The “Name One” game
I enjoy watching Barack Obama’s supporters sputter when asked to name one of his Senate accomplishments as much as anyone else.
However, the “Name One” game feeds into one of the annoying platitudes that conservatives should be rejecting, not embracing–the idea that pieces of legislation with his name of them would qualify Obambi for the job of commander-in-chief.
As I noted when Arnold Schwarzengger endorsed John McCain and praised his ability 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?
When the pundits play the “Name One” game with John McCain, his supporters can breezily reel off a list that starts with McCain-Feingold and McCain-Kennedy. When they play with Hillary Clinton, she’ll bring up universal health care and and every other attempt at expanding government and limiting freedom.
Given those “accomplishments,” less would be better, no?
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Categories: 2008 campaign, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain
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Yup. One bad thing not done trumps a list of ill-conceived things done.
We’d probably be a lot better off if more politicians had Obama’s lack of credentials. I don’t buy into the mindset that one needs to have passed great and wonderful laws to restrict the American citizen in order to be president.
“That government is best which governs least.”
Thomas Paine
“The best umpire is one whose work goes unnoticed.”
Abner Doubleday
“Given those “accomplishments,” less would be better, no?”
true that.
He has proven that a shmuck can get Hillary’s panties all in a wad. But that is about all I can come up with for accomplishments, well, that and he got his victim wife to be proud to be an
AmericanAfrican-American.That Video was funny… When asked the question he went totally blank, and had a horrified look in his eyes, like a 4 year old kid caught sneaking a cookie.
Well fortunatly, we know some things that the Dems want “undone” are the Bush tax cuts, FISA, the 2nd Ammendment, military superiority, the Secure Border Act, ect. ect… therefore
We The People must fight to keep them out of the White House, even if it requires holding our noses and voting for McCain.
Less is better by far. Congress should convene, pass a budget and go home. 45 working days, max.
Hillary even asked her audience that question in her speech last night …
Tell me … wasn’t this “Plagiarism” …
After all … Frank Luntz has been asking that exact question of the people in those Democrap “focus groups” for several months on Fox … especially live on H&C and often replayed next morning on F&F…
At this point I am hoping for gridlock, and the status quo - so that no matter who is elected, be it The Beast, The Empty Suit, or the Cranky Old White Man - that none of them wil be able to do a damn thing.
Our country will be much better off if none of them can get ANY of their goals accomplished, and if the Congress does nothing we will all be safer and richer.
I hate to admit this, but I will give him credit for taking out (almost) the Clintons, something Republicans could never accomplish. A Clinton-free future - that is a Change that gives me Hope!
I would be personally offended and embarrassed if I had originally voted for Clinton and Obama. They had no intention in respresenting me or the state, as they touted in their campaigns. I, along with the rest of their voters would have been simply “used” and discarded as they pursued their real goal, President. Contacting them would have been a waste of time, as a constituent. “Don’t bother me with petty issues. Can’t you see I want to be President?” I guess their state voters don’t care. It an anti-bush thing. I know Webb, here in Virginia, is “testing the waters” already.
We have been handed quite a choice this year. For the Democrats it is between the empty pants suit and the empty suit. Neither with any real accomplishment to show as a basic qualification to be POTUS. For the Republicans we have a grumpy old man that has continuously stabbed conservatives and their values repeatedly over the last couple of years. Either way not one candidate has the resume required to be the leader of the free world.
Hey, Chris Matthews said on the air that Obama made his loins tingle. That has to be some sort of accomplishment.
How true. Things would be better of they were BOTH out of politics.
Barry has accomplished nothing…just like the current Congress (ok, everybody channel Frank Zappa now….ahhhhh, I knew you’d be surprised!) so all you Barry supporters out there need to mindlessly echo this riposte the next time you’re invited to play the “name one” game. Then, you can blame Republicans for obstructing progress, and tell all of America how wonderful it will be when the Democratic Zen Master of Change will work to make a Democratic congress effective…for a change. So, relax, take a deep breath, answer the question without looking like you’ve never seen a curve ball before, and realize just how good your candidate looks in comparison to President-Elect Yoko Ono. *out*
But, but, but, Obama wants CHANGE!
If Obamamama’s idea of change is “take away what little money I have left”, I go with same-old, same-old, thank you.
yes, less is more. this is one time that statement is true. cause usually less is just less.
boomer you got it right. non-of-the-above applies for this presidential run. how sad it is for this country.
although there is a site which touts the legislative accomplishments of Obama. Such improtant legislation as Avian Flu, Nuclear Non-Proliferation and securing loose stockpiles of Conventional Weapons.
Needless to say, increasing government’s hand into our daily lives is not the legislation i would like, but the liberals just love this stuff.
i do believe, however, that experience is not the issue with the majority of the voters. mccain needs to stop touting that and move towards more substantive conservative principles. cause the voters this year don’t give a hoot about experience they want something different. oh yeah, i think they are calling it: CHANGE..
hold on folks it is going to be a bumpy ride for the next four years.
