August 1, 2020

The Lincoln Project indulges in fat shaming, color shaming, and the depreciating of masculinity in this tone-deaf attack on Trump.

I only got half way through this before clicking it off. It might be funnier to fans of David Attenborough nature programs, but to me the reliance on an English-accented supercilious male voice was just embarrassingly out of touch with present-day America:



I found that video via "Lincoln Project Gets Personal In New Ad, Mocking ‘Impotus Americanus’ Trump’s Weight and ‘Ruddy Orange’ Color" (Mediaite). Excerpt:
In an online town hall with supporters Thursday night, Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson discussed the philosophy behind ads like this.

“When you see the ads talking about Trump’s personal weaknesses, physical, mental, what have you, those are targeting one voter: Donald Trump,” said Wilson. “Now, we don’t troll Trump just for fun or to amuse ourselves — God knows, that would be a great job all day, ok? Trolling him would be a fabulous job, but we don’t do it just to troll him.”

“We do it,” Wilson continued, “because every second Trump is distracted by a Lincoln Project ad, that is playing with his psychological weaknesses, that is playing with his mental frailties, that is playing with his weird ego problems — every moment he’s focused on us, he’s not campaigning against Joe Biden.”
So, they are choosing to bully him, and they don't mind collateral damage to the many Americans who are fat, who have light pigmentation, and who worry about the vigor of their masculinity. The Lincoln Project doesn't do it "just for fun or to amuse ourselves" — but the "just" implies that they are enjoying themselves taunting Trump. So here's a picture of Rick Wilson. He has liberated you to say anything you want to roast him based on his appearance:



ADDED: Quite aside from the collateral bullying of men who have the same physical deficiencies as those that are attributed to Trump, many women — including me — don't like to hear judgment of men that is based on their ability to have sexual intercourse with women. We're sympathetic to men who have problems finding a woman or performing sexually, and we think publicly mocking them is jackassery. And I know Trump speaks crudely and tauntingly at times, but if you do the same thing, you sacrifice your power to criticize him on that ground.

183 comments:

Roger Sweeny said...

I'm not going to criticize his appearance; what matters is what's inside. But what's inside seems to be petty and childish--and, oh so superior..

Temujin said...

Rick Wilson's other life: what flag?

Mr Wibble said...

He looks like he just sat masturbating in a closet while his wife fucked the gardener.

Big Mike said...

Am I the only person to notice how when we men lose hair on top of out heads that we have a tendency to grow hair on the bottom of our faces to compensate?

Mr Wibble said...

Consultus cuckoldus.

rehajm said...

because every second Trump is distracted by a Lincoln Project ad, that is playing with his psychological weaknesses, that is playing with his mental frailties, that is playing with his weird ego problems — every moment he’s focused on us, he’s not campaigning against Joe Biden

A statement driven by ego and a miscalculation of Trump, revealing they aren't as clever as they think they are...

Thanks, Professor Honeydew.

BUMBLE BEE said...

Shaming? From a guy who makes Carville look handsome? As Prager points out, Leftists don't build, they only tear down. I see it around me daily.

wendybar said...

The little cretin, Rick Wilson tried to cancel Dominos pizza because 8 years ago, Kayleigh McEnany, an unknown college student at the time, tweeted them a compliment, and they responded with a Thank You. That tells you all you need to know about this asshole. https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2020/06/15/rick-wilson-uses-tweet-from-dominos-pizza-thanking-kayleigh-mcenany-for-a-compliment-to-let-them-know-they-just-killed-your-brand-spoiler-the-tweets-8-years-old/?fbclid=IwAR2zkygnGwhRsN_dB5zLDEF5UVasdAjhL_rJqXtu6RQG74WVzoqf8ZRougg

rcocean said...

Its hard to understand why Wilson hasn't been cancelled since he's said so many racist, sexist, and xenophobic things on twitter and elsewhere. Anyway, it came out that Schmidt who runs the Lincoln Project and who'd been calling Trump "Putin's puppet" was in fact a registered Russian Lobbyist, a tax cheat, and had been turned down for a job in the Trump campaign. Wilson is also in tax trouble and is a hired gun needing cash. The Never Trumpers involved in the Lincoln Project are trash.

As for the ad, its un-watchable. The fake English accent is super annoying and the whole thing is childish. Trump might swat them down in a tweet, bringing up the fact that they are grifters.

Mr Wibble said...

As a serious comment, one of the biggest benefits of Trump is how all the masks have come off. The right's commentariat and consultant class have been exposed as frauds, grifters, and insecure man-children. Meanwhile the left have thrown off any pretense of being moderate.

Clyde said...

PRick Wilson: The P is silent.

Nonapod said...

So, let me get this straight... they made an ad not to persuade certain voters, but with the expressed purpose of angering Trump? And they expect or at least hope that this withering assault will render Trump so apoplectic that he'll become too distracted to campaign against Biden? Do they really know Trump? Have the people behind the "Licoln Project" thing been asleep for the past four years? Was this Rick Wilson person literally born this morning? Does he understand that Trump has been assailed ceaselessly with such taunts (and far more creative ones in many cases) every hour of every day 24/7/365 for 4 years by celebrities, other politicians, late night comedians with their huge staffs of joke writers, SNL, politicians, Youtubers, and basically half of Twitter and social media? And despite this endless barrage, Trump is still here and still campaigning?

Gk1 said...

When I hear or read these people describe how they are going to distract or 'Get inside Trumps' head' I wonder how many times do these Wile E Coyotes have to be blown up or maimed by their own Acme products before they stop and rethink their original premise?

You can't troll the Master Troll. No one pays attention to imitations or pale copies. Trump is effective because he debates and jousts with the press like a comedian. Even at this late date they still don't get that.

Tommy Duncan said...

Those ears!

I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I seen a needle that winked its eye
But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

chickelit said...

Wilson looks vaguely porcine which fits his character.

Josephbleau said...

He is spending lots of money to be a shit head. Did they mention that Trump watches the Gorilla channel all the time?

Fernandinande said...

That accent - I listened to a few seconds of it - always reminds me of Eric Idle as Declan Desmond in a few Simpson's episodes.

Wince said...

“When you see the ads talking about Trump’s personal weaknesses, physical, mental, what have you...

Is that match-up in Biden's favor?

