In Missouri No Compromise

vanity | 24 August 2012 | Nathan Bedford

[pistolpackinpapa]

Akin has tamed them once again. Akin has provided young people with some important lessons in leadership.
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OMG! That would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic. Now, Tau Food, please......lay.....down.....the....crack....pipe.

[jpsb]

It did not hear a "gaffe" at all. I hear a man clumsily present the pro-life position on abortion in the case of rape. The GOP is still pro-life correct?

The attacks on Akins' are thinly veiled attacks on pro-life people. It obvious the GOP under Romney wants to move to a more pro-choice position. And is make an example of Akin.

[pistolpackinpapa]

My Post #19 addresses your questions and concerns; check it out.

[pistolpackinpapa]

Rasmussen - In Missouri Obama 47 Romney 46.

THANK YOU TODD AKIN!

[nathanbedford]

With respect I think you are conflating the obligations of Todd Akin as a empty headed but innocent gaffer with the obligations of Todd Akin as the victim of an unmitigated bombardment of friendly fire from the Republican establishment.

When Akin made the gaffe, it was not so egregious as to require withdrawing from the race absence the piling on by the Republican establishment. At least that is the position taken by Akin's defenders. They have a point.

The counterpoint, of course, is that it was Akin who put the Republican Party in an untenable position by his own negligence (which is to be distinguished from malevolence) and therefore it is quite proper to demand that he withdraw. The Republican Party is not obligated to assume the risks of his negligence.

My point is that the reaction of the Republican establishment was certainly not thought through, it was reactive rather than considered. The issue of the egregiousness of the gaffe is not so clear until one is buffeted by the establishment's reaction. The gaffe was not weighed against the intimidation factor which will repeat time and time again.

How many gaffes will Romney make between now and the election? Will we defend him? Of course!

I am asking not for judgments about Todd Akin's moral character in refusing to exceed to the establishment demands, but for a workable moral principle upon which the Republican Party should rely on occasions like this.

I see no groping towards such an ideal and this is not merely a theoretical consideration. We are bombarded by the media in every election cycle on trumped up gaffes and the Republican Party should have its position formulated in advance.

[corkoman]

Lieutenant General Bedford,

first a thank you for making the effort to describe the habit and consequences of republicans that form a circular firing squad to dismiss one of their ranks that misspeak.

I agree that should the goon squad have at least held their fire as there is indeed the possibility that Akins could have endured this mess and won this senate race.

Not to excuse or justify this habit, but you employ a premise that is tenuous and I will describe: you argue that the proper response to a gaffe such as this is with explanation and sound reasoning. Unfortunately, most, at least a majority of women voters are not rational. They prefer the handsome, slick talkin', soaring oratory, State Provider kind of candidate. As Mediscare is an effective tool on the elderly so is Womens Whatever is to most women. Republicans are held to a higher set of standards than Gimmidats who enjoy a fawning press. My point here is that Akins should have had memorized pat responses to these utterly predictable questions but yet it seems to me he was Winging It and failed. This is perhaps the reason he is being treated in such a manner. It is his judgement that is at issue not his principles.

Republicans must run against the Santa Claus party and this requires discipline and focus. Akins demonstrated neither in this unfortunate moment. Ultimately the circular firing squad made things worse and this is a subject that should be part of a more disciplined party future.

[stop_fascism]

So, you agree that a woman’s body automatically shuts down in the case of rape?

[stop_fascism]

Pundits don’t have that much power. All they did was recognize that Akin had committed political suicide.

[nathanbedford]

I think we are largely in accord, please see my post number 11.

[jpsb]

Akins’ was trying to differentiate between "she says rape" and violent sexual intercourse without consent. The use of the word legitimate was perfectly correct, abate foolish.

The man is 65 and the term rape has been hijacked by feminists. These days just about everything is "rape". But back in the day rape was a man violently forcing himself upon a woman without her consent. That was what Akins' was talking about and everyone knows that.

I am surprised Sarah is piling on to, she of all people should know better.

[nathanbedford]

I take it you do not believe in the power of media bias running in favor of the Democrats?

[mrsmith]

The point, or a point, of the post is that Akin would be in better shape if the Republican criticism had been wiser.

Akin looks now like he’ll lose by about 5%, it’s arguable that without the Republican firestorm against him personally (not just his retracted remarks) his chances would be about even instead.

With Akin’s quick retraction they could easily condemn the remarks without attacking him.
Which would have been the practical thing to do.
It’s what Dems would do in any case and what Republicans would do on other issues.
Republicans reacted extremely instead of intelligently because this is a social issue or ‘women’s issue’.

[jpsb]

I would imagine in some cases yes. However that is not what Akins’ said. He said doctors have told him that pregnancy from rape was rare, since a woman kinda shuts down as a natural defense. Do you doubt that some doctors believe that? And might have even told Akins’ that? It might even be true.

[iopscusa]

Excellent commentary NB! You have put my thoughts about the Rotten Republican attack on Akin into words. This is a Political Party that is not honorable in any way and with Romney and Co. installed it will only get worse.

[Dr. Sivana]

Well worded. I think the state’s rules about timing for a withdrawal forced some of the overdrive. What those who went so hard, so loud, so fast didn’t anticipate is that Akin would not squish. Whatever anyone thinks his motivation is, he has won the primary and they will have to deal with it the way we have to decide how to deal with Romney representing the would-be conservative party.

I think Akin should have withdrawn, but he’s not. Those who wanted him to withdraw should ahve approached him differently. Too late now.

Let’s make the best of it. There are heads that should be on pikes. His is not one of them.

[Lazamataz]

Glad you contributed to the Freeper Editorial section, Nathan!

That said, the heat has already been applied, and the situation is as it is. Akin must look realistically at the lay of the land -- fair or not -- and promptly withdraw.

Such a move would show he is not self-centered and self-seeking, and would inure to his benefit in the long run.

[Prov3456]

IMO = the "friendly fire" did it.

Republicans have a knack for circular firing squads. Then we wonder why Dems win. It's time to look in the mirror and shut up, IMO.

I am furious over the whole mess!

[iopscusa]

Also this Akin blowup has made it clear to me that Conservatives need better ‘Talkers’, some that will be herded by group thinking and MSM tropes like Rush, Coulter, Hannity, the FOX droids and most other faux Con Talkers/Thinkers have been. These folks are hopelessly out of touch with the grass root issues and mostly just running cover for Retched Republicans, Boehner, Romney, Bush, etc. We can and must do better.

[mrsmith]

The person running for his old seat gives a perfct example of intelligent criticism of his remarks:
“Todd Akin’s comments about rape were wrong and indefensible. Todd has apologized and understands he was wrong in what he said.”

[so_real]

The personal fate of Todd Akin is not very relevant in itself except as a reflects on the Republican Party and its effect in intimidating potential candidates away from running for office and away from speaking out on social issues.

Agreed. It is by no coincidence that Akin's grass roots fundraising campaign these last couple days (as he's been cut off financially by the GOP) has been labeled the "Help Todd Fight Against the Party Bosses" campaign. I do hope the Republican Party comes back around and quits trying to make war with its conservative base. But my hopes seem not yet to be painted in reality.