While one pack of paranoiacs plunges into hysteria over Barack Obama's past left-wing associations -- a phenomenon that may have reached its nadir with No Quarter's breathless revelation that the young Obama sought the endorsement of the mild-mannered Democratic Socialists of America -- a similar witchhunting lunacy is brewing in some quarters of the left. Max Blumenthal and Dave Neiwert published a story in Salon yesterday that's positively breathless in tracing Sarah Palin's relationship to the Alaska Independence Party.
The article is filled with innuendo and unsupported assertions. On learning that some of Palin's 1996 campaign literature described her as "the Christian candidate," for example, Blumenthal and Neiwert assert confidently that this was a "subtle suggestion" that her Lutheran opponent was really Jewish. The authors also make a lot of the AIP's sympathy for southern separatists, implying that the group has a racist core. They don't mention that the pan-secessionist party is also friendly to Lakota separatists, Hawaiian separatists, Puerto Rican separatists, and crunchy-granola Vermont separatists -- all of which impies that it's not whiteness but devolution that drives the organization.
But enough about the AIP. What does the Salon story tell us about Palin? Basically, that she and a few right-wing populists (a) worked together on some gun-rights issues, (b) worked together on some property-rights issues, and (c) uh...well, they were together, man.
This is what "Ayers! Ayers! Ayers!" sounds like in Salonese.
Strange Things Done In the Midnight Sun
Comments to "Strange Things Done In the Midnight Sun":
Mike Laursen | October 11, 2008, 2:48pm | #
The best thing that could happen to the U.S. right now would be for it to break up into about half a dozen or so smaller countries. The government of our one-giant country is too distant, unaccountable, and imperialistic.Just asking | October 11, 2008, 2:48pm | #
How many bombs did the AIC set off again?How many Weathermen did Barack Obama appoint to public office again?
relaxing | October 11, 2008, 2:50pm | #
Well, what else the point of identifying yourself as the Christian candidate? This is a Christian nation, founded by Christians on the principles of Christianity.Everyone here is a Christian, unless you're one of those... others.
Just asking | October 11, 2008, 2:51pm | #
How many millions did Ayers steer to Obama?Rosei O'Donnell | October 11, 2008, 2:52pm | #
The AIP is just as bad as the Weatherman, just like Christian fundamentalists are just as bad as Al Qaeda.William Ayers | October 11, 2008, 2:54pm | #
Geez, you set off a few bombs and kill afew cops and suddenly everyone gets all upset. Man up, people!joe | October 11, 2008, 2:56pm | #
Well, what else the point of identifying yourself as the Christian candidate? This is a Christian nation, founded by Christians on the principles of Christianity.Everyone here is a Christian, unless you're one of those... others.
Well, that's one possibility. Another is that you want to announce that your political program is intended to promote Christianity (however defined).
BDB | October 11, 2008, 2:56pm | #
Nobody cares, because in less than a month she will be a Final Jeopardy! question and little more.joe | October 11, 2008, 2:57pm | #
How many millions did Ayers steer to Obama?As many as he could, I hope. That man's got a lot of good works to carry out if he wants to make up for his past.
joe | October 11, 2008, 2:58pm | #
Geez, you set off a few bombs and kill afew cops and suddenly everyone gets all upset. Man up, people!Just don't try to buy your plastic explosives in Alaska, Billy. Bad scene up there.
More Fun With Mortgages | October 11, 2008, 2:59pm | #
We'll see if the press can hush this up till after the election:(5) One favor political Chicago claims Obama did for the Giannoulias family was in 2006 when, out of the blue, 29 year old Alexi Giannoulias, with no experience, and without ever having voted before, decides to run for State Treasurer of Illinois. Also out of the blue, Barack Obama endorses Alexi Giannoulias for State Treasurer. This was a SHOCK to everyone in Chicago — and Giannoulias would have never become State Treasurer without Obama’s help. In political circles here, it has always been believed that this endorsement was bought years ago with that sweetheart mortgage deal Broadway Bank arranged for Obama to buy his town house.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:00pm | #
How does it go again?Denial-Anger-Bargaining-Acceptance? Is that right?
William Ayers | October 11, 2008, 3:00pm | #
That man's got a lot of good works to carry out if he wants to make up for his past.Make up for what? We should have done more!
Mike Laursen | October 11, 2008, 3:01pm | #
Nobody cares, because in less than a month she will be a Final Jeopardy! question and little more.Yeah, although she should at least be able to get a book deal and an AM radio show out of it.
joe | October 11, 2008, 3:01pm | #
In political circles here, it has always been believed...Well, I guess that's that, then.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:01pm | #
I'm thinking a Fox News show.joe | October 11, 2008, 3:02pm | #
Make up for what? We should have done more!Bzzt. Thanks for playing, but the correct answer is "We should have done more to end the war."
Hope you like Turtle Wax.
joe | October 11, 2008, 3:04pm | #
I don't think she's a good enough speaker to kinda rise up into the airspace of even the right-wing media.Say what you will about Limbaugh and Savage and Glenn Beck, those people are quick on their feet, clever, and talented. Also.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:05pm | #
Does anyone see Palin (assuming the voters of Alaska don't rise up into her airspace) making it past Haley Barbour, Bobby Jindal, and Mark Sanford in 2012? I'll give her until the Iowa Caucuses.Elemenope | October 11, 2008, 3:05pm | #
Denial-Anger-Bargaining-Acceptance? Is that right?You forgot "depression/sadness". Goes between bargaining and acceptance.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:06pm | #
No, not even the caucuses. I think she'll be finished by the Iowa Straw Poll.Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 3:06pm | #
They don't mention that the pan-secessionist party is also friendly to Lakota separatists, Hawaiian separatists, Puerto Rican separatists,Well, both the Hawaiian and Puerto Rican secessionist movements have a significant, perhaps even predominate, racial component. I'm not familiar enough with the Lakota one to make any judgments.
joe | October 11, 2008, 3:12pm | #
BDB,Maybe she'll get better over the next three years, and come back as a strong campaigner.
And also too, unlike Dan Quayle, she's built up a strong following among the party faithful.
But...naw. It's going to be Jindal. He's just too smart and able. Not to mention, the Republicans are all going to tell themselves that Obama only won because he's black, so the appeal of running someone from a minority group against him will be overwhelming. She might be the VP candidate again, though.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:12pm | #
Personally I'd like to see Jeff Flake take McCain's Senate seat and run a below-the-radar campaign that could surprise in Iowa or New Hampshire.gmatts | October 11, 2008, 3:14pm | #
The only thing worthwhile that Max Blumenthal has done was to have asked Michelle Malkin to sign a picture of a Japanese internment camp.I doubt that Palin has spent much time contemplating the times when "it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another".
BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:14pm | #
"You forgot "depression/sadness". Goes between bargaining and acceptance."Well, He of The Thousand Screen Names is still in the second stage.
