The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell Admits: ‘I Am a Socialist. And, Yeah, I Checked Out Those Demi Lovato Bikini Pics, Too.’

Posted on | November 7, 2010 | 3 Comments

Wait. Maybe I need to double-check that quote:

O’Donnell was arguing on “Morning Joe” with Glenn Greenwald, who accused him of “trying to blame ‘the Left’ and ‘liberalism’ for the Democrats’ political woes.” O’Donnell responded:

“Glenn, unlike you, I am not a progressive. I am not a liberal who is so afraid of the word that I had to change my name to progressive. Liberals amuse me. I am a socialist. I live to the extreme left, the extreme left of you mere liberals, OK? However, I know this about my country. Liberals are 20 percent of the electorate. Conservatives are 41 percent of the electorate, OK? . . . You can sit there and pretend that liberals should run more liberal in conservative districts. You love the loss of the Blue Dogs. The only way, the only way you have a chairman Barney Frank, there’s only one way, that’s by electing Blue Dogs. It’s the only way. That’s the only way you have a Speaker Pelosi.”

And in so arguing, O’Donnell makes the case that my friend Ali Akbar has often made: Nothing is more important for Republicans than the defeat of “Blue Dog” Democrats, because it is only by the aid of these alleged “moderate” or “centrist” Democrats that liberals can achieve majority status.

This was what Bill Clinton taught me, by the way. I used to be what was called a “Sam Nunn Democrat,” and thought that Clinton was the same breed. After the useless folly of the Dukakis campaign in 1988 (when I didn’t even bother to vote), I was enthusiastic in 1992, putting a Clinton-Gore bumper sticker on my car and everything.

So I voted for a centrist Democrat and what did I get? Gays in the military, HillaryCare and the so-called “assault weapons” ban. In other words, a vote for Clinton was a vote for the Dukakis agenda.

People who say, “I vote for the man, not the party” are idiots. When you vote for the man, you’re voting for his party. Having been born and bred a loyal party-line Democrat, my experience with the first two years of the Clinton administration convinced me that I could no longer in good conscience vote for Democrats. (It was the infringement my Second Amendment rights that was the deal-breaker. I got my first semi-automatic rifle for Christmas when I was 11.)

But in becoming an ex-Democrat, I did not become a “moderate.” Instead, I became a right-winger. Why? Because I recognized that politics is a tug-of-war, and Clinton convinced me that I’d spent my entire adult life pulling on the wrong end of the rope. So I went way over to the other end of the rope, and started pulling as hard as I could.

Having recently had some disagreements with fellow conservatives over the Delaware Senate campaign, I reiterate my position: Conservatives win when they offer America, as Phyllis Schlafly famously called it, “a choice, not an echo.”

Mike Castle was an echo of liberalism, and not a choice. While I regret the GOP defeat in Delaware, I refuse to accept the idea that Mike Castle was the best Republicans could have hoped for in that campaign. Notice that Republicans just elected Pat Toomey to a Senate seat in Pennsylvania, where we were told — just six years ago — that Arlen Specter was the best we could hope for.

Liberalism always fails as policy and will also fail as politics, so long as Republicans are willing (a) to identify liberalism for what it is, and (b) to oppose it coherently and without apology.

One ought to add the caveat (c) that GOP opposition to liberalism should be presented by credible candidates running competent campaigns. But we should never assume that, because any state, district or demographic group has previously supported Democrats that we should abandon conservative arguments and instead adopt a Republican “me, too” approach to liberalism. I was not won over by “me, too” arguments, and I don’t think any other Democrat voter ever will be.

The key fact that Lawrence O’Donnell points out — twice as many American voters identify as “conservative” than identify as “liberal” — tells us that conservatism can be, and should be, the politics of Republican victory. But people will never be persuaded by an argument they never hear, and we thus do ourselves no favors by supporting Republican politicians who are unwilling to make the argument for conservative policies.

