GOP Charms At Anti-Stimulus Rally

Is that Barron X ?

.
I meant to attend; did I actually make it ?
.

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by: Barron X @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 15:14:03 PM CST

That's...

...a funny way to make the letter "X".

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by: G Pulviczek @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 15:15:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Love the snarl!

It's either AS or one of his clones, good show.

Sorry, but as much as you try, I just can't buy in to the idea that every Democrat is evil except for Andrew Romanoff.

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by: JeffcoBlue @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 15:49:37 PM CST

He should be thanking President Obama

Because now he has a chance to get a life and a day job!!

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by: Blue Day Colorado @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 15:53:48 PM CST

YouTube...

Shawn "Lurch" Mitchell talks about stimulating himself, suddenly cares about debt and fiscal responsibility.  Mitchell claims that folks voted for Obama so he would join GOP and not do any of the things he campaigned on.


"[McInnis] already appeals to those of us who have half a brain..."  ChenWui

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by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 15:58:51 PM CST

Actually

"Lurch" is Penry's nickname.

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by: Ralphie @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 16:00:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Mitchell

Although it's not evident in the clip Mitchell is a smart guy. Probably the only legitimate intellect in his entire caucus, Senate and House.

We've tried conservative economic policies for almost 30 years and we've utterly destroyed our economy. Movement conservatives have zero credibility on economic issues and anyone with an IQ above their own age knows this.

Mitchell, Lamborn, Coffman, Beauprez(!) - they're all completely irrelevant. Even if they hold office they don't actually have any power and their party is quite rightfully the subject of great public scorn and derision. So let them have their Two Minute Hate on the West steps, let them spew propaganda to hapless local news anchors. They're on the outside looking in, we're changing the country for the better and we'll be rewarded for our efforts. I have the courage of my convictions and nothing Shawn Mitchell or Michelle Malkin do will change that.

Si Se Puede

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by: Steve Balboni @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 16:33:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Which is the one who calls himself 'douchebag?'

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by: DemZorro @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 16:15:12 PM CST

Unkown

But the name would fit many.

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by: Ralphie @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 21:03:00 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Talkin Points

Wow, Mitchell has the talking points down cold. When his term is up he has a bright future as a circus performer. It's quite difficult to spin that hard and not fall down.

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by: Cletus Hemphill @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 16:23:03 PM CST

Swastika Guy

From that Kos link,

and in fact one person defended the guy to one of our people saying that the swastika is not a Nazi symbol, but an honored Native American symbol.

Does anyone know if Betsy Hoffman was at today's rally?

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by: Steve Balboni @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 16:23:57 PM CST

Just to correct our oh-so-tactful nutjob (not you, Steve),

While there are many symbols from many times and places that resemble a swastika, its derivation is from a Hindu power symbol, which is precisely the swastika without the tilt (and with the "teeth" going the other direction?), and which was what Hitler was explicitly appropriating. "Aryan" used to be the common term for what is now referred to as "Indo-European" (to cleanse it of Hitler's usage), and Hitler "recognized" the shared "racial superiority" of the dominant Indian caste. Conversely, he "recognized" the racial inferiority of native americans, to whom he compared the slavs to his east that he felt justified in displacing, just as the Americans had been justified (in his warped view) of displacing the native americans.

What a surprise: Swastika guy doesn't even understand the heritage and meaning of the symbol he is stupid enough to sport!

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

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by: Steve Harvey @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 17:15:15 PM CST

[ Parent ]

...

AS will be here to use his "liberal fascism" talking point sometime today.

What are you talking about?...I don't get it." - bjwilson83

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by: Aristotle @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 16:37:16 PM CST

Gee

You're catching on! :)

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by: Another skeptic @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 00:58:59 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Look at all those nice white faces...

Love the anti-immigrant signs screaming out to the fastest growing demographic: "FU, not welcome in our shrinking tent..."

"[McInnis] already appeals to those of us who have half a brain..."  ChenWui

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by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 16:44:29 PM CST

It reminded me a lot

of the KKK McCain/Palin rallies last year.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

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by: redstateblues @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 20:34:55 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The crackpot right...

is in control of the GOP, and they're much happier now that they yhave no power, no accountability, and no reason to be anything but flamboyantly nuts.  Up with the confederate flag!! Down with Obama! Loonies of the world, unite!  Throw away your meds, howl at the moon, tear off your clothes, and dance naked under the noonday sun...

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by: H-Dog @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 18:04:35 PM CST

Thanks H-Dog

That cracked me up. I needed that.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

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by: redstateblues @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 20:36:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

My take

People called Bush a Nazi for eight years. It was despicable then, and it's despicable now.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

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by: redstateblues @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 20:39:03 PM CST

Who called Bush a Nazi?