J sub D | October 11, 2008, 3:14pm | #
Kolohe -Lakota - Native American tribes. Used to be called the Sioux.
Elemenope | October 11, 2008, 3:15pm | #
"Joe Greene, for The Midnight Sun."If you get the reference, you are a geek.
gmatts | October 11, 2008, 3:16pm | #
"But...naw. It's going to be Jindal"I heard he's an A-rab though. His real name isn't even Bobby! He's hding something.
J sub D | October 11, 2008, 3:16pm | #
Maybe she'll get better over the next three years, and come back as a strong campaigner.And also too, unlike Dan Quayle, she's built up a strong following among the party faithful.
Nay, nay. She's headed to Sergent Shriver territory at best.
Palin / Jindal 2012 | October 11, 2008, 3:19pm | #
Hey, it could happen.Mike Laursen | October 11, 2008, 3:21pm | #
I don't think she's a good enough speaker to kinda rise up into the airspace of even the right-wing media.Yeah, I suppose you're right. I guess its just a ghost-written book or two, selling mostly on conservative websites and Christian book stores.
joe | October 11, 2008, 3:22pm | #
J sub D,Maybe, but I'll note one difference. Sargent Shriver was an old hand in 1972. Palin's still a rookie, so there's the possibility of growth.
Sarah Palin: the Clay Buchholz of Republican politics. Send her back down to the minors and see what happens. Let's just hope they didn't wreck her career by bringing her up too early.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:24pm | #
My prediction is that everyone on the right dumps on her November 5th, blaming her for the loss.joe | October 11, 2008, 3:25pm | #
No, BDB, they'll blame McCain.Palin has been absolutely shameless in pushing the Ayers/Wright/scary meme, while McCain has not. He's already taking flak for it from his side.
If only he'd said HUSSEIN more - that's going to be the line.
Asharak | October 11, 2008, 3:27pm | #
Lefiti=Edward.BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:27pm | #
"If only he'd said HUSSEIN more - that's going to be the line."Oh Christ, I hope not. What a stupid rationalization.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:28pm | #
I mean they've been doing that for a week, to the point where their rallies have turned into ten minutes hate, and they still haven't moved in the polls! If anything, McCain has moved *down* slightly.Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 3:28pm | #
Kolohe -Lakota - Native American tribes. Used to be called the Sioux.
I should have said I'm not familiar enough with the tenants of their separatist movement. I remember a reason post a few months ago which made them seem pan-ethnic enough.
Ah here it is
"We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us,",
Seems nice enough. Don't agree, and don't think much of their chances, but I respect their position.
EscapedWestOfTheBigMuddy | October 11, 2008, 3:31pm | #
Lakota - Native American tribes. Used to be called the Sioux.I thought the Lakota were one of two distint groups of Sioux. The other being Dakota.
Yeah like the states, which were named after them...
Palin won't get any blame. The moderate, isle crossing, free speech squelching, global warming alarmist media whore will get all of the blame.
ed | October 11, 2008, 3:34pm | #
Jesus H. Christ, who the hell cares? The election is ovah. Ovah! Stick a fork in McCain and his silly henchwoman and start thinking about what you're going to say once Hussein™ has moved into the Black House.**You know it's coming. I'm Ed, and I have approved this capitulation.
- | October 11, 2008, 3:38pm | #
I'm sure this will show up all over the media:Sen. John McCain's 2006 demand for regulatory action on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could have prevented current financial crisis, as HUMAN EVENTS learned from the letter shown in full text below.
McCain's letter -- signed by nineteen other senators -- said that it was "...vitally important that Congress take the necessary steps to ensure that [Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac]...operate in a safe and sound manner.[and]..More importantly, Congress must ensure that the American taxpayer is protected in the event that either...should fail."
Sen. Obama did not sign the letter, nor did any other Democrat.
Of course, that won't stop Obama from claiming the subprime mess is McCain's fault because he deregulated something totally unrelated to the fiasco Dems created.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28973
Hope all you libertarian snarkers enjoy your snarking while you can. In the coming People's Republic of Hope and Change, snarkery that is not strictly PC will be a prosecutable hate crime as it's becoming in Canada and the UK. And don't think the First Amendment will protect you, because The Messiah is going to be able to appoint three Supreme Court nominees who will be rubber-stamped by the coming filibuster-proof Democratic majority. Un-PC snarking will be equated to crying "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Be sure to get all that snarking in by January 20th.
brotherben | October 11, 2008, 3:43pm | #
I say she's done. I agree with BoB(lmao) that she will take the fall(not willingly) so that McCain can ride off into the sinset with honor and stuff.She abandoned her Alaska base for McCain and I expect she'll be fired up there early next year. IMO her political career is over at every level.
Asharak | October 11, 2008, 3:45pm | #
Well, both the Hawaiian and Puerto Rican secessionist movements have a significant, perhaps even predominate, racial component. I'm not familiar enough with the Lakota one to make any judgments.Which is precisely why it was hypocritical of McCain to make Reverend Wright an issue and then pick Palin as his running mate. Like I said, it would have been smarter to go after Obama on his tax and gun-control proposals more.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 3:46pm | #
I'm convinced after reading JohnL. It will be the 1990s all over again, just like MAX HATS said.I don't get the equivalence between the two. On the one hand you have Wright whom Obama claimed as a spiritual mentor up until it became inconvenient and on the other hand you have Palins association with groups that some are trying very hard to paint as racists organizations.
ten minutes hate ... lmao. However, one should not be displeased to see passion of some sort emanating from the electorate ... after x number of years of slow-sap apathy from tha proles. We do retain the right to scream when being plowed in the cornhole!
John Harrold | October 11, 2008, 3:49pm | #
I'd like to offer a subtle distinction between the opposing views. While people at Salon are making the associations on the left, it is the republican candidates for vice president and president who are making these assocations on the right. To make a truely realistic comparison, Obama would have to be bringing up this crap at stump speeches. While there is bad stuff occurring on both sides, it appears to me that the McCain campaign is significanly worse and more at fault in this instance.thoreau | October 11, 2008, 3:50pm | #
Look at who's doing better: The guy with the inspiring speeches. Say what you will about Obama's rhetoric and policies and whatever else, but he plays up hope, and he wins.McCain should cut the divisiveness, talk about national greatness in inspiring terms, and see what happens. I don't think he'll win, but he'll do better, and some of the ugliness will dissipate.
Asharak | October 11, 2008, 3:56pm | #
Hope all you libertarian snarkers enjoy your snarking while you can. In the coming People's Republic of Hope and Change, snarkery that is not strictly PC will be a prosecutable hate crime as it's becoming in Canada and the UK. And don't think the First Amendment will protect you, because The Messiah is going to be able to appoint three Supreme Court nominees who will be rubber-stamped by the coming filibuster-proof Democratic majority. Un-PC snarking will be equated to crying "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Be sure to get all that snarking in by January 20th.Yeah, that's right, JohnL, everyone who doesn't support McCain/Palin is automatically pro-Obama. Moron.
