Twitter roundup

	Brendan Nyhan Dec 17, 2010 at 12:23pm From my Twitter feed (12/15-12/17)
	BrendanNyhan Dec 17, 2010 at 12:21pm Douthat must-read on "The Strange Case for Mitt Romney" http://j.mp/hSnUOr GOP wonks want to believe he's one of them, but no one knows...
	The Strange Case for Mitt Romney - NYTimes.com Is his sincerity problem a sign of a deeper seriousness?
	BrendanNyhan Dec 17, 2010 at 12:08pm PolitiFact names "government takeover of health care" its "Lie of the Year" http://j.mp/eM35cS Used 90+ times on Boehner site, 200+ on RNC
	PolitiFact | PolitiFact's Lie of the Year: 'A government takeover of health care' In the spring of 2009, a Republican strategist settled on a brilliant and powerful attack line for President Barack Obama's ambitious plan to overhaul America's health insurance system. ...
	BrendanNyhan Dec 17, 2010 at 12:04pm In honor of his last show, my favorite Larry King tweet RT @kingsthings: Of all the muffins, corn is my favorite.
	BrendanNyhan Dec 16, 2010 at 8:21pm Irresponsible column speculating Boehner is an alcoholic http://j.mp/hzUAkT Doctors quoted should be ashamed. Don't practice in the media!
	John Boehner's Crying: Is He Drinking Too Much? After Boehner welled up during a recent interview on
	BrendanNyhan Dec 16, 2010 at 7:33pm Do reminders of Obama increase or decrease anti-black prejudice? Mixed results: http://j.mp/gqqhLh http://j.mp/eTioDE http://j.mp/fwYQx3
	ScienceDirect - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology : The Obama effect: Decreasing implicit prejudice and stereotyping
	ScienceDirect - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology : Revisiting the Obama Effect: Exposure to Obama Reduces Implicit Prejudice
	ScienceDirect - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology : The Effect of Obama Saliency on Individual-Level Racial Bias: Silver Bullet or Smokescreen?
	BrendanNyhan Dec 16, 2010 at 6:43pm In a tight '12 campaign (which is what econ forecasts suggest), small change in electoral votes could have a big effect http://j.mp/hJzYg3
	Weigel : Obama Starts 2012 With Six Fewer Electoral Votes The very useful site 270ToWin.com lets you play out the 2012 elections with various re-apportionment scenarios. The first thing I notice is that if reapportionment goes as most people expect it ...
	BrendanNyhan Dec 16, 2010 at 5:43pm Beware of simplistic stories about single genes "causing" human behavior http://j.mp/fpBbeM
	Does the Slut Gene Exist? - The Daily Beast Probably not—a single gene can't make you have one-night stands. Casey Schwartz on the modern-day phrenologists who say particular genes can make us violent, religious, or a Democrat.
	BrendanNyhan Dec 16, 2010 at 4:08pm Tactical fallacy alert: "[m]ore optimistic" presidential candidates tend to win b/c favorable conditions breed optimism http://j.mp/gGxb6L
	2012 Election Preview: The Final Candidate Rankings | Mr. Media Training Likely 2012 Presidential Candidates Ranked By Communications Skills; Better Communicator Has Won Every General Election Since Beginning of 24/7 Media Age in 1980
	BrendanNyhan Dec 15, 2010 at 5:00pm New Politico Arena post on research showing no double standard for female candidates who show emotion (fourth response) http://j.mp/gqqSrg
	Congressional Crybaby Caucus? - The Arena | POLITICO.COM The Arena is a cross-party, cross-discipline forum for intelligent and lively conversation about political and policy issues.
	BrendanNyhan Dec 16, 2010 at 2:51pm G. Collins says female politicians who cry are judged more harshly http://j.mp/fhgW1T Maybe by media, but not the public http://j.mp/g8m7Lv
	The Crying Game - NYTimes.com John Boehner is able to overcome his emotions on matters unrelated to John Boehner and the American Dream.
	Brendan Nyhan's response to 'Congressional Crybaby Caucus?' - The Arena | POLITICO.COM Brendan Nyhan's response to 'Congressional Crybaby Caucus?'
	BrendanNyhan Dec 16, 2010 at 2:37pm Randomized trial of legal services in unemployment cases finds clients made worse off (win % unchanged, more delay) http://j.mp/gdzKHC
	SSRN-What Difference Representation? by Daniel Greiner, Cassandra Pattanayak SSRN-What Difference Representation? by Daniel Greiner, Cassandra Pattanayak
	BrendanNyhan Dec 15, 2010 at 9:50pm .@jbplainblog: Thune is "Beltway candidate w/ essentially no campaign, & no constituency, out where [GOP] actually live" http://j.mp/giOZHC
	A plain blog about politics: It's a Trap!
	BrendanNyhan Dec 15, 2010 at 9:57pm BTW Romney could the Kerry of '12-no one's in love w/him, but may get the nom as least objectionable candidate (w/Palin playing Dean's role)
	richardmskinner Dec 15, 2010 at 10:01pm @BrendanNyhan McCain was the Kerry of '08.

Comments

[David in Cal]

Don Surber provides a detailed response to "government takeover of health care" being "Lie of the Year". It's at http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/archives/26672#more-26672

[David in Cal]

The column speculating that Boehner might be an alcoholic may be more than irresponsible. It may be part of coordinated campaign to demonize the man.

Gail Collins admits that such a campaign is going on. In the column linked to above, she writes: One of the few cheery prospects the new year holds for Democrats is [Boehner's] upcoming demonization...

In fact, Collins doesn't just admit the demonization, she expresses joy over the demonization effort. With the New York Times leading the charge, I expect Boehner will come to be looked upon as evil, just like other prominent conservatives: Rush Limbaugh, Clarence Thomas, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin, George W. Bush, etc.

Although demonization is a nasty business, I suppose liberals deserve some credit for doing it in a non-discriminatory way. They smear conservatives regardless of race or sex.

[David in Cal]

Here's a fact-filled response to Polifact's assertion that Obama care isn't a government takeover of health care.

http://hotair.com/archives/2010/12/17/politifacts-biggest-lie-2/

[MartyB]

Brendan – I am very disappointed to see you provide legitimacy to the Politifact “Lie of the Year”.

That Obamacare will lead to a de-facto control of healthcare by the national government, even if it isn’t technically “socialized medicine”, is so obviously an opinion and not a fact that can be proven or disproven with certainty, that to label it a “lie” is about as un-truthful as you can get.

I’ve read some of the links David cited - and frankly am not convinced this opinion is correct - but shouting “lie” rather than exploring the opinion’s arguments is disgraceful. I would expect you to be “naming and shaming” Politifact for such a tactic, not supporting it.