Annoying platitude of the day

By Michelle Malkin  •  January 31, 2008 04:12 PM

So, Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed John McCain. He extolled McCain for “reach[ing] across the political aisle to get things done.”

We’ll hear that annoying platitude a bazillion and one times through Super Tuesday and beyond.

To which I say: When did it become the Republican Party’s top priority to “get things done?”

“Get things done” is mindless liberal code for passing legislation and expanding government.

And as McCain’s ample legislative record demonstrates, “reaching across the political aisle” never entails pulling opponents to the right. It always entails selling out the right.

How about defending our side of the political aisle?

How about standing up to the regulatory and legislative encroachment of those on the other side of the political aisle?

How about limiting the damage done by Democrat meddlers trying to get their “things done?”

How about less trashing of the entrepreneurs on our side of the aisle who are the engine of our economy?

How about getting more things undone?

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  1. #1
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:20 pm, mngirl said:

    So, Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed John McCain. He extolled McCain for “reach[ing] across the political aisle to get things done.”

    Yea, he reaches across the border too.

  2. #2
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:21 pm, rightisright said:

    ahnold said: McCain for “reach[ing] across the political aisle to get things done.”

    “Get things done” now means to capitulate to the dems i take it.

  3. #3
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:22 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

    The effects of steroids have rendered him liberal!

  4. #4
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:22 pm, whysoangry said:

    I like it! “Get Things Undone”

  5. #5
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:23 pm, thirteen28 said:

    Gag me with a school bus.

  6. #6
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:24 pm, TexasTiger said:

    So, Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed John McCain. He extolled McCain for “reach[ing] across the political aisle to get things done.”

    You’re right, MM. It is annoying. Let’s fix it!

    He extolled McCain for “reach[ing] under the stall divider to get things done.”

  7. #7
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:24 pm, KaosKlerik said:

    He reaches across the aisle and bends us over at the same time.

  8. #8
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:25 pm, Dandapani said:

    “Get things done” is mindless liberal code for passing legislation and expanding government.

    Add this to the list of other liberal code-speak: for the children, for the general good, all votes count/count all votes, it takes a village, choice, etc.

  9. #9
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm, SHoward said:

    meatpie has it! Yet another harmful side effect of steroid use:

    Liberalism

  10. #10
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm, TexasTiger said:

    “Get things done” is mindless liberal code for passing legislation and expanding government.

    It’s also what Larry the Cable Guy said after four years at Harvard.

  11. #11
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:28 pm, mngirl said:

    You know, I’m so damn tired of these liberal Republican Governors trying to re-do the Republican Party. Arnold, Tim Pawlenty (MN), Charlie Crist and now Rick Perry (TX) all supporting McCain.

    Arnold and Pawlenty and a few other Republican Governors have jumped on the Global Warming bandwagon.

    Our local talk radio guy – Jason Lewis – (fills in for Rush once in awhile, tomorrow included) – has a theory that these ‘lefty’ Republican Governors are attempting to move the entire party to the left. Looks like they might be getting close.

    Its time for some of the true conservatives to come out in support of Romney – where is John Thune, Jim DeMint, and the others? Or are they afraid of McCain in case he wins?

  12. #12
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:33 pm, gollumclone said:

    I lost respect for the Austrian Oak when he embraced being sodomized by the left in California. No wonder so many have fled that state and driven up housing prices in nearby states (Californication, not to be confused with song by red hot chili peppers). Perhaps Uncle-in-law Fat Teddy somehow convinces people of his socialist causes??

  13. #13
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:35 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    The Democrats rambled endlessly towards Reagan about ‘reaching out’ instead of standing firm, as he did, when it came to the cold war and the Soviets….

    ( Something Ted Kennedy knows well of, by the way, reaching out to them, that is )

    Who was right in that instance?

  14. #14
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:35 pm, ctisa said:

    We are DOOOOOOOMED!

  15. #15
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:36 pm, The Ugly American said:
  16. #16
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:37 pm, graysonret said:

    I learned a long time ago that “bipartisan” means supporting the liberals, and “change” means more government. I heard a joke a couple of days ago, that Schwarzenegger couldn’t go to D.C., for his announcement. He would probably be subpoenaed to testify about steroids.

