Some New Kind of Politics
You know how the Democrats keep trying to tie Republican Presidential nominee John McCain to George W. Bush, calling him “McSame” and noting that his election would mean a third term for W. Â
Michael Barone doesn’t think this will resonate with voters, noting particularly how the incumbent president distinguished himself from his likely successor when he addressed the Republican Convention last week, saying of McCain, “He is not afraid to tell you when he disagrees with you and, believe me, I know.“
Still, Democrats love to repeat the refrain that John McCain voted with George W. Bush 90% of the time.
At the same time, they tout their own nominee as representing some new kind of postpartisan politics. Â Postpartisan, indeed. Â In today’s Los Angeles Times, Jonah Goldberg writes, “Obama voted the Democratic Party line more often (97%) than McCain voted in accord with President Bush (90%).“
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So, how does calling Sarah Palin a “pig” fit in with this new brand of politics?
Comment by V the K — September 9, 2008 @ 7:53 pm - September 9, 2008
I was wondering how often BHO voted with the Pelosi Reid Democrats.
Who by the way have a 9% approval rating.
Now when the 90% thing is brought up we can counter 97%, thanks for the new info Jonah and GPW! We conservatives are havin fun man. Now that we’ve got Sarah, this is a ball! I heard on MSNBC tonight btw that Governor Palin…….prays. OOuuuuu. Scarey stuff huh?
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — September 9, 2008 @ 8:27 pm - September 9, 2008
This red herring comparison between Obama’s idea of change and McCain’s is completely laughable. Obama’s being upfront – the change he’s for is about reversing the changes (both domestically and internationally) from the worst full, 2 term president in history. Yeah, Obama voted 97% with democrats and guess what: that’s what people who support him wanted him and the democrats to do. No argument there.
McCain says change, but he’s too scared of the Republican hierarchy to even admit he also wants to try and wipe the memory of the worst 2 term president in history. If he’s such an independent and maverick, then why isn’t he running as an independent with Joe Lieberman as a running mate? Compare his nomination speech with Bush’s back in 2000 – almost all the exact same thing.
It’s very simple:
Obama is a Democrat running against a Republican, pure and simple.
McCain is Republican who is, well, ummm, kinda sorta running as Republican, but he wants to kinda change what Republicans have been doing, even though he’s kinda really agreeing with them by voting with fellow Republicans almost all the time….uh, er…..
Comment by Kevin — September 9, 2008 @ 8:35 pm - September 9, 2008
When has Obama ever challenged his party? Did he ever challenge the corrupt political machine in Chicago, or did he just use it to get elected? Once elected, did he challenge the system, or did he just use his position to funnel taxpayer dollars to Tony Rezko, Father Pfleger, Bill Ayers and others who had helped him advance politically? Did his mad community organizer skillz make the south side of Chicago a better place to live in any concrete and measurable way? Did the $100 million he dispensed as a board member of the Annenberg Challenge lead to better schools and test scores, or was it just frittered away to well-connected activist groups? Why did Obama vote ‘present’ 130 times in the state legislature, and did he author any legislation that became law that was a dramatic reform or improvement on the status quo?
With a teleprompter in front of him, he can deliver a good speech. But real change is something he has never delivered.
Comment by V the K — September 9, 2008 @ 8:45 pm - September 9, 2008
MAybe Kevin’s holding out for Obama to change public sex to no longer be illegal?
McCain, love him or hate him, does work across the aisle on things that anger his party. (gang of 14, Scamnasty, McCain Feingold) Obama works across the aisle over on those rare voice votes.
Then again, Obama’s receipts from Fannie Mae show his dedication to oversight
Comment by The Livewire — September 9, 2008 @ 8:49 pm - September 9, 2008
Today Obama essentially called Palin an “old fish” who “stinks”, and a “pig”. Here’s the Ben Smith article:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Obama_Lipstick_on_a_pig.html
Oh heck, here’s the quote:
This is not smart politics, nor is it moral. Where is Obama’s vaunted political smarts? and/or his alleged goodness of soul?
Ben Smith is not right-leaning to my knowledge, and I love the doublethink with which he ends, outright denying what Obama’s audience knew when they heard it:
But of course Obama did. Pronouns have referents. What was the referent of “it” in Obama’s “pig” sentence, with its screechingly obvious addition of “lipstick” for the linkage to Palin, if not Palin? GP Lefties, commence your hilarious turning and twisting for our amusement.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — September 9, 2008 @ 9:03 pm - September 9, 2008
Since one of the most memorable lines of Palin’s acceptance speech concerned pit bulls and lipstick, there’s no doubt what he meant. He’s just thinking he can get away with it, like the way he slyly gave Hillary the finger during the primaries, remember that?
Comment by V the K — September 9, 2008 @ 9:12 pm - September 9, 2008
Yup. The guy is such a coward. Ace has the video:
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/273026.php
Obama sets up McCain’s policies as the nominal referent of “it”. But the audience knew what he was talking about. Otherwise their cheering and clapping make no sense. He pauses ‘just so’, nudge nudge, wink wink.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — September 9, 2008 @ 9:18 pm - September 9, 2008
If there were a fair, unbiased media in this country, “Lipstick on a pig” would be the Macaca of 2008.
Comment by V the K — September 9, 2008 @ 9:21 pm - September 9, 2008
Kevin has actually put things in a nutshell for us.
Obama a liberal, picked a liberal as a VP. As America has got to know him both against Hillary and McCain his polls have fallen. McCain has picked a true conservative as his VP, not Liberman, and Mac Palin polls have soared. When given a choice between liberal/leftists vs conservatives, America chooses right. Kevin you gotta admit if you guys lose this year, how depressed will your people be man? On MSNBC tonight even Chuck Todd said there is a change happening down ballot now. The Republicans may hold their 5 Senate seats and 10 House seats that were pretty much guaranteed loses. My only worry, can Barack ask Biden to pretend he’s sick and bow out for Hillary. Bill will try to convince BHO of that at Friday’s dinner party.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — September 9, 2008 @ 9:31 pm - September 9, 2008
Ahem wasn’t Barry suppose to be “post partisian?”
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — September 9, 2008 @ 9:32 pm - September 9, 2008
Wait, I’m confused. How is it that John McCain has voted with GWB 90% of the time? I thought George Bush wasn’t in the Senate and doesn’t get a Senate vote. Am I missing something here?
Comment by Tyler — September 9, 2008 @ 11:34 pm - September 9, 2008
TGC warily looks around for any sign of MichiganMatt
Comment by ThatGayConservative — September 10, 2008 @ 12:53 am - September 10, 2008
I guess Obama has to call his platform “Hope and Change” because “Warmed over 70’s liberalism” just doesn’t have that catchy ring to it.
Comment by V the K — September 10, 2008 @ 5:05 am - September 10, 2008
11: “Post-partisanship” in Obama-ese: Republicans capitulate 100% to Democrats.
Comment by Attmay — September 10, 2008 @ 10:34 am - September 10, 2008
The Democrat Congress has a 9% approval rating.
BHO voted with them 97% of the time.
Man of the people eh. Poof he’s gone. hehe
No more drilling! Inflate your tires!
If Bill and Hills start now to undermine his campaign from within, she has a shot in 2012.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — September 10, 2008 @ 5:35 pm - September 10, 2008