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Subscribe to RSSFrom "47 percent" to "oops" to "you didn't build that," the 2012 campaign was full of memorable moments that arguably changed the trajectory and rhetoric of the presidential race, influencing conversations about the role of government, the essentials of leadership, and the direction of the country.
Aaaaaand then there was all the other stuff.
The first campaign in which ideological scuffles were waged on Twitter, the 2012 race was noteworthy for its moments of pure silliness, when there was little observers could do except use their 140-character allotments for snarky pronouncements like "#headdesk."
So, with apologies to the Happy Days episode that birthed the phrase "to jump the shark," here's our list of the Top 10 "shark-jumping" political moments of 2012:
10. The Drudge Report floats Petraeus for VP. Despite overwhelming evidence -- even more overwhelming in retrospect -- that the now-resigned CIA director was hardly a slam-dunk to be on the GOP ticket, reporters scurried frantically to shoot down a Drudge Report siren floating Gen. David Petraeus for Mitt Romney's vice presidential pick. The news was sourced to "a top fundraiser" who heard it "whispered" by Barack Obama. The Romney-aligned conservative news hub suggested the once-revered general (who resigned after the election in the wake of revelations of an extra-marital affair) after it plugged an exclusive scoop on the implausible pick of Condi Rice for the job.
Martin Bashir asks whether the penguin who bit zoo fanatic Newt Gingrich was possibly one of his many creditors.
9. Newt Gingrich is bitten by a penguin at the zoo. While technically still a presidential candidate -- but long after the sheen of his surprise January victory in the South Carolina GOP primary had faded -- it wasn't unusual to hear tales of Newt Gingrich's passion for zoology during the spring of 2012. An April incident at the San Diego Zoo offered LOL-worthy headlines when the former speaker was nipped on the finger by a Magellanic penguin. Hounded for confirmation, Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond dutifully vowed that the Band-Aid-prompting injury would not end the candidate's love of animals, saying "Newt is a zoo fan. He will be back."
Despite being a fan of "Big Bird," GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney proposed cutting federal funding of public television, setting off criticism and quips.
8. Everyone meta-argues about Big Bird. Asked during the first presidential debate for areas where he would cut federal spending, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney pointed to the (relatively minuscule) funds received by PBS, even while asserting earnestly that "I like Big Bird." After a particularly lackluster debate performance by President Obama, the statement offered Romney foes a welcome peg for attacks, including a parody ad in which the goofy avian puppet was derided as a "big, yellow, a menace to our economy." Republicans, in turn ridiculed the Obama campaign's fixation with the Sesame Street protagonist as frivolous, and an exasperated PBS requested that the ad be taken down.
7. A stop at Chick-Fil-A becomes a political act. Liberal lovers of waffle fries faced a difficult choice this summer when Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy voiced criticism of same-sex marriage. While Mitt Romney didn't bite, other Republican politicians leveraged the story, flocking to the fast-food joint to show their support for Cathy's socially conservative views. Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, and then-VP hopeful Tim Pawlenty all publicly backed the franchise that launched the "Eat Mor Chikin" campaign, while some Democratic pols threatened to keep new stores from opening and pilloried the restaurant with labels like "hate chicken." The chain later - ahem -- "waffled" on its stance, agreeing to stop funding groups that fight same-sex marriage.
While courting Hispanic voters on Univision, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivered a new message after saying he stood by his beliefs about the "47 percent." NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
6. Romney not-really-jokingly laments not being Latino. The "47 percent" remarks were the enduring headline out of Mitt Romney's leaked fundraiser remarks, but the nominee also raised some eyebrows when he joked to attendees that he would have been much more likely to win the presidency if his father had been Mexican. "He was born in Mexico… and had he been born of, uh, Mexican parents, I’d have a better shot at winning this," Romney said to reported crickets from the audience of donor heavyweights. "But he was unfortunately born to Americans living in Mexico. He lived there for a number of years. I mean, I say that jokingly, but it would be helpful to be Latino.” Si se puede!
5. The Trump "October surprise." Remember this? Donald Trump sent the Twitter machine into a frenzy after he promised a "revelation" that would derail the president's re-election efforts. The rumor mill indicated that the bombshell could be some kind of divorce records from Obama's past, a claim which turned out to be far more potentially interesting than Trump's actual revelation -- which was to offer $5 million to the charity of Obama's choice in exchange for the president's college and passport records. The news dud served to remind voters of Romney's tortured embrace of the coiffed billionaire in a February endorsement, which Romney accepted by deadpanning, "There are some things you can't imagine ever happening in your life. This is one of them."
4. Spandexed Rick Perry tweets he's staying in 2012 race. The morning after the Iowa caucuses, political reporters and Perry staff were making arrangements to attend the Texas governor's inevitable dropout press conference when a tweet from the governor's official account pictured Perry in running attire giving a thumbs up -- with the text "Here we come South Carolina!!!" Some close aides initially believed the vow to stay in the race was a hoax. Frazzled reporters chased the candidate to a hotel hallway where they got their first in-person confirmation of the news from Perry's wife Anita, in the form of her declaration that "I LOVE grits!"
