Romney response calmly to Briar's first question was about the New Hampshire Union Leader's endorsement of supposed more consistent Newt Gingrich. But things get testier from there. "Your critics change you make decision based on political expediency and not on core conviction," asked Baier, going on to list climate change, abortion, immigration, gay rights as some of his flip-flops.
"Well Bret your list is just not accurate. One, we're going to have to be better informed about my views on issues. My view is, you can look at what I've written in my book." (I wonder WHICH book he means by the way? The original hard cover, or the paperback version that he had edited to suck up to the Teabaggers?)
The tension escalates when Baier brings up the many ads out there juxtaposing clips of Romney's positions change.
ROMNEY: "I'm glad the Democratic ads are breaking through, and you guys at Fox are seeing them."
BAIER: "Jon Huntsman has a couple ads that do the exact same thing."
ROMNEY: "And there's no question people are going to take snippets, take things out of context, and show there are differences when in some cases there are not."
Later, after Baier asks Romney about his evolving position on a mandate-based healthcare system:
ROMNEY: "Bret, I don't know how many times I've said this too. This is an unusual interview. Hahaha. All right, let's do it again. Absolutely, what we did in Massachusetts was right for Massachusetts..."
BAIER: "But Governor, you did say on camera and in other places at times that you thought it would be a model for the entire nation."
ROMNEY: You're wrong Bret. No, you're wrong. The tape out there -- continue to read the tape -- the tape goes on the say for each state to be able to look at it."
During that last exchange, Romney crossed legs and shifted his weight while laughing awkwardly to defuse the tension with Baier. It was a minor episode of physical discomforted that echoed the way Romney touched Perry's shoulder during an October GOP debate, seemingly again to calm him down.
(By the way the awkwardness mother load is around the 8:25 mark)
In his defense I believe that Romney sensed a little dissatisfaction coming from Brier, who like many conservatives is undoubtedly frustrated that this flip flopping dime store mannequin is about to become the GOP nominee. However it was on Mittens to step up to the plate and deliver, and instead he whiffed it.
Once again let me reiterate that in the ENTIRE Republican field THIS is the best they could come up with to face off against a President who THEY THEMSELVES have identified as badly wounded and ripe for defeat.
The entire field seemed to have been put together by only those with a product to sell like Gingrich and Cain. Those who were too stupid to realize they were in over their heads, like Bachmann, Perry, Santorum, and Pawlenty, And those who have it in their DNA to run every single election cycle, like Paul and Romney. (I have NO idea what Huntsman's deal is.)
At this point the Republicans must be in a blind panic and desperate enough to do just about ANYTHING to shake things up.
Okay, well certainly not THAT desperate, but close.
Just for clarification, if you go to the Atlantic Wire link provided you will see that the reporter, Dino Grandoni, continually referred to Bret Baier, as Bret Briar.
ReplyDeleteI fixed that in my post simply because I found it distracting. Usually my rule is to NEVER correct misspellings or grammatical errors in the items that I cut and paste, but this one was simply too much for me.
I did not however change the content.
Check out Jon Huntsman. He is by far the best of the lot. He's come out with a plan to go after the big banks, the Fed etc. He actually thinks some of those guys ought to go to jail!
ReplyDeleteThis cartoon further progresses the bullshit frontier woman narrative Sarah projects. She does NOT get her dirty in nature, just in politics and with other people.
ReplyDeleteThere is never blood pf an Alaskan animal under her fingernails. She does not hunt, field dress a catch, or cook.
The only thing Sarah hunts is a photo-op, other peoples dollars and people's reputations.
As for Mitt, can you imagine an exchange between him and a head of State in a dicey situation?
AWKWARD!
