You know, this occasional feature of the mojowire has really been one of my favorites. And frankly, we have noted some truly reality bending stoopidity from those in government or otherwise in the public eye.
From our initial take on the Prairie Schooners of the Van Allen Belt, to the national referendum on torture via the show 24, to possibly my all time favorite, preacher's wives must do more to keep the homo man-whores at bay, the sheer intensity of brain sucking dumb was only matched by it's immense volume.
It has truly been a buyers market...
But sometimes, a person will go over and above the call of duty in making public utterances so appallingly ignorant, so bereft of thought or reflection that we have no choice but to crown a new champion and in fact name the award for all subsequent winners in their honor.
Here is RNC Chair Michael Steele in Connecticut on Thursday, July 1, talking to room full of Republicans:
The McChrystal incident, to me, was very comical. And I think it's a reflection of the frustration that a lot of our military leaders have with this Administration and their prosecution of the war in Afghanistan. Keep in mind again, federal candidates, this was a war of Obama's choosing. This is not something the United States had actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in."
"It was one of those, one of those areas of the total board of foreign policy ["in the Middle East"? -- Note: The audio is not quite clear in this section.] that we would be in the background, sort of shaping the changes that were necessary in Afghanistan as opposed to directly engaging troops," [...]
"But it was the president who was trying to be cute by half by flipping a script demonizing Iraq, while saying the battle really should be in Afghanistan. Well, if he's such a student of history, has he not understood that you know that's the one thing you don't do, is engage in a land war in Afghanistan?
Teh stoopid... it burnzez!
What is it that makes a gaffe champion? Is it a single comment? Is it a collection of gaffes comprising a misshapen body of work? Is it the timing or the place? Is it the inappropriateness for the audience?
Whatever goes into the fatally toxic cerebral stew that causes spewage like this, Micahel Steele is the complete package, with a portfolio that it would be difficult to describe as anything other than "Dan Quaylean."
This was not simple political tone-deafness, even on the grand scale of a Shakedown Joe Barton apology to British Petroleum. Starting with the epic tsunami of mendacity and vapidness in the initial reading, the more you look at and consider these words, the intricate levels of fatuous inanity just keep piling up.
First... is he really telling a room full of Republicans that our war is doomed and we should bring home the troops?
Second, is he really telling a room full of Republicans that is a Democrat that is leading the charge in the war against Al Qaeda?
Third, Princess Bride? Really?
Finally, in a moment of truly reality-warping dadaism, Michael Steele actually makes a good point... invasion of Afghanistan rarely works out for invaders, and yet he simultaneously manages to be head-stabbingly vacuous in making the assertion.
Why does Michael Steele hate the troops? No wait, that was too easy... Why does Michael Steele hate the Republican Party?
But those of you who read this feature know that often it's not the initial quote, but the reaction that gets the love... never fear, Michael does not let us down there either:
As we enter the Fourth of July weekend, I proudly remember standing with Maryland National Guardsmen on their way to the Middle East and later stood with the mothers of soldiers lost at war. There is no question that America must win the war on terror.
"During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Barack Obama made clear his belief that we should not fight in Iraq, but instead concentrate on Afghanistan. Now, as President, he has indeed shifted his focus to this region. That means this is his strategy. And, for the sake of the security of the free world, our country must give our troops the support necessary to win this war.
Tame stuff, sure, but in its context though, it is stunning: it turns out that the chair of the RNC completely supports the Obama Administration's prosecution of the war in Afghanistan, less than 24 hours after describing that policy as comical and frustrating.
Well, we might be getting a good laugh from this idiot, but his fellow Republicans have had more than enough. Even with all his other gaffes, he has finally run afoul of the militarists in the party and they are now about to space him out the airlock.
Bill Kristol from the Weakly Standard says:
Indeed, as the DNC Communications Director (of all people) has said, your statement 'puts [you] at odds with about 100 percent of the Republican Party,'" [...]"Your comment is more than an embarrassment, it’s an affront, both to the honor of the Republican party and to the commitment of the soldiers fighting to accomplish the mission they’ve been asked to take on by our elected leaders.
Erik the Red Erickson from RedState.com was more succinct:
Steele must resign" [because] "he has lost all moral authority to lead the GOP."
Michael Steele's train-wreck of a political career is about to make a crater in D.C. that can be seen from space. And, to be honest, I'm not sure how he's managed to keep it on the rails all the way to this point.
If there is emeritus status in the club of St00pidest Things Ever Said, then Michael Steele is truly the senior member currently sitting.
Sometimes it baffles me how on earth we could be worried about losing elections to these tools... (yeah, I know, don't remind me...)
mojo sends