Obama’s Scorched Earth Policy
No words better sum up the fashion by which Barack Obama’s campaign handles criticism than “the politics of personal destruction.” Although popularized by Bill Clinton, the phrase embodies the political left’s timeless approach to securing victory in elections. Destroy your foe and hope that his ideas never become the issue, as ideological debate is not something at which they excel. Yet this year was supposed to be different. The junior senator from Illinois promised an end to divisiveness, partisanship, and “politics as usual.” Recent events illustrate the emptiness of these platitudes. Since August, Team Obama has fought a covert war against their opposition and muzzled them by any means available.
Legal methods appear to be their response of choice. When a commercial from the American Issues Project linked Obama to former Weather Underground terrorist William Ayers, the campaign filed a complaint with the Department of Justice requesting that the 527 be criminally investigated. Simultaneously, they contacted “stations running American Issues Project’s ad in an unsuccessful attempt to compel them to pull the spot.” The same tactic was used in the primaries in regard to Hillary Clinton. Luckily, the Department of Justice does not — as of yet — deem the free expression of speech a felony or a misdemeanor.
More licit chicanery ensued with John McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin. Rather than combat her popularity with disputation, the man who lauds himself a catalyst for hope and change “airdropped a mini-army of 30 lawyers, investigators, and opposition researchers into Anchorage, the state capital Juneau, and Mrs. Palin’s hometown of Wasilla to dig into her record and background.” What they will turn up is unknown but largely irrelevant. Quixotic endeavors and profligate spending are integral to Obama’s maneuvers. The same is true of ad hominem argumentation. Indeed, the bombarding of faultfinders has become a cause célèbre this year.
Attempts to critique Obama are met with vitriol from partisan loyalists and members of the mainstream media. Respecting diversity is anathema to his legionnaires. The arguer, rather than the argument, becomes the focus for their irrational blowback. In their minds, the only acceptable way to describe the Democratic nominee is as the savior of our polity. Deconstructing his associations is forbidden. That Obama knows more radicals than moderates is blatantly obvious, but bringing it up is an act of hate. This practice showcases how rooted in emotion the political left is. Their willful abandonment of logic is perplexing until one contemplates how much their hysterics confuse independents.
The Obama campaign is aware of this eventuality and has created a site called “Fight the Smears.” It sends out emails via a “live action wire,” a tocsin alerting the faithful that someone somewhere has besmirched the name of The One. Like Sauron in The Lord of the Rings, their wrath is terrible and their retribution swift. Soon after their leader is challenged or merely inconvenienced, all contentions which contradict him are systematically recast as “smears” or personal assaults.
I personally witnessed this transpire upon the release of Dr. Jerome Corsi’s The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality. Operatives sent out a “Push Back Now” component wherein supporters initiated a nefarious attempt to damper the author’s legitimacy and sales. They derided Corsi as a “vile smear-peddler” who published “a book of lies.” The senator’s sycophants were so terrified of its contents that they put together a 41-page pamphlet purporting to refute it. Corsi counterattacked with a rejoinder of his own and elucidated those positions that the campaign conceded.
This is no surpise. It will become worse under an Obama adminstration.
The Left views the US Constitution and Bill of Rights as a pain in the ass. Expect more warfare against the First Amendment and redoubled efforts to diminish individual liberty and freedom of choice. Big Brother is knocking on the door.
Barack Obama does not seem like a violent man. I doubt very much whether he could torture or murder a political foe. However, he is existentially committed to censorship. Obama believes that he has a duty to protect the unwashed masses from perceived false ideas. To be blunt, he is something of a friendly and warm hearted totalitarian. The behavior of Obama’s ideological thugs in Chicago toward Stanley Kurtz is overwhelming evidence of this mindset.
Barack Obama’s tactics are totalitarian and un-American. They illustrate that, while we should reject him for a thousand reasons this November, none is more convincing than the palpable contempt he has shown for free speech.
I was shocked at the marshalling of the Obamabots to shut down interviews of Kurtz and Fredosso and the attempt to involve the justice dep’t to shut down the Ayers/Obama ad.
“the bots” have been informed by Obama’s people that they are helping avoid the “swiftboating” of The One. They jump on board for the cause, like good robots everywhere.
Under the constraints of political correctness, apparently only certain kinds of (preapproved) speech are free.
Absolutely awful what these Leftists would do to free speech in America, including the (anti) Fairness Doctrine proponent, Nancy Pelosi.
I would like to suggest an alternative to Obama becoming President. I’m sure with all the money he and his friends have they could afford to buy an island or two. Why don’t they all move there and have Obama run their “country” I think it would be more than obvious pretty quickly that he has not idea what he’s talking about. The Hollywood elite would get sick of paying for everyone on welfare pretty quickly I’m sure.
Since we all know we’ll never be lucky enough for all the people that hate America enough to try and destroy it from the inside out to actually follow up on their threats to leave, I think most of us will settle for Obama being exposed for the terrorist loving socialist he really is.
There is going to be so mmuch back-peddling from the left I won’t be suprised if the earth starts rotating in the other direction.
What are we to make of Senator Obama? That he’s a demagogue.
Obama’s defenders may claim that the candidate has nothing to do with his more fanatical supporters. If this was ever true, it has become less true since the Palin selection helped McCain in the polls, and it becomes less true every day as the campaign evolves. Obama is playing to the fanatics. His sole argument is anger: at Bush, at Wall Street, at McCain. The “Pig in Lipstick, Old Fish in Paper” remarks were an early symptom of his crude appeal.
The public story about Obama hasn’t adjusted to this yet. Bill Kristol said today that McCain’s case against Obama is that he’s too liberal. “Liberal” doesn’t quite capture the problem. Not counting George Wallace, who was not a major party nominee, Obama is running the most angry campaign any U.S. presidential candidate has run since W.J. Bryan, and perhaps since the Civil War. The idea of debunking “Obama the Healer” by bringing up Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers may soon become superfluous and unnecessary. The Obama we are seeing is steadily becoming exactly the Obama his previous associations would have indicated. He senses in his “base” a longing for Jeremiah Wright, and he’s supplying it.
Obama’s campaign has not just “gone negative”. It’s gone ugly. But it can get uglier still, and I expect it to.
