tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post6434200478512266872..comments2024-03-29T00:04:32.434-05:00Comments on Althouse: "Don’t call my bluff."Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-12535005299078868362011-07-15T14:34:11.384-05:002011-07-15T14:34:11.384-05:00You're giving Obama way too much credit. He&#...You're giving Obama way too much credit. He's not nearly as smart as you think ... credentialed out the wazoo, yes, but not smart.Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02156866142764210868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-6372185241911054872011-07-14T23:06:45.247-05:002011-07-14T23:06:45.247-05:00You are making the same error Obama is making. You...<i>You are making the same error Obama is making. You are assuming that the electorate is not aware of what the differing positions represent over the long term.</i><br /><br />Maybe. But didn’t Obama take contradictory “differing positions” during the 2008 campaign? And wasn’t enough of the electorate “not aware” enough, or did not care enough if they were aware, to elect Obama? Some mighty smart folks voted for Obama. Even law professors who believe that Obama’s election put the GOP in a stronger position. <br /><br />Earlier I wrote: “Is the commentor aware that in 1996 Clinton won by a landslide?”<br /><br />Seeing Red correctly chastises me for the “landslide” characterization. For the record, below are the numbers: <br /><br /><i>In the 1996 presidential election, Clinton was re-elected, receiving 49.2% of the popular vote over Republican Bob Dole (40.7% of the popular vote) and Reform candidate Ross Perot (8.4% of the popular vote) … Clinton received 379, or over 70% of the Electoral College votes, with Dole receiving 159 electoral votes.</i> <br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/66f8r38<br /><br />So I amend my statement to read: <br /><br />Is the commentor aware that in 1996 Clinton won handily with over 8% of the popular vote and 70% of the electoral votes?<br /><br />On polls about which side is winning I contended that polls AFTER the negotiations are finished are the polls that matter. Red replies: <br /><br /><i>And we still have a year to go after.</i><br /><br />And the point is … ?<br /><br />Red again: <i>Checkbook, mine's been closed a long time.</i><br /><br />Fine. But don’t be bitching about election results. <br /><br />Sorepaw says: <i>You're so efficient at spreading FUD, one wonders whether you do it for a living.</i><br /><br />I have no idea what FUD means. Fucked Up Debate? Farcical Unusual Discord? Frightfully Urbane Discourse? Could the commentor help me out on that? <br /><br />Earlier I commented:<br /><br />Yes, Obama wants a “long term” agreement in order to defer future negotiations safely beyond the 2012 election. But if the GOP sweetens the pot sufficiently he may be persuaded to agree to a “short term” plan.<br /><br />Sorepaw inquires: If the short-term plan lands on his desk in the form of a bill that has passed both houses of Congress, and not agreeing means Obama has to veto it, what then? <br /><br />I think this may be the same tactic I saw Krauthammer propose on Fox today. Considering Krauthammer’s expertise and insight I believe we must assume the GOP would be in a better position than with the 2 options I described in my previous comment. But it depends on the MSM not being able to successfully perform their usual subterfuge. I would love to see Obama maneuvered into an untenable position. <br /><br />Crack – followed the link. Nice. Didn’t leave a comment there cause nobody gets my email address.gracklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18138997480493469444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-78364083116559577702011-07-14T21:00:15.520-05:002011-07-14T21:00:15.520-05:00Yep - That's Some "Warning" You Gave...<a href="http://www.themachoresponse.com/crackMC/wordpress/?p=3391" rel="nofollow">Yep - That's Some "Warning" You Gave Us, Buddy!!!</a>The Crack Emceehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08366101526773588864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-70783316059399365002011-07-14T18:55:40.421-05:002011-07-14T18:55:40.421-05:00Grackle,
You're so efficient at spreading FUD...Grackle,<br /><br />You're so efficient at spreading FUD, one wonders whether you do it for a living.<br /><br /><b>Yes, Obama wants a “long term” agreement in order to defer future negotiations safely beyond the 2012 election. But if the GOP sweetens the pot sufficiently he may be persuaded to agree to a “short term” plan.</b><br /><br />If the short-term plan lands on his desk in the form of a bill that has passed both houses of Congress, and not agreeing means Obama has to veto it, what then?sorepawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897026983666453798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-27335988369742699612011-07-14T18:22:53.683-05:002011-07-14T18:22:53.683-05:00Scott;
