McCain vs. Omaba about to get really ugly
By MICHAEL HALEY
November 19th, 2008
November 13th, 2008
November 11th, 2008
October 24th, 2008
October 21st, 2008
I am almost embarassed to be a Republican right now they are doing such a hatchet job on Obama. Almost everything they are criticizing him for is either an outright lie, or a subjective reading of him in the most intentionally negative manner possible. Usually there is some truth to negative ads, this time it is hard to see it.
McCain is putting out the message that Obama is an arrogant out of touch elitist. It is a standard Republican charge right out of the Rove playbook.
Take Democrat name, fill in the blanks with charge. Smith is an elitist, Smith is a socialist, Smith is a Hollywood favorite, Smith is out of touch with the working classes, Smith will raise taxes, Smith is weak on terror, Smith is....yada yada yada.
No need to have any evidence, just stick Paris Hilton in an ad, call him an elitist, and broadcast it throughout the right wing echo chamber, from Rush to Hannity to Hewitt to Coulter, and back again. Each time the same trumped up charge runs through the echo chamber there is a contest to see who can twist it further and further out into hyperbole.
It reminds me of a group of adolescent boys daring each other to do risky things, all out to prove their manhood by going the next guy one shocking step further. If you guzzled a whole quart of beer, I will guzzle a whole gallon! If you say Obama is pro abortion, I will say he is baby killer! If you say he is a baby killer, I will say he is a baby eater!
Seriously, I am waiting for the cannibal charge, because I am sure some conservative somewhere can find some tribe in Africa that somewhere sometime practiced cannibalism, who can make up that Obama is related to them, and viola, Rush will be reporting today that there is some concern that Obama may have eaten babies! And within days it will be in a McCain ad. Republicans are proving there is no too low they can go, and the scary thing is a lot of them are convincing themselves that this stuff is true.
It is such trash. Obama is someone who came from a broken home, worked his way up on his own despite being black in a world where that still means it is a lot tougher to make it. He got into Harvard on his own, did not put down that he was black on his application, and became editor of the Harvard Law Review, undoubtedly the most prestigious spot for a law student in the country. Because he is that smart and worked that hard. And he is a solid family man to boot.
McCain was the entitled son and grandson of two Navy admirals that got a free pass all the way, graduated 894th out of 899 at the Naval academy because he refused to study–and why should he, being a child of such elites? He was a womanizer, dumped his first wife and married a multi-millionaire woman 17 years his junior with a drug problem, as George W. Bush’s campaign pointed out to us all so well.
McCain sounds a heck of a lot more like Kerry than Obama does, but since there is a D after Obama’s name, the GOP fills in his name in their tired script.
Or how about this? We see the clip of McCain singing "bomb bomb bomb Iran" to the tune of the Beach Boys "Barbra Ann", with an announcer saying "the only politician in Washington to want war more than George W. Bush was "Let’s bomb John" McCain. He was the first to advocate war with Iran, first to want to invade Iraq after 9/11, advocated the surge before anyone else, he is the biggest militarily hawk in Congress. A vote for "lets bomb John" is a vote for endless war."
End with nuclear bomb going off, voice over, "if you like trillion dollar wars, you will love "lets bomb John" McCain.
Image of Barry Goldwater fading to Dr. Strangelove to "lets bomb John" overlaid on atom bomb visual. Or you could even have the guy in Dr. Strangelove riding the atom bomb to earth whooping it up with McCain’s face superimposed over his.
Those would be terribly unfair ads for the Democrats to run on McCain, and I don’t think they will do it ,but after the scalding the GOP has delivered to Obama they are going to have to do something. The odd thing is when I look at these pretend ads I wrote against McCain and compare them to the real GOP messages on Obama, they are about as negative and dirty, but the statements about McCain are more objectively true.
I don’t think Obama is a perfect candidate, but McCain and the GOP have already gone so far over the line that anything goes for the Democrats at this point to counter that. Obama has made an effort to talk to the American people like adults, and because McCain is behind the GOP has thrown all pretense of adulthood to the wind. McCain will no longer have the right to complain about how Bush manhandled him in the South Carolina primary in 2000.
Things are about to get even uglier, and the GOP will forever carry the mantle of having started this.
Michael Haley is president of the Napa Valley Taxpayers Alliance. He writes as frequently as he gets an itch about local, state and national issues. He can be reached at napaeagle@hughes.net
All comments will be screened and may take several hours to be posted.
• Keep comments clear, concise and focused on the topic in the story.
• Comments exceeding 300 words will not be posted.
• Refrain from personal attacks, degrading comments or remarks that do not add to a constructive dialogue.
• Comments implying suspects in crime-related stories are guilty before they have been proven so in a court of law will be deleted.
• Do not post e-mail addresses or links except for pages on Napavalleyregister.com or government Web sites.
• Comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined.
• Comments may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
• If you feel a posted comment has violated our guidelines, please contact dross@napanews.com or bkennedy@napanews.com
For further information on the comment guidelines,
click here.
