Fooled Again

It's happening again. Regardless of the outcome of this thing, it's clear that half of America is falling for the same superficial trickery that gave us eight years of George W. Bush. You know the routine. Who do you want to have a beer with? Who is more plainspoken? Who would you like to drive your kids to hockey?

Only this time around, America is exponentially worse off than it was in 2000 or 2004, which only makes the degree to which certain voters are being tricked all the more infuriating and incomprehensible. Show of hands: have you gone all Howard Beale yet this week?

I'd do the list of Republican Epic Fail, but it's too exhaustively long to enumerate here. So here's a thumbnail. The day after Sarah Palin's historically overrated Edie McClurg With Lying performance at the Republican convention, the Dow tanked 344 points. The day after that, the Republicans got their bounce -- an unemployment rate bounce to 6.1 percent -- the highest level in five years. Two days after that, Secretary Paulson announced the government's "deprivatization" of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. And yesterday, the Dow dropped another 280 points. All of this within the last seven days.

So what are the Republicans and the barbecue media talking about today? A pig metaphor that's older than John McCain. John McCain! A cynical, sell-out politician who chose for his running mate someone who probably thinks Fannie Mae is this and Freddie Mac is this.

It's no wonder why Americans are ignoring issues that are literally right in front of their faces.

Today on MSNBC's Morning Joe, we overheard some accidental truth-telling as to why this is happening. Chris Matthews was on with Scarborough and Andrea Mitchell (sitting in for Mika who, I think, was off updating her Sarah Palin Fansite & Web Shrine) and Matthews was poking Scarborough and Buchanan about their wall-to-wall pig remark coverage.

MATTHEWS: Two days from now -- I want to ask you, what will we talk about two days from now?

SCARBOROUGH: Whatever the McCain campaign wants us to talk about, because the McCain campaign is assertive.

Shockingly honest. To be fair, however, the complicity of far-right talk radio -- all 1,000 radio stations nationwide -- makes Scarborough and Buchanan look like Bernie Sanders and Mike Malloy. Naturally, today, we'll hear righteous indignation all over AM radio -- Rush Limbaugh, who loves his novelty Hillary Clinton nutcracker almost as much as his "feminazi" jokes, drooling on his phallic cigars while decrying Senator Obama's so-called sexist remark.

We all know why this is happening. Senator Obama said it during his convention acceptance speech in Denver:

Because if you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.
You make a big election about small things.

Small things. Like lipstick. And the Republicans get away with it because everyone with barbecue sauce stains on their mouths will, as Scarborough inadvertently admitted, talk about it.

What else gets short-changed in lieu of the small things? Adequate debunking of the most disgusting Republican attack ad since Lee Atwater's Willie Horton ad or Alex Castellanos' White Hands ad. Instead, the new McCain ad depicting Senator Obama as a creepy perv who wants to tell your kids about their down-there places is aired over and over and over on cable. And the very serious discussion swirling around this ad? How will Obama respond to this? Will this damage Obama? When do we get to show the ad again?

You wouldn't know it while watching Morning Joe, but the truth is that the legislation in question had to do with age-appropriate education that would help to protect children from sexual predators. I repeat: to protect children from sexual predators.

Our collective question for Senator McCain has to be: Why are you against that, Senator? Why don't you want to protect our children from perverts, pedophiles and predators? Between that and your vote against SCHIP, it's clear that you aren't interested in keeping America's children safe. Obviously, you'd rather win an election.

It's no wonder why a baffling number of Americans are refusing to vote based on the issues happening literally in their own back yards. And so we have a Republican ticket -- a ticket that exactly matches in every way the Bush-Cheney administration -- enjoying an incongruously high level of polling support, despite the situation on the ground in almost every American town and suburb.

Given their record of success in years past, it's no wonder why the Republicans do what they do. But this goes beyond cause and effect. It's their nature. They're simply unable to govern, so all they have left are their basest, most cynical and depraved instincts. Their presidential ticket is composed of two incompetent, corrupt liars who want to continue the Bush legacy (while also lying about their "change" message). But they're good at whining; they're good at smearing; and they excel at fear-mongering. John McCain has fully embraced Karl Rove's brand of insect politics.

With a complicit barbecue media at their disposal -- a team of fainting goats on cable news and AM radio -- their screaming and stomping gets plenty of airplay. But worse than that, it gets an obscene amount of undue validation. Because when it doesn't, the Republicans crap their cages until the goats faint again. Consequently, casual viewers who aren't as knee-deep in this stuff get the wrong impression as to what's truly important. Or they become so flummoxed by the noise that they throw their hands in the air and, with an exhausted yalp, declare both candidates equally as awful. George W. Bush "won" in 2000 due to that exact phenomenon.

