Minor Ripper

Romneymania Sweeps America

2012-01-25T11:04:00.000-05:00

Romneymania Sweeps America: TAMPA, FL—From coast to coast, town to town, and in nearly every public meeting place and private residence across America, millions have been captivated, inspired, and in some cases moved to tears by presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the former M...

SNL Parodies Romney

2012-01-21T10:18:00.001-05:00

...my five human sons

The Romney General Election Strategy: Paint Obama as a "Foreigner"

2012-01-11T08:25:00.000-05:00

Well it's pretty clear that it will indeed be Mitt Romney against President Obama in November, and last night in his acceptance speech after winning the New Hampshire primary, voters caught a glimpse of the line of attack Romney and his hordes of well paid political consultants have come up with and will be using against Obama in the general election:

And basically, unfortunately, it's this: President Obama isn't really American. He's some strange sounding foreigner who's not only black....but probably doesn't even love America.

Grotesque? Yes. Subtly racist? You bet.

Effective to undecided white voters in Ohio and Florida and across the nation who are under water in their mortgages, under employed or flat out unemployed and looking to blame someone??

Probably.

Kansas House Speaker Won’t Apologize For Praying For Obama’s Death

2012-01-09T12:40:00.000-05:00

Kansas House Speaker Won’t Apologize For Praying For Obama’s Death:

Kansas House Speaker Mike O’Neal (R) has apologized for forwarding emails from his personal account referring to First Lady Michelle Obama as “Mrs. YoMama,” but he has not apologized for another email using a Bible verse to essentially call for President Obama’s death. Psalm 109:8 became a conservative meme in 2009 to symbolize making President Obama a one-term President, but it speaks to ending his term of office by ending his life: “Let his days be few; and let another take his office.” The following verse adds “Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.” O’Neal offered his own commentary: “At last — I can honestly voice a Biblical prayer for our president! Look it up — it is word for word! Let us all bow our heads and pray. Brothers and Sisters, can I get an AMEN? AMEN!!!!!!”

The Grating Santorum

2012-01-08T10:33:00.002-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/opinion/sunday/dowd-the-grating-santorum.html?pagewanted=all

Bad News for Mitt: Rush Limbaugh Doesn't Support Him

2012-01-05T13:34:00.000-05:00

not having Rush Limbaugh's support is the death knell for any serious Republican these days...
http://gop12.thehill.com/2012/01/rush-scoffs-at-romneys-electability.html

Inside the Democratic Strategy on Romney

2012-01-05T08:37:00.000-05:00

This is a fascinating look at the attack line we will be seeing rolled out over the next several months as it has become clear the GOP nominee will be Mitt Romney...

The one takeaway for me was the 'Robot' angle...Trying to paint Romney as this Android like robot who ruthlessly fires employees and, well...is just weird.

NOT someone you would like to sit down and have a beer with....

Iowa Results: All About the Turnout

2012-01-04T10:02:00.000-05:00

Four years ago when Barack Obama won the Iowa caucuses, about 240,000 Iowans turned out to caucus on the Democratic side.

Yesterday, approximately 120,000 came out to participate in the GOP Iowa caucus and gave Willard 'Mitt' Romney an 8 vote victory over Rick Santorum...

My friends, this is not the snapshot of a healthy Republican nomination contest. It means that despite millions of dollars and nearly 6 years of continually running for president...

Republican voters--many of them fundamental Christians, just can't warm up to Mitt Romney. Maybe it's because he's a Bishop in the Morman church...Maybe because he's just too stiff (Al Gore, anyone?)...

Who knows. But it's just not working out for him...

Rick Santorum? Really??

2012-01-03T08:26:00.000-05:00

I mean this is what the state of the Republican nominating contest has really come to???

Rick Santorum?

Ron Paul!?

You have got to be kidding me, right? This is more like a clever Saturday Night Live skit than real life....

Somewhere, Barack Obama and his political team are smiling right now...

YouTube: Dems Release 'Top Five Mitt Fits' Video

2012-01-02T11:05:00.000-05:00

this is a very effective example of the Democratic strategy to paint Mitt Romney as an angry, greedy, Gordon Gekko type of a weird asshole ...

GOP 2012 Update: Iowa Won't Mean Too Much

2012-01-02T10:52:00.000-05:00

With just a day to go before the actual caucusing takes place, it's looking increasingly likely that Iowa will have three 'winners' in Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum (?) and Ron Paul (?!)...which as this article by Joe Klein points out...really doesn't mean too much.

Mitt Romney is still the overwhelming favorite to win the GOP nomination, but poll after poll shows that the majority of Republicans out there...well...just don't like him all that much

And with freakish like fringe candidates like Rick Santorum and Ron Paul out there getting major play, money, and votes...well that just doesn't add up to a very healthy GOP effort to unseat President Obama come November...

ConanOBrien: As I look around at everything we have, I want to thank the one who makes it all possible: China.

2011-12-29T15:10:00.000-05:00

ConanOBrien: As I look around at everything we have, I want to thank the one who makes it all possible: China.

Rumsfeld Equally Proud Of All His Wars

2011-12-29T12:07:00.000-05:00

Rumsfeld Equally Proud Of All His Wars: WASHINGTON, DC—Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced Monday that he shows no favoritism to the Iraq war and, in fact, loves all his wars equally. "Afghanistan, my first Gulf War, and all my covert operations in Central America—I may not say it often enough, but I'm as proud of them as I am of Iraqi Freedom," a beaming Rumsfeld said. "Sure, I may be giving Iraq more of my time now, but that's because it's so newly liberated. When those other wars had just started, I was just as involved with them." Rumsfeld added that he expects "a little jealousy" when mounting tensions in Syria begin to demand the Defense Department's attention.

