Loaded show tonight. Lots to cover: Bill Clinton’s machinations…The race after the last debate….Senate races in PA, CT & MA…The Benghazi emails…and a detour to ask the question “Is there life after politics?” Click here at 6pm Pacific or anytime after for the archive. Oh, and I noted the “Obama Scriptures” requests in the last thread. It is time, isn’t? I feel a one brewing already. And now a poll all about….
….me….Obnoxious I realize but…what the hey… As many know, I voted early. Even I was surprised by who I went with for POTUS. Just before I filled in the dot I mumbled to Bob Barker “I really can’t believe I’m doing this.” I’ll reveal my vote here after election day – which I have trepidation about – but for now I’m curious, in a wildly self centered way, who YOU think I landed on. Vote below.
The poll is a delish tease, JWS.
Well, to be perverse, I picked Romney (Bob Barker told me). I don’t know how many have taken the poll at this early stage, but I’ll note I’m in the majority (~ 43%) at this point.
If I were allowed a second-choice guess on the poll, I’d pick Roseanne.
I picked Roseanne
Yeah, a new chapter of the Obama Scriptures! Thx.
I was going to report that the Benghazi story was at best a wash, negating any bragging rights obama might have enjoyed viz. al quaeda. But with the latest questions about why no rescue mission was sent, despite a dedicated rescue team put in position, I now believe Benghazi-gate will fester for the next two weeks.
And then this stunner.
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/10/25/Fallen-Seals-Father-Hillary-Told-M-Dont-Worry-Were-Going-To-Arrest-The-Man-That-Did-This
Last night, the dad of one of the killed security guys called into Lars Larson. A second parent now who mentions obama had a dead look in his eye, a second parent who is upset they were not given straight answers. Hillary told this man at the funeral, ‘we’re going to arrest the man who made that video.’
Ugh. Disgusting. It makes me mad. Yes, it’s a stunner, Tamer. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been saying for a week now that the real scandal is not the cover up, but the lack of security in Benghazi and the lack of a rescue operation (especially given Benghazi’s proximity to bases in Italy, etc. I’m just dumbfounded that this could happen.
Tamer – thanks for sharing. Sad, creepy and disillusioning.
I don’t trust a grieving father’s take on Obama and Hillary’s ‘sincerity’ under the circumstances, but the info about Hillary, if true, is quite disturbing.
Great show.
John, interesting that you think Bill C. may have deliberately screwed Obama on the strategy of how to beat Romney. I hope you’re right. I’ll note, though, that Bill is still hot and heavy on the campaign trail with O, including this battlegrounds 48-hr. tour they’re taking together. If the long knives are out for Bill, I hope he doesn’t turn his back.
Lynn, very interesting analysis of the potential EV map. I suspect that yours map looks a lot like mine — a blow-out for Romney, with most (not all) swing states, including OH.
Tamer, great analysis of the race for key Senate seats up for grabs. Useful info., since I haven’t been paying much attention to that race. If R wins the WH, I hope the Senate stays Dem.
Anthony, your talk was very interesting, indeed. A nice diversion from politics (altho’ I’m glad you slipped in the bit about Crowley’s tears). What you’re doing is impressive; good luck with it and the launch of your radio show.
Did I miss PMM? I had thought she was going to be one of the guests.
Anabelle, didn’t mean to leave you out…it was great to get your optimistic take on the likelihood of a Romney win. I wish I had your eternal optimism about this; I go back and forth every few days (altho’ the EV map I submitted to an informal betting pool does predict a Romney blow-out). Mind you, you’ve been right on your predictions so far — eg, about the impact of the 47% remark, the debates, etc.
NES, normally, I’d hope for a split congress too, if nothing more than to limit the damage those fools can do. But after researching some of these senate candidates, I’m worried about sending to Washington people with such deplorable ethics and lack of moral compasses. Warren in particular frightens me, not only because she is so similar in so many ways to obama, but also as I am convinced she is mentally ill.
… and if Warren wins, I guarantee the proglodytes will be running her for POTUS in ’16.
“But after researching some of these senate candidates, I’m worried about sending to Washington people with such deplorable ethics and lack of moral compasses.”
Are their GOP rivals any more ethical or moral or sane? We know, eg, that Akin and Murdouch (sp?) have ‘issues’ surrounding abortion, to put it mildly. All in all, I’ll take my chances with the ethically challenged Dems to keep Congress split.
