http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/romney-not-running-for-president/

Romney's out. Seems to leave Jeb as the least nutty republican in the current potentials.



can't say i'm really excited about any of these people either though:


[Edited on January 30, 2015 at 6:49 PM. Reason : ]

1/30/2015 6:49:13 PM

Quote :

"Seems to leave Jeb as the least nutty republican in the current potentials."

Jeb is nutty?

1/30/2015 7:50:55 PM

The tea party crowd is going to bitch and moan about Jeb, b/c of his support for common core.

1/30/2015 8:12:08 PM

^
No, I meant other than Jeb there's only nutty republicans left.s.

1/30/2015 11:32:22 PM

Can someone poke some holes in this article please?

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/02/03/mike-huckabee-pardoned-convicted-killers-rapists/

I can only hope there are plenty.

2/3/2015 11:05:59 PM

http://www.wral.com/vaccine-skeptics-find-unexpected-allies-in-conservative-gop/14427048/

2/6/2015 9:30:35 AM

(Should go in NC GOP thread)

[Edited on February 6, 2015 at 10:56 AM. Reason : ]

2/6/2015 10:55:50 AM

^^ really shouldn't but I'm going to read the comments. I like watching train to wrecks

2/6/2015 11:59:09 AM

how are they gonna spin today's really good economic news?

2/6/2015 12:06:13 PM

Chicago Politics

Fudging numbers

Etc

2/6/2015 12:08:10 PM

Oh they'll eventually try to take credit for it, and will never admit anything other than spending cuts or oil revenue was responsible for this. Oh wait, oil revenue is up because of Obama too...... ok so maybe just spending cuts and the good feelin' a GOP Congress gives business!

2/6/2015 12:46:06 PM

don't forget the classic.. what about the other U# (whichever number is the worst) numbers along with something about food stamps / government money or part time jobs...

2/6/2015 1:03:07 PM

http://thinkprogress.org/education/2015/02/17/3623683/oklahoma-lawmakers-vote-overwhleming-ban-advanced-placement-history-class/

how does one even begin to attempt to defend this?

2/17/2015 2:24:47 PM

I can't tell if those legislators are idiots and they really think their argument is valid, or if they know the vote won't pass if it were a bill, and are just pandering for low-information voters.

2/17/2015 5:46:13 PM

I find it difficult to doubt their sincerity at this point.

2/17/2015 6:41:47 PM

Not since (as the article points out) this is a part of a concerted effort, likely by ALEC, et. al, to eviscerate AP and honors courses in various states.

2/17/2015 10:08:46 PM

it'd be nice if those on the right would denounce things like this

kind of like how they want all Muslums to denounce Muslim extremists

2/17/2015 10:17:15 PM

so what if they dont

why cant they stay silent like those "muslums" and assume you arent a generalizing liberal dumbass

2/17/2015 11:22:07 PM

because if they don't denounce them, it's safe to assume they support dumb-assery like this. i mean, this isn't a case of a few lone nut-job republicans. these are elected officials.

and there you go with personal attacks again, keep winning the internet their, champ

2/18/2015 11:17:53 AM

^^^ half of republicans don't accept the scientific evidence for evolution, they don't exactly believe in education as a group, i don't think you'll see them denouncing this.

[Edited on February 18, 2015 at 11:18 AM. Reason : ]

2/18/2015 11:18:47 AM

yes, I used the wrong "their"

2/18/2015 12:01:39 PM

bullet, what you said doesnt work very well with thegoodlife3's analogy

or do you hate muslims

2/18/2015 3:15:24 PM

wat?

Some people who dislike muslims say that the average (moderate) muslim should denounce the extremists. If they don't, these people claim that the moderate muslims support the extremists.

The analogy is that average (moderate) republicans should denounce these right-wing nut jobs, unless they support them...

No, I don't hate muslims. But I dislike religion in general, including Islam.

2/18/2015 3:29:16 PM

actually ive reconsidered; the analogy is shit because:

1) thegoodlife3 said it

2) some people just want to keep their opinions to themselves

true, some republicans will denounce these fellows... some muslims will denounce the next cartoonist murder... who cares? you arent going to get hard numbers on either.

i personally think what oklahoma is doing is appalling, but does that change any views about conservatives here? no.

[Edited on February 18, 2015 at 3:41 PM. Reason : -]

2/18/2015 3:38:00 PM

nah, see I used to be a republican. this kind of stuff does change people's minds. go back a few years and look at my posts in TSB.

I was a republican when, ideologically, it meant that I believed in individual liberty, a free market, and a military that could defend our country... and that was enough.

The problem is now I have to be a war hawk. I have to be homophobic. I have to count the number to times people go to church. I have to deny facts and think scientific research is a liberal conspiracy. I have to think poor people are getting a sweet ride. And I have to have such a stunning inferiority complex that I fear education and intellect…in 2015. And I have to hate Chris Christie for not spitting on the president when he got off of Air Force One.

