On the 2008 RNC Convention
A few days ago, on a political blog, I commented that no matter what happens, this is going to be a historic election because either an African-American becomes President or a woman becomes Vice President, and no matter what happens, this is historical, blablabla.
Well, I take it back. Saying Palin's nomination is historic because she's a woman is like saying the last eight years have been historic because it was the first time an idiot man-child has been allowed to rule a nation.
How embarrassing is this semi-empty convention? After last week's high, watching it end with Obama's girl standing next to Biden's granddaughter, both laughing together, marveling at the confetti, I thought I would lose my cynicism forever. Thank you, Governor Palin, for restoring my faith in the absurd.
On another political site, I commented that this "energized" convention seems more like a high school reunion. I then added that everyone there, funny enough, looks like everyone you beat up in school.
But I was wrong there, too. It's these people, but it's also the despicable asses that push ahead of you in line at the airport. Know what I mean? Like these guys:
(Yes, these members of the party of rich whites are laughing hysterically at the words, "Community Organizer").
And the crazy women that the moment you met them in high school you knew exactly what every minute of their future lives would be. Like this gal:
It's a fucking cult.
And you know what? If the rigged voting machines end up giving McCain and Crazy Pursed Lips Woman the White House, then so be it. Call it the reverse story of Sodom. Because it's enough that one person in this country is voting Republican to make us all guilty. Because it's enough that we see these people in airports and at the extended family dinner table ("Let's not talk about politics") and in baseball games and state fairs and even on the other side of a TV screen, and we don't immediately lie on the floor pleading to God or to Natural Selection, saying, "Please, forgive them--they know not what they do. Take me instead. Yes, they are racist and sexist, and yes they cherish American lives more than the lives of Arabs in Iraq, and they cherish the lives of Republicans more than those of Democrats, and they cherish the lives of fetuses more than the lives of living people. But if we live side by side with them, then don't we all deserve the same fate? Don't we all deserve to suffer together?" Motherfuckers.
See, the cynicism is back, thank God. I've seen more enthusiastic people at insurance conferences when they found out New Orleans residents were never covered for flood damage. I've seen people more energized at friendly ping pong tournaments. And Joe Lieberman, oy vey! Remembering Democrats pretending to like you in 2000 makes me think of being arrested after going to a prostitute, and then finding out she's a man. Lieberman, tonight, we're all Eddie Murphy!
And there's still a whole day left! I bet we'll see a lot more of this guy:
35 comments:
Now seems like a very appropriate time to tell you that you've moved into the Must Read folder of my feed reader.
I have nothing more to say in the form of a comment, because you've said it all, and damn near perfectly.
P.S. You should find a way to get that "history-making idiot man-child" line on a bumper sticker. Then send me a case.
Idiot man child running the country is actually the norm over here. OK one of them was a woman.
I saw the photo of Palin holding a huge salmon and I was like mmmm tasty fish.
They are playing her as the PERFECT woman": she has 5 kids, she cooks for her children, she is the hunter in the family, she has 5 kids, she won a beauty contest but now is embarrassed about it, she has 5 kids, she is supporting her daughter at a difficult time... hey didn't that type of feminism end with the year 1989?
Those people are one of the reasons that I'm happy to live abroad. Watching the half-empty pisser that the G.O.P. is putting on gives me a bit of hope though. I don't even think they buy it any more. It all feels as if they're doing it because they have to, because it's a two party system. They've got to know that they're going to lose (OK, maybe not the blonde. They are going to lose. Right?
The past four years have been the most refreshing as an outsider watching America.
Americans have woken up in this time in great numbers for once, and are looking around them, questioning, debating, & deciding.
The decisions that are made are almost irrelevant (for now), but there is a shift in mentality, and it's fascinating to watch.
I missed Palin's speech..because I was reading the Bears' V'Cation (5yrold's pronunciation) to the boys..I'm not sure if that makes me a good mother, a bad feministe or a good citizen..I'm so freak'n confused. I watched the Valley of Elah the night before and if I wasn't against McCain and the elongation of this war, he certainly didn't have a chance after that.
I know I hate she's being picked apart in reference to her beauty, her baby, and her teenage daughter..I also know there's no way in hell I"m voting for McCain. I'm dissapointed that Republicans can't see her appointment was an attempt to snatch disgruntled Hilarians.
And you're right Nappy, there is a definate shift. But it's mostly young people..my boss excitedly bought her McCain shirt last week. The older women in my office are smitten with the idea of McCain,and they see Obama as smug and they never trusted Hillary.
I'm tired of being cynical. I really want to be hopeful after the near-evisceration of my country the past few years. I was hoping she'd screw up so epically last night that even the glazed-eyed blonde SUV moms in the audience would wake up and scream: "What the HELL was he thinking?!" Unfortunately, as a speaker she was impressive and her impressiveness seemed to overshadow her digs and putdowns. No matter how impressive she might be as a speaker, however, I know without a doubt that a person like her would not support or even like someone like me for many reasons, and I could never vote for her.
