The news is on, and the pundits are all falling all over themselves to be the first to put a bar of soap into Donald Trump’s mouth because he uttered the word “pussy” when referring to Ted Cruz’s unwillingness to, should he become president, bring back waterboarding.
The Donald’s and the woman in the audience’s description of Ted Cruz is not the one I would use. I personally prefer to call Ted Cruz “an asshole.” Bu then, I’m not running for president.
But the media, the Fourth Estate, aren’t concerned that the top contender for the GOP’s candidate for President of the United States favors torture. Favors one of the very practices that helped spread, helped foment, helped make terrorism an acceptable option to far more people who might just act on it.
I agree wholeheartedly. My mother said not to speak ill of the dead, though. So I will, but I will feel very guilty about it. It’s the last remnant of catholicism in me.
It is going to be very interesting to see what happens. My husband (a lawyer) was just sayin that I guess it means that the lower court rulings stand.
Well I’m sure they alreayd have someone vetted. McConnell has already said the same thing. He can block it of course. And will. Asshole. It will be really interesting.
If this was a passing fad or a fantasy enjoyed by a small portion of the country, we could all relax. It seems to be a runaway train, however.
I think it should be plain to see that our country cannot afford to give any credibility to people like Trump. It becomes clearer each day. It’s frightening how his speech after the NH polls won’t discourage his supporters and convince them that he has no business running for office and is not fit for the task,
Apparently that’s what they think! Not to expose behavior that is dangerous to the country, certainly. Cause they ain’t been doin’ that for a long time!
Sorry about your ears. At least it didn’t affect your curly tail!
I listened to that clip three times and laughed just as hard each time. What a circus! We’re a laughing stock.
Did you see my man Kasich came in second? And Bloomberg is still considering a run. Christie will announce his withdrawal any minute now. There’s hope on the horizon.
Hope? Kasich is part of the crowd of Midwestern governors destroying all the social programs on their state — if he is a reasonable choice then I hold little hope.
Have it your way. Trump it is. I mean, why not just lump them all together and not make any distinctions? As if there weren’t nuances in their positions. They’re all exactly the same, right?
No they are not all the same. But I can dislike (I DO dislike) each for different reasons and for some of the same reasons. The GOP believes in cutting all social programs — Medicare, social security. They put draconian cuts into programs like food stamps. I dislike their philosophy and I think it is wrong headed.
Because I don’t think Kasich is a fascist like Trump doesn’t mean I want him for president.
Governing philosophy is more important than the person. And one of the primary reasons I believe that (aside from my strong belief that government should work to protect vulnerable) is that I’ve watched government closely from here for so long.
They are anti-regulation. Regulation has become a bad word — like dog poop on a shoe, nobody should want regulation. Well I’ve watched what happens when they succeed at deregulation (some of which was done by the Dems, I understand that, but they’ve realized the error, most of them). Look what happened to the banking industry. Hell look at what has happened with the airlines.
Do you want food and pharmaceutical companies to be unregulated? Regulation sets standards of conduct and allows for sanctions and/or possible prosecution if the standards aren’t followed. The world is too complex and too filled with danger to allow folks like Martin Shkreli and his ilk to take over. And they will because greed is good. It’s the 1980s all over again.
Ric Ocasek was the lead singer of The Cars, and I was confusing his name with Kasich.
I was doing a “I’m a bit dim” joke, buuuuuuuut, I guess it fell flat.
I didn’t realize it was a real one. When I look at my phone (which is how I’ve done comments in the last few days) it keeps showing random links and I ignore them. I thought yours was random too. Off to listen!
I’ve said it for years “the power of the pussy is like no other” and once again it proves to be true. You are DEAD RIGHT Elyse the press are the biggest kitty kats of all …. MEOW!
I will not make it to November at his point….
Completely agree. And the interesting thing about this is the idea that Cruz is soft on the idea of waterboarding. In the last debate, he specifically said he wouldn’t have a problem with it because it doesn’t meet the definition of torture — which he then proceeded to define inaccurately! So, to me the bigger problem is that the attack on Cruz is misplaced, his position on waterboarding is based on his expert legal skills, which apparently include completely mischaracterizing the definition of torture. That said, I do find the degeneration in political dialogue that has been created by Trump to be alarming and disgusting.