  17. #17
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:37 pm, KaosKlerik said:

    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:36 pm, The Ugly American said:
    The Rino Twins…

    Good thing I wasn’t drinking anything when I clicked that.

  18. #18
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:38 pm, mattymatt10 said:

    And as McCain’s ample legislative record demonstrates, “reaching across the political aisle” never entails pulling opponents to the right. It always entails selling out the right.

    I’m not sure if it’s possible to describe McCain’s record any more profoundly or succintly.

  19. #19
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:42 pm, Papa Louie said:

    Yea, he reaches across the border too.

    Good one #1, LOL!
    McCain now says he will secure the borders first:

    “We will secure the borders first when I am president of the United States. I know how to do that. I come from a border state, where we know about building walls, and vehicle barriers, and sensors, and all of the things necessary.”

    Contrast the above quote with what he said a few weeks ago:

    “I know how to secure the borders. I come from a border state where our borders are broken. More people come across our border illegally every year than most any other state.”

    What? Coming from a state with porous borders makes him qualified to secure the country’s borders? That’s like saying, “I know how to fix the economy because I come from the state with the worse economy in the nation.”

    So if his state knows how to build walls and barriers, how come more people come across there than anywhere else? Apparently, his state builds barriers poorly, the way McCain likes them.

    If McCain knows how to do it, why hasn’t he done it before now? Could it be, he didn’t want to? What has changed?

  20. #20
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:45 pm, graysonret said:

    I see Arnold’s healthcare plan is in trouble…
    http://socglory.blogspot.com/

  21. #21
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:45 pm, see-dubya said:

    William F. Buckley: Conservatism is about “standing athwart History, yelling ‘stop’!”

    Arnold: “Conservatism” is about “reaching across the political aisle and getting things done”!

  22. #22
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:47 pm, The Ugly American said:

    As governor of Cah-lee-foh-nee-ah, Ah-nald has gotten quite accustom to giving reach arounds across the aisle to our democratic-controlled legislature.

    Sad to say, it’s become the only way to get anything done in this state.

    Ever since our “special election” they’ve been keeping his balls in a mason jar under Fabian Nunez’s sink.

  23. #23
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:53 pm, nyc123me said:

    McCain : a violent, self-serving, ugly little hypocrite.

  24. #24
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:55 pm, mnmike said:

    RINO mating session has arrived.

  25. #25
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:55 pm, uhangtight said:

    i think the conservatives that used to make up the republican party have been pushed aside by these liberals. it is time to find a new party folks. time to stop giving the republican party our money because it apparently does not support our values. it just wants our money. i say no more. i will not support your candidate in the november election if he is mccain or the liberal ilk. i will vote my conservative record. if no conservative is on the ballot well then i will write in the name.

    the republican party is no longer the conservative party. it is not any different than the democrat party. time to find a place where conservatives are wanted and supported.

  26. #26
    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:59 pm, see-dubya said:

    There’s a phrase I’m thinking of from R. Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket, which is not at all appropriate for a PG-rated blog, but which ends something like “the gosh-darn common courtesy to reach across the aisle”.

    You know the one I mean.

  27. #27
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:01 pm, jamesgreenidge said:

    Why Everything’s So Madly Green and Caring All Of Sudden?

    I was an oceanography major back before the first Earth Day, and I remember what most subtly stirred the movement; Viet Nam. Make love not war, right? Cuddle a whale instead of an killing an enemy. In my eyes, the media’s REAL sudden “concern” over global warming (hey, how come NASA’s got all that solar incidence data all red-taped up, what even Mars and Venus probes registering temp rises??) is really meant to minimize the significance of the goals of the war and to take the blush off Bush’s accomplishment of freeing tens of millions of people. I mean it’s such a warm fuzzy-feeling to feel like a grass-roots champion saving polar bears and the whole world from corporate evil than facing minor players of harm such as a bunch of nasty terrorists who are just updated Al Capones.

    James Greenidge
    Queens NY

  28. #28
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:02 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    How about defending our side of the political aisle?

    How about standing up to the regulatory and legislative encroachment of those on the other side of the political aisle?

    How about limiting the damage done by Democrat meddlers trying to get their “things done?”

