Republicans should be thanking the election gods for Eliot Spitzer's fumble and the otherwise interminable Democratic nomination fight - including all the talking head attention toward what to do with Florida and Michigan.
Were it a slow news cycle, Rep. Steve King's continued ability to feast on shoe leather while simultaneously digging ever deeper into the ground would be getting a lot more attention.
If Obama is the nominee he'll have tremendous strengths and glaring weaknesses, that can be exploited with some skill. Moronic and intellectually lazy comments like King's, however, will do more to knock the Republican nominee off message than to harm Obama.
In the meantime, of course, Obama actually has to beat Hillary Clinton, who has finally and very publicly put a bullseye on the experience issue. Indeed, that's been done so effectively it became the topic of a pretty hilarious Saturday Night Live skit, worth watching if you haven't already done so:
(fast forward to 0:43)
Posted by Eric Earling at March 11, 2008 07:49 AM | Email This"His middle name is the name of the grandson of Mohammad. It's used many, many times throughout the Muslim world and it associates itself with the religion and with the heritage and with the struggle and with some of the violence that's over there as well," King said during an interview with Radio Iowa. "And so it isn't just one person who was a dictator in Iraq, it's a thread that goes through the entire Muslim world."
What King said is true. I believe your point is that if it wasn't for the Spitzer scandal this would be on the front page. And just like Stefan, I have yet to see an article or hear a news report that says Spitzer is a D. You described King's quote as, "Moronic and intellectually lazy comments… There may much more to King than we know. But to describe his comments that way when what you referred to is true is a "Moronic and intellectually lazy comment".
Posted by: Silkworm on March 11, 2008 08:07 AMi think clinton will lose. the question for me is how much damage she will inflict in the process of losing.
who is running for the right?
Posted by: dinesh on March 11, 2008 08:11 AMBut we can't talk about that. No some fool who puts his hands under a toilet stall or e-mails
HANG them, but real sex and breaking interstate laws. No big deal.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on March 11, 2008 08:52 AMAnd where is Nancy "Culture of Corruption" Pelosi?
Posted by: NW Denizen on March 11, 2008 09:10 AMDealing with this mess.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
According to House Democrat leadership aides, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has asked advisers to examine FEC and other records to determine if Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers may have steered money from an influential Michigan family to other Democrats. The Stryker family of Kalamazoo, Mich., made its fortune from the company that bears its name, though members of the family are not involved in the day-to-day operations. The Stryker Corp. has had issues with federal authorities, including a possible investigation by the Department of Justice into possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Verbal idiocy clearly affects both sides of the isle.
Do they condone prostitution?
Posted by: Tabby on March 11, 2008 09:28 AMDo they condone prostitution?
Posted by: Tabby on March 11, 2008 09:28 AMDo they condone prostitution?
Posted by: Tabby on March 11, 2008 09:28 AM1. An accountable education system with a variety of options.
2. Support for small and medium business
3. A fair tax system with no marriage penalty
4. Sunseting of useless programs and zero-based budgeting and government accountability.
5. Support for traditional families
One would probably have agreement among many types of folks. If any idea comes with a republican label, support peels off immediately. In fact, conservative dems in many areas support the above ideas. Why? look at some of the comments at this site. Like it or not, both Senators have been elected in two major states whether people here think the electorate is a bunch of idiots or not.
You do not help your cause among indies and those who share many of your ideas by labeling the other party's candidates as "empty suit" and other names. Politics 101 is that you win by expanding your base, not contracting it.
I dunno, maybe because it's a national race and they don't want to get involved with local scandals? Why has McCain asked Dubya to resign, a national intelligence report said the intelligence lead up to the Iraq war was total BS. Which means the Bush Administration lied to the American public about the reason we went to Iraq.
Does Mccain condone lying to the American public to start wars?
True, but I have to laugh.
How many times did we hear the Dem's & MSN say that GW was stupid/dumb and Kerry was the smart one.
Remember it wasn't the REP who asked question, was Obama was black enough!
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on March 11, 2008 09:36 AMLooks like he's voluntarily resigning, at least according to the NY Times.
I am talking about perceptions among average voters. The MSM is by and large "elitist" dem.
Pubbies have to get an urban and urban county strategy and the only way that will happen is ideas. There is a market in cities for ideas which actually make the buses run on time and actually make it possible for utilities to work. There have been conservatives on the Seattle City Council like George Benson. They specialized in the fiscal health of the city, city services, and really making cities liveable.