I’m pretty sure I could think long and hard before coming up with something nice to say about Ted Cruz. Except that he really is smart (as he will tell us until the end of time).
But I was really alarmed that what the press focused on was the decorum. I agree wholeheartedly that Trump has degraded the office he wants to hold, and the whole political discourse which IS worth commenting on. But the fact the press didn’t bother mentioning the fact that the front-runner for the GOP’s nomination for prez wants to bring back torture kind of demonstrates how we got to where we are in our politics. The press is not doing its job, and by ignoring the elephants (pun intended) THEY lower the discourse. And that is terrifying. Because we bloggers can only do so much!
There is coverage of Trump being in support of torture … saw it on CNN’s website at least and probably in small blurbs in the local newspaper. I also see it covered on some, if not all, of the liberal blogs I follow. So, I’m not sure it is accurate to say the press isn’t covering this. I will agree that the noise over the decorum is much louder than the noise generated by substance.
I’m surprised you saw it on CNN. I’ve seen it in the blogs, but then the blogs seem to be the medium (the media medium?) that calls these folks out. But only the very interested (like us) read them. We need to hear it on the network news, the morning shows, etc.
And I think that it is important to not be a disrespectful boor. But that was obvious long ago!
I’m trying to learn not to call people by body part names or even euphemisms. But yeah, I would have chosen “asshole.” Even so, your point is the more important one. Torture — if you think it is NOT torture (Dick Cheney,) then have it done to a loved one while you watch. Then tell me. YOU get to pick the loved one, (Dick, how about Liz??) but that’s the deal.
The definition of torture, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, or in that case, the victim. When I was in the Navy I experienced intentional sleep deprivation and I can assure you that it, too, is a form of torture. Solitary confinement is also and our country practices it on a massive scale. When his GOP critics accuse the president of wanting to change (or “destroy”) America, they are partially right, torture being one of the areas ripe for change.
Having had health problems that interrupted my sleep terribly, I will second the fact that sleep deprivation is brutal torture. There are so many things that can be used to break a person down. The fact that they’ve been salivating over it since the Bush Administration makes me sick.
Damn good for Obama for trying to change that culture.
And thanks for your input, Jim. You have such an interesting background that you provide terrific insights.
Sophie’s choice for Dick Cheney??? What a wonderful idea. And while I don’t believe in torture, the idea of having it happen to a Cheney … (this is exactly why I should never have a gun or be in charge of anything). And I’d be rooting for Liz …
I can respect a people when they are for waterboarding, unless they’re willing to go through the experience themselves. And if they’re not willing to, then maybe they are the pussies.
FiftyFourandAHalf 
Wait – am I not paying attention enough? Are candidates running on a pro-torture platform? What the heck is going on down there????
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Yes they are. Next month the rape and pillage contest starts.
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My level of despair is increasing. Time for wine.
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I’m on anti-biotics. Please have some for me. (I didn’t even get to celebrate Scalia’s death appropriately.
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Anthony Scalia died. GOP hard at work trying to find a way to blame Obama.
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Holy cow.
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Cause of death: His heart was consumed with hatred. Too bad he didn’t take Cheney with him.
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I hadn’t heard until you told me. I am sadly on antibiotics and can’t pop open some champagne.
I’m going straight to hell for that one. I’ll be seeing Nino, I’m sure.
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That guy wanted to legislate his religious beliefs. Fuck him. Good riddance.
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I agree wholeheartedly. My mother said not to speak ill of the dead, though. So I will, but I will feel very guilty about it. It’s the last remnant of catholicism in me.
It is going to be very interesting to see what happens. My husband (a lawyer) was just sayin that I guess it means that the lower court rulings stand.
Holy shit. Put your seatbelt on.
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Ted Cruz already said nobody should be appointed until the next administration takes over. I think they should appoint someone on Tueaday.
