Quote of the Day

Today’s quote comes courtesy of Mr. Talent on Loan from God himself, Rush Limbaugh, who tossed off this little bon mot after John McCain apologized for Cincinnati conservative talk show Host Bill Cunningham’s constant reference to “Barack Hussein Obama” in warming up the crowd at a recent campaign appearance by McCain in that city:

Right-wing firebrand Rush Limbaugh also questioned why McCain would apologize for Cunningham’s remarks, and asked why it’s inappropriate for Cunningham to use Obama’s middle name.

“What if McCain’s middle name was Adolf instead of Sidney?” Limbaugh asked.

Thanks Rush. Always good to see someone from the right bring a little fresh perspective to the “middle name” issue in American politics. Although, just for the record, I think “Sidney” sounds a little too liberal to me. Maybe John McCain should consider changing it to Adolph. I mean, for a man who wants to have a hundred year war with Islam, what better moniker than the name of a man who wanted to establish a thousand year Reich, eh?

10 Comments

Brendan Skwire on February 28, 2008 at 7:49 am

That whole “his middle name is Hussein” is just silly. It’s not like he chose his middle name. And the same goes for McCain: why should anyone care if his middle name was “Adolph”? My middle name is Frederick, does that mean I’d like to see the restoration of the throne in Prussia and attack Austria?

My mom’s middle name is Lois, but she’s not dating Superman.

Quentin on February 28, 2008 at 8:21 am

On the subject of the name Hussein see Juan Cole’s moving post from yesterday (Wednesday). To hell with Limbaugh, let him shovel shit until he drops. ‘Ah, a rabid, incendiary commenter’, tough Rush ruminates. Some more horrid Abu Ghraib photos seem to have seen the light of day (see Orange). When will our national nightmare end? No matter what, not on January 20, 2008.
- Nag on February 28, 2008 at 9:10 am
  
  I just read Juan Cole’s whole post on names. I just love professor Cole, he’s a must read for me every single day.
BooMan on February 28, 2008 at 9:23 am

His middle name will make people uneasy voting for him. That’s the whole point of bringing it up.
idredit on February 28, 2008 at 10:39 am

demonizing is not only silly but dangerous. What of our allies in the Middle East with Hussein names?… think ruling monarchs and sheiks. Most likely are wondering why should they bail out western banks.

But ‘Tis the season.

As for Sen.McCain: via The bluedressHatman The NYT asks does his place of birth make him ineligible?

McCain’s Canal Zone Birth Prompts Queries About Whether That Rules Him Out

WASHINGTON — The question has nagged at the parents of Americans born outside the continental United States for generations: Dare their children aspire to grow up and become president? In the case of Senator John McCain of Arizona, the issue is becoming more than a matter of parental daydreaming.

Mr. McCain’s likely nomination as the Republican candidate for president and the happenstance of his birth in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936 are reviving a musty debate that has surfaced periodically since the founders first set quill to parchment and declared that only a “natural-born citizen” can hold the nation’s highest office.[.]

Quickly recognizing confusion over the evolving nature of citizenship, the First Congress in 1790 passed a measure that did define children of citizens “born beyond the sea, or out of the limits of the United States to be natural born.” But that law is still seen as potentially unconstitutional and was overtaken by subsequent legislation that omitted the “natural-born” phrase.

Mr. McCain’s citizenship was established by statutes covering the offspring of Americans abroad and laws specific to the Canal Zone as Congress realized that Americans would be living and working in the area for extended periods. But whether he qualifies as natural-born has been a topic of Internet buzz for months, with some declaring him ineligible while others assert that he meets all the basic constitutional qualifications — a natural-born citizen at least 35 years of age with 14 years of residence.[.]

Salunga on February 28, 2008 at 8:20 am

The relevancy of Obama’s middle name seems to make sense to Cunningham and Limbaugh’s listeners. McCain thought he was hitting a slow pitch softball out by condemning Cunningham. He didn’t realize Cunningham and his listeners are paranoids who spend their days doing connect the dots books. Probably looking for vague pictures of Satan (or Saddam) so they can write the publisher.

I have to admit I don’t trust Brendan’s mom anymore. She may love Krypton a bit more then the good old USA.

BooMan on February 28, 2008 at 9:22 am

wasn’t sidney a sea-monster?

boran2 on February 28, 2008 at 9:32 am

Perhaps McCain should change his middle name to Atila.

