Chunky BoBo has got to be kidding me. Not since the retirement of William Safire has the New York Times allowed such nonsense to be printed on their opinion page. For this alone, Douthat should be struck down by Zeus’ thunderbolt.
But moderates — and maybe, just maybe, the occasional liberal as well — should appreciate [Paul] Ryan all the same, because he’s almost single-handedly responsible for saving the Republican Party from some of its own worst impulses.
No. No. A thousand times, no.
Paul Ryan did not save the Republicans from any of their worst impulses. None. Not one.
Paul Ryan is the creator of some of their worst impulses.
Typical Republican doublethink.
This is just reflective of the selling process of Paul Ryan to the low information voter, most of whom will not be paying much attention for at least a few more weeks. It is important that this image be created now, so that it can be deeply embedded in the conventional wisdom before these people start tuning in and talking with all their friends at soccer practices and school functions as they seek easy confirmation on which direction they should go come November.
And this is the image I am trying to kill right now in the minds of a few friends who are on the fence. It is a zombie lie that must be killed in the cradle. hese people voted for the President last time around, but are unsure what they will do this time. They seem to be predisposed to believing this guy is one of the “serious adults in the room”, who might be able to get the ship of government off the reef that it has sat on for so long. He is already, in some of their minds, a “moderate”. That idea must be snuffed right now. The guy’s ideas are radical and extreme. But it is not likely my friends will learn that from their media consumption.
Did you know that Chunky Bobo now Tweets? I just found out the other day when he was going back and forth with Chait and Ezra.
As others have said, the pick can be explained as providing fan service to 100-300 deep village cretins who get a happy ending just thinking about serious men preaching austerity for the poors. They’ll happily overlook the lengthy infatuation with a pretty whacked russian atheist and cult-leader, because there’s nothing more wholesome and courageous than trillions in tax cuts for the super wealthy.
Completely, utterly OT, but I just got home from watching Felix Hernandez pitch a perfect game at Safeco Field.
Hey, we gotta take our rays of sunshine where we can find ’em.
Well, that’s awesome. Congratulations!
I just got home from watching Blues Traveler and the Bare Naked Ladies.
That’s pretty cool, too. Though I’ve sorta lost track of BNL – is their newer stuff any good?
most of what they played was good. But I’m no expert on new vs. old.
I nominate McCain as wanker of the day.
if you need any further evidence that the usual suspects who are hyperventilating over the Biden non-treversy, here is is, I think this is the “jumping shark moment” of that bullshit.
McCain Suggests Dumping Biden
BWHAHAHA… They’ve got nothing. This whole Biden “chains” bullshit is just trying to change the subject and it ain’t working. The Romney camp still seems unhinged and no one is fooled by their Obama is divisive B.S. The Romney camp is whining to the refs and what they look like are whiners.
Replace Biden with Clinton…Grandpa ‘Cain needs to go back to shouting at clouds and telling kids to “get off his lawn”…
John McCain – concern troll
When the revolution comes Ross will have to spend a couple of semesters in the reeducation camps.
Well, from a Republican point of view, the worst impulse you can have is to be willing to compromise on anything, ins’t it? Maybe that’s what Douthat is talking about.
Paul Ryan hasn’t compromised on anything. And I get your snark, but Douthat suggests that he has.
Exactly. Ryan is more or less single-handedly responsible for scuttling at least three major deficit-reduction compromises in the past two years: the Simpson-Bowles commission, the Senate “Gang of Six”, and the Obama-Boehner deal last summer.
Why? Because they all included some (minor) tax increases. Ryan didn’t save Republicans from their worst impulses; he enabled them to act on them.
it’s all about reassuring white folks that the white candidates aren’t REALLY as douchey as THE BLACK GUY is making it sound. Giving white folks plausible (according to us white folks) deniability is the only goal here.
Save the Republican Party? Are you kidding…this country is really living on the edge by having just two parties. Obviously we have a greater need than can be satisfied with two parties. The far right of the GOP is in control and we know that means well funded. However, getting voters to actually support the 1% might be just as difficult as a burglar stealing from someone who has nothing left to steal.
Right now there is no moderation in the GOP. There is zero appeal for the middle class, women, minorities without money, or senior citizens and they expect a close race? It doesn’t look like it is going to be very close unless they can restrict all of the above from voting.