— if you are going to admit these days to voting for Obama, best to admit what a huge mistake it was, and own that you were duped. Suggesting you made a logical, sober, considered choice to vote for a Chitown machine pol flanked by Jerry Wright and Bill Ayers — a guy who’d been suckled on Marxism and made his bones mau-mauing the flak catchers as an Acorn race bully — is, well, sad.
Yes, McCain was a terrible candidate. But at least he didn’t have as his stated goal to “fundamentally transform” a nation founded on the idea of limited government and individual freedom.
Turns out a Good Man is hard to find.
****
update: I should add here that I admire Ann’s reminder that she did in fact vote for Obama. Considering what a disaster he’s been, just acknowledging the choice takes a degree of courage. If I remember correctly, some of the Reason libertarians went for Obama as well. And I’m sure they, too, believe they made a sober considered choice.
They didn’t. Either.
Leave Ann alone! [/douchebag Obama supporter]
One thing that I’ve worked to teach my children is to acknowledge when they’re wrong. Apparently Ms. Althouse was never taught such a lesson, or it failed to take.
I agree, though, that what is most unsettling is that people like Ann will be able to convince themselves that Obama is better choice than my sock drawer in 2012. The internal conversation will go like this:
“Well, Obama is a Marxist ideologue with no skills or experience outside of ward heeling and has shown all the competence of quadruple amputee at a masturbation contest. But that stupid clown-car-vagina snowbilly went to state school, and by God we can’t have one of those in the White House.”
Get ready for round two on this. I predict that if…say Sarah Palin (but substitute Bachmann, Cain, etc.) is the nominee, Ann will do a “careful analysis” and then go for Obama again. Because Ann Althouse is not even a Republican (let alone a conservative). She is a hippie liberal who likes to slum with conservatives and hope that Rush mentions her occasionally.
You want to be offended, read this fragging piece of shit.
Obamaumauing the flak catchers?
I’m about as interested in Ann’s explanation for her Obama vote as I am in Mitt’s excuses for Romneycare. She became terribly irrelevant, to me, around October 08.
H/T to RSM for pointing that out.
Yeah. Obama is shockingly different than I thought he was before the election. I’ve subsequently realized that he can’t handle the ball with his right hand at all, which means he’s not actually a basketball player but a suburban white dork who had a hoop in his driveway growing up and never really progressed. I can understand Ann having missed this as well.
BTW, there was an alternative if you could not stomach John McCain. Ann could have vote for Bob Barr like RSM did. I am not a big fan of protest votes if you end up electing an even worse candidate by doing so, but it is not like it would have changed anything in Wisconsin or Maryland in 2008 (their respective states).
Carin —
The people who went that way — or who told us all that the era of Reagan was over, that we can’t hope for Obama’s plans to fundamentally transform the country fail, etc., — are the big blogosphere winners on the right.
Check the numbers.
Now, of course, they’re all finally coming around. But the fact remains that the bitter truth didn’t sell as well as the affectation of cool dispassion and political pragmatism. So it goes.
I’m not sure how anything that could realistically be termed “reasoning” would lead someone to vote for Obama.
I think Balko admited that Reason broke down approximately two thirds for Obama, one third for Barr, no votes for McCain.
Granted Reason’s shop might be ten people or so, so it was a very shallow pool, but it does reveal how balanced they are.
And the Kochs are some sort of monsters for funding that bunch!
Isn’t Reason supposed to be a libertarian mag? Did they have their noses so out of joint about the U.S. not trying terrorists in U.S. courts that they voted for the Marxist? That’s just–what’s the word I’m looking for here?–stupid.
http://theothermccain.com/2011/07/11/will-althouse-praise-his-steely-nerve-his-intelligence-and-his-groundedness/
RSM’s post about Althouse today.
I voted for McCain because I thought the problem was that–like all Dem POTUS’ post-JFK–he would bring into office a lot of lefties at staff and support functions and even though McCain madly, deeply sucked, he wouldn’t. So there’s that.
Ann, like most faux-intellectuals, voted for the candidate that made her feel best about herself.
