Perusing the Op-eds this morning I came across two pieces I found interesting. The first was from NYT columnist Paul Krugman. Mr. Krugman always has that look like he’s simultaneously suffering from PTSD as a result of regular assaults from the schoolyard bully and a severe case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, both of which tend to make him as annoying as a cowering and barking chihuahua protecting his little corner of the couch:
But don’t be fooled either by Mr. McCain’s long-ago reputation as a maverick or by Ms. Palin’s appealing persona: the Republican Party, now more than ever, is firmly in the hands of the angry right, which has always been much bigger, much more influential and much angrier than its counterpart on the other side.
Can the Leftist press really be that blind? While conservatives do get angry it’s usually reserved for members of the Republican party that stray from our ideals. Most have given up on the Left ever developing common sense. And a quick trip to the blogosphere could settle the argument of who’s angrier. But why does Krugman think we’re angry?
What struck me as I watched the convention speeches, however, is how much of the anger on the right is based not on the claim that Democrats have done bad things, but on the perception — generally based on no evidence whatsoever — that Democrats look down their noses at regular people.
***
By selecting Barack Obama as their nominee, the Democrats may have given Republicans an opening: the very qualities that inspire many fervent Obama supporters — the candidate’s high-flown eloquence, his coolness factor — have also laid him open to a Nixonian backlash. Unlike many observers, I wasn’t surprised at the effectiveness of the McCain “celebrity” ad. It didn’t make much sense intellectually, but it skillfully exploited the resentment some voters feel toward Mr. Obama’s star quality.
The Democrats have done plenty of “bad things” to make the right angry. Virtually all of Obama’s positions on the issues are right out of the Socialist playbook. Ignoring that Krugman reveals himself as an elitist (”It didn’t make much sense intellectually”) I’m not sure how Americans could read this as anything other than condescending and elitist:
And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
Then there’s Michelle Obama’s statement that she’d never been proud of America until this year, despite being given opportunities like no other country in the world. The Leftist elite have surrounded themselves with like-minded people in the media and academia, in liberal hot spots for so long they are incapable of understanding how such comments can be interpreted as offensive. Democratic strategist Kirsten Powers understood it:
It comes off very badly… They are things that I think in a liberal world sound totally normal, and outside of that world I don’t know that he appreciates how it sounds. And it just sounds very elitist, and it sounds like he’s looking down on people.
Proving the left is still clueless, Krugman ends with the false assumption that Republicans are resentful:
But the Democrats can’t afford to be complacent. Resentment, no matter how contrived, is a powerful force, and it’s one that Republicans are very, very good at exploiting.
The second article comes from The Times writer Gerard Baker. He nails the left’s condescension as it relates to the selection of Palin as vice presidential candidate, and shows how clueless the left remains, despite the lessons given over the last nine months:
It never ceases to amaze me how the Left falls again and again into the old trap of underestimating politicians whom they don’t understand. From Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher to George Bush and Mrs Palin, they do it every time. Because these characters talk a bit funny and have ridiculously antiquated views about faith, family and nation, because they haven’t spent time bending the knee to the intellectual metropolitan elites, they can’t be taken seriously.
So the general expectation was that Mrs Palin would stumble on to the stage in high heels, clutching her sprawling, slightly odd family (five children! how weird), mispronounce the name of the Russian Prime Minister, mutter a few platitudes about God, and disappear for ever to a deafening chorus of sniggers.
No one paid much attention to the fact that she had been elected governor of a state. Or that she got to that office not because, unlike some politicians I could mention, her husband had been there before her, or because she bleated continuously about glass ceilings, but by challenging the entrenched interests in her own party and beating them. In almost two years as Governor she has cleaned out the Augean stables of Alaskan Government. You don’t win a statewide election and enjoy approval ratings of more than 80 per cent without real political talent.
Never mind all that. She didn’t have a passport! She was a former beauty queen! It was so axiomatic that she was a disaster that I was told by lots of savvy men - with deliciously unconscious sexism - that the real problem was what the choice said about Mr McCain and his judgment: cynical, irresponsible, clueless. It was as if Mrs Palin wasn’t really a human being at all, but an article of Mr McCain’s clothing that showed his poor taste, like wearing brown shoes with a charcoal suit.
