Go Home

398px-john_yarmuth.jpg This morning, Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY03) stood up on the House floor and to ask President Bush a couple of questions. Note the delicate sensibilities of the North Carolina congressman who doesn't like throwing Bush's own phrase back at him:

icon Download | play icon Download | play

With brave American soldiers dying in record numbers, I have two questions for the President -- just whose posteriors are we kicking and how do you know? With Sunnis and Shiites killing themselves and each other, plus an incompetence Maliki government, we don't know who we're fighting, much less where we're kicking them. And while we're tied up in Iraq, Al Qaeda thrives in Pakistan and Afghanistan. So the President's turn of phrase will go to the blooper hall of fame with other Bush Golden Oldies like last throes, links to Al Qaeda and Mission Accomplished. There was a time when America's success meant defeating Nazis, tearing down communism's Iron Curtain and walking on the moon. Supportng our troops meant honest safeguards, not trash talk. How low have our standards fallen when the President points to the debacle he created and says, this is what I'm proud of. Most americans believe in a country that's capable of much higher standards, and if America were really "kicking butt," the President wouldn't need to say anything, every one would know it. I yield back.

About Nicole Belle
Nicole Belle's picture
Mom, Wife, Media Critic/Political Analyst, Blogger, Austen Fanatic, Unapologetic Liberal NicoleBelle@crooksandliars.com
Share This Post

Link To This Post


70 Comments
crazylove's picture

Frits!

r's picture

Those who know don't say, and those who say don't know.

Jenny'O's picture

why does the vid stop at 6 seconds?

crazylove's picture

Clever clever. Now DO SOMETHING! See? You described it yourself, Mr. Yarmuth, bush WANTS them to destroy one another. Get It? Get It?

Ruffian's picture

THANK YOU!

Please please please-more folks need to just tell the truth about everything.

Thank you Rep Yarmouth!

mudshark's picture

about time!....MORE PLEASE!

Robert's picture

Clip stops at six seconds. As Jenny'O wrote. I would have liked to have seen & heard the whole minute. Nevertheless the transcript suggests that this one needs to be all over YouTube and seen by lots of people, imo.

Joementum's picture

No offense to the congressman, but Bush said that a couple of weeks ago. After all that time that's the best he could come up with?

If this is the opposition, we are screwed.

WashStateBlue's picture

Notice WHO is getting more and more pissed about this war....

Southerners, like Webb and Yarmouth.

Because of the higher percentage of southerners in the military,
there has to be a thinner and thinner layer of support for bush's
debacle in the south....

Rush to War's picture

Rep John Yarmouth is from Ky, It is time for you newbloods to show a little more courage, that is your f**** jop, we do not want speeches anymore, we want the madness to stop. Nancy and Harry are not up to task, tell them to step aside and to it 1st thing tommorrow morning.

chlorocardium's picture

And when we gloriously go and bomb Iran, exactly whose asses are we kicking? A people who have the most favorable opinion of the US of any other (non-Israel) country in the region. Well, at least up until then...

But then the media insists they are a horrid threat /DejaVu

Ron's picture

Jim McDermott of Washington was admonished for the "kick ass" phrase on the house floor.

http://us.f609.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?MsgId=8794_7142245_2051125_1...

L.A. Confidential's picture

Philip Giraldi

When those mushroom clouds start popping up all over the Middle and Near East, both the demented neCONs here in America and their equally rabid brethren, the crazed Zionists in Israel, will be nearing an orgasmic high, more than satisfied that their plans for ME conquest have finally come to fruition.

They won't be the only ones gushing with joy, for here in America, the Christian Zionists will also be dancing in the streets, waiting for that "RAPTURE" that never comes.

Curiously enough, the word and actions of what the Christian Zionists call "RAPTURE" never appear in the KJV of the Bible.

Doesn't matter to people who so drunk on their religion and so consumed by hatred of others. What does matter to them is that thru their political dealings and control of others, they have helped set off WW III, which will build them a Stairway to Heaven, constructed out of the charred corpses of millions, if not billions, of human beings.

Philip Giraldi is a former officer of the United States Central Intelligence Agency who became famous for claiming in 2005 that the USA was preparing plans to attack Iran with nuclear weapons in response to a terrorist action against the US, independently of whether or not Iran was involved in the action.

