Marc Ambinder does not allow for much personal liberty or free expression in the matter of people's names:
Sam The Not-Officialy-A-Plumber
16 Oct 2008 04:14 pm
(I.e., Joe The Plumber's name isn't Joe, and he's not officially a plumber. Discuss.)
Well, it is his middle name that is "Joe". I understand that in the new America glimmering over the near horizon it will not be patriotic to mention the middle name of the President (Hussein! Come and get me!), but surely we will retain our right to use our own middle names if we so choose, won't we? Or does that whole middle-name thing embarrass The One and his supporters that much?
Well. As a bit of a nostalgia piece, maybe Mr. Ambinder would like to pass the time trying to figure out who these figures from history might have been:
Arthur Chamberlain
Stephan Cleveland
Dorothy Dunaway
John Hoover
Ralph Earnhardt
Ralph Earnhardt, Jr.
Yitzak Asner
Willard Romney
Anna Roosevelt
Henry Perot
William Pitt
I can get some of them! As a bonus, how about
Chester Lott
James McCartney
Thomas Connery
John Coolidge
John Ferrell
Francis Fitzgerald
Richard Fuller
Malcolm Forbes
William Gable
Henry Gehrig
Now we can add Samuel J. T. Plumber to the list. As American as apple pie. Well, the old America.
After the Al Smith joke-smackdown, if the election was to determine the replacement for Jay Leno, it would be a 50 state landslide for McCain.
Posted by: Patrick R. Sullivan | October 16, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Oh no. I go by my middle name. I hadn't realized just how much of a racist I truly am.
Posted by: Stealth Gay Conservative Academic | October 16, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Drop a hint that you know Ace is calling. Dunno why he would but he is.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | October 16, 2008 at 10:18 PM
That's really impressive! Did you do that from memory?
Isn't officially spelled with 2 ls or is the Atlantic into some kind of prole chic now that it's evident Joe and Sarah are America's new darlings?
Posted by: clarice | October 16, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Are we guessing?
*Wilt* Arthur Chamberlain
*Grover* Stephan Cleveland
*Faye* Dorothy Dunaway
*Herbert* John Hoover
*Dale* Ralph Earnhardt
*Dale* Ralph Earnhardt, Jr.
*Ed* Yitzak Asner
*Mitt* Willard Romney
Anna Roosevelt
*Ross* Henry Perot
*Brad* William Pitt
I can get some of them! As a bonus, how about
Chester Lott
*Paul* James McCartney
*Sean* Thomas Connery
*Calvin* John Coolidge
*Will* John Ferrell
*Patrick* Francis Fitzgerald
Richard Fuller
*Steven* Malcolm Forbes
*Clark* William Gable
*Lou* Henry Gehrig
I assume the Roosevelt is FDR's wife, but for the life of me, I can't remember her freaking name. Anyway, how'd I do?
Posted by: Sue | October 16, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Okay. Not bad, but not great.
when I looked at Anna Roosevelt I wanted to throw something. Why couldn't I remember her name?
Posted by: Sue | October 16, 2008 at 11:06 PM
John Edgar Hoover???
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | October 16, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Eleanor
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | October 16, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Trent Lott?
Posted by: Verner | October 16, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Frances Scott Fitzgerald??
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | October 16, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Don't shun me, but I go by only 1/2 of my actual first name.
I didn't even have a middle name until I got married.
I am an unlicensed babysitter, driver, cook, and cleaning woman.
Posted by: MayBee | October 16, 2008 at 11:44 PM
but surely we will retain our right to use our own middle names if we so choose, won't we? Or does that whole middle-name thing embarrass The One and his supporters that much?
This is an wicked mean insane attack.
Could I suggest that it may not even be Joe who chose to be referred to as Joe, but perchance his parents?
I say this because I specifically named my child with the intention of calling him by his middle name.
I wanted him to have his fathers name (you know they whole junior thing) but we WANTED to call him his middle name.
I have to say that Obama love/obsession has made some otherwise rationale people BAT S*&^ Crazy nuts and they've let Zombies DEVOUR their brains.
