Wingnuts:  still crazy.  Fortunately, it’s easy to spot when they’re desperate.  I was reading an ABC News blog from about a month ago which revealed that Obama had fallen off the non-smoker wagon.

Everyone knows a smoker. To most people, it’s not a big deal… unless you’re a conservative tool and the smoker is a Democrat running for President.

Seriously, people?

I have a love-hate relationship with blog comments on news websites. On one hand, it’s useful for finding out what people are saying. On the other, it is almost always a stunning manifesto of futility.

According to the commenters at abcnews.com, these are the reasons Obama shouldn’t be president, with appropriate responses by yours truly:

“Smoking shows his bad judgment.”

Yes. Because Republicans have been paragons of good judgment. Just look at the decision to fight in Iraq. Or how about the response to Hurricane Katrina? Jesus, that’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet of incompetence. Let’s see, we have the military telling volunteers and aid agencies that they can’t enter the area to help. What else… oh, levy maintenance, the failed implementation of an evacuation plan, formaldehyde-contaminated FEMA trailers…

How about education? Republicans, your judgment has led to all these fine outcomes of the NCLB Act: lowered standards/expectations, a steep decline in the availability of advanced placement courses, lowered taxes causing schools to cut back other programs and activities, and requires schools to provide all the students’ information to military recruiters (caught ya, you warmongering bastards).

If we have a question about yachting or golfing, or things like denying health care to sick children, we’ll come to you. You’re in no position to lecture about judgment. Hell, you don’t even recognize bad judgment when you see it. Per Bush: “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job!” ‘Nuff said.

“Smoking means that he has a flawed character and an illogical mind.”

…said the guy who thinks teaching Creationism/ID is a viable alternative to teaching science.

“Smoking means he can’t handle stress and needs a crutch.”

It’s better than being a boozed up coke-head throughout your twenties and thirties. Again, no moral high ground here.

“He’s a liar because he said he quit!”

And you’re an idiot who doesn’t understand the nature of addiction.

“He’s sending a bad message to our children!”

This is one I heard a lot of. “What about the children? My kids might start smoking!” Look, if your kids start smoking, it’s because you didn’t teach them not to. Got that? You’re the parent, their failure is your failure. Don’t you have any control over your life or your kids? Why are you asking others to do it for you? Isn’t that what you cons accuse the liberals of doing?

Ah, res ipsa loquitur.

“We condemned Bill Clinton for having an affair, so we should condemn Barack Obama for smoking.”

Yes, because both are ethically equivalent. He might as well have raped a child, right?
“Smoking is not a noble behavior, and we can’t have a man with a non-noble behavior as president. And I hate him.”

Hatred isn’t a noble behavior either.

“He’s not showing us his birth certificate, so he can’t be president!”

It’s good to know that the Republicans still care about the important things in this election.  But wait, what’s that?  McCain smoked two packs a day for 25 years? Go, go gadget Implacable Outrage!!

*chirp*chirp*