Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

That's Rall, Folks: Seeing 'Red' After Election
Editor & Publisher ^ | November 13, 2004 | Editor & Publisher Staff

Posted on 11/13/2004 9:43:46 AM PST by tvn

NEW YORK Leave it to syndicated columnist/cartoonist Ted Rall. While others on the left wonder if, and how, they should reach out to those in the "red states" to try to win more elections, the acerbic Rall is sticking to his guns as a proud blue stater.

In his latest column, "Confessions of a Cultural Elitist," Rall declared, among much else, that "living in the sticks doesn't make you more American" and "by any objective standard, you had to be spectacularly stupid to support Bush."

Rall, who grew up in what he calls "flyover" Ohio, adds, "if militant Christianist Republicans from inland backwaters believe that secular liberal Democrats from the big coastal cities look upon them with disdain, there's a reason. We do, and all the more so after this election."

Addressing media coverage, he wrote: "Inland Americans face a bigger challenge than coastal 'cultural elitists' when it comes to finding high-quality news coverage. The best newspapers, which routinely win prizes for their in-depth local and national reporting and staffers overseas, line the coasts....Citizens of the blue states read lackluster dailies stuffed with generic stories cut and pasted from wire services."

Rall also knocked Sen. John Kerry, calling him "morally incongruous" for "running against a war he voted for while insisting that he would have voted for it again."

But he aimed most of his fire at "idiotic" Bush supporters, citing the recent Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) survey which found that nearly 3 out of 4 Bush voters still believe Iraq had WMDs or an active WMD program, and that 1 in 5 think Saddam was involved with the 9/11 attacks.

Rall concluded: "So our guy lost the election. Why shouldn't those of us on the coasts feel superior? We eat better, travel more, dress better, watch cooler movies, earn better salaries, meet more interesting people, listen to better music and know more about what's going on in the world. If you voted for Bush, we accept that we have to share the country with you. We're adjusting to the possibility that there may be more of you than there are of us. But don't demand our respect. You lost it on November 2."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bluestates; breachbirthanoxia; crybaby; diaperload; election04; kerrydefeat; pantload; redstates; syphiliticdementia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-62 next last
"The best newspapers, which routinely win prizes for their in-depth local and national reporting and staffers overseas, line the coasts"

And just what organizations and groups give these prizes and awards? Talk about preaching to the choir!

1 posted on 11/13/2004 9:43:46 AM PST by tvn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: tvn
Rall has applauded the death of Americans in war. I guess that gives him the credentials to speak for blue America.
2 posted on 11/13/2004 9:46:47 AM PST by 68skylark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Ted Rall is an Idiot!
(Wait! I take that back! Ted Rall would make an idiot look smart.)
(My apology to all real idiots.)
3 posted on 11/13/2004 9:46:59 AM PST by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
In his latest column, "Confessions of a Cultural Elitist," Rall declared, among much else, that "living in the sticks doesn't make you more American" and "by any objective standard, you had to be spectacularly stupid to support Bush."

That's the attitude that will make the next hundred years the Republican Century. Keep working on it, Ted!
4 posted on 11/13/2004 9:47:52 AM PST by Freepdonia (Victory is Ours! (I told you so :-))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn

Regarding the Blue State-Red State comparisons, I fully expect that if you broke down the Blue State PRODUCERS, the people who actually make those states run economically, you would find a strong Bush majority. Freeloaders and social engineers flock to wealth, where they have a playground to use others' resources. But the playground was created by the producers, and they are generally the conservatives.


5 posted on 11/13/2004 9:49:25 AM PST by raptor29
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn

Typical arrogant self rightious ponpas a**. I didn't know we Republicans were radical??? LOL the term means Democrat!!!


6 posted on 11/13/2004 9:49:28 AM PST by gidget7 (God Bless America, and our President George W. Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Rall should really consider going on the "Karen Carpenter diet."

Not that he's overweight or anything, he would just be doing the rest of us a huge favor.