Paul in LA's picture

Too bad the attack on Iran -- the very reason why we are in Iraq -- is going forward apace, and this 'blame Bush for his rhetoric' approach is USELESS in stopping that.

And, anyhow, it's quite clear that Bushco is kicking Democratic butt, with the help of a generational conspiracy in the RNC and the corporate media, at least as regards the war powers and the intention of widening the war to the global nightmare Bushco is all about delivering.

ctk in ky3's picture

that's my representative. and we are so glad to have him here.

Ron McD's picture

try the quicktime version, that one plays the whole thing....

the Republicans object to the word ASS....

jeeesh

Dave's picture

Who is from North Carolina?

Paul in LA's picture

Rush to War @ 10:

Rep John Yarmouth is from Ky, It is time for you newbloods to show a little more courage, that is your f**** jop, we do not want speeches anymore, we want the madness to stop. Nancy and Harry are not up to task, tell them to step aside and to it 1st thing tommorrow morning.

You have a delusional concept of what ANY Dem leader in the Congress can accomplish with the R side colluding with these warcrimes.

You have nearly the best you could have. In the Speaker, you have the most progressive Speaker in fifty years, probably than ever. And Leader Reid is doing about what any other 51-49 Leader would be able to accomplish.

So, you are scapegoating to make yourself feel better. How about putting your comments into context with the facts, and stop backbiting OUR best people so you can feel justified.

ctk in ky3's picture

and i would also like to mention, it's YARMUTH not YARMOUTH.

Wondering's picture

Where's FDR when you need him?

motorfingaz's picture

Most americans believe in a country that’s capable of much higher standards, and if America were really “kicking butt,” the President wouldn’t need to say anything, every one would know it. I yield back.

The same reason The Republican Crime Syndicate propped the giggling murderer up on that aircraft carrier and pranced his sissie ass around with a sock stuffed in his pants.

Because he is a failure. It is he that failed to prevent the attacks on American on 9/11. Bush is a failure and a phoney.

His handlers must do everything to take Americans attention away from that fact!

Tommykey's picture

Nicole, one little mistake. You referred to him as "the North Carolina congressman", whereas at the beginning of the post you correctly identified him as being from Kentucky.

CensoredFan's picture

Paul in LA @ 18:

Rush to War @ 10:

Rep John Yarmouth is from Ky, It is time for you newbloods to show a little more courage, that is your f**** jop, we do not want speeches anymore, we want the madness to stop. Nancy and Harry are not up to task, tell them to step aside and to it 1st thing tommorrow morning.

You have a delusional concept of what ANY Dem leader in the Congress can accomplish with the R side colluding with these warcrimes.

You have nearly the best you could have. In the Speaker, you have the most progressive Speaker in fifty years, probably than ever. And Leader Reid is doing about what any other 51-49 Leader would be able to accomplish.

So, you are scapegoating to make yourself feel better. How about putting your comments into context with the facts, and stop backbiting OUR best people so you can feel justified.

Your best people suck then. Keep on electing them. They are doin' a "helluva job Brownie" as Shrub would say. Great alternative assclowns to Shrub's assclowns. Oh, forgot...their hands are tied...not enough votes, blah, blah, blah......but in the same breathe...oh how we kicked the RETHUGlican ass in the elections for CONgress!!! People putting any faith in either of these two War Parties is EXACTLY what is wrong with this country. Sorry, but I am sick and tired of partisan bs politics.

General Jack D. Ripper's picture

Who is that idiot from NC? Likely some far right loony religious nut.

iraqconcilable's picture

Great, now if the rest of the Dems in congress would stop being such candyposteriors, we might get somewhere .

Paul in LA's picture

CensoredFan @ 23:

Your best people suck then. Keep on electing them....Sorry, but I am sick and tired of partisan bs politics.

Oh, boohoo for you. Wah!

And the number of representatives YOU have in this government?

ZERO.

That's got to take some real hard work.

Me, I go into the streets in ten minutes to protest AGAIN these crimes against our country. You? You lob your dirtball at Nancy Pelosi, and then you go have a nap or a beer, and feel good about yourself. You're so pure!

Paul in LA's picture

Wondering @ 20:

Where's FDR when you need him?

