The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[innerSpaceman]

I concur. I don't think the birthers were the target audience for this at all.

[flippyshark]

Hey, where ya been, scaeagles?

When I first saw the headline this morning, I had to ask myself if it was April 1st, (or if I had logged on to The Onion), so sure was I that BO wasn't going to dignify the issue with any further attention.

[Alex]

Though, thinking about it on the ride home, it occurs to me that unless America proves even stupider than I fear, it really doesn't hurt Obama in the long run to have Trump sucking oxygen out of the Republican campaign machinery. And giving Trump a "legitimacy" boost like this without really hurting himself or doing anything overtly political prolongs that.

[Morrigoon]

Based on the way he framed his speech, I think he did it in order to try to get a message across to people about what's really important right now, rather than what the media is focusing on. Of course, how much of that speech will get play on the evening news is anyone's guess. But I think he was trying to use the attention that the birth certificate gets, to get a chance to speak about the other stuff. He made a few remarks that support that, such as news stations not "breaking in" for other stories, and then his going on to talk about those other things anyway.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I think he could (and should) have given that speech without releasing the document.

[BarTopDancer]

I'm just glad the Daily Show and Colbert Report are not on vacation this week.

I don't think releasing it will shut the stupid up, it will just make them look even more absurd. How they don't realize that Hilary or McCain would have "gotten to the bottom of this" before the election is beyond my comprehension. And wasn't McCain's eligibility in question because he wasn't born on US soil?

I also think that if his name was Michael Weston or some other American sounding name this would have never been an issue.

[Alex]

Well, if it were Michael Weston he'd have to explain a hole lot of explosions in Miami; and a penchant for unattractively thin women.

[BarTopDancer]

with a disappearing Irish accent.

I probably should have said Michel Smith or something else "American" sounding.

[alphabassettgrrl]

One of the commentators on the radio show I listened to yesterday thought that Obama released the long-form certificate in order to undermine the birthers. They also noted the danged-if-you-do-danged-if-you-don't status of his papers. They blame him for not releasing the long form (which Hawai'i could well have refused to give him), and they blame him for releasing it.

My coworker found something last night that now the birthers want Hawai'i to prove it's a state. I'm alternately amused and seriously annoyed.

We also discussed what's next, and we think Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers will resurface. I hope we're wrong but they need something to complain about.

[flippyshark]

Originally Posted by alphabassettgrrl

My coworker found something last night that now the birthers want Hawai'i to prove it's a state. I'm alternately amused and seriously annoyed.

We also discussed what's next, and we think Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers will resurface. I hope we're wrong but they need something to complain about.

The "prove Hawai'i was a state" meme seems to be a joke generated by the left, as far as I can tell.

On the other hand, expect to hear more about Bill Ayers. There is a notion going around (courtesy of World Net Daily) that Ayers was the actual author of Obama's autobiography. This idea is gaining some traction, with recent public statements about it from Trump and Palin, if I recall correctly. Get ready to roll your eyes some more.