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The Friday Political Thread: Dead Hippie Edition
SATURDAY UPDATE: Over at Reason.tv we've
posted Ron Paul's first New Hampshire TV ad, which is being torn to
bits in YouTube comments and the Ron Paul
Forums.
- Republican Bobby Jindal was elected governor of Louisiana in a landslide--the state's first non-white governor and the nation's first Indian American governor. Expectations are very, very high.
- The GOP held a debate and John McCain got off a one-liner about Woodstock that he proceeded to milk for a TV ad.
- The DREAM Act failed in the Senate. SCHIP failed in the House again. Both failed despite winning a clear vote majority, which is why America's system of government is the best in the world. (I'm being serious.)
- Sam Brownback, the grateful recipient of some attention for the first time since Ames, met with Rudy Giuliani and didn't not endorse him. Giuliani endorsed the Red Sox. Who's the bigger sellout?
- One million people signed up to support Stephen Colbert on Facebook.
Larger issues...
McCain, Who Won't be President. Ramesh Ponnuru is far too interesting a pundit to be pigeonholed like this, but his thought experiment about John McCain winning the presidency with a one-term pledge seems a piece with the larger McCain media narrative. The Rudy Giuliani storyline has been "social conservatives finally turn on him and sink him." The Fred Thompson storyline has been "he's lazy and he'll collapse." The McCain storyline has always been "he'll mount a comeback, but when?" Thus Ponnuru's argument that McCain could distance himself from the GOP jungle and "win a mandate for... fixing entitlements and beating terrorists" by pledging to retire after his first term. It's an idea that was floated in the Ronald Reagan campaign in 1979-1980 and abandoned because it would have made him look old and weak. But Ponnuru believes in the potential of McCain-as-savior and thinks he's the conservative with the best shot to win.
So, about winning. According to polls, McCain stands a better chance than the average GOP candidate of holding the White House. But McCain's acceptance of public financing for the primary might make him the most unelectable of the top candidates. If he wins the nomination it will be grueling, close-run, and exhausting for his campaign war chest. McCain will be out of primary cash, and unable to fund his general election campaign until the GOP convention kicks off in September. That would mean five or six months when McCain is off the airwaves against either Hillary Clinton--who's already winning over the bet-hedging donors that gave to her husband in the 90s and Bush in the oughts--or Barack Obama, who would have just pulled off a primary victory that made King David look like a piker. Five or six months during which the Democrats are able to hammer McCain in the rust belt and the sun belt, play around with ads in Virginia and Tennessee... basically build up a 15- or 20-point advantage heading into the convention, where McCain (who's said a contest against Clinton would be one of ideas, not insults) would presumably replay the Kerry '04 strategy of lining up aging Vietnam vets along the stage to blur the rest of the issues. How--unless the rest of the country learns to love McCain again, the way the press corps does--does McCain dig out of a hole in September '08?
Ron Against the Machine. On Monday, the Ron Paul campaign will launch a $1.1 million TV ad blitz in New Hampshire. "In the first commercial," reports Julie Bosman, "shot last week in New Hampshire, voters present some of the themes of Mr. Paul's candidacy, including his opposition to the Iraq war and his past as a doctor in a small Texas town." (Bosman quotes our own Nick Gillespie's analysis.) Marc Ambinder visits New Hampshire and confesses that national political reporters "did not take Ron Paul seriously" for "the longest time." The St. Anselm College poll puts Paul at 7.4 percent in the state, ahead of everyone but McCain, Rudy, and Mitt.
I predicted that if Paul started to garner real support, negative attention would switch from his policy stances to his connections on the ostracized right. And here it comes. The trend-setting conservative blog RedState has banned Paul comments. HotAir is chasing down Paul's donations from the White Pride fringe.
Huckabacklash. Those people who predicted Sam Brownback's withdrawal from the Republican race were right. In Iowa, in national polls, Huckabee is experiencing a well-timed mini-surge. The mainstream media love him: I remember watching reporters beam and smile when it became clear that Huckabee would come second in the Ames Straw poll, blowing away Romney's momentum. So the conservative press is pushing back. John Fund chatted with conservatives who say Huckabee's got no head for economics and left his state party "in a shambles." Quin Hillyer, who cut his teeth in Southern politics, marshalls Huckabee's record of not-illegal-graft and general weirdness. Depressed conservative Rod Dreher takes stock of both their arguments.
- Matt Taibbi hits the road with Mitt Romney and chucks some pavement at the governor's coif.
- Terence Samuel has the (increasingly convoluted) theory of how Obama can beat Clinton.
- Jim Geraghty draws a path to the nomination for the GOP's five frontrunners.
- Daily Kos commenters storm the Clintons' barricades, ineffectively.
This week's installment of Politics 'n' Prog comes from Renaissance, fronted by Annie Haslam in their strongest incarnation from the classic 1975 Turn of the Cards LP.
|10.26.07 @ 5:03PM|#
Actually, my expectations aren't high (for Jindal) at all. He'll be restricted by our democratic state legislature. Which is probably good. He can veto all the crappy spending bills, but they probably won't listen to his "tough on crime" (read: put black people in jail for doing drugs) crap.
NOT GRAND CHALUPA|10.26.07 @ 5:12PM|#
MEXICANS ARE COMING! IQ! MUSLIMS IN EUROPE! PAY ATTENTION TO MY RANTINGS!
Episiarch|10.26.07 @ 5:22PM|#
Weigel, you must be rubbing your hands with glee over the fact
that you have another year of this bullshit political theater to
write about. That's assuming reason pays you by the word.
If you're salaried, well, here's a tissue. Don't get any snot on
me, though.
|10.26.07 @ 5:38PM|#
The St. Anselm College poll puts Paul at 7.4 percent in the
state, ahead of everyone but McCain, Rudy, and Mitt.
This is possibly (probably?) an overly optimistic assessent (read
as wild ass guess).
Ron Paul will take 3rd in New Hampshire, relegating McCain to
also-ran status. Looking further, Giuliani and Pomney's negatives
indicate that they are beatable. Donations pour in, and the Ron
Paul campaign is the most political fun we've had since Ross
Perot.
Hope so, anyway.
|10.26.07 @ 6:06PM|#
The anti-Paulies (contributors and commenters alike) at HotAir
appear desperate. They've "uncovered" a possible $500 donation from
the new husband of David Duke's ex-wife and another $2300 donation
from a conspiracy theorist (egad!). The comments don't really help
their case any.
They really seem to think (or wish) that all Paul fans are
zombie-like drones that are secretly happy to be consorting with
"commies and nazis".
|10.26.07 @ 6:17PM|#
A donation was made to Dr. Paul by Lonestar's father's brother's
nephew's uncle's former roommate.
What does that mean to Dr. Paul?
NOTHING!
This shows just how stupid this whole digging through donations is.
That and HotAir (and the LoneStar Times) are just another pair of
Spaceballs...
What they *won't* comment about is what's not there: corporate
donations...
That's right, Dr. Paul's donations are all from actual people!
Actual people who are energized and happy and mad and hopeful and
despairing, and all united by a common goal: elect this man to save
the Union.
I love it when they dig that deep and find nothing. Makes them
waste time, money and effort chasing shadows and being foolish.
Paul|10.26.07 @ 7:08PM|#
Man, I read that dailykos thing, more specifically, the
comments.
Is it just me, or do Kos commenters creep some of you guys out.
