Strange. On the same day that a new poll showed McCain's negative campaign is damaging his chances, he used the final debate to go even more negative. And McCain and Palin are both going deeper into black-helicopter territory, with talk of "terrorists" and a scary organization they say is going to steal the election.
An observer could be forgiven for thinking that they're not even trying to win anymore -- that they have another agenda in mind. Let's hope that interpretation's wrong. The politics of destruction has already hurt the country enough.
The television pundits initially thought McCain did well last night, but polls confirmed that most Americans knew better: The number of Americans who thought Obama won jumped to 53% in the CBS poll, up from 38% and 40% in the first two debates.
Sure, McCain was livelier , and he didn't wander aimlessly around the stage. Apparently commentators confused his improved vital signs for a more effective performance, but here's what really happened: McCain had already convinced most Americans he's not capable of fixing the economy, but last night he convinced them that... they don't like him, either. Whaddya expect? They told him through the polls that they don't like the meanness -- and in response he got meaner.
The question is: Why? Why would a faltering campaign double-up on a losing strategy? Sure, there's always the possibility that McCain can't help himself, that he's so full of anger and bitterness that he can't control himself. Or there's the possibility is that the Palinites have taken over the campaign, forcing McCain to do their bidding. ("Lassie, go tell Mom and Dad! The bad people have taken Grandpa!")
But there's a simpler explanation for all the wacky conspiracy theories and incitements to right-wing rage: This could be a long term "destabilization" strategy. They expect to lose. So they'd rather lose by an even larger margin, but in a way that encourages their base to question the legitimacy of Obama's administration. McCain's behavior actually makes sense in that light - if their goal isn't to win, but to lay the groundwork for noncooperation (if not active resistance) to the Federal government.
That's not an opposition-party strategy. It's political Posse Comitatus.
Before you decide they'd never be that extreme, remember: That's pretty much what they did during the Clinton years -- with the murder theories, false conspiracy stories, and deeds like Newt Gingrich shutting down the government. It was a watered-down version of the destabilization campaigns the U.S. has used against unfriendly foreign governments for decades.
A real destabilization strategy needs people who will hold demonstrations and perform other acts of protest (which aren't always peaceful). It doesn't take very many. The women banging pots and pans in Chile were few in number, but their psychological impact was great. What was important was that they were angry.
Think about it: When given yet another chance to condemn people at Palin rallies for shouting "terrorist" and "kill him," McCain refused. He danced around the question by saying you'll "always have fringe people" who say things that "aren't appropriate." But he insisted "I'm proud of the people that come to our rallies." He didn't say "that kind of talk is out of line," and - pointedly -- Sarah Palin's never said it either.
So here's the pattern: Paint Obama as an extremist, a terrorist plant. Stir up hatred. Lay the groundwork for arguing that the election was stolen, even if you're veering into conspiracy talk. You're firing up the same crowd that thinks George Bush Sr. and the Trilateral Commission created a secret world dictatorship enforced by UN agents in a fleet of black helicopters.
McCain addressed that crowd in a couple of other ways, too. He used coded language for the far right home schooling lobby, for example, when he said school choice is "the civil rights issue of the 21st Century." And then there's this unforgettable line:
That's the extreme pro-abortion position: "Health."There are good people on both sides of the school choice and reproductive rights issues, but when you use an activist catch-phrase ("schooling as THE civil rights issue") and mock women's health, you're simply playing to the extremists in your base.
If the goal really is to stir up resistance, the anti-Clinton harrassment of the 1990's will seem tame in comparison to what's coming. But it could backfire, too. The GOP's Achilles heel (that means "weakness," Gov. Palin) is its tendency to keep using once-successful strategies long after their sell-by date. Americans could easily become infuriated if they come to believe one party is sabotaging the other at the expense of the public's well-being.
That may be why so many responsible conservatives like George F. Will (and less responsible ones, too) are condemning this campaign. Conservatism was a fringe ideology for decades, until William F. Buckley and Barry Goldwater restored its respectability. An extremist "guerrilla resistance GOP" could set the conservative cause back for decades.
Obama isn't President yet, and Democrats would be foolish to be too sanguine about the outcome. And God knows I hope this interpretation of the GOP's strategy is wrong. We need to restore a responsible public debate and put an end to the destructiveness of the last 15 years. If Obama is elected and Republicans opt for a "destabilization" strategy, everybody will lose.
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(UPDATE: John Amato reports that Rush Limbaugh's becoming even loopier, talking of black people with a "30 year plan" to turn their children into militants. Rush then links this conspiracy to Rev. Wright, ACORN, and terrorism. It's all of a piece with the new trend of turning right-wing politics into a war game. It's conservatism as extremist fantasy.)
(UPDATE II: GOP robocalls are now saying the following: " ...Congressional Democrats now want to give civil rights to terrorists... You need to know that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers, whose organization bombed the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, a judge's home, and killed Americans. And Democrats will enact an extreme leftist agenda if they take control of Washington." And the beat goes on.)
Read more reactions to the Obama-McCain Presidential Debate from HuffPost bloggers
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I was about to sit down to a lovely lunch of noodles - I adore noodles - and they now look to me like a plate of snakes.
Why can't I just vote for Obama because he's a wonderful (not perfect but very fine) man with an amazing intellect and be happy that there's a very good chance he might get in the White House and be my President? But even if he does I have to worry that the Maverick and Gidget have coalesced an army of pot banging whackos in black helicopters or some such to tear the country up and make me even unhappier. When oh when do I get some peace?
