Say anything
President Barack Obama's election was a great occasion for America — a moment to remember what is possible in this great nation. It was sad to see Clint Eastwood mock the president during his performance-art piece at the Republican National Convention.
Eastwood owes his career to an Italian director who cast him in a trilogy of Westerns that made him a star. Without the artistry of Sergio Leone, Eastwood's career might have died with the TV western.
Mitt Romney, like Eastwood, also ruggedly forged his path to success in the vacuum of his own ego. He is “self-made” like the first chicken — or is it egg? He believes that 14 percent of his income is plenty to give the government to facilitate all his capital enterprises, but we should give more.
If we knew his plans, we could prepare. Prepare for another right-wing economic plan that ships jobs overseas and the unemployed to foreign battlefields. Prepare Grandma for the demise of Medicare and the rise of voucher-care. Prepare to roll the dice on “casino-style” Social Security. Prepare our sisters, wives and daughters for their new second-class status, because America, at least 47 percent of America, needs to be reminded of its place.
The trouble with Mitt Romney is that we don't know his plans. His positions and statements have traversed the political spectrum. When you say anything to get elected, you have said nothing. He is a phantom; vacuous and empty like Eastwood's chair.
CARLOS MIR
Winston-Salem
He believed in us
We would like to encourage Forsyth County residents to vote for Andrew Keever for Forsyth District Court Judge. Keever represented us in a messy, complicated landlord/tenant dispute a few years ago. We had hired two attorneys previously, but they dragged their feet and were fired.
Round 3 was the charm. Andrew Keever came on board. He believed in us and our case and handled it with fairness and professionalism.
Forsyth County residents will be well served by Keever. We know. We lived through a legal nightmare and Keever was the only bright spot in the whole ordeal.
BOB AND SALLIE BUHRMAN
Walkertown
Time to choose
The time for choosing is drawing near. The choice is what kind of country and state we want it to be. Do we want more big government, no jobs and no hope? I don't think so. Not this time.
Our president projected that if Congress passed his stimulus unemployment would not rise above 8 percent and it hasn't been below 8 percent his entire term. His stimulus produced more debt than jobs. Gas prices have more than doubled and food prices are soaring.
So we can have four more years of the same or we can vote for someone who knows how to create jobs and turn around difficult situations.
This president has divided us by rich and poor and gender to try and hide the fact we are not better off than we were four years ago. We got it wrong in 2008 but we have the chance to fix it. I for one will be voting the entire Republican ticket on Nov. 6. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
JEFF DUDLEY
Winston-Salem
This letter was received before the latest national unemployment rate — 7.8 percent — was released. — the editor
Finish the Thought
Saturday, we asked readers to complete the sentence: “A woman will be elected president when ...”
“... more and more women take active part in political activities and seek elected public office and elect the president by direct popular votes.”
BOON T. LEE
“… there are no longer any idiot men willing to run. Or when hell freezes over, whichever comes first. Most women are too smart to even want the job.”
MONA POTTS
“… Sandra Fluke reaches age 35.”
JIM BRANDON
“… a strong, serious woman emerges. Neither party possesses one right now, except Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Also, for the Democrats you could include Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (awesome), Gov. Christine Gregoire, Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer (long shot) and First Lady Michelle Obama.
“Please do not make me laugh by suggesting Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Gov. Sarah Palin, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice or Gov. Nikki Haley. All flops or lightweights. Better Republicans would be Gov. Susana Martinez, Gov. Jan Brewer (a little long in the tooth), Gov. Mary Fallin, Sen. Kelly Ayotte or Sen. Lisa Murkowski. But wouldn't it be better to have a pro-woman president than simply a female president?”
KAM BENFIELD
“… Yes, eventually people will realize that gender is not as important as ability.
“With many women running large corporations while raising a family, they are prepared more exponentially than ever to be president of the United States.
“The best part is they won't be as anxious to start unnecessary wars.”
