To many sex scandals. Well, at least the campaign is a bit less batshitty. To be honest, I'm actually starting to appreciate this eternal debating cycle the republicans have going. What's going to happen is that republican primary voters and caucus attendees will now know their candidates well before the Iowa caucus reducing the far out of proportion of the power of the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. Maybe we'll see a drop in farm subsidies and whatever New Hampshire care about being screwed over. Whats next? One super primary for all states just like the general election?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16019624
QuoteUS Republican Herman Cain suspends campaign
US presidential hopeful Herman Cain has said he is suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination.
He blamed political and media pressure on his family in the wake of "false" allegations of sexual harassment and a 13-year-long extra-marital affair.
"I am not going to be silenced and I'm not going away," he told supporters in his home city of Atlanta, Georgia.
Next month, voters in Iowa will begin the process of choosing a Republican presidential candidate for 2012.
Mr Cain said the "false" allegations against him had taken a toll on his family, but added: "I am at peace."
"I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distraction, the continued hurt caused on me and my family," he told supporters at what had been billed as the opening of his campaign headquarters.
He said he would endorse another candidate at a later date but gave no hint of where he would direct his supporters to go.
On Friday Mr Cain discussed with his wife, Gloria, whether to press on with his campaign.
Last week, an Atlanta woman, Ginger White, 46, came forward to claim she had a 13-year affair with Mr Cain.
Speaking to MSNBC on Thursday, Ms White denied they had been in love, saying: "It was a sexual affair - as hard as that is for me to say."
While rejecting any suggestion of an affair with Ms White, Mr Cain has acknowledged helping pay her monthly bills and expenses, and that his wife did not know about the friendship.
The BBC's Marcus George, in Washington DC, says even before the questions arose about Mr Cain's private life, there were doubts about his plans for tax reform and his understanding of foreign affairs.
The former pizza executive went from obscure longshot to unlikely frontrunner to tabloid fodder.
While Mr Cain's ratings slumped, support for former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich has surged.
Mr Gingrich has now overtaken frontrunner Mitt Romney in some opinion polls on who should be the Republican candidate to challenge Barack Obama for the White House in November 2012.
He always seemed able to me.
Seems his drop started right after the "what's a Libya?" interview and the concubine was just the coup de grace.
Quote from: The Brain on December 03, 2011, 02:32:16 PM
He always seemed able to me.
Seemed like he was a marked man from the start.
Quote from: Maximus on December 03, 2011, 02:40:30 PM
Quote from: The Brain on December 03, 2011, 02:32:16 PM
He always seemed able to me.
Seemed like he was a marked man from the start.
Yes, as The Brain said. Able was the marked man, and Cain was Able ere he saw Elba.
Sad news. He's immensely charming and, in this field, had the very real virtue of being interesting and engaging.
Edit: Also I am loving the sunglasses in this goodbye speech. Too few politicians in democratic countries have the confidence to wear sunglasses.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 03, 2011, 02:35:07 PM
the concubine was just the coup de grace.
You should pluralize concubine.
WHERE ALL DA WHITE WIMMIN AT
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 03, 2011, 03:47:51 PM
You should pluralize concubine.
WHERE ALL DA WHITE WIMMIN AT
That would be ossum if a) Cain had actually boned the women who filed sexual harrassment complaints and b) sexual harrassment complaints were worth more than a cup of spit.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 03, 2011, 03:59:53 PM
That would be ossum if a) Cain had actually boned the women who filed sexual harrassment complaints and b) sexual harrassment complaints were worth more than a cup of spit.
Be fair. At least one of them was worth about fifty thousand dollars.
Quote from: Faeelin on December 03, 2011, 04:16:17 PM
Be fair. At least one of them was worth about fifty thousand dollars.
36 I think, but point taken.
The Onion's title pretty much sums up how I feel:
"Rumors Of Extramarital Affair End Campaign Of Presidential Candidate Who Didn't Know China Has Nuclear Weapons."
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 03, 2011, 03:59:53 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 03, 2011, 03:47:51 PM
You should pluralize concubine.