At first glance, Mitt Romney seems like the most reasonable of this batch of loser Republicans. BUT..... That's what I thought of Sarah Palin back in the day in Alaska. I was nervous that her religion would influence her judgement as a political leader. (little did I know she had no judgement) But I was willing to give her a chance because she SEEMED to be moderate in the things you saw in print about her. And she went after Randy Reudrich and Gregg Renkes. (Little did I know that was all for selfish reasons) To top it off, Frank "the bank" Murkowski was a complete idiot. So Sarah seemed to look like a good moderate choice. Boy was I wrong. And boy did she reach out to the most extreme of the radical Dominionist righties. Now with hindsight and thanks to info brought forth on many of these blogs such as IM, and backed up by careful research of her record, I see she was a wolf in sheep's clothing. And I am certainly less inclined to give someone like Romney a chance.
ReplyDeleteI have my problems with President Obama (not repealing the Patriot Act and use of drone attacks for starters) but he's smarter than all the Republican candidates put together. In fact as each one is removed from serious contention the IQ average of the whole raises. If they are all eliminated, they might get back up to zero.
Rick
So many trolls go on to say that Obama was not vetted, that he did not see America the way "we" [white] Americans see it. That we know nothing about him or that he is an unknown.
ReplyDeleteThe guy wrote a lot of books, autobiographies and decision points in his formative years.
Yet I have never seen him pimp his books the way all these conservative spokesmodels elevating their profiles by running for president do. It's a huge publicity campaign, not a campaign to "chief executive" the whole country.
It was funny when Mitt got uncomfotable because FAUX wasn't giving him the old GOP media arm hand job. He seemed. . . .surprised.
ReplyDeleteImagine if FAUX actually became a real news organization, not just a teabagger weigh station.
Thin skin? Hmmm who does that remind me of? Oh yeah that crazy heavily medicated wig lady who pretended to run for president. You know she who also pretended to give birth to a DS baby? She who pretended to run a marathon. Sarah Palin.
ReplyDelete"Once again let me reiterate that in the ENTIRE Republican field THIS is the best they could come up with to face off against a President who THEY THEMSELVES have identified as badly wounded and ripe for defeat."
ReplyDeleteOh, you're just so smug, Gryphen!
I have news for you, buddy boy, this is NOT the best the GOP has to offer and you're about to get a HUGE surprise over the coming months has HUNDREDS of awesome tea-party approved candidates come flooding out of the woodwork like rats running from a burning building!
First of all, you're too simplistic in your thinking to realize the strength of the GOP isnt in the big flashy national candidates. So sure, youre gonna be unimpressed with the crowd of douchebags out there now. But wait until you see the candidates emerging from smaller markets.
For example, I know for a fact, there's an assistant county manager - very conservative, telegenic, flawless family values - from western Nebraska who is about to file for the primary. He could be VERY hot.
Then, there's a fellow from South Carolina - chief of the local volunteer firefighters, associates degree from a very prestigious community college - who has good leadership experience like you want in a president, and his wife is assistant weekend manager at Walmart so he has the solid financial resources that a presidential primary campaign demands.
And it's not all men. There's a lovely old woman in Iowa, retired from the post office (so she has federal government experience but without the DC Beltway baggage) who is looking to make some extra money in her golden years - just like Newt - and is very seriously looking at running for president.
By the way, before you get all snarky about it, my list of VIABLE candidates excludes almost all diagnosed schizophrenics and bi-polars. A couple of 'delusions of grandeur' sufferers may have snuck through but, hey, you're gonna find them in the top tier, also, too.
Oh, and minority candidates! How about this one: the guy who was ALMOST promoted to TOP animal control officer for the entire southern third of the state of Florida (Dade, Broward and Martin counties) is of Cuban descent, has a BS in animal behavior and has expressed very serious interest in running for president. He could effortlessly dominate the monolithic hispanic voting bloc.
So you see, Gryphen (if that is REALLY your name, which I doubt...), after Mittens, Cain, Newt, TPaw, PRick, Screechy Wretch(tm) all flame out, there's a MOUNTAIN of awesome REAL conservative candidates ready to take their places.
Let's just see how your precious MAGIC NEGRO fares against THEM in November!
"I don't know what you're talking about; I thought that went well"
ReplyDelete- Gov. Rick Perry on "Letterman" re: debate "Oops"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O/T: Politico’s new Romney e-book contains interesting dirt...on Perry?
http://www.huffingtonpost
.com/2011/11/30/romney-
book-politico-perry-
mike-allen_n_1119650.html
Perry on the other hand was hit with some harmful revelations in the new book.
