Open Thread and Such

 

"Awkward" - San Cisco

Reading this makes me wonder why in the world the Romney would have picked Ryan.  Ryan's controversial stances on a host of issues are sucking all of the oxygen out of the campaign -- Ryan, not Obama, is suddenly the issue.  This is not what you want from your VP selection.  He could have gone for Portman and been helped a bit in the must-win state of Ohio -- there is no Romney path to victory without the Buckeye state.  He could have picked Rubio and been bolstered in the equally crucial state of Florida (also no path to victory without this state) and been able to boast of putting the first Latino on a national ticket.  Hell, he could have played to the people of size constituency -- talk about your growing demographic -- and picked Chris Christie.  Instead, Romney picked a right wing ideologue from a state that is unlikely to go his way and a guy who has never run state-wide to boot.

I remain puzzled.

And another thing:  The degree to which Republicans are willing to engage in overt actions to make voting more challenging for minorities than for whites is breathtaking in its audacity.  The latest from Ohio where voting hours are being arranged to favor largely white jurisdictions is beyond shameful.  Make no mistake about it, this is not simply an electoral tactic -- it reflects the deep seated contempt that Republicans have for the notion of equal voting rights generally: the right (read white) sort of people should have more say at the polls than others.  Read some of the comments regarding the effort in Massachusetts to register those receiving TANF benefits (or as right wing asshole columnist Howie Carr describes it "the welfare crowd") and you get some sense of just how deeply this kind of racism permeates the Republican Party and its constituents.   

Whatever is on your minds, spill it here.

Comments

[Crissa]

I believe the reason has already been covered:
http://www.cogitamusblog.com/2012/08/epic-village-style-love-for-old-zombie-eyes.html

But I also agree with you. Assuming that the village voices don't manage to get a fictional version on stage - most low-information voters make more assumptions than they do actual informed decisions, and will pick based upon keywords they imagine the stances than actual stances.

Remember, W Bush won with the majority of his voting base believing that he held one or more positions he held the opposite of.

[low-tech cyclist]

The whole Cincinnati thing is pretty appalling. I would think that a suit based on the equal-protection clause would be a slam-dunk here; hell, they could cite Bush v. Gore, with the basic argument being, "you mean to tell me that was a violation of the equal-protection clause and this isn't?"

And distressingly, the PA state court didn't block that state's new voter ID law. That doesn't mean it won't happen either in the PA Supreme Court or in Federal court, but still, it would have been nice to have that one settled.

I really think the Dems should push a Constitutional amendment stating that voting in elections for Federal office is a fundamental right that may not be abridged or unequally or unnecessarily burdened, and that burdens placed on voting to protect the integrity of the ballot may not be disproportionate to the threats to its integrity.

It's time to put a stop to this crap once and for all.

[low-tech cyclist]

Oh, and fuck austerity. And fuck its promoters, of all ideological stripes (including Broderist pretend-above-the-fray), and fuck 'em here and in Yurp.

[Joe S]

wow, that video makes me feel really, really old. When did rock stars get so young lookin'

[Sir Charles]

Joe,

They are genuinely young. I believe that when the video was posted that three members of the band, including drummer/singer Scarlett Stevens were 18 and singer/guitarist Jordi James was 17.

They're basically the same age as my kid, which yes, can make one feel old. I counter this feeling by being immature.

[nancy]

Seems like only yesterday that the national press corps, bored and cynical, walked off the job -- decided Al Gore was a stiff, laughable serial liar, not to mention clumsy kisser, and helped to re-write history. What's going on thus far -- "Paul Ryan Helps Mitt Romney Reclaim Political Virginity" [!] with Ryan and Romney reads like the same trajectory only turned on its head. If I read 'fresh-faced' one more time I will throw up. What, exactly, has that to do with anything? What's with the nosegays and gratuitous fanboy sops? Anyone remember what he was up to last time this summer over $350 bottles of wine. Jesus.

Question, of course, is will the press blow off time at this juncture, since in received wisdom world, no one is paying attention until after Labor Day, or just move right on to deliver the goods to its corporate overlords? It will take no time at all for Ryan's *persona* to be delivered to the 'independents', taking months to counter and disprove.

Zombie-eyed granny starver. Yeah, but based on a number of comments I've read today, he's also to be the sad-eyed, designated once-and-for-all 'Boomer Slayer' --and a number of Gen X'ers are rooting for this fellow tribe-member. WTF.

[nancy]

Sorry --' last summer this time'... these people leave me addled.

Vote supression behavior in Ohio is unthinkable. Wouldn't surprise me if the GOP there isn't itching for rioting in the streets. GOP Ohioans would be happy to bring out the batons and National Guard I'm sure. Good Fox TV.

[paula]

Did you read about the riots in Amiens, France, where youth unemployment is 45% and talk of austerity is in the air? hmmmm. Of these are poor, minority utes. The ones who will be hit the hardest when the axe falls.

[nancy]

Read some of the comments regarding the effort in Massachusetts to register those receiving TANF benefits (or as right wing asshole columnist Howie Carr describes it "the welfare crowd") and you get some sense of just how deeply this kind of racism permeates the Republican Party and its constituents.

