Note To Local Leftybloggers
By Mitch Berg
I realize you get that sense of edgy rebellion by calling our governor “Timmy”. And ordinarily I’d not be the one to rain on your parade, however pathetic “your parade” would seem to be.
However, he was elected by a plurality of your neighbors – twice. So it’s actually “Governor Pawlenty” to you.
That is all.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Well, you can say that; I can’t, as I’ve been known to refer to another well-known elected official as “Barry” or “His Obamaness,” although I find some other nicknames used for the guy kind of offensive, and don’t use them.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Hey, you up there on the high horse, let Angryclown know when you convince your intern Johnny Roosh to stop saying “Obammy,” m’kay?
November 30th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Joel,
Well, he did go by “Barry” in college. I’m not gonna do that, but it’s not quite the insulting diminuitive that “Timmy” is, either.
Angryclown,
While I don’t agree with “Obammy”, you must realize that SITD is like an elite university, and the administration doesn’t infringe on the academic freedom of its tenured staff. And like any elite university, while we don’t always agree on things inside the house, we take care of it amongst our selves, and also sniff down our nose at the raw unrefined bleating of its critics.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Using the diminutive “Timmy” seems a strange strategy to me. It makes it sound as if the DFL got its legislative ass handed to it by a six-year-old. Indeed they were “pwned” (I think that’s what the kids call it), but I thought the meme was to project Republicans as big, scary meany-heads if they’re in power and “crazy” if they appear as if they could get in power. I know the Left is deep into playing the victimization card but suggesting you just let a pipsqueak knock your books on the ground and take your lunch money likely elicits more derision for your cause than sympathy.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I thought it was a South Park reference.
TIMMY!!!!
November 30th, 2009 at 11:38 am
AC rushes in in an attempt to clarify that he doesn’t use cutesy or diminutive nicknames for politicians… merely the folks who vote for anyone slightly to the right of his far-left principles.
Soon to come:
Pernicious Peeve rushes in to spend two posts (each 172,000 words long) on how Mitch has three more fingers pointing back at him regarding remarks once used toward the very manly and not at all effette Senator John Kerry and his extremely manly and stately running mate Senator Edwards back in the days they commanded the respect and admiration of men and women from sea to shining sea.
After which we’ll see a similar volume of words from Dog that targets, for the most part, conservatives yet sort-of targets Democrats (in a vague sense) but then swerves into completely unrelated territory.
Meanwhile, K-Rod busts a vein and calls both Mitch and Roosh closet liberals, Tic-Rick lies through his teeth while giving cover to anyone remotely related with the uber-left, Tracy calls a number of folks douchebags, Kermit uses only five to eight words to chide AC, one of the other conservative bloggers says the word “poop”, and Badda repeats words to the effect of, “here we go again”.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Local Leftybloggers use the nickname “Timmy” not to diminish the Gov, but to instead attract hits from Angryclown googling for “dates”.
BTW Night Writer, I think you left out a ‘3′ in your spelling of the word “pawned” as in ‘totally pwn3d’. Totally.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Mitch explained; “you must realize that SITD is like an elite university, and the administration doesn’t infringe on the academic freedom of its tenured staff.”
Wingnut County Community College. Be true to your school.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I just wish Pawlenty’s critics would make up their minds. You have these dudes calling him “Timmy” and then we’ve got Walter Mondale and David Lillehaug calling him Nixon in the Star Tribune. Which is it? Or is he Timmy Nixon, the marauder with the mullet?
November 30th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Note to local Righty-bloggers, I realize you get a certain sense of superiority from referring to Barack Obama as:
A. Obammy
B. The One
C. Barry
D. The Messiah
And I realize that you got bent out of shape when people called Boosh, “Shrub” – and chose to lecture people about it, and then called Obama many things worse than simply a euphamism for Bush (or Obama in this case) – but Obama WAS elected by a VAST majority (not just a plurality) of your fellow citizens, so it’s actually President Obama to you.
That is all.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
BTW, Mitch, I don’t think scatology qualifies a comment section as elite – perhaps unmanaged, or perhaps ambivilently observed, but elite? Now who’s talking about elitism and condescension?
November 30th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
one of the other conservative bloggers says the word “poop”
I can’t imagine ANYONE playing to that base denominator.
Or can I. . . ?
November 30th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Speaking of base demoninators, Yoss, where’s Pernicious Peeve?
November 30th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I suspect he’s off in some comment box somewhere, writing endless drivel no one takes the time to read because life is far too precious and short for that kind of meandering, pointless crap.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Wingnut County Community College.