End of report.
She will do that again in 2012, and 2016, etc…..
I can’t really knock Althouse for claiming her reasons for voting for Obama were rational. She’s a legal scholar, and legal scholars say and do a lot of crazy things claiming they’re being rational — like claiming Bill Clinton can become vice president despite having served two terms as president, or that the 14th Amendment renders the debt ceiling unconstitutional.
You know, that second one makes me wonder if Ezra Klein’s head has exploded yet. Wasn’t he claiming the constitution is old and irrelevant?
I think many here are underestimating how much voting for Obama did for a lot of people’s self esteem, no matter how much they realize it was a bad choice either then or now. The sin is one of pride, but not intellectual pride.
Ann, like most lawyers, thinks in terms of what is “legal” and what is “illegal”, under the letter of the law.
The concept of “right” and “wrong” becomes secondary to them.
Once you parse “illegal”, you can justify or excuse almost anything.
As the bumper sticker says:
IF YOU VOTED FOR OBAMA IN 2008 TO PROVE YOU’RE NOT A RACIST,
THEN VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE IN 2012 TO PROVE YOU’RE NOT AN IDIOT!
Via very frequent Instanches, Glenn Reynolds helped build Althouse and McArdle to the entities they are. Why this is in either case is a mystery.
Top 10 Reasons Why Ann Althouse Will Vote for Obama in 2012.
Because running off the cliff with the other lemmings is a rational decision.
Because the guy who screwed up is the only one who’s able to fix what’s wrong.
Because voting against the black man would make her a racist.
Because the rest of the faculty of UW Madison knows where she lives.
Because Obama won’t come out in favor of gay marriage until the next election.
Because Obama’s soooo dreamy and sends a thrill up her leg.
Because Palin’s a Republican.
Because of Obama’s steely nerve
Because of Obama’s groundedness
Because not voting for Obama would be admitting she’s a rube.
I didn’t vote for him, because I’ve lived in Chicago.
Consider: a first term Senator with zero “accomplishments”, but lots of shady friends.
Who here thinks that, in Illinois (and especially Chicago), someone can rise to that position, in those circumstances, WITHOUT somebody in the Machine having a grip on his short-and-curlies capable of producing high-quality geeking on demand? Hands, please…
‘Cause I’ve got a bridge deal I wanna talk over with you.
Isn’t Reason supposed to be a libertarian mag?
It is. So long as you accept the premise that legalizing marijuana is the ne plus ultra of libertarianism.
Just because Obama is from Chicago, home of the infamous Daley Democrat machine, doesn’t mean he’s corrupt.
Just because Obama’s first Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, was hand-picked by newly-elected Gov. Blogo to fill his vacant seat in the Ill. Senate doesn’t mean that Obama or his CoS are corrupt.
Just because Valerie Jarret, Obama’s Cheif Domestic Policy Advisor is a well-known slum lord who stood to gain financially IF Obama had been able to persuade the Olympics had come to Chicago, doesn’t mean the Obama Administration is corrupt.
Just because Michelle Obama had a phony $300k/year job as a Community Outreach Administrator at a Chicago-area hospital that was the beneficiary of a $2M earmark that Sen. Obama directed, and that the job was eliminated soon after the Obamas moved to the WH doesn’t make Obama, or Michelle, corrupt.
Just because we know NOTHING about Obama’s academic records, the reasons that Barack and Michelle’s Law licenses were revoked, or how the Obama’s pull off buying their multi-million dollar home in Chicago thanks to the help of a convicted felon doesn’t make Obama corrupt.
Ok, I get it…he’s corrupt……
Business as Usual: Ex-Rezko Parter Being Sentenced Tuesday
He didn’t wanna see nobody what nobody sent…
I like Ann fine, and I’ll happily admit that there were plenty of rational reasons not to vote for McCain, but a rational reason not to vote McCain is not the same thing as a rational reason to vote Obama. Plus, she scores no points at all for her belittlement of people like me who put up protest votes as, well, a protest.