The Texas governor was never seen reading news clips on his air plane, a former top fundraiser told Allen and Thomas, and had to be dragged into meeting a high-profile fundraiser from Florida, only to bristle at the bundler's detailed and aggressive policy questions.
"Sixteen questions?" Perry is quoted as saying of North Palm Beach businessman and former Ambassador to Portugal Al Hoffman. "Can you believe the nerve? Can't he go read about my positions on these things?"
The former Perry fundraiser, who left the campaign in October, recounted Perry later laughing with top adviser Dave Carney about Hoffman's request to fly on his plane with him.
"I don't think that's going to be happening," Perry said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ssssssscumbag!
Willard has never been part of the "Fox Family" and has never considered Ailes to be his boss.
ReplyDeleteIf Mitt Romney gets rattled by an interviewer, how does he think he'll get through a debate with Barack Obama?
ReplyDeleteFunnest line - "awkwardness mother load" - that sure describes it. In fact, these candidates win the trophy for most of anything "mother load" or "mother of all", like in they are the mother of all weakest looniest contenders ever.
ReplyDelete8:12 AM -
ReplyDeleteI love this post.
Poor Mitt. Not a sex scandal in sight to make him manly enough for Fox.
ReplyDeleteA typical Mormon male that lies, lies and lies again. Even in spite of the fact things are on tape...
ReplyDeleteThese Republicans in the primary are a horrid example of politicians - just friggin' amazing they actually have 'some' support.
Thank God, President Obama will be re elected!
Hey, "conehead", take your bigoted shit somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteROMNEY: "And there's no question people are going to take snippets, take things out of context, and show there are differences when in some cases there are not."
ReplyDeleteWow, that is the height of hypocrisy after that ad attacking Obama! I shouldn't be amazed at this kind of behavior by now, but I still am.
Elizabeth, Huntsman is a misogynist asshole (typical behavior from a Mormon who thinks women are second class citizens). He DARES to call the women who have been sexually harassed "bimbos" in his latest faux paux regarding Herman Cain and his sexual peccadilloes. Fuck Huntsman and the ass he rode in on.
ReplyDeleteHave Mercy! Milt (*winks at Gov Dirty Wig) couldn't get anymore wooden if he had turned into a tree before out very eyes!
ReplyDeleteYes, I watched this interview and Mitt was just all over the place. Very strange, must be all that pizza that he takes the cheese off of, I mean come on, who eats pizza without the cheese. And his hair is just greasy looking. And he named his son Tagg. I think the other one is named Yourit. But he was going to name him Hide-n-seek, but realized that might not be a good name for the locker room showers.
ReplyDeleteStarting watching this tape, but then quickly fell asleep...did I miss anything?
ReplyDeleteDo you remember when President Obama took a two and a half minutes interview with Bill O'Reilly and was talked over and interrupted 48 times? Can you even imagine that any of these crybabyies wouldn't lose their marbles after even a minute of that level of rude behavior?
ReplyDeleteHere is one of their front-runners, squirming and seething with annoyance on being asked perfectly valid questions by a respectful reporter.
Furthermore, that reporter took the high road in not asking Mittens about his special underwear.
I was most unsettled by Romney asserting that his vision was for America to have a "strong culture". Excuse me, I do not want my "culture" to be determined by whoever is in office for 4 years.
Romney whinging about "snippets taken out of context"-Really? He is the prince of snippets (and sniping).
ReplyDeleteJust in the past week he was busted for his tv commercial using a comment Obama made about someone else to attack him.
And thanks for your coverage of that, also, too!
Wild Tortoise
@Elizabeth:
ReplyDelete"Check out Jon Huntsman. He is by far the best of the lot. He's come out with a plan to go after the big banks, the Fed etc. He actually thinks some of those guys ought to go to jail!"
John Huntsman is full of crap. He won't go after the banks, or the Fed., etc. Economists have already said that his overall economic plan is regressive, and would only the benefit the rich. I don't care about John Huntsman, anyway. He's a republican.