Charming! Fox News Host Calls Obama a "Ghetto Crack Head"

2011-12-23T10:41:00.003-05:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/23/president-obama-crackhead-fox-news_n_1167457.html

Explaining Obama's Approval Rating Bounce

2011-12-21T08:50:00.000-05:00

Explaining Obama's Approval Rating Bounce: One popular theory is that the president is benefiting from the battle over the payroll tax cut with Congress, but it seems more likely that an improving economy is making Americans less pessimistic.

davidaxelrod: Wonder if bin Laden and demolished AQ leadership agree with Mitt that President Obama is timid on national security?

2011-12-16T10:59:00.000-05:00

davidaxelrod: Wonder if bin Laden and demolished AQ leadership agree with Mitt that President Obama is timid on national security?

Closing Prices chart - Barack Obama to be re-elected President in 2012

2011-12-15T22:26:00.000-05:00

Closing Prices chart - Barack Obama to be re-elected President in 2012

Gingrich Compares Himself To Four Legendary Presidents As He Plans To Bust Courts

2011-12-15T22:25:00.000-05:00

Gingrich Compares Himself To Four Legendary Presidents As He Plans To Bust Courts:

2012 GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich said during a Fox News debate in Iowa tonight that he wants to call judges whose rulings he doesn’t agree with before Congress to testify. He then compared himself to four presidents — Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, and FDR — in saying that he would take on the courts. Watch it:

As ThinkProgress Justice Editor Ian Millhiser has noted, Gingrich’s court busting schemes are unconstitutional.

ConanOBrien: Good news for Trump: Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth have agreed to let him moderate their debate.

2011-12-14T21:06:00.000-05:00

ConanOBrien: Good news for Trump: Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth have agreed to let him moderate their debate.

Democrats hold fire on Bain

2011-12-14T13:04:00.000-05:00

Democrats hold fire on Bain: Benjy Sarlin says there's a reason you've heard more about Mitt Romney's $10K bet than his time at Bain Capital.Democrats are waiting to pounce on Romney’s business record. Perhaps the biggest sign of how much oomph Democratic strategists ascribe to the Bain Capital angle, is that they’ve barely used it at all.Even while the DNC and Obama campaign frequently bring up Romney’s wealth (see: bet,

Democratic National Committee Taunts Mitt Romney With Aerial Ad

2011-12-14T11:06:00.000-05:00

Democratic National Committee Taunts Mitt Romney With Aerial Ad:

'via Blog this'

Iowa Still Wide Open

2011-12-14T09:13:00.000-05:00

Iowa Still Wide Open: Nate Silver takes a first crack at forecasting the winner of the Iowa caucuses and conclude although Newt Gingrich "still has the lead, Iowa looks to be fairly wide open with as many as five plausible winners."

"Right now, Mr. Gingrich's win probability is just under 50 percent, but Mr. Paul has gained ground and now has a 28 percent chance of winning. Mr. Romney, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and Michele Bachmann are all between about 5 and 10 percent, while Rick Santorum has about a 2 percent chance of winning based on the current surveys."

Oh my: Ron Paul within one point of Gingrich in Iowa? (Allahpundit/Hot Air)

2011-12-13T22:06:00.000-05:00

Oh my: Ron Paul within one point of Gingrich in Iowa? (Allahpundit/Hot Air):

Allahpundit / Hot Air:

Oh my: Ron Paul within one point of Gingrich in Iowa? — Hey now. I was writing “Could Ron Paul seriously win Iowa?” posts before writing “Could Ron Paul seriously win Iowa?” posts was cool. … Simple question: What's Paul's ceiling in Iowa? A friend on Twitter was arguing earlier …

Gaming Iowa Expectations

2011-12-13T17:15:00.000-05:00

Gaming Iowa Expectations: John Ellis says that Newt Gingrich will ultimately under-perform expectations in Iowa "because he does not have a substantial statewide organization" and "he doesn't have any money to buy telemarketing services."

However, Ron Paul "has a substantial field organization and so is likely to somewhat over-perform in the actual balloting."

The key for Mitt Romney "is for Paul to out-perform and for Gingrich to under-perform. This sets up a press narrative of the Gingrich souffle. The Newtster rose and then he fell. The normal laws of political gravity apply. Unstated conclusion: Gingrich is doomed. This is exactly the narrative that Romney needs going into New Hampshire."

Axelrod on Newt: "the higher a monkey climbs...the more you can see his butt." (Lynn Sweet)

2011-12-13T13:51:00.000-05:00

Axelrod on Newt: "the higher a monkey climbs...the more you can see his butt." (Lynn Sweet):

Lynn Sweet:

Axelrod on Newt: “the higher a monkey climbs...the more you can see his butt.” — Obama 2012 Press Secretary Ben LaBolt, Strategist David Axelrod, Campaign Manager Jim Messina, Deputy Manager Stephanie Cutter at Tuesday press briefing at the DNC. (photo by Lynn Sweet)

Radio host offers Gingrich $1 million to drop out of GOP race (Jonathan Easley/The Hill)

2011-12-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Radio host offers Gingrich $1 million to drop out of GOP race (Jonathan Easley/The Hill):

Jonathan Easley / The Hill:

Radio host offers Gingrich $1 million to drop out of GOP race — Conservative radio host Michael Savage is offering Republican presidential frontrunner Newt Gingrich $1 million if he drops out of the GOP race within the next 72 hours, according to a message on his website. — “Newt Gingrich is unelectable.

