Governor Chris Christie offers to resign?

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Ed.
illustration by Jack Brummet

Governor Chris Christie offers to resign?  That's how I read the statement he made last Thursday:  

"My promise to the people of the state is that if there’s any other evidence that comes forward that requires action to be taken, I will take it, no matter how much it hurts me personally or dismays me because this is the job I asked for and I’ve got to do it."

The Governor seems to be saying that if that "smoking traffic cone" does turn up that he will punish himself by resigning, since he instantly terminated two top aides when evidence of their complicity was released.

You have to guess that over the last week the shredders were grinding, magnets and hard disk tools were doing their thing, and that anyone even remotely related to the Governor's office has scrubbed, hidden, erased, and burned any even remotely troubling memo, voicemail, email, tweet, text message, and Facebook post.  But as we've all learned over the years, you can never find everything. . .and all it takes is one.

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Chris Christie praises himself in apology

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Ed.
illustration by Jack Brummet

In his 108 minute "apology" Thursday, Governor Chris Christie never really apologized.  He did, actually, but not for anything he did. “I’m telling you: I had nothing to do with this.” As David Letterman said, he "boldly took responsibility by blaming everyone but himself."   And then he told us about himself:

• “I’m a very loyal guy.”

• “I am not a focus-group-tested, blow-dried candidate.”

• “I’ve worked for the last 12 years in public life developing a reputation for honesty.”

• “I’ve engendered the sense and feeling among the people closest to me that we’re a family.”

• “I’m a person who cares deeply about doing my job well.”

• “I’m incredibly loyal to my people.”

• “I was the class president and athlete.”

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ATIT Reheated: The GOP/Tea Party March To 2012—an army of pinheads, charlatans, mountebanks, narcissists, and third-rate grifters

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor

and Jack Brummet, Social Mores Editor

[reprinted from ATIT, December 30, 2010] 

The GOP Presidential candidates are charging out like clowns from a clown-car.  Of course, getting in to The Show early, or even just announcing, is pretty cheap.  And it increases your cash flow, your paid trips, marketability, and even perceived gravitas.  Democrats on the other hand are holding back.  To declare against a sitting President is generally an exercise in futility and, at times, a near-suicidal political act.  However, strong candidates have pulled it off (most notably Bobby Kennedy, whom we did not get to see go the distance) and won roles at the convention, and promises of plum diplomatic jobs or cabinet positions. 

Jeb Bush - who knows what he'll do?

Congressman Pence

Politico reports the House Republican Conference Chairman from Indiana is considering stepping down from his GOP leadership post to prepare for a possible presidential run in 2012. 'Though the 2010 mid-term election is just barely over, the pressure is on Pence and other GOP hopefuls to state their intentions.

Ex-Governor Romney

Mitt Romney has already been running for a couple of years, really ever since the night he conceded to John McCain during the primaries.  He seems to us like one of the more plausible candidates to whom Democrats might defect (maybe his biggest appeal to Dems and most horrifying to GOP/Tea Party members is the pretty excellent health care system that he pushed for in Mass.).   We think his religion is no roadblock.  Yeah, we don't think a Hari Krishna will become president soon, but a Mormon?  Sure, why not?  We are fine with a Jewish or Moslem president, but don't think that happens anytime soon.

Ex-Governor Huckabee

Ex-Governor Mike Huckabee won the Iowa primaries last time around, had a huge buzz...and for a few weeks, he was the "It Guy," appearing on the cover of Newsweek, and was the focus of numerous political talk shows. He may or may not run.  He seems to like his current FOX news gig. [Ed's Note: nearly half of the GOP hopefuls and toe-dippers are on the FOX payroll in some form or another.]

Ex-Speaker (and architect of the Contract On America) Gingrich (painting by Jack Brummet)

Newt Gingrich, another FOX hack. . .who knows? We guess he will indeed run.  Newt is a guy who craves the limelight.

Governor Pawlenty

Tim Pawlenty could be running...he is visiting several key, early primary states.  He has a book out.  He was maybe Number Two on McCain's VP list.  But alas, he has a personality like shirt cardboard.   His Q factor is virtually zero.