WHERE ALL DA WHITE WIMMIN AT
That would be ossum if a) Cain had actually boned the women who filed sexual harrassment complaints and b) sexual harrassment complaints were worth more than a cup of spit.
Which one?
We've truly lost a statesman Sheilbh! :weep:
:lol:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/69700.html#ixzz1fWM1Yh8t
QuoteBy ALEXANDER BURNS | 12/3/11 1:55 PM EST Updated: 12/3/11 2:08 PM EST
Herman Cain quoted from a source he identified as "the Pokemon movie" in a speech suspending his presidential campaign Saturday.
"I believe these words came from the Pokemon movie," Cain said. "Life can be a challenge. Life can seem impossible. It's never easy when there's so much on the line. But you and I can make a difference. There's a mission just for you and me."
Continue Reading
He continued: "Just look inside and you will find just what you can do."
In previous speeches, Cain has attributed the quotation to "a poet."
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 03, 2011, 03:01:49 PM
Sad news. He's immensely charming and, in this field, had the very real virtue of being interesting and engaging.
Interesting? Engaging? I guess, in the sense I wanted to engage him with a tire iron every time he opened his mouth.
QuoteEdit: Also I am loving the sunglasses in this goodbye speech. Too few politicians in democratic countries have the confidence to wear sunglasses.
So they can keep track of visions in their eyes?
Fuck, he was my candidate.
Quote from: Siege on December 03, 2011, 07:57:40 PM
Fuck, he was my candidate.
:huh:
I thought Jews hated blacks and vice versa. :hmm:
Quote from: Caliga on December 03, 2011, 08:07:58 PM
Quote from: Siege on December 03, 2011, 07:57:40 PM
Fuck, he was my candidate.
:huh:
I thought Jews hated blacks and vice versa. :hmm:
Siege is not a real Jew, and Cain is not a real black. :contract:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 03, 2011, 09:13:15 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on December 03, 2011, 07:05:44 PM
Which one?
Huh?
CdM pointed out that it's plural, and you still used the singular. So I thought that you might mean a specific woman.
One interesting act is that I don't think Newt ever thought he'd be in such an advantageous position, it'll be interesting to see how he reacts to it.
I have long suspected you were a bot. This confirms it.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 03, 2011, 09:31:32 PM
CdM pointed out that it's plural, and you still used the singular. So I thought that you might mean a specific woman.
Yi dismissed all of them except the mistress.
Interesting merger of rumours. Cain said that whoever he endorses will be an 'outsider'. There are a few rumours going round, according to Nate Silver, that Palin may enter the race. I think that would be amazing.
That would be hilarious. And she would be better than Perry.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 04, 2011, 05:36:38 AM
That would be hilarious. And she would be better than Perry.
Damning with faint praise there.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 04, 2011, 05:18:17 AM
Interesting merger of rumours. Cain said that whoever he endorses will be an 'outsider'. There are a few rumours going round, according to Nate Silver, that Palin may enter the race. I think that would be amazing.
Please stop fucking with my country. <_<
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 03, 2011, 09:32:58 PM
One interesting act is that I don't think Newt ever thought he'd be in such an advantageous position, it'll be interesting to see how he reacts to it.
Jon Stewart may have been onto something when he joked about Newt Gingrich keeping his mouth shut while his opponents crash and burn.
Quote from: garbon on December 04, 2011, 11:44:24 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 04, 2011, 05:18:17 AM
Interesting merger of rumours. Cain said that whoever he endorses will be an 'outsider'. There are a few rumours going round, according to Nate Silver, that Palin may enter the race. I think that would be amazing.
Please stop fucking with my country. <_<
I know. This election's brought out a side to Sheilbh I didn't know he had.
LOL IT'S FUN WATCHING YOUR COUNTRY DESTROY ITSELF.
Does anyone remember when Gingrich was speaker and when they were going on some break he gave the House members a list of books for a reading assignment? What an ass.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 04, 2011, 12:19:56 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 03, 2011, 09:32:58 PM
One interesting act is that I don't think Newt ever thought he'd be in such an advantageous position, it'll be interesting to see how he reacts to it.