P.S.. I don't know if you are affiliated with any party, but if you are a progressive democrat, I find it disheartening that so many "progressive" purists are so quick to support a republican just because the republican tells them exactly what they want to hear.
I think you are being far too easy on Mitt Romney.
ReplyDeleteBe sure and google Lying for the Lord. It is standard ok practice in Romney's religion. I think that's how he does it with such a strait face, denies he has changed, and becomes incensed when challenged. It's the lord's work after all!
ReplyDeleteHave ... not ... read .. any ... of .. the .. other ... comments .. but when you say "well, not THAT desperate ... I hope to God you are not talking about HER. Please. Gryphen, I now have blood pressure issues, and my bottle of champagne is getting OLD beyond vintage!
ReplyDeleteBeldar @ 8:12 Don't forget the choir singing, Southern Baptist, Briarwood Christian High School of Birmingham Alabama class treasurer, single parent raised (father was killed in Viet Nam),immigrant hating (especially gooks), ROTC scholarship receiving, with a negro in the family woodpile, who is going to sweep the Republicans by storm when she announces.
ReplyDeleteRick
So Romney dares to say "just look at the tape" in defense of his health care waffling, when he's the jerkoid who issued the duplicitous attack ad that had Obama saying "If we talk about the economy we're going to lose?" What an effing hypocrit!!
ReplyDeleteMittens is a phony asshole who only wants to win the big prize - leader of the free world for eight years.
ReplyDeleteDuring the 2008 primary runs I saw a live feed (MSNBC I think) where Romney answered a question. Not a problem with that. What happened next told me all I need to know about Mittens.
The live camera feed was still on when the reporter tried to get another question answered.
I saw Romney turn around move towards that reporter and saw nastiness in his face and a threatening demeanor.
That was all I needed to see. Romney is not a nice guy, not a winner but a whiny LOSER.
snark on/
He's paid good money - his own - on the path to POTUS. By gosh, he will NOT be denied!/snark off
Dog help us all
Jaye
Very O/T But, I'm sick of Occupy Wallstreet. They are becoming downright nasty and cocky, just like the tea pary assholes. OWS gets mad when democrats praise them, and accuse them of trying to co-opt their "movement," then they whine when Barack Obama doesn't defend them when they get beat up by the police.
ReplyDeleteThey push away all politicians and labors unions saying that they don't speak for the 99%, yet they fully embrace the wealthy 1% Hollywood celebrities who have shown up to protest with OWS. OWS is full of shit. They have not done anything to actually help the 99%, either.
OWS thinks they are going to primary a whole bunch of democrats next year with a whole bunch of OWS primary challengers, and throw democrats out of office, like the tea party did to the republicans in 2010. Not going to happen! They can keep dreaming. They can talk all they want, and have their delusions of grandeur, and camp out in parks all they want. It's not going to happen.
Talk is cheap. They are not pragmatic people. They will flame out. They have no money, no leader, and no organization, and there aren't enough of them. I'm on to them. I know exactly what they are. With closer observation, I have come to the conclusion that these people are nothing but Ralph Nader, and Dennis Kucinich supporters, and libertarian assholes. The usual fake supporters of the 99% who always end up just helping the 1% in the end.
I'm also tired of progressives walking on egg shells when talking about OWS, and being afraid to say anything negative about them. Well, I'm a progressive, and I just did. OWS can go fuck themselves!
anonymous 9:18am said:
ReplyDelete"Hey, "conehead", take your bigoted shit somewhere else."
If you mean "political bigotry", "conehead" proudly pleads guilty and plans to stay until Gryphen takes down the Welcome sign. Otherwise, bigotry is not one of "conehead's" many, many flaws.
You might try reading the post again, this time out-loud and using a funny high-pitched voice or comical accent? Perhaps, just perhaps, the offending language will appear as more a parody of insane trollish rants than a genuine attack on our president's heritage or upon Gryphen's sterling character.
(I just can't shake the sneaking suspicion that "Gryphen" isn't his real name, tho...)
