If we’re teabaggers, then they’re …
posted at 7:52 pm on April 30, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
We’re preparing for a road trip in a couple of weeks, and one of the tasks on the list is getting the car ready to make the 700-mile trip. I don’t drive much these days, since I work from home, and that means that oil changes and tire rotations get forgotten. The Honda CRV has 86,000 miles on it, and I’d like to make sure it can stand another 1500 or so without a problem.
I’ve managed to get all the inspections done in the last two days, but it’s been a while since I’ve had to drive at rush hour on a Thursday through the major intersection in my neighborhood. I had forgotten that a local chapter of United for Peace and Justice holds “Honk 4 Peace” rallies on the street corner each Thursday evening. I’m a big fan of peaceful assembly, even when I disagree with the cause, and these are exactly as harmless as you’d expect in a Minnesota suburb. The protestors eagerly solicit people to honk, acting as though each toot of a car horn gives a UN angel his wings, and usually the small crowd includes a couple of amusing lunatics. Today, one elderly man held aloft a sign that claimed that Lockheed Martin is the biggest war profiteer in the world, along with a lot of other gibberish that was (a) too small to read, and (b) too much for cars speeding by at 45 MPH.
While I was stopped at the intersection, two of the five or six people involved were too busy talking on cell phones to hold their signs up, and in any event they didn’t get too many takers. The only annoying thing about them is that they encourage people to slow down while passing by, and it worsens an already-bad traffic bottleneck.
Anyway, while passing through the Honk 4 Peacers, I began mulling over in my mind how to refer to them. After all, the Left had taken to calling Tea Party protestors “teabaggers” as a way to belittle the demonstrators and amuse themselves. I thought about it all the way home, and the only thing I could come up with was … honkies.
Think that’ll catch on?
Update: Oh, man, an even better one from the comments: hornies.
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The Executive Order on Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel lays out tough rules on how executive branch appointees are to conduct themselves and requires every appointee in every executive agency to sign an ethics pledge. The Executive Order allows for a waiver when the literal application of the Pledge does not make sense or is not in the public interest. In the interest of transparency, granted waivers are posted online.
Ethics Pledge Waivers Released by the White House
Jocelyn Frye, Director of Policy and Projects in the Office of the First Lady
Cecilia Muñoz, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Executive Office of the President
William Lynn, Deputy Secretary of Defense
Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President
Jonathan Kravis, Associate Counsel, White House Counsel’s Office
Chris Weideman, Associate Counsel, White House Counsel’s Office
John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
National Security Advisor, General James Jones
Robert Bauer, Counsel to the President
Shailagh Murray, Assistant to the Vice President for Communications a>
Caroline Atkinson, Special Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs
Jonathan Greenblatt, Special Assistant to the President and Director of Social Innovation
William M. Daley, Chief of Staff
http://www.whitehouse.gov/21stcenturygov/tools/ethics-waivers
luckybogey on May 20, 2013 at 5:30 PM
I believe Obama may truly be clueless. He handed off his presidency to his underlings while he shows up for the occasional speech and then its off to vacation or hit the links. He is our first celebrity president. No one goes to him if they actually need something done. That goes to Valerie Jarrett.
MechanicalBill on May 20, 2013 at 5:31 PM
And all that practice shows. Two out of twenty-two. Not even Jason Collins is that bad.
Happy Nomad on May 20, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Expired.
Expired.
Del Dolemonte on May 20, 2013 at 5:34 PM
You would think the legal profession would cringe whenever any of this stuff comes up. But then again, Kermit Gosnell’s lawyer had no problem representing a monster.
Happy Nomad on May 20, 2013 at 5:34 PM
McDonough: Hey Chief, I want to give you the heads-up on a shitstorm coming next week.
Obama: I don’t know about it, right?
McDonough: Of course not. I just don’t want you to get blindsided.
Obama: Can I still play golf on Saturday?
McDonough: Oh, sure. It’s not that bad.
RadClown on May 20, 2013 at 5:34 PM
And all that practice shows. Two out of twenty-two. Not even Jason Collins is that bad.