Oh, and in McPalin's America, we can look forward to more no-knock drug raids as well as taxes on health insurance for the time and angry mobs of freepers yelling "Traitor!" and "Kill him!" whenever somebody dares to be critical of Il Hockey Mamma.
Asharak | October 11, 2008, 3:57pm | #
*first* timeEpisiarch | October 11, 2008, 4:04pm | #
First then came for the snarkersWon't any of you assholes stick up for me?
(banging on door)
It's the Obama Thought Police! Help!
(loads shotgun)
Mo | October 11, 2008, 4:05pm | #
JohnL in 1992:Hope all you libertarian snarkers enjoy your snarking while you can. In the coming People's Republic of the Man from Hope, snarkery that is not strictly PC will be a prosecutable hate crime as it's becoming in Canada and the UK. And don't think the First Amendment will protect you, because Bubba is going to be able to appoint three Supreme Court nominees who will be rubber-stamped by the coming filibuster-proof Democratic majority. Un-PC snarking will be equated to crying "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Be sure to get all that snarking in by January 20th.Seriously after the last 8 years, you really think the Republicans are exemplars of small government and liberty? Give me a fucking break. Last I checked the past administration, with a Republican Congress (led by the current Republican presidential candidate) severely limited political speech. But Obama's the one threat to liberty. Fortunately, I haven't pissed off any of Palin's friends or family, or she'd try to get me fired.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 4:05pm | #
We're going to IOWA!!.Seriously, wtf? Libby Dole and Chambilss is in trouble and McCain is doubling down in a state he has no chance of winning in and with no down ticket races of any importance.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 4:06pm | #
er, ARE in trouble.Bingo | October 11, 2008, 4:14pm | #
Obamstalin? Stalbama? Obamao Zedong? I don't know what to replace my Bushitler with :(Maybe they're worried that he'd harm down-ticket races. Bring out the Obama voters.
Asharak | October 11, 2008, 4:15pm | #
Seriously after the last 8 years, you really think the Republicans are exemplars of small government and liberty? Give me a fucking break. Last I checked the past administration, with a Republican Congress (led by the current Republican presidential candidate) severely limited political speech. But Obama's the one threat to liberty. Fortunately, I haven't pissed off any of Palin's friends or family, or she'd try to get me fired.Bingo.
Obama's one term as President likely won't be any worse than what we've already put up with(notwithstanding a Lonewacko type trying to assassinate him and thus leading to more extensive anti-terror legislation).
joe | October 11, 2008, 4:15pm | #
Maobama?Maybe Joe Biden will pull a Dick Cheney, and it will be Obiden.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 4:15pm | #
Just HUSSEIN Bingo. That's all you need to say. HUSSEIN.BDB | October 11, 2008, 4:16pm | #
Watch the right wingers all of a sudden begin to care about stuff like the President being able to declare people "enemy combatants" and imprison them without cause. Nevermind that they didn't care when Bush was building up those powers. Fucking morons.Bingo | October 11, 2008, 4:18pm | #
It will really be hilarious when the Obama-or-Chimp emails to start circulating.BDB_sucks | October 11, 2008, 4:20pm | #
Watch the left wingers all of a sudden begin to not care about stuff like the President being able to declare people "enemy combatants" and imprison them without cause. Nevermind that they whined endlessly when congress was building up those powers. Fucking morons.Bingo | October 11, 2008, 4:21pm | #
Barrack Hu$$ein Obiden Jong Il is declaring American citizens to be enemy combatants! Stop the unconstitutional abuse of presidential power... renew your National Review subscription today!BDB | October 11, 2008, 4:21pm | #
Hi TallDave. Stay classy!BDB | October 11, 2008, 4:23pm | #
"Barrack Hu$$ein Obiden Jong Il is declaring American citizens to be enemy combatants! Stop the unconstitutional abuse of presidential power... renew your National Review subscription today!"That will take about four months.
And the The Nation will be talking about how necessary said powers are.
RNC Headquarters | October 11, 2008, 4:26pm | #
Obama Nation/Abomination....coincidence?They'll pry my snarks from my cold, dead, err...
Asharak | October 11, 2008, 4:30pm | #
Hi TallDave. Stay classy!He is a rather pathetic and craven little man, isn't he? What else can you say about a guy who's still deluded enough to believe that the same people who threw Tommy Chong in prison for selling bongs are compatible with libertarianism?
Elemenope | October 11, 2008, 4:30pm | #
And the The Nation will be talking about how necessary said powers are.I somehow doubt it. The Nation, say what you will about them and I could say plenty, they are pretty consistently anti-authoritarian and they have a hard-on for the fourth, fifth, and sixth amendments.
The American Prospect, on the other hand, that I'd buy.
Independence Party of Alaska | October 11, 2008, 4:53pm | #
...Alaska Independence Party...Splitters!!
Hey guys, I'm a Randian. That means I get to look down on and feel superior to you "libertarians" precisely the way you all do to Democrats and Republicans.
alan | October 11, 2008, 5:02pm | #
Asharak | October 11, 2008, 3:27pm | # Lefiti=Edward.Yeap, but I haven't seen him use either one of those or the MK2 one on this board for at least a month. it would be nice if he didn't come back. What a POS.
First they came for the snarkers, and they got their asses handed back to them.
Michael Pugliese | October 11, 2008, 5:06pm | #
Regarding those Lakota separatists, there have loads of support in the ultra-left sects like the Revolutionary Communist Party of Bob Avakian and even loonier micro-sects like the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement-Denver,http://raimd.wordpress.com/
Why We Say… Fuck the Troops! « Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist ...
Jul 2, 2008 ... Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement- Denver · Contact RAIM-Denver
http://raimd.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/why-we-say-fuck-the-troops/
KKKolumbus Day 2008: Fight Racism and National Oppression
October 7, 2008 — raimd
alan | October 11, 2008, 5:09pm | #
evolutionary Communist Party of Bob Avakian and even loonier micro-sects like the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement-Denver,http://raimd.wordpress.com/
Never heard of them. Are you sure they are not just a bunch of guys who bought a fax machine and generated a little publicity for themselves like The Union of Concerned Scientist?
alan | October 11, 2008, 5:13pm | #
BTW, The Union of Concerned Scientist, they happen to be on my mind because I made a batch of General Tso sauce and I put it over a couple of pounds of chicken thighs and breast and smoldering on slow in my pressure cooker for the last three hours. I'm going to transfer them to the grill and BBQ those bastards.When I make overly rich Chinese food I think of those anemic saps.
shecky | October 11, 2008, 5:54pm | #
No wonder Obama's been palling around with Ayers. After all, Ayers wrote "Dreams from My Father". So sayethSay it louder, McCarthy, so everyone can hear. I want to believe.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 6:03pm | #
Is it possible for an entire political party to jump the shark?Mo | October 11, 2008, 6:06pm | #
sheck,The most unbelievable line from that post is the following, "If he wins, Obama will be my president, and as I'm not a MoveOn Democrat who'd rather tear down my country than see a president I opposed succeed." If anyone actually believe McCarthy, who has spent the last week frothing at the mouth about how Obama is a commie left wing extremist, won't spend most of the next 4 years trying to tear down Obama, I have a grip of CDOs to sell you.
brotherben | October 11, 2008, 6:33pm | #
Barrackavad-Gita?joe | October 11, 2008, 6:40pm | #
No wonder Obama's been palling around with Ayers. After all, Ayers wrote "Dreams from My Father".In Kenya.
