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Speaking in front of a crowd made up largely of senior citizens, Gingrich reiterated his argument that since immigrants need to pass a test to become American citizens, “young Americans” should be forced to do the same “before they start voting.” A majority of the crowd seemed to approve, giving Gingrich resounding applause:
GINGRICH: [Immigrants] need to pass a test of American history. And candidly, it wouldn’t be bad to have a test like that for young Americans before they start voting.
Yep, just disenfranchise the youth vote that turned out so overwhelmingly for Obama in 2008 (and surely will again because he’s been so inspiring and awesome!), and everything else should just magically fall into place. Of course, aside from being blatantly unconstitutional, it also assumes that young people who watch Fox News will be more knowledgeable than those who read, say, Firedoglake. Then again, maybe the Texas School Board would provide the answer key.
Is the GOP fielding such crappy candidates because they all expect to be raptured tomorrow (and if so, why are they freaking out about the national debt)? It would explain why their two best general-election candidates are Mormons, though.
UPDATE: Never mind! Apparently when Newt said “It wouldn’t be bad to have a test like that for young Americans before they start voting,” he didn’t mean “that we ought to create a test for young people,” just that knowledge of American history is terribly important. So true, especially when it comes to stuff like the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. Or one’s own words from, like, a day ago.
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ELI!
Newtie’s never taken a position he couldn’t change, depending on present audience of course.
MARGARET!
What’s hilarious is that he doesn’t so much change it as deny that he ever said it in the first place. I think he tried to pull something very similar with Ryan’s plan to kill Medicare.
It would be hilarious if the DeeCee punditry didn’t dutifully, (and apparently uncritically), report what he says to report. Guess you won’t be invited to the right parties if you criticize teh Newt.
ELI! MARGARET!
So how did your first week on the job go, Margaret?
And Eli, I am just ROTFLMAO at Newtie self destructing one day at a time.
But then maybe Sarah will run. I saw a car today with “Savior of the USA, Sarah Palin 2012″ on the back window in those big stick-on letters. Couldn’t get close enough to get a look at the driver, tho.
I’m gonna enjoy tomorrow after the Rapture. I’m sure they don’t take atheists.
MOLLY!
Newt’s campaign has been hilarious so far, what a colossal buffoon. I hope he sticks around for a while, maybe gets into a feud with Palin or Bachmann or something.
What if they only take the people who actually *act* like Christians?
msmolly!
Extremely tired but very satisfied. I got all of the work caught up and started to re-organize the system into something a bit less chaotic. I had to send somebody home today. There is this girl, barely out of high school, who works on the loading dock and she’s been doing it in these cute little strappy sandals with an open toe and a five inch heel. On bare concrete. Four and a half feet over a very hard surface. I told her yesterday to wear rubber soled shoes today without a heel but she showed up with the heels on again. The she told me that (my predecessor) didn’t mind her working in heels and I said that I’m not (my predecessor) and if she comes back in heels on Monday, she’d better buy a paper on Sunday and look for an office job where she can wear those things more safely.
That means lotsa free shit for us!
Well, unless my theory prevails, in which case most of us won’t even notice a difference.
I look at it as a win-win. If only the righteous go, then I’m going and the wanking thumpers are out of my hair for good but if the wanking thumpers go, then I stay behind, get lotsa free stuff and they are out of my hair for good.
I’m not so sure I’m all that righteous, so I almost have to root for the fundies to be right about who goes and who gets left behind.
Good for you (and where are her brains??)! Sounds like you are settling in. But I’ll bet you are pooped. It is serious mental strain to start a new job and have to learn the job and the people. I remember when I started at ND directing a dept. with 35 people. Folks kept poking their heads into my office to say hello or ask a question and I didn’t have a clue who they were or what their jobs were. It took a couple of weeks to sort them all out, and in that time it was important not too come across as too vulnerable.
You will be ready for some down time this weekend.
Newt is nuts lets suppose this idea happens a Supreme Court challenge would be immediate. However suppose it does become law the law would then be applied to old people as well as young people.
Given the number of young people who watch the Daily Show vs the number of old people who watch Fox Newt is likely to be embarrassed.
We beat the Right on knowledge of the issues.
Hmmm. That reminds me of one of my favorite sayings (not original). Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
The people who actually act like Christians may not even BE Christians, just good people.
Weeding out young voters helps Republicans. Weeding out stupid/ignorant ones doesn’t.
Believe me, I was not limiting my thinking to just Christians.
LOL. I have a LIST!
How exactly would I find out which fundies have Nikon D3Ses?
Understood. It is just amazing to me how many people who call themselves Christians don’t abide by the teachings, or twist them for their own purposes. I love it that Boner got called out by the Catholic Bishop (? – not sure that was who, but someone in the Catholic hierarchy) for not living the teachings of the church.
Better hurry up and poll your fundie acquaintances. Pretend you’re shopping!
EDIT: Isn’t that coveting your neighbor’s ass or something? Been a long time since I’ve read the 10 Commandments.