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

I don’t get these weirdos. First of all, Lincoln is an icon and the founder of the Republican party. The Lincoln project is dedicated to defeating Republicans and electing Democrats, allegedly to “restore honor” to the GOP. This they are attempting through subterfuge, grifting, bullying, trolling, attacking Trump’s (sic) lack of character and revealing their own low character, ties to Russia and outright fraud. Didn’t one of the founders get arrested for $60 MILLION IN FRAUD?

Second, these same guys used to claim they were conservatives and the GOP really needed more people like them and less like Trump. But Trump has governed exactly as you’d expect a conservative to, delivering tax cuts and deregulation like Kristol and Schmidt never dreamed could be. Stuff they allegedly fought for before. McCain grudgingly said he’d “build your damn wall” if we voted for him. Schmidt tan that campaign right? Promising shit he’d never do. Trump started building. Now Schmidt days Wall is bad. Why would anyone listen to these shapeshifting grifters?

Third these guys have very low character as exhibited nightly in MSDNC and CNN clips. Kevin Williamson admits it. So their big reason for opposition is made moot by their being more trumpy than Trump. And all their doing is trying to elect Democrats. What in hell does this have to do with Lincoln, republicanism or conservatism?

Lucid-Ideas said...

This wouldn't be the same Lincoln project that has been proven to be taking Russian money?

Lucid-Ideas said...

Would this be the same Lincoln project who's writers are giant hypocrites?

Lucid-Ideas said...

Might not this be the Lincoln project whose members and pundits are conservatives in name only?

Owen said...

Would his animus toward Trump be motivated by the fact that he looks like a nearsighted cue ball with a weak chin behind that weak merkin?

tim maguire said...

It's petty and childish, just like the organization that made it. But it was clever and I laughed. That said, they better hope it doesn't get heavy play as there are at least two torpedoes in there aimed directly at the Democrats.

Francisco D said...

I don't know how many people here ever worked with Donald Trump, but those who have (e.g., my life long Democrat wife) will tell you that Trump is an asshole with women, and a narcissist like most politicians, but he is also quite intelligent, generous, in no way racist and rarely eats fast food. The fast food thing is a clever ploy on his part.

Having dined with him several times, she notes that he eats what chefs prepare off the menu. I share her outrage that he likes his steaks well done, and that he orders extremely expensive fresh lobster dishes. Oh, let's not forget the two scoops of ice cream.

The video gives us nothing new, just the same old tired tropes that Howie and Inga eat up.

The supercilious British voice is sort of funny in a perverse way.

Mark said...

I should think that National Geographic will have some big problems with this partisan group highjacking and infringing upon its trademark. Yes, there are some limited exceptions for things like parody, but not when, as here, it leads to consumer confusion.

It took me three or four looks at the image before I saw that it was not an actual National Geographic mock-up.

But then again, the whole "Lincoln Project" is a dishonest farce and fraud.

Annie said...

And a picture is worth 1,000 words.

WK said...

Old Opie Taylor with hair in reverse locations.

Joe Smith said...

@AA

Shouldn't that be 'deprecating'?

As far as masculinity goes, to this American, Brits with that class of accent have always come off as a bit gay, nttawwt : )

Lucid-Ideas said...

My favorite thing about Rick Wilson is that he has the audacity to talk smack about everybody, and at the same time is a consummate consumer of tentacle porn.

West Texas Intermediate Crude said...

Looking forward very much to metaphorically punching that face at the polls in November.
Reflecting back to Ann Coulter being mocked on TV for predicting Trump victory in 2015, on a Bill Maher panel, no less.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGSsVAIOLOo#:~:text=Ann%20Coulter%20get%20laughed%20at%20for%20saying%20Donald,all%20Republicans%29%20of%20winning%20in%20the%20general%20election.

Jason said...

Wilson's comments make more sense when you read them in the voice of Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius.

Jason said...

I didn't think soy could be any more salty than Kekkoman.

I was wrong.

Ken B said...

This is not fundamentally different from what Sarah Cooper does, although it is more overtly stupid. Both distract from substance with class-based, childish sneering.

Howard said...

Bullies should be bullies because bullies are cowards and are hypersensitive to name calling. Impotus, indeed.

Readering said...

Aren't you supposed to bully the bully? Could not get through it?? He is photographed today constantly so to me the embarrassing part was shots of him partying with Epstein and others as a younger man.

Readering said...

Inviting AA commenters to take cracks at a Trump critic? Geez.

Bruce Hayden said...

I don’t really know how they are any different than standard Dems. Yesterday I noticed that they were running ads against Sen Daines and for his opponent, Gov Bullock, recruited by Chuckie Scheamer to flip this Senate seat to the Dems. If they were just disgruntled Republicans with TDS, they wouldn’t be trying to flip the Senate to the Democrats. Instead, they are just pretending, and are merely a front organization for Dem money.

tim in vermont said...

These guys imagine that if they can engineer a defeat of Trump and a complete repudiation of the Republlcan Party in this election, that they will get to take over the worthless corpse. News flash, if Democrats win, they will changed the electorate through massive immigration and the rules for voting (ballot harvesting/card check nationwide, ending secret ballot) and pack the SCOTUS with even more ideologues to the point that they will never lose another election. You racists won’t like it, but you will lump it.

If Biden’s national lead is being reported as 4 points though, Trump has this in the bag. The thing is that the next election that the Democrats win is going to be the last stop on the democracy train.


Leland said...

The Lincoln Project is DC "conservatives" that want to conserve their grift, while being intellectually bankrupt for the last 3 decades.

Michael K said...

Is Wilson out of bankruptcy yet with his payment for this project of the left ?

gadfly said...

Trump in 2016 insulting a disabled reporter and similar and frequent personal insults of many others since is not subject to criticism but this Lincoln Project anti-Trump ad is?

John Borell said...

Rick Wilson. A fat, bald, weak man who was likely bullied as a kid. And as an adult.

M Jordan said...

Tbh, I look at Wilson’s face and nothing comes to mind, no snark, no insult, a big fat whitr-assed nothing.

tim in vermont said...

The Lincoln Project is hoping for the kind of scraps from the Democrats that Romney’s people collected from the Ukraine graft gold mine.

tim in vermont said...

If they get control of the party, they should definitely run Romney and lose 49 states.