    How about less trashing of the entrepreneurs on our side of the aisle who are the engine of our economy?

    How about getting more things undone?

    I see a woman can dream too.

  29. #29
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:02 pm, Paul-Cincy said:

    I had bad dreams about McCain all nite. In one he sold chicken, big stainless steel racks filled with fried chicken, and I thought, wasn’t he running for prez, what is he doing in the fast-food industry. I bought three pieces from him because I like to patronize local merchants. Don’t know what that dream meant!

    I was so disgusted at McCain’s performance in the debate last nite. If people can’t recognize the decency, sincerity, competency, and conservatism of Romney vs McCain, then is conservatism just dead, or has the culture become so twisted we can’t distinguish between good and bad? I hope for the former, as I think the latter would be worse.

  30. #30
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:04 pm, guspapa said:

    I have not been able to discern any difference between the two parties for over 20 years, this is nothing new

  31. #31
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:05 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    Why is it when he reaches across the aisle to shake my hand, I feel his liberal buddies picking my pocket?

  32. #32
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:08 pm, jeanie said:

    Michelle–Thanks for keeping the heat on McCain and the GOP and Allah too. Some people in the conservative media seemed to have backed down.

  33. #33
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:09 pm, jeanie said:

    Whoops! Badly worded. Allah thanks to you too is what I meant.

  34. #34
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:12 pm, Paul-Cincy said:

    OK, my dream could mean that McCain is pandering to the lowest common denominator (selling fried chicken), and I bought 3 pieces (McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, and McCain-Lieberman), simply because he’s a Republican (i.e. “one of us”). I dunno. I saw a real ugly side of him last nite in the debate. He showed a lot of liberal character traits, like self-importance, arrogance, refusal to consider he might be wrong, dissembling aka lying. It made me wonder why he wasn’t a Democrat. I began to wonder if a lot of his stances aren’t just reactions to his own personal experiences, rather than rooted in principle. It seems more about him, than about his vision for the country. I’m so sorry Romney is toast. I wish there was something I could do to save him.

  35. #35
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:13 pm, blues said:

    Michelle,John McMCain can’t do the things you are asking because he would have to become a…a..a…conservative-and we can’t have that now can we?

  36. #36
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:18 pm, jwalker said:

    You know, Arnolds maiden name is Kennedy. Ted will probably endorse him next.

  37. #37
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:21 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    On January 31st, 2008 at 4:55 pm, mnmike said:
    RINO mating session has arrived.

    Is this a fortuitous look at the picture behind all this palm-pressing?

  38. #38
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:21 pm, MagicalPat said:

    Why do I get the feeling that ‘Reaching across the aisle” means walking across the aisle and joining their buddies?

  39. #39
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:24 pm, Paul-Cincy said:

    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:21 pm, MagicalPat said:
    Why do I get the feeling that ‘Reaching across the aisle” means walking across the aisle and joining their buddies?

    There’s a Mel Martinez clip in his endorsement of McCain where he says something like “and we can get a Democrat elected. I mean Republican”. Hilarious.

  40. #40
    On January 31st, 2008 at 5:43 pm, NBF said:

    Arnold and Pawlenty and a few other Republican Governors have jumped on the Global Warming bandwagon.

    Uh, so has RomnestyCare. sigh

    It’s liberal v. liberal. The quicker we realize this, the better off we’ll be.

  41. #41
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:10 pm, John Ansell said:

    I thought the reaching was code for Larry Craig activity. Oops.

  42. #42
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:13 pm, purplepeep said:

    “reach[ing] across the political aisle to get things done.”

    i think it was JRLinGB who noted in another comment thread that everytime McCain “reaches” he always gets pulled over to the other “aisle”.

    Can’t improve on that observation.

    And he may get “things done”, but I don’t know that doing the wrong thing is something he wants to brag on.

  43. #43
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:19 pm, CarpiJugulum said:

    There is a play being made behind the scenes. Arnold is reaching out to all the liberal friends of Uncle Ted for one reason. He wants to sit in the White House and be the first nonCONUS born President.

    He thinks McCan’t will aid in his changing of the Constitution so that he can run.