LMAO.. You guys are so scared...
I did like that CNN made it a point to only show "Whitey" in the building.. Fox had truth in the audience. I am not saying Fox doesnt lean right, CNN is just swooning for Obama....funny under a Hussein Obama presidency the odds are CNN would have more rules and regs.
Keep shakin in your boots lemmings, real CHANGE is coming.
BTW, I do somewhat agree with you about the man child comment.. NOT a Bush fan either, but McCain is no GWB, he has been a thorn in the side of GWB and Sarah would have been too.
bushwack, yes, I'm definately scared..I'm scared they're going to get elected and the 'changes' might be from bad to worse. I'm scared this war is going to be going on until my boys are old enough to be recruited, or the economy will be so bad they won't be able to find a freak'n job. Gas prices are real where we live. Unless you acually 'own' an oil business, you're screwed. THere's no public transportation, there's no alternate fuel..you're damn right I'm scared.
And just because CNN isn't quite as sensational and corny as Fox news doesn't mean they aren't balanced.
Dan, thanks, but nothing I write can ever come close to this video.
SJ, good thing she wasn't holding a cat. That whole Feminist for Life is so wrong. Like those Log Cabin Republicans. Although, as you know because I saw you on another blog today, these people do exist.
Freeman, about the living abroad thing, I don't know. I lived in two other countries, and in the end you find the ignorant fascists or they find you. Australia did vote for a Dick Chaney wannabe, after all. And I wrote my opinion about the States here, and haven't really changed my mind too much. The more these fascists grow, the more examples you find of resistance (even just mental resistance).
And I hope they lose. But if they win, that's okay. It means that when it's over we'll have just five circles of Hell left!
Xbox, it is, and I do feel change in the atmosphere. But I have to admit I also felt it in 2004 because people hated the war so much. And it doesn't matter. I don't need there to be a majority of Republicans to make me depressed. The fact that blondie gets to show her insane face on TV every night is enough to depress me.
Girl, my comment now coming after McCain's speech--how crazy were all these Peace signs? If Orwell had thought about putting this stuff in 1984 he would have felt he'd gone too far. No one could believe someone would rally Americans to fight a phantom war by using Peace signs. And if you can believe a scenario like that is possible, you will also believe your eyes didn't deceive you when you saw their offensive 9/11 video tonight.
Feefi, I know. Everyone was talking today about her getting 37 million viewers. Don't they realize most of them were tuning in to witness the destruction of the Republican Party? I guess we'll have to wait a bit. Sooner or later.
Bushwack, that's a very revealing comment, because actually, CNN and Fox were using the same feed. The news channels chose when to shift away from the convention to commercials and interviews, but the actual feed in both conventions was the same for all channels.
And as long as I have you here, what it is about Republicans calling for change? It's like that commercial where the CEO wants to stick it to The Man. Bushwack, you are The Man.
Girl, I don't know if arguing with Bushwack will change his mind. After all, he started a redneck blogroll where "All blogs MUST be published in ENGLISH." they include such gems as "Vigilante Justice," "Children of the Confederacy," and "Neo-Con Tastic." I think he doesn't like Bush because he wasn't right-wing enough. Like he wasn't firing enough teachers, like McCain wants to do.
His name is linked back to a blog that demands we reject the U.N. ...nuff said.
My cynicism is back too.
And I was wrong about something too. I thought at least Palin as VP proves anybody can be VP... but that's awful actually. I don't want anybody to be VP or president. I want qualified people!
Stephen Colbert did a great job last night mocking 9iu11iani's mocking of Obama.
My father honestly thinks Democrats don't like Palin because they're afraid of a woman president. How crazy is that?
I didn't watch. I knew it would lead me to violence, anger, hatred, and thoughts if spoken that might be considered treason.
I agree with all of the above in your post. Perfect.
Girl, I know. Everything would have been fine if it weren't for the U.N.!
Kristen, it's funny that it's okay to say Democrats are afraid of a female VP, but it's not okay to say Republicans are afraid of a black President. I saw the Colbert bit. Someone sent me a link to Michelle Malkin's site, where she says the community organizer jokes were misunderstood. It's much more complex than that, she says. It's entertaining to see the length Republicans will go to deny their racism.
Aimee, I know what you mean. My reaction to most of the RNC was laughter. Especially at the end, when McCain was speaking. That night was pure disaster, from the USA! USA! to the "Mavrick" sign, to the video of the Walter Reed school, to the random "Stand up! Stand up!" at the end, to the "She's worked with her hands and nose." But then there was the evil 9/11 movie. And whenever I see Giuliani I want to kill. I keep ants in a jar just in case I see Giuliani on TV.
Enemy, hey, thanks.
Someone asked me if I was going to watch any of the Republican speeches, to which I replied, "No, I know who I am voting for and I just get angry, cuss, and throw things at my TV when they (the Republicans) talk...not pretty."