Hiding under Bush's wing and waiting for better weather.

dadams's picture

much kudos to Rep John Yarmouth and a big fuck you to the senator from n carolina.

CensoredFan's picture

Paul in LA Says:
Me, I go into the streets in ten minutes to protest AGAIN these crimes against our country

Good for you Paul. And I'll continue to work 70 hours a week so you can do that. It's the great thing about America. You just keep doing that. So far all that protesting has worked out great for you. What has it done? NOTHING. Even your own party is ignoring you. Nice. But keep on keepin' on.

Sharerd Humanity's picture

The little runt needs to get his ass kicked and there are at least 50 million Americans who would line up for the opportunity.

Greg's picture

I believe that was Patrick McHenry of North Carolina that stood up against Yarmuth.

tjb's picture

Paul in LA
Don't believe it does nothing.It changes one person at a time.I've just got back from maybe the 150th Tues night vigil,always go with strongly worded sign.There has been a sea change in response with most now in agreement with the protesters.Of course there will be a few gung hos but disarm those bastards with a smile they can't respond to.Peace now

a guy's picture
kerplunk's picture

Rep. Nancy Pelousy (D-CA) will bring a resolution to the House floor tomorrow to censure Rep. Yarmuth.

Ruthless People's picture

WashStateBlue @ 9:

Notice WHO is getting more and more pissed about this war....

Southerners, like Webb and Yarmouth.

Because of the higher percentage of southerners in the military,
there has to be a thinner and thinner layer of support for bush's
debacle in the south....

I don't think that is so. the larger military bases are in the south but the highest number of soldiers are from the northeast I believe.

Ruthless People's picture

Dave @ 17:

Who is from North Carolina?

This hillbilly congressman who wet his bed over the "butt" kicking comment.

Ruthless People's picture

dadams @ 28:

much kudos to Rep John Yarmouth and a big fuck you to the senator from n carolina.

The closeted pasty white doughboy from NC is a congressman not a senator.

Ruthless People's picture

General Jack D. Ripper @ 24:

Who is that idiot from NC? Likely some far right loony religious nut.

No, he's the other type of red state Republican. The closeted homo conservative, and this one has connections to a murder/suicide scandal http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2820 (assuming that was McHenry)

Ruthless People's picture

Ron McD @ 16:

try the quicktime version, that one plays the whole thing....

the Republicans object to the word ASS....

jeeesh

If only they were as sensitive to spiraling debts and endless half trillion dollar senseless wars for big oil and Halliburton.

Ex-Canuck's picture

Good on you Yarmouth. Great sentiment, and pointed questions that will certainly go unanswered.

It may be just me, but I would have responded to the request to tone down the perceived vulgarities by saying "If it is good enough for bush to use these terms it should be good enough for his sycophant boot-lickers to hear it in his own words!"

wilderwood's picture

PLEASE GET IT RIGHT. Yarmuth is not from North Carolina. He's from Kentucky.

Tony's picture

I voted for this guy.

Rufus T. Firefly's picture

Greg @ 31:

I believe that was Patrick McHenry of North Carolina that stood up against Yarmuth.

Judging from this story:

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/09/04/four-more-gop-outings-could-be-i...

I'd say McHenry is simply panicky at any mention of the word "ass."

oncall's picture

Watch that pasty faced mealy mouthed loser (McHenry) get his head handed to him by Wolf Blitzer on CNN. Blitzer won't bite on the ridiculously false accusation that this scum bag tries to sell. I will never forget this guy as a Karl Rove protégé with a southern twang.

leslie's picture

CensoredFan @ 29:

Paul in LA Says:
Me, I go into the streets in ten minutes to protest AGAIN these crimes against our country

Good for you Paul. And I'll continue to work 70 hours a week so you can do that. It's the great thing about America. You just keep doing that. So far all that protesting has worked out great for you. What has it done? NOTHING. Even your own party is ignoring you. Nice. But keep on keepin' on.

If you could work another 55 hours a week on my behalf I could devote all my time to protesting, rather than just the few hours I can scrape together to stand on the corner or at the train station, or at the federal building with my signs for peace and an end to bloodshed.

