wait till the media scours his background before you champion him too hard, people who rise quickly usually go down pretty quickly

as far as his ideas, they are the same ones that keep losing elections for the GOP, so I'm not sure why else they would be excited about the guy. he hasn't proposed any new ideas or approaches.

3/17/2013 4:56:19 PM

But, but, but... he's a well-spoken black guy!

3/17/2013 7:13:31 PM

Yep.

3/17/2013 10:49:14 PM

he's a black guy saying the same things that keep making the old white guys lose elections

meanwhile at cpac, there are multiple people calling for a new direction in the GOP and making calls for a new position on civil and personal liberties that could win elections

3/17/2013 11:41:51 PM

Oh, I see.

[Edited on March 18, 2013 at 12:01 AM. Reason : My bad, guys.]

3/17/2013 11:54:35 PM

Not to get on my internet high horse, but this line of discussion is why more people probably never post in TSB. First, there's this

Quote :

"Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins"

And then we have this

Quote :

"wait till the media scours his background before you champion him too hard, people who rise quickly usually go down pretty quickly"

I know who Dr. Carson is, I saw a few clips of his speech at the prayer breakfast, I've heard him a few times on talk radio, but that's about it. I don't think he's the second coming or the saviour of the GOP. But to even have a discussion about someone as accomplished as him and to have comments like wait until the media scours his background, as if we're going to find out the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins isn't as smart as a few TWW'ers, is just absurd.

Do I expect too much from the likes of TSB? Probably. But is this the best we can do?

[Edited on March 18, 2013 at 7:32 AM. Reason : Full disclosure, I am a registered Republican.]

3/18/2013 7:31:39 AM

he hasn't been in the spotlight very long, he's written some books but none that really turned him into much of a celebrity. there's nothing unreasonable about that comment, the requirements to be an excellent pediatric neurosurgeon are a lot different than the requirements to survive political attacks from opponents and the media. just wait till he is vetted, its a reasonable suggestion.


in related news, the RNC has released their report on what went wrong and how the party needs to change:
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/03/18/rnc_calls_for_sweeping_reforms_to_party.html
Here is the Wall Street Journal's Review:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323415304578367311933111522.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

Quote :

"In page after page, the report—compiled over the past several months by five veteran GOP campaign operatives—describes the party as ideologically ossified, unable to speak to a wider electorate and increasingly seen as representing the rich and the old."

Quote :

"the task force does offer some basic advice to the wider conservative movement: that the GOP must embrace "comprehensive immigration reform," and on social issues "must in fact and deed be inclusive and welcoming.""

3/18/2013 8:39:24 AM

Quote :

"must in fact and deed be inclusive and welcoming."

Even that sounds old timey.

3/18/2013 10:00:46 AM

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/03/15/1729331/cpac-slavery-minority-outreach/

[VIDEO AT THE LINK]

CPAC Participant Defends Slavery At Minority Outreach Panel: It Gave ‘Food And Shelter’ To Blacks

Quote :

"NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland — A panel at the Conservative Political Action Committee on Republican minority outreach exploded into controversy on Friday afternoon, after an audience member defended slavery as good for African-Americans. The exchange occurred after an audience member from North Carolina, 30-year-old Scott Terry, asked whether Republicans could endorse races remaining separate but equal. After the presenter, K. Carl Smith of Frederick Douglass Republicans, answered by referencing a letter by Frederick Douglass forgiving his former master, the audience member said “For what? For feeding him and housing him?” Several people in the audience cheered and applauded Terry’s outburst. After the exchange, Terry muttered under his breath, “why can’t we just have segregation?” noting the Constitution’s protections for freedom of association. Watch it: ThinkProgress spoke with Terry, who sported a Rick Santorum sticker and attended CPAC with a friend who wore a Confederate Flag-emblazoned t-shirt, about his views after the panel. Terry maintained that white people have been “systematically disenfranchised” by federal legislation. When asked by ThinkProgress if he’d accept a society where African-Americans were permanently subservient to whites, he said “I’d be fine with that.” He also claimed that African-Americans “should be allowed to vote in Africa,” and that “all the Tea Parties” were concerned with the same racial problems that he was. At one point, a woman challenged him on the Republican Party’s roots, to which Terry responded, “I didn’t know the legacy of the Republican Party included women correcting men in public.” He claimed to be a direct descendent of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The panel continued to be racked in controversy, as an African-American audience member repeatedly challenged the racism on display at this event. CPAC is the marquee conservative conference of the year, with speakers ranging from former Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney to Senator Marco Rubio."

