Yeah -- You and Whose Army?
So everyone's talking about the nasty spike of nastiness in the presidential race -- a spike brilliantly orchestrated by the Republican machinery -- and Republican John McCain takes a moment to point out that even this is Barack Obama's fault.
Y'see, all the crap being thrown at Obama -- the fear-mongering, the half-truths, the full lies -- all the character assassination hurling Obama's way, is in fact, his own doing.
"I think the tone of this whole campaign would have been very different if Senator Obama had accepted my request for us to appear in town hall meetings all over America," the Senator from Arizona tells us.
Am I just losing my friggin' mind? Seriously. I keep looking around the room to see if I'm living in some suddenly altered state where everything we know is now called the opposite, and nobody notices. Or can stop it.
"I wish I didn't have to take your lunch money, but you should'nt of hadda brung it."
We're in the 3rd grade again. The skinny, smart kid who just moved in to the neighborhood is getting roughed-up by the asshole bully. The kid who hits you in the head with your hand and says, "Why're you hitting yourself? Why're you hitting yourself?"
"Um, actually I'm not. You're hitting me."
"You calling me a liar?"
"No, I'm just pointing out that..." SMACK!
"Why're you hitting yourself?"
And there seems to be no one to appeal to. There're no grown-ups around when you need 'em. No one to step in and say, "Alright, that's enough now. We don't do that here, fella." And in the absence of any authority, the asshole gets to keep doing it.
"Why're you hitting yourself? SMACK! Why're you hitting yourself?"
From the few minutes of the GOP convention I could stomach watching, all I could think was that Giuliani and Sarah Palin were doing some big-person, lethal version of "I know you are, but what am I?"
America: "Well, respectfully, Governor Palin, it could be argued that you are, in fact, relatively inexperienced."
Her: "I know you are but what am I?"
"Hm? No, perhaps you misunderstood. We are talking about you."
"I know you are but what am I."
"Well, Governor, just listening to your speech, you seem awfully caustic."
"You are."
"And, frankly, a little bitter."
"You're bitter."
"I mean, where's your sense of humility?"
"I'm rubber, you're glue. It bounces off me and sticks to you."
"My God - you're... dangerous."
"I know you are, but what am I?"
Maybe that's the problem. Obama treats us like adults, and McCain's team treats us like children.
Obama seeks to inspire and raise us as a nation. McCain's people want to reduce us to infants.
Obama asks us to be deep. And courageous.
McCain prays that we're simple. And cowardly.
Now everyone is calling for Obama to "get angry." "Get out there and frown this way, curl your lip that way, and clench your fist like so." And, I don't know..... That'd be cool. Sure. But I don't think the fix can come just from him. There's only so much the guy can do. It's going to have to be us. I don't know what exactly we need to do, but I know we'll do it. I have to believe -- I mean I really have to believe we're big enough, strong enough and smart enough to reclaim what's ours. I love my children too much to let the assholes take over the school yard.
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I think last night's SNL sketch said it best when "Hillary" told the press to "grow a pair." We've lost the press. They've all - but a few - become US magazine. Too timid and fearful of those who scream the loudest with mock indignation.
Spot-on analysis, Mr. Riser. In fact, that sums it up as well as anything I've seen since the convention. Well said. I'm going to help to disseminate this essay far and wide.
Reading this, I at least got a badly needed chuckle. We have to fight the MSM on our own.They are the ones pushing lies, and nonsense down the throats of unsuspecting ignorant people. For them it;s only about ratings and corporate tax cuts and loopholes. I don't think they care about their children and grandchildren. We need to stroke them by thanking them for doing their job when they tell the truth, and punish them by not watching when they don't. I'm so tired and angry, but I know I can't stop doing whatever I can do in even the smallest way. Like Paul Rieser, I love my children too much.
Paul. Thank you. I thought I was going crazy for the same reasons. We've been missing your wonderful voice.
Nice article. ALL DEMS MUST STAND UP AND SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!!
Michelle Obama asked this of us...to learn the truth and speak it, to pray for Obama and get his back!!
YES WE CAN!!