I hear the book used to have a different title, but they won't release the real galleys.
Boston | October 11, 2008, 6:47pm | #
Now maybe Obama has a backlog of writing fom Columbia or Harvard that signal great literary promise, but he not only hasn't shared it, he's assiduously hidden traces of it.- McCarthy
So now candidate now have to give over their old papers from college? And not doing so is hiding it? Welcome to crazy world. (god i hated those commercials)
BDB | October 11, 2008, 6:49pm | #
"McCarthy" seems like an appropriate last name for him.Boston | October 11, 2008, 6:52pm | #
God my English is horrible.brotherben | October 11, 2008, 6:57pm | #
WOW this kinda puts a interesting kink into the story.Congressman Lewis says McCain is channeling George WallaceOrange Line Special | October 11, 2008, 7:28pm | #
Uh oh. Looks like Max Blumenthal is disfavored by the Orange Line faction. (My discussion of the article appeared a couple days ago here)Also, when I said "libruhtarians for socialists!" before, I was joking. I wasn't expecting Reason to be soft on groups like the DSA.
However, what I was expecting was that Reason would ignore the fact that Barack Obama was a member of a party that called themselves 'socialist democratic'
P.S. If BHO wasn't worried about his past affiliations, why did he change his website? Yes, that's right: BHO sent part of his website down the ol' memory hole as soon as yet another of his lies was revealed.
P.P.S. Does the Kochtopus have some sort of deal with BHO or something, or are they just being useful idiots?
Ah it's nice to be reminded occasionally that the ultra-liberal fringe 'journalists' are still out there, fighting fire with fire. Too bad their flaming conservative archenemy, the Murdochian Empire, is a Goliath to their David and they're short more than a few stones.
prolefeed | October 11, 2008, 7:54pm | #
Isn't it usually redundant to refer to 'Democratic socialists', post-Bill Clinton? The bailout bill had, what, 75% support from Congressional Democrats? Exclude the southern Blue Dogs, and you're probably talking closer to 90% of the remainder. And I'm guessing closer to 100% of the Illinois Congressional Democratic caucus.Of course, as the bailout bill shows, almost half of the Republicans in Congress are closet socialists, too.
Re this: While one pack of paranoiacs plunges into hysteria over Barack Obama's past left-wing associations -- a phenomenon that may have reached its nadir with No Quarter's breathless revelation that the young Obama sought the endorsement of the mild-mannered Democratic Socialists of America
OK, I'll bite: name just ONE thing in the linked article from "No Quarter" that isn't completely true and factual. Anyone?
* crickets chirping *
I'd say the lack of objectivity lay in Jesse Walker's snide characterization of the article, said article seeming to be a pretty even-handed disclosure of info that might be relevant in discerning what crap Obama might inflict on us if he gets in office.
But hey, can't ruin Reason's black-leather jacketed cosmotarian cool image by pointing out that Obama isn't particularly libertarian, and giving specifics.
Elemenope | October 11, 2008, 7:55pm | #
If BHO wasn't worried about his past affiliations, why did he change his website?Just to mess with your head, Wacko. All for you!
SIV | October 11, 2008, 7:58pm | #
brotherben,Down here in GA we greatly respect John Lewis' courage and leadership on Bloody Sunday March 7, 1965.He is a true hero for his contribution to the civil rights movement.We tend to give him a pass for his later embarrassing actions and statements as a member of Congress.
@Asharak: dom't worry, we get no-knock police raids regardless. Biden loves 'em (you know, as long as they're 'used responsibly' or whatever).
Elemenope | October 11, 2008, 8:00pm | #
prolefeed --The bailout has zip, zero, and nada to deal with socialism. A "socalist bailout" would have taken that 700 Billion and just cut a check for $2,300 to every man, woman and child in the US. Massive redistribution of wealth for the benefit of the little people, and all that.
A bailout of the very top of the capitalist class (the invested class, the bourgeois, or whatever the fuck you want to call them) and their corporate creatures (banks, investment houses, etc.) is surely *something* anti-free market Capitalist, but that something isn't *socialism*.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 8:02pm | #
SHHH! You're making too much sense, LMNOP! Quiet!SIV | October 11, 2008, 8:06pm | #
El,"National Socialism"? Socialism all the same.
Whatever,I find it telling that you think "real socialism" is somehow beneficial to the "little people".They suffer under it like everyone else.
Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 8:08pm | #
OLS Dec 1, 07:There's a difference between illegal aliens and criminal aliens, and I strongly suspect that the workers were just the former and not the latter. And, of course, he's not "anti-immigration".http://24ahead.com/blog/archives/007282.html
OLS Sep 29, 2008:
As it turns out, this was part of ICE's annual Operation Community Sweep where they go after gangs. Cynthia Dizikes of the Los Angeles Times offers straightforward coverage here. Solomon Moore of the New York Times offers straightforward coverage here. I'm going to guess that the vast majority of their readers won't notice what's missing from both. If the raids were of, say, a sweatshop both sources would wave about sympathetic "victims" of the raid in order to support sweatshops and illegal activity. The LAT and the NYT might want to do that in cases like this, but if so they probably realize that would be going too far. (The LAT article does quote New Jersey Union City police department chief Charles Everett as saying something sanctuary city-like).http://24ahead.com/blog/archives/008062.html
So there is a difference between illegal aliens and criminal aliens. Except for when there is not. Or the MSM should not conflate illegal aliens and criminal aliens. Except they should treat gang members like people working in a chicken plant.
BDB | October 11, 2008, 8:10pm | #
OLS is a sick, disturbed little fuck. I don't know why you bothered to go into his archives.Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 8:11pm | #
A bailout of the very top of the capitalist class (the invested class, the bourgeois, or whatever the fuck you want to call them) and their corporate creatures (banks, investment houses, etc.) is surely *something* anti-free market Capitalist, but that something isn't *socialism*.hmm, well they're 'nationalizing' the banks, and 'socializing' the losses. But what to call it? :)
MAX HATS | October 11, 2008, 8:11pm | #
Whatever,I find it telling that you think "real socialism" is somehow beneficial to the "little people".They suffer under it like everyone else.The socialists!! They're everywhere!!!!!
Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 8:15pm | #
OLS is a sick, disturbed little fuck. I don't know why you bothered to go into his archives.Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 8:17pm | #
whoops again-was just waiting for the tb/bos game to start. It was preferable to listening to the tbs 'sports' folks
(Their braves games used to be pretty solid with the cross-deck with the radio network. But their 'national' talent now stinks)
BDB | October 11, 2008, 8:24pm | #
The announcers are worse than OLS? Wow!Um...I hate the be the grammar Nazi but shouldn't the word "impies" be "implies?"
Sea of Liberty | October 11, 2008, 8:28pm | #
Does anyone know of a website that talks about free minds and free markets?Possibly one in Alaska? Or maybe Canada?
Bingo | October 11, 2008, 8:39pm | #
Er, Ed, not Sea of Liberty. I just got back from a beer and bike festival so my mind is not quite as clear as it could be.Elemenope | October 11, 2008, 8:47pm | #
Whatever,I find it telling that you think "real socialism" is somehow beneficial to the "little people".They suffer under it like everyone else.What ON EARTH would make you get that out of my comment?
I imagine it helps you somehow to project kindergarten ideologies and heresies upon your interlocutors, but it will not help you understand anyone better.
joe | October 11, 2008, 8:47pm | #
Everyone but me is a socialists.Him, him, him, her, him, and him. All of 'em. Socialists.
Damn socialist just splashed me driving by. Socialist.
Hey, lady, get your socialist dog off my lawn. I don't want to have clean up his socialism.
Cripes, this has given me the biggest head-socialism.
Elemenope | October 11, 2008, 9:05pm | #
hmm, well they're 'nationalizing' the banks, and 'socializing' the losses. But what to call it? :)Cute. However, "half of socialism" isn't socialism at all, just as "half of capitalism" isn't really capitalism at all. The phrase "privatize profits, socialize losses" has been kicked around quite a lot lately, but pointedly the ideology behind it is some sort of economic chimera. It is not socialism (which has fairly particular parameters) and it is not capitalism (ditto). And while it steals from parts of each, it itself is something different in kind from its ideological progenitors.
SIV | October 11, 2008, 9:30pm | #
What ON EARTH would make you get that out of my comment?...........
Massive redistribution of wealth for the benefit of the little people, and all that.
Socialism is collective ownership and control of capital for the benefit of the State.The half about egalitarianism is just the sales job
for those "little people".
Elemenope | October 11, 2008, 9:35pm | #
SIV:Your sarcasm and irony detector is broken.
Fucking badly.
Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 9:51pm | #
LMNOP-Just googling around, I found this list on wikipedia to be interesting.
I think whomever wrote it was onto something with his division into following independent parameters:
1) 'Hands off' vs 'Hands on'
2) 'Private' vs 'State' vs 'Communal'
dead_elvis | October 11, 2008, 9:53pm | #
shouldn't the word "impies" be "implies?"No, I believe it should be "empies".
BakedPenguin | October 11, 2008, 10:02pm | #
dead_elvis, dontchoo touch empies. They spoil your dinna.Elemenope | October 11, 2008, 10:02pm | #
Kolohe --Interesting stuff to digest; I'm not sure I buy the entirety of the taxonomy, I think mainly because I think that outside of theory (i.e. in reality) many of those aspects are not truly independent axes.
Of all the heterodox economic philosophies I've read, this is the one I find most fascinating.
Just Plain Brian | October 11, 2008, 10:04pm | #
And here I thought it was "mmm, pies"BakedPenguin | October 11, 2008, 10:23pm | #
LMNOP - the actual economy closest to that model was probably Yugoslavia.Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 10:51pm | #
LMNOP-The article talks about it starting with 19th/20th century catholics, but to me most of the ideas are congruent with a Jeffersonian Republic. His big thing was the small independent land owning freedom loving farmer. For that matter Adam Smith preferred the model of many small business craftsmen vice a few large commercial organizations.
And although the Jefferson Republic was quickly subsumed into more Hamiltonian notions (despite the federalists quick withering as a political force), wide distribution of real property (and other means of production) was the hallmark of the growth of the United States. I believe it is the decisive element in both 1) the anglospherian dominance of North America (vice France or Spain/Mexico), and 2) the emergence of the United States as an economic juggernaut.
Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 10:53pm | #
My 11th grade history teacher would be upset if I did not quote him accurately:"the small independent self sufficient land owning freedom loving farmer"
Mike Laursen | October 11, 2008, 11:29pm | #
I'm going to transfer them to the grill and BBQ those bastards.All I had for dinner were leftovers. :-(
Mike Laursen | October 11, 2008, 11:33pm | #
My prediction is that everyone on the right dumps on her November 5th, blaming her for the loss.Nah, the right will suddenly remember that McCain never was a real conservative. All the memories that they're repressing right now.
Mike Laursen | October 11, 2008, 11:36pm | #
BHO sent part of his website down the ol' memory hole as soon as yet another of his lies was revealed.McCain wins the memory hole contest.
Aresen | October 12, 2008, 12:01am | #
I prefer Mencken's take on The Husbandman, which is closer to the truth.
Kolohe | October 11, 2008, 10:53pm | #
"the small independent self sufficient land owning freedom loving farmer"
Elemenope | October 12, 2008, 12:06am | #
And although the Jefferson Republic was quickly subsumed into more Hamiltonian notions (despite the federalists quick withering as a political force), wide distribution of real property (and other means of production) was the hallmark of the growth of the United States. I believe it is the decisive element in both 1) the anglospherian dominance of North America (vice France or Spain/Mexico), and 2) the emergence of the United States as an economic juggernaut.Hence my interest. I think the most succinct, non-snarky, one sentence insightful critique of Capitalism was Chesterton's: "Too much capitalism does not mean too many capitalists, but too few capitalists."
Jesse Walker | October 12, 2008, 12:18am | #
I'd say the lack of objectivity lay in Jesse Walker's snide characterization of the article, said article seeming to be a pretty even-handed disclosure of info that might be relevant in discerning what crap Obama might inflict on us if he gets in office.can't ruin Reason's black-leather jacketed cosmotarian cool image by pointing out that Obama isn't particularly libertarian, and giving specifics.
This was, I'll note, a response to a post mostly devoted to defending Sarah Palin and some right-wing Alaskan populists. There are readers who pay attention to the things you write, and there are "readers" who follow their own script. Welcome to Lonewacko territory, Prolefeed.
Here on Planet Earth, reason has criticized the Democratic nominee heavily for the "crap Obama might inflict on us if he gets in office." But we base our criticisms on his platform, and not on dubious extrapolations from the political alliances he formed in Chicago.
SIV | October 12, 2008, 12:21am | #
Mike,I haven't seen anyone on the Right claim McCain is any kind of "conservative".He was supposed to be the only republican who had a remote chance of winning in 2008. I'm beginning to think any Republican candidate could have won if he opposed and demagogued the "bailout".
