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They wanted this one 70-something heartbeat away from the Oval Office. Scary.
Two McCain camapign sources tell me Schmidt was a leading proponent of keeping Palin muzzled and preventing her from talking to even conservative media — a claim that seems to undercut Schmidt’s claims of confidence in her.
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This proves … what? McCain wasn’t the only one who wanted to muzzle their Veep pick.
“Stand up for Chuck!!”
What’s with all the anonymous sources with these guys. Like Bill Clinton said regarding the scuzz-bucket Todd Purdum that Jay Tea quoted on the other thread:
“Anytime you read a story that slimes a public figure with anonymous quotes, it oughta make the bells go off in your head. Because anytime somebody uses those things– he wrote the story in his head in advance, and he just goes around and tries to find some coward to say whatever they want to say, hoping to get some benefit out of it.”
Republicans had respect for McCain primarily because of his service record and a certain admiration for his candor regardless of his position. But nobody trusted him and he was a clear second choice for many. One of Bush’s biggest blunders was not having the foresight to help groom a successor. We had to make the best of a relatively weak field.
McCain undercut the right on many occasions but he was a tenacious bulldog on a select few issues. Palin came out of nowhere at the last minute. Nobody but Alaskans and probably people from Washington state knew anything about her. I doubt McCains ego and temper had a very easy time dealing with her obvious charisma.
It speaks volumes that the left has such animosity towards her. Of the last field of Republican candidates only Romney has a likely chance of running again. Maybe Huckabee but I’d bet against it. Or Sarah Palin. Liberals claim it isn’t fear but it certainly is an obsession.
So when is it ok to start making slut jokes about Michelle and the girls? What is the accepted liberal age of consent so to speak?
The Sarahites think a rainbow represents God’s covenant. We’re really afraid
So when is it ok to start making slut jokes about Michelle and the girls?
Never, that’s when. Now before you counter with, “Buh…buh…but, LETTERMAN!” please take the time to point out any liberals who thought Mr. Letterman’s “slut jokes” were acceptable.
One of Bush’s biggest blunders was not having the foresight to help groom a successor.
Oh yeah, that was his biggest blunder. How out of touch with reality do you have to be to write something like this? I’m sure there was a line of potential Republican candidates that were eager to be “groomed” by George Bush and team. A comment from the delusional.
I support Republican Sarah Palin speaking out as much as possible.
Sham on the Republicans for trying to muzzle the Barracuda.
Let Republican Sarah Palin be the voice of the Republican Party!
Palin/Steele 2012!
Republican secessionist lover Sarah Palin is a better choice for the Republican Presidential Candidate than Republican Mitt “French Vacation to Avoid Vietnam War” Romney.
While Republican Palin is a prominent supporter of secessionists (which is certainly viewed as treason by patriotic Americans), Republican Mitt “Frenchy” Romney actively sold out American jobs to foreign interests to make his fortune.
Republican Palin wants to break up America, Republican Romney sold out America.
That’s the modern day Republican Party.
It speaks volumes that the left has such animosity towards her.
Yeah, we have this wacky idea that national political leaders should be well qualified and not slack jawed morons. Crazy, I know. Bush 2012!
!
Republican Dan Quayle 1992!
LOL Quaker,
That’s probably not a can of worms you want to open. Letterman for one. Sullivan for another. I saw very little condemnation here for instance. I believe Rotter may have stepped up to the plate. What would we find if we mined Daily Kos or Whiskeyfire?
Gee Ollie you’re so pursuasive and have such witty insight. If you’re going to set the bar that low is it time to point out that Obama is a jug eared idiot?
Good point, Oliver… but how the hell does that explain Joe Biden?
J.
So random people are supposed to condemn a comedian’s stupid jokes but “Jay Tea” and “Dennis” goose step behind the militant supremacist “Amused Observer” without any self-awareness.
And that’s the modern day Republican Party supporters.
Sorry, “Jay Tea” I misread that as you supporting “Amused Observer”, you clearly didn’t.
re: Joe Biden.
The irony is that one of the staunchest Republicans I know thought Biden was the most knowledgeable of any in the Democratic Presidential Candidates and was very impressed that Obama would choose him as Vice President.
