A Mormon for speaker? I don't think Ben Carson would approve.
1
Jason Chaffetz is a liar and ego maniac. He should fit right in as the leader of the Republican controlled house.
2
Good for Chaffetz, whose policies and strength of character I like.
I'm a little worried that McCarthy is a RINO.
I'm a little worried that McCarthy is a RINO.
1
I do not like Rep.Chaffetz's politics, but he was not present at the 2009 GOP inauguration night conspiracy where congressional leaders plotted against President Obama and the American people by deciding not to work with President Obama on ANYTHING. Rep. McCarthy was present.
4
"Some of them said he could be heavy-handed, which they had hoped would not happen after years of partisan skylarking by the previous chairman, Representative Darrell Issa of California."
verb [ intrans. ]
pass time by playing tricks or practical jokes; indulge in horseplay : he was skylarking with a friend when he fell into a pile of boxes. [ORIGIN: late 17th cent. (originally in nautical use): by association with the verb lark 2 .]
Here we have a classic example of how the New York Times deliberately softens and mischaracterizes important distinctions.
verb [ intrans. ]
pass time by playing tricks or practical jokes; indulge in horseplay : he was skylarking with a friend when he fell into a pile of boxes. [ORIGIN: late 17th cent. (originally in nautical use): by association with the verb lark 2 .]
Here we have a classic example of how the New York Times deliberately softens and mischaracterizes important distinctions.
3
Chaffetz reminds me of the quote by Groucho Marx: "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others."
8
Quixotic? Hardly! He's nothing like Don Quixote. He doesn't fight windmills, he rather creates them. A perfect example is the Planned Parenthood debacle. He flails around trying to create a case against it and ends up in a prat fall by pushing an obvious (to everyone except him and his staff) fake chart. And, he certainly isn't chivalrous or romantic given the way he tried (unsuccessfully) to browbeat PP's female director. The only part of 'quixotic' he might exhibit is a propensity for impulsiveness and rashly unpredictable behavior. A better description would be 'opportunistic' in all of it's dark and worst connotations.
He put himself forward by asserting that "I think the American public wants to see a change," Therein lies the fallacy. Chaffetz confuses the far right base of the Republican Party with the American people as a whole. What a guy!
He put himself forward by asserting that "I think the American public wants to see a change," Therein lies the fallacy. Chaffetz confuses the far right base of the Republican Party with the American people as a whole. What a guy!
21
So McCarthy gets a large plurality of votes first time round, then the required majority. Let's hope he has more political skills than Boehner, either at cajoling or threatening his right-wing faction. And I like the fact that he admitted what we all knew: that the hearings on Clinton are just a political ploy. At least it's honest.
As for Chaffetz, he's one of the last people I want two heartbeats away from the presidency.
As for Chaffetz, he's one of the last people I want two heartbeats away from the presidency.
10
There is a fine line between honest and dumb, and in the case of McCarthy, it's nearly invisible.
Meanwhile, I am doubly suspicious, of loosing yet another right-wing McCarthy on the top levels of Congress.
A point of order, Mr. Speaker!
Meanwhile, I am doubly suspicious, of loosing yet another right-wing McCarthy on the top levels of Congress.
A point of order, Mr. Speaker!
Nice guy. Sacrificial lamb. Knife-in-the-back politician.
Will the real Jason Chaffetz please stand up?
Will the real Jason Chaffetz please stand up?
7
You only need to watch the Planned Parenthood hearings to get an idea of what a clown this guy is. It was more than amusing to see him squirm after it was pointed out that his "abortion" chart didn't come from Planned Parenthood —as he insisted — but an anti-abortion group. If you're going to grandstand on Capitol Hill, at least do so intelligently.
37
I had to search elsewhere to learn what Mr. Chaffetz majored in at college besides football. His aggressive use last week of a ridiculously misleading chart does not speak highly of the communications degree he earned at BYU.