Yes, but, remember, that while I support el...Scott;<br /><i>Yes, but, remember, that while I support electricity, freezers, and ice cream, I do NOT like frozen treats shoved up my ass at gunpoint.</i><br /><br />That's an image I will not soon get out of my head.Phil 314https://www.blogger.com/profile/04133300763922742206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-42551942470512852002011-07-14T18:13:00.036-05:002011-07-14T18:13:00.036-05:00With all this Cantor hate I fear a left wing loon ...With all this Cantor hate I fear a left wing loon may go all Loughter on Cantor.PaulVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07487620952112732071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-71534577179086624052011-07-14T17:29:25.892-05:002011-07-14T17:29:25.892-05:00SunnyJ,
My old man also had the deadly, "you...SunnyJ,<br /><br />My old man also had the deadly, "you know I love you but right now I hate you" look. As a preemptive measure, we'd confess the last idiotic thing that we did. Sometimes we would just get the "I hate you right now get the hell out of my sight" look. But for serious stuff, the look would end with a little head shake from side to side which meant "right now I hate you and can't believe I spawned such a miserable excuse for a human being and get the hell out of my sight."<br /><br />Best man I ever knew, to this day.Old Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16987159560224137506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-31154538312789867542011-07-14T16:56:09.002-05:002011-07-14T16:56:09.002-05:00In 1996 Clinton got 49.2% of the vote.In 1996 Clinton got 49.2% of the vote.AllenShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08848966772462502893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-9824045514884799762011-07-14T16:54:42.138-05:002011-07-14T16:54:42.138-05:00Keith Hennessey:
...Chairman Bowles found that, t...Keith Hennessey:<br /><br />...Chairman Bowles found that, to get three Senate Republicans to support a net tax increase, he needed to repeal an expensive new health program, tick off the trial lawyers with malpractice reform, establish a pilot program for Ryan-Rivlin style Medicare reform, and place a cap on total health spending. He needed to increase the eligibility age not just for Medicare, but also for Social Security, and he needed to slow Social Security spending growth through changes to the benefit formula. He needed to tick off government worker unions by prospectively repealing their special exemption from Social Security. And he needed to agree to tax reform that would raise total revenues while dramatically lowering top individual and corporate rates.<br /><br />President Obama has been unwilling to make any of these changes, and yet suggests Republicans are being unreasonable for not agreeing to net tax increases. The President refuses to discuss changes to the trillion dollar new health entitlement he and Congress created last year. He refuses to discuss changes to Social Security beyond a CPI correction. He insists that top tax rates go up. He attacked Paul Ryan for his long-term Medicare reform and refuses to consider it.<br /><br />At least as important, Bowles & Simpson offered a long-term fiscal solution in exchange for this net tax increase, under which spending would never have exceeded 22% of GDP and deficits would have quickly dropped below 2% of GDP and eventually reached balance. That’s too much spending (and too high taxes) for my taste, but it’s qualitatively different from and far superior to the President’s proposal, which is to trade permanent tax increases for only a temporary slowdown in government spending growth and budget deficits.....Seeing Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338495289040972548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-64285899993417286742011-07-14T16:48:40.414-05:002011-07-14T16:48:40.414-05:00The only polls that count are the polls that take ...The only polls that count are the polls that take place after the negotiations are over. <br /><br /><br /><br />And we still have a year to go after.Seeing Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338495289040972548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-76450518900523979282011-07-14T16:47:42.974-05:002011-07-14T16:47:42.974-05:00probably also keep peevish conservatives away from...probably also keep peevish conservatives away from their checkbooks and away from the polls come Nov 2012. <br /><br />Not necessarily, not downticket.<br /><br />Pres - depends on candidate.<br /><br />2000 election, more people voted for senators than president.<br /><br />Checkbook, mine's been closed a long time.Seeing Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338495289040972548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-86546865060397850432011-07-14T16:46:37.760-05:002011-07-14T16:46:37.760-05:00Yeah Old Dad...we called it the "one eye"...Yeah Old Dad...we called it the "one eye"...it was a bit of rotation of his head and dropped one ear to shoulder just a little..one eye squinted and eye brow of other went up...<br /><br />Never said a word.<br /><br />You knew with certainty you were destined to be picking yourself up on the other side of county road B.SunnyJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738205079155502744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-7200415627702854652011-07-14T16:45:46.277-05:002011-07-14T16:45:46.277-05:00Is the commentor aware that in 1996 Clinton won by...Is the commentor aware that in 1996 Clinton won by a landslide?<br /><br /><br />Rubs eyes, accesses memory & net:<br /><br /><br />He didn't even get 50%.<br /><br /><br />Against Dole & Perot.<br /><br />LOLOLOL<br /><br />Who is to say what really would have happened?Seeing Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338495289040972548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-73455565250024622942011-07-14T16:34:54.071-05:002011-07-14T16:34:54.071-05:00grackle,