3. Joe Biden poses with biker chick. Relentlessly parodied as a dopey muscle-car enthusiast by joke newspaper The Onion, Vice President Joe Biden finally appeared to be merging with his own caricature when he tried to make friends with a trio of bikers at an Ohio diner. The result: an AP photo of Biden nuzzling a grinning female rider as two male companions looked on with impossible-to-describe-in-print facial expressions of annoyance, disbelief and wonderment. (It didn't help that the photo was published within hours of a picture of a Barack Obama being aerially bear-hugged by a large Florida admirer.)
Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood speaks at the RNC Thursday in Tampa, Fla.
2. Eastwooding. After his appearance in a stark, full page pro-Chrysler ad dubbed "Halftime in America," some Republicans accused Clint Eastwood of being an Obama backer. That presumably gave the gravelly-voiced star's endorsement of Mitt Romney even more heft going in to the Republican National Convention, when no organizers questioned the famous "Dirty Harry" actor as to exactly what he might say on stage. Republicans, along with a primetime audience of millions, looked on with (at best) bewildered amusement and (at worst) horror as Eastwood wandered around the stage spouting insults at an empty chair meant to symbolize the president. Eastwood later admitted -- in the biggest scoop to date for his hometown paper The Carmel Pine Cone -- that he came up with the idea to malign available furniture while in the green room before the speech. "[The Romney team] vets most of the people, but I told them, ‘You can’t do that with me, because I don’t know what I’m going to say,’” Eastwood recalled to the Pine Cone.
Former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., D-Tenn., Republican strategist Mike Murphy, and NBC News' Savannah Guthrie and Chuck Todd discuss how the Obama and Romney campaigns responded to the comments Hilary Rosen made about Ann Romney's lack of employment during her life.
1. The "war on women." Little did Hilary Rosen know when she dinged Ann Romney's career choices on CNN that she was touching off a seven-month battle that would be dubbed by both sides as a partisan "war on women." “His wife has actually never worked a day in her life,” said Rosen, a political consultant who advises the Democratic National Committee, launching a rhetorical spitball/Twitter war that continued in various incarnations until Election Day. Obama campaign aides scrambled to condemn the remark as Ann Romney shot back that she “made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work."
That opening volley continued through the end of the campaign, with Republicans and Democrats each painting the other group as baby-hating suffrage opponents eager to confine the brightest of women to lady-prisons of convenient stereotypes.
Both sides pointed to issues ranging from the arguably legitimate (economic policies affecting families, contraceptive policies) to the unrepeatable (Rush Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke a "slut") to the absurd (demanding that the other side disown the endorsement of a musical artist with unpleasant lyrics about women.)
The silliness may have been best encapsulated by Reince Priebus, who described the back-and-forth thusly: "If the Democrats said we had a war on caterpillars and every mainstream media outlet talked about the fact that Republicans have a war on caterpillars, then we'd have problems with caterpillars."
For which he had to apologize.
Leave a Comment:
Good solid article on most of the reasons why the Party of Fear and Hate Lost.
Too bad a bunch of white trash bigots took over the GOP (or maybe that's a good thing?)
Thanks for the memories GOP/Tea Party/NRA trash.
WWhaaaaaaaat??!!!!!??
No mention of Herman "Nine-Nine-Nine Women" Cain?
Or Todd "Ligitimate Rape" Akin?
Or Richard "God's Will Rape" Mourdock?
How about the entire GOP jumped the shark?
Perhaps it is because the GOP hasn't finished jumping the shark. Sharp jumping, in fact, seems to be the Republican Party's favorite pastime these days.
Yuuup Cain, Akin and Mourdouk gave the term 'Wackjob' a much clearer definition.
Funny how the scum always rises to the top in the GOP/Tea Party/NRA.
And some really dumb Americans think things are bad because of Obama, just imagine
if Flip Romney and Lying Ryan had won.
This country would now be on the verge of a thermal nuclear War with China.
Can't wait for 2015/2016 to see how the new or perhaps old clowns perform.
It will be hard for the GOP/TP to top the 2012 front "race to the bottom" cast of characters!
No mention of Herman Cain because he dropped out in December 2011.
And of course Mitt's binder full of women. Who can forget that we apparently belong in binders? Or that a potential President would not know capable women and would have to have them listed for him?
That'll be for 2013.
Of course there was Queen Ann and her (sobbing) "it's hard" about running for the Presidency. She was pretty sure folks were voting for her!
Hope she has recovered from her disappointment at not being able to wave to the peasants on the White House balcony!
How about Newt's "if you quote me then you are lying" remark I thought that was a classic.
How about at the Republican debate when Ron Paul was booed for stating the golden rule? Apparently most in the crowd doesn't believe in it. I am conservative with liberal social values, but that had to be the point the Republican party jumped the shark.
My favorite will always remain Karl Rove's frantic reaction to FOX's announcement that Romney lost the election. To see him begging to wait a little longer because a few counties in Ohio hadn't been fully counted, and then going to the command center with Megan Kelly to argue with the numbers nerds. Too funny and it made my night, for sure. Oh and Bill O'Reilly's arrogant rant that we all want "stuff" and that's the only reason Obama won re-election. Yea, right.
