Friday, May 11, 2012

Bad Things I Did in 1965

Since we're talking about things that happened, or maybe didn't, when Mitt Romney was in high school, I think it's important that I disclose some of the bad things I did in 1965:

  • I threw up all over my mother
  • I used up a lot of water by soiling diapers
  • I didn't share my blocks with my brother, although all he wanted to do was eat them anyway
Confession is good for the soul. If you were alive in '65, I'd also encourage you to share your peccadilloes in the comments section. I'm pretty sure Gino soiled a few diapers that year, and Rich might have, too, although since Rich grew up in Chicago, his family might have been able to arrange it so he could have a 19th Ward committeeman's aide simply follow the toddler version of Rich around with an early prototype version of a pooper scooper.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mark,
As far as what you and I did in 1965, bottom line is that we can't remember...because we were one or two years old.

I am not a big fan of pulling up incidents from folk's distant past. Especially their actions as adolescents. God knows I did and said some really stupid, bigoted, self-destructive, hurtful, and cruel things in high school. So I am more than ready to give ANYBODY a pass on teenage stupidity. But unless I was in a blackout, I am pretty certain I remember every cruel thing I ever did in that period. So I can give adolescent Romney a pass on his actions then. But why is he so obviously lying about what he remembers? If you or I held someone down and lopped off their hair when we were 17 or 18 years old, I am pretty certain we would remember it. It's kinda strange that everybody else involved remembers this incident vividly, except for Romney. And Romney knew this story was coming, so he had time to prepare. This was a classic "I didn't inhale" moment, and Romney's response is a total FAIL.

Regards,
Rich

Gino said...

hey, it was the 60's. anybody who was there doesn't remember it anyway.

Bike Bubba said...

Regarding accusations of lying; it's back in high school, and the kid so abused is now dead. Sufficient time for memories to grow dim, and quite frankly, if it's not felonious and not repeated as an adult, I don't care.

Anonymous said...

You may not care, but he needs to.

Romney is not fully defined yet. It's his job to spell out who he is, as a candidate and a person. And quite frankly, he is doing a piss poor job of it. He clearly does not want to talk about his religion; He does not seem to want his record in Massachuseetes examined. And he doesn't want his business record examined very closely. For a guy who has been running for President for the last 6 or 7 years, he remains an enigma. And flubbing something like this, when he knew this story was going to break, isn't going to help the public perception of the guy as being a bit of a tool.
And you can downplay what he remembers, but if someone, at the age of 18, held another person down and humiliated them in such a physical and public way, and then could not remeber that incident later in life, there are three possibilities: 1) That person has dementia. 2) That person is a sociopath with no feelings for other people, Or 3) That person is complete full of crap. None of the options reflect well on a Presidential candidate. Pick your poison.

Regards,
Rich

Mr. D said...

Rich,

You may want to rethink your narrative a little on this one if this is true:

Betsy Lauber, one of John Lauber’s three sisters, spoke with ABC News Tuesday night regarding the accuracy of the story.
“The family of John Lauber is releasing a statement saying the portrayal of John is factually incorrect and we are aggrieved that he would be used to further a political agenda. There will be no more comments from the family,” she said.

Anonymous said...

Mark,
there are 5 or 6 eyewitnesses, some whom participated and admit that they are ashamed of their actions. That, vs. a family trying to protect the memory of a deceased loved one. I don't agree with the Post's decision to run the story. And I understand the family's motivations in not wanting the story aired. But I am not buying it. This was a definning moment for Romney, and he screwed the pooch.

Just look at the manner in which Romney equivocated yesterday. At first he said he didn't remember the incident at al (keep in mind, he knew this question was coming). Then, he admits he was a bit of a dick when he was a in high school, issues a really pathetic non-apology/apology to anyone he ever offended, without admitting to anything specific. Then he says that he didn't know the kid they attacked was gay. I am not sure, but I think he then said look, my tongue isn't green! Now we know why he never practced law;)

This was a long time ago. If he had just come clean, admitted what he had done and issued as sincere a mea culpa as possible, he could have turned this into a humanizing moment for himself, ended the news cycle before it went anywhere, and had a win for the day. He just doesn't seem capable of this stuff. He is a horrible retail politician.

Rich

Mr. D said...

there are 5 or 6 eyewitnesses, some whom participated and admit that they are ashamed of their actions. That, vs. a family trying to protect the memory of a deceased loved one. I don't agree with the Post's decision to run the story. And I understand the family's motivations in not wanting the story aired. But I am not buying it. This was a definning moment for Romney, and he screwed the pooch.

So in other words, an event that happened 47 years ago, that you think the Post shouldn't have bothered with, and that has caused the family pain, is a defining moment?

Let me put this as plainly as possible -- no one gives a shit about something that happened 47 years ago. What is going to matter is this -- will the electorate, having had an opportunity to experience 3-4 years of an Obama presidency, want to give him another term? That's what the election is about, not a hazing incident that happened before a sizable portion of the electorate was born.