Check it:
- Ever occur to you guys that maybe this went out because Hillary's camp thought to A S K the DCCC to send this out?
And that maybe - just MAYBE Obama's people didn't think to ask about something like this on HIS birthday?
- Hillary's team aren't missing a beat - and if Obama's folks didn't think of this it's not exactly Hillary's fault.
-The Clintons understand how to work the levers of power. I do not fault them for that.
I mean, fer chrissake, maybe Obama's people didn't "A S K" for this
because it never occurred to them to reach so low.
No, Hillary's team isn't missing a beat, that's what scares the
crap out of me.
And yes, the Clintons do know how to work the levers of
power, which is why they're going to love all the new
levers placed there by George W. Bush, a president the Democrats
will secretly love within the next 20 years.
|10.26.07 @ 7:12PM|#
Is it any wonder why Ron Paul is increasing in the polls? It is
not to me. The man is like George Washington. He follows the
Constitution with exactness, no other candidate does that. He voted
against the war in Iraq (only candidate to do that) . Hillary
Clinton voted for it TWICE! He fights the "Patriot" Act, an Act
that treats all civilians like terrorists and takes away some of
our civil liberties. He does not give in to the "They hate us
because we are free" bit and he knows, through research done by our
own CIA, that the reason they attack us is in part because we mess
in everybodies affairs. If another country came here and set up
bases all over the place and bombed my father, do you think I would
be happy about that? Do you think that would bring peace? Heck no!
I would be raging mad! It is time we all wake up to the
truth.
www.ronpaul2008.com - Find out for Yourself why this great man is
my Hero!
Underzog|10.26.07 @ 7:28PM|#
The Nazi Storm front, esp. Don Black, is a big supporter of Ron
Paul.Ron
Paul & Stormfront That is very worrisome. He doesn't
understand the Middle East and neither do you
Rheomites Reasonoids (Michael Young is an
exception).
Contrary to what many of you Libertarians believe, a cut off of aid
to Israel by a Ron Paul will hurt the U.S. more than Israel.
Somehow, I doubt either result would bother you guys.
"There's no need to fear; Underzog is here.!
DannyK|10.26.07 @ 7:37PM|#
I wonder if Ron Paul can do some libertarian jiujitsu on the wingnuts, convince people that anyone so hated must have something going for him.
SIV|10.26.07 @ 7:45PM|#
So, how did Bobby Jindal do in Jena this
timearound?
IIRC he won LaSalle Parish hands down. %55 in a multi-candidate
contest
Bhh|10.26.07 @ 8:45PM|#
"not-illegal-graft and general weirdness"
That right there basically is southern politics, no?
iih|10.26.07 @ 10:15PM|#
Hey J sub D: Haven't been in touch since the Tribes lost. I read your comment about supporting your new tribe. Welcome to Red Sox Nation! As much as I like Denver and Colorado, I am sticking to my Sox.
TLB|10.26.07 @ 10:44PM|#
1. The MSM refuses to cover Huck's greatest weakness. Search for
his name at my site to learn what that is. And, go to his campaign
appearances and ask him about it, then upload his response.
2. The MSM loves the horserace aspects, but has consistently
refused to look into the candidate's policies, such as by asking
them to defend their policies. Perhaps Reason could lead the way by
encouraging the MSM to do their job.
3. If you want to make Ron Paul a top tier candidate, follow these fairly
easy steps.
4. Here's today's antidote for today's prog rock clip:
youtube.com/watch?v=EWxVuIKWCM8
|10.26.07 @ 10:48PM|#
Hillary's team aren't missing a beat.
Not the sentence that I wanted to read that has both "beat" and
"Hillary's team" in it. Ah well, better luck next time.
iih|10.27.07 @ 12:40AM|#
I sometimes wonder, whatever happened to all the hippies back in
the 60s? May be its because they're older now and are not as
energetic. What about their kids? Did they loose hope?
I had this discussion with a colleague who self-describes herself
as a hippie back during the Vietnam war (she lost an uncle in the
war, and other relatives were wounded). I asked her, what happened?
She said that she's no longer interested. She'd vote yes, but
wouldn't care much about the way she chooses (I am guessing she'd
vote for HRC).
Interestingly, we both agreed that one of the main reasons there
isn't much public outcry today regarding Iraq as there was back
then with Vietnam is mainly because there is no draft. If there
were to be one, the public outcry would have been very
powerful.
Discuss?
Don't know how to pose this question, but here it is anyways. Is it
true that many current libertarians were hippies during Vietnam but
were later disillusioned with the clueless left? I mean, what
happened to all these hippie antiwar protesters? Are they now
born-again Christians? Are they hibernating? Have they moved to
Canada? Please, educate me!
|10.27.07 @ 12:44AM|#
All this talk about politicians running for president makes me
feel like a vomited all over the floor and was then forced to clean
it up with my tongue.
Seriously.
|10.27.07 @ 1:00AM|#
The MSM refuses to cover Huck's greatest
weakness.
Let me guess: he refuses to use nukes on border-crossers...
|10.27.07 @ 1:58AM|#
The most revealing statistic from the St. Anselm College poll -- 44% support for Ron Paul among the self-described liberals responding to the Republican primary preference. This matches up to another statistic elsewhere, where Paul has double the support in Team Blue states versus Team Red states.
iih|10.27.07 @ 2:10AM|#
prolefeed:
There was another poll by some university in NH that said that Mitt
and G were having commanding leads in NH. I hope that they are
either wrong or that the TV and radio adds that he plans to
broadcast would have a huge effect on his poll numbers. One would
think that the residents of "Live Free or Die" state would favor
Ron Paul.
|10.27.07 @ 2:19AM|#
I mean, what happened to all these hippie antiwar
protesters?
This question seems to be reverbing around the blogosphere this
week. Here's my stab at it
Is it true that many current libertarians were hippies during
Vietnam but were later disillusioned with the clueless
left?
This is P.J. O'Rourke, and to a lesser extent (because he's not
libertarian) David Horowitz.
Are they now born-again Christians?
This is Jane Fonda (although she didn't convert to the right wing,
just the religion)
Are they hibernating?
Well, Janis Joplin, Jimmi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Mamma Cass are,
but the end of their winter depends on one's particular
theology.
Have they moved to Canada?
It seems to be no more than 100 thousand (and more like 50
thousand), based on that beacon of fidelity and truth, Wikipedia.
What I find interesting is that in comparison, about 80 thousand
people left for Canada after the revolutionary war (There are
approx 75 million baby boomers; the 1790 census counted approx 4
million people total)
The short answer is yes I think the draft is the key reason why the
public outcry is different. America seems to be about 50/50 in big
war protests due to the draft: Civil War, WW1, and Vietnam yes,
Revolution, WW2, and Korea no.
|10.27.07 @ 2:30AM|#
One would think that the residents of "Live Free or Die"
state would favor Ron Paul.
NH likes to think it's Wyoming; really, however, it's rural
Connecticut with better skiing but fewer casinos.
Xmas|10.27.07 @ 9:09AM|#
To follow-up on Kenny's comment. New Hampshire has seen a large
influx of people from Massachusetts. These people are fleeing the
high taxes and high costs of living in Massachusetts.
They move to low-tax New Hampshire and then get involved with local
politics to improve the schools, fix the sidewalks and all sorts of
stuff that will cost more money and therefore force property taxes
higher.
|10.27.07 @ 9:46AM|#
Is it true that many current libertarians were hippies
during Vietnam but were later disillusioned with the clueless
left?
Well at one of them is. The socialism and love everybody crap
doesn't go well with a functioning brain. Don;t get me wrong, I
still like the hedonism, care for the environment, and music, but
when you throw reality into the mix, alot of hippie culture is
nonsense. Listen to tthe lyrics of Imagine by John Lennon
sometimes. Pure tripe.
I read your comment about supporting your new tribe. Welcome to
Red Sox Nation! As much as I like Denver and Colorado, I am
sticking to my Sox.
Hardly a member, just supporting the AL over the NL. I always did
like Luis Tiant and Yaz though.
|10.27.07 @ 11:59AM|#
That is unbelievable about the state of Louisianna's ethics
rules.
If a state legislator 1) owns a business that contracts with the
government, 2) runs a lobbying firm and 3) his contracting business
hires his lobbying shop to work the committee he sits on, is that
considered hitting the trifecta?
About Ron Paul - I always thought he was going to shake up the
race, but never considered it a real possibility that he could win.
And there is still no farking chance he's going to take any
southern states. But no one is pulling ahead, Paul is floating up
into the top tier, and it's starting to look like a brokered
convention. He could definitely finish top 3 in NH, and maybe win
it, if enough people feel like he's a legitimate candidate. A big
media buy will help with that. Lemme tell you, if it's Mitt 32%,
McCain 30% and Paul 28% when the votes are counted, the headlines
across the nation are not going to read "Mitt Romney wins New
Hampshire Primary."
He's gone from joke candidate to protest candidate to minor
candidate to also-ran to third tier to second tier and now he's
poised to storm the top tier. By way of comparison, Howard Dean was
never lower than a third-tier candidate. What's next, frontrunner?
Prohibitive frontrunner? I can't think of a time this has ever
happenned before.
|10.27.07 @ 12:02PM|#
To back up what XMAS wrote about NH, in the 2004 presidential election, the southern counties near the Mass border - the ones where most of the Massachusetts transplants were expected to give Kerry a big boose, making him competetive in that long-Republican state. As it turned out, those counties voted for Bush in higher numbers than the central and northern tiers. The Massachusetts transplants are basically political refugees.
iih|10.27.07 @ 1:01PM|#
Kenny, Xmas, J sub D, joe: Thanks, that was informative.
Regarding the draft thing, all Americans are still being involved
in the war through funding it (taxes). You'd expect more from
conscious tax-payers. Of course congress' hand is tied because the
Dems do not have enough authority to stop funding the war. people
are predicting a long war and may it is too early for people to
come out in droves to protest. But I guess that eventually they
will if no significant troop and violence reduction is achieved in
Iraq.
|10.27.07 @ 1:44PM|#
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight
you, then you win."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
RedState banned Paul supporters, it's true.
But they handed an
olive branch to you.
One blog lifted the ban
So if Paul is your man
You can shill him in limerick or haiku.
Inspired by that I went gunnin'
After the other candidates runnin'.
I am no poet
I'm for Paul and they know it
So *crickets* was my due for my funnin'.
|10.27.07 @ 2:07PM|#
Minor correction. The investigation into the $500 contribution
to Ron Paul being publicized by Michelle Malkin's Farts originated
at small neocon blog in Houston.
The proprietors of that blog seem very surprised that Pro-Paul
reader comments quadruple when they mention Ron Paul negatively.
They characterize his supporters as crazy folks.
They simply don't have a clue about the latent appeal in Ron Paul's
message.
|10.27.07 @ 2:12PM|#
If they weren't taking Paul seriously, bob, they wouldn't be
tearing him down.
Michell Malkin has ears, bob. Cute, functional, totally hot ears.
She can hear the applause from die-hard Republicans at the debates
when Paul denounces the war. Scares the hell out of her, and all of
'em.
|10.27.07 @ 2:14PM|#
bob, they must be unaware of the age old adage, "All publicity
is good publicity."
The RedState ban has only raised Paul's profile, there and
everywhere. Much appreciated!
|10.27.07 @ 2:19PM|#
We're in vigorous agreement, ya'll. I've suggested on that blog
that they're doing Ron Paul a huge favor, and are showing fear of
his impact. The typical reply is that Alex Jones donated 2300, and
a truther can never be president.
A few weeks ago I signed up for some RP block walking scheduled for
today. I had decided not to do it... Until that neocon blog started
slamming Ron Paul.
My feet are tired. But it's a good tired.
|10.27.07 @ 2:38PM|#
I'll tell you what - if the Clinton campaign starts pivoting to environmental protection and social security, it will mean that she's taking the possibility of a Paul nomination into account.
Fred Fubar|10.27.07 @ 2:46PM|#
I mean, what happened to all these hippie antiwar
protesters?
They're all supporting Hillary in hopes that she'll invade
Iran.
iih|10.27.07 @ 2:53PM|#
They're all supporting Hillary in hopes that she'll invade
Iran.
And then they get something to do by protesting the war? I guess
the Iraq war was not good enough for them ;-)
|10.27.07 @ 2:53PM|#
Do these nutbags really expect the Paul campaign to do intensive
background checks on every $100 and $500 donation? And then reject
them if they find something unusual about their second or third
cousins?
And they call *us* crazy!
Fred Fubar|10.27.07 @ 2:57PM|#
And then they get something to do by protesting the war? I
guess the Iraq war was not good enough for them ;-)
They aren't protesting the war in Iraq, they're protesting the Bush
administration. Go to an anti-war rally and look at the signs.
You'll see anti-Bush, anti-Republican, anti-Israel, anti-Jew,
anti-WTO and anti-capitalism, but you won't see an anti-war
sign.
I haven't seen a genuine anti-war protest since Gulf War One. And
that was mostly Buchananites.
VM|10.27.07 @ 3:32PM|#
oh my fucking god. that is a terrible ad.
and everybody there has facial hair. wow.
that stupid appeal to authority really was over the top, "the man's
a doctor. he understands the health care mess".
giggle.
I did like the "well, I don't always agree with him, but he's
honest" isn't bad...
iih|10.27.07 @ 3:42PM|#
VM:
I thought that the ad was a bit superficial, too. Why don't they
emphasize the vote against the war, for example? Could mentioning
that hurt in NH?
|10.27.07 @ 3:53PM|#
You know how people talk about a band "selling out" when they
get popular? They're new stuff sucks; it's shallow and superficial;
they're appealing to meatheads who don't really get what they're
about; they're just going for a mainstream following - that sort of
thing?
Ask yourselves something: what is it you hope Paul will accomplish
with this ad? Hint: making people with subscriptions to Reason
isn't it.
Bingo|10.27.07 @ 4:04PM|#
My main beef with the ad is that it seems to be political fluff
with no discussion of policy or ideology. However, it does
represent an appeal to your "average American" (whatever the hell
that means these days) based around the concept of freedom, so I
can live with that.
If RP supporters want to appeal to a larger group, they will have
to get used to this sort of thing. V for Vendetta
references hinting at violent overthrow of government doesn't
exactly fly with Mom and Pop in Bumfucksville, NH.
Fluffy|10.27.07 @ 4:04PM|#
I think he's trying the Reagan pivot.
The knock on Reagan was that he was crazy and dangerous. He pivoted
on that at the 76 convention.
Paul doesn't have that kind of time, so he has to simultaneously
develop the "ideologically pure" brand and the "but see, he's a
totally normal candidate and not threatening at all" brand.
|10.27.07 @ 4:13PM|#
This is a very low key way for Ron Paul to say "I'm not the nut
you've heard I am".
Sorry if he didn't come out with "Ron Paul's Triumph of the Will"
which is about all that will make you folks happy. Maybe after the
inauguration.
Grand Chalupa|10.27.07 @ 4:14PM|#
So, what does everybody think about white people heading for minority status? Is anybody doing anything about this? If not, why?
|10.27.07 @ 4:17PM|#
Nice try, Chalupa impersonator. You didn't leave an email
address.
Anyway, I too think the Paul ad is trying to make him look less
nutty. I hope it succeeds and the scenario joe talks about (A close
third in NH) could take place.
Bingo|10.27.07 @ 4:18PM|#
Grand Chalupa: What do you think about trolls being a minority status? Are you doing anything about this? If not, why?
|10.27.07 @ 4:21PM|#
No, it's me. How bout them negros?
Thats great Chalupa. Now do the Jews! The Jews! You can't get
anymore "anti-PC" than being anti-semitic.
iih|10.27.07 @ 4:22PM|#
Thinking of it again, NHites are not really your "average American" voters. The ad comes across as too nice and not aggressive enough. NHites are tough people, they want tough.
|10.27.07 @ 4:27PM|#
So, what does everybody think about white people heading for
minority status? Is anybody doing anything about this? If not,
why?
Chalupa, you flaming idiot, white peoplehave ALWAYSbeen a minority
on Earth.
|10.27.07 @ 5:02PM|#
You want offensive racism?
It does not get much more offensive than this!
Blazing
Saddles - "Hey, where are the white women at?"
Fluffy|10.27.07 @ 5:08PM|#
This weekend in the Ron Paul Wars, RedState hit a new low: they
issued a warning to a member whose entire post consisted of the
Bill of Rights.
Apparently the moderators determined that the Bill of Rights is Ron
Paul Spam, and that posting the Bill of Rights constitutes
"shilling for Paul", even if you don't use his name.
I shit you not.
How's THAT for a brand identity, bitches!
|10.27.07 @ 5:09PM|#
I thought the ad was tolerable until the very last line. "he's really catching on". fuck. you can tell he is fiscally conservative and adhering to a strict budget.
|10.27.07 @ 5:12PM|#
Ya know, thinking about the Chalupa thang...
A Chalupa is a small boat with a very shallow draft.
Fits the Grande Cabron somehow.
|10.27.07 @ 5:13PM|#
Grande C,
Skimming the tops of discourse on race, but always afraid to plumb
the depths.
|10.27.07 @ 5:35PM|#
Sage,
I wonder how Paul would respond the George Carlin's concerns about
the dismantling of social security...
That video endorses Ron Paul's positions about as much as, well, it
doesn't.
iih|10.27.07 @ 5:35PM|#
Good, I liked that speech (never head of George Carlin though), but that was just a voice-over without explicit endorsement. A bit confused.
|10.27.07 @ 5:36PM|#
iih,
Never heard of George Carlin!!!!!
Oh my, you need to look for his stuff and catch up. Truly funny
guy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Carlin
|10.27.07 @ 5:43PM|#
Apparently the moderators determined that the Bill of Rights
is Ron Paul Spam, and that posting the Bill of Rights constitutes
"shilling for Paul", even if you don't use his name.
I shit you not.
How's THAT for a brand identity, bitches!
That's hilarious!
|10.27.07 @ 5:45PM|#
George Carlin on education
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYoVnBc_fk
on Pro-life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrXvDXVhqfU
on the founders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNv-oDbBZQU
SIV|10.27.07 @ 5:58PM|#
Chalupa, you flaming idiot, white peoplehave ALWAYSbeen a minority
on Earth.
Depends how you define "white people".Caucasians probably have been
the predominant "racial" group on the planet and, although
essentially unknowable, may have been the majority of all humans in
the past.All racial definitions and categories (and any demographic
study and speculation thereon) opens up a rather nasty can of
worms.
Flemur might have a can opener!
|10.27.07 @ 6:07PM|#
SIV, given the sheer size of China both now and in history,
using 19th century racial categories "Mongoloids" were probably
always the largest.
I should register an account and post a copy of the Declaration of
Independence on Red State and see if I get banned.
|10.27.07 @ 6:13PM|#
SIV,
I think "Asian populations" have had the larger numbers for more of
history...
For a visual
http://desip.igc.org/populationmaps.html
And a table
http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/history/world-population-growth.htm
iih|10.27.07 @ 6:13PM|#
NM:
I like Carlin's comedy. Deep. Don't entirely agree or disagree with
him on abortion, though.
But the last question arises a question in my head: Why did the
founding fathers restrict voting to free men only, but not women?
Would a free black man have been able to vote back then?
SIV|10.27.07 @ 6:18PM|#
Neu Mejican,
"Asian Populations" is a geographic category not a racial one. Most
people in India can be classified as "Caucasian". Ancient Japan and
SE Asia were populated by Caucasians.
See my qualifier/disclaimer above regarding definitions and
categories.
|10.27.07 @ 6:23PM|#
SIV,
Of course, we can always adjust our definitions to make our
arguments accurate...an ability shared by all members of the
species.
Geographically defined populations are more precise than racial
defined ones...so I used a geographic argument.
http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v36/n11s/full/ng1438.html
|10.27.07 @ 6:25PM|#
Tucker
Carlson did a piece last night on the RedState RP ban.
Thanks again for all the free advertising, RedState!
Guy Montag|10.27.07 @ 6:33PM|#
Anybody following that TNR meltdown over the Private Beauchamp stories?
SIV|10.27.07 @ 6:37PM|#
Neu Mejican:
I can't see how geography could define race (admittedly not an easy
definition).
I am using an anthropological definition for my statement above.As
loaded and imprecise as any definition of race can be,
Craniometrics and other biological criteria would appear to be the
most "scientific".
Edward|10.27.07 @ 6:42PM|#
Does anybody know if Ron Paul has responded to this?
An Open Letter to Ron Paul
Dear Congressman Paul:
Your Presidential campaign has drawn the enthusiastic support of an
imposing collection of Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, Holocaust
Deniers, 9/11 "Truthers" and other paranoid and discredited
conspiracists.
Do you welcome- or repudiate - the support of such factions?
More specifically, your columns have been featured for several
years in the American Free Press -a publication of the nation's
leading Holocaust Denier and anti-Semitic agitator, Willis Carto.
His book club even recommends works that glorify the Nazi SS, and
glowingly describe the "comforts and amenities" provided for
inmates of Auschwitz.
Have your columns appeared in the American Free Press with your
knowledge and approval?
As a Presidential candidate, will you now disassociate yourself,
clearly and publicly, from the poisonous propaganda promoted in
such publications?
As a guest on my syndicated radio show, you answered my questions
directly and fearlessly.
Will you now answer these pressing questions, and eliminate all
associations between your campaign and some of the most loathsome
fringe groups in American society?
Along with my listeners (and many of your own supporters), I
eagerly await your response.
Respectfully, Michael Medved
|10.27.07 @ 6:43PM|#
SIV,
I can't see how geography could define race
That is why I linked to the nature article.