John Bolton

John Bolton, the neocon diplomat (and former undersecretary of state) has publicly toyed with the idea.  He may jump in for a primary or two if he can get enough of his fat cat friends to pony up enough cash to make a short, respectable run. 

Guvnah Barbour

Haley Barbour, the (once) well-thought of Governor may have killed his changes recently with racially insensitive--no, inflammatory--remarks on how nice the south was back in "the good old days."

Senator Thune

John Thune, who, a few years ago, stomped Democratic powerhouse Tom Daschle in South Dakota, is textbook politically handsome.  And like Tim Pawlenty. . .about as exciting as yesterday's oatmeal.

Governor Daniels

Mitch Daniels (Governor of Indiana) dismissed a presidential run in June 2009, saying "I've only ever run for or held one office. It's the last one I'm going to hold."   In February 2010 he told a Washington Post reporter that he was open to the idea of running in 2012. 

The Donald

Donald Trump has made some noise about making a Presidential run.  It's hard to see how a national joke could get much traction in Iowa or New Hampshire.

Ex-Governor Palin (painting by Jack Brummet)

Sarah Palin.   She's certainly open to the idea--if not the reality--of running for President.  If she does make a go of it, it will be fascinating watching her in those early primaries.

Ex-Senator Santorum

Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania Senator who was obliterated in the 2006 election, may just be tempted to run.  Another FOX guy.  He is almost in the national joke category, along with Trump.  He is probably best known for his positions on the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Social Security, intelligent design, homosexuality, and the long-forgotten Terri Schiavo case.

Governor Christie (painting by Jack Brummet)

Chris Christie--a guy we think could go all the way.  He's a Republican who is seen by his own party as soft on immigration; is against gay marriage, but in favor of civil unions (just like President Obama!); is not strong with the pro-gun lobby; favors medical marijuana; and while opposed to it, is soft on abortion and doesn't believe it is the state's duty to ram it down the throats of the people.   However, the Tea Party wing of the party does not take a blue dog approach.  You're either with them, or against them.  With all the other neo-con and tea-party alternatives, it's hard to see how Christie could ever garner much support within his own party.

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NY Daily News calls the House of Representatives the "House of Turds"

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Ed.

This Affordable Care Act battle/government shutdown has been well-reported and the finger pointing is now well underway.  Rather than contribute to the stream, we're just reprinting the Daily News' cogent front cover from this morning.

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Sweatpants Gipper: Ronald Reagan goes casual

By Mona Goldwater, Fashion Ed.

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The complete (so far) painting oeuvre of George W. Bush (24 paintings and counting)

By Jack Brummet, Painting and American Art History Ed.

As you have possibly read, a hacker--Guccifer--purloined these photographs of Ex-President George W. Bush and his paintings by hacking into the Bush family's email.  He originally furnished the stolen photos to The Smoking Gun and recently, to Gawker.  Three batches have been released so far.  We already knew a little about POTUS 43's painting from his art teacher's website and interviews.

Guccifer hacked the accounts of Dorothy Bush Koch and at least five others with close ties to the Bush dynasty. To highlight his brilliance, he furnished The Smoking Gun with a series of paintings  by Ex-President George W. Bush.  He also included a string of emails about Bush’s ailing father, POTUS 41. And, this week, he sent along to Gawker a new batch of photos of Dubyah's oil paintings. 

A scary dog behind bars with a prospect of the White House

In a package on Georgia’s WAGA-TV, Bush 43’s art teacher, Bonnie Flood, said the president regularly opts to draw household pets.

“He started off painting dogs. I think he said he painted 50 dogs,” Flood said. “He pulled out this canvas and started painting dogs and I thought, ‘Oh my God, I don’t paint dogs!”

Cats, dogs, and a still life

a photo of the President's painting of his recently deceased dog Barney

The artist at work, painting a church

Self portrait in the shower

Bathtub self-portrait

Twelve photos of paintings that Guccifer gave to Gawker

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Republicans for gun control

By Mona Goldwater, Societal Mores Ed.

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Speaker John Boehner, self immolation, and the G.O.P.'s rapid slide into irrelevancy

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Ed.