Narr said...

That's just sad. As sad as all Rick Wilson's attempts at wit.

Was it Lincoln who said, on being accused of being two-faced, "If I had two faces, do you think I'd choose to go around showing this one?"

Narr
I watched the whole thing!

jim said...

Don't worry, they'll make a lot more.

Brent said...

The saddest thing of all about the Lincoln Project? They will be relegated to the dustbin behind history's library, their ormerly illustrious careers and levels of influence reduced to nothing worth remembering by anyone.

Narr said...

Why "the" depreciating masculinity?

Narr
It's grammar-nazi Saturday!

roesch/voltaire said...

What is good for the gander is good for the goose-tweeter Trump seems obsessed with attacking the physical traits of people particularly women, and now he gets some back.

Heartless Aztec said...

He looks like... Flush. Nevermind.

Sebastian said...

Imagine what the NeverTrumpers would have said about the appearance of Abe Lincoln.

Are we sure Wilson et al. aren't a false flag operation, intended to piss off doubting voters enough to pick Trump out of sheer contempt for the Wilsonians?

buwaya said...

Propaganda outlet of course. A sort of a false flag operation this one, using persons ostensibly tribally aligned with the other side. This is a very old tactic. Something like the Nazi use of Lord Haw-haw. Actually even the tone they use is similar.

traditionalguy said...

These RINOs, like Romney , Conway and Burr do what they do for the same Chinese and EU money that owns Pelosi and her Dems. It’s not a hobby.

Their ads stupidity show up in accusing Donald Trump of personality defects and bad style. Which are irrelevant to voting for or against Trump as a proven intelligent , courageous and very competent President.

Charlie said...

Is there still a "Worst Person In The World" award? I think we may have a winner!

rhhardin said...

The idea that everybody needs protection from mean comments is misguided.

JCA1 said...

To stay with the personal attacks. Rick Wilson answers the age-old question of “what would it look like if I put eyeglasses on my scrotum?”

jaydub said...

Rick Wilson and his opinions are irrelevant. So, who cares?

n.n said...

So, Wilson is a diversitist of the first order. Moron.

cronus titan said...

THe Lincoln Project embodies the political grifter wing. We already know that they do not care where there money comes from, as long as they get it -- RUssia, China, fraud, etc. I lost count of how many have been exposed for their corruption. At this point, it is questionable for any outlet to take their ads.

MadisonMan said...

I assume there's a lot of Short Man syndrome going on with Rick Wilson.

Bob Boyd said...

Pathetic.

Rick.T. said...

President Donald Trump! He's the Shimmer floor wax of Presidents! He's a tyrant! He's impotent! NO, he's an impotent tyrant!

PS - Isn't Rick Wilson the virtuous Never-Trumper with the Confederate flag cooler?

CapitalistRoader said...

Butt-hurt neocons got a negative ROI on their defense contractor campaign contributions to Hillary four years ago. They aim to correct that.

Aggie said...

Let us not forget that Mr. Wilson is an accomplished character actor as well.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimages1.wikia.nocookie.net%2F__cb20130423032403%2Fdoblaje%2Fes%2Fimages%2F5%2F54%2FYellow_Bastard_SinCity.jpeg&f=1&nofb=1

Retail Lawyer said...

Trump's not as cute as Mayor Pete, as metrosexual as Newsom, or as dashing as Beto, but the executive branch seems stuffed with hot women. This must be a high water mark for an attractive executive branch. Biden should play up the contrast and pick Stacey Abrams and run with a slogan of "looking like America". And find a job for Nadler in the White House.

Butkus51 said...

Rick Wilson, self-proclaimed "pirate". I bet Nadler can kick his butt.

Charlie Eklund said...

The Lincoln Project, projecting with all their might.

Andy said...

The Lincoln Project is run by conservatives who, until recently, were Republican ad makers. Their advertisements are despicable, and they know it, but they claim they're necessary because Democrats aren't savage enough. Despite their stated goal of having "an audience of one", the Lincoln Project does seem to be having an impact on the Trump leaning independents I'm friends with. But, do the ends justify the means? I argued with the same friends in 2016 that, while Clinton had a lot of flaws, ads that made it look like she's "not well" were harmful to American democracy. Guess who made those ads. Yeah, it was these guys.

Bill Harshaw said...

Trump allows the easy rationale for this that bullying is exactly what he does.

But, that said, I hate it in Trump, I hate it in anti-Trumpers.

Rory said...

"...every moment he’s focused on us, he’s not campaigning against Joe Biden."

Or working on the virus. Or anything else a President should do.

The tell was that they wouldn't run a candidate in the primaries. No policy that they are committed to, that they're happy to fight and lose for.

Mattman26 said...

Like bald pointy-eared motherfucker?

Mary Beth said...

Rick Wilson must be a fan of accents. He used a fake southern accent to mock Trump voters when he was on Don Lemon's show earlier this year.

He was the idiot who tweeted (6/15/2020) to Domino's that they killed their brand by replying positively to a tweet Kayleigh McEnany made to them in 2012, when she was still in college. Domino's reply to him was perfect. That exchange just got people digging up old social media posts and one of his that showed a cooler decorated with a Confederate flag came up.

Kate said...

Trolling Trump all day would be a great job? This is not a serious person. I don't care what he looks like.

Mary Beth said...

I like that he thinks that he can distract Trump by making fun of him. It's such a new, fresh idea! I don't know why they haven't tried that before.

DavidUW said...

grifters gonna grift.

Mr Wibble said...

Second, these same guys used to claim they were conservatives and the GOP really needed more people like them and less like Trump. But Trump has governed exactly as you’d expect a conservative to, delivering tax cuts and deregulation like Kristol and Schmidt never dreamed could be. Stuff they allegedly fought for before.

It was always about selling the conservative dream to suckers who bought their books and cruise packages while delivering only for their corporate paymasters. Plus, at the end of the day they couldn't stand the thought that they wouldn't be in charge. Politics was Their Thing, and how dare Trump barge in and expose how awful they were at it.

Michael K said...

From everything I have read, I have to disagree with Francisco about Trump and women. He has hired a great number of them in responsible positions.

It is amusing to see the reaction of the Trump haters to this post.

Ken B said...