Sounds like you did watch. I apologize for your pain, but love that you captured what I would have been feeling perfectly.
The only other thing that keeps reeling inside me is that I have to share my first name with that gun toting, cheap dig laying woman. Sarah means princess, dammit. She's gonna ruin that for me.
Oh, I am so very much in love with you. I've been made virtually speechless by this past week's stomach-turning hoopla, feeling my brain begin to melt and drip from my ears. Thanks for putting words to it all.
Sarah, that must suck (the name thing). Her voice is so annoying. I'd prefer watching a Nancy Grace marathon than another Palin speech. But I know I'll have to do it, because I'm waiting for her head to explode.
Girl, hmm, thanks... I love you too! How much self-delusion they need to have to think it was a success? You look at the 2004 convention, and you see the fascists are really happy and excited about four more Bush years. And now the only thing that makes these people happy are not-so-subtle racist comments.
Well said - thank you for speaking about the frustrations so many of us are feeling.
I really wish I could vote, I'll tell you that much.
i'm confused.
so, um, are you saying I shouldn't vote Republican just because Palin has a vagina?
but she's a MOM.
and it would, like, be totally, really cute if she won.
Contact, my frustration is mainly that so many people feel this is indeed a cult of racist fascists, but we can't really say it out loud. They show this disgusting 9/11 tribute and we're supposed to sit silently and take it, nodding our heads, saying, "Republicans will be Republicans," like they can't help being offensive.
Ben, if you move here, enlist, go to Iraq, and get seriously injured, they might give you an honorary citizenship! Good luck.
Wishful, you make a valid point. I forgot she had a vagina. Or two.
All will be fine.
But no, seriously...tell us how you *really* feel! Okay but way too funny on the idiot man-child thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack, I guess even if Palin becomes President all will be fine. She will be the President we deserve, just like Bush was for eight years. All will be fine if she wins. But things will be a whole lot finer if she doesn't.
Jill, it's getting worse over in my brain. Now I see her repeating that same speech with the same easily refutable lies everywhere, and I see her running mate, the old man, playing with his wedding ring while staring at her butt, and I hear that white women turn to vote for her, and I really get angry.
Oh wow, I owe you a sandwich after reading this post. Seriously, it's been a couple days and it's so awesome I still don't know what to say.
Oh, my cynicism is back in a big way too. I´m watching all this from afar and have let out many a "DOH!" a la Homer. McCain was palatable, when he wasn´t running. Palin is just freaky and him chosing her was just...insulting. And the people you picture above are eating it up like fishies in a pond that haven´t been fed for weeks.
Are we really going to allow this person who has a teen pregnancy in her family push abstinence only on us?(I don´t think that´s picking on her teenage daughter, That Girl, it´s pointing out something mindblowingly contradictory about one of the things she hopes to help get McCain elected on) For fucks sake, if that happens can we at least vote to rename the Republican party the Irony Party?
Yes, thank God the cynicism is back. Until a week or 2 ago, we were in danger of actually having an election campaign where issues would be discussed. No dueling soundbites or personalities, no crawling in the gutter. Each candidate would be forced to discuss the issues on their own merits and tell the voters why he/she was the most qualified for the White House.
Not a chance.
Woozie, I want Nutella.
Bluestreak, I agree with everything. But that's what I'm saying. We deserve McCain. If the Republicans have managed to convince one person that a Republican can run against the Republican party and get away with it, voting with Bush and going on fundraisers with him all while criticizing him, then we all deserve four more years. Watching Sean Hannity and Dr. Laura becoming the defenders of women is almost worth it, anyway. Dr. Laura said that if a woman says she doesn't want to have sex with her husband, he should say he didn't feel like going to visit her parents. I guess Levy Johnston visited his girlfriend's parents, then.
Tom, and then today you have another manufactured outrage--this time about pigs and makeup. And you have the clips of McCain using the same phrase about Clinton, but in the end the media will just let the two sides speak and end with an empty statement about "This being an interesting debate," as if truth and facts can only be subjective.
is like saying the last eight years have been historic because it was the first time an idiot man-child has been allowed to rule a nation.- W00t-spot-friggin-on!
And yes, its a damn cult.
Hey, you're featured on this post. It was kind of inspired by commenting on your blog.
I remember the comment..and I thought it was much too positive..glad to see ya got all 'butt-hurt' and changed your mind. ;p
Very well said
Dusty, it takes a great man to admit a mistake. Luckily, I am one.
Dingo, thanks. And welcome.
I am personally opposed to both parties. The idea that either candidate will fix anything is absurd. The political parties exist to divide people - that's why they were created in the first place. Both sides are wrong. I do however love that cult picture!
Bobby, I distrust both parties, don't get me wrong. People in both parties are too often loyal to the parties rather than to the people they supposedly represent. At the same time, a lot of people lost their lives for no reason because of Bush, because people voted for him knowing he was an idiot, because people were afraid. The words taxes and gay marriage were somehow more frightening than the idea of the blood of thousands on our collective hands.
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