The treatment of Sarah Palin by the left and their media stooges proves yet again how the left underestimates their opposition. Governor Palin is more than capable of standing up to them and, once again, their strategy backfires. They lose the debate and infuriate the voters.
Baker also touches on the appeal of Governor Palin:
So here’s why she matters.
First of all she offers an opportunity for an ailing Republican party to reconnect with ordinary Americans. She’s conservative, but her conservatism is not that of the intolerant, uncomprehending white male sort that has so hurt the party in recent years. She is much closer to a model of the lives of ordinary Americans - working mother, plainspoken everywoman juggling home and office - than any Republican leader in memory.
The contrast with Mr Obama is especially powerful. The very fact that Mrs Palin didn’t go to elite schools but succeeded nonetheless - the very ordinariness with which she so piquantly jabbed Mr Obama on Wednesday - is what will make her so appealing to Americans. And as a pro-life conservative she debunks in one swoop the enduring myth that all women subscribe to the obligatory nostrums of radical feminism.
***
The opportunity for McCain-Palin is not reaction, but reform - a reform rooted in a distant conservatism that could be due for a comebackHailing from Arizona and Alaska, the Republican ticket has a chance to rekindle a western conservatism different from the old Yankee paternalist sort or the Bible Belt version. They like their guns out there (some still kill their own food) and they are pro-life and deeply pro-America, of course. But at a time of grave challenges, the themes of economic freedom and opportunity, the resistance to the idea that government holds all the answers, could resonate with voters.
This is an election, as the Democrats have realised all along, about an America on the cusp of change. With the moose-hunting, establishment-taunting Mrs Palin at his side, Mr McCain might represent a bigger change than the one that his opponents are offering.
When this election started so long ago (too long ago!) who would have thought the person that would energize and unite the party would be a woman from Alaska who has more in common with Teddy Roosevelt than Eleanor Roosevelt?
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“BO” and the Dimwits are just mad because Sarah Palin stole “BO”s “star” status. “BO” started out as this great savior who presented himself very nicely until people started looking at the FACTS. Gov. Palin will have to go through the same review but will have to fight the liberal media that “BO” didn’t have to, to win. All the truths will come out in this long campaign season, the only question is are we smart enough to know the right choice.
Gov. Sarah Palin may have just saved the Republican party.
Assuming that she has and November in fact returns a Republican to the White House it will be for nothing if we cannot make Republicans act like the Conservatives they claim to be.
The Left never underestimates, they overestimate their intellect. What has happened by McCain’s choice of Palin is shown that the emperor (Obama) has no clothes. Obama has utterly and completely exposed as someone unprepared and unqualified to be president.
That is what has them screaming into the night. Fun to watch.
The funniest statement in Krugman’s diatribe is:
I, er, uh, uh, uh, hello, uh, uh, er, glad you’re here, uh uh, er, I, I, words, uh, just words, er, uh.
Reply to No. 3: “Obama has utterly and completely exposed as someone unprepared and unqualified to be president.” The Dimwits don’t realize that their criticism of Palin about her supposed lack of experience only HIGHLIGHTS “BO”s total lack of experience. By saying that it takes “no experience” off the table for discussion means that they admit “BO” has no experience. There are two big differences here: 1) The Dimwits are asking you to not vote for Palin as Vice President because of her supposed lack of experience but THEY WANT YOU TO VOTE for “BO” to be PRESIDENT despite the same reason, lack of experience. and 2) What is the definition of experience to the Dimwits. To most intelligent people, having been elected to an executive position and doing that job is considered “executive” experience. Now who can we say has executive experience??
With the upcoming campaign upon us, I thought I might help “BO” out since this is the critical time for him and the Dimwits. Here is my “Top Ten” list of things he needs to avoid in order to FOOL the voters:
1) No podium, no teleprompter and no prepared text.