Don't Get Carried Away with This Newt Thing

2011-12-12T13:41:00.000-05:00

Don't Get Carried Away with This Newt Thing:

The Times story eight years ago Sunday:

President Bush's political advisers are now all but certain that Howard Dean will be the Democratic presidential nominee and they are planning a campaign that takes account of what they see as Dr. Dean's strengths and weaknesses, Republicans with ties to the White House said.

''We're ready to go,'' said a senior Republican official involved in the Bush campaign. ''The broad thematics and the whole approach to him, those things have been well thought out. As for the tactical stuff, it's still out there. The timing is a big decision.''

Continue reading post...

The Page by Mark Halperin | Newt Strikes Back

2011-12-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

The Page by Mark Halperin | Newt Strikes Back:

'via Blog this'

$10k fallout, continued

2011-12-11T13:29:00.000-05:00

$10k fallout, continued:

The Huntsman campaign is getting ready to send around the above video, slamming Romney for last night's wager.

Continue reading post...

$10k fallout

2011-12-11T11:36:00.000-05:00

$10k fallout:

Mitt Romney's attempt to make a $10,000 bet with Rick Perry was far and away the most controversial moment from Saturday night's GOP debate. The DNC went on the offensive almost immediately, “He’s going to own that $10,000 bet line,” DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse tweeted. “Nothing else he has said in this debate matters.”

In fact, the $10k bet went viral so fast that #What10kbuys, a hashtag put out by Woodhouse and the DNC, started trending worldwide.

How much damage this actually does to Romney depends on what the media decides to do with it. If the fallout on Twitter is any indication, it could hit very hard. But at least one commentator -- John Harwood of the New York Times and CNBC took a minority view: "Here's doubting Mitt's alleged $10K-bet "gaffe" tonight matters much in campaign," he wrote. "Newt's strong performance -- that matters."

.

"It matters a ton: 1. Campaign will have to focus on it rather than message, 2. Reinforces preexisting narrative," Judd Legum, communications VP at Think Progress, countered. "Also to the media who will be playing it on loop. Most people don't watch debates. But

they'll see that moment."

Fallout is always hard to predict, but as Legum pointed out, wealth is a hot-button issue for voters. "I've seen similar things along these lines ($300 haircut) have big impact," he wrote, referring to John Edwards' expensive haircuts.

On Saturday, the Romney camp insisted that their candidate was simply trying to stress how inaccurate Perry's comments were. But given that Romney's net worth is an estimated $200 million, the media is likely to follow a less forgiving story line -- and one that could have very negative results for Romney in Iowa and beyond: Josh McElveen, the political director at WMUR radio in New Hampshire, wrote that "there are ten thousand reasons" why New Hampshire could now be a "dogfight."

"Populism, not elitism, now rules GOP," CNN's Alex Castellanos wrote to Harwood on Twitter.

"True," Harwood replied. "But enough high school kids say 'i'll bet you a million dollars' that few normal people would consider it literally, IMO."

Continue reading post...

Rick Perry Zings Mitt Romney For $10,000 Bet

2011-12-11T10:23:00.000-05:00

Rick Perry Zings Mitt Romney For $10,000 Bet:

'via Blog this'

Mitt's $10,000 Blunder

2011-12-11T09:49:00.000-05:00

Last night's debate was fascinating, and clearly Newt Gingrich's rise has him flustered.
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/after-10000-offer-some-bet-against-romney/

Newsflash Mitt: $10,000 is more than most Americans make in three months...

2011-12-10T10:08:00.001-05:00

Watch "Jesus Responds to Rick Perry's Strong-" on YouTube

Don’t mess with Bill O’Reilly’s umbrella

2011-12-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

Don’t mess with Bill O’Reilly’s umbrella: The Fox News host gets upset when a man with a camera approaches him on the street.

Gingrich Needs Two Bathrooms While Traveling

2011-12-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

Gingrich Needs Two Bathrooms While Traveling: The Smoking Gun obtained a rider from a 2010 speaking engagement contract for Newt Gingrich which states he requires, in addition to other amenities, a one bedroom hotel room with two bathrooms.

Obama: ‘Ask Osama Bin Laden If I Engage In Appeasement’

2011-12-08T12:51:00.000-05:00

Obama: ‘Ask Osama Bin Laden If I Engage In Appeasement’:

Yesterday at the Republican Jewish Coalition GOP presidential candidates forum, claiming President Obama is appeasing America’s enemies was the attack du jour. “Internationally, President Obama has adopted an appeasement strategy,” Mitt Romney said. Newt Gingrich accused the Obama State Department of “appeasing our opponents.” A reporter asked the President about the GOP attack line today during a White House press conference. “Ask Osama bin Laden and the 22 other out of 30 top al Qaeda leaders who have been taken off the field whether I engage in appeasement, or, whoever is left out there.” Watch it:

The Video That May Have Ended Mitt Romney's Presidential Campaign

2011-12-08T08:20:00.002-05:00

Produced by the Democratic National Committee. Devastating...

