didn’t live as long. Too many recipients and not enough contributors now.
*****************************************************************
Some of you don’t have to worry about collecting social security because some of you are going to die EARLY from being so EVIL.
Republicans Had 8 Years Of INSANITY and Now They ALL Have Gone MAD
February 27th, 2012
11:27 pm
By the time some of you are eligible for SSI there will not be enough money and that serves you right for being so EVIL.
JKL2
February 27th, 2012
11:28 pm
they both- you have avoided the other issues because it doesn’t fit your rhetoric
I guess they decided to move because GA promised to paint the women’s bathroom mauve.
A number of issues go into the decision where to build a plant. If your state is the most fiscally irresponsible in the country and promising to tax the bejesus out of you, you might call that a “concern about the state’s business climate” All I know is they promised never to build another plant in the state.
Maybe if you asked really nice they would let you sit in the there planning meetings next time. Until then, I’ll stick with my lengthy history with them and insider information. Sorry if your extensive googling in the last few hours doesn’t impress me as you being a subject matter expert.
Jm
February 27th, 2012
11:34 pm
“being so EVIL”
Austin Powers and Dr Evil were brothers
Ponder that Mr Divider
Cheerio
zeke
February 28th, 2012
12:03 am
He is a smart individual, but, HE IS TOO FAR LEFT WITH TOO MANY SOCIALIST IDEAS FOR THE FREE MARKET CAPITALISM THAT IS NOW AND FOREVER WILL BE IN THE USA!!
getalife
February 28th, 2012
12:27 am
You cons scare Americans with your insanity.
getalife
February 28th, 2012
12:55 am
Kensenth wins it.
Get Real
February 28th, 2012
1:22 am
He is dealing from the bottom of the deck….strong hand my a$$
Becoming,Pt2
February 28th, 2012
4:44 am
If President Obama is such a fan of poker, what’s the explanation for Black Friday?
Obama’s poker instincts on view in presidency – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Tight Poker Online
February 28th, 2012
5:03 am
[...] presidencyAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Obama, on the other hand, is a poker player by nature.Via blogs.ajc.com © 2012 TightPokerOnline.com | All Rights [...]
USinUK
February 28th, 2012
5:40 am
“what’s the explanation for Black Friday?”
Steely Dan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mndqgZG4uYo
Jack
February 28th, 2012
5:52 am
Obama doesn’t mind losing other peoples’ money.
USinUK
February 28th, 2012
6:28 am
Jack – unlike … you know … EVERY OTHER PRESIDENT …
Normal
February 28th, 2012
6:42 am
Good morning, all y’all…
This is heavy, man….
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2012/02/27/funny-pictures-women-and-cats/
Normal
February 28th, 2012
6:43 am
USinUK,
Evidently Jack don’t know jack…
USinUK
February 28th, 2012
6:51 am
G’morning Normal …
this is going to be YOU after that joke:
http://history.icanhascheezburger.com/2012/02/24/funny-pictures-history-as-little-thomas-walked/
weetamoe
February 28th, 2012
6:53 am
Many ways to win the game. Obama and McCain agreed to abide by campaign financing regs until Obama decided that he could win if he betrayed McCain and violated his trust by breaking their agreement. There is evidence that he is smart enough to cheat but that is all. He has never even produced a scholarly article about constitutional law, and has given a *whole buncha * evidence that he’s pretty lacking in the and umm that intelleckshal department.
AmVet
February 28th, 2012
7:52 am
For all of you unteachable gasaholics, drill, baby drill.
http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/?cxntlid=sldr_hm
MiltonMan
February 28th, 2012
7:55 am
Oh yes that wonderful Democratic creation known as Social Security. By any other name known as a Ponzi Scheme but hey since the feds control this it is by and far legal.
Mister.Earl
February 28th, 2012
7:55 am
So Rick Santorum is pandering to the Republican base by assuming they are too, what, dumb to be college educated?
Presidents don’t stand up in public stick out their tongues and call people names. Santorum also needs to develop listening skills because President Obama didn’t say everyone had to go to a four year liberal arts college. He asked that every American commit to one year of education or training beyond high school to bring our country along into the 21st century. I don’t call that snobbery.
I call it patriotism.
Doggone/GA
February 28th, 2012
7:57 am
“So Rick Santorum is pandering to the Republican base by assuming they are too, what, dumb to be college educated?”
This from a man with *3* college degrees. Does that make him a snop, tripled?
TaxPayer
February 28th, 2012
7:58 am
On Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument on whether corporations, like real people, can be held liable in American courts for international human rights violations. Uh Oh, Monsanto and Koch and Academi/Xe/Blackwater and… there’s a price to be paid for that personhood. I think corporations should also be subject to the death penalty.
Billings
February 28th, 2012
7:58 am
He’s a penny ante player with his own money and a high roller with ours.
stands for decibels
February 28th, 2012
7:59 am
Obama and McCain agreed to abide by campaign financing regs until Obama decided that he could win if he betrayed McCain and violated his trust by breaking their agreement.
