dagblog - Comments for "The Other Shoe Dropping"

The Visigoth Wrecking &

jollyroger — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:48:22 +0000

The Visigoth Wrecking & Demolition Company, celebrating, last August, 17 centuries of deconstructing antiquity. (Hey, Trope, get it?)

It's good to know that

Verified Atheist — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:54:06 +0000

In reply to I've compared the

It's good to know that someone is looking out for the Visigoth's honor.

I can't wait for the mtv

jollyroger — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:29:18 +0000

In reply to I am hitting my head going

I can't wait for the mtv appearance...Huck on bass, Mitt singing lead.

From the crowd

"Boxers, briefs, or...or...what's that thing called?"

Huck can cosign for Mitt with the snake handlers.

I've compared the

jollyroger — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:26:34 +0000

In reply to Erica, I don't disagree with

I've compared the right-wingers to the Visigoth

Now, waaiiit just a damn minute here....

Show a little sensitivity to the barbarians...sure, it's always the fault of the guys with the dubious hygeine.

I will have you to know that what you call "the sack of Rome" we consider an instance of the application of "self-help" to a collection problem.

In 410, my illustrious forebear Alaric "The Goth" Balt was driven to employ vigorous, even strenuous measures, enforcing payment of an obligation due from Honorious, Emperor of Rome, for services rendered.

Don't have the link handy,

kgb999 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:21:57 +0000

In reply to Pawlenty doesn't excite the

Don't have the link handy, but I noticed Chris Christie said he would "consider" running as VP earlier in the week.

I think you are kind of right about Palwenty. Paring him with Romney is like a double zz. He might have done wonders to balance out one of the more colorful candidates though. And yeah ... he really must be kicking himself for not staying in the race, he'd likely have done far better than the rest.

My middle name is Pat!

erica20 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:11:08 +0000

In reply to Erica, I don't disagree with

My middle name is Pat!

Erica, I don't disagree with

Michael Wolraich — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:39:54 +0000

In reply to "Romney will sheepishly claim

Erica, I don't disagree with the broad picture, but it's too pat. The "Lucrescenti" as you call them (you're dominating google fwiw) do have some influence over the rank and file, but they don't control them. Boehner represents the Lucrescenti, but he is the weakest Speaker in many years, and right-wing congresspeople have repeatedly defied him.

In the past, I've compared the right-wingers to the Visigoths. Emperor Valens invited the Visigoth into his army, seeing them as "a splendid recruiting ground for
his army." Then they sacked Rome.

I am hitting my head going

artappraiser — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:27:06 +0000

In reply to It'll be Romney and Huckabee,

I am hitting my head going "why didn't I think of that?" That's a strong ticket that would both rally some disgruntled tea types and have appeal for some independents! Having the Huckabee would do what Palin did in shutting up conservative talk radio hatred of McCain, while not having Palin's downside for independents He knows how to pander to religious right "family values" in a way that's not so scary to outsiders

Thanks!

Doctor Cleveland — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:06:04 +0000

In reply to Dear Doc, Your blog made me

Thanks!

I think a lot depends on how

Doctor Cleveland — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:02:00 +0000

In reply to I don't think we should

I think a lot depends on how much churn Romney hits on his way to the nomination. If he pulls out Iowa and then drops the hammer in New Hampshire, the rest of the primaries will just be slowly grinding the rest of his opposition underfoot. Then he'll be able to pick a cultural conservative running mate who wasn't a primary opponent. In other words, he'll have the luxury of choosing a disciplined crazy person, which will be a substantial advantage for him.

(And yes Huckabee, who is a talented campaigner and communicator, is probably the best running mate Romney could pick, given his particular political situation.)

If, on the other hand, he's still in a dogfight the morning after Super Tuesday, that's a sign that he's going to be wrestling with a rebellious base all the way to the convention, and that will put more pressure on him to appease that base by choosing one of the Not-Romneys that they've rallied around. Failing that, some undisciplined crazy person to be named later (for example, Paul Ryan, Rand Paul, Christine O'Donnell, Joe Arpaio, or The Riddler). Basically, Romney would be forced to take on a substantial disadvantage in the general just to keep his troops from mutinying.

That's the real underlying story of these primaries, on lots of levels: How much does Romney have to handicap himself for the general in order to get the nomination and keep the party activists in line?