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Calling Barnum and Bailey
When did our political discourse turn in to a three-ring circus? Maybe it happened a long time ago and I missed it. But today, the republicans are being even more insipid than usual.
First, there’s John McCain, playing the “they played the race card” card and putting up a new ad linking Obama to Moses (yes, that’s right, the Charlton Heston variety) in the hopes that it gives his beloved media something to talk about this weekend.
Then, there’s the NRCC telling their congressional candidates to go right ahead and criticize their own party and plan on skipping the convention.
Finally, there were the incumbent republican congressmen and congresswomen on the House floor, yammering on about offshore drilling after (AFTER) the lights and microphones were turned off and Congress had adjourned for the August recess.
A petard trifecta, if you ask me. But still, it pisses me off.
All the problems we face, and they’re channeling Shecky Greene. Maybe they should take their act to the Catskills circa 1956. They would kill.
Or maybe they should get their heads out of their asses, stop worrying so much about losing their grip on power, and actually try to forge some solutions with their democratic congressional colleagues. (Note to those colleagues: Stop looking so smug. Take your song and dance to a subway platform and you might earn enough for a gallon of gas.)
I know, I know. They’re too busy hurling insults across the aisle to have time to address issues important to those of us out here in their actual districts. But I’m just a Pollyanna at heart. I actually believe leaders ought to show some leadership. Instead, we get a freaking vaudeville revival.
Comments (10)
My dear Orlando, several images come to mind.
Keystone cops.
Lights are on and nobody's home.
The inmates have taken over the asylum.
Fact is, the ship's sinking and no one seems to care much anymore. There's no leadership. Everyone seems to be aware that McCain doesn't have much real chance of winning, so they're just sort of biding their time until November - going through the motions, spending the campaign money in silly ways, and it appears, not really making much of an effort at governing.
When's the last time you actually heard about Bush in the news? Has he gone on a long vacation?
August 1, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know. You're right and I should take a deep breath and maybe some blood pressure medication. But if they would have behaved like leaders in the first place, maybe they (and WE) wouldn't be in so much trouble now.
August 1, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time for the Republickans to dissolve their party and try again. Maybe they can rebrand to something snappy like the Reagan Party and dupe some more folks.
Seriously, they are looking so pathetic, but there's still enough bile and money there to make them a threat to civilization.
August 1, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
The GOP is in a sorry state of affairs of their own making. With several Congressional districts alredy shifted from red to blue this year, the Republicans are worried most about saving their sorry asses.
Good post, Orlando. You should post more often. Rec'd.
August 1, 2008 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree with Ripper.
Rec'd.
August 1, 2008 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Back in the day, when I was a Republican, I believed in small government, small spending, and empowerment to big businesses who would employ people.
When Republicans turned into BIG BROTHER goverment, BIG spending, and empowerment to big business who would rip off people, I left the Republican party.
It was my hope that they would feel the loss of me. But so far, they just ain't getting it....they just ain't feeling it.
But they still seem to think they have the majority on their side. They still seem to think that their words and deeds make sense to people.
They think that Dennis Kucinich is a laughable little gremlin with a kickass tall wife.
Unfortunately, the have the news media in their pocketses. The bastards.
Obama, meanwhile, is a "rock star". A smug, over-confident skinny bastard of a rock star.
As long as the Republicans still feel this way, I feel confident we can kick their asses in November.
My 2 cents.
Rec'd this post.
August 1, 2008 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks to McCain, the Presidential campaign has turned into just another reality show.
August 1, 2008 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
George Carlin would have gotten such a kick out of all of it. Unfortunately, most of us don't have his sense of humor.
August 2, 2008 1:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Orlando...great post and many thanks for your thoughts! As kid, i didn't like the circus
My perfect trifecta this week...
Slight turn in the MSM for challenging McFuddle which places him at his worst for explaining and being defensive! Andrea Michell and Joe Klien.He is..could have knocked me over with these two!
Obama threw the bait to McFuddle and he swallowed it big time. Major dollars spent on horrid ads intended to fire up the neocon base and he is so PROUD of them. His campaign is on the run out of desparation.
Exxon profits $11.6 billion and GM loses $15 billion. That my firiends is a great week for GOP policies.
This week boosted my confidence that we will have a President who has a funny name, doesn't look other Presidents and is too skinny. Thank god!
August 2, 2008 2:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not just circus, Bread and Circus.
We ARE Rome.
August 2, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
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