Steele's New GOP Message: "My Bad"; Bachmann To Steele: "You Be Da Man!"
Michael Steele sure has an interesting idea for how to rebrand the Republican Party: Loudly announcing at CPAC that they messed up, and pledging to do better now.
"Tonight, we tell America: we know the past, we know we did wrong. My bad," said Steele. "But we go forward in appreciation of the values that brought us to this point."
But Steele rejected the idea that the recent elections meant the ideological ground had shifted. "I am here tonight to reject the idea that defeats of the past are a repudiation of core conservative values and principles," he said. "Nor do I believe that those defeats are a sign of things to come."
And check out this latest development in Steele's campaign to create a hip-hop image for the GOP. Michele Bachmann praised Steele's speech: "Michael Steele! You be da man! You be da man."
And no, this is not from The Onion.
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
Pardon me, stewardess, I speak jive.
February 27, 2009 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Zell: LOL!!!!
This is surreal. Looking forward to more coverage from the CPAC freak show.
February 27, 2009 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
almost a spit-take. Thanks.
February 27, 2009 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ha! Tips for the "Airplane" reference. I had exactly the same thought.
February 27, 2009 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
sweet jesus please let there be video.
February 27, 2009 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
My thoughts exactly.
February 27, 2009 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
seconded
February 27, 2009 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Only because you want it:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/29437576#29437576
February 28, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
OMG! LOL! thanks for sharing that video - too hilarious.
February 28, 2009 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
HA!
February 27, 2009 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
That can't be true. Can it?
It's a whole party of foot-in-mouth morons.
February 27, 2009 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
You'd think at this point nothing Michele Bachmann could say would surprise me. But "You be da man"?
Un-freaking-believable.
February 27, 2009 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think she needs lessons in how to properly address "Blackmericans" from Tracy Jordan....so nice to see life imitating "30 Rock"!
February 27, 2009 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh snap! He's brought his message to the urban-suburban setting of CPAC! And it's catching like wildfire.
Any bets on who the first GOPper to bust out "shizzle" in a news conference?
February 27, 2009 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Coleman. He's tried everything else.
February 27, 2009 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
This, perhaps, is better than Bobby Jindal being “friggin’ awesome” and Steele giving him some “slum love.”
February 27, 2009 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
February 27, 2009 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
What...they're here? Where? I don't see them...?
February 27, 2009 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Shouldn't you be on your way to the tea party?
February 27, 2009 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have to admit that after wearing out my finger clicking the "report abuse" button on that racist defective who's been trolling here (again) this week, a post from Sarge Wallace is kind of a relief.
February 27, 2009 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I agree. I was just hoping we'd get a front line report from the "protest".
February 27, 2009 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Second.
February 27, 2009 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Third. I like dueling with the sarge. He or she has a great sense of humor generally and is knowledgable. Fun combat.
February 27, 2009 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Definately a "He."
February 27, 2009 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry...no plans to attend any of the "Tea parties"...there is a county GOP meeting in the morning, I'm sure some of them will make it to ATL this afternoon. I'll pass on any entertaing quips.
February 27, 2009 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here you go.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=215929&title=Reagraham-Lincool
What did steele get the new marketing plan for the republican party from the daily show?
February 27, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, when will Michelle Bachmann host SNL? She has a natural comedic talent and what better venue than SNL.
February 27, 2009 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
"When life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door."
February 27, 2009 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
...."It's A Buck Dancers's choice my friend"
February 27, 2009 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Touche.... Hey, all I'm saying is let's not get too comfortable. That, and I really like the avatar.
Seeya out on tour!
February 27, 2009 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bachmann would be out of place on SNL. She's actually funny.
February 27, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Steele continued, "We know that dissin' on the Katrina victims was not the def, fresh, hip thing to do."
February 27, 2009 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wager he doesn't make it through the year. The guy is a buffoon.
February 27, 2009 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Michelle B: "You be da man!"
Michael: "Wait in the car, bitch."