Long piece, makes some provocative points…
Barack Obama and the Strategy of Manufactured Crisis
The article references the “Cloward-Piven Strategy”, put forward by a couple of Columbia University sociologists in 1966…
…seeks to hasten the fall of capitalism by overloading the government bureaucracy with a flood of impossible demands, thus pushing society into crisis and economic collapse.
Right out of Ayers/Alinsky playbook.
Fannie and Freddie debacles (“bringing affirmative action to the financial sector”) have worked just fine, eh wot ?
Maybe should call this strategy ‘Obamassault.’
“Liberal” doesn’t quite capture the problem.”
The term “liberal” is simply to vague. We must start describing Barack Obama as a non-violent radical. This position is easily defensible. Obama is not another Stalin or Lenin. Once again, I find no evidence that he is inclined towards violence. Obama, however, is the ideological son of Saul Alinsky.
It’s gone ugly. But it can get uglier still, and I expect it to.
I’ve been saying that for months now.
Obama camp doing this while ‘begging’ (ok, ‘asking nicely’) for my vote, just think what would happen to ‘oppositions’ when they have the votes.
Baroque Insane Oblahma is a psychopath. A mountain of toxic truths have been revealed about him, yet he remains a viable candidate. I’m praying for Divine Intervention at this point.
Dar al Islam=Everything Muslim (believers)
Dar al Harb=Everthing not Muslim (infidels)
Dar al Obama=believers
Dar al America=infidels
Where do you think he learned this?
Obama’s behavior, either directly or through his minions is exactly why I wrote an open letter to Senator Obama inviting him to have me arrested since my website is viewable in Missouri.
These could be true, but unfortunately for us we, the general American electorate are either easily duped by MSM or too stupid to know what is going on. the One might well be in 1600, and God help us. Goodbye talk radio!
We are viewing the coronation of a mythical king. In the land of Obamelot, where the Knights of the Circular Argument preside, where “the message” trumps truth, where Machiavellian narcissism meets Orwellian revisionism
One plays the stage play part of “big brother” lending a “helping hand” charitably to the populist masses, while acting as the totalitarian eyes and ears of “big brother” with the velvet glove masking the iron fist…held menacingly over anyone who dares to disagree with the “message” or the messiah who carries its banner.
Leftist dictator tactics performed in a period piece costume, playing Barry The Lion-Hearted to the fawning residents of Obamelot. Where restraint of inquiry is only surpassed by the mcuh more than passive acquiescence of a “bought and paid for” complicit press corps.
The difference between leftists and non-leftists can be summed up rather neatly. Leftists are rule breakers and non-leftists are rule followers. The reason leftists can lie with impunity, can hold simultaneously polar opposite beliefs/actions…is because they are not tethered to any moral outcome…they are tied to a self-absorbed outcome.
They are not “for” anything….they are simply AGAINST the status quo. And whatever gets them there, is perfectly defensible…by whatever means necessary. Lying, deceit, intentional misrepresentations, hiding facts, secreting agendas, smear campaigns….you are talking about one issue of the New York Times or one MSNBC or CNN broadcast.
Orwell described Animal Farm as a place where the rules were re-written to meet the needs of the Social Democracy growing appetite for control, enforced by the snarling dogs. In Obamelot, the growing appetite for suppression of the truth…is an end game in itself.
Our information stream has been kidnapped and raped. Please enjoy the Ministry of Truth’s broadcast this evening.
BC
You are so full of $hit. Talk about McCain wanting to cut Defense. Talk about your air head VP candidate. Talk about the people who won’t vote DEM because Obama is black. There are alot. Then see the truth in PJM readers. Talk about Lady Rothchild. Talk about 80% of GOPers that live like Dems in policy and economics. Talk about the Fact that the GOP blew it and There is little interest in McCain/Palin but it’s a close RACE. I am convinced you are a Neo-Con operative(figurative or literal). Do some JOURNALISM stop the commentary spin. People actually believe your bull$hit and I know you don’t.
What are the all the the people and groups that bash Obama? Good people?
in any sort of corporate enterprise they’re known as cockroaches, usually mid-level corporate guys who were always operating in the dark, coming out only to obsessively infect any competition they imagined were impeding their rise to the top. it was a fact of life that one had to shine a light on them continually and force them to scurry back into the woodwork. occasionally they would be useful to someone powerful. barry obama is one of those creatures. lacking a brain, or any sort of real accomplishments or leadership or principles he just moves on instinct. not being a real person, he is a pastiche of make believe characteristics, a re-creation of hollywood’s old days, when public relations agents made up movie stars out of whole cloth. more than anything else, barry obama is a bad guy. the symbol of america at its lowest point. if there is anything optimistic about the possibility of his election, it is that we cannot go any lower.
With violent radicals on his coattails. Obama’s not the most serious problem with an Obama administration; it’s the violent revolutionaries who will inhabit the cabinet and the bureaucracy.
Think Waco was a disaster? You haven’t seen anything.
“What are the all the the people and groups that bash Obama? Good people?”
Yes. Good people. If Obama were a minimally qualified candidate for the office of Presidency of the United States, and if his campaign weren’t full of some hair-raising weirdos, there’d be no PUMAs.
The reason leftists can lie with impunity, can hold simultaneously polar opposite beliefs/actions…is because they are not tethered to any moral outcome…they are tied to a self-absorbed outcome…They are not “for” anything….they are simply AGAINST the status quo. And whatever gets them there, is perfectly defensible…by whatever means necessary
You’ve described the aftereffects of several decades of “postmodern” indoctrination in America’s public schools.
A silent backlash is brewing that the Obama campaign and his bots may not be able to contain…
Nothing says “derangement”, (i.e., the ability to function normally), like the concerted attacks on anyone who voices an opinion contrary to the “group think” of Obama worshipers.
Be it a writer, a talk show host, a 527, a Hillary supporter, the hyper-aggressive tactics against those who wishes to point out FACTS or give their Constitutionally-granted right to their opinion, to the detriment of their “chosen one”, is a NEW PARADIGM (or new low) in the political landscape.
ANGER and HATRED is at the root of their world view, and it is mirrored in the way they denigrate and ravage their opponents personally and professionally…like bullying children in a name-calling contest. The reactions and the RAGING could be viewed as an aberation, or the lunatic rantings of some immature computer-geek on sites like KOS or HuffPost…if it wasn’t repeated ad nauseum in the media and passed off as as “political commentary” on networks like MSNBC and CNN, or magazines like Rolling Stone and Mother Jones.