Noticed that "the welfare crowd" commenters really like the "get over it" and "deal with it" and "live with it" rejoinders a la Scalia.

*****

And, if the Villagers won't do the job, Tom Morello will. Love the photo juxtaposition with Congressman Earbuds, who looks to be happy, contented and fresh from his morning weight room time.

[Sir Charles]

nancy,

I found the Paul Ryan loves Rage Against the Machine one of the more surprising things to be unveiled in the campaign. Clearly Paul does not have a strong ear for lyrics.

Paula,

I saw a headline about the problems in France but have not yet given it a read. I would certainly be disappointed if the new socialist government embraced austerity. It seems to me that the French left has a chance to prove it can govern effectively after years of Gaulist rule and that austerity is the last thing it would want to embrace.

[oddjob]

"There's a big chunk of the population that overwhelmingly favors the president. The only problem? They probably won't vote."

[nancy]

The situation in Ohio gets worse and worse. I'm not understanding why all these endeavors are not civil rights equal protection violations which need be halted immediately by DOJ. Maybe you lawyers could enlighten. Can state government abrogate voting rights by any means that might be dreamed up? Arbitrary and capricious and late in the election cycle.

Disenfranchisement by hanging chad wasn't enough?

[nancy]

Oddjob, I think Romney has unwittingly remedied the 'probably won't vote' problem. After a week of getting a close look at Ryan's 'worldview' as it pertains to us females, women will be hightailing it to the polls in record numbers. Have no fear.

Also, every 30 seconds of camera time with Ann Romney underscores the entire GOP disdainful enterprise. Distaff side of the picture is appallingly Antoinette. "Let them eat cake" crumbs. Not a whit of graciousness. No more tax records because they would be 'ammunition.' Ammunition for what Ann?

[oddjob]

Distaff side of the picture is appallingly Antoinette.

It was the same when Romney ran for senator against Kennedy. I can't remember what exactly she said (I was living in Pennsylvania then), but I know I've read she made a very thoughtless comment about a wedding gift they received from George Romney. It was a stock portfolio that "wasn't much". I can't remember what the portfolio's size was, but it was a handsome figure for a young newlywed couple.

As to Ohio, I think DOJ only has the power to aggressively intervene before a discriminatory voting law goes into force in the Dixie states that have an extensive history of disenfranchisement based upon race.

[nancy]

The GOP Senate candidate in Missouri entered the twilight zone . A 'legitimate' rape won't result in a pregnancy. Tea Party science at work here. He's running 8 pts. ahead of McCaskill.

Chasing the anti-slutty sluts vote and looks to be working. 8 pts.?

Resurrecting an old expression which had mostly been decommissioned but back with the popular Rush Republican assault on the dignity of women -- what a pig .

[nancy]

Tweet of the day on Rep. Akin's pronunciamento:

An anagram. From Ken Jennings, pretty obviously nice guy and Mormon 'Jeopardy' nerd.

[kathy a.]

wtf? legitimate rape? wtf is a "legitimate" rape?

it really comes down to exculpating anybody who gets a woman pregnant, no matter the circumstances. and blaming every woman who gets pregnant.

sorry, i've been up past my eyeballs lately. might rejoin humanity soon.

[Sir Charles]

I think Akin's eight point lead in the polls might have just evaporated.

What a putz.

[beckya57]

The McCaskill-Akin race is yet another example of the Tea Partiers nominating a nutcase over a more respectable candidate, and possibly throwing away a sure win in the process. I wonder how many times this has to happen before cooler heads in the GOP (assuming there are any left) start thinking that a change in tactics is in order?

[oddjob]

The trick will be for whatever cooler heads remain to find a way to shame the base into realizing its fervent embrace of ignorance is a bad thing.

[Joe S]

I think there's an issue here for the GOP. Cooler heads gave them George W. Bush. The base may not admit it, but even they regard Bush as basically incompetent. Rather than see that as a rejection of conservatism, they viewed Bush as not conservative enough.

Also, you have a lack of White people. Due to demographics, the Republicans need every crazy wingnut to pull the lever in Fall- which means alot of crazy ass rhetoric including fourteen lane roads from Canada to Mexico and secret Muslim stuff.

[Sir Charles]

I think you get back to the central reality of the fact that there is no party establishment separate and apart from these lunatics. They are for better or worse the party.

There is no hierarchy that can vet and determine the ultimate candidate in most places -- it is in the hands of the faithful electorate and the Akins and Christine O'Donnells of the world accurately reflect their feelings.

There are no effective intermediaries anymore in American politics.

[nancy]

Should Akins be forced to drop out of the race? No, and he shouldn't be permitted to 'walk this back' -- Paul Ryan has somehow managed to put a *reasonable* 'fresh face'/mask_on_his_party/index.html's repulsive misogynistic extremism. Now Akins has let it slip, so that the cooler heads are panicking. Good. Let's all stand aside and enjoy the reenactment of Waterloo.

[nancy]

Header on that link has been updated: Is it really best for women if Akin withdraws? : Questions about a defining moment.

Feminist humor, yay.