tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post7606344940898093318..comments2024-03-29T02:22:59.827-04:00Comments on the daily howler: IMITATIONS OF LIFE: Charlie Rose!<b>bob somerby</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/02963464534685954436noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-16709769697821522792013-03-06T17:56:34.575-05:002013-03-06T17:56:34.575-05:00Could it be possible that the Republicans have bee...Could it be possible that the Republicans have been equally as tough on both presidents, or hate both equally as much?<br /><br />And yes, I do agree with one thing. They would be absolutely fanatical in their opposition to "ANY Dem president." But that Dem president right now happens to be Barack Obama.<br /><br />And please, don't get into Ezra Klein territory by suggesting that Obama could have "done a better job of managing that opposition."<br /><br />As we just discovered with Rubio on immigration, Obama could say that he agrees with Rubio 100 percent, then within the next hour Rubio will be holding a press conference renouncing his own position.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-80289964830714355042013-03-06T17:49:13.894-05:002013-03-06T17:49:13.894-05:00Well, we did have the "pal around with terror...Well, we did have the "pal around with terrorists" thing.<br /><br />Before we get too far astray about what and what was not "supported in mainstream media" vs. "whispered in Republican corners," here is the statement of Joe Scarborough, which Somerby buys into, that I find rather impossible to defend:<br /><br />"JoeScar made an accurate point. He noted that, contrary to liberal conventional wisdom, Republicans were tougher on President Clinton back in the 90s than they have been on Obama."<br /><br />First off, it is NOT "liberal conventional wisdom" however you want to define that nebulous term, that Republicans were tougher on Obama than Clinton.<br /><br />But I would think it is pretty apparent that Republicans behaved terribly then toward the POTUS, and they are behaving terribly now.<br /><br />Only in Somerby's mind is there some sort of point to be made in determining and comparing the degree of GOP nastiness then and now.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-81296571798598161002013-03-06T13:04:45.235-05:002013-03-06T13:04:45.235-05:00Whitewater was an unpresidented political witch hu...Whitewater was an unpresidented political witch hunt of a sitting President, legitimized by "liberal" elites like Howell Rains, who seemed to hate Clinton on a very personal level. Obama offers no "character issues" so the best they can do is fixate on his wife's keister. Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288008924419574934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-46710417118478707772013-03-06T12:55:07.335-05:002013-03-06T12:55:07.335-05:00If you really dream of a world with a classier Osc...If you really dream of a world with a classier Oscar show, why sink to glib profanity yourself. This We, by the by, though Rich was a light weight back when he wrote about theatre.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288008924419574934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-20583022309506434442013-03-05T21:49:49.852-05:002013-03-05T21:49:49.852-05:00But we have had articles in the MSM about Michelle...But we have had articles in the MSM about Michelle's big butt. Yes, the Washington Post published an article on her big ass. Clearly the WaPo would not publish such an article unless someone like Rush Limbaugh had been complaining about Michelle's rear for years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-3434511703737327202013-03-05T19:55:09.037-05:002013-03-05T19:55:09.037-05:00It isn't daft -- they were tougher on Clinton,...It isn't daft -- they were tougher on Clinton, particularly given that they didn't have the same incentives, and media infrastructure to aid them, back then. Ultimately, your only evidence that they "hate" (your word) Obama is that they've obstructed him: in other words, they obstruct him because they "hate" (again, your word) him. Anyone reading your original post is going to reach the same conclusion: you made an assumption that their opposition to Obama is motivated by hatred, because that is what you said. I think they'd have been equally fanatical in their opposition to ANY Dem president who advanced a semi-progressive agenda. I also think that most Dem presidents would have done a better job of managing that opposition, but that's another topic for another day. tilhttp://til.tknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-50027987620949345692013-03-05T19:27:13.134-05:002013-03-05T19:27:13.134-05:00Aside from the impeachment, there was the Whitewat...Aside from the impeachment, there was the Whitewater investigation and the lawsuit by the woman who accused him of soliciting her in his hotel room (forgotten her name) and a series of more minor investigations into things like Travelgate. I haven't seen any of that harrassment happening to Obama. These things were supported by the mainstream media not just whispered in Republican corners, like the stuff about Obama's Chicago corruption ties or his birth certificate. Treatment of Michelle Obama has been much nicer than treatment of Hillary was -- for example no one has accused her of murdering anyone and planting them under that vegtable garden. No one has accused Michelle of being a lesbian or of hanging sex toys on the Christmas tree, etc.Corbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-24339324076176604252013-03-05T17:44:50.813-05:002013-03-05T17:44:50.813-05:00And, just maybe, Republicans hate Obama just as mu...And, just maybe, Republicans hate Obama just as much as they hated Bill Clinton.