What Next?

It is as outrageous now as it's been throughout the Bush years. It is a contemptible tactic that takes from the voters a very precious right, the right to know for whom we are voting and for what they stand.
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It must be noted that we media share a lot of the blame. We were pathetically pliant, willing to be timid so as not to offend the White House and be denied the crumbs of access that were granted to those of us who didn't make waves. When are we going to learn?
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How about now? The next time a candidate tries to obscure something important, we must raise such a disorderly ruckus that the political manipulators back down. If the campaign people don't like it, too damned bad.
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We are not here to suck up to those in power. We're reminded again that when we do, there are always many in power who are sleazy enough to do whatever it takes to keep their power., even as they secretly and deviously pursue disastrous policies.
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It's another form of suppression. Just a little less heavy-handed than the kind we find in obvious dictatorships. Because it's not as blatant it's more insidious. Whether it's armed forced or the outright lying we've gotten here, they both steal freedom from all of us.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-franken/hiding-the-embarrassment_b_103904.html

I still say they should have Huckabee vs Romney in a cage/ladder match. They can sell it PPV to pay for the next election cycle.

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AMC: A lot talk lately about what happens to the GOP post-election..
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I'm thinking Lord of the Flies, part two. I'd put in a link to an LA Times article that discusses the impending smackdown between social, moderate, and paleo-conservatives, but any linky throws a comment into moderation, which creates more work for you.

Romney, Huckabee, Jindal, Pawlenty, Palin... They've driven out or beaten down all the moderates, even "moderates" like McCain. Having Palin in there pretty much guarantees is will be nasty.

harshing on him
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Oh dear, when republican talk "cool" it is like fingernails on a chalk board.
It will be Bobby Jindahl's party with Willard Romney having the support of K-Load at The Corner.

It's the Huckenfreude phenomenon from several months ago writ large...

Popcorn ready!

The real leaders will be Limbaugh, Hannity & Satan. Same as now.

I want them to bring back Steve Forbes and the flat tax. Hope! Growth! Opportunity!

Sarah Palin is clearly the future of the Republican Party.

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Oh well, here goes nothing with the LA Times link...
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As for me, I'd be kinda happy to see the GOP marginalize themselves out of politics. Serves them right for putting party ahead of country.

The Republican party for quite some time has been an unholy alliance between intelligent but utterly self-interested business interests and enthusiastic but utterly incurious social conservatives. Even today, McCain is trying to throw words around like redistributionist and socialist, and the folks I charitably refer to as incurious lap it up, utterly failing to notice that the potion they're drinking is poisonous to their own interests.

For several months, I always thought that the Bloomberg third party notion was completely off the rails, but if socially tolerant fiscal Conservatives are being drummed out of their own party, it's hard to say where they'll end up.

You stay seated, I'll get the popcorn.....

Jeb.

I can see how picking someone who is rather obscure right now to be the future party leader makes sense.
In early July of 2004 no one ever heard of Barack Obama outside of my state of Illinois.
Now look at who is the leader and head of the democratic party.
So, yes, it's plausible. And maybe that is what the republican party needs. New blood and new ideas and to modernize.

"…no matter who wins?" I mean, WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot?!?!?
Say they put mescaline in all the water supplies and everyone votes for McCain as a goof. The Party Leaders will conclude they can do anything and run anyone, using the Rove Slime Manual forever and ever. The only competition will be Republican hopefuls warring for the favor of the reigning oligarchs. Public education will be dumbed down even more, at least as necessary to preserve the primacy of the LIV. Even if the vestigial remains of the news media take Poehler's advice and Grow A Pair, the corporate honchos will assure nothing of consequence ever sees the light of day.
In short, we'll be even more farked than we are now. It won't matter who they pick for the next frontman – or frontmoose.

In shorter, the Death of Hope.

At least 80% of the party are Palinists. They will be wondering in the wilderness for 10 years before they decide they need to change.

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vwcat; In early July of 2004 no one ever heard of Barack Obama outside of my state of Illinois...Now look at who is the leader and head of the democratic party.
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The problem with that is Sarah Palin; she's no Barack Obama.

Paul Dirks, it is a possibility that the ones being run out of their own party by the religious, extremist, incurious, anti-education, anti-intellectual wing that they could very well end up teaming up with Bloomberg and forming a new party.
Let the old republican party of the intolerant and hateful just die away from lack of any support from the outside.
And with the democrats newly energized by their dynamic leader, Obama, the ousted republicans could form a credible opposition party.
Wouldn't it be great to leave the vulgar extremists to hang with that dying party. The ousted in the newly formed party then could have a grown up and civilized discourse of the issues with the democrats and let the people chose between the two adult parties.

g_crush: I agree. Palin is far from an Obama. Palin is anti intellectual, polarizing and vulgar and loves to roll in the mud.
obama has brough civility back, is briliant, energizing and dynamic.
A leader that comes along once in a generation or so.

Oh, Ana… I can haz unmoderation?

As I think about it, it could be one of those, "Oh no, I wouldn't stand in your way" situation. If you think 2010 looks good for them, you need to visit a medical professional.

Am I the only one who doesn't think Palin will even win re-election in 2010? Hard to run for President if you don't hold a significant office.

Pfotenweasel's on MSNBC right now, expounding on unreality and wearing what looks like a leopard-print anticipatory noose.

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Fun times! (h/t to Benen over at The WaMo:

ABC's George Stephanopoulos, on a “demoralized” McCain campaign: “Palin is going to be the most vivid chapter of the McCain campaign's post-mortem. … Those loyal to McCain believe they have been unfairly blamed for over-handling Palin. They say they did the best they could with what they got.”

***In convo with Playbook, a top McCain adviser one-ups the priceless “diva” description, calling her “a whack job.”

One wonders again: How did John McCain settle on Palin as a running mate?

Nancy Pfotenhauer haunts my dreams. I have this one where I think I've voted for Obama, but I look down and on my suit lapel there is an "I Pfoted!" sticker.

Okay, here's the forecast. Romney will be the next Republican nominee. He will run as the grown-up in the party and he will conduct a campaign in 2012 that will be eerily similar to Obama's current one.
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Palin will remain the darling of the white Christian wingnut tendency, which is a large constituency, but is diminishing in importance as the minorities grow in size and political engagement. Effectively, she will become the MILF Huckabee. She will suffer a similar political fate, always the redneck bridesmaid to the centrist bride. She will only ever be courted to cheerlead her base in the service of the nominee.
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I make these observations of frightening prescience and perspicacity safe in the knowledge that no one's going to look back and check on them 4 years from now.