Do we see the same PERSONAL VITRIOL in so-called conservative sites or magazines like National Review??? Please…someone find me an article on Biden that compares to the recent diatribe on Sarah Palin that Rolling Stone published! It was just one massive VOMIT-A-THON spewing PERSONAL vindictives against a woman who, without political help from a husband or benefactor, has captured the nation’s attention…and the ABJECT HATRED of the left!
Issues are immaterial… or if they are, they are glossed over with ridicule and disdain that ANYONE in their right mind could actually BELIEVE them, or god-forbid (like HE was involved!) LIVE BY THEM!!
What we are witnessing is a TRUE mental breakdown in the supposedly SHARED values we hold as a country. I suppose losing TWO close elections to Bush, the CAUSE CELEB of all their wailing and knashing of teeth, can be seen as the malignant root…but it has gone WAAAAAAY beyond that…
I, for one, hope McCain wins BIG…or that if Obama wins…we see them getting EXACTLY the candidate they believe will bring them their nirvana…and then witness the disappointment at the ensuing catastrophe that the LEFT brings to our country.
I believe THAT (almost) may be a better lesson in the long run than what we have now…if we survive it!
Jsntf: You can’t refute anything the author said,because you can’t;the democratic party is shot through with liberty-hating neo-stalinsts,for whom Obama is a sock puppet. Let the stalinists beware: we have a second amendment here, and 80 million guns in private hands,hands which will not submit to this stalinist garbage.
Still defending Corsi? Good grief.
We see who is desperate now. McCain is in freefall with his “suspending the campaign” stunt, the poor debate performance and the Palin implosion. This is fun to watch.
Dear “Just Say NoTo Fox” a.k.a. “I’m a coward who refuses to use my own name”
The doctor called, it’s time to refill your Xanax prescription. You sound VERY angry and pre-suicidal. They have rehab for your kind of obsession, don’t despair there is help to be had for you! I’m not even going to try and refute anything you were raving about because the majority of people on this site recognize you for the liberal Obama-crazed puppet you are and we know how disillusioned you are feeling right now with the realization that your “messiah” is being revealed for the wolf in sheep’s clothing that he really is.
The one shred of comfort I’ve dug up from the depths of my soul for you is…THERE’S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR YOU IN CANADA!!!! Yeah! You no longer have to put up with the horrible USA, you’re free to leave whenever you want!!!Do you need help packing your bags? Money for a plane ticket? A moving van? Tell me what you need and I’ll hand it you…wait, what I meant to say was, “Tell the government what you need they’ll be happy to hand it to you.” That is if Obama is elected…good luck with that!
We, the Obamabots, are up by 5-8 points in the national polls. I can see why everyone here is so bitter.
Cry in the dark much?
We, the Obamabots, are up by 5-8 points in the national polls
Your candidate may (or may not) be temporarily up in the polls.
The “bots” however are nowhere, merely serving in the capacity of foot soldiers in an army of Useful Idiots.
I hope this helps.
(later gator
we learned from the Swift boats
You all put out the first salvo about
being Arab, not born here, corrupt Daley gang,
etc
you cant take return salvo well, can you?
LoL
Sorry Matt, we’re not crying. I’m clinging to my gun waiting for you and your fellow thugs to show up at my door.
“Matt”
You’re spouting the “poll” non-sense on the wrong site sweetie, we don’t put much credence in those over here. You could try CNN or MSNBC though. I’m just trying to help you not make such a fool of yourself, you Democrats have done enough blubbering and sobbing over the past couple of weeks to last quite awhile. Scamper off now ok…you’re cute but just not quite up to weight yet.
So, let me get this straight: McCain’s faithful think Sarah Palin is the bee’s knees, but Obama’s supporters are an “army of Useful Idiots”? Yeah, that makes sense.
But now that I think about it, Sarah Palin may just be the Useful Idiot to which you refer. She’s certainly been useful to the majority crowd of rational people that will not vote for 4 more years of anti-science, anti-education, anti-liberty, pro-monarchy villainy.
The founding fathers would be proud.
Reading through several websites and blogs today I see the word of the day is “racist”. As predicted, the race card is being played more and more as Election Day nears and Obama is struggling in some key states. The reason is race, of course. If you don’t vote for Obama, it is because he is black and you must have subconscious racist qualities. Well let’s turn the table of this assertion. John McCain served his country both militarily and politically. He suffered greatly while a prisoner of war. His entire family has or is serving. So who else has his experience and sacrificed more? No one. So if you don’t vote for McCain, you must be unpatriotic and hate the military? You must brush aside everything he has done for America as inconsequential. You either belong to Code Pink or some other radical left-wing group.
I wonder if we will start to see this argument throughout the media? I seriously doubt it.
Okay, Sarah, you’re right. Polls are all nonsense.
How about the free market? Intrade odds have Obama at nearly 60%, McCain at 40%. Do you hear that little tapping on the glass? That’s the sound of reality trying to break through your wall of psychosis.
I agree that the MSM is largely useless. The thing to do then is be skeptical and follow the SCIENCE. What you and the folks at Pajamasmedia do is follow your GUT, as though there’s honor in that.
I’m all for scrutinizing the MSM, but creating an alternate reality of conservative bias is no answer. Talk about lightweight…
Hey, where did the Paid Push Trollers go today? Did the Obama Campaign assignment email server crash?
Answer me this? What was the racial and class composition of the couples at the Ft Dix NCO club that Bill Ayres was to have blown up?
Liberal Fascism. People thought the title was over the top. In fact, the book is quite factual and measured. And something happens to remind me of it every other day.
Clyde, well observed. By the way, I am a kind of racist. I want Soros, Huffington and all those liberal Canadian expats deported and replaced with hardworking catholic Guatemalans.
I´m putting country first that way.
All the Astroturfers and Obamabots are doing is change the subject when the subject is Obama.
So let´s not change the subject.
Dear disillusioned “Matt”
I seem to recall everyone calling for a landslide for Kerry in 2004 and we all know where that ended up…. you go right ahead and vote for Obama, I’m not stopping you, that’s what freedom is all about after all. You put your money up for whomever you like and I’ll do the same. “Intrade” is a glorified poll and you know it well as I do. I’ll be waiting here in my “alternate reality of conservatibe bias” for you on Nov. 5 where I’ll be happy to accept your concession of defeat. But of course, you won’t be getting paid to proselytize any longer so I won’t put money on you showing back up!