And Paul in LA~
Keep on keeping on.........I'll see you out there.

oncall's picture

Here is the link for my last comment. It really is worth watching this guy get his buried by Wolf
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/08/mchenry-pelosi/

Tommykey's picture

Never mind Nicole, I re-read it and understand that the North Carolina congressman was the one objecting to Yarmuth. My bad!

jr's picture

the only thing getting its ass kicked is our treasury which is 3 trillion dollars more in debt since the mouth-breather had his supreme court buddies appoint him into office

Paul in LA's picture

CensoredFan @ 29:

Good for you Paul. And I'll continue to work 70 hours a week so you can do that. It's the great thing about America. You just keep doing that. So far all that protesting has worked out great for you. What has it done? NOTHING. Even your own party is ignoring you. Nice. But keep on keepin' on.

You will continue to work your job so that I can go protest? HILARIOUS.

As for the effect of the protest, you clearly don't understand it at all. You have no clue how STARVED Americans are for 1) Expression of Outrage, 2) The Comradery of the Opposition ("water the grassroots").

You just don't get the value in such work, and you're so negative and critical of people who -- while still managing to pay their rent -- are working at bringing about change.

The big joyous grins I see in people driving by is clear enough to me. Compared to your echoing sarcasm and pessimism, it's not a hard choice.

Paul in LA's picture

tjb @ 32:

It changes one person at a time.

The support that public protest gives to the populace is a crucial aspect of keeping our society from stagnating under the oppression of lies and rampant brutal crimes. Without people in the streets, there is too much risk that people would simply turn off.

FACING THE TRUTH is better than running from it, and protesters help keeping the truth alive.

Thanks for your efforts, tjb!

Paul in LA's picture

And you, leslie.

Reverend Jackson said it best when he said, "Keep hope alive!"

Right on!'s picture

Sharerd Humanity @ 30:

The little runt needs to get his ass kicked and there are at least 50 million Americans who would line up for the opportunity.

Time to march down to that white house he's been living in for free and kick that little weasel's saggy a$$ then... get goin'!

HulksHeroes's picture

I love it when a politician says it like it is. I'm sure glad the repug jumped up and put a sudden stop to using the word "ass". Protect us from such criminal activity. What a clown!

Trittydi's picture

Myself, I greatly admire delicate sensibilities . . .
*

Edwin's picture

All posters:

Please refrain from obscenties. Those are resereved for go-fuck-yourself-Cheney and kicking-ass-Bush. Funny, they seem not to be acceptable in the House.

Edwin's picture

Sharerd Humanity @ 30:

The little runt needs to get his ass kicked and there are at least 50 million Americans who would line up for the opportunity.

And one Canadian. ;)

StCyrlyMe's picture

He hit a home run on this one and I like to know why they stopped him, when Bush did say exactly that.

The double standards used in congress today is just over the top.

Anjoe's picture

This seem to prove that no hypocritical deed is to small for a repub to perform.

David in Chelsea, MA's picture

oncall @ 46:

Here is the link for my last comment. It really is worth watching this guy get his buried by Wolf
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/08/mchenry-pelosi/

Thanks for this link.

McHenry is a scumball, as shown by that clip. He's accuses the Dems of leaking the Foley mess, with NO PROOF, and when asked by Wolf for evidence, he then says, "It's just a question," and states that the Dems have refused to refute it. What an ASS. (Who, ironically, doesn't want to hear that particular word.)
I have no proof that McHenry wears panties at night, either, but it's only a "QUESTION" I've just come up with that he has yet to refute.

SouljaEXVOTO's picture

Make sure you get it right, HE'S FROM LOUISVILLE WHERE I HELPED HIM BEAT THE MULTI TERM REPUBLICAN ANN NORTHUP. WE'RE A BLUE CITY IN A RED STATE AND WE'RE WORKING HARD TO DITCH MITCH MCCONNELL AND OVERTURN THIS REGIME. I'm proud of Yarmuth and my city. He sounded like he was so pissed he was almost crying, like me everyday. Thanks Yarmuth.

[...] See this video clip – on Tuesday, September 25, the congressman from Kentucky’s Third District, John Yarmuth [...]

Rusty Shackleford's picture

Must... move... to Kentucky...

Fairness Doctrine's picture

We love, ya John!