OH and I noticed Joe's sons name is JOEY - middle name too? Or is it the name his father GOES by and so he named his son that too?
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | October 16, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Oh -oops. Didn't mean it was mean attack by you JM. I meant Ambinder and Despicable Sullivan et al. Didn't put that together well. Sorry.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | October 16, 2008 at 11:50 PM
TM, not JM. Ack.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | October 16, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Posted by: Neo | October 16, 2008 at 11:51 PM
I remember a man that did something similar, but in the opposite, to another recent politician. He had to be destroyed, too.
Who asked too easy a question?
And what happened to him?
hint: Guckert
Posted by: MayBee | October 16, 2008 at 11:54 PM
You know what's even more stupid about this? What if Joe had thought that he should introduce himself as his birth given in order to please the media and not "fool" them, even though he's probably been called Joe his whole life.
The same fools writing in newpapers and throwing up snarky gotcha post would be saying The. Same. Exact. Thing.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | October 17, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Get out of my head Maybee. I was just thinking about him.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | October 17, 2008 at 12:01 AM
"Nice middle name ya got there, Joe. Hate to see somthing happen to it..."
Posted by: Les Kneecapper Nessman | October 17, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Being called or going by one's middle name is something of a tradition among hillbillies and southerners for sure. I was given my father's first name and have never been called by anything except my middle name save for my time in service, where they pretty much insist on it in the official stuff. Even then all my friends called me by my middle name.
I do find it interesting how much time can be spent investigating every single detail of Joe-the-Plumber compared to the whole nanoseconds spent investigating important things that might harm Obama.
I'm guessing even the idiot media understands that this could hurt Obama a lot. I can see a lot of good commercials from this, including one using that clip of Obama asking insultingly how many plumbers make $250,000/yr. That's the point, moron. *IF* they made that much, they don't want you taking it and giving it someone you think deserves it more.
Finally, McCain killed tonight at the Al Smith Dinner.
Posted by: JorgXMcKie | October 17, 2008 at 12:13 AM
Apparently Barack Hussein doesn't want Joe the Plumber to have electricity either.
Hot air and unicorns, unicorns and hot air.
Posted by: Pofarmer | October 17, 2008 at 12:20 AM
including one using that clip of Obama asking insultingly how many plumbers make $250,000/yr. That's the point, moron.
And don't forget Joe "Home depot" Biden don't know any plumbers in Scranton or Katie's Place on Union street that make that make $250,000/yr.!
---
It's weird. My mom and I were just this morning giggling about the only person who calls my son by his "official" first name is his little, old lady English teacher.
I guess I need to prepare him that there may be a circumstance he's attacked as a liar and total fraud because mommy and daddy wanted to call him by his middle name.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | October 17, 2008 at 12:25 AM
My sister's names were chosen to honor my two grandmothers: Mary (really Mária) and Queene (what can I say, old Injun name).
They meant to call her Queene, because it was an unusual name; they made it her middle name because "Queene Mary Martin" was just too much.
(It didn't do a lot of good: as kids we called her "Mary Queene of Snots".)
I suppose she now has to worry about being attacked for not using her real name too.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | October 17, 2008 at 12:26 AM
If you didn't get a chance to see McCain at the dinner tonight, you can view the 2 part video here.
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | October 17, 2008 at 12:30 AM
McCain killed tonight
Man, did he ever. I enjoyed it almost as much as Hillary.
Obama...spoke. He got polite applause in a room full of Manhattan Democrats. Most of his laughs were his own.
Posted by: bgates | October 17, 2008 at 12:39 AM
And he got in some great digs on Bill Clinton's campaigning (not) for Obama and ACORN in particular.
Posted by: clarice | October 17, 2008 at 12:52 AM
Hillary laughed so hard at McCain, I can only assume she knows Bill will vote for McCain.
Sorry, Barack. When you try to destroy the previous iconic Dem President and his entire economic record, he may not fall in line later.
