by publius
Via John Cole, I've honestly never seen someone (at that level) act like such a complete d*** on TV before. He's attained some Platonic ideal of d***ness. I'm no PR coach, but I suspect the goal is to make something less than 100% of your audience detest you.
Stick with Dungeons & Dragons Michael -- the faux Billy Bada** routine doesn't really suit you.
We might could name more than one torturer McCain has hung with though.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/30/uksecurity-terrorism
The British Home Secretary has ordered the AG investigation into CIA and MI5 torture and has handed over evidence to the AG.
Posted by: Mary | October 30, 2008 at 09:04 PM
If this were anything but a political campaign (and maybe I should qualify that with a "presidential" campaign), I believe that this exchange would be considered libelous. Simply appalling. Where is McCain getting these people? And why on earth does he keep them on his staff? I am left wondering if any of this stuff is reaching anyone beyond "the base?"
Posted by: jwo | October 30, 2008 at 09:25 PM
I guess this is an intelligence test: find ways to describe Michael Goldfarb using words allowed on OW.
I fail.
Posted by: Mike Schilling | October 30, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Is the descriptor "buffoon" allowed on OW?
Posted by: MattinPA | October 30, 2008 at 09:36 PM
find ways to describe Michael Goldfarb using words allowed on OW.
"Poop for brains dumb-butt?"
Posted by: MeDrewNotYou | October 30, 2008 at 09:38 PM
it was tough -- this wasn't my first draft :)
Posted by: publius | October 30, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Really, talk about reality detachment! Off the top of my head, here are some other names: "Rabbi" Capers Funnye, who is a recipient of Obama's earmark largess, Jeremiah Wright and his good friend Louis Farrakhan.
Posted by: nabalzbbfr | October 30, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Really, talk about reality detachment! Off the top of my head, here are some other names: "Rabbi" Capers Funnye, who is a recipient of Obama's earmark largess, "Reverend" Jeremiah Wright and his good friend Louis Farrakhan.
Posted by: nabalzbbfr | October 30, 2008 at 10:23 PM
I am offended by your figure, publius.
and I have no idea who the second anti-Semite is.
Does anyone here?
Posted by: redwood | October 30, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Really, talk about reality detachment! Off the top of my head, here are some other names: "Rabbi" Capers Funnye, who is a recipient of Obama's earmark largess, "Reverend" Jeremiah Wright and his good friend Louis Farrakhan.
Posted by: nabalzbbfr | October 30, 2008 at 10:26 PM
find ways to describe Michael Goldfarb using words allowed on OW
he has a hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman!
(if it was good enough for Tom Jefferson, it's good enough for ObWi!)
Posted by: cleek | October 30, 2008 at 10:27 PM
hmmm.... did my last comment (the words of Thomas Jefferson's campaign, no less!) get caught in the spam filter?
Posted by: cleek | October 30, 2008 at 10:33 PM
I thought this was a dog whistle moment (he's on a leash after all): wasn't this about Farrakhan (attention Florida voters).
Posted by: Deborah | October 30, 2008 at 10:43 PM
I guess this is an intelligence test: find ways to describe Michael Goldfarb using words allowed on OW.
Hmm. How about "bilious toad"; his face just seems sort of toadlike to me. I suppose that something like "repugnant, two-bit scandalmonger" would work, too. But longer descriptions lack the punch of the short, non-ObWi safe descriptions.
Posted by: Roger Moore | October 30, 2008 at 10:54 PM
It's really too bad CNN let Goldfarb get away with the lie about Khalidi. Goldfarb's smirk as he 'refused' to 'name names' was pathetic. McCain is shaming himself by choosing such vile people to do his dirty work and falsely accuse Americans of being anti-semitic just because they happen to have Middle Eastern heritage. Goldfarb owes every American an apology.
Or, in the language that the McCain campaign seems to be using, "Why is Michael Goldfarb anti-American?"
Posted by: Free Lunch | October 30, 2008 at 11:06 PM
I wish I could have seen McCain's face when he saw this broadcast. He's dying the death of 1000 cuts and they're all self-inflicted.