Elemenope | October 12, 2008, 12:27am | #
Welcome to Lonewacko territory, Prolefeed.Regardless of what posting crimes Prolefeed has committed, that is never called for!
Lonewacko isn't some kind of standard deviation from the normal troll. He is the abomination whose existence would have most reasonable Christians question the existence of God.
Here on Planet Earth, reason has criticized the Democratic nominee heavily for the "crap Obama might inflict on us if he gets in office." But we base our criticisms on his platform, and not on dubious extrapolations from the political alliances he formed in Chicago.
Kudos for that. But regardless of how even-handed you are, you will never please either side.
Mike Laursen | October 12, 2008, 1:23am | #
I haven't seen anyone on the Right claim McCain is any kind of "conservative".I'll have to take your word for it. I check in on conservative radio shows once in a blue moon to see what they are blovating about now. I have to admit in the recent financial crisis, they seemed to be more interested in blaming Democrats than talking up McCain.
MlR | October 12, 2008, 1:58am | #
"But we base our criticisms on his platform, and not on dubious extrapolations from the political alliances he formed in Chicago."Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
MlR | October 12, 2008, 2:00am | #
*Whoosh*That's the sound of a decade of relevant political history shooting down the memory hole.
Jesse Walker | October 12, 2008, 2:55am | #
Oh, I'm all for considering the relevant political history.Do you know what the DSA is? It's roughly equivalent to the Kinnock-era British Labor Party. Not my cup of tea, obviously, but not the "radical past" advertised by No Quarter either. Yes, you might learn something about Obama from his interest in acquiring the group's endorsement. You won't learn it, though, if you're more interested in drawing sweeping conclusions from the fact that he found it advantageous to reach out to some self-described socialists in one of the few American political environments where that might earn a man more votes than it would cost him.
Similarly, you can learn some interesting things about Palin from her cooperation with the AIP. Mostly good things, to judge from her work with them on gun rights and property rights. But nothing to justify hyperventilating about racists and terrorists.
Incidentally, the silliest thing about the Obama stuff is the breathless rhetoric from some quarters about how the DSA is the American affiliate of the Socialist International. Until recently, the SI had two US affiliates; the other one was Social Democrats USA, whose members have included such hard-core leftists as Jeanne Kirkpatrick and Elliot Abrams. Meanwhile, the most sweeping free-market reforms to be adopted in the last half-century were arguably the ones put into place in the '80s by the New Zealand Labour Party, the local affiliate of -- you guessed it -- the Socialist International. I say this not to defend the DSA, which doesn't espouse anything akin to those New Zealand policies, but to point out just how meaningless the Socialist International affiliation is in sussing out Obama's politics. It's being mentioned because the organization's name sounds scary, and for no other reason.
prolefeed | October 12, 2008, 2:58am | #
The bailout has zip, zero, and nada to deal with socialism.OK, let's see if I've got the LMNOP definition of socialism correct:
Socialism is the government taking over or controlling huge chunks of the economy, oftentimes by nationalizing industries, either by fiat or by confiscating taxes or inflating the currency or taking on massive debt or all three and buying up those industries -- unless people who liberals loathe get a chunk of the this largesse, in which we'll call it something else, we have no idea what, but by god socialism couldn't possibly involve benefiting the rich or the well-connected or the politically powerful at the expense of the poor except for all those historical examples where it in fact fucking DID, because in our world socialism is GOOD for the common man, and ignore all those starving kulaks and the mass famines under the Great Leap Forward and the killing fields in Cambodia and all the other instances pretty much ever time it's been tried and carried out to its bitter logical end, because it hurts to think about these inconvenient truths.
Is that in the ballpark of what YOU mean by socialism? Or would you care to give a more PC version of this awful ideology?
/snark
prolefeed | October 12, 2008, 3:23am | #
This was, I'll note, a response to a post mostly devoted to defending Sarah Palin and some right-wing Alaskan populists. There are readers who pay attention to the things you write, and there are "readers" who follow their own script. Welcome to Lonewacko territory, Prolefeed.To be fair, Jesse, the bulk of the article where you talked about Palin was reasonable and interesting stuff, which is why I didn't talk about that. I apologize if I didn't point that out, but hey, that part didn't get my dander up.
I did, however, pay attention to what you wrote. I did, in fact, post your actual words, which I did read -- twice -- and then talk about how what you wrote did not really seem to match up with the words in the linked article, which I also read -- once.
Yeah, the people who wrote the linked article really hate socialism. So I do I. So should most libertarians, you'd think. But I haven't seen anybody here actually point out anything in that article that wasn't actually true. Yeah, they made a lot of insinuations, and one can certainly argue about the conclusions they drew, and they seemed a bit tweaked out, but the stuff they wrote seemed to comport with reality, to be fact-based, and they quoted the actual words at length of the people they were ranting a bit about, so they weren't taking those words out of context.
So, yeah, go ahead and smear me somehow and lump me with LoneWhacko for pointing out that Obama and McCain are both socialists, as their voting records and statements on the campaign trail seem to bear out, in particular their support for the fucking bailout.
I guess instead of being Godwinned, we have to add a new category of egregious over-the-top insult: "LoneWhackoed".
But, hey, no hard feelings big guy. It's a Saturday night, I've got a Pyramid ale inside me, and a fluffy gray dorg snoozing beside me, and life is too good to be offended by a driveby LoneWhackoing. Peace, dude.
Elemenope | October 12, 2008, 3:44am | #
Prolefeed --You make the same mistake as SIV in imputing to me a positive opinion of socialism.
I do not hold one.
But if I can just be crystal clear:
The Murder of Kulaks
The Killing Fields of Cambodia
The "Great Leap Forward"
Lending rich bankers some capital to save their overextended asses
One of these things is not like the others.
Unless you're a fucking idiot.
One need not be LoneWacko to be a fucking idiot.
Enough | October 12, 2008, 5:12am | #
Goddamn, Libertarians are fucking stupid.The Winter Soldier | October 12, 2008, 8:57am | #
A Robert Service reference is ALWAYS cool. As for your election, I like IkeMike Laursen | October 12, 2008, 9:22am | #
Goddamn, Libertarians are fucking stupid.You're free to express your cowardly, anonymous opinion. Drink!
Mr. Nice Guy | October 12, 2008, 9:58am | #
proleI think Jesse was responding to your assertion that reason favors Obama because of some "cosmotarian" ideals and that this could be seen manifested in his dismissal of the No Quarters article. I think Jesse is right here in that reason takes it to Obama quite a bit, but not on goofy conspiracy theory stuff.
One reason why it would not be helpful for people that classify just about anyone they disagree with on the matter of government as "socialists" is that then you are seen as calling everyone a socialist without any sense of gradation. I mean, if McCain and Mao are "both socialists" to you then it appears that term is so broad as to be silly. Reason, dealing not with the clientele of, say, the Ron Paul newsletters ("Jewish speculators!") but with the more numerous and influential educated/media-savvy part of the population interested in libertarian thought probably realizes that rants about socialism make one look like the proverbial homeless guy pushing a shopping cart muttering about "teh socialists!"
