"Last week, Sean Hannity declared that Obama 'harbors deep resentment that he just hides...'"

Well, how convenient is THAT? Doesn't matter WHAT Obama does now. He could attach giant flag pin to his naked flesh so he can NEVAH EVAH take it off, but you know, YOU JUST EFFIN' KNOW, he's merely hiding his deep, deeeeeeep anti-American resentment. It's so deep, YOU'LL NEVER SEE IT! You'll just have to trust ol' trustworthy Hannity, he's got resent-dar!

>"Time to come up with some new smears."

Nope. Just keep repeating a lie long enough and it will become the truth... repeat repeat repeat.

When Republicans talk about "America", they don't mean the United States of America. They're really referring to the Confederate States of America.

Ya know what I never understood about the whole "you hate our country!" thing? That if someone *actually* hated the country, they'd probably...you know...move away...

Watching President Obama apologize last week for America's arrogance - Santorum

If I were a Republican, I would be defensive about that. After attacking Iraq, calling Europe a bunch of sissies, etc. they deserve to have their feelings hurt. A LOT! And it's not America I hate.

Wasn't it just about illegal to question a President's patriotism about 6 years ago, it certainly was enough to be called a traitor.

What happened to love it or leave it ?

The thing is why isn't anyone calling any of them out on this ? I see a post hear and there, but for major networks to ignore this non-sense is shameful and they keep ratcheting it up, just when you think they have peaked, bam, FEMA concentration camps.

The good news seems to be that the public in general isn't buying into it, the bad news is the people who are buying into it are down right scary and they are arming themselves to the T.

p.s. speaking of Santorum, is there ANY way we could get him to show up at a Tea Bagger event? That would be AWESOME!

When Obama bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia did he make this country stronger? Or does the fact that Obama didn't know that "Austrian" isn't a language make this country stronger? Only four more years of this ass-clown.

Either Santorum didn't hear the president's speech in Strasbourg last week, or he isn't quite sharp enough to understand the nuances of what Obama had to say.

Steve, you keep saying shit like this. Santorum is quite dumb and a total asshole, but the fact remains that he KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT OBAMA SAID. But doesn't fucking care.

He's lying. He knows he's lying. And he's simply counting on the fact that his audience doesn't know it.

>> "...he isn't quite sharp enough to understand the nuances of what Obama had to say."

That's quite likely, isn't it one of the features of most con/reps that they don't do nuance? Isn't there a general contempt for nuance, and thoughtfulness, unless it's George Will speaking?

Let me get this straight: An American spends two plus years campaigning for the presidency, organizes millions of fellow Americans in his effort, and ultimately wins a majority vote by the American electorate - and Ricky S. makes the argument President Obama hates America?

I haven't a sane response to such balderdash! Ricky S. either doesn't understand small d democracy, or he hates his fellow Americans! -Kevo

And to paraphrase John Stewart, defeat tastes like a crap taco and those right wing loons better learn to enjoy the taste.

All of these assholes who never served in the military are what I call 'bumper sticker' patriots. They seem to believe that patriotism is displaying Chinese made bumper sticker on their cars that say "Support Our Troops".

Based upon the way that these asshats have voted to NOT support veterans, they can all go to hell. Sanatorium is just another one of the rethugs who voted repeatedly to cut funding and services provided by the VA.

Of course, I could be wrong! Maybe there is a level of clarvoiance and mind reading ability that one gains as a reich-wing thug. It might be something in the koolaid that allows them to read the president's mind.

It seems to me that Santorum is pulling a Cheney, with Fox News being the only news he ever watches. Had he known the full text, he may not have made himself look so stupid (although, that never seemed to have stopped him in the past).

Selective hearing/reading, focus on personal ideology, and desire to become relevant again gives us exactly this; another tired, full of crap OpEd by another tired, full of crap gooper.

When Obama bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia did he make this country stronger? Or does the fact that Obama didn't know that "Austrian" isn't a language make this country stronger? Only four more years of this ass-clown.

You realize of course only in the fevered lunacy of your world this matters, right? It's a pretty dumb gaffe about Austria, of course, but normal people (including, of course, Austrians) will get over it nearly immediately.

