In the 1970’s and 1980’s there were a series of specials titled, “Battle of the Network Stars” which in fact was neither a battle nor by the end of its run had many stars (John Davidson, Lorenzo Lamas, Deidre Hall and Tina Yothers…keep those shades on to shield your eyes from all that star power!)

It wouldn’t be surprising if the creators of that show sue the GOP Presidential Primary for copyright infringement.

Yes, the GOP will eventually choose a candidate which will have the power of billion dollar corporations and obscenely wealthy plutocrats behind him along with the mainstream media, whoever it is will be formidable for these reasons.

However, no matter how much perfume you pour on a pig, it’s still a pig. That’s not to say that any of the GOP field are literally pigs but it does seem like the GOP Establishment is holding its nose over nominating any of them.

This lack of confidence and enthusiasm has led to the amusing series of wealthy opportunists acting like low rent strippers, flirting with the GOP base but always insisting the Repub faithful buy them another bottle of ridiculously overpriced champagne before they put out. First Trump then Palin and even Rick Perry is rushing in, “Hey, I want me a piece of free popularity too, I can bullshit about running for President just the same as you folks!”

And the gullible rank and file drink in the phony hype from the MSM which couldn’t really care less if they’re being used by these opportunists to promote that such people “may be running” because it’s good for business.

So, the GOP field is making GOP bigwigs so unhappy, they’re taking Chris Christie to lunch (which will greatly deplete their campaign warchest) and pleading with Paul Ryan to run (I suppose The Black Plague turned them down).

Is this a good thing or will it lead to Democrats becoming overconfident and set up for a big surprise in 2012?

Maybe a little of both.

It is a good indicator that there is no likely GOP candidate that seems likely to generate enormous enthusiasm among the GOP core of Tea Partiers. Yes, Michele Bachmann will tease them if she gets in and all candidates will fall over each other trying to pander to them but in the end, the GOP candidate will be someone who is a panderer to them, not an original or true believer.

Though there will be enthusiasm by the TPs in 2012 because they salivate at the idea of getting rid of our first African American president, they won’t have an earnest leader to rally them. They’ll still march to the polls eagerly but the level of enthusiasm won’t be what it could be.

The GOP has found itself in this position before, when they pandered to the Moral Majority/Christian Evangelicals and instead of taking advantage of those “rubes” as planned, the GOP was taken over by them. Now, with this latest incarnation of that group (many of those in the Tea Party were also in the Moral Majority/Evangelical groups), the GOP has been shanghaied by the very extremists they thought they could “use”. The result, as we’ve all seen, is an irrational confidence that their radical views are mainstream and will be accepted by the majority of Americans who oppose them…once they’re forced to live under them.

To win a GOP primary in the age of Tea Party domination, one must necessarily position oneself to be unpalatable to all but that minority of voters. The question then becomes, can such a candidate convince a majority of the nation to vote against their best interests (that is, become Tea Partiers) or can he retain his base’s support as he shifts back towards the middle in a General Election?

The GOP is an object lesson in party crashing, in both senses of the term. The Tea Party jumped on the GOP Party’s bus and crashed their party, grabbing the wheel and steering it hard to the right into a brick wall…which coincidentally is the Tea Party symbol for “reasoning”.

As for the election itself, I think saving Medicare from the clutches of the GOP, led by the President who took down Bin Laden, will give the Dems and edge in enthusiasm and cohesiveness over the GOP.

At the same time, as flawed as the GOP candidate will be, the enormous sums of money that will be put behind him to brainwash America into seeing him as a savior of our nation and economy…and portray Obama as the enemy of both…will be formidable.

Even though the GOP Party has crashed, even the best drivers can be the victims of a chain reaction and hurt even worse than the one who originally caused the pile up. Overconfidence can be a killer.

Instead of being a cakewalk, the 2012 campaign may be like those old mummy movies where the hero is chased by a slow, moaning creature that’s wrapped up in very old material and can’t run well because he’s a bit lame…yet he always seems to be right behind the hero.

