ROFL.

That's very tragic news about Lee Hamilton's wife. Like his fellow co-chair on the 9/11 Committee--Republican Tom Kean (whom I consider to be the best NJ governor in the modern era)--Hamilton is a centerist who has always commanded lots of bi-partisan respect.

In other political tragedies, George McGovern's son recently died. Sadly, I have read that both he and his friend Bob Dole are in failing health. Whatever you think of these mens' politics, both men were war heroes who also served their country most admirably in Congress. Because of their integrity, neither deserved to be subjected to the ruthless personal attacks and humiliation they experienced during their presidential runs.

Max, Bob Dole's close relationship with Nixon is what killed him in the election. No matter what you can say, people think "Birds of a feather flock together", and people also didn't consider him "likeable".

Max, Bob Dole's close relationship with Nixon is what killed him in the election. No matter what you can say, people think "Birds of a feather flock together", and people also didn't consider him "likeable".

I wasn't suggesting that McGovern or Dole were perceived as likeable (instead, I was suggesting that the perceptions of them being unlikeable are incorrect). Because many thought he was way too far to the left, McGovern was about the only politician viewed as even more unlikeable than Nixon, which is a huge reason why he lost 49 states. As a person, McGovern had likeable qualities, though the general public was way too scared of him to take notice.

Bob Dole was also viewed in a highly unfavorable manner, but not because of any Nixon association (at least in recent times). (With all due respect, I am mystified why you would think that Dole and Nixon come from the same flock; while there political views may be similar, Dole has never been accused of criminal activity.) In 1996, Dole's albatross was that Democrats were always tying him at the hip with Gingrich. (Nixon had long ceased to be relevant to swing voters.) They basically accused him of being a Newt's twin brother (which wasn't hard to do, because they were the two leaders of Congress), though in reality the two were never close (and also Gingrich is way more conservative than Dole).

Dole can be extremely funny and self-depreciating, but these likeable characteristics were seldom on display on the campaign trail. Even if Bob never gave "boring" speeches and Newt never existed, the GOP would still have lost in 1996 because of the booming economy.

Edited August 13, 201213 yr by Max

I hadn't noticed a resemblance to Anthony Herrera but I will look again.

Max, I agree with you that Ryan was probably Romney's best bet at this point - the talk I've heard at sites like TNR is that he probably would have chosen a "safe" VP if he was doing better in the polls.

I loathe Tim Pawlenty and have for almost a decade so I'm thrilled he's not going to be VP, especially since he has been Romney's lackey for most of the campaign. Ha ha.

What do you think of Romney basically disavowing Ryan's entire plan? It kind of makes picking him less important.

Bob Dole originally was perceived as the meanest man in Washington but towards the end he sort of morphed into this likable grouch. He had a quick mind and was good with the attacks, and that same quick mind naturally enough was good with the wisecracks.

George R R Martin just says it like it is!

"Show Us Your Papers"

I am way too busy these days for long political rants.

But I would be remiss if I do not at least make passing mention of how depressed, disgusted, and, yes, angry I've become as I watch the ongoing attempts at voter suppression in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Iowa, and other states where Republicans and their Teabagger allies control key seats of power.

It is one thing to attempt to win elections. But trying to do so by denying the most basic and important right of any American citizen to hundreds and thousands of people, on entirely spurious grounds... that goes beyond reprehensible. That is despicable.

It would really be nice if there were still some Republicans of conscience out there who would stand up and loudly denounce these efforts, a few men of honor and integrity for whom "win the election" does not "win the election at any cost." There were once many Republicans I admired, even I disagreed with them: men like Everett Dirksen, Clifford Case, Henry Cabot Lodge, William Scranton... yes, even Barry Goldwater, conservative as he is. I do not believe for a moment that Goldwater would have approved of this, any more than Robert A. Heinlein would have. They were conservatives, but they were not bigots, nor racists, nor corrupt. The Vote Suppressors have far more in common with Lester Maddox, George Wallace, John Stennis, and their ilk than they do with their distinguished GOP forebears.

The people behind these efforts at disenfranchising large groups of voters (the young, the old, the black, the brown) are not Republicans, since clearly they have scant regard for our republic or its values. They are oligarchs and racists clad in the skins of dead elephants.