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Well I’m sure they alreayd have someone vetted. McConnell has already said the same thing. He can block it of course. And will. Asshole. It will be really interesting.
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Forget the hypocrisy… my big question is this: How did guys start using that word as an insult???
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Oh you enlightened guys are all the same. 😉
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It has just always baffled me…
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I bet Trump doesn’t want water poured on that thing on his head!
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But we would all be happy if it drowned!
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If this was a passing fad or a fantasy enjoyed by a small portion of the country, we could all relax. It seems to be a runaway train, however.
I think it should be plain to see that our country cannot afford to give any credibility to people like Trump. It becomes clearer each day. It’s frightening how his speech after the NH polls won’t discourage his supporters and convince them that he has no business running for office and is not fit for the task,
As for the press, it’s all been said before.
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I do wish we could tie some of these folks to the tracks …
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MY VIRGIN EARS HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED!
What? Isn’t that what the press is supposed to protect us from? Things that may make us the least bit uncomfortable?
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Apparently that’s what they think! Not to expose behavior that is dangerous to the country, certainly. Cause they ain’t been doin’ that for a long time!
Sorry about your ears. At least it didn’t affect your curly tail!
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I listened to that clip three times and laughed just as hard each time. What a circus! We’re a laughing stock.
Did you see my man Kasich came in second? And Bloomberg is still considering a run. Christie will announce his withdrawal any minute now. There’s hope on the horizon.
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Hope? Kasich is part of the crowd of Midwestern governors destroying all the social programs on their state — if he is a reasonable choice then I hold little hope.
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Have it your way. Trump it is. I mean, why not just lump them all together and not make any distinctions? As if there weren’t nuances in their positions. They’re all exactly the same, right?
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No they are not all the same. But I can dislike (I DO dislike) each for different reasons and for some of the same reasons. The GOP believes in cutting all social programs — Medicare, social security. They put draconian cuts into programs like food stamps. I dislike their philosophy and I think it is wrong headed.
Because I don’t think Kasich is a fascist like Trump doesn’t mean I want him for president.
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But ONE of those guys has to run and, that being the case, I’ll take Kasich. Not saying I’d vote for him but he’s clearly the lesser evil.
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Well that I can agree on. Of the clowns in the race, he is the lesser evil. What an endorsement!
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Ha! My vote always seems to boil down to that!
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Governing philosophy is more important than the person. And one of the primary reasons I believe that (aside from my strong belief that government should work to protect vulnerable) is that I’ve watched government closely from here for so long.
They are anti-regulation. Regulation has become a bad word — like dog poop on a shoe, nobody should want regulation. Well I’ve watched what happens when they succeed at deregulation (some of which was done by the Dems, I understand that, but they’ve realized the error, most of them). Look what happened to the banking industry. Hell look at what has happened with the airlines.
Do you want food and pharmaceutical companies to be unregulated? Regulation sets standards of conduct and allows for sanctions and/or possible prosecution if the standards aren’t followed. The world is too complex and too filled with danger to allow folks like Martin Shkreli and his ilk to take over. And they will because greed is good. It’s the 1980s all over again.
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But I do enjoy the music of The Cars — Oh, wait, that’s Ocasek, neeeverrrr miiiiiind! 🙂
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?!?!
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Ric Ocasek was the lead singer of The Cars, and I was confusing his name with Kasich.
I was doing a “I’m a bit dim” joke, buuuuuuuut, I guess it fell flat.
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No. Just the wrong audience! The only band members I know are John, Paul, George an Ringo!
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Do you like the song I attached?
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I didn’t realize it was a real one. When I look at my phone (which is how I’ve done comments in the last few days) it keeps showing random links and I ignore them. I thought yours was random too. Off to listen!
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It’s great. Hilarious video, too!
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It also, kind of, applies to the situation, “You might think I’m crazy!” 🙂
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Oh yeah! (And I DO think you’re crazy. But in the nice way)
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😀
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I’ve said it for years “the power of the pussy is like no other” and once again it proves to be true. You are DEAD RIGHT Elyse the press are the biggest kitty kats of all …. MEOW!
I will not make it to November at his point….
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Me neither!
