Begala calls Bush a "high-functioning moron": "one of most awesome moments in history of cable news"

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Los Angeles Times

With the days of the Bush presidency dwindling, and yet one more crisis ramping up, the talk is getting hot on the TV circuit.

Paul Begala, the television commentator and Democratic strategist who with James Carville propelled Bill Clinton to the presidency in 1992, knew he was about to get into trouble on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" show Thursday night with his description of President Bush. He said as much as soon as he opened his mouth.

Still, with a panel that included Ed Rollins, the Republican strategist who ran Ronald Reagan's 1984 reelection campaign, he blurted it out:

"I'm going to get in trouble. He's a high-functioning moron, and that's what Congress treats him as. Both parties."

To be sure, the panelists were egging each other on:

COOPER: "Watching the president last night give that speech, it was like watching him in Jackson Square in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I mean, he did not seem to be there."

ROLLINS: "No, he wasn't there."

GLORIA BORGER: "He's not comfortable — "

COOPER: "He was physically there but — "

At which point Begala chimed in. And lit up the Web — from the liberal DailyKos site ("one of the most awesome moments in the history of cable news") to the conservative Media Research Center's NewsBusters ("What is it with Democrats and their grotesque slurs upon the intelligence of their political rivals?").

(NOTE: Video at link.)

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/09/begala-moron.html

[oldtime dfl_er]

1. LOL

Begala's at his best when he doesn't censor himself.

[jellen]

38. Begala

I sort of like Begala but Good God, do we have to say
everything we think? I feel we could try to be civil . It
looks like we will win this time.So let's be good winners.

[Best_man23]

39. Re: Begala

That is no nastier than the venom puked on Democrats on a DAILY basis by the Corporate RW Media.

And what Begala said is a lot closer to the truth than most of what is said by the Right Wing Media.

[TheDebbieDee]

48. It's just that type of attitude that has kept the last two elections

close enough for the repukes to steal!

Phuck the "Mr. Nice Guy" $hit. We should be raking those repukes over hot coals at every opportunity.

[JDPriestly]

49. Democrats have been civil for 8 years.

Gore's relinquishment of the presidency, an office that he rightfully won, was beyond civil.

We Democrats are nonviolent. We don't bash people's head in. We don't shoot people. We don't harm people's property. We are the most civil people you will ever meet. But, civility has not worked.

We have to remain non-violent, but we cannot remain silent. Remember the story of the Emperor's New Clotehs. Begal a revealed the truth that everyone is afraid to pronounce. Begal said the right thing under the circumstances.

[lynnertic]

63. blessed are the meek

they will inherit the earth. Such as it is.

[TygrBright]

70. Yeh. But very small plots. About 6'x 3'. n/t

[howmad1]

74. Their too chicken to turn it down.

[Ikonoklast]

55. Yeah, let's play nice

And be a punching bag for the bullies.

FUCK THAT.

Stomp on their teeth until they get the idea that two can play the game.

[Raster]

57. Obviously the truth fucking hurts. I think Begala was rather charitable.

I don't think the Moran is high functioning at all.

[snake in the grass]

60. FUCK THAT!!!

These people are no better than the dogshit under my shoe and it's about time that they are portrayed that way. Republican pig fluffers have destroyed the economy, killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens, sent 4000 U.S. soldiers needlessly to their deaths, tortured for the fun of it, lied, stolen, and ruined our reputation while making the world the unsafe place they supposedly set out to prevent. This election is not over until McCain concedes and until then I will not be polite. Hell, afterwards I won't be polite either. Murderous pricks should have to look over their shoulders for the rest of their cursed lives.

[wolfgangmo]

83. Well said

Especially the part about looking over their shoulders...

I think that we should remove all government protection from the fuckers. No secret service. No FBI. No US marshals. Hell, no 911.

[snake in the grass]

88. In a just world...

...I would like to see that once, just once, these criminals are held to account. Unfortunately, I don't even think that Obama would be up to that task, as the corruption has spread to certain parts of our own party and he needs these people, as long as they still hold office, in order to realize his plans. To tell you the truth, I would rather see them stand trial in Den Haag for all the world to see, than impaled at the city limits (even though they deserve just that), because this charade has to end now. I saw an interview of John Conyers by Laura Flanders two days ago, where she asked him point blank, why the Democrats were not pushing for impeachment. He actually said, with a straight face, that they are collecting evidence and that the constitution has provisions for retroactively impeaching a former president. I couldn't believe my ears. If that isn't the sorriest thing I have yet to hear from a representative of our party, then my name is Ronald McDonald. This is the wrong attitude on so many levels and I have to say that, although I like Conyers, he too is part of the problem and needs to find another line of work. We are in the end game now and there is no room for cowards or politeness. Humanity will always have to deal with the selfish, the greedy, the paranoid, the mentally dull, and the other forms of low-hanging fruit that the Republican Party attracts like flies to shit, but we need to finally draw a line that no one may cross. We need to define ourselves through action, destroy their cartel, and break their death-grip on the levers of power. Give them a generation to regroup while we ensure peace and prosperity. Maybe, just maybe, some of them will come around when they benefit from it as well.