It explains it in detail. At the genetic level, geography is the
more precise grouping due to its connection with migration patterns
out from the original population with eventual (partial) isolation
between sub-populations.
Craniometrics and other biological criteria would appear to be
the most "scientific".
Categories based on physical features will not reflect the
underlying processes. The "most scientific" populations are the
ones based on geography...at least that is the current thinking in
research on global genetic diversity.
SIV|10.27.07 @ 6:53PM|#
Neu,
From the Nature link:
We show that racial classifications are inadequate descriptors
of the distribution of genetic variation in our
species.
And vice a versa I suppose.
I am no proponent of any racial definition and see such as largely
social and legal constructs. That said, if you give physical
anthropologists a pile of human remains they will sort them in the
same manner independently of each other.
|10.27.07 @ 6:53PM|#
The Ron Paul ad really stinks. Not because of the message, but because of the production values and acting (the bearded guy is particularly atrocious- is that Jesse Benton's brother?). It looks like a HS media project. That this could be produced scares the hell out of me. Heads need to roll in the Paul media department.
Minion of URKOBOLD|10.27.07 @ 7:00PM|#
EDDIE:
YES. SOMEONE KNOWS.
ALSO, GOOD GUEST COMMENTARY AT URKOBOLD. THE URKOBOLD IS PLEASED
WITH YOU.
SIV|10.27.07 @ 7:01PM|#
at least that is the current thinking in
research on global genetic diversity.
emphasis added
So "Race" is a genetic category?
That might "solve" a few problems while creating a slew of new
ones.
I thought I would have to wait for Flemur to weigh in with that
argument.
Minion of URKOBOLD|10.27.07 @ 7:04PM|#
IRRELEVANT, FLUFFY. BE CAREFUL OR WE'LL PUT NAIR IN YOUR
PRODUCT. SO YOU'LL NO LONGER BE FLUFFY.
EDDIE DOESN'T HAVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. IT IS HIS PRIVILEGE AS
RESIDENT INTERNETS TUFF GUY.
THE URKOBOLD WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR EDDIE:
"SOMETIMES. WITH FLOWERS AND PLENTY OF LUBE."
WILL THAT SUFFICE?
|10.27.07 @ 7:04PM|#
That video endorses Ron Paul's positions about as much as,
well, it doesn't.
Yeah, I know. It was a joke.
|10.27.07 @ 7:04PM|#
SIV,
American Association of Physical Anthropologists Statement on
Biological Aspects of Race
http://www.physanth.org/positions/race.html
The geographic pattern of genetic variation within this array
is complex, and presents no major discontinuity. Humanity cannot be
classified into discrete geographic categories with absolute
boundaries. Furthermore, the complexities of human history make it
difficult to determine the position of certain groups in
classifications. Multiplying subcategories cannot correct the
inadequacies of these classifications.
Generally, the traits used to characterize a population are either
independently inherited or show only varying degrees of association
with one another within each population. Therefore, the combination
of these traits in an individual very commonly deviates from the
average combination in the population. This fact renders untenable
the idea of discrete races made up chiefly of typical
representatives.
|10.27.07 @ 7:07PM|#
SIV,
So "Race" is a genetic category?
No. No. That is not the implication.
The implication is that populations defined by geographic region
are more homogeneous genetically than those defined by external
physical features.
The problem is essentially the same as the one the AAPA is trying
to get across. Racial classifications are not particularly useful
for scientific study. Good science is done with much more
restrictive population definitions.
|10.27.07 @ 7:09PM|#
Doesn't Edward = Eric? as in Dondero?
I think I smell doo doo again - Donderdoodoo.
Fluffy|10.27.07 @ 7:10PM|#
I think Paul's campaign ads should just be clips of the war interspersed with Colin Powell's UN presentation played over a soundtrack of the Shaker spiritual I Hunger and Thirst.
|10.27.07 @ 7:11PM|#
Guy-
The Beauchamp affair is a tempest in a teapot that is archetypical
of the inane level of political discourse today. Beauchamp is a
douche, but the bloggers playing 'gotcha!' think they have
uncovered the greatest scandal since Gerd Heidemann
.
SIV|10.27.07 @ 7:20PM|#
The American Association of Physical Anthropologists Statement
on Biological Aspects of Race is representative of their current
"political" position rather than their body of work.
Skeletal remains are classified by their morphology and metrics
rather than any genetic analysis.
|10.27.07 @ 7:21PM|#
Does anyone have any idea of the actual "truthiness" of Colbert's run? The show made of spectacle of the application process (and an amusing one at that), but has there been anything that has crossed the line from fiction into fact?
SIV|10.27.07 @ 7:30PM|#
Neu,
We should probably hold this discussion for the future on another
thread with a related subject post. Both SoS and Flemur
might have something to offer.
My initial statement "it depends how you define white people" was
in reference to how the traditional anthropological definition of
"Caucasian" would reflect in "racial" demographics in the present,
historical past and antiquity, respectively.
|10.27.07 @ 7:31PM|#
I don't think that was really Chalupa.
"Race" doesn't actually correspond to any one thing; it's a
socially-constructed concept that does a good-enough job describing
a complicated set of interacting factors. Like "society" or
"chi."
The Scott Beauchamp affair is the greatest breakthrough for the
conservative blogosphere since they "discovered" the Schiavo Memo
was a forgery.
iih|10.27.07 @ 7:35PM|#
I could never understand the Beauchamp affair. No one can explain it to me in 3 sentences or less, so I tend not to try to understand it. (Almost anything can be explained in 3 sentences or less, I think.)
|10.27.07 @ 7:48PM|#
Here's my try in 3 sentences:
1) An army junior enlisted wrote a series of articles for an
American bi-weekly poltical magazine as a first-hand account of
things in the middle east.
2) Some stuff written by this soldier, who now (and perhaps before)
has a personal relationship with a member of the magazine's staff,
seems to have modified the locations of some events and the
sequence that they occured.
3) How big of a deal is anything in sentence (2) depends entirely
on the cross product of your political persuasion, and your opinion
of the Iraq war
iih|10.27.07 @ 7:56PM|#
Kenny:
Got it! That explains why Michelle Malkin was mad at TNR.
However, you cheated. Point (2) is a few sentences merged into
one.
|10.27.07 @ 7:57PM|#
1) You know, thinking about it, I really like the three sentence
thumbrule, iih.
2) It is like a free form haiku, and it avoids screeds from
truthers, racists, AndOtherKooks.
3) Even though I enjoy both their works, I think Prof Reynolds
would be good at it, but Mr. Weigel, not so much.
iih|10.27.07 @ 7:57PM|#
Whoever brought my attention to George Carlin: Damn you! Carlin is addictive and so funny. Here he is on stuff.
iih|10.27.07 @ 8:05PM|#
You know, thinking about it, I really like the three
sentence thumbrule
It helps in defining the question in that see of noise.
|10.27.07 @ 8:19PM|#
why the hell didn't the ad just use Ron Paul's actual speeches and actual people (rather than actors) talking about Ron Paul? Not only would it have been cheaper, it would be about a million times more effective.
|10.27.07 @ 8:21PM|#
oh, and Edward, do you think vegetarians should have to apologize because Hitler found their ideas so appealing? That doesn't qualify as a Godwin does it?
|10.27.07 @ 8:23PM|#
ボシャンポ の 俳句
Solider writes stories
Some events are disputed
Bloggers' conniptions
|10.27.07 @ 8:41PM|#
What's comical is that the reason Ron Paul is in
poltics is to enact the policies of a certain Jewish economist
whom the Nazis really wanted to kill.