She could have, if she were as rational as she claims, positioned herself among the disappointed patriots who concluded that McCain/Obama was a terrible choice, and who proceeded in 2 years’ time to put a large contingent of much more acceptable candidates in Congress and statehouses around the country. But no. She “rationally” voted for a candidate who proved to be even worse than those of us with eyes to see warned her about.
I pity the law student who sees her for what she is, and makes the mistake of calling her on it.
It’s only illegal if you accept the (questionable, but well-armed) authority of the regulatory state, Ernst. Besides, I thought High Times had that covered.
It is my considered opinion that the left did to the Libertarian Party in the 90s what they did to the Democrats in the late 60s-early 70s. Take over an existing brand in order to use it for their own purposes. Reason went rapidly downhill when Postrel left the helm. YMMV
Reason is to High Times as Harper’s Magazine is to Us Weekly Jim.
I share that opinion geoff.
By the way, I’m selling a bunch of nice clothing on eBay right now, if anybody is in the market for some. We’re going out to Cali to take the boy to Universal Studios in a couple weeks and I can use the extra bread, now that I had to buy a jacket. Because I gave all my old jackets to charity, without realizing that would leave me naked.
Not to mention without a jacket.
So. For a limited time only, you can own one of these gorgeous items today! Just email me and I’ll end the auction.
Hurry while supplies last!
If I remember rightly, Revolutionary Extraordinaire, International Man of Mystery, Last True Libertarian and Man With The Lovely ‘Do, B. Brown also pulled the lever for Bumbles. Lots of inexplicable behaviour going on.
I voted for the rancid old git because the alternative was too ghastly, and it wasn’t like we didn’t know how ghastly.
Don’t be calling Sarah Palin a rancid old git!
Oh wait, she was the underticket, wasn’t she?
Remind me again, who was Palin’s running mate?
Some rancid old git, Ernst. The name has faded, but the smell of disinfectant lingers.
One, no Trump.
OT bleg: Anyone know if I should shell shrimp before grilling them or is that verboten?
They were frozen with no heads, they’re fairly big and I want to do a sweet curry and coconut milk marinade if that matters.
It is. So long as you accept the premise that legalizing marijuana is the ne plus ultra of libertarianism
I like Reason and its on my bookmarks. While they are of course for eliminating the drug war and legalizing pot and probably beyond, they are by no means a 1 issue magazine.
I haven’t seen them showing Obama any love, nor would I expect any of them to.
You can grill them with shells on, bh, but why would you grill them if you are going to curry them? Personally, I’d peel them and chuck them into the coconut milk ungrilled, like you would for Thai curried prawns.
If you felt wildly helpful you could also tell me the proper wine to serve.
(Just found out that I have to have some work people over for dinner.)
And for the sake of disclosure, I did not vote in ’08.
I live in Illinois though, so seriously stop yanking me. TV ain’t gonna watch itself.
Thanks, SW. My problem is that I have a pretty good feel for time and temperature on the grill but have no idea on the stove top.
I’ve never heard of uncooked, frozen shrimp. This must be a landlocked peoples’ thing.
Maybe I should be less ambitious. Steak and some red wine. A bit harder to mess up.
Uncooked & peeled, they don’t take more than 8-10 min. in the coconut milk/green curry.
Heh, yeah, Abe. You can get good fish here but it’s not seafood.
Would that be at a medium heat, SW?
oh I thought this was about Ann Coulter I bought her book the other day and the union whore bagger hoochie at Ralph’s got all attitudinal and I didn’t say anything I just sort of watched her like she was an interesting bug
Green Thai curry paste, spring onions fried up first, add coconut milk, lemon grass and kaffir lime leaves (or zest of limes), uncooked prawns. Cook them hard for 2-3 min, then turn the heat down for a gentle simmer for 5 min. Chuck in handful of fresh whole basil leaves or fresh spinach leaves just before serving. Easy peasy.
Oh, don’t forget the fish sauce.
Thanks, SW. That’s exactly what I’ll do.
They really are cool shirts.
Cold ass Singha by the gallon.