NAOMI J. DAVIS
“… the right female candidate comes along. We're ready for it now and obviously a woman is as good a candidate as a man. Personally, it can't happen soon enough for me. Fellows, you need the help.”
CARY STEVENS
Just in case you think that the GOP's only fools operate at the national level, here's the late rundown on Florida's answer to the bald eagle, Governor Rick Scott. So far he has:
ReplyDelete1. Doctored a Miami Herald headline on his official FaceBook page, backing down only when the newspaper threatened to sue.
2. Signed SB 98, which allows students to deliver prayers at public school events in direct violation of the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings
3. Stated that Florida will opt out of the ACA, even though they cannot do that
4. While on an economic mission to Spain, Scott met with King Juan Carlos. He had been warned not to bring up the King's embarrassing elephant hunting safari to Botswana. About the third sentence in, Scott brought up the safari. Sounds like Romney in London.
No doubt, he should be appointed by President Romney as ambassador to Spain.
5. Signed a bill allowing advertising signs on hiking trails in state parks. No doubt, Pat McCrory will soon dish up the same for NC hikers. Imagine coming to a three way branch on a trail at Hanging Rock, with three signs. Left, Moore's Knob. Right, Campground. Middle, lit up and flashing, Bud Light, Bud Light, Bud Light.
6. Tried to remove legally registered voters from the rolls without due process. That ended when his own local registrars reused to cooperate.
7. Overturned a ban on dying animals day glo colors at Easter, despite overwhelming evidence that such dyes cause death and genetic defects.
These are just the highlights. There's more, much more. On November 6, you have a clear choice. You can vote for the party of maybe fools, or you can vote for the party of fools for sure.
Should be "...refused to cooperate".
DeleteCompared to your idols, Governor Jerry 'Moonbeam' Brown (D) of California and Governor Bev. Perdue (D), A/K/A the worst gov. in America, Scott is a nationally respected, political superstar.
Deletelol, Governor Superstar gave out an 800 sex line number as the number to call for meningitis information. With superstars like that, who needs villains.
DeleteCallers are greeted with the recording of a woman's voice saying: "Hello boys, thank you for calling me on my anniversary."
DeleteBob, you should quit calling those 800 numbers.
DeleteEnjoyed “Finish the Thought” for a change.
ReplyDeleteI like Mona Potts’ statement: “Most women are too smart to even want the job.”
This addresses a long running question of mine…who would want the job?
It is the most demanding, exhausting, stressful, thankless job in America...a non-stop, seven day a week marathon…even vacations are a rat race. And no matter what you do, there will be vicious criticism from one camp or another, none of it based on logic but on mindless ideology.
“I have already intimated to you the danger of Parties in the State… Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party generally.
…
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.”
___George Washington
Almost every President in my lifetime has aged dramatically during their term in office.
I can't wait for another ass kickin tonight.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet Biden starts crying, and doing all kinds of theatrics.
I'm predicting he'll do something bordering on the absurd. You know, something like Rush would do.
Democrats hate to lose.
Jesus, Bucky. Can't you make a comment without adding a snide personal remark? Enough is a damn 'nough.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as Rush stops, I'll consider it. You seem to have two different sets of standards.
DeleteThings are not always what they seem.
DeleteDunce doesn't bother me. Whenever I got upset as a kid over something someone said or did, my mother would say "Consider the source"...and soon have me laughing at whatever buffoon it was.
DeleteMy only problem is spending way too much time each day correcting the flood of lies, distortions and misinformation pouring out of Dunce Land.
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DeletePoor Rush. People are starting to feel sorry for you. I must be putting a real, Romney-type beat down on you.
DeleteIf you'd quit trying to manipulate the facts Rush, you might come out better in a debate.
Also, when you're trying to prove someone wrong, don't put up a picture that proves them right. Just some subtle suggestions.
And good AM, folks!
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with Benfield's comment, to a point, minus his assessment of Rice, which might better be applied to the current Rice serving as UN ambassador. However, better than simply pro-wowman would be pro-everyone.