I think the whole "cosmotarian" charge is one of the silliest things I've ever seen. From what I gather one is a cosmotarian if they:
1. Are not neo-confederates
2. Enjoy aspects of non-traditional culture (leather jackets and DC nightlife)
3. Don't think the Civil Rights Act was the most egregious government intrusion in the past 200 years
Franz Kafka | October 12, 2008, 10:09am | #
ObamaVagueness we can believe in!
Mr. Nice Guy | October 12, 2008, 10:15am | #
I think prole and LMNOP's disagreement can be addressed by saying that both are right because a concept like socialism does not necessarily mean one specific thing.prole seems to argue that socialism is government "taking over or controlling huge chunks of the economy, oftentimes by nationalizing industries, either by fiat or by confiscating taxes or inflating the currency or taking on massive debt or all three and buying up those industries." This is consistent with many definitions of socialism, such as The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language which defines it as a system "in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy." The bailout, to the extent that it involves a centralized government planning and controlling more of the US economy fits that bill.
LMNOP seems to me to be objecting to the idea that the bailout qualifies as socialism because it socializes costs and privatizes benefits, i.e., transfers social wealth to wealthy figures. If one takes the definition of socialism from the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary that socialism is "a political doctrine or system which aims to create a classless society by removing the nation's wealth (land, industries, transport systems, etc) out of private and into public hands" then LMNOP is right. The bailout is certainly not an attempt to create a classless society.
Mr. Nice Guy | October 12, 2008, 10:16am | #
"ObamaVagueness we can believe in!"
Yeah, lord knows that McCain is full of specifics!
BDB | October 12, 2008, 10:28am | #
MNG--That's about right. Don't forget lack of foaming at the mouth over the "North American Union" or "New World Order". IOW, if you're not in OLS territory, you're a "cosmotarian", aka a sane person.
joe | October 12, 2008, 10:51am | #
Welcome to Lonewacko territory, Prolefeed.Damn, remind me never to piss off Jesse.
BDB | October 12, 2008, 10:56am | #
Oh yeah, if you don't like Sarah Palin, you're a "cosmotarian".Handle Randomized for TallDave's Protection | October 12, 2008, 11:01am | #
TheMedia strikes again!http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/us/politics/12strategy.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin
John McCain's campaign is NOT in trouble, it's TheMedia!
VM | October 12, 2008, 11:08am | #
hay. BDB. she's got like luburtareen kred or something. yeah.BDB | October 12, 2008, 11:10am | #
We can't trust you VM.You're from [scary music]CHICAGO![/scary music]
VM | October 12, 2008, 11:17am | #
LOOK! OVER THERE!!!SOCIALIZED MEDICINE PEEING ON THE TEN KOMMANDMENTS
[hurries off]
joe | October 12, 2008, 2:26pm | #
Like I'd believe anything a moose tells me about Sarah Palin. Biased much?;-)
brotherben | October 12, 2008, 2:33pm | #
Here is a great editorial by Sam Harris about the dumbing down of american voters and it's relation to gov. Palin.BDB | October 12, 2008, 2:40pm | #
How are American voters being "dumbed down" if they're rejecting her in droves?Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 3:15pm | #
from the original posta similar witchhunting lunacy is brewing in some quarters of the left.
Some more evidence on this subject. The Republicans are obviously flailing because they see nothing has been working lately and the gap keeps growing. But it seems to me the Obama supporters are also overreacting - sometimes to the point of near batshiat crazy themselves - and their dude is *winning*.
To wit: This story in the Washington post that I found through fark.
The sign went up Sunday evening, bold black letters against the stark white background of the marquee at the Colony South Hotel & Conference Center in Clinton: "Country First. McCain/Palin."Pandemonium?! Boycotts?! Really? For a major party candidate's banner?
By daybreak, pandemonium had broken loose all across heavily Democratic Prince George's County. Many local supporters of Democrat Barack Obama, jolted by the message as they headed down Branch Avenue on their Monday morning commutes, grabbed cellphones and BlackBerrys to notify friends. Operators of neighborhood e-mail group lists cried foul to their memberships. The NAACP logged calls. Community leaders demanded boycotts of the hotel, a common venue for Democratic events.
prolefeed | October 12, 2008, 3:31pm | #
One reason why it would not be helpful for people that classify just about anyone they disagree with on the matter of government as "socialists" is that then you are seen as calling everyone a socialist without any sense of gradation. I mean, if McCain and Mao are "both socialists" to you then it appears that term is so broad as to be silly.Well, if it seemed like I was implying that there were no degrees of socialism, then I apologize for not being clear enough. Socialism comes in every degree of admixture with free-market capitalism, from the U.S., which despite the bailout is still perhaps the country with the greatest degree of freedom in the marketplace, at least until Paulson or his successor goes on a buying spree, to the European Democratic Socialism, to Iraq under Saddam, to Communist China a decade or so ago, to perhaps the most extreme manifestation right now, Zimbabwe under Mugabe.
The more socialism, the worse life gets for the subjects in general, though as Europe shows, you can have a great deal of socialism and still live a pretty good life.
And, to address LMNOP's point -- there are right-libs and left-libs. Similarly, there are right-socialists and left-socialists. Bush and Paulson are right-socialists, who are in favor of nationalizing industries by grotesquesly overpaying rich people for severely overvalued assets, and paying for it in ways that harm poor people. Chavez is a left-socialist, who nationalizes industries by seizing the assets of rich people with little or no compensation, and giving some of the seized wealth to poor people.
The end result over time will be similar, though -- a significantly poorer society with virtually everyone suffering to some extent -- but with different classes of people momentarily benefiting from the different types of government seizure.
I do recognize LMNOP's implied point that most socialism to date has been of the left-socialist variety, and so the recent spate of right-socialism in the U.S. doesn't fit in with many popular definitions of what socialism is.
And yeah, the cosmotarian comment I made was kind of a gratuitous swipe, for which I apologize. I think Nick Gillespie's black leather jacket is pretty cool, and I'm a bit jealous I can't pull off that look. :o)
brotherben | October 12, 2008, 3:34pm | #
Kolohe, I read the article and I find nothing disturbing. It is the chance you take when you choose sides and post that choice on your business. If the democrats were talking about fire-bombs or lopping the owners head off, then i could see the comparison to repubs.joe | October 12, 2008, 3:39pm | #
There is no such thing as "right socialism."This is the equivalent of using the word "fascist" to describe the cops who took your weed. It's a trendy misuse of the term, popular among a certain type of of person who likes to flatter himself by equating his bugbears with something actually scary.
