Happy Thoughts
The Republican National Convention worried me, like it did lots of my friends. There was a ton of nasty, mean-spirited attacking of basic civic impulses, a lot of chanting "Drill, Baby Drill", and a basic resurgence of what I think of as the Republican Hate Machine.
I really do wish it would go away.
I get particularly creeped out by this in part because of the spooky zombie-ness of the conventioneers (although I have admit that the "Yes We Can" chants might look the same way from another perspective), by the casual intolerance, mindless flag waving, and fundamental hatred of government on display. And I find that what always really worries me is that Democrats tend to be too polite to respond with the kind of indignance they ought to feel when the Governor of the Earmark Capital of America goes on a tear against waste, or when McCain (whose income derives from being married to old money) and his cronies call Democrats and the media "elite". Republicans, we were told, are people from small towns who always love America, even if they do happen to hate most of the people living in it. Ugh.
And to Rudy Giuliani, a special "ugh" for your surprisingly naked fascism.
Anyway, it was nice to find these responses on the web this morning. It's always nice when your candidates say it as plainly as it needs to be said:
Biden: "McCain's campaign manager says this campaign isn't about issues. What else do you say when you can't explain the last eight years of failure?"
Obama: "They must think you're stupid."
Well said, guys.
I really do wish it would go away.
I get particularly creeped out by this in part because of the spooky zombie-ness of the conventioneers (although I have admit that the "Yes We Can" chants might look the same way from another perspective), by the casual intolerance, mindless flag waving, and fundamental hatred of government on display. And I find that what always really worries me is that Democrats tend to be too polite to respond with the kind of indignance they ought to feel when the Governor of the Earmark Capital of America goes on a tear against waste, or when McCain (whose income derives from being married to old money) and his cronies call Democrats and the media "elite". Republicans, we were told, are people from small towns who always love America, even if they do happen to hate most of the people living in it. Ugh.
And to Rudy Giuliani, a special "ugh" for your surprisingly naked fascism.
Anyway, it was nice to find these responses on the web this morning. It's always nice when your candidates say it as plainly as it needs to be said:
Biden: "McCain's campaign manager says this campaign isn't about issues. What else do you say when you can't explain the last eight years of failure?"
Obama: "They must think you're stupid."
Well said, guys.