Calling someone a "stench" is not about governing.

[BeliQueen]

It's just mean and hurtful. And no matter how much I disagree with Mitt Romney's politics, I still think he has feelings.

And just because it is an alleged Ryan quote does not mean that we have to repeat. We're better people than that.

With so many of these personal attacks, I fear that we are beginning to look like bullies; and it's never good to kick someone when they're down.

We need to squash the name calling and just continue to focus on his policies and his deeds. They pretty much speak for themselves.

[Itchinjim]

1. Pffffft.

[Pbs1914]

55. +1

[hlthe2b]

2. It isn't DUers launching personal attacks when we discuss Ryan's use of this term towards Romney...

The story, as related by POLITICO, gives insight into the opposition's campaign and is thus highly relevant.

Your concern is noted, however.

[noamnety]

3. I disagree.

I don't think he has feelings. I'm basing this on his outrage that poor people want to have food.

[Historic NY]

4. That "stench" is emanating from the Romney Campaign..not DU.

Though Ryan had already decided to distance himself from the floundering Romney campaign, he now feels totally uninhibited. Reportedly, he has been marching around his campaign bus, saying things like, “If Stench calls, take a message” and “Tell Stench I’m having finger sandwiches with Peggy Noonan and will text him later.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81618.html#ixzz27ZUw3Kos

[NCLefty]

5. Yes, it's gutter politics.

But if you notice how tabloids are still mega-profitable, apparently a lot of people like that sort of thing :p

EDIT: I would send Politico some feedback. That's the constructive course

[lillypaddle]

36. Give me a freakin' break

[eridani]

6. Neither was calling Dan Quayle Mr Potatoehead

Remember Al Gore and the earth tones? Stuff like this influences campaigns a hell of a lot, and being too noble to use that means losing.

[theKed]

38. That needs to be a band name

Al Gore and the Earth Tones. Has a ring to it.

[sarge43]

7. When Romney apologizes to the service personnel in Stan whom he implied take no responsibilities,

(they pay no income tax during a tour in combat zone), I'll stop calling him worse things than stench.

Freakin' boo-hoo about his feelings. He doesn't give a rat's patoot about other people's feelings.

And yeah, it is good to kick a bully when he's down. It reinforces the learning process; he'll probably think twice before he bullies again.

If Romney, Ryan and the rest of the Repubs had a speaking acquaintance with empathy and compassion, I'd agree with you, but they don't, so game on.

You're right; this isn't about governing. It's about winning. Romney et al are going to do anything to win; we better do the same. We can mea culpa after the election.

[teenagebambam]

8. Democrats have been bullied since 2000

payback's a bitch.

[LovePeacock]

10. Democrats have been bullied since Carter... n/t

[groundloop]

11. Democrats have been bullied way longer than that

I can see the OP's point, I'm not comfortable calling people names like that either. But on the other hand the right wing speaks with total disdain about "liberals", the "Democrat Party", etc., etc., and have done it so convincingly for so many years that in many places people are shy about admitting they're Democrats. So yes, I think in this case turnabout is fair play and if we can make it uncomfortable for people to admit they're republicans all the better.

[LovePeacock]

13. They've started to do that already.

Now some of them try to call themselves "libertarians."

It makes me giggle.

[Atman]

9. He doesn't have feelings

He has sensors and transponders.

[Avalux]

12. It's sweet you care so much about Romney's feelings, really, it is.

He's such a sensitive, caring man....he might get his feelings hurt if we call him Stench.

[TroyD]

14. OP, I agree it's not something Obama or the DNC should call Romney

But there's nothing wrong with us discussing it here. We didn't come up with the term anyway. We are just reporting it.

[WallaceRitchie]

15. Losing strategy

Because the right won't stop labeling the President and "liberals".

Liberal is a GOOD word but we ceded the semantic fight and allowed them to make it a virtual four-letter word in the minds of the populace. Screw that.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Myrina]

24. "The Stench of Old, Unearned Money"

That too.

[livetohike]

16. So, the VP candidate continues to insult the Pres. candidate, but we can't repeat that here?

I think it says much about the state of the GOP campaign. I think it exposes Ryan for the immature, empty suit he is and I also think we should blast that information far and wide.

[LovePeacock]

17. The only reason Ryan was ever considered a policy wonk

was because his policies were never discussed as much as they're being debated now.

In the light of day, Ryan is being seen for what he is: a fraud with no ideas just like the rest of 'em.

[livetohike]

20. Definitely. This "stench" story is more than just about Romney/Ryan. It's the story

of the GOP and they are mortified with this exposure. They can't get by with "drill, baby drill" and cute little soundbites anymore.

A belated welcome to DU!

[LovePeacock]

25. Thanks for the welcome n/t

[Cosmocat]

42. BINGO

I have been calling him a fraud for years now.

his god darned budget INCREASES the debt over the next 10 years and does not balance until 2040 something.

How on gods green earth that qualifies him as the SERIOUS guy is beyond any reason.

and, he, and his budget, and his now well earned nickname of LYIN RYAN are part of the Romney stench.