If you can find an example of Romney doing something that was similarly mean-spirited in 2005, then maybe you'll have something. But 1965? Really?

Brad Carlson said...

Wow. You're really turning this "Rich" parody into a strawman.

Anonymous said...

Now that early life personal life is fair game, I wonder if there is anything out there that might not be flattering in Obama's childhood. Really to reach back that far is incredible. And to call that a defining moment....

Brian said...

Yawn.

Corporate raider/career politician was jerk in high school. Film at 11.

Anonymous said...

"So in other words, an event that happened 47 years ago, that you think the Post shouldn't have bothered with, and that has caused the family pain, is a defining moment?"

Mark, no. I cleaarly stated that I don't think the incident was not that big a deal. But Romney's lame reaction to it, and his inability to turn this into a positive messagae, is.
My point, and I will repeat it, is that Romney is a lousy retail politician.

Regards,
Rich

Anonymous said...

And a really bad liar, a sociopath, or he has dementia;)

Rich

Mr. D said...

And a really bad liar, a sociopath, or he has dementia;)

Whatever you say, Axelrod. Did his father smell of elderberries, too?

Anonymous said...

For the record, I don't think he Romney is a sociopath, and I doubt he has dementia.

Rich

W.B. Picklesworth said...

I hear that the economy is doing pretty poorly. Has anybody else heard this rumor?

Anonymous said...

You guys seem almost as tin-eared as Willard. What does the economy have to do with Romney's seeming inability to act like a human being? Me thinks I hit a nerve.

Rich

Gino said...

it's the economy, stupid.

Gino said...

no, Rich. i am not calling you 'stupid'.

Bike Bubba said...

To paraphrase Rich:

Obama is not fully defined yet. It's his job to spell out who he is, as a candidate and a person. And quite frankly, he is doing a piss poor job of it. He clearly does not want to talk about his religion; He does not seem to want his record as a Community Organizer examined. And he doesn't want his legal writings or university records examined very closely. For a guy who has been running for President for the last 6 or 7 years, he remains an enigma. And flubbing something like this, when he knew this story was going to break, isn't going to help the public perception of the guy as being a bit of a tool.

And you can downplay what he remembers, but if someone attended a virulently anti-American church for 20 years, there are three possibilities: 1) That person has dementia. 2) That person is a sociopath with no feelings for other people, Or 3) That person is complete full of crap. None of the options reflect well on a Presidential candidate. Pick your poison.

Bike Bubba said...

Seriously, Rich; you remember every stupid thing you did in high school? Every one?

Seriously?

Sorry, but I know I sure don't.

Mr. D said...

You guys seem almost as tin-eared as Willard. What does the economy have to do with Romney's seeming inability to act like a human being?

If the election were held today and the only issue on the table were the deportment of a candidate nearly 50 years ago, your discourse here might make sense. But you keep telling yourself what you want to believe.

Me thinks I hit a nerve.

You always think you've hit a nerve. We're just marveling at your ability to repeatedly hit that chicken, so to speak.

Anonymous said...

Bubba,
no. But I think I remember every act of intentional cruelty I committed on someone else. And I am certain I remember every physical altercation. And if you are being honest, I would be willing to bet that you do too.

Rich

W.B. Picklesworth said...

Does the nerve you hit have a job?

W.B. Picklesworth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gino said...

its the economic nerve that will determine the election.

all else is bullshit.

Gino said...

personally... i'd support a self-loathing transgender Attila the Hun if i thought he could make it better.

Mr. D said...

i'd support a self-loathing transgender Attila the Hun

I have a friend on Facebook who fits that description.

Bike Bubba said...

Rich; wrong, and if you're honest, you'll think twice and contemplate the idea that there were some things you did in high school that someone took offense to that you won't remember, either.

Speaking as a guy who got more than his share of cruelty in junior high, I'm very sure that many of my tormentors have forgotten what they did only 30 years later, let alone 47 years later. And quite frankly, if their adult lives show repentance from that silliness, I won't hold it against them.

Mr. D said...

Rich; wrong, and if you're honest, you'll think twice and contemplate the idea that there were some things you did in high school that someone took offense to that you won't remember, either.

Exactly, Bubba -- it happens to everyone eventually.

And by the way, Rich might remember some barbering events that took place back on 3rd Floor Whitney during the 1982-1983 academic year.

Gino said...

"Speaking as a guy who got more than his share of cruelty in junior high,"

you couldnt have gotten more than me. not possible.

Anonymous said...

Mark,
I remember one 'barbering' instance that I was involved in. And that was on my RA, who I contacted and apologized to 15 or 20 years ago. If there was/were others, I don't remember them. But if you could contact me and let me know who, I would really appreciate it. As you know, I spent a big chunk of that year in periodic blackouts.

I am being serious.

Thanks,
Rich

Mr. D said...

Rich,

I'll shoot you a note about it.