And I remain very confident that Senator Obama is going to win this time. My mantra: the Obama team defeated the most powerful and popular Democratic brand in America. His campaign is the most disciplined we've seen in decades. His financial resources are record-breaking. Yet, if McCain ends up winning this thing, we can only conclude that it's because he so fully embraced a form of Rove Republican politics -- tactics so unprecedented in their deceitfulness and snark that they will have successfully obscured a full decade of undisputed failure, not to mention what Mort Zuckerman called this week "the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression."

In the face of all of this, can anyone seriously deny that John McCain and the Bush Republicans are successfully fooling Americans -- again?

Bob Cesca's Goddamn Awesome Blog! Go!

Comments

[flipbiscut24]

Mr. Cesca thank you for your wonderful article.

The American populace could quite possibly be the largest collection of intentionally ignorant fools the world has ever known to exist.

There should be a test in the USA to determine if a citizen can vote, by testing thier knowledge of the US Constitution and workings of the US Government in general.

Most Americans would fail. Sad.

These idiots can recall (from memory) the totally useless stats of a professional athlete, but cannot recognize the names of anyone in government be it on a city, state, or federal level.

Most are too stupid to understand that the two-party system is nothing but a one-party system disguised as a choice!

Bread and circuses for the idiots as the country collapses.

[myhomeo]

I'd much rather have a beer with Obama and I would not want someone who had crashed 5 airplanes to drive my children anywhere.

[freedog]

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race"
- Calvin Coolidge

[idest]

Wow, a quote from a failed, unpopular President to support a failed, unpopular Presidential candidate. Nice one.

[freedog]

Do you all believe world politics is about playing fair, by the rules, being transparently honest and open? There is a real world out there and if Barack can't win an American election, which, relatively speaking is very docile...then there is no way he has the right stuff to deal with the rest of the world.

The number one reason the Dem's are even close right now is becasue you are all American apologists instead of seen as American protectors. You are seen as weak on national defense and although many countries would like to see Barack as President, I can promise you that the EU is hoping for McCain. Experienced and Strong, someone who can actually stand toe to toe with Putin to protect our interests and the EU's.

[Catherine81]

I am European and no, we don't want McCain. No one I know does. No one. Huge crowds turned out to support Obama during his trip here. Didn't you see? We are witnessing the lies and half-truths coming from the McCain campaign and compared them the the lies and half-truths that have come from Bush and Cheney over the past eight years. We look at McCain's stance on foreign policy and economics and see little difference from the past eight years.

Why would the EU leaders themselves want a continuation of policies that has sent the U.S. economy into the tank? This has had repercussions over here and we are suffering because of the incompetent handling of the economy by your current administration.

The EU, I assure you, does not want another Cold War, or anything like it. With John McCain's talk and Sarah Palin's blithe "Perhaps so" we see no change from the belligerent attitude that has dominated U.S. policy abroad since 2003, a bullying attitude that has squandered much of the world's goodwill towards the U.S. government in the past five years or more. Not most the people, mind, the government.

The EU would prefer Obama. Trust me.

[Catherine81]

*Not the people, I meant. Just the government. It's quite late here.

[djcrsn]

Catherine--Europe has the same role in determining American leadership that the U. S. has in determining European leadership--NONE. My grandfathers left Prussia and the Aland Islands before WW1

[dontomas]

When I flipped through the Denver Post this am I found that it included the dvd "Obession" about Islamic extremists. I have not played it since I already know that extremism in any form is the main cause of war and genocide throughout the world. Why is it being sent to me now as opposed to a year ago when it was released. Its Bush "fear politics" again and unfortunately many people will be reminded about that evil lurks and only by being a super power and continued pre-emptive attacks will be on the table. These millions of people who received this dvd today will not consider the alternative methods of protection and good world relationships in this common problem, they will just be scared and vote for McCain and the ex mayor of Wasilla. I hope the Dems can overcome this media blitz.

[Thinks4Herself59]

"You can take a dying horse to water, but you cannot make him drink."

The media finally debunked the "Bridge to Nowhere" lie by both McCain and Palin, but it did not convince their loyal followers or discourage them whatsoever. Kinda like hearing that Iraq had something to do with 9/11... I bet these are the same people who still believe that, too. I'm not sure they're actually being fooled, but are foolishly sticking to what they want to believe.

[BobSacomano]

Dems better start getting in touch with their 'inner dummy' if they expect to be relevant in this, or any future election.

[CactusTom]

It is not so much that these people are fooled as it is that they WANT to be fooled. Some folks pray not so much for their daily bread as for their daily delusion. Republicans are just good at giving them what they truly want.

[freedog]

CactusTom...what do you expect...you've given us another John Kerry. No way.

[tsat]

freedog.....Obama is a far cry from John Kerry. Have you been paying attention? (As an aside, how have we benefitted from not having elected Kerry? Gay marriage is legal in several states. All you "values" voters were used and abused and are seemingly anxious for more of the same.)