The Bone makes his sequestration face. I am not a fan, but admit I feel for him. He has tried, but is pretty much helpless while his party is hell-bent on self-immolation, not to mention relishing his humiliation  every step of the way. 

The Speaker thought getting Bachmann, Palin, Paul, Herman Cain, Rick Perry, et al, out of the way would help. But the instant they shuffle one whack job out the door, another wingnut steps in to fill their shoes. And that's the way I like it.

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What did Ann Coulter do this time?

By Jack Brummet, ATIT Editor-in-chief

I missed a lot of news in the last eight days while I was in Moscow, I think. I'm seeing all this vituperation & castigation of Ann Coulter (not that she doesn't deserve it in her normal course of business). I saw some news of her using the "R" word re: BHO. Is that the uproar, or did she say something else/worse?

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The Salt Lake City Tribune's stunning endorsement of President Barack Obama

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor

"Obama has earned another term"

Is this a mindf***er of all mindf***ers, or what?  On October 19th, The Salt Lake City Tribune came out and endorsed Barack Obama for President.  Why?  They lead into their endorsement with a couple of paragraphs praising his earl good works, in particular for the state of Utah.  

"The Republican nominee’s political and religious pedigrees, his adeptly bipartisan governorship of a Democratic state, and his head for business and the bottom line all inspire admiration and hope in our largely Mormon, Republican, business-friendly state."

And, then, they get down to business:    

"In short, this is the Mitt Romney we knew, or thought we knew, as one of us." 

"Sadly, it is not the only Romney, as his campaign for the White House has made abundantly clear, first in his servile courtship of the tea party in order to win the nomination, and now as the party’s shape-shifting nominee. From his embrace of the party’s radical right wing, to subsequent portrayals of himself as a moderate champion of the middle class, Romney has raised the most frequently asked question of the campaign: "Who is this guy, really, and what in the world does he truly believe?"

They go on to praise The President's domestic and foreign agendas, lavishing praise on his foreign accomplishments, as well as his shepherding of stimulus money and the courage it took, as well as his masterpiece, The Affordable Care Act (and the political capital he expended to make it the law of the land).

The Tribune damns Romney's promises and statements as both pandering, and unrealistic.  The President would do well to study this editorial and quote from it liberally in next week's debate. Hats off to the Tribune for their honest and courageous editorial.  Read the entire piece here. 

The editorial is a worthwhile read because this is a 'paper from a state inclined to support Mitt Romney both because of his religion and conservatism, and his stewardship of their beloved Olympic Games.  And now, nearly two weeks before the election, The President should quote liberally from the Tribune in his debate with the Ex-Governor next week. 

Copyright (C) 2012 by All This Is That. All This Is That contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make these materials available to advance the understanding of political, economic, literary, artistic, and social issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of copyrighted material as provided for by section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for research, educational, and entertainment purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', please read and follow our Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license and attribute the work to All This Is That, along with our URL 

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VP Debate night: Fuel for the Romney surge, or, a chance to overcome Democratic inertia and hand-wringing?

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor

Tonight. Who knew this debate would blow up in importance like it has, with the potential to add fuel to Romney's surge or overcome the Democratic inertia and hand-wringing.

We have a lot of faith in Joe Biden, although, sure, in his last debate, he had a cream-puff lobbed his way (e.g., Sarah Palin v. Joe Biden VP Debate 2008). Go Joe!

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Ex-Governor Romney backs down, weasels, retrenches, stonewalls, bobs and weaves, and dissembles

By Pablo Fanque, ATIT National Affairs Editor

Illustrations by Jack Brummet

OK.  The Ex-Governor came out on top in a couple of polls today.  But he did not get there by standing fast or holding his ground.  He arrived there by weaseling, backing down, retrenching, and dissembling.

In a handful of key zones, Mitt Romney has begun to position himself as a centrist.  He doesn't have to worry about the Tea Party anymore.  They are going to hold their collective noses and vote for him.  But as for the rest of us:  

1) He now says he won't deport young illegal immigrants given a chance to stay in the United States by Obama...kind of weaseling in sideways to The Dream Act..  