Romney Losing Among Fox News Viewers - NYTimes.com

2011-12-07T11:04:00.000-05:00

Romney Losing Among Fox News Viewers - NYTimes.com:

'via Blog this'

Gore Is ‘Sorry’ About Newt’s Climate Betrayal, Says He’s Been ‘Bludgeoned’ By Special Interests

2011-12-07T10:46:00.000-05:00

Gore Is ‘Sorry’ About Newt’s Climate Betrayal, Says He’s Been ‘Bludgeoned’ By Special Interests:

Vice President Al Gore is disappointed that Newt Gingrich has turned his back on climate action after having appeared in one of his global warming ads, but doesn’t take it personally. Campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination this year, Gingrich has said the ad he did with Nancy Pelosi in 2007 was the “dumbest single thing I’ve done.” Gore told the Young Turks’ Cenk Uygur that he thinks the Republican candidates are being “bludgeoned” by special interests to “toe the line”:

I appreciated him agreeing to my request that he did it, and I don’t want to be ungracious now. I’m grateful that he did it, and I’m sorry that he’s changed his position. But what it says is more about the condition of the political system today, particularly in the Republican Party, but really across the board. The special interests have so much power, they’re really able to bludgeon the candidates to toe the line.

Watch it:

“Mitt Romney used to have a different position,” Gore noted when asked about Jon Huntsman’s recent climate reversal. “Several of them did.”

Why Newt's surge is for real - Mike Allen - POLITICO.com

2011-12-07T10:36:00.000-05:00

Why Newt's surge is for real - Mike Allen - POLITICO.com:

'via Blog this'

First Negative Ad Against Gingrich

2011-12-06T11:55:00.000-05:00

First Negative Ad Against Gingrich: Ron Paul is the first candidate to launch a negative ad in Iowa against Newt Gingrich.

Politico calls it "a 60-second version of a blistering, and roughly two-minute, web video he did painting the former House Speaker as the portrait of 'serial hypocrisy.'"

2011-12-04T21:15:00.001-05:00

ConanOBrien: For the second time in under a week, an iPhone has exploded. Now I want the one that explodes.

The return of Bad Newt Gingrich - Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns - POLITICO.com

2011-12-04T00:38:00.000-05:00

The return of Bad Newt Gingrich - Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns - POLITICO.com:

'via Blog this'

Mitt Romney: Why Don’t They Like Him? | Swampland | TIME.com

2011-12-01T09:58:00.000-05:00

Mitt Romney: Why Don’t They Like Him? | Swampland | TIME.com:

'via Blog this'

Romney on the Hot Seat

2011-11-30T08:50:00.000-05:00

Romney on the Hot Seat:

'via Blog this'

Republican Romney opens fire on rival Gingrich | Reuters

2011-11-30T07:14:00.000-05:00

Republican Romney opens fire on rival Gingrich | Reuters:

'via Blog this'

Former GOP Rep. Says Gingrich Is 'An Evil Person' | ThinkProgress

2011-11-29T16:03:00.000-05:00

Former GOP Rep. Says Gingrich Is 'An Evil Person' | ThinkProgress:

'via Blog this'

Dems target Romney in TV ad as ‘two men trapped in one body’ | Post on Politics

2011-11-29T10:55:00.000-05:00

Dems target Romney in TV ad as ‘two men trapped in one body’ | Post on Politics:

'via Blog this'

Israeli Thuggery | Swampland | TIME.com

2011-11-29T09:33:00.000-05:00

Israeli Thuggery | Swampland | TIME.com:

'via Blog this'

Jon Huntsman On SNL's Weekend Update Woos New Hampshire Voters (VIDEO)

2011-11-20T10:55:00.000-05:00

Jon Huntsman On SNL's Weekend Update Woos New Hampshire Voters (VIDEO):

'via Blog this'

Newt Gingrich’s new website: I’m no Bill Clinton - Jonathan Martin - POLITICO.com

2011-11-20T10:50:00.000-05:00

Newt Gingrich’s new website: I’m no Bill Clinton - Jonathan Martin - POLITICO.com:

'via Blog this'

Republican Audience Member Heckles Herman Cain: ‘You Have A Moral Crisis!’

2011-11-17T13:03:00.000-05:00

Republican Audience Member Heckles Herman Cain: ‘You Have A Moral Crisis!’:

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain dove into his stump speech at a campaign stop in Florida yesterday, telling the crowd that we are a “nation of crises.” After listing the nation’s many “crises,” Cain declared, “we’ve got a moral crisis!” However, before he could continue, an audience member shouted in response, “you have a moral crisis!” (Cain has been dogged by allegations for weeks that he sexually harassed and assaulted multiple women in the past.) Watch the video, courtesy of The Shark Tank:

Texas College GOP Leader: Obama Assassination ‘Tempting’ - ABC News

2011-11-16T19:15:00.000-05:00

Texas College GOP Leader: Obama Assassination ‘Tempting’ - ABC News:

'via Blog this'

What it Takes, 2012 edition

2011-11-15T10:58:00.000-05:00

What it Takes, 2012 edition:

Richard Ben Cramer published the definitive chronicle of the 1988 presidential campaign, "What It Takes," by largely disdaining the day-to-day press coverage in favor of human portraits of the candidates, and he told us during a rare visit to Washington, D.C. last night that he thinks that the gap is wider than ever.

“Even more than when I was doing politics, there is nothing now that tells me what I want to know about the candidates,” he said Monday night over bourbon and a cigar. “It’s very hard to imagine anybody being president when the stuff that’s written about them is empty of who they are."

Cramer favors the long form, no question. He likes The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza, for instance, and he has high hopes for David Maraniss's promised Obama biography. “But if you just Google-News what’s happened in a day, you don’t see anything that tells you anything about these people, about who they are and what they’re like,” he said.

Television? “Fughettaboutit."

"TV is set up to be just a shout fest: Is this good for Republicans or bad for Republicans; is this good for Cain or bad for Cain… tell me something that I need to know.”

Cramer, a Pulitzer Prize winner and veteran of both local papers and national magazines, recently and somewhat silently released “What It Takes” as an e-book. (Which the present generation of political junkies really ought to pick up for the slow moments this time around.)