To be fair, judging by the video, The audience didn't cheer and applaud so much as gasp and laugh nervously.

[Edited on March 18, 2013 at 10:28 AM. Reason : .]

3/18/2013 10:27:31 AM

haha, posted that last page


to clarify what I said about Carson: It only makes sense if the GOP lost elections only because they were old, racist, misogynistic white guys. That's not why they lost elections, they lost elections because they had dated ideas that don't reflect the shifting values or demographics of the country (... and it didn't help that some of them are old, racist, misogynistic white guys). Picking someone with the same ideology that voters have already rejected isn't going to help, even if he has a different color skin. If the GOP wants to win they need a new approach, and repackaging the same ideas is not a new approach.

[Edited on March 18, 2013 at 10:33 AM. Reason : .]

3/18/2013 10:28:26 AM

The best part of the panel was its name: “Trump the Race Card: Are You Sick and Tired of Being Called a Racist and You Know You’re Not One?”

3/18/2013 10:45:21 AM

^^ yep. This Carson fellow believes in a flat tax because of religious reasons. Same thing with his opposition to abortion and gay marriage. It's like the Mullahs in Iran preaching Sharia Law and shit. That crap doesn't win elections.

3/18/2013 11:14:26 AM

In addition to the 100 or so prominent Republicans signing on to the freedom to marry side of the Supreme Court case being heard next month, and in addition to Senator Portman (GOP VP shortlister in 2012) coming out for marriage equality, we're also seeing other progress:

http://metroweekly.com/poliglot/2013/03/rnc-chair-praises-portman-as-gop-report-calls-for.html

Quote :

"In an expansive "autopsy" of the GOP, the Republican National Committee released a report today providing a path forward for the party, one that includes gay inclusion, following a series of defeats last November. Titled the "Growth and Opportunity Project," the 97-page report specifically singles out the GOP's stance on gay-rights issues as being a key contributor to alienation among younger voters and one that must be addressed if national Republican candidates wish to win at the ballot box. "For the GOP to appeal to younger voters, we do not have to agree on every issue, but we do need to make sure young people do not see the Party as totally intolerant of alternative points of view," the report states. "Already, there is a generational difference within the conservative movement about issues involving the treatment and the rights of gays — and for many younger voters, these issues are a gateway into whether the Party is a place they want to be.""

Quote :

"The release of the report comes the same day Priebus spoke at the National Press Club in D.C. In a striking statement, Priebus volunteered the name of Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who endorsed same-sex marriage last week after learning that his son is gay, when asked what "rising stars" in the party could help "rein in the anti-gay and anti-women sentiments.""

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/walker-gay-marriage-conservatives/2013/03/17/id/495083

Quote :

"Same-sex marriage is accepted by younger conservatives and won’t likely be an issue in upcoming political races, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said."

3/18/2013 2:52:34 PM

If only these GOP congressman could have black or working class sons, then we could really see some progressive thinking.

3/18/2013 9:32:27 PM

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ODD_MOP_SINK_CONFUSION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-03-25-17-33-31

summary:

Republicans were worried about a new Muslim foot sink that was installed at the Tennessee capital building, an obvious example of the threatening rise of Sharia law in the US.

turns out its just a mop sink

3/26/2013 9:55:23 AM

Quote :

"dtownral All American 4793 Posts user info edit post wait till the media scours his background before you champion him too hard, people who rise quickly usually go down pretty quickly as far as his ideas, they are the same ones that keep losing elections for the GOP, so I'm not sure why else they would be excited about the guy. he hasn't proposed any new ideas or approaches. 3/17/2013 4:56:19 PM Prawn Star All American 7276 Posts user info edit post But, but, but... he's a well-spoken black guy! 3/17/2013 7:13:31 PM y0willy0 All American 4204 Posts user info edit post Yep. 3/17/2013 10:49:14 PM dtownral All American 4793 Posts user info edit post he's a black guy saying the same things that keep making the old white guys lose elections meanwhile at cpac, there are multiple people calling for a new direction in the GOP and making calls for a new position on civil and personal liberties that could win elections"

Ben Carson Withdraws As Johns Hopkins Commencement Speaker After Gay Marriage Outcry
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/ben-carson-withdraws-commencement_n_3060052.html
Johns Hopkins Med Students Call For Carson's Replacement As Commencement Speaker
UPDATE: Carson Indicates He May Be Open To Withdrawing
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/03/29/johns-hopkins-med-students-call-for-carsons-rep/193348

the quote he said:
"It’s a well-established, fundamental pillar of society, and no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality -- it doesn’t matter what they are -- they don’t get to change the definition."


yep, equating homosexuality or gay marriage to NAMBLA or bestiality is totally going to win elections for republicans

4/11/2013 10:37:59 AM

He is a Creationist as well

4/11/2013 5:56:15 PM

I almost get the feeling he's saying that to get attention and gain support. Then he'll have his opinions "evolve" on the matter.

But dumber people have attained higher posts before, so maybe he's genuine.

4/11/2013 7:21:37 PM

Rand Paul's talk at Howard... lol. What a disaster.

4/12/2013 7:25:17 PM

Haha. How's that "outreach" working out?

4/12/2013 9:21:27 PM

I love that the only straw the GOP has to grasp at currently is the fact that once upon a time they did shit that was decent.

Because they should obviously get the benefit of the doubt now for things they did 70-150 years ago.

4/13/2013 12:03:17 AM

That speech was HILARIOUS. And also extremely sad and insulting to black people.

4/13/2013 4:39:13 AM

any gains Rand Paul made at CPAC he destroyed at Howard

4/13/2013 7:27:28 AM

The only way Rand's speech could have been better is if they got Ben Carson to deliver it.

4/15/2013 10:49:34 AM

GOP Rebranding FAIL: GA Governor Edition:

Gov. Nathan Deal won’t take sides in the controversy over some Wilcox County teens’ efforts to integrate their prom.

By email, his spokesman, Brian Robinson, said Deal would have no response to a liberal group’s call for state officials, including the governor to speak out.

He wrote, “This is a leftist front group for the state Democratic party and we’re not going to lend a hand to their silly publicity stunt.”

Better Georgia asked Deal and others “to publicly support the students of Wilcox County who are fighting to end a ‘separate-but-equal’ high school prom.”

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/04/15/1863561/georgia-governors-office-calls-push-to-end-segregated-prom-a-silly-publicity-stunt/

4/15/2013 3:12:22 PM

I feel like that's one of the reasons the Republicans are better with pushing their agenda than Democrats.

A democrat, if the cause was just, would grudgingly agree with someone they normally disagree with, where as republicans won't ever play ball, unless they can clearly be the winners.

4/15/2013 3:21:52 PM

Sonny Perdue once had a prayer session on the steps of the capital building to pray for rain during a drought in the mid 2000's

this governor, in all his stupidity, is an upgrage

4/15/2013 10:07:49 PM

He clearly wasn't serious. He called them the "Democratic" Party.

4/16/2013 3:13:02 PM

New Hampshire Republican refers to women as “vaginas” in email to lawmakers

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/17/new_hampshire_republican_refers_to_women_as_vaginas_in_email_to_lawmakers/singleton/

4/17/2013 10:23:31 AM

Once again, how do these a-holes get elected?

4/17/2013 10:47:48 AM

Because dumbasses vote for them. And there are a lot of dumbasses.

4/17/2013 12:24:26 PM

yeah proof of the presidents elected the past 20 years

4/17/2013 4:01:43 PM

sorry, i don't think any of the presidents elected in the last 20 years are this stupid.

and why stop at 20 years? why not just say 50?

4/17/2013 4:05:58 PM

I would hope that even the nuttiest conservatives could admit that Clinton is pretty fucking brilliant

4/17/2013 4:07:31 PM

Biggest thing I have against Clinton is the Glass-Steagall repeal.

4/17/2013 4:30:17 PM

https://twitter.com/GrahamBlog

Lindsey Graham on the 2nd suspect

"If captured, I hope Administration will at least consider holding the Boston suspect as enemy combatant for intelligence gathering purposes."

"If the #Boston suspect has ties to overseas terror organizations he could be treasure trove of information."

"The last thing we may want to do is read Boston suspect Miranda Rights telling him to "remain silent.""

4/19/2013 8:16:58 PM

Quote :

""The last thing we may want to do is read Boston suspect Miranda Rights telling him to "remain silent."""

holy shit

4/19/2013 8:39:18 PM

^^what a fucking hack.

4/19/2013 9:38:37 PM

which side are you guys on

4/19/2013 10:00:59 PM

From Mitch McConnell's Facebook page:



http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/04/18/_we_love_the_memes_you_send_us.html

4/19/2013 10:25:24 PM

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/04/lessons-bombing-are-clear-these-people-boston-needs-more-ar-15s/64396/

4/19/2013 11:14:51 PM

Quote :

"Since there is a terrorist on the loose and our city is on lock down I am glad the guns we have don't have magazines that hold more than 10 rounds"

-no one ever

4/20/2013 7:46:51 AM

I found it very bothersome that the massachusetts and local boston governments basically instituted martial law. I am however very glad that the guy only got caught once they stopped fear mongering and telling people they could come out of their homes. He was arrested because a resident saw something and called it in, not via the lockdown and manhunt. Of course, that part will be ignored in favor of talking about how we need more controls and more security, checkpoints, etc.

4/20/2013 9:45:07 AM

Yeah, it bothers me too.

I've been wondering what legal authority they have to shutdown the entire city. I assume they invoked some sort civil emergency powers, similar to what's done during a lot of natural disasters (e.g., curfews and movement restrictions to prevent looting).

I'm not sure what gives them the power to arbitrarily enter and search homes. I wonder if anyone refused?

4/20/2013 4:14:09 PM

I saw on twitter people saying they asked if people wanted their homes searched, and if they refused, they just went on to the next house. I actually haven't seen any credible reports of the police forcing into people's houses.

Some GOP guy was saying this would derail immigration reform, and this was a top story on google news. Kind of ironic considering the recent rash of shootings didn't affect gun reform.

[Edited on April 20, 2013 at 4:21 PM. Reason : ]

4/20/2013 4:18:51 PM

That's good they're weren't conducting forced searches, though I'm not sure how effective a day spent searching occupied homes would ever be. Seems like they should've spent the time asking for consent to search things like unoccupied sheds, garages, boats, etc.

I know it's with the benefit of hindsight, but a covered boat stored in the yard seems like such an obvious hiding place.

The immigration angle isn't surprising. They've been changing tack over the past few weeks from flat no's to 'Well, OK. But only after you completed this laundry list of items to our satisfaction'. It's probably a good sign they've moved on to delay tactics.

4/20/2013 4:35:00 PM

The shelter in place order was a request

4/20/2013 5:12:01 PM

Quote :

"I know it's with the benefit of hindsight, but a covered boat stored in the yard seems like such an obvious hiding place."

apparently the boat was a block or two outside of the 20 or so block perimeter that they were intensely searching.

4/20/2013 5:16:14 PM

Quote :

"Kind of ironic considering the recent rash of shootings didn't affect gun reform. "

The gun reform that was proposed would not have prevented those shootings. The immigration reform being proposed could have prevented the marathon bombing.

4/20/2013 8:14:23 PM

does NICS check the FBI watchlist? its an FBI list, but i have no idea if they run NICS checks against the watchlist. if they did, it may have prevented them from purchasing guns at least.

4/20/2013 9:38:50 PM