Posted on 09/09/2008 2:41:33 PM PDT by Red Steel
“What is wrong with these people?” was the nigh-upon-universal reaction among conservatives at the GOP convention last week. Liberal reporters inquired of conservative journalists, Republican delegates, right-leaning janitors, free-market short-order cooks, even the guys walking around in elephant suits: Will Sarah Palin drop out? What about the Eagleton Option?
For those who don’t know, the Eagleton Option refers to Thomas Eagleton, George McGovern’s first VP pick in 1972, who was forced to withdraw because of allegations of mental illness.
A hybrid of myth and deceit peddled by the chattering bandersnatches of the Democratic Party’s backup offices at MSNBC and other press-release transmission belts of the Obama campaign, the whole pseudo-story was surely the brightest flare in the bonfire of asininity in St. Paul.
Of course, it was hardly the only journalistic will-o’-the-wisp unleashed from the media bog. The claim that Palin was a Buchananite - and hence an acolyte of a “Nazi sympathizer” according to Florida Rep. Robert Wexler - was not true. The claims she cut funding for pregnant teens, that she was a member of the more-goofy-than-scary Alaska Independence Party, that Trig Palin - her special-needs baby - was really her daughter’s: these were all bogus.
But it was the Eagleton canard that spoke volumes. First, just as a matter of reportorial fact, as opposed to Keith Olbermann clicking his slippers and wishing it were so, the idea that the GOP’s rank and file wanted her gone before her speech was distilled nonsense. Now, it’s plain hilarious.
In the wake of Palin’s performance Wednesday, there’s vastly more support among conservatives for flipping the McCain-Palin ticket to the Palin-McCain ticket. Put the lipsticked pit bull at the lead of the Alaskanized GOP sled!
One barometer of conservative support: Rush Limbaugh now calls the Arizona senator “John McGenius.”
For good or ill, going forward, Palin is easily the most popular Republican in the country, at least among people inclined to vote for the GOP. The instant decision of Beltway blowhards to push the Palin-as-liability fable says a lot about how little they understand much of the American electorate.
One partial explanation for the feeding frenzy is the bowel-stewing fear among an Obamaphilic press corps that Palin might actually help McCain win.
But another part of the answer is that the press was simply surprised. Cockroaches scatter when shocked by a flipped light switch. Grizzly bears attack when startled. And when caught napping by big news, the press corps floods the zone. And all of a sudden, the norms and standards become a blur in the race to be first. In the case of Palin, the press vaulted over every principle and standard they’d established about what is and isn’t fair game, like O.J. Simpson leaping over luggage in the old Hertz commercials. It required the Jaws of Life to pry news of John Edwards’ affair out of the mainstream press. But when it came to the personal drama of Palin’s 17-year old daughter, the press clawed for morsels like they were golden tickets from Wonka Bars.
The Eagleton Option exposed the press’ gut instincts, and the viscera are not pretty. Eagleton dropped out because it was leaked that he’d received shock therapy for ill-defined mental problems. Many of those who expected Palin to withdraw see her values and her choices as proof of a mental problem. “She’s more a conservative man than she is a woman on women’s issues,” quoth a spokeswoman from the predictably shrill National Organization for Women, which defines womanhood by a woman’s commitment to left-wing feminist dogma. If you’re pro-life, or even just a Republican, you’re suffering from gender confusion.
How long before the Palin-haters insist she needs shock therapy, too? For her own good, of course.
I just love Obama sparing with Sarah, Isn’t he the presidential contender?
Heck, I’m starting a Biden dropout office pool. Odds aren’t that great right now, but after the VP debates.....heh! Since my office consists of engineers, Obama is universally considered to be the dumb loon that he is...ain’t no stinkin’ dumbo Obambi lovers here.
I call them NOMW. National Organization for Marxist Women.
If Palin has them this scared, what chance do they have with Putin?
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I want to see a cartoon with John McCain alone at the Presidential debate and Palin, Biden and Obama at the VP debate.
COW = Communist Organization of Women
Just don’t force it, and you’ll find ... that they write themselves.
=)
Wait a minute. When did they ever act rationally?
That one cracked me up. First they fabricate stories about her and create some faux controversy. Then they come out and push for her to resign because of "all the controversy". Transparent as window glass. This and other panicky tactics fool no one and only cause more peole to switch or get off the fence on to the Pubbies' side.
We normally have a friendly give and take on our candidates.
Never mean spirited or ugly.
Today, when he came in, he basically was foaming at the mouth, telling me the most disgusting sick, sexual jokes about Sarah Palin
It was shocking how ugly a person he had become. You could smell the absolute fear and loathing
I told him: You know you side has lost when the POTUS nominee is attacking the opposite VP candidate. It's normally the other way around.
Yes! And have Sarah saying something about the American people deserving better than this while they are both yelling their lib talking points at her... I like it!
The Democrats are SO going to get their butts kicked in November...
Here is a really out of touch person. The only norms and standards the media has been following in the last several years is one of attack the Rs, support the Ds. As far as principles and standards- nope they threw those out during the Vietnam War and seldom showed any since. Fair game? Well only if a game can be fair if you always cheat for one side over the other.
Watching CNN recently reminds me of the time I spent in a psychiatric hospital in nursing school. Denial, rationalization, outbursts of anger, vile name calling. Just waiting for them to start throwing things.
They're getting their butts kicked NOW and by a cute chick from Alaska and they know it. Heck, we may even pick up some House and Senate seats if Palin has a good down-ballot effect.
Rumor has it;;;0’bama will consult with Heidi Fleiss and Larry Flynt on a replacement for Biden on his ticket t0 n0where. sarsm
Go to retardedbaby.com for the real Palin haters.
Really? I call them ALFs, American Liberal Females -- humorless ugly looking space aliens.
Spot-on analysis and imagery, IMHO!
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