The media go ga-ga.
Every mainstream story I've read on this points out all the uncorrected slurs and threats that have been yelled out at McCain/Palin rallies over the last few days. The impression is clear: McCain's fans are over the top.
Today several stories have come out about Obama thanking McCain for doing that and praising McCain's service. Obama's statements, coming on the heels of his praising of McCain during first debate, make his statements all the more believable. Those stories also repeat the details of the nastiness at the McCain rallies.
So, on those I see the MSM is fine. Alas, there is a tinge of the "false equivalence" in some stories mid-day today, in that they are pointing out Obama's crowd booed at the mention of the name McCain. Of course they did -- just like a Mets fan boos at the mention of the Yankees. There is a world of difference between a good natured "boo" and a Two Minute Hate -- which is the difference between Obama and McCain's supporters.
Posted by Anonny at October 11, 2008 10:36 AMFiredoglake made an interesting comment that perhaps McCain chose Friday afternoon to do the "respect" thing because he had word in advance of the Palin report.
The idea is that after hearing the results he may have realized this is the final nail in the coffin, so is now taking the first steps to rehabilitate himself.
Interesting speculation ... we should have a better sense by Tuesday if this in fact is the case.
Meanwhile, the Palin report itself is very interesting and is getting a lot of discussion this weekend. It paints a picture of an administration that hasn't a clue what the legal constraints are, and doesn't care. At numerous times people in her administration were warned that they were going over the line and kept up the pressure. I mean, the report shows that a Palin administration is an absolute disaster: staffed with incompetent cronies, unaware of the law or their responsibilities, treating employees like cattle, ignoring advice, and then lying about it to the public.
It also shows that all of her public statements about the case were lies.
Posted by Anonny at October 11, 2008 10:50 AMPalin removed Ayers and the whole "terraist" theme from her stump speech today.
Towards the end one supporter shouted "What about Ayers?" As she does with anyone who is beneath her, she ignored him.
Don't have the full text yet, but apparently the tone was closer to the tone McCain adopted yesterday. A lot of ranting about abortion seems to have replaced the Ayers nonsense.
What a campaign. What will they dream up tomorrow?
Posted by Anonny at October 11, 2008 10:59 AMHis church of 20 years scares me a whole lot more. Who would sit in a church like that for two decades? What does he believe?
How is someone thinking he's an Arab any different than the smears done on Palin? Both candidates are flawed - only one is running for president and we know very little about what he really thinks and the direction he will take the party (expanding Bush's faith based initiatives - that we do know).
Posted by jmac at October 11, 2008 11:19 AMJMAC...what about a church where the pastor hunts witches? Guess who goes to that church? It's Sarah "Abuse of Power" Palin. Guess who's husband goes to meetings where Secession from the US is the topic? It's Sarah "Abuse of Power" Palin.You guys got squat.
Posted by T2 at October 11, 2008 11:25 AMWatching from the sidelines, I can't help feeling there is something fundamentally wrong with the American election system, in the way it inevitably polarizes the country. Let's say Obama wins narrowly (I hope it's not narrow, but just suppose).Then, if the Republicans have done their job properly, they will have persuaded almost half the electorate that the incoming President of the USA is at best suspect or inadequate, at worst a downright menace. Surely this can't be good for the social and political health of a country?
Posted by Colin at October 11, 2008 11:36 AMMcCain could have answered, "Heh, Ralph Nader is an Ayrab and if it weren't for him, we wouldn't have Bush". That would really confuse the Media.
Posted by marc sobel at October 11, 2008 11:40 AMWhat do you expect from these wingnut freaks?
After 9/11 and the Bush Administration targeted a sovereign nation that had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11. This action made all "Arabs" and "Muslims" interchangeable.
They are brown and practice that non-Christian religion, therefore they are enemies of the US of A.
These dicks have spent the last [300] years making "the other" the enemy.
Now is no different than then.
The right wing are disgusting and they have shown their true colors to the entire country. Let there be no doubt: Wing Nut = Racist Fuck and McCain is their leader.
Bumper sticker of the day:
Have I found Jesus? What, is he lost again?
