Turns out that the McCain campaign has been right about one thing, if one thing only, and that is that we can tell by Sarah Palin's short stint as an executive just what sort of executive she will be. Think of Cruella de Vil or The Evil Queen in "Snow White". Associates in Alaska report that she has a full and detailed history of vindictiveness, cronyism, graft, secrecy, betrayal, and selfishness (how Republican is this?). Add that to the videos going around about shooting wolves from the air and her Christian Dominionism Church, not to mention her absolute ignorance about almost everything the federal government might be responsible for, and you have just about the worst selection for US vice president in the history of the world. Well, maybe second worst. But look at it this way -- the fact that Bush did not pick Cheney and Cheney picked himself was a prelude to Cheney's unchecked power (used for multiple bad ends) in the last seven years. The fact that McCain picked Palin is certainly a prelude to a different kind of disaster from the Bush disaster, one that will come from her narrow-minded hubris and aggressive ignorance combined with his erratic hotheaded impulsiveness. And Putin is cool enough to sedate a charging tiger!
The papers were full of articles this morning about how Democrats (not Obama but "talking heads' like moi) reacted too strongly to Palin's selection and are now responsible for the inevitable defeat of the Democrats because we have offended middle America. But you know that if we had kept smiling and elevating the discourse, we would now be attacked for being soft and rolling over, as John Kerry was. Why can't the Democrats do anything right? Well, I'll tell you. The Republican mindset is inherently extreme -- extremely aggressive, extremely defensive, extremely emotional. If you don't exhibit much aggression, they think you are wimping out, and if you do unto them what they have done unto you, they start screaming that they are being unfairly victimized. They are highly reactive and sitting down and reasoning together is not on the program.
I was writing a post earlier in the week where I was bleating on about how Obama represents the realization of the American dream, and Palin a kind of dystopian ideal, in which shooting animals, getting to do what you want, and driving large vehicles is the summa of life. But enough of that. In spite of the pundits, I think that now we need to expose expose expose attack attack attack, not to prove that Obama is stronger, but to force McCain and Palin to reveal their real selves. McCain will wilt, then explode, Palin will get more and more brittle and then meaner and meaner. We should do it over and over, getting more and more of a rise out of each of them and both of them. Both strike me as unstable, though in different ways, and public officials who love secrecy love it because they have something to hide. These two certainly do. If November rolls around and they've revealed their inner natures enough times, either the voters will shy away from them or they will know and like the pathology they are getting.
I am doing my personal best by sending along the Defenders of Wildlife anti-Palin video about wolves and the video about Palin's church. More will come out. Give them a shit storm now, because they will give the world a shit storm if they get the chance. And there is another thing -- I also want American voters to be revealed to the world for who they are. The contrast between what McCain and Palin offer and what Obama and Biden offer is stark. If Americans are going to take the low road, then we all deserve to know just how low that road is.
His cultural and social education is derived entirely from what he watches on the television sets provided by the "Old Man", who raised him.
In our case, the "Old Man" is the Rush/Hannity/Roves of the world.
The image of Sarah Palin needs to generate negative emotions. How that is accomplished is the challenge.
Here's my worry. That the 'Merican voter is as fatuous as we fear. Possessed of nothing more than a desire for trinkets, baubles and shiny things -- houses with faux columns, SUVs, and mountains of meaningless electronic flotsam and jetsam. And the winner will be the one who tells us it's all OK -- we can have morning in 'Merica again if we just close our eyes, thump our chests in a jingoistic frenzy of xenophobia, and buy, baby buy.
But let's find out. Let's have that full on debate, lay bare the choices, strip away the BS, and find out if the sane among us should get our passports ready.
That's why I heart ya SOoooooo much, you absolutely "Get It*, and to the point of making my eyes well-up from the truth within your eloquent words, yeah I know, I'm being overtly emotional, yet that's what happened. Your words touched a cord, by saying exactly what and how I feel also. Thanks for all your wonderful efforts. Agape always, dapper
"Since being selected a John McCain's running mate on Aug. 29, Sarah Palin has yet to hold a single news conference or take any questions from reporters beyond one network interview and a chat with People magazine."
The press should refuse to cover the McCain campaign until Sarah Palin agrees to talk.
And when you refer to "take the high road or the low road" you do yourself a disservice, sure both parties are at opposite ends, but it always amazes me that IF your way of doing things was so right all the time - why do you have such are hard time packageing it to the masses? Calling people stupid - the easy and stupid answer.
The glaring difference of package is in the manner in which Obama "answered" Rick Warren's questions.
The debates will be spectacular if Obama continues to talk in circles - it will be over at that point.
And talk about emotions, check out the comments defending Joy on the View - a comedian - sshesshh tell that bunch that she is uneducated and the emotions fly about what a great thing she did to McCain. While I'm a fan of Whoppi's and thought she was good - the bunch of Huffington emotional screamers over there got in a tiff because some of us others thought Joy was obnoxious.
They are a bunch of entertainers - why ANYONE running for any position goes on there is beyond me.
Jane's piece above calling us extremely emotional in combination with random comments in general about McCain and the View was something I thought Jane should take into consideration when trying to put Repubs into a box.
I love your anger, so well investigated and directed. ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK! You are SO right, they'll explode in rage.
Thanks, for sane folks makes sense! Funny, were you one of the writers the Value Voters were bashing (The lady I believe she is the editor of National Review) over the weekend on CSPAN speaking of extremism? What a hatefest it was! Any objections to PTAlin were sexism and anti-religion and anti-life ... y'know like the Repub convention!
The bloggers on the web have been in the front trenches on this for over 4 years.
FACTS. Attack with FACTS and MAKE THEM ANSWER.
"That's an EXTREMIST point of view - care to explain it to us?"
"You sound like you hold very EXTREMIST points of view, why is that?"
"Pretty EXTREMIST comment. Where are your FACTS to back that up?"
"Do you consider yourself and EXTREMIST?"
There ya go.
Corporate Media - you can use it for free. I usually charge about $400 an hour.
Your welcome.