Last Saturday in Iowa, a “conservative Christian” group held a “Thanksgiving Family Forum” in which 6 GOPers running for president attended. I’m guessing Mitt Romney ducked out declined to attend ’cause he figured – as a Mormon – he might not be welcomed with, shall we say, open arms? I saw the following YouTube on Crooks and Liars in a post titled “Gingrich Claims the U.S. Is ‘More Ruthless’ and ‘Tougher’ When Going to War Because We Send Our Family Members” and predicatbly, Newt got applause – let’s look!
“I think what makes us different and what makes us in some ways when we have good leadership, much more ruthless and much tougher than any other country in the world, is we don’t send soldiers and sailors and Marines and airmen to war.
We send our children. We send our fathers. We send our brothers and sisters. We send our mothers, and therefore there’s a preciousness to this decision, unlike any other country I know of. I think our position has been historic.”
So Newt “Is My Wife Well Enough To Divorce Yet?” Ginchrich – a former college history professor – thinks it’s only Americans on the battlefield that have children, fathers, brothers, sisters & mothers??!?
It should be noted that Gingrich himself, was never on a battlefield, let alone in uniform.
But this one, this one, is so typical of today’s GOPer: they just don’t care what others think:
“…and we frankly couldn’t care less what the rest of the world thinks.”
Why does serial adulterer and Chicken Hawk Newt get away with spewing that cr@p, before an alledgedly “conservative Christian” group, at an event titled “Thanksgiving Family Forum” – and get applause?
Because, as I always say: “Those that forget the lessons of history tend to vote GOP.”
Of course, another explanation is what Ronald Reagan told the adoring masses at the 1988 Republican National Convention: “Facts are stupid things.” Reagan said it, today’s GOP lives it.
And this sordid story is just anther example of You Couldn’t Trust The GOP Then, You Still Can’t Now, And Tomorrow Won’t Be Any Different.
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
… “A Peek Through The Flaps Of The Small Tent Party”
Part 1 is here; Part 2 (with pictures!) is here. And I know I’m a day late with Part 3, but I thought last Saturday’s post about the Strib leaving out Emmer’s offensive quote (“I don’t think you can call yourself a freedom-loving American and be a Democrat.” — Tom Emmer, 9-26-09) was too important to ignore. The Strib has a long history of carrying water for GOPers; Strib Reporter Repeater Kevin Diaz bein’ the most notable of late.
It’s important to note that at Sloganville (the GOPer State Convention), up was down, war is peace, and George Orwell was spinning in his grave at the trash the GOPers spewed. For instance, as noted by Big E, GOPers are continuing the long-debunked “Normie wuz robbed!!!” meme – and because of the pounding of that meme by GOPer Blowhards, the “base” actually still believes that.
Emmer ran through the pre-endorsement process as an “outsider” taking on “the establishment” even though his campaign staff was filled with plenty of “insider” staffers, such as former Bachmann Political Director Jack Tomczak. And Emmer’s pick for running mate – Annette Meeks – is the ultimate insider, as noted earlier today by MPP’s Joe Bodell.
Annette Meeks used to work for Newt “Is My Wife Well Enough To Divorce Yet?” Gingrich, an infamous sloganeer. When it comes to sloganeering, Gingrich wrote the memo – let’s look!
From Information Clearing House:
Language: A Key Mechanism of Control
Newt Gingrich’s 1996 GOPAC memo
As you know, one of the key points in the GOPAC tapes is that “language matters.” In the video “We are a Majority,” Language is listed as a key mechanism of control used by a majority party, along with Agenda, Rules, Attitude and Learning. As the tapes have been used in training sessions across the country and mailed to candidates we have heard a plaintive plea: “I wish I could speak like Newt.”
That takes years of practice. But, we believe that you could have a significant impact on your campaign and the way you communicate if we help a little. That is why we have created this list of words and phrases.
This list is prepared so that you might have a directory of words to use in writing literature and mail, in preparing speeches, and in producing electronic media. The words and phrases are powerful. Read them. Memorize as many as possible. And remember that like any tool, these words will not help if they are not used.
While the list could be the size of the latest “College Edition” dictionary, we have attempted to keep it small enough to be readily useful yet large enough to be broadly functional. The list is divided into two sections: Optimistic Positive Governing words and phrases to help describe your vision for the future of your community (your message) and Contrasting words to help you clearly define the policies and record of your opponent and the Democratic party. (InformationClearingHouse.info)
And, what is one of the words on “Mr. Republican Families Values” list, that GOPers should use?
