One of Newt Gingrich's favorite ad hominem word bombs is "San Francisco values," assuming that the mere mention of that Gomorrah by the Bay will inflame the Republican faithful.
In a burst of civic pride, San Francisco Chronicle reporters Joe Garofoli and Carla Marinucci pressed Mr. Gingrich as to what exactly the phrase "San Francisco values" actually means.
Though they probably weren't expecting a lengthy anecdote about Mr. Gingrich's encounter with a six foot two inch transvestite in Union Square, it's a nice bonus all the same.
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The real bonus is that his argument is completely nonsensical.
I kinda hate to admit this, but his last statement is correct. You cannot apply the same standards to the rest of the country. I used to live in San Francisco and while I loved it and wish I could still live there; it's a little bubble and there are a few cities around the country that are like that.
Randall Parisy
That's absurd. You can apply those same socially supportive devices anyplace there's substantial population and industrial activity. That's up and down most of both coasts, especially California and Washington in the West and the Atlantic Seaboard in the East. Add Chicago and Austin in the center at the very least. It would strengthen the economies enough there to spread to less financially dynamic areas. Further, to dismiss the San Francisco Financial Model and inapplicable anywhere else because of Nancy Pelosi or any other dog whistle, red herring pejorative you'd care to choose is glib at best and ignores all the positive possibilities. As soon as Gingrich was disarmed of his emotional appeal nonsense, he had to admit that the San Francisco Ethics model works, which he never had before, and fell back on saying San Francisco is unique in business rules of operation and possibilities. Such utter nonsense.
Pure comedy. Just keep it up republicans. The late night comedy hosts love it and so do I. I guess I don't have to worry about the election going the wrong way. Another Obama term is in the bag! Thank You... Thank You... Thank You.
remember how all the late night comedians were all sad when bush left office? yeah, the republicans heard, and delivered the more crazy for their enjoyment, it sure wasn't for ours.
Everyone who is an American can vote in the next election. That freedom is for all citizens. Mr G forgets that daily. That freedom allows all the American people to not vote for people like Gingrich.
NOT everyone who is an American can actually vote in the next election! In states where the right wing has managed to pass voter suppression laws (voter ID, eliminating early voting, severely restricting absentee voting, etc.) large and significant demographics will be denied the right to vote. Other states are considering such legislation. These laws discriminate against the disabled, the elderly, college students, combat troops, homeless veterans and other homeless citizens, and people of color. Here in Minnesota, where such a law has been proposed 215,000 REGISTERED voters do not have the state-issued ID prescribed in the proposed law, and may have no way to obtain it. FIGHT VOTER SUPPRESSION with everything you've got -- without the right to vote, our democracy collapses!
San Francisco is a soulless place full of hedonistic drifters, narcissists and transient wannabes.... Lived there 4 years. A waste of time.
People tend to attract the same type/kind of people no matter where they go ~ we generally find what we are looking for ~ perhaps you should set your bar a little higher!
San Francisco is many things ~ one of which is very tolerant and forgiving, I believe these are also Christian virtues ;)
Greg is obviously perpetually stuck in that EMO large pant wearing phase of middle school where he hates everything and everyone and wants to hang out with the dregs of society...I wouldn't worry about him.
Rural areas of Nebraska, MI, and FL are truly souless and filled with hate. Spent many years there. Spent time in CA and many other places too. The worst places are those filled with rednecks. Fact. filthyliberal.com
How can you be a hedonistic drifter or a transient wannabee?
I do not think these words mean what you think they mean
My daddy is finally giving up his German citizenship this year so he can vote for Obama! These smiling fiends must never and will never be able to set the clock back like they wish. As a woman, a person of mixed race, and a mother, I stand proudly with my gay brothers and sisters. Slowly but surely the rights of all citizens will be had. G is a riot.
Gingrich has had three wives - and cheated on at least two of them - and he questions the morals of San Francisco??? I live just down the peninsula from SF. It's a wonderfully quirky city, expensive but very interesting!
he is a do as I say not as I do politician !
iokiyar
An because a 6'2" transvestite walked up to Newt Gingrich to invite him to the exorcism is exactly why I LOVE San Francisco. And because Newt says the word "transvestite" is in part why I really can't stand the guy. A fairly significant part, actually.
I am bothered by your echoing of Mr. Gingrich's "Union Square Transvestite" language to describe the actual person he (may or may not have) actually encountered. I believe you had an opportunity here to make a critique of using this person as a faceless stand-in for his political point, instead of turning it around and making hir a stand-in for your own political point. It's a nice bonus for you that this person, years ago, was shocking enough in appearance to Mr. Gingrich that you can use his shock to ridicule him; it would have been a nicer bonus for me if you'd done anything to re-humanize the person who was the object of that shock.
In Virginia, a new Pac:
Womens' Strike Force ??? What about, Sack Mac Pac !!! I know. I'm a genius.
Huh. Such a gross little man. Gingrich has some nerve portraying anyone else as the "odd" one.
I thought he might describe San Francisco values as people who do what they want when they want and don't give a damn if it hurts someone else. But I guess there's a reason he didn't describe it that way.
yes it sounds just like him
committee to recall extremist governor Jan Brewer press release
Hello, this note is from the committee to recall extremist governor Jan Brewer (filing number: RC-01-2012). We are writing to let it be known that our recall is gathering signatures around the state of Arizona. We are hoping that the rest of the nation tomorrow will know that we as a recall exist and are seriously gathering signatures with strong support from the public. In conclusion, we are hoping when the governor is on the program: Meet The Press tomorrow that the rest of the nation and many in our state who do not know of our recall are informed that a large amount of citizens in our beloved state of Arizona do not agree with her abhorrent and cruel actions against the working people, the poor and her shameful behavior toward our president. God bless the state of Arizona and recall Jan Brewer ! recallbrewer.com
Leonard Clark :) lennieclark@hotmail.com
chair of the committee to recall extremist governor Jan Brewer
So much nonsense. Basically, San Francisco is bad because Gingrich has a visceral reaction against some things that go on in the city. And the whole wealth generation thing is such a cop out. The whole country generates a lot of wealth, some areas more than others, but that's why we have a national government. Conservatives can scream about it all they want, but redistributing wealth is a must. Otherwise, let's just dissolve the federal system, dissolve the states, the counties, the cities, and give everyone a club and tell them to fend for themselves. Oh, yeah, that is the Republican plan for America, isn't it?
Gingrich has the same small town mentality common to a lot of people in this country. They live in rural and small town areas but most of all they believe that they are propping up the big cities. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the big cities that are paying a lot more taxes and get less in return. Just look at the funding for education, highways, and other state services in those areas and you will find that the taxes these small towns pay are not enough to cover all those things. This rural versus urban fight is present in a few states. Illinois is one and possibly New York and California are in the same position.
Knowing Gingrich does not love San Francisco makes me love it all the more!
I couldn't pay attention to what he was saying because I was too distracted by the gold lame curtains in the background.
I hear you .. pretty snazzy.
http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2010/04/07/catholic-bishop-children-want-to-be-sexually-abused/
If I could I would like to send this link to Santorum.......
If any one of you have his E-Mail address.... be my guest.
Um, guy who looks like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man? Did you really think that anyone with half a brain wouldn't figure out what your dog whistle words mean? We all know that you say "San Francisco values" to scare all the yokels into think that gays will invade their towns.
Oh, and another thing. If you want big gubmint off everyone's backs, then start by getting all that federal money out of Cobb County. How about sending it to San Francisco, since they'll actually appreciate it.