Get ready for 8 years dickhead.

Either Santorum didn't hear the president's speech in Strasbourg last week, or he isn't quite sharp enough to understand the nuances of what Obama had to say.

OR he's just a damned liar who, despite his Christian sanctimony, has no qualms about bearing false witness against his political opponents.

Yeah, that deep-seated antipathy toward American values and traditions was so obvious to the troops in Iraq that they would have walked out of the auditorium as one, if not for the MP's at the exit. Even so, their revulsion was evident.

Sigh...I know I'll be replying to an asterisk soon enough...but:

Hey Tom,

First, who said anything about making America "stronger"? Only you are for some reason.

Second, "Austrian" may not be a language, but "Austrian German" certainly is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_German

Third, wasn't it your guy Bush who traipsed through the flower garden hand in hand with the Saudi King? Are you really gonna get all high and mighty about a bow?? Wow, your kind really *are* as dumb as advertised!

Fourth, Have a fantastic long weekend...get out there and enjoy yourself, life's too short to be furious all the time!

ScottW said:

...The thing is why isn't anyone calling any of them out on this ? I see a post hear and there, but for major networks to ignore this non-sense is shameful and they keep ratcheting it up, just when you think they have peaked, bam, FEMA concentration camps.

The good news seems to be that the public in general isn't buying into it, the bad news is the people who are buying into it are down right scary and they are arming themselves to the T.

Exactly. When oh when will a 'legitimate' MSM news organization call attention to this stupidity? I love Jon Stewart and applaud what he does with stuff like this -- but we ALSO need an Edward R Murrow to tell it like it is and let the chips fall where they may.

What Jay B. said. I'm not sure if it's just a rhetorical device that's been overused (saying either/or when he knows it's neither), or if Steve really keeps giving these guys the benefit of the doubt. Either way, it makes it necessary for someone in the comments to make it clear that the Republican in question isn't misinformed or stupid, he just lying his ass off.

And I know I also used an either/or above, but those really are the only two options I can come up with.

There's just something almost too ridiculous about a soundly defeated former Senator calling the Commander in Chief unpatriotic, and during a "time of war" no less. How does a former Senator from the minority party warrant a news story anyway?

I agree with ScottW, the Santorums and Hannitys were calling for the execution of "traitors" who dared question Bush's prissy march to war in Iraq.

Sometimes I wonder if we forget what's really going on here: Behaving Like Idiots Is Big Business For These People.
It is their bread and butter.

Q. What does Rick Santorum have to gain by acting reasonable?
A. Nothing.

(Feel free to swap in the names "Hannity," "Limbaugh," "Savage," "Tancredo," "Bachmann," "Coulter," etc. as you like.)

Idiocy is their business. The more idiotic they act, the more attention they get. I'm not saying we should ignore them - we shouldn't. But we also shouldn't get sucked into wasting too much time refuting their ridiculousness, either.
Latch on to a basic, repeatable response and repeat it. I know it's a bit Neanderthal, but it's what they respond to.

EXAMPLES: "They're lying." or "There goes the Party of Limbaugh again..." or, "Whatever Keeps You In Jackboots, Gruppenfuhrer."

Just remember, these people - for the most part - don't even believe this crap themselves. They just need to keep spewing it to stay on the teevee.

Just noticed Tom's puny little post. One question, though, why are you announcing now your intention to quit trolling in four years?

BTW, Tom, as I said to your friends on November 5, "condolences and so sorry to hear you'll be unhappy".

Steve Benen wrote: "Either Santorum didn't hear the president's speech in Strasbourg last week, or he isn't quite sharp enough to understand the nuances of what Obama had to say."

Santorum is not ignorant of what Obama actually had to say.

And Santorum is plenty "sharp".

What Santorum is, is a deliberate, malicious, vicious LIAR.

Why are you always making excuses for deliberate, malicious, vicious Republican LIARS?

Why are you always attibuting their LIES to ignorance, stupidity or "craziness"?

Why do you have such a hard time coming right out and unequivocally denouncing them as LIARS?