I agree with Tim in Vermont: I think the Democrats want to end the secret ballot. I have no direct evidence, but it seems the natural endpoint of much of their bullying. After all if racism must be eliminated and voting the wrong way is racist it’s the natural step to identify those voters for chastisement.

Ann Althouse said...

@Joe Smith. This is a long-standing usage question and I’m taking the traditional side of an old argument.

OEDon depreciate:

2. To lower in estimation; to represent as of less value; to underrate, undervalue, belittle.

1666 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qualities To Rdr. Where..I do indefinitely depretiate Aristotle's Doctrine, I would be understood to speak of his Physicks.
1698 T. Hearne Ductor Historicus I. iii. iv. 275 Alexander..began to extoll his own Actions, and to depretiate those of his Father Philip.
1769 W. Draper in ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. ii. 20 His bounty..this writer would in vain depreciate.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. ix. 78 I don't like to hear you depreciate yourself.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) IV. 11 Pleasure [by Plato] is depreciated as relative, while good is exalted as absolute.

Ken B said...

He looks like I imagine Birkel looks. But smarter.

Bob Boyd said...

Trump broke a lot of rules and a lot of rice bowls in American politics in 2016. Guys like Wilson were professionally humiliated by Trump's victory, but not as badly as they have humiliated themselves ever since.

doctrev said...

You could call Rick Wilson, Bill Kristol, David Frum, and Jonah Goldberg whatever you want. Liars, grifters, idiotic porcine cuckolds. Whatever the insult, I'm sure they've heard it a million times before. For that matter, smarter people might realize that not has Donald Trump heard insults from people with actual status, Obama's attempt to "humiliate" him might have forged his run for the Presidency in the first place.

But none of it matters. "Cringe culture is immunized against all dangers. One may call it hypocritical, unfunny, bullying, illogical. It all runs off them like water off a raincoat. But say they are cringe themselves, and you will be astonished how they recoil, how injured they are, how they suddenly shrink back."

Fernandinande said...

He has liberated you to say anything you want to roast him based on his appearance:

No he hasn't liberated me; I'm pre-liberated for my own convenience, so to speak.

And I know Trump speaks crudely and tauntingly at times, but if you do the same thing, you sacrifice your power to criticize him on that ground.

That's not true either. For one thing, Trump is a representative of the US to the rest of the world, and, in common with most people, I'm not.

Shouldn't [depreciating] be 'deprecating'?

They're both not very good words in that usage since they have multiple meanings, and the most common meanings are "depreciate" in finance; and "deprecate" in software.

E.g.: "2. To lower in estimation; to represent as of less value; to underrate, undervalue, belittle." Those don't mean the same thing, so which idea was the word meant to represent? And what about definition #1?

Joe Smith said...

@AA

Potato/Potahto it seems...I had never seen your usage.

I don't have access to the fancy OED site...here's lexico.com on Deprecate:

Early 17th century (in the sense ‘pray against’): from Latin deprecat- ‘prayed against (as being evil)’, from the verb deprecari, from de- (expressing reversal) + precari ‘pray’.

Looks like 'Deprecate' might be older?

It's all Greek to me : )

hstad said...

Gadfly states .... "Trump insulting a disabled reporter..." So what you're saying is that certain people are off limits to criticism when they venture out into the public domain?

Gadfly you should reflect on - “Healey's First Law Of Holes: When in one, stop digging.”

Leora said...

I'd like a picture of Rick Wilson's wife to compare to Melania.

Iconochasm said...

This is very funny to me because this is exactly what I like about Trump. "Better than nothing is a high standard", and our terrible political class almost never clears that hurdle these days. So every day they waste melting down on Twitter because Trump said something mean is a day they're not being "worse than nothing".

effinayright said...

gadfly said...
Trump in 2016 insulting a disabled reporter and similar and frequent personal insults of many others since is not subject to criticism but this Lincoln Project anti-Trump ad is?
**************

Are you still gnawing at the dried-up-and-meatless old bone?

https://www.catholics4trump.com/the-true-story-donald-trump-did-not-mock-a-reporters-disability/

"Public assumes from Trump’s impersonation and being told by the media that he is mocking a disabled man that the reporter must not be able to control his arms and Trump is a dirtbag who hates the disabled. In reality muscle spasms or involuntary arm movements are not part of the reporter’s disability. Therefore Trump could not be mocking a disability that doesn’t exist. Hear Trump respond to the claim below, which perfectly coincides with the series of events described above."

BUMBLE BEE said...

Gadfly is correct! That "Trump disses handicapped" line was debunked, in line, in 2016. Sleep in, did, we fly?

BUMBLE BEE said...

IIRC Althouse did it right here!

Nichevo said...


Blogger Ann Althouse said...
@Joe Smith. This is a long-standing usage question and I’m taking the traditional side of an old argument.


Since you're ignorant yourself, you lean on authority. Patrick O'Brian uses "deprecate" and his judgment may be safely trusted over yours. Please don't change your mind and agree; to paraphrase what Hannibal Lecter said to Mason Verger, 'No, Ann, I much prefer you the way you are.'

rhhardin said...

Milton Berle was famously big-dicked but demurred when a guy challenged him to a dick size contest. "Just pull out enough to win," his friends suggested.

That's always been my policy.

Achilles said...

There are a bunch of people the world would be better off without.

YoungHegelian said...

I find it fascinating that the NeverTrumper Right still believes that there still exists some sort of pre-Trump Republican electorate that earnestly desires their re-instatement to power. As far as I can tell, and polls of self-identifying Republicans/Conservatives back this up, no such anti-Trump sentiment exists in the wild. In fact, quite the opposite --- Republican voters are very pleased with Trump's performance.

I suspect that the NeverTrumpers know these demographics very well, and hide as best they can from the Republican electorate their opinion that the Republican electorate are mostly stupid assholes for voting for Trump, but that the NverTrumper Right will magnanimously forgive them for it if the electorate comes groveling back to them.

tim in vermont said...

A lot of times, when there is one ear bent down like that, it’s an indication that the brain didn’t grow in symmetrically side to side, so maybe we shouldn’t judge him too harshly. But he definitely pegged the irony meter in that photo of him with a beer cooler with a Confederate flag on it. Lincoln wouldn’t approve.

tim in vermont said...

"THe Lincoln Project embodies the political grifter wing.”

