Simple question for Michael Steele, leader of the Republican Party — the party dedicated to the defeat of Obama’s health-care plan, because they want to make it “his Waterloo” — do the Republicans support an individual requirement to get coverage? Steele’s reply: “Uhh.”
This whole health-care debate is depressing, because while health insurers, hospitals and even the doctors’ lobby have come to the pretty obvious conclusion that being the only wealthy nation on Earth without a government-backed health care system has not exactly worked out so well, the sickly Republican party has decided (sort of?) that fighting a very-vaguely-nationalized health plan might just be the magic thing to destroy Barack Obama and the Democrats and, hopefully, Earth itself.
But a certain lover of the hip hop, Mr. Steele, just has no fucking idea what his party is even supposed to be for or against these days. He is, after all, just setting the tone! And the tone is “confusion and ineptitude.” [Gawker]
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he only does what he’s told to do
He be keepin’ it real, Ken.
Girl, House and Senate betta recognize!
Man this is awesome! Except for the part where they’re totally fucking up our beautiful country as the party *out* of power.
He would have been better off if he had followed saying “set the tone” by just lifting his leg and farting.
Y’all come now. I don’t get it -wasn’t that what they said at the end of the Beverly Hillbillies song?
Whatever happened to “just do the deal–it’s not that complicated!”–isn’t he betraying his precious friend Trevor?
“…that is one of those areas where there is different opinions…I don’t do policy.”
Or, apparently, proper grammar.
Oh Count Chocula! Who let you off the box?
Does he get to say “Quittin Time!”?
Steele better watch himself—exhibiting this sort of loud and tumultuous behavior simply will not be tolerated.
Obstructicate fo’ shizzle, shove it up yo azzholes mah dizzle…
My name is Michael and I’m here to say
I hate the public option in a major way!
Word! *scratches*
Michael Steele, Michael Scott. Not that different.
hizzle for shizzle dizzle
I would find this much more compelling with a grill and some bling, ideally a large clock worn around the neck.
What do the people want Mr. Steele? do tell.
Poor guy. Were it not for the unfotunate fact of his surname making everyone think of his porn actor namesake, his bold & fresh ideas might receive a fair hearing.
During a Monday conference call, a blogger from Maine asked President Obama: “Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insurers be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?”
President Obama replied: “You know, I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about.”
Seems like Hopey is lost on the health care issue, too. meh
Take a lesson, Steele, from the former commander in chief, George Tribal Sovereignty Bush. The proper response is “Individual requirements means just that; it’s individual. You’re a — you’ve been given a requirement, and you’re viewed as a required individual.”
“Look, I don’t do policy, or recruitment, or electoral strategy, or fund-raising…”
“So what exactly do you…”
“SHUT UP”
He might act ignorant to appear American, but boy, that dark skin, I want to see the birth certificate.
Most assholes like “that one” have health care and don’t understand. I wonder if a baseball to the head is covered on his plan?
[re=367125]ElectricRelaxation[/re]: Here’s a clip of Mike performing on the BBC back in ’86.
It is must-fucking-see teevee!
Steele — the new Bill Kristol.
I blame Trevor.
[re=367131]wx insider[/re]: Everybody’s whose not either a health care wonk or a lobbyist is lost on health care reform. And a lot of lobbyists aren’t so much interested in the big picture as protecting their client’s slice of the pie — or getting a bigger one. Mmmm, pork pie.
[re=367131]wx insider[/re]: To be fair, that question to Obama is a wee bit more policy specific than not knowing whether or not your party supports an individual requirement (or knowing what an individual requirement is, fer chrissakes.)
The Republican finance committee members have stated that they are more amenable to an individual requirement than an employer mandate, BTW. I know this, and I’m not even their party chairman. Go figure! One would think Steele would, oh I don’t know, talk to Chuck Grassley or something before holding a press conference designed to “set the tone” on the health care debate.
The bar has been set so very, very low for the people who are framing this debate. A debate that will resolve how we will spend billions of dollars and alter our entire health care system.
Mommy.
It’s funny that the Republicans’ attitude is basically “no.” They’ve gone out admitted that they’re against it, except that their reasons, were they ameliorated, still wouldn’t change their stance. Jim DeMint is against it because he thinks opposing Obama on this will bring his administration to a standstill.
And yet this afternoon I heard Rush “I-hope-Obama-fails” Limbaugh was saying that Obama was demonizing his opposition and falsely declaring that they opposed healthcare for political reasons. I would say even his listeners know that’s a lie, but then again, I’ve heard some of the people who call in.
What if Michael Steele and Sarah Palin had a torrid, steamy, sexually-charged affair at various hotels around Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia!!!!
I would love to see this happen–if it hasn’t happened already.
[re=367160]thefrontpage[/re]: Chocolate Trigs!
