The American Spectator

Robbins Mitchell| 2.5.10 @ 6:25AM

Well, hard boiled Chicago pol or not,personally I have trouble understanding how ANYBODY could feel threatened or intimidated by a sawed off little squirt like Runt Emanuel.

LQQKY| 2.5.10 @ 9:25AM

Because he has a great deal of behind the scenes power and neither he nor the messiah really gives a good g***amn about what the electorate wants. To a very large extent, it is our own fault since we keep electing (or rather allowing the dumocrats, crooks and cretins to a person) to congress. We allow them to make the rules by staying home on election day since "one vote won't make any difference" -- believe me, it does!

Tex Expatriate| 2.5.10 @ 3:01PM

Dittos to that! Rahm would not have survived in my neighborhood. We all would have beaten the s**t out of him. I'm astounded he has survived in Chicago.

Smitty| 2.5.10 @ 7:15PM

Rahm 'dead fish' Emanuel isn't tough, he's just sneaky.

Alan Brooks| 2.5.10 @ 11:30PM

Top flight, piece, Jay.

Alan Brooks| 2.5.10 @ 11:30PM

Top flight, piece, Jay.

Alan Brooks| 2.5.10 @ 11:35PM

Sorry to answer myself again, but Jay, naturally your remark that you love Palin more than anyone with the possible exception of her husband was facetious, correct?

Let's hope so. Admiration is admiration;
but ickiness is Ickiness.

Tammy| 2.6.10 @ 2:48AM

Alan, you must know a lot about ickiness.

Alan Brooks| 2.6.10 @ 8:45AM

Learned from the pro-- you, Tammy.

Tammy| 2.7.10 @ 12:24AM

You're the king of tit for tat, Alan. Do you wear a crown, too?

alyeska| 2.8.10 @ 4:43PM

so, sarah thinks it's ok for rush to call people "retards" because he does it in a satirical way?

well, at lease she knows how to pronounce satirical -- maybe she had it written phonetically on her hand :)

DLB| 2.5.10 @ 6:47AM

Isn't it funny how for every so-called "bad" word, there is another word, a perfectly acceptable word, that means exactly the same thing.

Clifford| 2.5.10 @ 1:45PM

Sometimes "bad" and "good" is in the eye of the beholder, e.g. I do not usually get a good response when, in a bar, I offer to have intercourse with a pretty girl.

Tammy| 2.6.10 @ 2:50AM

You're lucky you don't get your butt shot off, mister!

JimP| 2.5.10 @ 6:53AM

It's interesting that radical leftist Rahm 'The Runt' (love the nickname Robbins, & I'm a short guy, so no whining please, fellow Smurfs)Emanuel is upset with his cohorts. Where's the big MSM story line about civil war among the Dems? It's fun watching them all scrambling for the life boats and stabbing eachother in the back to save themselves.

Darin| 2.5.10 @ 7:01AM

What Rahm said isn't really the point. The point is that, for years, liberals have been given a pass when they make such remarks but conservatives are sent before a firing squad. John Kerry was "brave" for hiding his service record, but John McCain is unpatriotic after spending 6 years as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton. Obama basically got a free pass when he was shown to be a not-so-good bowler and made his Special Olympics comment. Anyone saying "that's just the way it is" is avoiding the simple truth that IT IS WRONG! If Kerry, Rahm or Obama had been conservatives, they would have been force to apologize repeatedly (and still not be forgiven). Whatever liberals do or say is OK because it's OK for them, meaning the standard is subjective. Whatever conservatives do or say is not OK because someone else (liberals) has imposed their objective standard.

cuban pete| 2.5.10 @ 8:46AM

Bingo!
Have a great weekend.

Not Bewitched| 2.5.10 @ 12:10PM

Don't you get it, Darin? Because libs are loving, caring, sensitive individuals, they can say seemingly offensive words, and we know that they only meant the absolute, most loving best.
Whereas conservatives are mean-spirited, uncaring individuals who don't mind if their mothers eat dog food as long as they can make a buck, the most caring and loving remarks are understood to be only a cover for the evil machinations in their hearts.
(Ignore their family orientation, public service and charitable giving - those are only diversionary.)

crookedwren| 2.5.10 @ 12:39PM

Not Bewitched -- You forgot to add that conservatives, according to the benevolent left, are also fascists. (Those benevolent ones who loath and despise the OTHER rich guys, the ones who don't think redistribution of wealth and taxing the so-called rich -- they haven't yet realized that their goals and Mussolini's would be truly in line with each other.)

NH Observer| 2.5.10 @ 7:37AM

Mr. Homnick misses the various and accurate point that the demeaned and insult parties were those with Special Needs. They were demeaned and insulted by being associated and labeled as Liberal Democrats and Obamba worshippers.

debateright| 2.5.10 @ 9:25PM

Good one!

Melvin| 2.5.10 @ 7:42AM

Jeez people this "Righteous indignation" is being swung about like a darn weed whacker. So much time and energy is being spent on something that is insignificant during these dangerous times.
This cavalcade of of parents and children's organizations who are wide eyed, with both hands over their mouths in hysterical shock over the world, "Retard."
Last time I checked this word was still valid and in the dictionary.
I don't think that it was even in George Carlin's, "Eleven Dirty Words."
Could Rahm or anyone else for that matter chosen a better choice of words? Sure they could of, but Rahm didn't, and he chose it for effect albeit poorly but he did nevertheless.
Frankly, I loath the little toad, but toad's croak stupid things from time to time, and this is not worthy enough for the Republican Party and Sarah Palin to divert resources and energy in a mid-term election year over Rahm's vocabulary.
Both sides of the political isle suffer from diarrhea of the mouth and political correctness. And the person who invented the damn thing should be taken out and summarily beaten for imposing that on societies by taking free speech away.
If this is the best political issue that the Republican Party can come up with during a mid-term election. Then Rahm the toad is going to be perfectly content sitting on his lilly pad in Obama's office croaking dumber things that effect us more than the word, "retard."

LQQKY| 2.5.10 @ 9:29AM

Methinks that "retarded" was a perfectly acceptable medical term until political correctness reared its ugly head!

Dumb & Dumber, Esq.| 2.5.10 @ 12:17PM

As a friend of someone who is mute, I object to your insensitively using the term "dumber" to describe Seedy Rahm's croakings.
To atone, you must make a large donation to the Special Olympics for them to arrange bowling contests for obese children.

Clifford| 2.5.10 @ 2:04PM

Rahm used it as a pejorative, that's what makes it wrong; not PC nor conservative or Liberal, just a nasty little man who feels unsecure in himself and is trying to sound like a some one else.

cindyvang| 2.5.10 @ 7:55AM

Jay, re: But there is no way we can deconstruct his meaning into: "Retarded children are pathetic and you guys remind me of them."

Your insult our intelligence and the previous argument is invalid.

Good try, but it runs in the family.

Have at it:

http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/PIIS0140673609601379.pdf

Ezekiel Emanuel, Hastings 1996:

This civic republican or deliberative democratic conception of the good provides both procedural and substantive insights for developing a just alloca- tion of health care resources. Procedurally, it suggests the need for public forums to deliberate about which health services should be considered basic and should be socially guaranteed. Substantively, it suggests services that promote the continuation of the polity-those that ensure healthy future genera- tions, ensure development of practical reasoning skills, and ensure full and active participation by citizens in public deliberations-are to be socially guaranteed as basic. **Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia.*** A less obvious example Is is guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason.

Conclusion by Priestap:

http://wizbangblog.com/content.....r-good.php

After this was discovered we were told, "They're already rationing now", as if you should jump straight from gassing mental patients in back of trucks to full blown T4.

Self loathers have always been dangerous.

Bill Hussien O'Stalin| 2.5.10 @ 8:00AM

I used to work for an organization where the word retarded would come up now and again at meetings. Then, sometime in the early 90's, a new term was heard, "mentally challenged." The word retard was heard in office chat, but never again at a meeting.

PC has run amok in this society and I also thought Sarah Palin looked rather naive protesting a backroom political statement, as opposed to a public statement.