Biden may occasionally have his ‘foot in his mouth’ but he’s exceptionally informed on international issues and extremely well informed on domestic issues as well. And Biden supports smart policies in both arenas (foreign and domestic).
It reassured that staunch Republican that Obama was thoughtful and took the selection of a Vice President very seriously.
And then Republican John McCain picked Republican Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate and shocked that same staunch Republican to his core.
Republican Sarah Palin plays well amongst right wing social conservatives, right wing fanatics, and right wing suckers.
But Republican Sarah Palin does NOT play well amongst right wing money conservatives OR right wing military conservatives (at least none that take those things seriously and have been paying attention).
SaveFarris: This proves … what? McCain wasn’t the only one who wanted to muzzle their Veep pick.
Where the right sets the bar, ladies and gents.
Right, Newsie, that’s why he got so many votes in the Dem primaries. That’s why he got so much lovingkindness from the whole liberal blogosphere, including one in particular who called him a farkin’ idiot and a racist.
You guys are like clockwork. How many times can you say ‘Biden!’ and ‘She terrifies you!’ without wearing out those keys?
“Dennis”, the staunch Republican I know voted in the primaries for Republican McCain but was quite clear that the Democratic Presidential Candidate he thought the best of was Biden.
That staunch Republican was impressed by Obama’s choice of Biden as VP.
That same staunch Republican was disgusted by Republican McCain’s choice of Palin as VP.
That staunch Republican voted for Obama in the general election largely on the basis of those two judgement calls by the Presidential Candidates.
The fallout from Purdum’s attack on Republican Sarah Palin is still taking casualities: “GOP [Republican] Operative Schmidt Blasts [right winger] Bill Kristol: ‘He’s In The Business Of Ad Hominem Insults And Criticism’.”
Nail. Head.
That sums up right winger Bill Kristol: “He’s In The Business Of Ad Hominem Insults And Criticism”.
“He’s In The Business Of Ad Hominem Insults And Criticism”
LOL,
Considering who just posted this, sometimes you just can’t make this stuff up!
Good point, Oliver… but how the hell does that explain Joe Biden?
Pretty rich coming from someone who never raised hackles or criticized Cheney, you moral coward.
Palin is America’s loser: a know-nothing, proud of her ignorance, and someone who saw a career in politics as a way to give jobs to her friends, no different than any number of anonymous corrupt politicians you might find all over America. And that’s why she has such rabid support among many Republicans, because she represents who they are.
Biden may occasionally have his ‘foot in his mouth’ but he’s exceptionally informed on international issues and extremely well informed on domestic issues as well. And Biden supports smart policies in both arenas (foreign and domestic).
Good lord, we found someone dumber than Biden, and it’s our own “Newsy.”
Biden voted against the first Gulf War.
He voted for the second one.
He also pushed — hard — for partitioning Iraq into three states.
And “occasionally?” His feet spend more time in his mouth than in his shoes. He makes Dan Quayle look like Winston Churchill.
When Biden does make sense, it’s time to double-check things — he’s probably committing plagiarism. Again.
Biden single-handedly sent the “Swine Flu” concern into a panic and body-slammed airlines so badly, the White House had to spend an entire spin cycle undoing his mouth.
Within DAYS of taking office, Biden had already pissed off the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court so badly that Obama had to publicly chastise him.
The Professional Clowns of America have granted him a lifetime achievement award.
Yup, we really, really, REALLY dodged a bullet with Biden over Palin.
J.
Shorter Tyro: why defend Biden, when I can flail about attacking? And hey, look over there — someone shot a lawyer!
J.
The truly sad thing is our country would be in much better hands if Biden suddenly had to take up the reins.
I take that as a threat.
AO, I dunno if that’s true or not. And I’m deeply afraid to find out.
“Better the devil you know…”
J.
Militant right wing extremist “Amused Observer” “The truly sad thing is our country would be in much better hands if Biden suddenly had to take up the reins.”
“Bruce Henry”: “I take that as a threat.”
Considering right wing extremist “Amused Observer’s” track record, he probably meant it that way.