If Ron Paul was to somehow become supreme dictator for life, but
enact his current crop of policies, the Nazi's would be turning
against him within 3 years tops when he thwarted their attempts to
get the govenment to take up "racially aware" policies.
Calling Ron Paul a Nazi sympathiser is like calling the ACLU a
bunch of KKK sympathisers.
Grand Chalupa|10.27.07 @ 9:15PM|#
What does everybody think of
this...http://www.davidduke.com/general/kayla-rolland-one-more-victim_21.html
The man makes some good points.
|10.27.07 @ 9:38PM|#
a
SoS = Neu
Huh?
SIV,
It doesn't sound like there is much difference in our positions.
You started with "depending upon how we define it" and I followed
with a "if we define it this way then X."
I don't see much sense in trying to define race as a generalizable
category system. Race, technically, just means "grouping" or
"class," so whenever scientists are asking a question, their
category will need to be appropriately defined to facilitate
finding an answer to that particular question. The concept used by
racists is biologically pretty meaningless, so it doesn't lend
itself to answer the questions they want to answer. Most
scientists, however, are not really interested in those questions
(and their implications) anyway.
|10.27.07 @ 9:38PM|#
So, what does everybody think about white people heading for
minority status? Is anybody doing anything about this?
Well, I schtup my wife on a regular basis, and got a few
anklebiters out of the deal, but frankly, Grand Chalupa, not really
thinking about stopping TehBrownSkinnedMenace when doing it -- or
before or after, either. Quite frankly, often envision I'm doing
one o' them BrownSkinnedMenaces while doing my wife. So, does that
make me a race traitor in your view?
Dude, get a life. The average amount of skin melanin in the U.S.
going up a couple percentage points over a few decades isn't
something to get your knickers in a twist about, unless your stock
portfolio is composed exclusively of sunscreen manufacturers.
Seriously, is
this
so bad?
|10.27.07 @ 9:49PM|#
Re: the Ron Paul ads -- kinda boring, the comfort food of
political ads. Some people actually LIKE meatloaf and mashed
potatoes.
Hope they ran those puppies by a focus group to see if actual
people in NH like it. Clearly they're not preaching to the
converted.
SIV|10.27.07 @ 9:58PM|#
SoS = Neu
I wouldn't think so as Neu is all about the "science" and SoS
strays into unorthodox anthropology/humanities a bit.
Cesar,
I'm not sure what the PC orthodoxy on race is as much of it is
contradictory- if not outright, text-book definition of
racist.
I do know that there was a period of 50 + years in Anthropology
when they had left the 19th century racist roots behind yet still
recognized race as a valid category of study.
Physical Anthropologists have not disavowed their work in this
area, they just don't over-emphasize it in today's PC
academic/political environment.
BakedPenguin|10.27.07 @ 10:23PM|#
Hope they ran those puppies by a focus group to see if
actual people in NH like it. Clearly they're not preaching to the
converted.
I was thinking the same thing, and the point made upthread about
the production vales is valid - political ads are more like wedding
videos than films. Dissolves, picture-in-picture, and all the other
kitschy crap just works better for a 30 second clip.
sage, the "Tom Petty" vid was good, but it would have to be severly
cut to become a commercial, and getting the rights would be real
friggin' expensive, unless Petty is a RP fan. (Also, it's more of a
preaching-to-the-converted video.)
|10.27.07 @ 10:25PM|#
This weekend in the Ron Paul Wars, RedState hit a new low:
they issued a warning to a member whose entire post consisted of
the Bill of Rights.
Apparently the moderators determined that the Bill of Rights is Ron
Paul Spam, and that posting the Bill of Rights constitutes
"shilling for Paul", even if you don't use his name.
Perhaps it would be acceptable RedState material if the person
posting improved the Bill of Rights like this:
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to
a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State
and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which
district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be
informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be
confronted with the witnesses against him; to have
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and
to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence
involving water and boards.
Feel free to make similar suggestions for the rest of the Bill of
Rights.
|10.27.07 @ 11:29PM|#
RedState has a thread going that offers an "olive branch" to Ron
Paul supporters -- you can post anything you want -- if it's
written in haiku -- leading to this post, presumably about VM
;)
In the basement room
rancid food, porn, filthy clothes
murmuring RonPaul!
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too
much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
Apparently some RedStaters have a sense of humor, too.
iih|10.27.07 @ 11:39PM|#
prolefeed:
They require that I register to post a comment. Or at least I think
that is the problem. It said "You are not authorized to post
comments." But I ain't going to give these freaks any login
information.
|10.28.07 @ 12:04AM|#
Responding to a question about how Jindal did this time around
in heavily Rebublican La Salle parish, given its apparent
reluctance to vote for a GOP candidate that isn't white, SIV
notes:
IIRC [Jindal] won LaSalle Parish hands down. %55 in a
multi-candidate contest
Well I suppose that's one way to spin it. You might also note that
statewide he won 54% of the vote, which means that in an
overwhelmingly GOP parish he got essentially the same level of
support as as he did throughout the rest of the state.
Now, given that overwhelmingly Republican parish, you might have
expected the GOP candidate to get a substantially greater
level of support than he earned in the rest of the state - and, the
thing is, in almost every other election, you'd be right. I'd hate
to speculate on why, in this instance, you'd be wrong.
By way of comparison, in the Lt. Governor's race the GOP candidate
Sammy Kershaw got 30.3% of the vote statewide but managed to get
59.4% of the vote in La Salle parish - or nearly twice the level of
support he had statewide.
Here are some recent elections results comparing the percentage of
votes won statewide in Louisiana to La Salle parish for GOP
candidates.
2007 Governor Jindal 53.9 55.2 +1.3
2007 Lt. Gov. Kershaw 30.3 59.4 +29.1
2004 President Bush 56.7 80.4 +23.7
2004 Senate Vitter 51.0 68.7 +17.7
2003 Governor Jindal 48.1 39.2 -8.9
2002 Senate Haik Terrell 48.3 66.9 +18.6
2000 President Bush 52.6 74.7 +22.1
PS - why doesn't the pre /pre tag work? Need html help to format
that block - but you can get the idea. The first number, statewide,
second is La Salle and the third is the difference between them.
The last number is the telling one.
|10.28.07 @ 12:25AM|#
No worries, I just was hoping for a close game/ series
I really don't have a dog in the fight (I'm a Orioles/Nationals fan
based on where I grew up) I just worry about the karmic imbalance
that will occur in the universe if the Red Sox start to become a
successful franchise (or even worse, a dynasty).
|10.28.07 @ 12:30AM|#
I was just looking up some stuff of Kreshaw from the post above. Wow, isn't "jungle primary" an unfortunate name for a political process, especially based on the thesis of Mr. Courts post?
iih|10.28.07 @ 12:31AM|#
I just worry about the karmic imbalance that will occur in
the universe if the Red Sox start to become a successful franchise
(or even worse, a dynasty).
No worries, it is all tribalism in sports.
BakedPenguin|10.28.07 @ 1:01AM|#
Brian - Every time I've tried to add "pre" data or tables, it
hasn't been recognized. That could have more to do with my crappy
HTML skills than the blog software, though.