That was a classic, I had forgotten Forrest!
Happy New Year to you, Mrs. Grump and all the Grumpsters!
Thank You New Day, Happy New Year to you and your family as well. I was working in Mexico for two weeks and got home just a few days before Christmas, it was so warm there it do not seem like the holidays to me, but when I landed in my home state and was freezing my tail off it felt right again.
The difference is the "47%" comment by Romney revealed his true beliefs, whereas the "you didn't build that" comment by the president was taken out of context.
The biggest phenomena was Romney "gushing" in the first debate. When I saw that "performance," I realized why everyone who has ever run against Romney develops a major disliking of him -- A dirty fighting arrogant weasel to the max, which the media seems to gloss over.
Thankfully we won't have to hear from Romney again, and thankfully he and the Republican Plutocratic Establishment are not in control of the country to the extent they would have been if Romney had won. I will celebrate this as well as the New Year -- Whoohooo!
Everyone is coming up with some good stuff.
theEagle-7407558 & Puh-lease -- Hopefully the Dems learned that they just need to get the media to ask Teapublicans questions, real drill-down questions like: do you believe a fertilized egg should have the same rights as a person including property, or do you think rape should be defined as "forcible," or why don't you support equal pay for equal work? Then sit back and watch them hang themselves.
No more flying under the radar with their wacky out-of-the-mainstream beliefs. Expose the crazies, that's all the Dems have to do.
And the flex schedules so women can get home to cook dinner for their husbands! The only people who know Romney and like him are the ones who got rich because of him.
Am I the only one who remembers what it means to jump the shark? Here's a hint - you can't have a list of more than one moment.
Jumping the shark is a reference to when Henry Winkler's character was water skiing. It generally is considered the point at which the show was done, played out, kaput, though producers and writers and actors didn't know it yet.
What this article is about is a series of silly goofs and gaffes during a campaign. If there really was a shark jumping moment here, there could only be one, and most of us would agree when it occurred.
lol
Ok Paul by your description of the jump the shark moment, "the point at which the show was done, played out, kaput, though producers and writers and actors didn't know it yet. " it would have been the release of the video of Romney's 47% comments, that was the moment when the electorate had all their negative concerns about Romney and the republican agenda absolutely confirmed in plain simple language right from the mouth of the man at the very top of the ticket. It was over right then and the Romney campaign and all who supported him did not yet realize it, so that must be the Jump the Shark moment.
Actually, I believe the moment that Paul M is referring to occurred the day Mitt Romney was determined to be the GOP candidate for president. But then again, I'm from Massachusetts!
Ah, Chik-Fil-A... the spelling-challenged fast-food joint that believes gay-bashing is their holy war to wage.
I'm afraid we haven't seen the last of Palin, Santorum, and the whole GOP clown posse. It's a heck of a lot funnier in hindsight than it was in the midst of it all... when we had to face the very real fear that one of those numbskulls might become the next POTUS.
But here we are, my liberal friends, on the cusp of a new year with Obama's steady hand at the helm.
Whatever dark waters lie ahead, at least we have the satisfaction and relief of having prevailed in the election. At least we know the majority of Americans have not succumbed to the GOP koolaid.
Still celebrating here! :) HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Dave, that would be my choice, too. That was the moment I lost interest altogether in this campaign. But the problem is we're arguing about this... In Happy Days, there was no argument that Fonzi jumping the shark was the show's jumping the shark. No one was coming back and saying, "You know, for me, it was that other episode...where Potsy did this, or Ralph did that..."
So what troubles me most is that First Read writers and editors here even missed the connotation of a contemporary saying. There has long been an observation that journalism has been on the decline because journalists don't have the background education to bring the same degree of worldly context to their reporting.
But this is a missed connotation from popular culture, involving a celebrity-laden SitCom reference. If journalists can't get that kind of fluff connotation right, what can they do?
I blame it on information technology. Though perhaps not the result our intuition would have predicted, it seems the more information we can access the more intellectually incapable we become. Maybe the "more, more, more" aspect of it all just increases impatience and we often end up just spinning mental wheels in the mud.
But then I've thought for a while that "Idiocracy" was more than just a silly comedy. There's a prophetic element to that movie.
thanks Carrie. We can always count on you for something vapid and content-free that slaughters the Queen's English is some or multiple ways...
I hope you have other talents because journalism sure isn't one of them.
What really got me was that Romney didn't say anything that wasn't true. About 47% of Americans DO NOT pay income taxes... and those aren't the Militrary or retire'ees.. those are the "Americans" on social services like welfare and unemployement. Sorry folks, those people WANTED the racist in the White House to win... or they'd have to find work. And YES, PBS doesn't need government handouts... they make MILLIONS of $$ from their fundraisers and private investors.
It's just that you sheep that hate the Repbulican Party just hate... and you'll use any means to make THE ONLY PEOPLE IN AMERICA that want a strong America to fail. That racist in the White House doesn't want a strong enconomy... he knows that with a strong economy, people vote Republican.
