Humorless Politics Thread

[Bryan]

I had to drop out of that one (Fredericks' link) 90 seconds in. Could not process the bottomless contempt I was feeling for those humans. 

Gee, that seems out of character.

(It's actually a pretty sincere argument in favor of voting.)

[Steve of Bloomington]

Didn't vote today (I early voted weeks ago), but am hearing reports of long lines and fewer machines and booths than is typical. This is in Bloomington, an anomalously liberal town in Indiana (home of the infamous Mourdock). So while the Romney thing is a foregone conclusion, we have a couple nail-biting races going down.

[nec13]

My hope is, that after last night, both Karl Rove and Dick Morris are consigned to the dustbin of history.

[Bryan]

Congratulations, my American friends! You did it!

[cavorting with nudists]

Courtesy of a comment on the Balloon Juice blog: Mitt Romney, cleaning out his campaign office, finds a solitary moment to imagine the cabinet meeting he will never hold:

Jerry Lewis - The Errand Boy (1961) Pantomime

[dave from knoxville]

I'm just thankful that my naive and ill-advised vote for Jill Stein didn't cost Obama the election. I've seen what Bartman went through!

[Flood]

I'm just thankful that my naive and ill-advised vote for Jill Stein didn't cost Obama the election. I've seen what Bartman went through!

I, for one, think that you are an alright dude, Dave.

[buffcoat]

I was right about North Carolina all those months ago.  It was closer than I had thought it would be.

We had a complete clean sweep by the GOP here, though.  Even the crazy Lt. Gov. guy squeaked through.  Our state was governed by people too far to the left to reflect the populace for about 30 years - now I suspect it has swung to people too far to the right.  With luck, this cycle will be shorter.

A not-completely-off-the-wall guess - Texas will be moderately competitive for President in 2016 and competitive in 2020.  If the GOP can't find a way to appeal to Latinos by then, they won't win any more Presidential elections.

[masterofsparks]

Dick Morris's "explanation" of why his prediction of a Romney landslide turned out to be so amazingly wrongheaded:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/11/07/dick-morris-explains-why-was-wrong-about-2012-election/

If you don't feel like wading through his drivel, his reasoning boils down to something like "My prediction should've come true but these minorities insist on voting."

Also, he refers to Obama's victory as a "squeaker." Apparently a margin of nearly 100 electoral votes (probably over 100 once FL is called) and over 2.5 million votes qualifies as a squeaker.

Between Morris, Rove, and new correspondent Adam Carolla, they really are hiring the best and the brightest over there at Fox.

[nec13]

I was right about North Carolina all those months ago.  It was closer than I had thought it would be.

We had a complete clean sweep by the GOP here, though.  Even the crazy Lt. Gov. guy squeaked through.  Our state was governed by people too far to the left to reflect the populace for about 30 years - now I suspect it has swung to people too far to the right.  With luck, this cycle will be shorter.

A not-completely-off-the-wall guess - Texas will be moderately competitive for President in 2016 and competitive in 2020.  If the GOP can't find a way to appeal to Latinos by then, they won't win any more Presidential elections.

It's not off the wall at all. In fact, it's 100% accurate. The demographics simply aren't on their side. The GOP simply cannot survive in its current form. It's too far to the right on immigration, foreign policy and sociocultural issues. If it stands any chance of remaining relevant at the national level, it has to become more moderate.

[cavorting with nudists]

Also, he refers to Obama's victory as a "squeaker." Apparently a margin of nearly 100 electoral votes (probably over 100 once FL is called) and over 2.5 million votes qualifies as a squeaker.

Well, what makes that especially rich is that the Romney "landslide" he predicted had him winning with 325 electoral votes, whereas Obama winning with what may be 332is a "squeaker." But fuck Dick Morris, may we never hear from him again.

[daveB from Oakland]

I wonder how often she and Al Franken crossed paths ...

https://twitter.com/vicjackshow/status/266047430502526976

[buffcoat]

I was right about North Carolina all those months ago.  It was closer than I had thought it would be.

We had a complete clean sweep by the GOP here, though.  Even the crazy Lt. Gov. guy squeaked through.  Our state was governed by people too far to the left to reflect the populace for about 30 years - now I suspect it has swung to people too far to the right.  With luck, this cycle will be shorter.

A not-completely-off-the-wall guess - Texas will be moderately competitive for President in 2016 and competitive in 2020.  If the GOP can't find a way to appeal to Latinos by then, they won't win any more Presidential elections.

It's not off the wall at all. In fact, it's 100% accurate. The demographics simply aren't on their side. The GOP simply cannot survive in its current form. It's too far to the right on immigration, foreign policy and sociocultural issues. If it stands any chance of remaining relevant at the national level, it has to become more moderate.

Well, more moderate on issues that are important to Latinos, anyway.

[Bryan]

If you don't feel like wading through his drivel, his reasoning boils down to something like "My prediction should've come true but these minorities insist on voting."

I spent far too much time yesterday cruising through right-wing websites, gloating at their despair and befuddlement. But also, as always when I wade into the conservative echo chamber, shocked and baffled by their worldview, which seems completely detached from reality. And that's the real reason (insularity and detachment from reality) that they were so shocked by the election results!

Though I guess the same charge could be levelled at me in 2004, the key difference there being that it was the pre-Nate Silver era.

[cavorting with nudists]

This is pretty epic: http://www.libertarianrepublican.net/2012/11/the-end-of-liberty-in-america-only.html

Starting early this morning, I am going to un-friend every single individual on Facebook who voted for Obama, or I even suspect may have Democrat leanings. I will do the same in person. All family and friends, even close family and friends, who I know to be Democrats are hereby dead to me. I vow never to speak to them again for the rest of my life, or have any communications with them. They are in short, the enemies of liberty. They deserve nothing less than hatred and utter contempt.

I strongly urge all other libertarians to do the same. Are you married to someone who voted for Obama, have a girlfriend who voted 'O'. Divorce them. Break up with them without haste. Vow not to attend family functions, Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas for example, if there will be any family members in attendance who are Democrats.

Do you work for someone who voted for Obama? Quit your job. Co-workers who voted for Obama. Simply don't talk to them in the workplace, unless your boss instructs you too for work-related only purposes. Have clients who voted Democrat? Call them up this morning and tell them to take their business elsewhere.

Have a neighbor who votes for Obama? You could take a crap on their lawn. Then again, probably not a good idea since it would be technically illegal to do this. But you could have your dog take care of business. Not your fault if he just happens to choose that particular spot.

If I meet a Democrat in my life from here on out, I will shun them immediately. I will spit on the ground in front of them, being careful not to spit in their general direction so that they can't charge me with some stupid little nuisance law. Then I'll tell them in no un-certain terms: "I do not associate with Democrats. You all are communist pigs, and I have nothing but utter disgust for you. Sir/Madam, you are scum of the earth." Then I'll turn and walk the other way.

Buttons. Boy, you can have a lot of fun with this. I plan to make up a bunch of buttons, and wear them around town, sayings like "Democrats are Communist Pigs," or "Welfare moochers steal from hard-working Americans," "Only Nazis support Seat Belt laws" or "No Smoking Ban: Nanny-Staters go Fuck Yourselves."

For now, off to my first assignment: Telling all my friends and family who voted for Obama to "fuck off, don't ever speak to me again you slimeball mother fuckers." Wish me luck!

"Only Nazis support seat-belt laws."