Journalists could still write books like “What It Takes,” Cramer says, “but they’re not right now, because there is nobody in the business.”

Instead, he’s reading George W. Bush’s memoir “Decision Points,” Arthur Gelb’s “City Room,” about the New York Times, and Larry Colton’s “Counting Coup,” about an all-girls Native American basketball team in Montana. The author of a book on Joe DiMaggio, and two on Ted Williams, Cramer is something of a baseball man, and has been working on a book about Alex Rodriguez -- though we got the impression he wouldn't mind getting back into politics, after a long hiatus.

“If God had given me a fastball, you’re goddamn right I wouldn’t have been a writer,” he said toward the end of the night. “But Koufax got all the Jewish fastballs.”

Herman Cain: Foreign Policy Expert

2011-11-15T09:24:00.002-05:00

I keep thinking the entire candidacy of Herman Cain from start to where we are now is a really clever Saturday Night Live skit...

I mean, really, you can't make this stuff up.

Will Obama be Re-Elected?

2011-11-15T08:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, really, no words are necessary....
https://www.intrade.com/graphing/jsp/closingPricesForm.jsp?contractId=743474&tradeURL=https://www.intrade.com

Herman Cain On Libya: Which One Was That Again? | Mother Jones

2011-11-14T20:06:00.000-05:00

Herman Cain On Libya: Which One Was That Again? | Mother Jones:

'via Blog this'

ConanOBrien: I heard that @THEHermanCain said the sexual harassment charges are making him more popular than ever. #HeyTwitterNiceRack!

2011-11-14T09:33:00.000-05:00

ConanOBrien: I heard that @THEHermanCain said the sexual harassment charges are making him more popular than ever. #HeyTwitterNiceRack!

O'Reilly's Book on Lincoln Riddled with Errors

2011-11-13T18:33:00.000-05:00

O'Reilly's Book on Lincoln Riddled with Errors: A reviewer for the official National Park Service bookstore at Ford's Theatre has recommended that Bill O'Reilly's bestselling new book about the Lincoln assassination, Killing Lincoln, not be sold at the historic site "because of the lack of documentation and the factual errors within the publication," according to Salon.

Cain Says God Told Him to Run for President

2011-11-12T16:44:00.000-05:00

Cain Says God Told Him to Run for President: Herman Cain said that God convinced him to run for president, National Journal reports.

Said Cain: "I prayed and prayed and prayed. I'm a man of faith, I had to do a lot of praying for this one, more praying than I'd ever done before in my life. And when I finally realized that it was God saying that this is what I needed to do, I was like Moses. 'You've got the wrong man, Lord. Are you sure?'"

Timeline of Gingrich’s affairs, marriages, and divorces

2011-11-12T11:04:00.000-05:00

Timeline of Gingrich’s affairs, marriages, and divorces:

Cheryl Casey / Shutterstock

HuffPost has a nice timeline of Newt Gingrich's various wives and affairs. It's kind of fascinating to see it all in one place, to see the patterns, etc. Here's a summary:

1. Gingrich started dating Jackie, who was to be his first wife, when he was a 16 year old in high school, she was his geometry teacher (you can't make this stuff up), 7 to 9 years his senior. They married in 1962. She's the one he, allegedly, famously, served divorce papers while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer surgery.

2. Gingrich reportedly had girlfriends (plural) during his unsuccessful run for Congress in the mid 70s. That's when one of the women came forward and said that Gingrich liked to have oral sex because then he could deny having "slept" with the woman.

3. In 1981, Gingrich marries his second wife, Marianne, who he started dating while still married to his first wife, Jackie. Gingrich asked her to marry him before he was even divorced.

4. 1999, Gingrich meets third wife, Callista, 26 years his junior, while still married to second wife, Marianne. Second wife is diagnosed with MS, Gingrich divorces her and marries third (remember that the first wife had surgery for cancer when he divorced her - it's at least an interesting coincidence). He allegedly already had asked wife number three to marry him before he asked wife number two for the divorce.

These "youthful" indiscretions span 25 years of Gingrich's adult life. (That's assuming the first affair was in 1974, there's no way to know if they started earlier.) And if you include a teacher having an affair with an underage student (again, the pattern of favoring illicit affairs), then it's much more than 25. That's one heck of a long, repetitive, pattern to now claim you've broken.

Why does it matter? Because Gingrich took the lead in going after Bill Clinton for his affair. Gingrich is also one of the GOP's lead moralists-in-chief, on every issue under the sun. The hypocrisy, and intellectually dishonesty, is rank.

Is Perry Toast? - Almost immediately after what will probably ... (Nate Silver/FiveThirtyEight)

2011-11-10T10:48:00.000-05:00

Is Perry Toast? - Almost immediately after what will probably ... (Nate Silver/FiveThirtyEight):

Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:

Is Perry Toast? — Almost immediately after what will probably be remembered as the Bill Buckner moment of primary debates, when Texas Gov. Rick Perry literally forgot which governmental agencies he would cut and concluded his answer with a sheepish “Oops,” Mr. Perry's stock on the betting market Intrade dropped in half.

Conservatives organize to defeat Romney (Alicia M. Cohn/Ballot Box)

2011-11-10T08:32:00.000-05:00

Conservatives organize to defeat Romney (Alicia M. Cohn/Ballot Box):

Alicia M. Cohn / Ballot Box:

Conservatives organize to defeat Romney — A coalition of conservatives is working to organize the disparate groups opposing Mitt Romney as the Republican presidential nominee. — While much has been made of Romney's lack of support amongst conservative Republicans, the sense of malaise …

Chris Christie Really Should Have Run

2011-11-10T08:26:00.002-05:00

I mean, how often does a guy bypass a legitimate shot at becoming President?

