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I know this isn't exactly a newsflash, but conservatives really have weird, deep-seated issues with gender. While considering Obama's elitism today in the WSJ, Nooner just can't help herself and goes after Michelle Obama.
The other is elitism, a charge that clearly grates on him [Obama] and unnerves his wife, who has a great deal that would be attractive in a first lady (intelligence, accomplishment, beauty) but lacks placidity, which is, actually, necessary. All first ladies, first spouses, should be like Denis Thatcher, slightly dazed, mildly inscrutable, utterly supportive. It is the only job in the world where "seems slightly drugged" is a positive job qualification.
In other words, Nooner wants her first ladies to be mindless Stepford Wife zombies on GHB. Kinda like her.
Jump over to Meg McArdle, who frets that Barack Obama might just be too girly to beat St. McCain.
I don't know that I agree with Mark Kleiman that Barack Obama's masculinity won't be an issue in the coming election. On the one hand he's tall, but he's kind of, well, scrawny looking. But also, the political space I think he's trying to occupy--building understanding and reconciliation between hostile voter grops--is generally seen as a woman's role. And he's running against a much-decorated fighter pilot renowned for chasing women until his walker started getting in the way. I'm not saying it will be decisive, but it's probably something Obama needs to address, and I'm not sure how they will.
Yes, Obama will need to address why he's insufficiently manly enough for that critical "only votes for buffed out skirt-chasing he-men" demographic.
Keep it up, Meg. You're well on you're way to becoming the next Nooner.
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SO?!
Yeah, the Rethugs (as exemplified by Noonan) find the concept of intelligent, articulate, outspoken, accomplished, and knowledgeable women as something to be avoided.
Which means they’ll probably hate on Michelle Obama in much the same way they did on Hillary Clinton.
Idjits.
good grief
political discoursen is way past stupid
let me see if i have this right. barack is too meek and girly like and michelle isn’t meek enough?
Just say “no”.
Dumber shit has seldom been written- cept when Nooner told goopers that they really needed to go “make fools of themselves if necessary” in the Shiavo case cause it meant “so much” to the fundies and “no one else will even notice”….
I ain’t hiring her for a political advisor.
Yes, with Republicans it is much more important to be able to speak about family values than practice them.
I would suppose under Noonan’s definition the perpetually Xanaxed Laura Bush must be the perfect First Lady.
OT: Sorry if this has already been said. MSNBC is saying Howard Dean is calling for superdelegates to start stating their preference. David Boren and Sam Nunn have endorsed Barack Obama.
I guess ol’ Peggy really really likes Laura Bush, then, huh?
How did that uppity Abigail ever survive as First Lady?
I always find it amazing how unintentionally self-revealing conservatives can be.
Might I recommend this video interaction between McArdle and Glenzilla: http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/10187
And, OT, these action-packed videos featuring Rachel Maddow and Joe “the interrupter” Scarborough:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVPzAlELPpQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAUPLMcNApE
A-yep.
Will John McCain be asked whether Cindy meets this qualification? Or will he choose to denounce and reject Peggy Noonan?
Perhaps Charlie Gibson at ABC will lead with this on World News Tonight. Inquiring minds want to know, after all, now that we’ve got that whole lapel pin thing figured out.
So glad we’ve found the most important issues. I was starting to worry we might actually focus on the war, the economy, the constitution …. Silly me!
Noonan’s a spent puddle. Not worth much thought.
You just cannot make this stuff up.
I guess Noonan is shilling for Mrs. McCain with the dr reference.
BT - now i’m pissed again. this just pushes all my buttons.
great post, thanks.
Laudanum?
Oh, Christ, please make Pegster stop.
We’ve had seven years of a First Lady with a Buspar Glaze.
No more. Please.
St Pickles of the Pills?
And he’s running against a much-decorated fighter pilot renowned for chasing women until his walker started getting in the way. I’m not saying it will be decisive, but it’s probably something Obama needs to address, and I’m not sure how they will.
zzzzzzzzzzip.