And I apologize for mistakenly suggesting that Lawrence O’Donnell had checked out those Demi Lovato bikini pics. Must have confused him with multimillionaire cradle-robber Keith Olbermann.

Category: Conservatism 101, Delaware, Election, MSNBC

Congressional And Media Probes Into The Obama Admin Promise To Be Un-Boring

Posted on | November 7, 2010 | 5 Comments

by Smitty

The Constitution Club reports that, while the cat is away in India, the mice are playing a game of circle the mixed metaphorical wagons:

Expect the trickle of leaks to go a-gusher in the coming days. Now that Obama has lost his rainmaker mojo and earned much enmity within his own party (not just for political setbacks, but also for his pettiness, arrogance and condescension), insiders have already started scheduling private meetings with journalists who have suddenly started paying attention for the first time in three years. The party is terribly alarmed at the prospect that Obama’s doing serious, long-term damage to the brand. The kind of damage that could take decades to undo. And that’s why the Obami are in India playing Sultan: the Dems are deciding what to do about him.

Uncoverage has pointed to an Obama-gate scandal, featuring Deep White House Insider Throat, or whoever.
It could be big, or it could be as unprecedented as a logo with a green “D” in a circle.
The will of the people to support the GOP seriously investigating and holding the Obama Administration accountable is unclear. Even though the race card is worn rather smooth, there will always be charges of putting a black man down. What is more insidious than the posturing, though, is the concern of turning our politics into a winner-takes-all reprisal affair.
So, hopefully, the major take-away isn’t that we need to purge crooks. Rather, we need to trim the Federal muffin-top, the centralization of power in DC that affords officials such temptation.

Category: Barack Obama

Report: Keith Olbermann Refuses to Apologize for Giving Money to Democrats and Looking at Demi Lovato Bikini Pics

Posted on | November 7, 2010 | 9 Comments

But mainly it was the giving-money-to-Democrats thing:

Network sources tell Playbook that Keith Olbermann was suspended because he refused to deliver an on-camera mea culpa, which would have allowed him to continue anchoring “Countdown.” Olbermann told his bosses he didn’t know he was barred from making campaign contributions, although he is resisting saying that publicly. Olbermann may not hold as many cards as he thinks. He makes $7 million a year and MSNBC’s prime time is not as dependent on him as it was before the addition of Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell, who make considerably less.

Via Glynnis MacNicol at Mediaite, who points out Steve Krakauer’s observation about MSNBC ratings:

Rachel Maddow is getting better ratings than Olbermann in the key A25-54 demographic, and Lawrence O’Donnell isn’t far behind. Olbermann is no longer the center of the strategy either – as the network has unveiled a vibrant, massive new campaign “Lean Forward” which focuses on half a dozen members of the MSNBC talent pool.

On the other hand, Olbermann — who is actually older than me, and I just turned 51 — recently spent a couple of years banging 20-something reporterette Katy Tur (he actually interviewed her on “Countdown” earlier this year) but, hey, NTTAWWT. And now that dysfunctional Disney princess Demi Lovato is 18, there’s no reason that Keith should be forced to apologize on air for checking out her bikini picture:

On the other hand, the executives at MSNBC might be troubled to learn that their $7-million-a-year prime-time anchor — with a demonstrable predilection for cradle-robbing — actually checked out Demi Lovato’s bare rump. Read more

Category: Celebrities, MSNBC, Rule 5, Scandal

Obligatory: ‘Hey, Did Anybody Notice That Allen West and Tim Scott Are Black?’

Posted on | November 7, 2010 | 5 Comments

Video via The Right Scoop:

Quoted at The Hill:

“So I think that the — the liberal progressives saw the strength of the grass-roots movement that we call the Tea Party which stands for ‘taxed enough already’ and they tried to turn against it,” Rep.-elect Allen West (R-Fla.) said Friday on “Hannity” on Fox News.
“And the number one thing that you always try to do to silence an opponent in the United States of America is to call someone a racist.”
West said that attempts to tarnish the Tea Party did not foil his campaign. “And we see that that did not work whatsoever,” he said.