I had a German Grauburgunder the other week that was sensational with seafood, so I guess a Pinot Gris/Grigio would work well.
I’m unfortunately shaped, Jeff. For a shirt, I wear an XL extra long.
For pants, I wear an Ichabod Crane.
That would be perfect, SW. I actually have a couple of those in the basement and, as they were gifts, I might be able to trust they were well chosen.
Ok, thanks again. Gotta run.
Ann and Reason people voted for Obama? I can’t be that smart!
and a couple jackets. *ahem* ;D
Actually getting something for your money?
It’ll never catch on…
I heard a rumor that Blogo guy might be in some kind of legal trouble, anybody hear anything about that?
[…] us had any real aptitude for success, we wouldn’t be blogging, would we? But I digress . . .Jeff Goldstein linked up on the Ann Althouse situation, and Leather Penguin grabs hold for a thorough […]
Mr. Goldstein, have you been making idle THREATS!?!? What’s up with that?
They’re doing a lot of that right on the boat these days. Fresh is obviously best, but that’s next best. bh, if you’re grilling, clean them first.
Scroll to the bottom of Pablo’s second link and you can see me going to town on a beloved character around here. I doubt I’ve been forgiven, and I know it’s not forgotten.
Don’t be so vein about your shrimp Pablo!
The reason 2008 election poll was not unbalanced for BHO. There were 20 pages of responses, many of them from people who have no strong link to reason. Counting only staffers, former staffers, and superstars then the votes were Barr: 7, BHO:5, Not Voting: 5, McCain:2. And it’s not like they have given BHO a free ride since then. Cavanaugh especially has redeemed himself.
If you check out this thread again, SW, the meal was great.
Backstory: We’re trying to recruit this guy to work for us and I thought we should take him to a swankier restaurant in Milwaukee with the older guys and then I’d go with him to a bar or lounge where some young, busty, Germanic/Swedish girl might wink at him and then I’d make our pitch.
But, I was outvoted. So, a couple of the “younger and fun people” (yeah, that’s a quote) and this kid come over to my place for dinner and some drinks. Where… he saw his future in suburbia and probably ran screaming back to the airport.
He’s not married. He’s young. He’s from New York. He doesn’t care that you can buy a nice house here for super cheap. He doesn’t care that your neighbors wave and say hi.
It was a silly evening for all involved.
maybe after president bumble forces America to default and New York City is awash in crime and joblessness and blight Milwaukee will look like a pretty damn good deal
Don’t give me that shit.
Heh, Milwaukee’s latest national news story was about roving gangs of dozens of teenagers beating up the silly hippies in Riverwest (think of it as a wannabee Wicker Park), ‘feets.
Of course, in the oft scorned and boring suburbs, you can buy a house for really cheap and your neighbors wave and say hi. And sometimes give you peaches. Which you then make into a creative Sangria Blanco and bring back over to them.
So, a couple of the “younger and fun people” (yeah, that’s a quote) and this kid come over to my place for dinner and some drinks. Where… he saw his future in suburbia and probably ran screaming back to the airport.
shoulda grilled ribeyes or t-bones and saved the shrimp for cocktails
spontaneous hippie beatings are the future
peaches grill up nicely too
the “poor” in amerikkka:
link
What I need is a house with a 4-car garage so I can bring my cars from San Diego and work on them.
The size of the house doesn’t matter all that much, though.
that would be one quart of coins by my reckoning
Now I’m all disoriented and dismayed. I have to admit to it, though…
I voted for Carter in ’76. (because, well, I was young, just became old enough to vote, and Nixxon left such a bad impression, Ford was a dork; he even had Dole as his ‘mate.)
There. It’s out. It’s past.
I’M A NEW MAN~!
He’s not married. He’s young. He’s from New York. He doesn’t care that you can buy a nice house here for super cheap. He doesn’t care that your neighbors wave and say hi.
It was a silly evening for all involved.
Did you take him to a cheese store on the interstate? Wisconsin Dells? Doesn’t sound like you wooed him very hard.
