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babylonsister

(171,066 posts)
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 05:08 PM Sep 2012

Joan Walsh: Romney’s haunting smirk

http://www.salon.com/2012/09/14/romneys_haunting_smirk/

Romney’s 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 “What’s wrong with Mitt Romney?” It’s 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: Romney’s odd smirk as he wrapped up his poorly received remarks and left the podium Wednesday.

The AP photo of Romney’s 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 they’re trying to project compassion?

Mitt Romney, that’s who.

The smirk underscored the rank political opportunism of Romney’s Libya gambit. No matter whether you think the president bears blame for the situation or not, it’s impossible to imagine not being moved by the death of four Americans in service to their country. It’s impossible to imagine flashing a proud grin after making comments about the situation. That’s what was so haunting about Romney’s 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//

There’s a reason we can’t look away from Romney’s 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.
24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Joan Walsh: Romney’s haunting smirk (Original Post) babylonsister Sep 2012 OP
It's the smirk of a man who thinks we rabble are irrelevant. Warpy Sep 2012 #1
Oh, I so hope you're wrong, Warpy. :( nt babylonsister Sep 2012 #3
I'm hoping he and his masters will see Warpy Sep 2012 #15
To us it's "we rabble".... George II Sep 2012 #20
Thank you Joan. SoapBox Sep 2012 #2
smirk did it too 2pooped2pop Sep 2012 #4
Romney's smirk is one of insecurity. Stiff upper lip, better to smirk than cry. lumpy Sep 2012 #5
"better to smirk than cry" Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2012 #19
Others are catching on to this sociopath BlueStreak Sep 2012 #6
And they called the President Elitest powergirl Sep 2012 #7
A sociopath's smirk. k&r polichick Sep 2012 #8
This man is a stereotypical bureaucrat. closeupready Sep 2012 #9
Glad Joan Walsh wrote this..Mitt needs to be held accountable Cha Sep 2012 #10
Joan hit the nail on the head flakey_foont Sep 2012 #11
The only benefit of the doubt he gets from me... cr8tvlde Sep 2012 #12
I don't think he's a very intelligent man lunatica Sep 2012 #13
I have the exact same opinion of him. Great minds! nt babylonsister Sep 2012 #16
He's better dressed than Palin Tansy_Gold Sep 2012 #17
A smirk of entitlement NHDEMFORLIFE Sep 2012 #14
The Smirk Heard Round the World. TwilightGardener Sep 2012 #18
I wonder if he'll be smirking while he gives his concession speech? Auntie Bush Sep 2012 #21
I hope you're right. I cannot fathom any other outcome, but babylonsister Sep 2012 #22
I've long recognized it as the same smirk Sandusky had on his face... BanzaiBonnie Sep 2012 #23
Romney happy when things are bad mojo2012 Sep 2012 #24

Warpy

(111,267 posts)
1. It's the smirk of a man who thinks we rabble are irrelevant.
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 05:10 PM
Sep 2012

It's the smirk of a man who has been told the fix is in.

Warpy

(111,267 posts)
15. I'm hoping he and his masters will see
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 06:49 PM
Sep 2012

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.

 

2pooped2pop

(5,420 posts)
4. smirk did it too
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 05:15 PM
Sep 2012

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.

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
19. "better to smirk than cry"
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 08:32 PM
Sep 2012

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.

powergirl

(2,393 posts)
7. And they called the President Elitest
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 05:16 PM
Sep 2012

Her quote: "<the smirk> betrays a preternatural sense of entitlement and self-satisfaction" hits the nail on the head.

 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
9. This man is a stereotypical bureaucrat.
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 05:24 PM
Sep 2012

Looks at everything coldly, and is amused by the emotion a normal person shows when faced with a distressing event.

Cha

(297,275 posts)
10. Glad Joan Walsh wrote this..Mitt needs to be held accountable
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 05:29 PM
Sep 2012

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)
11. Joan hit the nail on the head
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 05:29 PM
Sep 2012

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)
12. The only benefit of the doubt he gets from me...
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 05:57 PM
Sep 2012

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)
13. I don't think he's a very intelligent man
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 06:08 PM
Sep 2012

It always surprises me that he can speak in whole sentences. I've always thought he wasn't very bright.

NHDEMFORLIFE

(489 posts)
14. A smirk of entitlement
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 06:18 PM
Sep 2012

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.

Auntie Bush

(17,528 posts)
21. I wonder if he'll be smirking while he gives his concession speech?
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 10:18 PM
Sep 2012

Ann's going to have a hard time smiling. Poor thing! Not

BanzaiBonnie

(3,621 posts)
23. I've long recognized it as the same smirk Sandusky had on his face...
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 07:09 AM
Sep 2012

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)
24. Romney happy when things are bad
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 08:25 AM
Sep 2012

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)

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