Wow so many to address;
Ms Val;
C’mon All the religious attacks- The tooth and nail effort to associate him to some undesirable character from 20 yrs ago… Did you not see McCain on the yacht with the recently convicted felon.
Dequello;
For the record I will never give up my guns.. I did not try to refute. Palin won’t even interview. My point was BC is not a Journalist. He is a Commentator. And it is quite disgusting to watch him do exactly what you guys claim the media does. The GOP is so full of it. I am a centrist I have voted both ways. Enough is Enough with these war mongering imperialist Neo-cons.
Taanstfl
It’s about time this country started teaching people how to find information and decide for themselves. Instead of that Christopher Columbus garbage. Problem is it starts to uncover all your lies.
Sarah;
F*ck you B*tch. That is all you people do is turn away from what you don’t wanna here. your attack does nothing to change the facts. I will not put my name on here and screw my business. Politics are just that politics. But I’ll call you a B*tch to your face. Clean living is the way for me. I have 10 generations plus. You need to go somewhere.
I say JSNTF because the only news you get is Rupert Murdoch news. FOX is his main tongue.
When I watched Nancy Pelosi making her address to the press yesterday I had a bad bad feeling about how it would resonate in making for a non partisan vote. Her ignorance in presenting the PARTISAN approach , brought about the exact ramification that I expected.
I am really starting to worry that Obama is America’s answer to Hugho Chavez. And that to the American left, that is a feature not a bug.
Obama is thrilled to have the questions about him focus on his admittedly nasty political strategy. This obscures the more serious question that he may in fact be a Marxist mole candidate who intends to dismantle the U.S. political economy and rebuild it as a Marxist/socialist state. What is the probability this is true about Obama? If it’s only ten percent (and I think it’s way higher than that), it is too much. What possible upside is there in this guy to compensate for the risk he is Hugo Chavez?
Thankfully, most radicals cannot constrain themselves. They want action and don’t mind violence, such as Ayers and Dohrn in their youth. You can see who they really are.
There are others who praise discussion and democracy as a way to have discussions and get votes. They won’t show their desire for coercion until they meet direct disagreement.
My whole comment is at EasyOpinions – Leading the People
http://easyopinions.blogspot.com/2008/08/leading-people
Excerpt:
Leading The People
If You Don’t Agree Now, You Will Later
Around 1967 at the University of Chicago, I was talking to one of the radical guys in my dormitory, call him Brad. He argued that only a radical change in government would bring about a better society. I disagreed.
He said that his movement would become stronger, and eventually I would agree with him. I asked, what if I didn’t agree with him, even later? He flashed anger and told me that if I didn’t agree on my own, he would make me agree. I saw that as the end of the discussion.
(continued..)
It would be wrong to put magnetic McCain/Palin stickers on cars in Obama-thick regions because Obama supporters can not resist the temptation to vandalize.
Why do you think Obama voted for the FISA amendments? Simple. He wants those powers if he becomes President.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Intelligence_Surveillance_Act_of_1978_Amendments_Act_of_2008
Obama violent? Doesn’t matter. He won’t need to be. The President has “people” who will take care of that for him. Just like Bush 43. And Clinton. And Bush 41. And Reagan. And Carter. And…well…you get the picture.
David Thmpson:
Your assumption that Obama is non-violent is based on superficial appearances.
Papa Doc was every bit as gentle in demeanor as Obama. Trotsky and Axelrod have much in common.
These are dangerous folks engaged in a campaign of fraud and intimidation to gain control of the White House. God help America if they succeed.
Taanstfl
It’s about time this country started teaching people how to find information and decide for themselves. Instead of that Christopher Columbus garbage. Problem is it starts to uncover all your lies.
Wow. You must think Edward Said is the shiznit. TRUTH TO POWER!
Barack Obama does not seem like a violent man. I doubt very much whether he could torture or murder a political foe.
No, he wouldn’t do the dirty work himself. I’d be surprised if any of the worst tyrants of the 20th century actually got their own hands dirty. However, they had plenty of willing subordinates who had no such hesitation.
Behind every left-wing Democrat is the soul of a Chekist.
A.W.:
I am really starting to worry that Obama is America’s answer to Hugho Chavez. And that to the American left, that is a feature not a bug.
I do not support any govt. besides the U.S. but what did Chavez do? He took control over a economy that was colonial. The people who benefited from the old economics were the relatives and friends of Europe and The U.S.who were in power before. Thats why people hate Americans. Not for our freedom but our disrespect for others freedoms. Chavez approval rating is extremely high. The people are happy.
So whats your point? Also at least Chavez actually helps Americans more than our own Govt. and oil companies.
If it was considered American to “lick balls” you would do it.
And as far as Obama We have been getting screwed by corporate socialism for 40 years but you don’t see that. It’s Obamas fault even though he was a kid.
Dear “Anonymous” who I assume is “Just Say No to Fox” a.k.a “an obviously psychologically derranged coward”
I’ll take being called a “b*tch” by someone like you as the highest form of compliment! I thought stooping to name calling was supposed to be a tactic of the right? Guess you learn something new every day!
You just gave me the best laugh I’ve had all day!
P.S. I think it’s still technically impossible to call someone a “b*tch” “to their face” via email…you might wanna double up on that Xanax the first couple doses since you’ve apparently been off it for awhile, have a great day!
To anonymous: whether BC is a journalist or not,is besides the point,since you won’t engage his concerns.”War mongering imperialist neo conns”doesn’t sound like verbiage a centrist would use.Idoubt you have ever owned guns. Obama,like most dems, is stalinist with an affirmative action polish. He is dangerous because of the folks, like George Soros who are using him astheir sock puppet. If he wins, he’ll try to curtail our freedoms in the name of a globalist world order. What he’ll get,is the second American Civil war.
To anonymous: whether BC is a journalist or not,is besides the point,since you won’t engage his concerns.”War mongering imperialist neo conns”doesn’t sound like verbiage a centrist would use.Idoubt you have ever owned guns. Obama,like most dems, is stalinist with an affirmative action polish. He is dangerous because of the folks, like George Soros who are using him astheir sock puppet. If he wins, he’ll try to curtail our freedoms in the name of a globalist world order. What he’ll get,is the second American Civil war.
