|
||
Palin '08 = Bush '00
Some time ago someone wrote this elegy for the last eight years (I'm paraphrasing): "Do you remember how you felt that first time you ever encountered George W. Bush, early in the 2000 campaign? Remember that feeling?"
I do. First, stunned. Then, my head cocked to one side, one eyebrow arched, I chuckle at the absurdity...
This can't be. THIS is who they're putting up to run? Have they heard him try to speak in public? It's so insulting to suggest that the country would elect this person.
Karl Rove was audacious back then, he and McCain are audacious today. In a horrible political laboratory experiment with disastrous consequences, Rove first used Bush to test his Weakness=Strength theorem, which holds that you can trick the public into thinking that up is down and black is white.
It was all a fiendishly clever trap. Those who criticized Bush for being dumb and a poor speaker inadvertently helped elect him. Because once everyone picked their jaws up off the floor, the Bush campaign and its many surrogates could go over to the "beer drinkers" and say, "See? The white-wine drinkers are making fun of this average guy, George Bush. They're making fun of YOU, too! You'd much rather have a beer with the guy that can't talk so good, wouldn't ya?"
Rove actually made an asset of Bush's inability to communicate. And thus ushered in the "compassionate-conservative" non-alcoholic-beer-drinking buddy who actually -- surprise! -- turned out to be a scary vessel of ultraconservative policies. (The Weakness=Strength theorem worked again in '04 with Kerry's military service vs. Bush's lack thereof.)
So, what do the ex-baseball-team owner and the ex-beauty-pageant contestant have in common? All I know is, my instinct is telling me, This can't be. THIS is who they're putting up to run?
I didn't feel that way about McCain. I didn't feel that way about Biden or Obama. And Hillary, to me, looks damn presidential. Because your gut tells you they are qualified for the job.
Remember 2000!
Stunned at your first encounter with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin? Keep it to yourself, please. Or else get ready for part two of Rove's secret formula: "Oh, those snobby liberals are making fun of her? Calling her Quaylin? Screw them! You'd much rather have a beer with this good-looking maverick hockey mom, wouldn't ya?"
Let's be smart this time and show nothing but respect for Governor Palin, and not fall into the trap of calling her names and ridiculing her, but firmly and politely decline her kind offer to become our next vice president.
By all means, America, go have a beer with Governor Palin next time you're in Alaska. Just don't be surprised when she tries to sign you up for the John Birch Society.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
My biggest fear is the "October Surprise" which would be some crises in the world or on US soil with what the media casually call "a wink and a nod" from behind the scenes in the "Whitehouse", or rovians for McCain because they presume such a crisis automatically gives McCain the election. This would be ironic, for they would be the cause of the problem and then looked to for the resolution of a problem they manufactured.
I remember the same feeling in 2000. A German friend of mine was laughing about George Bush, and I told my feeling was that W would win the election via some subterfuge in Florida. I also told him that Americans would accept it because they felt more comfortable with W drinking a beer. The election happened a couple of weeks later, and this country has been sold to the banks and foreign countries. Palin 08=Bush 00, you might be correct.
Most of the criticism of Palin so far seems TOTALLY out of line. Nobody has enough information to know whether she's an immature hothead (like McCain himself) or a mature person with thoughtful opinions about the major issues confronting the nation.
The only thing we know for sure is that McCain picked her after spending LESS THAN AN HOUR talking to her. Most people devote more time and care to picking a new refrigerator than John McCain gave to picking the potential Commander in Chief of the U.S.
At this point, we really don't know whether Palin's a diamond in the rough or a disaster. But this pick has certainly proved how reckless and intellectually lazy McCain is. The WAY he made this decision is the most important reason to make sure McCain never gets the opportunity to command nuclear weapons.
There's a rumor I've heard....
Maybe, just maybe, it’s Bristol’s baby
but grandma don’t want us to know
So she took Bristol out of school
as soon as she started to show
She told her staff that it was hers
and they were all surprised
For 7 months it had escaped
Their staffly prying eyes
Well, she was down in Texas, supposed to give a speech
Perhaps about the Christian values, that she likes to preach
That was when her water broke
if we accept her word
but this is where the story starts
to get a bit absurd
She went ahead and gave the speech
Good God, this lady’s tough
but to have the kid in Texas,
just wasn’t good enough
So she flew back to Alaska
stopping once, and changing planes
and she never told the airlines
she was in the family way
Was that irresponsible?
Doctors disagree
but it sounds, if I may say,
a bit bizarre to me
There are hospitals in Texas,
where a pregnant gal could go
Or maybe, just maybe, it’s Bristol’s baby
and grandma don’t want us to know.
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
thanks for the reminder, Mr. Shrake.
Talking about this VP-selection news with a friend today, I was reminded of when & why I stopped watching CNN for political coverage. It was after the first Gore-Bush debate in 2000 when Bernie, Wolf, and Judy looked at one another and said, "Wow, the Governor really held his own up against the Vice President."
