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August 30, 2004

RNC Protest: So far so good

I'd just like to post a brief note of thanks to the calmer heads who've prevailed this weekend (and hopefully continuing into the week) and staved off a full-scale confrontation in New York. My worst fears have thankfully not come to pass. Let's get this week's focus back on what it really ought to be: the Republicans shooting themselves in the foot. I'm worried about the latest poll numbers / electoral college standings - we need to get back into a clear lead, especially as this convention rolls to a conclusion and the Bush camp sees a "bounce."

We've still got a good couple months to go, mind.

Posted by on August 30, 2004 |

Comments

Jim

Foruntately you have Michael Moore at the convention writing a column for USA Today. They also had Ann Coulter at the Democratic Convention doing the same thing, but they fired her for being too conservative. I wonder if they will fire Moore for being too liberal. Somhow I doubt it.

Posted by: Jim | August 31, 2004 at 03:09 PM

miriamg

I read Coulter's spiked column, as well as the editor's comments. She was fired not for being too conservative, but for being an appalling writer.

Calling her "conservative", frankly, is an insult to decent, thinking conservatives who don't have to stoop to making pathetic, irrelevant insults to get attention. Apparently the editor at USA Today (that screamingly liberal rag) saw it that way, too.

She was replaced by Jonah Goldberg. That's hardly what I call anti-conservative bias.

Defending Ann Coulter represents a new low, and describing her as the conservative counterpart to Moore is, pardon the expression, complete and utter bollocks.

Posted by: miriamg | August 31, 2004 at 04:07 PM

Jim

I'm not a friend of Ann Coulter. In fact she makes me cringe. She's way too extreme for me. But my point is MM is as far left as she is right. She was asked to write a column (opinion piece) not hard news. They knew who she was beforehand.

Posted by: Jim | August 31, 2004 at 05:48 PM

Jim

I urge all Democrats to read Michael Moore's column today in USA Today. I find it funny that he says, "We New Yorkers...". Really Michael? You're a New Yorker? In all of your "documentaries" you say you are from Flint, MI. Which is also silly, since you're really from Davison, a pretty nice suburb of Flint.
But what I really like about Moore is that he refers to his talks with RINO's (Republican in name Only). He seems perplexed to find Republicans who truly are compassionate, believe in equal rights for women and minorities and aren't full of hate for gays. I guess when you are programmed to think of Republicans as evil, you should be surprised when you actually talk to one. I find it funny when Moore and people like Chris Mathews on MSNBC actually get upset with Republicans when they find that they don't believe in every single issue verbatum on the platform. Hmmmm...you mean Republicans can accept differences of opinions and still get along? Now which one was the party of diversity again?

Posted by: Jim | August 31, 2004 at 06:37 PM

miriamg

Fair enough, Jim. But really, by the standard of any other Western country - and also by American standards until a generation ago - Michael Moore is somewhat left-leaning, and not at all a radical.

It's a sad example of how skewed things have gotten that he gets branded "far left". I'd reserve that description for card-carrying communists, Marxist-Leninists, and anarchist revolutionaries.

Posted by: miriamg | August 31, 2004 at 07:00 PM

miriamg

Jim, we seem to have crossed posts. But your comments on Moore's column seem to prove the point that you can't equate him with Coulter. It sounds like he put a bit of thought and research into writing it, rather than just spewing bile for shock value.

Posted by: miriamg | August 31, 2004 at 07:06 PM

Jim

That may very well be true, Miriamg. Granted I have never heard Moore actually say, "nobody should be allowed to have 2 cars until everyone has at least one", but in this day and age he is generally considered by many in this country to be pretty radical - probably as much for his presentation as his actual views. Besides communism became far less fashionable when it was proven not to work. Even the Chinese are becoming more capitalistic.

What's up with all these Democrats speaking at the Republican convention? Ron Silver (excellent last night), Ed Koch, Zell Miller. What gives?

Posted by: Jim | August 31, 2004 at 07:27 PM

Jim

You're right about Moore's column, Miriamg. Regarding the columns, I am neither a fan of Moore, nor Coulter. But if something is listed as an opinion piece people should be able to say whatever they want. I'm no fan of Michael Moore, but I would never say he doesn't have a right to say what he says. I may think he is tasteless and irresponsible and a panderer to other countries, but I wouldn't take away his right to speak.

Posted by: Jim | August 31, 2004 at 07:32 PM

Chrish

Hmmm, on reading Moore's piece I was waiting for
the ad to see, buy, or rent his "documentary"..

Jim, it was laughable....

