The Republicans are a traveling circus. Bachman apparently thinks we have diplomatic relations with Iran.

@ Draug - Fair enough. Though even as he withdraws from the race it's still a strange thing to do, even if it doesn't end up mattering.

And the late night liberal tv shows aren't?
By common method of thought you are a racist for attacking a black man.
Republicans were suddenly racists when we even opposed President Obama.

Yes, we have diplomatic relations in the sense (by definition) that we have members of our government in connection with Iran's government. You are so narrow minded that when a Republican says something that it has to fit you criteria exactly.
If you were referring to the lack of ambassador and/or embassy, i can't find evidence of any existing ones. We have a policy that extends to everyone, therefore we have relations with everyone in some way however small.

@Adam, I don't know how old you are, but MB *did* say she would close the embassy in Iran, which has been closed since 1979. She is another whack job like Sarah Palin. I'm a republican mind you, but I'd vote for Hillary Clinton before I voted for either of those two fucktards.

Match criteria exactly? Seriously how far gone do you have to be to defend this ridiculous statement that Bachman would close down the US embassy in Iran if President? We don't have an embassy. There's no way you can spin that. There's no way you can blame this on "liberals". I realize you rightwingers don't value basic policy literacy and consider any kind of intellectual heft to be "elitism", but these repeated gaffes by your most prominent leaders is a sign that your party is dying. There is no one serious in the Republican Party anymore.

And diplomatic relations is a technical term, it doesn't just mean any relations whatsoever. Diplomatic relations requires the mutual presence of diplomatic missions in each other's countries, of which there are none. We have to conduct regular relations with Iran through a third party.

I think it's only a matter of time before the Neo-Conservatives split with the know-nothing social conservatives and the conspiracy-minded libertarians. I don't think they can tolerate being in the same party as these people anymore. When the GOP loses in 2012 it will be the end for them.

I don 't get why the pokemon thing is such a big deal. Where someone gets ideas from is irrelevant. I'm actually not a fan of Herman Cain, but I think this is probably the dumbest thing to make a fuss about.

No, dumb would be whining that Obama did not mention god in his youtube thanksgiving address when every other President has omitted god from their thanksgiving remarks several times, and Obama even put god in the written remarks.

Or dumb would be whining about Obama's India trip. Or Obama bowing to a foreign leader. Or Obama's anti-nuclear summit having a logo that supposedly looks like a crescent moon. Or Obama attending a college basketball game. Or the constant attacks on Obama's citizenship despite the birth certificate. Or the Congressional resolution criticizing Obama for saying our motto was e pluribus unum. Or really 99% of the criticisms by the GOP.

But Obama's the president, so at least they have a reason to criticise him. But Herman Cain is just a candidate, right? So criticising him just seems really nitpicky.

If elected, Cain would have been arguably the best President since Eisenhower. It's a shame he went down in fire the way he did, be it a conspiracy against him or in fact his own web of lies.

^Sarcasm, right?

Yes, if the arguer is an idiot

"But Herman Cain is just a candidate, right? So criticising him just seems really nitpicky."

So there should no vetting process for Presidential candidates? If you can't handle a modicum of scrutiny you shouldn't be running for President. Maybe you need other sources for inspiring quotes other than animated movies if you want to be leader of the largest economy in the world.

Absolutely and sincerely not. The American people were scared by a media that convinced you can't possibly elect an outsider, a common successful man. His tax plan would have greatly damaged the influence of special interest and lobbyists, and would have make this economy take off like a rocket.

"Cain would have been arguably the best President since Eisenhower."

Troll.

"Or Obama bowing to a foreign leader. " -Putin33

This is a point that I actually did have a problem with. The man in the most powerful position in the world (arguably) does not bow to anyone, regardless of their customs. And even if Obama was simply ignorant of that, his advisers should have told him that it's just something the President does.

"Maybe you need other sources for inspiring quotes other than animated movies if you want to be leader of the largest economy in the world."

I don't really see the problem with it, to tell you the truth. I mean, it's a little weird (actually, very very weird) that he did it more than once but I don't think I'd criticize him for doing it if was a once off thing.

Thanks, Putin, I'm really a troll for liking an outsider who would changer America, and free us from a screwed up tax code. A whole bunch of people with thoughtful input sit out conversations on these forums due to people like you. It's one thing to have a constructive argument. It's another to pass off personal accusations like "troll" because you're incapable having discussion in which you don't put everyone else down. Grow up.

changed* not changer, line 1

" The American people were scared by a media that convinced you can't possibly elect an outsider, a common successful man."

The media treated him with kid gloves. If any other candidate had the number of accusers and regular gaffes that Cain did he would have finished months ago. The media launched a jihad against Howard Dean for a freaking yell in Iowa. Cain had a level of access to the media that few "outsiders" ever get.

Cain is a buffoon and his act as a common man is a joke. His father was the driver for the Coca-Cola CEO. Cain's first job was with Coca-Cola. His father was paid in stock and Herman's education was paid for by the Coke CEO. Cain was deputy chair of the Kansas City fed. Cain ripped off workers with Aquila.

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/05/herman-cain-aquila-lawsuit-2012

Cain's whole stick is a fraud.

"This is a point that I actually did have a problem with. The man in the most powerful position in the world (arguably) does not bow to anyone, regardless of their customs. And even if Obama was simply ignorant of that, his advisers should have told him that it's just something the President does."

Right, Presidents can't be respectful. And naturally, you Republicans made a huge fuss when Bush was holding hands with the Saudi royal family.

"Or Obama bowing to a foreign leader. " -Putin33

This is a point that I actually did have a problem with. The man in the most powerful position in the world (arguably) does not bow to anyone, regardless of their customs. And even if Obama was simply ignorant of that, his advisers should have told him that it's just something the President does. "

Presidents have bowed throughout the twentieth century. Obama was by no means the first. Any google search will show you that.

"It's another to pass off personal accusations like "troll" because you're incapable having discussion in which you don't put everyone else down. Grow up."

You want to be taken seriously when you think Herman Cain, a man who has the foreign policy literacy of a 1st grader and ripped off his tax plan from a video game (a tax plan he clearly didn't even understand), would be a great President. I'm sorry if I thought that view was you trolling. I didn't think you would seriously make such an argument.

does it matter? Just be like me and vote President Eden 2012

So... why is this a story? It's a pretty good line regardless of where it comes from.

And Putin33, I can't wait to see how you try to justify yourself when the Republican party doesn't dissolve in 2012. Even if Obama wins (still very possible) it's all but certain that the GOP will hold the House and likely will win the Senate. That means the disparate wings of the party will have to hold together more than ever if they want to prevent the president from enacting more liberal polices through executive order. If you'd just avoid the dualism where every Republican is a Tettelton's Chew clone then you'd see tings a lot more clearly.

I'm a little removed from American politics but, Invictus, may I ask which Republican candidate best represents this supposed more moderate and rational party.

TC is far too smart for today's GOP. I would never insult him by equating him with the clowns running for President in that party. Anyway, I suppose by seeing things clearly that would involve defending the repeated lifting of quotes from pokemon movies, right?

I say vote Obama to see how long much we change before people say "maybe too much change is a bad thing". BTW, Happy meals banned in parts of California. unconstitutional? YES. sorry, that just makes me angry