Posted by: MayBee | October 17, 2008 at 01:01 AM
FLASH! Tom Brokaw Involved in Soros-Funded Charity that Funds ACORN
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | October 17, 2008 at 01:25 AM
I'd just like to say that the casual destruction of people's reputations (especially "little people") by politicians and their supporters in an effort to make an ad hominem attack to deflect criticism is exactly what was wrong with the Clinton presidency, is rampant amongst the lefty commentariat (e.g., Kos), and is asbolutely unacceptable. And to put it in a vernacular that Joe might appreciate: that crap won't flush.
Posted by: Cecil Turner | October 17, 2008 at 01:27 AM
That's odd. Ace isn't acknowledging a response. Who were the fellows cowering in their houses on the edge of the Lexington green? Does anyone remember their names?
It's almost as if starting a fire and taking heat were different elements within the universe.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | October 17, 2008 at 01:28 AM
What is Peggy Noonan's problem with Sarah Palin??
From WSJ
There seem to be a whole lot of people out there really trying to paint themselves as out of touch snobs.
I dunno, Sarah Palin works for me. YMMV.
LUN
Posted by: Pofarmer | October 17, 2008 at 01:32 AM
This is so ridiculous.
My husband goes by his middle name because he hated the way his mother's voice sounded when she yelled for him by his first name.
I guess Marc and Andrew Sullivan would say that my husband's name really isn't his name either.
How completely stupid can you get?
Posted by: Athena | October 17, 2008 at 01:33 AM
Ya know, I think that events on the ground have passed Peggy Noonan by. She thinks that this is still the good ole days with Reagan and Tipp O'neil, and that somehow, magically, Sarah Palin or someone could take us back to that time. Sorry Peggy, it ain't gonna happen. Sarah Palin has been on the national scene for all of seven weeks, campaigning for John McCain, and they want more, more, more. What's up with these people?
Posted by: Pofarmer | October 17, 2008 at 01:36 AM
Sorry to interrupt the media's full throttle
vettingassassination of Joe the Plumber who goes by his middle name, but there another person the media and Democrats don't seem to want to vetRahm Emanuel
and The Politco is fretting that Republicans are wanting Nancy to do her job!
Anyway, recall that slippery interview Rahm Emanuel did during the Foley affair where the lawyer Rahm could not deny that he had sat on the the very important to be investigated Foley affair for a year or so, because they wanted to use it for the upcoming election.
Rahm Emanuel is a Chicago politicain.
The press yawn on this though and annoyance that GOP are pushing it is precious.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | October 17, 2008 at 01:37 AM
Pofarm
I stopped reading Peggy when in the 04 election she wrote this peice wherein she said she never understood gardening and peoples obsession with gardens and flowers and then she went to Europe and for the first time she realized the beauty of tulips (even though oddly she has seen them in DC for so many years) and suddenly she got it and had a new admirations for gardeners and therefore we all craved change and niceness and no war and and thinly veiled we should vote for Kerry.
It was the most elitist piece of crap and frankly insulting and dense.
Peggy's just pissed that she was flat out caught on TV saying ONE thing to her Network buddies and ANOTHER in her column about Palin and so then she tried to whitewash it.
NOW she feels vindicated for being a liar to the peasants.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | October 17, 2008 at 01:45 AM
Maybee--a trip down memory lane brought up this outstanding post on Jame Guckert by TM back in '05.
Quite a conversation with Kermit in the mix.
One commentator--Jeff--led to this web site bashing Joe the Plumber.
Posted by: glasater | October 17, 2008 at 01:48 AM
In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics. It's no good, not for conservatism and not for the country. And yes, it is a mark against John McCain, against his judgment and idealism.
Has Peggy Noonan been paying attention????
Palin brings vulgarity?????
I think she's just upset her precious Republican party has become the party of the Hillbillies and Rednecks, instead of the East Coast blue bloods. I bet Sarah Palin understands those crowds 10 times better than Peggy Noonan ever could.
Posted by: Pofarmer | October 17, 2008 at 01:48 AM
"The little people want to be led, you seeeee."