Grift is the engine, fuselage, rudders and wings of politics. Mainly the rudder though.

Birkel said...

A leader must have followers.

A bully must have a patsy.

Trump is not being bullied.

Narayanan said...

I am confused - explain to me once again

- to whom Is the Lincoln project trying to give a bad name
- President Lincoln or
- Ford Lincoln

tim in vermont said...

"He is photographed today constantly so to me the embarrassing part was shots of him partying with Epstein and others as a younger man.”

This is readering speak for the fact that evidence has come out to prove that Clinton lied about his contacts with Epstein and no evidence has come out against Trump on that score.

GingerBeer said...

Somebody is distracted alright.

Earnest Prole said...

"Color shaming"?

madAsHell said...

“We do it,” Wilson continued, “because every second Trump is distracted by a Lincoln Project ad, that is playing with his psychological weaknesses, that is playing with his mental frailties, that is playing with his weird ego problems — every moment he’s focused on us, he’s not campaigning against Joe Biden.”

I was going to suggest a Civility tag, but this is more like a TemperTantrum.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

Is Wilson part of the Log Cabin Republicans I’ve heard about? I don’t know much about them, but I never buy that syrup, only Aunt J. or Mrs. B.

madAsHell said...

... indefinitely depretiate Aristotle's ....

...and to depretiate those....

...would in vain depreciate....


Little known fact.....not only is the OED not linkable, it's un-cut-n-paste-able as well!!

Known Unknown said...

"Am I the only person to notice how when we men lose hair on top of out heads that we have a tendency to grow hair on the bottom of our faces to compensate?"

You're not the only one.

Ken B said...

This was the guy on CNN mocking accents right? With Don Lemon.

Iman said...

Wilson looks like the unholy offspring of a Ray Walston-Jonathan Banks coupling...

tim in vermont said...

Depreciate, deprecate, aluminum, aluminium, let’s call the whole thing off.

jpg said...

I doubt Trump even knows who these dopes are. Why waste time on a bunch of nobodies?

Joe Smith said...

@Nichevo

I don't know that anyone is 'ignorant' in this case...just a difference of opinion.

I went to 'deprecate' first because it seemed to me to be the more common use...but I'm a designer, not a linguist.

Jeff Brokaw said...

Oh hey look, Wilson is being a giant douchebag again. Who could see that coming?!

Ken B said...

Someone asked why Birkel was one man swarming another commenter.
Birkel l, above: “A bully must have his patsy.”

Martin said...

If I had to only find one reason why the old GOP establishment needs to be utterly eradicated, it might be Rick Wilson.

Not only, or even mainly because of what he sys about Trump and those who support him. Wilson is the worst sort of political grifter and embodies everything that is corrupt in out current national politics.

Kevin said...

So the Lincoln Project is a bunch of Republicans willing to sell out their principles.

How do they think Trump got elected?

Readering said...

Added, I would hope AA and many women would be offended by a man who boasted for decades about his sexual conquests and has been credibly accused by many of sexual assault. But I'm not a woman, so what do I know?

Biff said...

"playing with his psychological weaknesses, that is playing with his mental frailties, that is playing with his weird ego problems"

If they really believe that Trump is as dangerous to the world as they say he is, how much sense does it make to launch targeted attacks against the mental well-being of the President of the United States? The Lincoln Project people are despicable.

Readering said...

Forget Lincoln Project. Read Rep. Gohmert's daughter.

Ron Winkleheimer said...

So "The Lincoln Project" is making fun of Trump's appearance? Are they that historically ignorant? Lincoln's opponents regularly compared his appearance to that of an ape. Anyway, Rick Wilson has the political acumen of, well nothing. He has no political acumen at all.

Gunner said...

Making fun of an old man's weight is pretty gross. At least Trump was good looking when young. Wilson and Kellyannes husband were always ugly by the looks of it.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Let’s say tomorrow three bigwigs from each party dropped dead. Let’s say it’s McConnell, Schumer, Pelosi, McCarthy, GW Bush and Bill Clinton. What would we remembrer them for- I.E. what is the greatest achievement each had in their lifetime? And would America have been worse off if any of the achievements had not happened? My point is we argue interminably about these people yet they are generally worthless.

jim said...

"In reality muscle spasms or involuntary arm movements are not part of the reporter’s disability. Therefore Trump could not be mocking a disability that doesn’t exist. "

Oh well, very convincing, yes, I guess not.

Ken B said...

Damn Iman, that is spot on.

Chuck said...

Althouse, please let’s presume that my donation to the Lincoln Project made it possible for you to see that one-half of a spot.

I laughing out loud, thinking of all of your commenters who complained that Trump was needed in the Republican Party because he knew how to fight while GOP establishment types would not fight.

And my response was always, “Just wait ‘til 2020. Then you’ll see more fight than you want.”

Skeptical Voter said...

Lincoln Project---a different name for turncoats and weasels James Carville an authentica nutria (a Louisiana based swamp rat) loves them.

5M - Eckstine said...

Maserati drivers blow past pedestrian humor. Everyone would like to drive a Maserati AND have a broad humor.

Iman said...

WTF... Wilson looks like he’s pulled his hat way down tight, so tight that it gives him a Crazy Guggenheim look... but there’s no hat.

https://youtu.be/fDSjWfavi5k

Nichevo said...

AA says...

many women — including me — don't like to hear judgment of men that is based on their ability to have sexual intercourse with women. We're sympathetic to men who have problems finding a woman or performing sexually, and we think publicly mocking them is jackassery.


You frequently turn to the castration tactic, the knee in the groin, on this board when it suits you. You strike some very low blows, or try to.

In your case I'm sure you feel you are justified. In their case I'm sure they feel they are justified.

Nichevo said...


Blogger Joe Smith said...
@Nichevo

I don't know that anyone is 'ignorant' in this case...just a difference of opinion.

I went to 'deprecate' first because it seemed to me to be the more common use...but I'm a designer, not a linguist.



Joe, her ignorance is professional. Her who would be at risk if she expressed personal beliefs and was struck down; so this is her motte-and-bailey tactic, if disproved on this point she can say "but I'm blameless, I relied on the (unlinkable) OED, any fault is not mine."

She does this in all walks of life. It's like how she loves to rely upon MSM news, especially NYT, so she can always say "but they told me that black was white! How was I supposed to know differently?"