Address this, baby.
Whaddya think?
crosstimbers at 8-” MSNBC is saying Howard Dean is calling for superdelegates to start stating their preference.”
gee, what kinda game is he playing? he just spent weeks making the media rounds saying beginning of june-maybe someone flipped his calendar, it’s still april.
bbl
Scrawny looking?
LOL!
Have you seen the video clip of him playing hoops with the Marines in NC?
I don’t care who McBush fucked- except for when he fucked America- which was frequently.
Linky.
More from Peggy:
Mrs. Clinton is transmitting, but people aren’t receiving.
[translation: Hillary is a bad radio.]
She has been branded, tagged.
[translation: Hillary is a cow.]
She’s been absorbed, understood and categorized.
[translation: Hillary is a spill that has been dealt with.]
Why is it that I get the feeling that Peggy can’t quite see that Hillary is human?
And speaking of lapel pins, why is it only Obama who gets asked about this? I inadvertently saw a few seconds of the “debate”, and noticed that while Hillary had lapels, they were completely bereft of flag pins…
And by the way, here’s McCain not wearing a flag pin.
Are we doomed to have a president who hates America?
I dunno - Peggy left her projector on?
Sorry, McCain pic sans flag pin.
I saw scumbag Andy Card on an MSNBS blip last week.
His lapel pin must have weighed a pound.
She should know the territory she advocates for the spouse, gin “was”
her baby, and just won’t quite go away… oooooooh, she gushes in every
public appearance.
It is the only job in the world where “seems slightly drugged” is a positive job qualification.
this will come as no surprise to watertiger
He’s probably seeing this poll result and not liking it:
Hi BT.
Lemme guess. Ole Abe Lincoln’s legs would’ve been too long, and he had a mole on his face. Never do. Nope.
Perhaps those so rotten inside need more “bling” outside to compensate.
Sure fooled me, heh.
Sure sounds like it to me.
Nooner Junior.
Poor Peggy — a pope is in the United States, but it’s not the pope that she loved… What’s a pundit to do? Lash out and say stupid stuff seems to be what she came up with.
If McCain wins he’ll be the first president on record to refer to the first lady as a c*nt in public. More Wit and Wisdom from John McCain:
http://freewayblogger.blogspot.....ccain.html
Signs placed in Phoenix, AZ.
Eh.
Free Poland, Invade Poland.
Same ting.
Is Poland in the axis of evil now?
Morning all :)
Dugg…:)
McBush is doin a pretty good job of appearing humble and non partisan- until one looks at his fascist policies of course.
He is probably more likable than either dem potential nominee-
This, of course, doesn’t mean that he’ll be elected…I’d put his chances at less than 25%.
The war and the economy are comin unglued- and McBush is a throwback to 2002.
Whut? She jealous of the $600 red shoes?
Tell her to earn them, the same way HE did. Could be interesting.
Laura Bush smokes in bed while George reads her poetry, that he wrote. They’re so romantic.
See and this is where the argument is so completely wrong; under the true etymology of the term “maverick” John McCain is the cow.
See how the MSM infects even our colloquial idioms…insidious!
brain bleach, quick!
I must just be staggeringly out of touch with mainstream America…I just can’t bring myself to give a flying fuck how skinny Barack Obama is.
I like the fact the Laura refused to quit smoking…wish Obama would do the same thing.
A lame Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict parallel.
Sorry.
You’d have to be smokin’ somethin’ fur sure!
I guess this is o/t, and was already talked about, but McCain’s big plan to cut the gas tax by a whopping 18 cents is the biggest joke of this entire election. Like that 18 cents wouldn’t be added back on the next day, simply by the escalating price of oil. Gas is up two and a half dollars since Bush took office. 18 cents? The guy is totally out of touch.
And earlier someone wished W hadn’t gotten sober. Fine group we got here!
