Picture of the Day - 3 - Really, really, really weird
Is the GOP really applaud these kids on the convention floor?
Now we've got the Republican Presidential candidate warmly greeting the kid who knocked up his Vice President's daughter.
Tell me this isn't really, really, really weird.
(Sen. John McCain greets Levi Johnston, boyfriend of Bristol Palin, Sept. 3, 2008.(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak))
posted by mikevotes at
3:47 PM
12 Comments:
I'm confused. What is it the Republicans actually stand for again? Oh yeah, they stand for tell you how to live and they stand for passing judgment on you. See, they all have special dispensation. It's like a morality/ethics condom. Once you're one of them you can do whatever you want without getting infected.
McCain has no conviction save winning. Yeah, McCain's his own man. In fact with each passing day he's a new man.
My head's going to explode. lol.
By
-epm, at 2:24 PM
Josh Marshal nails it:
"Let's be clear about what's happening here. Overwhelmingly, reporters are pressing eminently reasonable questions -- her role in troopergate, her lack of experience, her connections to the AIP, her history of earmarking and lobbyists, etc. Meanwhile, the McCain campaign is going absolutely non-stop about Palin's daughter. It is unmistakable."
By
zen, at 3:15 PM
Good catch. The only campaign making an issue about young Ms. Palin is the McCain campaign. Is that because it's the one issue that may ruffle the feathers of the extremists?
By
-epm, at 3:28 PM
EPM, Dead on. It's the party of morals for other people.
There are a few out there actually holding up the point, like moralist/blowhard Laura Ingraham (Dr. Laura.)
http://www.drlaurablog.com/2008/09/02/sarah-palin-and-motherhood/
I don't care how they try to spin it, I find it very hard that America will not take this pregnancy thing against Palin. Sure the people who already love her forgive, but that vast mass who are not in the fundie circle, have to be arching an eyebrow.
...
Zen, Yeah, I caught that. They're trying to create the image of the press beating up on a girl, but, that didn't work for Britney or any of the other flash celebs, so I'm doubting it will work here.
PS. I zapped the marijuana post because I'm posting so much right now and that didn't seem that important. I read all your comments.
By
mikevotes, at 3:35 PM
I'll tell you living in the crotch of conservativism (Shenandoah Valley, VA) it most certainly has an effect. "Blame that evil liberal media," is a battle cry that resonates with the non-thinking masses. Keeping the story out there plays right into their biggest fears and insecurities.
"We already know those mean ol' libs wanna take away our guns and tax us to death." It's unreal. These are the same people that call themselves good, moral, Christians.
"Just leave the poor girl alone, everybody makes mistakes." So they are going to celebrate that mistake tonight on stage. Lovely. "Because of course those evil liberals would have just aborted the baby."
I'm feeling dizzy.
By
zen, at 3:37 PM
Right, I heard that this morning from someone here in deeply red Houston, Texas, but those folks were voting McCain no matter what.
The real question to me is how this whole thing plays to those people who weren't already in lockstep with "the movement."
How does this play with the real middle America?
All those jokes on late night TV and in offices around the country will take a toll.
By
mikevotes, at 4:00 PM
"those folks were voting McCain no matter what."
I think largely you are correct. But I find it somewhat true that the "base is energized." I see it as the sort of "Thompson effect."
The idea of Fred Thompson early in the primary season was a bigger deal than the candidate actually proved to be. He was the idea of frank, fresh, conservative, toughness. He turned out to be a boring, old grump.
Republican voters ended up with McCain, greatly from lack of enthusiasm over the many choices that they had. Some said they wouldn't vote, or would hold their nose.
Now with Palin it's similar. She's unknown, but they are embracing her because of the perception that she's a "true conservative." And that's why they are so defensive of her.
The sparkle will likely fade for a few, but for many, this is a reason, a reaction, to fight against the left and the Obama sensation. And now the Rovian idea to play against the media is a further gamble. How do you get your message out when the campaign is in radio silence?
By
zen, at 6:42 PM
Boy, the campaign sure cleaned him up nicely.
As a former hockey player, I'm sure he's the maddest about them making him cut his "flow."
[I know it's another super-tabloidy liberal blog, but it's before and after photos, not rumors. Watch the slideshow.]
By
Anonymous, at 6:50 PM
I just hope my daughter can get a catch like him! Hooo boy. I'd force any one of my teen-aged daughters to hitch her future to this prize!
The kids just a normal, punk-ass teenager livin' in the frickin' boonies tryin' to look tough because that's what real men do... talk tough.
My money say's there'll be no wedding. Levi's probably scared shitless... Who knows what the GOP goon squad's said to the kid.
It's a goddamn hillbilly reality show fer chrisake.
Who said "Jerry Springer?" Oh, ya... Mike.
(I've had a beer and now it all just seems so damn funny.)
By
-epm, at 7:15 PM
Zen, Yeah, but I think she is a "true conservative," although I think your point is more about conservative celebrity, and yeah, I could see that.
....
Jeff, I saw the cleanup commented on on one of the big mainline official blogs. NYTimes, WaPo.
.....
EPM, I'm wondering about the wedding, too. Apparently, nobody was talking wedding until she became VP candidate.
The poor kid does look a bit like the deer in the headlights, though.
By
mikevotes, at 9:15 PM
"The poor kid does look a bit like the deer in the headlights, though."
What kid in his boxers wouldn't. I'm serious about the goon squad, too. This is just some nobody from East Moosebutt, AK. It's not like these his people. Something tells me his not Philips Academy stock.
That, and I think McCain just told him "Way to go, you little horn-dog! Hell, if I were ten years younger I do'er myself. *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*"
(I keep thinking Caddy Shack...)
By
-epm, at 9:34 PM
Oh yeah.
I keep trying to imagine being that kid, being caught up and suddenly drawn into this weird GOP aspirational machine.
By
mikevotes, at 10:04 PM
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