I know you have problems with Warren; not sure I fully grasp why they cut so deep. But, I agree that, if she wins the seat, the progs will run her in ’16. Don’t know how far they’ll get though — she’s not quite mainstream enough for the US of A. I’d say, her blue-stocking ways will go down like a lead balloon in flyover country (including the Rust Belt and the So. West). In any event, I seriously doubt she’ll succeed in unseating Brown; as you say, he has popular appeal, and he’s been careful to be a Senate RINO.
Thanks, NES. And there was no way I could ever leave Candy’s dejection out of the conversation. There is life after politics, but before life there is politics.
Thanks, NES. That was my info on the EC map, ftr. You can see the maps I created here: http://peacocksandlilies.com/2012/10/25/romneys-path-to-the-presidency/
NES,
Neither party has a monopoly on running horrible people. I chose to focus on those three races because of the contrast between the Dems running elitist, party insiders with ethics issues, vs. Gops running down-homey types. I get the feeling that Scott Brown is a likable guy; I don’t know much about Smith; McMahon is obviously not down-homey and a bit of a sleaze.
I’ve written two posts on Warren, and Legal Insurrection has investigated her extensively. She is a fabulist, an hypocrite, a corporate hack, and has exhibited a severe lack of ethics. By practicing law without a license, she has committed a felony, but will probably evade punishment like most party insiders do. My first, vague impression of her was positive, but it was based on headlines. The more I learn about her, the more I am appalled. Plus, I get the same bad vibe from her I got from obama in 2007. Her her words, gestures and expressions are riddled with the ‘tells’ of a liar.
Linda McMahon?
True, she’s not down-homey but although she’s very wealthy she’s also not an elitist. She’s coarse and hard bitten.
And I’m voting for her.
Oops, sorry for the confusion about Lynn and your predictions on last night’s blog radio show.
Thanks for sharing that link to your new post. It’s heartening. Helps to see the different permutations. I have a better understanding now for the underpinnings of your optimism. As I posted here, appx. 2-3 threads back, I’m predicting Romney by 301. If I include Tamer’s prediction of one EV from Maine (and there’s good reason for that), it’d be 302. I’m more optimistic about NV than OH or WI at the moment. Ultimately, I think he’ll land them all, or at least the first two.
The above comment is addressed to Lola.
Who wants to call Ellen Hartwell and get her prediction ?
I sensed you were going to write that.
i happen to know her prediction… but i ain’t talking.
Aw c’mon. Tell us what she predicted, JWS.
Hahaha, Tamer. I just got your joke. Nice.
also…
http://theulstermanreport.com/2012/10/25/white-house-insider-mitt-romneys-quiet-prayer-amidst-the-sound-of-thunder/
John – as someone who is not a religious person, wonder how you took that article? I understand how someone can look to a power outside oneself – whether it’s god, the force, gaia – to gain strength. But, I haven’t done that myself, so does that article ring true?
one more thing…my god this makes me happy:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/32fefff604/ayn-rand-private-access-show?rel=by_user
Tamer and Run: Have you played around with those interactive electoral college maps (RCP and CNN have them on their respective websites, eg)? Would love to see what maps you predict for Nov. 6. (I’d ask JWS too, except I already did…with no results!)
Oh geez – I did every day in 2008. I haven’t this year. I’m not ordinarily superstitious, but I honestly don’t want to get hubristic. I feel like it’ll jinx what I think has to be the result for our only chance out of this mess.
Rats. Still, I’m all for not jinxing the process.
you asked me to make a map? i love those maps… i’ll make one next week. we should all make them.
John, I’d emailed you one I did appx. 2 months ago, and asked you what you thought. So, it was indirect (hint). But, yes, let’s all do maps. I’ll send you mine tomorrow — I have no idea how to paste it into a comment, but perhaps you could….
I intend on making my predictions next week.
I have to say that Ultermann article was a hoot. Christ, I hope we’re not going to have another Messiah in the WH! Enough is enough.
I thought it was funny when Romney said he wanted a “peaceful planet” in that last debate. People heard that and thought he was pandering to moderates and lefties/enviros. But, I think he meant it, in this sense: Mormons are obsessed with planets. Good Mormons get their own planet in the next life, right?
I’m looking forward to the first Mormon in the WH. It should be fun. Romney’s already poised to make his first mistake: a Big Mormon adviser is slated to be his Chief of Staff. As Erskine Bowles advised Obama during his transition period: “Leave your friends behind.” Obama, of course, didn’t take the advice, and I think he suffered as a result (ValJar, Axe, Rahm). It’s good advice, and all new prezs should take it — friends and hangers-on make terrible WH staff and are too close/biased to give a prez neutral advice or convey difficult news.