7 posted on 11/13/2004 9:49:34 AM PST by Do not dub me shapka broham ("They don't want some high brow hussy from NYC characterizing them as idiots..." (Zell Miller)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn

Sorry Rall you are not really a member of the elite. You are a marginal wacko cry baby.


8 posted on 11/13/2004 9:49:43 AM PST by JLS (tHA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
But don't demand our respect. You lost it on November 2.

Well, I guess we can't have everything.

9 posted on 11/13/2004 9:50:07 AM PST by Maceman (It's no longer a blue world, Max!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Rall concluded: "So our guy lost the election. Why shouldn't those of us on the coasts feel superior? We eat better, travel more, dress better, watch cooler movies, earn better salaries, meet more interesting people, listen to better music and know more about what's going on in the world.

Define "dress better."

Did you know, Ted, that black is not the only "color" for clothing? Watch "cooler movies"? With DVDs almost all movies are accessible anywhere.

"Earn better salaries." Yeah, but spend much more on housing and other things.

"Meet more interesting people." Define "interesting." If Hillary Clinton is your benchmark for "interesting" I guess he is right.

"Know more about what is going on in the world." Because he reads the New York Times? Jayson Blair would be proud.

10 posted on 11/13/2004 9:50:47 AM PST by John Thornton ("Appeasers always hope that the crocodile will eat them last." Winston Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Freepdonia

Ted Rall wouldn't make pimple on Pat Tillman's ass!!!


11 posted on 11/13/2004 9:51:46 AM PST by wordsofearnest (St. Louis bring back Torre.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Maceman

But don't demand our respect. You lost it on November 2.

To have YOUR respect we would have to reducr yourselves to you moral code! NO THANK YOU! I like looking into the mirror and not suffering revultion at what I see.


12 posted on 11/13/2004 9:52:24 AM PST by gidget7 (God Bless America, and our President George W. Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: tvn

Nothing sadder than watching/listening to some poor dumb
chap who doesn't realize the hatred he spawns within is literally eating him up. Hard to imagine the number of
new cases of ulcers being treated on both coasts!
Maybe the doctors will start getting payback for some of the loss in those malpractice suits!


13 posted on 11/13/2004 9:53:09 AM PST by Grendel9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Schadenfruede, the gift that keeps on giving.

5.56mm

14 posted on 11/13/2004 9:53:36 AM PST by M Kehoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gidget7

sorry bout that spelling, it posted before I could do the spell check, I don't know why??


15 posted on 11/13/2004 9:54:18 AM PST by gidget7 (God Bless America, and our President George W. Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: 68skylark

I thought I read that Rall was actually a Canadian like Peter Jennings. I thought Rall held dual citizenship. He is a piece of garbage.


16 posted on 11/13/2004 9:55:09 AM PST by FrankRepublican (Arlen Specter = Ted Kennedy Dem Bush = Open Borders w/ Mexico)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tvn

"Addressing media coverage, he wrote: "Inland Americans face a bigger challenge than coastal 'cultural elitists' when it comes to finding high-quality news coverage."

GIVE ME A BREAK!


17 posted on 11/13/2004 9:56:00 AM PST by eagle11
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn

All this coming from a guy who can't even draw a decent stick figure for his "cartoons"!


18 posted on 11/13/2004 9:57:23 AM PST by RJL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
"Why shouldn't those of us on the coasts feel superior? We eat better, travel more, dress better, watch cooler movies, earn better salaries, meet more interesting people, listen to better music and know more about what's going on in the world.

Those in the red states are happier and significantly less delusional.

19 posted on 11/13/2004 9:57:36 AM PST by gorush (Exterminate the Moops!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Thornton
Define "dress better."


20 posted on 11/13/2004 9:58:10 AM PST by Maceman (It's no longer a blue world, Max!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: wordsofearnest

How true.


21 posted on 11/13/2004 9:59:30 AM PST by Freepdonia (Victory is Ours! (I told you so :-))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: tvn
"if militant Christianist Republicans from inland backwaters believe that secular liberal Democrats from the big coastal cities look upon them with disdain, there's a reason. We do, and all the more so after this election."