{{adjusts spectacles}}
{{clears throat uncomfortably}}
{{Smirks knowingly at fellow faculty members, cocks an eyebrow in that way known to keepers of the secret handshake}}
{{Pours a brandy}}
November 30th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Oops. I stand corrected. The Peevie is actually here, being the typical monumental cock-snap we’ve grown to ridicule over the years.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Note to local Righty-bloggers, I realize you get a certain sense of superiority from referring to Barack Obama as:
Well, no. I get a cerain sense of superiority from being superior.
Glad I could clear that up.
A. Obammy
Asked and answered. See above.
B. The One
Er, for starters, that one started on the left. It was a lefty commentator – several, in fact, as I recall – who said Obama was going to be “the one” that would lead this nation back into righteousness.
C. Barry
Which was Obama’s own preferred nickname in college.
D. The Messiah
The term you’re looking for is “The Obamessiah”, to separate him from that other one. It is indeed satirical – but hardly a condescending diminuitive. It attacks the hyperbolic nature of his supporters/disciples/cultists; it is not a childish corruption of his name.
And I realize that you got bent out of shape when people called Boosh, “Shrub”
No, we merely called the left on its boundless shallowness.
– and chose to lecture people about it,
No, merely chose to ignore those who indulged in such a deeply dim appelation as unworthy of engagement.
and then called Obama many things worse
Really? Name ‘em.
than simply a euphamism for Bush (or Obama in this case) – but Obama WAS elected by a VAST majority (not just a plurality) of your fellow citizens, so it’s actually President Obama to you.
Er, feel free to find any examples of me applying childish corruptions or diminuitives to his name.
Get working on that.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I don’t think scatology qualifies a comment section as elite – perhaps unmanaged, or perhaps ambivilently observed, but elite?
It’s art.
Why do you hate art?
Now who’s talking about elitism and condescension?
I’d explain, but you wouldn’t understand. Few outside the SITD fraternity would.
(EXPLANATION FOR THE HUMOR-IMPAIRED: My last line was a play on Pen’s “Now who’s talking…” bit; the comedic value (aka “Laff Riot”) comes from answering a remark about “elitism and condescenscion” with a comically-exaggerated condescending elitist response. No actual “elitism and condescenscion” is intended. Not that most of you would get, anyway).
November 30th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Oops. I did it again.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Mitch Berg said: Er, feel free to find any examples of me applying childish corruptions or diminutives to his name.
…that’s my job.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Personally, I hate The One more than any other nickname. As a proper noun it was started by religious McCain supporters to portray Obama as the Antichrist to religious zealots. For me its a reminder of how ridiculous the right can get when it comes to paranoid conspiracy theories.
I assume that Mitch and others that use that term on this blog in jest and do not intend for it to scare the religious zealots into fearing for the appocalypse.
For the record I’ve never used “Timmy” on my blog and I’m perfectly fine with “Barry,” (nickname, works for me) “The Messiah” (irony always plays) and “Obammy” (sounds racist for some reason, but I’m not black so who knows).
November 30th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
November 30th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Terry, I said as a proper noun. There’s a difference between calling him “the one” as in “the one who has a new vision for America” or “the one that has the more fasionable suit” and “The One.”
I’m beginning to notice that lacking attention to detail, especially those that do not validate one’s own personal ideals and beliefs, is a trait commonly found among conservatives.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Badda, you are again mistaken, Tracy is the one that likes to call Mitch a liberal; I enjoy pointing out one or two of Mitch’s less conservative/libertarian positions.
…. ….
As for names,
Obama went by Barry so there is nothing wrong with that.
Obama as The Obamassiah works so well with all those campaign halo photos.
Obama, The One. Complain to Oprah if you don’t like it.
but the left really had a nice one for him:
Obama, The LightWorker!!!
November 30th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I find it funny that the left gets so worked up about nicknames for Obama. Because we know that they NEVER did that to ChimpyMcBooshHitler.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
“I am here to tell you, Iowa, he is The One. He is The One!” – Winfrey
November 30th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I’m beginning to notice that lacking attention to detail, especially those that do not validate one’s own personal ideals and beliefs, is a trait commonly found among conservatives.
Well, no. It’s a trait commonly found among anyone who knows the headlines but not the raw data of a given issue.
For example, all the people in the DFL tees at the state fair who, when asked to articulate reasons for their support of Obamacare, merely chanted “Public Option NOW! Public Option NOW!”.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
So what’s the verdict, are we allowed to use “Timmy” now, or is that still out? What about T-Paw? Are all the Obama nicknames still in play? My other con friends are curious.
Or should we just go back to how it was there the left uses whatever nasty names they want and the right and gets worked up over every little thing the right calls them, and the right uses whatever nasty names they want about the left and gets worked up over every little thing the left calls them?
Call me old fashioned, but I thought that was actually working out pretty well.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Tracy is the one that likes to call Mitch a liberal;
I never really understood that.
