the most important election of your lifetime: 2012 american general election thread

I didn't watch any of last night's speeches (my wife had a couple on in the background, so I overheard snippets), but was kind of intrigued by this, posted by TV critic (and former music critic) Tom Carson on facebook: "I'll be damned. Chris Christie did such a great job that I wonder if Mitt regrets keeping him off the short list for VP. It may be the best GOP keynote speech I've ever heard." He didn't elaborate about what made it so good, but when somebody asked him what the best one had been previously, he wrote: "Colin Powell in '96 wasn't bad. The nice thing about being an Easter Island head is that your butt is buried and no one can smell it burning."

If this is to be believed, it was Christie's call:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/christie_had_veeping_doubts_b1gkN5io8CtDgcuiuEgMqL

christies message wasnt up to much but he was for sure a much better speaker than anyone else last night, that maybe says more abt the other speakers than him tho

On the other hand (I have no idea what the consensus is, though I now I kind of wish I watched it, just to have my own opinion):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/28/rachel-maddow-chris-christie-keynote-rnc-speech_n_1838274.html

Obama's '04 key note and whatever Reagan's was in '76 are my favorites.

ya hes was im sure imagining himself as obama in 04, then went ahead and believed the conservative line that obamas a tireless self promoter and decided to try it out himself, he prob couldve actually made some noise if the speech had more substance to differentiate itself, but as it was no ones gonna remember it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CLQ473J5FA

hope these people get swept into the sea

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2012/08/hbc-90008805

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/cnn-republican-convention-black-camerawoman.php?ref=fpblg

wish we knew more about the two attendees who got thrown out of the convention for throwing peanuts at a black CNN camera operator while saying "this is how we feed animals"

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That's the thing (I keep doubling back on myself)--Christie was so much better than everyone else simply as a orator. Watching Santorum, you were reminded of how utterly inexplicable it was that someone so bland could go so far. I didn't watch much of Ted Cruz, but he seemed perfectly boring too, and he's one of the party's big hopes. Thinking about who's left, I'd be surprised if anyone matches Christie in the animation department, including/especially (time permitting) Mitt Romney.

Christie was so much better than everyone else simply as a orator.

The guy sure knows how to use his mouth.

He was compelling to the extent that he reminded me of a real person given a chance to shout into a mic, as opposed to Santorum and The Missus, who looked manufactured in a hate lab.

How did Hunter S. Thompson on acid deal with these people?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr5kMguEqi8

"real marriage" fuck YOU

lol @ "hate lab"

wish we knew more about the two attendees who got thrown out of the convention for throwing peanuts at a black CNN camera operator while saying "this is how we feed animals"

Not to mention the ones who chanted "USA! USA!" at a party official from Puerto Rico.

Clip just above...That's the first time I've seen that--quite sad. Even Rumpus Proboscis looks defeated.

That's incredible.

In fairness, I read the Harper's link above, and there's some uncertainty as to whether the chanting had to do with a separate Ron Paul issue rather than the Puerto Rican official. It's hard to be sure from the clip.

Fair point to be made, but still, those facial expressions are the very definition of "grotesque".

There's something so passive-aggressive about shouting "USA! USA!" whenever you disagree with something, whether it's the rules of order or someone protesting the speaker. I don't mind the chant at a USAFB air show, but any time the phrase "drowned out" is used before "USA!", it's very likely nagl.

I've come to hate that chant in any context, even sports-related. (Actually, it's funny if someone like Letterman uses it as part of a joke.)

the "USA!" chant was more of an attempt to drown out the chant by Ron Paul's supporters, who were protesting the revised rules for the 2016 GOP convention. it seems like they just happened to start shouting "USA!" just as the Puerto Rican delegate was speaking in somewhat broken English, and they completely lacked any self-awareness (imagine that) to realize how that would be perceived.

what a collection of terrible people

oops, xposts

and yeah, chanting USA! is the very worst. i guess it might be acceptable if a ragtag team of college hockey players defeats a heavily favored russian team in the gold medal match of the 1980 olympics, but other than that

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

why do ilxors hate america?

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http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml ??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc98Xf_zPEU

AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED! AUDIT THE FED!

whenever i see the gop convention i think of mr. show. "my great-grandfather started this company with one rickety slave ship and the motto: people selling people to people."

i'm paraphrasing. but that's what the speeches remind me of.

love the oklahoma part in this.

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/rnc-tampa-night-one-12158408?src=soc_fcbk

i mean even i know that oklahoma was a welfare state built on blood by the government.

GOP chanters should consider switching it up next time to avoid misunderstandings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om4eqmF1hlM

I just saw the Clinton commercial for the first time last night, and I love how he put a button on the end of it by essentially saying "Hey, we were doing okay in the 90s, weren't we? That's all Obama wants, baby, is to get to that place again."

"USA! USA!" just makes me wanna go "STEVE HOLT!"

x-post- some bloggers want Bill Clinton to do another commercial specifically addressing the welfare issue, and the waivers.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2012/08/romney-hailed-as-regular-guy-by-woman-with-horse-in-olympics.html

Mitt has never let his success go to his head,” Mrs. Romney said. “Take away the seven-thousand-square-foot house in La Jolla and the bank account in the Caymans, he’s still the same fun-loving boy who pinned a gay kid to the ground and cut off his hair.”

Mrs. Romney adopted an intimate tone as she attempted to describe “the Mitt only I know.”

“Every now and then, Mitt will give me this devilish smile of his, and I know that can only mean one thing,” she said, flushing slightly. “He just fired someone.”

In a small flub that many delegates found endearing, Mrs. Romney said, “Mitt Romney is like you or me—he puts his pants on one leg at a time. Oh, wait. He has a fellow who does that for him. My bad.”

But the nominee’s wife brought the convention audience to its feet with her closing endorsement of her husband: “I promise you that if you elect Mitt President of the United States, he will never give less than thirteen per cent.”

ah, the unfunny satire of andy borowitz

Bill Bring Back the Bubble Clinton.

P4reene had an excellent takedown of Borowitz's risk-free pablum couple weeks ago.

i'm getting controversial on twitter, by the way. its gonna be a long year.

https://twitter.com/skotrok

Christie's line about how Democrats cynically think seniors are motivated solely by self-interest was lol. The GOP, appealing to old folks' commitment to sacrifice! yeah right

figures

http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2012/08/report-clint-eastwood-headed-to-the-rnc-133629.html?hp=r11

They should have got Stacey Keach instead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTB2bA_VwXo&feature=related

pro-gay marriage. pro-choice. (ostensibly) pro auto bailout. wonder if any of this will come up (assuming he is the special guest star)

xpost

of course not

yeah j/k

Are any of the big Hollywood conservatives
both anti abortion and anti gay marriage?

Pat Boone.

pro-gay marriage. pro-choice. (ostensibly) pro auto bailout. wonder if any of this will come up (assuming he is the special guest star)

xpost
--it's smdh time in America (will)

He's gonna be reprising his role in gran torino