[msanthrope]

64. Civility left the arena in 1992, when a Democrat dared to get

elected and create a surplus....

Civility is wasted on these asswipes---Obama might win, but don't think we won't have to be hyper-vigilant because these pieces of crap are going to try to bring him down, daily.

[niceypoo]

67. "Bush is about as popular as a porcupine in a balloon factory"

Begala says it like it is.

I would, however, dispute him on the 'high functioning' part.

[libodem]

72. Say WHAT?

After being kicked in the head, everyday for the last 16 years we are supposed to be civil? Oohhhhh let's play nice. Let's be NONpartisan...When it suits THEM. You HAVE got to be kidding. I think it's high time we got mad and showed it. The man IS a high functioning moron. And that's an insult to morons and being far too charitable to Bush.

[AngryOldDem]

84. Yes, we do.

We need to stop playing the modern-day version of The Emperor's New Clothes.

The time for nice talk is long past. Now is the time for brutal, honest truth.

[truedelphi]

85. This comment woul dbe reprehensible if Obama made it.

but compared to the slimey comments that the Repugs make every moment of every day of every week, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

As far as I'm concerned, <Snaps> for Begalia.

[sop]

68. Yeah, the corporate media and the GOP were so nice to Gore and Kerry

Bush is a moron. Everyone has known it for years. The evidence is all around us. Begala was only saying what should have been said during the 2000 and 2004 elections. The media has been playing this absurd game, pretending the crap Bush has been pulling out of his ass for eight years makes the least bit of sense. Enough, already!

And let's not be so sensitive. The corporate media was gleefully calling Gore a "serial liar" in 2000 when they all knew it was a patently false charge. The GOP openly mocked Kerry in 2004...a veteran with multiple military honors...as a traitor, a coward and a murderer. The corporate media also allowed the Swift Boat Swine endless weeks of free TV airtime to launch their disgusting and false attacks on John Kerry. So, please spare me your indignation.

Begala deserves a medal for his honesty.

[ixion]

2. truth hurts

you can always tell how close you are to the truth by how much repukes whine.

[blm]

3. Begala always manages to shine whenever he has a book to sell. It's almost as if he saves his

best stuff for when it will make him the most money. Throughout 2004 it was always about how much he REALLY LIKES Bush personally... ugh.

[choie]

29. agreed

It's a day late and a dollar short - where the hell have all these commentators been? perhaps if they'd been more honest throughout the last 8 years, they could have made a difference.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Someone should start collecting these clips and put a montage together

to compare what these talking heads said when Bush came into office, and what they're saying now.

[BrklynLiberal]

40. A job for the Daily Show staff, for sure.

[LiberalEsto]

5. Which makes Palin

a low=to-medium functioning moron, yes?

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

9. Yes, you beat me to it.

Watching her walk with Katie Couroc, pause, roll her eyes, grasp for an answer, then repeat word-for-word the answer she had just given was tragic.

Not tragic for her. Tragic that someone that clueless could even be considered by a major party as Presidential material.

Once again, the whole episode continues to reinforce what Senator Obama so clearly stated in his acceptance speech:

John McCain has neither the temperament nor the judgment to hold elected office. Period.

[Marnieworld]

20. Chris Rock described Palin on Larry King last night

He comapred her to Kim Cardasian on Danicing With the Stars- All that booty but can't shake it!

[IDemo]

17. Nope

She's a high malfunctioning moron.

[Eurobabe]

19. More like a one-celled organism

or she's got Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) already from eating too much moose. :shrug:

[bluestateguy]

6. It was Bush's "malaise" speech, analogous to Carter's in 1979

The culmination of amost 8 years of failure, incompetence, dishonesty and corruption.

[torbird]

7. What is it with Democrats and their grotesque slurs upon the intelligence of their political rivals?

Well, GOP supporters, if YOU want to look at a drooling moron and call him God's Gift to America, go on and have at it. We'll stick with Begala's more honest assessment.

[BrklynLiberal]

41. I guess the bare-naked truth is just too much for them to deal with.

[bobd0]

8. K the high functioning moron & R impeachment and criminal trial

[Mme. Defarge]

10. So it really happened? Fantastic!

I had had a long day, and was watching this in bed after popping a trazadone. Now I remember being sort of amazed and then nodding off.