I also enjoyed Cary Stevens' remark. I know Mrs. Stevens; she is a gracious lady.
I have developed a pretty high opinion of Condoleezza Rice ever since she got out from under Cheney's bullying.
DeleteThat opinion shot up even higher a few months ago when she said that she has no interest, now or ever, in running for President...at least one point for Mona Potts.
Bucky, you and OT do have sharp exchanges, but his commentary is a response to your remarks. He doesn't add gratuitous insults to routine commentary.
ReplyDeleteNo need to pursue this further. I have voiced my opinion, and note the responses.
Just goes to show that two people can read the same thing, and come up with two different conclusions about what was said.
DeleteIf Rush is your friend, I can see why you take up for him. I can respect that.
If that is the case, whatever the two people read was poorly written to begin with...or the two readers are of vastly different educational levels...both are frequently the case on this forum whenever Dunce is the writer or the reader.
DeletePoor Rush. I'll bet you've taken an abundance of verbal beatings throughout your life.
DeleteRe the 800 sex line. Years ago, in my call center days, I received an annoying call unrelated to my area. The guy was a real jerk, so I gave him a number to call, Jackie Martling's dirty joke hotline.
ReplyDeleteGot away with the prank, too. He called back the next day (I told him the area was closed at the time of the call), was mad as a hornet. They asked with whom he had spoken. I had used an urban accent when I answered, so he said he'd talked with a black guy. He was informed that no African-Americans worked on that shift (it was an internal department, small staff), and was adjudged crazy as hell. I think he could have eaten ten-penny nails when he hung up, from what I was told.
I was queried about the call, but neither I nor my work partner knew anything about it. As I say, who says youth is wasted on the young?
Just read Carlos Mir's latest screed. Years ago, I recall Sargent Shriver, Dem VP candidate, mocking Nixon's speech style, so making a fool out of oneself can be found on both sides of the fence.
ReplyDeleteThen there was this: "When you say anything to get elected, you have said nothing." That was Willard Clinton, campaigning and as President, only since he was from the politically correct party, this was called "triangulation."
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ReplyDeleteCNN opinion piece: Romney support at 0% in the black community
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2012/10/10/opinion/ifill-black-voters-romney/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
_________
Which is a lie. G. Bush received approximately 8% of the black vote in 2000. Romney will receive black votes too. This is perfect example of a Rush-type liberal spreading ridiculous lies.
I suspect Romney will receive very few black votes, not far off from 0%. I suspect Obama will receive fewer (slightly) votes from African-Americans, also, as voter energy appears to be down from 2008.
ReplyDeleteI work among quite a few blacks, and they all appear to support Obama. The only person I have heard about is a black woman who is a patient of my optometrist, who told him that she likes Obama but she will not vote for "that (racial perjorative)" just the same. So, my unscientific sampling shows about a 1% African-American support for Romney.
It'll be higher than 1%. The black unemployment rate is near 14%. Why should they vote for Obama? Oh, I know-it's not the content of a person's character, it's about the color of one's skin.
DeleteSo, much for all this liberal hogwash that has been professed by blacks for all these years.
Looks like we'll have a Republican governor, and GA. McCrory leads Dalton by some 13%.
ReplyDeleteThat's good. We'll be able to get the state back on its financial feet, and get some people back to work.
DeleteThe ignorant, liberal, spending spree will be over.
Good afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: From what details Romney has revealed about his proposed economic policy, I didn't see anything that differed much from the R orthodoxy: cut taxes, increase defense spending, reduce regulations, push energy. Does Romney expect the energy and defense sector to hire an additional 20MM workers? The numbers just don't add up. As I stated earlier, regardless of who gets elected, I strongly doubt Congress will be able to get its act together to enact either of the candidate's plans.
LTE 2: Endorsement
LTE 3: At least Mr. Dudley got the saying correct unlike GWB. Speaking of GWB, we tried an all R President and Congress. It didn't work out too well (2 long, drawn out, unpaid wars followed by an epic financial collapse). Gas and food are highly volatile commodities whose prices are determined by factors totally outside the President's or even the Fed Reserve's control. That's why they aren't included in the core CPI. Creating jobs and turning around situations in the private sector and doing the same in the public sector are apples and hedge clippers. CEO's don't have to deal with a Congress that can give you the finger and get away with it.
Finish the thought: Should have elected a female the last time. I thought Mrs. Clinton was far more prepared to be POTUS than Obama. After serving as SoS, I don't know if she will be up to running in 2016 for POTUS, but I would certainly vote for Mrs. Clinton. Decent responses all around for a change. Good one from Mr. Brandon :D. I actually found myself disagreeing with Mr. Banfield. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Ms. Rice whom I thought to be by far the most competent member of the GWB administration. She seems to prefer the world of academia, so I would be very surprised to see her seek any office. I would also not include Gov. Brewer as a serious POTUS candidate. Only difference between her and Palin is Brewer didn't quit midway through her first term.
Obama spent some 90 billion on 'Green Energy'. What do we have to show for it? Solyndra?
DeleteOh, brother.
Early voting.......Republicans far ahead of Democrats in shear numbers compared to 2008. A good sign for Romney say experts. But of course, the peanut gallery captain, Rush, will have something to say about it.
ReplyDeleteRomney is in Asheville N.C. I'll bet that's ticking those liberal half-backs off over there.
ReplyDeleteWhen Sarah Palin campaigned there in 2008, Gretchen Wilson came down and played this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82dDnv9zeLs
I guess you have to be seriously out of touch with reality when you start judging cities by some kind of warped political views system.
DeleteSo if someone named their favorite cities in a particular area, a political science genius could tell us their political views simply by assessing their favorites.
Say, in NC, Asheville, Brevard, Franklin, Tryon, Blowing Rock (not in high tourist season), Todd, Wilkesboro/N. Wilkesboro, Floyd (in Virginia, but just barley), Danbury, Roaring Gap, East Bend, Mocksville, Coolemee, Rural Hall and Bethania…which, by coincidence, just happens to be my list.
We're hardly out of the mountains, but this should be enough of a sample for our resident political wonk to assess and tell us, in detail, exactly where the person who listed them stands on the political spectrum.
My favorite cities: L.A., Pittsburgh, London, D.C. Don't really match that well with my politics, do they?
DeleteWhen Bill Clinton, a Rhodes Scholar and easily the brightest presidential candidate since at least Nixon, if not Woodrow Wilson, ran for President in 1992, he was burdened by Arkansas's reputation as hillbilly heaven.
ReplyDeleteHow many times did we hear the joke that Clinton had read every book in the University of Arkansas library…both of them? Of course, Clinton did not attend Arkansas, but Georgetown, one of the best schools in the country, then Oxford, where he played on the rugby team, and finally, Yale University for his law degree.
But now we are hearing from some of the real hillbillies, all of them somehow connected to the University of Arkansas, noted for its football team well ahead of its academics. Congressman Akin and former Governor Huckabee led off the bigot parade, but now we have more.
1. Charlie Fuqua, Republican candidate for the Arkansas state legislature: "A child who disrespects his parents must be permanently removed from society in a way that gives an example to all other children of the importance of respect for parents."
His solution? Execute them.
2. Jon Hubbard, running for reelection in the state house from Jonesboro, Arkansas: "The institution of slavery that the black race has long believed to be an abomination upon its people may actually have been a blessing in disguise. The blacks who could endure those conditions...would someday be rewarded with citizenship in the greatest nation ever established on the face of the earth."
I really like that word "rewarded". It would take 13 generations of slavery before the first Africans would receive that reward, and another 5 generations before they would legally gain such status in the South. And they are still not quite there today because of fools like Jon Hubbard.
Just what "reward" did the first 12 generations receive, Jonny boy?