For a happy ending instead of a real horror show, the Dems and their supporters will have to run as hard as they can to stay one step ahead of The Living Dead…or as it’s also referred to, the Republican Braintrust.

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coveark
Member
coveark

Great article and so true . Over confidence on the part of the Liberals, progressives, and Democrate ( which encompasses most ) is the biggest problem to overcome. We must be always diligent ……….verman take over when we are not paying attention. Or as the saying goes…” when the cat is away…” Let us not lay down our swords when the enemy is at the gate even if they act like they have no brains…………….they CANNOT ever be trusted.

agrippa
Member
agrippa

At the end of the day, it comes to the ballot box.
The GOP is under pressure from the most conservative 20% of the country. The GOP may not be able to resist that pressure; it may not really want to resist. The reasonable faction in the GOP does not have the moral and intellectual resources to resist.

It comes down to “getting the word out”; and, GOTV. The people who do not pay much attention or think about public life have to start paying attention. This is what planetpov does: tries toget the word out.

To me, that is what it turns on: peope waking up and voting accordingly.

Chernynkaya
Member

Moving this to the top of the thread. AdLib: Bra-fucking-VO!

AdLib says:
06/01/2011 at 10:39 AM

Anybody with a lick of sense realizes there’s no difference anymore between the Democrats and Republicans. Both preach big dictatorial government to the people, and they do so relentlessly. Thus many Americans now realize that we need to open up the process and offer a small government vision as a third choice.

The question is how do we bring about such a goal. Many hurdles to a third-party exist, and many objections among conservatives to even begin such an attempt exist. What follows will provide some answers to those objections and outline a dramatic plan that will not only defeat Obama’s socialist agenda in 2012, but also save America in the coming decades from Republican socialism.

Restoring the Republic

It is assumed that Ron Paul will run again for the Republican nomination in 2012. But could this maverick freedom advocate actually take the GOP nomination away from one of the establishment luminaries such as Romney, Gingrich, Huckabee, or Palin? Common sense tells us, no. But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t try, for in the effort to do so the message of freedom at least gets a hearing.

From the article, “Democrats & Republicans Dictatorial Government -America’s Salvation: Ron Paul’s Independent Run in 2012″

On the website: “Daily Tea Party”:

http://dailyteaparty.com/2010/12/12/democrats-republicans-dictatorial-government-americas-salvation-ron-pauls-independant-run-in-2012/

Buddy McCue
Member

I guess that example really shows that people from all parts of the political spectrum can feel that way.

I remember Ralph Nader calling the Democratic Party and the the Republicans, “Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum.”

I’ve known several people who don’t care to follow politics say, “What does it matter? They’re all crooks anyway.” If I point out Republican malfeasance to this sort of person, they typically say, “So what? Both sides do it.”

And now you’ve shown that some of the Tea Party people also share that view.

Personally, I don’t feel that way. I’m certainly nobody’s “bot,” and I’m not much of a “team player” to be honest. I do have plenty of criticism for the Democrats, even though I almost always vote for them.

That said, there’s a clear difference between the parties, in my opinion. No, the Democrats aren’t perfect, but I still would rather vote for them than not.

Chernynkaya
Member

Buddy, I tend to agree. But here’s my thing– every day, I put up truly outrageous and horrendous stuff being pushed by the Reeps. I put up disgusting Supreme Court decisions from the Right-wing Roberts’ court. I put up the demolition of democracy put forth by Repub governors. So maybe I am, just by the nature of my searching for stories, more informed than most people. Not because I am in any way more astute, but just because I chose to do The Daily Planet, in the same way Khirad has made it his business to become uber-informed about the ME, and Kalima about international issues.

And that is why I become instantly dismissive with the “No difference” crap. Because it is so obviously apparent for anyone who wants to become moderately informed. All one has to do is read even the headlines to see that there is a VAST difference between he Parties and if they can’t see that, IMO, they are willfully ignorant and have no real interest in this country or in policy–they only want to hear themselves talk and validate their limited POVs.

Now, having said all that, let me tell you–I wish this stupid freaking country was left of center. I wish there was just a bit more political courage from the Dems. But bottom line is, in this repulsive environment (media, religious right, Baggery and regressive populace)this President and the Dem Party as a whole has done an amazing job. Anyway, Buddy–I’m in a mood today! 🙂

Buddy McCue
Member

You do an amazing job on that Daily Planet, and yes, the fact that there is a clear difference between the parties is there for anyone to see.

But I don’t think that everyone who says “no difference” has the same motivation. Yes, some are just under-informed; that’s the simplest explanation.

Ralph Nader has never struck me as an uneducated person though. I think people like him are just frustrated with the two-party system, and it colors their thinking. I can understand that. It IS frustrating.

About the other point… Even though I live here in the South, and I am literally surrounded by Rightwing thought, I still believe the country as a whole is more progressive than the mainstream media would have us believe, and certainly more progressive than the Washington establishment reflects.

When you get in the mood you describe, and the cultural environment seems repulsive, you can cheer yourself up by looking at these survey results:
http://www.occasionalplanet.org/2010/08/20/america-is-not-a-center-right-nation/

The surveys show that most American support progressive ideas by notable majorities. I find this encouraging.

Chernynkaya
Member

Buddy–those are excellent points! Yes, Nader is by no means willfully ignorant. What he is–in my humble estimation–is a socialist, and I love that. However, from that perspective, he is correct that “both Parties are the same” because both are based on our capitalistic system! But I think that totally begs the question; given that both parties are based on the same economic model does NOT mean that they have the same values at all. It just means that they are both capitalists. There are apparent huge variations within that model. But I can see how a socialist could–if over-simplifying to the point of absurdity–make that claim. And I am not even criticizing him for that–just pointing that out. I wish we were a socialist country too.

And about those surveys–you are correct again and it does give me hope. But the problem is that most people don’t vote that way, at least not recently.

Buddy McCue
Member

Chernynkaya – What you say about Nader makes sense.

I hesitate to admit what I am about to say… I voted for Nader in 2000. (People who support the Democrats will sometimes jump on me for admitting that.)

But in Election 2000, it was plain to see that Bush was going to win my state of Georgia with no problem, so I felt free to cast my vote for Ralph Nader.

Things were different in Election 2008. It seemed like a small possibility that McCain might not win Georgia, so I didn’t dare vote third party in that case. I cast my vote for Barack Obama, and although Georgia didn’t turn blue, it sure was a lot closer than I ever would have thought.

I do think things are changing, moving away from the horrific worldview of the Right. Progress is slow, but I believe it is happening. It’s a little bit like trying to watch the hour hand on the clock move.

agrippa
Member
agrippa

One thing:

We do not have a working majority in the the USA. A working majority is rare in the politics of the USA.

Politics is the art of the possible ; and what is possible has very narrow limits. There could be compromise/negotiation amoung people who respect each other and actually want solutions. That group is very small. Small in number and small in influence.

Buddy McCue
Member

Chernynkaya – And another thing!

Those who think there’s “no difference” could compare the Ryan budget, which comes from the rightmost part of the Republican Party with The People’s Budget, which comes from the Progressive Caucus.

Such a comparison makes the differences clear. Unfortunately, the MSM keeps supporting the mistaken idea that the Republicans have a plan, and that the Democrats don’t.

I think that just says something about the media.

Chernynkaya
Member

Gawd! Great point again, Buddy.

agrippa
Member
agrippa

Self service.

It is in the political interest of Paul and people like him to put out that rhetoric. It is the only way that he can get any traction.

The root cause is that people do not pay attention; so may know next to nothing about public life: governing, current events, politics. With people know nothing of any of that, this rhetoric resonates.