2) No Town Hall Meetings
3) Any press conference where he has to ad-lib an answer.
4) Sarah Palin
5) Sarah Barracuda on a basketball court.
6) The Presidential Debates
7) The Vice Presidential Debate
9) Joe BADen making some stupid “off the cuff” remark .
10) Michelle or Rev. Wrong trying to say something intelligent.
I know there is way more things he needs to avoid so feel free to add to my list.
Big45;
Hey, did you quote Obama verbatim by memory? Impressive.
I’d rather listen to W than BHO. At least W is entertaining to hear when he’s speechificatin’ .
From the Gerard Baker piece cited above by Hamous:
The best line I heard about Sarah Palin during the frenzied orgy of chauvinist condescension and gutter-crawling journalistic intrusion that greeted her nomination for vice-president a week ago came from a correspondent who knows a thing or two about Alaska.
“What’s the difference between Sarah Palin and Barack Obama?”
“One is a well turned-out, good-looking, and let’s be honest, pretty sexy piece of eye-candy.
“The other kills her own food.”
BO is going to be on Letterman this week with his Top Ten Things I Learned at the Republican Convention:
#10. Alaska is an actual State just like Hawaii
#9. People in Alaska refer to the rest of us as the Lower 55 States.
#8. Field Dressing has nothing to do with clothing.
#7. Governor is an actual Elected Office
#6. Uh…Uh…Don’t drill, Fill….your tires
#5. To be President you have to win like half of the 57 States.
#4. Barracudas are dangerous.
#3. Arctic Foxes are scary.
#2. I actually voted against the Surge? Did I? I thought i voted present.
and the #1 thing that BO learned at the Republican Convention:
When the Russians invaded Georgia…hey is that why Georgia dropped to #2 in the polls? There are like 60 something states between Georgia and whatever state Southern Cal is in…so they have fewer distractions…Somebody unplugged that thingy with the words scrolling on it….
If you wanted a “Top Ten” list for “BO” to read on the Letterman show about what he has learned from watching the RINO convention about Alaska, try this one:
1) That ANWR is not the former president of Egypt.
2) That global warming will not make Alaska the smallest state.
3) That you can actually flip/flop when you slide from side to side on ice.
4) That being Gov. of Alaska actually qualifies as executive experience.
5) That a “pipe line” is not used to pass gossip.
6) That it does make a difference which end of a gun you shot from.
7) That you can get a pick up game of “one on one” with Sarah Barracuda.
9) That you don’t campaign in Alaska because black people don’t do good on ice.
10) That Alaska is not a county or precinct that needs a “community organizer”.
See if this list works.
The only star quality of BOs is what the MSM has foisted on the American public. In reality he is nothing more than a burned out star that has lost its luster.
“One shoots her own food”. Our next Vice President must have a fondness for Rocky Mountain Oysters because she just removed BOs with surgical precision in her acceptance speech. NO wonder BO is afraid of strong, intelligent women. Apparently the MSM is as well because they have stooped to the lowest level to castigate her.
I’m kinda surprised they actually get it.
They don’t understand it, but they know why Palin appeals to so many people. So, why can’t they find their OWN candidate that embodies these virtues that so many Americans find dear? There have got to be some Voices of (Un)Common Sense somewhere in the Dimocrapic party.
I mean, do the math . . . if you can’t get a Socialist elected, maybe the American people don’t wanna live in a Socialist country? Duh! Run someone not so radical, someone more palatable, not just a media Darling, a Silver-tongued devil with nothing behind the words but an angry black racist minister, crooked political machines, and unrepentant terrorists.
That’s not the kind of Change I’d vote for.
#5 Robert
We own a few rental properties, and occasionally a unit will need to go through a “make-ready” before we can rent it again. In the process of preparing these units, sometimes things need to be painted and ALWAYS the floor needs to be cleaned.
One of the first things we taught our children was to think ahead when doing their work. For example, when mopping the floor, don’t end up in the corner and then have to walk across the clean floor. The American adage is “Don’t paint yourself into a corner.” This concept was taught to - and mastered by - my learning disabled son at a fairly early age.