February 27, 2009 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
The heart and soul of the Republican Party is corporate greed and class warfare, but the face of the current GOP is Joe the Plumber and hip-hop jive. There is nothing more pathetic than someone who is not cool trying to act cool. The Republican elite have always known that they can't win elections without conning working class people into believing that they are on their side on issues like abortion, prayers in school, burning the flag, etc., but the strategy has now become so transparent that it is laughable.
February 27, 2009 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wish I had a dollar for every time during the Clinton administration clowns like Steele and Bachman whined about "accountability."
I wonder if that word has come up at all at CPAC.
February 27, 2009 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Off the hook! Now I know what he meant!
February 27, 2009 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
G.O.P.: Gettin' jiggy wid it!
February 27, 2009 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
De torchum never stops!
February 27, 2009 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I predict its only a matter of time before we see Steele et al. breaking out the new "Pimp My Economy" platform, replete with tax breaks for american eagle chrome rims and the release of the "America Da Shizzle" album featuring MC Rove.
February 27, 2009 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is so hip and cool...I can see it convert many dems and progressives over to the GOP. It's like the hell with the country but we are so just damn cool.
February 27, 2009 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have already changed my registration because it's the cool thing to do. Steele brings the flavor, and Michele brings the street cred. I will cabbage patch my way to their fundraisers. Awwwww yeah.
February 27, 2009 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
That would be the Honky Tonk Budonka-donk.
YouTube it, my homies
February 27, 2009 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
oh.my.god.
i can't even think of anything snarky enough to do this justice...
February 27, 2009 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm afraid that Steele is absolutely right about this. Core conservative values and principles, like greed, selfishness and hubris are most unlikely to fall from fashion.
February 27, 2009 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
na lissen up peeps,ahm mc baldy
an ahm here to chek out mah shoty
na i wan you to see
ahm wit tha gee.oh.pee
an ahm be bad to da bone
YO/////////////
February 27, 2009 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! ;0
February 27, 2009 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
One of the few GOP talking points I can agree with!
February 27, 2009 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, the longer they stick with the idea that none of their "conservative values" were responsible for their defeat, the happier I'll be.
February 27, 2009 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Me too! :)
February 27, 2009 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am sick and tired of these conservative Republicans promoting their Hollywood, hip-hop, ghetto culture. All cultures are not equal. When will our country return to the values that made us great?
February 27, 2009 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Should we start taking bets on when Republicans will assume power again? At this rate the party is going to vaporize right quick as even the lizard brains come to see that the Republican Party as a bunch of crazies with not a clue as to running the country, much less their party.
February 27, 2009 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Steele was a complete hail Mary. They were completely out of ideas and just took a forth and long. They probably figured, what the heck, Steele can't do us harm right now and the guy from SC who came in a close second would have further isolated them since he belonged to an all white country club in recent history.
February 27, 2009 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Shoo, yo. Ms. Bachmann's gettin' jiggy wid it.
I wonder if she asked for a high-five?
February 27, 2009 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd appreciate a recognition of wrongdoing for the last eight years, but I'm not sure "my bad" quite does it justice.
I can't find a text of the speech, but I'm wondering if the "my bad" applies to hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians injured/maimed/killed, or of sadness that they couldn't further cut taxes while in office. Or, going further back, maybe they recognize shouldn't have mocked Clinton for lobbing missiles at Bin Laden while they were obsessing over the blow job?
Obama should offer him a cabinet post. Then, in the nomination hearing, the financial scandal with his sister's company will sink him. And we'll never here from him again.
February 27, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I'd appreciate a recognition of wrongdoing for the last eight years, but I'm not sure "my bad" quite does it justice."
No, that doesn't quite do the job, does it? ... Well said, Snig.
As for Bachman's "cool": What's the best over-the-counter nausea relief? There's 'in tune' and then there's 'tone deaf' ... but what's the term for way over at the extreme end where someone insists on producing words or music that is grating, ugly-sounding, and discordant. That goes beyond the not-getting-it of being tone-deaf. Well, whatever the term, it certainly applies to Bachman.
February 27, 2009 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
And the RNC is stuck with Steele at least until after 2010, because if they try and remove him you know he'll raise hell. And they can't control him because he believes he's the leader of the party, the official opposition to Obama, the shadow President.