Right winger “Amused Observer” has expressed sympathy for right wing terrorists that kill people (but then wants a comedian who tells stupid jokes to be ‘condemned’).
There is no significant difference between violent right wing militants like “Amused Observer” and fatwa spewing jihadis.
Both see violence as achieving their ends and neither believe in democracy.
Let’s not forget that Biden had an anyeurism over continued inaction in Darfur during one of the debates. Yet now that he’s assumed power (and the attendant responsibility) he hasn’t said syllable 1.
If you wanna sing Biden’s praises, it’d be a solo.
Well Brucie it’s not a threat merely an observation about the second coming of FDR. But I’m not surprised you consider it a threat. Critical thought and analysis are not strong points of the left.
As for Biden being President, right winger “Jay Tea” is correct that the right wing would likely do much poorer under Biden than Obama.
Obama has been a committed conservative centrist and has gone out of his way to work with Republicans and to even implement many Republican policies.
I don’t think you’d have that with Biden.
Biden is NOT the kind of guy that would put up with Republican bullshit in the patient and forgiving way that Obama has.
Right wing fanatic and former schoolyard bully “Amused Observer” attempts to demean Bruce Henry by calling him “Brucie.”
Hey, I kinda like this style!
It was a joke, AO.
That’s good to know, I misunderstood the nature of your post. Fanatic and bully seem easier to place in context.
Obama has been a committed conservative centrist and has gone out of his way to work with Republicans and to even implement many Republican policies.
I don’t think you’d have that with Biden.
Biden is NOT the kind of guy that would put up with Republican bullshit in the patient and forgiving way that Obama has.
Oh, my, and to think of all the times I said “Newsy” has no sense of humor.
The Republicans in the House are being systematically shut out of crafting major policy, and Obama hasn’t said one word.
He’s excluded Republicans from numerous legislative conferences at the White House.
He’s been a “committed conservative centrist” only in the sense that he’s walked back from many of the promises he made the left when he was running, and they — idiots that they are — believed him.
Biden would not put up with “Republican bullshit” because it would compete with HIS bullshit, and that is simply not tolerable.
Biden is one of those idiots who not only spouts bullshit, but actually believes his own bullshit. That kind of mentality combined with the power of the Chief Executive… it gives me nightmares.
Oh, and Obama’s been taking to issuing “signing statements” on those bills he’s been signing (less than five days after being passed by Congress, and NOT posted on the White House web site — another promise that he’s broken) — you know, the thing that so many gibbering dolts howled about Bush doing. Any comments on that?
I thought not.
J.
P.S.: “Newsy,” you’ve demoted me to “right winger.” I’m hurt. You usually string at least three modifiers before you scare-quote my name. Don’t you love me any more? Don’t I mean anything to you? Have you forgotten those long weekends in the romantic suburbs of Chicago, disqualifying Republican voters? Those endless nights forging voter registrations for ACORN? The sweet love notes we exchanged, with every line containing at least five unnecessarily-quotationed words?
If you’ve truly cast me aside, I don’t know if life is worth living…
J.
The Republicans in the House are being systematically shut out of crafting major policy, and Obama hasn’t said one word.
Poor babies! And they treated the Democrats so well when they were in the majority! They let them have meetings in closets, in the dark, and didn’t let them have a thing to say about legislation.
Obama gave the GOP chances to join him in moving America forward, but all they do is say, “NO!” Once the GOP made it clear that they didn’t want to be on the train, it left the station. And somehow it’s OBAMA’s fault that they didn’t want to get on board and then found that the world didn’t wait for them. WAAAAHHH!
JT, all the GOP would have to do is act like, not even adults, but at least teenagers instead of third-graders, and they might begin to win back a sliver of respect. Can you get a message to them about that?
I get the sense that J.T. doesn’t like Biden very much.
Trouble is, Jay, even if we were to grant that every hyperbolic charge you make against Biden is true…
It’s still pretty clear that he has more sense and ability in one of his hair plugs than Sarah has from the bottom of her shapely calves to the top of her mountainous do.
And everybody seems to know that except you 28 percenters.
Sullivan for another.