22
If by some chance he makes it through the caucus vote, maybe the Dems should support him. Then we'd be in for 12 months of real time GOP crazy infighting and negativity before the 2016 elections. Layer that onto the extremism of any of the GOP presidential candidates (especially the Donald, should he last) and let the fun begin.
9
I don't understand how a person can change both his politics and his religion so completely. Are these not critical elements of one's identity, self-awareness and sincerity. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, "To lose one identity may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."
16
"I don't understand how a person can change both his politics and his religion so completely."
It IS curious. But, Marco Rubio did it twice. He converted to Mormonism when the family moved to Las Vegas. Then, he reconverted to Catholicism when they moved back to Florida.
It IS curious. But, Marco Rubio did it twice. He converted to Mormonism when the family moved to Las Vegas. Then, he reconverted to Catholicism when they moved back to Florida.
3
Good Grief. Dictator Grover Norquist announced publicly that he and other money masters behind the democracy-destroying ALEC/Koch brothers/Wall Street/u.s. chamber of commerce/radical religious right/nra/major media corporate conglomerate do not want candidates that think. They hit the jackpot. Mission accomplished. November 2016 can't come soon enough when we can rid OUR Congress and governments at all levels of their operatives and start restoring democracy in America.
5
I've seen Mr. Chaffetz in action a couple of times in person here in Moab, hoping for something to recommend other than the usual Tea Party drivel. No such luck.
22
Is there a Santorum University? Where do these guys come from?
21
Yeah, it's called BYU.
6
Oral Roberts
2
Only a nation with a death wish could sustain the Republican Party of today.
27
Well aside from everything else (and here I agree with the comments - a truly sad day for our democracy- or should I say our oligarchy) would you just look at that shoe choice. He should be thrown out for that fashion abomination in and of itself.
3
With his kind of love, our country does not need enemies!!!
6
Wrap yourself in a flag and grab a cross... farcical.
7
Except that Mormons don't use crosses.
1
he's not really a mormon. he just moved to utah and joined the most popular church.
5
Chaffetz, who voted for $300,000,000 worth of cuts in embassy security budgets in 2011 and is now leading the Benghazi investigation. Perfect guy to head the most hypocritical bunch of clowns in political history.
44
Has he ever placed the nation's business over his perceived self-interest?
"There is a great deal of ruin in a nation." -- Adam Smith
"There is a great deal of ruin in a nation." -- Adam Smith
10
Ewwwww...... Is this the same guy who was grilling Cecile Richard?
Good God, the Republicans have no shame. None.
Good God, the Republicans have no shame. None.
24
They do not need SHAME; they are Republicans, by God, and therefore right by definition, the legacy of their upper-crust origins. Everyone at the country club agrees, for Pete's sake!
“You have to be comfortable with losing. I am.”
I can't think of a better motto for the House GOP. It explains everything. We all taste success and failure, and our best efforts often come from learning from our mistakes. But reasonable people are not "comfortable with losing." That's the mentality of somebody who, at his heart, really doesn't care about the outcome either way and just wants to play the game. It's a fine attitude for kids kicking a soccer ball, but not so much for somebody who wants to become one of the most powerful politicians in America.
I can't think of a better motto for the House GOP. It explains everything. We all taste success and failure, and our best efforts often come from learning from our mistakes. But reasonable people are not "comfortable with losing." That's the mentality of somebody who, at his heart, really doesn't care about the outcome either way and just wants to play the game. It's a fine attitude for kids kicking a soccer ball, but not so much for somebody who wants to become one of the most powerful politicians in America.
33
He used to be a kicker for BYU....
Now we have a choice. The guy who blurts out the truth, or the guy who doesn't check his sources on the gotcha question. Not much depth of talent on that bench.
38
This guy makes Boehner look like the only adult in the room. Never thought I'd say that.
27
When Representative Chaffetz says he is "comfortable with losing," he makes a good case for his speakership, since anyone looking to corral Congressional Republicans is going to do a lot of that!
5
While it's unfortunate that it was released that the Secret Service had rejected Mr Chaffetz, it now seems clear that he was holding a grudge in regards to his previous attacks on the agency.