2) Mr. Romney is also playing catch-up on the Affordable Health Care Act; far from his earlier stance of running as rapidly and far away from it as he could, he is now playing up the health care program a/k/a RomneyCare (with its individual mandate) that was his biggest accomplishment as governor of Massachusetts.  

3) Rhetorically, he's backed down from his own tax plan.  In the first debate, it was hard to analyze the difference between his and BHO's tax plan.  Honestly, it's hard to tell just what his plan is now, but it's a fine one, he says.  "Trust me."

4)  He even admitted in the debate that government regulation “is essential.”  "I mean, you have to have regulations so that you can have an economy work,” he told us. The way he stated it in the debate implied, "Oh you silly people, this is what I had in mind all along."  And, 

5)  After all the bobbing, weaving, and stonewalling over the last couple of weeks, the contrite Ex-Governor told Fox News last Thursday that his comment about the “47 percent” of the electorate he wrote off as moochers, freeloaders, and just flat-ass lazy, when he met with campaign donors, was “completely wrong.”  You said a mouthful Governor. 

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The Romney Campaign: it could be worse. No wait. Could it?

By Mona Goldwater, G.O.P.-Tea Party Editor

Sure, there are non-stop headlines about the implosion of the Romney-Ryan campaign, the brisk gaffe-a-day pace they've set, dwindling confidence ratings, and their plunging numbers in polls in the critical battleground states.  But looking at this illustration of the candidates that lost in the primaries, and bailed out, you realize that things could possibly be even worse for the GOP than they are today.

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Move On's latest anti-Romney salvo hot off the presses

click to enlarge

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Mitt Romney's greatest enemy is in his mirror

By Pablo Fanque
National Affairs Editor

This headline/front page keeps reappearing on blogs and websites, reminding us daily that while the GOP-Tea Party has not mounted a respectable candidate since--probably--Dwight D,. Eisenhower, they have rarely put together such a pathetic assemblage. . .well, except maybe, last time around.

Copyright (C) 2012 by All This Is That. All This Is That contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make these materials available to advance the understanding of political, economic, literary, artistic, and social issues. In some cases we satirize, parody, or lampoon materials from other sources. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of copyrighted material as provided for by section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for research, educational, and entertainment purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', please read and follow our Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license and attribute the work to All This Is That, along with our URL (http://jackbrummet.blogspot.com). 

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Mitt Romney endorses Affordable Care Act

By Pablo Fanque
National Affairs Editor

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul, responding to a brutal new super PAC ad (the one showing a man who blames Bain Capital for his uninsured wife’s death), broke new ground for the campaign by praising Romney’s health insurance mandate.  Saul brought up her candidate's greatest legislative achievement--an almost explicit endorsement of the Affordable Care Act.

This is looking to be one of the most colossal Romney eff-ups yet in a campaign now increasingly littered with them.  No one on the left has a problem with this, but "the base," or, Ex-Governor Romney's core supporters, are outraged.  And this is on top of several other howlers this week.  Governor, all we can say is "keep on keepin' on."

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Larry Flynt's latest $1 million reward: Send me Mitt Romney's tax returns

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor 

Thanks to Jeff Clinton for the NewsTip!

Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, and self-described free speech activist, is offering $1 million for anyone who will provide him with Mitt Romney's financial records.  In the past he has offered $1 million for various celebrities to pose naked,  for evidence refuting the Warren Commission report, for evidence that Presidential candidate Rick Perry was guilty of infidelity, and during the Clinton impeachment trial, for evidence any of the committee members had been guilty of similar transgressions.

Flynt, 69, purchased full-page ads in Sunday's Washington Post and the Tuesday, September 11, issue of USA Today.  "What is he hiding?" the ad text reads. "Maybe, now, we'll find out."  The ad also includes a phone number and email address where anyone with information can contact Flynt (at http://larryflynt.com/).  