See Scott Shrake's Profile
Yes, here's hoping Media Matters dot org has a field day over the next several weeks... They call out those bozos on their ridiculous pro-Republican (or any) bias...
there was a culture of greed and excess and apathy in the 80's, when the nation turned repub and reagan had his revolution. unfortunately, there are way too many in this age group keeping this culture alive. they grew up expecting everything and damn anyone who got in the way. their anthem was life in the fast lane. these are the main group that will always fall for rovian politics.
my hope is that there are finally enough young people to join with the old hippies and beatniks to finally outnumber these non thinkers. but it all depends on the young coming out to vote.
an update on McCain's newest VP and her vast worldliness, experience and keen intellect:
from an issues survey during her gubernatorial campaign:
11. Are you offended by the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?
SP: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.
Um. Did she mean the founding fathers still around in 1892 when the Pledge was written or those still around in 1954 when "Under God" was added to the Pledge? Wow, those Alaskans and McCain sure know how to pick em.
Her ignorance is appalling, but ignorance is apparently an asset according to 2000 and 2004.
If that's true then that's sad. She has no business being on a national ticket.
You are confusing being criticized with being mocked. We can keep the mockery relatively private, but the criticisms should be quite public. Palin is not ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, and McCain has put his ambition before country.
"McCain Just Lost the Election with a Hail Mary (or Political Ambition 21, Country 0)"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/
"Let's be smart this time and show nothing but respect for Governor Palin, and not fall into the trap of calling her names and ridiculing her, but firmly and politely decline her kind offer to become our next vice president."
On the other hand, Mr. Shrake, this also sounds suspiciously like the "just trust that the American people are smart enough to figure out the obvious ridiculousness of the Republicans and ignore it" strategy that immobilized Michael Dukakis to respond to Willie Horton and John Kerry to respond to swift-boating.
Maybe we can craft a better, smarter response this time other than sniggering dismissiveness--- but we must respond. There is no need to make fun of her. Just point out her scary, out-of-the-mainstream record, forcefully and unapologetically.
You are right about one thing: these Republicans know how to win presidential elections. While you and I understand that Palin is a ridiculous pick, there are many voters who are gong to love her. What is her strength? He strength is that voters are going to be able to identify with her. Democrats should ATTACK THAT STRENGTH. Paint her as some sort of exotic weirdo. Ignore everything else. The Democrats always make the mistake of attacking the obvious weaknesses of their opponents. They also make the mistake of playing fair.
oo the supreme court gave bush the job not the voters
See Scott Shrake's Profile
You are one of several people who reminded me of that. Let me correct myself: Rove's scheming got Bush enough votes for it to be close (in '00 and '04)...
i say we just let carl rove do all of our "mccain's scary VP pick" bashing for us ....
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4336254n
(check out the last 3 minutes)
You forgot that Bush was a successful Governor of Texas.
That's a big deal.
If you bought the lefty kool-aid about how "stupid" Bush supposedly was, then it's on you.
Nope he left Texas in bad financial shape.
LMAO..Oh my..that's funny//
"You forgot that Bush was a successful Governor of Texas."
Big deal.
If he was so successful, why is it still Texas?
BottomLine2008
You forgot that Bush was a successful Governor of Texas.
That depends on how do you define success.
See Scott Shrake's Profile
As governor he certainly succeeded in executing a record number of people, ALL of whom I'm SURE were guilty.
I call it: Absurdipity. It is the confluence of the righteously absurd with the blissfully serendipitous.
Although both Hockey Mom and Dubya share the blank slate quality that Rove looks for in the perfect candidate, Hockey Mom doesn't have Dubya's charming arrogance, but instead charming ignorance.
Perhaps that's just so for a VP anyway.
The way to handle this situation is not to attack her lack of experience directly but rather aggressively get her talking about the issues and make it apparent to any but the most deluded that she, while a nice story and maybe a decent governor for Alaska (which itself seems to be in doubt given some of the Alaskan's reactions), is in NO WAY ready to be VP or President should McCain put that second foot in the proverbial grave. Also the Dems should question McCain's judgment. Focus on the contrast between how Obama made his decision and how McCain made his. Both said during their lead up to making the decision that "being ready to take on the responsibility to be President right away" was their first and foremost criteria. Let people decide for themselves if both of them put the best interest of the country first with their pick or the best interests of their campaign. Secondly, McCain had only met this woman ONCE before offering her the job. I know every American can relate to multiple job interviews with their boss for even the simplest of jobs. One pundit paralleled the decision he had made in choosing a legal guardian for his children should something happen to he and his wife. McCain basically put the fate of not only his children but everyone in America's children in the hands of this woman without knowing her better than having met her once and liking her "on paper".
I agree with your point of not attacking her lack of experience. Yes, challenge the issue of change/ maverick/ reformer nonsense they are touting.
Executive Experience? Abortion is still legal in Alaska, You can't carry a concealed gun in Alaska.
So Right Wing Republcians can you please tell us what reform/ change has she enacted with her EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE that matters to you. Has she gotten CREATIONISM taught as science in the Alaskan schools.
Palin, for Creationism and Abstinence..... Say that often enough and it will get across.... who wants another Republican in their bedroom...
Easy as that and keep focused,.... we have to do a Reagan on them, that is repeat it over and over,,, difference is this time the message is true....
Thanks but no thanks to 4 more years of off the cuff decision-making, war-mongering and survival of the richest, trickle-down economic policies. ENOUGH!!
McCain / Palin = PAIN.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
