My God, you are an idiot.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

I'm not sure I've enjoyed following another current event on Twitter as much as I've enjoyed this Cain press conference today.

Query: If the right-wing applied to Cain's denials the same standard of proof they apply to Obama's "claim" to be a US citizen, then what would he need to do? I'm pretty sure that he needs video and audio of each encounter in question, plus multiple lie-detector tests. He might have to release a gay sex video just to show he doesn't even like women.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

He might have to release a gay sex video just to show he doesn't even like women.

Nah. That wouldn't work. They all "know" that gay is a choice.

Incidentally, Dan Savage has offered to help.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

For those of us who won't watch it, any details?

and so on

@dceiver
WAIT. Herman Cain is running for President? What's his economic plan?

@AmandaMarcotte
It's inherently improbable that a man will grab at an unwilling woman? Huh.

@JoshuaHol
This is where he reveals himself to be Saha Baron Cohen's greatest creation ever.

@geneweingarten
Donna Brazile: Cain needs to "put it on the table." I think that might be a mistake, under the circumstances.

@poniewozik
First rule of politics: always have 1 more US flag behind you than the number of women accusing you of harassment. #cain

@anamariecox
So I'm tape-delayed with Herman. But I already LOOOOVE that Cain camp accuses harassees of being media whores. Can I tell a pot/kettle joke?

@dceiver
Already I'm hoping that this dude warming up for the Herman Cain presser gets a prominent role at the Superbowl Halftime Show.

@JoshuaHol
Hearing the tale of Cain's persecution like this is making me all teary-eyed. #SoVerySad

@daveweigel
Of course he does. RT @globeglen: HERMAN CAIN: Picks up Lin Wood, Richard Jewell's attorney

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

and so on

@dceiver
WAIT. Herman Cain is running for President? What's his economic plan?

@AmandaMarcotte
It's inherently improbable that a man will grab at an unwilling woman? Huh.

@JoshuaHol
This is where he reveals himself to be Saha Baron Cohen's greatest creation ever.

@geneweingarten
Donna Brazile: Cain needs to "put it on the table." I think that might be a mistake, under the circumstances.

@poniewozik
First rule of politics: always have 1 more US flag behind you than the number of women accusing you of harassment. #cain

@anamariecox
So I'm tape-delayed with Herman. But I already LOOOOVE that Cain camp accuses harassees of being media whores. Can I tell a pot/kettle joke?

@dceiver
Already I'm hoping that this dude warming up for the Herman Cain presser gets a prominent role at the Superbowl Halftime Show.

@JoshuaHol
Hearing the tale of Cain's persecution like this is making me all teary-eyed. #SoVerySad

@daveweigel
Of course he does. RT @globeglen: HERMAN CAIN: Picks up Lin Wood, Richard Jewell's attorney

do you know if Cain actually harassed anyone? do you have any doubt that clinton did? I have a daughter. That Clinton was allowed to remain in office when we all KNEW he harassed several women maddens me. But to laugh at this man who has simply been accused is telling. Why is it okay to assume he is guily why forgiving someone we know was?

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

do you know if Cain actually harassed anyone? do you have any doubt that clinton did? I have a daughter. That Clinton was allowed to remain in office when we all KNEW he harassed several women maddens me. But to laugh at this man who has simply been accused is telling. Why is it okay to assume he is guily why forgiving someone we know was?

I know Herman Cain's employer paid cash settlements three times to women who worked for him.

I'm pretty sure Clinton dropped trow once in front of a woman who did not work for him and positive he had consensual sex with at least one intern in his office.

So, to summarize Cain is winning on the harassment side. Clinton is winning on the getting them to say yes without claiming harassment side.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Adder

I know Herman Cain's employer paid cash settlements three times to women who worked for him.

if you were a real lawyer (litigation) you'd know that one cannot assume a settlement equals guilt, without ruining the ability of any litigants to ever settle any matter. That is, if settlement equal an admission of guilt, the legal system will become even more bogged down. Why do you hate the American legal system?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

do you know if Cain actually harassed anyone?

No

do you have any doubt that clinton did?