Old Guy| 2.5.10 @ 10:46AM

When Earl Butz was Secretary of Agriculture some years ago, his telling some reporters a joke considered to be a racial slur was certainly not a "public statement." He got run out of office just the same!

earl wuz right| 2.5.10 @ 1:49PM

what ol earl got run out of office for saying wasn't a joke, it was TRUTH, what man wouldn't like what ol earl was talking about? Rham maybe but most of us regular guys would be very happy if we had what ol earl was talking about.

r-u-nuts?| 2.5.10 @ 1:45PM

Palin naive? No dearie, she looked like a sharp political operator, who, seeing a chink in the armor of this evil toad slides the dagger in DEEP and forces the sniveling weasel miscreant to grovel at the feet of his betters. Good job Sarah. Keep dealing the dems the death of a thousand cuts through that weapon of mass destruction, Facebook.

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 4:04PM

WOW. I like this person's insight. Very interesting way of looking at it.
She "thrust him through" with the sword.

SoCon| 2.5.10 @ 7:17PM

Sarah's crazy--like a fox! No dummy, she.

Ryan| 2.5.10 @ 8:26AM

It's about giving people their due respect. It's about the words we use and the meaning behind them.

Saying "it's a viable word" simply states that the word has a meaning. So what? That doesn't answer to its moral use - in which Rahm was inappropriate.
People with Down's Syndrome (the proper terminology) are rightly affended, because "retarded" was a word use to define them, rather than them allowing to define themselves.

Sorry, a bit sensitive here. I'm no leftist by a long shot, but I have a particular sensibility towards people with disabilities (NOT "disabled people.")

Rahm - being both a politician and a leftist - should have picked his words better.

Shaving Private Ryan| 2.5.10 @ 12:25PM

"People with Down's Syndrome (the proper terminology) are rightly affended, because "retarded" was a word use to define them, rather than them allowing to define themselves."
I, too, only called them retards while waiting for them to give me a word by which they define themselves. Finally, a Down's child told me, "Hi, I'm George." So now I call all Down's Syndrome children George.

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 4:34PM

Ryan,
As a politician and a Leftist he should have picked his words better. A politician... and a Leftist. Think about it.
Seriously? :^)

Dennis Bergendorf| 2.5.10 @ 8:40AM

Not too many years ago, car engines had ignition timing that was manually adjusted. If a mechanic "advanced" the timing too far, he would "retard" it to its proper setting.
Good thing we've gone to computer-controlled ignition, or we'd have to punish a lot of mechanics for insutling the mentally challenged.

Richard Baker| 2.5.10 @ 8:51AM

Could someone send Emanuel a fish wrapped in newspaper as a message for his Chicago-thug future? By the way, Rose Kennedy did a number of public service announcements in the early '60s where she referred to "the mentally retarded." No one lost their minds and, in fact, she was applauded for her efforts on their behalf. Sad what we've become since. I learned in Elementary school in '60s Virginia that"sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me." Look where we are now. A nation just waiting to be offended.

Bohred| 2.5.10 @ 11:24AM

Yes, and where/when I grew up Blacks were called "Colored", a recent substitute for something far worse, (Middlesex County, early '60's).
It's not just PC, it's learning to be polite.

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 3:50PM

I grew up in Middlesex county too. NJ? East Brunswick.

Anthony| 2.5.10 @ 8:53AM

Of course this ass must apologize to those who are developmentally challenged; how dare he impune these folks by comparing them to Leftists. Talk about the ultimate insult.

Louis Jenkins| 2.5.10 @ 9:02AM

Palin only used liberal tactics. Rhom was a high profile target, so why not deal him an embarassing hand? This was just a minor footnote on the grand scale of things, and whether she reacted out of motherly instincts, or for political reasons, it gave Palin a bit of advocate face time considering she has a "challenged" child.

ds80| 2.5.10 @ 9:06AM

"turning the liberal weaponry back on them"

That is the salient point ... and it's about time. Why do we like Gov Palin? Because she voices what we're thinking.

Stephanie| 2.5.10 @ 11:39AM

INDEED! What's good for the goose......

nohype| 2.5.10 @ 11:54PM

Palin Alinskied the Alinskyite.

SoCon| 2.6.10 @ 2:46AM

Exactly! The Arctic fox out-foxed them all. Hahaha!

I have to say--I like the Governor's style.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.5.10 @ 9:11AM

Mr. Homnick,
this is a great moment for another modern idiom:
ROFLMAO!
I had a wonderful series of belly laughs reading your column. Thank you.

I love Sarah yanking this evil man's chain in perfect seriousness. She just has a wonderful wit: "death panels" etc.
Most of the words that could replace the expletive he chose, started out as medical jargon to describe the degree of retarded cognitive abilities.
(Ahem)
I personally have spent the majority of my waking life-span...waiting for everyone around me to "catch up"...or "catch on at all".
My favorite expression is "well they are just being average".

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.5.10 @ 9:15AM

I am going to do an Alan here. (back to back posts) heh.
"well they are just being normal."
I could go on in that vein, but I would get entirely giggly if I did so, so I will shut up now.

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 3:51PM

Where is Alan? He actually had a couple of good words for me & what I said the other day. Very good indeed.

Becky| 2.5.10 @ 9:38AM

Two wrongs don't make a right. Using the lefts tactics of being word police which implies conservatives believe in being thought police also. I thought we believe in freedom of speech, and not the right not to be offended.

I don't like this administration either, but from what he said, I don't know how he insulted my Down syndrome relative.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.5.10 @ 9:52AM

After further consideration, Sarah Palin has most likely handed the Democrats a Pyrrhic victory on word play here, because how else could you describe Obama's policies if not retarded?

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.5.10 @ 9:52AM

After further consideration, Sarah Palin has most likely handed the Democrats a Pyrrhic victory on word play here, because how else could you describe Obama's policies if not retarded?

Publius| 2.5.10 @ 9:53AM

I wonder if the shoe shine boy's assessment of radical leftists as "f***ing retards" included his boss. If so, then a hearty "here" "here" is in order.

Grzmlyk| 2.5.10 @ 9:59AM

I am torn: I do think it's high time the left is hoist on its own petard - on a wole lot of fronts (not the least of which is tax evasion) - and it gives me great pleasure to see asses like Emanuel get their richly-deserved comeuppance.

But like many here, I cringe when any conservative blows wind into the sails of political correctness. Unlike Melvin above, I don't think it's much ado about nothing, because political correctness is the tip of the tyranny iceberg.

I think that, in the novel 1984, George Orwell pointed out brilliantly (if history had not already done so) the extent to which language control is a significant tool in the hands of totalitarianism.

And conservatives gain short-term succor from playing "turnabout" at the expense of having it boomerang right back at them (i.e., let's hope Sarah doesn't have any rhetorical slips in the nest 50 years).

I believe Rahm is innocent on this charge - but of course he's still guilty of treason, among other things.

By the way, Ryan, if you can ever get your politically correct panties unbunched, you might go to a dictionary. The term you hold so precious is actually "Down Syndrome," not "Down's Syndrome."

Todd| 2.5.10 @ 11:28AM

Let me come to Ryan's defense because I think he has a valid point. It is not the word retard that gives offense, I heard all the MSM networks referring to it as the "R" word which is ridiculous pc nonsense. It is the context of how the word is use and it is offensive because it was used as a deliberate insult which is hurtful whether it was intended or not. Retard may have the same meaning as moron but it has a totally different context as retard is an accepted term in describing a condition people are born with and should never be used as an insult by respectful people. The fact that Rahm throws in a f'ing before it makes it all the worse. This is language you expect to be used by a profane teenager and should not be tolerated for use by mature adults in a position of great power to intimidate.

Of course this kind of behavior was too be expected by a Chicago thug like Rahm so it comes back to Obama for appointing such a lowlife thug to be his Chief of Staff. Can anyone imagine Ronald Reagan's or George Bush's Chief of Staff ever using such language to intimidate those in their own party? No because they would never appoint a thug in such a high position of power and influence. You can only imagine the language used between Axelrod, Rahm and Obama is closed door meetings, it would probably make Nixon himself cringe.

Btw, I am a big admirer of your posts but I think you are wrong on this. This was not a "rhetorical slip" but a display of low character and thug intimidation. I will say I do enjoy the irony of Rahm having to apologize to the Special Olympics for comparing retards to liberals.