And don't tell me they are libertarians either. No true libertarians would ever support a culture where citizens must "show their papers" to vote or travel. That's a hallmark of a police state, not a free country.

Bob Dole originally was perceived as the meanest man in Washington but towards the end he sort of morphed into this likable grouch. He had a quick mind and was good with the attacks, and that same quick mind naturally enough was good with the wisecracks.

I don't recall Dole ever being perceived as the meanest man in DC (but I'll take your word for it), but I am well aware of the "hatchet man" moniker he got after the nastiness he displayed in the 1976 VP debate. Certainly, the man wasn't perfect, but he is far less partisan compared to today's standards. The consequent damage done to his reputation was repaired, as Dole became skilled at making friends across the aisle following the 1976 campaign. When he left the Senate in 1996, his colleagues on both sides of the aisle had huge praise for him as a human being (regardless of how they felt about his politics).

What do you think of Romney basically disavowing Ryan's entire plan? It kind of makes picking him less important.

Carl, I don't think that Romney disavowed Ryan's entire plan; it's just that he is putting forth his own plan, which happens to have many similarities to Ryan's plan. From what I have read, the biggest difference between the two budgets is that Ryan's lowers individual income tax rates more than Romney's does. Some may feel this isn't the smartest political move on Romney's part to make such a statement, but then again he is at the top of the ticket and (I feel) needs to have his own plan (as opposed to completely adopting someone else's).

While I respect and understand the criticism that Romney is getting for somewhat distancing himself from Ryan's budget, I do feel that there is a blatant double standard that exists (because of the perception of Romney being much too wishy washy). For instance, I fail to recall anyone criticizing Obama for not sharing Biden's view on Iraq (after choosing him). (Biden originally supported that war, and a big reason why Obama defeated Hillary was because she voted for that war as well.) Likewise, Reagan never adopted the economic philosophy of GHWB after selecting him, despite the fact that the elder Bush trashed supply-side economics as "voodoo economics."

Edited August 14, 201213 yr by Max

George R R Martin just says it like it is!

I'm astounded by the attempts at voter suppression. Is there anything less American than trying to keep people from the polls? I'm just waiting for the court to set the dates for the arguments in OFA v. Husted (the case where "Obama is trying to suppress the military vote!!1!1" ) I'm planning on going to the hearing and I won't be alone.

No matter what I suspect that election day in Ohio is going to make the 2004 voting circus look like an episode of The Martha Stewart Show.

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/13/13250065-in-iowa-obama-to-announce-measures-to-soothe-drought-pain?lite

I'll just sit back and wait on the nasty comments to what he's doing now.

http://nbcpolitics.n...ought-pain?lite

I'll just sit back and wait on the nasty comments to what he's doing now.

Fox News: Obama Seizes Food from America's Farmers in Socialist Redistribuiton Plot.

Fox News: Obama Seizes Food from America's Farmers in Socialist Redistribuiton Plot.

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

Fox Breaking News: Obama Is Black!

Interesting election result, although you won't hear about it, since Joe Biden speaking the truth is much more shocking and heinous.

Cliff Stearns, who has spent the last few years trying to make himself a big hero for his investigations against the Obama administration, was defeated in his primary, in a huge upset. Guess how much he had sitting in his campaign account? $2 million.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article1246033.ece

Fox Breaking News: Obama Is Black!

You are clearly new to writing Fox News headlines. Allow me to help...

Fox Breaking News: Black Man Seen Entering White House, Secret Service On Alert.

Well... Dallas is going to be aerial sprayed with insecticide whether everyone likes it or not. Republican mayor.. I thought they were all about freedom?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505269_162-57494331/west-nile-virus-dallas-declares-state-of-emergency/

Dr. Beth Stevenson, an obstetrician-gynecologist, told CBS News, "We are going under the assumption that this isn't going to be harmful for mother or unborn child."

Oof. Don't like the sound of that at all.

But this seems to be getting serious, so I don't know that I can disagree.

Tells you a lot about how shallow our media is that the damn page is plastered with "news" on a man who died 35 years ago.