Just because the right and their "liberal' media counterparts get wet in the britches over the clown does not mean to the other folks in the country who don't get misty over the blue eyes do.

[Jennicut]

18. I don't feel sorry for Romney.

He is a complete and utter asshole who thinks the little people are below him. He is worse the John McCain who at least was an actual war hero, or Bob Dole who was a war hero. He is as bad as W. and Cheney. He may be worse since he believes in nothing except a love of money. He is an empty soulless man. There are certain people in politics that are just beyond human and he is one of them.

And Repubs are the biggest bullies of them all. You do not win when you let yourself just sit and take the attacks. Kerry learned that the hard way. You have to be aggressive with these Republicans. They don't play fair. If they were Republicans of a different era then perhaps the Democrats would not have to attack so relentlessly. But I hope we all learned since the 1990's how ruthless these people are. The party of Karl Rove won elections by playing dirty even against other Republicans (look at the South Carolina primaries in 2000 for reference).

[WallaceRitchie]

19. Roger Simon just trolling?

The whole Politico article from Roger Simon is just political trolling. Seriously? Powerpoint? Stench? Gilligan?

Just too much.

The original "stench" comment by Craig Robinson was published in the NY Times on Sept 23

"If the Republican ticket loses in November, the rush by Mr. Ryan and other 2016 hopefuls to position themselves for the Iowa caucuses “is going to look like Best Buy the night after Thanksgiving,” said Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Republican Party of Iowa. “I hate to say this, but if Ryan wants to run for national office again, he’ll probably have to wash the stench of Romney off of him.” "

[lunatica]

21. By all means I think you should follow your own advice

But don't expect to have anyone else follow it.

[Voice for Peace]

34. that's generally good advice about advice

in general.
follow your own advice but don't expect to have anyone else follow it.

[gkhouston]

22. Any other current events we shouldn't discuss, for fear of hurting the feelings of

someone who would chuckle while we starve?

[Myrina]

23. I think it's because Rmoney only has 1 pair of magic undies ...

... and doesn't refresh them very often. He seems too uptight to go commando while they're being laundered, too.

[DCBob]

26. LOL..

you forgot the sarcasm tag!

[liberalmuse]

27. The Repubicans are self-destructing.

Their selfishness and all around meanness is starting to come back and bite them in the ass. This sums up the kind of people many of them are - it's all about "MEEEEEEE". Instead of humbly supporting Romney and being grateful for this opportunity, Ryan is behaving like a spoiled child who thinks the throne is his due.

I'm still having doubts about this story. It's rather unbelievable, and way over the top, even knowing how bad some conservatives are.

[tularetom]

28. You mean the guy who tripped his daughter in law to win a family race has feelings?

The guy who got a gang of kids to hold a gay kid down while he cut his hair off has feelings?

The guy who caged his dog on top of his car for nine hours?

Paul Ryan is indeed a repulsive piece of shit but I'm not going to lose any sleep worrying about Romney's feelings.

[LovePeacock]

29. Is hate a feeling? n/t

[DBoon]

30. only to a reptile

nt

[SDjack]

31. The label "stench" is reflective of Rmoney's character, which does

relate to governing. So, it's fair.

[LovePeacock]

32. Rmoney. I like it n/t

[Lint Head]

33. Stink is much better.

[TwilightGardener]

35. Aw, you're worried about the Douchebag's feelings.

Me too. I won't call the Douchebag "Stench"... that's just so mean.

[FrenchieCat]

37. Romney and Ryan both name-calls the President on a daily basis......by bodly lying about Pres. Obama

Last edited Wed Sep 26, 2012, 02:57 PM - Edit history (1)

and Pres. Obama's record, but we are the ones who need to be quiet about what Ryan calls Romney?
Are you serious??????

Perhaps Romney needs to take personal responsibility just this once,
considering that he is the one who selected the name calling Lyin' Ryan
as his running mate!

[Waiting For Everyman]

39. Boo hoo hoo, let me take out my little violin and play a little sad song for Mitty-boy.

Tell that to the girls who work in his Chinese factories, or the workers here who lost their jobs. When a Stench like that is down you finish him off. You don't let him get up and do it all again.



And that goes for his condescending wifey-poo too, who saw fit to insert herself into this campaign, and then throw rude tantrums when she comes off as the dolt that she is.

[backscatter712]

40. Fuck 'em - they earned it.

rMoney and rAyn (or should I say Stinker and Slinker) are sociopathic bullies who have given us nothing but deception and meanness.

And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that mom's advice to "ignore bullies and they'll go away" is just completely wrong.

We absolutely must hit back when they try to dominate us.

John Kerry tried being "better than them" in 2004 - look where that got him.

I don't care if it's "sinking to their level." I'm perfectly fine with being nasty to them.

Besides, rMoney doesn't have feelings. He's a psychopath. He doesn't have an empathic response that enables him to have truly hurt feelings. He only regards us as obstacles and objects, and the most emotion he'll show when he's attacked is that of minor irritation.

Politics is a full-contact sport. Deal with it.

[Bake]

41. You may be better than that, and if so, I congratulate you.

I, however, am not. Screw Stench's feelings. They NEED to be hurt. If he's that thin-skinned, he has no business in the Oval Office.

