Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly.
He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
Thanks for the link, that was a good piece and a good point. It’s hard to imagine that someone could run for president with such a narrow perspective. And of course, that’s no way to treat the people that actually do work for you either.
Yeah, that was a particularly nasty part of this woman’s anecdote: Mitt asked who the teacher was in the room, then proceeded to browbeat her with his agenda-carrying views that the American educational system sucks because of teachers’ unions, and privatizing the schools will cure all ills. Then, when she offered advice borne by her actual experiences teaching children, Mitt told her to shut her trap.
He intended to target her with his hostility; that’s pure sociopathy.
One has to wonder how many other people who’ve been roped into these “meet the gosh-darn wonderful candidate” sit-downs have come away with similar reactions, and how their impressions have radiated outward from their circle of family and friends.
Pretty much all of them, I’d think, unless they’re total RomRobos and keep their mouths shut except to worship at his feet. He just can’t keep himself from behaving like the prince he thinks he is (and now going for the throne that God promised him). Just a rerun of his cookie complaints and his boyhood gang assault on a fellow student. I never thought anybody would make Nixon look like Clinton when it comes to likeability, but Willard managed.
than any poll in some cases as to a candidate’s likeabiity or even charisma. One more big gaffe, that’s all I am asking for, Universe. One more BIG gaffe.
Pessimists tend to be more realistic and fact based than optimists. That’s why almost a year before the 2008 and 2012 election it seemed obvious that none of the GOP POTUS candidates could beat Obama (and it seemed highly unlikely that Hillary would win the Democratic nomination for a variety of reasons).
ummmm…I don’t remember that. I remember thinking that the pundits (yeah, like what do THEY know) were predicting Clinton to be the runaway winner of the primaries.
Apparently here, and here they don’t even LIST Obama, here an article showing the loss of “inevitability” of Clintons primary wins. The Obama is totally in the drivers seat didn’t become reality until June/July.
In fact, to show you what I know, I thought the whole run by Obama was in preparation for 2016 or 2012, depending on who won the general election. Which is probably why no one pays me to give political advice to people running for office.
Meant almost a year before the general election, not several years before which is much too far out to do more than identify politicians with skill and talent and some natural voter base that can launch them into the pack of front-runners IF national/world events during the interim don’t leave them in the dust.
” … the pundits (yeah, like what do THEY know) were predicting Clinton to be the runaway winner of the primaries.”
I would make an even broader point. From the day Bill Clinton left office, the pundits universally assumed as heavenly writ that Hillary was THE Democratic presidential candidate for any future election.There was lots of speculation about her running in 2004.
And then there’s Bill Clinton hitting pretty much all the airwaves this week and GPS this morning where Zakaria gives him a huge block of time. Bill brings the Clinton optimism home for Obama. Spectacular interview which lays out the reasoning, the future, goals that we share, not the fear and all going to hell Romney is still campaigning on.
on September 23, 2012 at 2:52 pm
He may be a dick, but he’ll make a much better President than Obama!
Can’t you guys see that Obama is a complete disaster?
Horrible performance on jobs, median income, reducing people on food stamps, debt and deficit, foreign policy…
Disaster!
Romney will get the job done…
I just hope he focuses on job creation between 2012 and 2014, so we can keep the House in 2014, then tackles entitlement reform between 2014 and 2016…
Yes, Romney’s a horrible man, but he’s MY horrible man! I hope Romney/Ryan and the Republican Congress lie and run away from their support for the Ryan budget, because majorities of all Americans, INCLUDING REPUBLICANS, strongly oppose Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefit cuts, and my horrible man should fool the voters in two elections before forcing through cuts that all large groups of the 99% of Americans oppose.
Inspiring advocacy for your candidate and your Party there, Nick!