You are making the same error Obama is m...grackle,<br /><br />You are making the same error Obama is making. You are assuming that the electorate is not aware of what the differing positions represent over the long term.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01492998820078614811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-5116509549389117952011-07-14T16:12:32.438-05:002011-07-14T16:12:32.438-05:00The President doesn't no shit about poker. Wha...The President doesn't no shit about poker. What he meant was "don't fuck with me."<br /><br />My Old Dad just gave us the look. It meant "don't fuck with me." His actions always supported the look, which pleased my mother who didn't like the effbomb.Old Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16987159560224137506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-28899732585735448942011-07-14T16:09:45.192-05:002011-07-14T16:09:45.192-05:00He's threatening to veto it because he doesn&#...<i>He's threatening to veto it because <b>he doesn't want a short term fix</b> that has to be re-negotiated again prior to the 2012 elections.</i><br /><br />Bingo<br /><br /><i>If Republicans want to stop the irresponsible borrowing and spending, they'll refuse to vote for an increase in the debt ceiling. It's that simple.</i><br /><br />If Republicans want to perpetuate the irresponsible borrowing and spending, they'll refuse to vote for an increase in the debt ceiling, thereby handing to 2012 election to Obsama. It's that simple.<br /><br />Fixed that up for the commentor. <br /><br /><i>He's</i>[Obama is] <i>saying "like Clinton in 1995, I will win the public debate over this, and you will lose." I don't think Clinton actually did win that debate … </i><br /><br />Is the commentor aware that in 1996 Clinton won by a landslide?<br /><br /><i>He</i>[Obama] <i>is holding a losing hand and will lose unless Cantor and Boehner start crying and shaking then fold.</i><br /><br />“Losing hand?” Ha ha ha ha, until out of breath, gasping, then ha ha ha ha for a full minute. <br /><br /><i>The best strategy now for Boehner and McConnell is to agree to a "clean" debt limit increase to fight another day. Ideally, it should be one that will only last a year so we can have this debate again before the election.</i><br /><br />Yes, Obama wants a “long term” agreement in order to defer future negotiations safely beyond the 2012 election. But if the GOP sweetens the pot sufficiently he may be persuaded to agree to a “short term” plan. However, any sweetener Obama is likely to agree to will also be sure to give the GOP joint ownership of the economy and will probably also keep peevish conservatives away from their checkbooks and away from the polls come Nov 2012. Right now Obama has the GOP stretched over a log and is unzipping his jeans, Deliverance-style. The only question is how messy the sodomy is going to be. <br /><br /><i>I've seen no great upturn in polls showing increased support for the President on this matter.</i><br /><br />The only polls that count are the polls that take place after the negotiations are over. <br /><br /><i>I think the Republicans are winning and Barry's tantrum (and that's what it was) shows it.</i><br /><br />This type of thinking is called “clutching at straws.” <br /><br /><i>Let's remember here, obama got up and left the table (room). Meaning, that he didn't have the cards.</i><br /><br />Poker 101: Whoever wants to end the game has usually won the most hands.gracklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18138997480493469444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-59797495785855267752011-07-14T15:58:04.552-05:002011-07-14T15:58:04.552-05:00What's the actual bluff? Here it is:
" &...What's the actual bluff? Here it is:<br /><br />" 'What I've said to [Republican negotiators] is, 'Let's go,' Obama said. He said he would not sign into law any 'temporary stopgap resolution to this problem' of anywhere between 30 and 180 days."<br /><br />The republicans are set up to offer a clean 6 month to one year increase in the debt limit just before August 2. If Obama vetoes that, he gets obvious credit for whatever happens. If he doesn't veto, the whole thing will be back for the election but with bigger debt numbers.Rabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02612585516401001803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-30241646464095323762011-07-14T15:48:44.419-05:002011-07-14T15:48:44.419-05:00Increase in the debt ceiling, higher taxes, and mi...<i>Increase in the debt ceiling, higher taxes, and minimal spending cuts are going to further dampen the economy. Obama has 15 months tops to turn the economy around, and his policies are not the recipe to do it.