LOL@ Beldar...SIGH...sometimes folks just don't get ya' huh?
ReplyDelete11:49am....FAIL....try again.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how many people got through 17 minutes of listening to Romney alternately weasel/attack but here's GOP & TV pundits' assessment in 2.5 minutes (scroll down for video):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-case-against-mitt-romneys-inevitability/2011/08/25/gIQARLBgDO_blog.html
A few morsels from this video:
- Baier: "irritated and tense"
- Juan Williams "disastrous"
- Jonah Goldberg (major rightwing National Review/LA Times OpEd, author of Liberal Fascism): Romney's what "East German scientists would build, a perfect android" (end of video, not exact quote)
And if you haven't gotten your fill, see how Joe Scarborough and company raked Newt "celebrity lobbyist" Gingrinch over the coals this morning:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe/#45490260
Wow, Beldar F. Conehead - your candidates sound fantastic!!! I can't wait for FoX News to start babbling about them; what do you think, about 4.3 minutes of fame each?
ReplyDeleteAye, Dude, you give this pagan librul hope on a chilly winter night!
GinaM
ReplyDelete"LOL@ Beldar...SIGH...sometimes folks just don't get ya' huh?"
Happens all the time! But the smart folks seem to do a little/a lot better.... Good thing I'm not too worried about it, either way.
Beldar Sometimes Conehead said...
ReplyDeleteHappens all the time! But the smart folks seem to do a little/a lot better.... Good thing I'm not too worried about it, either way.
4:24 PM
Don't worry buddy...I got your back *WINK WINK...with a half turn and slap on the butt*
"During that last exchange, Romney crossed legs and shifted his weight while laughing awkwardly to defuse the tension with Baier. It was a minor episode of physical discomforted that echoed the way Romney touched Perry's shoulder during an October GOP debate, seemingly again to calm him down."
ReplyDeleteThat's common with Mormons, that's a maneuver to uncross his testicles while wearing the majic underwear.
Sometimes I think you read to much into things, lmao!!!
Seriously, Mittens is starting to crack from the pressure. Everytime he runs, he gets "this close" to seeing light at the end of the tunnel, then gets the rug pulled out from under his feet.
Next is Newt's turn. Larry O is having fun juxaposing this mitt interview with Newt's lame retorts.
Good Post, Gryphen.
I love that cartoon of the Palins! The bear carrying off one of the kids is hilarious- and of course- dear Sarah is oblvious to it all...
ReplyDeleteI still can't believe there are people trying to convince her to change her mind. She is done and she knows it. She's got to be loving how much things have cooled off in regard to her misdeeds. Let's let her think the coast is clear, but I'd still like to break the Trig story, and anything illegal that she's done while in office.
Beldar, this was one of your best!
ReplyDeleteCould you work in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in you next Romney post? Donny and Maries? Puleeeeeeeze!
Keep up the great work! I always find your posts a total laugh riot!
Anonymous @ 11:49
ReplyDeleteWhat you cite as flaws of OWS are it's strengths.
Glad you got that off your chest, but would it make sense for them to take sides politically or take money for publicity?
Gee, wonder what Mitt would have to say about the Mormons' control of the Boy Scouts of America - specifically with respect to hiding pedophiles and not reporting sex crimes against children? In light of their homophobia it seems gays are banned but little boy rapers are welcome! Another example of fundamentalist Christianist hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely shocked that the Boy Scouts are now under the control of the Mormon Church - when did this happen? To be honest, regardless of Mormonism creeping their way into everything - this pedophilia and covering up seems to be part and parcel for many organizations that have access to children - and probably has been happening for a long time.
http://www.americablog.com/2011/11/boy-scouts-refused-to-call-cops-on.html
Willard has a sense of entitlement that prompts him to believe he should control the thrust of the vetting, which includes interviews consisting of questions, some he inevitably won't like.
ReplyDeleteJust as the dust-up with Rick Perry during a debate proved, Willard Romney has a thin skin and a temper. He clearly gets miffed when he loses control of situations, and his lack of self-control added to his lack of an ethical core make for someone who is definitely not presidential material.