[JXJASON]

WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND WHAT'S NOT IMPORTANT???

TO YOU???

Is your job important? How about your kids or grandkids going to college? Do you want to work until you are 75? Do you really like taking your two weeks vacation in the town or city next door? Can you afford that medication for yourself, your elderly parents or your sick kids?

Think about what's important to YOU when you go to vote in November.

I am. Senator Obama and Senator Biden have my vote.

Posted by a retired, 65 year old , former Republican who knows that John McCain had his chance to improve our country and didn't.

OBAMA / BIDEN 08

[sheisme]

I canvassed for Obama yesterday and over half of the folks who answered their door were older, definitely going to vote, and were hands down for McCain. The older women gushed for Palin. They weren't concerned with the campaign's lies because "all politicians lie." I live in a swing state. Obama seems to be in real trouble here. I can't understand why these decent people are so blind to what is happening. And if they aren't blind, why they don't care. Too old? Too set in their Republican ways? Racist? Comfortable with the status quo? Does anyone know?

[JXJASON]

I have had the same result campaigning for Obama and Biden in PA. But only with Republicans.

The Democrats in my county are a majority and they support Senators Obama and Biden. Our Governor, Ed Rendell, US Senator Bob Casey and others are campaigning for OBAMA / BIDEN 08.

I listen to Republicans all the time talk about meaningless trivia and that's all the Republicans have to run on. If a Republican has to lie to get elected, he or she should be ashamed of themselves.

OBAMA / BIDEN 08

[TooGoodTooBeTrue]

I'm sorry to say that I believe the answer to many of your questions is 'yes'. Direct your positive energy elsewhere.

Not all older voters fit into that mold. My campaigning for Obama entails phone calling in a swing state/county with a republican majority...yet I have connected with many over-70 voters that see what this country is becoming and they plan to vote to change direction.

At our Obama county headquarters grand opening, the main speaker was regional head of 'Republicans for Obama'. His first campaign experience was as a teenager working on the Goldwater campaign. He is truly Obama-energized and focused on that age group.

[boophus]

Yes there are a lot of lot of progressive and liberal elderly. But the majority is still staunchly conservative. No insult intended, I am 56 and my hubby is 60 and we are both OB supporters all the way. Not exactly elderly but our feet are on the banana skins. LOL

[incredulous72]

There is also the reality that alot of older people are just fine with the status quo. Also, McCain is their contemporary, so of course they'll vote for him rather than a younger black man with a funny name whose citizenship, let alone experience is being called into question by the republicans everyday.

In my opinion, these are votes we can't win; the voters that are at the base of the republican party. But I don't think those are the votes we need for November 4th. We need real independents and real undecided voters who are really more concerned about the issues but are getting bogged down with the 'fluff'.

[TooGoodTooBeTrue]

It dawned on me this morning that Palin is a Bush in a dress. If you read 'Bush's Brain', the book about K Rove, you'll remember that Rove prepped Bush for a number of years.

Although, I suspect that Rove discovered and helped the Colorado Springs college student's Palin-for-VP web-site, Rove has not had the luxury of years with Palin...only a matter of days/weeks. God help us if McSame/Pain win...and Rove moves back in with these two.

After all Palin believes that hunting wolves from planes with shotguns is 'sport'. Even Cheney gave fellow hunters a fair chance.

[JXJASON]

It is important to understand what kind of a government you want in 2009, folks.

If you think that Roe Vs Wade should be overturned...vote for McCain and Palin.

If you want to see a war with Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan...vote for McCain and Palin.

If you want to see people who earn over $1,000,000 a year get more tax breaks...vote for McCain and Palin.

I don't want McCain or Palin to be running the US. Thanks for the article Bob. Please keep informing people about how McCain and Palin will screw up the country.

OBAMA / BIDEN 08

[IntrepidReader]

Mr Cesca is worried that half the country will be fooled by the Republicans, but he should cheer up: the other half is going to be fooled by the Democrats, who have their own brand of baloney they're selling us.

[idest]

Without citing one example. Marvelous example of a conservative's argument.

[newpantaloons]

Wow! Wow! That was great!! I saw that concert and over the years, have forgotten how great it was! Obama needs to do something about getting that song to use in his campaign. How totally appropo it is.

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss".

"Won't get fooled again"!

[Roll451]

I think this post has some truth but underplays the basic reality that in a democracy you get what you deserve.

[JXJASON]

Sorry, Roll451 but I didn't deserve George Bush, Dick Cheney and their pals. I did not vote for Bush and I will not vote for McCain either.

If there are US citizens who did vote for Bush and Company...I hope they learned their lesson and vote for Democrats in November.

I support Senators Obama and Biden. These two candidates will do a good job for the poor and the middle class.

OBAMA / BIDEN 08