I'd have given anything for Geithner and Bernanke to ask

I think Bachmann's stupid dial goes to eleven.

I hate it when the four-year-old plays with the mouse while I'm typing!

Anyhow, as I was about to say, I'd have given anything for Geithner and Bernanke to ask Bachmann, "Ma'am, do you realize just how extremely farcical your line of questioning has become?"

Bachmann.

(Steve) King.

Bachmann.

(Steve) King.

Damn...Steve or Zeitgeist.

Sorry...reminiscing here.

Does she have any idea what she is asking? Does she have any idea what she is saying?

You've heard the saw that the stupidest people actually think they're quite smart because they REALLY don't know what they don't know -- I think Michelle Bachmann is Exhibit A for this phenomenon. She always seems so surprised when she hears criticism of her lunatic musings.

Idiots become obstacles simply because they are too stupid to know their own idiocy - even if they are duly elected! Blame the voters for electing such a dolt! -Kevo

Really. I don’t understand what we’re all so butthurt about.

It was a legit question. If Democrats had been asking this kind of question we woulda saved a whole lot of grief over the last few years/decades.

Sure, Bachmann is a hypocrite after supporting Bushista overreach all these years; but who cares?

IMF Timmy should have a basic enough grasp of his constitutional authority to answer that question.

Geithner and Bernanke have been getting off far too easy from Congress. It's good to see someone is taking them on.

Where did Bachman get that '10 trillion dollar' figure? Out of her butt?

It was a stupid question, but precisely because the answer is so obvious, I kept wanting one of them to say, "the Interstate Commerce Clause and the Spending Clause." Instead they kept pointing to statutes.

In fairness, however, they're bankers, not lawyers. Try asking the head of the FAA what the constitutional authority is for federal aviation regulations. I'll bet you won't get any better answer.

Well, she's unfortunately my congressional representative, and this isn't funny any more for me. In the last cycle I was motivated to give money to a political candidate (her opponent) for the first time in my life, hoping to rid us of the embarassment. It was a small donation, but sadly it didn't work. Although it looks like we will ultimately be rid of Norm Coleman, too, I can stomach him much better than Bachmann.

At no point was there any indication that Bachman understood the answers to any of her questions. I doubt she understood the questions she had memorized.

She doesn't even listen to the answer, does she?

This is straight out of Wingnuttia. I have heard the far, far, far right claim that Congress' only authority over the market comes from the Commerce Clause and something about it being un-Constitutional. I got lost after Congress and un-Constitutional.

When you listen to her it is so obvious she listens to AM radio all-day-long. Not Rush, that is the light stuff, she is listening to the deep woods militia non-sense.

I can agree that Bachman is daft, but she was asking questions that a whole lot of ordinary citizens might have asked. On a certain level it is the responsibility of the public servants Bernanke and Geithner to answer such questions cogently and calmly. Which they did. I think it was a good moment for the government. In any group of Congressfolk asking questions, some will be less daft and more techie, and others will be more man-in-the-street. Being daft as well is just gravy for the snark.

when I listened to last week's hearing of Liddy, I thought, to my surprise, Bachman was one of the better questioners. Today she reverted to her "normal" form. Was I mistaken last week?

I'd still fuck her.

With apologies to a previous poster, the fifth district of Minnesota must be an EXCELLENT place to start a Ponzi scheme.

Ms Bachman was asking about their constitutional authority to do what they do
Because, when it comes to the constitution,
she's a strictionalist

JMG--Bachmann actually represents Minnesota's 6th district; the 5th is Minneapolis and nearby suburbs, and represented by Democrat Keith Ellison.

Still, no matter what district she represents, Bachmann is absolutely loony (if you're still having that tournament of nutty Republicans, Steve, I'd recommend either a 1 seed in her region or a bye) and, in addition, dumb enough to lose to a ball of dryer lint on a quiz show.

"Sane partisan" wanted for service in 6th district in Minnesota. Must score at least 70 on IQ tests and be able to do simple tasks.

She was particularly hostile towards Geithner. I assume that has to do with who nominated him more than his rambling as he searched for an answer to her obscenely dumb questions.

I can't imagine what a magnificent waste of time this all is. Assuming she's not alone in her buffoonery, how can you have a substantive debate with such vacuous twits?

We're doomed.

I understand what Bachmann's trying to do; too bad she doesn't have a grasp on her own arguments. If she ever gets with Ron Paul for some lessons, she could be dangerous.

Bachmann is Palin in disguise.

Federal Research Chairman??

Asking the Fed Chairman if he will give up his printing presses and abandon the dollar because another nation wants to develop a new currency is like asking the Saudis if they intend to stop pumping oil because Obama is pushing solar and wind energy. Crazy!

There's an old saying that Bachman should really consider: better to remain silent and be thought a fool, rather than speak out and remove all doubt.

I think they answered it just right. To me, it looked like she wanted to them to say the Commerce Clause so she could give a comment against it. They didn't fall for it, good for them, although it's not very difficult to outsmart an idiot...perhaps I'm giving her too much credit.

