Time For Hannity and Friends to Take a Xanax

Every day I receive four or five emails from my Republican friends to make sure I haven't forgotten what a horrible socialist terrorist liar Barack Obama is and how the Democrats -- who have had essentially no power since 2000 -- are really responsible for everything that's wrong with America.

I appreciate that. Occasionally I forget. I hope and assume that in a week or so when the election is over that those emails will stop. I have already noticed that some of my friends have started to lose a little of their energy as it has become increasingly clear that the presidential race is already decided and Obama has not only won -- he has won in a landslide. Those who disagree are in luck. They can get 8-1 odds on McCain on intrade.com right now so if they bet enough, they can make back what they've lost in the stock market this month.

There are some diehards and true believers who think the game isn't over. That's fine. This is America. That doesn't bother me a bit. What does scare me are the vicious and hateful attacks against Obama that seem to be gaining in frequency and toxicity on Fox News, Townhall.com, and talk radio even as the math makes a McCain win a virtual impossibility.

When the McCain campaign first started going negative a few months ago, the party line was that Obama was too risky and inexperienced. He sat in a church for 20 years and listened to hateful sermons, he used to hang out with shady guys, but mainly he was not ready to be president or commander in chief on day one and McCain was. Obama put politics before country while McCain put "Country First" all the time. Many people found that to be both a compelling and encouraging sales pitch.

But look what has happened as the Straight Talk Express has become a train wreck. First McCain started calling Obama a traitor who tried to lose a war. Then Obama played the race card. Then Obama palled around with terrorists. Now, depending on which furious true believer you listen to, Obama is a foreign socialist agent who was not born here and wants to destroy America, Obama is a terrorist, Obama is a liar, Obama is a criminal, Obama supporters are big black guys who attack and carve their initials in the faces of McCain supporters, and so on.

Meanwhile, McCain has steadily frittered away all of his credibility. His "Country First" and "ready on Day One" credentials went out the window with his pick of Sarah Palin. Then he came across as frantic and very confused about the economy. In August and September, he echoed President Bush 17 times stating that the economy was fundamentally strong.

He proudly called himself a deregulator and stated firmly that he was against "the bailout of AIG or anyone else." Then two days later, he said we were facing the greatest economic crisis in 75 years and that he supported the bailout of AIG, the $700 billion rescue plan, and promised more regulation when he's president. Right after voting to socialize our banking system, he started accusing Obama of being a socialist.

During the three debates, he looked angry and confused while Obama looked controlled and presidential. All the polls showed voters thought Obama won each of the debates by a margin of 2-1.

Then, as a perfect metaphor for the whole campaign, McCain introduced us to Joe the Plumber, a guy who owns a business, makes more than $250,000 a year, and is upset that Obama will make him pay more taxes. Of course the guy's name isn't Joe, he's not a licensed plumber, he doesn't own a business, he doesn't make $250,000 a year, he is delinquent in his current taxes, and under Obama's plan he would get a tax cut. Other than that, McCain nailed it perfectly -- the new Straight Talk Express.

McCain hasn't been done in by the Left Wing media or by ACORN or by the economy or because he's a Republican in a bad year. Obama has had his own challenges since 33 percent of all voters have said they know someone who won't vote for Obama because he's Black.

Obama has won the election fair and square because he has been the more appealing candidate to most Americans and McCain has lost it. There are dozens of Republican and Conservative newspapers, public figures, and columnists who have announced during the last few weeks that they are supporting Obama or that they simply can't support McCain-Palin. They have all cited the sleaziness of McCain's campaign and the poor judgment he has shown on the economy and with his pick of Palin. There have been no such defections from the ranks of Obama supporters because they have no reason to defect. Obama has delivered and McCain has not.

It's over. The American people have spoken. If this was a basketball game, it would be time to clear the benches and let the subs play out the clock.

But instead, the fanatics on the Right -- particularly on Fox and the radio -- are committing hard fouls and trying to injure the winner. It's ironic since these are the people who claim to be pro-America patriots. Where I come from, patriots fight hard but when the game's over, they unite behind the winner and work hard to help him succeed. We're all Americans and in this together.

Because of all this hate and ugliness, what was shaping up as a Republican defeat is turning into a Democratic landslide that is spreading to Congress and might give the winners a filibuster-proof super majority in the Senate. If that happens -- a thought that scares me as an Independent -- it will be a harvest reaped by the voices of hate. They have turned off, frightened, and disgusted not just the Left but also virtually every Independent and moderate Republican voter in the country. And it's getting worse by the day. The more vicious and loud they become, the further behind the Republicans fall in the polls.

I worry about the country and I also worry about Obama's safety.

