Todd Akin happy with life, campaign
Barb ShellyToday is a beautiful day in Missouri and all we Americans are blessed to live in this great country and enjoy our freedoms.
So said a sunny Todd Akin during a conference call with the Kansas City Star’s editorial board. If the GOP congressman from St. Louis and would-be U.S. senator said anything extraordinary during our 45-minute chat, it eluded me.
He deflected a question about “legitimate rape,” saying that had been discussed enough, and preferred to dwell on the differences between himself and Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. In a nutshell, Akin said, she “has a lot of confidence in big government, and I don’t.”
Something I noticed while listening to Akin: He identifies what he perceives as problems without going very far toward articulating solutions.
On health care, he notes the problems with having health insurance tied to employment, but doesn’t spell out how to fix it. I noted that the state-based exchanges in the Affordable Care Act were conceived to make insurance more portable, but he said that Obamacare in its entirety has to go.
On the farm bill, he said he “understands the need for some market stability” in agriculture, but also said “I don’t support removing all risk for an industry.” But he had no specifics for arriving at a bill that would meet somewhere in the middle.
On school lunches, Akin said he would prefer states to handle that arena, and wanted hunger programs separated from the agricultural portion of the farm bill.
On Afghanistan, he said “halfway solutions are not very good,” but didn’t say what a complete proposal would be.
On Iran, he said, “I do not like the coming together of nuclear weapons and radical Islam,” and vowed to support “strong steps” to stop it, but declined to say what those steps would be.
And so it went. Akin peppered his conversation with references to The Founders. He spoke often of freedom. He boasted of his perfect NRA rating, and his refusal to support the stimulus and TARP. He proposed getting rid of the Department of Education, the Department of Energy and the EPA.
And then he signed off, to enjoy another beautiful day in Missouri.
George Hunsucker
Northland
8 months, 2 weeks ago“If the GOP congressman from St. Louis and would-be U.S. senator said anything extraordinary during our 45-minute chat, it eluded me.”
I am sure your questions were so deeply penetrating ms. shelly. Asking him about a weeks old rape statememt says much more about you and yours then it does he.
Phil Cardarella
8 months, 2 weeks agoIDing problems is easy. Problem is that solutions are often controversial — and may even cost money. If you cannot do anything that upsets anyone and cannot do anything that requires funding it somewhat limits your conversation on the subject.
On the other hand, Akin did escape without telling you that you should be hoe barefoot and pregnant, praying. So, it was a good day for him.
Matt Henry
8 months, 2 weeks agoTodd Akin could have walked into that brood of vipers with a plan to solve every problem for humankind and he would have been rejected with bile. What he hoped to gain from this conference call is beyond me.
Although I will say it proves Akin has a world of courage, more than our President who has erected permanent detour signs around the WH press corps in favor of The View and David Letterman.
By the way… where is Barb’s expose on the Benghazi scandal and Fast and Furious? Surely this seeker of truth is all over it….
Mark Hastert
8 months, 2 weeks agoWhy wouldn’t Mr Akin be happy? God is on his side and all who dare to disagree are damned.
Wes McCoy
8 months, 2 weeks agoAkin said, she “has a lot of confidence in big government, and I don’t.”
Something I noticed while listening to Akin: He identifies what he perceives as problems without going very far toward articulating solutions.
Umm..your powers of logic are clearly weak. If the answers to our problems are not in Gummint “Funz”—its not something a Senator can affect, hence how can he articulate what he would do? Other than get Government out of the way?
Bureau of Indian Affairs—created the most poverty stricken group in the US
Medicare—robbed and broken by politicians
Social Security—see above
USPS—about to go under
“War on Poverty”—increased poverty by 50%
Whats the issue? Gummint Funz generally not only do not fix the “problem” but exacerbate it.
His message is clear—get Gummint OUT!!!! Where the Constitution wants it.
Barbie—read the Tenth Amendment eh?
George Hunsucker
Northland
8 months, 2 weeks agoGood short list of all the things government has made worse Unfortunately, to the ms Shelly’s of the world and her brood on the eBay, that’s the only solution thet know. The FACTS do not matter to them….