Marion
Member

More than 2008 ever was, 2012 will be the ultimate culture war, a battle for the nation’s future and its soul. No one ever thought, in 2008, that America was mature enough to elect an African American as President, and we weren’t really. A lot of people who voted for him, projected their own ideals on his tabula rasa, whilst neglecting to listen to anything he had to say.

The result of this is that he’s attacked on both sides for ludicrous reasons. The Right hates the thought of a black man in the White House (if he isn’t serving food), and the Left hates the thought of a black man in the White House who’s smarter than anyone else and who won’t do what THEY say.

Either way, it’s the R-word.

And the media are contriving this thing. They’re setting up a confrontation between Pretty Woman and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. The media have wanted Palin as a Presidential candidate from the getgo.

Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it … and more.

audadvnc
Member
audadvnc

The left doesn’t hate Obama for being a black man who won’t do what they say. The left hates Obama because he is the ultimate in bait-and-switch politicians, who has a group of dedicated Obamabots that forgive him for any abuse of power he takes.

How about the Justice Dept abuse of power in the Patriot Act extension that includes new interpretations of the law that are so classified that the US Senate isn’t in on the discussion?

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/153431/20110527/patriot-act-patriot-act-abuse-ron-wyden-tom-udall.htm

Warrantless roving wiretaps, “lone wolf” investigations, access to business records? “Probable cause” is out the window. “Future Attributes Screening Technology”? Sounds like Darth Cheney, right? But this is Obama’s baby now.

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Future_Attribute_Screening_Technology

escribacat
Member

I’m no fan of the Patriot Act and I don’t know if or how its provisions are being abused, but I wish the idiots who wrote that article you linked to would at least bother to get the name right of the people they are quoting. Tom Udall is a senator from New Mexico; Mark Udall is a senator from Colorado. With that kind of sloppy mistake, I don’t see much to trust or admire in the article.

whatsthatsound
Member

good spot, e-cat. They seem to have since corrected, as this is the latest article on the subject I found on that site:

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/153646/20110527/patriot-act-patriot-act-extension-patriot-act-abuses-ron-wyden-tom-udall.htm

audadvnc
Member
audadvnc

Good tree, e-cat. What about the forest?

escribacat
Member

Here’s another tree. I am sick to death of being dismissed as an “Obamabot.” My opinions are no more “bot” than yours. I support the president; you don’t. Why am I a “bot” but you’re …. what?

audadvnc
Member
audadvnc

You support his extension of the Patriot Act with secret interpretations? The warrantless roving wiretaps, etc? His 2009 secret deal with Big Pharm, banning the gov’t from negotiating drug pricing? His indefinite detention of Guantanamo detainees? His use of drone attack bombers?

We can play this game all day…

Abbyrose86
Member

Great analogies. I love how you put this one together.

I just don’t understand our country sometimes and why these jokers actually get a seat at the table.

Kalima
Admin

Did someone mention the 7 dwarfs?

In case you missed it, here are two stories about Miss Thing. The first one from this morning’s MB, the second from the day before. Enjoy.

—-

Sarah Palin and the seven dwarves: the Republican presidential nightmare

Is Sarah Palin going to run for the presidency in 2012? There are two big clues: everything she says and everything she does

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/richard-adams-blog/2011/may/30/sarah-palin-president-republican-nomination

—-

Dressed all in black from helmet to toe and riding on the back of a Harley Davidson, Sarah Palin on Sunday looked more like a Hell’s Angel than a presidential candidate.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/sarah-palin/8545235/Sarah-Palin-kick-starts-One-Nation-bus-tour-at-motorcycle-rally.html

jkkFL
Guest

Miss Thing!! wasn’t there a tv show with a ‘thing’??

choicelady
Member

I think that was a 1950s Sci-Fi movie, “The Thing” about a giant monster that got unfrozen in the Arctic (ringing any bells here?) and plundered the scientific community at its research station (anti-science theme seems apt)while attempting to exert its extra-human powers (Miss Thing seems to think she has those, too). The only way to rid the research station of The Thing was via a flame thrower, so the Dems need to be armed and ready ’cause this Thing already throws flames of her own.