Posted by: tomeck | October 30, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Another McCain supporter shows his true colors: (this is an email sent out by the chair of the Hillsborough County Republicans of the environs of Tampa, Florida)
THE THREAT:
HERE IN TEMPLE TERRACE, FL OUR REPUBLICAN HQ IS ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM OUR LIBRARY, WHICH IS AN EARLY VOTING SITE.
I SEE CARLOADS OF BLACK OBAMA SUPPORTERS COMING FROM THE INNER CITY TO CAST THEIR VOTES FOR OBAMA. THIS IS THEIR CHANCE TO GET A BLACK PRESIDENT AND THEY SEEM TO CARE LITTLE THAT HE IS AT MINIMUM, SOCIALIST, AND PROBABLY MARXIST IN HIS CORE BELIEFS. AFTER ALL, HE IS BLACK--NO EXPERIENCE OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS--BUT HE IS BLACK.
I ALSO SEE YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEIR PROFESSORS FROM USF PARKING THEIR CARS WITH THE PROMINENT 'OBAMA' BUMPER STICKERS. THE STUDENTS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC TO BE VOTING IN A HISTORIC ELECTION WHERE THERE MAY BE THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.
How may times did he mention that Obama is black? In all caps, too.
It really is a shameful statement about the condidtion of the Republican party that about 93% of it memebers are going to vote for McCain. ANd I thinl it is a pretty shameful reflection on the electorate in general that McCAin is getting 40% plus percent of the votes. People should h0ld themselves to a higher standard.
Posted by: wonkie | October 30, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Comedy writer Mark Evanier once wrote, when talking about shopping a TV pilot around the networks in 1981 or so, that the network with the lowest ratings at that time (NBC, I believe) had BY FAR the snottiest executives, who thought it was beneath their network's dignity to buy any new show, because none of them were good enough for NBC.
I think that's what we're seeing here. The McCain hacks/Conservative "thinkers" know they blew this, but they still have to go out there on TV and bloviate, so they're ramping up the Asshat Factor all the way up until Nov. 4 (and maybe even after).
Its kind of like a child, realizing it won't get the ice cream cone it wants, starts throwing a tantrum, denying itself the fun of the trip to the zoo, because it wants everything it wants, when it wants it.
Posted by: rob! | October 31, 2008 at 12:00 AM
he doesn't seem like a dick, really.
He seems like he's about 6 years old though, and not even bothering to dress properly (you can see his undershirt for god sakes) only amplifies this.
Posted by: yoyo | October 31, 2008 at 12:10 AM
I'd kick him out of my DnD group if he was part of it. Or make him play the Cleric.
Posted by: MobiusKlein | October 31, 2008 at 12:10 AM
Goldfarb's a punk.
As are the rest of this worthless, subhuman crowd.
If they ever touch my government again, kill the government.
Posted by: John Thullen | October 31, 2008 at 12:48 AM
"Or make him play the Cleric."
Ouch. I'll have to show my daughter that comment. Being the new kid in the group, she was made the Cleric. But she seems to have found some solace in using extortion when the other characters need to be healed. I'm not sure I would have thought of that when I was twelve. I was more of the "suicidal behavior" Cleric type.
Posted by: david kilmer | October 31, 2008 at 01:24 AM
Or make him play the Cleric.
Cleric is kinda fun when the DM likes undead...
Then again, so are Monks, and we don't have to put up with all the, "OMG! I think those are my limbs over there!"-type BS.
Posted by: MeDrewNotYou | October 31, 2008 at 02:08 AM
Oh come on, dude. What's the problem? Can't bullshit fast enough?
These people are already insufferable, but this guy is third-string insufferable.
Posted by: Keith | October 31, 2008 at 03:39 AM
(testing? i am i allowed back in yet?)
Posted by: cleek | October 31, 2008 at 07:04 AM
Hey the Cleric is the jack-of-all-trades, especially when in 3.0 you weren't expected to be simply a healing battery, good armor, good saves, good damage, some really neat spells (now that you didn't need Cure [X] Wounds).
While I haven't played 4.0 (nor do I intend to), I've heard from friends who have that it has only gotten better.
Posted by: DecidedFenceSitter | October 31, 2008 at 07:11 AM
I think the real problem is that Goldfarb, as a professional communicator, is playing the Bard... but Charisma is his dump-stat.