  44. #44
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:25 pm, OneofThem said:

    To which I say: When did it become the Republican Party’s top priority to “get things done?”

    I’m scared that this quote is gonna be used out-of-context by the Left. :o

  45. #45
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:29 pm, ajmontana said:

    Anyone know the scoop of who the other countries of the world want to win? any buzz out their for one candidate? and which cadidate do you think our enemies want?

  46. #46
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:31 pm, ajmontana said:

    geez, out there and candidate… :shock:

  47. #47
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:43 pm, Barry F. said:

    How about defending our side of the political aisle?

    How about standing up to the regulatory and legislative encroachment of those on the other side of the political aisle?

    How about limiting the damage done by Democrat meddlers trying to get their “things done?”

    How about less trashing of the entrepreneurs on our side of the aisle who are the engine of our economy?

    How about getting more things undone?

    Yes…
    Yes…
    Yes…
    Yes…
    and
    He** Yes…

  48. #48
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:44 pm, NeoConNews said:

    It’s liberal v. liberal. The quicker we realize this, the better off we’ll be.

    I’d rather not have things too quick. Eight slow Romney years are much preferred to those of McCain. It isn’t lib versus lib, it’s wishy-washy Republican against a self-loathing ‘straight talker’. Romney or bust.

  49. #49
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:45 pm, Barry F. said:

    I thought the reaching was code for Larry Craig activity. Oops.

    Nah. That’s just supposed to be an ordinarily “wide stance”. ;-)

  50. #50
    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:57 pm, Boomer said:

    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:10 pm, John Ansell said:
    I thought the reaching was code for Larry Craig activity. Oops.

    Dude! That’s my lying crapweasel Senator you’re talking about. Wish I would have thought of it first. ;)

    I have to agree the RINO love fest is really begining to make a real conservative ill.

  51. #51
    On January 31st, 2008 at 7:00 pm, Ron Rockstar said:

    We’ll hear that annoying platitude a bazillion and one times through Super Tuesday and beyond.

    I’m tuning out until Super Tuesday. I’ll hold my nose and vote for Romney. If McCain gets the nomination, I’ll either not vote, or write in “liberal” and let them see if they can figure out which one I voted for.

  52. #52
    On January 31st, 2008 at 7:02 pm, et said:

    ahnold said: McCain for “reach[ing] across the political aisle to get things done.”

    Hows this for reaching across the political aisle?

    Democrat ticket: Clinton-McCain
    Republican ticket: McCain-Clinton

    Now if they could get away with it; would you put it past them?

  53. #53
    On January 31st, 2008 at 7:03 pm, Mookie said:

    Does this make Ted Olson and Jack Kemp RINOs as well?

  54. #54
    On January 31st, 2008 at 7:26 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    At this point, I really don’t know what’s worse…Clinton or McCan’t on the tickets…

    This is SO depressing.

    Why on earth is everyone jumping on the McCan’t bandwagon? Because they think he’s the only one who can win the battle next year and keep an (R) in office?

    McCan’t is going to be OUR Jimmy Carter. Just you wait and see.

  55. #55
    On January 31st, 2008 at 7:33 pm, maroonedinmarin said:

    Yeah, look what Ahnold has done in California. The state’s in just about as bad of a shape as it was when Red Davis was recalled. There’s a reason my family and so many others are leaving California. It’s going down the toilet. We don’t need an Arnold as the Republican nominee.

  56. #56
    On January 31st, 2008 at 7:40 pm, mngirl said:

    On January 31st, 2008 at 6:29 pm, ajmontana said:
    Anyone know the scoop of who the other countries of the world want to win? any buzz out their for one candidate? and which cadidate do you think our enemies want?

    AJ:
    I went to bschool in Europe, too many years ago, but I keep in touch with many of my classmates – I just had an email exchange with one of them about 6 days ago. The following was his analysis, he is a well educated European businessman in his 40′s; notice how he says he hasn’t paid too much attn to the republican race because he doesn’t think we would go with another republican.