You have ruined my noodles. Stop it.
Good article though. :-)
McCain’s campaign and “his”choice of Sarah Palin has Karl Rove's slice and dice stink all over it and nothing at all to do with this election. When it became apparent the White House was going Dem, plan B became an early seeding campaign, carving off as many borderline voters with racial issues to simmer in a self-victimization stew for four long years along with all the other special interests that fueled the culture wars. Palin was necessary to keep the Romneys, Huckabees, Guilianis of the party clear of the mud. Lieberman was pocketed to save the Israel first contingent. Palin’s agenda is clear. New blood, eager to please, ambitious beyond any sense of self awareness, political, cultural, historical or economic context, she becomes the new poster child endorsement that rails against a new racially mixed progressive movement and by accident or design an immediate star in the secessionist movements and the rebranded “kinder-gentler, family value” white pride elements of racist America.
Many of the cross burning contingents or racism in the U.S. whittled down to cel-sized organizations are extremely difficult to penetrate, heavily armed, well-trained militias globally connected by the internet and undyingly enamored with Hitler’s politics. Current economics that also foreshadowed WWI and WWII, inflamed with racial self-righteousness are perfect storm circumstances for conflict.
The election is just the opening salvo in what promises to be a new chapter in American history that may rival the conflicts of the 60's.
If karl rove was at the helm, I'd say it's 'intelligent design.' With rove, there was usually a very deliberate goal for the heinous GOP acts (vote tampering, Constitution shredding, etc.). The goal was typically concentrating power - and with the belief that the results and administration actions were the best thing for the country (and the wealthy). There was usually an obvious thread (although amazingly visible only to people outside the media!) so that when something baffling was done, you could eventually figure out what was going on.
At this point, there seems to be no equivalent "visionary" (pardon me for that term) in the GOP camp. All that you've got are insane witch hunters and enraged, terrified, scorched-earth maniacs. They've learned some tricks from rove, but I bet they had him booted out because he just wasn't insane enough. We are witnessing a Lord of the Flies implosion on the 'right,' where there is no trace of logic. There is only explosive, irrational reactions... a bunch of activities that have an impact, but aren't cohesively moving toward any sort of goal.
The Clinton problems were partially due to the fact that he had a pretty full closet of skeletons. Obama doesn't.
I agree that it's troubling to think about how this "movement" will end. In the meantime, jujitsu-like responses have been very effective.
The best long term method is to add a Constitutional amendment that allows Congress to regulate campaigns for Federal offices. This will allow the money to get stripped out of campaigning and demand a completely different way to get elected. Robocalls, advocacy groups, etc. can potentially get stripped away from the process.
We need an ovewhelming number of votes so that nobody can claim the election was rigged.
Bush stole it with 537 votes in Florida. We need to send a CLEAR message.
There's exactly one person in the country in a position to prevent a nationwide torrent of divisive Reverend Wright hate ads--and that's Senator John McCain. And he's doing it. He's doing the right thing, even though everyone around him wants to do the wrong thing. Even though no one on the other side even notices.
If history remembers nothing else about John McCain, let history remember this one truly noble and great stand of his above all others.
For our part, we should applaud McCain for doing the right thing. Right now, he must be the loneliest he has ever been in his life (yes, including then). We should let him know he's not alone.
From his point of view, he sat in a POW camp while Ayres should have gone to prison, but never did. He just can't see this as a totally irrational response. To his warped mind, Ayres is the ultimate evil. He may even believe that the anti-war protests from Ayers et. al. prolonged his captivity.
All the best for Nov. 4th,
Itchy.
Even if McCain is crushed this time and even if they don't manage to impeach Obama (which I guarentee they're planning), they will use a mythology of him as an illegitimate president, created by the ACORN story, to launch enough hostile investigations of his administration that it will prevent Obama's administration from doing anything about the most pressing issues. That's the Republican way: Shout down and demonise any disagreement when in power and maintain that the whole concept of the power is illegitimate when they're not.
Then they'll run palin in 2012. She's exactly what they've been looking for: Pretty face, policies of Jesse Helms.
I do believe, though, the plan is to cripple Obama before he's even inaugurated. They'll definitely try to shut down his presidency relentlessly...but I think Obama will win pretty big, take some red states and take this ellection with a broad spectrum of voters. The general public won't be in the mood for a moldering Republican Party crapping in the punchbowl. They'll try. I don't think it will work.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/16/massive-rnc-robocall-may_n_135348.html
What is an extreme leftist agenda anyway?
And allowing gays to divorce - which would destroy our civilization as we imagine it.
Watch CNN Cover Palin's AKIP Involvement
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/elections/cnn-covers-palins-akip-connection/
Here's an Interview With the AKIP Chairman on Palin
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/elections/akip-interview-on-palin/
Palin Had a Friend Named Black Helicopter Steve
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/10/10/palin_chryson/
Who's setting this beat? Just where is the Bush administration getting its torture regime? In whose stable, and by what methods, has this diabolical duo, this Horseman called 'Fear of God' and his mount, 'Crusader,' trained and groomed for this race?
And why is it wearing our flag under its saddle? Just where has the US gotten its advice on crushing human psyches, hacking them like computers and overriding the person's will? Is this any way for a servant, the government, to treat its sovereign, We, the People?
APA, I'm looking at you, baby!
I'd sure like to know just exactly who it's been. Who's been involved in our no longer secret method for jacking electorates to hell and sticking them with the bill? Is this what McCain has meant when he's boasted, "I know how to do It"?