Well, I huess an honest idiot is better than a dishonest one.

22 posted on 11/13/2004 10:01:13 AM PST by Fzob (Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Why shouldn't those of us on the coasts feel superior?

Because they're not superior and the rest of the country knows they're not. It is the main reason the "secular liberal Democrats" lost the election. The Democrats lost because of this same arrogance. Pride goes before a fall.

23 posted on 11/13/2004 10:01:39 AM PST by elbucko ( Feral Republican)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
listen to better music

I teach in a NYC public high school. You have to hear the crap that passes for "music". I can't call it better -- hell, I can't call it music.

TS

24 posted on 11/13/2004 10:03:16 AM PST by Tanniker Smith (Random Childhood Memory #9: "Rose Marie for the block.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn

I would bet the ranch, that the average IQ of Bush voters is higher than Kerry voters. Most of us, in the fly-over states, have enough smarts to make a living, raise our
familys,and stay out of trouble.
I'm afraid this cannot be said for a large percent of the Dem. base.....


25 posted on 11/13/2004 10:03:55 AM PST by grounhog ( grounhog)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
We really need to STOP calling them Red and Blue states. There were only two totally blue states (MA & VT) and only 2 or 3 totally red states.

If one looks at the county map, the majority of the so called "blue" states were not blue, they were mostly RED! (CA, OH, IL, to name a few)

So when I see drivel such as what Rall wrote, I cringe. Because it not only divides this country even more but is incorrect in its assumptions.

26 posted on 11/13/2004 10:04:16 AM PST by misharu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Ironic that the state of Rall's origins (Ohio) was the one that gave Dubya the election.

And after reading his screed, I am reminded of something my father used to say: "There's nothing worse than a stupid person who thinks they're smart."

27 posted on 11/13/2004 10:05:01 AM PST by Pharmboy (My tagline has gone fishin')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Thornton

I have read several varitions on this theme, some including the line "we have better sex". They must do mass emailings of this stuff.


28 posted on 11/13/2004 10:05:40 AM PST by annyokie (If the shoe fits, put 'em both on!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Rall is a communist... what do you expect?!

Any 'swamper' down-on-the-bayou can get the NYTimes, WPost and The New Yorker online if they so desire.

Rall is forced to find a scapegoat... Germany had to do the same after WWI. I see the 'radicals' of the dem party playing with a hand-grenade... if they 'wanna play this game, their looking for a trip to the hospital.

Conservatives love a debate... they DON'T like being spit on!

29 posted on 11/13/2004 10:07:30 AM PST by johnny7 (“We blowed 'em up real good!” -John Candy & Joe Flaherty, SCTV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn

Ted Rall is just as terrible, if not worse than Michael Moore!


30 posted on 11/13/2004 10:08:20 AM PST by marvlus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn

Who is this moron and why should I care about his opinion?


31 posted on 11/13/2004 10:10:16 AM PST by najida (Arafat dead- One down, a whole bunch left to go.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Maceman
But he aimed most of his fire at "idiotic" Bush supporters, citing the recent Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) survey which found that nearly 3 out of 4 Bush voters still believe Iraq had WMDs or an active WMD program, and that 1 in 5 think Saddam was involved with the 9/11 attacks.

How about itiotic newspaper columnists who continue to distort the facts for political reasons long after those paying attention know the truth. Iraq had WMDs and programs to make them. That's what it meant to capture Dr. Germ and Mrs. Anthrax and kill Chemical Ali. That's why you idiot blue state "reporters" were all aflutter about 300 missing TONS of high explosived used in building A-Bombs. That's why are brave troops found Sarin in Falluja this week. That's why we will be finding parts of Saddams smuggled WMDs all over Mohammed-land for the next 15 years.