Yeah, that deep-seated antipathy toward American values and traditions was so obvious to the troops in Iraq that they would have walked out of the auditorium as one, if not for the MP's at the exit. Even so, their revulsion was evident.

Hey neilt,

“First, who said anything about making America "stronger"? Only you are for some reason.�

‘Arguing that the man who's been working to make his country stronger doesn't really love the country?’ That question was brought to you by your gracious host. Does Obama bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia make this country stronger, I wonder?

“Second, "Austrian" may not be a language, but "Austrian German" certainly is:�

American isn’t a language, but I suppose American English is too. Does Obama speak American, American English, or just English?

“Third, wasn't it your guy Bush who traipsed through the flower garden hand in hand with the Saudi King? Are you really gonna get all high and mighty about a bow??�

Bush wasn’t my guy, but I thought the left thought the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the fourth Axis of Evil. And now Obama bows to its King and the left-wingers response is - so what???

“Fourth, Have a fantastic long weekend...get out there and enjoy yourself, life's too short to be furious all the time!�

Thank you. I will have a fantastic weekend. I’ve never had a bad day in my life and you’ve just made it better!

Google the word santorum and look at what the 3rd link says. Little wonder the man is brain dead.

I know this is probably a stretch, but when you win a national election to be the nation's chief executive and head of state by one of the largest margins in recent history, can you even be anti-American as a definitional matter? Isn't a contemporary meaning of what is "American" largely defined by those millions of voters in the majority who elected you? I understand that in their minds if Santorum, Hannity and Limbaugh were the only three people in the entire country who believed something, the 99.9999% who believed otherwise would still be "anti-American," but really shouldn't everyone be asking why Santorum hates the majority of Americans?

Sick Rantorum. Why do I never get his name right?

Dickheads like Tom are part of the sore loser party that still cannot get over the simple fact that...they lost, and badly at that. Waaaaaaaaaaaa!

So what they'll attempt is to nitpick on any minor thing Obama does, as if that's the ultimate example of the man.

Oh no, Obama flubbed his words, gosh golly Sean Hannity, that must mean he's stupid and doesn't know what country he is in....duhhhhh.

Seriously, wingnuts, do you really care about your party getting back into power again?

Because at the rate you are going, with your little teabag parties and Fox News conspiracy-cum-idiocy, you are just further marginalizing yourselves into fringe/wacko territory that is completely turning off independent and moderate voters, probably forever.

Don't take my advice. Really, make sure you keep the loons like Bachman and Inhofe front and center. Make sure Limbaugh and Beck speak as the voice of the party. Make sure you don't offer any positive solutions for anything, just as long as you come across as cranks who say NO to everything.

The GOP died Nov 4 2008, and it's rotting corpse won't ever be resurrected much to the dismay of the true believers. It will need a complete overhaul-makeover before they ever become a political force again, and there lies the problem for them. They are held to their batshit insane base that STILL thinks guns, gays, and god is the way to win elections. Ha ha, didn't turn out so well last time did it kids?

And couple that with the ever shrinking GOP base, while the Dem base is growing, I'd say maybe by 2020 they might come around.

AngryOldVet Right On!!
Not sure what branch you served in but from me Semper Fi. Keep up your great posts.

"It's a pretty dumb gaffe about Austria,"

No, it isn't. certainly north of the border we talk about you people speaking "American" to distinguish it from the language spoken in England. Even Harry Potter (or at least the first book) had an American edition- presumably because Americans couldn't cope with the english vocabulary.

Obama has demonstrated an incredibly sophisticated sense of other cultures. If you watched, the reporter seemed to be enjoying Obama's answer -just after he said "Austrian" . She seemed to appreciate his words.

To all Americans, stop misunderestimating your President. Revel in the fact that in most democracies, and certainly Canada he is more popular than our politicians. For the first time in over 40 years we are actually envious of you in having an intelligent and eloquent President.
Savour it!!

I know this is probably a stretch, but when you win a national election to be the nation's chief executive and head of state by one of the largest margins in recent history, can you even be anti-American as a definitional matter?

The wingnut narrative is, Obama BAD. Doesn't matter if it's a complete, total fucking LIE, they need to feed their base of idiot old white men what they want to hear...Obama is a Muslim, terrorist, socialist, dictator, incompetent, wedded to a teleprompter, he's coming for your guns and money, etc etc.

How fucking stupid does a person have to be to think Obama somehow hates America? 1/3 of the country apparently...

Oh well, sore losers need something to think about rather than actually understanding why they lost and why America rejected their ideas and failed leadership. And that's exactly what the GOP isn't doing, self introspection.

When the Dems got their asses kicked in 2000, 2002, and 2004, did they freak out the way the wingnuts are doing lately? No, what they did was to maintain a low profile, and quietly under the leadership of Dean, they rebuilt their brand one county at a time. And look what they did, they came back VERY hard and kicked the living shit out of the GOP, probably for a generation if not more.

And currently the GOP is sulking like a child who got sent to bed with no supper. The wingnuts, don't do self reflection. They cannot admit they were at fault. They think, laughably so, that they weren't conservative enough!

Gods, I hope they go harder to the right in 2010 and 2012, please please please!

Republican = Old man yelling at clouds

What Jay B and Cazart said.

Stop being surprised, Steve. These guys lie flr a living. It's all about smearing Obama and tearing him down. The truth has nothing to do with it, which is why your efforts to "call them on it" will ultimately fail.

The only time it is worth talking about what right wingers say is when it constitutes a real danger, like Michelle Bachman, Michael Steele's fundraising letter about the census and a little bit of Glen Beck. But I think the latter should be directed to those companies who advertise on Glen's show. The guy is a menace to our society's stability.

But you are never going to change the mind of any of these true believers. Those who were open already voted for and supported Obama. We are now down to the hard-core and they are trying to hang on to what little influence they have. Silence is a better tactic for people like Santorum.

"When Obama bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia did he make this country stronger?"

Actually, it probably did. In any case, it certainly did not make the country weaker, which is why you can't even be bothered to *try* to defend such a silly talking piont.

"Or does the fact that Obama didn't know that 'Austrian' isn't a language make this country stronger?"

LOL.... Yes, dear, Obama makes mistakes. That makes him human. And, as above, it certainly did not make the country weaker, which is why all you're doing is mindlessly parroting silly talking points instead of engaging in a reasoned discussion.

"Only four more years of this ass-clown."

I *so* look forward to seeing you trying to run on this drivel you've been spouting. See you in 2012.

One more thought, the Republican party sounds a lot like North Korea lately. Not exactly grounded (except for their rocket).

Steve, I'll go with choice 'b'; Santorum isn't sharp.

To steal a bit from another contributor- there are only two people who could arguably be more "American" than the sitting American President- Bruce Sprinsteen and Captain America.

Santorum, last I checked, is neither.

But of course we should care about what an extremist who holds no public office like Rick "Man-Dog" Santorum thinks about anything.

Tom wrote: "Only four more years of this ass-clown."

Can't quite bring yourself to use the "N word" in a public blog, eh?

No, it isn't. certainly north of the border we talk about you people speaking "American" to distinguish it from the language spoken in England.

Come on Johnny Canuck, we don't say you speak Canadian. There's "English-speaking Canada" and "French-speaking Canada". We call our language here "English", even though we don't live in England. And my parents speak English living in Dublin, even though, they could also speak Irish.

But overall, yeah, it's not even "dumb", it's just a gaffe. Maybe he was thinking of their nationality when he addressed their language, it's pretty easy to do. But I guarantee it wasn't something he thought of on purpose. He's smart and sophisticated, but he's not thinking in 3-D chess.

And I don't underestimate Obama, particularly in the way he reaches a global audience. It's been, by far, the unambiguously best part of his Presidency so far — we're no longer a pariah state run by war criminals! Yay us!

Having learned German from folks from Deutschland and having subsequently visited Austria, I can unequivocally say that Austrian German is not German German (unless one is speaking German German with a mouthful of buttered chestnuts and a belly full of Italian beer). Really. It's like a whole other language.

But, that said, it was a gaffe. And? Oh right, you got nuthin' so you have to whine about that. I recommend another bite out of the big crap taco.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart also ripped THESE guys pretty good on Tuesdays show when he asked them to meet him at camera 3.

He basically said "You guys are in the minority... it IS SUPPOSED TO TASTE LIKE A shit sandwich"

Daily Show, Colbert and South Park are the best current events comedy going on

South Park on the financial crisis ... INSTANT CLASSIC

"Well,we'll transfer your $100 to a money market account and then transfer it to ... aaaaaannnnnd it's GONE!"

"What!"

"I'm sorry sir but this line is for people who have money in our bank... next customer pleae!"

Having learned German from folks from Deutschland and having subsequently visited Austria, I can unequivocally say that Austrian German is not German German (unless one is speaking German German with a mouthful of buttered chestnuts and a belly full of Italian beer). Really. It's like a whole other language.

Austrian German is one of many German regional dialects/variations, including Swiss German, Saxon German, Hessian German, Frisian German, Bavarian German, etc. etc. There is a "High German" which most everyone can understand, but for most of German (which includes Austrian) history, there were hundreds of regional dialects that were often difficult for Germans from other regions to understand (for comparison's sake, think how difficult it is for most Americans to understand a full-on Glaswegian accent, say).

I know this is probably a stretch, but when you win a national election to be the nation's chief executive and head of state by one of the largest margins in recent history, can you even be anti-American as a definitional matter?

You can if the sole purpose of Santorum's and similar narratives is to keep denying the legitimacy of the Obama presidency (constitutionally, morally and whatever else -y way the GOP is going that day) for the purpose of whipping up the GOP base, which has been reduced by defections during the '08 election to solely fringe elements.

I'm not as certain as many of my pals here that the right is specifically trying to incite the emotionally unbalanced to push back extralegally against a duly elected leader while telling themselves they're helping to save America from some kind of super sekrit Enemy Within. In return for my charitably open mind, I'd like the right to explain exactly what other purpose this kind of crap serves.

JayB:Come on Johnny Canuck, we don't say you speak Canadian. There's "English-speaking Canada" and "French-speaking Canada". We call our language here "English"

I know you call your language "english" as do we. but we also speak of "american",or "australian" to differentiate the languages, or in the case of australian, the accent. (initial caps for the people, lower case for the language.) The main problem for Canadians is that our language is mainly american vocabulary with english spelling. Often we're not sure whether an expression is english or american.

My point, i wouldn't leap to the conclusion that with Obama it was a gaffe. Maybe, but he may have been aware of the difference between austrian vocabulary and german vocabulary- the reporter didn't seem appalled. It would be interesting to know what the Austrian newspapers/TV were saying.

Since a defining characteristic of the right wing mindset is a lack of self-awareness or consistency of principle the right does not recognize that it is hoisting itself on its own petard. By equating criticism of George W. Bush with disloyalty for the country itself the right already established in its own logic the connection between fidelity to country and support for the Chief Executive. Liberals reject the idea of almost blind allegiance to "The Leader," but such allegiance is central to the rights essentially authoritarian way of thinking. And now, the right is criticizing a leader in almost apocalyptic and hysterica terms. And more than that, it is rejecting a president who enjoys enormous support from the American people. So, the right is ultimately engaged in a self-destructive repudiation of itself on two grounds: as a populist movement, conservativism has now turned itself against the idea that the voice of the people is the voice of God by its opposition to the majority of Americans; and, by setting itself in stark opposition to the country's president they are, by their own definitions, rejecting the country itself.

Many of us have been struck by how quickly and aggresively the right wing went into opposition, since as a loyal opposition there is not much to oppose so early in a president's terms. Most political parties wait patiently for openings as disillusionment inevitably sets in among moderates and centrists voters who might be won over to the GOP. But there is none of that now. Obama has 60% support. Attacks on him now by the right are also attacks against the American public itself that supports him. Clearly, the hysteria of the right wing today is not part of a coherent strategy to regain power but a cry of anguish that they do not currently possess it.