Perhaps voters should have to pass a “psychological test” to see if they are fit to vote. I’m pretty sure, that with a properly designed test, Newt wouldn’t be allowed to vote.
Of course very few Republicans would pass, which would be the point.
Exactly as the Rethugs are doing right now with voter registration laws.
Young people don’t watch Fox.
Yeah, I have posted on that a few times. The hypocrisy is just unbelievably blatant and glaring.
I really just wonder how much longer Newtie will stay in the race, or whether, like Trump, he folds his tent and goes home in disgrace. Of course, that ego is unlikely to let him do that.
I don’t really *have* any fundie acquaintances, come to think of it. I know a couple of right-wing Catholics, but they’re not photo buffs.
The hypocrisy of the Republicans just overall is astonishing. And our intrepid media, with few exceptions, just lets them get away with it. They keep doing it because they don’t get called on it.
IMHO, no Rethug stands a chance against Oilbummer. No Rethug could take an axe to Social Security and Medicare the way a Trojan Horse like Oilbummer can.
Oilbummer has the chops to get important Democrats like Pelosi, Durbin, Reid to fall in line and make the cuts. The rest of the D lineup (as we’ve seen) will line up to cut their own throats at the ballot box for Obama’s unpopular draconian agenda.
Wall Street wants Social Security and AHIP wants Medicare. Obama plans to deliver.
Oh, I have a couple. One is a former work colleague whom I still see socially on occasion, and it takes all of my will power not to (for example) post something in reply to her Facebook status. We are vastly different (she’s an evangelical Christian rightwinger, and I’m a liberal atheist) but I still want to keep a cordial relationship. Today, for example, she posted something like, “I stand with Israel” and I so wanted to reply.
Obama young voters were mostly college grads and yes young poor minorities but think Newt how many more young GOP voters would not vote? How many more young GOP voters would not get into the habit of voting in elections?
Long term short term Newt’s idea helps us :)
Now imagine if Newt had to take a test how many lies before he was disqualified from voting? Rush, Glen Beck lets apply Newt’s idea to politicaL free speech and voting rights. You can’t talk about politics if you can’t vote .
Yeah, I mostly just bite my tongue. There’s no way I’m going to change their minds, and arguing makes me kind of miserable.
More stupid voters has always been one of our complaints.
Every word that Newt has said has gotten him into trouble. And may I say that there is nothing in nature that is the color of Calista’s hair.
I
likelove the way you think. Congrats on your first week at the new gig. I got a bit of work from some people who I asked to pay me in advance. Glad I did. Sorry for the OT, sort of.And her eyes! I saw a photo (hopefully not Photoshopped) where she looked like a Barbie doll with huge eyes, or like someone had goosed her from behind. She looks like a life size doll. Match made in heaven, that pair! Him with his pot belly and jowls, her with her hair and those eyes.
And I rarely comment on looks, so I’m ashamed of myself.
I didn’t mean “righteous” in the biblical sense. I’m anti theist as heck but I behave in a far more “Christian” way than most of the faithful that I know.
I do find it amazing how some of this ilk just keep being recycled….At least it seems Bolton is not joining the bunch.
Glad you did — because you think they might not pay you, or just because you need the money?? Things are so tough for so many. I am glad I am comfortably retired, but even so I look at the pennies pretty carefully, knowing there aren’t lots coming in any more.
Spot on all! Sounds exactly like my experience and yep, I’m ready to relax on the porch for a bit.
Such a fucktard. Can take something most can agree with–kids don’t kmnow history and need to learn it– mention it, say a few words–”american history is the story of exceptionism. if our kids want an exceptionalist future, they need to know about our exceptionialismist past.”— and fuck it up. how can anybody be such a fucktard that they can fuck that up. and he’s also right. my kids dodn’t learn history for shit. in school. parents can’t take that place but we gotta help.
WooHoo! Those informal temp gigs were what got me through.
I have a wonderful screened porch that I *live* on all summer, but I can’t go relax on it until I clean it thoroughly, and the weather has been cold and rainy. Maybe this weekend. It is my summer haven.
Is the kitteh forgiving you for leaving her alone all day? Bet she’s looking for skritches in the evenings.
My new boss is a fundie. Yikes! But he stays to himself and the company has a strict policy against proslytizing. As long as he keeps signing my checks, he can believe whatever he wants.
Been my experience— get paid at least something in advance.
Definitely. She’s just a box of cuddles when I get home. But I was speaking more of a metaphoric porch…
who’s gonna replace him after the rapture tomorrow? or whenever? maybe you can have his job
How did you find out so fast that he’s a fundie?
Ah, understood. Relax wherever.
I would have trouble working for a fundie boss, I think. I don’t do too well at keeping my opinions to myself — one of my major shortcomings. But then, I would have needed the job, so would have done what it took, hopefully, and just clamped firmly on my tongue!
Baldric the Newt.
I was told by a co-worker, who pointed out that he might not like my bumper sticker.
M’eh. Judging by our conversation earlier, if he’s looking forward to the Rapture, then he’s sure hedging his bets about being here on Monday!
