Today, I did something I rarely do. I passed a newspaper rack and burst out laughing hysterically!!

[KansDem]

It was a USA Today headline:

Debate showing elevates Bachmann to higher tier :rofl:

WASHINGTON — Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann opened the first big Republican debate in New Hampshire on Monday by announcing she had filed the paper work for her presidential campaign.

By the evening's end, she had launched it there.

On a crowded stage, Bachmann was lively, confident, personable — she managed to mention her 23 foster children three times — and unremittingly critical of President Obama's policies from health care to Libya. Against other contenders with longer resumes and more experience, she emerged from the pack in way that is likely to make it easier for her to raise money, attract grass-roots support — and even emerge as a Tea Party favorite to rival Sarah Palin.

Critics point out her lack of experience on a national stage, her embarrassing gaffes in discussing American history, the turmoil and turnover in her small House staff, the fact that she has only fledgling or non-existent political organizations in the key early states. Not since the 19th century has a sitting member of the House been elected president.

None of that was enough to chill the moment for Bachmann, who returned to Washington Tuesday morning to accolades from pundits as the new break-out star of a Republican presidential race that is finally taking shape.

:rofl: --more-- :rofl:
USA Today

In your dreams, DC pundits, in your dreams!!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Palin must be gnashing her teeth

and throwing things at her teevee. We can expect some new, bizarre attention-getting stunt from her any time now.

[n2doc]

5. ...

[juajen]

8. Yeah, she was certainly upstaged. Wonder why she did not make an

appearance? Mayhap she's a tad afraid of Bachman. I hope this does come down to Palin and Bachman on the Republican ticket. What a joyride.

[wizstars]

9. yeah, like another "Rolling Blunder tour" nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Bachmann is just the newest flavor du jour...nothing more...

I'm sure she'll soon loose her luster.

[treestar]

4. Agreed; heck Palin was that way until more became known about her

The more people hear and see Bachmann, the worse it will get for her.

[pnwmom]

3. I truly hope you're not eating crow a year from now.

IMHO, there is no Rethug candidate who couldn't, with the support of the party AND the media, pose a serious threat to Obama. With the way the Rethugs have managed to keep the economy in the dumps, anything could happen.

[KansDem]

14. I suppose it was how the "pundits" cheer-leaded for her.

I mean, she supposedly gave the impression of being "lively, confident, personable" while "elevating herself to a higher tier" even in spite of:
--her lack of experience on a national stage
--her embarrassing gaffes in discussing American history
--the turmoil and turnover in her small House staff
--her fledgling or non-existent political organizations in the key early states

...I almost expected her to proclaim (ala Monty Python): "But I'm getting better!"

And check out the "pundits" who showered her with praise:
--Tony Fratto, a former spokesman for former president George W. Bush.
--Kevin Smith, executive director of a conservative advocacy group, Cornerstone Action

No doubt the "pundits" worked overtime to pull this one off...

[ixion]

6. Pundits pontificating poorly

[gkhouston]

7. A higher tier? What, do they have all the R candidates on a reality show

and they sleep in bunk beds? The weekly winner gets the top bunk? :shrug:

Hey, it makes more sense than their idea of a tier...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. The idea that Bachmann is considered for any office higher than PTA Coffee Server

is a sign of the decline and fall of the United States.

[struggle4progress]

11. I can't see Crazy Lady going anywhere: Obama beats her 51-33 in an average of the last six

polls I find at TPM

Here's Fox:
Romney .. 43 ....
Bachmann and Ron Paul .. 11 ....
Santorum .. 9 ....
Gingrich .. 8 ....
Pawlenty .. 7 ....
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpps/news/romney-takes-comfortable-lead-in-new-gop-poll-dpgonc-20110615-kh_13699885

Here's Gallup:

Sarah Palin .. 16 ....
Gingrich .. 5 ....
Romney .. 24 ....
Paul .. 7 ....
Bachmann .. 5 ....
Pawlenty .. 6 ....
Santorum .. 6 ....
Cain .. 9 ....
http://www.gallup.com/poll/election.aspx

Romney's ahead: feel the excitement :boring:

[Imajika]

12. Laughing at and underestimating your enemy is not very smart...

Bachmann is a loon, but if the economy doesn't get better or manages to actually get worse then it is certainly possible she could win.

You have to understand that no matter who the GOP nominates, that person will get at least 45% of the vote. That 45% is their floor. The Republicans could nominate an aardvark and the media would manage to make it a competitive race. The aardvark could grunt and slobber or do whatever it is aardvarks do and the press would say it was putting forward compelling arguments for why tax cuts will save our economy.

If unemployment is where it is now, any Republican that can get their nomination could win. Sure, making fun of the opposition is fun, but never believe your own jokes and propaganda - Obama could lose if we don't work VERY hard to make sure he gets re-elected.

[KansDem]

13. You make a valid point.

I suppose I'm at a lost as to why a nation would vote back into power the very party that made such a morass of the economy.

The sad fact for Bachmann and the Republicans is, they trashed the economy under W. Why would anyone expect it to improve with someone like Bachmann at the helm?

It would be like adding a different tune to the same old, tired lyrics...

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Did you know Gary Amble is her brother?

The weather guy on channel 5.

I can't watch him anymore. :puke:

[Imajika]

16. It's just a human nature thing...

"I suppose I'm at a lost as to why a nation would vote back into power the very party that made such a morass of the economy."

People are people. They forget, don't know or care about history, think the party has changed even though their rhetoric has not, etc. It's the same everywhere.

The Republicans wrecked the economy, but people only care about the here and now. The further we get away from the Bush years, the more people tend to forget. Folks tend to have a "what have you done for me lately" attitude. It's just very hard to run on a platform of "well, it could have been worse". Obama will get some of the blame if the economy is not moving in the right direction when election time rolls around. If we are still at 9% unemployment and lackluster GDP, almost any Republican candidate capable of winning their nomination could win a general election - especially considering the media will simply not allow the election to be a blowout. The press will make it a horse race no matter what they have to do because it's good for ratings.