Ann Coulter: “MSNBC is still searching for the ‘Republicans are racist’ angle in all of this.” And speaking of MSNBC, I like Allahpundit’s take on Keith Olbermann’s suspension:

If you’re going to rant against the other team every night, own it. Please, no more Murrow-esque professions of avoiding the voting booth in the name of objectivity when you’re on the air five hours a week screeching about wingnut fascists and the racist dystopia they’re about to impose on America.

Someone needs to compile a highlight reel of Olbermann’s most hyperbolic pronouncements about the Impending Dark Night of Fascism. He’s done that Martin Niemoller lecture so often — we’re always just one election away from cattle cars and concentration camps — that even liberals must be tiring of it by now.

UPDATE: Susannah Fleetwood has this video of an earlier “Fox and Friends” interview with Tim Scott:

This year, a record total of 13 black candidates won Republican congressional primaries, two of whom won their elections Nov. 2. Another candidate we covered extensively here, Charles Lollar, got just 35 percent against Steny Hoyer in Maryland’s 5th District, but fared well in Calvert and St. Mary’s counties.

We should remember that Allen West didn’t win his first campaign against Ron Klein in 2008, and we should also keep in mind that district lines will be re-drawn before the 2012 election. Black GOP candidates who didn’t win this year ought to be encouraged to try again, using the fundraising and other resources they developed in 2010 as the basis for building stronger campaigns for 2012.

Category: Allen West, Ann Coulter, Election, Florida, MSNBC, Racism, South Carolina

Rule 5 Sunday

Posted on | November 7, 2010 | 17 Comments

by Smitty

First Sunday after the election, and Rule 5 still chugs on. You readers are as wonderful as the weather, and I hope relaxation finds you. Read more

Category: Rule 5

Fractious, Malignant Justifications Regularly Aggravate

Posted on | November 7, 2010 | 3 Comments

by Smitty

The kvetching of some in the blogs over imperfect candidates and hypothetical victories unobtained will eventually taper off. The most dedicated whinger cannot continue grinding the axe over something that simply did not happen, even with “What a Fool Believes” on a permanent loop. Distill the lessons learned, strip out the names of the people and places, and keep them handy for the next election. Also, ensure perfect candidates in all political races.
What I’m getting at is that if there are substantial problems with candidates (support for gun control), fine: that’s why there are primaries. Anyone caught kvetching about stylistic disagreements (the candidate has a goofy laugh) ought to be punished by being forced to run in the primary themself. We’d either end up with a preferable candidate, or a better supporter of those willing to toss their life in the political meatgrinder.
To paraphrase Rumsfeld, you go to the election with the candidates you have. The ones on the Republican ticket who lost were fine; their prospective constituents chose otherwise, and no amount of water-carrying for the opposition will alter history. Read more

Category: Rule 5

LIVE AT FIVE – 11.07.10

Posted on | November 7, 2010 | 1 Comment

TOP NEWS

Democrats Ask Whether White House Truly Grasped Voters’ Fears

President Obama at the November 3 press briefing

Bredesen: “There doesn’t seem to be anybody in the White House who’s got any idea what it’s like to lie awake at night worried about money and worried about things slipping away.”




President Pursues Pukka Cooperation With India
Relationship is a “win-win” for both countries

Polls Open In Myanmar’s First Election In 20 Years



POLITICS

Did Jim DeMint Cost The GOP The Senate?

Senator Jim DeMint (Tea Party-SC)


Whiny pundits are whiny.