That's BAD for the liberal left demoncrats...
@Sadden American 2012:
Everything you have said is incorrect. Your opinion is your right, but facts cannot be altered by your skewed perspective. As long as you and so many others maintain a negative attitude toward this country and its people, you should expect to live under a cloud of hostility and disappointment.
The rest of us are moving forward with or without you.
Honorable Mention...
"President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob!" - Rick Santorum, 2/25/2012
First of all, the President has never said he wants everyone to go to college. He wants everyone to have the ability to go to college if that is what they want.
Second, wanting people to go to college makes you a snob? Really? ...and the GOP wonders why they take the rap for being anti-education.
that's easy because in Romney's world, you just borrow the money from your parents because doesn't every kid have a rich daddy?
The "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Really Not Competent" (RNC) have thrown the whole US Economy to the "Koch Sharks." The GOP/Teabeggers have thrown the US Middle Class to "Goofy Grover" the "Teabegger Tax Shark." The Working Poor have been thrown to the "Wall Street Sharks." The "Economic Pool" is already full of the blood of the elderely, and the disabled. The GOP/Teabeggers want to feed Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to the "Speculative Sharks." Now who are the "Teabegger Sharks?" In the GOP/Teabegger "House Of Hoodlum's." The "Bonehead Boehner Bunch," and "Crazy Cantor's Cronies" are the biggest and meanest "Political Sharks" of all! Now in the "Teabegger Senate" there is the "Mickey Mouse Mitch McConnell Club." Who just love throwing "Legislation Of Blood" into the already rough "Political Waters." Do not forget about the "Insane McCain Clan." These are the old GOP Sharks that wait around to pick on the poltically weak. They are the "Political Scavengers" of the this "Washington Shark Tank." Everyone in America now calls them the "Teabegger Sharks." All they do is swim around in poltical circles, and they forgot how to move forward. That is fact!
Honorable Mention...
Big Apple Pizza & Pasta Restaurant in Fort Pierce, FL received negative reviews and faced a GOP boycott after its owner, Scott Van Duzer, voiced support for the President and was seen giving the President a hug when he visited his shop in September.
Overall, however, Mr. Van Duzer saw an increase in business after the President's visit.
"We talk with God"..."God told us to run"...."it's OUR turn, we deserve this..!"..."...this is SO hard..."
......crickets
HEY don't forget Papa John's...!
The CEO shot off his mouth
and all of the independent FRANCHISEE's take the hit
or
the 85 corporate Jets waiting w/engines running, for thier occupants to finish the "last breakfast" after the election most dint stay for a handshake OR the excuse for an apology .
...and poor Fa-laugh-a-la laid a turd in the showring at THE Olympics
while Anne hid.......
what a freaky year capped by McConnell filibustering himself
AND the House RWNJ'S turning their back on the leader THEY elected & now call RINO....
the last one under the bus will be Grover...nobody is as conservative as he is
therefore everyone else is bus fodder !
Cheers to my friends & fiends for the new year
and do try to mix with a better class of humanity in the coming year...won't you ? :)
And Obama won Florida!! :)
Thanks for the memories, friends!
Au Revoir 2012. 'Twas a very good year.
I remember early in the Obama Administration, people across the nation and in the media began piling on President Obama, day in, day out. And it was going to be easy to beat him people began to say. He was done. He was too liberal, he was too socialist, he was too bipartisan, he was too not born here. We all know the drill.
The GOP w/the Citizens United decision was set up to trample all over him.
And then a story started making its way all across the country. The Republicans, with Mitch McConnell in the lead, had come to a decision on Inaugeration Day that Barack Obama was to receive no support, no anything. He was to fail, and by association, we the people would fail. Add to that the Grover Norquist pledge so many in Congress, as well as Romney, had signed. These people were not on board to honor the Constitution. They were on board to kiss Norquist and their donors' backsides. People began really paying attention and things began to become crystal clear right out of the gate.
And so began the Romney campaign from the primaries all the way through to election day. His money buried any chance of the other candidates having a chance in the primaries. And so he wins the nomination.
However, it turns out that anything associated with the name "Romney" failed throughout the campaign.
I remember how the Romney sons were going to be a huge help to the campaign. That's what everybody said. And then one of these sons mentions "where's the birth certificate" and people were livid. Ann Romney was sent out and instead of coming across as warm & motherly which was how she was being portrayed, she instead came across as cold, snobbish and uncaring.
Mitt Romney, the candidate himself, was supposed to be this smart businessman who knew how to create jobs. And then the Ted Kennedy ads arrived, followed up a few months later by the 47% video. People were furious. Things people were suspecting of Romney began to take shape.
The Romney election team consisted of people like Donald Trump and John Sununu, and a bunch of white rich older men we didn't know and couldn't identify with. They were the ultimate behind the curtain pulling the strings band of nobodies who we the voters weren't interested in hearing from. We had no idea who any of them were and the ones we did know, were hateful. Trump, Sununu, Jack Welsh. These were not the kind of people we wanted to see speaking on behalf of a presidential candidate here in America. We as a country neither wanted nor deserved this nonsense. Neither did President Obama. We were better than that.