As for the connection between Saddam and Al Qaeda they are proven. They are documented at length in the 9/11 commission report. Even a bipartisan commission stacked with Democratic hatchet men and a woman who should have been on the witness stand found this to be true. It takes a certain type of know-it-all idiot to claim with absolute assurance proof of what can't be proved. It certainly is a reasonable conjecture that Saddam may have played a role in 911. It certainly is a huge overstatement to insist there was not connection. (I refer the completely ignorant author of the article to Stephen Hayes' excellent "Case Closed" article in the Weekly Standard or book of the same title.

In closing, screw you, you lying, conceited, arrogant, ignorant, intolerant, snide, rude, ugly nazi freak. We have had it with you and all your coastal media pals. Stay the f*ck out of the Red States. If we see you we're going to give you a good old fashioned mid-west ass kicking.

32 posted on 11/13/2004 10:10:22 AM PST by Jack Black
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: tvn
People like Ted Rall do more to actually advance the conservative cause than any pundit on the Right can do. I write Rall frequently to tell him this.
33 posted on 11/13/2004 10:11:24 AM PST by LowCountryJoe (Maybe the Democrats should work on getting their own "miserable failure" elected to office.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Maceman; Homer_J_Simpson; Barney Gumble; Xenalyte
Clitus, the slack-jawed yokel:

Them's some shiny threads, indeed. Is what they is. My woman Brandine would done be mighty smitten wit dem fancy-like dressed fat, hairy varmints. Look prettier than a 'posum.

(Looks despairingly at soiled undershirt. Picks tooth.)

34 posted on 11/13/2004 10:12:58 AM PST by Do not dub me shapka broham ("They don't want some high brow hussy from NYC characterizing them as idiots..." (Zell Miller)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: tvn
"and know more about what's going on in the world."

The shock they recieved over Bush's re-election gives evidence to the fact that they don't really know that much about what is going on in the world.

35 posted on 11/13/2004 10:14:21 AM PST by MissAmericanPie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jack Black

"If we see you we're going to give you a good old fashioned mid-west ass kicking."

*APPLAUSE*


36 posted on 11/13/2004 10:18:32 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: raptor29
.

in the blue states do the red or blue counties pay the lions share of the states federal taxes? in the blue states do the red or blue counties receive the lions share of the states federal taxes?.

37 posted on 11/13/2004 10:21:21 AM PST by phxaz (w: the ppl who elected you want berger prosecuted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: tvn
"if militant Christianist Republicans from inland backwaters believe that secular liberal Democrats from the big coastal cities look upon them with disdain, there's a reason. We do, and all the more so after this election."

Rall, is an delusional asshole, but at least he's an honest delusional asshole.

38 posted on 11/13/2004 10:22:32 AM PST by Popman (Democrat Party Political Values are Condescension, Hypocrisy, Bigotry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Freepdonia

You can find the column (and appropriate commentary) here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1275889/posts


39 posted on 11/13/2004 10:28:19 AM PST by dufekin (Four more years! Liberals, learn: whiners are losers every time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Rall - "We...earn better salaries..." This statement alone is enough to disqualify Rall as a thinker. He thinks those in the cities "make more money" than reddies. So does that make him an idiot for paying $5.00 for a cup of coffee?

Even a redneck with a GED understands the need for "regional salary adjustment."

40 posted on 11/13/2004 10:29:35 AM PST by ez (Let the tolerant tolerate my intolerance!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Rall also knocked Sen. John Kerry, calling him "morally incongruous" for "running against a war he voted for while insisting that he would have voted for it again."

And yet he thinks WE'RE stupid.

Kerry embodies liberal amorality. He claims he's against abortion but never votes to stop it. He claims he supports our troops but never votes to give them weapons or better intelligence. He claims he's against the war but would vote to go back to war again.

And yet, to Blue State liberals, WE are the morons for voting for the guy with moral clarity and one firm position.

Maybe they should be the ones apologizing to us.

41 posted on 11/13/2004 10:31:07 AM PST by Tall_Texan (Let's REALLY Split The Country! (http://righteverytime3.blogspot.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn
Rall's tastes are debatable. The quality of his news sources is questionable. That he lacks grace and courtesy is obvious. None of this matters. As long as he is willing to observe the law and submit compliantly to government by those whom he detests, we may permit his delusions to remain undisturbed. He is merely another victim of fashionable PostModern Syndrome - existential PMS.