Great post, BT. Makes me wonder what country I am in, and why anyone would want to live in a country with such shallow, superficial citizens with such a frivolous attitude toward voting standards that things like “He’s too skinny and scrawny.” or “He doesn’t wear a flag lapel pin to decorate his suit.” seem to be the most important matters to weigh when choosing a President.
no
Can it actually be proven that Dubya did get sober? He doesn’t act like it.
Did get sober? probably. Stayed sober? doubt it.
McCain? Cow?
Torturer Guy’s Pre-Emptive Wars have resulted in a shortage of copper. This has caused a steep increase in price (and thefts), which adds to inflation.
Even the military copper for bullets has been stolen. Two men stole eight tons of copper from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. Because we are in a State of Emergency, they are being charged with Sabotage.
Or sound like it.
I wish he hadn’t turned into a mean dry drunk with a predilection for religious apocalypse. Given the alternative I’d say have a drink, George.
Noonan has to be the dingiest dingbat on earth.
nancy reagan perhaps? pickles bush even?
these folks are so afraid of losing their status at the yacht club that they have forgotten how to flush for themselves.
I had a good (Irish) friend who liked to drink- a lot.
When he was drunk- he was fun- but in constant danger of starting a fight or doin somethin else sort of anti social.
When he QUIT drinking- he was a bloody bore. Nearly comotose and non-responsive.
Could never figure out if he was better off drinkin or stayin sober.
He’s passed away recently- so the subject is now academic.
Here’s Laura’s take on her husband’s poetry…
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/f.....=permalink
use a lot of advice,” she said. ”You know, I don’t really want a lot of advice from him and I know he doesn’t really want a lot of advice from me. So I make an effort to only speak out when I really feel like I can’t help but speak out.”
Wild Turkey and cocaine left him a “dry drunk” for life, sober he ain’t.
Thanks! It’s still as good as the first time!
Well here’s the thing- apparently he’s “tryin” to quit but he’s still smokin- so he gets reporters narcin on him to the american public…I’d rather he just said “Yeah- I smoke sometimes”.
Considering what Babs and Poppy probably made her promise in the marriage deal, it’s probably the only thing she has left that is her own.
Oh my.
A GERIATRIC much decorated, skirt chasin’ failed fighter pilot.
To the woodshed Peggy.
Karl would like to talk to you about proper propaganda catapulting.
OT - Why are we building a wall around Sadr City…did we not learn about the efficacy of politically motivated walls from the Soviets in Berlin?
completely OT - but of possible interest… just got a phone call from my heating oil company - i’ve used up most of my pre-bought oil, do i want a refill at the going rate…. which is: $4.07 (or $3.97 if one pays w/in 10 days)? (weather forecast here looks good - so i said no).
and gasoline here went up 20 cents / gal - yesterday (that’s right, in one day).
are fuel prices doing likewise in other parts of the country?
This is from the Whitehouse site, a speech Laura Bush made at the National Book Festival. I guess she didn’t actually say he wrote it, and later said that he didn’t.
I quit smokin a few years ago and don’t regret my decision- but still feel protective of those who knowin the whole story choose to smoke. Leave em the fuck alone!
we have a little game just before bedtime, tossing treats to our kitties for them to catch, if they can.
Listen Carefully Mr. McSame:
We are not kittens. We are very very angry, and we have claws. We know how to use them. We don’t like stoopid games from an elitist snob lobbing little treats.
We will not play your stoopid game.
Our gas (for the car) went down by 10 cents.
We follow the Israeli model now, Iraq is the west bank, works like a
champ.
At least they called you first - we asked them to do that and they still keep putting fuel oil in the tank and pasting a bill to our front door. The last time, my DH called them and told them to take it back…so they gave us a discount. Stupid.
Gasoline’s pushin $4 a gallon in socal
We have really gone overboard with our requirements to be prez. Have to be religious (even if you don’t even go to church), have to be someone to have a beer with(although you’ll never get that chance), wear a lapel flag (when the hell did that start?) and now you have to be hefty, or fat or something. Have we lost our minds?
Up 10 cents a gallon between Wednesday and Thursday.
Somewhat OT. Heard at lunchtime on NPR’s “Day to Day” Jake Tapper was interviewed and tried (only partly successfully) to put all of the blame for the uproar over Scar & Gib and the trivial pursuit first hour onto Obama supporters. Madeline Brand didn’t quite let him get away with it. And then, he lapsed into all of the BS that we get from the MSM about “character issues” and how crucial they are. Digby nailed it here,
comparing Wednesday’s debate performance to the theme of Glenzilla’s new book.
Can’t be short either!
excuse me?
mccain is a dweeb, I can’t believe they want to compare the masculinity of mccain against obama
hillary is more masculine then mccain
Yeah- we have. Probably a long time ago….
We are a nation of sheep as someone observed years ago. That never changes- even when the flock is movin off in different directions.
In California they want the death penalty for smoking.
taper smelled smoke on him and assumed that Obama had been smoking instead of other possibilities bit with all that being said, who gives a heave ho?
It’s weird how so many R women just plain don’t like women.
And the moral to the story is she’s as much of a witless wonder as he is!
Sorry, over Stephanopoulis and Gibson, not Scar (been reading about his mini tantrum this aft.).
Oh, I forgot that one - and doesn’t smoke. Ye gods !
long time local, family run business. and they are very, very nice to their customers (sorry tw3k *g*). i didn’t even have to ask that they call me first - that’s just the way they do business.
i’m happy for you.
i’m sad for the ones who can’t.
it’s a dreadfully tough addiction to break.
i do not intrude.
nagging wouldn’t help. please give me a smidgeon of credit for a like amt of sense. tnanx. ;->
I trust you’re joking? If not, I’ll believe what a friend of mine told me years ago — the United States is tilted to the left, and everything loose falls into California.
pw at 34-thanks, cuz he was pretty specific, so thought it had to be something big, but hadn’t heard anything that would qualify as ’big’……
(and the other thing, want you to know not trying to ’flame’ you, i just disagree on stuff like that. probably always will.)
bbl
Holy shit, I’m a perfect candidate. I’m religious about beer and I’m fat and I’ve been contemplating a nipple piercing with a flag pin. If Obama can’t do it, I will save the party in 2012, fear not!
Too long in the spandex, add in the intellectual challenge of library
school and you have enlightenment!
707! I trust you also have a huge gun collection? Otherwise the NRA won’t be happy…
Well, I live in California and I smoke, so I guess they can just come and get me. I shudder to think what other laws may be arriving soon to restrict our rights.
lol :)
I look forward to your race for the prez. Should be a lot of fun - may I be your manager? :)
Here’s a new T-shirt:
Charlie Gibson: As capitol gains tax approach zero, tax revenue approach infinity -QED
In California, smokers have to spend a couple of bucks a pack on state taxes- much of which is spent on obnoxious teevee commercials to make em quit smoking…
The teevee companies are gettin rich and smokers (many of whom are lower income) buy cigs instead of food.
Most regressive tax in america? The cigarette tax- and LOTS of “liberals” want to RAISE it.
tl in ga 72-”
OT - Why are we building a wall around Sadr City…did we not learn about the efficacy of politically motivated walls from the Soviets in Berlin?”
think i got this on the fdl newsboard—we’re not building it AROUND it, just inbetween the green zone and the mortars…….can’t beat ’em, build a wall. sound familiar?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04.....ref=slogin
I have lived in cali most of my life and I have to say that when I travel back to Brasil, Germany or England, I realize how much I appreciate not smelling, inhaling smoke while eating dinner, etc. i don’t begrudge anyone their right to smoke but smoke doesn’t know how to stay in the smoking section
Mmmmooooooooooooo!
just curious.
have you spent the last 7 yrs living in the back of a very dark, sound-proof closet?
i think we’ve all lost most of the rights you probably assume you still have.