Jon Stewart may have been onto something when he joked about Newt Gingrich keeping his mouth shut while his opponents crash and burn.
I imagine what happened is something more like "no one bothered paying any serious attention to Gingrich until his opponents crashed and burned".
After all, Gingrich could only go upwards as his campaign started in the flaming wreckage.
Quote from: Tonitrus on December 04, 2011, 03:47:09 PM
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 04, 2011, 12:19:56 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 03, 2011, 09:32:58 PM
One interesting act is that I don't think Newt ever thought he'd be in such an advantageous position, it'll be interesting to see how he reacts to it.
Jon Stewart may have been onto something when he joked about Newt Gingrich keeping his mouth shut while his opponents crash and burn.
I what happened is something more like "no one bothered paying any serious attention to Gingrich until his opponents crashed and burned".
After all, Gingrich could only go upwards as his campaign started in the flaming wreckage.
Gingrich can't handle being on top. He'll crash and burn soon enough. It's what he does.
So, who's next? Huntsman? Sarah Palin's Ghost?
Quote from: DGuller on December 04, 2011, 04:37:53 PM
So, who's next? Huntsman? Sarah Palin's Ghost?
He'll last long enough to implode near the end of the primary season, where Mitt will wind up cleaning up.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 04, 2011, 04:41:48 PM
Quote from: DGuller on December 04, 2011, 04:37:53 PM
So, who's next? Huntsman? Sarah Palin's Ghost?
He'll last long enough to implode near the end of the primary season, where Mitt will wind up cleaning up.
And Obama will win running as the christian and sane candidate.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 04, 2011, 11:07:44 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 04, 2011, 05:36:38 AM
That would be hilarious. And she would be better than Perry.
Damning with faint praise there.
I'm still worried the Tea Party voters will turn on Newt and go back to Perry.
That doesn't bother me to much.
Quote from: alfred russel on December 04, 2011, 02:31:05 PM
Does anyone remember when Gingrich was speaker and when they were going on some break he gave the House members a list of books for a reading assignment? What an ass.
What book was it?
A "list of books" implies more than one.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 04, 2011, 06:40:08 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on December 04, 2011, 02:31:05 PM
Does anyone remember when Gingrich was speaker and when they were going on some break he gave the House members a list of books for a reading assignment? What an ass.
What book was it?
There were lots of books. I do remember de Tocqueville was on there. The copy I had state on the cover that it was part of Gingrich's lists. While it may seem like asinine thing to do, you have to remember Gingrich was dealing with Freshman Republicans. They aren't exactly the most aware bunch.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 04, 2011, 06:06:16 PM
I'm still worried the Tea Party voters will turn on Newt and go back to Perry.
How could the Tea Party be pro-Perry the guy is an ex-Democrat career politician establishment guy down to his bones.
Quote from: Valmy on December 04, 2011, 06:51:01 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 04, 2011, 06:06:16 PM
I'm still worried the Tea Party voters will turn on Newt and go back to Perry.
How could the Tea Party be pro-Perry the guy is an ex-Democrat career politician establishment guy down to his bones.
It's important to remember that the Tea Party people are pretty stupid. That's why they're in the Tea Party.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 04, 2011, 06:40:08 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on December 04, 2011, 02:31:05 PM
Does anyone remember when Gingrich was speaker and when they were going on some break he gave the House members a list of books for a reading assignment? What an ass.
What book was it?
http://articles.philly.com/1995-01-05/news/25713247_1_reading-list-essential-reading-harold-bloom
Newly crowned Speaker Newt Gingrich (Emory B.A., Tulane Ph.D.) gave his fellow House Republicans a reading list for Christmas, four concerning the creation of the Republic. The other four analyze leadership and the future, the ideal oblation from a former historian who says he is engaged in "21st- century entrepreneurial futurism."
