Sorry Julia, not with you thins time.

I think it's the healthy kind of change that will raise the IQ of both the Congress and whatever wingnut broadcasting network hires her.

She certainly inspired several of us to rise up against big government, lies about climate change and left wing agenda. Michele, please continue to lead us even if not from DC, we need you if we want to take back the white house in 2016.

The biggest loss, of course, will be her entertainment value -- and her penchant for misstating basic facts of American history.

It is the main stream media that has lied to us. She might have had few missteps but she is a true american at heart.

I love how those crafty lamestreamers tricked her into saying that the Founding Fathers fought tirelessly to end slavery, that repealing the minimum wage would end unemployment, that the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation (because a lady at a rally told her so) and you can pray away the gay. She's one of the few folks whose Greatest Hits compilation of solo performances is a box set.

In her announcement yesterday, she led with the two reasons she's not retiring from the House -- that she can't win again and that she's under investigation for misuse of campaign funds. What did Hamlet's Mama have to say about Ophelia?

What about all the scandals and lies Obama and his team have heaved upon us. Never was our culture and constitution threatened with such audacity.

Hmm...I thought the author was being facetious. Then read the comments.

By the way, Michele Bachmann is not going away. Her ego won't allow it. She will continue to entertain us long into the future.

It is good for this country that she isn't running. Her husband ran some clinic that would 'cure' you if you were gay. What a quack. But there is high entertainment value.

Funny comments!! Especially the one calling her a quack. Quack fits Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Lee, Barbara Boxer, Candy Crowley, a lot better.
Oh- is that politically incorrect? Mea culpa.

@cardinal,

Your breadth of the written word is routinely impressive. Surely in 'jest', no one could really think Representative Bachmann "incapable of her own distress"...

You're kidding, right?

I hear there is house in Scottsdale just a few doors down from Sarah Palin's new home.....let's hope she signs with FOX soon so we can have comedy relief without having to stay up for Saturday Night Live.

Or perhaps she should take Hamlet's direction about her next residence?

@ Conservator: I've often thought that the Express should hold a reception for its Town Square commenters to come and introduce themselves, perhaps over adult beverages. We could all wear our aliases as name tags (I suspect there are some folks who'd need several).

A more civil dialogue might ensue on this message board -- and maybe even a few friendships.

The fact that someone like Michele Bachmann could be taken seriously, rather than be the object of derision, is proof indeed of the desperation of the Republican Party.

Back when Republicans actually played a constructive role in the governing of this country, someone like Bachmann wouldn't even have a seat at the table (unless it was the "kiddies' table").

Julia, you are a brilliant satirist. For a moment I thought you were serious.

Nitwit Ain’t Back
(Apologies to Elton John)

No more nutjob jive for a term five
She’s insane, got the crazy eyes
Her derangin’ is gonna go slack
So the Tea Party has lost one, the nitwit ain’t back

Treatment of facts was less that slight
Very little she ever said was right
The eye twitch signified she was loose a screw
Couldn’t look at the camera, so her view askew

The nitwit, the dimwit, the nitwit ain’t back
Stone cold bozo with gray matter of wack
A nitwit, a dimwit
Ran for president too
From the scene she will move
So let’s say “adieu”

In head’s domain a shriveled brain
Her piehole spewed ’tude inane
Don’t like homos, ironic that
Cuz her hubby’s train don’t run on the hetero track

The nitwit, the dimwit, the nit twit ain’t back
Stone cold bozo with gray matter of lack
A nitwit, a dimwit
Ran for president too
From the scene she will move
Time for someone new

A sad day indeed. I hear Bill Maher will be having a moment of silence for her tonight.

@ Louise & Jen- Glad to see you two are keeping the magic mushroom vendor busy.

Michele Bachmann's record on Politifact's Truth-O-Meter: 15 Pants on Fire, 21 False, plus more: Web Link

What is a "magic mushroom?" I that what I ate at Mountain Girl's ranch in Lane County?

