A few things that are out and about make me wonder why anyone, anywhere, thinks we might yet rescue ourselves from our descent in to Fourth World status as a nation. The same folks who advertise themselves as the tough-minded men's men ready to make the hard choices and stand up to the enemies that surround us have difficulty not flinching when the guy sitting next to them reaches his arm up to smooth his hair.
Some folks are up in arms because the President noted that, when he was first a candidate for the Republican nomination, Mitt Romney said he might well not send American forces in to Pakistan if it was discovered that was where Osama bin Laden was hiding. The President didn't call Romney a pussy or a wuss. He didn't say Romney hated America because he wasn't wearing enough flag pins on his lapel. He didn't even question Romney's provenance because his father was the native of another country. Nope, he merely noted something his opponent said, and made the point, none too gingerly, that folks should take candidates for public office at their word and words.
Then there are those poor put-upon Christians suffering because Dan Savage is telling people that some Christians are violent assholes. Because what Dan Savage did is, as everyone knows, exactly the same thing all those fags claim people do to them only worse.
There are large swaths of the American Right that are populated by such fragile creatures, its a wonder they leave their homes.
6 comments:
I dont mind having this conversation. The only result is Romney coming out looking poorly. Either hes flip-flopping again or he didnt mind OBL in hiding.
It should be remembered that Bush didnt seem to care where OBL was at one point. Hmm.. Bush.. Romney.. a pattern is starting to develop.
Really, not sending troops into Pakistan is a defensible position. Perhaps it was worth it, for Obama politically, to risk going after OBL. But, for the long term health of this country? Still a question that has yet to be answered.
The American Right.. well.. much could be said about them. Most of it not very positive.
I found it hysterically funny that John McCain, who spent so much time and energy criticizing Clinton's foreign policy, suddenly demands Pres. Obama not remind the world that Romney may well have passed on an opportunity to take bin Laden out. Selective outrage makes me giggle.
I couldn't give a fart in a windstorm for the tender feelings of Pakistan, in particular on this matter. I realize that may well be not a very nuanced position to take, but this is a rare moment when I let my American jingoism run free. The guy was a psychopathic war criminal; Obama ordered what had to be done. The fact that Romney is on record as saying he might not have made the same decision, given similar circumstances, is fair game considering all the lies about how wimpy Obama has been in prosecuting our various wars. Clearing through the BS on this matter, the schadenfreude is way too much fun not to enjoy.
It's an election year (when isn't it?), so the other side can never be seen as giving credit for anything to anyone ever. Giulliani's noun-verb-911 BS in the last election is fine, Obama noting that he was on duty when we took out Bin Laden is not a not a discussion of foreign policy and national defense, it's "playing politics".
Duh. Um...it's all playing politics. The response is playing politics. The response to the response is playing politics. The use of the term playing is useful if it reminds people this is just a game, which unfortunately they don't.
And Romney contradicting then ignoring and/or outright lying about or just denying his previous statements is, at this point, a dog bites man story.
He's for gay scout leaders, until he isn't.
He's for gay marriage, until he isn't.
He's for RomneyCare and the individual mandate, until he isn't.
He's pro-choice, until he isn't.
etc., etc., etc., etc.
But Republicans have to line up behind him, because the party leadership picked him and he's going to be the nominee, so they have the task of trying to make his "whichever way the wind blows" views look logical without actually talking about the real logic behind every one of those views: saying whatever he needs to to get elected. Because, of course, that would make him like pretty much any other politician out there, and that's the sort of reality that is a total no-no in the advertising industry: "Volvos, they're boxy, but they're good." "Metamucil, because you have to go to the bathroom." "Romney, A robot, but not as bat-shit crazy as Santorum."
I like your idea for ad-copy for Metamucil.
Of course I understand it's playing politics, and all the shouts of foul are the same. I just wish, for once, someone would stop pretending its more than that.
How about some recognition for Obama going through with it. Imagine if it didnt work. Its easy to sit back and say.. I agree with the heroic plan that was accomplished. Fact is Obama was President when the decision was made. Give credit where its due.
BTW, I'd bet a zillion dollars the Dan Savage thing was a set up. Some of them started leaving as his name was announced, before he said anything.
Though, I'm not sure there's a practical difference between being a wuss and pretending to be a wuss just to a pretend offense to include in fundraising mailings.
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