Nichevo said...

Her who = her ego

steve uhr said...

Most of the Lincoln Project ads are right on target; probably because they are written by Steve Schmidt who has a way with words. This one though is blah.

Joe Smith said...

@Nichevo...

I see that you are speaking of a much broader issue than merely words or grammar. I won't comment on that. I was speaking solely of the issue/meaning of a word. Even if you don't have faith in our host in other matters, I think she is pretty thorough in her exploration of language. It's not a subject I spend a lot of time thinking about, but I used to write a lot of advertising/promotional copy back in the day and I appreciate her thoughts on those matters... Best.

Michael K said...

Readering said...
Added, I would hope AA and many women would be offended by a man who boasted for decades about his sexual conquests and has been credibly accused by many of sexual assault. But I'm not a woman, so what do I know?


Are you referring to Biden or Dodd ? If you think this is a valid attack on Trump you are just repeating DNC talking points. I know of no substantiated stories about Trump that are anything like the Dodd-Kennedy "Waitress Sandwich." When did he "boast about his sexual prowess?" By marrying beautiful women ? Teddy's wife died an alcoholic reacting to his many "sexual conquests" of lower status women. I have some mutual acquaintances with Ivana, Trump's first wife. She is no shrinking violet.

You sound like another leftist mind reader of Trump. Don't you people have any shame ?

Howard said...

Nichevo: can you pinpoint the moment you became a snowflake? Is that why you are desperate for attention from people whom you don't like?

Her who ha

bagoh20 said...

I just watched Trump taking questions from Hannity and audience members, a friendly crowd for sure, but I was struck with 2 things.

1) He does speak in a way that some people say is not "presidential", and I agree compared to his predecessors. Here's the thing about that. Acting or speaking presidential is as fake as Obama or Hillary speaking with their fake Black speak. Nobody is born or raised presidential, so if you speak it, you are faking it. Trump speaks Trump. It's real. It's honest, and it's transparent, and is not designed to fool you into thinking he is anything he is not. That's why you never see him dressed in some ethnic clothes or doing things that are supposed to make you think he is someone else, like Dukakis in the tank, Kerry in the bunny suit, Obama missing 20 baskets in a row, or Pelosi dressed like an African. Trump doesn't insult you, or embarrass himself with that shit.

2) Trump answered questions and spoke extemporaneously for an hour on a wide range of topics in detail, and I cannot imagine Biden being able to pull that off. Maybe once upon a time, maybe, but not today and definitely not in the future.

frenchy said...

It's ironical, because the biggest problem with it is that it's a complete waste of time and resources. A waste because it will persuade nobody, and its appeal is to those who already hate Trump and were never going to vote for him anyway. Those people will love it. No one else. Ironical, because Wilson says it will cause Trump to waste his resources paying attention to it, thereby making it one of Wilson's objectives. But I don't think Trump will bother much with this. IMHO.

effinayright said...

jim said...
"In reality muscle spasms or involuntary arm movements are not part of the reporter’s disability. Therefore Trump could not be mocking a disability that doesn’t exist. "

Oh well, very convincing, yes, I guess not.
**************

Now, THERE's a brilliant counter-argument!!!

SNORT

bagoh20 said...

"Added, I would hope AA and many women would be offended by a man who boasted for decades about his sexual conquests and has been credibly accused by many of sexual assault. But I'm not a woman, so what do I know?"

That's funny stuff. I can only assume you are most offended by the fact that one of them actually did have conquests and they were consensual, becuase if Biden's and Clinton's non-consequential sex (also known as rape) doesn't bother you then you have a funny standard. Tell us why Trump is worse than them.

walter said...

Are we sure he's not related to Clapper?

tim maguire said...

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...Is Wilson part of the Log Cabin Republicans

No. Unlike the Lincoln Battalion, the Log Cabin Republicans are conservative Republicans. (The Lincoln Battalion are/were a whole other kind of Republican).

tim maguire said...

Based on my last post, I am trying with trying to create a meme. This, from Wikipedia, is a little on the nose, though:

The Lincoln Battalion...was organized by the Communist International with great care to conceal or minimize the communist character of the enterprise and to make it appear as a campaign on behalf of progressive democracy

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Readering just can’t leave Bill Clinton out of this. The old horn dog is gone along with Chris Dodd and Kennedy. All the old rapist-braggarts have left the scene. Except Dodd. Biden the other old snifferdog hired him to go find a black chick for veep. Otherwise rapey wrinkley Dodd would be off scene. Go ahead and riff on him. It’s safe.

jr565 said...

‘So here's a picture of Rick Wilson. He has liberated you to say anything you want to roast him based on his appearance:‘
He’s a bald, pasty faced, mongoloid looking borderline r*tard who looks like Woogie from Theres something About Mary if Woogie had spent his days eating donuts and smoking crack.
Trump could go to a party and hook up with any party girl there who would gladly let him grab their p*sssy, but if Rick tried that they’d spray him with peeper spray and call the cops/ because he looks like a creeper who stalks women because he can’t get any play and they are physically repulsed by him to the point where if he approached them to ask for the time it would trigger a gag reflex and they’d throw up in their mouths. ‘And did I mention his body odor? He smells like a used diaper filled with feces and rotten cottage cheese.
Also, he has a penis so tiny it would be incorrect to describe it as a micropenis. Micropenises are at least measured in inches, his penis is measured in millimeters.
He also has horrific breath. He smells like he had his mouth on mitt Romney’s anus and was breathing in the farts all day every day.
The farts re so prevalent they’ve stained his teeth dark brown. He lies to say it’s the cigarettes he smokes. But really, it’s the farts he breaths in,

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Wow. Just think how many think like us. Ha ha ha.

Bob Smith said...

JAPBBS. Think about it.

Esteban said...

Hardy har har. A real knee slapper.
The Lincoln Project grifters get a good laugh in their offices. All of them get paid for producing this hardy har har. Maybe their Lefty patrons will continue to pay them. Maybe their usefulness has run its course. We'll see.

Gunner said...

The only "words" of Steve Schmidts that I am familiar with are associated with backstabbing Sarah Palin or sucking Obama's d*ck.

richlb said...

I love the word "jackassery."

Nichevo said...


Blogger Howard said...
Nichevo:


I'm sorry, did you say something?