Grzmlyk| 2.5.10 @ 4:29PM

Well, per my note below, I think we've developed a very unhealthy trigger finger in this country.

and let's face it - it isn't the people in the offended group who are taking offense - it's their caretakers and others. And they're not indignant at the outrage these people might or might not feel - they're outraged for themselves, because everybody likes to the rush of power that righteous indignation gives us.

I'm not saying people shouldn't strive to be polite, and kind and circusmpect in their utterances - they should. But very often they are not. That's life.

I am not covered in "sensibility velcro" whereby every thoughtless, insulting thing people say to me is going to stick to me such I can't get on with my life until that person sufficiently ameliorates my hurt feelings and removes the hurt.

NOBODY is not guilty of occasionally saying such things, and this phony, exaggerated outrage is, as I say, about power and nothing else.

Believe me, I've been at both ends of this stick. I've been very hurt by things people have said. But it's my fault for giving them the power to upset me.

Todd| 2.5.10 @ 5:24PM

I get where you are coming from but I don't think Rahm should be let off the hook so easy for being the coarse thug he is. Far worse things going on in The White House than this but doesn't mean we shouldn't hold his feet to the fire for it. You know it would be twice as bad for a Republican so payback is fair play. Let the liberals know it is a knife that can cut both ways and they might think twice before their next hysterical attack on a pc violator like they did with George Allen.

I do believe we are all better served by showing more compassion our actions and language for those born mentally disabled and not use retard as an insult. Not trying to be the pc police but it is in bad taste. I reserve the right to use moron, imbecile or idiot to describe liberals but I won't use retard in respect to the developmentally disabled . You can say they all mean the same thing but the context is different and some deference should be shown in a civilized society.

Missy| 2.5.10 @ 7:27PM

Good post!

Grzmlyk| 2.5.10 @ 9:31PM

Well it's not a word that ever crosses my lips, but "idiot" and "moron" and "imbecile" are. And as someone pointed out, those terms used to mean exactly the same thing as "retard" - how come they've crossed over to the acceptable side of the ledger now? Is it just the passage of time? Isn't using those words, well, kind of a double standard?

In 20 years, when mentally challenged people are called something else, will it be ok to say "retard" then? This seems rather arbitrary to me.

Again, this was also said in the heat of battle and in a relatively private setting.

I sure do hate being in a position where I'm defending Rahm Emanuel. I agree he is a coarse thug - and much, much worse. Yes, it was in bad taste. And as I said, I love to see liberals held to the same standards to which they hold conservatives. But should someone be fired for saying it, in a relatively private setting? And the blowback always comes back on conservatives in the mainstream media anyway - Sarah is now being skewered.

Of course, if she had used the word and Rahm Emanual were calling for Fox News to fire her (she's on their payroll right now), the press would portray him as a noble whistleblower who's looking out for the downtrodden.

The same debate occurs with the phrase "African American," a term I despise. It is, IMHO, insulting, patronizing, not accurate, arbitrary and dishonest. It used to be that "negro" was the preferred appellation; now it's considered condescending and even racist. We've also had "colored" and "Afro-American" in the mix.

White people dutifully fall in line every generation or so and use a new term to describe dark-skinned people because it's what "they want."

Doesn't anyone wonder why language is shaped first this way and then that way in such a relatively short period of time?

This is a shell game, ultimately, and what we call different kinds of people is just as subject to the frivolous caprice of fashion as the length of skirts.

Again, I DO try to be polite and considerate of others' feelings, but I can't get too worked up about every damned brouhaha that arises because someone used a word that others can make hay out of.

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 10:40PM

Grzzzly Bear,
I see you have made a rare evening appearance. I just wanted to say that I think you ARE making sense. I totally get what you are saying in all your posts on the subject. When I heard about this, I said "oh no." So maybe it was a little retarded for Sarah to get offended, but I won't hold it against her. :^)

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.5.10 @ 11:04PM

Margie: Grzmlyk's been typing here all daylong, maybe it's been raining where he's at (or he's just got nothing better to do), just like it's been raining here in NC today, just miserable!! But I loved his line earlier, "sensibility velcro" (at 4:29 PM), I never miss reading his postings, he's always on the money. Grzmlyk 2012!!

But the big question Margie is, what are you doing up so late?

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 11:14PM

Howdy Soldier. (or is it Sergeant?) I came in here late today and just can't seem to leave! I think I may be addicted to AmSpec. I go through withdrawal if I miss a day. :^) It is going to snow here heavily (or so they say) by morning.
I agree~ GRZ 2012! Get your bumper stickers now.

Grzmlyk| 2.5.10 @ 11:17PM

Well, I'm up late too - watching John Wayne in "The Shootist," which I've never seen before. Very poignant movie.

Margie, thank you for understanding, and thanks, Lullaby's, for the very kind words. I enjoy your postings immensely - and, although I haven't seen that many South Park episodes, I love the show.

I forgive Sarah too - I do NOT have a kid who's mentally challenged, so I don't know what it's like. I do think she's making a point that what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Ok, back to John Wayne.

:-)

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 11:22PM

Nite all.

Ryan| 2.5.10 @ 3:15PM

Fast typing and general - not specific - knowledge.

Doesn't go against my point. It's NOT "politically correct" to give some dignity to people with disabilities by not using derogatory terminology.

Grzmlyk| 2.5.10 @ 4:02PM

You're giving them dignity by refraining from using a word? Geez, how precarious their dignity must be that by an act of omission, you are giving them something you really don't have the power to give them in the first place.

PLEASE. By all means, let's all take offense at the drop of a hat. Or does the word "hat" offend someone out there?

Grow a thicker skin, for chrissakes.

The point of life is not to go through it without ever, heaven forbid, experiencing offense. I get offended every day by something some insensitive idiot says. Guess what? I deal with it. I don't claim that I now have a chit by which someone has to appease my delicate sensibilities.

Has our society become such collective pantywaists that we've come to this?

Yes, it has. Don Imus proved that a couple of years ago when Al Sharpton and other blood suckers jumped on Imus's comments that that women's basketball team looked like a bunch of nappy-headed ho's. He lost his job and performed the requisite ritual of fellating the "offended" powers that be, throwing himself prostrate upon the altar of political correctness and begging forgiveness when in fact the comment should have been ignored. It was utterly a throwaway line, and I'm sure that when those women are on their deathbeds, none of them will be uttering, "if only Don Imus hadn't referred to me as a 'nappy-headed ho,' my life would have been happy."

There was a time in the history of man when we were all too busy surviving every day to spend out time scrutinizing the landscape for things to be offended about. But this is where we are, and the end of this road is tyranny.

Hell, I get offended every day. Your post offends me.

Now I'm guessing that ain't gonna make you give me my dignity by not commenting further.

Missy| 2.5.10 @ 7:26PM

As a mom, I give Sarah a pass here because she was speaking out on behalf of her young son. Don't mess with us mama tigers!

Besides, she clubbed Emanuel good--I loved it!

Ryan| 2.8.10 @ 8:27AM

I'll rephrase it the other way.

Is it respectful to call a person with Down Syndrome "retarded?"

Yes, it's about giving someone dignity by not using a word in a derogatory, demeaning manner. It's about respecting people.

Yes, there's a manner in which people are responsible for earning their own dignity...but there's also my responsibility to not demean them and give them due respect.

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 3:39PM

"I believe Rahm is innocent on this charge - but of course he's still guilty of treason, among other things."
~Gotta love it!

Matt morehouse| 2.5.10 @ 10:00AM

I carry no brief for Mr. Emmanual, in fact I despise all he stands for, but to excoriate him for using a mildly derogatory term makes the excoriator appear to be an hysterical female and dare I say more than a little retarded.

Smitty| 2.5.10 @ 7:23PM

No reason to get snippy about it, Matt; makes you look hysterical.

john| 2.5.10 @ 10:25AM

My thoughts exactly. No one was insulting anyone. Emmanual was stating a colloquialism and politicos glommed onto it like dogs on fresh meat.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.5.10 @ 11:08AM

OKOK!

I will be deadly serious now.
Has it occurred to anyone else here.....yet?
(OK.....I will catch youall up)
Ahem.....
(That's my "Bob" warning of pending condescension.)
There is the little matter of the discussion in the communist, (pardon the shorthand), healthcare plan about cutting off aid to "challenged" kids, "because they will never be of service to society".
Do you folks really believe that Sarah won't fold this incident into her own narrative about the heartless "smarties" in our government?
Do you think she doesn't take them seriously?