Happy Nomad on May 20, 2013 at 5:31 PM
barky isn’t a shooter, he’s more of a ball handler.
VegasRick on May 20, 2013 at 5:35 PM
The operating phrase here is: “plausible deniability”.
Socratease on May 20, 2013 at 5:35 PM
Lies, damned lies, and Obamas.
profitsbeard on May 20, 2013 at 5:36 PM
Do you remember;
1) No bills passed with 5 days on the internet
2) all debate to be televised on c-span
Good times man, good times.
VegasRick on May 20, 2013 at 5:37 PM
unstinkingbelievable
valerie must be in charge
cmsinaz on May 20, 2013 at 5:39 PM
Lies, lies. Of course Obama knew. If his chief of staff knew, then he knew.
Let the CYA tell where Obama’s azz was on the night of Benghazi. Show a pair, you toads of today. YOU used to be men/women of incredible honor, through shady activities…but always for the good of the land.
Schadenfreude on May 20, 2013 at 5:39 PM
Socratease on May 20, 2013 at 5:39 PM
will wolfie, chucky or tingles actually bring this up?
cmsinaz on May 20, 2013 at 5:39 PM
We are paying the price for forty years of politically-correct racism, aka Affirmative Action.
When it was hatched all those years ago, who thought that it would eventually apply to the President of the United States?
slickwillie2001 on May 20, 2013 at 5:39 PM
who’s queued up the thompson twins song?
cmsinaz on May 20, 2013 at 5:40 PM
I had a delayed reaction to that one. Almost spilled my coffee.
novaculus on May 20, 2013 at 5:41 PM
That’s exactly the case.
vnohara on May 20, 2013 at 5:41 PM
I feel like we are living out that movie, National Treasure. Where one clue leads to the next clue, which leads to the next clue, which leads to the next clue… and on and on and on it goes.
rightConcept on May 20, 2013 at 5:41 PM
I’m not sure what your point it. Valerie Jarrett’s ‘waiver’ had to do with Chicago’s attempt to get the 2016 Olympics and Robert Bauer is no longer WHC. We are talking about professional ethics, not rules promulgated by the WH.
Resist We Much on May 20, 2013 at 5:42 PM
Does is really matter? Someone at a senior level let the Treasury IG loose on the IRS, resulting in a long investigation with harsh and damning conclusions. There would have been a major scandal if any member of the White House senior staff had learned of the IRS malfeasance, without any pursuant investigation or comparable action. In that alternative scenario, you’d have grounds for accusing the Obama team of something comparable to a Nixon era cover-up.
But that’s not what occurred. The IG was uncompromising in its pursuit of the truth, and its report exposed either criminal or incredibly incompetent behavior at IRS. You’re left with another who-knew-what-when kind of blame game that’s not interesting to anyone beyond the far right.
bayam on May 20, 2013 at 5:42 PM
Remember when we had a president who was held personally responsible for what happened in a prison in Iraq? Something about a culture…..
29Victor on May 20, 2013 at 5:45 PM
OT, but please pray for those in OK, precisely Moore.
Devestation ismajor from afternoon tornadoes.
pambi on May 20, 2013 at 5:45 PM
Come on!
Who wanted to interrupt the One when he was on the links? Seriously, why ruin his day after a great round of golf with his homeies by telling him that his ingenious plan to crush the conservative movement was about to be outed. Let the Man continue to bask in his glory.
lonestarleeroy on May 20, 2013 at 5:45 PM
Resist We Much on May 20, 2013 at 5:47 PM
luckybogey on May 20, 2013 at 5:47 PM
Being done now.
VegasRick on May 20, 2013 at 5:50 PM
I’m worried about Jackie and Scrumpy.
Schadenfreude on May 20, 2013 at 5:50 PM
You mean like snakes do?
arnold ziffel on May 20, 2013 at 5:50 PM
Okay, what’s your point with the Wikipedia clip?
Especially after this administration, who doesn’t understand the concept of plausible deniability? But here’s the thing. It has to be selectively used to be effective. You can’t use it repeatedly without it becoming apparent that you are not doing your job.
