I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Love the fact that Mitt doesn't know about windows on an airplane.

Did anyone catch that Tommy Thompson in Wisconsin is on tape saying that he wants to end Medicare and Medicaid?   It's so wonderful to think what technology has done: no longer can politicans say things behind closed doors and be sure that they stay there. 

I'm bouncing back after that letter.  It's not so much that I wanted the job, it's the feeling of being unwanted and unnecessary.  I don't think I'm likely to get a job, given the market for lawyers and my age.  So I'll just come up with my own job.  And besides the best revenge is making fun of the whole department in the novel.

All of you are the best!!  I am so glad to be part of this community.

What notself said!

Watching Rachel Maddow. I love her wit!

I just saw the video. He was joking!

That Romney!  What a card!

Everybody gone to bed already? 

Enjoyful ... I've seen a gazillion mentions of the airplane window thing but I can't find a video of it.  You got a link to the video?  I certainly hope he was joking! 

Kam ... it seems like the Evangelicals have been pushed back into a small dark corner and ignored this time around.  Wondered how they were taking it.

ETA ... never mind I found a video of the remark.  It was weird actually in the context of talking about the scare his wife had.  But I do think he was going for a laugh.    

I agree, notself. I like the way you think.

'Morning, all.

Poor Mitt - if he really was joking his reputation as a tin man is so bad that it didn't easily come across. I saw the video. I will take it on faith that he was joking, as he is an intelligent, educated man, and so common sense should dictate that he knows about airplanes.

I don't think the debates will matter much - remember that early voting has already begun. They seem to matter less and less as time goes by. Kerry won all three presidential debates and lost the election. Americans were intent on electing a goon. Last time around, the debates played no role, really - McCain's missteps and Obama's extraordinary appeal did.

If the debates were earlier on they might make a difference.

I am looking forward to the Biden-Ryan debate - that should be fun. A liar versus one of the most earnest politicians today in a face off.

Just got home from a yummy dinner out to celebrate my birthday yesterday - now I really feel fat

Raising my cup of coffee to all of you.

Suzie - don't you know that you can't gain weight from birthday dinners.

 I do think debates can matter.  Thinking Reagan and Carter, Nixon and Kennedy. My concern with this one is not that Romney can outperform Obama but that, because the bar for him is now so low, that if Romney gets on the stage and doesn't trip over his shoelaces, all the commentators will be saying, oh look how much better he did than we were expecting, he can look presidential.  And basically, he's just going to have a series of memorized speeches that he'll recite that sort of vaguely correspond to whatever the question might be.

Debates used to matter way back when....not any more, and not in an election this settled and with a party so bereft of ideas. Romney has no policy ideas he can be specific on. The only thing he knows how to do is state vague principles. Where there are plans and ideas - Ryan's -- they are disasters that cannot be repeated on prime time. Voting in many swing states has already begun.

OK, I will allow that Willard may have been joking. Was probably joking. But it is a saaaaad commentary on how inept his campaign has been that people would think that he wasn't joking. And it is a saaaad commentary that so many articles written about his campaign or the things he says have to be prefaced by "This is not an Onion article."



Susie, Alexandria is correct - birthday dinners are always calorie-free.



Early voting has indeed begun in many states. It began in Virginia last Friday. Virginia technically does not have "early voting," but people can vote absentee if they are going to be out of the county that day ... Even if you work in another county right next door. Or if you think you might be out of the county. They interpret that law in a very forgiving manner.



I'm not sure whether the debates will really affect anything. Support has already hardened for both candidates, and Willard is so personally unlikeable that I don't think that extemporaneous speaking will do him any favors. He is bad enough when scripted (that revolting smirk when reading his completely inappropriate statement trying to take advantage of the murder of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya is a case in point). He is so completely out of touch with people who are struggling in life that he cannot find any common ground to connect. And Willard has said repeatedly that he won't reveal any details of his policies until after the election. (and the right hammered Nancy Pelosi for explaining that the ACA had to be passed before we would know what was in it ... Because people would attach amendments to it at the last minute!)



The President was a lawyer and a law professor -- he is used to speaking off-the-cuff and explaining things ('splainin' stuff!).



It will be interesting. I couldn't bear to watch any of the Republican debates ... The highlights reported later were quite enough. These debates are on past my bedtime, so I will just read the transcripts the next day. Less chance of throwing things at the TV, too.



L

I say it's a blessing in very little disguise.  I didn't see the letter, but from the way they treated you, you definitely dodged a bullet.

Count me in as thinking there is little redemption in debates or otherwise for Romney.  Morning Joe was very tough about this on MTP Sunday.  So many in the GOP camp are being very, very candid at this point, but it is too little, too late.  Every big gaffe brought on a change of focus.  I also believe as earlier stated.....you can't tell when Romney is joking or serious --- he did seem less concerned about Mrs. R than he could have been so as to get mileage from what he said over the plane incident.  One of the biggest verbal klutzes I've had the dis-pleasure of but at the same time ambivalently silently saying thank God. 

Been pouring rain here.....now that the drought is over and our trees don't know ( some are re-budding and blooming ) that it isn't Spring, but sure wish it had come earlier.  It will fill our usually very high water table back to where it usually resides.  Hope you all have a great day.  Hang in there Alexandria...it gets way better.

Jackie

I think the important point here is that there is no proof of nuclear war heads - just as there was no proof of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Obama is wise to avoid rushing off to war just because Netanyahu wants him to do so. As the article said:

"In short, the facts are against Netanyahu. After Iraq, Americans, if they are go to war in a third Muslim country, want that war to be fact-based. His headstrong behavior has been ungrateful to Obama and undermining of Israel's true strategic interests."

I recall feeling quite ill (certainly not alone) when GWB announced the beginning of war on Iraq when the inspectors had found nothing. Wars are a big deal and should not be started on someone's whim or someone's efforts to get elected. 

Bias alert: I grew up in a military family. My grandfathers both were in WW1 and both served again in WW2; four great uncles were killed in WW1. My Dad was in two wars (WW2 and Korea) and had a long military career. My Mom was in the army during WW2. All of my uncles were in the army during WW2. My Dad's brother was killed at age 22. My brother had a military career and my youngest son is in the army now. We never glorify war in our family.

Romney has the same problems that both Gore and Kerry had.  He is stiff and trying to be likeable.  I would bet that when he is relaxed with his friends and family, that he is probably genial and likeable, just as Gore and Kerry proved to be after they lost the elections.  Maybe Romney will prove to be so as well .