Posted on 10/11/2009 8:06:41 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
This morning, in an interview with CNN's State of the Union, Sen. John McCain (RINO-Ariz.) apparently used some rather choice language to describe the fairly evident future political aspirations of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Ak.):
"Will Sarah and I - did we always agree on everything in the past? Will we in the future? No. But let's let a thousand flowers bloom. Let's come up with a winning combination next time."
—http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2360310/posts
With only a cursory glance, it appears from McCain's language that he is merely asking for a second chance -- in 2012? -- with Palin. [And, at first blush, it is easy to dismiss his words as the ravings of a senile old man.] However, as FReeper rae4palin pointed out, the phrase
“Let a thousand flowers bloom” was said by Mao to encourage dissidents to self-identify. Mao then killed them.
—http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2360310/posts?page=26#26
[Or, more precisely, as other FReepers noted, the phrase "let a thousand flowers of bloom" is a variant of a Maoist phrase "let a hundred flowers bloom." In all cases, however, the distinction between the two phrases--Maoist and McCainian--or in other words, the word "hundred" vs. the word "thousand," are irrelevant to the phrase's meaning.]
In fact, this observation was also picked up and expounded upon by other FReepers, including piytar and cripplecreek. The origin of the phrase "let a hundred flowers bloom" (i.e., the actual phrase upon which McCain's particular words were based) is...Chinese Communist Mao Zedong! As FReeper cripplecreek noted,
Let a thousand flowers bloom is a common misquotation of Chairman Mao Zedong’s “Let a hundred flowers blossom”. This slogan was used during the period of approximately six weeks in the summer of 1957 when the Chinese intelligentsia were invited to criticize the political system then obtaining in Communist China.
The full quotation, taken from a speech of Mao’s in Peking in February 1957, is:
“Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the policy for promoting progress in the arts and the sciences and a flourishing socialist culture in our land.”
It is sometimes suggested that the initiative was a deliberate attempt to flush out dissidents by encouraging them to show themselves as critical of the regime. Whether or not it was a deliberate trap isn’t clear but it is the case that many of those who put forward views that were unwelcome to Mao were executed.
The biggest question here is why McCain specifically elected to use a Maoist phrase in connection with Palin's fairly obvious future political aspirations. Certainly, it goes without saying that his choice of words is especially disturbing, given his time in captivity in North Vietnam. [Could it be that the late conservative activist Ted Sampley, who presciently labeled McCain as a "Manchurian candidate" nearly seventeen years ago, was right all along?] Furthermore, upon closer examination of McCain's language, especially in the context of his past actions as a noted RINO and member of the Beltway establishment, it becomes alarmingly obvious that his words constitute nothing less than a veiled threat against Palin, or i.e., the Republican establishment considers her a direct threat to the continuance of their power and will most certaintly attempt to derail her future aspirations, much as Mao encouraged Chinese intelligentsia to speak freely nearly fifty-seven years ago...before executing the ones he disagreed with.
Don’t forget the Jews and ZOG. They’re the ones behind it ALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know ZIG. I know ZAG. What’s ZOG?
Sarah is already on board with transitioning the GOP into a party of the future not one of the past.
They will try to steer things in their favor, don’t doubt thst for a minute!
Shills for RINOs...check.
Calls established Freepers "extremists"...check.
Newbie...check.
How's life under the bridge, RINO lover?
More backstabbing from the usual suspects. Do you have a page full of dirt on Obama? Oh of course not, he’s your Messiah.
Zionist Occupied Government. That’s a phrase I see splashed around a lot by the Paulestinian/Constitution Party/ Stormfront crowd to which so many of the anti-Republican McCain bashers belong.
Yep, McCain likes stabbing conservatives in their backs. It's his modus operandi.
You, on the other hand, are a RINO troll.
Am I saying too much?
I haven't been on this site much longer than you, but you would do well to at least get your feet wet before you start accusing established Freepers of things that you know nothing about.
You should know what it’s like to live under a bridge. Haven’t you and Chuckles been living under that bridge out in the wilderness ever since you abandoned the GOP? Make room because Ron Paul will be moving in soon enough.
Ever since *I* abandoned the GOP?
Now I know you're a troll.
I *never* abandoned the GOP. It abandoned me when its leadership reneged on its promises, values, and principles.
No, you’re fine. Just don’t mention the incoming invasion force by our Overlords from Altair 4.
John continues to disgust me each and every day. If we do northing more than get rid of McCain in 2010, it will be a great year for the nation.
Why would you begrudge and insult anyone who helps expose the antics of John McCain, the man who, more than any other, gift wrapped and handed the 2008 election to Barack Obama?
Anything that helps identify the type of behavior exhibited by people like McCain or Mitt Romney is welcome as far as I am concerned.
I don't want a repeat of 2008 in 2012, and I don't care how many mush-mouthed career politicians have to be kicked out of the running for that to happen.
We can't fight against systemic rot if we don't recognize it. Rabscuttle recognizes the rot and shares what he (she? sorry, I don't know) discovers.
McCain used a Maoist phrase. Origins of "Let a thousand flowers bloom" (^). Why isn't that news?
I don’t know what Snake/Maverick McCain’s intentions are towards Sarah Palin. I don’t even care. All I do know is....if he goes against Sarah in ANY way, he will pay dearly....and justly.
I have often wondered if that imprisonment he endured hadn’t radically altered his brain functions....not to mention his allegiances. I have officially stopped wondering.
Plant? Maybe. More likely not.
But when he starts to quote even more from the Little Red Book, I will begin to wonder.
Actually, if he WERE an M.C., one would expect him to be quoting President Ho, not Chairman Mao.
What’s wrong with tight inspection of anything, any politician says?
I wish every American, to even excess, bared down on anything said by any politician.
Giving the benefit of a doubt, I'll go with Freudian slip, and a dash of old-age senility.
Perhaps Hayworth can retire him in 2010 and he can sit back and write his memoirs. He has a great retirement plan, the best health care plan in the country, and a lovely wife to change his Depends. And he has a loud-mouth, retarded daughter who will continue to bring him more disgrace than he probably deserves.
Sometimes it appears the only reason these senior Senators keep hanging around is that they have sold their soul to the devil, and they are holding out on repayment for as long as possible.
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