See, it's a paradox...

You always say something...

But you never say anything.

It's almost as if you craved attention. From people you clearly don't like.

Which, experts tell me, would make you a snowflake.

Hmm.

With your talent for projection you could play home movies on the far side of the moon.

Ray said...

I automatically start to visualize his head being converted to a cloud of pink mist. Herd, culled.

Not Sure said...

What's the point of using "depreciate" and "deprecate" interchangeably, when they can be used to make a useful distinction between a reduction in value and a pointing out of an existing lack of value?

AHD provides a nice usage note.

Amadeus 48 said...

Notice the jug ears, the stupid glasses, the fungal growth on the chin—yes, this man is clearly someone who was mocked in his childhood. He developed strange attachments in his adult years, and now a traitor the the values he claimed to embrace.

An altogether sad case. Jerrold Nadler can offer insight, no doubt.

Nichevo said...

Joe,

I was speaking solely of the issue/meaning of a word.

Fair. But I find that my faith in PoB seems to be justified every time. Granted I like and seek out archaic usages. But deprecated is very modern usage; in programming languages, obsolete or obsolescent functions are deprecated, and that's the very word they use.

Althouse is whimsical - vagarious. She decides she prefers port to claret - and then no force of logic or might will sway her from her allegiance to the muddy potion. There will always be a "reason" even if reason never enters into it.

Then when she turns from port to claret, all that will have never happened, and if you think it's so you're wrong.

Hey, it's her blog. And to be fair, here I am posting this. On Facebook or some lefty site like Salon I'd be meat long ago.

She's always a woman to me.



She's Always a Woman
Song by Billy Joel


She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child but she's always a woman to me
She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free
Yeah she steals like a thief but she's always a woman to me
Oh, she takes care of herself, she can wait if she wants
She's ahead of her time
Oh, she never gives out and she never gives in
She just changes her mind
And she'll promise you more than the garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding
But she brings out the best and the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself 'cause she's always a woman to me
Oh, she takes care of herself, she can wait if she wants
She's ahead of her time
Oh, she never gives out and she never gives in
She just changes her mind
She is frequently kind and she's suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool
But she can't be convicted, she's earned her degree
And the most she will do is throw shadows at you
But she's always a woman to me

Nichevo said...

Joe Smith - also, again, it is a professional armor. Part of debate, and, I suppose, part of being a lawyer, is the ability and willingness to argue either or both sides of a question. The acme of good sport is to win the affirmative side of a debate resolution, then to turn about and win on the negative.

Who knows what one's core beliefs are then? But both edges of one's sword are sharp.

Drago said...

steve uhr: "Most of the Lincoln Project ads are right on target; probably because they are written by Steve Schmidt who has a way with words."

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!

Drago said...

For the morons like Li'l stevie uhr, Steve Schmidt went begging for a Trump admin job in 2016 and was told to beat it.

So Schmidt-y went crawling to the left and begging for a payday.....like all the rest of the long ago exposed Conservative Inc FakeCon grifters.

Literally the only ones fooled by this act are the steve uhr's and Inga's. 98% of the left knows full well these grifters are just hoping to remain at the trough after Nov of 2020.

mockturtle said...

Elmer Fudd.

William said...

Trump has been married to three beautiful women and fathered children by all of them. I'd like to see a picture of Rick Wilson's wife. On a par with Melania, no doubt.

Readering said...

All these comments about Wilson basically equate to, go ahead and comment on Trump 'cause that's the way we think about people. AA saw this for sure.

PGrady said...

I was unaware that penises had eyes, let alone that they might need to wear glasses.

gadfly said...

@hstad said...

Gadfly states .... "Trump insulting a disabled reporter..." So what you're saying is that certain people are off limits to criticism when they venture out into the public domain?

Gadfly you should reflect on - “Healey's First Law Of Holes: When in one, stop digging.”


It appears that Hstad is attempting to act more juvenile than his hero. As shown in the YouTube video that I provided, there can be no argument that Trump did disgustingly imitate the movements of the poor man.

As for the description of Trump, his weight is closing in on 300 pounds and his orange complexion is obviously painted on. Even his stated 6'4" height is likely four inches on the high side. Didn't you know that old men do get shorter with age?

I am far too old to hoist a shovel so the First Law of Holes doesn't apply to me but you might want to consider that Trump and his supporters have just dug a 34.3 foot mine shaft.

AZblondie said...

Sorry, this just cracks me up. I imagine Trump seeing the video, hastily tweeting out a stupid reply and then dropping it. A slightly immature response to a more immature ad, but spend so much time obsessing about said immature ad that can't focus on more important issues? I see the ad and think that if that's all they've got they've already lost.

walter said...

Aw Readering, just holding Wilson to his own standards. But go ahead and twist yer brain to make it something else.

DeepRunner said...

Political "strategist" Rick Wilson said:
“...every moment he’s focused on us, he’s not campaigning against Joe Biden.”

So, let me get this straight...Rick Wilson and his Lincoln-log project would welcome Sleepy, Creepy, Sloppy Joe in the White House. I wonder if they know what's on the other side of that scenario. Go for Joe and Republicans become a relic. Not sure that Lincoln would have approved of this civil war in the sake of being right while working against the Right.

Bob Loblaw said...

Althouse, please let’s presume that my donation to the Lincoln Project made it possible for you to see that one-half of a spot.

Usually people are reluctant to admit being scammed.

Chuck said...

Bob Loblaw;

I don’t feel the slightest bit “scammed” by the Lincoln Project. I’ve been delighted by the work product of the Lincoln Project, and I appreciate their messaging leadership. So no; I have no shame in making public my support for the Project.

I know that calling the Lincoln Project’s founders “grifters” has become the fashion in TrumpWorld. It’s all that the ant-anti-Trumpers have. What does anyone expect? A group of political activists and conservative political consultants all want to end the Trump presidency. We LP donors expect our money to be spent on eye-opening/attention-getting anti-Trump advertising. Where’s the grift? Who is being scammed? Not me. My only regret, and the only way that I feel scammed and abused, is as a result of my reluctant 2016 vote for Trump. I expected that even a jerk like Donald Trump might be wrapped in the respectability that surrounds the office of the Presidency. I couldn’t conceive what a sociopath he would be after assuming that great office.