GOP House Leaders Aim To Choke Off Funds For Obamacare

New GOP Majority Likely To Shelve Immigration Reform In Favor Of Enforcement

Boehner: White House Seems To Be In Denial

GOP: No compromise on health care or spending

Rubio Draws A Line In The Sand



THE ECONOMY, STUPID

Treasury Yields Fall To New Lows On Fed Purchase News

Japan To Join U.S.- Led Free Trade Talks

Microsoft CEO Ballmer Sells $1.33 Billion In MSFT Stock

BoA, Citigroup Swap Blackberries for iPhones

Microsoft Got Kinect Because “Apple Is A Pain In The Ass”



SPORTS

Zenyatta Misses History By A Head

Blame (right) hangs on to beat surging Zenyatta by a head

Legendary mare comes from behind, falls just short of a win

#12 LSU Rallies Twice To End #5 Alabama’s Hope Of Defending Title

Texas Tech Upends #14 Missouri

#9 Cornhuskers Hold Off Iowa State In OT

#10 Stanford Whips #13 Arizona 42-17

Aggies Upset #8 Oklahoma For Rare Win

Rockets Fall To Spurs In OT, Remain Winless



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS

Lily Allen Hospitalized For Septicemia

Lily Allen: back to the hospital

Infection sets in five days after miscarriage

Katy Perry: I’d Rather Tease Than Pose Nude

Spiderman Reboot: Mary Jane Out, Gwen Stacy In

(Dead) Body Found Near Playboy Mansion

Ian McKellen Thinks Gays Still Pressured To Stay In The Closet

Mike White Offered “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies”

Tiger Woods’ Porn Star Finally Admits Sex Tape Is Fake






FOREIGNERS

Haiti Cholera Toll Tops 500

Pope Blasts Spain’s Anticlericalism

Volcanic Ash Concerns Cancel Flights To Jakarta

Yemeni Judge Orders Arrest of Awlaki



BLOGS & STUFF

JammieWearingFool: Allen West To Join Congressional Black Caucus – “I’m Not Gonna Ask Permission Or Whatever”

American Power: Lawrence O’Donnell Admits He’s A Socialist,  Tries To Walk That Back, Fails Miserably

PowerLine: Sink Rips White House For Allowing Ego To Trump Pragmatism

Newsbusters: Shields – Palin Quitting As Governor Is Like Kennedy At Chappaquiddick

Protein Wisdom: More Stupidity From Gail Collins About Bears And Abortion Or Something

— compiled by Wombat-socho

Category: Live at Five

Arguably The Most False Analysis Of The 2010 Election

Posted on | November 6, 2010 | 9 Comments

by Smitty

A stunning case of cranial rectalitis on display. OK, the venue, Salon, is anything but unexpected, but William Saletan just couldn’t be further off base without exiting the ballpark. Empasis mine:

I’m not buying the autopsy or the obituary. In the national exit poll, voters were split on health care. Unemployment is at nearly 10 percent. Democrats lost a lot of seats that were never really theirs, and those who voted against the bill lost at a higher rate than did those who voted for it. But if health care did cost the party its majority, so what? The bill was more important than the election.

I realize that sounds crazy. We’ve become so obsessed with who wins or loses in politics that we’ve forgotten what the winning and losing are about. Partisans fixate on punishing their enemies in the next campaign. Reporters, in the name of objectivity, refuse to judge anything but the Election Day score card. Politicians rationalize their self-preservation by imagining themselves as dynasty builders. They think this is the big picture.

They’re wrong. The big picture isn’t about winning or keeping power. It’s about using it.

Sure, if your name is Vladimir Putin.
Now, for the American readership, let us remind ourselves that power corrupts, and the Constitution is a minimalist approach to lending just enough sovereignty and to a Federal government to secure life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for everyone.
Saletan and company do not grasp that the Internet has changed everything. Vulgar displays of power (Pelosi) are last year’s fashion news. Her continued presence in the House promises to be the negative advertising that punts another 60 Demo-Commies in 2012.
Welcome to the Post-Progressive Era, America. Saletan: you can keep your head parked in twilight, or let the truth that technology is now fulfilling the promise of an informed electorate dawn on you; it really makes no difference either way.

Update: seen at RNC:

Category: Election, Nancy Pelosi
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