Jonathan Chait Single-Handedly Redeems the New Republic

I may have to get a lifetime subscription to the New Republic:

McCain Forgets How Many Glass Houses He Lives In: John McCain's campaign today announced, "Americans need to ask themselves if they’ve ever befriended an unrepentant terrorist, or had a convicted felon help them buy their house." Neither of these things is true of John McCain. However, McCain has befriended a convicted felon, and his many houses were purchased due to the fortune of convicted criminal Jim Helmsley, his father-in-law...

Comments

[John Emerson]

Don't do it, Brad. You'll regret it within a month.

[ogmb]

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

[Funkhauser]

What about Noam Sheiber writing about Sarah Palin and her anti-intellectualism?

Though I agree with John; don't spend that much money.

[Darin London]

The Republicans have written off 2008. This is the beginning of the long 2012 campaign. The key thing to realize about 2012 is that neither John McCain, nor Sarah Palin will be on the ticket. This was the function of Sarah Palin from the beginning. The traditional attack-dog role of VP, played by someone with absolutely nothing to lose. They are the sacrificial lambs whose job it is to get the smear ball rolling. They can say whatever they want, lie, debase the dialogue, throw out the fear-grenades. etc. Any respectable newspaper that attempts to gainsay them adds 'Liberal Media Bias' points to the scoresheets of their conservative base. Any attempts by Economists and other Professors in the 'Reality Based Community' to gainsay them adds 'Elite Liberal Ivory Tower' points. The Alliance Defense Fund, and Walter Jones (H.R. 2275) will make sure that the only people who can credibly say who a conservative should vote for will be a small group of 'respected' preachers.

[Whammer]

His name is actually Jim Hensley. Helmsley was another Republican of less-than-admirable character.

[John Emerson]

One of my paranoid theories is that the Republicans didn't want to win. They've dumped two hot potatoes on Obama and have already geared up to blame him for whatever happens. The McCain campaign has been remarkably inept in a way that Rove campaigns aren't. I really feel that they sent in their practice squad and rejects. I'd guess that personnel strongl;y identified with the McCain campaign will see their careers deadending.

Since Obama is mostly going to clean up messes the Republicans made, he **has to** point fingers and wave the bloody shirt. Someone will be blamed, and if it's not The Republicans it will be Obama. Nothing Obama has said indicates that he understands the necessity of this; some of his post-partisan talk makes it seem that he's going to walk obliviously into the buzz saw.

Or maybe he's a stooge too, sent by the grand conspiracy to take one for tha cause. The big players have to know that we're entering a period of misery, and I'm sure they have plans for their response.

[Chase]

Cancel that subscription!

The man's name is Hensley. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hensley

Helmsley is a different conservative business figure convicted on federal charges.