Not for our freedom but our disrespect for others freedoms. Chavez approval rating is extremely high.
Of course Chavez’s approval rating is high. He said so himself! Venezuela is so free, you can watch RCTV. Oh wait…
DEAR CONSIDERATE POSTERS:
LET’S PLAY A GAME. It’s called I G N O R E – T H E – T R O L L S.
“Jeff” – NO RESPONSE
“Christine” – NO RESPONSE
“schnargley” – NO RESPNSE
“realitycheq” – NO RESPONSE
“just say no to Fox” – NO RESPONSE
“Boris” – NO RESPONSE
“Matt” – NO RESPONSE
FEEL FREE TO ADD TO THIS LIST.
You will note, if you peruse this and a few other recent threads, that these and a few other cohorts have successfully diverted the discussion away from the topic at hand…and not in any way that could vaguely be described as “supplementing” the issue.
IF PJM WON’T DO IT, we can.
Obama is a fascist who speaks with a soft tongue. How do you know he is lying? Whenever he speaks.
A shame what is happening to the world, but electing Obama will just bring that rot to the US. Venezuela has gone to the rats and dogs. Obama will bring the rats to the US.
Oh, Sarah…
Really? Anyone who doesn’t share you opinion is being paid by the Obama campaign to proselytize?
How much are you getting paid to defend the McStunt campaign?
Looking back over the last eight years, you can really see how wonderful the conservative Republican agenda is. Everything has gone swimmingly for us all! Economy in crisis? Check. America stuck in quagmire war, bleeding money and soldiers ad infinitum? Check. Jobs down? Check. Health care costs up? Check. Geneva conventions stripped of their morality? Check. America’s image around the world tanking? Check. Useless officials purposefully appointed to run government offices? Check. (Hello, Katrina!)
Really, what is there left to ruin? You drive the country directly into the toilet, and then yell at us?
It’s like Letterman says, “Something really smells.”
It is OVER, people. It is OVER.
“I seem to recall everyone calling for a landslide for Kerry in 2004 and we all know where that ended up….”
Actually the polls in the week before the 2004 election were accurate, giving Bush about a 1.5% edge.
A poll may be wrong. Dozens of polls give a good view of public opinion at a given time. Right now, public opinion appears to be Obama by +5.
You can’t deny that polls are accurate just because your side is losing. Why do you think campaigns spend so much money on polls?
Boris speaks truth. Obama was down in the polls a couple weeks back, and, yeah, I think we would’ve had a nail-biter on our hands if the election were held at that time. Now the fates have reversed.
Ed Wallis: Are my fellow trolls and I “unpatriotic”? Is that why you seek to shut down our dissent?
Anonymous – If you are truly worried about screwing your business, why in the world would you vote for Obama? That’s not something a smart “centrist” would do!
Notice the name calling by the few lefties who chime in. In the face of facts, little children call names.
Chapin’s piece, as usual, is thoughful, accurate and meticulously researched. You could spend a year reading the NY Times or any liberal outlet, and not find a piece as well-put-together as this one.
Obama and his cohorts need to shun and make up stuff, or else they’d have no votes. And yet, if/when he loses, all they’ll say is “racists.” Pity, huh?
All this talk of “change” and clearly BHO is just another left wing Chicago political hack.
Dear “Matt”
Why are you assuming that because I am for McCain that I must have agreed with everything Bush has done? I know one of your big talking points is “Make everyone think that McCain and Bush are the same person” but for those of us that actually follow what is going on it’s pretty obvious that that isn’t the case. Our country is in the shape it’s in now because almost every elected official we have in Washington has been bought out by big money because of their big greed, that’s Democrats and Republicans alike, not just one or the other. Our economy is in crisis because of one of the Democrats best buddies, Bill Clinton. You know as well as I do that if there were a Republican to blame this all on they would have been already crucified in the media.
“Boris” – I feel very confident in the fact that it is a wiser choice to deny the accuracy of polls REGARDLESS of who is winning. I’d put more stake in throwing two bones on the ground with one candidates name on each and choosing the one that my dog went for first. We’ll know for sure on Nov. 5 and that’s the only “poll” I’m concerned about
‘Although popularized by Bill Clinton, the phrase embodies the political left’s timeless approach to securing victory in elections. Destroy your foe and hope that his ideas never become the issue, as ideological debate is not something at which they excel.”
Make sure that your past history also does not become the issue.
And so we see the kind, considerate left in all their humblest aspect, working hard to win votes for Obama by showing how they exemplify his best qualities.
Enlightening, isn’t it? Doesn’t it just make you all warm and tingly and willing to vote for Obama?
With the polls showing Obama’s lead extending into higher double digits, I think the next shoe drops after he becomes President of the United States.
This country is in big trouble. With his promise to end the ballistic missile defense program, the F-22 Raptor, the Virginia class submarine program, and all new technogically advanced battlefield systems, we are in big trouble. He will downsize the military and start up a parallel civilian corps of community organizers (Brownshirts) whose job it will be to enforce the socialist dogma nearest and dearest to his heart.
The monsters in Tehran, Moscow, Beijing, and Pyongyang will be having big parties to celebrate their success in getting ballistic missile defense killed.
The next challenge for us is to see if we can organize a Comeback for America in four years. I am already resigned to an Obama victory in November and I have no faith that John McCain will fight harder for the job.
Obama channels Richard Nixon very convincingly
What I find amusing is that this is a conservative website. I read all the articles. I see only a few leftist responses. However, get Obama’s name in the headline and excoriate him, and all of a sudden, there are all these lefties spewing their vitriol. More amusing is that these are not the usual folks who offer opposing arguments here.
“”"”"”Chavez approval rating is extremely high. The people are happy.”"”"”
NONSENSE! Complete Nonsense!
Chavez’s popularity is high among the disadvantaged and disposessed, but only through sheer social-program bribery. Even the academic left has been turning on him, and the Venezuelan middle class (which is substantial) despise him.
And what is this “colonial economy” crap? I do agree that the “haves” in Venezuela have used class distinction to keep as lot of Venezuelans down (to their eternal shame), but Venezuela has been nobody’s “colony” for a very long time.