Bah.
Posted by: Pofarmer | October 17, 2008 at 01:51 AM
More Joe the Plumber, less Peggy Noonan.
Posted by: Daddy | October 17, 2008 at 02:00 AM
I'll say the one good thing about this election is it's smoked out the Manhattan masquerade ball conservatives.
Most conservatives don't need to plan there evening wardrobe for the weeks foundation dinners and events like petite little Peg.
Most conservatives work and take care of their families and when they have free time tend to the garden, mow their lawns and clip a few roses to bring inside because unlike Peggy they've ALWAYS known their beauty and to smell them.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | October 17, 2008 at 02:02 AM
Tops,
Are you saying that shaking the dirt from the quaking root ball and doing some judicious clipping of unhealthy clumps might be agreeable to at least a decent plurality? I think you may have a good point.
Noonan is spouting from panty drenching fear. It's justifiable.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | October 17, 2008 at 02:14 AM
What is Peggy Noonan's problem with Sarah Palin?
I'll get to that. First I have some more important questions:
Which are denser, Fritos or Cheetos?
Do people sneeze more now than they did in the eighties?
Who'd win a hot dog eating contest between Batman and the Flash?
Once I have all that straightened out, I'll get after Noonie Pagan, or Poogy Nenan, or whatever.
Posted by: bgates | October 17, 2008 at 02:44 AM
FBI Moves In On Dem Mahoney-- Here's What the Media Is Not Reporting on the Sex & Hush Money Scandal
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | October 17, 2008 at 02:48 AM
Manhattan masquerade ball conservatives
Boy, have you ever nailed Noonan!
Her nose is out of joint because she no longer shines in the light of GOP conservatism. And Sarah shows how far removed she is.
Posted by: Publius | October 17, 2008 at 03:50 AM
One of the fundamental issues e have as a country is that the "elite" get their world view from the same set of "elite" friends, newspapers, web blogs, etc. It's a disturbing herd instinct.
Yesterday, there was perhaps the single most snide put down of Republicans in the LA Times. Basically, simple name calling by Rosa Brooks, a Harvard educated arbiter of political something or other, basically. Today's issue focuses on the Democrats all the way down the front page, while the latest Gallup poll should be scaring the bejeepers out of Obama.
I am in Beijing at the moment, and now that I can get out on the interweb, I think the press here has more of a spectrum that at home.
testing, testing...Tienanmen, Tienanmen!
Posted by: matt | October 17, 2008 at 06:43 AM
Good Morning to all!
Once again, over at American Thinker, Jack Cashill puts forth a strong arguement that Obama never wrote his books by himself.
"A newly discovered book chapter from 1990 that shows clearly and painfully the limits of Obama's prose style the year he received a contract to write Dreams."
How many people have been given an advance to write their memoirs before they have accomplished something?
LUN
Posted by: Pagar | October 17, 2008 at 07:04 AM
I smell backlash. Joe the Plumber is arousing something very American in a whole lot of people - something they are not willing to give up. A whole lot of people "made it" under President Bush, and right about now they should be realizing that will not be possible under O.
I say Joe Plumber is an election changer!
Posted by: Jane Plumber | October 17, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Well, you had to figure this one. From the Paper that started it all.
And another damned lefty meme gets established.
LUN
Posted by: Pofarmer | October 17, 2008 at 07:55 AM
Listen up, people. We need to get PC before this here election. If the Big O doesn't admit to a middle name then, dammit, Joe, er, What's-his-name, can't use one either.
It's only... er... fair.
Posted by: sbw | October 17, 2008 at 08:42 AM
The Wright (no silly, not that one) article offering lamentations to future Joe the Plumbers at AT is also excellent, and exemplifies the notion that everything Zero knows about business could fit on the dust jacket of Dreams, Ayers' widely acclaimed book.
LUN
Posted by: rhodeymark | October 17, 2008 at 08:45 AM
As long as we're playing the name game -- labels that leave a mark -- several have scored high on the Richter scale:
-- Zero
-- Senator Government
And, from a comment on the AT article by Jack Cashill:
-- Milli Vanilli
Ouch!