Many of my Republican friends are also staunch supporters of Israel. When they are not reminding me how horrible Obama is, they are making sure I realize what a threat Islamic terrorism poses to Israel and Jews everywhere. There is certainly a lot of truth in what they say.

But what they seem to have forgotten is that the only Israeli prime minister ever assassinated was not killed by an Arab or a Palestinian terrorist. Yitzhak Rabin was murdered by a ritually-observant Jew named Yigal Amir -- a young yeshiva honor student who listened attentively when his rabbis told him that Rabin was a traitor for negotiating with the enemy. So Amir -- a Jewish Israeli patriot in his own mind -- murdered Rabin.

Today, 12 years later, recent polls have shown that 38 percent of religious Israeli Jews consider Amir a hero and rallies demanding his release are held on a regular basis.

It's one thing to say the other candidate is not ready or experienced enough to lead our country. It's another thing to call him a traitor, a socialist foreign agent, a terrorist, and a person who wants to destroy our country.

This has been a tough and energizing campaign and it's about to be over. Isn't it time to start chilling out and cutting back on the most extreme and inflammatory of rhetoric and to get about the business of rebuilding and reuniting our country? Isn't it time for Hannity and Friends to go back on their meds?

All the pro-America patriots I know feel that way. There's probably a name for people who feel differently, but they're not patriots. Not even close.

Comments

[glacierfalls]

Execellent article. It is time for for Hannity and Friends to go back on their meds, I watched Hannity and Combs last night and was appalled by the way Hannity treated his co-host who has a bad cold. He was viscous and outright cruel to him. But Combs still made his points over Hannity and Huckabee who both were trying to spill their lies out to the public. Can't wait to see how they like it when the tables are turned on Tuesday, and Obama and Biden are declared the winners. I hope Combs milks it for all it's worth. I will be watching to see it go down

[jazzyjudy]

No, Obama has not won yet, and let's avoid pretending that he has. Obama supporters still need to keep up their energy, maintain vigilence, and get voters to the polls! Remember, it ain't over "til it's over!

[lgellman]

Obama supporters will not be complacent. And it is won.

[ChicoBrisbane]

I have a unique view of this election from the perspective of a two time voter of George W. Bush who will vote for Barack H. Obama come hell or high water on November 4th. The correct saying Mr. President is: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I won't let that happen because is there has been only one true statement to come from this election, it is that a vote for John McCain is a vote for a 3rd Bush term.

If John McCain couldn't run an effective campaign, how could he expect the electorate to conclude that he could run our nation? -- If John McCain couldn't define his opponent based
on policy how could he conclude that name calling would be an acceptable alternative to the electorate? -- First Barack Obama was too inexperienced, then he was celebrity, then he was a radical, then a socialists, and in a final act of desperation -- came hints of communism.

One can only conclude that a man as honerable as John McCain once was, wanted to claim the oval office so badly that we was willing to say anything, do anything, including but not limited to selling his sole to the devil in order to get it. That in itself should be more then sufficient evidence to conclude that it never was about us. It never was about country.
It was about John Sindey McCain and only John Sidney McCain, so help me

[navalflightofficer]

I don't know where to start. I'm neither Republican nor politically conservative (although my children would assure you I am a conservative guy.) I have also very recently committed to voting for Senator McCain. Thank the two minute Senator Obama lie fest, the real negative campaign waged by the undercurrent of Senator Obama's supporters, and the preposterous idea to have the youth of America convince their elderly grandparents to vote Obama. Just to name a few.
No one has polled me. I guess you would say I'm deluded or racist. Hey, it's worked for Senator Obama's campaign before.
The obscenity of the money Senator Obama is spending and lack of transparency have finally convinced me. Senator McCain gets my vote. Hell, I've voted for losers for the last two elections.

[lgellman]

I have many friends who are voting for McCain for a variety of reasons. This is America and we are free to vote for whomever we please--it's one of the things that makes our country great.

But I can't accept your assertion that Obama and his supporters are the ones who have been more negative. Nor can I figure out why it is wrong in your eyes that Obama has been so successful in inspiring people people to give him money. If he has broken a law he should be charged. If he's just been very successful then he should be rewarded. That's what McCain and Palin have been saying all month--success should not be punished with higher taxes or criticized at all.

If McCain is your guy then vote for him. But don't say it's because Obama has run a dirty campaign or has been successful at raising money. That's silly.

[conned]

What seems clear to me is that McCain's campaign ignored the political winds that were blowing against the Rovian -style, propaganda-rich politics that came roaring onto the scene after 9/11, and instead embraced them wholeheartedly. In fact, he not only did embraced them, he sold out every political principle and shred of dignity he had in the process. It helps that Obama is a Demcrat that learned from past candidates' mistakes and fought back quickly.

