Thursday, October 30, 2008

Hockey Mom's against Sarah Palin (This is Right on and Great) and The Party of Yesterday By Tim Egan which again we say often and is right on!

First start with this laugh: Set to Don't cry for me Argentina a Hockey mom sings don't speak for me Sarah Palin, This is Great!



Next The Party of Yesterday By TIMOTHY EGAN: Two years ago, a list of the nation’s brainiest cities was put together from Census Bureau reports — that is, cities with the highest percentage of college graduates, which is not the same as smart, of course. These are vibrant, prosperous places where a knowledge economy and cool things to do after hours attract people from all over the country. Among the top 10, only two of those metro areas — Raleigh, N.C., and Lexington, Ky. — voted Republican in the 2004 presidential election. This year, all 10 are likely to go Democratic. What’s more, with Colorado, New Hampshire and Virginia now trending blue, Republicans stand to lose the nation’s 10 best-educated states as well. It would be easy to say these places are not the real America, in the peculiar us-and-them parlance of Sarah Palin. It’s easy to say because Republicans have been insinuating for years now that some of the brightest, most productive communities in the United States are fake American — a tactic that dates to Newt Gingrich’s reign in the capitol.

Brainy cities have low divorce rates, low crime, high job creation, ethnic diversity and creative capitalism. They’re places like Pittsburgh, with its top-notch universities; Albuquerque, with its surging Latino middle class; and Denver, with its outdoor-loving young people. They grow good people in the smart cities. But in the politically suicidal greenhouse that Republicans have constructed for themselves, these cities are not welcome. They are disparaged as nests of latte-sipping weenies, alt-lifestyle types and “other” Americans, somehow inauthentic. If that’s what Republicans want, they are doomed to be the party of yesterday. Not only are we becoming more urban as a nation, but we’re headed for an ethnic muddle that could further shrink the party of small-mindedness. By 2023, more than half of all American children will be minority, the Census Bureau projects. Ronald Reagan was lashed by liberals for running a “Morning in America” campaign, but he knew this country, at heart, was always tomorrow-looking — and he fared very well in educated cities as well as small towns. “Whatever else history may say about me when I’m gone,” said Reagan, “I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears.” Barack Obama, who brings that music to the stage, leads by 30 points on the “hope and optimism” question in polls.

Spurning the Reagan lesson, John McCain made a fatal error in turning his campaign over to the audience of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. In so doing, he chose the unbearable lightness of being Sarah Palin, trotted out Paris Hilton and labeled Obama a socialist who associates with terrorists. At a recent Palin rally, the crowd started chanting, “We want Fox!” McCain has given them just that. But how isolated and out-of-touch is this audience? At the end of each debate, a sure-fire way to decide who won was to look at the Fox viewers poll — typically showing a landslide for McCain. Within a day, scientific surveys found big wins for Obama. Whether Americans are real or fake, they can see through Palin, a woman who couldn’t correctly answer a third grader a few days ago when asked to explain the duties of vice president. Somewhere, between the shuffling to costume and accessorize Palin with a $150,000 wardrobe, her handlers never handed her a copy of the Constitution.

Republicans blow off the smart cities with the counterargument that they win the exurbs — the frontier of new homes, young families and the fresh middle class. And it’s true, in 2004, George Bush won 97 of the 100 fastest-growing counties in America. That will not happen this year. Polls show McCain is losing 20 percent of self-described moderate Republicans. And new registration figures and other polls indicate that Obama will likely win such iconic exurban centers as Washoe County, Nev., Loudoun County, Va., and Wake County, N.C. But in the kind of pattern that has held true since McCain went over to the stupid side, his brother recently referred to suburban northern Virginia as “communist country” and a top adviser, Nancy Pfotenhauer, said it was not “real Virginia.” Here in Seattle, it’s become a one-party city, with a congressman for life and nodding-head liberals who seldom challenge a tax-loving city government. It would be nice, just to keep the philosophical debate sharp, if there were a few thoughtful Republicans around. That won’t happen so long as Republicans continue to be the party of yesterday. They’ve written the cities off. Fake Americans don’t count, but this Election Day, for once, they will not feel left out.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

31 comments:

Monique said...

It's not long to go now, is it Jim, to election day. I know that some have already voted.

Utah Savage said...

I voted. Everyone I know voted. I'm just waiting for the celebrating. I live in Utah, Mittland. We might be, along with Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas, the last of the backward red states. Oh there are enclaves of sanity gathered around universities (mainly) where Barack will prevail, but here, it's just Metro Salt Lake. But I hear it's close in Arizona. How amazing.

Weaseldog said...

I like that video. :)

I see you picked up on the Syria story quick enough.

So our soldiers are now acting as illegal death squads, murdering innocents to take revenge.

I think we knew this was happening, but now they aren't even trying to hide it. They did it in broad daylight to advertise it.

Messenger said...

Predict the membership of the next cabinet!

Speed Bump's 2nd Pundit-of-the-Month contest is open until the day after the election of Number 44. Time is already running out!

Snave said...

Great stuff there, AAP! The video is priceless. Gotta love it.

The phrase "since McCain went over to the stupid side" says it all. That's a smart column by Egan... what IS going on with the Republicans? It seems like there is a right-wing "arrogantly proud of our stupidity" culture gaining ground. Stupid Power!

I like to think there are enough thinking people left in America to rise up against this GOP brand of populism ("the populism of stupid") which appears to be becoming the right wing's defining trait.

