Welcome to The Squeaky Pen

...where life is slow, and ripe with rural treasures

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

In Their Own Words

I've been amused and equally saddened by some of the stuff that comes out of the mouths of American politicians. Below are a few quotes from the Republicans running for president. Draw your own conclusions. 


"Is it the Mitt Romney that was on the side of -- against the Second Amendment before he was for the Second Amendment? Was it -- was before -- he was before the social programs from the standpoint of -- he was for standing up for Roe v. Wade before he was against first -- Roe v. Wade?"
Rick Perry in GOP presidental debate, September 22, 2011


"I should tell my story. I'm also unemployed."
Mitt Romney, speaking in 2011 to unemployed people in Florida. Romney's net worth is estimated at over $200 million.


"Put your baby in a dumpster, that's okay."
Newt Gingrich explaining what liberals want when he was questioned about his plan to initiate 19th Century orphanages.


"I think it's a sin because of my biblical beliefs and, although people don't agree with me, I happen to think that [being gay] is a personal choice."
Herman Cain, talking with Piers Morgan October 19, 2011.



"The greatest hoax I think that has been around for many, many years, if not hundreds of years, has been this hoax on global warming."
Ron Paul on Fox Business, November 4, 2009


"9/11 families and everybody else in America should be furious at this president that he's walking around taking credit for, you know, getting Osama bin Laden. He didn't get Osama bin Laden! The president of the United States simply said -- courageous act, give him credit for saying yes -- but that's all he did, is say yes. He didn't do the hard work."
Rick Santorum, following bin Laden's death in May 2011.


"He (Obama) put us in Libya and now he's putting us in Africa."
Michelle Bachmann, Republican Debates, October 16, 2011. It should be noted that Libya is in Africa.


6 comments:

Well said...

Regarding Ron Paul's statement: There is obviously a great deal of political pressure(aka money) driving both sides of the global warming argument. I think we should keep in mind that scientific theories come and go, and the instinct to feel righteous in the modernity of ones scientific prowess is as ancient as science itself. It took quite a number of years to convince most people that the Sun was a star, and that the Earth wasn't the center of the solar system, much less the universe. And yes, scientists were burned at the stake for opining that the Sun was a star. Lately, a team has demonstrated quite empirically that some bits of the cosmos travel faster than the speed of light, and therefore Einstein will have to redo some math problems. It's not all as simple as Barack, or Ron, or Newt or we would like it to be. There are a lot of "scientists" being paid to rewrite high school math textbooks every year. How does everyone feel about that science? The government is funding as many scientific studies as the oil companies are funding, and paying for it with your tax dollars.....but of course it's YOUR government, and they are selfless and focused on YOUR well being.

Anonymous said...

If Bachmann's gaff is so stupid, why must it be "noted" that Libya is in Africa?

Kathleen Yasas said...

Dear Anonymous: Perhaps "noted" was added for the Bachmann followers who may be as geographically challenged as their leader. In any case, I didn't add the note. Someone else did, and that's how it came up online. I did, however, hear her make this remark during the debate and was puzzled that no one, including the moderator, called her on it. Or maybe Ms. Bachmann is now so insignificant to the race that Anderson Cooper didn't feel like wasting TV time teaching presidential candidates the location of Libya.

Anonymous said...

Everyone blabs about "American" culture and "American" values and the "American" economy when they mean "U.S.A.". The U.S.A is a fraction of the continents of the Americas. Some people consider Libya a middle eastern country, despite it's obvious location on the African continent. A.C. proves on a daily basis that he is willing to waste T.V. time. I'm not saying Bachmann has or deserves a prayer, only that the Africa call is a bit of a technical point, and probably even A.C. realized it wasn't worth pursuing. Bachmann, and many others, probably think they are waving "American" flags.....but that is not technically the case.

Anonymous said...

Romney was obviously joking, and the 8 unemployed people at the table with him were not offended. According to the New York Times (6/16/11), they "joined him in laughter" and his approach was "humble and self deprecating".

Kathleen Yasas said...

Interesting comments Anonymous (don't know if you're the same person who made all three). How lovely of Mitt to be self-deprecating when he has 200 million dollars. I can't speak for the 8 unemployed people at the table, but I'm not sure I would have been so kind to take no offense if I were unemployed and hearing him joke about it. As for blabbing about "American" culture, I think most would agree that when American culture is discussed we aren't talking about South American culture. Or Central American culture. Or North American culture. "America," generally, refers to The United States of America. As for Libya, okay, I guess some do consider it middle eastern. Then again, that's a bit like saying Japan is part of China. It isn't, whether people "consider" it that or not. The fact is, Bachmann was wrong. But then that's not news.


About Me

Newspaper columnist; blogger; author of Delta Dead; author of 101 Tip$ From My Depression-Era Parents; author of Australian Fly; editor: ...And I Breathed (author, Jason Garner, former CEO of Global Music at Live Nation), "A History of the Lawrence S. Donaldson Residence"; "The Port Washington Yacht Club: A Centennial Perspective"; "The Northeastern Society of Periodontists: The First Fifty Years"; editor: NESP Bulletin; editor: PWYC Mainsail; past editorial director: The International Journal of Fertility & Women's Medicine; past editor of: Long Island Power & Sail, Respiratory Review; Medical Travelers' Advisory; School Nurse News; Clear Images; Periodontal Clinical Investigations; Community Nurse Forum