Fuqua actually attended the University of Missouri (football team not quite as good as the Razorbacks), then got his JD (does that stand for Jesus degree?) from the U of Arkansas.
Rep. Hubbard attended the University of Central Arkansas but couldn't cut it there. He earned a bachelor's degree from Ouachita Baptist University, where he was on the Dean's List (no doubt a tough job making that). Would you be surprised to learn that he works for an insurance company?
I don't much like voting for party labels. But over the last year or so, the Republican party has clearly demonstrated that it will embrace any nutcase as long as they advance the insane agenda of the extreme right wing.
On November 6, you have a clear choice. You can vote for the party of maybe fools, or you can vote for the party of fools for sure.
Romney pulling ahead of Obama in Florida. The numbers are starting move 'forward' for Romney in a number of states.
ReplyDeleteIt's looks like these goof ball Obama supporters, like Rush, are starting to dwindle.
Here's a story to inspire a smile. Marine carries injured cancer survivor across race finish line. He and his fellows understand what protecting means.
ReplyDeletehttp://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-cancer-survivor-11-broken-prosthetic-crosses-finish/story?id=17446320
Sorry it's not in HTML.
Thanks, for more than a smile. Typical Marines, that's all.
DeleteOne day I was walking along the Cambodian border with a Marine rifle squad when something went BOOM! and we all ended up face down in the rice paddy, each one thinking we were the only survivor, so crawling around trying to help each other. At some point, we all realized that although our bells had been rung big time, we were all OK, so continued on our walk. Every now and then somebody would yell "Semper fi!" and we would all start laughing.
99.999% of the time, the Marines are the best. Semper fi!
The references to WJ Clinton remind me that he described himself as a "policy wonk." I wish he'd taken "wonk" with him when he left office. I have heard it several times in NPR reports lately, along with "wonkish." Enough! Begone into the perdition of "Word Watch."
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DeleteToo late, Stab. I just heard some Canadian geese going by. They used to say "Honk, honk, honk." But these were saying "wonk, wonk, wonk."
ReplyDeleteOnce a term gets picked up by wild animals, it's gonna be with us forever. Bet those cute little piglets on Phargo's farm are just wonking away.
Yeah, I was poking along Polo Rd this AM, strictly doing the speed limit, and some impatient soul pulled up behind me, and tried to coerce me into going faster: "Wonk, wonk, wonk." My response was won't, won't won't. Wonks in Subarus don't speed.
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe a little recidivism here and there.
Wonk NOUN A person who is deep into a subject or issue, especially in politics.
Delete2. A student who studies excessively, formerly grind.
3. A person who is boring and has no social life.
4. In Australia, a white person.
5. A homosexual. So we could accurately say that Dunce is a wonk wonk, or even a wonk wonk wonk.
I guess that by the obsessive study of the word itself, I have become a different type of wonk wonk.
Then there is the Aussie word "wank," but that's as far as I'll go with that. I'm sure someone else can run with it.
ReplyDeleteAs always, words have many meanings, depending upon the culture. Other than the obvious, some other meanings for the word "wank".
DeleteWank
adjective
Displeasing
"This song is wank." "That shirt is wank."
noun
1. A smug, self-involved person, usually male. Also wanker
"What a wank (or wanker)."
2. Uncountable or nonsensical
"He sells a lot of wank, doesn't he?"
verb
1. To play a musical instrument with technical proficiency but without emotion or soul.
"The guitar player has talent, but he's just wanking."
2. To complain or generally be unpleasant.
"He was wanking about the food."
3. To waste time, or spend time on pointless activity.
"Stop wanking and get back to work."
Every one of these definitions brings to mind a "person" that we all know, but I will resist the temptation to name him.
Note: Dragon Dictate did not know this word, but it does now. Doesn't mean that it likes it. Dragon can be a bit of a fuddy-duddy sometimes.
"Wank" is also Aussie slang for "masturbate," thus "wanker."
Delete