If Obama starts getting angry, it further erodes his post-partisan image. Granted the image is a total farce anyway---his record is extremely liberal.
At least he hasn't lied about his opponent like McCain has been doing.
If John McCain hadn't accepted Palin, a woman who can see Russia from her back yard, for VP, we wouldn't be having this conversation. But he did, which shows that he wants to win at any cost - we can't let him do that. McCain started a dirty campaign right from the get go, which shows that he has lost his integrity and sold his soul to the Republican National Cult.
For women that would vote for Palin because she is a woman, I feel sorry when they find out Palin's issues are not about women. They are about ambition, connections to the oil industry and the adoration she loves from the Republican Cult. They should really consider what kind of world they want their children to grow up in before voting on November 4th.
For working people that would vote for McCain, keep in mind that the candidates are part of the elite and hob nob with the elite, and you are their pawns in an idealogical war.
One of the changes needed is to get rid of lobbyists, which represent special interests, including countries like Georgia. Did you know that McCain's foreign policy adviser is from a law firm lobbying for the country of Georgia? Remember Enron. Remember the Repub thugs sent o Florida and banged on the doors of the recount room to intimidate those inside? Remember the lies that got us into Iraq? These are the Republicans of today and they need to be stopped -
But it is more than just race, it is about pride and self-respect and our children image of us, our fathers, the high school pals… all this things that made the Freudian universe; things that can only be understood by getting into somebody else’s shoes. And Republicans are a lot better at that than we are.
The complete disaster of Bush’s policies have cornered many Americans into accepting they were wrong and liberals were right: “liberals were right when they show contempt for us, they were right when they said: you are stupid, you who do not believe in evolution”. Mc Cain/Palin tickets opens an exit to this cornered Americans: “we were not wrong; it is just Bush who was wrong, we want a second chance to do the same in a different way; we will do the surge here and it will work as it worked in Iraq”.
Of course, Obama made many mistakes; the biggest one was his Berlin speech, no country in the world likes his president to be loved abroad, by a European crowd that is the quintessence of elitism. Should Obama made an extreme nationalistic speech there and being booed by crowd and media, his position here would have been strengthen. The selection of his running made was also an error. Arrogance is the stupidity of the bright.
ideosyncracy
Obama knows what he's doing, have faith in him, his integrity, intelligence and ability to communicate and lead. Because he does not jump every time some idiotic comment or ad comes out is to his credit. People who are silly enough to take those things seriously wouldn't vote for Obama anyway.
If you are sincerely worried about the outcome of this race, get involved people. There is all kinds of information on Obama's website about connecting with others in your community. I still believe that
Mc Cain and Palin will be their own worst enemy, they simply don't know much so they have to bully
in order to distract. But the evidence is clearer everyday, they are in no way prepared to take on the
difficulties that face us as a nation. Obama is and is smart enough to pick people who will give him the assistance any good president needs. Pray that Obama wins and do everything else you can to make it happen. Don't waste you time focusing on riduculous republican antics, put your energy
where it can do the most good.
I love the Repub trolls who are talking about Dems being desperate and convinced there's no longer any hope because of one week of positive polls for McSame. Yes we're all doooomed--that's how O was able to raise $66 million last month--$10 million in one day. Because we all believe he's inevitably going to lose. Because he's so inexperienced, and Ms. S. has wonderful executive experience and can see Russia out her window. Yeah, right. Wait for the debates. All this lame nonsense is gradually being revealed for the gigantic lie it is.
So, you didn't read Reiser's post before you commented on it?
Right on, magggs. What the old style polls and the right wing-infected mainstream media and the McCain campaign don't get is the same thing they refused to admit during the Democratic Convention: All across this nation, all ages and races and beliefs of middle class and low income Americans are FED UP. We will take this country back on election day. McCain won't just lose, he will lose so big no one will even remember his name. We have so much work to do in the coming years, to get our country on track and get people working and living the way we want to live--but we're ready. We will do it. McCain doesn't even know the meaning of grassroots.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Paul. While not surprising that the Republicans would launch such despicable tactics, the fact that it goes under of the media's radar is horrifying.