Good mormons get their own planet??? Whaaa? this is why I don’t “do” religion, cause that seems craaaaazy to me, but no more than when we die, we’ll go up in the sky to some place with a lot of people-like humanoids with wings who make us sing choral music for eternity (which always seemed sort of like hell to me).
That’s the scuttlebutt. I think they try to deny it, so as not to sound too arrogant or silly. But, what I understand is that, if a Mormon man lives a virtuous life, then he essentially becomes a god when he dies and gets his own planet where he lives with his deceased ancestors and descendants, forever and a day. It’s also why they’re so anxious to convert ancestors (real or imagined). Planets need to be populated! Now maybe this is all apocryphal; if so, I’m sure someone here will debunk it.
P.S.: I bet Mitt will have the biggest and richest planet: Planet Bain. (Obama will be so J.)
I don’t think someone praying is the equivalent of being likened to a Messiah in the way “The One” was back in 2008 — most spiritual/religious people do pray so I think your concerns about this story vis-a-vis Romney aren’t warranted there.
As for the Mormon beliefs about the after-life, I have no idea, but I’d bet the planet scuttlebutt is along the same lines of the exaggerated (and bigoted) mockery concerning temple garments (aka “magic underwear”), which I see as no different than, say, Catholics wearing crosses or Jewish men wearing yarmulkes for “protection,” when in reality it is to remind them of/keep God prominent in their thoughts during daily activities.
But even if what you write is a 100% accurate, it is no stranger than any other religious belief I’ve ever heard of in my entire life such as the water & wine literally (not figuratively) becoming the body & blood of Christ during Consecration (which happens to be a tenet of my religion) or 72 virgins awaiting Muslim warriors in the afterlife. It’s why is called FAITH not FACT & it is what differentiates religion from science. If you don’t share the faith it’s silly; if you do, it isn’t.
Angie, I agree. All religions mystify me, and Mormonism is no different. I actually like Mormonism’s comfort with wealth and its pro-business stance — I’ve always said it’s a fundamentally American religion. I don’t care if Mitt is religious or prays — I only care if he makes a passable prez, gets us out of this economic mess, and keeps Islamism at bay. I was just having some fun. (And, I really am jealous of those who get their own planets, posthumously.
Although the UM article did a lot to humanize Romney (Zal must be steaming!), I really wish it didn’t bring god(s) into the conversation.
I ‘get’ the God thing – and since none of the gods have ever swung by for coffee or a drink, I have to say that sometimes believing in God (the act of believing moreso than the actual existence of a god) can empower us to accomplish more than we could have otherwise.
I often say to those who put unconditional trust in an entity we have been conditioned to trust implicitly and believe in without question: “What if, when you die, you find out that heaven is really a strip mall and God is really Paris Hilton?” The answer, of course, is that we’d be totally fucked.
That usually puts a lid on the god stuff, and gets the conversation back to what can we do within our own capability to solve a problem instead of “putting it in god’s cup” and waiting like idiots for a miracle to happen.
run said, “John – as someone who is not a religious person, wonder how you took that article?” as with all things at ulsterman i bet the gist is spot on, the details embellished or made up…. do i believe MR prays a lot in many circumstances? Yes, i do. Before a huge rally? Damn right someone like MR prays. Is it done in a way that the backstage room somehow knows, and it’s a story ulstermann gets but no one else does? This i doubt.
Agreed, but I also believe Mitt prays a lot, not just backstage, Better someone who Prays to a higher power, than a President who thinks he Is a higher power.
There is a huge humility gap there.
Makes sense
Zal, you’re always going on about judging people by their deeds; have you factored in these deeds when judging R as harshly as you do: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/331580/decency-mitt-deroy-murdock?pg=2
Will await the verdict.
Yes I’ve read those stories and commented on this before.
I don’t think he’s a lazy sociopath as I believe Obama is. He’s a consistent worker, involved with people, done good deeds, made nice gestures, helped certain people within certain contexts. I’ve been very clear that Romney will be a bad President, and a dangerous one, in ways that are different from Obama, and I’ve been specific about how.
I’ll also point out two things about those stories.
