Can someone please explain to me why a nasally voiced yard gnome like Norquist is still relevant?

[HughBeaumont]

I can see back in the Bewsh II debacle why he had the ear of every borrow-and-spend idiot known to mankind (people who he mysteriously sees as invisible, as well as their deeds, by the way), but what gives now?

Why is this tiny wedding-cake yard gnome who talks in a comically funny honk and has this mean, teensy face like someone pissed in his food every hour on every station asserting that this debt is 100% the fault of the Democrats?

Does anyone whisper "2001-2008" in his ears, EVER, or does he only selectively remember 2007 onward? Does he conveniently forget the Bewsh II wars or the Bewsh II tax cuts? Does he gloss over the doubling of the National Debt during that time, as if all present debt started on January 21st, 2009?

Did anyone also let him know that the reason the job numbers have been so terrible was mostly due to the wave of state and local layoffs in GOVERNMENT agencies? 306,000 in less than a year, to be exact?

Did anyone also let him know that the largest EXPANSIONS of government happened under his two heroes Reagan and Bewsh II?

Why is he so revered and influential? How do you get that job? Do you just have to be able to walk in and out of mouse holes, be really shittin' annoying, sound like you need Nyquil and have the logic skills of Michele Bachmann? I guess I couldn't make it as big as he did because I'm not willing to have my nose up corporate ass all day, right?

[MineralMan]

1. Ask Jane Hamsher.

:rofl:

[meegbear]

4. ...

:spray:

[MineralMan]

9. Thank ya. Thank ya very much.

[CrossChris]

13. Another ad for FDL. That reminds me--I need to go over there and catch up.

I love the Jane bashing--it always reminds me to pop on over and click onto FDL.

[MineralMan]

17. See ya.

Have fun over there. I'll see you when you return. Why do you think I care what sites you visit? It's your mouse. Click whatever the fuck you want with it.

[CrossChris]

18. What she collaborated w/ Grover on was holding Rahm responsible for shutting down investigations

on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, because of his ties there.

She had a valid point.

[sabrina 1]

20. Or ask President Obama. Why was he invited to advise

this President's Deficit Commission?

I'd laugh, but I didn't think it was funny to restore such scum to a position of power after we kicked them out.

Hamsher is just a blogger, what she says is important only to her followers and she appears to have quite a following here which pleases her no end I'm sure. She riles them up and gets all that attention she seeks. She's clever, and a good businesswoman. I'm sure she thanks you every time you type her name. But she doesn't get to influence policy, so I don't care much what she says, never did.

But to see Norquist advising a Commission set up by a democrat was extremely disturbing to most progressives. Why did that happen?

[girl gone mad]

23. Here's what she said:

Today, Grover Norquist and I are calling for an investigation into Rahm Emanuel’s activities at Freddie Mac, and the White House’s blocking of an Inspector General who would look into it. The letter follows:

December 23, 2009

Attorney General of the United States of America
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear Attorney General Holder:

We write to demand an immediate investigation into the activities of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. We believe there is an abundant public record which establishes that the actions of the White House have blocked any investigation into his activities while on the board of Freddie Mac from 2000-2001, and facilitated the cover up of potential malfeasance until the 10-year statute of limitations has run out.

The purpose of this letter is to connect the dots to establish both the conduct of Mr. Emanuel and those working with him to thwart inquiry, and to support your acting speedily so that the statute of limitations does not run out before the Justice Department is able to empanel a grand jury.

The New York Times reports that the administration is negotiating to double the commitments to Fannie and Freddie for a total of $800 billion by December 31, in order to avoid the congressional approval that would be needed after that date. But there currently is no Inspector General exercising independent oversight of these entities. Acting Inspector General Ed Kelly was stripped of his authority earlier this year by the Justice Department, relying on a loophole in a bill Mr. Emanuel cosponsored and pushed through Congress shortly before he left for the White House. This effectively ended Mr. Kelly’s investigation into what happened at Fannie and Freddie.

Since that time, despite multiple warnings by Congress that having no independent Inspector General for a federal agency that oversees $6 trillion in mortgages is a serious oversight, the White House has not appointed one.

http://firedoglake.com/2009/12/23/jane-hamsher-grover-norquist-call-for-rahm-emmanuel%E2%80%99s-resignation">more...

On SUBSTANCE, was she right or wrong? Since this letter was written, the Fannie/Freddie bailout cap was completely removed by Obama.

[phantom power]

2. Because our plutocracy benefits from people like Grover.

They make sure he, or somebody just like him, remains relevant by throwing lots of money behind him.

[HughBeaumont]

6. You figure they could have come up with a more pleasant-sounding spokesperson.

I mean, this guy sounds like John Belushi imitating Kissinger. True, ain't no one can lie like this guy can, but it's embarrassing.

[phantom power]

10. Michelle Bachman?

[HughBeaumont]

15. Siblings from the same nuclear waste milkshake, those two are.

:puke:

[SidDithers]

3. K&R for "nasally voiced yard gnome"...

a brilliant turn of phrase :applause:

Sid

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. Better question:

Why isn't he in jail (or at least under investigation) for his involvement with the Abramhoff/Delay scandals? From what I understand, Norquist and Chrisitian fundie poster boy Ralph Reed were also involved in Abramhoff and Scanlon's shenanigans with the Indian casinos.

[HughBeaumont]

16. Seems to me this guy's nothing but a corporate pimp.

His resume includes him being president of a lot of (likely well-funded) conservative think tanks, besides ATR . . . also involved with the Chamber of Commerce and Ollie North (yeah, nothing bad going on there :eyes: ) . And he's a board member for several think tanks also. He gets $200,000 per year for a part time position.

I suppose it's nice work . . . after all, it's not like he has to kneel :rofl:

[LongTomH]

7. Because he's got a shitload of money to buy influence.........

........otherwise he'd be just another RW troll making stupid, hateful comments on websites.:grr:

[Ozymanithrax]

8. As a prophet of Randian Conservatism, many still worship his every bowl movement.

Since he is worshiped as a Conservative prophet intellect, he is still relevant.

We are talking about an ideology that is more religious than anything else. Look how many ancient religions are still considered relevant with millions of followers.

[HughBeaumont]

14. It must be a greater religion than I think . . .

. . . if we're considering nothing little ant man bees like him as their "prophets".

[Ozymanithrax]

26. What one group see as little ant man bees...

Others see as giants. Its that eye of the beholder thing.

But, if you really want to uderstand why he is relevant, you have to acknowledge that other see him differently, even if you can't understand why they would have such a POV.

[AndyTiedye]

11. Because "Citizens United" Allows His People to Dispurse Unlimited Cash

[Buns_of_Fire]

12. You'd think he'd use a little of that Koch money to buy a better razor.

Many men look okay with the "perpetual stubble" look. He's not one of them.

[sabrina 1]

19. Why was he invited to give advice to Obama's Deficit Commission?

Maybe ask the WH?

[whatchamacallit]

21. < crickets >

:thumbsup:

[sabrina 1]

22. Always!

:-)

[HughBeaumont]

24. Maybe it's a "Keep your friends close, enemies closer" thing?

Although I don't know WHAT Grover is to Obama. I'm pretty sure by his appearance on CNBC today is that The Most Important Yard Gnome In History isn't too fond of him.

[Snotcicles]

25. Norquist is well funded. With enough money, one can make an empty jagged edged tuna can relevant. nt