Posted by Anonny at October 11, 2008 01:18 PMDid Sarah Palin sit in that church for twenty years? No. Was she forced to leave her church by the rules committee meeting (in private - which was against the rules)? No.
He left his church because he was forced to to get the nomination. He in still in that church mentally and spiritually. And that church has a mindset that doesn't help anyone in American. No one.
Posted by jmac at October 11, 2008 01:46 PMjmac,
the puma mindset gets more and more surreal. yes- obama is more extreme than palin. right.
Posted by Turkana at October 11, 2008 02:12 PMYou are so correct about leaving the "evil muslim" meme out there...but that's our MSM (not to mention McShame)because they also didn't mention (except some on MSNBC) that it was McShame/Scarah that inflamed the nutjobs in their audiences anyway...today the "story" is about an Obama supporter (if you want to believe that) who shouted something at McShame's rally today and got the crowd again all riled up and booing and chanting while the old geezer sat there with his creepy grin (didn't we just have one of those)...I wouldn't put it past them to have put someone out there that had NOTHING to do with Obama...what Obama supporter would waste their time going to one of BIG JOHN's rallies???
Posted by Dancer at October 11, 2008 03:23 PMTIme for jmac to provide a detailed list of religious organizations that are unacceptable.
Posted by joel dan walls at October 11, 2008 03:30 PMYO jmac, perhaps you could take a second to be concerned about the fact that since Palin took state office in late 2006, the governor and her family have spent more than $13,000 in taxpayer funds to attend at least 10 religious events and meetings with Christian pastors, including Franklin Graham, the son of evangelical preacher Billy Graham.
Posted by joel dan walls at October 11, 2008 03:36 PM"what Obama supporter would waste their time going to one of BIG JOHN's rallies???"
Lets not forget the fake PUMAs that we saw at the end of the Dem primary. Repugs will do anything to get McCreepy and Scarah elected.
Turk...you have been on point lately, whats up with that? I agree that we should not get so ga ga because McLame tried to put the Genie back in the bottle. Two points:
1. It was not working in the polls
2. I think he had no choice because other Repugs were telling him to knock it off.
It was great for people like JMAC, but independents don't like that crap. The like most of us, want to here solutions to the problems. Not dragging up crap from a 60's terrorist.
PUMA's are not Republicans. If you take Obama's background and give it to Hillary Rodham Clinton, chuch and all, don't tell me for one second that you would have supported her.
You are supporting someone that you have NO IDEA where he stands on the issue. He's as Republican to me as Nelson from Nebraska - just because he has a D behind his name does not make him a Democrat. I left the ballot blank when Nelson ran for the Senate in Nebraska and I was right.
Obama has promised to expand George Bush's faith based initiatives - something McCain and Palin will never get away with. Obama can.
Posted by jmac at October 12, 2008 02:44 PMJmac - I am not sure where you are coming from but I personally like faith based initiatives. To me, most govt programs don't work. Putting the money in the hands of the community organizations where the money is better spent is the way to go.
Second, you don't have a clue who I would support, nor do you know who I have supported in the past.
Third, I know where he stands on the issues that matter to me, so maybe you should take your little mind game to someone else.
Finally, I know that he supports the middle class and doesn't believe in "trickle down bullshit!" And I know that McMummy and Scarah don't have a fucking clue! And after the shit we have been through over the past eight years I know you can kiss my ass!
Posted by angryman at October 12, 2008 08:13 PMIf you heard his health care plan in the primaries and you believe he supports the middle class - good grief.
He praised Ronald Reagan (hello trickle down) in the primaries and slammed Bill Clinton's economics in the primaries. He's also changed positions on a number of issues.
Believe whatever you want. I believe in the Democratic party and the Democratic platform and I don't want to see it changed. He said in the beginning Democrats need to stop fighting the old battles - bull!
Posted by jmac at October 13, 2008 02:46 PMJmac - You are like every other Repug asshole. You confuse youself with your own bullshit and expect everyone else to just buy it. Again, KISS MY ASS.
Rather than sending the links to prove you are full of shit, maybe you should google your bullshit and find it yourself! In the meantime eat shit and die!
Posted by angryman at October 14, 2008 07:08 PM