Redstate

sounds like we were on the same wavelength there.

To be normal is to be content with normalcy.

I think McCain is trying to bring honor back to the gun fight. He won the Republican nomination without personal attacks or insults, he can win the general election with the same honorable tatics:

1) Keep on message.

2) Set-up the difference between yourself and the other person/people.

BigGator5.net

but he did intentionally misrepresent (read "lie") about Mitt on Iraq - an obvious insult to the electorate's intelligence. Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with McCain as the nominee, it just seems to me sometimes he is more willing to be "respectful" toward Democrats than he is toward his fellow Republicans
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"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" ~Ronald Reagan

The week after 9-11, polls showed that over 90% of the American people supported taking military action against the terrorists. Since we know that conservatives and moderates together don't represent 95% of the public, there must have been quite a fair number of liberals in that mix too.

There were, and still are, about 7% of the American people who I would say are die-hard America haters. Mostly on the extreme left, but a few on the extreme right. They are a small, but highly vocal minority. They make up for their lack of numbers with their activism and the amount of their shouting.

I've lived long enough to have learned that I don't have the answers to everything. And that one-party rule is not the answer to America's problems or anybody else's problems.

I believe that the Left was right about a few things:

Feminists were in the forefront denouncing the Taliban's treatment of women, while the Bush Administration was still negotiating with them over poppy production. They were right that supporting dictatorships in the Middle East in the name of "balance of power" was going to backfire on us someday, something the Bush Administration has now embraced as their own idea. They were right that popular movements, or movements that are at least perceived to be popular, may prove more important than diplomatic maneuverings between our Secretary of State and the various dictators we have sucked up to. And the Left was right that globalization might prove to have a downside, even for capitalist America.

All ideas I have tried to integrate into my own thinking. Which is why my views are no longer "doctrinaire conservative" or "doctrinaire anything else," but are tempered by a pragmatic willingness to consider a good point raised by anybody anywhere.

... that it is probably a small percentage of leftists who are the hate America brand. But please note that I said

... the calling the shots on the left ...

and I still think that is true. I would even go so far as to say that, in my estimateion, Hillary us likely to run a more honorable campaign than Obama; as cutthroat as the Clintons are, my sense is that Obama is gathering his support, and advice, from those who believe that beating the other guy is not enough, he must visibly be damaged.

That being said, the Democratic Party is so far in the bag to the extreme left that I have doubts they can shake it in this generation.

John
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Why would God invent something like whiskey? To keep the Irish from ruling the world of course

Thanks, by the way. Most of your colleagues are smart enough not to show that I get under their skin.

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!

I didn't know you were so self-hating and filled with loathing towards minority groups!

Must have been that bullet in the eye you took out in Vegas while getting a massage.

Oh, wait, that was Moe Green.

Sorry...., wrong Moe.

"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it"-Winston Churchill

It is quite entertaining to watch though.

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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater

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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !

"...the clowns will eat me," I found this:

In some ways, better.

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!

Pray tell, Is it looking at whats happening within your own party this cycle that's upsetting or is the fact that your usual tactics seem to be coming up dry ?

Or perhaps its just the fact that the people you put into power seem completely oblivious to why you put them there. I mean weren't we supposed to be out of Iraq by now ? Bush, Cheney, the boards of Haliburton and Blackwater all in chains ?

Instead Blackwater just received a lucrative extension to its contracts and still no one else does what KBR does.

This place is better than the Daily Kos.

BigGator5.net

At first I didn't see the Mo...and so I thought it was MOE talking about the original post and went back and forth trying to figure out just what the heck Moe was talking about.

LOL, is it that same lame-o who Moe had to ban repeatedly last week?

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When small men cast long shadows, it is a sign that the sun is setting on the Democrat Party

that there is a big difference between hatred of liberals and dislike/distrust of liberals.

John
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Why would God invent something like whiskey? To keep the Irish from ruling the world of course

Let's ask our local Moby, if he desires to show himself.

"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it"-Winston Churchill

http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/oh_those_43rd_district_democrats

Seattle legislative district caucus - in Wallingford.

When it was proposed to say the pledge of allegiance, is was not only voted down, it was SHOUTED down.

And they're voting on their candidate for PRESIDENT. The closest thing we have to the PERSONIFICATION of what the Flag represents.

This is my hometown, and my district (I live elsewhere, courtesy of the U.S. Navy, but still vote absentee there). Seattle has always been somewhat "progressive", but growing up, I always felt privileged to be an American. I grew up Democrat - or at least sympathetic to their ideals. I still am (the goals we share are the SAME), but I think there is a better way to obtain results without automatically resorting to "have the government do it".

This is beyond the pale. This is the same attitude that forgets to stand and hold their hand over their heart when the Flag passes, or won't wear the flag on their lapel. They hate what it represents, but they want to be in charge of defending it?

Unlike the various anti-American losers in the Democratic party today, even Lindbergh knew to zip it when there was a war on.

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David123

MTV, Rolling Stone, Green Day, Assorted Hollywood kooks, etc. etc. etc.. Our young are inundated with the message of hate America first by their favorite stars. Ask them about the latest Hollywood/Rock star gossip and they'll tell you. Ask them about geopolitics and the importance of stopping Islamic extremists and they'll just look at you with a blank stare followed with an empty headed "no blood for oil". It wasn't cool to be a braindead contrarian in a time of war back then. Times have changed.
Tim Schieferecke

John
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Why would God invent something like whiskey? To keep the Irish from ruling the world of course

did we expend so that first all of Europe wouldn't end up speaking German, and then making sure they all didn't end up speaking Russian?

We were united, as a people, in fighting Fascism, but for some reason we lost the left in fighting the Communists.

and contrary to what the kook fringe on both sides might say, America is safer when we DO defend freedom, either here, or abroad.

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When small men cast long shadows, it is a sign that the sun is setting on the Democrat Party

...but for some reason we lost the left in fighting the Communists.

Perhaps because the left was in the bag for the Commies? Fellow traveler ring any bells?

John
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Why would God invent something like whiskey? To keep the Irish from ruling the world of course

I guess I just assumed that the

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When small men cast long shadows, it is a sign that the sun is setting on the Democrat Party

I assumed the /snark tag was understood

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When small men cast long shadows, it is a sign that the sun is setting on the Democrat Party

John
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Why would God invent something like whiskey? To keep the Irish from ruling the world of course

Even though he knew it hurt his electability. Both Roosevelt and Willkie put the country first, they put the people first. Just who on the left is left doing that today.

So nice job demonstrating you don't know the history you want to lecture others about.

Both Roosevelt and Willkie put the country first, they put the people first. Just who on the left is left doing that today.

Answer: Joe Lieberman.

And just look at what the left did to him.

"I ain't never votin' fo another Democrat so long as I can draw breath! I'll vote for a dog first!" - Leola Thomas

But he is one of the few on the left I still have respect for.

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I don't it.

I don't GET it. Its been a long day, and one without coffee!

The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth used the Internet well to ding Kerry. Our work here matters.

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Yes, they used the internet for organization, fundraising, and videos, but what had an impact on the electorate was the TV commercials.

Go out and ask 100 people if they have seen webvideos of any candidate. I would bet anything that counting the people who have will not require more than on hand, if it requires any at all.

I am not arguing that the internet is not a powerful tool. Just that those who take the time to watch these videos are indeed political junkies. This is not a pejorative term, as I am obviously one myself. Use a different word if you wish, enthusiasts, aficionados, whatever floats your boat. Unless something warrants a headline on the MSN or Yahoo homepage, or the websites of CNN, Fox, or some major newspapers, the people who read about or watch it on the internet will be those who are interested and take the time to go to political websites and blogs-junkies.

I thought they did one ad buy in one tiny market one time. The rest was on the Internet. Am I mistaken?

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http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527events.asp?orgid=61

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When small men cast long shadows, it is a sign that the sun is setting on the Democrat Party

But anyway, I'm pretty sure the reason they ran those ads (especially the first one) wasn't because the paid television exposure itself was so vital, but rather because the paid exposure earned a lot of unpaid coverage.

If we keep working at it, we'll create stories which can later be hypedi n the exact same way. I mean, I think I first heard about Winter Soldier back in January/February 2004, too, sometime early anyway.

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true -- which was part of what I was getting at in the above post. Three ads in a handful of small markets and YET -- everyone talked about them, the MSM went nuts over them, the internet talked about them incessantly, and Kerry blames them for his loss. :-)

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When small men cast long shadows, it is a sign that the sun is setting on the Democrat Party

Because everybody talked about them, you are correct. John McCain could put out fantastic web ads like this every day, but they won't cause the media ruckus that the Swiftboats did unless they contain equally earthshaking assertions. That is the point I am getting at.

But these issues will be Rezko, Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Born Alive Infant Protection Act, etc.-All issues that I don't think McCain should touch. His stance on the second amendment, however, should be attacked by McCain.

Comparing these web ads, however well done and moving they might be to the swiftboats does not make sense.

40% of the country is going to vote D
40% of the country is going to vote R

Thats pretty much no matter what happens.

Its that 20% thats left that matters. Of that 20% If a few percent get moved by something on the net, its an enormous electoral change.

These videos are not viewed widely enough to make a difference. I'd be willing to bet that nearly all of the views come from those who are already going to vote R. The people that will vote D won't watch it. Of the 20% of independents and swing voters, if you think any significant numer of them will watch it, I must disagree with you. Sure, some probably will, as they go to both candidates websites and poke around. But the fact is, most of this 20% will decide who they are going to vote for based on the newsclips they here on the radio in their car at the top of the hour while running little Sally and Jimmy to soccer practice, dance lessons, etc, or occasionally turning on the evening news while they are cooking supper or something. Some will watch the debates.

But barring any footage or dialogue on these videos that creates a controversy and causes the media to play them, most people will remain unaware that they even exist.

You are right, the 20% is extremely important. But if you think these videos will cause any significant movement, I have to strongly disagree.

I do not intend to imply that they should not continue to make the videos, just that expecting them to be an outreach tool of any significance is not realistic. That being said, I have to admit that they are very moving, and many would make excellent television advertisements if cut to the appropriate length.

But they are more tired of increasing insurance costs, gasoline costs, and an overall economic situation which they are convinced is terrible. And Obama is more than happy to lie to them about the causes, and advocate policies that will exacerbate the problems, but will be politically successful.

McCain needs to set this sort of tone, but he also needs to engage and defeat Obama on these issues.

Last thing he wants is for Clinton to win, after getting all the Obamanauts mad, reunifying the Democrats for them.

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