The transgressions by the agency seems to give him the chance to get back at them for rejecting me. Even politicians hold grudges and don't handle rejection well. I wonder if he spoke w/his therapist about his resentments?
The transgressions by the agency seems to give him the chance to get back at them for rejecting me. Even politicians hold grudges and don't handle rejection well. I wonder if he spoke w/his therapist about his resentments?
12
What therapist? Moxie yes, insight no!
3
If grudges bother you, don't vote for Clinton. Clearly, the Secret Service breaking the law dos not bother you too much. Perhaps, you can vote for Clinton after all.
I'm surprised that Chaffetz was Jon Huntsman's Chief of Staff in 2004. Either Huntsman failed to properly vet Chaffetz or the man took a turn to the dark side of present day Republicanism. But then again, Chaffetz' irascible behavior made his tenure under Huntsman short lived.
3
Given Mr. Huntsman recent tweet on Chaffetz (linked in the article), looks like he made a lasting impression! I don't know Huntsman very well, but those hashtags make crystal clear what his opinion of Chaffetz is!
3
Sounds like one Republican opportunist challenging another, nothing new here for the GOP and their "love of country".
19
Not only is Chaffetz a mouthy opportunist making a good salary as a U.S. Representative, he is also a cheapstake. Get a room, Chaffetz. Well-paid congresspersons using their D.C. offices as living quarters is cheesy and tacky.
43
That's why we call him Cot Boy.
1
Why is it that these people think it's OK for them to live out of their offices? I am an employee of the Commonwealth of Virginia and have a spacious office. There's a university gym with showers about 100 paces away. I would not dream of living out of my "office-cum-hotel room". It would be inappropriate.
Members of Congress are paid adequately and have no business not setting up a residence for the (little) time they spend working.
Members of Congress are paid adequately and have no business not setting up a residence for the (little) time they spend working.
48
yes, but how do you make a statement you really care about government spending, smaller government, blah blah blah. decribed by some as a weasel it may just be his hole.
1
Could the Republicans, maybe, select a Speaker of the House that is committed to passing the people's business rather than attempting to advance a regressive agenda that appeals to a limited number of Americans.
It's time for the Hastert Rule to go the way of Mr. Hastert.
It's time for the Hastert Rule to go the way of Mr. Hastert.
40
Just another right wing egomaniac. Another no compromise guy. Another who talks but doesn't listen, as he amply demonstrated when questioning Cecile Richards when he'd as a question and not let her answer.
Just when you think the candidates can't get worse, another worse one appears.
Just when you think the candidates can't get worse, another worse one appears.
69
This man ran a Joseph McCarthy-like witch hunt of Cecile Richards and Planned Parenthood. He constantly interrupted her, showed a chart that he claimed was from their corporate report but was instead from American United for Life- and anti-abortion group. The chart was hilarious- had no Y axis. If he is the best the GOP has to offer for Speaker- then I would be very troubled for our Democracy.
82
we should all be troubled for our "democracy" regardless!
1
But opportunity for Mr. Chaffetz is like the scent of an airport Cinnabon, and he has a habit of racing to its smell. Wow!, that's a real endorsement for an elected official.
While McCarthy's endorsement is "Able to put foot in mouth and screw up our secret witch hunt of 3 years"
What recycling bind does the RNC find these guys.
Louie Ghomert for example.
While McCarthy's endorsement is "Able to put foot in mouth and screw up our secret witch hunt of 3 years"
What recycling bind does the RNC find these guys.
Louie Ghomert for example.
45
there was never any intention to recycle what was in that bin in the first place but republicans see benefit in places where it never was nor ever could be. what you do is grab one of these occupants of the bin by the back of the neck (wearing gloves, aprons, goggles and a clothes pin) pull him out, dust off the coffee grounds and rinse off most of the rancid grease, shake off any other odoriferous items hanging on and perhaps lay them out in the sun to dry, then you tell them what you want them to do and pay a bunch of money to get them elected.