Earlier today, I had a post that got eaten by my browser re: one of
joe's comments on NH elections. He stated the southern NH had a
bigger % of Bush voters in 2004 vs 2000. I thought the reason why
might be the 2000 Nader vote, so I did a quick analysis, adding
Nader's votes to Gore's for 2000.
The two big southern counties are Hillsborough & Rockingham -
and they both had a higher % of Bush voters in 2004 than in 2000,
even assuming every 2000 Nader voter would have gone for Gore.
Nearly every other county had an increase in Democratic votes. I
have the data in a lovely table, which, of course, I can't
post.
The Wine Commonsewer|10.28.07 @ 2:39AM|#
Doesn't Edward = Eric? as in Dondero?
I think I smell doo doo again - Donderdoodoo.
Forward his mail to the Tijuana jail. Or, in an alternative
universe he's getting a tan on the Seashores of Old Mexico with
some hot little senorita.
You pick.
The Wine Commonsewer|10.28.07 @ 2:41AM|#
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too
much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
Amen.
|10.28.07 @ 2:56AM|#
Speaking of the Rockies, Colbert, and other current events, the punchline in the last twenty seconds of this video is simply jaw dropping.
|10.28.07 @ 4:28AM|#
Brian,
Your post seems to say more about Jindal's popularity statewide
than anything about La Salle parish. Kershaw got 59%. Jidnal got
55%. Kershaw did so much better in La Salle than he did statewide
because of his unpopularity statewide, not because Jindal had some
particular problem in La Salle. The four point difference between
Kershaw and Jindal might suggest a teeny racist element, but hardly
anthing substantial.
|10.28.07 @ 10:04AM|#
Forward his mail to the Tijuana jail. Or, in an alternative
universe he's getting a tan on the Seashores of Old Mexico with
some hot little senorita.
You pick.
Nah. Screw it - I'm goin' back to bed.
|10.28.07 @ 10:11AM|#
From the Michael Medved letter quoted above:
"As a guest on my syndicated radio show, you answered my questions
directly and fearlessly."
Deal with the rest of the letter as soon as time permits, but RP
should excerpt and roll out that quote all over the place now!
|10.28.07 @ 11:52AM|#
Almost anything can be explained in 3 sentences or less, I
think.
Here are two unrlated things that can't be explained in three
sentences -
1) String theory.
2) Paris Hilton's fame.
I'm sure there's more. ;-)
|10.28.07 @ 12:01PM|#
The average amount of skin melanin in the U.S. going up a
couple percentage points over a few decades isn't something to get
your knickers in a twist about, unless your stock portfolio is
composed exclusively of sunscreen manufacturers.
Wise statement indeed, prolefeed.
Guy Montag|10.28.07 @ 12:31PM|#
Kenny,
Sounds like you got a few all facts wrong, but if that
story is coming across to you in the manner it probably does not
matter to discuss it.
|10.28.07 @ 12:44PM|#
I'm sure there's more. ;-)
Women?
smartass sob, why did you use the question mark?
|10.28.07 @ 1:06PM|#
Holy shit that Ron Paul ad was terrible. It's like they hired the director of a 60's educational film strip to shoot it.
|10.28.07 @ 1:22PM|#
Kolohe and The WIne Commonsewer:
Eh, howzit, brah? I wen' stay Windward Oahu, yeah?
Don't actually talk that way -- if a haole boy likes me talks
pidgen, he better talk it fluently, or it comes across as fake and
patronizing.
I do say "howzit", though, and say "okole" instead of "buttocks"
without thinking about it. Imagine I'll slowly incorporate more
pidgen if I wen' stay a few more decades here.
|10.28.07 @ 1:24PM|#
SIV,
Physical Anthropologists have not disavowed their work in this
area, they just don't over-emphasize it in today's PC
academic/political environment.
To repeat myself: Good science is done with much more
restrictive population definitions.
This is as true in Physical Anthropology as any other field and
reflected in the AAPA statement on the issue. Their position is an
empirically driven position.
PC = the accepted view.
In science that tends to mean the view that has held up to scrutiny
the best so far.
Fred Fubar|10.28.07 @ 1:51PM|#
I grew up as one of the minority pink skins in a home town with a majority of brown skins. Explain to me the problem again, because I can't see it.
|10.28.07 @ 3:04PM|#
Medved is a tool. Paul has no duty to dissassociate himself with goofs that support him, every candidate has plenty of those. Ha Medved publicly called on Romney to denounce Bob Jones? What a tool.
|10.28.07 @ 4:06PM|#
Guy-
I am then interested in an explanation (in three sentences or less,
of course) of TNR bruhaha with the correct facts.
Seriously.
iih|10.28.07 @ 4:12PM|#
Has anyone seen Laura in her new look? I have to say, I did like the way she responded to Wallace.
iih|10.28.07 @ 4:28PM|#
Guy Montag:
Can you explain the TNR in 3 sentences or less? Just the bear
minimum possible.
|10.28.07 @ 4:35PM|#
Has anyone seen Laura in her new look? I have to say, I did
like the way she responded to Wallace.
No, she should have been a rude, inconsiderate, Ugly American,
pissing off her hosts and sending the message "We're better then
you!" Yeah, that's the kind of diplomacy
that the asshats at The Weekely Standard would endorse. What a
bunch of putzes!
iih|10.28.07 @ 4:53PM|#
Guy Montag:
Can you explain the TNR Beauchamp affair in 3
sentences or less? Just the bear minimum possible.
I guess even in three sentences people will differ.
|10.28.07 @ 7:24PM|#
Yes, #2 ad was very good and much, much better than the
1st.
This ad should help bring him in votes.
Fluffy|10.28.07 @ 7:54PM|#
Apparently at a rally in Cheyenne today they filmed part of another TV commercial: they got the crowd to chant "I'm Ron Paul, and I approve this message!" for use at the end of a future ad. I'd like to see that. I'm not sure the FEC will let them use it, though - I thought it had to be the candidate's own voice.
|10.28.07 @ 8:26PM|#
Fluffy -- what if Ron Paul was in the crowd saying that?
Ad #2 -- way better. Was he changing his position on spending by
merely saying he won't vote for an unbalanced budget, or finessing
his previous statements about gutting unconstitutional (read:
virtually all) Congressional spending in order to appear more
mainstream?
|10.28.07 @ 8:30PM|#
smartass sob, why did you use the question mark?
I was still asleep. Any guy knows that women can't be explained in
three sentences.
|10.28.07 @ 10:29PM|#
prolefeed, he very much needs to sound like a conservative who
wants to end the Iraq war. His mention of "wasting trillions of
dollars" drives home this point.
Saying he will veto any unbalanced budget that's sent to his desk
is, I'm sure, a careful statement. Note that he didn't say he would
sign off on a budget that, while balanced, still funds all the
fecal beauracracies.
Edward|10.28.07 @ 11:35PM|#
Geez, all I did was ask whether Ron Paul had responded to Medved's open letter. You Ron Paul people are a sensitive lot.
|10.28.07 @ 11:53PM|#
That Ron Paul ad is bad because everyone in it is obviously an actor speaking scripted, unnatural lines. It certainly doesn't give you the impression that Ron Paul is truly "catching on" among actual, real people.