“Horrible performance on jobs, median income, reducing people on food stamps, debt and deficit, foreign policy…”
Nicky, Nicky, Nicky, you’ve apparently confused the Office of President with that of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Hint: It wasn’t the President who just walked off the job, leaving a veterans’ jobs bill lying bleeding in the gutter.
on September 24, 2012 at 8:06 am
Romney is a genuinely evil jerk, and his supporters are truly idiots. He is an arrogant son of a bitch, to a level that I have never seen. He has never heard a person say “That’s a bad idea, Mitt” without firing that person. As such, he is unable to be corrected or to discuss whether an idea is good or bad. But when you have the football, this attitude is terrible.
If Romney is elected, we will have a war with Iran. Within a year. And that will result in the nuclear destruction of Iran and Israel.
What is it with Mitt not campaigning? does he have health issues? is he just too used to a lackadaisical one-event-per day schedule? is it too unsettling for him to face the absence of audience? Just wondering, because he doesn’t seem to have the stamina to be president
This anecdote seems to also show an unwillingness to seek or accept feedback. i think that lack is the reason his campaign seems to have completely lost their way.
Yes. I read an interesting collection of videos on dkos yesterday about Mitt “throwing a tantrum” – they all boiled down to Mitt’s inability of accept any response to what he says that isn’t complete agreement. Will try to find the diary. A r-wing radio personality in Iowa suggested Mitt take a different approach re: his religion (the guy supports Mitt, had a good point imo) and Mitt couldn’t graciously thank him for the suggestion or discuss it, he went off on the radio guy.
here’s the link, the video with Glen Johnson is fascinating, the radio interview is fourth of the five. My conclusion from watching these: Mitt is like the driver who, if you, say politely or accidentally move into his lane, pursues you to yell at you blocks away.
Demonstrating a basic business/finance/investing/taxation fail:
Romney: It is a low rate. And one of the reasons why the capital gains tax rate is lower is because capital has already been taxed once at the corporate level, as high as 35 percent.
Anyone that doesn’t know the difference between corporate dividends and capital gains has no business touting business expertise.
He knows the difference but he knows that average folks who don’t have brokerage accounts or do their own taxes don’t – and look to their betters (like him and the supposedly smart person on the teevee) to figure this stuff out and tell them what to think about this so-called plan. It’s all part of the swindle.
He also claims that he would pay for his enormous tax cut on earned income by dropping “loopholes” like the mortgage interest deduction for the rich (and maybe others, too – elect him first and he’ll tell you.) But that’s the distraction. The oligarchs won’t need that when he lowers the tax rate on unearned investment income (capital gains, dividends and interest) to 0%. Under his own tax plan, he would owe zero tax anyway so what does he care about a deduction OR lower rates on earned income? The Oligarchs don’t need the “tax loopholes” when that class has no tax at all on the bulk of their income. But but but they’re “taking risks” with their inheritance and “producing” and all that so they deserve the rewards of their hard labor, you know. More Confidence Fairy flim-flam.
But with an obedient media fearing he’ll be mean to them, this is what we’re fed. Statements like these should not make it past the editing process unchallenged.
Have worked with and for too many MBAs that didn’t grasp basic accounting and finance principles – that operated more on hearsay and gut level instincts than detailed analysis — to be convinced that Mitt knows the difference. Have never heard anything said by Mitt that indicates that he possesses any in-depth, fact-based knowledge of economics, finance and business beyond the simple mechanics of vulture capitalism.
He simply expected her to take direction without talking back, just as every good employee should.
Steve M has pointed out that this is the fatal flaw in Romney’s campaign: He campaigns as if everyone in the country works for him.
Thanks for the link, that was a good piece and a good point. It’s hard to imagine that someone could run for president with such a narrow perspective. And of course, that’s no way to treat the people that actually do work for you either.
No, he assumed that because she was a teacher she was an opponent, one of the 47% that he doesn’t need.
Yeah, that was a particularly nasty part of this woman’s anecdote: Mitt asked who the teacher was in the room, then proceeded to browbeat her with his agenda-carrying views that the American educational system sucks because of teachers’ unions, and privatizing the schools will cure all ills. Then, when she offered advice borne by her actual experiences teaching children, Mitt told her to shut her trap.
He intended to target her with his hostility; that’s pure sociopathy.
But doing exactly that scores so many points for Chris Christy when he does it. 🙂
One has to wonder how many other people who’ve been roped into these “meet the gosh-darn wonderful candidate” sit-downs have come away with similar reactions, and how their impressions have radiated outward from their circle of family and friends.
Pretty much all of them, I’d think, unless they’re total RomRobos and keep their mouths shut except to worship at his feet. He just can’t keep himself from behaving like the prince he thinks he is (and now going for the throne that God promised him). Just a rerun of his cookie complaints and his boyhood gang assault on a fellow student. I never thought anybody would make Nixon look like Clinton when it comes to likeability, but Willard managed.
than any poll in some cases as to a candidate’s likeabiity or even charisma. One more big gaffe, that’s all I am asking for, Universe. One more BIG gaffe.
WTF?? He says that Romney shouldn’t just continue to run on the last four years, because…
umm wasn’t that Romney’s whole rationale for running??? what the hell is he supposed to run in then???
I’m pessimistic by nature but I am really beginning to believe these GOP. run amuck stories
Pessimists tend to be more realistic and fact based than optimists. That’s why almost a year before the 2008 and 2012 election it seemed obvious that none of the GOP POTUS candidates could beat Obama (and it seemed highly unlikely that Hillary would win the Democratic nomination for a variety of reasons).
ummmm…I don’t remember that. I remember thinking that the pundits (yeah, like what do THEY know) were predicting Clinton to be the runaway winner of the primaries.
Apparently here, and here they don’t even LIST Obama, here an article showing the loss of “inevitability” of Clintons primary wins. The Obama is totally in the drivers seat didn’t become reality until June/July.
In fact, to show you what I know, I thought the whole run by Obama was in preparation for 2016 or 2012, depending on who won the general election. Which is probably why no one pays me to give political advice to people running for office.
Meant almost a year before the general election, not several years before which is much too far out to do more than identify politicians with skill and talent and some natural voter base that can launch them into the pack of front-runners IF national/world events during the interim don’t leave them in the dust.
” … the pundits (yeah, like what do THEY know) were predicting Clinton to be the runaway winner of the primaries.”
I would make an even broader point. From the day Bill Clinton left office, the pundits universally assumed as heavenly writ that Hillary was THE Democratic presidential candidate for any future election.There was lots of speculation about her running in 2004.
Here’s a bit of ancient history from 2003 — there were hundreds if not thousands of articles like this over the years:
http://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2003/09/24/its_puppetmaster_hillary_for_vice_president_in_
2004/page/full/
Pessimists tend to be more realistic and fact based than optimists.
They claim that, anyway.
They are positive about it.
what the hell is he supposed to run in then???
Obama is soft on skeery Muslims, and that’s why our embassies were attacked.
Haven’t you noticed how the Republicans have been grabbing onto that story like a drowning man with a life preserver?
That would be advice from a Republican.
“Keep talking Mitt, Paul, and Ann” would be the suggestion from the opposition.
And then there’s Bill Clinton hitting pretty much all the airwaves this week and GPS this morning where Zakaria gives him a huge block of time. Bill brings the Clinton optimism home for Obama. Spectacular interview which lays out the reasoning, the future, goals that we share, not the fear and all going to hell Romney is still campaigning on.
He may be a dick, but he’ll make a much better President than Obama!
Can’t you guys see that Obama is a complete disaster?
Horrible performance on jobs, median income, reducing people on food stamps, debt and deficit, foreign policy…
Disaster!
Romney will get the job done…
I just hope he focuses on job creation between 2012 and 2014, so we can keep the House in 2014, then tackles entitlement reform between 2014 and 2016…
Shorter Nick N:
Yes, Romney’s a horrible man, but he’s MY horrible man! I hope Romney/Ryan and the Republican Congress lie and run away from their support for the Ryan budget, because majorities of all Americans, INCLUDING REPUBLICANS, strongly oppose Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefit cuts, and my horrible man should fool the voters in two elections before forcing through cuts that all large groups of the 99% of Americans oppose.