Maybe somebody did, but can you really imagine one of the most prominent left-wing bloggers (say, Markos Moulitsas or Duncan Black or Josh Marshall) happily posing with someone holding a Bush=Hitler sign? No? Neither can I.

Our crazies are on the fringe; we make fun of them. Their crazies are their idols; they put them on a pedestal.

"I am B.J. Wilson, and I am a troll."

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 20:42:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Me

n/t

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by: Ralphie @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 21:01:32 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Lots of folks

called Bush a Nazi and a lot of other names.

I don't think Obama's a Nazi.

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by: Another skeptic @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 01:00:59 AM CST

[ Parent ]

It's like they've given up

No effort being made to find a way back to the middle where the swing votes are. Instead it's just pander to the nut cases and hold on to their little slice of power.

So those in very conservative districts keep their office. The right-wing bloggers keep earning a living. And we Dems stay in control of the government.

The GOP is like an alcoholic who has no interest in giving up the booze.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

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by: DavidThi808 @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 22:52:56 PM CST

This is absolutely inexcusable

The link of any American president to a Nazi is abhorrent. I hold this standard for all parties. And for Michelle Malkin to happily take a picture with this genetic defective is a statement to her morals.
That he carried the sign onstage to stand with the Republican Party contingent on stage without being asked to dispose of the sign certainly speaks to theirs as well.

"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: Cartesian Doubt @ Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 23:12:30 PM CST

Not particularly new

though it's usually somewhat awkward. I remember clearly the tortured phrasing right-wingers came up with during the 90s, including "Hitlery" and "Clintler," not to mention "KKKlinton." This may be the first time  it's semi-official though. That's a little weird.

"I am B.J. Wilson, and I am a troll."

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by: sxp151 @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 00:04:26 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Bad PR move for all involved

Too bad nobody realized how it would come across.

Gave Obama's supporters an opening they are happily exploiting in an effort to blur the real message of the rally, which looks pretty well attended.

I wasn't there.

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by: Another skeptic @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 01:03:06 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Wow

Sort of like when there was a small gathering in Denver last August, but John McCain made it about rock stars and fame? I seem to remember that get together being fairly well attended.

And it's beyond a "bad PR move". It's abhorrent for Michelle Malkin to smile in a picture with the man holding that sign. Obviously she wasn't offended.

Apparently as long as it's anti-Obama, any message is OK with Dick Wadhams and the GOP.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 01:18:29 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Wow

Nobody realized how a swastika would come across?

That's not a bad PR move, it's a fundamental failure to get it.

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by: RedGreen @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 08:36:11 AM CST

[ Parent ]

The swastika blurred the message enough

Penry and company can't seem to keep their message clear of hateful symbols. Maybe if they showed a little more care in the promotion of their ideas and opinions, more people would be willing to give their ideas a chance.

But when a guy standing not more than 15 feet from the Senate Minority Leader is holding a swastika sign, and another standing not more than 10 feet away is holding a hammer-and-sickle sign, the rational public isn't going to be too inclined to listen.

"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: Cartesian Doubt @ Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 14:06:08 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Really not surprising about Malkin.

   She wrote a book defending Japanese internment during World War Two with the idea of promoting internment of Muslim Americans after 9/11. Posing and smiling next to a guy with a swastika is maybe one of the least offensive things she has done.

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by: Karinthy @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 09:09:20 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I still say that

no one in America who isn't already a marginalized nut job (I mean, skin head or KKK type nut-job) intentionally poses with a swastika for a high-profile photo. I just can't believe that it's a matter of "not getting it," or not foreseeing how it would come across. You'd have to have an IQ of 20 not to get it or not foresee how it would come across. It's just not plausible that anyone said to themselves, "Oh, wouldn't it be a good idea to pose for a photo with this guy holding a sign with a swastika and Obama's name on it."

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

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by: Steve Harvey @ Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 21:53:03 PM CST

I don't know, i think you're jumping to conclusions.

I can't express the point very well, but I think you should read this guy's post for a good counterargument.

"I am B.J. Wilson, and I am a troll."

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by: sxp151 @ Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 02:47:57 AM CST

[ Parent ]

You may be right.

Generally, I try to make as few assumptions as possible (which was where I started out on this issue, avoiding the assumption that those in photos with SG were aware of the sign). But maybe the contrary assumption is unwarranted as well: That no one who has achieved any degree of mainstream socio-political-economic success is that stupid. I'll return to my favorite position: I don't know.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

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by: Steve Harvey @ Thu Feb 19, 2009 at 12:55:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]