Sullivan is of course a conservative. A real conservative rather than a reactionary, which is why he finds Sarah so appalling (as do all conservatives of conscience). He hung on to the Bristol-Trig story a bit too long as a result.
Wilbur,
Sullivan is as conservative as he is heterosexual. He supported the war when it was fashionable after having the hell scared out of him by the 9/11 flyboys. He fell out of love with that idea as the left recovered from thier fright and started to pick up the blame America first, dissent is patriotic drumbeat.
Nice try.
Figures. Anyone who doesn’t toe the reactionary wingnut line, particularly when it comes to the Holy War and Saint Sarah, gets it in the face with both barrels: he’s a scaredy-puss, he’s flighty, he’s a blame-america firster, oh, and by the way…
he’s a ho-mo-sexual!
Nice try yourself, a.o., you’ve just demonstrated for all to see that you have no clue what the word “conservative” means.
Right wing fanatic and former schoolyard bully “Amused Observer” attempts to demean Bruce Henry by calling him “Brucie.”
Waaaaaaiiiiittt a minute! You mean when people call me “Frankie”, they are trying to demean me ?
Who’da thunk it?
Oh, and anyone who thinks Andrew Sullivan is a conservative …
My God, I can’t even finish that! What can you say?
I guess 2012’s Obama campaign slogan is going to be “Hey … ! If I say it, it must be true!”
The Republicans in the House are being systematically shut out of crafting major policy, and Obama hasn’t said one word.
The GOP is far too busy looking for conspiracies in the Census and calling Obama a socialist to be involved in major policy.
Wilbur,
I’m used to liberal flights of fancy but your labeling Sullivan conservative is world class. But carry on with your delusions if you must. God knows you believe in enough fairy tales that one more won’t really matter.
The wingnuts are beginning to drown out the progressives around here.
Biden fails to draw crowd in Erie
“Apparently stimulus money and broadband are not all that interesting to the local folk here: Only around 100 or so people have showed up so far to hear Biden talk at noon at Seneca High School off Route 8 in Wattsburg.
The room looked so sparse that about 30 or so chairs were removed by volunteers to give the illusion of a full house.
The effect didn’t exactly work.”
Yeesh. Compare and contrast to the woman you guys can’t seem to stop talking about. Biden only makes the news when he’s caught in yet another of a long string of gaffes. Some blogger consults his notes from the campaign from some ’source’ who won’t on record that said something about Palin and posts it to his blog- that goes viral around the liberal circuits.
Amazing contrast. It’s not like everyday in Wattsburg, PA that the VPOTUS and the Sec. of Agriculture shows up in town to give a speech, either.
Frankie:
You calling me a crybaby?
Nuh-uh, you are!
Infinity.
I’m used to liberal flights of fancy but your labeling Sullivan conservative is world class.
False. He’s stated repeatedly that President Obama is too liberal for his liking on several issues. But Sully’s very much a paleoconservative, almost down the line.
He fell out of love with that idea as the left recovered from thier fright and started to pick up the blame America first, dissent is patriotic drumbeat.
Strike two!
And everybody seems to know that except you 28 percenters.
I loved during the campaign when the GOP charge against Obama was ‘he’s too inexperienced!’ and when he picked Biden it was ‘he’s been in Washington too long!’
Bruce, since we’re on a Palin thread and Excitable Andy’s name has been mentioned, are you still in his camp regarding Trig Trutherism? His obsession with Palin’s gynecology comes close to CSS’s infatuation with the Southern Strategy conspiracy theory.
Not quite as bad, but close.
Seriously, Parth, who on either side of the aisle cares about Biden’s experience? If anyone has written about Biden’s experience being a serious complement to Obama’s presidential decisions, I have yet to read it.
I haven’t heard much about it lately, either. But I heard the charge of ‘Washington insider’ more than once during the campaign, and also the argument that he complemented the president’s least experienced (that is, foreign policy) areas well.
As far as I know, there’s no solid evidence or indication that the latter hasn’t been the case.
Fair enough. I, too heard the charges of ‘Washington insider’ a lot. I heard it mainly during the primaries though, and it was coming from the liberal blogs I was reading at the time. Biden was reviled at Kos, HuffPo, DU, here, and at many other liberal blogs. Now he is praised. That’s just politics and the nature of the beast on both sides.