But most of all, the biggest new requirement, really the only requirement is that I have to hate Democrats and assume anyone who deviates from hating the things republicans are supposed to hate and liking the things republicans are supposed to like is a dirty liberal.

So yeah this stuff does change minds. What the GOP has become is something I want no part of. fuck them.

[Edited on February 18, 2015 at 11:32 PM. Reason : . ]

2/18/2015 11:31:33 PM

seems pertinent to the conversation

2/18/2015 11:42:11 PM

...too nuanced for me

2/19/2015 12:35:48 PM

^^^I think what you meant is that you discovered what has been true about the Republicans for a long time, since the Contract with America at least; I mean hawkishness, homophobia, proud piety, accusing scientific research of liberal bias, hatred of the poor, and anti-intellectualism were part and parcel of being a GOP supporter for as long as I can remember. I mean sure #NotAllRepublicans, but the less like that you were, the less like a model Republican you were (those who deviate from the ideal a little have to be tolerated or else no majorities ever).

With that said, the surprising thing is that this article is written as if conservatrolls are anything new: http://newsone.com/1424285/gop-site-plans-to-infiltrate-progressive-with-trolls/

2/22/2015 11:39:20 PM

Wow... lewisje was able to say "Republicans"...

2/23/2015 12:47:58 AM

So was shutting down DHS part of making Congress function again? These people don't know how to govern.

2/27/2015 7:29:12 PM

Tune in next week for another action packed episode!

2/28/2015 12:30:52 AM

to them its just a tool they have to use against an uncooperative president

is it illegal? is it any secret they hate obama? is it any secret he hates them?

it concerns me that any thread in TSB ever expresses surprise

2/28/2015 5:19:32 PM

I like Rand Paul. I want him to be the next president.

2/28/2015 10:32:34 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/03/09/the-misguided-condescending-letter-from-republican-senators-to-iran/

Quote :

"The letter states that 'the Senate must ratify [a treaty] by a two-thirds vote.' But as the Senate's own web page makes clear: 'The Senate does not ratify treaties. Instead, the Senate takes up a resolution of ratification, by which the Senate formally gives its advice and consent, empowering the president to proceed with ratification'..."

[Edited on March 9, 2015 at 1:49 PM. Reason : ]

3/9/2015 1:49:32 PM

Seems a little nitpick-y. If the pres needs congress to ratify, they aren't functionally incorrect in saying congress needs to ratify. I guess their insinuation is that Iran needs to really be dealing with Congress, and not the president, which is wrong, but they aren't wrong in implying that congress can sink the whole thing.

Either way, this point of contention pales into how corrosive of an action this was. Voting to repeal obamacare, threatening government shutdown, forcing employees onto furloughs, calling obama a muslim, secretly inviting netanyahu to talk, these are all things that are inconvenient.

But trying to publicly undermine an active negotiation to get a country to stop developing nukes? That's pure stupidity and evil. I can't fathom what their thought process is here... maybe i'm missing something obvious but this seems to go beyond the political games I expect to be played.

3/9/2015 5:40:18 PM

Iran responds to the GOP act of treason:
http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2015/mar/09/part-ii-iran-responds-gop-letter

Zarif expressed astonishment that some members of US Congress find it appropriate to write to leaders of another country against their own President and administration. He pointed out that from reading the open letter, it seems that the authors not only do not understand international law, but are not fully cognizant of the nuances of their own Constitution when it comes to presidential powers in the conduct of foreign policy.

[Edited on March 9, 2015 at 8:55 PM. Reason : .]

3/9/2015 8:49:40 PM

^^
Agreed on all points, but the fact that they were educating the Iranian government on how the U.S. Constitutional system works was too much to not post it here.

[Edited on March 9, 2015 at 8:53 PM. Reason : ]

3/9/2015 8:51:35 PM

If I had a gif of a dude facepalming, I'd post it here.

It will be interesting to see where this leads. The CNN article I read didn't mention who penned it, or who led this brilliant idea.

3/9/2015 9:30:12 PM

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/file-charges-against-47-us-senators-violation-logan-act-attempting-undermine-nuclear-agreement/NKQnpJS9
This is a petition to charge the 47 Senators with violation of the Logan Act

3/9/2015 9:34:59 PM

this is really ridiculous and indefensible, but it doesn't violate the Logan act

3/10/2015 7:55:31 AM

The Logan Act:
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.