Bake

[Cosmocat]

43. it is not an "alledged quote"

it is a tongue in cheek article.

I think that is pretty clear if you read the whole thing and the closing exert.

[beac]

57. Actually the original reference to "stench" IS a quote...

from an Iowa Republican leader:

“I hate to say this, but if Ryan wants to run for national office again, he’ll probably have to wash the stench of Romney off of him,” Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Republican Party of Iowa, told The New York Times on Sunday.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81618.html

A quote that Craig Robinson has confirmed is accurate:

When pressed about Ryan’s future, I admitted that he would be a serious contender, and then I added, “I hate to say this, but if Ryan wants to run for national office again, he’ll probably have to wash the stench of Romney off of him.” For the record, I was quoted accurately.
http://theiowarepublican.com/2012/the-stench-of-romney/

*edited to fix HTML*

[Cosmocat]

61. Right, but the "quote" about Ryan calling him stench

was tongue in cheek.

[beac]

62. Yes.

I probably should have made my point directly to the OP (as I wasn't really disagreeing w/you).

Hope he/she now realizes "the stench" came from Romeny's own team, even if Gilligan isn't saying it (yet.)

[Cosmocat]

63. OK

I get where you are coming from ...

[Indpndnt]

44. We're governing?!

Wow! Who knew?!

As for Willard's "policies and his deeds"... They stink. If he's down, it's because his policies and deeds stink.

This thread is hilarious! Ludicrous, but hilarious!

[applegrove]

45. I agree. It crosses a line. I don't think we want to attack Romney for

more than his awful policies and priviledged world view. I don't think we learn anything important when we cross over to being vicious.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

46. The StenchDroid has feelings?

What about the feelings of the families the destroyed by laying off workers? If this fucking piece of shit has feelings at all I hope they're badly hurt and he spends the rest of his miserable life contemplating the wasted life he's led after we kick him to the curb.

[WallaceRitchie]

47. The Stench Connection

[IMG][/IMG]

[Waiting For Everyman]

56. Omg, that's funny!

A+.

[former9thward]

48. It was not a Ryan quote.

It was a satire.

[ailsagirl]

49. They're turning on each other-- is that Dems' fault?

IMO Rmoney deserves everything he gets.
Repukes are the party of INCIVILITY

[flamingdem]

50. Ryan has the stench of someone who thinks he'd be someone if not for "Stench"!

He's a POS

[liberal N proud]

51. ROFL

[Hutzpa]

52. Where was your outrage when the tea baggers

were calling the president names? I can't stand these self righteous threads.

[valerief]

53. Rmoney has destroyed countless lives. Fuck him. He has NO FEELINGS.

And if he did, who the hell gives a shit about them? Do all the people he fired care? Do all the people whose pensions he stole care?

[pnwmom]

54. We're not governing. We Obama supporters are all just "victims," according to Romney. n/t

[alittlelark]

58. When narcissists are insulted they lash out in ugly ways

....could get interesting.

[Generic Brad]

59. The "stench" quote was not real

It was intended to be satire and it punked many of us.

[Grammy23]

60. I just listened to a lengthy report from Rachel Maddow---

Listing all of the lies the Romney campaign has put up in the form of ads that, even when called out on the lie, refuse to take down the ads. They are still up on Romney's website without correction of acknowledgment that they are lies. The biggest whopper on that list is about Obama supposedly taking the work requirement out of welfare. They were informed that it is simply not true but they still have the ad up on the site and refuse to admit it is false. In fact, Romney very recently repeated that lie, even as he was claiming they always take down their ads if there are "mistakes" in them.

She also discussed the strategy that Romney apparently has been using for some time that involves Romney himself making statements that are refuted shortly afterward by the campaign. So he says whatever he apparently thinks his listeners want to hear and then quietly has his campaign spokespeople take it all back. This has happened over and over for months. One example was when he was interviewed by David Gregory a few weeks ago claiming he was going to keep parts of "Obamacare"...not holding pre-existing conditions against people who apply for insurance. His campaign quickly took that back later that day saying that he intends to abolish all of Obamacare. Another example was when he said he supported abortion if the life of the mother was at risk. A few hours later his campaign released a statement saying he did not support abortion under any circumstances.

Given the dishonest nature of Romney's campaign, I think "stench" is not the worst thing we on this board could say about him. He is deserving of all the criticism he is receiving and if some characterize him as having a stench about him, too bad. He has brought this on himself and thank goodness, many of the voters seem to be catching on to the truth about Mitt.

Soon enough Mitt and Paul will just be a bad memory of this year's campaign for President. Sadly, Romney (and Ryan, too, if there is any justice!) will slink off into infamy. I hope we never have to hear from either of these two assholes again. And yes, there is a stench to that part of the anatomy, too. And the stench associated with it reminds me of a guy named Mitt Romney. If that offends or hurts his feelings he should have given honesty and truthfulness a try.

If you want to know what mean is, study what Mitt and Paul would do to the disabled, the sick, the poor, the elderly, the unemployed and anyone that doesn't run in their circle.