Dear “Sarah”
Why are you assuming that because I am for McCain that I must have agreed with everything Bush has done? I know one of your big talking points is “Make everyone think that McCain and Bush are the same person” but for those of us that actually follow what is going on it’s pretty obvious that that isn’t the case.
Clearly you don’t follow what’s going on, or you would recognize the fact that the “McCain has voted with Bush 95% of the time” meme is actually true. He can call himself a maverick all day long, but the bottom line is, he sold his soul to Bush. I actually used to respect McCain, but those days are long gone.
You know as well as I do that if there were a Republican to blame this all on they would have been already crucified in the media.
This is so sorry an argument, it doesn’t deserve a response.
I agree the Democrats haven’t been doing their job; indeed they’ve been complicit. But it’s the GOP who promotes the deregulation philosophy that has sent the economy plummeting. If either party is going to turn it around, it is certainly not going to be the the trickle down, Big Business party.
Three recent Republican presidents have produced massive budget deficits. One Democrat President has produced surplus. Will you need twenty more failed presidencies before you will see the correlation?
On site after site, I see the attempt to rationally discuss Obama become derailed by the same sort of trolls we are seeing here. It really is quite scary, because things will only get worse if he is elected. We’re not talking Richard Nixon here. We are talking about something much more worrisome than that. We are talking about gangs of brown shirted thugs and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them out on the streets soon.
“Gangs of brown shirted thugs”
Wow.
You know, there are some really exceptional anti-psychotic drugs out there. You really should consider one.
I thought Mccain was riding to the rescue
what happened?
he cant NOT lead GOP house members anywhere
Sarah writes:
“You put your money up for whomever you like and I’ll do the same. “Intrade” is a glorified poll and you know it well as I do.”
Sarah,
There was a really, really big deal made about how INTRADE starts peaking up as a predictor of futures when something was to eventuate and that it had this reputation for almost-flawless accuracy. This breathless narrative was given just preceding the Republican VP selection..
..as Romney’s stock was taking off and Palin’s was fading.
Go figure.
The rest of the world is watching you guys…with horror and chagrin.
David Thomson:
“Barack Obama does not seem like a violent man.”
Heirich Himmler, when he toured the murder camps, was made physically ill by the killing and the blood and the bodies. Himmler wasn’t a violent man himself, he used proxies to do his dirty work. Rather like a 3/8th arab senator from Illinois, who has his bully boys do his dirty work.
Does anyone think that Obamabots do a goddamned thing that they are not directed to do? Like Himmler, Obama is a control freak and nothing happens without his direction or approval.
It would be better for all concerned if Obama was indicted on one or more of the several criminal charges he is liable to, in his short time as a US senator. Really.
You should all be aware that, if you can’t get Obama to change his behaviors now, once he gets the power of the Presidency, they will escalate into something we’ve not seen before in this country. He is searching for limits, just like a crack baby that is born without concience and without the ability to feel empathy for another human being. His remorse is the remorse of the left in these matters; he feels bad that he got causght.
McCain should call him on it directly. Now. In plain language.
DJB Rizalist:
“The rest of the world is watching you guys…with horror and chagrin.”
We intend, in the end, to remain true to the ideals that founded this nation and to the Constitution that is the best framework for personal liberty ever devised by man. In our past, we have bled for both, and made our enemies bleed more.
To that end, be advised that we do not care if you are horrified by our processes, or chagrined by them. Most of your reaction is because you really, down deep, believe that you have betters, and because you don’t know us at all.
If you are from the PI, ask your grandfather about us. Ask him why you aren’t Japanese serfs today. He might tell you.
But it’s the GOP who promotes the deregulation philosophy that has sent the economy plummeting.
Nice try. This mess happened BECAUSE of regulation. If banks were left to operate on their own, they wouldn’t have made those bad mortgages. Thanks to CRA, banks had to loan to deadbeats and the rest is history.
Lisa P 9:11 am:
Baroque Insane McBush is a psychopath. A mountain of toxic truths have been revealed about him, yet he remains a viable candidate. I’m praying for Divine Intervention at this point.
Richard 9:19:
Dar al Islam=Everything Muslim (believers)
Dar al Harb=Everthing not Muslim (infidels)
Dar al McCain=believers
Dar al America=infidels
Where do you think he learned this?
tanstaaf 9:54
The reason rightists can lie with impunity, can hold simultaneously polar opposite beliefs/actions…is because they are not tethered to any moral outcome…they are tied to a self-absorbed outcome…They are not “for” anything….they are simply FOR the status quo. And whatever gets them there, is perfectly defensible…by whatever means necessary
Foxy No To Say 12:22 p,:
McBush is a fascist who speaks with a soft tongue. How do you know he is lying? Whenever he speaks.
A shame what is happening to the world, but electing McCain will just bring that rot to the US. Venezuela has gone to the rats and dogs. McBush will bring the rats to the US.
AJ 12:45 pm:
Notice the name calling by the few righties who chime in. In the face of facts, little children call names.
JLawson:
And so we see the kind, considerate Right in all their humblest aspect, working hard to win votes for Mccain by showing how they exemplify his best qualities.
Enlightening, isn’t it? Doesn’t it just make you all warm and tingly and willing to vote for McCain?
Chavez approval rating is extremely high. The people are happy.
So whats your point? Also at least Chavez actually helps Americans more than our own Govt. and oil companies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How happy are people when they suffer food shortages???
Meat, Sugar Scarce in Venezuela Stores
By NATALIE OBIKO PEARSON
The Associated Press
Thursday, February 8, 2007; 4:13 PM
CARACAS, Venezuela — Meat cuts vanished from Venezuelan supermarkets this week, leaving only unsavory bits like chicken feet, while costly artificial sweeteners have increasingly replaced sugar, and many staples sell far above government-fixed prices.
President Hugo Chavez’s administration blames the food supply problems on unscrupulous speculators, but industry officials say government price controls that strangle profits are responsible
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/08/AR2007020801240.html
OVER 100,000 PROTEST HUGO CHAVEZ LATEST POWER GRAB
(((These people don’t look happy)))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X71HlQ_Paa8
If you want to live under a dictator-thug like Chavez, please pack and leave. Those who are helping him with his international bribery in Mass. are traitors.
It’s so funny that this is suppose to be the wrinkly old dude’s campaign but it appears that Cinderella is taking over. Now, we can call it Ciderella’s campaign. LMAO.