Posted by: sbw | October 17, 2008 at 08:54 AM
The whole Mark Foley thing was a Dem set up from beginning to end--remember the "outing" on that fake website that got the ball rolling? The Dems found an old ponce who was utterly harmless and destroyed him through innuendo and media aided smears of (non-existent) pedophilia to put Mahoney into Foley's seat. This turn of events is karma though it cannot undue the fact that that bit of monket business gave them a majority which they may only solidify this time around.
Posted by: clarice | October 17, 2008 at 08:58 AM
I am Sarah Palin.
I am Joe the Plumber.
I am Clarice.
I do not hold life so dear that I am unwilling to relinquish it for the benefit of my heirs. -- Rick Ballard (other thread)
Posted by: I am Spartacus | October 17, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Bush and Buffet say buy American.
Posted by: Investors | October 17, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Here's NPR on Obama and how he is a scrappy, Chicago-tough politician. Now that the theme of hope and change is no longer needed, they are assuring everyone that he brings a gun to the knife fight. There is nothing new in this article. I question the timing...
LUN
Posted by: badjoe | October 17, 2008 at 09:38 AM
the latest Gallup may be crack smoke, but it seems McCain is getting closer.
The press is almost at a Stalinist level in its bias, and my feeling is that people in the great big middle are getting very upset with them. The "death threats" are fake. McCain is somehow a racist. Palin, who had an 80% approval rating in Alaska has been absolutely trashed.
There are a lot of stories about voter fraud by ACORN and the dems out there Peggy Noonan makes no sense. Joe the Plumber gets the Trostky treatment. Obama wants to have his victory party in Grant Park? What next?
This is just insane.....When did the people we called leaders become so completely unhinged?
Posted by: matt | October 17, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Peggy's problem with Sarah is that she's younger and prettier.
Posted by: Patrick R. Sullivan | October 17, 2008 at 09:49 AM
I just heard a clip on the radio of Joe Biden saying that Barack's economic plan is based on a "Three-letter word---JOBS." And, being Joe Biden, he then spelled it out--"J-O-B-S".
If Sarah Palin had said this, the election would be over (as over as the Sox in the top of the 7th last night--heh).
Has anybody else heard or seen this? It makes Dan Quayle sound like Winston Churchill.
Posted by: Boatbuilder | October 17, 2008 at 09:51 AM
**undo**
Here's a decent article on polls:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122420151553142939.html
It confirms that there's more damage by ACORN than one might imagine. Pollsters, not knowing how many of the new registations are legit or likely to actually vote, are weighting their polls by the seat of their pants.
Posted by: clarice | October 17, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Boatbuilder
Slo joe was on Letterman last night talking about that gaffe. It's just part of who he is and don't we all find him endearing...sigh
PS Slo joe's forehead is incredibly smooth. It positively shines under the lights.
Posted by: badjoe | October 17, 2008 at 10:01 AM
The thing about the ACORN fraud, is that there have to be a whole lot of Dims in all levels of government that are aware of it, if not actually involved in it. Such complicity on the part of elected officials is somewhat distressing. OTOH, when Sarah Palin found corruption on the Alaska Energy Board she resigned and folks paid fines. It's not much wonder the Lib's are running scared. First Job for Sarah??? Voter rolls. Voting is the base of any democracy, and it should not be taken lightly.
Posted by: Pofarmer | October 17, 2008 at 10:09 AM
PS Slo joe's forehead is incredibly smooth. It positively shines under the lights.
That makes sense. You've heard the phrase "brow furrowed in thought"?
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | October 17, 2008 at 10:22 AM
lol Charlie
Pofarmer, that's a great idea.
Posted by: badjoe | October 17, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Bush should appoint a special prosecutor for ACORN, since neither candidate can be trusted to pursue this after the election.
It may happen, too, because voter fraud is likely to be an explosive issue if Obama wins and one of these corrupted states is close.
Best case scenario for cleaning this up is McCain wins and Bush appoints a SP.