Go Paul Go! Barack needs to stay above this disgusting gutter fight, pick himself up, dust himself off and stick with his vision for the future and the ISSUES. We need to find a way to emotionally boycott the nasty ads and backbiting and look forward to how we want our country to be. Honestly. We just don't have time for this crap. My husband says "This is the way it's always been done". It reminds me of the beef roast story - in case you don't know it: "A young girl watches her mother ready a roast for the oven. When her Mom slices an end of the meat off and discards it the girl asks, "Why'd you do that, Mommie". Her mother smiles and replies "Because Gramma always did". Next visit to Gramma's, the girl asks "Gramma, why do you cut the end off the roast before you cook it?" to which Gramma replies "Because my roasting pan is too small".
Folks, to continue to allow politics as usual is wasteful and irrelevant. What we need is a bigger, more sparkling roasting pan. What we need is......OBAMAWARE.
I watch all these talk shows and listen to radio shows (mostly air america). Some how I find hard to believe that no one, I mean no one ever talks about the fact that most of the white voters (with an exception of 30%/35% hard core so called Progressive/Liberals) are NOT going to vote for Obama, and that is why McCain is catching up! Even Michael Moore on the Larry King show when given an opportunity had a meek response that the Amercan Voters are not that stupid. Come on, I see and communicate with lot of Whites every day, most are not that well off. And, I see the reservation about Obama. Accept and be honest and see what the Obama campaign can do about it. Bill Clinton was RIGHT! And, whatever happens: DO NOT BLAME HILLARY!!!
Paul is right; candidates do treat the people like children. Unfortunately in a world of sound bytes whoever has the cleverest one wins. McCain used the silly lipstick on a pig comment against Obama and Obama uses Bush’s third term rhetoric against McCain. Trust me, the Republican Party does not have a monopoly on fear mongering. One thing is certain, the underlying principles of the Democratic Party are a lot more paternal, and thus tend to perpetuate the treatment of citizens like children and victims. The answer, according to most Democrats, is bigger government, because without it people won’t be able to succeed. Come on Paul! Open your eyes; the political game is disgusting on BOTH sides. But, as far as who treats citizens more like children, you have a loosing argument.
No, I do not "trust you" that both parties do this equally. And just for the record, you saying that you agree with Paul Reiser is misleading, because Paul DID NOT SAY that all politicians treat us like children. He said that McCain treats us like children and Obama treats us as adults.
You registered to this site today, and are making yourself busy drawing moral equivalencies between McCain's and Obama's campaign. Frankly, you look an awful lot like a Republican apologist (troll) to me.
You are actually right, but in theory, in the real world republicans have been increasing gouvernment more than democratics, and not showing any fiscal resposabilty, spending and borrowing and growing deficits. If that is not treating us like childern then what> just look at the education department and now we own freddy and mae, and other financial companies are on the way to make the biggest gouvernment ever. Only Ron Paul is telling the truth. I do not agree with him but he is the only republican who is honest.
You are a fool if you think that the Democrats are treating you like a child simply because they wish to make sure that our infrastructure is sound. Our society NEEDS policeman and fireman and soldiers and garbagemen and nurses and truck drivers and a host of other low paying but vital jobs. The continued deregulation, reduction in budget and outright mismanagement by the recent Republican administration is the one which is treating us like children. Privatization is only a solution for the rich...and none of the people I listed above are in that category.
You did not read this article because he was talking about the Republiucan party treating the United States like children. However you are right about society needing ( to use my words) a code of ethics, and without ethics there will exist chaos.
I believe privatization works for the United States insofar as Universal Health Care and education. John Edwards has the most comprehensive plan, and Elizabeth Edwards is working with Barack already to enact it. Here's what Edwards says about privitization for education:
http://schoolsmatter.blogspot.com/2007/12/john-edwards-on-nclb-pathway-to.html
Privatization for social security is dangerous. Especially when your options are investing your future into your own home market - which is another way of monopolizing the peoples position into the stock market. The government will not be responsible if it crashes. These unique assets are about to be exploited if you vote for McCain.
He and his Angels, Bud!
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