Now, everyone get on the blower and tell Yarmuth that he's on the WRONG SIDE of the Fairness Doctrine. He seems to think it's alright to have the little right wing talk show host parlays in the oval office. He thinks it's OK for Dick Cheney to call Sean Hannity on his Blackberry and tell him to shut up about the Dubai Ports thing and Hannity bows to his bidding.

Yarmuth thinks the domination of the radio airwaves by the wingnuts is OK.

Targa's picture

Awesome. TOTALLY AWESOME! Alright Hamilton... I mean, Yarmuth.

ctk in ky3's picture

Rusty Shackleford @ 62:

Must... move... to Kentucky...

if you come here, move to louisville. as another poster pointed out above, we are a blue island in a conservative state (more dems are registered in kentucky than republicans by a 3:2 margin, but those are your typical southern conservative democrats) and progressivism doesn't happen a lot out in the state, but louisville is the place to be for progressives.

also, if someone is quoting the exact words of someone and they curse, isn't that okay? if it isn't then mr mchenry needs to say something to dubya about using proper language.

@Fairness Doctrine
i am liberal in my political meanings. by no means am i a republican. but i also side with rep. yarmuth. for the fairness doctrine to actually function as it should, it requires that people on the other side who are knowledgable also have the ability to convey their message. historically, there have not been very many liberals who are knowledgable and can speak well as well. i don't want rebuttals to bog down on other issues that may be relevant to a locality. other than john yarmuth, we don't have too many of these types of people here.

it has also been a hinderance to talk radio. many of you are talking about whack jobs like comedian rush limbaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, sean hannity and bill oraly, but the flipside also applies. the stations that air rachael maddow, randi rhodes, thom hartmann, stephanie miller, et al. will also be FORCED to air the right wing crapola. sure, the bigger stations will have to carry a progressive voice, but the smaller stations that typically air more progressive talk are going to suffer. the fairness doctrine comes in, progressive startups like air america and nova m are going to get obliterated.

i want the government to stay out of telling media outlets what they must air. the fairness doctrine is little more than political advertising that the station doesn't get paid for.

Rusty Shackleford's picture

ctk in ky3 @ 65:

Rusty Shackleford @ 62:

Must... move... to Kentucky...

if you come here, move to louisville. as another poster pointed out above, we are a blue island in a conservative state (more dems are registered in kentucky than republicans by a 3:2 margin, but those are your typical southern conservative democrats) and progressivism doesn't happen a lot out in the state, but louisville is the place to be for progressives.

What about Lexington? I've visited there and it seemed reasonably progressive, with the university and all. Pretty too.

"Fair and Balanced" Dave's picture

Thank you Rep Yarmuth for showing more spine than far too many of your fellow Dems and Voting "Nay" on the stupid Rethug bill condemning the MoveOn ad.

cathy's picture

thank you congressman john yarmuth...we elected you to stand up for this country and you are!...there is a need for more of our reps to stand up to this hypocritical bunch of republicans...they are good at kicking people down...you go john!

ctk in ky3's picture

avoid lessington. lessington sucks. :)

of course, because lessington is not louisville, lessington gets what it needs most of the time whereas we do not, so it has that going for it i guess.

but still, avoid lessington. lessington sucks.

KyBlue's picture

http://bluegrassredstate.blogspot.com/2007/09/message-from-soldier.html#...

In my meeting with Rep. Yarmuth (D-Ky, 3rd) he said we "needed a change in course" in Iraq and that the Generals "say one thing in front of cameras and after tell the real story of how Iraq is a failure." To this I replied with a question asking if he is insinuating that our military has no integrity or morals? No answer.. Second question.. what is your course of change? "Well I am not in the position to make such changes." So I replied with, if you have no plan for change then how can you call for it? Very shortly after our meeting was ended and he did not have the decency to shake our hand or say goodbye. He ducked into his office and his assistant showed us the door. To me this was very disrespectful of Rep. Yarmuth in his treatment of a disabled Iraq/Afghanistan veteran.This is a big part of our problem right now.. it is like the Democrats have turned into that really old couple that every time they go to talk to each other it ends in a fight. Friendly dialog is not a crime last I checked and is actually what a thriving Free Republic is about.

Johnny Waltz
Disabled Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran

Comments are closed on this entry