July 9, 2019

"In her 2014 memoir... Gillibrand described her childhood self as 'a massive kiss-ass [who] lived for positive reinforcement.' When I ask if that little kiss-ass lives on inside of her, Gillibrand tells me, 'Yeah, she’s still there.'"

"Perhaps it’s that instinct to people-please that’s led to accusations of corelessness. During Gillibrand’s tenure in the House of Representatives, she catered to the primarily white, Republican towns and farming communities that made up New York’s 20th Congressional District.... Gillibrand frames her leftward tilt with appealing, party-neutral language. Our children should be safe. We should be able to afford to live....  Gillibrand may have drastically changed positions on guns and immigration, but from the beginning, she’s bolstered women.... At the apex of the Me Too reckoning in November 2017, then-Sen. Al Franken was accused of sexual misconduct by radio host Leeann Tweeden; subsequently, a photograph of Franken pretending to grab Tweeden’s breasts was released, and seven other women came forward, including a congressional staffer, saying Franken kissed or touched them inappropriately. Other future 2020 candidates encouraged Franken to resign — Harris, Sanders, Warren, Gillibrand’s friend Cory Booker — but Gillibrand was, by 16 minutes, the first to publicly say he should step down. Consequently, much of the coverage focused on her.... Gillibrand has been accused — by what has turned out to be a vocal lobby of forced-kissing apologists — of overreacting to the mostly pre-governmental behavior of a popular senator, of enforcing standards of behavior that Republicans would never agree to follow, of hurting her political chances and, of course, of capitalizing on a cultural moment for publicity."

From "The Ignoring of Kirsten Gillibrand/In 2019, it’s unforgivable for a presidential candidate to be boring. Maybe that’s our loss" by Anna Peele (WaPo).

When the self-proclaimed kiss-ass met the self-satisfied forced-kisser...

69 comments:

MayBee said...

Gah. Now explain Mattress Girl at the SOTU, Gillibrand.

Bay Area Guy said...

Is she still running for Prez? I hadn't noticed ......

Bob Boyd said...

Democrats have turned out to be a vocal lobby for forced ass-kissing.

JAORE said...

She's fighting about 3 weight classes too high. There MIGHT be some traction if she were the only woman in the race.

David Begley said...

She’s a whack job like all the Dems.

Julián Castro is in favor of reproductive health care for trans people. What does that mean? How is this an issue?

tim maguire said...

People pleaser = unreliable moral butterfly.

stevew said...

Rather than describe that sort of behavior as ass-kissing I would categorize it as opportunism. It's power not approval that she seeks.

When do we get the puff piece on Marianne Williamson?

Lucid-Ideas said...

@Maybee

Beat me too it. Word has it sulkowicz now does rape porn. Which leads to the question just eho exactly Gillibrand was sucking up to...

gspencer said...

Bending over is certainly one of Kirsten's better positions.

But not as a president.

Henry said...

My proposed headline:

Massive Kiss Ass Seeks 65,000,000 Likes

* * *

I do wonder if Epstein fallout could play in her favor. My speculation is that the biggest impact won't be the disgracing of some politicians, but the disgracing of some financiers who fund politicians.

Ann Althouse said...

Who wants a kiss-ass handing U.S. foreign policy?!

Ann Althouse said...

She should just withdraw. Her candidacy is obviously a failure. If you're a kiss-ass and you can plainly see that people don't like you, do you keep hanging around? I don't understand kiss-assery.

Henry said...

I kind of like the play of adjectives.

The massive kiss-ass child becomes a little kiss-ass inside what must be a massive woman.

Henry said...

Ann Althouse said...
Who wants a kiss-ass handing U.S. foreign policy?!

Isn't that the standard complaint leveled at Trump?

The defense is also Trumpian. You want a two-faced kiss-ass.

Bob Boyd said...

Ew! She kissed my baby!

Bob Smith said...

Let’s not forget that Kirsten was a big booster of Eric “if you are darker than this I get to beat the stuffings out of you” Schniderman.

Howard said...

I prefer brown-nosers, they are more fully committed to their cause. It doesn't matter when she quite, she is not consuming any oxygen.

Birkel said...

Henry plays dumb so well; it's believable.

The standard complaints against Trump are
1. Orange Man Bad
2. Because
3. Shut up

Also, one sophisticated complaint is that tariffs are borne by Americans while imports are up and prices paid per import are down. That makes Trump a witch who stole Obama's magic wand.

David Begley said...

DDB: Maybe that. You’ve won elections in New York. Some of these same people say that you are not very likable. What would you say to those people? [Laughs.]

KG: Okay, I’ll ask everyone here. Raise your hand if you find me likable tonight. Raise your hands. [Crowd cheers and raises hands.]

Fen said...

"of enforcing standards of behavior that Republicans would never agree to follow"

What an inadvertent confession of moral depravity by the author. His ethics are based on what he believes the other team would do? Like the athelete who cheats and justifies it because he *thinks* the other guy is already cheating.

And he lacks the awareness or shame that would prevent an honest person from even expressing such a sentiment.

So corrupted that he's become noseblind to it.

How about instead: "enforcing standards that were unreasonable"

If your moral weathervane twists in whatever direction you pretend your enemies engage in, you are not only lost and off the Path, you've forgotten the Path even exists.

Henry said...

Fen said...
If your moral weathervane twists in whatever direction you pretend your enemies engage in, you are not only lost and off the Path, you've forgotten the Path even exists.

Well said.

stevew said...

On foreign policy Obama was the kiss-ass, Trump is the opposite. The complaint about Trump is that he too often and forcefully alienates our foreign 'friends'.

Fen said...

"If you're a kiss-ass and you can plainly see that people don't like you, do you keep hanging around? I don't understand kiss-assery."

Scuttlebutt is that most these Dems are in the race to:

1) improve name rec for 2024 and

2) pad their speaking fees. Apparently you can charge more $$ if you can be introduced as "...and former Presidential Candidate..."

Henry said...

Birkel, the complaint that Trump ass-kisses dictators is a boilerplate criticism from the left. See Putin. Kim Jong-un

Trump's supporters point out that creating a personal relationship doesn't preclude hard-nosed negotiations behind the scenes.

Get it?

CWJ said...

"...of enforcing standards of behavior that Republicans would never agree to follow,..."

Examples?

daskol said...

At this point, the campaign is clearly about collecting souvenirs and knickknacks to decorate the house with to remember the glory days when she could have been a contender.

Birkel said...

No, Henry.
That is Orange Man Bad.
It's nice that you give credence to the different brands of OMB.

Seeing Red said...

Perhaps it’s that instinct to people-please

She can’t control her female side.

Wince said...

Althouse said,,,
“Who wants a kiss-ass handing U.S. foreign policy?!“

Henry said...
Isn't that the standard complaint leveled at Trump?
The defense is also Trumpian. You want a two-faced kiss-ass.


It’s the difference between kissing ass and blowing smoke up an adversary’s ass.

rehajm said...

Who is Kristen Gillibrabnd?

rehajm said...

Do you keep hanging around? If you enjoy being a cast member you do.

Birkel said...

EDH sees the nuance.

There are Orange Men all the way down.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

She bolstered women? well - why didn't you say so!

I really need bolstering. So important that she kisses my ass and bolsters me.

Henry said...

Keep staying simple, Birkel.

gilbar said...

the complaint that Trump ass-kisses dictators is a boilerplate criticism from the left.
That IS a valid complaint
Remember that time Trump bowed to the Saudi King?
And that time that Trump bowed to Japanese Emperor ?
AND that time that Trump sent an air transport plane full of cash to Iran?
Those actions are THE DEFINITION of ass kissing

Oh, wait? That was a DIFFERENT President? Never Mind

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Kiss-ass is perfect on team D. The media kiss Democratic ass all day long.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Imagine these kind media words written to bolster Sarah Palin. or any other non-leftist female.

Howard said...

Bolster? Does that mean she makes women sit on pillows?

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

I, for one, am helpless as a female without some democratic pol bolstering me.
Helpless, I say.

Howard said...

BBH: maybe you could be bolstered by sitting on Unka Joe's lap

Seeing Red said...

Next thing you know, you’ll be in a binder.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

The massive kiss-ass child becomes a little kiss-ass inside what must be a massive woman.

or maybe kiss-assery is like spinach

btw why is Jellybrains running at all?

Birkel said...

Henry,
You are the ultimate sophisticate in a world run by Occam.

Michael K said...

What is kind of sad is that the NY 20th needs someone who cares about people. It is upstate NY and would be doing well if NYC would permit fracking. The same formation that Pennsylvania is doing fracking with extends into NY State. The ban on fracking is total politics by NYC leftists. 9/10 of the state is held in thrall by 1/10. She could have helped but probably at the cost of her ambitions.

Tommy Duncan said...

I keep getting hung up on basic issues regarding the Democrat candidates. My ideal candidate:

-- Is not a swamp creature.
-- Seeks to represent the economic interests of the average taxpaying American citizen.
-- Has a proven ability understand what benefits America as a nation and will negotiate win-win agreements with foreign nations that support our nation.
-- Rejects identity politics.
-- Speaks plainly and is unafraid to address pressing issues in the face of a biased and politically correct media.
-- Believes nations must have borders and laws.
-- Loves America and embraces it's history as a benevolent force in the world.
-- Does not attempt every day to rewrite history.
-- Treats Americans with respect and values their intelligence and virtue.