I don’t really care that Steele doesn’t get the nuances – his question, albeit inattentive, seemed fair enough. But his comment that he’s only there to “set the tone” seems just a total cop-out, particularly on this issue, which has been talked to death. No, he doesn’t “do” policy, but he should at least be able to articulate the Republican position on health care, other than vaguely propagandizing that it should be “bottom-up” and satisfy the American people, blah, blah, blah – unless somehow he *IS* articulating the Republicans’ stance, which so far seems to be “bottoms-up, blah, blah, blah.” Plus: “Waterloo.”
One could make a some sort of vague statement about the state of American politics being such that the head of one party, echoing the sentiment of the entire party, is revealed as not knowing what he’s talking about yet said political party still winds up coming out ahead politically anyways but I won’t as it’ll just lead me to harder drugs.
[re=367137]Extemporanus[/re]: I’m not sure whether I should think you or damn you for posting that clip.
[re=367160]thefrontpage[/re]: except for the “torrid steamy and sexually charged”- it could happen.
Individual requirement, in what respect Charlie? If black people
liked the cold, I think we’ve found a new governor for Alaska.
[re=367135]OReillysVibrator[/re]: He may look like an idiot, and act like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you – he really is an idiot!
Give Mike a break. He’s against whatever Obama’s for. But it is still too early to know exactly who is for exactly what.
This man is intentional, sheeples. Everything he does is intentional. In this case, the intention seems to be to get some church ladies to rush onstage and revive him with chicken and potato salad.
I would watch this but I am in the middle of an epic game of spider solitaire.
“smart, elected people sent to Washington” not equal “Michael Steele” his words
Am I the only liberal here that senses discomfort when the commentary gets too comfortable with itself in the “shizzle crazzle razzle” stuff? It almost feels like a night at the country club, with a cardigan and a highball… that’s not how I wanna feel when I’m with the Wonkette.
I’m almost afraid to open my inbox… to find that one of my new member “friends” just included me in his racist email chain.
Wait, he is right wing and has no idea what he is talking about, yet he keeps talking? Quick, get this man a radio show or a host slot on Fox News.
If they were any more clueless, they’d be shuffling around in circles, drooling and making incoherent sounds. You know, kind of like Glenn Beck.
[re=367153]Cicada[/re]: Okay, let’s be fair. Limitation on New Enrollment (Section 102) is a little more policy specific, but it’s been one of the hot topics, and the President is intimately familiar with this section. On Wednesday, June 25 during ABC News’ Health Care Forum at the White House, he was asked about this issue, and he replied, “If you are happy with your plan, and if you are happy with your doctor, we don’t want you to have to change,” the president said.
I know this, and I don’t even work at the White House!
Top 10 Corporate Slogans co-opted by Michael Steele
1. So easy, a caveman can do it.
2. I’m lovin’ it!
3. It takes two hand to hold a whopper.
4. Because I’m worth it.
5. I’m only here for the beer.
6. You’re in good hands
7. Soft, strong and very long
8. We’re number two. We try harder.
9. The greatest tragedy is indifference.
10. What can brown do for you?
[re=367134]norbizness[/re]: Reminds me of Rumsfeld’s response to Rice’s attempt to get him to deal with the clusterfuck he created with Gitmo. When she mentioned “detainees”, he stood up and walked out, snarling, “I don’t do detainees.” Horse’s asses, all.
Somewhere, a party heavyweight must slam his or her head into their desk drawer whenever Steele or Limburger opens their mouth. A videotape would re-gain them some much needed credibility.
If taxpayer funded health care is so horrible, why haven’t the Republicans in Congress forfeited theirs?
[re=367170]Hooray For Anything[/re]: We gonna ring-rang-a-dong for a holiday!
Lemme know when Rochester here finally gets a clue and realizes that civil rights were passed a coupla-few years ago, and that he has more options than tugging his cap after spit-polishin’ massa’s shoes.
It may be Obama’s “Waterloo”, but in this case he’s the Duke of Wellington.
‘Nuf sed.
I’ll bet his favorite cookies are Oreos.
I’m sure the Republicans support an individual mandate, just not subsidies to help people who can’t afford it, or Medicaid or a public option, etc.
[re=367200]wx insider[/re]: Name every single difference between H.R. 3200 and the other legislative proposals…if you can’t do this, I say EPIC FAIL to you!!!!
Ooh ooh! Can I ask him about the Bush Doctrine next? It’s sure to be followed by a vapid, blank stare and the sound of crickets.
[re=367192]Chickensmack[/re]: Whasshoo talkin about, Willis?
Health care is anathema to Republicans. Only losers get sick or injured. And Republicans are not losers. Neither is Michael Steele a benefactor of affirmative action. Nosirree bob.
[re=367192]Chickensmack[/re]: I think what people are mocking is the hopelessly square Mike Steele’s vain attempts to speak in hip-hop idiom, as though that conferred some street cred upon him. That’s more mortifyingly retrograde than anything here, unfortunately.
The Chairman reminds me of the white cop from “Sanford & Son.”