February 27, 2009 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
He was a much better Boxing referee.
February 27, 2009 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bachmann also said this at the event:
"I just wondered that if our founders thought taxation without representation was bad, what would they think of representation WITH taxation?"
Listen, I would never accuse a member of today's conservative movement of being a student of history but this is unacceptable. Our founding fathers' beef was with the "without representation" part, not necessarily taxation. I mean, that's straight out of Schoolhouse Rock.
Michelle Bachmann - The gift that keeps on giving.
February 27, 2009 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
yeah, and with Bachmann, who already has provided us with loads of entertainment in the past, now we've got Steele. It would be interesting if they teamed up--not to accomplish anything--but to hit the comedy casino circuit.
February 27, 2009 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Huh? WTH was her point? Is she against ALL taxation now?
February 27, 2009 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of course not. When did you ever hear a Republican say anything bad about regressive taxes? Seriously.
February 27, 2009 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Touche.
February 27, 2009 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
That boggles the mind.
I know the literacy tests asking questions about the constitution as a requirement to vote are unconstitutional, but I really wouldn't mind some basic testing on principles of government for congress.
February 27, 2009 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude...I know y'all don't want any "testing" before voting...without the "uninformed" voter Democrats are a super minority!
February 27, 2009 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, the tax fight started over the purpose of the tax. Initially taxes were used to regulate trade, the Sugar Tax of 1759 was for the express purpose of raising revenue which "shocked the sensibilities" of the colonists and led to Otis' "Rights of the Colonies Asserted and Proved."
February 27, 2009 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it would be very funny for the Onion to just run with this as their headline. That would be a kick if they used real things occasionally. This rises to that level of absurdity and foolish ignorance parading as coolness and wisdom, that begs to be mocked.
February 27, 2009 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not black or anything, but isn't it simply "You da man" not "You be da man"?
February 27, 2009 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe ... maybe the Republicans are being very savvy and making sure they keep a "clean house". After Palin, Bachman, Steele, and Jindal (at least his performance the other night), they will soon be "justified" in turning their back on women and all persons of color having positions of power or authority -- which you know in your heart is what they want to do.
February 27, 2009 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Very perceptive.
February 27, 2009 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am seeking venture capital for a hi-tech research project. Preliminary calculations indicate that the energy needs of the entire US can be obtained by harnessing Irony, Satire and Parody to a generator. They may be dead, but they're spinning in their graves at over 10,000 rpm.
February 27, 2009 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
There ya go!
February 27, 2009 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, as an African American, I simply appalled at Michael Steele's arbitrary attempts to reach out to certain sectors of the population by speaking jive. Its insulting to himself, the community and to our country.
February 27, 2009 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think when they found they couldn't suppress the black vote effectively enough, they decided to wipe out all black people by inducing a toxic level of cringe.
February 27, 2009 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
More like making the entire community die from laughter (à la Python's Funniest Joke).
February 27, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, as an African American, I am simply appalled at Michael Steele's arbitrary attempts to reach out to certain sectors of the population by speaking jive. Its insulting to himself, the community and to our country.
February 27, 2009 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I just wondered that if our founders thought taxation without representation was bad, what would they think of representation WITH taxation?"
Gotta get rid of that damned representin'!
February 27, 2009 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
perpin peeps frontin large.
February 27, 2009 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
If only Hitler and Mussolini had said "my bad," maybe we could have casually forgiven their policies too.
February 27, 2009 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Words fail me.
Please let there be video of this.
I just realized that I've been brainwashed by the prevailing media frame that Republicans really are much savvier than they actually are.
My bad.
February 27, 2009 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
(Apologies to Beck)
In the time of GOP I was a Newtie
Taxes on my mind with the government on cruise control,
Vitter's in Reno with the powdered Huggies,
Duke's in jail and Foggo is his bunkmate,
Some folks say I'm insane to complain about
gay and lesbian weddings while the world's burning down,
Don't believe the liberal magazines,
Acorn's a commie front that's the enemy behind
everything.