Well like I said, proslytization there is a strict no-no. A policy put in place by that very same fundie owner. That will get you fired. So will engaging in partisan politics, which is why I can’t really check in at the Lake during the day.
Heh heh heh. Glad to see someone caught it. I wanted to use that for a YouTube, but the only one that was halfway decent had Serbian subtitles.
I want to know what Newt bought at Tiffany’s that was worth $500,000? Calista can’t wear it in public because the wingers wouldn’t like it, so what’s the point.
Probably just as well. I think we all do better to keep religion and politics out of the office. In my case, working at a prominent Catholic university, keeping a low profile was just common sense. In the last few months before I retired I was peeking in at the Lake during the day, and really should not have been. I am rigidly honest and that took away from the full day of work I owed my employer. With retirement only a short time away and a job that wasn’t very demanding, I did it, but shouldn’t have.
I am not into jewelry at all, so I can’t conceive of spending half a mil at Tiffany’s. Apparently Calista has expensive tastes.
Yep, it’s more scruples than anything else that keeps me from looking in. They pay me to do my job, not blogbash trolls at the Lake.
And good on him/her for that policy. Regardless of the religion or politics involved, that is just good business and says a lot about the owner, IMHO.
Oh but there have been some tempting trolls lately…
There have been times this week when we could have used your troll bashing. Seems they are coming out of the woodwork these days.
The Lake is being more effective and so they are all tempted to come over and prove to themselves that they can stand toe to toe with Liberals. But they are way out of their league. It’s never even close.
I have mixed feelings about trolls. On the one hand, I think we (Firepups) can be a bit too free to label someone who doesn’t toe the “party line” around here a “troll.” Sometimes they just have a different opinion, and if they’re civil and refrain from name calling and attacks, we should be able to engage them in honest debate — but sometimes we just fling poo at them.
On the other hand, we’ve had a couple of egregious trolls hereabouts lately.
And a week or so ago a newcomer to the site (screen name ‘Chickenbone’) called me a troll. It was pretty funny.
Edit to add: A few people came to my defense. Haven’t seen Chickenbone since.
I don’t mind their opinions. It’s when they try – and quite often succeed – to hijack the thread. It’s so disrespectful to the writer of the post.
Agreed, Twain! There was a really good example yesterday on the Japan nuclear post. I’m not sure I’d call the person a troll, but s/he sure hijacked the thread and put everyone down who didn’t agree, and kept bringing up the membership campaign that he/she wouldn’t support.
Good evening all.
Evening, eCAHN. How are the bees?
They can’t stop at giving their opinions. They drip with self righteousness and an overinflated sense of self worth. There was one a couple of evenings ago that insisted that everybody who disagreed with him/her be silenced as a condition for joining the Lake. This same individual was also making liberal, (heh-heh) use of the flagging button on everybody with whom s/he disagreed.
OKAY, it is time to (as Southern Dragon says) jump into my tree. I’m running out of steam. More Impatiens to plant tomorrow, weather permitting.
*Waves nighters to Eli and Margaret and Twain and whoever else is still around here. I’m out!*
That’s funny. If they get lucky they might take out some regular commenters.
Back momentarily. Hi eCAHN! Carry on!
(nighters)
The bees are doing super.
I’m back from a neighbor’s party that was outdoors in 60 degree weather, so trying to warm up.
Interesting to see that Rs have changed so much toward nuttiness in 15 years that Newtie can’t figure it out.
I used to plant impatients. Rabbits thought they made great & colorful desserts.
Anyone know what time the rapture is scheduled for?
Newtie’s time has passed and he doesn’t know it. He’s still back at Contract for America…..or whatever the thing was called.
That’s just about all that will bloom in my shady yard. I haven’t had rabbits nibbling on those, fortunately. I did have something else I planted last year come up and send up a flower stalk that was promptly bitten off by something (rabbit, maybe?).
Now I REALLY AM going to bed. it is nearly 11 here in NW Indiana and I’ve had a couple of glasses of wine, so…
I’ve got blossoms on some of my peonies. This is their second season. They are supposed to be immune to both deer & rabbits & so far so good. And I love peonies. Has been one of my fave flowers since they were in vases in profusion my my elementary school graduation ceremony. Of course, now they bloom a full month earlier.
Well, as it’s presumably a worldwide event, It should have already been taking place for several hours in Eastern Eurasia and Australia, along with some Pacific Territories. I haven’t heard anything yet about people shooting up out of their shoes into the great beyond. Coincidentally, there are no reports of flesh eating zombies either.
Maybe politicians should have to pass a test in basic decency before young Americans should have to pay federal income taxes that will go to making weapons and funding the military.
I remind everyone that short term memory diminishes as one gets older. Newt’s the right age for it. So convenient, too.
How about we just teach people how to count and store citizen’s ballots correctly?
RE Newt. He won’t quit until he has enough money to live off until the next run up to a campaign. This is how he makes his living.
And if something fell and crushed her cute little exposed toes, she would sue you and your company in a heartbeat for allowing lax safety conditions and poor oversight and she would win.
My first thought was Children of the Corn.
And I too am embarrassed for commenting on physical appearance.