I guess we're straying into a realm of semantics, and -- by the grace of God -- I have managed to forget many of the details of what I once knew, but Monica Lewinsky was an adult and I don't believe that a consensual encounter between a supervisor and a subordinate necessarily constitutes harassment per se. With the fog of the intervening years, I have some doubt that Clinton harassed anyone else.

I have a daughter. That Clinton was allowed to remain in office when we all KNEW he harassed several women maddens me.

Hey, I have a daughter too! How about that.

But to laugh at this man who has simply been accused is telling. Why is it okay to assume he is guily why forgiving someone we know was?

I don't believe I was laughing at the man. I was laughing at what people were tweeting. I tend to believe that there is something to the accusations against Cain, but when I dwell upon them, I find them sad, not funny. As such, I would rather treat the episode as a modern political spectacle, which is to say as an erstatz entertainment.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

Hey, I have a daughter too! How about that.

does she know you voted for Clinton knowing he sexually harassed employees and debased women generally? that he pandered to the women's movement while mocking its real tenants? if not how and when will you explain your decision to her? serious question.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

does she know you voted for Clinton knowing he sexually harassed employees and debased women generally?

Are you referring to the Lewinsky thing or something else? Do you think a woman in her 20s is ever competent to decide to blow someone of her own free will? Did Clinton do something else to debase women generally, or are you referring to when he got blown by Monica Lewinsky?

that he pandered to the women's movement while mocking its real tenants?

Are you talking about his getting blown by Monica Lewinsky, or did he someone how mocking the people who live in NOW's basement?

if not how and when will you explain your decision to her? serious question.

Which decision? Maybe after she gets out of pre-school.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

if you were a real lawyer (litigation) you'd know that one cannot assume a settlement equals guilt, without ruining the ability of any litigants to ever settle any matter. That is, if settlement equal an admission of guilt, the legal system will become even more bogged down. Why do you hate the American legal system?

If you could read you'd know I didn't assume settlement means guilt.

Also, if you were a real person you'd think a handful of allegations probably suggests a problem of some sort.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

does she know you voted for Clinton knowing he sexually harassed employees and debased women generally? that he pandered to the women's movement while mocking its real tenants? if not how and when will you explain your decision to her? serious question.

If you think wanting to fuck them all is debasing them you are sicker than me.

Also, I do not think you understand the women's movement.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

Are you talking about his getting blown by Monica Lewinsky, or did he someone how mocking the people who live in NOW's basement?

Paula Jones and the others he harassed. Although the lies about Monica to frustrate Paula's legal rights were bad enough on their own so that NOw should have thrown him under the bus.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

Paula Jones and the others he harassed. Although the lies about Monica to frustrate Paula's legal rights were bad enough on their own so that NOw should have thrown him under the bus.

Paula Jones did not work for him and therefore had no legal rights that were undermined by his lies.

Monica Lewinsky did work for him, but never claimed she was pressured or harassed. You can take the moral position that it's inherent in all sex between someone powerful and an underling, but I think that goes too far.

Linda Tripp says he harassed and assaulted Kathleen Willey. Ms. Willey says lots of inconsistent things. I don't know what to make of it.

Bill was a dog, but again, he never seemed to tell anyone that their job depended on having sex with him, and as far as my memory goes, no one who actually worked for him ever claimed they were harassed.

And again, and Paula Jones's story come out during the primary, Clinton very well might not have been the nominee.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Adder

Paula Jones did not work for him and therefore had no legal rights that were undermined by his lies.

Monica Lewinsky did work for him, but never claimed she was pressured or harassed. You can take the moral position that it's inherent in all sex between someone powerful and an underling, but I think that goes too far.

Linda Tripp says he harassed and assaulted Kathleen Willey. Ms. Willey says lots of inconsistent things. I don't know what to make of it.

Bill was a dog, but again, he never seemed to tell anyone that their job depended on having sex with him, and as far as my memory goes, no one who actually worked for him ever claimed they were harassed.

And again, and Paula Jones's story come out during the primary, Clinton very well might not have been the nominee.

Paula Jones wasn't a state employee?

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

Paula Jones wasn't a state employee?

Not one who worked for the governor. Which is why her suit was dismissed.