Long Past Time to Shut the Republican Party Down for Good
James Fallows. These Republicans don't belong in office. They Republicans don't have any business running for office:
Our capacity for self-government: [A] worldwide financial panic and crisis. Just beyond that, the real economic and social problems that come when large numbers of people lose their jobs, their businesses, their investments, their homes, and even larger numbers become fearful about what might happen to them. And then, when we get a minute to think, profound global energy and environmental challenges, security concerns... ongoing wars and ever-rising medical costs.... [T]he current situation is no joke, for America or the world.
In these circumstances, and with a presidential election four weeks away, is it conceivable that candidates will waste time arguing whether one of them has been in the same room with a guy who had been a violent extremist at a time before most of today's U.S. citizens were even born?... Of course, it's not only conceivable: it's the Republican plan for this final push -- "turning the page" on economic concerns and getting to these "character" and "association" questions....
Grow up. If John McCain has a better set of plans to deal with the immediate crisis, and the medium-term real-economy fallout, and the real global problems of the era -- fine, let him win on those. But it is beneath the dignity he had as a Naval officer to wallow in this mindless BS. I will say nothing about the dignity of a candidate who repeatedly winks at the public, Hooters-waitress style. A great country acts great when it matters. This is a time when it matters -- for politicians in the points they raise, for journalists in the subjects they write about and the questions they ask of candidates. And, yes, for voters.
McCAIN MOVES AUDIENCE TO CHEERS AND TEARS WITH SPEECH AT HERITAGE FOUNDATION
"My friends, we are in a serious place. Many of you will only be paid $20 million this year instead of the $40 million you're entitled to. The government and the poor who caused this problem need to recompense you. And so, my dear, dear friends, we're gonna make them do just that.
No more Medicaid handouts!
No more Federal funding for Head Start!
No more capital gains tax!
No more income tax on any earnings above $250,000!
They're calling this a bailout, my friends, as if you hadn't been bailing out blacks, and welfare cheats, and so-called 'community organizers', and any number of meddling government bureaucrats and finicky regulators with the trillions in taxes that Democrats have levied on your wealth, on your dividends, on your profits, on your bonuses, and on your thoroughly-deserved, market-driven salaries and perks. I know. I've lost count of much I have to pay in property taxes!
How dare they call it a bailout of Wall Street 'fatcats'! You, my friends, are the innovators, the risk-takers, the financial engineers who have created the greatest increase in personal wealth ever recorded in American history. And after stealing your hard-earned gains for years, for decades, they're claiming this is a taxpayer bailout, an intervention in the free market!
No, my friends, this is a restoration of the free market, a giving back to those from whom these billions should never have been taken away in the first place!
Obama wants to wage class war against you, against---and it's hard for me to say this----against even my beautiful wife Cindy. It's time to fight back! They don't call me a maverick for nothing, and if Obama Hussein Obama thinks he and his terrorist friends are gonna steal some more of your money, then he better think again, 'cos it ain't gonna happen, my friends, not while this old Navy pilot can still drop some bombs on their damnable Communist ideology!"
Posted by: stunney | October 06, 2008 at 09:23 PM
Yeah, but Brad, at least we won't be sidetracked by discussions of whether America's Lyin' Sweetheart has been sleepin' with a registered member of a secessionist party.
Some people would infer some treasonous beliefs there, but thankfully, the media has decided that there are *some* rumors they *won't* cover -- because they've got standards.
Of course, those standards seem to be "There's no lie about Democrats we won't cover" and "There's no truth about Republicans we won't ignore," so the standards are not perfect... unless you're a Republican, or a member of the media. In which case, the system works *great* for you.
Pretty much helps screw the rest of the country, but hey, who thinks the media gives a shit about that?
Posted by: Chris | October 06, 2008 at 09:23 PM
If you go to Google image search and plug in "McCain" and "Kissinger", you can see the makings of the coming Dem response to these attacks on Obama for his past associations with the terrorist Bill Ayers. It could be so easy to tie McCain to a guy who is unrepentant about his complicity in targeting civilians with bombing attacks designed to terrorize them.
But ... look closely at each photo. Do you see any of them featuring McCain making eye contact with Kissinger? No! Not one! Clearly, all of these are just Kissinger bumming photo ops, sneaking into the frames, time after time -- pathetic and feeble attempts by this has-been to capitalize on McCain's star power. OK, the one where the two seem to be embracing is embarrassing, but really, now: what makes you so sure that's really McCain? You can't even see the guy's face. Maybe it was just some old homeless guy, you know, like the one with the sign you see near freeway on-ramps around Bethesda: "Disabled veteran, will pose as war-hero senator for food".
Anyone who says McCain would consort with anyone who is unrepentent about indiscriminate bombing of civilians is simply beneath contempt. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't preempt such smears where we can. Let's get out in front of this one, people. Time's a-wasting.
Posted by: Michael Turner | October 06, 2008 at 09:56 PM
There's an old adage in the law that goes: if you've got the law, pound the law; if you've got the facts, pound the facts; if you've got nothing, then pound the table. McCain is poundin' pud.
Posted by: Cal | October 06, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Liberalass-Realist: A liberal is a moderate Republican. Palin/McCain are spouting eliminationist rhetoric now from the stump, they are calling for a lynch mob to form against the presidential candidate. I consider threats for violence today against someone more dangerous than threats of violence of decades ago more of a sin.
If Kissinger has the blood of south-east Asian women and children on his hands, when he anoints McCain then that blood drips onto McCain. McCain could have covered himself with that blood more directly, but he just couldn't keep his plane in the air.
Until proven otherwise, I consider you, Liberalass-Realist as one of the propaganda agents on the Fed govt pay-roll. Please show all income sources to prove otherwise.
Posted by: christofay | October 06, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Olberman via the Crooks & Liars:
Governor -- Bill Ayres? Your hubby was in this secessionist hate group for which you recorded a video.
Governor -- Jeremiah Wright? That pastor you credit with helping you become Governor, is either a con man or a psycho who believes he can tell which woman in the village is the witch and which is the governor."
We must must cut welfare payments to Alaska by 50%, after all, our country is insolvent now, we have to economize somewhere.
Posted by: christofay | October 06, 2008 at 11:03 PM
I fear the "swift boat" campaing will work and McCain will be the next president of USA.
Maybe be time you think at move to Brazil...
Posted by: João Carlos | October 07, 2008 at 06:51 AM
According to Paul Krugman, we're already in Brazil .... could be worse, though, we could be in Brazil according to Terry Gilliam.
Posted by: Michael Turner | October 07, 2008 at 08:03 AM