Kalima
Admin

Actually jkk, “Miss Thing” is what my gay friends in London used to call someone who thought they were bigger than their boots.

Buddy McCue
Member

Kalima – Here in the States, that phrase has exactly the same meaning, but here it’s “Miss Thang.”
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=miss%20thang

Kalima
Admin

Buddy, thank you. Reading through the descriptions, I think that we just found the perfect name for Sarah P, it fits her personality so well. Miss Thing/Thang it will be then. 😆

Have a pleasant day Buddy and good night.

whatsthatsound
Member

The Rapture didn’t happen, so I guess a lot of would be Rapturees are gradually getting over the letdown and realizing that there is still going to be a country that needs running next year, after all. So NOW they’ll decide it’s time to get serious about selecting a candidate. BUt taking a look at this bunch, they’ll have to get a lot MORE serious – or just get used to the fact that they are a disgruntled minority Left Behind in a country, and world, that doesn’t share their values.

jkkFL
Guest

There’s always 12/12. 😉

whatsthatsound
Member

True….but they WILL have to vote before then. 🙂

choicelady
Member

Nah – that’s Mayan, and the Christo-fascists will have no truck with it. (Also – the Mayans were not apocalyptic.) The Oakland pastor who flamed out on May 21 says it’s October 21 this year for The End. Others say it’s 2035 or so (the 2000 years to the end of Jesus’ life, not the beginning, which should have Raptured them in about 1997). In sum – they are not going away this year, next year, or any time soon. Sorry to say.

funksands
Member

All of the GOP candidates are evidence of America’s fascist-curious phase.

Y’all remember going through that in college?

I bet Europe was hoping we’d skip it considering how their dalliance with it ended….

bito
Member

funk, what a great phrase “fascist-curious phase.” Yes it only led to the “Great Depression” and WW II, that’s all.

Khirad
Member

There is no such thing as “fascists-with-benefits” though.

And it’s bound to get awkward fast.

funksands
Member

“Fascists-with-benefits” 🙂

Now a hilarious new comedy on CBS….

audadvnc
Member
audadvnc

What is a group of repeated Rapture believers called –

Rapturators?
Rapturites?
Rapturnistas?
Raptees?
Rapeens?
Raptatoes?
Rapeaters?
Rapturii?
Rapt Tureens?

whatsthatsound
Member

not sure, actually. Maybe Raptiles?

kesmarn
Admin

Or just plain old Raptors?

KillgoreTrout
Member

“Instead of being a cakewalk, the 2012 campaign may be like those old mummy movies where the hero is chased by a slow, moaning creature that’s wrapped up in very old material and can’t run well because he’s a bit lame…yet he always seems to be right behind the hero.”

Ha! I love it AdLib. Great analogy. And the dems are like the pretty girl running from the monster, she slips and falls, turning her ankle, giving the monster a better chance at catching her. We need a hero to pick her up and get her to her feet.

audadvnc
Member
audadvnc

You’ve got ’em available: Feingold, Grayson, Weiner. You just have to back them, instead of the Goldman Sachs regime.

bito
Member

Sanders, Durbin, Franks, Franken, Klobacher, Haggen…… There are many, the pressure on the few may be more important.

jkkFL
Guest

Bernie!!

audadvnc
Member
audadvnc

I’m from MN. Amy Klobuchar lived down the street from me, before she was US Senator. I’ve met Al Franken a couple times at local events where he spoke. They’re both good people, and can think their way out of a paper bag, unlike just about any Repug that comes to mind.

foodchain
Member
foodchain

Weiner is the only one who will play in the park. Feingold and Grayson seem to want their own ball, bat and bases. I don’t see how that works. Buyers remorse with Walker in WI is SO huge that Feingold looks strong for either Gov or Senate. Grayson, I don’t know how he’s doing.