Paul Ryan, Romney's vp choice, was proven to be out of his depth, becoming painfully obvious during his debate.
Michelle Obama traveled state to state, leaving her children out of the campaign. She had already proven herself to be a smart, beautiful, warm, hard working First Lady whom the nation, as they got to know her, connected with quickly and easily. She was a woman we admired and still do admire a great deal. Her crowds were huge on the campaign trail.
The Obama election team consisted of people we felt we knew. David Axelrod, David Plouffe, Jim Messina and Stephanie Cutter to name just a few, were our connection to Barack Obama every time they went on the air or sent us an email. We felt a real connection to each of them because they took the time to develop a connection to us over the years. They were not in any way, shape or form - strangers. The respect and admiration we developed over time for each of them was because of their dedication and tenacity. We saw it each and every day over several years. But what was particularly clear was that they were not only speaking for Barack Obama, they were speaking for us all.
VP Biden and his wife Jill became incredibly popular because of their labor in the first term, their down to earth personalities and great senses of humor. Bill Clinton was the x-president who came with story, a story borne of experience and intelligence.
The candiate himself in 2012 was the same candidate he was in 2008, just a little older. On the campaign, he still had the capacity to inspire every single person in the room. We all saw the young people who would sleep out all night just for a chance to see their president. Those waiting in line to see him stretched for blocks.
We all realized as the campaign wore on, that not only did our president have our back, but more importantly - we the people had his back. We knew Washington didn't. Mitchell McConnell said so. But we did. And we volunteered and donated and blogged and spread the word about him every single day. The grassroots. And come election day, they stood in line - for hours and hours - just so they could vote for him, all the while knowing the country was behind them, pleading with them to stay in line. And they did.
Barack Obama is the first president I know of who we have pretty much followed since his first days of running for office in Chicago. We remember that man no one knew at the time, all those years ago, standing up against the war in Iraq. He showed tremendous courage. Many in the nation began keeping an eye on him from that moment on, and then at the Democratic Convention in 2004, the country stopped for a moment and asked themselves - is it possible?
The thrill we his supporters felt when he won Iowa. And how we remember just last month his last campaign stop - in Iowa - where his road to the White House began in 2008.
He's a little grayer now, but that's okay - we all are. His young family is growing up before our eyes, just like in many ways their father before them. Not so much because of his age, but because of what we as a nation were up against back then. It was frightening. We have come a long way since then.
And that's because ours was a national campaign, a real grassroots campaign against a penthouse board room campaign full of people we did not know, who we did not like,and who as it turned out, didn't much like us. They still don't. Which is why we're having a going off the cliff crisis. Congress wants to take care of the rich to the very end.
But President Obama won. Twice. And not only did he win, we all won.
We all see where the rich in this country and in Congress would like to take us and it's not pretty. But for now at least, together, we beat them back. And we can do it again. That's what is so wonderful about The United States of America and we the people.
Happy New Year.
Beautiful post, Pat. Indeed 2012 was a very good year!
Happy New Year!
Beautiful Pat, simply beautiful...
Thanks for the memories!
May 2013 bring you and yours much joy, peace & love!
♥
Feisty
Oooops... you forgot that "feisty" Jen Psaki! ;o)))
*cheers*
Pat - as always beautifully done!
And Jen, er Feisty, let's definitely not forget Jen!
Yup, feisty movements or causes can't be stopped........Good always triumphs over evil.
Thank you chilled so much. What an extraordinary time I have had here on First Read with you and so so many others throughout the years.
Feisty, at the end of the day it was people like you folks in Illinois who started the ball rolling. You have been with him since day 1.
I see good things ahead with a not quite so crazy Congress being sworn in in a few days. It benefits us all.
SeekingSanity, I don't know where you get your energy to fight back, but boy it's great to see here every day!
Pretty Work Pat. Happy New Year and many more. Always and Forever till the Mountains Fall into the Sea.
What a long & winding road it has been...
The amazing people who have grown into cherished friends over the years thanks to a man with a vision who brought us all together!
I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Speaking of cherished friends *waves* to Floyd! Don't usually see you out & about on a Saturday night! ☺
Thank you IR. My very best to you in 2013 and a certain meet up in DC hopefully next summer.
Feisty, I wouldn't trade it for anything either. I can't believe I didn't get thrown off of here years ago. haha
They have been quite nice about it throughout the years when I have literally blown a gasket over something or other.
To my First Read friends: A very happy New Year! Now that we know that the President is re elected, it will be happy indeed.
Feisty, Pat, IR, all of you...have we had fun or what?
newdayDAWNING, have we ever had fun! I'm sitting here laughing, thinking about all the GOPer's throughout the years posting here and as hard as they tried, they couldn't make a dent with their BS. Their work was all for nothing. The paid ones that is.
After reading their posts, I always got the impression that they lived on another planet. I just couldn't understand their way of thinking at all. I still for the life of me, can't.
