Rick Perry took most of the pundit flak because he stumbled again and bungled his sharp-angle rebuttal against Romney's flip-flops (again).
Also, he's had to defend his position on granting in-state tuition for the kids of illegals against attacks from the Hard-Ass Retribution Wing of the GOP, saying something like "if you feel the need to punish kids for something they had no part in, then you have no heart" - and he's gettin' slammed for that defense. One schmuck on DumFux News said Repubs don't want to hear that because it sounds like something "some liberal would say". So - yeah.
First, what Perry said sounds a lot like recycled Compassionate Conservatism to me. Maybe that's what they're worried about. Hard to say of course. As hard as the Repubs have been working to wipe away all traces of Junior Bush from the national memory, I imagine they hate it when the guy they've been subtly marketing as the Cowboy Guvner From Texas Who Actually Knows Some Stuff is the one who keeps reminding everybody of the boob they're trying to get everybody to forget. Circularity's a bitch I guess.
But second, it kinda sounds like these pundits are saying, "Everybody knows we're assholes - our brand is all about Asshole now. Being assholes got us a majority in The House. We have to be ever more asshole-ish or we'll lose our credibility, and our momentum, and nobody'll be afraid of us anymore, and then it won't be any fun at all."
That's pretty fucked up, right there.
Sep 24, 2011
Sep 23, 2011
My Dear Mr Santorum
This guy is just completely stuck in 1992. He carps about 'Social Engineering' in the US Military when it comes to DADT, and ignores all the other social engineering that's been implemented with some real success stories coming out it all.
Black people serving side-by-side with white people. That was a bit of social engineering. They said we couldn't do it because unit cohesion would be disrupted. Guess what - it disrupted unit cohesion. Guess what else. The unit got over it; and in fact, the unit got better because we started drawing form a wider and deeper pool of prospective talent.
(ok - so I lifted most of that from an episode of The West Wing - it's exactly the point and it bears repeating)
Women - see preceding paragraph.
LGBT - see preceding paragraph, and understand that there's been an LGBT presence in the US Military FOREVER.
Santorum loves to warn us about the dangers of sexuality - especially HOMO SEX - In fact, it seems like every time anything pops up regarding LGBT, the guy goes straight to the Oh-My-God-There's-Gonna-Be-Just-Way-Too-Much-Fucking-Going-On-I-Can't-Stand-It-But-I-Can't-Stop-Thinking-About-It card. Why should I not think he's just a little too obsessed with it? Why should I not wonder if he's battling his own demons? OK, too easy. If he's a latent case, I gotta figure it'll show up soon enough.
What really gets me tho', is that none of the Press Poodles has picked up on the claim about LGBT's wanting us to "grant them special rights". That's been bullshit going back 20 years as the Repubs have been trying to pass all those fucked up amendments aimed at denying equal rights to LGBTs. Where the fuck is one decent journalist who'll ask Santorum to delineate exactly what 'special rights' LGBT's are demanding?
Black people serving side-by-side with white people. That was a bit of social engineering. They said we couldn't do it because unit cohesion would be disrupted. Guess what - it disrupted unit cohesion. Guess what else. The unit got over it; and in fact, the unit got better because we started drawing form a wider and deeper pool of prospective talent.
(ok - so I lifted most of that from an episode of The West Wing - it's exactly the point and it bears repeating)
Women - see preceding paragraph.
LGBT - see preceding paragraph, and understand that there's been an LGBT presence in the US Military FOREVER.
Santorum loves to warn us about the dangers of sexuality - especially HOMO SEX - In fact, it seems like every time anything pops up regarding LGBT, the guy goes straight to the Oh-My-God-There's-Gonna-Be-Just-Way-Too-Much-Fucking-Going-On-I-Can't-Stand-It-But-I-Can't-Stop-Thinking-About-It card. Why should I not think he's just a little too obsessed with it? Why should I not wonder if he's battling his own demons? OK, too easy. If he's a latent case, I gotta figure it'll show up soon enough.
What really gets me tho', is that none of the Press Poodles has picked up on the claim about LGBT's wanting us to "grant them special rights". That's been bullshit going back 20 years as the Repubs have been trying to pass all those fucked up amendments aimed at denying equal rights to LGBTs. Where the fuck is one decent journalist who'll ask Santorum to delineate exactly what 'special rights' LGBT's are demanding?
Sep 22, 2011
Ya Still Gotta Sell It
One of the problems with how "the left" has traditionally approached issues is their inability to sell the idea in a way that appeals to the people who have to be sold on the idea in order to support it. The idea may be the best thing since perforated toilet paper, but if you can't sell it to the big squishy political middle, then it's not gonna happen.
Mike's First Law of Business:
No matter how good your company is; no matter how great your product or your service is - nothing good can happen for your company until somebody sells something.
Repubs and "conservatives" have been a lot better at coming up with catchy slogans and snappy jingles, and a sales patter that gets people standing in line for the crap they're selling. Dems and "liberals" always seem to rely on lofty ideals and 30-point policy statements about why it's good for us to eat all the stuff that tastes bad.
I'm not saying change the message or abandon your principles; and I'm not saying water it down or sugar it up. But you have to sell it better, and the way you do that is to make it appeal to the self interests of the prospective buyer.
If you have nothing but "do it 'cuz ya know ya oughta do it", then you're going to lose at the first sign of resistance because it's the easiest thing in the world to rationalize away anything you "oughta" do when it's inconvenient or it costs a little more than doing it some other way or not doing it at all. And it's really easy for the opposition to paint you as a preachy know-it-all trying to tell people how to live. And yes, I know the other side is trying to tell people how to live too, but if they're first to accuse you of that, then they win the point.
If you want action on Climate Change, then you sell it on the strength of doing business in a smarter, cheaper, more cost-effective way that does not require learning a whole new way of doing everything. Revolutionary change may sound exciting and cool to you, but it scares the shit outa the people you're asking to make the changes - and who, BTW, have the power to squelch the idea before it even comes up in the next executive committee meeting.
One of the things Selling is about is getting the prospect to the point where he realizes that buying what you're selling is not just a good idea, it's actually what he had in mind all along.
Mike's First Law of Business:
No matter how good your company is; no matter how great your product or your service is - nothing good can happen for your company until somebody sells something.
Repubs and "conservatives" have been a lot better at coming up with catchy slogans and snappy jingles, and a sales patter that gets people standing in line for the crap they're selling. Dems and "liberals" always seem to rely on lofty ideals and 30-point policy statements about why it's good for us to eat all the stuff that tastes bad.
I'm not saying change the message or abandon your principles; and I'm not saying water it down or sugar it up. But you have to sell it better, and the way you do that is to make it appeal to the self interests of the prospective buyer.
If you have nothing but "do it 'cuz ya know ya oughta do it", then you're going to lose at the first sign of resistance because it's the easiest thing in the world to rationalize away anything you "oughta" do when it's inconvenient or it costs a little more than doing it some other way or not doing it at all. And it's really easy for the opposition to paint you as a preachy know-it-all trying to tell people how to live. And yes, I know the other side is trying to tell people how to live too, but if they're first to accuse you of that, then they win the point.
If you want action on Climate Change, then you sell it on the strength of doing business in a smarter, cheaper, more cost-effective way that does not require learning a whole new way of doing everything. Revolutionary change may sound exciting and cool to you, but it scares the shit outa the people you're asking to make the changes - and who, BTW, have the power to squelch the idea before it even comes up in the next executive committee meeting.
One of the things Selling is about is getting the prospect to the point where he realizes that buying what you're selling is not just a good idea, it's actually what he had in mind all along.
Makes Me Wonder
The main question is exactly what Olbermann asks: In a media environment that desperately needs content to fill a 24/7 airspace, where's the coverage for this? I can see how CurrentTV would use the lack of coverage by others to pump up their own cred, but that doesn't explain how practically every other outlet is avoiding the story of a days-long protest aimed at the heart of American economic power.
Sep 21, 2011
Smart Is Good
I think it's getting safer for people to be smart again. I'm hoping this anti-intellect thing is passing into the dumper where it belongs.
And btw: maybe it's just that I've felt starved for really smart policy arguments for a very long time, but I think Elizabeth Warren is really sexy.
And btw: maybe it's just that I've felt starved for really smart policy arguments for a very long time, but I think Elizabeth Warren is really sexy.
Madison Ave Gets It?
So how far behind the rest of us does Washington have to fall before they start to understand that they have to lead? They can't just sit there waiting for the new polling numbers to show them it's time to get up off their butts and get out in front of something. Step up or step aside, fellas.
Sep 16, 2011
Jesus Junkies
The visible spectrum of the GOP has been almost completely captured by the Christianist wing. It's pretty obvious that there's very little room in any Repub primary for anybody not willing to lie his ass off (if need be) to establish his bona fides as a standup God-fearin' TheoCon. This is not new, of course. Its been heading this direction for at least 30 years.
For my own self, I lean towards atheism and I believe strongly in making my own decisions about my own life; knowing that it has to be tempered by the understanding that we're all in this together so we need rules to keep us from steppin' on each other too hard or too often - not much that's particularly odd about any of that; but I find myself totally unwelcome in a political party I once thought of as home. Don't get me wrong, I think registering as Independent has been a net plus. It's kinda forcing me at least to make the effort to dig out something I can hold onto from "both sides". Also, I've had to disabuse myself of any notion that what we have here is a two-party system. One of the soul-stripping effects of the system we do have (ie: Legalized Bribery) is that we can either vote for the candidate who's a complete asshole, or we can vote for the one who's slightly less than a complete asshole. So, yeah - it's a Hobson's choice between the lesser of two evils, but that means you damned sure better be paying attention so you don't pick the greater of the two evils.
Attempting to counteract the TheoCons, "Lefties" are trying to hold up the Jesus of The 4 Gospels, saying "Repubs are hypocrites because they're not following the teachings of their hero". Sorry guys, but these jokers believe we're living in the End Times now. They're way past that Hippie Jesus. We're talkin' kick-ass Jesus from Revelation here, Bubba. This Jesus wears a blood-soaked robe, and he has a sword coming from his mouth. This Jesus is gonna give his followers the power to "rule the nations with an iron rod". Jesus is coming - and he's pissed - at you.
If you watched the Repub debate the other nite - the one where the yahoos cheered Rick Perry's record of executions, and then shouted in the affirmative when Blitzer asked Ron Paul if he'd just let people die if they chose not to have health insurance - and these things both appalled and puzzled you; well, guess what? The "truth" has set them free. The worst possible behavior has now passed out of Unthinkable, through Forgivable (and through Acceptable too), and is now arriving at a place called Preferable.
Do not hand the reins of power to these pricks.
For my own self, I lean towards atheism and I believe strongly in making my own decisions about my own life; knowing that it has to be tempered by the understanding that we're all in this together so we need rules to keep us from steppin' on each other too hard or too often - not much that's particularly odd about any of that; but I find myself totally unwelcome in a political party I once thought of as home. Don't get me wrong, I think registering as Independent has been a net plus. It's kinda forcing me at least to make the effort to dig out something I can hold onto from "both sides". Also, I've had to disabuse myself of any notion that what we have here is a two-party system. One of the soul-stripping effects of the system we do have (ie: Legalized Bribery) is that we can either vote for the candidate who's a complete asshole, or we can vote for the one who's slightly less than a complete asshole. So, yeah - it's a Hobson's choice between the lesser of two evils, but that means you damned sure better be paying attention so you don't pick the greater of the two evils.
Attempting to counteract the TheoCons, "Lefties" are trying to hold up the Jesus of The 4 Gospels, saying "Repubs are hypocrites because they're not following the teachings of their hero". Sorry guys, but these jokers believe we're living in the End Times now. They're way past that Hippie Jesus. We're talkin' kick-ass Jesus from Revelation here, Bubba. This Jesus wears a blood-soaked robe, and he has a sword coming from his mouth. This Jesus is gonna give his followers the power to "rule the nations with an iron rod". Jesus is coming - and he's pissed - at you.
If you watched the Repub debate the other nite - the one where the yahoos cheered Rick Perry's record of executions, and then shouted in the affirmative when Blitzer asked Ron Paul if he'd just let people die if they chose not to have health insurance - and these things both appalled and puzzled you; well, guess what? The "truth" has set them free. The worst possible behavior has now passed out of Unthinkable, through Forgivable (and through Acceptable too), and is now arriving at a place called Preferable.
Do not hand the reins of power to these pricks.
Sep 14, 2011
The Job Creators
Add this to the growing litany of Repub bullshit: "Government never created even one job."
(hat tip to John Gorman)
(hat tip to John Gorman)
Both Sides Do It
...except when they don't.
The Southern Strategy
Watergate
IranContra
Willie Horton
The Arkansas Project
McCain's Black Bastard Child
WMD (update: this one can be balanced off by Gulf of Tonkin)
Valerie Plame
Swift Boaters
Max Cleland
Birthers
The Kenyan Usurper
Death Panels
I don't have any problem understanding both Dems and Repubs being at least roughly equal in their venality when it comes to the Pay-To-Play aspects of our system here in the US. We've allowed a pretty great thing to get almost totally FUBAR. From that viewpoint, they're dead even.
But when I look at how the 2 sides conduct themselves when they're trying to sell the public on either a candidate or a policy, I see one side getting a lot deeper into the muck.
If you can come up with something Dems have done that can match the whoppers I listed at the top of this post, please apprise me of them so I can check and compare.
The Southern Strategy
Watergate
IranContra
Willie Horton
The Arkansas Project
McCain's Black Bastard Child
WMD (update: this one can be balanced off by Gulf of Tonkin)
Valerie Plame
Swift Boaters
Max Cleland
Birthers
The Kenyan Usurper
Death Panels
I don't have any problem understanding both Dems and Repubs being at least roughly equal in their venality when it comes to the Pay-To-Play aspects of our system here in the US. We've allowed a pretty great thing to get almost totally FUBAR. From that viewpoint, they're dead even.
But when I look at how the 2 sides conduct themselves when they're trying to sell the public on either a candidate or a policy, I see one side getting a lot deeper into the muck.
If you can come up with something Dems have done that can match the whoppers I listed at the top of this post, please apprise me of them so I can check and compare.
Sep 12, 2011
The Agonist
Pretty good crop of items today at The Agonist.
1) Israel is looking to hookup with Kurdish rebels in Turkey
2) Looming default in Greece
1) Israel is looking to hookup with Kurdish rebels in Turkey
2) Looming default in Greece
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