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Sunday, October 26, 2008

Bachmann and Palin - McCarthy and Agnew Redux?

With the Republican Party pulling ads and El Tinklenberg coming on strong (including a spike in fundraising), it would seem as though there is severe fallout from Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann's recent appearance on Hardball. Although she never apologizes and probably hopes most people in her district missed her "anti-American" remarks, Bachmann nevertheless felt it necessary to release this video.


It will be a toss-up, however, as to whether Bachmann or VP nominee, Sarah Palin, will get this year's "Spiro Agnew Award." You remember Spiro, right? The hard-hitting, alliteration-loving and media-hating verbal hitman (and Vice President that resigned in disgrace) for Richard Nixon. Perhaps we compromise and give Bachmann the "Joe McCarthy Award" and Palin gets the one named after the former Maryland governor.

I apologize for lying to you. I promise I won't deceive you except in matters of this sort. - Spiro Agnew
Some comedic analysis on Palin and Bachmann by Bill Maher.


Some additional thoughts on patriotism and the presidency in today's Times.

Sarah Palin, in extolling the virtues of small towns, has mused about how they are "pro-America," presumably as distinct from the anti-American parts of the nation. Even more baldly, Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota told MSNBC that she was "very concerned" that Barack Obama "may have anti-American views." Although Bachmann declined interviewer Chris Matthews' invitation to name other members of Congress who were anti-American, she ventured the opinion that the American people would welcome an expose on those members who fit the bill. She later tried to extricate herself from her own mudslinging, but her previous comments were neither forced nor misconstrued.

Setting aside the amusing spectacle of a member of Congress calling on the media to expose members of Congress (careful what you wish for, congresswoman), it is worth considering the implications of this alleged anti-Americanism. We begin with what we hope is obvious to all: There is a difference between disagreeing about how to improve this country and asserting that one side of the debate is pro-America and the other is anti-America. ...

The veer into who is pro- and who is anti-America, however, is another matter altogether. Does Obama's passing friendship with William Ayers, co-founder of the Weather Underground, constitute an act of bad judgment? Perhaps. Is it evidence of anti-Americanism? That's where a critique becomes a smear. Similarly, Bachmann glibly tossed around her malevolence, lighting upon House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid (D-Nev.), who, in her estimation, are liberal, leftist or anti-American -- or some combination thereof.

Source: Editorial. "Patriotism and the presidency," Los Angeles Times, 10/26/08. (emphasis added)

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10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Here are more of those small town Americans who love America......oops they're voting for Obama.

http://blog.localvoicesforobama.com/

October 26, 2008 3:19 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The sad part is that Bachmann aired the apology not because she realizes that she sounded like a rightwing fanatic by calling Obama and some members of Congress anti-American, but because her comments had put her re-election campaign in trouble.

Which is the real Bachmann?

October 26, 2008 3:19 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I may have missed it, but have Bachmann or Palin explained how we can tell who the "real Americans" are?

Is there a test I can take? I'd like to know if I'm one.

October 26, 2008 3:31 PM  

Blogger Edward Headington said:

They give out glasses like the ones from They Live. You can see the "Anti-American" right away.

Sidenote. There's also the following line in the movie: "That's like pouring perfume on a pig."

October 26, 2008 3:53 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

It probably doesn't have anything to do with the upcoming election here, but the BBC reported that today the U.S. invaded Syria for the first time in history. We killed 8 people including 4 children along the Iraqi border.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7692153.stm

October 26, 2008 4:12 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The AP reports that Barak Obama's Denver rally drew "well over" 100,000 people according to police.

McCain's fellow Republican senator from Arizona, Jon Kyl, said he thinks McCain will be added to the list of Arizonans who lost a race for president.

McCain aides said some Palin's clothing were sent back for being the wrong size. Geez, they can't even get that right!

On Meet the Press, McCain tried to distance himself from Bush but said that he and Bush share the common philosophy of the Republican Party. Upon hearing that, Obama praised him for the "straight talk."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CAMPAIGN_RDP?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-10-26-18-37-39

October 26, 2008 4:52 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

In this detailed investigative report, the Associated Press says that the Palin's pride and joy, the 1,715-mile pipeline emerged from a flawed bidding process that narrowed the choice to a firm with which members of her team had financial connections. And that Palin ignored legal advice and had private conversations with all bidders including the winner.

Imagine what Higby would do with this information had it been Villaraigosa and not Palin.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PALIN_PIPELINE

October 26, 2008 4:58 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

sunsentinel.com is inviting you to vote for one of 25 TV or movie presidents.

Martin Sheen (West Wing) leads Harrison Ford (Air Force One). Because Sheen's name appears twice on the ballot (this is Flordia afterall), he has collected either 18.6% or 23% of the vote to Ford's 12.4%.


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-fictional-presidents,0,583136.photogallery?track=10.25.08

October 26, 2008 5:17 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Just when you thought that the Bush administration had run out of things to screw up we get this story out of Texas that 6 weeks after Hurrican Ike devastated SE Texas, FEMA has only approved 13% of claims. Local members of Congress are PO'd.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6078556.html

October 26, 2008 5:24 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Maybe something good will come out of the McCain/Bush/Palin failures.

Maybe Villaraigosa will understand that when you spend all your time and effort promoting yourself, advancing your political career, and trying to enrich yourself, it can all come back to haunt you, especially when there is a disaster that you refused to prepare for.

October 26, 2008 5:30 PM  

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