Mark Hastert
8 months, 2 weeks agoThe problem with Akin’s brand of “conservatism” is that’s it’s only against, never for anything. He’s a reactionary who’d have America back into the 18th century. I don’t know why they don’t all just become Amish.
Steve Alleman
Kansas City
8 months, 2 weeks agoIf someone running for office says he thinks government cannot solve any of our problems, he is announcing upfront that he will be ineffectual. If you don’t like the government, then you shouldn’t ask me to elect you to a position in the government.
Johnathon Busby
8 months, 2 weeks agoI’ll take the politician over the knuckle walking, anti woman, ignorant of eight grade biology, Luddite. The politician can be reasoned with; there’s no reasoning with someone like Akin, they have no handle on reality in the first place.
I hope to see Akin soon, asking if I want fries with that. Seems more up to his level of education and intellectual capacity.
Btw, George; on a recent thread you pointed out that I’d be the one to “suffer” if Obama is re-elected, not you, as you are already old. Given I’m the one who will bear the consequences, don’t you think I’m the one who should make the choice?
George Hunsucker
Northland
8 months, 2 weeks agoSorry Johnathon…. there is this thing called democracy, and in 5 short weeks I get to participate by proudly voting for Romney/Ryan, the candidates who can restore America’s greatness, vs. this race-baiter…
http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/02/obama-speech-jeremiah-wright-new-orleans
Johnathon Busby
8 months, 2 weeks agofirst off George, it was your suggestion, I merely addressed it.
Second, by all means, vote. I support everyone’s right to do so. Including yours.
Third, I’ll take the guy who wants to be president of the whole America, instead of just 53%. If you want to address Wright, you also want to talk about Mormonism? No, that’s still a forbidden topic, isn’t it.
Fourth, and this is significant, this thread was bout Akin, not Obama or Willard. …so… what has you so pre-occupied?
Mark Hastert
8 months, 2 weeks ago” restore America’s greatness, vs. this race-baiter…”
Take note in this thread as to who brought up race. This comment ought to be enough for anyone to see clearly the nature of what passes for conservatism these days. “American Greatness” must have been the 1950’s pre-civil rights/pre-women’s rights era.
George Hunsucker
Northland
8 months, 2 weeks agowo mentioned the big 0 first on this thread JOhnathon? READ our individual posts and see who mentioned the big 0 first. Hint:YOU
George Hunsucker
Northland
8 months, 2 weeks agoAND Johnathon, you have yet to answer the question what you think the national debt will be at the end of 4 more years of the big 0, Heaven forbid.
What’s your estimate Johnathon???????
Mark Hastert
8 months, 2 weeks ago“what you think the national debt will be at the end of 4 more years of the big O?”
Ooo! Ooo! Let me give mine!! It will be less than a Romney/Ryan’s. Romney’s $4trillion tax cut for mostly the wealthy isn’t even halfway offset by his “loop hole” closing plan.
Like the Ryan budget Republicans can’t do basic arithmetic.
I’ll go you one better, after Obama’s second term by the time Hillary is sworn in the deficits will be steadily falling, we’ll be progressing toward a balanced budget and we’ll have full employment.
Johnathon Busby
8 months, 2 weeks agoGeorge; you mentioned Romney Ryan one post before I did, in the prior day’s thread you asked me that question. …not that it matters one darned bit to the content, of course. But nice distraction.
My answer to the debt question, George, is it does concern me. But I’ve yet to see a candidate who will balance the budget and also values equality (real equality, for everyone, including people who are gay). Balanced budget is great; now do it by cutting the places that most need it, starting with the military.
Till the GOP puts up someone who believes in true equality and non-intervention-occupation in/of foreign nations, they will never have my vote.
Phil Cardarella
8 months, 2 weeks agoThe most important thing to remember is that Akin is NOT an outlier in the GOP. He IS the new GOP.
Science? “We don’t need no stinkin’ science!” Biology, paleontology, or chemistry — heck, math!
And, poor Mitt Romney — with his two advanced Harvard Degrees — is stuck with these know-nothing buffoons.