Posted by: Chrish | August 31, 2004 at 08:16 PM

miriamg

Being Manhattan/Bronx born & bred, I don't have a problem with Michael Moore calling himself a New Yorker. Like any metropolis, most people have come from elsewhere to make it their home. You pay your dues for a few years, live the life, find your niche, and you belong.

Re Ed Koch - one explanation is that, like some Jewish Democrats, he sees the Repubs as being better for Israel's security (mistakenly, in my opinion). The issue is of overriding importance to them, so they're willing to ignore fundamental differences in every other area of domestic and foreign policy. I think it's a dangerous game to play and is really hypocritical - I'd have more respect for them if they just joined the Republican Party.

Posted by: miriamg | August 31, 2004 at 08:48 PM

Jim

I really enjoyed Ron Silver yesterday. Short but sweet and to the point.

http://www.2004nycgop.org/cgi-data/speeches/files/59dt935610x09w99ck6cl1a23s174pii.shtml

Posted by: Jim | August 31, 2004 at 10:16 PM

Jim

Ron Silver. I love this guy. Liberal Democrat, right? Short speech.

http://www.2004nycgop.org/cgi-data/speeches/files/59dt935610x09w99ck6cl1a23s174pii.shtml

Posted by: Jim | August 31, 2004 at 10:28 PM

Maryann

This image softening campaign of the Bushies is incredible. All of a sudden, they're like actual human beings who hang around having barbecues and drinking margueritas and goofing around with their kids. Don't even get me started on Cheney getting all warm and fuzzy about gay people.
The press just laps it up. Half the administration and their families have become TV stars to most of America.

More to the point, why aren't we doing the same thing? I know it's shameless and disingenuous, but why do we always have to be the side that insists on being honest and humble and smart?

Posted by: Maryann | September 02, 2004 at 02:45 PM

Jim

Would an honest, HUMBLE, and smart person come out and say they are honest, HUMBLE and smart?

I'm sure Dick Cheney is really masking and actually hates gay people. He really hates his daughter, who is gay. She's really not a Republican either - because all Republicans hate gays.

The press just loves the right wing. They always have.

Posted by: Jim | September 02, 2004 at 03:21 PM

Maryann

I'm not saying I'M humble and smart, I just think the Democrats have painted themselves into an ethical corner in some ways. As candidates, they're so earnest and inoffensive, it's almost a handicap. I wish they used more of the heavy-duty media savvy that the Republicans have used. I mean these people have actually convinced working class men that George Bush is ONE OF THEM. That is an astonishing feat, and I'm a little jealous.

Posted by: Maryann | September 02, 2004 at 03:29 PM

Jim

Well, don't give the Republicans too much credit Maryann. I'm sure most union members will still vote for Kerry, automatically. And is Kerry really ONE OF THEM? Let's be honest neither one of these guys was born exactly poor - unlike many Presidents who really did start with nothing - Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Nixon, all started life quite meagerly. I think the typical Democrat could identify much easier with a Clinton or a Carter than they can with Kerry.

Posted by: Jim | September 02, 2004 at 03:59 PM

Jim

The Republicans certainly have not cornered the market on being disingenious. I think it was Howard Dean who said during the primaries, "I want to be the second black President of the United States."(meaning Clinton was the first)" (tell me it wasn't Kerry who said that). I give the Dems credit for not picking Dean as their man.

Posted by: Jim | September 02, 2004 at 04:13 PM

Maryann

Absolutely--both sides are smarmy with their "man of the people" baloney. I think the Republicans are just better at all that flag-wavey jive that Democrats are too embarassed to try. And people like that kind of thing at a convention.

Plus this particular administration is so media savvy, and so familiar as personalities, that they have infinitely more name recognition than high ranking officials of previous incumbent's administrations. So when you wheel them all out for big events, it looks like an A-list gathering.
I just wish we had similar tools at our disposal.

Posted by: Maryann | September 02, 2004 at 05:00 PM

Jim

Then they need to get the tools. They have 95% of Hollywood and probably 75% of the music community. That's a good use of the media. I mean pretty much every actor/actress except for Arnold, Ron Silver, Dennis Miller and Stephen Baldwin.
I think both parties probably have very savvy media people. There's a slew of concerts by A-list performers rasing money/awareness for Kerry.
Maybe it's not the media or their PR personnel, but the actual candidates and what they stand for.
Maybe the Democrats should wave the flag more. I don't wave my flag because I love Bush. I wave it because I love America, warts and all. It's not blnd love, but it is undonditional love. We always need to improve America. We are our own worst critics - but that's why we keep getting better.
Wave the flag, Democrats. It means you love your country. It doesn't mean you think everything is perfect.

Posted by: Jim | September 02, 2004 at 06:02 PM

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