ADark1 wrote on Aug 23, 2008 6:52 AM:
Sandra wrote on Aug 23, 2008 10:18 AM:
I find most people to be reasonable, yourself included. A sense of humor is essential in dealing with the world. You have to laugh.... "
kevin wrote on Aug 23, 2008 12:46 PM:
The reason B.O. and his gang get so incensed over McCain’s ads are exactly BECAUSE they hit too close to home. They DO have an element of truth in them. If the ads were complete fabrications they would hurt McCain’s campaign; instead his numbers are going up.
B.O. DOES appear elitist to us “bitter” working class voters.
B.O. DOES come across as a celebrity instead of a leader.
B.O. DOESN’T have the experience to be President. Even his new VP, Biden is on record saying as much. What exactly IS a “community organizer”??
B.O. DOES play the “race card”. If he gets elected we can expect that to continue throughout his term every time someone disagrees with him.
I am not a big McCain supporter. But fortunately for him, this election is all about B.O. It is his to win or lose. "
Raven wrote on Aug 23, 2008 5:59 PM:
Hear Ye wrote on Aug 23, 2008 6:40 PM:
What you wrote should be published in every newspaper in the country. I haven't agreed with a whole lot of your opinions in the past but you are dead right on this one. It's refreshing to see a Republican on this site who can take an honest approach like this to what's going on instead of the usual 'my team is always right and I will defend it to my death.'
Sandra- I have to disagree with you about this not being a Republican problem at least in recent memory. The democrats have done nothing that could be comparable to the recent swift boat hit job on Kerry or the constantly circulating lies about Obama having some hidden Islamic agenda or being anti-American and on and on. I mean these are attempts at character assassination through lies in hopes of dragging down men who deserve quite the opposite.
Not to say Democrats are above playground tactics but they haven't gone to the level of filth that some Republicans have. "
kevin wrote on Aug 23, 2008 8:13 PM:
"Not to say Democrats are above playground tactics but they haven't gone to the level of filth that some Republicans have. "
LMAO! Thanks for that one, hear ye! We've heard NOTHING but filth from the Dem's for the past 7 years! Where have you been?
The lies and smears about President Bush have been non-stop from the day he took office. Dan Rather even lost his job because he tried to use forged documents to embarrass the President! And what about that whole "Bush was responsible for 9/11 thing?"
NOTHING the Republicans have said about B.O. can COMPARE to what has been said about President Bush.
I don't know what you and NB have been smoking, but you guy are REALLY embarrassing yourselves with this nonsense. Neither of you remember when the Dems were accusing President Reagan of "starving" school kids when he reduced the rate of increase in the school lunch program (not even cuts)? I heard the liberal media repeat that so many times I almost lost MY lunch!
I for one am glad to see my candidate WANTS TO WIN and will do whatever it takes to raise questions about B.O."s character, integrity, experience and qualifications.
If B.O. can't handle that, then he doesn't DESERVE to be President... "
misfit wrote on Aug 24, 2008 12:15 AM:
You brought it up Kevin "
hear ye wrote on Aug 24, 2008 2:23 AM:
I want to live in your world. It sounds blissful. "
misfit wrote on Aug 24, 2008 3:49 PM:
russ wrote on Aug 24, 2008 3:54 PM:
Never in my long life have I seen more reprehensible, disrespectful negativity than toward George W. Bush, from the Democrats.
Michael, where did you come up with this stuff. Your point about Obama and abortion was absurd. Upon which facts do you base that opinion?
Do you disagree that Obama was the most pro-abortion state senator in Illinois? and in the US Congress, at least tied for the lead?
I think the Democrat-Democrat battle of Clinton-Obama was about as nasty as any I have ever seen. Racist - Sexist - Elitist - and every other-ist. Come on folks get serious, the Dems know how to get down and dirty. "
kevin wrote on Aug 24, 2008 5:32 PM:
napablogger wrote on Aug 24, 2008 10:31 PM:
I am still definitely a Republican, but I can see what the Dems are talking about in terms of the character assasination that Rove practiced.
Essentially, about 90% of the crap they are spouting about Obama is just that, crap. Yes Kevin, there is some truth to it, Obama is green, and like McCain and just about every politician I can think of he is an elitist with a big ego. Both McCain and Obama have one, but I think both of them personally are pretty good guys, all things considered.
And that is almost irrelevant as to whether they would make a good President.
And there is no doubt that the GOP started it big time this time. I wrote this article last Wed and it has taken the Register til now to put it up, and in the meantime Biden became VP and McCain has pronounced an even bigger intent to go negative.
Today McCain's people said Obama made a big mistake by touting the "houses' gaffe, and that gives them the excuse to go after Rezko, after how much Obama makes,etc, they are now going to go negative big time.
And it is all a bunch of irrelevant crap that has nothing to do with what voters need to know to pick a President. Pretty sorry state of affairs. "
napablogger wrote on Aug 24, 2008 10:40 PM:
But this onslaught toward Obama is so false and so unprovoked--Obama has not responded on this level, even yet, by any means toward McCain. Biden has had nothing but good things to say about McCain thus far.
That will change but it is clearly being provoked by the McCain strategy. I hope voters don't fall for it.
Where does it stop?
If the Republicans think it is unfair to Bush why the hell are they doing the same thing to Obama? Doesn't being responsible for yourself mean you have to be honest first whether the other guy is or not?
Where is the character???? Where is the personal responsibility???? "
napablogger wrote on Aug 24, 2008 10:51 PM:
This is the most BS charge I have ever seen in my life. It is also irrelevent to how good of a job either one of them would do as President, and is purely political propaganda.
The thing of it is, the elitist charge that the Republicans make is about lifestyle. They are trying to say that Republicans are like you, and me, and average working people. Vote the lifestyle. But McCain is a far wealthier, far more privilged person than Obama is and has been. So what does it really mean?
What Hollywood stars have you ever seen Obama associated with? A lot of them are mindlessly Democrats, but is that Obama's fault?
This is not an issue we should be voting on. We need to vote on policies, not lifestyles. "
napablogger wrote on Aug 24, 2008 11:00 PM:
The stuff about abortion was sarcastic.
Yes, Obama is pro choice. That is a mainstream, actually majority American opinion.
The most pro abortion Senator in Illinois? I don't know how one makes that determination. The majority of senators in Illinois are pro choice, if you are pro choice you are pro choice. Republicans are splitting hairs to try to pronounce him the worst ever pro choice candidate ever!
(sarcasm on) Ever in the history of the universe! He may even eat babies for all we know. He may be a terrorist for all we know, I saw that commercial yesterday. (sarcasm off)
Does that remind you of anything, perhaps? Say that Bush is the worst President ever? Ever hear that one?
It's all bull. "
ADark1 wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:15 AM:
I find this type behaviour vile, and despicable to say the least. One wonders how the Repubs would feel if the Dems did the SAME thing! "
Bill wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:38 AM:
I am a very disrespectful, arrogant and opinionated beast who is still waiting for the other shoe to drop over some major Obama gaff but take heart that someone with such a divergent view from my own has the courage to stand against the wind of his chosen political party. "
napablogger wrote on Aug 25, 2008 10:12 AM:
What I really object to is all the irrelevant negativity that everyone gets caught up in. I hope Obama can pull it off and raise the level of dialogue in the campaign. The only way that will happen is for all this crap to backfire with the voters.
So as always it is up to us.
The emails I got about Obama were so dishonest and so constant during the primaries with Hillary that it really turned me off. He's a Muslim, yet he's in the pocket of a Christian minister who hates America, he's a terrorist, he's a socialist.
What the Republicans need to do is forget about Obama and start telling me why I should vote for their candidate, McCain. Talk about McCain for half a second once in a while, and why he is a good choice.
I think if they don't do that Obama will win.
The way that McCain is running this campaign is showing his character, and so far it isn't pretty.
I passed over what Bush did to McCain in South Carolina in 2000, even though it bothered me, and I won't make that mistake again. "
funnyme wrote on Aug 25, 2008 11:09 AM:
Yep. That's it! "
Bill wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:32 PM:
a teacher wrote on Aug 25, 2008 4:28 PM:
Well, you know that Obama was born in Hawaii, and Hawaiians were alleged to practice cannibalism... "
Sandra wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:28 PM:
It seems to me, and I have said this before, that both sides do it, and neither can see it in themselves, as they are to self absorbed in their venomous ways.
A case of arrested developement on both sides... "
napablogger wrote on Aug 25, 2008 10:21 PM:
Teacher, see, I told you someone would come up with something on cannibalism and obama, it didn't even take a day.
Sandra, true, but where does it stop? I have to give Obama credit for trying, at least he didn't start it, with Hillary or with McCain. And it really doesn't seem like his personality.
I dont know if any of you watched Michelle Obama's speech tonight, I am not a big fan of hers because she strikes me as the critics call it, angry. She didn't seem that way tonight.
What struck me the most is how normal and mainstream her and Obama's family seemed. Dad had a blue collar job, no infidelity, church goers, brother a basketball coach. I just don't see how you can say they are elitists. Maybe some ugly truth will come out later, but they are as American as apple pie.
It was a classic TV moment watching Juan Williams on Fox afterwards. He was crying about m. obama's speech, it was historic to have a black person running for President and see his wife possibly being first lady. It struck me how huge that really is. I really didn't think I would see this in my life time, and I guess he didn't either.
Obama has made an historic achievement. "
Sandra wrote on Aug 26, 2008 9:56 AM:
Sandra wrote on Aug 26, 2008 11:33 AM:
freeport56 wrote on Aug 26, 2008 2:56 PM:
a teacher- I have spend some time in Hawaiia and never heard that were cannibals.