Considering how things have panned out on the Republican side (Perry/Cain implosion, Pawlenty out meekly...Gingrich a front runner !?!) Christie must be kicking himself for wimping out and passing up on his shot.

Mitt 'Android' Romney?? The guy is so stiff he makes Al Gore look like Telly Savalas!

Perry: Bad. Cain? Worse. Another night at the circus with the GOP

2011-11-10T08:19:00.000-05:00

Perry: Bad. Cain? Worse. Another night at the circus with the GOP:

What can you say about a debate in which one candidate had perhaps the worst moment ever in a presidential debate — Rick Perry’s brain freeze about the third of the three government agencies he wants to eliminate — and he didn’t even give the most embarrassing performance?

No, that would be Herman Cain. Look, he wasn’t going to be the nominee at any point during the cycle, and he certainly wasn’t going to be the nominee after it turned out he was an alleged serial sexual harasser. But after dragging American political rhetoric to a new low, referring to the House Minority Leader and a former speaker as “Princess Nancy,” it’s about time that Cain was called to account for insulting the American people and the political process for the farce that he’s engaging in. Whether it’s not knowing that China has nuclear weapons, or repeatedly botching his own position on abortion, or any of a number of other gaffes, Cain has made Perry look like a well-briefed genius throughout the campaign. And Wednesday night, he was even worse.

Yes, he’s that bad.

And so the debate season will continue. Can Perry’s campaign find a way to turn his inept performances into a plus? Seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened. No one else seems to be doing anything more than auditioning for a Fox News spot; unless I missed something, the only one during the entire session who even mildly attacked Mitt Romney was Jon Huntsman (on China-bashing), and he practically apologized for it while he was engaged in it.

Real candidates who are actually trying to win do more. Cain, Gingrich, Bachmann? Nope.

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Could Huntsman Fill the GOP Vacuum?

2011-11-10T08:08:00.001-05:00

I mean it's a long shot, but Newt Fucking Gingrich is getting play these days!

With Rick Perry's embarrassing implosion in last night's debate (um, Texas you've elected this guy governor what 3x now? Wow. just wow--) part of me thinks Ricardo Montalban could step in and win the GOP nomination right now.

Yes folks, it is that pathetic.

Huntsman is actually a normal guy who happens to be a moderate Morman like Mitt Romney, but hasn't been nearly the core-less flip flopper Mitt has been throughout his career.

He's a guy many Democrats and swing voters could actually vote for. All I can say is that if Newt Gingrich is now considered a front runner, anything is possible.

Is Perry Toast?

2011-11-10T07:43:00.000-05:00

Is Perry Toast?: Mr. Perry's demise could be a self-fulfilling prophecy: If everyone thinks he is going to lose, he almost certainly will.

Debate crowd cheers Cain in face of sexual harassment claims (Josh Lederman/Ballot Box)

2011-11-09T23:11:00.000-05:00

Debate crowd cheers Cain in face of sexual harassment claims (Josh Lederman/Ballot Box):

Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:

Debate crowd cheers Cain in face of sexual harassment claims — Onstage at his first presidential debate since sexual harassment allegations against him emerged more than a week ago, Herman Cain dismissed the accusations as a “character assassination” Wednesday — and was enthusiastically backed up by the debate audience.

Rick Perry crashes, Cain cheered at GOP debate (Alexander Burns/Reuters)

2011-11-09T23:10:00.000-05:00

Rick Perry crashes, Cain cheered at GOP debate (Alexander Burns/Reuters):

Alexander Burns / Reuters:

Rick Perry crashes, Cain cheered at GOP debate — ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Rick Perry comeback hit a potentially disastrous snag Wednesday night, as the Texas governor again froze on the debate stage — this time, while attempting to list three federal agencies he'd eliminate as president.

...Scared Mittless

2011-11-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

...Scared Mittless:

'via Blog this'

The Page by Mark Halperin | Another Accuser Goes Public

2011-11-09T10:20:00.001-05:00

The Page by Mark Halperin | Another Accuser Goes Public:

'via Blog this'

Obama Way Ahead in Ohio

2011-11-09T10:20:00.000-05:00

Obama Way Ahead in Ohio:

'via Blog this'

Gingrich Rises in GOP Presidential Race

2011-11-09T08:12:00.002-05:00

look, if Newt Gingrich is elected our next president I will eat my whole wardrobe...his 'rise' is a reflection of the sheer patheticness of the GOP slate running for president...the fact that he's got ABBA's "Dancing Queen" as his phone ring tone? We're not going to hold that against the guy--

Gingrich Rises in Polls But Has Major Obstacles to Nomination - NYTimes.com:

Erick Erickson gives Jon Huntsman second look - Tim Mak - POLITICO.com

2011-11-08T09:21:00.000-05:00

Erick Erickson gives Jon Huntsman second look - Tim Mak - POLITICO.com:

'via Blog this'

Rush Limbaugh Calls Sharon Bialek A 'Babe,' Makes Slurping Sound (AUDIO)

2011-11-08T08:16:00.000-05:00

Rush Limbaugh: married 4 times...no kids.

Rush Limbaugh Calls Sharon Bialek A 'Babe,' Makes Slurping Sound (AUDIO):

Mitt Romney in Weird Encounter on Airplane

2011-11-07T09:05:00.002-05:00

Remember, this is a guy who strapped his Irish Setter to the roof of his car for a 10 hour car ride several years back.

This latest episode seals it for me--Mitt Romney is one weird dude. Stiff as a board doesn't even begin to describe the guy.

More like a robot/Android or something. The guy makes Al Gore look like Mick Jagger

And he will be crushed by Obama in the general election...

Two Questions for Today: 1. Did Rick Perry Just Give a Speech Completely Drunk, and 2. Who Threw Herman Cain Under the Bus?

2011-11-01T08:42:00.002-04:00

I encourage anyone even remotely interested in the GOP presidential nominating contest to watch this utterly bizarre video of Rick Perry giving a speech a few nights ago to the party faithful in New Hampshire:

Holy balls, the guy is piss drunk! Very funny, his lagging campaign is clearly wearing on him and he just gave the best man speech at the wedding with a lampshade firmly planted on his head....

The second question is juicy: just who turned Herman Cain in for the two long ago sexual harassment charges? Of course the right wing spin machine (Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Drudge, Ann Coulter) has all cried out in unison blaming the 'liberal media'...but let's face it folks. A viable Herman Cain is nothing but good news for the Democratic Party. Put simply, he is Sarah Palin 2.0.... No this is an inside job--meaning a fellow Republican who is running for president.

More specifically a fellow Republican desperately vying for the Tea Bag/uber right wing/Republican jihadi vote....

Michele Bachman? Rick Santorum?? MCM? (that stands for Multiple Choice Mitt...)

Actually, the campaign scuttlebutt has it that it was no one other than....above mentioned Rick Perry!! Of course time will soon tell, but the Politico reporter who broke the story Jonathan Martin is keeping his mouth short regarding his sources....

The smart money has it that the drunk turned the sexual predator in....

The smarter money is on Obama winning in a landslide against this total joke of a GOP next November--

Zombie Obama Email: Virginia GOP Condemns Image Of President With Bullet Through Head

2011-11-01T01:20:00.000-04:00

Zombie Obama Email: Virginia GOP Condemns Image Of President With Bullet Through Head:

'via Blog this'

Texas Poll Shock: Cain Ahead of Perry

2011-10-31T09:18:00.001-04:00

Wow, how quickly the mighty have fallen! Keep in mind Perry has been governor of Texas for going on twenty years now...

Also, though, this is before the Cain sexual harassment charges became public (Clarence Thomas, anyone??)....

Must Watch: Madoff's Wife and Son Last Night on 60 Minutes (Video)

2011-10-31T07:47:00.001-04:00

This is nothing short of a modern Shakespearean drama. Utterly amazing and fascinating....covers the gamut of human emotions: tragedy, greed, love, sorrow...deceit. Arguably the story of our lifetime....

Ripper Political Update 10.25.11

2011-10-25T10:43:00.002-04:00

in other news, an 87 year old Indiana man has been busted with 278 pounds of cocaine...
top on GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum's agenda: criminalize sodomy.
Perry to Romney: Release your tax returns, Mitt--

Ripper Daily Political Report: October 21, 2011

2011-10-21T08:01:00.000-04:00

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida: Cuban/American, liar.
Al Gore, Apple board member, speaks about Steve Jobs...
Herman Cain's making a ton of dough running for president, by the way....did he ever even ponder the possibility of winning? Probably not.
regarding foreclosures in Nevada, GOP front runner Mitt Romney appears guilty of saying what he actually thinks, initially ....bad idea.
introducing the 'Romney Rule' on taxes...Dems smell blood here--
despite what you've heard....big swinging hedge fund managers are still President Obama's top source for campaign cash...

Ripper Political Update 10.20.11

2011-10-20T08:29:00.000-04:00

Slate: Has the GOP become the "Back to the Future" party??
Osama? Check. Quadaffi? Check. If a Republican, Obama would be on Mt. Rushmore by now...
alas...some words of wisdom from Pat Buchanan on race harmony in America...Pat Buchanan: remember him?
New York Times Gadaffi obit...
are Herman Cain's 15 minutes of fame coming to an end?

Ripper's Political Update for Wednesday October 19, 2011

2011-10-19T09:13:00.002-04:00

the crux and hypothesis of the Obama political machine's campaign against presumed GOP nominee Mitt Romney--which is emerging in real time, is that he has no core and therefore cannot be trusted. The Obama campaign will spend close to $1 billion between now and next November driving this single theme home.
you probably didn't see it, but last night's Republican presidential debate got pretty heated and ugly...especially between Perry (Tea Party) and Romney (Country Club Republican)...
this video has nothing at all to do with politics. But it is totally fucking incredible.
excellent, succinct piece on the similarities between Occupy Wall Street and The Tea Party movements...

RIPPER UNITED STATES POLITICAL UPDATE 10/16/11

2011-10-17T10:42:00.002-04:00

Is Mitt Romney just too much of a robotic unlikable stiff to be ever elected president??
one of the tightest, most brutal Senate campaigns of the upcoming election cycle will be in Virginia between George 'Macaca' Allen, and Tim Kaine
does it matter that potential future president Herman Cain appears to be utterly clueless on foreign policy?
Oh no he didn't....Newt calls Romney a...gasp...Rockefeller Republican

Ripper U.S. Political Update: Oct 14, 2011

2011-10-14T16:38:00.000-04:00

How bad will Mitt Romney's problem with Evangelicals be in the general election??
more and more evidence points to the fact that the GOP simply does not like their current crop of presidential candidates...
don't be fooled by the peachy-keen name of the US Chamber of Commerce. It has evolved into an extreme right wing group, and Yahoo just joined the growing list of companies who dropped their membership..
does anyone else find it creepy that the audience in all these GOP debates, continually cheer the notion of Americans being put to death by capital punishment??