I’m used to liberal flights of fancy but your labeling Sullivan conservative is world class.
I don’t label him a conservative, he labels himself that way, and indeed he is, a conservative in the Burkean, Oakshottean, Thatcherite and, indeed, Reaganite tradition.
The fact that you think that is a flight of fancy is further proof that you have no idea what conservatism is. Hint: it’s not military adventurism, an imperial executive (as long as it’s republican), governmental surveillance and intrusion into personal issues, and the sort of simian anti-intellectualism that the whole Palin phenomenon is all about. Yet these are the cornerstones of the political “philosophy” that is preached here on a daily basis by you and your brother trolls.
You are not a conservative, a.o., Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Andrew Sullivan are conservatives. You, sir, are a garden gnome.
Biden fails to draw crowd in Erie
From this we learn that
a) democrats are not as gung-ho about Biden as the rump Republicans are about the Wasilla Godzilla
b) a train in the process of wrecking will draw a bigger crowd than a train chugging along.
But we knew these things already.
Wilbur, we also learn that there are indeed things to like about Sarah Palin. Even you guys who pretend to hate everything about her are assuredly infatuated by her.
And that about the only people who like Biden are people who changed their minds on him when Bam chose him for his VP running mate. And even the like for him is less than enthusiastic.
Wilbur, we also learn that there are indeed things to like about Sarah Palin.
Such as? I mean aside from the fact that she makes your milf meter do loop-de-loops?
Me, personally? Truth be told, Wilbur, her ability to baffle liberals as to her likability and the way they struggle to accurately explain her appeal is on par with why they can’t quite out their finger on the reason for the Fox News ratings phenomenon.
Liberals’ reasons for both are somewhat similar in that they all revolve around the same ’stupidity’ theme, but even the hundred or so variations on that same theme never quite accurately explain it, so everyone has to try to outdo the other, and none of them are ever grounded in fact or objectivity, only pure hatred, bewilderment and high-minded arrogance.
Yep, I figgered as much. Palin’s main attraction for you guys is that she supposedly “baffles” us. And _we’re_ the ones who are supposed to be hyper-partisan!
I suppose there were some liberals who supported Hillary mainly because she made wingnut heads explode, but not many.
none of them are ever grounded in fact or objectivity
On the contrary, my low opinion of her ability and character is based on nothing but concrete and broadly-agreed-upon fact, whereas your high opinion of her seems to be based on nothing but partisanship and an adolescent crush.
No, Wilbur, you’re wrong. I can say without exception that I know of no women that age with five children, in her case one in Iraq, one with Down’s Syndrome, one a 18yr old mother of an infant son, and one a 14 yr old made fun of in a sexual manner by a prominent late-night that has managed to do the same things she has, all the while taking the unbelievable amount of crap she has, and still she keeps plugging away. You thought she’d go back to Alaska and hide out, or just whither away from the national spotlight.
No matter what you think of her, if Hillary had some of the same appealing characteristics and natural political talent as she does, taking away the good looks even, she’d be our President right now. And you’d have not one negative word to say about her, either.
And tell me, Wilbur, is it all about stupidity that’s the reason for her appeal, and Fox’s appeal, by so many people? If not, I’m sure you’d agree that most people on the Left think that way, that ‘it’s the same 28%ers that keep popping in to the equation’. Is that meme grounded in fact or objectivity?
Was Purdum’s article grounded in fact or objectivity? Go back and read the quote Jay Tea posted of Bill Clinton describing Purdum’s use of unnamed sources and how he uses them to fit his narrative. And if you have the time or inclination, listen to this audio of John Ziegler interviewing Mike Allen of Politico about why he called Palin’s interviews a ‘circus act’, then couldn’t explain why he said that.
I have no misconceptions that she’ll ever get close to the White House other than possibly on a tour, but it does amaze me at how the media and the liberal left focus so much on her and how they struggle to define her in their attempts at marginalization. The same way they do Fox News.
You thought she’d go back to Alaska and hide out, or just whither away from the national spotlight.
