On Monday's show, we aired the 14-word answer from Jeffrey Timmer, a Michigan Republican, about why he resigned from an elections board where both sides had conflicts of interest. Timmer's GOP political firm was involved in challenging a referendum campaign against the state's emergency manager law. He then joined his fellow Republican on the board in blocking the referendum. Asked why he quit, he told us: "I just want to be liked by the tens of people watching your show."
I sent Timmer a link to the segment and told him we still would like to know why he resigned. With a couple of links added for context, his reply follows in full:
Pick one or more:
1) Because 3 judge Court of Appeals panel unanimously agreed with my and Shinkle's vote that the petitions demonstrably fail to meet the simple legal requirements all petitions must meet
2) vast right wing conspiracy
3) essentially a volunteer position ($75 per meeting) encroaching upon too much of my time
4) can't stand the blinding glare of cable news shows, their tenacious producers, and oh so earnest hosts interested only in accurate reporting of facts
5) Sniveling cowardice
6) all part of a scheme to limit vote only to landed gentry
7) it's only fair to share this joyous position with other deserving Republicans
8) So I can enjoy family dinners out and little league games without you emailing me
9) So I have time to create and focus on exciting and new conflict of interest scenarios
10) Vagina-gate
David Letterman would be proud -- Timmer wrote that in just about an hour and a half*!** See also: Timmer's resignation letter to the governor.
*Judging from the e-mail timestamps.
**Timmer wrote last night to say the list took him 25 minutes.
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Guess that's you, huh, Laura?
Actually, not bad!
... and he's the one who's quitting.
11. Because all republicans like him are rather moronic
ALL repukes are moronic.
"Funny" in all cases involving an ash-hole Republican, is subjective snark.. I know the Us and Them canard is futile, that's why I wish they all get exactly what they desire.. in heaven.. (aka, please die and go there, it sounds perfect for you and say hi to jesus!)
/snark
If Jesus were the Son of God, then why would Jesus leave without saying everything that needed to be said? In addition, Jesus had said that it would be a much later time, before people will be able to understand him better. Well you know something, this is a much later time and our knowledge has increased to a level that we can come to understand what causes the problems that bring misery, despair, violence, and death in our world. And as our knowledge increases more, we begin to understand even more. We see how there are these churches that do nothing but to look to have power, control and greed over people by using hatred. We see Republican politicians and the extreme wealthy manipulate and control people just to obtain power and wealth. And all these things just bring misery, despair, violence, and death to people. When do we as people finally come to realize that if we keep doing these things that in the end it does bring the destruction of our very world and that everyone will have no future to look forward to. These hypocritical people in these churches, political circles, and extreme wealthy want to speak so boldly to persecute women, men, and children that may have a different skin color, sexual orientation, religious faith, political viewpoint, social issues view and whatever else they may want to object to. But it is they themselves that lack the very love, understanding, and compassion that Jesus wanted.
I beleive a lot of people understand this, greed is an illness much like cancer, it spreads. When the greedy people of this world realize that their life here on earth might be over soon, they quickly rush and try to have it all. Instead of sharing they have let their egos take over in an attempt to survive. What they don't understand is that a lot of people know the secret on just how to do that without hurting anybody in the process. My prayer is that more people become aware of the fact that we are all in this together and we should at least agree to disagree. It is a start. But, when you contribute to the death and destruction of the world you are no longer a solution, you are part of the problem.
Perhaps people living at the time of Christ were more faithful to their beliefs, and living very carefully within their rules. Those times may have been guided by the central reason for Christ's revolution which is described by noting that all their older beliefs lead to the impossibility of correcting for their sins and finding a way out of eternal condemnation. The dilemma, so many rules to follow makes life difficult, but none of those rules allowed forgiveness, it may be just obvious that Christ provided a revolutionary path toward that forgiveness.
Like any revolution once the cause is removed, or displaced living become less and less restrained by rules, as we see in modern times, the role of forgiveness has become commodity, sin a hundred times and ask forgiveness a hundred an one to be sure.
Pious living requires reasoning to exclude harmful ideas, and to include new good ideas, taking exception to everything as well as accepting everything leaves reasoning out entirely.
The new revolution is needed to provide the same sort of extrication that forgiveness provided for the condemned, requiring reasoned argument, factual representation and consensus building to extrication is from the political malfeasance that now condemns us.
Look at this way for the purposes of explanation. The Old Testament Bible has many rules (613 commandments) that condemn man to eternal damnation with no way out, with the New Testament shows the way to better world by forgiveness. The current damnation provided by politics and its deceitful armamentarium, surely needs a revolution, where in forgiveness may be provided in stages by over and public reasoning.
If the NRA intimidated politicians by its blatant violent threats, then asking a politician to provide a reason for his support of the NRA banal platitudes would not produce any point of reason. The whole point of reason is to show point by point both sides, not merely a rhetorical politician device to waste time. Thus any time the NRA raises an argument, we would access all the previous reasoned arguments, and judge if the argument is likely to happen.
Example: Read this document, and then review the validity of the NRA position, it clear that the two topics have nothing reasonable to share between them in productive discussion. A discussion that reaches a condensed conclusion or a statement of opposing facts (reasoning) is not forthcoming.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_Trade_Treaty
Therefore statements by political bodies are wasteful, because they cannot support what cannot happen.
"I vote for the impossible, because the impossible cannot happen."
We cannot progress as one on Earth if we do not forgive those who acted in ignorance. Father, please forgive them for they know not. I can forgive almost anything, but, when somebody hurts any of Gods' children it is hard for me. By now, we should have learned all there is to know about violence and hatred. Now, is the time to stop the violence and walk out into the streets and talk and agree to disagree, and then work on a solution that may require a handshake or an agreement that would allow all of us to live and let live in peace. All that is required of most is nutritious food and water, a doctor would be nice to ease the pain. In some areas they don't have a hygenic way in which to show respect for those who are less fortunate. Cleanliness is next to Godliness and it is humane to help those accomplish this. In some areas of the world it is too hot to survive and they have no means in which to find food for their families. As a unified force we should take care of everyone with respect to these simple, basic affordable needs. Why are we having such a hard time doing this? Why are we not following our Great teachers' advice. Throw religion out the window and ask each other how we can help without making it political.
Good comments Angel, but there is also an additional aspect to this. And that is to be teaching our children the right way, instead of with hatred.
first time in a long time that i've seen a republican with a sense of humor that isn't weird or downright sickening (like pulling the wings off butterflies). self deprecation and irony departed the party when the moral majority and the sbc joined it.
Have to agree. The guy is, obviously, in the wrong party.
"Sniveling cowardice"
That's the best and most correct description of the GOP right now! They can't get their way, so they are doing everything they can to disenfranchise US all!!
Vote them all out in November!!
Amen to above... :)
Republicans are always trying to be funny, but it is just awkward. It's kind of like when Grandma passes gas at Thanksgiving dinner.
A genuinely funny Republican in 2012.
Well played, Mayans, well played.
Well, all of this snarky "comedy" is to mask the REAL reason he's quitting -- so that they can run out the clock and make sure that no one can appeal the decision on the ballot measure in time for the election in November. Because there isn't a quorum on the board now.
@ARodney -- I still can't say I know why he's quitting, despite having 11 possible reasons now. But just as a data point, the board still has a quorum with three members.
Do you think he's grown a conscience?
I would be more amused if there weren't so much at stake for the people of Michigan.
Maybe $75 a meeting isn't worth ethics investigations.
Telling that someone in such a tenuous and controversial position would respond to legitimate concerns and questions with sarcasm while beating a hasty retreat for the nearest exit.
To me the response sounds both humorous and truthful.
Are you sure he's a Republican?
I'm so conflicted. This stuff would be laugh-out-loud funny if I didn't know the guy writing it was a first class d1ck. It's like all those GOP fembots all over cable; they're all incredibly attractive until they open their yaps, and then spew the ugliest trash in politics.
Just can't get past it (either of them).