Don't youall think that she is going to use this incident as a touchstone, just like the "death panels" comment that turned the whole debate on healthdenial on its ear...nationwide?

This woman is REAL....and..... SMART ....and .....FEARLESS.

hmmmmm, just like a lady here named Margie, come to think of it.

Stephanie| 2.5.10 @ 11:44AM

How right you are Ken. Sarah is and will be a force to be reckoned with.
And where is Margie?

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 3:46PM

Hi Stephanie! Thanks for asking. Sarah Palin seems to be thee brightest bulb in the pack contrary to how the Left portrays her. Isn't it AMAZING how the brighter one is the more the Left tries to portray them as the dumbest? Ha!

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 3:44PM

Oh my goodness, Ken. You are sooo too kind. Sarah is amazing. Me? Dumbunny. LOL.
I just got home so have a lot of catching up to do but it looks like true fun in here and after a Dr.'s visit where he told me to stay away from Dr,'s and welcome to the world of aging I am certainly thrilled to be here! I see that everyone seems to be in top form today!

Borhred| 2.5.10 @ 11:40AM

In 2000, our first child was selected for the "gifted" program at school. We were told then that the Fed spent 800 million on "Special Needs" children against 8 million for "Gifted" in the last year. From our subsequent experience of gifted programs and Gov. budgets that seems about right.
We spend a lot more time and money on the bottom 10% than the top 10%. Ultimately, that is a formula for failure.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.5.10 @ 12:37PM

Borhred,
I hear you man.

A thought: here in Texas, young couples often look to buy a home in a "good public school district".

Often a home price can vary $25,000 depending upon that political line.

I advise the parents to buy the home in the "crummy district", and use the savings to put their kiddos in a private, (read parochial), school.
Congratulations on your kiddo's hard work.
Best regards

Paul from SA| 2.5.10 @ 11:42AM

Jay D.

"Now no one loves Sarah Palin more than me'...."

I think that should be ".... more than I do."

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.5.10 @ 12:32PM

Paul,
You are a smarty pants.

Funny though. Thanks.

Jim| 2.5.10 @ 12:48PM

Excellent article Mr. Homney. Right on the mark on both counts.

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 3:48PM

I think you're thinking of Hominy, as in grits. He's Mr. Himnick. :^)

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 3:55PM

Nope, he's not. He's Mr. Homnick! See what I get?

james| 2.5.10 @ 1:26PM

I too love Palin, and so I was very disturbed to hear this from her. Political Correctness is death, and it has effectively poisoned the American mind and shrunk American discourse. Palin should have said nothing or, at best, 'whatever.'
Also keep in mind that the faux outrage (which is what it is) was not about the profanity of Emmanuel but about him using 'retard' to mean 'dope.' We can smirk at the Dims being hoist on their own petard in this incident, but we should deeply regret that the incident ever became one in the first place. So radical Maoists are "effing retards." Now there's a 'dog-bites-man' story. Right you are, Rahm.

MAJ Mike| 2.5.10 @ 1:28PM

The "developmentally challenged individuals" have every right to be outraged by Emanuel's remark. Comparing people who are cognitively disabled through no fault of their own to people who are cognitively disabled due to their overweening arrogance, desperate stranglehold on discredited ideologies and over-abundant sense of entitlement is a cruel insult. It's bad enough being mentally retarded without being lumped in with the delusional advocates of leftist idiocy that make up moron.org.

Frosty| 2.5.10 @ 2:00PM

Despite my overwhelming pleasure at watching TV and Radio "personalities" make a mockery of themselves by being afraid to use the word "retarded", relying instead on the comical phrase, "The R Word", I have to agree with the author.

If the Special Olympics and others feell the need to act as speech police for the American Public, then that is their choice. I think their organization gains nothing from doing so.

As Conservatives, we are probably better served by simply pointing out the fact that Emanuel is just reaping what the left has sown in the field of PC, instead of being hypocritical and demanding he apologize for his speech. This whole "demanding an apology" thing has gotten out of hand anyway. Better to let him twist in the milieu of political correctness, and enjoy the vision of him on his hands and knees in front of the Special Olympians.

Oldefarte| 2.5.10 @ 2:19PM

We are ALL """"f***ing retards""""" for either voting for the current members of the Administration [and allowing them to control our government]; or in allowing others [friends,relatives, co-workers,etc] to do so!!!!

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 3:56PM

You certainly have a point, there, Olde guy.

Margie| 2.6.10 @ 3:12PM

Hey Olde Farte~
Here's one for ya.
"Friends don't let friends die Democrat."

Oldefarte| 2.7.10 @ 1:44PM

You got that right, Margie! Here's another: 'I NEVER MET a Democrat that I liked"

martin j smith| 2.5.10 @ 3:25PM

The issue of PC and calling Rahm . E on his transgression is only the very tip of a much larger problem. When you cannot call terrorists, Terorists or the War on Terror the or you cannot call the enemy Islamic Fundamentalists ( or Islamic Radicals ) etc that is where the mentality of PC can become very damaging to our country.
Going from the absurd to the even more absurd--when a school calls a six or seven year old child out for sexual harassment this I think is absurd. Treating the behavior is fine but calling it an adult term is plain stupid. That is what is happening to our society. Being polite is fine, but being stupid is stupid.

Don| 2.5.10 @ 3:39PM

Ya know, Jay, you can knock Marijuana, You can knock Perverts, You have a right to Knock anyone, but when you knock moose hunters OR exotic dancers,....you go to far my friend.
An exotic dancer who could hunt and dress a moose would be my perfect partner. :: ))

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 4:39PM

My 2 cents is this. It's a free country and one is free to be offended if they wish. :^) I will let Sarah be Sarah!
I certainly won't hold it against her.

Matt Morehouse| 2.6.10 @ 10:29AM

...and one can cho0se not to be offended by one retard calling another retard retarded.

Let Mrs. Palin be Mrs. Palin and take care of her "special needs" rug rat.

Margie| 2.6.10 @ 11:38AM

Matt,
Is that what you call children? Rug rats? I hope you don't have any of your own.
You seem especially and overly perturbed, and rather nasty.

Matt Morehouse| 2.6.10 @ 7:54PM

Margie Babe---I have two grown sons who are off my payroll and have Rug Rats of their own. BTW not one among the four is a retard.
You seem especially and overly PC, and rather prissy. Lighten up, Sweetie.

Margie| 2.6.10 @ 8:51PM

First of all please don't call me babe. You're a nasty man. Why is it that you despise Sarah Palin so much? You are actually angry that she ruffled the low life Emmanuel's feathers instead? How come you aren't glad she did? Seems to me you are the one who needs to lighten up.

Matt Morehouse| 2.6.10 @ 11:20PM

OK, so your not a "Babe'', I shoulda known, would ''Honey" work?
I don't despise Sarah at all and neither does any thinking Democrat. I despise what she will do to the Conservative cause. If she is nominated the Republican candidate or, worse if she runs third party it will be choppers for us.
As I said I carry no brief for any of the slime but
to level such a puerile jab is to mark the jabber as a retard.
So how are your Rug Rats? Twenty eight and still at home?
"g night, weetie
.
I'm glad

Missy| 2.7.10 @ 12:29AM

Give Sarah a break--she was speaking out in defense of her young son. I think it is rather puerile of you not to understand that, or perhaps you're just a nasty hard heart like Margie said.

Margie| 2.7.10 @ 12:35AM

Mr. Morehouse reveals his true character the more he posts.
He says he doesn't despise Sarah but despises what she'll do to the conservative cause. That's like saying I support the troops but not the war. He is not only a liar but he is no conservative. He must be of either Toddard's ilk, a "paleo con artist, or else a Libertarian con artist. He is certainly no conservative. I can only imagine how he must treat his wife, if he has one.

Missy| 2.7.10 @ 1:17AM

Matty's a mean one, that's for sure. No way for him to hide his snide.

So very happy I don't have to know him, aren't you?