I can't either, Pat. The hatred directed at this President is like nothing I have seen before. But you covered the whole thing so well with your post above!
Happy New Year to you!
Ditto what Pat said! lol
Floyd,
Will you make sure we have this on the old juskebox in time to celebrate New Year's Eve over at the Dew Drop Inn?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGbnua2kSa8&feature=player_detailpage
I can't think of anything more appropriate for this group of ours...
Oh Feisty, what a beautiful lovely sentiment.
As I attempt to wean myself from First Read and post a little less once things calm down, keep DC in your thoughts. To quote IR, it wouldn't be the same w/o you.
If I'm going, you're going.
Here is my contribution to First Readers. It's an old song from ABBA but I think the most beautiful Happy New Year song ever.
Happy new year
May we all have a vision now and then
Of a world where every neighbour is a friend
Happy new year
Happy new year
May we all have our hopes, our will to try
If we don't we might as well lay down and die
You and I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mObouU6xacs
Thanks Pat, that was an enjoyable read. At the end of the day, good triumphed over evil. We won because well over half of the people of this nation were wise enough to know what a Romney, Republican led congress would do if given the chance. We said it with a big "hell no!" and even though the little buggers are still at it, they only look silly now. It was a great year and great election and I can't wait for the 2014 mid terms and capturing control of the House again. The tears from the right will be enough to fill the rivers and lakes back up to normal levels and beyond. And to all my FR friends (and foes alike), here's to safe and happy new year.
tony, the GOP really need to rein in their right wing. Otherwise, they're done nationally. They are such an odd bunch of people. Really really odd and mean spirited.
Happy New Year to All, and remember friends don't let friends drive drunk, or vote republican.
you would think that, Pat. But they seem meaner and more ornery than ever. Losing really messes with their heads and makes them say things they regret later. I think the first Republican that publicly breaks ranks with the teabaggers will start a trend that most of the rest will follow. Then, and only then, will they be a viable political party again with the power and conviction to once again make a difference. Until then, just a clown show.
Right, only republicans let friends drive drunk because, well, they don't have any friends.
Pat, that was a beautiful piece and so true...but we have to keep reminding ourselves, the work is not done we have many challenges coming our way and have to keep vigilant, so don't wean yourself away too much....your voice is very much needed.
To all the FR family many who have become dear friends, a very Happy New Year to all. Well done over these past four years, in some ways its been an epic struggle where good triumphs over evil, but it is an ongoing struggle.
Gingerbread Mama, Happy New Year to you.
Here's a NYear's Eve photo sent from Boston, With Love. The frog pond at Boston Common, a place I always took my sons & then granddaughters swimming & ice skating throughout the years. It ain't Rockefeller Center, but it's always been my favorite middle of the city spot to just hang out.
Very pretty photos.
http://www.bostonfrogpond.com/from-the-pond/pictures-from-nye
Aw Pat....thank you this brings back wonderful memories of small town America in a big city. That is what I've always loved about Boston, despite it being a city, it had a hometown feel to it and still does. Hope to get up there this coming year.
Happy New Year!
Pat, that was an excellent commentary on the election.
We are so fortunate to be Americans and so blessed to have a truly great man leading us forward.
And if I may say, this country is blessed to have intelligent, thoughtful and caring citizens like all of you, my liberal friends. You guys are the best!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
A truly Wonderful post by Pat Boston MA.
Thankyou for bringing sanity with courage back to our minds.
Thank you theEagle so much. It's been quite a ride here in America. But I learned something very important - We are one again. Everybody kind of fell asleep at the wheel while bad things were going on behind the scenes away from prying eyes, year after year.
Hopefully it won't happen again. I have tremendous faith in the younger generation. They are growing up with Barack Obama as their president, and I think he is a tremendous inspiration for them and they in tun will take the torch and go with it in just 4 more short years.
Teabaggers are still crying in their tea wondering why they lost. Maybe because your self centered racist hate mongers?I bet they still are cursing those 47% which would includes many disabled vets.Teabaggers would say they are no doubt lazy,worthless moochers looking for a hand out.
Jesus would be part of the 47% Rightwingers hate.
You know, seems to me wars have started over two sides convincing themselves God is only behind their lines. My guess is Jesus pretty much ignores these partisan food fight games, but that's just me.
If Rightwingers would just come into the 21st century and lose their 19th century mindset. I know they're so pissed the black man is in the White House once again. Too bad you racist pieces of garbage! Too bad!
There may be time, tonywarvet. The party formerly known as the GOP will have to insist to their base of "take our country", that they (the GOP) are "taking their Party" back from the extremist wing.
chilled and Tony: I think what the Republican Party needs to worry about most is social media. We showed that it doesn't matter what the media sells any longer. If they're wrong, we now have the capacity to spread the word that they're not being truthful, whether it be MSNBC, ABC, Fox or talk radio.
I see too many pundits on tv who have been around too long and are cemented in ideals long ago proven to be out of step with today's electorate. When are they going to make way for a younger generation, eager to begin their careers? People are just tuning them out and instead we are talking to each other in so many other ways. There are great blogs out there; there are journalists whose articles are spread like wildfire now all across the country written by people we don't necessarily see on television or hear on the radio. They're not part of the "corporate" media, which has been so devastating for a nation that deserves to be told the truth.