Oh by the way, the rednecks of America are working hard in this forum with all of their idiotic gibberish. Mindless trolls who claims that everyone else is astroturfing when in fact, it is The Redneck Society of America that is astroturfing.
Yup, liberalism and fascism are pretty darn hard to tell apart these days.
Is this a surprise to anyone?
Ever tried sticking a conservative bumper sticker on your car?
We all know what we all know: to be a liberal in 2008 means never having to grow up. Most certainly, it means never having to accept the very small burden of morality.
Anyway! Should I respond to a troll? Sure, why not? I choose “Just Say No To FOX”:
>You are so full of $hit.
Um. You are so… mature. I mean, “m@tur3″.
>Talk about McCain wanting to cut Defense.
Why? Are you a big defense-spender?
>Talk about your air head VP candidate.
Ok: She has more executive experience than Obama by several orders of magnitude. She has good ol’ common sense. And as a BONUS: She doesn’t hang out with unrepentant terrorists!
>Talk about the people who won’t vote DEM because Obama is black.
Ok: They’re all Democrats. Did you not think through that? Republicans are voting for McCain/Palin because… because they Republicans. The only votes you’re going to lose from RACISM (eek! eek!) are from Democrats.
You idiot.
>Talk about Lady Rothchild.
Um… Why?
>Talk about 80% of GOPers that live like Dems in policy and economics.
SAY WHAT?!?
>What are the all the the people and groups that bash Obama? Good people?
Yes. Also, “adults”. Thank you, and please post again when you’re old enough to drink.
well baffle me with bull&hit. I NEED SOMEONE INTELLIGENT to tell me whats up. i sure do need help. was this article about all of obamas crowd attacking when their guy was exposed? i sure seem to hear alot of attack dogs barking. i guess this article is true enough.
What people don’t understand is why some of us are so against the current Republican ticket, but we have an obligation to fight against history of ever being repeated again. Many of us out here are not fighting for the Democratic campaign but are fighting against an ideology.
1) An ideology that completely mirrors the ideology of this past 8 years.
2) An ideology that recognizes the few while completely disregarding the masses.
3) An ideology that believes in taking military action against Iraq, an incident that is completely unrelated to 9/11, without solidifying our claims beforehand. In the present, we have found no evidence of weapons of mass destructions or a tie to Osama Bin Laden. The devastation of this war has cost us over 4,000 of our brave troops and counting, over 1/2 trillion dollars of taxpayer’s money and counting, and over 1 million Iraqi lives unrelated to the terrorists or insurgency.
Cost of the Iraq War — http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home
4) An ideology that still believes that the Iraq War is the right war on terrorism when the Afghanistan War should had been the right war on terrorism, where Osama Bin Laden actually was until he slipped into the mountains and into Pakistan’s territory now. The Iraq War also diverted our attention away from the Afghanistan War. We now have extended our resources in two separate places and have heightened our risk to our troops, our expenses, and creating another dilemma that will take quite some time to finalize. The Iraq War will not go away overnight and it is now our obligation to see it all the way through for God knows how many more years. This has also been the most unpopular war in the eyes of the world’s communities.
5) An ideology that believes that we are at our safest state since 9/11, when a recent terrorist plot was still trying to enter Great Britain’s airports with liquid explosives heading directly to us, but thankfully the plot was foiled. While in Afghanistan, the terrorists are regrouping and strengthening and we have recently suffered another high casualty to our troops yet again within this past month. We currently have the least amount of alliances in the world’s communities due to this unpopular Iraq War. True national securities are the ties that bind us to our world’s communities and the ties that bind them to us.
6) An ideology that vetted one of the most inexperience VP ticket in history, from foreign policies to national defense. If God forbids that anything happens to this President if elected and is stricken with illness, this VP will be running the country. For a more compelling look at Sarah Palin’s VP readiness, please look at this link below —
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loUHRv3ipLE
7) An ideology that believes in “the fundamentals of our economy are strong” while we are facing the highest mortgage foreclosure crisis, high unemployment rate, and the largest collapse of our financial infrastructures since The Great Depression of 1929.
This is an ideology that many of us in America are against. Whether this ideology is in the Republican or Democratic ticket is not the main issue but the fact is that America does not want to fall into another 4 more years of devastation. We cannot afford this anymore.
Civil war is coming. May God help us all.
Hi,
Great thread – it’s refreshing to read so many insightful and/or amusing posts!!
I realise this is a little bit off-topic, but I need some help.
I’m with an online business TV network called yourBusinessChannel, and we’re looking to collect opinion on Obama and McCain’s performances as persuasive communicators during the debate on Friday.
Ask yourself – politics aside, who would you buy a used car off?
We’re looking for comments and contributions from people who have been following the 2008 campaign closely, who can offer really valuable insights. Clearly, there are many such people commenting on this thread, and elsewhere blogosphere).
A bit about us – yourBusinessChannel produces short internet business TV shows providing advice to business people and entrepreneurs on all aspects of business. Our shows feature advice and insights from a pool of the world’s leading business experts.
We’re interested in the 2008 presidential race because of what it tells us about the power of persuasion, and how to give a really amazing presentations.
Yesterday we posted this three minute summary of the first presidential debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD2DqHqK2Cw
We are currently producing a series which focuses on how to be really persuasive when making business and sales presentations.
Obama and McCain have very different styles, and it’s fascinating to watch what works with the public and what doesn’t. Clearly there are lessons here for businesspeople who have to prepare presentations in their professional lives.
I’ve been reading the comments thread on this blog and I’ve been impressed with the level of discussion here – so I’d love any or all of you to reply to this post with your views and opinions…
I want to know – in your opinion – which candidate:
- Had the most persuasive tone of voice?
- Made best use of body language?
- Seemed genuinely passionate about their message?
- Used humour to good effect?
- Showed total mastery of policy details?
- Rebutted his opponent most convincingly, and dealt best with criticism?
- Was relaxed and confident in making off the cuff comments?
- Avoided major faux pas and screw-ups?
- Came across as a real human being, not a robot regurgitating talking points?
…and why do you think so?