In any event, isn't it the Congress and Courts responsibility to determine the constitutionality of laws they pass? Those questions should have been directed toward her peers not the ones her and her colleagues have tasked with the job. To me it's like giving a roofer two grand to fix your roof and then asking them who gave them the authority to replace the shingles.

Bachmann's a lost cause, what I am worried about are the commentors on this blog who think her constitutional question was legitimate. That's almost as dumb as asking the IRS where it derives its powers to tax. She fucking serves in the enabling chamber. Karen T. was right. By the way, love the humor on teh comments. Not quite Eschaton but getting better. Sends me home on a good note.

Completely looniley ignorant as Bachman is without a hint of being able to recognize same in herself, I have to say that the level of questioning that has hit the TV screens throughout the financial crisis have been at least as uniformly ignorant if not near as crazy.

A friend who lives in Bachmann's district says that she is at least as nuts as she appears to be.

Wow, that is Catherine Harris level crazy. I never thought we would reach that level again, but here we are.

Now, imagine entering an election booth and feeling that this person best articulates and serves your interests. Amazing.

Can we jettising her to kazakhastan?

When will she be fitted for those designer cement boots already?
Someone wanna take her fishing?

Anyhow, as I was about to say, I'd have given anything for Geithner and Bernanke to ask Bachmann, "Ma'am, do you realize just how extremely farcical your line of questioning has become?"

In what respect?

Was Bachmann seriously under the delusion she could score a libertarian victory and take home either Geithner's or Bernanke's scalp?

I give both Geithner and Bernanke fairly high marks for managing to maintain a decent posture of respect in light of Lady Macbeth's inanity.

In light of the issues they are currently dealing with they were entitled to expect being met by adults on the other side of the bench.

Someone should get word to Bill Kristol et al, there is a new leader for the republican party.

she really doesn't know how to pronounce Kazakhstan

I'll bet she can pronounce Orion.

Cheap shots ricochet sometimes.

Heh. Kazakistan. lol

Actually Bachman is a fairly good representation of the republican base - uneducated, ignorant, opinionated and wrong.

Why are there so few Bachman Overdrive jokes ? Am I the only person on the web old enough to remember Bachman Turner Overdrive ?

garnash I wouldn't with your dick

Robert Waldmann at 7:00 PM:

Am I the only person on the web old enough to remember Bachman Turner Overdrive ?

Not by any means. But somehow comparing Michelle Bachman to BTO is heretical. BTO was cool. Ms. Bachman is just...bleaghhh.

Bachman's dumbass questions make me feel sympathy for Geithner, which is quite an accomplishment.

Where in the Constitution does it say that members of Congress get to poop on a daily basis?

Why are there so few Bachman Overdrive jokes?

You want Bachman taking care of your business?

"I never thought we would reach that level again, but here we are."

Two words: Sarah Palin

(But you gotta admit, that Liddy Dole bouffant is awfully 'becoming'.)

Mike K:

You are aware that Obama was not talking about the constellation?

Am I the only person on the web old enough to remember Bachman Turner Overdrive ?

Well, no. It's just that Michele Bachmann is so much of a lightweight she couldn't carry Randy Bachman's guitar strings.

Yeah we all know she's dumb and nuts, but consider that she's got a staff that can't even make her sound remotely sensible.
I could randomly pick a better rep from the phone book.

Am I the only person on the web old enough to remember Bachman Turner Overdrive ?

You mean, you ain't seen nothing yet?

She can get worse?

I take that phone book comment back. I just realized that there were enough people in Bachman's district who wanted her sent back to congress, even after she promoted a new McCarthy witchhunt. Might as well keep the dangerously stupid but entertaining nut that I know.

I'm with Garnash. I'd hit it; as long as she didn't speak.

What Constitutional provision could Bachman possibly hope to be referenced about the Treasury considering the Treasury was founded 2 years after the Constitution was written, by a Congressional act? They say there is no such thing as stupid questions, only stupid people... I'd argue a stupid question is one that can't even hope to have a legitimate answer.

Poor Minnesota... the Republican party seems just hell bent on embarrassing the state on a near daily basis.

I find Michele Bachman as tiresome as anyone, but is demeaning/objectifying her really the way you want to play this. You'd "hit"? I'm sorry, are you in high school?

Batshit crazy. Just flat out batshit crazy.

No surprise here, but flipping through the channels moments ago I saw Lou ("my dentures are too white and they slip") Dobbs flogging the currency story with his pitiful guests.

If you didn't know they were completely full of s**t you might actually think there was something to it. That's what is so scary about these cable tv "news" nuts.

Well said, Mike.

Bachman is Katherine Harris in disguise.

Shocking, absolutely shocking. Doesn't she have a staff to protect herself from her stupidity?

5 letter synonym for "Bachman":

Bimbo.

garnash (3/24, 5:13pm), I'm with "McCain" (3/24, 7:12pm).
I prefer my partners be sentient.

In the vein of what Scott F said:

Where does Bachmann suppose Geithner and Bernanke get the authority to refuse to deal in any currency other than the dollar if Congress were to decide tomorrow to switch to the Amero? They have just enough authority to do her bidding? Just tryin' ta unnerstan' here.