Besides, WE have Ann Coulter.

42 posted on 11/13/2004 10:32:29 AM PST by TheGeezer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn

"If you voted for Bush, we accept that we have to share the country with you."

Yes but there may well come a day when we decide we don't have to share it with you.


43 posted on 11/13/2004 10:33:09 AM PST by BigCinBigD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tvn

Am I the only one tired of hearing about the "blue states"? Its but a few deep blue large cities that make these states blue. We ought to push the idea of the blue counties and cities, not states.


44 posted on 11/13/2004 10:35:04 AM PST by meyer (Our greatest opponent is a candidate called Complacency.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gorush
Actually, the red states PRODUCE BETTER MUSIC. Ever tune in a country station, Mr. Rall? Trust me, it's a lot better than Britney Spears (misspelled? I don't care). You should try it with an open mind.

Oh, yeah, and the red states PRODUCE FOOD--for the entire country eight times over (or something like that). Had a good barbecue last night? Thank a red-state cattle rancher or pig farmer. Eating delicious cornbread? Thank a red-state corn grower. (And don't whine to me about that effete tofu slop that you eat in New England. It's grown in red states--or at least red counties. Southern food is MUCH tastier.)

Any more questions? Take a month of travel to the vast red states. We've got plenty of friendly, helpful (albeit uninteresting by your standards) people.
45 posted on 11/13/2004 10:36:53 AM PST by dufekin (Four more years! Liberals, learn: whiners are losers every time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Jack Black
But he aimed most of his fire at "idiotic" Bush supporters, citing the recent Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) survey which found that nearly 3 out of 4 Bush voters still believe Iraq had WMDs or an active WMD program...

I challenge Rall, or for that matter any Kerry supporter or "Bush lied--People died" peacenik to read the Key Findings of the Duelfer Report, and then try to argue that Saddam was not a threat. Duelfer makes it clear that, before W took his stand, Saddam was playing a waiting game and employing a "divide-and-conquer" strategy with the UN--and it was working. Support for sanctions was collapsing, and Saddam would have been sitting on go to start stockpiling WMD again. After 9/11 the "OJ jury" mentality is a risk we can't afford. The burden of proof is on the despots, not us. If Ted Rall and the rest of the world can't see that, they'll get over it.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/reports/iraq_wmd_2004/Comp_Report_Key_Findings.pdf

46 posted on 11/13/2004 10:38:46 AM PST by xlib
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Maceman
Let me tell you. Red-state women definitely dress better than bikini-clad blue-state women. Here in the red states, most females actually wear clothes.
47 posted on 11/13/2004 10:40:06 AM PST by dufekin (Four more years! Liberals, learn: whiners are losers every time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Tall_Texan

I guess we're stupid for not believing their propaganda.

ez


48 posted on 11/13/2004 10:40:59 AM PST by ez (Let the tolerant tolerate my intolerance!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: marvlus
Ted Rall is just as terrible, if not worse than Michael Moore!

They're the same, but Rall is more honest.

BTW, I could draw better than Rall when I was eight (and I'm a terrible artist).
49 posted on 11/13/2004 10:41:01 AM PST by Freepdonia (Victory is Ours! (I told you so :-))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: ez
Well, umm. Let's put it this way. Rall lives in Boston, where he makes $100,000/year, spending all of it locally. After deducting for the economic impact of unions, taxes, and the scarcity value of housing imposed by irrational regulation, he makes, say $20,000 per year.

Rall could move to Omaha and make $40,000 per year (were he socially acceptable, but we'll ignore this criterion for now) doing the exact same thing that he does now. But those burdensome regulations don't exist, unions are impotent to increase prices, and taxes are low. So he makes a post-tax salary of $25,000 per year.

Which is a "better salary?"
50 posted on 11/13/2004 10:44:53 AM PST by dufekin (Four more years! Liberals, learn: whiners are losers every time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-62 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson