Jon Stewart Can't Believe the Republicans' Crazy Predictions for Obama's Second Term

onefan51

Yet, a lot of people whole-heartedly believe this bull@!$%#. That's what's shocking ... and it's very, very, very scary.

Such is exactly why sane people should never dismiss them as harmless lunatics.

For all of the stupid things they say, GOP leaders are not idiots. They are opportunists who know how to work their demographic. These are politicians who are using the same fear-mongering tactics that were written about by Cato and Cicero.

GOP leaders are not idiots. They are opportunists ...

Agreed. They are self-serving opportunists who are ... unethical ... liars ... hypocrites ...

people should never dismiss them as harmless lunatics.

Well, I consider them extreme lunatics....but they are definitely NOT harmless!

Jon Stewart called it. Unfortunately, the Faux News crack addicts can't change the channel.

They are self-serving opportunists who are ... unethical ... liars ... hypocrites ...

The ironic beauty of their confidence game is that they time-after-time tell their constituents exactly what they plan to do with their elected power, and yet the marks willingly tie the nooses around each other's necks.

Shelby Davenport

Well, I consider them extreme lunatics

My problem with this is view is that it marginalizes those who are legitimately mentally ill, and removes some level of accountability from GOP leadership.

These people are, for the most part, playing to their audience. They are using hyperbolic language to whip their constituency into an omaphagic fury. History depicts to us how often such fervor works out for the greater good.

Good point zen.

It reminds of the remarks Spencer Tracy made in the movie Judgment at Nuremburg, when he said that if the Nazis and those that helped them had truly been madmen and insane perverts, then the Nazi disaster would have no more moral signifcance than an earthquake or other natural disaster. The Moral significance comes from the fact that many of those who actively participated in the crimes of the Nazi regime were "normal", doing it for love of country, or to save a society they thought was falling apart or some other excuse.

The failing was that in the last extremity, they jettisoned everything they said they valued, in order to "save" everything they valued.

And, an excellent movie and one I recommend to anyone who wants an introduction into how even extraordinary people can do the most banally evil things in the name of "good"

“The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.”

“Under conditions of tyranny it is far easier to act than to think. ”

“The trouble with Eichmann was precisely that so many were like him, and that the many were neither perverted nor sadistic, that they were, and still are, terribly and terrifyingly normal. From the viewpoint of our legal institutions and of our moral standards of judgment, this normality was much more terrifying than all the atrocities put together.”

“It was as though in those last minutes he was summing up the lessons that this long course in human wickedness had taught us - the lesson of the fearsome, word-and-thought-defying banality of evil. ”

― Hannah Arendt

@Zen-Hydra,

Ten points for using omaphagic in a sentence!!!

(Seriously, it's worth more than ten, but I'm giving you something to shoot for...)

FR sent.

Cheers, leftcoastblue!

FR accepted.

Yes leftcoastblue, Zen-Hydra is very intelligent.

Great posts here.

Using "Omophagia" in a description of the Right reminded me of this observation of the first American conservatives made by Jefferson that still holds true today…

"I should suspect error where the [monocrats], found no fault. The buzzard feeds on carrion only." --Thomas Jefferson to Barnabas Bidwell, 1806.

Daniel, you should get points for the correct spelling and for doing it so subtly.

Can I get bonus points for my dyslexia ? :)

You betcha. ;>)

LassenPark

Daniel, you should get points for the correct spelling and for doing it so subtly.

Indeed. I often wish the correction window wasn't so limited on Newsvine.

Face it, not everyone can afford a secretary to take dictation.
"omaphagic" was spelled correctly in the context of the sentence btw, so I am a little bemused here.

Hell, what do I know? I had to go look it up.

I’m thankful for this…

The GOP. Gluttonous Omaphagic Party.

Republicans can't win a election based on facts none of the facts support them

sounds like a good discription of the democrates!!!!!!!

Plump, Either you need to use spellcheck or get a dictionary. Democrats is spelled D E M O C R A T S!

Lynn. You are right on about the Republicans. They hate facts. Almost every time they comeout with some prediction it is based upon how they see the facts ie LIES.

I am sure the American People have had enough of this lieing scum and will pull the correct lever in November. I know they have pissed off a vast majority of the American Women. If Momma is not happy not one is going to be happy.

Only one minor point of contention, NC Slim:

Inability to experience pleasure--ever see a Republican smile?

Newt Gingrich. He smiles. Evil smile, pleasurable smile ("mistresses") and he looked positively giddy last night....?

Remember Cain's creepy smile?

Let's just say conservatives can't smile in a way that doesn't make the rest of us shudder.

ETA: Sarah Palin's smile. Before I knew anything about her I was instinctively repulsed by her smile. I don't know why. I've never been able to understand why so many people find her attractive.

Let's just say conservatives can't smile in a way that doesn't make the rest of us shudder.

That's because it's the predatory smile of a crocodile.

But you guys like the rest, right? Zen-Hydra where were you when I was writing the above? :)

Absolutely the rest of it fits!

Even the smile fits if we amend it to "smile with genuine humanity".

That's because it's the predatory smile of a crocodile.

Complete with crocodile tears...

Thumbs up!

What's that old legal saw? When the law's on your side, pound the law. If the facts are on your side, pound the facts. If neither, pound the table. That third option seems to be the default mode for the right wing.

Funny, you seemed to think President Obama was the Republican nominee, or at least you just listed most of the lies this year's Rep candidates are running on as your issues.

I've made up my mind not to settle for the lesser of two evils.

Of course, if everyone thought that way, the greater of two evils would win.

Just sayin'.

There are no pictures of OBL, so Obama might be lying, right?

But did you ACTUALLY see Saddam Hussein hang?

VerbalBarb, that is horrible; I hope you're joking. You're dreaming if we can keep voting the way we've been voting forever.

We The People have exactly and only what we have freely chosen.

If the "Arab Spring" demonstrates anything at all, it's that even a well-armed, oppressive dictator is gone when people choose. And here, in the US of A, we choose in climate-controlled, button-pushing comfort.

Sorry; we have nobody to blame but ourselves for all the violence we do to others, and all the debt we're pushing onto our kids for our selfish, present comforts.

We chose this. No strategy here.

We chose it.

If we'd stop being evil ourselves, and stop choosing evil ourselves, we'd quit suffering the consequences of our stupid, evil choices.

Oh, and Navy Doc, I applaud your decision to vote your conscience. Bravo.

But have you looked at Ron Paul? What do you think?

Conservative concern trolls lurking about...trying to convince you to throw away your vote...even if Obama was a horrible president, The cons offered are mindnumbingly godawful...and more importantly... You don't want them installing the next few Scotus judges

Are you saying that voting for what you want, instead of what the bankster/moneychanger cronies tell you to vote for, is "throwing your vote away?"

Really?

Sigh...

You have what you've chosen. I hope you're happy, and I hope your kids can forgive you.

I'm saying if you feel your vote doesn't matter, then vote, and keep voting till it does matter... don't cut your face off to spite your nose. Fortunately we have a better president than just about anybody in politics today, not perfect mind you but better and the perfect should not be the enemy of the good...

Well, you, Topcat can be happy with your vote because you like the nation we've become. If this is what you want, then you didn't waste your vote.

My beef is with people who don't like the people they vote for, or worse, have no idea about their alternatives in the voting booth.

How many people have read their state constitutions (or even the US Constitution)? How many people know what all those other names (and parties) on the ballot represent that they completely dismiss?

I can tell you from experience and study (having run for office myself, having been a columnist and a think tank bloke) that well-over 90% of us vote worse than we drive. We've got our mind everywhere but on the job at hand. And we blame everybody but ourselves for the outcome.

In a nation that's not had a year's peace since the War to End All War, and as we shred our liberties and our next generation's opportunities, I find that simply nauseating.

Well said Andy Horning....

I would like to thank all of you who voted your conscience November 2000 and spent your vote for Ralph Nader.

Your vote for conscience likely gave us George W. Bush, two wars, TWO UNFUNDED WARS, an unfunded tax break for the least needy of us, an unfunded prescription drug scheme and Dick Cheney.

I don't know if Al Gore would have been a better President, but I wish I had the chance to find out.

your mother know what your doing?

Conservative concern trolls lurking about

I'm not a conservative; I simply see through the BS our government is force-feeding us. The fact that you have to resort to labeling and name calling displays the worst in what you believe.

Regarding my vote, it's mine, and I'm free to do with it as I please. My children will thank me for what I am teaching them now because in the end, they will be able to survive, independent of handouts and relying on themselves for their needs.

Yeah right you don't know the future fore your kids and you may just regret it.You don't have to use it if you don't need it but what if you do and it isn't there.Your willing to take the help from them if they need it because you said so

I loved that splice! O'Donnell had one on his show that spliced Romney's awkward "trees are the right height" speech with the Steve Carell's mentally handicapped character from Anchorman...I like rug I like lamp...this primary is the most unintentionally funny primary ever!

"I like cars"..........all those little lakes that dot the inner places...

army of insight: So sit back and enjoy watching the right collapse upon itself

No.

The fact that people are still crazy enough to buy what the Republicans are selling, even though it's demonstrably false and self-destructive in the long term, is why you should never assume your guy is going to win. There is never a reason not to get the word out, to contribute, to volunteer, and especially to counter the lies when you hear them; even if the person you're talking to is too Dunning-Krugered to take the hint, perhaps others nearby listening will realize just what's going on and what's at stake.

Never underestimate the importance of countering crazy people.

Every Major Party that is now gone in America is gone because it went so far to the Right that it lost all credibility and support with the people, fragmenting to nothing, every one.

The Loyalist were the first to go and the first Conservative Party who opposed our independence and supported King George the Third during the Revolutionary War.

The Federalist and the Tories also went to far Right and died. Even the Liberal Whig party that Lincoln was member of was infiltrated. The Democratic party, the oldest Party in America, began as a Liberal Party and would have died out but for the transition back to a liberal leaning party during the late 50’s and early 60’s.

So don’t say that the GOP can’t die, it’s happened before and will happen again. The Medias penchant for drama and the drama of politics for ratings and the infusion of the discredited and radicalized-neocon posers who took over the Tea-Party and infused the GOP in “010 with their astro-turf Billionaire propped up support won’t help them in ‘012 now that America has seen their true nature.

Fair points both of you. However you gave proof for it Daniel they will shatter... eventually... I understand that we need to keep fighting the good fight... and I will do so. However none of these candidates are remotely as legit as Mccain and we saw how that played out. The Right has lost a good amount of its base since then just by how ridiculous they are acting... Hell even Clint Eastwood will probably vote Democrat... I use to think I lost faith (I rarely use that term) in my country but I do believe the whole country will not be deceived by this calamity the Republicans are championing currently.

So don’t say that the GOP can’t die, it’s happened before and will happen again. The Medias penchant for drama and the drama of politics for ratings and the infusion of the discredited and radicalized-neocon posers who took over the Tea-Party and infused the GOP in “010 with their astro-turf Billionaire propped up support won’t help them in ‘012 now that America has seen their true nature.

Thats what I'm counting on.

Not a peep out of this one during the Bush Calamity. No credentials for this one.

But you get what you pay for! Obama WON because he ran against the McCain-Palin ticket. Forcing voters to try to pick the best of two impossibly bad choices.

Yes, the McCain-Palin ticket was pitiful but voters are always faced with choosing the best available candidate out of the group. Unless of course you're a robot-zombie, in which case the "best choice" criteria isn't even part of the equation.

Obama won because enough people voted him the best choice out of all of the available candidates. He will win this November for the very same reason.

I think you under estimate them.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human conservative stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

I think you under estimate them.

I don't think it's possible to overestimate their capacity for stupidity and thuggishness.

I'm amazed you people care about the comments of stewart, a comedian.....who would care what a man paid to tell jokes thinks. This is why democrat extremism is destroying the party

I'm amazed you people care about the comments of stewart, a comedian.....who would care what a man paid to tell jokes thinks.

Stewart is obviously has far better observational skills that you. What's your defense for these absurd "predictions"?

This is why democrat extremism is destroying the party

How does the fact that right-wing extremists made bizarre claims about what would happen if Obama became president say anything about left-wing extremists allegedly destroying their party?

Stewart is obviously has far better observational skills that you.....obvious to who????, maybe stewart, but then again he's a comedian so who cares???? Don't confuse logic with " extreme leftist observational skills"

How does the fact that right-wing extremists made bizarre claims about what would happen if Obama became president say anything about left-wing extremists allegedly destroying their party?....so far most of the claims about obama have come true....he's spending us broke, destroying "the family" ruining the school system, trying to turn America into a secularist nation on and on

.so far most of the claims about obama have come true....he's spending us broke, destroying "the family" ruining the school system, trying to turn America into a secularist nation on and on

Oh sure he is.

I'd walk to the other side of the street if I see someone like #23.3 coming my way.

he's spending us broke,

Congress decides where money is spent, not the president.

destroying "the family" ruining the school system, trying to turn America into a secularist nation

How is he doing any of this?

on and on

Please, try to justify the accusations you have already made before dragging us any farther into your fantasy world.

Federal spending has been steady at $3.5T a year for the past 3 yrs (the same level since Bush's last budget). The huge deficits have been due to Bush's recession and Bush's tax cuts that Republicans will not let expire.

Oh hang on, lemme recross the streams on this one, aaaaand...

scott-1148057: I'm amazed you people care about the comments of stewart Victoria Jackson, a comedian.....who would care what a man woman paid to tell jokes thinks. This is why democrat extremism Republican wharrgarbl is destroying the party

Fascinating. And note the differences between them; Stewart plays video clips of Republicans and derides those while Miss Jackson uses bare assertions that are simply accepted.

Scott, Obama is ruining the educational system of our country??? How can he do that, when in fact he inherited that bogus system "No Child Left Behind" ushered in by your little Cheerleader W? Any educator who has a lick of common sense will tell you that the No Child Left Behind Initiative was a joke and never worked nor changed anything, but the Rethugs were just fine with it because their "man" W came up with and sold it hook, line and sinker to his rubber stamping buddies in Congress. So before you start winging BS out there, educate yourself to whats what.

but the Rethugs were just fine with it because their "man" W came up with and sold it hook, line and sinker to his rubber stamping buddies in Congress

No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, also known as "NCLB" is a US federal law that was originally proposed by President George W. Bush in 2001. The legislation funds a number of federal programs aiming at improving the performance of U.S. schools by increasing the standards of accountability for states, school districts, and schools, as well as providing parents more flexibility in choosing which schools their children will attend. Additionally, it promotes an increased focus on reading and math.

The intent of NCLB is that all children will meet state academic achievement standards to reach their full potential through improved programs. The funding is divided into several areas, known as titles. In 2008, OCVTS received funding in support of these titles:

1. Title I, Part A supports programs and resources for disadvantaged students. Title 1A funding is designed to aid districts in closing the achievement gap by placing highly qualified teachers in classrooms.
2. Title 1, Part D is designed to serve delinquent and neglected youth in institutions, day programs, and correctional facilities to assure they attain high academic levels of achievement.
3. Title II, Part A provides resources for improving teacher and principal quality. It focuses on preparing, training, and recruiting high-quality teachers and principals.
4. Title II, Part D facilitates improved student academic achievement through the use of technology in the schools.
5. Title IV, Part A provides resources for fostering a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports academic achievement.

Before you spout off and sound ueducated, inform yourself on the subject.....the only people against NCLB are union cronies, socialists(like the bamster) and affirmative action wingnuts!!!

TheyreAllCrooks, That would be such a fitting end to this bunch of old, angry white men who probably haven't accomplished much in their own lives and are bitter and angry at everyone. Who they need to blame is themselves, as they are the sum of their own choices.