Comments on: Yay, Nay or Present: Barack Obama’s Insanely Maniacal Method of Jumping Hurdles to Avoid the Truth, Whilst Flip-Flopping Under the Rafters http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/ Politics 2.0 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:50:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: DAD http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/comment-page-1/#comment-62405 DAD Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:08:42 +0000 http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/#comment-62405 Maybe the Cubs should not be permitted to vote! Maybe the Cubs should not be permitted to vote!

]]> By: Steve Levine http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/comment-page-1/#comment-62348 Steve Levine Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:26:43 +0000 http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/#comment-62348 So now Obama is responsible for the juvenile death rate in Chicago??? Maybe he's also the reason the Cubs haven't won a World Series in 100 years. So now Obama is responsible for the juvenile death rate in Chicago???

Maybe he’s also the reason the Cubs haven’t won a World Series in 100 years.

]]> By: Joshua Rosenstock http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/comment-page-1/#comment-62346 Joshua Rosenstock Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:36:53 +0000 http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/#comment-62346 How exactly has McCain made Arizona a better place to live? How exactly has McCain made Arizona a better place to live?

]]> By: Jack http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/comment-page-1/#comment-62344 Jack Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:24:33 +0000 http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/#comment-62344 Chicago has one of the highest juvenile deathrates in the country due to gang violence. Good job in your hometown Obama. Do you really want Obama in charge of our National Security? If he can't bring improvement to own state, I sure don't want him messing with mine. Chicago has one of the highest juvenile deathrates in the country due to gang violence. Good job in your hometown Obama. Do you really want Obama in charge of our National Security? If he can’t bring improvement to own state, I sure don’t want him messing with mine.

]]> By: Vince Williams http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/comment-page-1/#comment-62133 Vince Williams Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:51:49 +0000 http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/#comment-62133 Since he started writing here, it's been apparent that Billy has a voodoo approach to politics-- his use of the phrase "she-devil in the flesh" just confirms it. Billy's use of the English language is endlessly creative, but too often just plain silly. "Insanely maniacal method of jumping hurdles to avoid the truth" is one of the most maladroit phrases I've seen in print, especially for someone who essays to write about politics. And for a McCain supporter to harp about Obama flip-flopping is truly laughable, given McCain's string of about-faces on so many definitive issues. It's good to have Billy around for comic relief, though. He's provided more laughs here than the funny papers. Since he started writing here, it’s been apparent that Billy has a voodoo approach to politics– his use of the phrase “she-devil in the flesh” just confirms it.

Billy’s use of the English language is endlessly creative, but too often just plain silly. “Insanely maniacal method of jumping hurdles to avoid the truth” is one of the most maladroit phrases I’ve seen in print, especially for someone who essays to write about politics.

And for a McCain supporter to harp about Obama flip-flopping is truly laughable, given McCain’s string of about-faces on so many definitive issues.

It’s good to have Billy around for comic relief, though. He’s provided more laughs here than the funny papers.

]]> By: DAD http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/comment-page-1/#comment-62096 DAD Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:41:38 +0000 http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/#comment-62096 Now there's a creative idea for the national ballot. Either a 'present' vote or an 'abstention'. A no vote for both sides. Now there’s a creative idea for the national ballot. Either a ‘present’ vote or an ‘abstention’. A no vote for both sides.

]]> By: steve levine http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/comment-page-1/#comment-62078 steve levine Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:06:35 +0000 http://www.washingtonhotlist.com/yay-nay-or-present-barack-obamas-insanely-maniacal-method-of-jumping-hurdles-to-avoid-the-truth-whilst-flip-flopping-under-the-rafters/#comment-62078 This is a page out of the Rove/Bush/Palin playbook: Make a seemingly credible criticism by distorting the facts, or providing incomplete information. Here are the facts about those "present" votes: Sometimes the “present’ votes were in line with instructions from Democratic leaders or because he objected to provisions in bills that he might otherwise support. At other times, Obama voted present on questions that had overwhelming bipartisan support. In at least a few cases, the issue was politically sensitive. <strong>A present vote is not unusual in Illinois</strong> A present vote is NOT tantamount to ducking an issue. Obama cast 4,000 votes in the Illinois Senate <em>and used the present vote to protest bills that he believed had been drafted unconstitutionally or as part of a broader legislative strategy.</em> An examination of Illinois records shows at least 36 times when Mr. Obama was either the only state senator to vote present or was part of a group of six or fewer to vote that way. In more than 50 votes, he seemed to be acting in concert with other Democrats as part of a strategy. For a juvenile-justice bill, lobbyists and fellow lawmakers say, a political calculus could have been behind Obama’s present vote. On other measures like the anti-abortion bills, which Republicans proposed, he voted present to help more vulnerable Democrats under pressure to cast “no” votes. In other cases, Obama’s present votes stood out among widespread support as he tried to use them to register legal and other objections to parts of the bills. <em>In Illinois, political experts say voting present is a relatively common way for lawmakers to express disapproval of a measure.</em> This is a page out of the Rove/Bush/Palin playbook: Make a seemingly credible criticism by distorting the facts, or providing incomplete information.

Here are the facts about those “present” votes:

Sometimes the “present’ votes were in line with instructions from Democratic leaders or because he objected to provisions in bills that he might otherwise support. At other times, Obama voted present on questions that had overwhelming bipartisan support. In at least a few cases, the issue was politically sensitive.

A present vote is not unusual in Illinois

A present vote is NOT tantamount to ducking an issue. Obama cast 4,000 votes in the Illinois Senate and used the present vote to protest bills that he believed had been drafted unconstitutionally or as part of a broader legislative strategy.

An examination of Illinois records shows at least 36 times when Mr. Obama was either the only state senator to vote present or was part of a group of six or fewer to vote that way.

In more than 50 votes, he seemed to be acting in concert with other Democrats as part of a strategy.

For a juvenile-justice bill, lobbyists and fellow lawmakers say, a political calculus could have been behind Obama’s present vote. On other measures like the anti-abortion bills, which Republicans proposed, he voted present to help more vulnerable Democrats under pressure to cast “no” votes.

In other cases, Obama’s present votes stood out among widespread support as he tried to use them to register legal and other objections to parts of the bills.

In Illinois, political experts say voting present is a relatively common way for lawmakers to express disapproval of a measure.

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