If you're still scratching your head about Republican Presumptive Presidential Nominee, John McCain's Vice Presidential pick, Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, you might also be asking why he's rushed headlong into a hurricane. After literally eating cake while Katrina destroyed New Orleans, Senator McCain appears to be seeking redemption through the destructive force of the category 2 Gustav.
Independents: are you honestly buying this?
I know that the once liberal mass media has closed ranks around McCain, stifling giggles as well as outrage at McCain's choice of running mate, then scrambling desperately as one after another of her scandals have trickled out - despite the GOPedia's best efforts to stem the tide. First, her ethics violations came out. Then, we're expected not to believe our eyes when we see an allegedly third-trimester pregnancy looking as lean as she did seven months earlier; not to mention the miraculous story of her water breaking in Texas - which, conveniently, no one knew about - and then a woman having her allegedly fifth child managed to somehow hold it until the plane reached Alaska, some eight hours later, without complaining about contractions. Even if she's telling the truth, any other woman would be in jail for child endangerment. Further, how does a parent with a Downs baby make time for a political career? Who's taking care of this kid? Oh, that's right, she has a seventeen year old daughter at home, who's conveniently five months pregnant to dispell the dreaded "internet rumours."
Five months? Of course it's conveniently five months. Six months would raise the Republican's favorite tool of campaigning, the auld October Surprise - as in, "SURPRISE! No baby, and she's still not showing (just like mom)!" And four months pregnant wouldn't work either, since Trig was born in April. Pardon me, former Miss Congeniality, Alaska, but would you mind releasing your medical records - and a certified ultrasound for your daughter? Oh, and a DNA test of yourself, your daughter and your "son" for comparative purposes, if that's not too much trouble.
But Sarah Palin aside, why is Senator McCain going to Mississippi? Come on, Independents; don't tell me you think McCain isn't politicizing Gustav. I know that the GOPedia, including Time magazine, CNN and the major networks have their talking points in hand (and aren't ashamed to use them), but we're Independents! We're smart enough to read between the lines, believe our eyes, and not fall for the magic bullets that history is heir to. Senator McCain couldn't show more cynicism toward the city of New Orleans if he were to say, "Category 2 - that's not so bad. When I was a POW in the Hanoi Hilton, we had a real hurricane . . ." (Joe Lieberman pulls him aside, whispering in his ear, McCain nods, then returns to the mic), "Excuse me, it was a tsunami."
By going there, Senator McCain diverts law enforcement personnel from their vital tasks, such as controlling looting and rescuing people who aren't there for photo-ops. Yet the mainstream media unashamedly praise him for his choice to go to the Gulf of Mexico, just as they've managed to put on straight faces to rescue him from his self-inflicted disaster of choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate. Why haven't they asked him if he's seeking political redemption for Katrina? Why haven't they asked him why he's diverting these key personnel during a crisis? And why haven't they asked him if this isn't just more cynical politicking?
People died in Katrina. Died while Senator McCain and his beloved George W. Bush ate cake together. And now, as a means of distracting us from the sea of scandal swirling around his choice of running mate - whose only real qualifications seem to be a wealth of experience in the type of cronyism we, as a nation, have been forced to endure these last eight years - uses real tragedy as yet another Rovian weapon from the "permanent campaign" arsenal of distraction, fear and misinformation.
We're smarter than this, Independents. John McCain, who we have revered for his maverick legislative style, his straight talk and his forthrightness, for whatever reason, is no longer that person. His judgement on selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate without vetting her - arguably the most important decision he will make before entering the White House - was not sound. His decision to go to the Gulf of Mexico during a time of crisis and potential tragedy was both political and self-serving. No matter what the mainstream press tells us, we have eyes, ears, memories and minds. We read between the lines because the media are unwilling to print the facts without spinning them. We seek alternative news sources to find the pieces that the corporate press has left out all together. And then, somewhere in the garble of spin, misinformation and non-information, we converge to expose a corrupt and unreliable "Fourth Arm of Government."
AKA, John McCain's base.
Update: Hurricane Gustav has been downgraded to a category 1 as it moves inland toward the Louisiana-Texas border. It is thought that little damage occured, and due to the evacutions, the casualties are expected to be low. We can breathe a sigh of relief that this time, at least, tragedy wasn't in the cards. It also shows that we can learn from the lessons of history: evacuation saves lives.
Monday, September 1, 2008
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3 comments:
I agree with you on every point. I am only worried that the voters are not that smart. Coming from Ohio, I saw as the worst hit state by the Bush and the Republican legislative branches policies we still managed to make it close enough for Diebold to push GWB across the line.
I am here working my but off to keep afloat in this horrible "ownership" economy. To not pick somebody who at least had a experience arguing in court, running a successful business, or at least passing the bar.
I can't believe how many people haven't come out with a WTF commentary. I guess I have too many times underestimated the ignorance and the prejudice of the voting public. In November of last year I argued with a Hispanic friend of mine at work. I said then that I though Obama had the only chance of beating Hillary and I thought he could do it. He said America was too prejudice to elect a black man. Now as a white boy, son of a blue collar catholic family, in a town where there was only one brown kid, I said, “America has came a long way very fast.” In light of Obama’s nomination I have sent the bigotry sweat out like a bad cold.
Too many different points in this post to address them all, so I'll focus on the Palin issue.
She's an unknown so the media will scramble to uncover the details, and her opponents will use every opportunity to "define" her in a negative way to voters. Thus, the wild conspiracy theories (like those in this blog) and the niggling little details about her family.
The only credible beef about Palin is her lack of foreign policy and national level experience. But...she's running for VP not Pres. And the Dems? They've put their inexperience at the top of the ticket. Yeah, Obama is more qualified than Palin, but not by much.
The Palin pick is a political winner and selecting a woman was McCain's only shot at winning the election. K.B. Hutchison would have been better, but she didn't want it. Palin will do nicely.
@ John
The base seems to adore her. They seemed to show deference to her - even while their candidate was speaking on Thursday. Senator McCain sucked the air out of the room a few times by talking about Republican's losing their way and becoming part of the problem. But it was gold for us independents. With her shoring up the base, McCain was free to be himself again.
I admit, I missed that old guy, and I'm glad he's back.
I'll be posting later about both of their RNC speeches, and probably about Rudy's as well. The tone from Rudy and Palin may have worked well with the GOP, but it was a bitter pill for the independents. Some of our kids (and some of us) do community organizing, and having that honorable profession mocked by those two was, I think, strategically unwise.
Thanks for writing in John and Lord. Your views are always welcome here.
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