First, they’re more than a bit exaggerated in your article – you could do the research or I could explain it story by story if you want, but for instance the first story reports when a 12 year old boy died of cystic fibrosis, “Romney built a playground in his honor,” but in truth he did not: the community raised the money and built the playground over a couple of years, Romney didn’t pay for it or lead the effort, he merely joined them at the building site for a couple of days.
And secondly, the stories confirm what I’ve said about Romney, that he helps those he considers “his own” but there are no stories where he’s demonstrated concern for the vulnerable outside that circle — which I might add is a criticism I’ve read often about Mormons and one of the reasons LDS has been called a cult. In every one of those stories, the people Romney has helped have been Mormons or connected to Bain or his luxury vacation property. There’s nothing wrong with helping people right around him, it’s a good thing, but it’s a specific context and like my other examples it suggests that as President his policies will benefit those he sees as “his own” and not those he once referred to as the 47 percent. I don’t doubt he’ll work to help the rich, help Wall Street peel away more regulations, help the oil industry reap more profit; problem is the people he’ll help are already sucking the life out of our society and the people he won’t help are the people who actually need it and are the backbone of American prosperity.
Zal: Interesting how you looped the issue back to Romney’s (offensive to you) wealth and the supposed cultishness of Mormonism. As you would say, that’s very revealing and instructive.
I’ll await news on what Obama’s ever done to help people — other than himself and Michelle of course. The guy cant even bring himself to help his own extended family: his much less advantaged family in Africa is still waiting for a call, e.g.
I suspect the Obama campaign will learn, on Nov. 6, that most Americans are not offended by wealth and business, but rather like and celebrate them.
It sure is revealing and instructive. It reveals I’m more observant than you. Every single story in that article was, as I pointed out, about someone in Romney’s inner circles of Bain, the Mormon church, or his wealthy neighborhoods. As I said, it’s good he helped out those people. It’s also revealing that there are no stories of him helping out people outside his circle and that he also made that 47% comment. Two plus two still equals four.
Yup. As I’ve said repeatedly, Barack Obama is a sociopath. If you don’t know what that means, look it up. Hint: they don’t help anybody but themselves.
As do I.
That’s completely different from the point I’ve made about Romney. But you knew that, didn’t you?
Zal, If you think Mormons are the only “group” who look out for each other then you’re not as observant as you think. Good grief. You’d think the wheel was just discovered.
“It reveals I’m more observant than you.”
That comment is representative of scores of similar comments you’ve made. Personally speaking, I think it’s in bad taste, if not undignified, to toot one’s own horn. In my view, there’re certain judgments only others may make of one, and certain accolades only others may confer on one. Put differently, certain judgments and accolades may not be appropriated to oneself; they must be earned in other people’s eyes. For example, one may not declare that one is humorous, or intelligent, or possessed of good judgment, or insightful — unless one is a narcissist, of course. It rings hollow and is often risible.
I almost always read what you write, Zal — sometimes it’s edifying and incisive, sometimes it isn’t; sometimes it demonstrates that you’re observant, sometimes it doesn’t. You don’t especially standout as head-and-shoulders above each and every one of the others at this site; your declaring that you’re outstanding doesn’t make it so.
Zal, face it: you’re not remotely balanced in your assessments of Romney, as you like to pretend. And, I’m not sure why you pretend to be; no one here believes it. It’s fine to be in the anti-Romney tribe…really. Embrace it.
Of course they’re not!
Nobody said they are.
I haven’t said I’m not anti-Romney. I’ve said I don’t have a dog in this race.
I’m anti-Romney and anti-Obama, anti-GOP and anti-Democratic party. I’m pro Jill Stein and pro third party.
I’ve been clear about all of that.
And FTR, it’s not narcissistic to recognize one’s strengths and weaknesses and be forthright about them. False modesty and false flattery are games of deception I don’t play.
NES said that you are not remotely balanced in your supposed “anti-ness” of Romney and Obama. And, you are not. You’re ridiculously unbalanced. (No pun intended). And, maybe it’s not narcissistic to point out one’s strengths and weaknesses – although it’s odd in the context of commenting on a blog. But, it is narcissistic when one only points out one’s strengths. All we hear from you, Zal is how right you’ve been proven about everything you’ve ever done and said; how much more observant you are; how brave and courageous for voting for someone who will never win any high office and on and on.
In fact, you sound an awful lot many times like Stuart Smalley on SNL – ” I am an attractive person. I am fun to be with. I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and, doggonit, people like me.”
Leave it to a lawyer to completely misconstrue what someone -even the person on her side– said.
This is what NES wrote, in full:
“Zal, face it: you’re not remotely balanced in your assessments of Romney, as you like to pretend. And, I’m not sure why you pretend to be; no one here believes it. It’s fine to be in the anti-Romney tribe…really. Embrace it.”
Obama was not part of it in any way shape or form.
You are stunningly poor at assessing people, and at observation.
Of every regular here, my comments consistently demonstrate I am one of the least concerned about whether or not people like me.
.
But the point I made about the article NES linked remains the main thing, and remains unaddressed by Romney yahoos.
Every single one of the good deeds Romney’s surrogates can squeeze through the embellishment magnifier supports the concern I’ve expressed about Romney — that his policies will all be rooted in benefitting the boys in the big club and if anybody else gets trickled on it’ll be strictly by chance. I’ve presented cogent arguments for why his policies will be ruinous to our economy and our future in a myriad of ways, and the Romney yahoo response is, “He’s rich! You hate rich people!” Romney support sounds so much like obots it’d be laughable if it weren’t so sad for our nation.
Zal, the problem with your point is that it’s pointless. Who cares that Romney’s charity work involves “his own”? This is a very common human trait. It doesn’t set Romney apart or portray him in a negative light. It’s a big so what. Hillary Clinton has worked tirelessly for women’s rights around the world. Should she be chastised for prioritizing “her own”? Your point is just plain silly.
I’m not defending his politics. But the man has done charitable work and I really don’t care that those who have benefited have been Mormons or people he knows. (Though I agree that donations to the Mormon church are closer to member dues than “charity.”) As far as character goes, at least he hasn’t badmouthed his grandmother on national TV which, IMO, says infinitely more about a person than anything you’ve mentioned so far.
Clearly almost nobody cares.
Almost nobody cares about a lot of things that indicate what’s up ahead. Talk to some Poles and Germans and Austrians who were there in the early 30s. “Who cares?” as rebuttal only suggests a head-in-the-sand thought process and that there is no substantive rebuttal.
My point is solid and if Romney’s elected you will see his policies rooted in what he believes will benefit the wealthy, Wall Street, oil interests, mega-corporate expansion, dismantling of “weaker” enterprises (aka the downwardly mobile), and churches.
There is so much evidence, it’s mind boggling. But true believers believe what they need to believe. And so it goes.
Zal, actually I agree with you. Romney is a Republican, and a moderate, I don’t expect him to govern from the left. IMO, you’re not making an earth-shattering observation. (Although, as a very, very, very rich man, he’s not as beholden to TPTB as Obama is which IMO might, operative word “might,” set up an interesting dynamic.) However, this doesn’t change the fact that the man has done charitable work throughout his life while his opponent has not. I hold out hope that he may be a good president. (And at this point, I’m just looking for a modicum of competence and empathy.) Like you, I tend to be a pessimist, but try as I might, I’m not finding a lot to hate about Romney as a man. Like all humans, he is flawed, but he seems to be more decent than not. Obama, OTH, is a callous, incompetent, self-absorbed asshat.
I’ve tried to explain a number of ways — sometimes you denigrate me for it, sometimes you dismiss it as pointless, sometimes you say it’s not an earth shattering observation, all to my same point — Mitt Romney is competent and empathetic to certain people and not to others. It’s the “not to others” that you’re pretending isn’t important but is the crux of the problem. Focusing on the welfare of one’s own is not rare but, considering who does and does not fall into his certain people category it is antithetical to what we need right now in a President. In terms of the economy, energy, Wall Street, corporate toxicity, what the middle class and lower income population need to get back on solid footing, Romney’s policies will be damaging rather than reparative. I said the same kind of thing to Hillary supporters who gave their vote to Obama because, they insisted, McCain would be worse; and they responded as you are now. Every election a few more people cave.
Now, who knows what kind of mood you’ll be in when you read this. Maybe you’ll attack me as an ass. Or maybe you’ll say my point is pointless. Or maybe you’ll say it’s common knowledge and my observations are nothing special and we just have to hope it’ll be okay. Or maybe you’ll now say I’m being redundant. My point, however, remains the same and no matter how many ways you dismiss it, it’s the one we’re going to have to deal with if Romney’s elected. And that’ll be the fault of everybody who supported, defended and voted for him, just as those who voted for Obama are responsible for what their advocacy wrought. We may all end up on a sinking ship but some were helping the guys drilling holes in the hull and some of us were trying to stop them.