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Completely agree. And the interesting thing about this is the idea that Cruz is soft on the idea of waterboarding. In the last debate, he specifically said he wouldn’t have a problem with it because it doesn’t meet the definition of torture — which he then proceeded to define inaccurately! So, to me the bigger problem is that the attack on Cruz is misplaced, his position on waterboarding is based on his expert legal skills, which apparently include completely mischaracterizing the definition of torture. That said, I do find the degeneration in political dialogue that has been created by Trump to be alarming and disgusting.
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I’m pretty sure I could think long and hard before coming up with something nice to say about Ted Cruz. Except that he really is smart (as he will tell us until the end of time).
But I was really alarmed that what the press focused on was the decorum. I agree wholeheartedly that Trump has degraded the office he wants to hold, and the whole political discourse which IS worth commenting on. But the fact the press didn’t bother mentioning the fact that the front-runner for the GOP’s nomination for prez wants to bring back torture kind of demonstrates how we got to where we are in our politics. The press is not doing its job, and by ignoring the elephants (pun intended) THEY lower the discourse. And that is terrifying. Because we bloggers can only do so much!
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There is coverage of Trump being in support of torture … saw it on CNN’s website at least and probably in small blurbs in the local newspaper. I also see it covered on some, if not all, of the liberal blogs I follow. So, I’m not sure it is accurate to say the press isn’t covering this. I will agree that the noise over the decorum is much louder than the noise generated by substance.
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I’m surprised you saw it on CNN. I’ve seen it in the blogs, but then the blogs seem to be the medium (the media medium?) that calls these folks out. But only the very interested (like us) read them. We need to hear it on the network news, the morning shows, etc.
And I think that it is important to not be a disrespectful boor. But that was obvious long ago!
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I’m trying to learn not to call people by body part names or even euphemisms. But yeah, I would have chosen “asshole.” Even so, your point is the more important one. Torture — if you think it is NOT torture (Dick Cheney,) then have it done to a loved one while you watch. Then tell me. YOU get to pick the loved one, (Dick, how about Liz??) but that’s the deal.
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The definition of torture, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, or in that case, the victim. When I was in the Navy I experienced intentional sleep deprivation and I can assure you that it, too, is a form of torture. Solitary confinement is also and our country practices it on a massive scale. When his GOP critics accuse the president of wanting to change (or “destroy”) America, they are partially right, torture being one of the areas ripe for change.
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Indeed. Thanks, Jim.
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Having had health problems that interrupted my sleep terribly, I will second the fact that sleep deprivation is brutal torture. There are so many things that can be used to break a person down. The fact that they’ve been salivating over it since the Bush Administration makes me sick.
Damn good for Obama for trying to change that culture.
And thanks for your input, Jim. You have such an interesting background that you provide terrific insights.
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Sophie’s choice for Dick Cheney??? What a wonderful idea. And while I don’t believe in torture, the idea of having it happen to a Cheney … (this is exactly why I should never have a gun or be in charge of anything). And I’d be rooting for Liz …
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It’s a wicked thought and though I’m not very proud of it, it is kind of (a bit, sort of, maybe) funny. OR ironic, perhaps that’s the better word…
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I can respect a people when they are for waterboarding, unless they’re willing to go through the experience themselves. And if they’re not willing to, then maybe they are the pussies.
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Maybe that should be the test for candidates — waterboard them. That certainly is what it feels like for me.
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I am sort of blowing up here…..so excited for Bernie…so appalled about the D.
What the hell, New Hampshire?
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Why does New Hampshire get to choose? I don’t think they’re very reflective of the country. it ticks me off every four years!
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It just gets crazier and crazier. And crazier. And crazier. And…
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Yes. Is there a sleeping pill that will let us all snooze for nearly 9 months and just go out and vote on election day? Please?
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On the other hand, it’s quite fascinating. Like a train wreck you can’t tear your eyes away from.
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After a childhood playing on the tracks, I try to avoid trains …
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The Fourth Estate has become third rate. And, “asshole” is a much better description.
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Yes. I prefer my inappropriate insults to be gender neutral!
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