Posted by: JamesNostack | October 31, 2008 at 08:32 AM
he doesn't seem like a dick, really.
Actually, he kinda does.
Thanks -
Posted by: russell | October 31, 2008 at 08:41 AM
When in dickland, be a dick. Right out of the Democratic campaign book, take your shot and retreat, except in this case the interviewer actually challenged the comment. Maybe that's what ya'all are uncomfortable with. The image of publius jumping up and down with his hand raised yelling into the screen "I know, I know" is somewhat amusing.
Posted by: blogbudsman | October 31, 2008 at 08:55 AM
find ways to describe Michael Goldfarb using words allowed on OW.
i tried using this classic quote from Jefferson's campaign in a comment last night. but it tripped the spam filter.
Thomas Jefferson, banned on ObWi! phhht!
Posted by: cleek | October 31, 2008 at 09:52 AM
find ways to describe Michael Goldfarb using words allowed on OW.
I can't even describe where I want to punch him.
Posted by: Hogan | October 31, 2008 at 10:30 AM
I was listening to right-wing radio this morning, and an official, "I'm John McCain and I approved this ad" ad stated that Obama opposed Christmas.
BTW, Do the posting guidelines prohibit calls for the assassination of campaign bloggers?
Posted by: TSW | October 31, 2008 at 10:41 AM
I think the real problem is that Goldfarb, as a professional communicator, is playing the Bard... but Charisma is his dump-stat.
JamesNostack wins!!!
Posted by: MeDrewNotYou | October 31, 2008 at 10:56 AM
"Stick with Dungeons & Dragons"
Speaking of being childish, why are you using D&D as some kind of insult, publius? What are the grounds for insulting everyone who plays D&D?
Posted by: Gary Farber | October 31, 2008 at 01:58 PM
To piggyback off Gary: meself, 20+ years behind the staff. Other regular commenters, check in!
Posted by: Anarch | October 31, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Goldfarb on D&D:
It may be typical of the pro-Obama Dungeons & Dragons crowd to disparage a fellow countryman's memory of war from the comfort of mom's basement, but most Americans have the humility and gratitude to respect and learn from the memories of men who suffered on behalf of others.
Posted by: cleek | October 31, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Don't badmouth the clerics. Bad mouth idiots who think clerics are walking bandage-factories.
My cleric refuses to fully heal injuries sustained due to rampant stupidity. And since our main fighter is a half-orc barbarian who is routinely out-witted by his magical weapon, I spend a lot of time not healing wounds.
Admittedly, the barbarian has tried to physically assault me, but heck -- he's got a low will save.
Posted by: Morat20 | October 31, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Sarah Palin: the case where Lawful Good really is Lawful Stupid.
Posted by: JamesNostack | October 31, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Wow! I'm so going to use that trick on my next physics test.
Q: State Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
A: HEH. We ALL know that one already.
Also, this kind of reminds me of Joe the Plumber's cop-out when pressed to name reasons why Obama would be death to Israel, which was along the lines of "I think people should go find their own reasons why Obama will be bad for Israel."
Posted by: j | October 31, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Palin is NOT Lawful Good. Based on her self aggrandizement and manipulative tendencies, Neutral or Neutral Evil, maybe with some Lawful tendencies.
Posted by: Fraud Guy | November 01, 2008 at 01:08 AM
Reviewing this again, my guess is that: a) Goldfarb is an amazing jerk; and b) he was under instructions to not mention Jeremiah Wright, and thought he'd walk up to the line, and, being a stupid jerk, somehow thought this was a clever way of fulfilling his instructions.
Too much kool-aid and echo chamber, as usual. Plus tremendous arrogance and jerkitude.
Posted by: Gary Farber | November 01, 2008 at 04:06 PM
I just looked back at this thread and I see my life's work is finished. I helped derail a thread into a D&D discussion!
I'm hoisting my MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner as we speak.
Morat20- I feel for your cleric. 'Forget' to give him a Resist Energy next time you come across a red dragon. Call it brain damage from when he attacked you.
Posted by: MeDrewNotYou | November 01, 2008 at 04:15 PM
The follow-up.
Also, ITYS. ;-)Posted by: Gary Farber | November 09, 2008 at 02:39 AM