"Gingrich, who appears to operate at microwave speed, gave his charges only four weeks to digest the tomes, a tough task given that Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America is nearly as fat as the Congressional Directory and that many representatives were embarking at the same time on their maiden voyages into the dangerous waters of Washington real estate.
Admittedly, many House members are probably familiar with the Declaration of Independence, The Federalist Papers, de Tocqueville and even James T. Flexner's Washington: The Indispensable Man. But how many picked up Alvin and Heidi Toffler's Creating a New Civilization: The Politics of the Third Wave, Peter Drucker's The Effective Executive, Mary E. Boone's Leadership and the Computer, and Arleaha and Morris Shechtman's Working Without a Net: How to Survive and Thrive in Today's High Risk Business World?"
Quote from: alfred russel on December 04, 2011, 07:19:09 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 04, 2011, 06:40:08 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on December 04, 2011, 02:31:05 PM
Does anyone remember when Gingrich was speaker and when they were going on some break he gave the House members a list of books for a reading assignment? What an ass.
What book was it?
http://articles.philly.com/1995-01-05/news/25713247_1_reading-list-essential-reading-harold-bloom
Newly crowned Speaker Newt Gingrich (Emory B.A., Tulane Ph.D.) gave his fellow House Republicans a reading list for Christmas, four concerning the creation of the Republic. The other four analyze leadership and the future, the ideal oblation from a former historian who says he is engaged in "21st- century entrepreneurial futurism."
"Gingrich, who appears to operate at microwave speed, gave his charges only four weeks to digest the tomes, a tough task given that Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America is nearly as fat as the Congressional Directory and that many representatives were embarking at the same time on their maiden voyages into the dangerous waters of Washington real estate.
Admittedly, many House members are probably familiar with the Declaration of Independence, The Federalist Papers, de Tocqueville and even James T. Flexner's Washington: The Indispensable Man. But how many picked up Alvin and Heidi Toffler's Creating a New Civilization: The Politics of the Third Wave, Peter Drucker's The Effective Executive, Mary E. Boone's Leadership and the Computer, and Arleaha and Morris Shechtman's Working Without a Net: How to Survive and Thrive in Today's High Risk Business World?"
I make all my new employees read Marcus Aurelius, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Actually, no. No I don't. I can't even get them to read my emails. *sigh*
Newt: 1
CdM: 0
My reading list for new employees:
Gor
101 sex positions
John Birch society pamphlets
Xerox copies of my hairy ass
No John Ringo novels? :mad:
Quote from: Habbaku on December 04, 2011, 09:12:09 PM
No John Ringo novels? :mad:
Tom Kratman is reserved for HR positions.
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 04, 2011, 09:09:37 PM
Xerox copies of my hairy ass
Dude, it's all scanned .pdfs now. Use page 2 for your ball sack.
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 04, 2011, 09:09:37 PM
My reading list for new employees:
Gor
101 sex positions
John Birch society pamphlets
Xerox copies of my hairy ass
So basically all of it is stuff coming from someone's ass.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 04, 2011, 10:55:24 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 04, 2011, 09:09:37 PM
My reading list for new employees:
Gor
101 sex positions
John Birch society pamphlets
Xerox copies of my hairy ass
So basically all of it is stuff coming from someone's ass.
Santorum? Wrong thread.....
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 04, 2011, 09:09:37 PM
My reading list for new employees:
Gor
101 sex positions
John Birch society pamphlets
Xerox copies of my hairy ass
Sounds like you just copied Cain's list.
Quote from: Ideologue on December 04, 2011, 01:02:28 PMI know. This election's brought out a side to Sheilbh I didn't know he had.
LOL IT'S FUN WATCHING YOUR COUNTRY DESTROY ITSELF.
:lol: I've always liked charming fringe-ish candidates and I generally think elections should be fun - this one hasn't delivered. Sarah Palin would deliver.
Anyway I think the Republicans should convince Huckabee to run and nominate him by acclamation. Failing that, Huntsman.
It's been pretty weird this year. Seeing Rick Perry stoned was pretty out there.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 05, 2011, 04:13:21 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on December 04, 2011, 01:02:28 PMI know. This election's brought out a side to Sheilbh I didn't know he had.