Gillibrand is not authentic and fails every test.

Ken B said...

Gillibrand being sidelined over Franken is a good thing. She explicitly rejected the very idea of an inquiry or the presentation of facts. She should have been censured by the senate.

Ken B said...

Kiss-assery? Isn’t the word ass-kissery?

MacMacConnell said...

Gillibrand is what you get from a life of entitlement. Rich politically connected NY Democrat power couple for parents, very expensive private girls schools growing up. The only interaction with minorities was most likely gardeners, criteria workers and servers at the country club. Virtue signal she must.

MacMacConnell said...

"Cafeteria workers"

Lucien said...

Ass Kisser marginalizes and others those who like to kiss ass, and is therefore (something)-phobic, while brown-noses is obviously racist (halfway to blackface).

How could Gillibrand make such hateful statements? She should resign.

narciso said...

Its very ironic in light of nxim, also guess whi is handling the Epstein byline, Ali watkins

rcocean said...

We want a Ass-kicker not a ass-kisser.

Vote Trump.

tcrosse said...

Assery-Kissery Senator Gillebrand
Went after Franken and caused him to leave.
She polls behind Harris and Warren and Buttigieg
Causing this columnist deeply to grieve.

michaele said...

It doesn't help that she sounds kind of like a smurf.

Anthony said...

IOW, "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. "

Mark O said...

President Kiss-Ass.

stevew said...

At least she doesn't blather on about her commitment to "public service", like the Kennedys used to do.

@Tommy Duncan: your ideal candidate is already in the White House.

I'm Full of Soup said...

she wrote a memoir? why?

YoungHegelian said...

Gillibrand has been accused — by what has turned out to be a vocal lobby of forced-kissing apologists — of overreacting to the mostly pre-governmental behavior of a popular senator, of enforcing standards of behavior that Republicans would never agree to follow, of hurting her political chances and, of course, of capitalizing on a cultural moment for publicity."

Read that sentence, especially the phrases I have bolded, and ask yourself: What sort of "reporter" actually writes stuff like that?

Two-eyed Jack said...

Is running for president now something one does for personal validation, like running a marathon? Is it a form of therapy for needy politicians?

Sebastian said...

"it’s unforgivable for a presidential candidate to be boring."

Well, Althouse will forgive her. Or at least pretend to. Remember "cruel neutrality"? It's like that. The pretense of a skilled rationalizer until an actually boring candidate makes her yawn.

Anyway, Gillibrand is hardly boring: a case study in the moral corruption of the Dem party.

Martin said...

Just what we need to go up against Xi, Putin, Kim, etc.: someone who can't help but kiss ass.

Bruce Hayden said...

Blogger Ann Althouse said...
“Who wants a kiss-ass handing U.S. foreign policy”

We had one, with Obama, and it didn’t work out well. This sort of thing kinda works with sensitive Democrat Presidents, who come right after a vigorous application of American military force, when the rest of the world is still a bit scared of us. But esp after the travesty of Obama/Clinton/Kerry foreign policy, we are no longer as feared as we should be for the safety of our country.

It is great when other countries love the US. But that doesn’t keep the bad actors in the world from pushing us around. That takes fear. And a kiss ass like Obama or Gillibrand, isn’t going to engender the level of fear that we need in our enemies to make us safe.

Bilwick said...

Only now, as I understand, she likes to kiss the Biggest Ass: the State's.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

Kiss-assery? Isn’t the word ass-kissery?

She used 'kiss-ass', so we went with 'kiss-assery'

Maybe if she used 'ass-kisser', 'ass-kissery' would be better.

XOXO

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

@narciso
yeah-- how much over-lap w/ nxivm and epstein, and will that
tarnish Jellybrains' brand

narciso said...

her best look was with the kegger video, not the workout video, god how they pump up a spoiled pols rich girl, and they disdained a very public spirited civil servant nearly eleven years ago,

Achilles said...

Henry said...
Birkel, the complaint that Trump ass-kisses dictators is a boilerplate criticism from the left. See Putin. Kim Jong-un

Trump's supporters point out that creating a personal relationship doesn't preclude hard-nosed negotiations behind the scenes.

Get it?


Obama just shipped pallets of cash and ships full of oil. He also tried to shut down US hydrocarbon production wherever possible bolstering the price of oil and he sold Russia North American Uranium.

But he didn't kiss ass.

He just had more flexibility after the election.

The democrats might look like complete hypocrites, but it isn't true.

Don't believe your lying eyes.

richard mcenroe said...

How boring can Senator Gillibrand be when her parents were convicted as founding members of the NXIVM sex trafficking cult and she attended funraisers on its behalf?