Mad Max|10.29.07 @ 12:07AM|#
Hi, Eddie,
Why don't you ask the pro-war candidates to repudiate *this*
-
http://www.reason.com/news/show/28545.html
Edward|10.29.07 @ 12:16AM|#
That Ron Paul ad is bad because everyone in it is obviously an
actor speaking scripted, unnatural lines. It certainly doesn't give
you the impression that Ron Paul is truly "catching on" among
actual, real people.
Truth in advertizing?
Edward|10.29.07 @ 12:18AM|#
Hey, Maddie!
I think the pro-war candidates should respond to it (whatever it
is).
Edward|10.29.07 @ 12:25AM|#
The liberal woman on the tiresome MacGlauglin Group predicted that Ron Paul will be the story coming out of New Hampshire. That's the first indication I've seen that real people (nothing personal) are taking the Doctor seriously. If he is the story coming out of NH, which I doubt, he sure as hell will have to start addressing the issue of his unsavory supporters.
Fluffy|10.29.07 @ 12:32AM|#
The funny thing about that Paul ad is that those people aren't actors, they're actual supporters from New Hampshire. So they sound fake, even though they're real. And if they had gone out and gotten actors to portray supporters, they'd be fake, but would sound real. There is some sort of French postmodernist ironic point in there somewhere.
|10.29.07 @ 4:53AM|#
What's that smell? Someone light a match, please.
Anyway ...
The funny thing about that Paul ad is that those people aren't
actors, they're actual supporters from New Hampshire. So they sound
fake, even though they're real.
For real? I mean, is that so?
I guess the problem is that they're still self-consciously speaking
for the camera. They should have had people being interviewed, or
talking with each other, in response to the question, "Why do you
support Ron Paul?" and let the cameras roll, and then grab some
natural soundbites from that. Maybe let them respond to some other
questions first -- "What's your current party affiliation?" "How do
you feel about the current state of the country?" -- and give them
a chance to forget the cameras are rolling so that they end up
talking more normally and naturally.
They certain sound like they're acting.
|10.29.07 @ 5:06AM|#
On the other hand ...
While viewing this Hillary Clinton
ad, which is much more slickly produced and, on the surface,
much more impressive, all my cynicism sphincters cut loose at the
10-second mark. And I can't remember what, if anything, was said
during that commercial. Something about Hillary fighting for
something.
Edward|10.29.07 @ 9:32AM|#
They should have had people being interviewed, or talking with each other, in response to the question, "Why do you support Ron Paul?" and let the cameras roll, and then grab some natural soundbites from that. Maybe let them respond to some other questions first -- "What's your current party affiliation?" "How do you feel about the current state of the country? "ARE YOU A NAZI?"
VM|10.29.07 @ 10:08AM|#
OMG! I spit coffee out with that last line. Well played, old bean. Well played.
BakedPenguin|10.29.07 @ 10:17AM|#
Edward isn't Dondero, after all. He's Underzog! Hey, do the line about us being "Roehmites". That always cracks me up.
VM|10.29.07 @ 10:29AM|#
Baked -
sorry - could you say that a little louder. that "whisk on
concrete" sound is deafening! sss
sss
ssssss
ssssssswwwwwwwww
swwwwweeeeeeeppppppp
sssssswwwwwweeeeeeeepppppp
SWEEP!!!
but we've been figuring that Eddie is a multiposter - like Dan T's
different names, or Passim's incarnations... just who. Mr. Crane
refuses to answer!
BakedPenguin|10.29.07 @ 10:40AM|#
Moose - I almost felt bad for the Rockies..... Ok, no I didn't.
You should feel good about next year, though. The Tribe has the
pitching to win the WS.
As for the troll revue -
Will the real Ed Shady...
Please stand up?
Please stand up?
Please stand up?
VM|10.29.07 @ 10:59AM|#
hay - Baked :)
now that the "goddammit, bummer" has worn off, I've been jumping up
and down with excitement to see the Tribe play in October (I never
got the chance in the 90s)! And the smile from the Cavs making the
finals is still there! That's one that still feels like a
dream!
But the Rockies represented the best of the NL. Remember in the 80s
when the AL East was called the AL Least? The dominant team is from
there right now. (and mein gott, how dominant!!)
are you excited about Sunday's football? and joe was right that the
'Skin's D would give problems. grin. [keed keed]
do you think they played "Hail to the Redskins" with the garbage
time touchdown? [ducks]
|10.29.07 @ 11:09AM|#
Long as we're talking football, I'd like to point out that the Browns are 4-3 and the Lions are 5-2. Apocalypse, ye must be nearby.
|10.29.07 @ 11:25AM|#
They should have had people being interviewed, or talking with
each other, in response to the question, "Why do you support Ron
Paul?" and let the cameras roll, and then grab some natural
soundbites from that. Maybe let them respond to some other
questions first -- "What's your current party affiliation?" "How do
you feel about the current state of the country? "ARE YOU A
NAZI?"
"WHERE'S OSAMA BIN LADEN?!?!"
|10.29.07 @ 11:28AM|#
The Indians were the second-best team in baseball. Man, was that
series a sqeaker!
The Patriots, on the other hand, are just about to lap the
field.
The Redskins really do have a good defense. Seriously!
VM|10.29.07 @ 11:31AM|#
"The Indians were the second-best team in baseball"
Not even close to #1 - probably closer to 5 than one! Everybody got
the "rented mule" treatment from the champs this time 'round! This
year there was no debate about which team was head and shoulders
best!
didn't know that the Belmont, MA high school team was also "the
Redskins"!!! Man. :)
|10.29.07 @ 12:41PM|#
Everybody got the "rented mule" treatment from the champs
this time 'round!
Not the Tribe. 4-3, after being down 3:1, is not the rented mule
treatment.
VM|10.29.07 @ 12:59PM|#
:)
the final three games and then the series was an awesome display!
:)
and unlike last year, the best team in Beizbol won this year! would
that NCAA futbal were so clear cut!
MATTY!!!!!!!!!!!
|10.29.07 @ 1:15PM|#
Hokey as it may be, Ron Paul's campaign ad is up to no 3 in the
onion av club's internet video chart.
http://www.avclub.com/content/videocracy
Guy Montag|10.29.07 @ 2:32PM|#
Guy-
I am then interested in an explanation (in three sentences or less,
of course) of TNR bruhaha with the correct facts.
Seriously.
PV1 Beauchamp said the war may have turned him into a monster,
monster enough to taunt a scarred woman in Iraq, who he saw every
day.
PV1 Beauchamp swore this story was correct, until another
secret-unnamed soldier allegedly told Foer it happened in Kuwait,
before they got to the war and the jury is still out as to the
story itself.
Foer says this is a minor detail, but the story is still
true.
Well, that is just for one story in one article and I did not
run-on much more than you did. Can't explain the whole thing in 3
sentences, but then again, this is bigger than a nursery rime.
Skoal|10.29.07 @ 2:39PM|#
but then again, this is bigger than a nursery
rime.
Damn skippy! I'd say it's closer to a lullabye, but a cool one,
like maybe that one Ringo sang with the Beatles.
|10.29.07 @ 3:12PM|#
While it's not a great ad, it says the right things, appeals to the right group of voters that may be undecided, and is tailored to NH. Would you prefer pot-smoking tax evading white supremacist 9/11 truthers blogging from their parent's basement? That wouldn't get many undecided voters on board. The avoidance of stereotyped supporters is refreshing. And best of all, it is not an attack ad. I bet the NH and Iowa people get bombarded with them more than the rest of us and no one likes attack ads.
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