” Or maybe you’ll now say I’m being redundant.”
Honestly Zal, your constant reiteration that the country has gone to shit and the flush is dead ahead is redundant by definition. Sure, most people only have one song — it just so happens that yours so disheartening Billie Holiday would have refused to sing it.
Zal, Unlike you, I don’t believe that spreading one’s charitable works through one’s community shows a lack of empathy for those not in your community. You seem to think it does. IMO, if Romney’s policies are bad for the country it will be because they are conservative policies. I hold out hope that he’ll follow his own history and be more moderate. But whatever Romney does, we are looking at a difficult journey ahead regardless. I guess I’m just more cautiously hopeful than you that it will eventually get better.
Zal – you don’t have to be a lawyer to read basic logic into a sentence. I would have thought you could understand that when someone says you aren’t remotely balanced in your assessments of Romney, that indicates a comparison with other people in the race. (But I shouldn’t have overestimated your ability to apply basic logic. That’s my bad since most of your posts indicate you have real trouble with reasoning skills.) Put another way, Obama’s name doesn’t need to be in a sentence in order for any logically thinking person to understand that this was a sentence about Romney vs. Obama.
As for you not caring whether people like you – WOW. Again – how someone can be so unselfaware is beyond me. If you don’t care whether people like you why do you CONSTANTLY pepper your comments with remarks about your amazing abilities and beautiful mind, while trying (usually in comically unfunny ways) to belittle other people. No one who writes things like: “It reveals I’m more observant than you” doesn’t care about others opinions of them. Or all the tripe about your courageousness in voting for Jill Stein, like you are voting for the opposing party in an open ballot in North Korea or some such. Yeah – you really don’t care what others think. .
Obama just put out a disgusting ad — it’s being called #MyFirstTime on Twitter. You have to see it — it’s creepy. Among other things, the young woman looks barely above the age of consent. The campaign’s obsession on young, single women, abortions, contraceptives and “lady parts” (to quote one of their staff) is bizarre. Never seen anything like it in an election.
Here’s an article about it: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/25/obama-video-compares-voting-to-losing-virginity/
Here’s the video: http://www.mediaite.com/online/lena-dunham-talks-about-her-first-time-voting-in-obama-endorsement-ad/
I’m sure mothers and fathers all over OH, PA, and WI will be thrilled…. Apparently, voting for Obama turns “girls” into “women.” Blech…what a creeeeepy fella is our POTUS.
Did I say? I think this creepy ad will backfire. Romney should pay for it to be on TV in all the swing states. I’ll ask a question I’ve asked before: what kind of mental midgets are running O’s campaign?
That’s Lena Dunham, who writes and stars in the HBO hit “Girls.” She just signed a multi million dollar contract for a book of essays (essays don’t sell that well, it’ll never earn out, which means the publisher wants her name because it’ll bring them cache for a certain demographic).
Have you watched “Girls”? Do you understand the context and concept of the ad?
Our society has been changing more rapidly than normal. A generation used to be 30 years, now it’s probably about 10 years. In 2008, and maybe in earlier campaigns I’m not sure, Obama focused on getting young adults, the cool 20-something crowd, and used them to draw in older adults who want to be youthfully cool. This ad makes perfect sense in that context and in the context of who the current 20-somethings (urban narcissists and outside wannabes anyway) are.
I watched “Girls,” and from a sociological point of view it’s disturbing, or actually the word I’d use is sad. At least I think so. And that ad is very much in sync with Lena Dunham’s interpretation (that I understand is pretty well spot on) of the current 20-something’s thought process, which is linked to sexuality in a way that’s very different from my generation, and I suspect yours (though I’m not sure of your age).
I used to think it was Valjal, Axelwhore and Cutter, but lately I’m leaning toward The Keystone Cops
No, I haven’t watched “Girls.” I figured there was a context that meant something to young single women, a key demographic for Obama’s campaign. But, that context doesn’t mean it’s an appropriate ad for a POTUS to run; nor does it detract from its inherent creepiness.
Well it doesn’t appeal to me, but a lot of things in America that don’t appeal to me are popular and make people liked, hired, rich, and elected. I’m always interested to see which way these things go.
I put it up on my Facebook page after I saw it here and asked what people think of it. Obama supporters like it and Romney supporters don’t; Obama supporters think it’s hip and relevant and today, Romney supporters agree with you. None of my third party friends have responded yet, and probably won’t. But the likes and dislikes were not connected to gender or age, but rather to the Obama tribe or the Romney tribe, which was predictable.
