Republican Convention Snarkfest 2008: Pushing the Nasty Meter into the Red-Zone

I have to think they must be scared shitless, or they wouldn't be stooping to such lows.

Is it just me? Were they always like this, and I'm just noticing it now?

They've been like this at least for the last eight years.

Clamairy, there is a very interesting post over here. Read msg 106 by BobStandard. This short post nails the conservative mindset, at least for social conservatives, better than any post I've seen before. It will explain everything to you about why the Republicans act the way they do. It's almost eerie. Conservatives don't see liberals as misguided individuals who need some coaching. Liberals are the other, the traitor, the enemy. It explains there paranoia, their religious beliefs, their clannishness, their militarism and their inability to see the irony in much of what they do. It explains their loyalties to failed leaders and failed policies. It's just a wonderful post. You really should look it up.

Thanks, geneg. That is indeed a wonderful post. I used to be part of the Pro & Con group myself, but I just could not keep up with the amount of posts generated in there.

When did being a community organizer become a bad thing, to be laughed at and booed?

There was an article on Yahoo's main page this morning (don't have link, sorry!) that fact-checked the speeches from last night and it turns out many of them were lying through their teeth. It turns out that Palin did not, in fact, get more votes for mayor than Biden got for president. Who knew?

It's obviously not about the facts. :o(

NPR just broadcast a good fact-checking of Palin's speech. Unfortunately, most NPR listeners are probably not those the speech was aimed at anyway.

Thanks to geneg for the link...that post is indeed an insightful one. In fact, the whole thread looks like bears reading (if and when I ever get the time:) )
I have to agree that perhaps the lack of political debate in this country is due to the fact that political affiliation seems to dictate not only our positions on issues, but the very way we approach politics.
I've been very much struck by how much Republican politics (perhaps all American politics, really) relies on voters identifying with the candidates. I'm perplexed by the notion of electing someone because "he'd be a great guy to barbeque with," or "she's a conservative Christian mother, like me." To me, a candidate's fitness is measured much more in terms of how they come to decisions, how well they deal with making complex choices and dealing with people, what their vision is for the country...etc.

There's been some research done on Palin's educational experiences too. Seveal schools within the same number of years. No one seems to remember her. Not very distinguished, I guess. There really is a part of me that feels sorry for her. I don't think she is of the caliber of politician who deserves this national spot light. I don't think her background is going to stand up well under all the researching into her life, up to now. I am still amazed McCain asked her and I am amazed she said, yes..

Every time people at the Republican convention started chanting "USA! USA!" I couldn't help but detect a strong undercurrent of bitterness. Is that new?

I couldn't agree more. I'd rather elect a policy wonk with good ideas anyday.

Palin said that as mayor, she was like a community leader..but with responsibilities. But her little town barely had six thousand people in it, which makes her about as responsible as the night manager of a bowling alley.

#9 - I only watched part of McCain's speech last night, but twice I saw protesters yelling something, and McCain looked shocked, then the crowd chanted USA and drowned them out.

yes, NPR said he was interrupted a few times by protesters, who were then shouted down by the conventioneers. The streets of the city were filled with protesters and tear gas, too. The media has not been giving much coverage to the people exercising, or trying to exercise, their rights to free speech. Of course, some protesters may have been those anarchists who made such a mess of Seattle when the WTO met here a few years ago. (The Battle in Seattle)

sigh

13 The media has had its own problems try to cover the protesters -- I've heard of half a dozen journalists swept up in police dragnets because they were trying to film or interview protesters.

#14, yes I heard a bit of that too. Why is no one jumping up and down?

This has been running around the internets recently.

Here's an interesting excerpt on Sara Palin's administrative experience:

"Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents. During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign."

This choice was obviously made with shoring up the base. Fortunately, not all undecideds have yet drunk the Kool-Aid.

#16 - Yowser! Thanks for posting this. I'll be emailing this link out.

14, 15--Local political blogs (at least, the liberal ones) here in Minnesota have been covering this. Check out http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/.

The local mainstream papers seem to having a good time congratulating the cities on how well everything was handled.

>13 maggie1944: and others on protests and police

I think it is interesting to compare the anti-war demo I attended last March in DC to the recent events in St. Paul. The Metro Police were out in force, but they were not using riot gear. They were also clearly under orders to minimize arrests and they very ably cordoned off protesters and moved people who were blocking traffic (both individually and in groups) without causing harm. There was no pepper spray, tear gas, flash-bangs or the like; I'm not sure I ever even saw a baton wielded. And this was billed by the protesters as a direct-action day, my understanding is that no one had permits.

I also find it interesting that in DC where the police were restrained there was no property damage, while in St. Paul where the police were clearly under orders to take aggressive action there was. I can't really know, but I wouldn't put it beyond the police to act as agent provocateurs. They've already admitted to running extensive spying operations.

Interesting compare and contrast. Thanks. Not really a revolutionary idea - treat American citizens with some respect and restraint and bingo protests can be had without property or personal damage. I know it is not a one to one correlation but it does seem strange that the police in the Twin Cities did not get the right memo.