So save your self as it all falls apart
Hoarding all your credit swaps waiting for the next handout... yo, cut it:
Sooooo.... open the floor,
I'm a Republican baby,
Why don't you feel me?
Forces of evil in Obama's nightmare,
Steele and Palin are the party superstars,
Because one's got a tax and the other's got a cut,
bring it all together and its all that we've got,
With the tired retreads of the pro-life brainwaves,
C-Span crap and the Drudge Report,
We're locked inside a time machine,
Our base is wide awake while the real world dreams,
Don't vote if you can't equate
Trade your job for a lie
and the love for the hate,
Because our policies are out of whack
Raining on the poor,
Pillaging the middle class
Sooooo.... open the floor,
I'm a Republican baby,
Why don't you feel me?
February 27, 2009 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn, Zipp, that's pretty good! I am impressed.
Quick, who can come up with a line or two from Blazing Saddles for this situation? ("Can't you see the Chairman is a ni-?!")
Hey, where is HusseinTenaX these days, anyway? I'm sure she'd love all of this. It's piss-your-pants funny!
-- ARG
February 27, 2009 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well done!
February 28, 2009 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
All Republicans they be suck!
February 27, 2009 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROTFLOL!
February 27, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now, that's funny! LOL!!
February 27, 2009 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Today's Republican Party, defining cool down.
February 27, 2009 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hilarious. I put the Bachmann quote in my gchat status, and the first remark that I got on it was "onion?"
February 27, 2009 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can't even parody this stuff anymore. What's next, gang signs at the podium?
February 27, 2009 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Theme Song for GOP 2012: White Chicks and Gang Signs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKTDRqQtPO8
February 27, 2009 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I see I spoke too soon...
February 28, 2009 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
"MY Bad" -- they stole their big idea from an old south park episode??? this is surreal.
they are seriously becoming CARTOONS!
February 27, 2009 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's see now. You don't do 'humor' and you don't do 'cool'. What is it exactly that you Republicans DO do besides fuck up a government? Oh yeah, and lie your asses off?
Thanks for the chuckles, Michele. You never fail to deliver.
February 27, 2009 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time to make Bachmann more visible, if its possible.
Bachmann/Steele/Palin/Jindal
Wow, dreams do come true once in a while...
February 27, 2009 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a link to the Taxation WITH Representation quote. Not very exciting... and greeted with no applause... But what a painfully stupid person. It's at the 1:10 mark:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1191735
February 27, 2009 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
"My bad"? "You be da man"? Where are these people from? 1982?
February 27, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
wow conservatives gone wild..i was actually expecting michelle to lift her blouse up while acting like the only white woman in a ludacris rap video..acting cool is going to be a hard sell to the rednecks-joesixpack-cluesless-bluecollar base of the republican party..
February 27, 2009 8:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. My thoughts exactly. Did any of you watch "right America; Feeling Wronged" on HBO? It's a documentry about the McCain supporters during the campaign and after.
I wonder too, how all these so-called 'real americans' who think Obama is a socialist (they could not give the definition of the word to Alexandra Pelosi) are going to like all there new 'slang'. Some of these whack jobs came right out and called our President 'n***er'. These people are te base of the CPAC crowd.
March 2, 2009 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
This Bachmann woman is still nuts, you would have thought she had learned her lesson.
All these people are doing is confirming what the rest of the WORLD knows, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS MADE OF OF A BUNCH OF IDIOTS.
February 28, 2009 8:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
And to think Jon Stewart was worried that the end of the Bush administration would mean the end of the political comedy gravy train.
Let the good times roll!
February 28, 2009 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bachmann is a true treasure among the GOP's artificial jewelry collection. Can we call her a cubic zirconium in the rough?
This lady leaves the impression that Gov. Palin has a clue.
February 28, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Michele Bachmann is the Paris Hilton of politics. Listening to her talk is like taking a bath in acid. This is a good summation...
http://www.examiner.com/x-4120-Minneapolis-Progressive-Examiner~y2009m2d23-Michele-Bachmann-Minnesotas-very-own-Paris-Hilton
February 28, 2009 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink