Redstate is threatening to blackball anyone from the McCain campaign who can’t prove they didn’t talk to Vanity Fair, because they make the hiring decisions. And the double negatives.
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I wonder how they’ll get proof of this negative: Dunkings? Weights? Show trials? “A friendly suggestion, comrade: the burden of proof is on you to demonstrate that you didn’t speak to the Western imperialist running-dog press.”
Excellent, in a Stalinist sort of way—“Red State” indeed.
As the Big Tent gets smaller, the nitwits still inside seem to get louder.
OK, I’ve got chips and a bunch of big, empty bowls. Who’s bringing the popcorn, pretzels, and drinks? This should be a great show!
Why do they think they have a say in something like this? They are obviously wack jobs. What candidate in their right mind (I realize we’re talking about republicans) would hire someone based on what these idiots think?
Not because you helped the Left go after Governor Palin, but because you are an untrustworthy sneak who is dedicated to propping up the elitist system in DC, not fixing it.
Strom Thurmond, anyone? The Villiage?
Hell, is there ANY Republican who isn’t part of the Elitist DC System?
Do they actually define “blackball”? Because I’m not exactly sure what these former McCain staffers are supposed to be worried about.
To paraphrase Teh Second Mostest Bestest Preznident Evah: They’d be fine with an Elitist DC System, as long as they got to be the Elitists.
From the RS post:
If you are a McCain staffer who did not talk to VF, I suggest that you find some way to demonstrate that you aren’t one of the people in the first paragraph. Because until we know who talked, the default assumption is going to be that you may have talked. This will not wreck your career, but it will blight it if the base has anything to say about it. On the bright side, a simple and declarative denial will do; of course, if your denial is a lie and we catch you at it, brush up on your typing skills.
Sounds like a good time for some waterboarding.
Ah! Just what I thought! Reds are running the republican party.
As the Big Tent gets smaller, the nitwits still inside seem to get louder.
Actually, the tent is burning down around them and collapsing on them because somebody thought a flare gun would lend ambience to their struggle, yet they still know not why they are screaming.
Do they actually define “blackball”?
I have an idea how that closet case defines them.* 
And I’m sure the ex-McCain staffers are just soooo afraid when Moe Lane stamps his petulant little feet ...
*would adding “the ones hitting his chin” be going too far?
Excellent, in a Stalinist sort of way—“Red State” indeed.
I always thought that name was deliciously ironic. Back in ‘06, when Pelosi became Speaker and they had a big sickle and hammer plastered on their front page… I mean, if you didn’t speak English, what would you think the page was about?
Well, racist limbaugh runs the party so yes, they probably do think that their threats carry some weight. The weight I hope they carry is keeping the back story of the McCain campaign in the news for months to come.
Palinistas who claim that Obama supporters were/are wrapped up in a “cult of personality” should take a good long look in the mirror. Maybe I’m in living in my own little bubble here, but I simply cannot understand what it is about Palin that generates such fervent zealotry from conservatives, aside from the laughable notion that she “frightens” or “pisses off” liberals. It may have started as a cynical and hamfisted attempt at identity politics, but it’s morphed into what seems like a genuine emotional investment in someone who is (correctly, IMO) seen by most independents and a fair number of Republicans as a political lightweight. What’s the attraction here?
It is difficult to be frightened or pissed off by a piece of work that doesn’t have anything to do with my life and likely never will.
Peasant: So…if she floats, she’s made of wood…
Sir Bedevere: And therefore?
Crowd: A witch! A witch!
It is surprising Republican critics of Gov. Palin do not point out how much she resembles a Native American.
Next up, the folks at Redstate recount how a well-funded Three Ring Circus of a party got turned into a freak show side show.
Circular firing squad
The Frothingly Rabid Woman
Angry Fat Man
Dancing Chickenhawks
The Wasila Winker
MORE!
c’mon - step right up! Sideshows and freak shows are a Hearland of America tradition!
I don’t actually fully get the Palin worship, though I assume that she is beloved because she is such a punch line in liberal circles. Wingnuts aren’t exactly complicated people.
I don’t actually fully get the Palin worship, though I assume that she is beloved because she is such a punch line in liberal circles.
Want the shortlist?
1. She talks a good game about social conservatism. Well, anti-abortion mostly, but that’s all that counts.
2. She is profoundly ignorant of a great many things, just like them. And apparently not at all embarrassed by that, just like them.
3. She’s a political leader, therefore worthy of greater attention by default. Her bunch of acolytes, for people supposedly coming from a group that distrusts government, sure loves their leaders.