Posted by: Extraneus | October 17, 2008 at 10:31 AM
As with all of his whoppers in the debate, Joe's "gaffes" are not just slips of the tongue--because he always repeats them for emphasis. But Joe is an endearing old pro and Sarah Palin is a dope. I give up!
I think John McCain should say "I knew Dan Quayle, and Joe you're no Dan Quayle." (He's got to work on his delivery a little but he does have the comic touch to do it)
Posted by: Boatbuilder | October 17, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Best chance for impeachment is Obama wins and Bush appoints a special prosecutor. Kind of a little "going away" present.
Posted by: Pofarmer | October 17, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Best chance for impeachment is Obama wins and Bush appoints a special prosecutor for ACORN. Kind of a little "going away" present.
Posted by: Pofarmer | October 17, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Now it can be told.
Thanks to Joe the Plumber, I have the courage to come out and admit it.
Hit a my middle name.
Thank you, Joe.
Posted by: and hit run | October 17, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Do politicians ever remember that in a nation obsessed with politics, our children—sorry, our kids—look to political figures for a model as to how adults sound?
Noonan doesn't have a clue.
Posted by: badjoe | October 17, 2008 at 10:51 AM
and, but are you licenced?
Posted by: badjoe | October 17, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Here's NPR on Obama and how he is a scrappy, Chicago-tough politician. Now that the theme of hope and change is no longer needed, they are assuring everyone that he brings a gun to the knife fight.
Typical tripe from Pravda West. I can imagine this little poofter sitting across from Putin and, when he's getting his skinny ass kicked and giving away the ranch, doing something snarky like surreptitiously giving him the finger. Vlad the asskicker would turn to his assistant and say "Get me the polonium." Game over.
Posted by: Captain Hate | October 17, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Interesting indicator for the coming Obama nation;
If you're a middle class Joe and you criticize the maximum leader you get put out of business.
As to Peggy Noonan, she was a flighty, airhead even when she was writing great speeches twenty years ago.
Posted by: Barney Frank | October 17, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Captain, you're killing me. I adore your commentary.
Posted by: badjoe | October 17, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I wonder what Noonan thinks of Bill Ayers' prose?
Posted by: badjoe | October 17, 2008 at 11:04 AM
If McCain could campaign as good as he worked the Al Smith dinner, he'll win. I did notice he seemed to get louder applause and laughs than Obama, even when he said the room was full of dem hacks...And Hillary's hug for Mc was much more sincere than her Obama gloved hand. I even think she
mouthed "Call me" to McCain.
All my loves---what do you think is shaking about Colin Powell being on Meet the Prolitariat on Sunday? If he endorses O, he should do it quietly in the voting booth, then come out publicly if he wins--not trumpet his brotherhood.
Posted by: glenda waggoner | October 17, 2008 at 11:11 AM
DOH!! I said earlier that Joe Biden was on Letterman. I meant Leno, I never watch Letterman..
Posted by: badjoe | October 17, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Bad:
and, but are you licenced?
Oh, yes.
I often use. "licentioused" to descene it myself, though.
Posted by: and hit run | October 17, 2008 at 11:13 AM
And Run? Is that you?
Posted by: clarice | October 17, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Descene = describe or something. My thumbs have a mind of their own
Posted by: and hit run | October 17, 2008 at 11:22 AM
SC just sided with the democrats in Ohio.
Now that is dumb
Posted by: Jane | October 17, 2008 at 11:50 AM
My thumbs have a mind of their own
Just use your index fingers and you'll never go rong.
Posted by: Barney Frank | October 17, 2008 at 12:34 PM
sbw - I propose the following new name for Obama:
King Baby
Whines when he does not get what he wants. Makes funny faces about answers he doesn't like. Runs to MSM-Mommy when he doesn't get his way and SHE makes everything OK for Baby.
Posted by: PDinDetroit | October 17, 2008 at 01:14 PM
WSJ On Polls and weighting.
Posted by: M. Simon | October 17, 2008 at 02:17 PM