In a certain sense, how little legislation these puffer fish create should be the measure of their character.
Yeah, just how many times has Obamanation not been available to vote?
Change. That is his only stance.
Guess he’s decided to change from the Senate to the WH.
One thing would be nice… Having Obama win the nomination would put the Clintons “out of business”, if only for a couple of years.
No, less isn’t better. I credit a person that tries and fails over a person that doesn’t even try.
I think I am going to officially vote for “the memory of Ronald Reagan” on election day.
I’m afraid his accomplishments will come in his first 2 yrs as POTUS under a Dem controlled House & Senate that which will take decades to undo.
As RWR said, “Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.”
He also reminded us that “[g]overnment’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.”
A very insightful fellow, that RWR. May he RIP.
She would still be around to create havoc in the Senate. She has that seat until 2010, at least, if she loses now.
Oooops. 2010 should be 2012. Got to watch what keys I hit.
I agree that asking candidates what legislation they have sponsored and seen enacted into law is the worst questions for conservatives and centrists to ask. If you framed the question: “What regulations have you dreamed up and asked bureaucrats to enforce?” then people would see how ridiculous this supposed qualification is. The question could be framed this way: “What zoning and land use regulations have you sponsored so that people can have less control of what color they can paint their house or how many chairs the owner of a local restaurant can have or how many handicapped accessed bathrooms do you require?” Then people will understand just what bureacratic control Obama and Clinton want for all of us”.
Actually, there is a delicious irony. The Clintons expanded the definition of “sexual harassment in the workplace” so that just about any routine conversation was considered a violation of the law and allowed bureaucrats at EEOC and judges to interfere and enforce penalties, etc. And those endless regulations and legal rulings by the Clinton justice department is what allowed Paula Jones to sue the pants (literally) off of Bill Clinton. What irony!
How about Term Limits John McCain, Hilly, and O’Bummer? What have you done about that? You all want a forward-looking country, start with that.
For the record, while an Illinois Rep. Obama voted “Present” 130 times.
Decisive, wasn’t he!
Ha! Ha! Ha! Kirk Watson was our mayor here in Austin. What a laugh! Thanks Michelle. Too bad our current mayor is for Obama-nation as well. What would you expect from the little blue pimple in the middle of the red Lone Star State.
Can we throw a requirement in there that senators and representatives must resign their current elected position to run for another elected position in government, whether that be POTUS or, even, governor of their home state? I mean, if we’re going to dream, let’s shoot for the moon.
Great point - less is definitely more in this case.
Barry F.
RWR also said:
The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.
Fred Thompson said it best, “The president meets them halfway, and I think that’s halfway too far.”
Lets help Hillary!
We want the HillObama cabal to come into the convention close to equal and then for Hillary to steal the nomination.
The Democrats could sure use the character building exercise.
Speakup
I have espoused that very scenario here … along with the fact that it will enrage the Obama supporters, especially the black population, because they will finally realize that the Dems have been using them and taking the for granted for decades … the only time the Dems break out all of their minority issue talk is at election time …
Barry:
I guess I am a dreamer on this issue (or illegal immigration) take your pick. I’m with you about the resigning current, useless government position and I’ll raise you leaving behind significant others at home while on the campaign trail (ala Michelle Obama and Bubba Clinton).
If we’re gonna dream let’s DREAM BIG 
He also cautioned us on the results of all the illustrious bureaucracies our government continues to create:
“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth!”
One of his shorter quotes should be taken to heart by those in Washington:
“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”
Michelle is correct…
I always breathe a sigh of relief when Congress adjourns—aahh, a brief respite from their controlling, conniving, elitist rulemaking.
Okay. But, I want to include children in that too, so Chelsea will stay at home.
Barry F.
yep … he also said something about
“government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem” … don’t have the exact quote at hand …
True, BarryF, but I don’t think anyone will be paying attention to her anymore. The party has used her, and, once they see that she and Bill are finished, they will throw her away and find someone else.
Right on. Obama can get on-the-job training on passing not so great and far from wonderful laws working hand-in-hand with congress. Just as soon as he’s sworn in.
We would be better of having a NON-politician as president. Or, for that matter, any office. Serve once, anywhere, as a citizen servant, and return to private life. No career gorging off the public trough. If only.
And, that one leads to RWR’s description of Washington’s approach to dealing with almost every issue they touch:
“The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.“
Barry:
Got ya about Chelsea. McCain’s got a daughter campaigning for to attact the
“young” vote. It will be pretty lonely as president and your family can’t help you once you make it to the Big House. Can the media also be muzzled so we don’t have to continue hearing the likes of Chris Matthews waxing poetic about O’bummer?