Hilarious misremembering of actual events, but go ahead–keep that in your folkloric recollections of 2008 if it makes you feel better.
stands for decibels
February 28th, 2012
8:03 am
Does that make him a snop, tripled?
naw, it makes him something that I’m not allowed to call him, apparently.
stands for decibels
February 28th, 2012
8:05 am
For all of you unteachable gasaholics, drill, baby drill.
another one of those “kooky” Luckovich ‘toons. Boy howdy, that guy sure is outside the mainstream, isn’t he?
stands for decibels
February 28th, 2012
8:07 am
By any other name known as a Ponzi Scheme
Do ALL wingnuts believe this to be some kind of “abra-cadabra” spell that is supposed to stop everyone dead in their tracks and re-think the bleedin’ obvious need any civilized nation has to provide basic old-age pensions for its citizens?
GT
February 28th, 2012
8:09 am
The winningest hand dealt O is the one from the Republicans. It is like a prize fighter fighting drunks. Newt lines up to take a punch and all I see is a dissipated little man, very little self control, and ego as big as the Montana sky and wonder why. His wives digressively become robotic as he swaggers them out to the pubic like they are trophies. “I am a grandfather” he brags, not mentioning abandonment is not a family value, like a customer returning a shirt with a stain on it and wanting full value.
Then their is Rick Santorum who I expect to come out for a debate dress in the armor of a Christian
Crusader. He reminds me of an insurance salesman who presses for the sale telling you Jesus would want this. In fact we have Him on the phone now if you would like to speak to Jesus, “oh yes I forgot I am the only one that can speak to Jesus”, you just sign the dotted line, He would want that.
Mitt buys a stadium to give a speech to a crowd that could have fit in his hotel room. He is the good looking date to impress your mother and you want to take you home at 11 so you can sneak out with your real boyfriend a skinhead from New Jersey. And Ron Paul the most real one of this crowd once again the oldest because that was when the Republican Party was real and not some cartoon machine on its way out.
Granny Godzilla
February 28th, 2012
8:13 am
“Obama and McCain agreed to abide by campaign financing regs until Obama decided that he could win if he betrayed McCain and violated his trust by breaking their agreement”
Not meant to be a factual statement.
Thomas
February 28th, 2012
8:13 am
GT- what do you see when you look in the mirror? I assume a rare combination of Brad Pitt good looks with the brains of Bill Gates. If only the Republicans had you as there leader.
Paul
February 28th, 2012
8:14 am
Morning, all -
Great ‘toon.
And watch out when USinUK goes into her ’stealth cat’ mode. It’s been nice knowing you.
And here’s a catchup of one Jay posted last night under the heading ‘highly recommended.’ As usual, he understated it:
http://images2.dailykos.com/i/user/2722/TMW2012-02-29colorlowres.jpg
USinUK
February 28th, 2012
8:14 am
“Hilarious misremembering of actual events, but go ahead–keep that in your folkloric recollections of 2008 if it makes you feel better.”
and … and … and … he broke his promise just before he went to the DARK SIDE and built himself a DEATH STAR!! (run, of course, by a Death Committee)
godless heathen©
February 28th, 2012
8:15 am
After listening to more Santordumb comments I’ve decided to vote for the guy in the primaries and I hope he gets the nomination. Why? Because I don’t think that Romney will beat the O-man, although it will be close. However if Romney does get the nod and loses, the Evangelical whackos will again be whining that the GOP lost because the candidate was not a “real conservative”. (In today’s code, “a real conservative” means a racist, bible thumping, dumb ass.) But if Santordumb were to get nominated, he will be annihilated in the general election. Hell, I won’t even vote for him. And as a result, hopefully “real conservatives” will crawl back into their 1950s shells and never be heard from again. Then the GOP can once become the party of intelligent discourse and stand up to the menace of creeping one-world socialism and omnipotent government.
And that concludes the godless heathen’s rant for this morning.
Thulsa Doom
February 28th, 2012
8:16 am
Looks like the early morning libs got their coffee and have already started in on their rhetoric and hyperbole. What is that 9 straight posts of nothing more than name calling, insults, rhetoric, whining, or just plain gobbledeegook?
I guess with gas prices on the rise and the economy having grown only a paltry 2% in the last year rhetoric is all they got. Nothing new there.
USinUK
February 28th, 2012
8:16 am
Paul – Tom Tomorrow is, as always, brilliant!
(best line – “I’ve never seen one” – HA!)
Paul
February 28th, 2012
8:17 am
sfd
“Do ALL wingnuts believe this to be some kind of “abra-cadabra” spell that is supposed to stop everyone dead in their tracks ”
Well, it beats ‘ACORN!”
or ‘voter ID”
or ‘birth control!”
or… y’know, this list could go on forever…..
Paul
February 28th, 2012
8:18 am
Normal
The first part of the 8:14 was for you.
TaxPayer
February 28th, 2012
8:18 am
Looks like poor Thulsa just couldn’t contain himself.
USinUK
February 28th, 2012
8:18 am
aw, bless … poor wittle Thulsa is all afluttet whinging about gas prices (and he accuses US of having nothing new! OH! the irony)
USinUK
February 28th, 2012
8:19 am
criminey – make that aflutter …
Thulsa Doom
February 28th, 2012
8:21 am
Paul,
Cartoons mocking the church from a left wing hate site? Come on Paul. You’re one of the few liberals on here that I expect much better discourse from.