If the GOP doesn't change their tune, they're never going to win. We aren't about to sit quietly by while they lie to us and protect the wealthy.
Pat, I'm trying to decide if I will even tune in to MTP tomorrow to see Gregorys' interview with our President.
I stopped watching MTP sometime ago and don't know if I want to revisit getting my Sunday started on a sour note with David Gregory disrespecting President Obama.
Decisions, decisions ;-)
chilled, I'm in agreement w/you. I can't stand the program either. It's not a program for us. It's a program for inside the beltway crowd. President Obama will do a fine interview, regardless of the GOP talking points the host will throw his way. Seen it too many times in the past now. I'm probably going to pass.
Feisty will let us know how it went. She'll be an honest critic.
Chilled,
Funny thing is Gotcha is cutting his vacation short to run back so he can take his "pot-shots" at the President!
If you decide to watch make sure to hide anything which can be tossed at the TV... ;o)
You can always count on me! lol
Wish I had made more time to post more and get to know my fellow progressives over the past several years, but I have so enjoyed reading your posts. The re-election of our President Obama made 2012 a very, very special year - thanks Pat for your concise and moving post about the President. It was at the 2004 convention that I first saw and heard "Mr." Obama speak. After he finished my husband and I looked at one another and he said, "Mother of god, are we looking at the first black man who could be president?" And so we were. Happy New Year to you all.
Happy New Year to you & your hubby, Boomer!
My husband & I said almost the same thing, except he warned me the country wasn't ready to accept a black man as President!
Do you know how many times I've heard; "I told you so" the last 4 years?? lol
Exactly Pat!
I'm looking forward to seeing a whole lot more of the Mark Murray's & Domenico Montenaro's... who make this the greatest political blog on the "tube machine".
Out with the OLD and in with the NEW, I say...
Maybe after Gotchas' own little trouble with the 'clip' he won't be so aggressive. Oh well, we can only dream.
The remote control will be at the ready, to change channels!
Baby Boomer, I love your post. What a great moment that sounds like for you and your husband.
We are not out of the woods, there are still a lot of right wing nuts jobs out there trying their best to make this country a "third world country". We will have to continue the fight until the rest of the country realizes what nuts those people are.
Woody, we will continue the fight. And now we have a younger generation who are joining in. I honestly agree with you - they are nuts, and that just includes members of Congress.
whats funny it has not stop..we could have a whole history book soon
Just think, next year we have state elections in VA and then national elections again the next year.
Wow, according to all my liberal friends we are supposed to shut up about the election and bend over for the king. Now here comes NBC running a one sided twisted article on behalf of the President before his Flirt with the Press appearance to whine about everything but himself tomorrow morning. Just great. Glad Obama didn't make too big a thing about Big Bird and friends as everyone found out the Big Bird is worth half a billion and doesn't need any funding. Or, binders, when the next day he and his staff were seen being handed big old binders of info to review. Or junk like that. Who cares? Another four years of lies, blaming things on everyone else, coverups, inept foriegn and domestic policy... but great vacations.
You know what... jerk-off?
Go find another thread to spew your negativity and hatred!
We are having a party here and YOU and your "parrot" bull@!$%# are not welcome!
Take your worn out "squawking" points while YOU bend OVER and stuff them where the sun don't shine...
Loser!
Now there is a well thought out comment. Are you a mad widdle wemming? awwww, hurt someones feelings... awwww..... boo hoo.
gofingerit - just remember dipwad, you lost because of folks with the same caliber of wisdom like yourself. Your pind--k sized comments made not one difference to the outcome. If I were you (so glad i'm not), I would be thinking of another tactic like sense and sensibility. Oh but that wouldn't work because then you would have to acknowledge that there are other people beside yourself. Oh well, swim in your own feces for all I care.
Glad to see all the little foul mouthed absent minded sub-lemming followers of feisty are checking in. Poor little babies. How much does NBC pay feisty anyhow?
Thanks Feisty - I'm getting so tired of all the negativity on these vines from the Conserves regarding the election, women's reproductive rights, guns and now the fiscal situation were facing.
We will not succeed if we all throw our arms in the air and scream blaming everything on the POTUS. While I'm a big supporter of his, I haven't always agreed with his handling of the R's. I wanted him to be tougher.
All in all I cannot even imagine why anyone, especially President Obama would even want to be POTUS! It's just amazing to me how little respect so many people have for him and the office.
Happy New Year all - may we become more peaceful in 2013.
He is an incompetent boob.
You liberal anarchist Obama followers all have such potty mouths and hate for humanity... yet you want people to believe the opposite. Hmmmmm..... little children do the same.
and YOU are, what? Brilliant?
I didn't write one "potty" word! You on the other hand may not use "potty mouth" words, but you certainly show mega-disrespect. Even when GW Bush was POTUS, I wasn't happy with him but I didn't call him names.
You are a little child. Face facts.