    Hello dear,

    So good to read you are still in love with GWB! I am not surprised, even if it is a bit difficult to understand I have to admit :-) after everything he has done to the country, or better, NOT done for the country, other than sinking the $, wasting billions in iraq, lying about WMD, the torturing of prisoners…etc! I do come across smart people like you (last one was a partner at Monitor !) that still believe in him….!! Too bad we cant meet over a beer to discuss…

    On the coming elections..i hesitate between obama and hillary…obama is fun and fresh and smart, and is a great guy that people like…but sometimes I find that he lacks a bit in substance and experience…does he look like a president? Are the americans REALLY ready for a black president…? Probably a ‘no’ on both accounts…I would not bet on him….Hillary is not perfect either, but is solid, smart…i read once that to become president you really have to want it…and I think hillary wants to be president…she will bring some stability, common sense and reason to the US, put the US back on track and respected in the world, and that is badly needed!
    I wud bet on obama for the next round though..definitely…..and on hillary for this round…!!

    Have to admit that I have not followed the republican candidates too much…probably cose I don’t believe any of them has a serious chance to win after the damage that bush has done…romney looks like a good decent guy though…but washington is not company that is focused on making a quarterly profit….he is probably too honest for the job!

  57. #57
    On January 31st, 2008 at 7:47 pm, Major O said:

    No surprises with Arnold. Many of us opposed his run on the very grounds that he’s cut from the exact same cloth as McCain. We were told (by no less than Hugh Hewitt) to be quiet and vote for the “electable” Arnold.
    You get what you pay for.

    And just a question: What differences exist between Joe Lieberman and McCain in terms of how you think they’ll come down on the issues? What differences exist between McCain and Rick Santorum?

    Nuff said.

  58. #58
    On January 31st, 2008 at 7:50 pm, zorro said:

    See-dubya, bingo!

  59. #59
    On January 31st, 2008 at 7:58 pm, katieanne said:

    When will the Dems reach across the aisle to our side? Never. Republicans are always the ones who have to compromise.

    RINO Twins…great! I don’t have much respect for Arnold anymore. He might as well go to the dark side where his wife is. He certainly isn’t a Republican.

  60. #60
    On January 31st, 2008 at 8:19 pm, Speakup said:

    Yes Ma’am.

  61. #61
    On January 31st, 2008 at 9:43 pm, tmkeith said:

    New idea for a McCain bumper sticker:
    JOHN McCAIN
    REPUBLICLINTON

  62. #62
    On January 31st, 2008 at 10:54 pm, Ron said:

    You have to admit, McCain DOES know how to reach across the aisle and get the liberal Democratic agenda accomplished. It’s just the conservative agenda he has problems with.

  63. #63
    On January 31st, 2008 at 10:55 pm, Ron said:

    And lest we forget, Arnold is a Kennedy my marriage.

  64. #64
    On February 1st, 2008 at 4:45 am, graysonret said:

    It doesn’t surprise me that many Europeans support the democrats, living in socialism themselves. When you are bombarded with “Hooray for the democrats” every day in the European news, I guess, after awhile, you come to believe it all. I lived in Europe too, but many years ago…England and France.

  65. #65
    On February 1st, 2008 at 8:09 am, herself said:

    Notes for politicians.

    1) Change is not necessarily improvement. I want a candidate who intends to improve bad situations.

    2) Getting things done does not matter if you have the wrong “things” on your agenda. And the particular “things” I want done are not really going to be done with willing cooperation from Democrats. Immigration from countries “vastly over quotas” must be stopped. Immigration from nations who ACTUALLY support terrorism must stop. (That means Saudi Arabia.) Creeping Dhimmitude MUST be stopped.

    3) I will not lend my vote to a candidate who I think will do more damage than good. I learned this one the hard way. I still have nightmares over that vote. If both candidates are bad then vote for nobody. You won’t have that bad vote on your conscience the rest of your life. At least then when the country goes to Hell it’s not done with the sanction of my vote.

    ’nuff said for now.

  66. #66
    On February 1st, 2008 at 4:32 pm, FirstSkirt said:

    Herself (#65)I couldn’t agree more!
    What’s up with this Juan Hernandez guy who’s a political advisor to McCain. Anybody with even half a brain should be concerned about McCains sell-out to Mexico and Mexico’s blatant disregard for the immigration laws of the U.S.
    I won’t vote for McCain under any conditions and I’ll write in Fred Thompson if I can.

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