There are several big projects that need a plan. Either pubbies learn to expand their base in urban areas and urban counties or your party will be relegated to less populated rural areas. Remember the young of the rural areas generally leave to make a living. This will be a one-party state with all the corruption that follows one-party rule.
Posted by: WVH on March 11, 2008 09:49 AMSo true, but I don't have an answer for you. Many of the good ones don't wish to be smeared by another party or the MSN. So they stay away. )-:
But, but, but. I thought and was told for years the Dem party was all about the rights and care of women????
What happened???
I know, don't answer.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on March 11, 2008 10:04 AMYou are so right (correct?). The R's are experts at doing the wrong thing and losing support. Luckily it looks like Spitzer's going to resign, but what was the R's first reaction? Let's impeach him if he doesn't. Didn't they get it after the whole Clinton impeachment thing? All they did was turn off alot of people, including some R's. In the end they couldn't get rid of him. It took so long that the people got sick of it. The MSM was not on their side. If his own party wont call for impeachment then it aint gonna happen and it will just get ugly before it's over.
The best strategy would be to use it as ammo in the next election. Bring it up in the future as a reminder of the kind of person your voting for.
Posted by: REBEL on March 11, 2008 10:05 AMDepends, is it more hypocritical to propose anti-gay legislation and denounce homosexuality as a sin and then get caught being a closeted gay man? Or is it more hypocritical to support women's rights and get caught paying big money to a high class hooker?
Personally, I'm going to go with the former.
Thanks cato, but your so far off base.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on March 11, 2008 10:13 AMHow so? Sen. Craig is still in office. =)
They're both hypocritical. Your just too biased to recognize it. As far as Craig still being in office? What are you gonna do? Why haven't the D's harrangued him about it. All we can see is what will happen if he dares run for re-election. Of course, if the R's don't give the people someone else to vote for, and the populace can't stomach voting for a D, then you're probably looking at a return of him again. Aint politics just disgusting most of the time?
Posted by: REBEL on March 11, 2008 10:35 AMWill Be? I'd say it already has arisen to that definition for the past 25 years, but as long as their are apologists like CATO carrying their water for them, there doesn't seem to be much accountability coming from the Democratic Party faithful. Power to the Sheeple of Washington!
Are you also calling for David Vitter and Larry Craig to resign? If not, why not?
I dunno, it's pretty hypocritical to laud your high-end prostitution ring busts while patronizing one yourself. I'm all for his resignation.
Guiliani would be ruined too if it was revealed he had Mob ties. So far they're just rumors, but he was the mayor of NYC so it's entirely possible.
So if William "Cold Cash" Jefferson D-LA. They promoted him to Homeladn Security. Don't you feel safer already?
Posted by: pbj on March 11, 2008 10:57 AMI here and now call for Craig and Vitter to resign immediately! There. Do you think they'll listen?
BTW, did either Craig or Vitter get a promotion as a result of their misdeeds?
Still waiting for Libs to call for Spitzer to resign.
Posted by: pbj on March 11, 2008 11:01 AMI think any pol caught in such obvious scandal should resign no matter the party. Whether they thumb the bible at gays and go se etheir gay lovers or they thump the PC manual at the populace and go and bang their hookers.
All should resign. It is a sign of the times we live in I guess that people try to hang around long after their scandals have come out, trying to avoid personal responsibility. I am frankly surprised we havent yet heard how Bush made Spitzer do it.
Posted by: pbj on March 11, 2008 11:06 AMLikewise, the left wants to justify and excuse the particulars of Bill Clinton and Spitzer as a means to the end of justifying their virulent Progressive assaults on individual freedoms.
That's why prominent leftist legal scholars came out yesterday saying that Spitzer's personal actions had nothing to do with the Progressive policies he advanced on attacking Wall Street, etc.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Spitzer's personal actions are a revelation that he viewed himself above the law at all times. Whether in his belief in a right to divine Progressive intervention of capitalism, or in shtuping as he pleased without consequence.
Posted by: Jeff B. on March 11, 2008 11:06 AMTrue and he should resign as well. The GOP should also run a decent candidate against him that can garner more than 13% of the vote.
I'll have to admit that I am also interested in #'s 1-13. Spitzer is gone, but considering the level of the described operation, on the power-elite could afford this kind of attention. I think the greater interest is - what were they investigating Spitzer for when the call girl thing was discovered?? Everything I've heard leads me to believe this went from surveilance to act, not the other way. ???????
