2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumJoan Walsh: Romney’s haunting smirk
http://www.salon.com/2012/09/14/romneys_haunting_smirk/Romneys haunting smirk
The GOP nominee flashes odd smiles at the most inappropriate times. What's behind the grin?
By Joan Walsh
After his gaffe-tastic British visit in July, I found myself asking Whats wrong with Mitt Romney? Its hard not to ask it again. Two days after his shameful attack on President Obama in the wake of the killings of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, one iconic image continues to fascinate: Romneys odd smirk as he wrapped up his poorly received remarks and left the podium Wednesday.
The AP photo of Romneys smirk is everywhere. It predictably launched a Tumblr, Smirking Mitt Walking Away From Stuff, where you can take the now-infamous Romney image and put it against the backdrop of your choice. My personal favorite is Romney smirking as he walks away from three civil rights protesters trapped by water blasting from a fire hose. But there are plenty to choose from; go check out or create your own favorite.
Sometimes it helps to laugh. But the number of Romney smirks that intrepid Internet sleuths have discovered is also kind of disturbing. It betrays a preternatural sense of entitlement and self-satisfaction that comes out, often inappropriately, in all sorts of ways, from his odd remark that I like to be able to fire people that provide services to me to insulting the cookies supporters served him or the rain gear fans wore to a NASCAR event. It seems related to the calm self-importance with which he belittled British planning for the Olympics, insulting our closest ally. The smirk is a cousin to another odd Romney tic his tendency to chuckle at the wrong time, like when he was trying to deny cutting the hair of a gay high school classmate. Who chuckles when theyre trying to project compassion?
Mitt Romney, thats who.
The smirk underscored the rank political opportunism of Romneys Libya gambit. No matter whether you think the president bears blame for the situation or not, its impossible to imagine not being moved by the death of four Americans in service to their country. Its impossible to imagine flashing a proud grin after making comments about the situation. Thats what was so haunting about Romneys performance overall: There was no sense of grief about the men who died, there was only his evident self-satisfaction in finding a new way to hit the president.
snip//
Theres a reason we cant look away from Romneys smirk. But I predict that the last and best Tumblr image will be smirking Mitt Romney walking away from his disastrously unsuccessful campaign for the presidency.
Warpy
(111,267 posts)It's the smirk of a man who has been told the fix is in.
babylonsister
(171,066 posts)Warpy
(111,267 posts)just how important we rabble can be, absent a military coup.
I doubt a military coup would happen, although we came close during Stupid's misadministration.
George II
(67,782 posts)...to him it's "you people"
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)2pooped2pop
(5,420 posts)Remember Bush would smile when he talked about people getting killed. I think it's the psycho in them that causes it. Also with Rmoney, he is trying to act like he's cool and likable, so this is what a forced smile comes out to be. Like "Smile at the people, don't forget to smile at all the little people." See, he has his 'left hand in the pocket makes me look like I'm cool' thing going on too.
Ooh he's so cool.
lumpy
(13,704 posts)n
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Naw,...this was a case of, "That'll piss em off!" as in, the Obama Campaign.
Romney is being advised by people who only know how to attack.
Romney thought this was a great attack.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/188520/why-did-mitt-romney-smirk-when-talking-about-the-deaths-of-four-americans-in-libya/
http://themoderatevoice.com/159874/smirking-mitt-romney-images-launch-a-new-internet-meme-guest-voice/comment-page-1/
http://arizona.newszap.com/csp/mediapool/public/dt.main.ce.Home.cls?name=fTopicPage&fTopicPageId=2055&skip=16799
powergirl
(2,393 posts)Her quote: "<the smirk> betrays a preternatural sense of entitlement and self-satisfaction" hits the nail on the head.
polichick
(37,152 posts)closeupready
(29,503 posts)Looks at everything coldly, and is amused by the emotion a normal person shows when faced with a distressing event.
Cha
(297,275 posts)for all his inappropriate smirks and idiotic chuckles.
Tumblr from DUer LunaSea..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021332785#post9
He can try and hide his Tax Returns and all his sociopathic characteristics but his inappropriate Smirks and Chuckles are a dead give away. Smirk on mitt.
flakey_foont
(3,338 posts)with the line "There was no sense of grief about the men who died, there was only his evident self-satisfaction in finding a new
way to hit the President". Mitch Romney, you are despicable.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)is Minimal Brain Traumatic Injury due to teenage head injuries. MBTI is almost impossible to diagnose other than observation.
It doesn't make a sociopath out of one, but it can seriously confuse the brain signals and affect emotional responses. In many ways it can mimic autism and/or Asperger's.
Other than that, he's just a run-of-the-mill jerk.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)It always surprises me that he can speak in whole sentences. I've always thought he wasn't very bright.
babylonsister
(171,066 posts)Tansy_Gold
(17,860 posts)but dumber
NHDEMFORLIFE
(489 posts)Willard's smirk is that of a man who never had to earn a damned thing since birth. It is the smirk of a man who seriously believes that any young American who wants to go to college or start a business needs only to ask Mom and Dad to fork over a few hundred thousand dollars stashed in the cookie jar on the kitchen counter.
He can't help it. Every time I see him (which usually is only as long as it takes to x-out of a tab or hit the TV clicker) all I can think of is the fascination displayed by GHW Bush when he first encountered a supermarket bar code reader.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)Ann's going to have a hard time smiling. Poor thing! Not
babylonsister
(171,066 posts)in 2004, I was shocked.
BanzaiBonnie
(3,621 posts)before the guilty verdict. Sandusky never imagined he would be found guilty of the crimes he committed. I mean, who would believe "those kids" over a man of his stature.
I was never so pleased as when the smirk was gone from Sandusky's face. And one day soon the smirk will be gone from Willard's face.
mojo2012
(290 posts)Mitt Romney is happy, (in fact, as his smirk reveals, giddy), that there is unrest in the Middle East, just like he would be happy for a bad jobs report or unemployment report. He would love Americans to be on their knees in debt with no job, home, or food so he can say he would be the one to save the US.
His self-serving attitude will get him in the end (I hope)