[last1standing]

11. I could not believe that this was an actual news headline!

It's over for bush*. History is now being written and it is not treating him kindly.

[Submariner]

12. Hey Babs and Poppy....did ya catch this? I hope so

I want you two to be lucid until your dying day, so you will always know what fucking treacherous losers you and your entire family are. Your son George SUCKS, and is the worst president EVER!

[Arugula Latte]

13. I like it much better when Begala says stuff like that instead of

references to the stupid Bible. :)

[KamaAina]

14. People with autism are often divided into "high-" and "low-functioning"

by the rest of you, who we sometimes call "neurotypicals" or "typicals" for short. Many of us resent being described in such terms.

So, when I used to do more public speaking, I decided to turn the tables on the "NTs". This was while the OJ trial (the first one) was going on, so I held up Kato Kaelin as an example of a "low-functioning" typical.

Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that a low-functioning typical would one day become pResident!

[JimDandy]

30. Haha! Good input! n/t

[undeterred]

15. oh my god

You'd think it would be funny, but its the President of the United States we're talking about. It's sad, and its horrible.

[riqster]

47. No, actually

...Bush is not, nor has he ever been the President. He assumed office in an unconstitutional manner. One of the biggest failures of the nation has been to go along and call him 'President', even though we knew better.

[bitchkitty]

62. I have never called him President and

I never will.

[greyghost]

16. Definitely one of TV's greatest moments!

[Eurobabe]

18. So what does he say about Mooselini?

:rofl:

[ShortnFiery]

21. Yeah, and I heard it live. Go Begala! eom

[Bette Noir]

22. How dare he tell the truth when the mics are on.

[Buns_of_Fire]

23. Did anyone notice the name of the blog? "Countdown to Crawford"...

Not as if anyone would would be keeping track that we have only 116 days left (only!) before the ol' cowpoke returns home to Crawdad to poke some cows. May we all last that long.

[drmeow]

31. It should be

Countdown to Paraguay (isn't that where the Bush's bought all the property) cause he has no intention of staying in a place where we can arrest him, try him, and, given the evidence, find him guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt and lock him up where he belongs.

"For exiles are distinguished, more important, they're not dead. I can find job satisfaction in Paraguay." (Rice, 76)

[HillbillyBob]

35. locking up is too good for him and his kkkronies.

Besides there is all that tall fence with sharp points at the top
just made to accomodate all of those traitors heads....
Might smell a bit at first, but some times there is a good reason for public
executions and display..then again it might upset those of us
with weaker tummies..ok burry them under the nearest dungheap.

[redqueen]

24. Ouch!

:rofl:

[Yavin4]

25. Begala Is Wrong

Bush is not all that high functioning. He's barely functioning.

[quidam56]

26. NEWS FLASH !

We've realized that for the last miserable eight years, why has it taken the media this long to tell the truth about W-43 ! I bet Sean Hannity has a cow over this one.... SHUT THE FUCK UP SEAN HANNITY !!! http://www.wisecountyissues.com

[defendandprotect]

27. This has been major GOP theft - from elections to assassinations --

we've had wide scale political violence by right wing as often as

they wanted to pull it off ---

Bush is a moron, bit he knew the agenda and followed it --

[jgraz]

28. Are we sure about the "high-functioning" part?

Just asking....

[ailsagirl]

76. Passed through my mind too...

[AlbertCat]

32. Isn't that FASCINATING?

What you say Paul is SO interesting...but, where does that leave the dynamic duo of McCain/Palin? We all know no one is gonna let either of them near the controls, so just who will be running things? We can clearly see who has been running things in the Bush Administration, but with such as Palin in the VP spot, who is going to be running between DOD and DOJ? Jess askin'.....

[ananda]

33. high functioning how?

The country is total FUBAR and Bush hasn't got a clue.
His legacy is toast, he's the worst president ever..
the most successful failure ever.

He doesn't really function much at all.. he's propped
up by all the neofascist apparatchiks surrounding him..
including the media.

Sue

[HillbillyBob]

37. Nothin new about the fascists , better hair cut and suits maybe and

have that funny little hitler mustache. Under the polish they are the same
black hearted little men and women as always.
I have had the unfortunate luck to meet way too many of them.
and HATED them all.

[rateyes]

65. I take "high functioning moron" to mean

being the best moron he can be---to coin a new word: the "moroniest."

[yellerpup]

82. There is a certain truthiness to your argument. eom

[pleah]

34. Truth hurts, heeheehee!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[W_HAMILTON]

36. What do people think of Begala?

I love the guy, but I've heard some people say some not-so-nice things about him in the past. I figured it was because of the contentious primaries, and his association with the Clinton family. Do most Democrats like him, though?

Like I said, he's awesome. It may sound kind of silly, but he's one of my "bright spots" of the Democratic party. He's one of those guys that I'm glad to have on our side. I think Bill Maher nailed a description of him on one of his shows, where he basically said that Begala can be scathing with a smile.

When I saw Begala on MSNBC one time, I got excited thinking he had jumped shipped, but no such luck :( Begala is one of the main reasons I still watch CNN, and I get excited when I see him in one of the "boxes" :)

PS - he was on Larry King last night, and there was some lady (I think they said from Congress) who was saying some outlandish, ridiculously stupid stuff. His reaction was hilarious, but I don't know how he (or the lady that was also representing Democrats) could get away with letting her say that sort of stuff. I'd blow up, I couldn't let someone sit there and spew such stupidity. One thing in particular is that I believe a Democratic president created Fannie and Freddie, so the Democrats should be blamed for all of this mess. How stupid is that? That's like saying I created a painting and put it in an art gallery, but then some loon took the painting off the wall and beat someone to death with it...so, it's really all my fault.

Are you kidding me? That's one reason why I know this is a job for these folks, because as a regular person, there is no way I couldn't help but interrupt stupidity like that. Speaking of that, the lady tried to interrupt Begala, and he said something like, "I apologize for speaking through you interrupting me." I love that guy!

[geiger]

44. one of the smartest minds in the country.

I've read his books, and was even privileged once to hear him speak in person.

He is principled, most importantly.

[VP505]

42. Yes, your President is a

"high functioning moron," get over it. If Republicans don't like hearing that then quit conniving and tampering with the voting process to get morons elected.

[obiwan]

43. I don't particularly care for Paul Begala, but this observation is particularly astute.

[Alexander]

45. I find what Paul Begala said to be offensive!

There is nothing "high-functioning" about the moron-in-chief!

The rest of it was spot on!

[Raine]

46. Even better was the repig talking head didn't even try to deny it!

:rofl:

[TheDebbieDee]

50. Well, I found what Begala said to be an insult to morons the world over!

They would all be devastated to learn that they had been compared to the current occupant of the White House. The moronic community would be insulted if they had enough sense to understand what Begala said in the first place! :hide:

[theothersnippywshrub]

51. Begala probably stole this line from Barbara and Poppy Bush but it certainly is accurate.

Bush mosaic of assholes.

http://www.thehumorarchives.com/joke/Bush_asshole_mosaic

[volstork]

52. If the shoe fits... n/t

[trthnd4jstc]

53. Sometimes one needs the silver spoon removed to toughen a person up mentally. n/t

[Preening Fop]

54. The 'chimpy' War Crimes Trial conclusion: "Guilty" by reason of Insanity.......

:nuke: :crazy: :nuke:

[jhain]

56. I rarely watch any CNN

but by some divine intervention I saw that!!!

Ahhhhhhhh, it was beautiful.

[Hannah Bell]

58. The "high-functioning moron" got most of what he wanted. And Begala & his media friends helped him.

Who's the moron?

[Political Heretic]

59. EXACTLY.

[LeftishBrit]

61. He's wrong...

about the high-functioning part!

[wordpix]

66. I was watching the live broadcast and LMAO - should have called him a dangerous moron

[goodgd_yall]

69. And Gloria Borger winced

It was an amusing moment.

[ihavenobias]

71. K & R

[happygoluckytoyou]

73. SLUR ? ? ?? mccain said the economy is STRONG.... WHAT WORDS DO YOU USE POLITE ENUF FOR THIS

what is going through john mccain's mind................... A MIGHTY BREEZE ! ! !

[ailsagirl]

75. Now that the 8-year reign of terror is almost over, it's wonderful

to hear some of the pundits take off the gloves!!!!!!!!!

:applause:

[ailsagirl]

77. Direct video link on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfCMHGrs7VU

[DeepModem Mom]

80. Thanks, ailsagirl! nt

[ailsagirl]

81. You betcha!!! :)

[ailsagirl]

78. Is there a way we can email Begala and tell him we love him??

:loveya:

[Piewhacket]

79. "high-functioning"???? That was the joke part, right?

cuz that's when I laughed....
:P

[truedelphi]

86. Thank you for posting. I wanted to see that moment n/t

[Critters2]

87. I keep reading this as "Beagle calls Bush a high-functioning moran"

which makes it even funnier!

[joewicker_TX]

89. If by "high Functioning" you mean...

The ability to wipe your ass, them maybe. Otherwise, he is just a moron. The IQ of Texas went up slightly after he and his kin folk left. Du us a favor W...don't come back!