</i><br /><br />This contains an assumption with which I don’t agree. Namely, that Obama will be blamed for the poor economy. I believe that after the smoke has cleared from these negotiations the GOP will find themselves with either <br /><br />a. partial ownership of the economy which will provide partial cover for Obama in the coming election <br /><br />or <br /><br />b. <i>complete</i> ownership of the economy which will provide complete cover for Obama in the coming election. <br /><br /><i>This is what Republicans need to understand. No matter what you do, when election time rolls around, you'll be blamed for everything. So you may as well stick to a principle.</i><br /><br />Yes, of course the MSM will try to hang the economy around the GOP’s neck “no matter what.” Actually, the MSM has been engaged in the blame-the-GOP game the minute the economy started going bad. But they could never quite make it stick, never had the specific event with which to give that meme credibility, until these negotiations. <br /><br /><i>If you</i>[the GOP] <i>capitulate to Barack Obama and raise the debt ceiling or raise job-killing taxes and fees during a recession, WE</i>[tantrum-prone conservatives] <i>will take you out.</i><br /><br />And Obama will be laughing all the way to a second term. <br /><br /><i>Had he</i>[Obama] <i>been holding a winning hand, he would have waited for people to call</i>[his bluff].<br /><br />I believe Obama wants the negotiations to fail. See “b.” above. He’s going to do anything he can to anger the GOP and goad them into rash behavior. Name-calling, condescension, scare tactics … nothing is off-limits. Occasional verbal gaffe’s aside the man does nothing that is not orchestrated. Obama’s best option at the moment is for the negotiations to fail and thus for the GOP to gain complete ownership of the economy.<br /><br /><i>Best be hit for doing the right thing and holding firm than to be hit for being wimps.</i><br /><br />A good phrase for a tombstone. <br /><br /><i>Obamas clay feet are now crumbling and the road to the election is one and a half years away.</i><br /><br />“Clay feet?”(snort) “Crumbling?”(guffaw)gracklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18138997480493469444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-19916582256626462432011-07-14T15:38:03.809-05:002011-07-14T15:38:03.809-05:00But he's a human being, and a terrible thing i...<i>But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him.</i><br /><br />Inquisitive minds need to know!Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11205752419540502278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-64391111100562639542011-07-14T15:35:56.359-05:002011-07-14T15:35:56.359-05:00"...I said most of the people I know well, an..."...I said most of the people I know well, and hang out with on a regular basis are conservatives. Which isn't a lot of people...."<br /><br />Surprising considering the contempt you hold conservatives. I know quite a few liberals but I don't hang out with them. Birds of a feather and all that.Hoosier Daddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12872965118921894534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-58993781888122933982011-07-14T15:31:04.562-05:002011-07-14T15:31:04.562-05:00"He knew what he wanted and went out and got ..."He knew what he wanted and went out and got it! Walked into a jungle and came out, the age of twenty-one, and he's rich!"<br /><br />- Garage Mahal, Dearth of a Salesman, Act 1chickelithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10773887469972534979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-51464313783856350872011-07-14T15:25:41.412-05:002011-07-14T15:25:41.412-05:00Alex said...
garage is more mentally ill then usua...Alex said...<br /><i>garage is more mentally ill then usual. I fear for his safety.</i><br /><br />I've spoken on the phone to Garage Mahal. I don't say he's a great man. He says he's made a lot of money but his name was never in the paper. He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. He's not to be allowed to fall in his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person.chickelithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10773887469972534979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-31688220991295580172011-07-14T15:20:19.215-05:002011-07-14T15:20:19.215-05:00Debt star here.
Remember when that was sort of f...Debt star <a href="http://www.ponderstorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/debtstar.jpg" rel="nofollow"> here</a>.<br /><br />Remember when that was sort of funny in a clever way?JALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15503869597362866878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-2179261182137974442011-07-14T15:04:39.286-05:002011-07-14T15:04:39.286-05:00garage is more mentally ill then usual. I fear for...garage is more mentally ill then usual. I fear for his safety.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11205752419540502278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-40963319559643924102011-07-14T15:03:16.745-05:002011-07-14T15:03:16.745-05:00Is your black neighbor, Figment, is he a conservat...<i>Is your black neighbor, Figment, is he a conservative?</i><br /><br />Not sure. He's an Ohio State fan, I know that much.garage mahalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06485491995866513686noreply@blogger.com