“Freedom”
THAT was a word used over and Over and OVER; at one time the GOPers even blared Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” over the loudspeakers. ELTON JOHN. It was surreal.
Another word used, on thrice-divorced Gingrich’s 1996 list for GOPers to use?
“change”
Again, a word used over and Over and OVER; more than one time the GOPers even blared Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A Changin’” over the loudspeakers – BOB DYLAN. Beyond surreal; it was unreal.
Here’s that list; the list Annette Meek’s old boss penned in 1996.
Sure, they’ll add – and have added – new ones to that list; new ones like this one ushered into the tudra’s lexicon last Saturday: “constitutional conservatism”
GOPers are very good at sloganeering, and they came out of Sloganville spinning as fast as they can.
That spinning – “up is down” “war is peace” and “Emmer’s an outsider” – is but one reason why I always say:
Reasonable people cannot reasonably believe anything a GOPer says, anymore.
GOPer Party Leadership simply doesn’t care that what they spew isn’t true; they only care that THE VOTER thinks the spew is true.
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
At his announcement, Erik Paulsen claimed to have, and I quote from his press release: “…years of working in bipartisan fashion, across the aisle, to get results in the business world and in the Minnesota legislature.”
Yeah, “right.” Anyone even slightly paying attention understands Erik Paulsen did not rise to Republican state House leadership position by being “bi-partisan.”
Right out of the box, Paulsen forces the interested citizen to question his credibility.
The very first line of the press release says, and again I quote: “Saying ‘Congress is broken, I will work to fix it,’ Erik Paulsen….”
Just who does Erik Paulsen think he’s kidding?
Jim Ramstad tried to fix it, and for that he was rewarded by GOP Leadership with backbench status.
If Jim Ramstad couldn’t fix it, what reasonable person could possibly believe Erik Paulsen could?
Newt Gingrich’s “Contract With America” fundamentally changed how power is structured in the Republican Party, in Congress.
Serious academics can explain exactly how power was removed from committees and placed in party leadership, leading to things such as the strong-armed ouster of Gingrich and the installation of Dennis Hastert as Speaker, with Tom DeLay the muscle. Not to mention the Abramoff Scandal, the K-Street Project, etc etc etc.
To the layman, the following explains it clearly: when it comes to Republican Congressmen, “the people elect them, but the GOP Leadership directs them.”
Paulsen’s claim he’s going to “work to fix it” is simply not credible.
Like Erik Paulsen is really – as a freshman congressman – going to take on and challenge John Boehner and Roy Blunt’s power and authority?
Quite frankly, in a one page press release, Paulsen seems to have a knack of saying things that simply don’t ring true.
Consider this: “Failed ideas and yearning for the past stand in the way of change. So do the politics of blame, division and partisan spin. Minnesotans are weary of this brand of politics.” (emphasis added).
Say, Erik?
THAT’S YOUR PARTY YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.
Especially in Eden Prairie, in Paulsen’s home town. Paulsen’s party’s website is the epitome of blame, division, and partisan spin.
Gentle readers, that’s the local GOP website that blamed the DFL and spun the per diem issue; that put Erik Paulsen (along with David Hann) in the position of: “Well, I voted against it, before I profited from it.”
And that per diem issue is but one example of the “blame, division, and spin” Paulsen’s party’s website is known for; not to mention dirty politics and distortion.
Is Erik Paulsen really condemning his party, here?
Right before he’s going to ask them for their endorsement of his campaign?
Will reasonable people really think Erik Paulsen is being sincere?
Just who does Erik Paulsen think he’s kidding??!?
In his speech, Paulsen claimed to be the moderate candidate, like Frenzel and Ramstad, that accurately represents this district, Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District.
ROFLMAO!!!!!
Erik Paulsen, “moderate”??!?
Ladies and gentlemen, Erik Paulsen is no moderate. He represents the extreme right wing of the GOP. He always has. If Erik Paulsen is saying he’s a “moderate”, I’m asking “since when – tomorrow?”
At the end of his speech, Erik Paulsen stated:
“I will not be out-hustled in this campaign.”
Clearly, those that look into Erik Paulsen’s past – his verifiable record – and compare that to what Erik Paulsen said on Sunday, can only conclude that Erik Paulsen is indeed a hustler.
Because he certainly isn’t believable.
This is crossposted at The Eden Prairie News