I’m looking forward to hearing your comments!!
cheers,
Steve Kerr
http://www.yourBusinessChannel.com
Thanks so much for reading and posting comments everyone. You can see a couple of things that I argue in the article evident in the comments page. First, his trolls are everywhere and pop up whenever someone makes a meaningful critique of their Savior–even if their doing so validates the writer’s original position which is what their actions did here. Second, one of the leftists who got on board tried to set up a straw man and make me the issue. He pretended that I once pretended to be an nonpartisan journalist. I am not and have never disguised my conservative-libertarian leanings. This puts me miles ahead of so-called objective journalists like the leftists in the mainstream media. I would not critique the MSM so much if they would just come out and admit to being who they are, but even full-fledged leftist diehards like Keith Olbermann, David Schuster, and Rachel Maddow pretend they are “independents” when they’re in fact far leftists. We conservatives have honor and that mandates not lying to those who read us.
“Legal methods appear to be their response of choice.”
MY FAT FANNY! you haven’t been on any open political lists or tried running a prominent, truth exposing opponent blog, have you?
the verbal abuse, the coordinated attacks to lock down blogs (ref: blogspot) and thinly veiled threats of “unrest” along with attempts at coercion of the vote through the ridiculous claim of racism if he loses are rampant across the internet.
oops, sorry. i stand corrected. i see you suffered a coordinated attack of your own. explains the excellent grasp you have on the subject.
“chicanery”
yeah, baby. deleted a chunk of my other comment. that was THE word i had used without catching that you already had. great minds think alike.
Matt and USAF Captain
ha. we can see where betting on futures gets this country.
1. Obama challenges the 2nd Amendment … The Right To Bear Arms.
2. Obama challenges the 1st Amendment … The right of Free Speech.
Obama pressures all media who accepts NRA advertising.
3. Obama wants a Civil National Security Force … with the same budget as the Pentagon.
So, Obama does not want any opposition, so he stops Freedom of Speech.
Then, to make any opposition defenseless, he wants to take away our right to bear arms.
Next, he wants a Civil National Security force to put down any insurrection.
Sounds like the stepping stones to a leftist dictator taking over this country.
not to be a pig (about commenting), but there you go (EXACTLY what i meant in my first comment):
newton: “Civil war is coming. May God help us all.”
i take that as a terroristic threat meant to intimidate my vote and that of others. so much for “veiled”.
Obama can get away with this only because the MSM is an aider and abettor of his actions.
The US is in for a terrible time come the election. If Obama loses there will be race riots saying the election was stolen, if he wins we get him and will have much less money and freedom.
Buckle up.
But it’s the GOP who promotes the deregulation philosophy that has sent the economy plummeting.
Leftists (see esp. Barry) seem to be in love with the notion of government control of everything under the sun, ASIF that crowd were actually smart or something.
Here Matt I have a little background on the origins of F& F meltdown and a…
Video for you to watch
The rest of the world is watching you guys…with horror and chagrin.
Which part of “the world” ?
The stagnating French economy ? Crazy Oogoe Chavez, buying Russian and Iranian stuff with his oil revenues so he can act like a big stand up bluff boy ? Putin with the KGB thing going on and a fervent desire to re-constitute the Soviet Union ?
Glittery eyed Ahmadinejhad who is obsessed with the destruction of one tiny country while the Iranian economy shoots craps ?
Myanmar ? the Chicoms ? The Norks ?
I wish people would define “the world”, you know, that world standing with its hand over its mouth in absolute shock at the horror at America.
Obama is not eligible to be president of the US, since he is not and probably never has been a US citizen. See Philip Berg’s reply brief in Berg v. Obama et al., posted as a PDF document on http://www.obamacrimes.com filed September 29, 2008 before the Federal District Court in Philadelphia.
It fits into the whole Democrat playbook. Anyone that professes something that they do not agree with (truthful or not) is subject to some form of the shoutdown. Interrupt speeches, war on the blogs, character asassination – whatever it takes to try to silence someone with an opposing view. They are not interested in debate only in defaming an opponent.
From the party that says they care more about people’s rights, it seems a funny way of doing business. I would be shocked to learn that the Obamabots involved were anything other than young college kids – tech savvy and not willing to listen an opposing view. I know, I have one of those – 20 years old and tunes you out or quits whenever the conversation is not to his liking.
Another interesting corollary to this is that while young liberal adults hold these strong views, they see their vote as not mattering. A surprising percentage do not vote because they really don’t want to be bothered in getting away from their social networking site or a video game. They see that just being registered to vote is good enough. Young conservative adults are extremely well represented in stats of actual voters.
Stifling dissent to their views is what the liberal wing of the Dem party is all about.
Obama was born in the USA
DUH!
Gov is restricted by 1st admendment
not PRIVATE CITIZENS
god you are pitiful MORONS
A couple more young liberal personality traits – they believe that they make their point valid by calling people names. And they believe that they are more intelligent than anyone else.
Sorry to bust your bubbles but you are wrong.
This leads back to their fundamental cause – that because of their intelligence it is up to them to save all other people Republican, Independent and Democrat from themselves. They know best and everyone will be happy if the elite few Democrats just give everyone what is “best” for them. Trust them, they know.
I checked YBCsteve’s link. His post is just an ad to draw you to his site. Someone delete his post, please.
Roger: Jerome Corsi is a Truther. Don’t waste your credibility on him.
This is a great article. The question that I have, and seeing that there are a few Obama supporters here, maybe you can answer it – Obama talks about change, and poses as “the candidate of change.” What change has he brought about in his years in the Senate? and by that, I mean more than just his employment address.
There is nothing in his record to indicate that he has tried to make changes in the Senate, but we are to believe that being elected President, he will automatically be able to make changes that he couldn’t propose before? It’s not like he’s been just a private citizen with no access to address Congress. Getting to the white house will not make him anything that he wasn’t already.
Any thoughts?
“Let me state categorically here that I continue to support the conclusions of the 9/11 Commission that the cause of the 9/11 attacks were the hijackers who flew the airplanes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I see no credible evidence that the U.S. government was involved or complicit in causing the 9/11 attacks.” -Jerome Corsi, WND article http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=74554
Yet another attempt to destroy the messenger in order to discredit the message. Stalinism, pure and simple.
Dear “Confused in Virginia,”
I recommend the book, “The Case Against Barack Obama” by Freddoso. You are right, it’s ALL TALK from Obama.
Aww, look at the wingnuts playing in their lil’ echo chamber.