Margie| 2.7.10 @ 12:14PM

A grown man whining over how the great Sarah Palin is going to ruin the conservative movement, and the Republican party! I wonder who he thinks ought to be the nominee.. Ron Paul? That loser? These poor Libertarian (Liberals) souls, must, as always resort to personal attacks on Sarah and those who support her because they have nothing else!

frankdozier| 2.7.10 @ 7:10AM

Are you seriously upset by Rugrats? Tommy, Chucky, Phil and Lill, and Angelica. (Spike). You cannot be serious, like I am!!!!!!!!

Matt Morehouse| 2.7.10 @ 10:40AM

Difficult to argue with a couple of up tight single old broads. They probably like men with "deep feelings who cry a lot". Their artificially inseminated curtain climbers, if the have any, probably wear helmets to practice tennis.

Margie| 2.7.10 @ 12:25PM

No, silly. I'm not "upset" with the asinine cartoon. I just simply think that children should be called children. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, you know that God gave them. If you have a problem with that, so sorry. (not).

Missy| 2.7.10 @ 10:58PM

Wrong again, Matty! Margie and I love men; just not snide, nasty old farts like you.

Careful--your bitterness is showing, darling.

Bill| 2.5.10 @ 5:09PM

I'm ashamed at Rahm Emanuel. He should have used to word "republican".

Beth| 2.5.10 @ 10:38PM

That would have been a compliment!

Jay D. Homnick| 2.5.10 @ 5:25PM

This is Mister Himnick or Homney or whatever my name is again to thank my applauders and add a postscript.

Shriver the genius (see how you avoid the problem of insult, use irony) has written a persnickety letter to Limbaugh complaining over his use of the word. How big a rocket scientist do you have to be to understand Rush was having a little fun sticking it to Emmanuel. Everyone knows he never uses that word in an ordinary broadcast.

And how funny is it this guy's name is Shriver? The dictionary defines shrive as 'to impose penance on for sin.'

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 6:10PM

"Sarah Palin ate Rahm's lunch with a chocolate moose for dessert."
~Doesn't it all really come down to this?
p.s. sorry for messing up on your name. :^(

Todd| 2.5.10 @ 5:28PM

You should be ashamed of yourself for your inability to write one line without a screw-up. Doh!

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 6:05PM

Well then I suppose you ought to be ashamed as well. It's Duh, not Doh. Heh.

Todd| 2.5.10 @ 9:59PM

If you look at the time line Margie, you will see I was responding to Bill and not you. Doh! is from Homer Simpson.

Margie| 2.5.10 @ 10:22PM

Well then now I look doubly silly, don't I? Sometimes I can't tell who's replying to whom.. I'll have to work on that. And I must confess, I'm not at all familiar with Homer Simpson. :^)

Beth| 2.5.10 @ 10:41PM

Todd, I can see why Margie was confused--you didn't reply to Bill the pill. I did!

John II| 2.6.10 @ 4:35PM

For the record, the expletive "Doh!" was copied by the Simpson creators from the signature expression of exasperation used by James Finlayson, the pop-eyed, bald foil to Laurel and Hardy in several of their films--usually accompanied by a violent double-take. Finn, as he was called by his co-actors, had to be hospitalized with a concussion when he accidentally banged his head against a stone wall in the course of delivering a "Doh!" with double-take. That's called giving one's all for one's art.

Jeff| 2.5.10 @ 5:46PM

"Live by PC die by PC" is the applicable standard here. I am wholly content to live and die by the standards of forgiveness and mercy that I believe in and encourage others to live by. Rahm Immanuel should be content to live and die by the vile standards that he preaches and lives by.
If he cannot he should renounce those standards and chose better ones.

SoCon| 2.5.10 @ 7:19PM

Live by the sword, die by the sword--works for me.

GO SARAH!

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.5.10 @ 10:06PM

South Park just had an episode called “The F-Word”, that was quite brilliant in my opinion (and very funny too). In it, the kids use the word faggot to describe the Harley motorcycle riders in town. But of course, the gay characters on the show, take offense with that, until the kids are able to show to them, that the word has changed meaning many times over the years. And that their use of the word now, wasn’t against ‘homosexuals”, it was against the annoying Harley riders, who make too much noise, and want everybody to pay attention to them while riding through town.

And it’s the same in this situation too, no offense to whatever the term of the day is now, “mentally challenged”, or “developmentally challenged”, but not every time, when somebody uses the term retard(ed), are we actually referring to the “developmentally challenged”, we’re just saying, that someone is being a faggot (no offense to homosexuals, I’m talking about the Harley riders this time). It’s not always about you, and your woe is me special interest group, so get over it.

Sometimes a word is just a word, and one that we’ve been using for a long, long time. Now personally, I sometimes call my soldier’s retards, sometimes in a joking manner, and sometimes, I’m dead serious when I call them that. But I’m never thinking about, “developmentally challenged” people when I say it to them, it’s just a word that describes them at that moment, and it’s better than calling them a screwup (because that's weak, no offense to the weak out there either). And I’ve been called a retard a few times over the years, and some of those times, I deserved to be called it too, for acting like a complete dumbass (no offense to all the dumbasses out there). So I’m not going to drop using the term faggot, or retard, because guess what, this is a free country, and I’m not going to bend to these faggot retarded Politically Correct dumbasses, that want to highjack our freedoms, one word at a time!!

And if you like South Park as much as I do, and I can certainly understand if you don’t (it can be a bit sick sometimes), you can’t miss this episode, it’s great!!

Even the New York Times, has wrote about this episode, and Glaad’s reaction to it (can you imagine what that was?).

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes......k-episode/

Yosemeti Sam| 2.6.10 @ 12:11AM

Quick - burn all of John Keats poems!

A sample:

" ... Away! away! for I will fly to thee,
Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards,
But on the viewless wings of Poesy,
Though the dull brain perplexes and retards:
Already with thee! tender is the night...."
'Ode to a Nightingale' (1820) st. 4

Seems the R-word is not mutually exclusive from
acceptable/tolerant usage deciphered perhaps best by 'sensitive' poetry lovers.

Free speech for the fish man.

Free speech for Sarah.

Free speech for all media who've promulgated the R-word issue to PC heights cum self-serving bottom line interests.

Case closed!

SoCon| 2.6.10 @ 2:39AM

I love Keats; Shelley and Byron are heavenly, too.
Long live the great Romantic poets!

Thanks, Yosemeti--you made me smile.

Yosemeti Sam| 2.6.10 @ 3:51AM

SoCon :)

A favorite:

" ... She that with poetry is won,
Is but a desk to write upon...."

Hudibras pt. 2 (1664), canto 1, l. 591
Samuel ('Hudibras') Butler 1612-80
English poet

SoCon| 2.6.10 @ 4:08AM

Wise words, sir--you are correct; sonnets send me swooning. ;)

martin j smith| 2.6.10 @ 8:26AM

PC, no matter what the topic in politics is nothing more than a distraction from reality. Its sort of like substituting cartoon instead of a classic main feature film. Or,like watching sports news instead of going out to vote.

al wilson| 2.6.10 @ 12:24PM

Personally, I can't wait until this sawed-off radical thug leaves office. He has already peaked and he's definitely on his way to a crash landing.

Sam| 2.6.10 @ 12:30PM

I respect Rahm for telling it like it is. Not enough people do that today in politics. Even though I don't agree with most of what he says, that's also what I respect about Rush Limbaugh.

FYI: I'm in college and using the phrase 'f###i ng retarded' is pretty normal.

Missy| 2.6.10 @ 3:38PM

I'm sure it is normal for a twenty year old college kid, but what's Emanuel's excuse? It's past time for the little thug to grow up.

You're so young, good on you for reading AmSpec!

Salvatore Mauceli| 2.6.10 @ 7:30PM

Any society is judged by how they treat the meekest umong them. It has nothing to do woth "PC" "The R word" hurts!

John II| 2.6.10 @ 10:07PM

Hurts whom? (Normally I'd say "who," but I'm showing off in front of my keyboard.)

Beth| 2.6.10 @ 9:05PM

We certainly are being judged for our treatment of the meekest among us--abortion kills!

Margie| 2.6.10 @ 9:39PM

Wanna know what Sarah's doing? Even the U.K. is writing about her:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....ering.html

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.6.10 @ 10:14PM

Hi Margie!! Sarah's reminding me, of the old E.F Hutton commercials from back in the 80's, when Sarah talks people listen (even if they don't like it). I just hope, she doesn't implode, like the brokerage firm did, which wasn't pretty at all.