I smoke in my house and in my car. Suits me fine not to smoke in public and think it’s a good thing that you can’t.
Mebbe Jesse could come out of retirement and run for Veep.
Well, I don’t hunt so I was considering a Tec-9, of course. And, if I ever do start hunting, it’ll be good for that too!
One snag though, later today I’ll be at the MSP Lindberg terminal and already I feel the siren call of the that particular restroom — you know the one. I feel the candidacy might be leaving the tracks before the train has left the station.
Nice Post BT,
I think Noonan and Meg need to read Glennzilla’s new book. You have presented two more examples of how the right wing nuts try to portray Democratic males as effete and wimpy and the Dem Women icy and cold, while the GOP men are John Wayne mavericks. Please.
No prob! If we all agreed all the time, it’d be boring.
Not sure exactly when but like much of what we are dealing with, probably attributable to the ’60s/’70s DFHs.
Just a shame that John Prine stays so topical.
I used to have a couple of shotguns and a 22 but they just sat around rusting so I gave em away….
If I wanted em back, though, I wouldn’t want some politician tellin me “no”.
I notice that you didn’t say that they are trying to portray GOP women as sex kittens.
*g*
McCain isn’t a dweeb. He was a total macho guy. The trouble is he’s geriatric. I guess if he’s President and he falls down, there’ll be someone around to pick him up.
At risk of causing offense: Thank God for that.
I think that’s fair, no one should tell you that you can’t smoke in your own car or home (okay, well I would hope if you had kids you wouldn’t)
I’m actually confused by this quick research, because she later said that George didn’t write the poem. But who else would have written it? It’s clearly written for her in a particular situation with their dog’s name and everything. WTF?
McBush is about five foot nothin
Obama must be six three or so..
It’s gonna be a funny lookin debate—Obama an the Dwarf!
Kids gone - they all smoke.
Maybe LAURA wrote the poems- her contribution to the cultural development of the nation.
I always felt John Wayne was a pretty poor example for the GOP: He moved heaven and earth so that he would not have to fight in WWII - and accused other movie actors of being soft for not going; he married three times and had numerous affairs; oh, wait..he’s the patron saint of the GOP right wing, wasn’t he?
You oughta be able to open a “SMOKING MANDATORY” bar…
Only smokers could work or drink there.
I like the chances of makin a shitpot full of money–but it ainta gonna happen. Too evil.
Completely OT, Girl Power!!! :)
‘The cabinet of Spain’s re-elected socialist government was sworn in on Monday with women forming a majority for the first time.
José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Prime Minister, consolidated his position as an avowed feminist with a round of new appointments stating: “I feel very proud that there are more women ministers than men.”‘
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/new.....ain115.xml
So he was a morally challenged chickenhawk. Sounds like a perfect role model for the GOP.
Hey
Is Harriet Meirs in that picture?
Like Mileva Maric?
same story as reagan, the greatest tax raiser in the history of peacetime president’s and grew the government exponentially, divorced as well
the republican heroes are nothing but hypocrites
Yeah
Like a really STUPID Mileva!
707 :)
but wait there’s more….
‘Silvio Berlusconi criticised his Spanish counterpart for appointing so many women to his cabinet. In one of the first interviews after being elected Italy’s prime minister for the third time, Mr Berlusconi attacked Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s government, describing it as “too pink. . . Mr Berlusconi, who won a sweeping victory in this week’s election, told Italian state radio: “Zapatero has formed a government that is too pink, something which we cannot do in Italy because there is a prevalence of men in politics and it isn’t easy to find women who are qualified for government.” His comments caused outrage in Spain as the new parliament was inaugurated by King Juan Carlos. . . Magdalena Alvarez, the infrastructure minister in the Socialist government [said] “Many of us women would never belong to a government headed by Mr Berlusconi,” she said.’
from everything I’ve read he had little man syndrome when he was young, from everything I see he is a frail old man now
no judgement on my part. One is free to do as they please but my uncle has emphysema and I know he has cut off years of his life from smoking. I don’t wish that on anyone.