I haven’t watched the ad, but that’s because I had the misfortune of watching that awful TV show once and really want nothing to do with the talent void that produces such dreck. If the ad is anything like the TV show it’s mind-numbingly wretched.
“But the likes and dislikes were not connected to gender or age, but rather to the Obama tribe or the Romney tribe, which was predictable.”
No, I don’t agree that it’s all subjective and a matter of tribal politics. It’s creepy and unbecoming of a president — that’s the objective truth. And, here’s the thing — creepy OFA realizes that it would gross out the population at large, that’s why it’s only a web ad.
This POTUS who can’t seem to get his hand out of women’s panties, and, objectively, that’s gross and inappropriate.
Erratum: “This POTUS can’t seem to get his hand….”
I too found “Girls” sad. I also haven’t found hook-up culture to be representative of the college kids on my campus. I think “Girls” is more about being lost after graduation and before finding a niche (in a new city and in life) than it is about sex. They are in New York but LA is even harder to find a start in. I’ve been accused recently of being too literal, but try thinking about sex as a metaphor and see what you think about the ad and the show.
Nah. Maybe 30 years ago. But that ship has sailed.
See: Clinton being asked, “boxers or briefs?” followed by blowjobs in the Oval Office and a blue Gap dress splattered with cum stain.
Not saying I like it, but the times are what they are.
More likely it’s only a web ad because the target demographic is logged online and doesn’t watch network TV.
Obama can’t get his hand out of women’s panties? Funny, he seems to me like the type who never puts his hands into women’s panties.
I watched the ad; it was sent to me by another political woman and was sent to a group of political women of all stripes and ages.
Everyone detested it, including me. Blech. Thanks for the warning about that show “Girls” I will never watch it.
The show is sad, Sally. It’s a sad generation. And for good reason.
Obama whines about the mess he inherited, well think of the mess these kids inherited.
As for sex, it isn’t, to them, what it was to us in our generation. For a lot of them it isn’t fun; they don’t have foundation for it to be. They were born post-AIDS, and when they were children the President was being dragged through impeachment proceedings for a blowjob with a young intern, publicly humiliating his wife and daughter and betraying his closest friends. This has an impact. And I think it’s not hard to see it in “Girls” and in that ad.
I watched the ad. I found it creepy. But it won’t turn off anyone who wasn’t already voting against barry, and it might turn on (pun intended) some mindless 18 year olds.
It does reek of desperation, though. Voter enthusiasm among young people is down c. 20 pts.
It’s begun……
NES, I saw the ad just once, that was enough., I thought it in incredibly bad taste. My generation was accused of the women giving sex to get love, and men giving love to get sex.
The incredibly high divorce rate of my generation, compared to that of our parents, is a testament to how well That worked out. Sometimes it seems the more things change, the more they don’t.
Word for the day: ‘incredibly’…damn, when will I learn to edit ?
And the ad is also a total ripoff of an ad Vlad Putin used in his last Russian contest. I saw it online early this morning.
I also saw someone tweet this a.m.: The first time is usually with the wrong person for the wrong reason. The Perfect Obama voter.
LOL, G.G. And usually a major disappointment. Also like obama.
http://hillbuzz.org/peggy-noonans-wrong-some-more-must-be-friday-66714
While the above is pretty ‘out there’, I also wondered why she rushed him off the stage, it looked strange. I thought she was just mortified and couldn’t wait to slap Lil’ Barry around a few times, either that or she heard Red Lobster was giving out free lobster.
How about the Cheddar Bay Biscuits??
Are they free, too?
Later.
I’d put my money on the freebies, conner. She can slap him around any old time, but free stuff? Gotta grab it while she’s still FLOTUS
Okay… i like how snarky kevin dujan is – he’s fun. But he’s the one who is missing the obvious, not noonan. Obama is a self centered twit who did not prepare. Michelle rushed him off the stage because she knew it was a disaster. The end. Why must be everyone always go to drugs? He’s wildly narcissistic. THAT is the simple answer.
http://trueliberalnexus.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/how-obama-turned-liberals-into-zombies/
Everyone should go read this. It’s excellent.