Ah yes, Michelles speech-Cumbaya. Now love is everywhre that she is an adult and proud of her mean country.
Stick a fork in both of them.... "
dellasumbrella wrote on Aug 26, 2008 3:13 PM:
Would that it were the nail in the coffin of nasty politics and dishonest smear tactics. They are certainly getting old, huh? "
napablogger wrote on Aug 26, 2008 4:56 PM:
I really don't like his wife much, and what I didn't say about her speech is that it was a bit canned, typical political boilerplate.
The problem is that the reason politicians do that is because they get so maligned by people with all this garbage, so they are constantly on the defensive and eventually turn into robots all repeating the same boring boilerplate, god, family, country crap.
I see voters, people on this thread, people in the ordinary citizenry as the main source of that. When you and your entire ancestory are going to get practically gang raped if you say you are in favor of a tax cut, or if you are against abortion, or etc etc pick a position, you get pretty defensive about everything.
It is up to us to stop it, that is why I ask, where does it stop? The correct answer is not with politicians, the correct answer is, with me. "
napablogger wrote on Aug 26, 2008 6:10 PM:
McCain's problem is that he is starting to say the right things but he seems like he is just shooting from the hip. Is he really going to do it? I find the same problem with Obama, he is going to raise taxes, but to what end? Will that result in solving any problems or are we just going to stick it to wealthy people because we resent their wealth? "
napablogger wrote on Aug 26, 2008 6:11 PM:
russ wrote on Aug 26, 2008 6:59 PM:
Do you think it is negative to say that you think your opponent is not qualified and point out mistakes he made?
Do you think it is going negative to question your opponents judgment and question his choice of friends and business associates?
I think that is fair game. "
kevin wrote on Aug 26, 2008 7:21 PM:
I predict there will be a disgusting, very public, possibly violent demonstration of bigotry and racism that will be picked up by the Liberal media and promoted ad nauseum with the intent of shaming the electorate into voting for B.O... "
a teacher wrote on Aug 26, 2008 10:14 PM:
Sandra wrote on Aug 27, 2008 7:37 AM:
ADark1 wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:24 AM:
A few things that I am REALLY tired of from the right.
1. Anyone questioning our leadership makes them un American and un patriotic and thus do NOT support our troops so of course they should be run out of town on a rail for being traitors.
2.The LEFT Wing "LIBERAL"( sneer included) Media! Do you *geniuses* understand that MOST of the big communications GIANTS are owned and managed by CONSERVATIVE Republicans?!
3. When you make a career out of tearing someone or something down, what do you have to offer afterwards?
Now to the Left, I really wish they'd grow a set of BIGONES!
1. I wish they'd stop letting the right dictate to them the rules of their game.
2. LEAD by example do NOT be a simple counter argument that will be lost.
3. The LEFT Wing "LIBERAL"( sneer included) Media! Do you *geniuses* understand that MOST of the big communications GIANTS are owned and managed by CONSERVATIVE Republicans?!
Have both of you on the left and the right considered that we are being manipulated into fighting each other so we are missing the c*ap that is being done to us by BOTH sides? (I would venture the right is worse then the left)
What do we gain on the trickle down from the right still running this country into ruin? How do our kids have a better chance with unchecked abuses real and imagined from the left or right?
So as Sandra says Grow up!
One last thing, say what you like Hillary knocked it out of the box last night. Any hard core Hillary supporters would now "offend" HER by jumping ship ! "
napablogger wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:26 AM:
A lot of the stuff that has been said about Obama is really vicious and unfair, and you must know that, you are on the same email lists as I am.
Also, for McCain to start putting Paris Hilton in ads, come on. Number of times Obama has been on Jay Leno:one. Number of times McCain has been on: 12.
If you are going to call someone an elitist you have to have some evidence. There is way more evidence that McCain is than Obama.
Look, here is another example for you, McCain lying about Obama's statements regarding the surge:
Newsweek interview with Petraeus:
"Petraeus is careful not to credit all the progress to the surge of U.S. troops in 2007. The sea change came last year from a series of movements now known as the Awakening. […] So would the Sunni Awakening have succeeded without the surge? Possibly, he concedes."
NBC interview with McCain:
COURIC: Sen. Obama […] says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What’s your response to that?
McCAIN: I don’t know how you respond to something that is such a false depiction of what actually happened.
McCain is lying willy nilly in this campaign, this is not fair criticism. "
napablogger wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:30 AM:
I do not agree with you that Obama has played the race card by the way, one of the reasons he is succeeding as much as he has is that he has studiously avoided that unless he was forced by circumstances to address it, which was after the Jeremiah Wright issue came up. "
napablogger wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:36 AM:
This is interesting coming from you because you are one of the few people writing here who is actually doing what I am saying people should do. You stick to the facts. That is why I always look forward to seeing your letters to the editor.
I dont think it is fair to criticize political slogans---Morning in America, remember that one? What the heck did that mean?
I would agree that Obama needs to make a more specific case to the American people, but so does McCain, they both have done about the same so far.