And in response to your inquiry from yesterday, Yes, it's SGT Lullaby's (although the soldiers around here, certainly don't call me that, although I have been called SGT Party Pooper from time to time, but that's an entirely different story). You see, I've got a serious reputation to uphold, and being called SGT Lullaby's, could undermine all my hard work.

So did you get snowed in? Well you better get digging then!!

Margie| 2.6.10 @ 11:38PM

Hi SGT Lullaby's, Sir! :^)

Margie| 2.6.10 @ 11:40PM

Hi SGT Lullaby's, Sir! :^) (My post didn't come through.. trying again here.)
I am so honored to know you. I salute you for your service!
Yes indeed when Sarah speaks, people listen. And her enemies tremble, and some of the froth and foment. Mostly they just sputter like Alka-Seltzer. I certainly don't see her ever imploding.

Snow? What snow? Guess what? They were wrong! For now at least. It went underneath Long Island and up the coast, headed for MA. Maybe Toddard will be snowed in.

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.7.10 @ 9:28AM

Long Island huh? You must be a Mets fan then? As for me, I'm from the other side of the Throgs Neck Bridge, so I've always been a Yankee fan (but I haven't lived in NY for almost a decade). But I'm glad the snow missed you, because the City turns into a real nightmare after a Blizzard, especially the parking, and the fights that break out over the parking.

And Toddard? I rarely even see him posting here anymore, maybe his keyboard is broken, or his fingers.

Margie| 2.7.10 @ 12:09PM

No, I'm in NJ. Was just telling you what was happening with the direction of the storm. Right now I'm watching Sarah Palin at the Tea Party in Tenn. Have you seen it yet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....r_embedded

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.7.10 @ 12:41PM

So it's New Jersey then huh? What exit? Ha, Ha (for anybody not familiar with the Tri-State area, that's a terrible insult to ask somebody from New Jersey). So I'm only joking Margie!! I love Jersey, it's like New York's little cousin ( joking again!!). My Aunt and Uncle lived in Little Ferry, so I've spent a lot of time there, back in the 70's and 80's, before they moved, and I love it.

Yeah, I'm in the middle of watching Sarah's speech, but I'm trying to get my laundry done for the week at the same time too (I've got to have a crisp looking uniform, don't you know?), so it's going to take a bit, before I get through it. MSLSD is saying that she was reading notes, that she had written on her hand, during the Q & A session, following her speech. But I watched their video, and yes, she definitely looked at her hand, but you can also clearly see, that there's nothing written on it (pretty desperate huh?). And even if she had notes with her, who cares? Have you ever have to give a long speech to a crowd? It's not an easy thing to do, and without some notes, I'd lose my way in just a few minutes too. Keep kicking her, because you're only making her stronger, and making us, hate the old MSM more (and it is starting to show in their collective ratings).

Margie| 2.7.10 @ 1:01PM

Hi again SGT,
I salute you this day. I loved how Sarah saluted and gave first honor to the Military men who were there, I truly did! Sarah looked especially beautiful today, I thought. She speaks for me. I loved everything she had to say. Isn't it interesting how the Lame Stream Media picks on her for reading from note, and lies about her supposedly have written on her hand, yet doesn't seem to mind at all that Obama cannot speak even to grade school children without his teleprompter?! Talk about retarded.

John II| 2.6.10 @ 10:02PM

Has anybody noticed how cozy these collections of responses have become? I mean, we have representatives from many walks of life (hell, we could start our own "Lost" series) and many political persuasions (if he's not a plant, Liberal Reader appears to find us more interesting than his like-minded associates on other sites--and of course, "Bob" and the Toddard are the archetypical libertarians--i.e., liberals-in-drag).

I think we're becoming a family. Can't think of anything more conservative than that.

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.6.10 @ 10:17PM

And I'm sure, that we all have our creepy secrets too. The American Spectator Initiative?

John II| 2.6.10 @ 10:39PM

Sounds okay. I've already signed on.

SoCon| 2.7.10 @ 12:13AM

Creepy secrets? Hmmm.

Can I still be part of the family if I don't have creepy secrets? I promise not to inquire about yours.

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.7.10 @ 9:14AM

Hey you never know, you might just be suppressing the secrets still, but they'll come out, over time, they always do. 4 8 15 16 23 42!!

John II| 2.7.10 @ 2:34PM

If I win the lottery, I'll buy us all our own island.

SoCon| 2.7.10 @ 11:04PM

As long as it's tropical with sun, surf and sand--I'm game!

That would be so fun.

In Stitches| 2.6.10 @ 11:21PM

The "ballerina" set off quite a firestorm of response with his "effing retard" remark, didn't he? Think what a swivet we would be in if we heard just one day's unprintable record of his usual invective! He is a trashmouth in a country filled with trashmouths and it generated about 17 miles of back and forth here. before I could get to the bottom to add yet another pointless posting.

First, Mr. Homnick - you should have said "Nobody loves Sarah Palin more than I" unless it is your habit to say no one loves her more than me do.... And you left out the most important part of Rahm's resume - that he was once a ballet dancer! Imagine him in pink tights.

CrookedWren and Melvin - there are two words, "loath" and "loathe". "Loath" means unwilling or reluctant. You gotta put an "e" on it to mean you hate or despise....

Publius: It is "Hear, hear..." not here, here

Grmlysk (did I spell that right?)" Hoist by his own petard" used to be the accepted expression - - "petard" being a bomblet, and the person being hoist was hoist BY the explosion of the bomblet. But if you are among those who think a petard is some kind of sword capable of skewering and raising its owner in some bumbling gymnastic movc- (thus, "hoist on....") you are not alone.

And if I have managed to type this without at least 15 typing errors it would surprise the hell out of me. I once typed an inventory of the office furniture in the Psych. Dept of the university I worked for and "six metal chairs" came out "sex mental chairs". So, I am just whilin' away the evening, here.

In Stitches| 2.7.10 @ 12:05AM

One other thing - while it is a gentle term, what does "challenged" actually mean in its strictest sense. when used to describe a deficit? Why is it insensitive to say a mentally deficient person is mentally deficient? Why do we need all these touchy-feely labels?

Once someone is offended, we can no longer use the word itself, we have the N-word and now we have the R-word. We will need a First Letter Dictionary to translate conversations if this keeps up. Maybe a little de-coder ring of some sort.

I wonder if calling a kid who wears glasses "Four Eyes" is a federal offense, now. Probably not, as he is wearing Ralph Lauren fashion frames. There are "bully squads" in schools now. Like little bounty hunters in the lunch room and on the playground. Kids are supposed to report any bullying they hear, even if the bully-ee doesn't feel bullied.

I think part of it may be for the "specialness" of it.
I heard a woman on local TV the other night describing herself as a Single Mom with three "special needs" children. My uncharitable thought was "Talk about bad luck! This woman hooked up a guy who would not marry her and came up lemons on the jackpot of reproduction three times - - or she hooked up with three guys - - the possibilities or endless. But the point was - you guessed it, she doesn't have a job and she needs CHILD CARE and HEALTH CARE.

Maybe all of this labeling - single mom, developmentally challenged, "Alzhemers's" to describe senile dementia, when it is not that - at least ol' Doc Alzheimer didn't mean it to be when he discovered it and gave it his name. It is diagnosable only on autopsy and yet everyone who can't find his car keys has it!

Right now I am thinking of the old Saturday Night Live "Church Lady" who said with a simper, "Well, isn't that spessshul?

frankdozier| 2.7.10 @ 4:23AM

I love your words. You have a way with them. I really love how you use a wonderful concept like deconstruction in such a practical way. So practical it hurts. Keep up the good work. The world needs you to supply my fellow commentator.

Matt Morehouse| 2.7.10 @ 10:48AM

The most sensible, readable, and true post on this lame string.
Hope it doesn't set off the "ladies''.

Missy| 2.7.10 @ 11:07PM

What would a clueless clod like you know about "ladies?" Creep.