They tried it with Benghazi- The IC produced those talking points, all the White House did was change consulate to diplomatic facility.
They tried it with the AP records seizure- It is inappropriate for the President to be involved with ongoing investigations.
And they are trying to do it with the IRS scandal.
Plausible deniablity is one of those things that has to be used with descretion. It is not a long-term political strategy.
Happy Nomad on May 20, 2013 at 5:51 PM
A FISH STINKS FROM THE HEAD ON DOWN!
I repeat, A FISH STINKS FROM THE HEAD ON DOWN!
The hell Obama didn’t know!
pilamaye on May 20, 2013 at 5:51 PM
Which would explain why a majority (nearly 50%!) of Independents in the new (yesterday) Leftist PEW Poll say that the Administration was involved in making the decision, not just the IRS.
And yesterday’s CNN/ORC poll showed that 55% of Americans think the IRS Fake Scandal is VERY IMPORTANT. I wasn’t aware that 55% of Americans were “far right.”
Now wipe off your chin and re-adjust your O’bama Kneepads. Soros awaits!
F+
Del Dolemonte on May 20, 2013 at 5:51 PM
I don’t think this is a case of plausible deniability. Obama knew. In fact, I think he’s known about all the scandals. Democrats forever and a day are micromanagers without integrity. Jarrett is probably the last firewall, and she’s probably set up other firewalls. However, Obama’s long history has been a toxic mix of ideology and Chicago-style politics, and he revels in taunting and going after his enemies. He’s shown this publicly. I don’t think there’s any way he would have wanted to miss out on knowing of the results from all the departments, if only to have his private moment of arrogant mockery. I think his minions would have rushed to pass the word along about the report. That IRS question was set up to be their limited hangout on this, but the dam began to crack. Every crack increases the likelihood of the entire dam breaking.
INC on May 20, 2013 at 5:51 PM
Obama’s response to your post- What’s a fish?
Happy Nomad on May 20, 2013 at 5:52 PM
whack-a-troll
As Reagan said “…the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.”
This one knows something that isn’t so about the Treasury chain of command.
novaculus on May 20, 2013 at 5:52 PM
All I can say is that if Obama survives THIS he IS the Antichrist.
mitchellvii on May 20, 2013 at 5:53 PM
I retain and direct attorneys for a living. If I had a case that was about to blow up in my face and my attorney did not tell me, not only would he/she be relieved of the case, they would be preparing themselves to be sued for errors & omissions.
Key West Reader on May 20, 2013 at 5:53 PM
Again, we are talking about the professional ethics rules. The question is whether it is a violation of the Canon of Ethics for the WHC to advise the POTUS of the existence of an ongoing investigation and its expected outcome. My position is that it does NOT violate the ethics rule for the President’s Counsel to inform him of an ongoing investigation of which counsel has been properly informed by an Inspector General or the Department of Justice. It would be a violation of the ethics rules, among other things, if the Counsel improperly and illegally told the President, which is not the case, or if the Counsel acted improperly or illegally at the behest of the President. As to the latter, there is no evidence of such in this case nor am I alleging same.
The matter of Valerie Jarrett, et al, which I raised, has nothing to do with the ethical questions concerning the WHC. My point was to merely voice the type of White House environment, which has been written about on numerous occasions.
Resist We Much on May 20, 2013 at 5:57 PM
ot:a lot of horses died…now reporting a baby and a 4 yr old child have died as well
*sniff*
dang it
cmsinaz on May 20, 2013 at 5:57 PM
The difference being, you are engaged in legitimate business.
Good to see you. Hope you are well.
novaculus on May 20, 2013 at 5:58 PM
Absolutely but Shep Smith (they guy who had a temper tantrum over Katrina) comparing this awful situation with the OKC bombing is a bit much.
Happy Nomad on May 20, 2013 at 5:59 PM
Shemp is ‘efforting’ to bring us more on this breaking story.
slickwillie2001 on May 20, 2013 at 6:06 PM
The only “outrage” that Obama has is that he and his crew are being found out…
ProfShadow on May 20, 2013 at 6:09 PM
I’ve said it before and I will continue saying it. The most fitting way to beat socialism/marxism/collectivist is via the free market; someone like Trump should offer a massive reward to whoever can prove Obama or his direct inner circle, with his knowledge, directed or approved of such shennanigans. Maybe somewhere in the $5M range with the offer of the best legal counsel available if attacked legally.
