A couple of thoughts on the Barton "fux pas"

[ashling]

Biden and Obama (per Gibbs) say that they can't believe that Barton would have said something like that.

I hope that is just a rhetorical flourish to demean Barton's comments, because I can sure believe it. Anybody who has been watching the Republicans for the last 28 years can believe it. . . . at least anyone who has not been simultaneously kow-towing to these obstructionist pigs in an effort at "bipartisan shit."

Let's just check to see if the statement meets all the true Republican values - you know, the ones they usually don't talk about in public: it was cold -check-, heartless -check-, anti-family - check-, anti-worker -check-, anti-American -check- and corporatist to the max - check-.

And that last one is really more important than the fact that it was aimed at BP. The only reason that other Repubs are upset is not that the comment was tone deaf (something that never bothered them too much before) but that it was BP. BP has been so vilified and is so culpable, that even Republicans have to take notice.

Notice, however that Barton apologized not so much to his buddies at BP. They just happened to be the ones at the table. No, his apology was to private corporations. And this is right down the Republican line. They are incensed at the concept that the United States government would consider itself superior to, or even on par with, private corporations.

Besides, they are more used to dealing with private corporations under the table than across it.

Just a thought.

Oh, and the other thing:

Yes, the Republicans fumbled and for once, the DNC is picking up the ball and running with it, But don't get too complacent. I am hearing things like "now there is no way the Republicans can win in November."

Wanna' bet?

They can - and will - try and come up with some trick dirtier, slimier, and more effective than anything they have done before. Does the word ACORN ring a bell? They can always rely on their bench. Though the jerseys of Nixon and Atwater may have been retired, they can always rely on a Rove or Okeefe in waiting, ready to suit up.

Oh, and we can get to complacent and say things like "now there is no way the Republicans can win in November."

Besides, there are always those "second amendment remedies," dontcha know.

[Spazito]

1. I think it is more surprising where he said it and how he gave the Dems....

a lovely, beautifully wrapped gift, in the form of the video capture, just in time for the upcoming mid-term elections. It was the stupidity of the timing, not the stupidity of Barton's words (that already being very apparent) that might have generated the "I can't believe..." response.

[ashling]

2. Video Capture has seldom kept the Republicans from

deceiving and dividing the people. And the Democrats have always ha a knack for pulling defeat from the jaws of victory. :shrug:

[Spazito]

3. It's the timing of that video along with the words and the venue...

BP is NOT popular with the American public at all, they are outraged regardless of political affiliations. The Dems won the Presidency, the Senate and the House, damn, now that was a KNACK.

One has only to see how rapidly the repub party's biggies came out against Barton's apology to BP. They did it not because they thought he was wrong, they did it because they recognized how damaging it was to their own party to have those words being repeated in ads during the run-up to the mid-terms. Those ads are already produced and going viral on the net as well as about to be shown on the major networks.

[CanonRay]

4. If they can get Alvin Greene the votes

they sure as hell can "win" in November. At least everywhere there are voting machines.

[ashling]

6. And every time I hear "That's as low as they get"

or something to that effect, the Repubs just go lower. Do not underestimate their ability to make the electorate forget and forgive.

with this kind of crap:
http://americasupportsbp.com/

[mrJJ]

5. Spin the Damage Control

Bartons Apology to BP & its CEO was planned well in advance by... the Republican Study Committee... The only reason he went back to apologize for his apology was because the phones at GoBP HQ were ringing off the walls... The GoBP plan back fired plain and simple..

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/how-joe-barton-managed-to-have-a-worse-day-than-tony-hayward.php?ref=fpi

The RSC Memo
http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=191125
http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/aboutrsc/memberlist.htm

American Enterprise Institute congressional scholar Norm Ornstein :

"A major figure apologizing to BP enables the Democrats to put Republicans on the side of the oil companies that did this," to the Gulf, said Ornstein, "and not on the side of the American people."

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/06/18/2276854/barton-goes-underground-as-democrats.html

[KharmaTrain]

7. I Sure Wasn't Suprised At The Words...Just The Timing...

The GOOP has been stuck in a box over this BP thing. You knew the party of "drill baby drill" wasn't going to sit quiet for long...and right on cue, Barfton let loose and the true GOOP agenda is now out there for all to see.

This was no "faux pas"...it was intentional...PREPARED remarks...intended for the Congressional Record (which he hasn't retracted...the true sign of contrition). The game here was to divide and distract. Sadly there are many who coveted driving their cars with cheap oil...truly addicted and in denial. While one would think a large majority of people would have been offended or shocked by Barfton's stunt, my bets are he's got plenty of supporters out there as well as the right wing echo chamber. Barfton is the Joe Wilson of the moment...a new star on the wingnut radar.

The timing seems quite interesting as there's the big battle going on over President Obama's 6 month moritorium...which is where the greatest GOOP wrath (as well as lobbyist money) is happening. The McGuffin here is how the attention was taken off BP and arrogant Tiny Tony and it's energized the great unhinged who now can openly kiss their oil bosses. BP's lobbying money hits paydirt.

[ashling]

8. This was no "faux pas".

of course it wasn't a faux pas. "fux pas" is "Latin?" for fuck you America

[KharmaTrain]

9. You Nailed It...

Cheers...

:toast: