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TX-04: GOPer Would Whip Bush With "Switch"
Today's prizewinning quote comes from GOP Rep. Ralph Hall of Texas, who said the following at a fundraiser for his reelection:
"We could do worse. But we have a good president. I pray for him. Sometimes I'd like to pull down his britches and switch him, but I still love him." Discuss.
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Naw. As a Texan who's watched Governor Bush's smirks over death row appeals, his presidential cruelties, I'd like to see him birched by an international tribunal and removed from sight. With his trousers on, thanks very much.
August 7, 2006 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
sounds like Ralph Hall kinda has a gay thing for George Bush.
Texas is a tough place for a Republican to come out of the closet.
August 7, 2006 7:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm still wating for a response from Greg Sargent, Greg.. are you or are you not a paid consultant for the Ned Lamont campaign? I mean, Markos of DK got caught being a paid ho, for Ho Dean, so did a blogger from MyDD back in '04.. you're supposed to disclose that sort of thing aren't you?
August 7, 2006 8:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Family values?
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August 7, 2006 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
What are you? A prude? Ashamed to look at a human body? Violence is ok but a peek at too much skin is bad?
OTOH, the quoted Congressman sounds like an S&M type.
August 8, 2006 1:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
You like to claim you are "reality based" but listen, lady. It has been established beyond a doubt that Kos had a disclosure up and several people have corrected you on this point.
Harassing a reporter here is quite out of line.
Maybe you should take a breather. A few days off.
Really. Try it. It helps.
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August 8, 2006 1:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Discuss what? The fact that you don't get Midwestern humor?
I'd like to ask anyone from the rural Midwest if they thought that quote should be a headline at TPMCafe--as an insinuation that someone of W's ilk disagreed with him.
'Cuz that's not the way this rural Midwesterner reads it. It's actually completely the reverse. The quote is kissing his ass.
It's hard to explain in words, but that's EXACTLY what was happening--a kiss up.
Can anyone back me up here?
August 8, 2006 2:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not a Switch
Not a switch, but a spatula. (reference to Jesus' General)
Or a hairbrush, and you have my permission to like it. (guess the movie reference!)
We discipline only because we love! :-)
August 8, 2006 8:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is all Midwestern humor fetishistic S&M gay male fantasty-driven?
Your explanation may be correct at the surface, but I think the post is asking us to take a deeper look...
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August 8, 2006 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you. It's the equivelant of "he's a good kid, he just needs his ass kicked once in awhile."
August 8, 2006 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd like to see PFC Bush in BDUs with 80lbs of equipment on in 102 degree heat living in a hole and shitting in a bag in the Iraqi desert and arguing with PFC Cheney over whether the chicken tetrazzini mre (which is the best goddamn meal in the U.S. Army) is better than the chili mac mre (which ain't even hot and tastes like shit, chili my ass) and wondering if they're ever gonna get out of this hell hole.
But then, I've always felt that the punishment should fit the crime...
August 8, 2006 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know about the Midwest, but Congressman Hall is clearly speaking from Texas experience, and, yes, this statement is a clear alignment with George Bush. As for the choice of imagery, there is nothing sado-masochistic or homosexual about the Congressman's statement. Ralph Hall is from the senior George Bush's generation. He has sons who are the president's age. It is not unlikely that he has taken a switch to his own sons at some point, and to make this reference to the president simply means that he is occasionally unhappy with the president's actions and would correct them if he could.
Sadder in all this is the fact that Ralph Hall is a former Democrat who jumped to the Republican Party following Bush's election and the pressures from a Republican-controlled congress that harmed his district. The mid-cycle redistricting pushed by Tom Delay may also have been a factor in his decision to jump ship, although that is speculation on my part.
In any case, the man is 83 years old, a founder of the Blue Dog Coalition, and a consistent conservative regardless of party. There are few Texans of a certain age who do not remember exactly which bush (no pun intended) the switch could be cut from whenever needed. (I have very specific memories of a crepe myrtle.) Most of us did our best to make sure there was no need. If Ralph Hall thinks the president needs a switching, it might be useful to find out why.
August 8, 2006 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
No. I've seen enough Dick in that administration, Piotr.
August 8, 2006 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's exactly right, Bev. Kudos!
August 8, 2006 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
As for the choice of imagery, there is nothing sado-masochistic or homosexual about the Congressman's statement.
Nothing gay/S&M about pulling down the pants of another man and whipping his ass with a switch?
Okaaay.....
How about the Village People? Anything gay about them?
Liberace???
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August 8, 2006 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Liberace was gay????
August 8, 2006 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never tried the chili or chicken mre but it sounds too good for them. I say give 'em ham and lima beans 'till they decide that war is hell and it's time to bring everyone home. One day would likely do it.
By the way, there are two ranks below PFC, why do you think they should always be promoted above their level of competence?
August 8, 2006 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I figured with their connections and know-how they'd have managed to get themselves out of the ranks of the shitter cleaners. Of course, now that I think about it, pulling out drums of shit and setting fire to them might be an appropriate job for both of them - but then that means they get a cot in a tent at night and I'm catagorically against that. I'm not arguing with you, I just think that picking scorpions off the asses is the way to go here...
August 8, 2006 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, it is. We're talking about people who have cornhole tournaments.
August 8, 2006 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, cscs, we'll just have to disagree on this. Congressman Hall was speaking from a cultural context related to place, age, and social patterns. He'd probably be dumbfounded by the interpretation you seem to be assigning, as would his audience. Still, if you want to lump him in with the Village People and LIberace, have at it. Seems a waste of time to me.
August 16, 2006 1:21 AM | Reply | Permalink