I enjoy pointing out one or two of Mitch’s less conservative/libertarian positions
Now if only you’d enjoy actually showing us how any of those positions aren’t actually conservative or libertarian.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Tracy just likes to rip Mitch because he rides his bike everywhere. I think some of it has to do with the blogwars and the massive fallout from the “dirt-worshipping heathens” post 2 years back. 2 questions Mitch, did you take a side in that kerfuffle and do you think he’s just jealous you have a more popular blog than he does. I know I used to be a regular on AS (so were Kermit and K-Rod) but I’ve transitioned to here because its more interesting and the trolls are slightly more intelligent and coherent.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
“For example, all the people in the DFL tees at the state fair who, when asked to articulate reasons for their support of Obamacare, merely chanted “Public Option NOW! Public Option NOW!”.”
What, you were expecting 50 dems to rattle off a five point plan in unison? I think you picked a poor example. And don’t try to tell me that you could get a better response asking a TEA party why they oppose Obamacare.
Let’s find out, though: everyone, tell me why you oppose or support Obamacare in three lines or less.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Nope, like I said Mitch, your less conservative/libertarian positions.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Rofl; I don’t see how Timmy is worse than other diminutives – Eddy, Bobby, Johnny – or Barry. I was under the impression that T-Paw was a sort of diminutive, a nick name as it were, used by both sides of partisan politics without insult.
I find it amusing that listeners are able to recognize caps from the small letters in the spken word, identifying the intention of a noun used being common rather than proper.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Ben,
Tracy just likes to rip Mitch because he rides his bike everywhere.
Which is odd, inasmuch as I’ve demonstrated both my utterly free-market reasons for biking, and the absurdity of blowing “I like to bike” up into “I want to make biking part of transit policy and force you all onto two pedal-driven wheels”. As to calling me a “liberal” for biking – well, I liken it to tourette’s.
I think some of it has to do with the blogwars and the massive fallout from the “dirt-worshipping heathens” post 2 years back. 2 questions Mitch, did you take a side in that kerfuffle
I did. I simultaneously repudiated racism, defended Tracy, and gutted his critics’ case, and I did it with style.
and do you think he’s just jealous you have a more popular blog than he does.
It would be reasonable.
I know I used to be a regular on AS (so were Kermit and K-Rod) but I’ve transitioned to here because its more interesting and the trolls are slightly more intelligent and coherent.
You are obviously a person of taste and clear perception.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
tell me why you oppose or support Obamacare in three lines or less.
1 – it’ll degrade healthcare for the 92% of America that already has it, and eventually make it unaffordable without government mandate.
b) By artificially regulating the market, it will inevitably constrict the supply of healthcare.
iii. It will spend money we don’t have on a program that serves a political agenda rather than solving an actual need.
You did say three lines. I could go on and on.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Just waiting for Tracy and Kermit.
~~~~~
Edward Kennedy went by Teddy
Robert Kennedy went by Bobby
Barak went by Barry
McCain, at least not in his recent years, did not go by Johnny.
Tim Pawlenty does not go by Timmy.
Neither GW nor Bush 41 went by “Bushie”.
Using a diminutive is often the opposition’s way to make the target look ilke a child or like a girl (or like a total pussy).
T-Paw is faux-hip… like calling Pernicious Peeve D-bag.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Simple:
1. Not a governmental responsibility.
2. Not in the Constitution.
3. Cost in dollars and effects to the industry.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
DG,
Rofl; I don’t see how Timmy is worse than other diminutives – Eddy, Bobby, Johnny – or Barry.
Leaving aside the already established fact that the Kennedy bros and Obama went by the nicknames mentioned, “Timmy” as short for “Timothy” has a bit of a patronizing overtone to it that the others lack. It’s also more than likely that people who call him “Timmy” are echoing the South Park character.
Now, if you could show me that Governor Pawlenty has ever been called “Timmy” by anyone other than his grandmother, feel free to sound off.
I was under the impression that T-Paw was a sort of diminutive, a nick name as it were, used by both sides of partisan politics without insult.
It’s not a diminuitive at all. It’s a sort of verbal abbreviation, like “J-Lo”, “K-Lo”, or “E-Mo” (Jennifer and Katherine Jean Lopez, Ed Morrissey). It’s neither insulting nor diminuitive. It’s shorthand.
You can rationalize it all you want, but there is no way to see “Timmy” as anything but an insult.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I’m surprised that he even comments here anymore, mainly because he is so off topic usually we ignore him (except mitch, who feels the need to pick his flawed logic apart piece by piece, not that I mind) and his posts are so damn long and incoherent I don’t know if I should laugh or scream at the end of them. Thanks for the reply Mitch and by the way if you want to be anal (insert easy gay sex joke here) that was 6 lines
November 30th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
easy gay sex joke here
Good Lord – why not just douse the whole room in Clown-nip? :-`
November 30th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Perhaps I was too brief, Apathy Boy.