BDB | October 12, 2008, 3:40pm | #
Shh! Don't tell Jonah Goldberg, joe!VM | October 12, 2008, 3:48pm | #
oh yeah. oh yeah. well, the other side would be worse. so there. neener.[ducks, which is what cousin Norbert, up in Alaska, should have done]
the innominate one | October 12, 2008, 3:56pm | #
Jonah Weisberg on what to call the economic model of the bailouthi, VM!
thoreau said: Look at who's doing better: The guy with the inspiring speeches. Say what you will about Obama's rhetoric and policies and whatever else, but he plays up hope, and he wins.
I think this is an important point that the campaign consultants are overlooking. Back when I read George Will regularly, he said the same thing in regard to Reagan's campaign. Remember "there you go again". People vote for optimism, for candidates who make them feel good, except when they're afraid, then they vote for the candidate who makes them feel safe. I think both are playing a role in this election, but the optimism probably moreso.
Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:04pm | #
Kolohe, I read the article and I find nothing disturbing.Really? I grant you that it's precisely the reason that businesses of all sizes try to assiduously avoid partisan politics.
But it disturbs me that a community is saying 'We don't want any Republicans to do business here.'. (or alternatively that they should stay in the closet*). The community has no problem with similar pro-obama signs. The sign for McCain is supporting a mainstream albeit currently minority political opinion(both locally and nationwide). You use a boycott for this 'injustice' and I ain't going to listen to you when real injustices occur.
also from the article:
"Businesspeople have to be mindful of the sentiments and sensibilities of their market trading area, and Prince George's County is overwhelmingly for Obama," said community activist Arthur Turner of Kettering, who was among those advocating a boycott. "People I have talked to look at the sign as a slap in the face. They feel it was blatant disrespect. . . . I have heard people say they will no longer patronize Colony South because of that disrespect."This guy manages to fulfill the Palin notion of the 'community activist'. Disrespected because of a different mainstream political view? Grow the fuck up.
*ironic, no? And furthermore, to link this back to what Turner said, if some redneck town in the south boycotted some store with a gay pride flag in front, how many would say that the store needed "be mindful of the sentiments and sensibilities of their market trading area"
brotherben | October 12, 2008, 4:09pm | #
fwiw there are no gay pride flags on display in southeast Alabama businesses.(sp)Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:09pm | #
To be fair, that redneck town could be in central Pennsylvania also.BDB | October 12, 2008, 4:12pm | #
Go to Appalachia and put up an Obama sign.BDB | October 12, 2008, 4:13pm | #
Or Utah outside of Salt Lake.Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:14pm | #
fwiw there are no gay pride flags on display in southeast Alabama businesses.(sp)I have seen them in Pensacola. On some store just up the street from McGuire's and Sammy's. The latter two establishments, btw, always had some christain fundies protesting outside them saying both the proprietors and the patrons were going to hell. I never saw a protest in front of the store with the flags.
BDB | October 12, 2008, 4:15pm | #
On second enough Mormons are probably too nice to mess with anyone's signs.BDB | October 12, 2008, 4:16pm | #
Ok yeah I forgot about the Eastern Panhandle. :Pjoe | October 12, 2008, 4:17pm | #
One might as well talk about "left monarchism."Come to think of it, by some lights, Louis XIV was a socialist. His government had a great deal of involvement in the economy, and kings have been said to own the entire country, all the land, or whatnot from time immemorial.
VM | October 12, 2008, 4:18pm | #
only if I get the gag ball this time.brotherben | October 12, 2008, 4:20pm | #
Pensacola, I suspect, is willing to overlook certain things they find disagreeable, in pursuit of the almighty tourist dollar.Look, that really is the point here. You can make your stand, or make your money, but you oftentimes can't do both.
Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:20pm | #
Go to Appalachia and put up an Obama signA recent poll puts Obama actually up by 8 in West Va
But even with the usual medium margin of mccain +5 to +8, I'm sure there are plenty of Obama signs in Appalachia
BDB | October 12, 2008, 4:21pm | #
Yeah, in the ARG/ROFL poll.If Obama wins West Virginia this year very large pigs will fly by my window at the same time it's called for him.
brotherben | October 12, 2008, 4:21pm | #
VM | October 12, 2008, 4:18pm | #only if I get the gag ball this time."
VM, all i have is a teabag.
VM | October 12, 2008, 4:23pm | #
well, brotherben, that's just a golden shower on my parade. *takes cup away from girls*Kolohe - BDB is probably right. Airborne bacon.
but it sure would be interesting. We could commemorate the moment by watching "All the Right Moves".
BDB | October 12, 2008, 4:24pm | #
Not only a moose, joe. A Bit City Chicago Moose. Is there anything more anti-Palin?Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:26pm | #
Look, that really is the point here. You can make your stand, or make your money, but you oftentimes can't do both.So the only way to keep making a living in the upcoming Obama presidency is to make sure either you keep your political opinions to yourself, or make sure they're the correct ones. All minority political opinions shall be dealt by the community 'with great justice.'
Good to know.
BDB | October 12, 2008, 4:27pm | #
Er,"Big City Chicago Moose".Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:27pm | #
For the record, I also am not too keen on a poll that shows a 8 point lead one way, when every other one showed 5 to 8 the other way.VM | October 12, 2008, 4:28pm | #
*replaces one of the girls with BDB and returns cup*BDB | October 12, 2008, 4:29pm | #
If there's a dark red state that shows a surprise this year, it's probably Indiana.brotherben | October 12, 2008, 4:37pm | #
It has nothing to do specifically with Obama's presidency. If I open a gay nudey bar (calm down joe, it's a hypothetical) in a predominantly hetero area, does it mean that the locals are homophobes if I can't make a living?could someone define "strawman" before I have to leave?
Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:42pm | #
If I open a gay nudey bar ... in a predominantly hetero area, does it mean that the locals are homophobes if I can't make a living?It depends. If you go out of business because there is no demand, no.
If you go out of business because 'the community' pickets outside your place every night causing customers to stay away, yes.
Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:45pm | #
less hyperbolically, b-ben, I just can't believe your so sanguine about a community reacting the way it is to a contrary political opinion than the mainstream.Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:46pm | #
'to a contrary political opinion of the majority.'Kolohe | October 12, 2008, 4:50pm | #
and it must be emphasized, a contrary opinion but not a whacked out one. The sign didn't say 'no jews or negros allowed' The sign wasn't for David Duke. The sign wasn't even for Chuck Baldwin or Bob Barr. The community is having a conniption fit over a person advocating the second largest political party in America today.BDB | October 12, 2008, 4:52pm | #
"If you go out of business because 'the community' pickets outside your place every night causing customers to stay away, yes."Actually, in the town I grew up in (very conservative place) the town's only strip club ( a "normal" straight one, even) was shut down by the local Baptist Church using exactly those tactics.
It's more common than you think. And I'd rather they be shut down that way than by zoning boards.
Mr. Nice Guy | October 12, 2008, 4:54pm | #
"So the only way to keep making a living in the upcoming Obama presidency is to make sure either you keep your political opinions to yourself, or make sure they're the correct ones."Yeah, that's hyperbole. We hav