My students say they aren’t going to vote at all because both parties are equally bad. I try to tell them the down-ticket races are important, especially since measures affecting public university funding are on the ballot. We will be laying off professors if Prop 30 doesn’t pass in CA. My students are not thinking about sex — they are worried about more tuition increases and how to find time to study with the increased hours they work at their jobs in order to pay for school and books. Their parents can’t afford to put them through school any more, so they attend school for a semester, then work for a semester in order to pay their way through. Neither candidate cares about them or their parents. I am voting for Jill Stein, and was even before Tamerlane’s latest essay.
yeah! Please share it, though, with anyone you know who might be persuadable. I’ve been working on that post for four years.
Yes they are.
That is, unless the human race has suddenly changed with your student’s generation.
I think the sadness of “Girls” has to do with actual porn and how it makes young women feel about themselves and little to do with Bill Clinton, whom I will always admire.
Of course, the lousy economy and poor job prospects add to the sadness.
Agreed. I fail to see how Bill C. is to blame for Obama’s creepy tactics.
I guess it’s OFA’s new meme: Blame Bill.
I think that’s an old meme. Remember Obama praising Reagan while trashing the 8 years of peace & prosperity during Clinton’s term? Blame Bill but make sure he shows up to campaign for Obama in those regions where Obama isn’t well liked.
I thought Sex & the City was sad too. Girls is what you get with cynicism, irony, post-modernism and post-feminism — no meaning in life, no values to guide behavior and no self-respect or personal integrity. It isn’t funny and I truly don’t understand the praise and attention it has gotten, no matter how much people feel it accurately reflects 20-somethings in NYC.
Sue, a lot of elements, social and economic and political and others, contribute to any generation’s well being or lack of, including this one. I’ve written about our population’s deterioration over the past 30 years many times here and mentioned a lot of symptoms and reasons, or possible reasons, for it. I mentioned Clinton in this context because the discussion is about a President and politics and sex and appropriateness and NES said the ad is “unbecoming” of a President. Clinton and Lewinsky seemed an obvious reference in that context. But of course I didn’t mean Clinton or that ridiculous scandal, which only became what it did because Republicans were determined to destroy Clinton any way they could, are solely to blame for the sexual attitudes of a generation. I don’t think that’s the case at all. I will say, however, FWIW that over the past decade conversations I’ve had with people born from the late 70s onward invariably include them pointedly mentioning AIDS and the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal as influential elements of their generation’s sexual attitudes.
You and I think it’s not funny but a lot of people do think it’s funny. And they feel they can relate to it. In fact they not only think it’s funny, they think it’s clever and witty, which I also don’t see in it.
I think there’s a lot I can learn about the current 20 something generation through it, though — as there always is when a TV show gets that kind of attention and confirmation from the crowd it’s intending to reach and represent.
Thanks for that, Zal.
That poor little Clinton affair should not have come to light since neither principal wanted it known.
It always astounds that some asshat, like Chris Matthews, will forever tut-tut about Clinton’s morals, while worshipping JFK.
Dissonance, much?
I do think we’ll look back and say that cheap and lousy pornography has had a deleterious effect on young people, on how they view themselves, others and their ability to connect.
If you’re talking about Lewinsky, she totally wanted her relationship with the POTUS to be known, for ego reasons. In high school, Lewinsky had an affair with a teacher, and blabbed about it until it became a big local controversy, plastered all over the local paper and leading to the teacher’s dismissal and divorce.
It keeps getting worser for obama:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/petraeus-throws-obama-under-bus_657896.html
Yes, it does, Tamer. Problem is only we political hounds know about it. I feat BenghaziGate won’t be known to the general public until well after Nov 6.
yes, it is getting worse…by now many have already seen this clip…and finally a reporter with some courage and guts lays O out for all too see…if you look at the comments, it begins to become obvious that even though the MSM is avoiding the story, the story is still getting through…and O is not fooling anyone…he is trying to run out the clock with his usual deflections and talking points…it is not working
major kudos to this local reporter, Kyle Clark, in Denver…
http://www.9news.com/news/article/296294/339/9NEWS-questions-Obama-on-Libya-attack
note how barry intentionally muddles the timing of his actions with the 1. 2. 3. steps he said he took. It sounds like 1. happened during the attack, but when connected with 2 & 3, you realize he gave that ‘order’ *after* the Benghazi attack was over, and it referred to our other embassies.
Whoa John! The poll still shows a huge percentage of commenters (appx. 47%) speculating that you cast a vote for Romney. (More interestingly, there’re even some who think you went for Obama!)
Anybody else see Argo?
Best movie we’ve seen in a long long time.
Don’t miss it.
‘sgood.
Loved it, Zal.