I found your belief that McCain commanded a phalanx of religious zealots amusing.
Oprah was the source of the appellation.
In context I thought she was using “The One” as a proper noun. Opinions may vary.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
These are the same folks who get behind the BusHitler snark, the ReThuglican snark, and other so-called witty comments.
They always get bent out of shape when we say their, “What, me???” claims of innocence is nothing but a sham and a tissue of lies.
(Although, I don’t get K-Rod’s obsession with calling me or other Anti-Stribbers, or anyone else, “wrong” all the time.)
November 30th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Mitch wrote:”While I don’t agree with “Obammy”, you must realize that SITD is like an elite university, and the administration doesn’t infringe on the academic freedom of its tenured staff. And like any elite university, while we don’t always agree on things inside the house, we take care of it amongst our selves, and also sniff down our nose at the raw unrefined bleating of its critics.”
Since I know you outside of this blog, I can laugh at what I take to be a humorous exaggeration on your part (elite university? LOL!); I’ve never known you to be that egotistical. But allowing for the humor, this statement boils down to mean that it is ok when you and yours do it and wrong when anyone else does the same thing.
For the record, I have never called our gov “Timmy”, but it hardly sounds ‘edgy’ – or insulting. I have referred to him as T-Paw.
So, do I get my wrist slapped however for writing a humorous piece that compared Rush Limbaugh to Humpty-Dumpty? Complete with side by side photos of Rush, and a nearly life sized statue of Humpty Dumpty by a Minnesota artist on display in Arizona for similarity.
I did point out that the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty was quite possibly based on a “loose” cannon on the battlement of a castle in Scotland that exploded leaving the pieces beyond hope of reassembly – if that helps. I thought that little detail enriched the comparison…….. but it was a comparison in fun, not malice. Was it insulting? I don’t know; I left that for each reader to determine for themselves.
Perhaps that is the element missing in your analogy Mitch – that to some it is fun and funny, while others don’t share the humor. It would explain the secret handshake and the grandiose image……..
November 30th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
“…gutted his critics’ case, and I did it with style.”
not to mention so very humble.
…. ….
“…obsession with calling me or other Anti-Stribbers, or anyone else, “wrong” all the time.)”
Badda, stop making accusations without backing it up and I won’t have to take you to task as much. TE/A-S agrees with my positions on the issues most of the time, just like Mitch agrees with me most of the time.
The A-S 2.0 has lost most of the edginess; I guess if you just want a choir of contribut, er, readers to preach to… but “ditto” tends to get old.
…. ….
“It’s not a diminuitive at all. It’s a sort of verbal abbreviation, like “J-Lo”, “K-Lo”, or “E-Mo” (Jennifer and Katherine Jean Lopez, Ed Morrissey). It’s neither insulting nor diminuitive. It’s shorthand.”
Mitch, I totally agree!
November 30th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Personally, I think “Shrub” is pretty funny. You lefties don’t mind if I start using that one myself do you? I’ve never given a rip what you guys want to call ‘ol George Dubya.
Seriously, though, y’all get your panties in a bundle when you hear Obammy, Barry, or funnier still, his full real name Barack Husein Obama [emphasis added just to piss you off].
December 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am
“In context I thought she was using “The One” as a proper noun. Opinions may vary.”
Terry, I don’t watch Oprah. I was going off of your comment, in which you quoted it as a common noun. You obviously didn’t think of it as a proper noun until I pointed out the difference and you realized that changing your opinion would support your claim better.
I know that you just do this to get under my skin, which is fair enough. I suppose it’s my own fault for taking your comments seriously.
Mitch, T-Paw is diminutive. Timmy is not. “Diminutive” just means that you are shortening a word, it does not imply disreprect. [eg. "Timmy" is a diminutive for "Timothy," but is not a diminutive of "Tim."]
December 1st, 2009 at 11:35 am
“Terry, I don’t watch Oprah. I was going off of your comment, in which you quoted it as a common noun. You obviously didn’t think of it as a proper noun until I pointed out the difference and you realized that changing your opinion would support your claim better.”
Wrong.
I knew Oprah was the source last year cuz I keep up with politics. Watched the video. The quote does not have “the one” capitalized because I googled it and cut-n-pasted it from an account of Oprah’s speech that did not capitalize ‘the one’. Oprah spoke the words, she didn’t write them. How the heck do you know if she meant it as proper noun or not?
“You obviously didn’t think of it as a proper noun . . .”
Ever wonder what else you are wrong about, apathy boy?
December 1st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
K-Rod
When have you taken me to task? What the Hell are you talking about?
December 1st, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I never take you to task when you agree with me.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
K-Rod… I don’t know for the life of me when I’ve agreed with you, disagreed with you, or when you’ve disagreed with me, or agreed with me.
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:07 pm
You had us at “know”, no further words were needed.