Inspiring advocacy for your candidate and your Party there, Nick!
It is all a disaster because Nicki says so! Troll So Hard
Freshmen are so adorable.
“Horrible performance on jobs, median income, reducing people on food stamps, debt and deficit, foreign policy…”
Nicky, Nicky, Nicky, you’ve apparently confused the Office of President with that of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Hint: It wasn’t the President who just walked off the job, leaving a veterans’ jobs bill lying bleeding in the gutter.
Romney is a genuinely evil jerk, and his supporters are truly idiots. He is an arrogant son of a bitch, to a level that I have never seen. He has never heard a person say “That’s a bad idea, Mitt” without firing that person. As such, he is unable to be corrected or to discuss whether an idea is good or bad. But when you have the football, this attitude is terrible.
If Romney is elected, we will have a war with Iran. Within a year. And that will result in the nuclear destruction of Iran and Israel.
What is it with Mitt not campaigning? does he have health issues? is he just too used to a lackadaisical one-event-per day schedule? is it too unsettling for him to face the absence of audience? Just wondering, because he doesn’t seem to have the stamina to be president
Or is a lack of a grass roots ground game. Or are they afraid the teabaggers will show up with posters of empty chairs hanging from trees.
This anecdote seems to also show an unwillingness to seek or accept feedback. i think that lack is the reason his campaign seems to have completely lost their way.
When you are the Appointed of God, you don’t need no stinking feedback, especially from peasants.
Yes. I read an interesting collection of videos on dkos yesterday about Mitt “throwing a tantrum” – they all boiled down to Mitt’s inability of accept any response to what he says that isn’t complete agreement. Will try to find the diary. A r-wing radio personality in Iowa suggested Mitt take a different approach re: his religion (the guy supports Mitt, had a good point imo) and Mitt couldn’t graciously thank him for the suggestion or discuss it, he went off on the radio guy.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/22/1135276/-Romney-tantrum-part-of-pattern-including-1981-arre
st-for-disorderly-conduct
here’s the link, the video with Glen Johnson is fascinating, the radio interview is fourth of the five. My conclusion from watching these: Mitt is like the driver who, if you, say politely or accidentally move into his lane, pursues you to yell at you blocks away.
“I didn’t ask you a question.”
What a total dick. Totally dismissive of this woman who appears to be very calm and thoughtful person. What a great find by the obama campaign.
Yes, also upsetting that she put a lot of thought into what she’d talk about at the event
Demonstrating a basic business/finance/investing/taxation fail:
Anyone that doesn’t know the difference between corporate dividends and capital gains has no business touting business expertise.
He knows the difference but he knows that average folks who don’t have brokerage accounts or do their own taxes don’t – and look to their betters (like him and the supposedly smart person on the teevee) to figure this stuff out and tell them what to think about this so-called plan. It’s all part of the swindle.
He also claims that he would pay for his enormous tax cut on earned income by dropping “loopholes” like the mortgage interest deduction for the rich (and maybe others, too – elect him first and he’ll tell you.) But that’s the distraction. The oligarchs won’t need that when he lowers the tax rate on unearned investment income (capital gains, dividends and interest) to 0%. Under his own tax plan, he would owe zero tax anyway so what does he care about a deduction OR lower rates on earned income? The Oligarchs don’t need the “tax loopholes” when that class has no tax at all on the bulk of their income. But but but they’re “taking risks” with their inheritance and “producing” and all that so they deserve the rewards of their hard labor, you know. More Confidence Fairy flim-flam.
But with an obedient media fearing he’ll be mean to them, this is what we’re fed. Statements like these should not make it past the editing process unchallenged.
Have worked with and for too many MBAs that didn’t grasp basic accounting and finance principles – that operated more on hearsay and gut level instincts than detailed analysis — to be convinced that Mitt knows the difference. Have never heard anything said by Mitt that indicates that he possesses any in-depth, fact-based knowledge of economics, finance and business beyond the simple mechanics of vulture capitalism.