The Great White Nope
Here's a shocking display of honesty from the conservative blog Powerline :
We conservatives have had a good time ridiculing the Obama phenomenon, especially its messianic feel -- the willingness of its adherents to pour so much hope and belief into such an empty, or at least incomplete, vessel -- and its elevation of "narrative" over substance.Indeed. The Republicans have been desperate for a conservative savior for a while now. In fact, the desire to find the next Reagan pretty much defines the entire GOP presidential campaign.It turns out that we were dying to have basically the same experience.
In early 2007, the front-runners for the GOP nomination were Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, but those were both deemed non-starters by the Republican base. John McCain is a sanctimonious twit who conservatives can't stand much the same way that Democrats hate Lieberman. Rudy excites the base with his 9/11-tourette's, but he's a serial adulterer who doesn't hate gay people enough to excite the religious wing who still operate under the quaint notion that they're the ones in charge of the Republican party. Faced with that dreadful choice and knowing that the Bush legacy was a surefire loser in 2008, the GOP began their search for the person who would save their party from another humiliating defeat.
First up to the bat was Mitt Romney, who seemed almost as if he was designed to be a Republican politician. A generically handsome governor/billionaire who wears his religion on his sleeve, what's not to like? Well, the fact that he's from Taxachussets and has a history of pandering to liberals, for one. At least, that was enough to help Republicans to justify the real reason for opposing him, which is that he's a Mormon. The religious right is all about religious freedom when it comes to their own religion, but they'll be damned if they give their vote to somebody who wears the magic underwear.
Okay, how about former Senator Fred Thompson of TV's Law and Order? He's an actor, like Reagan! Plus, he's got that condescending southern drawl that voters find irresistible. On paper it seemed perfect, since the only thing Republicans love more than railing against celebrities is voting for them. Unfortunately for them, Thompson couldn't pull off the biggest challenge of his career, acting like he wanted to be president. Huh? You want me to campaign on the weekends too?
Then, out of the Iowa caucuses came a dark horse candidate, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Finally a guy who the Republicans can sink their teeth into. He's funny, he talks about Jesus all the time, and he used to be fat. Unfortunately for the Huckster, when the Republican party bosses started paying attention to his record, they were struck with paralyzing fear. "Oh no, he really means this 'compassion for the poor' crap." Needless to say, when faced with the choice between compassionate conservatism and lower taxes, Republicans always choose the latter.
And so, with the primaries underway, the pendulum of Republican opinion swung back to John McCain by default. Though it seemed like a race for a while between McCain, Romney, and Huckabee, the winner-takes-all nature of the GOP primaries sealed the deal for our nation's least humble POW on Super Tuesday. And with that, Republicans across the country woke up in a cold sweat on the morning of February 6th thinking "Oh shit! We just nominated John McCain."
Though they may be loathe to admit it, that's pretty much been the thought in the backs of the minds of conservatives everywhere for the past seven months. The preferred euphemism is "enthusiasm" gap, but it really sugar coats the fact that Republicans seemed lost and had resigned themselves to the fact that their nominee was somebody they couldn't stand. That is, until John McCain gave them their next conservative messiah, Sarah "Barracuda" Palin.
She's a regular lady, they boast to themselves, not like those minorities and city-dwellers in the DemocRAT party. She eats moose and calls her husband "dude", what wonderful nuggets of authenticity that look great in a campaign ad! Plus, she's so damn religious that we get all of the positives of supporting women without having to change our views in ways that would actually, y'know, support women.
Which is where we are now. The Republicans have found a new crush, "the one" who will save their party and usher in a new era of conservatism. Once the glory of her gloriously sarcastic convention speech has faded, they'll start finding reasons to dislike her just as they have every other conservative standard-bearer. Will her tax-raising ways, Which have drawn comparisons to GOP-bogeyman Hugo Chavez, prompt the oilmen who own the GOP to force her out? Or will the fundies get scared off by her knocked-up kid and the tabloid innuendo that surrounds her? Or will the GOP base start rejecting her when they realize that she's just the more-likable frontwoman for that saddest of sacks, John McCain?
