Tony gave this blog a compliment tonight--asking if we were going to get back to the posting. Sure, it was nice to be nominated for a blog award, but nicer still to have a steady reader suggest that this blog is necessary to understanding the world. Although, the blog awards are pretty nice. And why haven't more of you nominated us for more awards? What the hell are you all doing out there?
Ok, I am still recovering from the last week. But a couple of news items. From Tony himself a good discussion of Mike Huckabee's recent campaign commercial. It seems that many in the GOP have not learned anything from the Bush administration's manipulation of religious imagery. Or at least Mike Huckabee believes that and thinks that he can woo those voters by claiming that his faith is central to his life. I wonder if he claims Jesus as his favorite political philosopher?
Sigh.
Speaking of Bush, I think we were all a bit surprised that he is hosting a Mideast Summit to find some kind of solution for the Israeli/Palestinian problem. I understand that my conservative friends fear that Bush could do nothing to please me....and this will not change their mind. What took him so damn long? Was it the realization that his term was about over and we were going to only think of him in terms of Katrina and Iraq and torture and signing statements? Perhaps.
I still recall his early months in office. I have described it thusly: "he took office with his middle finger aimed at the rest of the world." Double that if Clinton had done anything in that area. 9-11 gave him an unique opportunity, which he used to invade two countries. Only now, with his administration headed for the Harding category does he turn to something he had ignored for 7 years.
Ok, off to bed. More tomorrow.
11 comments:
Interesting that you would mention Mike Huckabee.
I have long been puzzled why the fundies I know don't support him, but rather fawn over Fred Thompson or Guliani. But then Kevin Drum explained it all with this quote:
Huckabee's problem is that in the end, in today's GOP, hating unions is more important than hating gays, and eliminating the estate tax is more important than eliminating abortion. Howard Beale would understand.
I think that is an overly simplistic view of republicans, unless there is some polling data that suggests otherwise.
Huckabee seems to be gaining momentum and is probably thinking of trying to appeal to as many groups as possible. He also made a speech to a sportsman's group and has been generating some talk on those kinds of forums.
We tend to see all kinds of nasty talk in the primaries, with candidates trying to outdo each other in various ways. For a while, all of the republican candidates were trying to assume the mantle of Reagan. Now they seem to making the rounds of the various groups, garnering support. Hillary and Obama are taking off the gloves, too. I was somewhat surprised when she made a big deal about him living abroad for a period of his life. So what?
I am glad that Bush is holding that summit, but I said the same thing. Why now? Then I realized he probably wants some kind of legacy.
Monk, great quote.
Steve, perhaps my cynicism about the GOP has to do with the lockstep support from Republican senators and congressmen over the last 7 years. Add to that the sense I have that despite Bush's problems and poll numbers, the number of Republicans who still support him is troubling.
Slacker.
I am dismayed at the support Bush got from his party, but is it realistic to expect otherwise? I can't think of any instances in the last 20 or so years where a president didn't command the support of his party, despite doing some bad things.*
Party loyalty seems to always trump what is good for the country.
* I am not trying to excuse Bush, by saying that 'everyone is doing it.' I guess that my cynicism is coming from years of partisan voting and the recent budget crisis in my state. Our legislature had to make some hard choices and there was a huge amount of pressure placed on them by their parties. In the end, our state is still in limbo and people are hurting.
This issue is becoming a deal breaker for me. If I am convinced that a person is unable to place the people ahead of their party, I will not vote for them. Maybe I am being naive...wouldn't be the first time.
I was genuinely impressed with the Chuck Norris ad, admittedly only after I watched it a couple of times and digested it. It was brilliant!
But the "Believe" ad was disgusting. Obviously Huckabee doesn't watch real news or assimilate information very well.
At first I read Steve's post as "ours state is still in limbo and people are hunting." Over here in the state next door, everything was on hold for nine days for gun deer season. Anyway . . .
Does anyone else find the Chuck Norris endorsement, and especially the Chuck Norris ad, completely bizarre? Huckabee is a Fundamentalist Christian and ordained pastor, yet it seems the description of Chuck Norris borders on the supernatural? It's almost as if Chuck Norris will be on the road with Huckabee performing feats of strength and/or miracles as circumstances may warrant.
Admittedly, my understanding of fundamentalism is based largely on having seen 'Footloose' back in jr. high, but I don't get it. I don't expect Huckabee or those who might support him to be humorless, but some things seem out of bounds.
ubub, where are you? Wisconsin?
The Chuck Norris ad is pretty funny. Haven't you seen the thousands of Chuck Norris sites?
When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris sleeps with a night light. Not because Chuck Norris is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris once visited the Virgin Islands. They are now The Islands.
Brett Favre can throw a football over 50 yards. Chuck Norris can throw Brett Favre even further.
Firearms season is still going on here. I have been unsuccessful so far, but we still have a few more days, then muzzleloader season in December.
Yep, I'm in the other mitten.
Of course I know about the recent explosion of Chuck Norris sites, t-shirts, etc. I may be old, but still have a shred of street cred. I am hip, daddy-o, dig?
I get Huckabee's appeal, I kinda get Chuck Norris's appeal, but I don't get them together.
When Chuck Norris goes to bed every night, he checks his closet for Molly Weasley.
Seriously though, partisan politics has been a ridiculous problem lately. I don't know enough about our political history to say that it's necessarily worse than it's ever been (maybe it is). Part of politics involves, and will always involve, skimping on short-term good for the sake of the long-term good. But for both parties, and Republicans to a greater extent, the long-term good of the party trumps the long-term good of the nation. What gives?
Streak, Oh, I can nominate your blog for an award.
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