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Romney, Osama and Obama

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Romney, Osama and Obama

posted at 10/24/2007 9:26 AM EDT

*Moderator*

EJ_Dionne

First post: 5/22/2007
Last post: 10/9/2009
Total posts: 358

Now there's a slip. On Tuesday, Mitt Romney confused Osama bin Laden with....Barack Obama! "Actually, just look at what Osam -- Barack Obama -- said just yesterday. Barack Obama, calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield," Romney said, according to the Associated Press. "It's almost as if the Democratic contenders for president are living in fantasyland. Their idea for jihad is to retreat, and their idea for the economy is to also retreat. And in my view, both efforts are wrongheaded." What kind of slip is this? Freudian? Intentional? Accidental? Is this a sign of what Obama is in for from Repuiblicans, or is it a meaningless mistake? (And while we're on the subject of Mitt Romney, I argued in my column on Tuesday that Romney's Mormonism should absolutely not be an issue in the campaign, but that Romney faces a dilemma on the religion issue.) Let's talk about Mitt Romney, his slip and his future.

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Re: Romney, Osama and Obama

posted at 10/24/2007 9:27 AM EDT

seanomore1

First post: 10/7/2007
Last post: 3/28/2008
Total posts: 1070

Replying to:

Prediction: not one single right-winger will condemn this. Just as they didn't condemn trashing Kerry's honorable and even heroic war service in 2004.

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hmmm...

posted at 10/24/2007 10:37 AM EDT

dgblues

First post: 8/20/2007
Last post: 8/20/2009
Total posts: 365

Why would one presume it a slip? It's been said before. And of course, Obama's middle name of Hussein has garnered a lot of right wing attention as well.

It doesn't surprise me that Romney would stoop to this. He is, after all, a Republican, and their clear record of character assassination is not in dispute. What amazes me is that he'd waste ammunition and risk scorn on Obama, instead of taking on his most formidable hurdles: Guiliani and Thompson.

My recommendation to the Romney campaign is that their candidate start making "slips" placing Giuliani somewhere along an imaginary line drawn between Mussolini and Rue Paul. That would emphasize both his Italian heritage and his tendency to get a little liberal with his dress code when he lets his hair down.

And slip out a simile or two between Thompson and that sleepy blood hound that was featured on the Hee-Haw television series. The droopy eyes, the level of enthusiasm, the baggy jowls...even their voices match, for crying out loud.

Do I have to spell everything out for you guys? Sheesh!

Oh, and Mitt: instead of driving around with a dog in a cage on the roof of your station wagon, put a prisoner from Gitmo in there instead.

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Debates Mean Exactly What?

posted at 10/24/2007 11:11 AM EDT

am214t

First post: 8/8/2007
Last post: 7/1/2009
Total posts: 1944

If the American people elected George W. Bush, after his performance in the 2004 national Presidential debates against John Kerry, it would appear that what a candidate actually articulates or how he performs intellectually in the debates matters little in the final election results.

As the country is split almost 50/50 Democrat versus Republican, it is difficult to say what sways the tiny fraction of the electorate that calls itself "independent" in states like Ohio.

Our party system carries with it some rather clear divisions, both cultural and economic, between the extant major parties. Thus, it is hard to know what "independent" means exactly.

The candidates, after all, do represent the overall philosophies of the parties they represent.

Perhaps, it means I haven't decided who I would like to have a beer with yet, or who most persuasively Swift Boats or Osama-izes the other guy before me on TV.

However, as W. Churchill said, democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others.

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2 slips on the same banana peel?

posted at 10/24/2007 11:29 AM EDT

RollaMO

First post: 10/23/2007
Last post: 2/28/2008
Total posts: 7

Another attempt to beat down a possible Obama win on the Democratic side in order to ensure a Hillary candidacy next year? I think Republicans have schizo feelings about Hillary Clinton, they secretely fear her as an opponent but can't wait for it to happen.

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Sen. Teddy Kennedy made the same "slip" some time

posted at 10/24/2007 11:48 AM EDT

bethu

First post: 5/25/2007
Last post: 11/26/2007
Total posts: 297

ago......don't recall any on the left condemming their Liberal Lion then!

This is an innocent mistake, for crying out loud.....incidentally, the first time I heard Sen. Obama's middle name was, I believe, in a column by E. J.

Want to talk hypocrisy? How about those on the left taking shots at Sen. Fred Thompson's "trophy wife," but no one mentioning Sen. Dodd's equally attractive young wife?

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Re: Sen. Teddy Kennedy made the same "slip" some time

posted at 10/24/2007 12:06 PM EDT

waylandadmin

First post: 9/1/2007
Last post: 6/11/2009
Total posts: 2509

Replying to:

I agree with you, bethu: This is an innocent mistake. Do you think Obama's name would be a net negative among fence sitters (independents) should be win the Democratic nomination?

What are the Democrats saying about Fred Thompson's trophy wife? I thought having a trophy wife was a good thing. If Senator Dodd has a trophy wife, I'll have to take another look at him/her. I suspect the reason they've not said anything snippy about Dodd is because he's not a factor at this point -- let sleeping dogs lie and all that.

I have heard some Christian Right types say they think Mrs. Thompson is a net negative given her penchant for wearing revealing clothes.

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a couple of questions...and a comment

posted at 10/24/2007 1:07 PM EDT

blue_tarp

First post: 7/4/2007
Last post: 10/3/2009
Total posts: 124

questions:
1) what is a "trophy wife"?
2) is a "net negative" worse than a "gross negative"?

what i mean is that if the negative is "gross", then it will garner more media attention than a "net" (after taxes?) negative, right?

Freudian slips, or Romneyesque slips, the full effect has more cash-value, so, alternately, is a "gross negative" better?
------------------------
comment:

seriously though, how could his so-called slip-of-the-tongue be an innocent mistake when Romney immediately launched into his conclusion: that Democratic candidate Osam (oh, i'm sorry, Barack) Obama is encouraging the terrorists and jihadist radicals by "uniting" them in Iraq.

This is all part of the "Language Game" (re: Wittgenstein). Swift Boats and Tongue Slips have the same function - to influence and draw intended associations in the mind of those who will decide who the next Decider will be.

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Cheap Shots

posted at 10/24/2007 1:18 PM EDT

seanomore1

First post: 10/7/2007
Last post: 3/28/2008
Total posts: 1070

I think the current phase started either with Willie Horton in 1988 or with Dick Armey saying "We really don't care about your President" on the House floor in 1994. Armey apologized, but Dick Cheney didn't when he said "Go f*** yourself" on the floor of the Senate. Since then the artful slip of the tongue and the outright slander have become standard issue.

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no such thing as a slip

posted at 10/24/2007 2:13 PM EDT

dgblues

First post: 8/20/2007
Last post: 8/20/2009
Total posts: 365

I'd refer you to: "Making Mitt Romney" in this month's Harper's. You'll understand there's no such thing as a "slip."

In South Carolina, Romney has retained TTS Strategies as his campaign consultant. Who are they? One of their executives (they claim on his own, of course) put up a web site, since taken down, which attacked Thompson with labels like “Phoney Fred,” “Fancy Fred,” “Flip-Flop Fred,” “Moron Fred,” and “Playboy Fred.”

TTS is run by a real nice fella named Warren Tompkins. From the article:

"Tompkins was a key architect of Bush’s victory over McCain in the 2000 South Carolina primary. That race is often seen as the ugliest one of modern times, with rumors spread—often via anonymous flyers, phones without caller ID, and untraceable email addresses—that McCain had fathered an illegitimate black child, that his wife was a drug addict, and that he favored removing tax-exempt status from churches."

For these people, it's by any and all means necessary. Remember, these two incidents were Republicans assassinating the character of their own; and of course we've all experienced the depths to which they'll stoop to attack the opposing party. No tactic is beneath them.

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just a reminder WP

posted at 10/24/2007 2:21 PM EDT

FirstBlood

First post: 10/12/2007
Last post: 11/19/2007
Total posts: 198

Again, I like to remind the WashingtonPost - the STORY of the century is the Helium 3 race to the moon.

I've been writing you for months about it - and go figure - you still choose to run soap opera stories compared to the future energy solution for humanity, let alone - what such an energy resource will do for energy market futures IF it's brought to the surface - get it ? heh

Oh well - enjoy the tripp tripe people

I'm investing my time better if I can afford to.

Gee, a petro war, gee, the end of petro - and yet ? not a WIMPERING from WP.

Least India and China came clean and admitted why they are going to the moon.

Hmm... 10,000 year energy supply, totally carbon free, no radioactive waste, naw, we'll just cover blackwater and the oil grab.

Good job WP.

You've failed your society.

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Re: Sen. Teddy Kennedy made the same "slip" some time

posted at 10/24/2007 2:23 PM EDT

bethu

First post: 5/25/2007
Last post: 11/26/2007
Total posts: 297

Replying to:

I agree with you, bethu: This is an innocent mistake. Posted by waylandadmin

Thanks, waylandadmin....I don't think Sen. Obama's name is a handicap for him.....look at the guy whose parents were from India who was just elected Governor of Louisiana....Bobby Jindhal, I believe, is his name. He ran on a "no more corruption" platform and the voters elected him, name, race and heritage notwithstanding....just like it ought to be. He's a Republican, also, I think.

You lefties who can't believe a "slip of the tongue" can happen, google you tube "Sen. Ted Kennedy Obama" and tell me that again!

A slip of the tongue is FAR less bad than the Democratic Representative who said soldiers in Iraq ar being blown up "for the President's amusement." He apologized.....don't hear many on the left condemming that statement.

And you guys say WE'RE mean spitited and hateful!

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Re: Sen. Teddy Kennedy made the same "slip" some time

posted at 10/24/2007 2:29 PM EDT

RollaMO

First post: 10/23/2007
Last post: 2/28/2008
Total posts: 7

Replying to:

One little wrinkle you left out about Jindal, he's Catholic, not Hindu, in a very Catholic state. Do you think a Hindu would have won?

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Re: Sen. Teddy Kennedy made the same "slip" some time

posted at 10/24/2007 2:56 PM EDT

waylandadmin

First post: 9/1/2007
Last post: 6/11/2009
Total posts: 2509

Replying to:

You're just better at it than we are. More practice; barely recognize it anymore when you do it.

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Re: Sen. Teddy Kennedy made the same "slip" some time

posted at 10/24/2007 3:00 PM EDT

bethu

First post: 5/25/2007
Last post: 11/26/2007
Total posts: 297

Replying to:

One little wrinkle you left out about Jindal, he's Catholic, not Hindu, in a very Catholic state. Do you think a Hindu would have won? Posted by RollaMO

Didn't occur to me that his being a Catholic would be a plus. Do you think it was.......?
Sen. Obama is as much white as black.......if he has a black mother would he be more popular? Less popular? If his dad was white, as was his mom, would he bee more or less popular?

I don't think that Bobby Jindahl's religion is what drove people to elect him....more likely people fed up with the Blanco/Democrat legacy.

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Re: Sen. Teddy Kennedy made the same "slip" some time

posted at 10/24/2007 3:04 PM EDT

waylandadmin

First post: 9/1/2007
Last post: 6/11/2009
Total posts: 2509

Replying to:

One little wrinkle you left out about Jindal, he's Catholic, not Hindu, in a very Catholic state. Do you think a Hindu would have won? Posted by RollaMO

Missouri School of Mines,

I heard someone say Jindal converted from Hinduism to Cahtolicism. Probably a wise political decision in Louisiana. I heard him speak and he's remarkably eloquent -- a Republican to be reckoned with in the coming years, now that they've worn their good ol' boy shtick thin and no one is paying any attention to President Bush anymore.

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Re: Sen. Teddy Kennedy made the same "slip" some time

posted at 10/24/2007 3:11 PM EDT

*Moderator*

AlexRemington

First post: 5/24/2007
Last post: 8/4/2009
Total posts: 1566

Replying to:

Piyush "Bobby" Jindal, born in Baton Rouge to Punjabi Indian parents, is the new Governor-elect of Louisiana. A Republican, he currently serves as the representative in Louisiana's 1st District, having succeeded Sen. David Vitter.

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Re: Romney, Osama and Obama

posted at 10/24/2007 3:15 PM EDT

scorbett1976@hotmail.com

First post: 10/12/2007
Last post: 10/24/2007
Total posts: 4

Replying to:

If you can't control this kind of slip up, then you shouldn't be asking to be President of the United States. Haven't we had enough of the linguistic flubs from our current chimp in chief?

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Re: Romney, Osama and Obama

posted at 10/24/2007 3:15 PM EDT

marc0662

First post: 10/24/2007
Last post: 10/24/2007
Total posts: 1

This is yet another example of how superficial our government and country is as a whole. Barack Obama? "Oh no, is name sounds too much like a terrorist". Dennis Kucinich? "Oh no, he's too short and weird looking". It's just like last election with Howard Dean. He had one instance where he looked a little crazy and everyone freaks out. He was a front-runner up until that point and then his rating dropped horribly. Can we please, as a country, be less judgemental about things like this?

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Re: Sen. Teddy Kennedy made the same "slip" some time

posted at 10/24/2007 3:16 PM EDT

seanomore1

First post: 10/7/2007
Last post: 3/28/2008
Total posts: 1070

Replying to:

I did. On one of the threads in this forum. Did you miss it?

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