"Is that what I ate" rather.....correction.

How many bills did she actually pass?

Mike is the correct one----Pelosi and her ilk are the fools the libs worship--seems Obamakill gonna cost a family $20,000----I'll take Bachmann any day.

Wow, and I thought this was some sort of joke that anyone in the civilized world would take this crazy conspiracy nut seriously! She is right there with the "I'm not a witch" OConnell.

Is this the same civilized world where personal freedoms are trampled upon every day? A world where our language, border and culture are under constant attack.

Julia Pardini from Alamo

As soon as I saw the headline of the initial post, I thought to myself, "Well, the comments on this one should be entertaining..."

Obviously, Michele Bachmann inspires a lot of strong opinions, on both sides. But everytime I see a comments about how some politician is supposedly stupid, I'm always tempted to ask the person making the comment to come back once they've been elected to Congress a few times...

You don't have to be the proverbial rocket scientist to get elected to office - the "skill set" that is needed doesn't require a huge intellect. It might even be said that one of the key ingredients is the ability to simplify things greatly, for better mass appeal. That said, you can't be a fool or an idiot, either.

Even when a politician takes positions that I regard as stupid, it is a mistake to think that they don't know what they're doing....

@CRM,

Point well taken. However, I think your final point can be challenged. I tend to think they get caught up in the moment and before they realize it are simply pandering to what they think is an all accepting public. To not just pick on the 'Right', let's mutually consider it stupid for Governor Dukakis to have rode in that tank back in '88. Do you really think he knew what he was doing? Yes, silly example. That stated, even the least cynical of any of us would rationally concur that Representative Bachmann has put herself in front of a camera many times over, ready and willing to make a pointed political statement, without having thought it out all the way through before word number one was offered.

What is your country?

Not my country!!!

@Conservator

Yes, plenty of politicians make fools of themselves, but Michelle Bachman - even by comparison with some of the other Republican primary contestants last time around - surely raised it to an art form. At times I honestly thought she was trying to out-parody Steven Colbert. But she evidently wasn't. That means she must simply have been a fantasist living in some weirdly entertaining alternative reality. We'll miss her all right... :)

I believe the REAL reason that she's not running is that she's decided to take time off to visit OZ to see if she might be able to get a brain too...........

More likely the Koch brothers decided she isn't worth investing in any more. They will find someone else in that district to fund who will represent them better.

Well, ya can't argue with "stupid" and after reading what so many of you "stupid" liberals are saying I guess I shouldn't be shocked! Obama and Holder have committed sins worthy of impeachment and I'm sure you think that's just fine! Is it also fine that they are constantly lying or denying everything? Is it fine that they are stelaing your freedoms one by one and trampling on our Contitution or have you no shame and no patriotism? What has happened to the people in this country? We used to actually CARE about our country and our freedoms enough to fight for them! I am now hearing liberals defending the very people; (Obama, Biden, Holder, Reid, Pelosi) who are destroying it!! What's wrong with you? Wake up liberals before it is too late!

My answer to our "liberal" mentality problem is to split the country in half! Put the liberals on one side and the conservatives on the other. I would make bets that the conservative side would flourish and the liberal side, believing big government can do all and take care of all, would flounder and fail!!!

Now, now CW......calm down. Try taking one of those magic mushrooms referenced above. Maybe, if you're really nice to Dorothy she'll let you accompany Michele to Oz and you could ask the Wizard for an "open mind". But of course to venture out of your Blackhawk safe house is scary.........especially when you venture into the world of the munchkin little people. Lions and Tigers and Liberals.....oh my !!!

I give no credence to the opinions of those who think their party can do no wrong and is morally and intellectually superior. Two words: you're wrong. Both major parties have deep flaws and both have compelling underlying philosophies. So tired of the ideologues, but all progress comes from conflict, so while its tiresome, it's necessary. Carry on.