It’ll just remind the Left what the free market can accomplish.
Tater Salad on May 20, 2013 at 6:12 PM
Resist We Much on May 20, 2013 at 6:13 PM
Who is he blaming for this tornado ?
Bush ?
BTW, anyone remember how Erica Stedman covered up the OKC bombing ?
burrata on May 20, 2013 at 6:15 PM
davidk on May 20, 2013 at 6:17 PM
Er, you do realise, don’t you, that there is ANOTHER IG investigation that is ONGOING within the IRS?
And, the polling numbers do not support your assertion about what the American people find interesting.
PS: Yes, it matters. It would matter greatly to you if it had been your ox that was gored…and, no, that is not a ‘threat to the President,’ as your comrade in idiocy, nobrain, alleged.
Resist We Much on May 20, 2013 at 6:18 PM
I agree with Rush. If the Dems win the House in 2014… we will be a banana republic. The attacks on conservatives will increase a hundred fold. Forget about TEA party groups… you won’t be safe just identifying yourself as a Republican.
It has to progress that way. It cannot do otherwise. If everything continues as it has been… if we keep traveling in this direction… it’s going to get much much worse. The whole purpose of the Democrat party now seems to be to attack and destroy conservatives, Christians and the Republicans. They have no other purpose.
JellyToast on May 20, 2013 at 6:19 PM
No one is contesting the important of the IRS scandal. I was specifically referring to accusations that Obama knew about it a few months ago, at a time when the Treasury IG was starting or already engaged in an objective investigation that would reveal the truth about IRS behavior.
bayam on May 20, 2013 at 6:20 PM
Trollcott time ?
burrata on May 20, 2013 at 6:20 PM
Haven’t you got some brass to polish in your Canadian bank?
slickwillie2001 on May 20, 2013 at 6:22 PM
Schadenfreude on May 20, 2013 at 5:50 PM
Isn’t jackie in Amarillo TX ?
If so, these storms are much farther east.
pambi on May 20, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Reportedly:
The President of the National Treasury Employees Union, Colleen Kelley, meet personally with Obama at the White House on March 31, 2010. According to the Inspector General Report, the next day, April 1, 2010, was the beginning of the “targeting” effort of the IRS, as the IRS Technical Unit suggested the need for a “Sensitive Case Report” on Tea Party cases.
I respectfully suggest that those buying into the “Obama’s just disconnected” meme are forgetting where this guy is from: Chicago. I would like to know if there were notes of that meeting taken, if there were others present at that meeting, and what action items, if any, came out of that meeting. My guess is that we know exactly what the action item was.
Do not underestimate this guy. He is a clever, manipulative, ruthless Machiavelli. We forget this at our nation’s peril.
IndieDogg on May 20, 2013 at 6:33 PM
And what is your proof that he did not know? Him saying so. He is a scum sucking liar and so are you, but you knew that.
VegasRick on May 20, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Well obviously they told him. In order to understand what Obama knew and did one should look at who has been fired or not fired. WHC and his Chief of Staff still have their jobs. Sarah Hall Ingram still has her promotion. Obama obviously approves of the job she’s done.
In the meantime, I don’t know if there is a name for the tornado in OK but in the interests of consistency they should call it Sandy.
Basilsbest on May 20, 2013 at 6:38 PM
Can you prove he didn’t know about it? We know that you are desperately hoping that to be the case, because it would mean you voted for Nixon twice.
Del Dolemonte on May 20, 2013 at 6:38 PM
Shame you didn’t spell that better. It won’t get hit nearly as easily in searches this way.
Unless you were making a Clinton jab. Well played if so.
BTW, we missed you on that other thread you abandoned (again) when you didn’t know what you were talking about.
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/16/the-amazing-shrinking-benghazi-talking-points/comment-page-2/#comment-6993533
Guess we can just add it to the list, can’t we?
rogerb on May 20, 2013 at 6:40 PM
Why weeks to find this out?
Schadenfreude on May 20, 2013 at 6:41 PM
Just think if he wasn’t told about the IRS scandal then he probably wasn’t made aware of Benghazi until it was too late to do anything about it.
Plausible deniability, works every time for the left.
bgibbs1000 on May 20, 2013 at 6:42 PM
Because Valerie Jarrett told her not not to tell President Gump?
farsighted on May 20, 2013 at 6:43 PM
The most transparently incompetent administration, evah!
Jimmy Breslin would love these guys.
Another Drew on May 20, 2013 at 6:44 PM
Carney: No, seriously, Obama’s lawyer didn’t tell him that the IRS was targeting tea partiers
“Deceiver, dissembler
Your trousers are alight
From what pole or gallows
Shall they dangle in the night?”
William Blake ‘Thwe Liar’
MaiDee on May 20, 2013 at 6:44 PM
You may be right. Valerie Jarrett would be our first Iranian-born president.
TarheelBen on May 20, 2013 at 6:45 PM
Still doesn’t answer the question as to who gave the order to the IRS to target conservatives. Fine, let it come out in depositions in the lawsuit. Hopefully, all the victims of this harassment will get a big refund from the IRS.
lea on May 20, 2013 at 6:45 PM
Why would she tell the person who instigated the whole thing?
SouthernGent on May 20, 2013 at 6:51 PM
And don’t for get the Peter Principal i.e. from Community Organizer to President… far exceeding the Peter Principal since he was likely a lousy community organizer too.
Dasher on May 20, 2013 at 6:53 PM
Working towards the Leader.
Little Boomer on May 20, 2013 at 6:56 PM
Carney: Okay Fine, Senior Officials Knew the IRS Report was Coming, but Nobody Told Obama
…FINALLY, OBOZO’s chief propagandist said something that is believable!
Of course, the REASON OBOZO wasn’t told is because he was either stoned on pot, out golfing, partying, on vacation or out campaigning – so NOBODY in the WH could ever get to see him.
TeaPartyNation on May 20, 2013 at 6:59 PM
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/wh-wont-say-if-obama-discussed-tea-party-meeting-irs-union-head-1-day-irs-move-tea
davidk on May 20, 2013 at 6:59 PM
(I’m not as refined as you.)
davidk on May 20, 2013 at 7:03 PM
Can you prove that there were no aliens at the pilgrim’s first Thanksgiving dinner?
So let’s say he knew about it a month ago… could you then imply that he was directly involved in ordering the IG investigation?
bayam on May 20, 2013 at 7:07 PM
Blake entire poem is apropos:
davidk on May 20, 2013 at 7:08 PM
Politico: The White House’s shifting IRS account
Resist We Much on May 20, 2013 at 7:14 PM
If he knew a month ago why did he pretend he didn’t know until 2 Fridays ago? Because his outage was contrived. He wasn’t outraged because he encouraged it, if he didn’t suggest it directly to NTEU President Colleen Kelley.
Basilsbest on May 20, 2013 at 7:16 PM
If it doesn’t matter, then why was Obama so quick and proud to proclaim that he learned about it from television news shows?
blink on May 20, 2013 at 7:23 PM
What else would you expect from someone corrupt and insane enough to seek political advice from Valerie Jarrett?
Jaibones on May 20, 2013 at 7:24 PM
Then that would mean that he lied about when he knew.
None of us on Hot Air would be surprised about such a lie, and you certainly wouldn’t care.
blink on May 20, 2013 at 7:25 PM
“Let’s be clear,” said Carney. “1620 happened a long time ago. This didn’t”
Love to see you flailing. Keep up the good work!
D+
Del Dolemonte on May 20, 2013 at 7:32 PM
davidk on May 20, 2013 at 7:36 PM
on-amendment-votes-with-our-Republicans
davidk on May 20, 2013 at 7:46 PM
davidk on May 20, 2013 at 7:47 PM
Poor brayam.
Last week, both you and Carney were shrieking that no one in the White House knew anything g.
