First case - I might have liked to see Hoffman win, simply because having another crazoid like Bachmann yapping regularly on television would go a long way to guaranteeing the Right remains a fringe element, and perhaps might even drive it to extinction.

Second case - this surprise win for a Dem means that the "real" fringers in the GOP only take a body blow, and the GOP actually might gain a little health back. A bit like a cancer patient suddenly feeling much better, but still being terminal.

Personally, I'd have preferred a quick death for the GOP, because that would result in a total fragmentation of the various right-wing zoidy causes. Mostly because it might generate some reform on our airwaves, and get the crazies back into their cellars carving animals out of spuds or whatever they do when they're not chanting on the Washington Mall.

But, as a respectful member of the reality-based world, I'll take what we got with a grin. After all, there are few political entities in the USA that deserve a long, slow, rotting death more than what has become our GOP.

Hey, Glenn? Mister Beck? And Rush? Both of you - bite me ).

T

Sorry, guys, but calling them news is stupid. "News" has to be factual. Correctible when mistaken. But first and foremost, factual. Non-fact is not news, it is fabrication. If it didn't happen, it's not news, it's just some shit someone made up. Get it?

Deliberate fiction is not news. Under no circumstances will it ever be news, other than in the context of reporting of the perpetrators of the fictions.

Fox is entertainment for neurotic right-wingers. It is adamantly NOT news, and the administration acted completely in the correct mode by calling them out as a propaganda organization.

As for the trolls, Notre, you forgot option (4): the individual may genuinely be a representative of the left side of the IQ bell curve, and perhaps a tad addled.

Oh, and Robby, the crowds around Nixon weren't Black Panthers packing glocks or religious imbeciles with AR15s. I guaran-f'ing-tee you had there been either of those, he'd have had them arrested before entering the crowd, or would never have made the walk. He was definitely evil, but he was NOT stupid.

Times change, and it's obvious you didn't read Conason's article at all. Just in case you're thick in the head as the other trolls were, here's an explanation for you:

Nixon: hated journalists with a passion. Sicced the federal machinery on them (like IRS, Secret Service, etc.). Broke the law and attempted to intimidate the press away from investigating his crime (the investigation of which was a non-partisan event, it was specifically investigating abuse of power and corruption). Discussed possible assassination of journalists with his aides (see G.G. Liddy's memoirs of the period).

Obama: Seems okay with journalists of all stripes, with the exception of one network. Refused invitations for engagements from said network, a network with obvious partisan ties and bias. Expressed opinion (which happens to be correct) that said network had obvious partisan ties and bias, and assigned the title "propaganda" to said network's products.

Hardly a comparison. In fact, to hold the two up as comparable invites judgement of oneself as a moron (in Republican sign-holding language that would be "morn", if that helps to clarify). I recommend you drop the subject before painting yourself as any more of a numpty than you already have.

Now, Robby, get over yourself and go outside and play in the park or something. The grownups are having a discussion.

T

I make my own honey wine, and I'd love to see what a brandy made from the stuff would be like...it's just too bad that it's not legal in the USA.

But then, I'm living in Europe right now ).

T

Correct, there are still problems. Correct, Obama is not the dream-child of the progressive movement.

Did you really, honestly expect us to be able to reclaim the country from 30 years of conservative and religious-right douchebaggery in what, eight months?

I don't think you're that dumb.

T

By standing up to the GOP and demanding they behave like responsible adults - and responsible gun-owners - they will show spine, and demonstrate the GOP to be what we already know: a lying pack of used-car salesmen.

Fighting them and pulling back the curtain on them can only be a positive here. We either gain credit for fighting their stupidity and standing up for ourselves, or we take credit from them for demonstrating how absolutely insane they are, or both.

T

...please don't try to convince anyone that the "vulnerable self-exploration" thing is considered at all an attractant. That was a bit of a ham-handed segue at the end of an otherwise well written analysis of the events.

Save the touchy-feely stuff for another post, and do a little reconnaissance beforehand. I think you'll find that although women claim they enjoy that sort of attitude in men, it is actually a repellent quality. Granted, my own opinion on this is anecdotal, but I'd love to see someone attempt some real research on it, rather than spout it at the end of a justified rant against scumbags using murder to further their own less-than-ethical commercial interests.

T

Arrest. Convict. Imprison.

Fraud, libel, slander, and probably some form of high treason are now present, and these people have far overexceeded their right to free speech.

Time to put them away, they went too far.

T

For fraud, libel, and slander? She's now entered an obvious forgery into the public record in an attempt to harm an individual (regardless of his political office).

Time for the sirens and the men in white coats. Call 'em in, send this dummy off to the funny farm.

T