Posted by: Rocketdog on March 11, 2008 11:10 AMThey don't, but if your paying 4k for a prostitute on one hand and busting up prostitution rings with the other it really cuts down on your perceived public trust.
Che Gueverra was a great guy to the left because he helped bring Marxism to Cuba, nevermind that he killed a bunch of people in the process.
How about this:
President Bush was a great guy to the right because he helped bring freedom to Iraq, nevermind that he lied about the reason for going to Iraq and that 4000+ of US Servicemen will be killed in the process.
Nixon resigned
Nixon was about to be impeached, proceedings had started in Congress, he hung on to the Presidency as long as he could. There was little doubt in anyones mind that Nixon was guilty as charged. The impeachment process hasn't even started yet and it looks like Spitzer is going to resign. Again there is little doubt in anyones mind that Spitzer is guilty as charged.
He hasn't resigned. Reports are that he is "gauging his support" (NYT words, not mine)
So it looks like he will try to hang on until forced out as well.
I feel sorry for the kids and wife though.
Posted by: pbj on March 11, 2008 11:29 AMShame, he has clearly violated the public trust.
I feel sorry for the kids and wife though.
Agreed.
Cato..lest we forget, the same was said 'bout OJ. :)
Posted by: Duffman on March 11, 2008 11:42 AMIf he had answered truthfully, he would have not been allowed to donate blood. You'd think that would have raised a few eyebrows.
Posted by: Smoley on March 11, 2008 01:26 PMThe only way my wife would be pictured with me after something like this is if is was a shot of her fetching a cast iron skillet out of her hand bag and knocking the dookie out of me right there on National TV!
What possesses these pathetic examples of wamanhood to just take this and then appear in public?
But after giving it a little further thought, I came to the realization that when a real wife learns her husband has been visiting prostitutes for years, she doesn't make a public appearance with him and "stand by her man" that day or for several days.
Its just speculation, but in my view this pampered New York arrogant POS's wife knew what she was getting into with him - power, money, and social prestige. She bargained for it and is mainly upset he got caught, costing her her position.
After all, I mean now that it comes out that SHE'S the one telling him not to resign it really does open up a window into what the score is.
Victim - Sympathy - Separation - Coming out Party - Book Deal - Oprah - Fox News Contributor - all the way to the Bank!
I think he is onto something. I have serious reservations regarding whether either of these two people have any regard for their daughters or anybody else fro that matter.
Posted by: JDH on March 11, 2008 03:00 PMIf he quits it will go away in days.
Posted by: gs on March 11, 2008 04:23 PMSome people give their wives a valentine, flowers or etc. for Valentine's day.
Others get Lewinskied.
This is the big sleeper in this scenerio, because it plays real real badly on the Clinton's right now.
They'll make sure he steps down and steps down fast. They don't want this reminder draggin on, and especially when Spitzer's wife dumps him in the next few days!
OOOOPPPS!!
Another D in congress
tooo bad.....
Posted by: Unkl Witz on March 11, 2008 05:44 PMI would love to see one of these "aggrieved" spouses grap the mike and say that ______ is a scum bag, I just hired the best divorce lawyer in town, I changed the locks and I kicked their lame ass to the curb. That isn't going to happen because I believe these "aggrieved" spouses rationalized clues that would have probably been evident to an inquisitive five year so the good times kept rolling.
The only thing I hope is that Mrs. Spitzer doesn't feel the need to run for president as a way for her personal redemption and restoration.
Posted by: WVH on March 11, 2008 10:20 PMIf one party can't admit that, then I don't think we will move on.
Posted by: swatter on March 12, 2008 09:12 AMCouldn't agree more, Gerry Ferraro will be asking Rep King to pass the ketchup for the shoe leather eating contest. Both parties would do well to examine each candidate's issues and proceed from there. I still like what one poster at Politico said about Billary. He would rather have his legacy be that of a racist rather than a rapist. Ferraro was injecting race into the campaign on behalf of the Clintons as a surrogate to stir the waters and bring out voters in Pennsylvania who might prefer Clinton over a person of color even though she is a she. It was done with the full approval of Billary. I hope that Rep. King is a lone ranger running his mouth. I don't know enough about pubbie politics to say otherwise. I do know that Billary will implode the dem party in the power quest if that is what it takes.
Posted by: WVH on March 12, 2008 10:59 AM