Ripper American Political Update: Oct. 13, 2011

2011-10-13T10:14:00.001-04:00

shockingly, the issue of legalized abortion is still an issue in the US Congress...it will be in the Presidential contest too--
Occupy Wall Streeters remind you of the Tea Partiers?? Don't tell that to the Tea Partiers...you see they own the American protest movement.
YouTube: the next POTUS??
Keep an eye on Obama's number one political guy David Axelrod's Tweets...he's Obama's Karl Rove
Hulk Hogan no longer an Obama supporter.
Florida lawmaker: let's re-introduce firing squads...
Despite his seemingly nightmarish political problems, Obama is still vastly more popular than George W. Bush
Rush Limbaugh: Mitt Romney is not a conservative.

Ripper Political Update: October 12, 2011

2011-10-12T08:19:00.000-04:00

although President Obama's approval ratings are down, let's keep in mind the approval ratings of Congress is even much lower
do you happen to think that President "You Lie!" Obama is treated more disrespectfully than previous presidents? Join the club...
the very pronounced implosion of the once piping hot Rick Perry for President campaign continued unabated in last night's GOP debate.
on the alleged Iran / DC assasination plot
Newt in last night's debate: let's jail Democratic Congressional leaders
girthy New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: future POTUS?
Captain Obvious Rick Perry, "Debating is not one of my strong points..."
More Anthony Weiner revelations...reminder to anyone and everyone, what you write in the Internet is permanent--
Is the GOP rooting for the economy to fail??
Ladies and Gentlemen, enjoy the "Cain Train" before it inevitably and spectacularly derails
By the way, does Herman Cain remind anyone else like Eddie Murphy in the classic SNL skit, "White Like Me?"....dead ringer, if you ask me.

Cain: The Godfather's years - Omaha.com

2011-10-11T12:53:00.000-04:00

Cain: The Godfather's years - Omaha.com:

'via Blog this'

Perry Goes Hard at Romney

2011-10-10T13:21:00.000-04:00

Popout

A Rolling Stone remembers Steve Jobs | MNN - Mother Nature Network

2011-10-07T17:12:00.000-04:00

A Rolling Stone remembers Steve Jobs | MNN - Mother Nature Network:

'via Blog this'

Florida State Rep. Wants To End State Ban On ‘Dwarf-Tossing’ To Increase Employment Opportunities For Little People | ThinkProgress

2011-10-06T12:59:00.000-04:00

Florida State Rep. Wants To End State Ban On ‘Dwarf-Tossing’ To Increase Employment Opportunities For Little People | ThinkProgress:

'via Blog this'

Facebook status feud results in Texas man's arrest - Boston.com

2011-10-06T11:24:00.000-04:00

Facebook status feud results in Texas man's arrest - Boston.com:

'via Blog this'

2011-10-04T18:15:00.001-04:00

Billionaire Bet: Warren Buffett Challenges Rupert Murdoch To Release His Tax Returns | ThinkProgress

Romney Can’t Bring Himself To Condemn Jeering Of Gay Soldier | ThinkProgress

2011-10-04T10:26:00.000-04:00

Romney Can’t Bring Himself To Condemn Jeering Of Gay Soldier | ThinkProgress:

'via Blog this'

Perry's Drudge problem - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

2011-10-04T10:23:00.000-04:00

Perry's Drudge problem - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com:

'via Blog this'

Hank Williams, Rocket Scientist

2011-10-04T10:21:00.000-04:00

Hank Williams Jr. -- My Obama Comment Was 'Misunderstood' | TMZ.com:

Goodbye Rick Perry

2011-10-04T08:28:00.000-04:00

Boy, that was quick, wasn't it?

Just another example of the Twitterization/Facebookization of American society these days. Fads like Perry come and go quickly. Whoosh...

First came the laughably awful foreign policy answer he gave at the most recent GOP debate (see story below...)

And now we get news that for years he was a card carrying member of the Niggerhead Ranch in Texas...

Charming.

Goodbye, Rick...we barely knew you--

Perry Fucks Up Badly on Foreign Policy Question During Debate

2011-09-23T10:57:00.001-04:00

Rick Perry’s Not Ready For Prime Time Answer On Pakistan

from Wonk Room by Matthew Yglesias

Debates matter in primary elections, because unlike in general elections, high information people matter in primaries. Thousands of Republican Party elected officials and committed conservative activists across the country watch these things and ask themselves who they want to see as their party’s standard-bearer. After two debates, I think you’d be left with the concern that Rick Perry is perhaps a bit too shaky on his feet to be your guy, and I don’t think this answer on Pakistan would remove those doubts:

Popout
This moment was a reminder that I wish moderators in future debates would think a little bit outside the box more. Last night’s moderators (especially Megyn Kelly) did a good job of asking questions Fox News viewers are likely to care about. But the tendency has been for each debate to cover very similar ground to the previous one. It would be interesting to see how able the candidates — and especially the “big two” of Perry and Romney — are able to answer some slightly less obvious questions. What does America do if the Eurozone breaks up? What if the pro-independence political party comes back in power in Taiwan?

Perry/Romney Battle Heating Up

2011-09-22T10:04:00.001-04:00

We are witnessing the opening shots in what will prove to be a bloody, costly, vicious battle for the Republican nomination between the Tea Partier Rick Perry and the Country Club Republican Mitt Romney....

It will be very interesting to watch....if the party wants to win in November, though, they had better not nominate Perry...