3/10/2015 8:25:08 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Act

Quote :

"In 1975, Senators John Sparkman and George McGovern were accused of violating the Logan Act when they traveled to Cuba and met with officials there. In considering that case, the U.S. Department of State concluded: The clear intent of this provision [Logan Act] is to prohibit unauthorized persons from intervening in disputes between the United States and foreign governments. Nothing in section 953 [Logan Act], however, would appear to restrict members of the Congress from engaging in discussions with foreign officials in pursuance of their legislative duties under the Constitution. In the case of Senators McGovern and Sparkman the executive branch, although it did not in any way encourage the Senators to go to Cuba , was fully informed of the nature and purpose of their visit, and had validated their passports for travel to that country. Senator McGovern’s report of his discussions with Cuban officials states: "I made it clear that I had no authority to negotiate on behalf of the United States — that I had come to listen and learn...." (Cuban Realities: May 1975, 94th Cong., 1st Sess., August 1975). Senator Sparkman’s contacts with Cuban officials were conducted on a similar basis. The specific issues raised by the Senators (e.g., the Southern Airways case; Luis Tiant’s desire to have his parents visit the United States) would, in any event, appear to fall within the second paragraph of Section 953. Accordingly, the Department does not consider the activities of Senators Sparkman and McGovern to be inconsistent with the stipulations of Section 953.[6]"

3/10/2015 8:49:57 AM

The GOP has completely lost control of itself. The Tea Party was a vehicle to winning a bunch of congressional elections to stay relevant as a national party, but now the inmates are running the asylum. Guys like Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton have become the face of the party instead just sideshow freaks.



[Edited on March 10, 2015 at 9:34 AM. Reason : :]

3/10/2015 9:29:11 AM

so in the past month alone we've had:

1) this letter to Iran which has been roundly criticized
2) GOP leadership inviting a foreign leader to condemn US foreign policy in our Capitol Building
3) James Inhofe, chairman of the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee, bringing a snowball to the Senate floor to disprove climate change
4) Ben Carson, someone who is polling relatetively well with Republicans, claiming that homosexuality is a choice because prison rape exists
5) Rudy Giuliani questioning Obama's love of the country he is President of

...among others.

if this were my party, I would have absolutely no problem disassociating myself from them, but it seems like that isn't happening because "they don't speak for me or the party I vote for"

[Edited on March 10, 2015 at 12:35 PM. Reason : .]

3/10/2015 12:11:21 PM

Quote :

"The CNN article I read didn't mention who penned it, or who led this brilliant idea."

Tom Cotton drafted the letter. The following Senators signed it:

Tom Cotton, R-AR
Orrin Hatch, R-UT
Charles Grassley, R-IA
Mitch McConnell, R-KY
Richard Shelby, R-AL
John McCain, R-AZ
James Inhofe, R-OK
Pat Roberts, R-KS
Jeff Sessions, R-AL
Michael Enzi, R-WY
Michael Crapo, R-ID
Lindsey Graham, R-SC
John Cornyn, R-TX
Richard Burr, R-NC
John Thune, R-SD
Johnny Isakson, R-GA
David Vitter, R-LA
John A. Barrasso, R-WY
Roger Wicker, R-MS
Jim Risch, R-ID
Mark Kirk, R-IL
Roy Blunt, R-MO
Jerry Moran, R-KS
Rob Portman, R-OH
John Boozman, R-AR
Pat Toomey, R-PA
John Hoeven, R-ND
Marco Rubio, R-FL
Ron Johnson, R-WI
Rand Paul, R-KY
Mike Lee, R-UT
Kelly Ayotte, R-NH
Dean Heller, R-NV
Tim Scott, R-SC
Ted Cruz, R-TX
Deb Fischer, R-NE
Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV
Bill Cassidy, R-LA
Cory Gardner, R-CO
James Lankford, R-OK
Steve Daines, R-MT
Mike Rounds, R-SD
David Perdue, R-GA
Thom Tillis, R-NC
Joni Ernst, R-IA
Ben Sasse, R-NE
Dan Sullivan, R-AK

[Edited on March 10, 2015 at 12:38 PM. Reason : ]

3/10/2015 12:34:07 PM

politics have never been this toxic

all that matters anymore is us versus them

the end result will not be pretty

3/10/2015 12:34:59 PM

I'm a bit uncomfortable with the treason/traitor labels, and so far, the democratic leadership doesn't seem to be pushing this line either.

Democrats, perhaps to their disadvantage, don't seem to care to match the toxicity coming from the republican politicians, i haven't seen them ratcheting up their demonization of republicans beyond normal levels.

But it seems pretty clear that republicans do actually believe Obama hates America, this isn't just political gamesmanship on their part, and would risk undermining nuclear talks on this paranoia. As far as I'm concerned they no longer deserve any benefit of the doubt that they wouldn't screw us all over in some blind pursuit of whatever twisted dogma is guiding them.

3/10/2015 1:32:35 PM

rjrumfel still wouldn't vote against them though

3/10/2015 1:52:13 PM

#47Traitors is trending worldwide on Twitter.

3/10/2015 5:07:03 PM

i'm curious if there is anyone on here who thinks that letter was okay

3/10/2015 6:16:16 PM