<br /><br />But not in SomerbyWorld. Nope. Republicans were tougher on Clinton. Why? Because he says so.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-71406640264058355682013-03-05T17:40:18.171-05:002013-03-05T17:40:18.171-05:00Right. And Republicans shut down the government du...Right. And Republicans shut down the government during Clinton's term, and that worked out well for them, didn't it?<br /><br />By the way, I am NOT arguing that Republicans didn't hate Clinton. They did. Like I said, they even impeached him for the silliest of reasons.<br /><br />I am arguing against the daft notion, and I quote, that "Republicans were tougher on President Clinton back in the 90s than they have been on Obama."<br /><br />Good grief!<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-41860749507667934142013-03-05T17:36:27.293-05:002013-03-05T17:36:27.293-05:00Sometimes its a good idea for the moderator to shu...Sometimes its a good idea for the moderator to shut up.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-31958399915425896902013-03-05T17:31:57.012-05:002013-03-05T17:31:57.012-05:00Charlie Rose contributed very little to the discus...Charlie Rose contributed very little to the discussion in the first 30 minutes or so. While I was watching the show I kept thinking, "Gee, I wish I had his job."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-85324271559796963822013-03-05T17:26:48.365-05:002013-03-05T17:26:48.365-05:00Republicans filibustered Clinton's signature i...Republicans filibustered Clinton's signature issue, health care reform. Not a single Republican voted for his 1993 budget. Oh, and they shut down the government. If opposition to a president's proposals is evidence of hatred, then your argument is weak.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-55654621648273059852013-03-05T17:22:40.396-05:002013-03-05T17:22:40.396-05:00Or, the republicans are using an entire apparatus ...Or, the republicans are using an entire apparatus that has been built up over the years to obstruct Obama AND they hate him.<br /><br />Either or both are possible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-44414120246221191822013-03-05T17:20:28.047-05:002013-03-05T17:20:28.047-05:00I am "assuming" nothing. I am looking at...I am "assuming" nothing. I am looking at the evidence of how Republicans hates Obama so much that if destroying his presidency means destroying the country, so be it.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-49986959560965754552013-03-05T16:38:36.217-05:002013-03-05T16:38:36.217-05:00I'm not a fan of Charlie Rose, but he was not ...I'm not a fan of Charlie Rose, but he was not a potted plant. You've written a novella, Bob.Geoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-58698795841832927092013-03-05T16:34:00.590-05:002013-03-05T16:34:00.590-05:00Took a little longer than I thought it would to ge...Took a little longer than I thought it would to get to Campaign 2000, but he got there.Confusednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-53455842755286598822013-03-05T16:12:59.220-05:002013-03-05T16:12:59.220-05:00You are assuming they are obstructing Obama from p...You are assuming they are obstructing Obama from personal animus. You are assuming wrong. They are obstructing because an entire apparatus has built up over the years that encourages them to obstruct, even pays them to obstruct. Back in the Clinton era, Fox News had just been around for a few years, and Rush made his name on Clinton. tilhttp://til.tknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-62538369974110292482013-03-05T15:32:31.487-05:002013-03-05T15:32:31.487-05:00Yes, and although Somerby now says that Chris Math...Yes, and although Somerby now says that Chris Mathews has been "repurposed" he was hardly considered to be a "liberal hero" from well before and through Campaign 2000.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-28845790160867729872013-03-05T15:24:52.274-05:002013-03-05T15:24:52.274-05:00In the 08 primaries Krugman wrote a blog post in w...In the 08 primaries Krugman wrote a blog post in which her adjured both Obama and Clinton supporters that neither should use in their calculations the fact their candidate would face less GOP attacks and obstructionism. It wouldn't help Obama that he wasn't a "Clinton" and it wouldn't help Hillary that she was "white". <br /><br />You know if the Dems nominate Charlie Crist and Susan Collins in 2016. Shit will get made up about them too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-46395149702238431842013-03-05T11:34:29.811-05:002013-03-05T11:34:29.811-05:00"Frank Rich is a truly terrible person-and he..."Frank Rich is a truly terrible person-and he remains a liberal hero!"<br /><br />As to the latter, only in your mind, Neptune Bob.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-90300890396574110262013-03-05T10:42:48.468-05:002013-03-05T10:42:48.468-05:00Really Bob? Republicans hated Clinton more than Ob...Really Bob? Republicans hated Clinton more than Obama?<br /><br />Yes, they did impeach him over the silliest of reasons. But you tell me how many times Senate Republicans filibustered his proposals, like they have done with every, single thing Obama has proposed, and House Republicans also blocked and delayed everything including disaster relief for Hurricane Sandy victims, and manufactured a series of crises over what up to Obama's administration had been routine votes to raise the debt ceiling and cover spending Congress had already approved.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com