Ann, dearie, you should just stop digging and start filling. You can’t make things better by ‘splaining ’till you’re out of words. Just hang your head for awhile, face the music, grit your teefs and promise, promise never to vote for the bad man again!
Name’s not Holden, is it?
You don’t know how much I wish I had just cooked up some steak and broke out the scotch, Ernst. Then, at some point I could have pitched the whole you’re-a-man-you-need-an-awesome-grill-like-this-that-you-can’t-fit-into-your-apartment. Not sure how I’d pitch the lack of hot, slutty women at dozens of nearby bars. We were all that age once.
You could borrow the open spot in my garage, cranky. I currently keep a lawn chair and the newspaper there.
You think Ann’s got problems…
You, sir, know exactly what I’m talking about.
I voted for Obama. What do you want from me? McCain was too old and his backup was untenable. Republicans, get to work on a Huntsman-Johnston ticket and maybe we’ll talk. Bachmann and Romney aren’t going to fly with this guy.
Hey, moron. No one believes you.
You’re transparent.
kell su prize. like we didn’t already know you have poor judgment.
Not needed by who? Someone needed them or they would never have gotten some Senators and Congressmen to put them into the tax code.
Actually they are there because of the need for power that the Senators and Congressmen seek. By dropping them they will then next get to play the game of “what can you give me for the new tax break” they love so much.
Cold ass Singha by the gallon.
Sir, I like the cut of your jib.
Johnston? Great, all we need is a guy who doesn’t exist, and we’ll be good with Sterling.
Sterling is not even single A troll quality. Concern trolls have to be much smoother than this clown.
One heh for each of you.
You mean you would have voted for Obama, if you hadn’t been too young/busy/forgetful to vote.
Talk about what? Your other option is to vote for Obama, no matter who we put up. Hopefully it’s a full-throated conservative.
Don’t like the options? Welcome to our world.
You’ll either vote for Palin or you get to tell people you were stupid enough to vote for Obama twice.
I thought that was what the other “younger and fun” people were there for; to let the guy know which church socials were best for picking up hot slutty women who like to go to bars on Saturday night so they can get right with Jesus again on Sunday.
We need to focus on the important things. Like what kind of grill does bh have? How many burners? What’s the btu output?
Oh. It’s embarrassing, Ernst.
Like my speakers.
All that money I could have wasted on wine or non-work clothes or another car? I found other ways to waste it. It’s not pretty. It might well keep me out of heaven.
outdoor grills make the good life possible bh
Heh, here’s hoping, Ernst. Cheers.
Well, with grills, good works and possibly even revelation later on in life.
(I’m occasionally accidentally cryptic so, just in case, I have very good grill. The sort of grill that doesn’t make it through the eye of needle. Especially if you’ve accrued other demerits.)
I think God likes it when you slaughter the fatted calf and serve veal chops grilled over a hardwood fire to your friends and family bh.
At least as long as you remember to express your gratitude for His bounty.
Don’t forget to drizzle just a little extra virgin olive oil before serving. The grape isn’t the only fruit.
voted for Obama. What do you want from me? McCain was too old and his backup was untenable. Republicans, get to work on a Huntsman-Johnston ticket and maybe we’ll talk. Bachmann and Romney aren’t going to fly with this guy.
McCain was too old, yet he is still alive and kicking.
Funny that.
We should really get that Logan’s run thing going. 65? BAM. Report to carrousel.
e people who went that way — or who told us all that the era of Reagan was over, that we can’t hope for Obama’s plans to fundamentally transform the country fail, etc., — are the big blogosphere winners on the right.
Well, there are a lot of lemmings on the internets too. When she “came out” for Obama, I realized I could never value her opinion.
Now, of course, they’re all finally coming around. But the fact remains that the bitter truth didn’t sell as well as the affectation of cool dispassion and political pragmatism. So it goes.
Any excuse besides “I was REALLY REALLY stupid” isn’t going to work for me.
But, honestly, I could respect that. I would also accept “I was a fool.” Either one.
She lives in Madison, Carin. “Stupid fool” is the baseline.
In Detroit we pronounce that “stupid foo “.
I denounce myself.
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