Oh no, I never thought that.
Once again, shorter Dennis
If it makes you feel better Dennis, I don’t think Sarah Palin is stupid. Willfully unaware and incurious, yes, but not stupid in the literal since.
As for whether the category of 28%-ers is based on any objective evidence, well, yes it is. Among this evidence is the fact that according to every major polling source the Palin selection was a demographic disaster for McCain. She was a drag on the ticket among every group aside from the ca. 28% of the hard hard right. So no, we’re not quite shaking in our boots yet.
As for Purdum’s article, I’d say it’s worth a healthy dose of skepticism, on account of the unnamed sources and the obvious bent toward the scandalous and salacious, but I’d be pretty surprised if there weren’t some substance to a lot of the unflattering things said about S.P. therein. Much of it rings true with the evidence that’s already out there. I don’t think it would be as damaging to Palin, though, if the right weren’t up as up in arms about it as it is. I probably never would have read it if Jay here (forget which one) hadn’t been bawling about it.
Wilbur, you’ve shown that video twice. I keep telling you, I enjoy listening to you guys come up with different reasons about why you can’t stop talking about her. I think I enjoy it more than you do. The element of fear doesn’t exist in me regarding her like it does with you guys. It may not be your sole reason for mocking her, but it definitely exists. There’s really no other explanation that has merit.
Yes Dennis, I admit you’ve got us right where you want us. Like all moonbats I am baffled and confused and fearful about Sarah Palin’s ability to whip the dead-enders into a frothy lather of indignation. I bow before your overwhelming might.
Please tell me what explains that phenomenon other than fear.
I guess its because we’ve been reading too many right-wing blogs, and listening to Fox News and right-wing radio, and we’ve picked up their bad habits.
Did you write to Rush Limbaugh and tell him he should tone it down a bit during Bush’s eight years?
Oh, and if I ever need an illustration of what I mean by “frothy lather of indignation” I’ll have that John Ziegler clip you provided at the ready. Thanks!
Yup, we really, really, REALLY dodged a bullet with Biden over Palin.
Say what you want, at least he knows the Constitutional duties of the Vice President.
The right wing’s attacks on right winger Andrew Sullivan for not being a ‘pure’ conservative are farcical.
Sullivan is a fiscal conservative and watched the Republicans under Bush double the debt (as Republicans have done for the last three Republican Presidents).
Sullivan is a military conservative, he unquestionably supported the Republican’s Iraq War and it took him years before his sense of critical inquiry recovered.
(Other right wingers still haven’t looked at the Iraq War Lie objectively, it was “rah, rah” cheerleading with NO critical inquiry into the changing rational for being in Iraq.)
Sullivan is a smaller government conservative and watched Republicans expand the size of government by massive proportions and he watched Republicans expand the POWERS of government by massive proportions (sadistic torture, war crimes, illegal surveillance, indefinite detention, and the evisceration of core Constitutional protections including the ancient principle of Habeas Corpus enshrined in the original text of the Constitution).
Sullivan is also a ‘keep your government out of my personal life’ conservative and watched Republicans repeatedly try to use the powers of a larger government to regulate his personal decisions.
Sullivan, is NOT a traditional social conservative nor is he a traditional religious conservative. Traditional social conservative and traditional religious conservative are in turn NOT smaller government conservatives. Both groups legislate personal decisions and use the power of large government to force personal decisions (the freedom to choose your consensual partner and the right to make your own reproductive decisions).
Between Sullivan’s failure to be a ‘traditional’ social conservative and ‘traditional’ religious combined with Sullivan’s critical inquiry into the war he supported and his conservative rejection of the expansion of government and expansion of government powers, led to him in turn being rejected by faux-conservatives that have completely warped what ‘conservatism’ means.
Conservative right winger Andrew Sullivan’s real sin to the right wingers that now repudiate him is that Sullivan thinks for himself and that’s a cardinal sin to right wingers.
Right winger Sullivan expected more from Republican McCain, Sullivan expected a serious person be picked for the vice president, someone who was informed and capable of learning.
Instead what he got was an uninformed person who celebrated ignorance, used deceit as a natural political weapon, and supported an expansion of government into his personal life.