LOL IT'S FUN WATCHING YOUR COUNTRY DESTROY ITSELF.
:lol: I've always liked charming fringe-ish candidates and I generally think elections should be fun - this one hasn't delivered. Sarah Palin would deliver.
Anyway I think the Republicans should convince Huckabee to run and nominate him by acclamation. Failing that, Huntsman.
While they often devolve - I don't think an election cycle is ideally a circus.
Quote from: alfred russel on December 04, 2011, 02:31:05 PM
Does anyone remember when Gingrich was speaker and when they were going on some break he gave the House members a list of books for a reading assignment? What an ass.
David Cameron's done that every year he's been Tory leader. I think Ed Miliband's copying now. I think most of the choices are the latest trendy popular science/social research-y books.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 05, 2011, 04:50:35 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on December 04, 2011, 02:31:05 PM
Does anyone remember when Gingrich was speaker and when they were going on some break he gave the House members a list of books for a reading assignment? What an ass.
David Cameron's done that every year he's been Tory leader. I think Ed Miliband's copying now. I think most of the choices are the latest trendy popular science/social research-y books.
It's a dickish thing to do. These are the peoples' representatives, not a freshman English Lit class.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 05, 2011, 04:13:21 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on December 04, 2011, 01:02:28 PMI know. This election's brought out a side to Sheilbh I didn't know he had.
LOL IT'S FUN WATCHING YOUR COUNTRY DESTROY ITSELF.
:lol: I've always liked charming fringe-ish candidates and I generally think elections should be fun - this one hasn't delivered. Sarah Palin would deliver.
Well, to be candid, I would prefer that the Republicans nominate a completely unelectable moron, so in such wise, I approve.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on December 05, 2011, 05:03:17 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 05, 2011, 04:50:35 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on December 04, 2011, 02:31:05 PM
Does anyone remember when Gingrich was speaker and when they were going on some break he gave the House members a list of books for a reading assignment? What an ass.
David Cameron's done that every year he's been Tory leader. I think Ed Miliband's copying now. I think most of the choices are the latest trendy popular science/social research-y books.
It's a dickish thing to do. These are the peoples' representatives, not a freshman English Lit class.
If you keep them reading sensiblel stuff and quiz them on the contents after they return then they are less likely to listen to Bachman and other sources of Batshit.
That assumes literacy. Not likely to succeed.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on December 05, 2011, 05:03:17 PMIt's a dickish thing to do. These are the peoples' representatives, not a freshman English Lit class.
They're representatives of the people, so it's probably best to keep them well informed and the like. Personally I don't mind it, but I'd respect Cameron more if he just set one interesting book rather than a series of tediously predictable ones. Why not read, say, Claire Tomalin's 'Dickens' instead of whatever Malcolm Gladwell's written this year.
QuoteWell, to be candid, I would prefer that the Republicans nominate a completely unelectable moron, so in such wise, I approve.
I want the best candidate to win the nomination, I just want the way there to be fun. Also I can't stand Romney and actually think he's a very, very weak general election candidate.
I think it's their own damn job to keep themselves informed. They're fucking Congressmen, not preschoolers. Besides, they don't really need to be molded ideology anymore then they have been.
Quote from: Razgovory on December 05, 2011, 05:27:31 PMI think it's their own damn job to keep themselves informed. They're fucking Congressmen, not preschoolers. Besides, they don't really need to be molded ideology anymore then they have been.
Well of course it's their job to keep informed and this is just part of it over the summer recess. I think one useful feature could be that I imagine it's easy for legislators to get bogged down in the details and in wonkery think tank reports. In that context I like the idea of the leadership saying 'go read Lords of Finance over the summer'.
Very few books of the type that get recommended are that ideological - at least from what I remember of David Cameron's list.
Quote from: Ideologue on December 05, 2011, 05:14:18 PM
That assumes literacy. Not likely to succeed.
:weep:
sad but true... Verily the Great Bat of Harrenhall dropped a big pile of dung on the G.O.P.