Funny!!
Berlusconi seems to have a problem with his mouth. Maybe he should do something about that.
I don’t know. I hate McCain, but five years of torture in Vietnam, pushed to the edge of death. He’s not a wimp. Maybe as a politician.
So what if Obama showed up at a press conference with a cigarette lit? Would he be stoned by well meaning americans?
I can’t seem to hate McBush.
When I work up a good case of mad I see him talkin and have to admit that I kind of like him.
It’s just that one fascist per century is more than enough in my opinion.
Are you kidding? Of course. Anyone would be. This isn’t 1965.
He better recycle too.
I always kind of liked the sixties.
He is getting flap over a made in china lapel pin, of course they would
Go figure. The sound of his voice has almost the same effect on me as Bush’s, just not quite so severe. And the content… Well, that’s same old, same old.
‘Berlusconi seems to have a problem with his mouth. Maybe he should do something about that.’
I imagine he’s is going to have to kiss a lot of those hands!!!….
What is interesting about the make-up of Spains’ parliament is that it is SO girl heavy in such a Catholic country…
Think it’s interesting that Robert Riech endorsed Obama today. With all these Bill-people endorsing him I have to think they didn’t much care for Hillary.
Is that a wrong assumption?
yeah–I hated Clusterfuck from the first minute I heard him open his pie hole….
Useless little piece of dog shit.
Kinda like the corrupt Rick and the French Inspector, corrupt but likeable? ” I am shocked, shocked I tell you that gambling is going on here” as lobbyists call from the back of the McCain Express?
There’s no percentage in endorsing the loser- and Obama’s going to win.
Obama would be better off to IGNORE the Hillary attacks and act as if he’d already won the nomination- just go after McBush 24/7.
Will happen soon I imagine.
I don’t really care which of em wins the nomination- but I’m gettin sick of their acts- both of em.
Here’s a new T-Shirt:
Hillary Clinton’s Democratic campaign bid; dog, meet manger.
Hillary should probably just go through the motions for the last few primaries- picking up enough delegates so that in case Obama steps on his dick between now and the convention, there’s still another option.
LOL
Hear, hear. I’ve got to say I agree with you. I have a preference, and will vote for either one, but all I want to say to both of them is:
Please. Make. It. STOP.
I’m betting that Hillary drops out after PA., unless there’s some crazy comeback.
Top Hillary Fundraisers Rip Into Howard Dean For Saying Super-Dels Should Announce Support “Starting Now
read here
Gasoline was a buck 29 yesterday in Montréal. That’s for a liter of gas. That’s four bucks ninety a gallon.
And it’s them bigger fatter cannuck dollars too!
We’re getting there. High octane’s 4.09 a gallon here on California Central Coast this week.
As Glenn Greenwald points out at great length in his new book, accusing male Democrats of being girly is part of the standard Republican playbook; they always do it, regardless of who the target is and how laughable the charge is.
Noonan and McArdle, the new Fred Flinstone and Barney Rubble of the neocon OpEd writers club. Move over Deb Howell. Noon and McArdle are the newest version of the I’m so bored maybe I’ll write something and get Margie’s hubby to publish it for me set.
Is Ms. Noonan excusing Laura’s perpetually dazed look (more likely to come from over-exposure to Shrub than drugs)? Or is she preparing us for the hoped for Cindy McCain, who’s beer tastes and champagne budget will finally provide us with a make over of the tattered White House interiors. And a new set of sheets for the Lincoln bedroom.
The idea and the reality of an ueber-competent, emotionally, socially and sexually mature woman sharing the White House with an equally seasoned and mature man continues to scare the botox out of the trophy wives club and their Deke fraternity hubbies. What good is money and inbreeding if all these, you know, competent women and men start competing with them?
If there is anyone on drugs it is Peggy Noonan, who always appears like she is a character from Valley of the Dolls. And who was it who sold the masses the opiate “morning in America” phrase?