Well, RUkidding.....no, I'm not kidding! You are a typical liberal; calling names and telling me to eat mushrooms! You're the one who lives in Oz land! You must have blinders on! And you too Sally! This country has NEVER experienced such a corrupt and lethal government. Yes, Republicans are not perfect. I will agree with that, but the Obama administration is the worst I have seen in my seventy years and my fear is that he is intentionally bringing our country to it's knees. We haven't seen the worst of it either. Before he's done we will all be living a sad existence. We will all be miserable, poor and under constant scrutiny of this tyrranical government. Then you will regret defending him, but it will be too late.

You are right, CW, about the blinders. I did drink the proverbial kool aid for a corrupt and lethal government. I voted for Bush. Twice. Fool me twice...shame on me.

But at least I'm willing to learn.

Most of Obama naysayers are only so because they cannot imagine a black man in the white house. As strongly as they may deny this, it is the real reason.

Thanks for listening.

Julia Pardini from Alamo

Michelle "wide eyes" Bachman: For those who don't think Sarah "Caribou Barbie" was batsh!+ crazy enough.

Seriously CW (does that stand for Country Western'r?), I can go along with impeaching Big O if you go along with a war crimes trial for every Bush administration member. Howz'at?

I get frustrated by these kinds of exchanges because I see so few facts being used to base positions on, yet I see such extreme language being used. "Bringing our country to our knees" "Tyrannical government" "We will all be miserable, poor and under constant scrutiny". We are all entitled to our opinions, but what do you base all of this on? Particularly for all of us living in an affluent area of the country, very few of us are actually feeling the pain that much of the country has been feeling for the last several years.

I think these kinds of exchanges can be very healthy if people choose to use facts and seek out information. That means not watching Fox News, or MSNBC for that matter. It means using your BS detector and trying to exercise some common sense. If something sounds like BS, it probably is. I do see a government system in this country that is failing on many levels. There is plenty of blame to go around on both sides. In my opinion, the primary sources of the blame can be tied to 2 issues, the 2nd of which I feel Michelle Bachmann exemplifies. The 1st is the influence of money and corporations in politics. That is the most deep rooted and the most harmful in my opinion. But, that is a whole different topic that is not being discussed here. The 2nd is that people no longer seem to be willing to seek out the truth and educate themselves on issues. Instead, they polarize based upon talking points. It used to be some Republicans might have been conservative on some issues and liberal on others and the Democrats vice versa. Now, people don't seem to educate themselves on issues any longer and instead are spoon fed misinformation in particular by the shock jocks like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity and then take up entrenched positions based upon that misinformation. Like the "death panels" garbage that was spewed around during the healthcare debate. As if that was ever something that was a possibility. So that brings us to Michele Bachmann. Talk about misinformation. How about her suggesting that the HPV vaccine could cause mental retardation? That is not a mis-quote, it is a fact that she said that. There are so many of these, and it has defined her career. Web Link For anyone that is interested in facts and wants to know the truth, they know what a joke Michele Bachmann has been as a legislator and I couldn't be happier to see her go. If you truly care about this country, the best thing you can do is to stop taking entrenched positions on anything, keep an open mind about everything, educate yourself on the facts and by the way, life is a whole lot more enjoyable if you are nice to other people. Hatred, anger, resentment, prejudice, all that stuff takes way too much work and is just no fun at all.

Do you realize that she introduced a bill that states that all Gays should be decapitated? How can you support someone like that?

@Barbie - please tell me you're kidding. Bachmann may be an idiot, but she is not that stupid and hopefully neither are you. That is a story run by The Onion a satirical faux news paper. Several other sources have run the story, attributing it to The Onion. It is a joke.

It didn't take long for "Brabie" to prove Dan's point about people not taking the time to educate themselves about issues and instead parroting other's diatribe!

nobody will vote for her because of Missy Marcus, her hubby.