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The Clint Eastwood speech train-wreck

By Jack Brummet, Arts Editor

OK.  I thought Clint Eastwood's speech was the best one I'd ever seen at a GOP (now GOP-Tea Party) convention, and I've been watching them since 1968.   The content was pretty predictable, but the rambling and half-baked facts fit right in with the general tenor of the convention and this slate of candidates.  Was Mitt Romney cringing as badly as he was during Chris Christie's speech?  At least Clint did mention Romney.  This was a great speech because it was so deranged.  I like deranged.  I like Clint Eastwood as a fellow jazz fan, as a masterful director, and pretty decent actor. As a political analyst?  I am guessing he probably garnered more votes for BHO than for the Romney-Ryan ticket.  Did Romney himself give a speech tonight?  Probably.  But I won't remember it tomorrow.  And neither will anyone else.  But we'll never forget Clint's shambling, rambling train-wreck.  I think the Romney speech writers must have been pretty coked up last night or something. Onward to the Dems convention next week.  This is Jack writing because Pablo was apoplectic after tonight's meat parade, and refused to write anything at all.  But he is working it in Tampa, trying to get a couple of minutes with Clint in the spin room.


Copyright (C) 2012 by All This Is That. All This Is That contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make these materials available to advance the understanding of political, economic, literary, artistic, and social issues. In some cases we satirize, parody, or lampoon materials from other sources. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of copyrighted material as provided for by section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for research, educational, and entertainment purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', please read and follow our Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license and attribute the work to All This Is That, along with our URL (http://jackbrummet.blogspot.com). 

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Nuggets from Paul Ryan's GOP-Tea Party stemwinder last night

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
Illustration by Jack Brummet

Paul Ryan delivered an energetic and interesting, but troubling speech, full of inspiration for the base, with virtually no substance. Ryan never talked about what the Romney-Ryan team will do, just that it will be different.

“We’re a full generation apart, Governor Romney and I. And, in some ways, we’re a little different. There are the songs on his iPod, which I’ve heard on the campaign bus and on many hotel elevators. He actually urged me to play some of these songs at campaign rallies. I said, I hope it’s not a deal-breaker Mitt, but my playlist starts with AC/DC, and ends with Zeppelin.”  

“College graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life.”  

“After four years of getting the run-around, America needs a turnaround, and the man for the job is Gov. Mitt Romney.” 

'“With all their attack ads, the president is just throwing away money — and he’s pretty experienced at that. You see, some people can’t be dragged down by the usual cheap tactics because their ability, character and plain decency are so obvious — and ladies and gentlemen, that is Mitt Romney.” 

“It went to companies like Solyndra, with their gold-plated connections, subsidized jobs and make-believe markets. The stimulus was a case of political patronage, corporate welfare and cronyism at their worst.”  

“So our opponents can consider themselves on notice. In this election, on this issue, the usual posturing on the left isn’t going to work. Mitt Romney and I know the difference between protecting a program and raiding it. Ladies and gentlemen, our nation needs this debate, we want this debate, we will win in this debate. (On Medicare) 

"Obamacare, as much as anything else, explains why a presidency that began with such anticipation now comes to such a disappointing close.” 

“It all started off with stirring speeches, Greek columns, the thrill of something new. Now all that’s left is a presidency adrift, surviving on slogans that already seem tired, grasping at the moment that has already passed, like a ship trying to sail on yesterday’s wind.” 

“These past four years we have suffered no shortage of words in the White House. What’s missing is leadership in the White House. And the story that Barack Obama does tell, forever shifting blame to the last administration, is getting old. The man assumed office almost four years ago. Isn’t it about time he assumed responsibility?” 

“[Mitt] turned around the Olympics at a time when a great institution was collapsing under the weight of bad management, overspending, and corruption— sounds familiar, doesn’t it? 

“None of us have to settle for the best this administration offers, a dull, adventureless journey from one entitlement to the next, a government-planned life, a country where everything is free but us.”

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Governor Chris Christie's keynote address

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor

click to enlarge

Chris Christie's speech reminded me of Obama's 2004. . .he also spent a lot of time talking about himself (and earlier so did Bill Clinton in his famous and long keynote many years ago). The best part is that Christie only mentioned Romney seven times, all mostly in the last eight minutes of the speech. It's interesting the way they are focused more on the platform and getting BHO out than on their actual candidate, who even the GOP-Tea Party treat like a cardboard cutout or placeholder candidate.

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