I pretty much agree with what you are saying about the voters. That is why I am constantly telling people---it begins with you. If you want less dirt spread, stop throwing it yourself. "
napabrat wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:09 PM:
And Kevin, if George W. hadn't given us 8 years of ammo, it wouldn't be so easy to pick on him. LOL! "
sandra wrote on Aug 27, 2008 2:00 PM:
Adark1, thanks for agreeing, but I think you miss my point by then doing what I am objecting to. I refer you to your lists and the claims about which side is worse. My point is not that the right is worse and they are both at fault. My point is that BOTH sides are equally guilty, and cannot see what they contribute to the problem. You did illustrate that last part for me though, by making a list and having the "right" come out as the more guilty of the two. This perpetuates what I see as the problem.
NB you could be right about Della just being enthusiastic, but it was interesting to me that the way she chose to do this was by using the Obama mantra.
One of the things that strikes me about Obama's campaign is the amount of symbolism I see.... Changing the presidential seal, changing the logo on the plane, giving speeches on auspicious anniverasries, at the same locations of great leaders in the past. Something about this is very disturbing to me....Part of me says, "Who does he think he is? Why does he think he has the right to equate himself with Lincoln, or MLK? What audacity to change the presidential seal to reflect himself?" You can bet it is all contrived, and I do not like the manipulation. In fact I find it quite alarming because it worries me that he is WAY too full of himself. Normal state for politicians I guess.... "
sandra wrote on Aug 27, 2008 2:01 PM:
valleylocal wrote on Aug 27, 2008 2:38 PM:
ADark1 wrote on Aug 27, 2008 4:39 PM:
dellasumbrella wrote on Aug 27, 2008 4:46 PM:
Sandra wrote on Aug 27, 2008 6:40 PM:
And Della, you should not apologize, your post was just an example, maybe not the best of one. But when anything becomes a mantra, it becomes suspect to me...my cynicism showing there, I guess....Oh and fyi, I may be leaning, but am still undecided. I need more info. Hopefully I will hear what I need from the horses mouth. "
freeport56 wrote on Aug 27, 2008 7:33 PM:
I knew Cook was killed in Hawaii, but never that he was eaten. As the Hawaiians are decendants of the Polynesians, who are not cannibals I find it hard to believe that they ate him. I do not even remember it mentioned in Michner's Hawaii.
Mike (NB)- I do not think BHO will be elected. As for comparing McCain to Bush, that is a stretch. Republicans don't like McCain. He teamed up with Teddy to give amnesty to 12-22 million illegals ands he attacked free speech with McCain-Finegold.
he is not our first choice, just the lesser of two evils. We should never negotiate with terrorist to do so is a fatal mistake. "
russ wrote on Aug 27, 2008 7:59 PM:
You are off target on many comments,
-I do not think Liberals are un-patriotic, I think you are just very wrong! It has been very different to see the Democrats waving American flags and talking about God this week. Never before.
-Your point 3, regarding tearing someone down. Apply that to the 8 years of Bush Derangement Syndrome by Liberals. If you are right, there are no Liberals left.
-It is well documented that the Mainstream Media, NBC, CBS, ABC, New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, LA Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, are liberal and left leaning. Yes, talk radio, Wall Street Journal, Fox News are not included in that group. "
kevin wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:48 PM:
Obviously you are too young to remember 9/11, but people like B.O. are what caused that to happen. They did not take the defense of this country seriously and 9/11 was the result.
For all McCain's faults, he has the safety and security of this country first and foremost... "
NVGal wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:34 PM:
As far as him being attached to the entertainment industry, he is. A couple of weeks ago both Obama and McCain’s major supporters were listed in the WSJ. Most of Obama’s key supporters were either from the law or entertainment industries. McCain’s, no surprise, were from banking and finance. So where is the vicious rumor in that? "
misfit wrote on Aug 28, 2008 9:43 AM:
What kind of favors do you think the banking and finance industries would want from McCain? His past dalliances should prove that he is open to that. "
napablogger wrote on Aug 28, 2008 10:03 AM:
If by definition anyone running for President is an elitist then it is meaningless.
McCain ought to be running on what he stands for, not fabricated emotional appeals against his opponent that are false.
Making a big deal out of McCain's houses is the same thing. The guy is rich. What does that have to do with his policies as President? So Obama did something similar there, but it didn't have the same intensity level as the phoney elitist charge that persists without any real evidence it is true.
Elitist means that your policies and your concerns are strictly for some elite group, the wealthy, the corporate, the landed gentry. It means you don't have any sense of the average person and their needs and concerns. If either of them fits that bill it is McCain.
It is just a term of propaganda, like me getting called a commie on my radio show, or being called a neocon at other times. Which one am I? "
Sandra wrote on Aug 28, 2008 10:35 AM:
~FMC "
Ruff Limblog wrote on Aug 28, 2008 10:58 AM:
If McCain is a member of the elite rich, and by his own definition ($5 million/year) his wife is -- then if he supports policies that make rich elites even more rich and does little or nothing for the lower classes -- that pretty much by makes the 'McCain is an Elitist' case in any reasonable logic system.
And I think that the McCain staffer who said that (paraphrasing) "Anyone who can go to an emergency room is by definition insured, so let's quit talking about 47 million uninsured people." makes the 'McCain is an Elitist' case even better than McCain does.
NB - I don't know if you are rich, but let's say you are not.
I am really surprised and offended that you might be accused of being a 'commie' -- that's what I thought the 'Usual Suspects' reserved for me! (And lord, I like being called a 'commie' nearly as much as an 'eco-fascist'!)
Now if somebody calling you a "Neocon", I could understand that based on past performance before your recent change of heart - but 'commie'!?!?! Really? 'Commie'?
Why that is just patently ridiculous and... infringes on my turf, bub!
;o)
~Ruff "
misfit wrote on Aug 28, 2008 4:47 PM:
Tom Hartmann spoke about that very thing today. He compared it to the Bush administration changing the word "Hunger" to "Nutritionally challenged". No Joke! "
a teacher wrote on Aug 28, 2008 5:24 PM:
FreePort: You know I'm just pulling your leg, right? Anyway, you should look up what happened to Capt. Cook AFTER he was killed at Kealakakua Bay.
Mike: I applaud your commentary. I think elections are waged on many levels. There is the high minded level of ideas. The mid level of personalities. The lowest level is innuendo, dirty tricks and smears.
The last few elections in the USA seemed to emphasize the lower levels, but I think that Americans are pretty tired of the results.
But I could be wrong about that... "
Raven wrote on Aug 28, 2008 5:30 PM:
Raven wrote on Aug 28, 2008 5:34 PM:
Sandra wrote on Aug 29, 2008 7:42 AM:
You are doing ONE (heck, lets be real, you pretty much do all of them) of the things NB was referring to in his commentary. Thanks for the example. "
leah wrote on Aug 29, 2008 8:36 AM:
kevin wrote on Aug 29, 2008 9:36 AM:
He had better watch out, she will hit back! "
freeport56 wrote on Aug 29, 2008 9:50 AM:
GO JOHN MCCAIN AND SARAH PALIN WOO HOO! "
Raven wrote on Aug 29, 2008 6:07 PM:
Sandra wrote on Aug 29, 2008 6:25 PM:
ROFLMAO "
Raven wrote on Aug 29, 2008 7:02 PM:
Sandra wrote on Aug 30, 2008 9:02 AM:
Hear Ye wrote on Aug 30, 2008 3:24 PM:
From my standpoint I just think it's funny we had to hear the constant bickering about Obama being too inexperienced from the Republicans and now get to watch these same people try to defend Palin. The hypocrisy is quite funnyand if there wasn't so much at stake with this election I would find it even funnier. "
Raven wrote on Aug 30, 2008 7:33 PM:
a teacher wrote on Aug 30, 2008 7:51 PM:
Remember Flip Flopping Kerry. We don't hear much about all the things McCain was for before he was against them. Bush as against nation building before he was for it. Bush Sr. pared down the military(remember the "peace dividend"), but Clinton got blamed for gutting the military.
Same old, same old... "
Sandra wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:31 AM:
Not even an original thought...right off the Move on web sight. You could of at least changed the time of the phone call.
And I have to say the web sight was FULL of misinformation....very interesting reading on the art of obfuscation and easily swaying those who want to be true believers. "
pbfallon wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:31 AM:
14obama wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:43 AM:
Michael, Well said ! You can always become an Independent. Mark my words,with the kind of campaign they're running you'll feel like burying your head in the sand. Especially with the addition of Palin. "
Ruff Limblog wrote on Aug 31, 2008 4:50 PM:
John Dubya McBush definitely says that people (like his wife Cyndi) who make $5 million per year or more are 'rich'.
The video tape of the Sturgis biker festival with John Dubya McBush pimping his wife Cyndi for the 'Miss Buffalo Chip' contest was not of the same quality as the $5 million dollar 'middleclass' statement, but the McBoosh 'Drill Here, Drill Now' slogan and the 'Miss Buffalo Chip' stuff doesn't need NSA enhancement to recognize.
Yep... it's them alright!
You'd think John McCain would be aware of the fact that video clips make it to the 'intertubes' in what the young whippersnappers call 'YouTubes' now.
I mean John Dubya McBush is after all ONLY 72 and such a young guy could pick-up on the innertubes from 80 something year old indicted Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens, ya know?
It's all 'Survivor', 'Big Brother' and 'Catch a Maccaca, err, Predator' gotcha nowdays.
Republicans and their enablers demonstrate amazing feats of amnesia about things fully caught on video nowadays! There should be a new wing added to the National Institutes of Health for "Republican Memory Disorder" patients.
~Ruff "
Raven wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:13 PM:
Ruff Limblog wrote on Sep 1, 2008 6:40 AM:
The Dems in Denver did indeed discuss the failings of Bush and McCain at their convention. I think that's the whole idea, don't you? Build up your guy and take on the other guy, right?
However, the Dems did not cast aspersions on Mr. McCain's military service that I saw, or read in any transcript of any speech.
Not so for those 'jolly pranksters' in New York in 2004 - who cast aspersions on the patriotism and valor of veterans with whom they have a political disagreement. And those 'little scamps' in the local Republican pep squad **giggle** miss an opportunity to call veterans unpatriotic or folks with medals liars.
Would that the Republican convention in 2004 was THE ONLY TIME Republicans soiled their "honor".
Republicans only have 'scruples' about doing things that 'don't work' for them. Scruples about the 'right thing to do' to unify the American people... ummm, naaaah.
SADLY, NO... it was not the only time nor even the only election that Republicans mock the patriotism of veterans who are not Republicans. Saxby Chambliss of the state of Georgia made a horse's patoot of himself by running an ad morphing a Vietnam veteran who lost three limbs into Osama Bin Laden.
I am saddened that many Republican 'patriots' seem to think that only Republicans are real Americans.
The most recent time and place where party membership was equated with citizenship and patriotism was in the old Soviet Union.
~Ruff "
pbfallon wrote on Sep 1, 2008 10:19 AM:
By the way, a side note, did you see that Berbie Ward, Lyon of the Left - KGO RADIO is off to prison for a few short years. Now, he was the most hateful liberal who I ever listened to. I remember years ago when he got the job I was so upset that he ruined the late night talk on KGO. Well, doubt he will ever be on a talk show again...his crime is not well accepted in those parts. So why did I bring this up? I have no idea! Perhaps, if you were inclined, you might go on the air as Ruff and combat that villian Rush. "
14obama wrote on Sep 1, 2008 3:58 PM:
Must they vote party lines ? Have they lost their minds ? There is only one choice ! "
russ wrote on Sep 1, 2008 7:45 PM:
I agree with you that the vile, vulgar venom spewed by the victim party has been worse than ever, as evidenced by Ruff. You'd better toughen up and get used to the rudeness and disrespect by some commenters here
The criticism and vile accusations are already beginning against Gov. Sarah Palin.
You had a very good thought too. I think Ruff would be a perfect replacement for Bernie Ward on KGO, their language is similar. "
kevin wrote on Sep 1, 2008 7:54 PM:
It IS San Francisco you know... "
Sandra wrote on Sep 2, 2008 10:57 AM:
Raven wrote on Sep 2, 2008 2:57 PM:
Sandra wrote on Sep 2, 2008 6:44 PM:
Raven wrote on Sep 2, 2008 8:10 PM:
Ruff Limblog wrote on Sep 2, 2008 11:58 PM:
I can back up everything I write, or I don't write it.
And usually... like in the case of Sarah Palin I actually criticize getting into irrelevant things like the National Enquirer does.
Barack Obama said 'kids are off-limits' and had little relationship to Sarah Palin's conduct in the Alaska Governor office or potential as a Vice President.
But sadly... I haven't heard ONE WORD of gratitude from Republican enablers just more of the usual bullstuff.
And... I have said that John McCain did a classy thing when he complemented Obama on his big day last week.
You can't have it both ways, Sandra.
~Ruff "
Sandra wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:40 AM:
Sandra wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:53 AM:
Sandra wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:02 AM:
Gotta wonder at the desperation of someone to make this stuff up, huh? "
Ruff Limblog wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:47 AM:
Glad to hear that somebody has documented it.
Now... how about the other nine items I asked for???
These photoshop pictures of Palin are just as bad a poltical tactic denying the validity of Barack Obama's native-born American status, eh?
~Ruff "
Sandra wrote on Sep 3, 2008 12:35 PM:
Ruff, I am not the one engaging in spreading misinformation about Obama. I denounce the behavior no matter who it is directed at.
As I said, you have to wonder at the desperation of people who will make stuff up to smear someone or to support their points.
You have to wonder why someone has to resort name calling at the oppostition, or make up sources like factcheck.org.
I also have to point out that the huge amount of misinformation floating around about Palin, and the speed at which is was handed out would make any intelligent thinking person take note, as I did.
This tactic will backfire on the spreaders of innuendo.
There are too many easy ways to get to the bottom of these stories. "
Sandra wrote on Sep 3, 2008 2:20 PM:
Raven wrote on Sep 3, 2008 5:25 PM:
and did you really believe any of the pics were real?... "
Raven wrote on Sep 3, 2008 5:29 PM:
kevin wrote on Sep 3, 2008 7:26 PM:
And to think I ordered an 8 x 10... "
Ruff Limblog wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:36 PM:
Obama wants to be able to work with the remanants of the Republican Party who survive the coming bloodbath, and so Obama is actually not participating in and even discouraging this kind of stuff. Much like the FDR administration started planning to feed the Germans and Japanese as the Allied victory drew close.
I think that Barack Obama is doing his part to repay John McCain for showing some class on the day that Obama accepted his nomination.
What kind of names do Republicans object to most? Republican-enabler? Republican Pep Squad? The "Purple Heart Bandaid' reminders? Other references to the insufferable triumphalism from Republicans of the last eight years?
I know that four years of being called a commie, etc has really endeared the local Republicans to me.
Ah, the old days... the LIBRUL-baiting, the dark hints at the morals and sexual orientations of those who disagreed with the words sent down from 'On-high'.
The Republican slogans... "Let Freedom Reign" when the puppet government was set up. And who can forget "Stay the Course!" Why that one lasted for years and years!
Good times... right?
And now it looks like the great American pendulum is swinging back, and it's going to be the other side's turn 'at bat'.
I'm thinking that LIBRULZ are going to be quite a bit nicer than the last eight years deserves.
~Ruff "
Sandra wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:16 AM:
It was not confusing to me at all. You are the one confused, as now you have to cover your tracks with bogus excuses. Now, everything you say will be called into question. You got caught Raven...admit it. Though I did enjoy "indecision 2008"....... "
plasticpinkflamingo wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:44 AM:
Ruff Limblog wrote on Sep 4, 2008 12:30 PM:
Heck, I am feeling pretty froggy today, so tell us about a presidential election where the VP pick even made a major difference resulting in an election victory?
You can't, and neither can the entire Republican Noise Machine. If they could, the Republican Pep Squald would have it all over IN ALL CAPITAL FONTS!!!
But all we get is [crickets chirping]... [coyote howls at moon]... [Republicans howl at moon]... [more crickets]... fade to black.
So it is you... lying about... me lying!
;o)
~McRuff "
plasticpinkflamingo wrote on Sep 4, 2008 4:28 PM:
There are probably others but that is the example in recent history that stands out.
But since you continue to ignore these inconvenient truths, I really don't want to have to yell it to you. It's impolite, and that's why we usually don't do it.
And I point out another new low, since I am being accused of lying while telling the truth, or you choosing to ignore the truth. "
Raven wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:01 PM:
Ruff Limblog wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:12 AM:
See, it's not a fact just because a Republican says so...
You got any proof?
~Ruff "
Bill wrote on Sep 6, 2008 9:36 AM:
Perhaps Sarah solidifies the base but she does not win the middle ground. "
Raven wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:39 AM:
Raven wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:14 PM:
PlasticPinkFlamingo wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:02 PM:
Ruff, it is admitted by Democrats and Republicans alike that JFK would NOT have won in 1960 without LBJ. Go back and read the history books. I don't have to make this stuff up and you can choose to turn a blind eye towards it, but just saying it's not true doesn't make it so. You made a statement about VP choices not making any difference and you were wrong. End of story.
And then even with LBJ, Mayor Daley had to finish the job for Kennedy by stealing the electoral votes of the State of Illinois for him. I have great admiration for Mayor Daley, he was a Democrat without being a lefty. He made plenty of mistakes but when Daley (the first) was in charge, Chicago was the best run city in the USA. His son (we call him Little D*ckie) isn't a patch on the old man.
Dems just don't get it - they keep setting up liberal senators and then wonder why they lose. Obviously they had to add a southern senator and a big city machine mayor to be crutches for Kennedy. Since then, leftist Dem senators have lost every time in the presidential elections, even when they try to pull a Chicago in Florida. "
russ wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:13 PM:
Ruff, Sarah and John McBrilliant have the lefties paralyzed and babbling.
Enjoy. "
misfit wrote on Sep 10, 2008 7:56 AM:
kevin wrote on Sep 10, 2008 9:52 PM:
...Brilliant! "
Sandra wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:42 AM:
PlasticPinkFlamingo wrote on Sep 11, 2008 1:30 PM:
Sandra, I'll solidify with you and kevin and Middle America. You're an amazing Swiss Army knife of a blogger - I've read about you with fins, claws, paws, teeth, lipstick, and an 'FMC' tatooed on um, er . . . yourself. Probably have a hockey stick somewhere too.
NObama - keep the change . . . "
Sandra wrote on Sep 11, 2008 6:51 PM:
The smaller crocodile turned to the bigger one & said, "I can't understand how you can be so much bigger than me. We're the same age; we were the same size as kids. I just don't get it."
"Well," said the big Croc, "what have you been eating? "
''Politicians, same as you," replied the small Croc.
"Hmm. Well, where do you catch them?''
"Down the other side of the swamp near the parking lot by the Capitol."
"Same here. Hmm. How do you catch them?''
"Well, I crawl up under one of their Lexus cars & wait for one to unlock the car door. Then I jump out, grab them by the leg, shake the crap out of them & eat 'em!''
"Ah!" says the big Crocodile, "I think I see your problem. You're not getting any real nourishment. See, by the time you finish shaking the crap out of a politician, there's nothing left but an
---hole and a briefcase." "