Either way, if recent history is any guide, the honeymoon won't last forever. Hell, I doubt it'll last until election day.
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I don't know ......I had some strange vibes watching the RNC.
Who are these people? With cameras focused on what looked like Nordic or Germanic tribes with cowboy hats; eyes bulging, mouths so wide yelling and shouting hatefully after hearing some abusive and ugly comments from these orators.
Why was the word "FIGHT" repeated so many times from this candidate and ugly, demeaning statements from his pitiful choice of a VP female homo-erectus/neanderthal/canine?
Seems as though we have malfunctioning minds here.
Is this candidate stuck in a time warp: in a cockpit speeding towards the ultimate goal accompanied by a pitbull? Shouldn't candidates have a full psychiatric exam prior to these events?
Eerie.
She has definitely changed the game. A surprise pick at such a late date makes it difficult to expose her. Given her gender and religious affiliations i can imagine that the Repugs will be calling foul with each expose'.
If those adultry allegations prove true , it may change the trajectory, but given the Rights penchant for hypocrisy,she'll just take the usual repug free pass: " I spoke with God, who has forgiven me"
She has definitely changed the game.And at such a late date , will there be enough time to expose her ?
Given her religious affiliations and gender , the republicans will be calling foul with each discovery. I think our only chance will be if those adultery allegations can be proved. Even then, given the trajectory Karl Rove is following that will just "humanize" her.
hopeless277:
i hope that you are wrong and that the media will not back down from reporting the truth about ms. barracuda and her scandals.
i hope the msm inquires about why her daughter was taken out of school for 5 months and then upon the daughter's return to school, ms. barracuda shows up with a downs baby even though no one in her offices knew she was pregnant
i hope the msm looks into the unsealed divorce records regarding ms. palin's alleged adultery with todd's business partner
i hope the msm reports how she actually CUT special needs funding in "a-LASSSSS-ka" even though she said she would work for children with special needs
i hope the msm reports that todd palin was a member of the Alaskans for Independence-a group whose leader is on record as saying "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions." (i wonder if people will question THEIR patriotism?)
i hope the truth about ms. barracuda and all the untruths that she spewed are revealed.
That's really quite an admission, and a pretty good observation for a conservative. Your piece, as well as Frank Rich's scathing one on McCain/Palin in tomorrow's NY Times have really made my day.
we can only hope. now the right just needs to be reminded of mccain's stances on social issues before he began lying to them to get into office. you know, how he voted for the liberal SC judges and against the conservative ones, said that overturning roe would cause social problems, called them "agents of intolerance," etc.
does mccain really plan on working with a woman he only met once before picking her for VP? or will he push her to the side and have no contact or input from her? sounds like the latter.
they'll vote for her. the hysteria won't die down in 60 says no matter what comes out.
Gentle readers,
Snap out of it. It's not about VP Nominee Palin; it's about Presidential Nominee McCain. Don't fall for Karl Rove's Wizard of Oz tricks. She's a lightning rod covered in Teflon; the perfect foil for the Republican squandering of every post 9/11 opportunity, both foreign and domestic. Mr. Obama isn't taking the bait and neither should we.
Having said that, we need the mainstream media to put their questioning of Governor Palin in the proper context: how, exactly, did Senator McCain arrive at this first presidential decision? In other words, what did he know about her and when did he know it? In this way, the record of her own decision making - both personal and professional - becomes relevant and therefore a basis on which to judge the ticket. The Obama campaign cannot do this, should not do this, and will not do this; this is the job of the press. My suggestion to them: get busy. My suggestion to all of us: insist that the press do its job.
This needs to be read by everyone:
http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/05/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-%e2%80%9cracist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean%e2%80%9d/
That just goes to show the" south is everywhere" .
She's untouchable. Every bit of news that is not totally flattering will be labeled 'media bias'. Every unscripted questions will be called sexism. Every lie that is exposed will be termed 'criminalizing politics'. Obama cannot win against this Woman of God. Hear that sound? That's the United States of America circling the drain. Hail and farewell.
hopeless277:
i hope that you are wrong and that the media will not back down from reporting the truth about ms. barracuda and her scandals.
i hope the msm inquires about why her daughter was taken out of school for 5 months and then upon the daughter's return to school, ms. barracuda shows up with a downs baby even though no one in her offices knew she was pregnant
i hope the msm looks into the unsealed divorce records regarding ms. palin's alleged adultery with todd's business partner
i hope the msm reports how she actually CUT special needs funding in "a-LASSSSS-ka" even though she said she would work for children with special needs
i hope the msm reports that her husband was a member of the Alaskans for Independence-a group whose leader is on record as saying "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions." (i wonder if people will question THEIR patriotism?)
i hope the truth about ms. barracuda and all the untruths that she spewed are revealed.
Geez your handle is appropriate; lighten up, willya?
No one is given the name "Barracuda " as a term of endearment. It is always given to a nasty, vicious, despicable person.
Time will tell us all if Palin is truly deserving of this moniker.
In high school we used to call the hotter teachers "'cuda," as in bare-a-cuda. We were such inane scamps and probably got it from some equally vacuous older kids..
This was a great read. Thx .
When will we see Palin in an interview answering questions without a speech that was written for her? What does she know about the economy and international events? What newspapers does she read daily? I am sure not The Wall Street Journal or the NY Times. I heard that Bush's speechwriter wrote her convention speech. Since she has a journalism degree after going to 6 different schools, she is an excellent speaker and can read a speech as good as any journalist. In the past few days in these small town meetings, McCain stands on the sidelines as Palin reads a speech which is critical of Obama. Palin receives more time on the stage than McCain. He needs her since he is very boring and people do not listen to him when he speaks. What if McCain picked a woman from the senate? They would not be pretty enough. I visited some websites and have learned of her fanatical religious beliefs.
How scary it seems that god forbid McCain gets to be President and then something happens to him.
I have an MBA and have my own business, and feel I can probably read a good speech and write one as well. I am excited about Obama and his great intelligence and leadership qualities. His rallies are exciting, and if you listened to him in PA yesterday answering questions from the audience his intelligence is no comparison to what Palin or McCain can answer.
AWWW THAT SARAH PALIN, SHE IS SO SWEET, CARING FOR THE UNBORN AND ALL, AND BEING PRO LIFE......WELL AT LEAST UNTIL IT COMES TO LIVING THINGS WITH 4 LEGS, THEN THIS WOMAN HAS NO REGARD AT ALL FOR GOD'S CREATURES....SHE IS FOR THE AERIEL HUNTING OF WOLVES, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS HUNTERS CHASE DOWN WOLVES WITH SMALL PLANES UNTIL THEY ARE EXHAUSTED AND THEN LAND THE PLANE AND KILL THE WOLVES. SHE IS ALSO FOR HAVING POLAR BEARS REMOVED FROM THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST, AND HOW MANY MORE PHOTOS MUST I SEE OF THIS WONDERFUL WOMAN POSING PROUDLY AND SMILING WHILE STANDING NEXT TO A BLOODY MOOSE OR OTHER ANIMAL SHE HAS JUST KILLED. UNLESS YOU NEED TO HUNT TO PUT FOOD ON YOUR TABLE, THE ONLY OTHER REASON TO DO IT WOULD BE BECAUSE YOU GET OFF ON KILLING. YEP, HER AND MCCAIN WILL MAKE A GREAT TEAM. Bruno Amato
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Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.
I truly hope you're right she is one SCARY person - i was gong to say "lady" but that is not true, either.
Funny stuff and very wise.
I'll add that I find it sort of sad that actual fiscal conservatives have to suffer this absurdity due to their party's dysfunctional relationship with the Evangelical base. I can imagine that behind closed doors they're tearing what's left of their hair out. I'm sure, that in private, they're wondering some of the same things I am.
Is an even sharper turn to the right, an even greater debt to the Evangelical, social conservative bloc , going to work this time? And if so, and they eke another 4 meager years out of it, will the damage to party and country have been worth it?
There was a time when the conservative party was a respectable opponent with something intelligent to say, even if I didn't agree with most of it. Those days are long gone.
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