TarheelDem on February 28, 2008 at 9:58 am

“Straight-talk Sidney”

As in “McCain tries to portray himself as straight-talk Sidney, but…”

lutton on February 28, 2008 at 11:14 am

I know this guy, let’s call him Rob (but that’s not really his name, of course). He’s really A. Robert Jones–guess what the A. is for? Yup. But nobody calls him Adolph. We all call him Rob.

He’s either first of second generation American, with some of his family having emmigrated from Czechoslovakia, and ‘Rob’ being born before that other Adolph became infamous…

Brendan Skwire on February 28, 2008 at 7:49 am

That whole “his middle name is Hussein” is just silly. It’s not like he chose his middle name. And the same goes for McCain: why should anyone care if his middle name was “Adolph”? My middle name is Frederick, does that mean I’d like to see the restoration of the throne in Prussia and attack Austria?

My mom’s middle name is Lois, but she’s not dating Superman.
- Quentin on February 28, 2008 at 8:21 am
  
  On the subject of the name Hussein see Juan Cole’s moving post from yesterday (Wednesday). To hell with Limbaugh, let him shovel shit until he drops. ‘Ah, a rabid, incendiary commenter’, tough Rush ruminates. Some more horrid Abu Ghraib photos seem to have seen the light of day (see Orange). When will our national nightmare end? No matter what, not on January 20, 2008.
  - Nag on February 28, 2008 at 9:10 am
    
    I just read Juan Cole’s whole post on names. I just love professor Cole, he’s a must read for me every single day.
- BooMan on February 28, 2008 at 9:23 am
  
  His middle name will make people uneasy voting for him. That’s the whole point of bringing it up.
- idredit on February 28, 2008 at 10:39 am
  
  demonizing is not only silly but dangerous. What of our allies in the Middle East with Hussein names?… think ruling monarchs and sheiks. Most likely are wondering why should they bail out western banks.
  
  But ‘Tis the season.
  
  As for Sen.McCain: via The bluedressHatman The NYT asks does his place of birth make him ineligible?
  
  McCain’s Canal Zone Birth Prompts Queries About Whether That Rules Him Out
  
  WASHINGTON — The question has nagged at the parents of Americans born outside the continental United States for generations: Dare their children aspire to grow up and become president? In the case of Senator John McCain of Arizona, the issue is becoming more than a matter of parental daydreaming.
  
  Mr. McCain’s likely nomination as the Republican candidate for president and the happenstance of his birth in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936 are reviving a musty debate that has surfaced periodically since the founders first set quill to parchment and declared that only a “natural-born citizen” can hold the nation’s highest office.[.]
  
  Quickly recognizing confusion over the evolving nature of citizenship, the First Congress in 1790 passed a measure that did define children of citizens “born beyond the sea, or out of the limits of the United States to be natural born.” But that law is still seen as potentially unconstitutional and was overtaken by subsequent legislation that omitted the “natural-born” phrase.
  
  Mr. McCain’s citizenship was established by statutes covering the offspring of Americans abroad and laws specific to the Canal Zone as Congress realized that Americans would be living and working in the area for extended periods. But whether he qualifies as natural-born has been a topic of Internet buzz for months, with some declaring him ineligible while others assert that he meets all the basic constitutional qualifications — a natural-born citizen at least 35 years of age with 14 years of residence.[.]
Salunga on February 28, 2008 at 8:20 am

The relevancy of Obama’s middle name seems to make sense to Cunningham and Limbaugh’s listeners. McCain thought he was hitting a slow pitch softball out by condemning Cunningham. He didn’t realize Cunningham and his listeners are paranoids who spend their days doing connect the dots books. Probably looking for vague pictures of Satan (or Saddam) so they can write the publisher.

I have to admit I don’t trust Brendan’s mom anymore. She may love Krypton a bit more then the good old USA.
BooMan on February 28, 2008 at 9:22 am

wasn’t sidney a sea-monster?
boran2 on February 28, 2008 at 9:32 am

Perhaps McCain should change his middle name to Atila.
TarheelDem on February 28, 2008 at 9:58 am

“Straight-talk Sidney”

As in “McCain tries to portray himself as straight-talk Sidney, but…”
lutton on February 28, 2008 at 11:14 am

I know this guy, let’s call him Rob (but that’s not really his name, of course). He’s really A. Robert Jones–guess what the A. is for? Yup. But nobody calls him Adolph. We all call him Rob.

He’s either first of second generation American, with some of his family having emmigrated from Czechoslovakia, and ‘Rob’ being born before that other Adolph became infamous…

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