Barry:
I forgot to self-edit. I meant McCain’s got a daugher campaigning for the “young” vote.
Barry F.
that is one of my favorites …
I for one love the “Name One” game and Conservatives don’t embrace it as a piece of legislation game. What has John McCain done?
He’s managed to defend the surge and champion it in Congress, essentially tying his political life to a piece of military strategy that wasn’t assured of success.
He’s managed to vote against tax hikes over and over again. He’s also NEVER inserted an earmark into a bill, ever.
I can list things that don’t start with “McCain-” in his list of accomplishments. The “McCain-” pieces are in his list of flaws.
Yes. I think all of their family members should stay at home and let the candidate do the campaigning - wife, children and otherwise. I’m with you.
And, they were some pretty atrocious gaffes, Justin.
I am pretty fond of that one too, DL.
The more family members out there campaigning means more chances that one of them will say something “stupid”, especially, though not limited to, ones who have no political/public speaking experience. Even Bill Clinton couldn’t keep his mouth shut sometimes.
You would be surprised how many people would not mind the goverment running everything. So long as you can be gay and tell chirstians to shut it.
Bill has become one of HRC’s greatest liabilities as of late, grayson. She had better find him an intern to keep him occupied and quick.
Hmmm? Was that too over-the-top?
We hope that if he is “lucky” enough to be elected POTUS, that he will enlist others to be his “ideas” people.
Good idea, Barry. You know what the MSM says about Bill and interns…whatever happens in private life is one’s own business.
You have to love the MSM’s double-standard on that privacy point, huh?
if you must please get one of these but vote McCain 08.
no dem!
While I don’t pay much attention to the race for POTUS anymore,I did hear something very frightening last night.Barack Obama Making a speach started with”When I am your commander in chief”.Couldn’t stand to hear any more.
Does he not realize that the president is Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces_not the general public?Or is this a Freudian slip alluding to his desire to have absolute power?
Of course,being the candidate of Hope,maybe as Pres.,he can Hope away the illegal alien invasion,Islamic Jihad,health care,the problems with the economy,etc.
Can’t you just envision that glorious day when our messiah commander decrees that all americans joint hands,and Hope our problems away?I’m sure that will work./sarc.
Oops,I forgot-freaking Liberal Morons.
For us commoners, Obambi not getting any achievements is a good thing.
I have to disagree…kinda. Yes, the amount of legislation passed, period, is a terrible measure of POTUS-worthiness. But specific pieces of legislation are a very good measure.
Example: Anyone who sponsored the “defeat in Iraq” resolutions is instantly shown to be unqualified to be Commander-in-Chief, even though it didn’t pass.
Example 2: Any of the cosponsors of HR.3818 are more qualified than those Congresspeople trying to kill it in committee.
I hope this makes sense.
The fact that Obamination does not have anything to pin him on is why I think he’s going to whip McInsane. He can know the living daylights out of McAmnesty and when Mctoast fires back “you have no experience” he just retorts “Washington experience, I’m about ‘change’ baby, I lifted it from Newt Gingrich” Mcfrustrated will spout off some curse words and game over. It was McSLain/Feingold that kept Newt of of the race and we know that Newt would take either HIllary or Obmanation.
know =’s knock
John, I am certain Hillbilly has something up her sleeve.
She has something on Obamarama…you can bet on it.
perhaps hillary has them in mind, Gayle?
Most of those items are the ones Mccain is most opposed to as well - and has done some of HIS most prominent and powerful legislation in opposition to.
HOW could ELECTING HIM possibly help further the cause of those items???
McCain Feingold and McCain Kennedy Shamnesty doesn’t ring a bell with you?
His most recent demands for a crash course in resisting the impulse to TORTURE TERRORISTS??????
AND to meet the ACLU STANDARDS for giving terrorists FUlL RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP to have their cases tried on American soil before American CIVILIAN courts?
I think you must have McCain confused with someone else.
Name recognition does that to folks, sometimes.
If I was one of his supporters, here is what I would say…
He’s in the running for President from out of knowhere, managing an organization that is bigger than the US government, with a ground force bigger than the US military (just imagine if he had to round up a militia quickly) at the moment; pulling in more money..
AND…
the killer….
He is about to SLAY THE HILDABEAT (and put Bill into retirement to)…
something no other politician has been able to do til now.
NOW TOP THAT MCCAIN (or Bush, or any other politician)
Of course that answer would be for Obama…
Mc Cain…
Juan ???
That’s about all the accomplishment i need for him
I have to differ with Michelle in that to many people the “Name One” thing doesn’t matter. The “Santa Claus” factor does, and my greatest worry now is just how many _Republican_ women and elders can be woo’ed over to The Bama by the notion of “free” health and child care and massive food stamp entitlements. I know from my community hjust how seductive such programs are, and I think many pundits underestimate this possibility.
James Greenidge
Queens NY