"Sure, I like Joe the Plumber! Who is he? What does he stand for? I don't know, but he must stand for me. He looks like a regular kind of guy."

"How do I know Barack Obama is a socialist? Because Sarah Palin said so, that's how, and that's good enough for me!"

"McCain will make a great president because he was a POW for five and half years. Nothing else matters except that. He is a great American."

Etc. ad nauseum.

I can't wait for Tuesday to be over. It is looking increasingly less likely that we will see an October Surprise... it's getting a bit late for that now.

But I do think there will be a November or December Surprise...

Unknown said...

OK That Hockey Mom vid rocks, what a great job they did, really cute and funny and clever!!

LOL!!! Thanks for that.

Robert Rouse said...

I have to agree with the idea that not all college grads are that intelligent. I was unable to finish college because of money, but there are times I'm around college grads when I feel as if I'm talking to downright morons. Most do not have a lick of common sense and when I bring up interesting topics, I watch their eyes glaze over. I have no problem keeping up with them on their topics. I believe most think I have a few degrees under my belt. To be honest, I'd rather have the knowledge than the paper on the wall.

Karen said...

VOTE OBAMA TOMORROW!! YES WE CAN!!

D.K. Raed said...

OK the countdown has begun, Jim. Dixville Notch already voted. I'm very nervous. It's gonna be a long day's night. Hope you get to watch the news in between moves.

jed said...

Hi Patriot

just passing by to thank you for supporting Middle Ditch.

It is greatly appreciated.

Monroe Anderson said...

Jim: I loved the Hockey Mom YouTube video. I posted it on my blog with an h/t to yours.

Anok said...

Hey Jim - Obama's the next president!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!

Naj said...

Jim,

I guess this is one of those times that you are happy to have been wrong :)
Congratulations ...
I respect America again! Deeply!

Monique said...

Happy birthday Jim and happy America day!

Weaseldog said...

Jim, my nephew was featured in the documentary webcasts, "In their Boots".

I'm a bit angry that I learned more about him on YouTube, than I can find out from my own family.

I've learned that he is married, has a child with a baby on the way.

Videos embedded in my blog and at:
http://intheirboots.com/index_main.php

Robert Rouse said...

Okay, Jim. How about a token appearance? :)

jmsjoin said...

Oh man!
I am impressed and honored! I am going to do a little post today because we are in, Obama is the man and I want to scream, Verizon just straightened out the problem here out on the street and I!m back!

jmsjoin said...

Hi Monique
As you know, I got back on yesterday so I am going to be behind and playing catch up for a while so please bear with me. I am so excited for the future as long as we can keep hope alive (Obama). I will try to get things answered here now take care!

jmsjoin said...

Utah
It was exciting wasn't it? We had ne problems in this western Mass area and not bad around the country! I was so pleasantly surprised and pleased. Now the work begins and I believe we have a chance as long as we can keep hope alive (Obama)

jmsjoin said...

Hi Wease
I have been tied up as you know and have had no access to news or the computer so I do not know what ever transpired with Syria? I did catch on the car radio that Ahmadinejad congratulated Obama and that is a good thing.
I did manage to watch the video you sent. Was that the nephew you had living with you? Is he in the military now? Take care! I am here but playing catch up. Eventually I will be around. Bear with me!

jmsjoin said...

Hi Messenger
Sorry about that I just got access back. I did manage to add Kerry to the list who is lobbying hard for a position!

jmsjoin said...

Snave
I refuse to believe anyone takes anything Palin takes seriously. She is a Neanderthal and an insult to all Americans and women. I refuse to believe anyone is calling for her to run in 2012. She should be done! She represents the Fascist right and we can not allow it to happen again!

jmsjoin said...

Helen
Bear with me! I am playing catch up for a few days at least but eventually I will be back to normal. I will eventually be4 around again!

jmsjoin said...

Robert
As you say, Graduating from College is not a sign of intelligent but rather of financial where with all! I only went and Graduated because the State of Massachusetts supplied Vietnam era vets with a State College education and a stipend. That and a lot of gumption as I was married and had 3 sons already! Anyway my brothers who got trades did better than the 2 of us who became accountants! Go figure. I also knew a lot of guys who were dumb as bricks and cheated their way through!

jmsjoin said...

All right Karen
Bear with me I will catch up and be around eventually! Now we have to keep hope alive (Obama)

jmsjoin said...

Thanks Red!
We did manage to get the TV to work and watch the election. I went to bed after they declared it. My nervousness will not subside until I see we have kept him alive to serve 8 years. When I saw little Dixeville I knew we were in! Yeah we have a chance!

jmsjoin said...

Hi Jed
Thank you but you guys starting with Monique do a great job. It is unique here at least and I love it!

jmsjoin said...

Great Monroe
That was a cool video! Bear with me once I catch back up I will get around again. We now have a different mission keeping hope alive (Obama) to do the job we need so badly!

jmsjoin said...

Anok
Yippee! Now the real work begins as you know. I have not seen you around for a while now I really feel bad for losing access!

jmsjoin said...

naj
Glad to see you my friend! We now have hope but Bush has until January 29th to do his worst. We are not out of the woods yet. I w2as pleased to see how happy the world was and that Ahmadinejad congratulated Obama! Take care and stay in touch!

jmsjoin said...

Okay Monique
I have to ask how did you know it was my Birthday or were you referring to the election and the entire world now has a chance ?