Matt Morehouse| 2.8.10 @ 11:03AM

Enough to ferret out a female who is no lady

Missy| 2.8.10 @ 4:31PM

The woman who left you such a bitter, dried up husk of a man must have been a real humdinger! You're vindictive and small and I pity men like you.

You may not be a ret@rd, but you're already dead and you just don't know it.

Prayers for you, Matty.

Matt Morehouse| 2.9.10 @ 10:08AM

How can that be? I'm married to a fine lady who is not a retard, and have been for many years.
we don't have any retard offspring.
Now go back to perusing the online personals.

Missy| 2.9.10 @ 2:51PM

Your obsession with the word 'retard' is amusing, obviously you have a problem with inferior intelligence--the male humiliation of marrying a woman who is smarter than you.

Margie| 2.7.10 @ 12:19PM

See Sarah Palin at the Tea Party meeting in Tenn. She's fabulous!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....r_embedded

JimE| 2.7.10 @ 8:48PM

PC is BS. Rahm merely spoke to liberals in the only langauge they understand.

In Stitches| 2.7.10 @ 11:47PM

My apologies for the nit-picking criticism of words, use and mis-use. I had a cousin who was a hypochondriac. I called her a valetudinarian and she was honored. Until she looked it up. It never hurts to expand one's vocabulary. Rahm Emmanuel is a Donkey Excavation - although there is another word for it.

SoCon| 2.8.10 @ 12:34AM

You crack me up!

Thanks for your wit; unfortunately, it's in rather short supply these days.

PS--you're right about Rahmbo.

ShortYellowBus| 2.8.10 @ 2:42AM

Americans have sure lost their sense of humor; maybe it's because so many of us have learned by example that being "professionally offended" is a quick way to fame and fortune. Heck, I have to write the word ret@rd like this so it won't get censored!

Good humor (including the ice cream) is also a coping mechanism to find our place in the world at large. Can you imagine the classic TV show ALL IN THE FAMILY being made today? The real humor came not from the racial and class epithets, but that Archie never seemed to learn from his own ignorance.

One of my fave episodes featured Sammy Davis Jr. Archie was smitten by his celebrity, but mortified when Sammy sat in his favorite chair - and Archie's blue collar pals witness Archie giving up his personal chair to a black guy.

Funny? Or just ret@rded?

SoCon| 2.8.10 @ 4:37AM

It takes intelligence to have a sense of humor--perhaps that's why liberals don't have one.

Pity parties are a bore; only ONE person shows up!

In Stitches| 2.8.10 @ 12:27PM

Another definition for RETARD - this time with the accent on the second syllable.

In 1946 when my husband was enrolled in college on the GI bill, UCSB had two campuses. I worked on one , his classes were on another. We needed two cars. On $121 a month GI money and a secretary's salary, one of those cars are not going to be much!

His car was $125 1931 Ford Model A coupe. Mine was a belch-fire Buick with Dynaflow!

On occasion I drove the Model A. Let me tell you, I felt like the conductor of a small symphony.

I am not sure of the order at this point, but I recall putting it in neutral, RETARD the spark, pull out the choke a little bit, turn on the ignition -which was probably a formality as I don't think it ignited anything, step on the gas (somewhere in here goes "flood the engine!) - but if I was lucky and if there was not a brick wall in front of me, I was off and running.

The spark was not offended at being retarded. That was what old Henry intended.

And speaking of old, now you know how old I am. I was 18 when I accomplished these automotive feats. I am changing my name, so in future you won't be judging me from some "ageist" point of view -as in, there goes the "senior citizen" spouting off. How did I miss being a junior citizen is what I would like know?

Here is another "gentle" sidestep for geezers and crones - Signs that say "Senior Discount for 65 or Better". I idly asked the proprietor one day why he worded it "Better"? Why not "Older" - In fact, why not "Worse"? Thirty-five is better than sixty-five. Only a retard would consider 75 better than 65.

SoCon| 2.8.10 @ 4:37PM

Hmmmm. You sound like a certain favorite AmSpec blogger from San Francisco.

That you, Diane? If so, hope you're well and that you know you are missed.

maverick muse| 2.8.10 @ 2:27PM

"We?" No, sir. I do not forgive Rahm Emanuel for "f*cking" everyone with White House profanity.

I also think poorly of Pres.Obama calling Senators and Congressmen "You Guys" and calling professional women "sweeties".

Nobama| 2.8.10 @ 4:34PM

I think poorly of Obama for a lot more than just his silly verbiage! I wish that was all that annoyed me about him.

In Stitches| 2.8.10 @ 11:14PM

SoCon -Ok, the jig's up - no offense to The Corpse-man in the Land of the Walking Dead Dems. Yes, and this Diane by any other name never remains anonymos for long, apparently. Why is that? Even my voice gives me away. I called a friend from high school once- hadn't spoken to her since I was 16. She immediately recognized the voice with 50 years and a lot of mileage on it.

Well? As can be expected - as the cryptic saying goes. My 63 year marriage ended with my husband's stroke in February of last year. Being married all your adult life does not prepare you for - solo-ing. Truman Capote said it best. Life is like a pretty good play with a poorly written third act.

But I have finally found a way to bleed the Medicare System white! Until I was 78 I never met the deductible any year to get them to pay anything. Well, ring dem bells! In September, while folding a big, poofy down comforter and walking at a brisk pace, after havng taken care of an 8 year old grandson and Auastralian Blue Heeler dog (who kept trying to herd the child) all day - while sons and family were at Reno Air Races... I managed to trip on it, fracturing my pelvis in three places. After 6 days he hospital folks told me I could not go home to a 2 story house ALONE. I would have to go to skilled nursing facility. I asked them if they were familiar with the letters AMA, on the discharge line. That means "against medical advice". I told them this is a hospital, not a jail and I am free to discharge myself and to make my own plans for survival in my two story home.

And I did and I go to a sports therapy place twice a week for two hours at a whack and I will use it as my personal spa until the benefits run out. and I go swimming on alternate days, and I don't have to wave my cane at kids in my way because I don't have to use a cane anymore and I can walk as fast as they can! I may try out for the Nutcracker Ballet in December.

And now I am going to change my name to GingerBread Man Catch me if you can. I thought this was supposed to be a spooky no-name hit-and-run thing where people called previous writer names like creep and bozo and now you are naming names. SoCon. I will pay attention that one and let you know if it sounds like Mike Showalter, Ken uh....

SoCon| 2.9.10 @ 2:43PM

Hope you know you've got friends here, Diane.

You're smart as hell, but the best thing about you is your goodness; it shines like a beacon. I've worried about you the past year, so glad to hear that you've got your zest for life back.

You're a fortunate woman, indeed, to have loved a man as well as you have (and been loved back!) for so many years.

Welcome back and join in the fun. Verbal 'free for alls' at the expense of liberals makes me laugh every day!

moonraker| 2.9.10 @ 12:34AM

Way back there, Lullabies, Lechers & Lamp Posts said Sarah Palin reminded him/her - it's hard to tell from the lyrical prose - of E. F. Hutton ad.

I am more reminded of the other ad - the one where the model says "Because I'm worth it."

I was not impressed that Sarah gave her $115,000 Tea Party fee back to the organization. It is quite a write off on her income tax.

If she wants to be taken seriously, she might see that all her hair extensions, falls or whatever they are, are the same length and color. Yeah, I know Dick Durbin wears a toop that looks like he knit it himself or is that Dorgan? Ben Nelson ? Not sure. Biden? All those plug holes must have damaged his brain. And Levin has a comb-over that is a foot long if a breeze catches it, but Palin is young enough and attractive enough to tone down that brunette Dolly Parton look. You know what Dolly said. "Y'all laugh, but it costs a fortune to look this cheap!" Sarah is closing in on her with those streaks and the Progressive Insurance girl "bump"

That is not to say I wouldn't vote for her. I voted for her the last time. She would have more time to spend with her children if she were in the White House.

Ready, aim, fire - Margie, et al.

wwwexler| 2.9.10 @ 2:46PM

What's with you and Palin's hair? You sound crazy and creepy at the same time. lol.

Matt Morehouse| 2.9.10 @ 10:13AM

She is so "perky" she makes Katie look like a corpse.

moonraker| 2.9.10 @ 1:47PM

Remember the Mary Tyler Moore Show? Grouchy old Lou Grant said "You've got spunk, Mary" Mary blushed and said "Why, thank you, Mr. Grant."