Weiner is great. No holds barred but he plays in the game. I’m tired of quiet, passive, give them enough rope democrats but these overt outliers aren’t exactly helpful to our President and so far, he’s the only one with a vision beyond self electing and lobbyist money

jkkFL
Guest

fc, I know how Alan Grayson is doing- he’s doing very well, and has now paid off his campaign debt- in 24 hrs.!
Grayson is an awesome people person, and was also an awesome Rep- if I might disagree.
He is just biding his time- I feel certain he will run again- if he does, you all will know, because I will be working with his campaign again.

foodchain
Member
foodchain

jkk, sorry I missed this and what an interesting few days, eh? I’m really glad Grayson is doing well. I was afraid that his “vocalness” didn’t play well. And look at Wiener! Perhaps he didn’t paly within the rules.

And, please, disagreement is information on this site. I love it and learn from it. You I trust completely.

jkkFL
Guest

C’mon lil’ fox! we never disagree!!
Alan does not play well in FL because it’s so damn red!! Dems and Independents are more lenient. The Chief of the FL ACLU was on Rachel tonight, and he said Scott Had created jobs- the ACLU had to hire a slew of lawyers to fight Scott! Shortly after I caught a local headline on the “News station” that they were tracking the resurgence of Alan Grayson, on their Sunday show!! I am on his FB/email and he had to pay off his 2010 debt, by a certain date- and had enough in 24hrs to retire the debt- so I’m sure he’s confident!
I am! 😉

foodchain
Member
foodchain

It seems more and more difficult to find a democrat other than Obama. Dick Durbin? Nancy? Harry? Maybe they’re busy standing for something in the Senate and the House, but the TV is filled with GOP news. The only news I receive from Democratic organizations is requests for money. If they can’t make hay out of this GOP platform and track record–complete with video–if they can’t be more visible—if they think the GOP will hang themselves–well, I just get skeered.

bito
Member

AdLib, from the post and your and k’eses comments, yes to be overconfident would be huge mistake, I fear for the leadership of the Senate, adding the huge amounts of money and spin that will and the assaults on voters rights you words of caution need to be heeded. From the potential loss of voters to the money, the Dems are ‘running from behind.’

I do see one bright spot that may expose the R’s and that are the number of recalls that will be held before the general in the Midwest. It may dull much of their rally.

Think Progress has this today:
ppp-graph

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/05/31/231083/voters-around-the-country-afflicted-with-buyers-remorse-over-new-gop-governors/

Also six recalls on R’s in Wisconsin have been approved and the 3 on the D’s are still on hold.

(Edit: OHIO what did you do?- is this a good enough lesson from 2010?)

KQµårk 死神
Member

I just hope they have seven leading candidates so we can call them the seven dwarfs.

Methinks 2012 feels allot like 1996. Not only are the Repugs repeating their same old mistakes the Dems have a tour-de-force politician and good president as their candidate. Actually in terms of accomplishments Obama has accomplished much more but Clinton ran on a better economy. I think the parallels will continue even more because if the Repugs do nominate Romney like I think they will, there could be a third party teabagger candidate.

I still think the biggest threat to Obama is the constant conspiracy of big business in collusion with the GOP that is literally holding the recovery, especially the jobs recovery hostage.

Democrats need to realize as important as reelecting Obama is it’s just as important to keep at least one assembly in congress. Otherwise we’ll have zero progress and the president just playing defense for four years. How I miss the 111th congress.

kesmarn
Admin

AdLib, the cautionary words about avoiding over-confidence are well-taken.

In 2008 when we all stood among the smoldering wreckage of our retirement plans and the housing market, I would never have predicted the election results of 2010.

Surely they know who did this terrible thing to them and they will exact payment out of their hides, I thought.

How wrong I was.

Job losses, racism and “Obamacare” were spun at warp speed into a “real thumping” for Dems.

It could happen again. “Nobody ever lost money underestimating the intelligence of the American population.”