The Lincoln Project is doing exactly what I hoped it would with my money. In fact, the Project is exceeding my expectations. I am confident that just about all of us feel the same way. Our only disappointment would be if Trump somehow is re-elected.

Rusty said...

" Don't you people have any shame ?"
I'd settle for originality and intelligence. I know there is no moral center there. For example; If Joe Bidens presidency depended on you sodomizing readering in his squeek hole. He'd let you. Dry. Maybe he'd enjoy it. NTTAWWT.
I wouldn't do that.

Drago said...

The Lincoln Project has explicitly stated they will support the far left/marxist democrat policies and politicians at all levels.

Since LLR-lefty Chuck is on the democrat/socialist left he supports this.

There is not a single democrat/marxist policy position that Chuck opposes. Not a single one.

What LLR-lefty Chuck is upset about is his being exposed long ago as a FakeCon pro-left Moby at Althouse.

Sam L. said...

"NATIONALIST GEOGRAPHIC"?: Got THAT right!

JAORE said...

There are millions out there who can not get enough Orange Man Bad injected directly into their veins. No matter the facts. No matter the bile.

Rick Wilson is cashing into this phenomena.

Pookie Number 2 said...

I know that calling the Lincoln Project’s founders “grifters” has become the fashion in TrumpWorld. It’s all that the ant-anti-Trumpers have.

Well, another thing they have is the successful pre-COVID (and likely post-COVID) implementation of economic policies that dramatically improved employment for minorities.

Which, come to think of it, probably explains your horror over Trump.

Chuck said...


Blogger Drago said...
The Lincoln Project has explicitly stated they will support the far left/marxist democrat policies and politicians at all levels.


Nonsense; laughably stupid lies.

You cannot possibly point to any documenting from the Lincoln Project where they have “explicitly stated” (your phrase) any “support” (again your term) for “far left/marxist democrat policies.”

You cannot possibly supply such a quote, with a link to a source. No one here can do that. Because what you wrote is a complete fabrication.

mikee said...

What people like this guy fail to realize is that their 8 hour day of work is vitiated by a tweet that takes i5 seconds for an intern to write and send out.

I, for one, am proud that the TDS of this fellow is monetized. Capitalism rules!

Pookie Number 2 said...

Drago - I know we’ve disagreed on whether Chuck is lying about his politics or just consumed with jealousy of Trump to the point of idiocy. While I grant the possibility that I’m wrong, the vast pride he takes in being too stupid to see that he’s being conned, and his inability to foresee the policy implications of voting for Democrats, both seem like pretty strong support for my case.

Sam L. said...

THAT is a picture of a DWEEB-mannish-type.

ken in tx said...

Trump haters seem to make up the most ridiculous propaganda about what Trump thinks and might do, then believe their own lies. As if they didn't know they just made it up. It's like someone smelling their own farts and glaring around to see who did it.

Chuck said...


Blogger Pookie Number 2 said...
Drago - I know we’ve disagreed on whether Chuck is lying about his politics or just consumed with jealousy of Trump to the point of idiocy. While I grant the possibility that I’m wrong, the vast pride he takes in being too stupid to see that he’s being conned, and his inability to foresee the policy implications of voting for Democrats, both seem like pretty strong support for my case.


I was not talking about the “policy implications” of any vote.

No; Drago made the fraudulent, phony claim that the Lincoln Project has somehow “explicitly” stated any support for “far left/marxist democrat policies.” That’s the dispute. Was Drago right or wrong? What are the explicit Lincoln Project statements?

I don’t care what you or Drago think is the best policy or wisest course of action. With you, I only care about being right.

Pookie Number 2 said...

I don’t care what you or Drago think is the best policy or wisest course of action.

I think we’re all quite familiar with your unwillingness to allow any sort of informed knowledge challenge your jealousy of Trump.

Chuck said...

Stop it. I am right and Drago is wrong.

There has never been a time or a place where, as Drago falsely claimed, the Lincoln Project engaged in “explicit” advocacy of left-wing policies.

And of course my challenge to Drago that he show us something like that from the Lincoln Project has gone unanswered because there is no answer.

hstad said...

Tone deaf Chuck says: "...[Drago] he show us something like that from the Lincoln Project has gone unanswered because there is no answer..." I'll let "Drago" speak for himself. For me, Chuck you're a classic lawyer only pointing out that the "Lincoln Project" is not an advocacy group of let-wing policies..." - LOL - really? This is from their website:

"...As former Republicans, the members of the Lincoln Project believe their ads can destabilize the president and appeal to Trump-skeptical conservatives, giving them room to vote against Trump and for Joe Biden..."

Next you'll be telling us that "Joe Biden" is advocating 'moderate conservative policies'. Classic lawyerese speak! You elect "Biden" aren't you getting the "left-wing policies"?

Chuck said...

We will elect Biden for the sole reason of defeating Trump; defining him as a “fluke one-term loser.” So that never again will we need to listen to Trump cultists tell us, “But Trump fights! And he wins! The GOPe won’t fight!” We’re fighting, and we’re going to win. Trump will lose.

We are fighting. We will beat Trump. Because his nomination was a fluke. And he is essentially a loser. And a sociopath. We warned everyone how bad he would be. Jeb Bush; Mitt Romney; Ted Cruz; Lindsey Graham; they ALL warned us in 2015 and 2016 about what a piece of shit Trump was.

What a wasted opportunity Trump was. He inherited such a great economy he should have coasted to a re-election. His one crisis — an infectious disease — should have been so simple, compared to a war or a recession or an equivalent crisis. Every other major developed Western leader handled it. Trump didn’t. Trump blew it.

And after Trump is defeated, and probably indicted, and utterly humiliated (perhaps pleading for mercy from a New York court because he has severe dementia) we can begin to rebuild a principled conservative Republican Party.

hstad said...

Chuck, just WOW? Your last two paragraphs proves that TDS is strong in your belief system. "Dementia" really, you mean like "Joe Biden"? What bubble do you live in. A once in a lifetime "infectious disease" pandemic which shut down the economy [never seen this in my long life] is a "simple thing according to you - man you really got it in for Trump. The best 'oxymoron' statement was stating that "we can begin to rebuild a principled conservative Republican Party..." Politicians of both Parties are not "principled" what planet do you live on?