I'm afraid Dan has made more sense than most on this thread. Very few seem to genuinely care about our country enough to research, read newspapers, listen to think tank panels and Congress on C-Span, listen to Fri/Sat PBS news, C-Span 24/7, CBS, read newspapers,and think about the big picture, our future, AND turn off their radio long enough to actually engage their minds enough to think for themselves. Both republicans and democrats operate with 7th grade copy-cat mentalities. There's a big difference between politics and Tom Jefferson's government. I'll stand with Jefferson, not the greedy moneymakers on msnbc or radio.
I am glad Michele B. has decided to not run...she was delightful and scary! Now if only Santorum would have to decency to not abuse a Republican microphone again for his 'issue crusades'. He knows he can't win in 2016, and should be saving to pay for his own microphone. The popes superstitions, and practices in the inquisition should be discussed in private, not on a republican stage for a future President. At least they should never use the words 'limited government' as they charge into our bodies and bedrooms. These scary talkers on stage scared away Romney independents. Now we've added a couple more scary tea party talkers for next time, to continue scaring away voters. Too bad they're not smart enough to stick to government matters, instead of intruding into personal/private matters.

This thread isn't long enough to list the problems of leftist dictators who are controlling our electricity, autos, where we can live, who are neighbors must be, and allowing public unions to destroy every aspect of our lives...plus making us pay for them to destroy our lives. If only Repubs would get out of our personal lives long enough so we could all focus on stopping the union control of our wallets, education, and our freedoms. Both sides need to stop talking politics and start saving the government our founders gave us. We desperately need jobs, so we can pay for our increased premiums on the affordable care fraud perpetrated on us.
Radio and cable TV are pretty much destroying our lives. We better get a grip on reality because our 20 somethings won't have lives anything like we knew as Americans.

Louise, your statement "we need you (Michele) if we want to take back
the White House in 2016", is precisely why we did not and will not win the White House. Winning a few districts with extreme social and fiscal conservatives, scare away voters in other states. After all there are 50 states that vote. Its easy to win in districts 'just like you', but precisely because of all that scary talk during national campaigns scares independent voters, necessary to reach winning numbers in 'national' elections. 2014 'campaigns' will cause 2016 losses. It is not 'all about you'. National numbers are necessary for national victory. Rather than scaring more people, it would be best if you left national elections to the more informed.
William said it well, 'Michele is right up there with 'I'm not a witch O'Donnell". She also HANDED a sure Republican victory to a Dem.
EVERY elected republican matters when the Senate numbers are counted for Senate leader. Tea party/Sarah Palin handed Harry REID VICTORY crossing state lines to meddle & lose what was a sure Republican victory. Each ONE vote matters. He was again made Sen LEADER by THAT Dem majority, the tea party meddlers handed the DEMs. They put phony 'purity' ahead of victory. It is a game of NUMBERs and EACH ONE counts in picking the Sen LEADER, so DEM Harry Reid got to CONTROL the AGENDA AGAIN, (what is and is NOT discussed) all because of those seats lost by intruding meddlers who would rather have the party and the country LOSE, than have a Republican NOT of their choice. Disgusting losses.
There is a science to getting those 'numbers'...more shouting doesn't win anything. So Louise, you'll keep standing on the 'outside, looking in', if you keep interferring with elections. FYI, 'National' parties need to win 'Nationally'.

Wow, now the Pope is delivering my message....great minds???? He said scary talkers, talking about sex and contraception are driving away Catholics and scaring away potential members... The same message is for Santorum, Bachmann, Perry, Cruz, Limbaugh, O'Rielly, and SANTORUM, for scaring away Republicans, and needed independent voters with scary talk on those same topics of condoms, sex, and private parts. This Pope is a very intuitive man, suited to the real world. If only the Republican party was as intuitive. That message scares away more than it recruits! Let the social crusaders provide their own mics and stop intruding on the Republican mic intended for GOVERNMENT ISSUES. Like the Pope, I want to recruit from a wide range of potential voters.
Message matters!