Gov. Sanford: Demanding and invoking the Ides Of March.

[SirNitram]

Link

(CNN) - As Capitol Hill Democrats make a final push to try to pass comprehensive health care reform legislation this week, South Carolina's Republican governor is out with a warning for taxpayers in his state.

"It's worth noting that today, the Fifteenth of March, is remembered as the 'Ides of March'- a day of reckoning and foreboding," Gov. Mark Sanford says in a written statement that criticizes the Democratic health care reform plan. "In the same way, today represents a time of foreboding for our nation given the historic nature of what is taking place in Washington."

Sanford's statement draws from the common expression "Beware the Ides of March," which refers to March 15, the date Roman emperor Julius Caesar was murdered by associates. The phrase has since been used to warn of ominous events thought to be in the near future.

With Monday's statement, Sanford seems to be doing what he can to try to murder the Democratic bill that has been one of President Obama's top domestic priorities in the past year.

"I believe it is a mistake both financially and medically, and that forcing this enormous healthcare plan on South Carolinians and Americans in general amounts to nothing less than Congressional malpractice."

If passed, Sanford says, the legislation will grow enrollment in South Carolina's Medicaid program to unprecedented levels and cost state taxpayers a minimum of an additional $687 million over the next decade. Sanford also says the bill will increase the state's costs for its pharmacy rebate program.

"These numbers are untenable given our state's current budget challenges, and state legislators would be forced to either cut significantly in the areas of education, law enforcement and economic development, or raise taxes," says Sanford.

Sanford closes by urging South Carolina taxpayers "to make their voices heard" to two South Carolina Democrats - House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn and Rep. John Spratt, Chairman of the House Budget Committee.

Lovely, invoking an assassination when making threatening sounds. You'd think there'd be laws...

[Ritterin Sophia]

I wish I were rich and politically connected to get away with blatantly threatening the life of the sitting President of the United States of America. Not that I would, there's so many more deserving people below his station.

[The Romulan Republic]

While I'm not one inclined to defending Right-wing radicals, I think that its a bit of a leap to call this "blatantly threatening the life" of President Obama. As the article says, "The phrase has since been used to warn of ominous events thought to be in the near future." It also references the betrayal of Caesar, so one could perhaps use it to suggest a betrayal (ie, the government betraying the People/Constitution by passing Health Care Reform). In any case, General Schatten, I don't think he's getting away with jack that ordinary citizens wouldn't get away with. Some of those Townhall signs were a pretty blatant, and those folks didn't go to jail. Its the result of having the First Amendment.

While its possible that Governor Sanford was suggesting the possibility of an assassination (he wouldn't be the first Right-winger to do so recently), its a rather large leap to assume that was the case. Not that I'm in any way denying that what he said is stupid, offensive, and possibly inflammatory.

[Liberty]

While its possible that Governor Sanford was suggesting the possibility of an assassination (he wouldn't be the first Right-winger to do so recently), its a rather large leap to assume that was the case. Not that I'm in any way denying that what he said is stupid, offensive, and possibly inflammatory.

I think you're right in that he wasn't intentionally threatening the president's life. However, anyone who actually thinks about what the Ides of March was and stood for and what happened can't help but see the inference. And if Sanford didn't know enough about history to realize what the Ides of March stood for, that's a sorry excuse.

[Flagg]

Wait, isn't this the dumbshit asshole who disappeared for half a week, lied about it, and then finally admitted to going to Argentina on the taxpayers dime to fuck some Argentinian whore? Why the fuck does anyone give 2 shits what this stupid cunt has to say about anything that doesn't end with the word "impeached" or "resigned"? Fuck CNN. It's bad enough they have that Evil Cunt Nancy "Everyones Guilty!!!" Grace (who much like a famous movie serial killer can talk a person into killing themselves), but to give voice to some hypocritical jagoff from a backassward shithole like South Carolina (I've been there, everywhere but Charleston is a fucking dump. There are places that still have fucking segregated newspapers for fucks sake and I've seen them) who couldn't even get his frigid twat of a wife to pretend to forgive him until his term was up is beyond the fucking pale.

[SirNitram]

"blatantly threatening the life"

Jolly good thing I didn't say that. He was threatening in his comments on the bill, what with looneytune claims of malpractice and forcing. Then he brought up the Ides Of March, which is naturally an issue given it was a bunch of politicians killing the popular ruler.

[The Romulan Republic]

I was quoting General Schattern, not you.

[Ritterin Sophia]

I was quoting General Schattern, not you.

It's apparent to anyone who isn't a fucking moron, which is admittedly the majority of Americans and people who consider themselves centrists, that that's what he's doing.

That's how American politics work, Republicans use veiled threats to intimidate their opponents so that when they're called on it they can say they're being misconstrued.

[General Trelane (Retired)]

It's apparent to anyone who isn't a fucking moron [...] that that's what he's doing.

Then chalk me up as a fucking moron, because I didn't see it that way at all.

"It's worth noting that today, the Fifteenth of March, is remembered as the 'Ides of March'- a day of reckoning and foreboding," Gov. Mark Sanford says in a written statement that criticizes the Democratic health care reform plan. "In the same way, today represents a time of foreboding for our nation given the historic nature of what is taking place in Washington."

It sounds to me that this idiotic governor is simply trying his best at hyperbole. If there was a convenient Hitler reference in connection with March 15, he would have preferred that.

What's really funny, though, is that March 15 is actually remembered as the Ides of March because, in the old Roman calendar, ides simply meant the 13th or 15th of the month depending on the month (15th for March).

Beware, the middle of March!

[General Zod]

While I'm not one inclined to defending Right-wing radicals, I think that its a bit of a leap to call this "blatantly threatening the life" of President Obama. As the article says, "The phrase has since been used to warn of ominous events thought to be in the near future." It also references the betrayal of Caesar, so one could perhaps use it to suggest a betrayal (ie, the government betraying the People/Constitution by passing Health Care Reform).

"Ominous events" my ass. It was Sanford who said that it meant anything other than a direct reference to Caeser's assassination on the Senate floor, which frankly reeks of a piss poor rationalization. It's a lot of mental gymnastics to assume the "ides of March" is meant to refer to anything except Caeser's murder.

[Ritterin Sophia]

Then chalk me up as a fucking moron, because I didn't see it that way at all.

I've never thought of you as anything but..

[General Brock]

It would be interesting to take a national survey and find out what people do associate with the Ides of March or if they even have heard or it.

[Phantasee]

Well, here's Wikipedia's take on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ides_of_March

The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martiae) is the name of March 15 in the Roman calendar. The term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other months.[1] The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was killed in 709 AUC or 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate led by Marcus Junius Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus and 60 other co-conspirators.