Now you’re directly contradicting yourself.
Were you lying then, brayam?
Bray for us, donkey.
northdallasthirty on May 20, 2013 at 7:49 PM
When did I say that no one in the White House knew anything a month ago? I still have no idea why that’s even relevant. The behavior at IRS ended over a year prior and the IG investigation was ongoing at that point in time.
With no evidence linking the White House to the behavior at IRS, and an aggressive Treasury investigation underway in early 2013, desperation is setting in. Let’s comb remarks for inconsistencies and try and invent a new scandal!
bayam on May 20, 2013 at 8:07 PM
I love how the braying donkey brayam tries to rewrite history when its lies are thrown back in its face.
And now suddenly “inconsistencies” are acceptable, when last week brayam was hee-hawing that “inconsistencies” equaled “doctoring”.
There really isn’t any lie the donkey brayam will not tell to protect its flailing Obama and cover up for Obama’s fascist use of the Federal bureaucracy to illegally harass and punish anyone who voted against him, is there
northdallasthirty on May 20, 2013 at 8:20 PM
Donna Brazille is one of, if not the most, connected Dem manager in their stable.
She knows all of this. She knows Rahm and company were aware what was going on, and she knows the truth about who knew what over Benghazi.
Her op-ed this morning wasn’t a plea, it was a warning.
If we on the right connect the dots and wreck Obama’s second term, then the progs and the Dem identity unions are going to declare war either at the mid-terms, or from ’14 until the ’16 election, and they’ll make it worse than election 2K.
She knows how corrupt Team Barry is, just as she knows how much Hillary is culpable for.
budfox on May 20, 2013 at 8:26 PM
Oh, My…Just When You Thought That It Couldn’t Get Any Worse… Obama’s IRS Went After A Survivor Of A Japanese Concentration Camp For Her Political Speech
Seriously bad optics.
Resist We Much on May 20, 2013 at 8:42 PM
The Adults Are In Charge.
Del Dolemonte on May 20, 2013 at 8:58 PM
No need to tell anyone what they already knew, is there?
virgo on May 20, 2013 at 9:00 PM
The Adults Are In Charge.
Del Dolemonte on May 20, 2013 at 9:10 PM
“Nice game, bro…..gatorade…towel?”
BobMbx on May 20, 2013 at 9:11 PM
Can’t wait for the little brown shirt, Hot Lips, to say that this is a great thing!
Resist We Much on May 20, 2013 at 9:14 PM
So, Fox coverage is the administrations criteria.
Figures.
socalcon on May 20, 2013 at 9:20 PM
– “At this point, what difference does it make?!?!”
ghostwalker1 on May 20, 2013 at 9:39 PM
Yeah, like the WH Chief of Staff…..um……er…..never mind.
socalcon on May 20, 2013 at 9:47 PM
If Obama does not know what is going on, then he is useless as President. If he knows what is going on, then he is useless as President.
So, the only conclusion is that Barack Obama is useless as President.
The proverbial “king has no clothes”
PhilipJames on May 20, 2013 at 11:04 PM
In one great way, no matter who is involved, yes.
This is the end of the progressive agenda during Obama’s reign.
He has shown through one bumbling response after another, from plausible denial to “government is too big for one person to know what’s going on”, that there cannot be a benevolent government so long as people hold too much power.
People can’t be expected to respond in a benevolent way outside the procedural responsibilities of government positions. Government by its very nature is corruptible.
We come from a heritage of people who fled from oppressive governments to create one which protected the rights of individuals. Obama and the progressive movement have spent the last five years attempting to reverse this understanding. Now, in three weeks, the carefully built house of cards has collapsed.
This lesson must be remembered long after the players have gone. The progressive agenda needed the coercion of the IRS to suppress and intimidate voters. Government is corruptible, and people are corrupt. This is why we need a Bill of Rights that establishes our freedoms are not guaranteed by governments, but our natural right.
itsspideyman on May 20, 2013 at 11:17 PM
When are the chickens going to come home to roost?
Shy Guy on May 20, 2013 at 11:50 PM
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