" ... Face facts. ... "
Ok, we'll face "facts", as soon as you come up with some.
Oh you mean facts like ....
" ... He is an incompetent boob. ... "?
Or how about these "facts" ....
" ... Another four years of lies, blaming things on everyone else, coverups, inept foriegn and domestic policy... but great vacations. ... "
Is that the kind of "facts" you are talking about? Are they the "facts" you want us to face? So where did you get these "facts"? Some sources would be nice. Some that we could check and verify would be better.
But then you really don't need any "facts", do you. After all you have Fox News, Bill O. Rush and the rodeo clown Glen that are more then willing to feed your hate, fear and ignorance.
Facts? Not likely.
Huh. Imagine that.
Think they should have counted in the Etch-A-Sketch interview. Said more about the campaign and Romney than all of his speeches.
Then there was the whole [insert GOP candidate here] is a viable presidential candidate thing. LOL what a bunch of f-ckups and religious zealot retards.
Happy New Year to the First Read group. A special wish for a healthy and prosperous 2013 to Feisty, Pat Boston Ma, Jody,Iowa, IR, NewdayDawning, tonybeerm, GBM, David Walker, Skip nicholsonOK,Layton, tomas grande. I know I forgot someone! I learned something from each of you.
My favorite political moment was....proceed Governor!
Peace and good health to all First Readers
The same to you Patricia 48, all best wishes in the coming year to you and your family!
Patricia48.......Thank you and to you and yours A Very Happy New Year. When someone like you and Boomer weigh in it really makes my heart sing, knowing our words are read are appreciated and hopefully keep the candle burning.
Please come join us when you can in 2013, because as Ted Kennedy once said:
'The Work Goes On, The Cause Endures, The Hope Still Lives, and the Dream Shall Never Die.'
Peace and Prosperity in 2013.
Gingerbread Mamma.....thank you for the good wishes. I am also hoping to get to Boston this year. I grew up north of Boston and most of my relatives are still there. What a great state.But, I love my adopted state of California and wouldn't trade it.
All the best to you.
Having read thousands of comments on this site over the past presidential election cycle, I am amazed at both the insightful comments AND the amount of unsupported vituperative invective. While I am more than relieved at the outcome of the presidential race, I am less optimistic there will be significant positive change in the House and the Senate during the next two years.
There is a "rule of thumb" in community organizing that if you get 2% of a neighborhood, ward, or congressional district actively working for your position, this is sufficient to effect significant change.
My modest proposal to those who wish to support social policies that help the 98% of our population who aren't millionaires and billionaires: be one of the 2% actively working for all of us.
Backhouse don't you get tired of lying and posting bull@#it. Republicans have not blocked Obama for the past 4 years. Is your memory so short you forget Obama had a democrat controlled congress for 2 1/2 years. The only way you can defend Obama and his poor performance is with lies. He has been without doubt a terrible poor performing president.
The power hungry idiot is now holding the American people hostage to enhance his poor legacy. Reaching across the aisle and working with republicans was a continuation of the past 4 year of lies. He has no concern for the American people including the "middle class" he says he want to protect only himself and the party.
Hopefully as time passes like other poor economic times our economy will turn around. Certainly will not happen because of Obama with his spending habit and increased entitlement programs.
Wrong on every point.
This can't be mere stupidity - it has to be a concerted, willfull effort to spread mis-information to prop up the GOP. If you repeat lies often enough and loud enough, the low information part of the population think it is the truth.
Guess what part of the population you belong in.
TO; PAT OF BOSTON..........Thank you for summing it up soooo very very elelouquently......There are no other words needed to factually depict where we were....what WE as a country went thru....and where we HOPE to go........but we STILL must be vigilant, because the will and resolve of the very still powerful Extreme Right has NOT go away. They are digging IN, and daily developing New weapons, stratgedys, and tactics, to use in these ongoing political battles
I don't wish anybody any harm but, you know, it wouldn't bother me to see the Republican party just sort of dry up and blow away.
I think the country would be better off...and it would free up some space for a party that that was more centrist in its platform.
One can only hope...
Methinks the Whigs need to make a comeback.
Lord knows the GOP of today will be extinct in a few years.
But they don't realize it, and won't until they are dust bunnies in history.
The only thing more disappointing than this article is the endless congratiulations and best wishes for a blah blah blah that imbued the middle of the comment section and the overly long comment (blog really, y'know, inappropriate) by somebody and the fools who had nothing to do this morning but read it and gush about it.
Ahhh the Donald, you should have accepted Colbert's counter-offer!!
Shadowbosses, Government Unions versus Taxpayers
Short and sweet, no argument, just facts and logic and perhaps because the truth is being told & the lies exposed in the works of:
Mallory Factor's book "Shadow Bosses"
Well it's about Time. Jolly good show Ole boy, Jolly good!
heh ! Get Used Too It, Union Thugs 4ward-----> ho
Hear ye Hear ye
I've ordered 20 k coppies of this book for distribution Nation wide
Oh and BTW, if I laid you off, or any of your Family or friends, Sorry it is just business not personal... mostly