4. And last, but certainly not least, the MILF factor. Note that this last one is on a running timer: someone can’t be in their mid-40s forever.
The fact that Palin was and is and obvious idiot seems to be a point in her favor, with these people. They hate the elitism of competence, though of course not the elitism of wealth.
Ya, promise to “piss lib’rals off and get GOP campaign contributions for life. Also.
Yeah, I think the thing that puts it completely over is the combination of “hot soccer mom” and “complete blithering idiot.”
But she’s a nationally prominent bilthering idiot ... THEIR nationally prominent blithering idiot ... the only one blithering in their language! It doesn’t matter if the rest of the country think them all blithering idiots .. those mean people are evile!
Some Republicans’ attraction to hot soccer moms is analogous to some Democrats’ attraction to hot trial lawyers. Despite evidence of incompetence, shallowness or working for a hedge fund, they support candidates based on their appearances, either because they are enamored with the candidate or because they think the candidate’s attractiveness will translate into electoral success. Choosing candidates based on appearance over substance could be described as a form of sexually liberating expression, but not at a very high level. It could be argued both Joe the Plumber and Rielle Hunter have achieved this level of consciousness.
Some Republicans’ attraction to hot soccer moms is analogous to some Democrats’ attraction to hot trial lawyers.
I’m sure you’re not comparing the CV and accomplishments of John Edwards with the CV and accomplishments of Sarah Palin, because that makes as much sense as comparing JoeDuhPlumbah (who gladly accepted the public mantle of bogus everyman from McCain, rather than Palin) with Rielle Hunter (little more than a private groupie). Or, y’know, as much sense as comparing apples and Boeing 747s.
Unfortunately, superficial looks and personality and catchphrases matter in politics. But liberal and progressive voters tend to move beyond them to substance pretty quickly when they’re examining their candidates, while the Know-Nothings don’t.
Yeah, I think the thing that puts it completely over is the combination of “hot soccer mom” and “complete blithering idiot.”
So… not only someone they’d like to have sex with, but someone who might have sex with them AS WELL!!
Sarah Palin did not work for a hedge fund that owned two sub prime mortgage companies after serving in the Senate while Long Term Capital Management was being bailed out. Gov. Sarah Palin may actually have accomplished more than Senator John Edwards as a public servant, but both have relied on their good looks for attracting political support.
1. She talks a good game about social conservatism. Well, anti-abortion mostly, but that’s all that counts.
2. She is profoundly ignorant of a great many things, just like them. And apparently not at all embarrassed by that, just like them.
3. She’s a political leader, therefore worthy of greater attention by default. Her bunch of acolytes, for people supposedly coming from a group that distrusts government, sure loves their leaders.
4. And last, but certainly not least, the MILF factor. Note that this last one is on a running timer: someone can’t be in their mid-40s forever.
5. The constant claims of victimization. Don’t forget that; that’s what they’ve run on for 30 years.
That whole “You’ll never work in this town again” bullshit that goes on over at RedState is de rigueur for those cretins. Some junior-level commentators who have no real power but swear they’ve got McCain staffers by the balls; it would be pathetic if it weren’t so funny.
Someone even called the anti-Letterman campaign “wildly successful”. Since he lost no advertisers, is still on the air and still a millionaire, I’m not sure what “wildly successful” means to them. They also call the Iraq War and the Tea Party protests “wildly successful”, if that’s a hint.
The best (or worst, if you’re an antagonizer) aspect of RS is their “no dissent” approach to site moderating. Whereas Salon is more self-policing and its obvious that there is no one who moderates their boards (other than the dubious “flag” option), moderate or liberal commentators are regularly banned at RS (not just the comment removed - the account name and corresponding email are banned) forever for even suggesting that the authors are wrong or fallacious (which, because they’re wingnuts, is often).
The result is comment boards full of “me-too"s, springboards to MSM conspiracy theories, and self-congratulatory hyperbole that, once again, would seem quite pathetic if it weren’t so damn funny. Fascist states and dictatorships wish the had such an iron grip on their media outlets.
Although, admittedly, every once in a while someone posts some crap that gets you so riled up you long to respond - just remind yourself it’s futile: the post will be gone within minutes, replaced with some sarcastic “You’re a troll” comment from the moderator. Plus if you think you’re going to change any minds over there in Wingnutland, you don’t grasp what Wingnuttery is about (hint: totalitarianism, xenophobia & blind obedience)!
And why would you want to? The best tactic that we can employ as progressives is to not encourage any introspection amongst our rivals. Tell them they’re doing just fine. Palin is a statesperson of high regard that would do well as a presidential candidate. McCain would be president if it weren’t for the Liberal MSM™ and their bias. You know, things like that.
Sarah Palin may actually have accomplished more than Senator John Edwards as a public servant
Yup, those bridges to no-where don’t just earmark themselves.
Sarah Palin earned political support for taking on the oil companies in Alaska, which was one reason why she was elected governor. Although I do not like her politics, taking on the oil companies was more of an accomplishment than anything Edwards has ever done, unless earning $500,000 consulting for a hedge fund that owned two sup prime mortgage firms in 2006 is considered doing good work for N. Carolina’s constituents. Palin had nothing to do with budget earmarks coming out of Congress, but certainly knew as much about foreign policy as Edwards knew about contraception.
Palin had nothing to do with budget earmarks coming out of Congress, but certainly knew as much about foreign policy as Edwards knew about contraception.
People affected by Palin’s Bridge to Nowhere: 600,000
People affected by John Edwards’ inability to use a condom: 4 if you only include his existing family, 6 if you include his mistress and new child
Yeah, that’s sure comparable—misuse of public funds vs. inability to keep it in your pants. I guess this is the origin of that whole meme about how Bush lying to get us into a multi-trillion-dollar war in Iraq was totally justified because Clinton lied about getting a blowjob.
mnsr: And Palin’s habit of hunting USAF Airmen for sport is clearly doing good for Alaska.
See? I can make up sourceless bullshit too.
Mnem, it is more than 600,000 people - it is everybody in every state that pays more into the federal coffers than they get back in federal services who was affected by that vanity bridge.
Meaning me, you, the rest of CA and MA, NY, NJ, etc. Screwed by Palin’s wanting to have a shorter commute.
Budget earmarks come from Congress, not governors. It is not bullshit Edwards worked for a hedge fund that owned two sup prime mortgage companies as a consultant during the height of the real estate bubble in 2006. Edwards was a senator when LTCM needed to be bailed out, yet not only did nothing to stop the coming finance industry collapse but went to work for the industry. Palin can only hope to earn as much money as Edwards has, but what she has going for her nationally is the same thing Edwards was able to exploit - good looks. Some Democrats overlooked Edwards negatives because of his good looks, some Republicans do the same with Palin.
How many people would have been affected by Edwards’ fertile infidelity had he won the Democratic presidential nomination?
I’m not sure why Red State needs to engage in a witchhunt. It’s perfectly obvious from the article, at least for a jourmalist, who Purdum’s main sources were. He’s not exactly subtle about his unattributed allegations.
Budget earmarks come from Congress, not governors.
And yet a certain philandering Republican governor recently turned down Federal relief funds the residents of his state actually needed. Palin didn’t do the same when she was offered Federal aid for the bridge to nowhere (but then, this is someone who made a multi-million-dollar hockey arena her biggest priority as mayor of her small town).
Edwards was a senator when LTCM needed to be bailed out, yet not only did nothing to stop the coming finance industry collapse but went to work for the industry.
There were 49 other Senators—from both parties—sitting during the LTCM debacle in the late ‘90s, and I can’t find any citations of a direct connection between LTCM and Edwards, so I’m not sure why you keep bringing it up here. LTCM exhibited many of the problems inherent in the current fund and bank collapses and should have served as a warning about over-leveraging based on excessive trust in models, but bringing it up as an “it-happened-under-Clinton-too” boogeyman contributes nothing substantive to a discussion on Edwards.
As for the more recent and relevant issue of sub-prime mortages, Edwards ”>claimed 2 years ago that he was unaware of that aspect of Fortress Investment Group’s business when he consulted for them, and divested himself from the company after he found out. That he took this action during a time when most public figures dismissed the danger, that action speaks in his favour.
I’m not trying make excuses for Edwards—like most establishment Dems and Republicans, he’s a proponent of neoliberal economics and the free passes that gives to the financial services industry. But he’s been out of office for 4 years, and if you’re looking to point fingers at late-90s-vintage politicians on this issue you’re better off looking at Phil Gramm, and just about every Republican politician (including Palin) who, as a matter of core free-market ideology, supported the dangerous and irresponsible deregulation (and regulatory capture) that contributed heavily to the Great Recession.
Well it looks as if the circular firing squad is practicing again today. So if you are a campaigning pro who knew Palin was a nut job and dragging down the ticket, you’re out. If you are a skilless syncophat, you’re in. A sure formula for sucess.
Why would the ex-MacCain aides talk? Because they fell betrayed. Or, they want their party back. God forbid. Because they know the Party is fucked no matter what they do or say and they just don’t care any more. You may add to the list at your leisure.