[re=367192]Chickensmack[/re]: I hear ya. Made me blink too. As does any comment where we progressive libtards use gay as an insult, etc. Yeah, you can try to ‘splain your way out of it, but it’s still messed up.
[re=367192]Chickensmack[/re]: I don’t understand how you talk. What’s a country club?
Wonder if one of his neighbors have ever called to cops on his sorry ass when he came home late at night??
[re=367223]Joshua Norton[/re]: My favorite part about the whole “waterloo” BS is that they really wanted to say it was his Stalingrad, but since they have tried to paint Nosama as both a Nazi AND a Communist, it would be hard for them to differentiate who’s the Hitler and who’s the Stalin.
+trucknutz
[re=367295]myheadsexploding[/re]: That is so GAY.
I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry. I’m going to go donate some more money to Lambda Legal now.
But, really, you do remember Steele giving up the “slum love” to Bobby Jindal, right? And his call for a hip-hop makeover of the GOP? And his use of the term “bling-bling” to describe the stimulus? This is why he gets mocked. People here dogged Mitt Romney for saying “who let the dogs out” for the same reason. Steele and Romney are so friggin’ uptight, and they use “with it” slang to appeal to “the kids” in such a hilariously sad way.
[re=367169]One Yield Regular[/re]: Well said. Steele’s problem is that he doesn’t seem to be able to articulate much of anything.
I don’t care. Just the sight of this fuckwit and Joe Scarborough yelling at each other this morning made my heart sing.
[re=367131]wx insider[/re]: The caller was referring to Sections 102(a)(1)(A) & (c), the so-called grandfathering provisions. Long/short: if there is a private policy that goes into effect before the Health Care Act does, the policy does not have to comply with the requirements of the Act. Had the caller said “grandfather clause”, instead of Section 102, I’m sure Obama would have known what she meant.
That mouth-breather Hanity (as echoed by Princess Glenda) is the one who started the rumor that Section 102 bars private insurance.
Humor and snark, folks–everything’s game! Hey, it’s just humor! And snark!
Anyways, Steele’s a moron and a doofus, so he’s definately fair game to anything that insults him.
[re=367192]Chickensmack[/re]: I’m assuming they (the commenters here) are mocking Steele’s very clumsy attempts to do street talk, which we’ve noted here before, and which enraged the angry white wing of the Republicans (all of them).
But, who really knows. Humor is not easy and half the time I read the comments, I can’t tell if a bunch of wingnuts have signed up, or if the commenters are just getting less funny all the time.
Then again, it’s summer and everything’s boring, and I don’t feel very funny, either.
Also, to avoid the time-consuming task of banning a hundred people, I quit reading comments on the Carrie Prejean post about a half-dozen in ….
But this doesn’t mean I won’t be bringing out the banhammer this evening. Sure are a lot of people around here looking for an excuse to launch into a lot of really ugly, stupid and vulgar misogyny.
[re=367192]Chickensmack[/re]: i am sick of seeing “ni**er” on this site. it’s on here at least once a day. that is a word none of you would say to outside of your basements. i hope.
[re=367100]finallyhappy[/re]: “Ya’ll come now, ya heya”
[re=367312]Cicada[/re]: made me laugh! but i’m not going to use LOL because it is so g… oh, never mind.
[re=367408]Ken Layne[/re]: PEOPLE! This is not the way to get your comments featured on The Daily Show! Buttsecks and Truck Nutz ONLY!
It will ultimately be DeMint’s (descended from fromage chewin’ capitulating low-order simians) Dien Bein Phu.
It will ultimately be DeMint’s (descended from fromage chewin’ capitulating low-order simians) Dien Bien Phu.
[re=367508]loquaciousmusic[/re]: You, sir, are a scholar and a patriot. We glory in your wisdom.
He doesn’t do policy. He gets jiggy with policy.
[re=367201]Sussemilch[/re]: zing!
I think Steele knows the answer – he’s just cunning enough to sense that if he displays ANY sign of an IQ above room-temperature, the Short Bus Posse that got him the job will hand him a pink-slip before you can say “fo shizzle” … in the GOP, the “Morons Only” rule is now enforced with an iron fist.
The REAL reason Palin had to resign? There’s a video somewhere of her reading Turgenev, then logging on to a science website – political cyanide.
[re=367192]Chickensmack[/re]: You should see what happens when someone brings up trans people for whatever reason. It’s like all the usual jokes, only without any actual snark because of the whole acceptable target thing. I maybe missed the day when our beloved intarnets decreed “Y chromosome” and “adam’s appul l0l!” to be the funniest punchlines known to man.
Didn’t you hear him last time, baby? He supports an individual requirement to bring fried chicken and potato salad as welcoming gifts to the coloreds.
Oh, and the eats work great for health care, too. You eat the mayonnaisey salad, you die of heart disease, and then you don’t need health care anymore. Problem solved.
All I want is the same health care package that Congress gets. Simple, huh?
I think Mr. Steele said it best: “I don’t do policy.”
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