And when Sullivan spoke his mind and didn’t follow the leader, he was cast out of the faux-conservative circles that now control the right wing.
But I expect that the right wing will learn to love Sullivan again (eventually) because the current President is giving Sullivan a growing list of complaints and Sullivan isn’t someone who keeps his opinion to himself.
so why is it necessary to emulate them if they’ve failed and embarrassed conservatism like you say they have?
Maybe you’re right, maybe we should act better than you guys.
Is that what you’re saying, that liberals should act better than “conservatives”?
I’m still wondering if it ever occurred to you to ask any of the well-known spokesmen for the right to tone down their rhetoric a bit during the Bush years?
If I concede that to you would it make a wit’s difference?
If you think you are better than “conservatives”, then yes, you should act better than them. You do the former, and not the latter. Not complaining, just asking where exactly that fits into your definition of liberalism.
If I concede that to you would it make a wit’s difference?
Yes, but only halfway.
but tell me why taking the Saul Alinsky Rules for Radicals approach is what seems to define liberals today.
Because instead of rolling over for the High Broderist definition of ‘bipartisanship’ which operationally is closer to that of Karl Roves’ they went for an approach that (gasp!) is actually effective in getting what we want.
If you think you are better than “conservatives”, then yes, you should act better than them.
So since I don’t, in fact, think I’m “better” than “conservatives”, I’ll just go back to giving as good as I get, thanks very much.
If you want to preach civility as a universal good I suggest you start with your own speech and that of those who are on your side in the various debates here. It will be much more impressive, and nobody will think you’re simply being a partisan tool, as they do now.
Wilbur, you can be civil if you want or give as good as you get, I don’t much care either way, and I’ll talk the extremes on both as well as anyone in the middle. You’ve called me a tool and posted a video twice of the Leave Britney Alone video that is a favorite of teenagers on Myspace and frankly, lame as hell the first time you did it, but downright embarrassing for you when you felt so compelled to do it the second time. Be anyway you want, but I’m not preaching civility as much as wondering why as a partisan liberal who knows a little something about conservatism, just exactly what a liberal really is.
Palin is, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, of interest to non-Republicans because she represents the schism that is widening among the GOP.
Republicans selected both McCain and Palin for strategic reasons, and then they proceeded to eagerly undermine those strategic reasons.
McCain was selected as a “maverick” – someone not in thrall to the Bush Agenda and more “moderate”, who would appeal to Independents.
Palin was selected to appeal to women, and the disaffected PUMAs more specifically – and also to add charisma to the ticket.
Instead, the Party pushed McCain further and further to the Right until he became little more than a Bush clone who actually served. He no longer appealed to Independents. Palin failed miserably with women – she decreased female support for the ticket – and those PUMAs turned to be mythical or Republicans in disguise. She was good at getting sexually-repressed conservatives to fantasise over a married grandmother, but that does not qualify one for office particularly.
Palin did, however, resonate with the crazy faction of the Party: the birthers, racists, secret-Muslim-spouting, Obama-as-Antichrist-proclaiming types who are attracted to a cult of personality. These are the people that the Party Managers wanted to keep out of sight as they tried to present a unified image of rationality and security. Since they were dismissing Obama’s support as a cult of personality, they really didn’t want such a thing to appear on their side of the ticket.
What we are seeing now is the schism between the traditional Party bosses and the “energised base” that they have manipulated for decades. There is no longer a unified message from, or a top-down power structure within, the Republican Party. That has been their great strength, and it is gone. Non-Republicans can scarcely believe it, but stories such the one OW linked to keep cropping up and a faithful segment of the GOP keeps on defending her strenuously.
Palin has the potential to strip away a third of the Republican’s strength, with another 30% of its ranks already disaffected over any given issue. She brings no new demographics to the Party, and creates deep divisions among the existing Party constituencies.
And yet Republicans can always be counted on to rally around this ticking time bomb in their midst.
So yes, Palin does intrigue a lot of people outside of the echo chamber. That doesn’t mean they will vote for her. It means they are waiting for that ticking time bomb to explode in the Party bunker.