[cyndeewi]

It is not over until we vote. Please don't say it is over yet.

[harvest9]

What an excellent summary of this election.

I'm afraid you are being much to reasonable about fundamentally irrational people. They won't settle down, take their med's or get behind the winner -- ever.

The Hannitys of the world cannot and will not turn off the hate machines because that's how they make their money and massage their massive egos. They don't give a rat's behind about America.

[lgellman]

No doubt.

But hopefully a new brand of the Republican Party can emerge that will not let these guys speak on their behalf.

[booker52]

The morning monkeys at Fox Noise were hitting it hard this morning with the witch who did the ambush interview with Biden. Turns out her husband is a GOP pundit. Gee, go figure. And she herself is really a weather person, not really an anchor person. And they are all crying foul at the Obama camp!! What asses. I can hardly wait for Nov 4th to come and go and for this to be over. I do pray that the new President to remain safe.

[iluvsam]

Ummm guys, this over confidence that the race is somehow over is really scaring me. McCain could win simply due to underperformance by Democrats at the polls (thinking their vote isn't "needed" because Obama has already won this thing). It reminds me of the Ohio State Buckeyes back in 2007 who imploded in the National Championship game against Florida due to being overly-hyped and having poor execution. The best teams do not always win. Obama is the best team and is looking good so far, but what if the voters have poor execution due to all the hype?

Be careful! This scares the living daylights out of me, especially when I heard on the news today that Colorado early voting is favoring McCain. UGH!

[TallonZek]

"Where I come from, patriots fight hard but when the game's over, they unite behind the winner and work hard to help him succeed. We're all Americans and in this together."

this is a fantastic talking point.

[Davwbaird]

polarized to the point of inaction.. Resistance to Obama at this time will mean their sure defeat as a viable party.

[contemporarymom]

Oh please, if Obama wins it just means Fox and Hannity folks will have more to gripe about.

And while some folks may find having Obama as prez okay, the idea of that the likes of pelosi and Barney Frank and the rest of the Liberals as folks we want running things - as one poster here put it - is not something everyone agrees with even if you are for Obama.

Pelosi and the rest who got voted in because they said they'd bring the troops home and do many other wonderful things have done nothing - and it is not just because of bush. And as for Barney - he's done enough with his tape of saying Freddie and Fannie are just fine.

No, its okay to want Obama but its a joke to think Pelosi and Frank and the rest of congress are actually something we are happy with.

[lgellman]

I don't disagree. But we can only vote for or against the people we can vote for or against. It is what it is. That's what's so frustrating and wonderful about democracy. As Churchill once said, it's the worst system in the world except for all the others.

[srdon]

am currently reading David Halberstam's "The Coldest Winter" about the Korean War and the context of the political time in which it happened. what's interesting is that this was a time when the GOP had been out of office for nearly 20 years. however, their smear tactics, which McCarthyism grew out of, is exactly the same approach they continue to use today: slander whoever doesn't agree with you and question their patriotism. what's really unfortunate are the number of ignorant citizens out there who believe any slander espoused by their pundits/talking heads.

another example of this is Glen Beck saying on his program the other day, "Are Al Franken, Barney Frank, Barack Obama, and Nancy Pelosi really the kind of people we want representing us?" well, Glenn, the answer is "Yes, we do." at least those of us who really put country before party; who really want issues discussed, addressed and resolved through the true democratic process of negotiation and compromise vs intimidation and presidential decree.

[Einstein44]

I am in total agreement : It is not over and this is what I am afraid of by the so-called polls..We will act complacent to the cause.We cannot rest until it is COMPLETELY OVER ..We have to act as if we are 10 points behind...We cannot be fooled or mislead by crazy notions floating throughout this country.Again,everyone that is strongly supporting Obama, DO NOT let your guard down.

[lgellman]

My guard doesn't matter any more. It's over, over, over.

[rich misty]

I am sorry if you are scared... But the GOP put two unqualified candidates on the same Presidential ticket...

They do not deserve any control in the Senate, and we cannot undo Bush with a Senate representing this political base.

[lgellman]

I believe that most people are not holding their nose and voting for Obama. I believe that most people are actually anxious for Obama to be their president.

If the Democrats win 60 Senate seats, that will be on the head of Hannity and Friends. They have become so toxic with the poison they are spreading that they have created a national wave of revulsion that will be taken out on the Republicans.

What can they say? That the voters didn't have enough information? This campaign has gone on for two years. I America elects a Black president by a landslide, the Republicans will have to take a long hard look in the mirror and decide if the people who claim to speak for them are really the guys and gals they want.