Grant said "I hate spunk."

Of course, we Conservatives dare not say that about Palin.. Just as Dems cannot speak ill of the mulatto in the White House, who calls himself black, denying his white mother. Shuck and Jive substitutes for statesmanship.

Every poll taken says, "I like him personally, I just don't like his policies.... Well, a president is not elected for us to have someone to like. We can buy a local friend cheaper than that, if we are looking for someone to like.

Here's a test. Everyone get the text of every public speaking of Palin's - around the country, on FNC.
Printed words on a page. No smiles, no winks, no eyeliner, no frameless glasses you will just have to imagine that. No distraction of adoring crowds. If you don't think you are subliminally influenced by that, you are deluding yourself.

As a country, we are so in the thrall of TV, we never hear the words. We see the audience chanting. We see the candidate basking in the glow. We don't hear the words. We don't read a transcript of them, absent the clamor.

We are eager to buy the sizzle - never mind the steak.

The first example of sizzle over steak was John Kennedy "debating" Richard Nixon on TV. Whatever you think of Nixon, Kennedy was not debating, he was not putting forth a plan for the country. He was selling sizzle. The country bought it.

Get a copy of Palin's Tea Party Speech. Read it. Word for word. Find a previous speech. Read it. Never mind that she (or any other politician ) didn't write is herself And don't limit it to Palin.

Hang a towel over your TV screen, leaving the crawl line visible. Mute the sound., bringing up "captions" Read one of the many Obama speeches - - go ahead, read along with him. It's Stand up, fall down comedy!

We are going for cosmetics over competence - and not just with Palin.

Obama knew his audience when he rented those Grecian columns - its the visual, every time!

moonraker| 2.9.10 @ 9:25PM

wwexler -
It is not about hair - it is about looking "presidential" - which on the surface, seems shallow. But if we were not a shallow electorate do you think we would be suffering Obama right now? Somewhere in the deep recesses of the (shallow) voter mind, there is a picture of "presidential". Palin has the look of a recently retired Cowboys Cheerleader. And she needs to get votes from a broad spectrum of voters to get elected. It is a sad fact of life that you have to look the part. Palin is as intelligent as she needs to be to get elected.

But we are talking about President of the United States - not Miss Congeniality from 1998 and not even the Governor of Alaska, more recently.

Even sadder, we are considering the first woman president, looking for votes from women voters - and if you don't think women are the harshest judges of women - think again. Surely it did not miss your notice that Hillary had more than one shot across her ample bow about those pants suits.

Bring along a reasonably articulate, fairly attractive, not too old, Democrat male against Palin - when she has 3 more years wearing the tread off her tires and still has that hair dragging down her shoulders, peaking out from streaked bangs - - well, wait and see.

It used to be called the Aging Debutante. By women who wished to make a catty remark. And they won't vote for the Aging Debutante, because they will forget about her brains and wonder why she clings to a look that isn't working as well as it once did.

McCain lost because he looked old and confused and tired. I don't have the figures - but Reagan was probably older. But he carried himself well, exuded good will and had a robust color to his cheeks.

McCain looked a paler shade of white, his white hair looked wispy, his smile, through rabbit teeth, was that of a flinching kid on the school ground.Tentative.

Before there is a torrent of hero posting, I know he had injuries. I know he was tortured. I also knew the day he announced, he (we) had lost.
Probably that is why he needed "pumping up" by a candidate our of nowhere, with energy, looks and conservative message to offset his wishy-washy relationship with Teddy Kennedy.

Does that answer your question of "what's with the hair?"

Corley Fiorina - here in California - doesn't have the nomination yet - but she is only 3 points behind our little Senatorette Boxer. Corley's hair is, at the moment, about 1/8 inch long, due to a bout with chemo. She has my vote. Because she is an itelligent former CEO and she can probably beat the socks off Boxer - - it has nothing to do with hair.

I'll have to look more closely at Palin's hands. If she has those long fake, squared-off drugstore fake fingernails with white tips - - well, they go with that kind of hair.

We're still talking "presidential" here.. Geez, do you see nothing in "packaging"? Do you want to win an election or have it look like an audition for Hee-Haw?

You asked what is it with hair - - I wonder what it is with the word "creepy ", that such a heavy reliance is put on it in describing anything with which you don't agree?

I'll tell you "creepy". Back when Reagan was president a Democrat Op-po research type managed to get a few samples of Reagan's hair from the area his haircuts took place - not the corner barbershop. So convinced was he that Reagan dyed his hair, he had the stolen strands analyzed. Sadly, analysis showed it was not dyed and Reagan won re-election. That guy was more preoccupied with hair than I am.

wwwexler| 2.9.10 @ 10:38PM

Corley Fiorina? That's Carley Fiorina.

You're right, it's got nothing to do with hair, you're just a blithering idiot with a single digit IQ.

Moonraker| 2.10.10 @ 1:54AM

wwexler - are you related to the Florida Congressman? Or did I spell his name wrong, too? For a smart guy gal (circle one) of undetermined IQ, you write thoughtful comments. It is spelled Corley in newspapers hereabouts - but since the advent cold type and semi-literate "journalists", I won't know for sure until I get a request from her campaign for a donation. If it is possible to remove the entrenched Boxer and strip her of her title she "worked so hard to get", Fiorina is the one to do it.

Meanwhile, consider this. It is possible that people like me were put on this earth, so people like you could feel superior. Glad to oblige.

wwwexler (no relation)| 2.10.10 @ 4:24AM

Awww, poor little Moonraker--did I hurt your feelings? I liked you better when you were spouting your silly garbage about Sarah Palin.

Guess you're not as tough as I thought.

Matt Morehouse| 2.10.10 @ 9:38AM

The Palinites, if given the chance, will drive the final stake through the heart of the Republican Party.

moonraker| 2.10.10 @ 2:10PM

mattmoorehouse re "stake in heart", please expand on that. Why do you think so? These short posts give little insight to the thinking that leads to the "stake in the heart " remark. I think so, too - you know my reasons.

It's is purely betting on the right horse - and I don't think she is. When the going got tough in Alaska, she got going. Her explanation was self-serving and showed a quitter streak. If she could not stand up to opposition attacks in Alaska and takes the bait of Letterman about Bristol and feels the need to take Rahm Emmanuel on over retards, she's got too much "Mama Lion Baggage". That is not to say she would take a hike on the White House. That is a different plum out of the Tree of Politics.

My take on Palin has nothing to do with hair. Of course, Wexler, thinks I think it does, which is his problem, not mine. But we can expect another mud ball from him.Someone yell, "Incoming!" - He gotta be he. The mediocre man is always at his best.

I know it was only a rally - but all we heard at the TPC was "How's that Hope and Change workin' out for ya?" (copped from Rush Limbaugh)with a flash of the moose-huntin' pit bull tough Alaskan kick-boxin' gal smile . Then some more "We need a strong national defense." "We gotta drill and we gotta drill now..."

When you even think of the convention concept, it is just nuts. They spend a fortune, hire a hall and then burn up all the time with applause and chanting, "Sar-ah, Sa-rah" instead of sitting there and letting her/making her say what she is about.

In three years the "we gotta drill" mantra is going to be about as soothing as a root canal. She needs to get some reliable facts on where the oil is, how long it will take to herd all the moose and caribou away - maybe adopt some as pets - determine the drilling costs versus what it will produce, how to combat environmentalists, short of declaring Open Season on them. It might even put a few oil drilling outfits to work and the manufacturers of drilling equipment. We might even build a few new refineries in the United States. Oh, no, that's out. Environmentalists would get riled.

But, Matt, you see what I mean. We need a discussion beyond "stake in the heart" Let's hear why you think it.

But she relies on the hot-button sound bite
one liners - about like some of these brief posts that don't say what they think on the subject, just what they think of what someone else thinks on the subject, like "creepy" - which reduces it to the texting of a third grader in the school cafeteria.

wwwexler| 2.11.10 @ 3:29PM

Matt Whorehouse doesn't have anything else, mooner; you're both clueless, one-trick ponies.

He's nasty and you're nuts--a match made in heaven.

We're sick and tired of running pasty old white guys as our nominee--let some fresh air in!!

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