Obviously, the libs have yet accomplish that feat. And they want to run our country.
/spits
I think “BO” and the Dimwits are choosing to attack McCain/Palin to divert attention from having to explain their own plan and the ultimate cost to those they claim to be helping. I know if they give out details that they will be analyzed and the truth will come out.
Nope, there aren’t.
Its why they are having trouble polling above 50% in a year where even Republicans are pizzed off at Republicans.
Meanwhile as the Dem and Leftie elites scoff at, squeal, demean, insult, demonize, wail, attack, lie, fabricate, photoshop Sarah, she keeps on field dressing donkeys. With a smile. Gotta love it. Can hardly wait for her debate with Biden.
And more Americans realize what is afoot and do not like it, regardless of their party affiliations or lack thereof. Here come the Reagan Democrats revitalized and legions of fed up women ready for the warpath. Hey ya’ll elites in the MSM and east and west coast snobs, just keep on keepin’ on bringing us more converts to McCain/Palin.
The left are angry . Not us. They are guilty of transference.
Not surprisingly, the left are livid that the repubs might be able to derail mr. Barack ‘affirmative action’ Obama. He and Omorasa believe they are OWED the Presidency. We, on the other hand, will vote for a great candidate of ANY color.
One thing that gets them, is they KNOW that some # of femail types will jump from the Hillary ship to Mc-Palin, on top of his securing much of his base which they assumed was against him. I think he (JM) might be smart enough to be President. THey will then be declared to be NOn women.
The GOP complains that Obama is an inexperienced superstar. So what does McCain do? He selects an inexperienced superstar to be his VP.
Is the word “irony” mentioned anywhere in the GOP’s platform?
(It will all work out, though - should Palin be forced to ascend to the presidency and hide under her desk in a panic, Nancy Pelosi can take over as next in line for the job).
Barak ‘affirmative action’ Obama? When George H. W. ‘no quotas’ Bush was tasked with selecting a replacement for Thurgood Marshall, it just so happened that Clarence Thomas, another black man, was the most qualified person for the job? Who did he think he was kidding?
I think the GOP is finally being crushed under the weight of its own double standards. Doesn’t Karl Rove work for you guys anymore? Evil genius that he is, I’m sure he could figure out a way to make all this Palin stuff, and everything else you guys are throwing around this year, make sense.
Sarah’s popular. I’m so angry. Someone help me. Oh, the rage, the rage.
Ya’ll are in such a dreamland. Up here in liberal-ass Washington (the state), we’re not angry about Sarah Palin. I admit to being irate when I hear Republicans, who talk so highly about citizens doing great things without big government on their back, slam “community organizing.” But that’s only because it’s such a dishonest strategy, deliberately aimed at dopey people (but of course, only Democrats are capable of being elitist - ha!).
There’s community organizing and then there is working for ACORN. Your Messiah worked for an organization that has a history of buying votes, registering dead people to vote. Was Obama’s job, to teach ACORN workers to walk cemeteries, listing names of the dead to register?
Hey seanp. keep on keepin’ on. Your rants are just perfect to drive more folks away from the libs and Obamramadingdong. You might not be a “star” celeb like the CNN, MSNBC, NBC, WaPost, Noo Yawk Times, LA Times, but you sure have the vitriol and mean streak to play with them. Not quite as accomplished as the DailyKook folks, but a definite apprentice. Keep on keepin’ on.
Meanwhile Sarah keeps on field dressing donkeys.
Apparently irony is lost on you though. You do realize that Obama is your presidential candidate and Palin is the GOP’s vice presidential candidate, right? So even if the two had the same level of experience the Dems are starting out in a hole. As it stands the GOP’s VP candidate has more executive experience than either of your candidates. But yeah, we don’t know what irony is
Funny you mentioned it. I saw a bumber sticker the other day that said, “I’m dead, and I vote!” I thought it was a joke.
Bush learned from the past. Reagan tried to appont the best man and look what it got him. Did you expect him to appoint Jessie Jackson?