Comments Posted By michael reynolds
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OBAMA OUTFLANKS GOP WITH SOTOMAYOR PICK
Republicans will have to go into full frontal crazy mode. And of course they'll need to slow-walk it so that direct mailers can reap the full benefits. This is about raising money, after all. Many right-wing think-tank staff positions hang in the balance.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 26.05.2009 @ 11:17
SMALL TOWN HEROES FROM THE HEARTLAND
Jambrowski:
Urbandale, Iowa; Johnson City, Tennessee; Niceville, Florida; Ocean City, Maryland; Crockett, California.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 26.05.2009 @ 23:16
I did follow the link. I read it all, and I read that cover paragraph. After which you went on at great length contrasting supposed small town values favorably with big city elitism.
I realize this is the GOP meme-of-the-week, elitism vs. grassroots. But it's dumb at so many levels, starting with the fact that you guys really don't need to work too hard to alienate the last few city folks who might vote GOP: I think your work is done there. And at the same time I'm not sure why it's a great idea to solidify a fading demo you already own.
Also, are you saying that small town folk’s critique of big cities has the same impact nationwide as those offered by elites?
Yes, it has a very definite effect, by portraying small town people as both victims and saints. Whether that's as large as the effect of the other point of view, I don't know. My sense is that most urban people are indifferent to small towns. They make snide remarks but frankly don't give a damn on a daily basis. Whereas small town folks make a cardinal virtue of not being city folk.
Both the urbanites' snide remarks and the effort of elitists like you to sanctify the small town folks have an effect: on the small towns. The overreaction to urbanites is as condescending as the urbanites themselves. It's the soft bigotry of condescension.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 25.05.2009 @ 11:01
As a counterpoint: September 11, 2001, New York City.
Big city values: heroism, cooperation, sacrifice. Big city firemen walking into big collapsing buildings. Big city EMT's and big city cops. Big city citizens rushing toward the smoke not away. Big city workers digging through the still-hot debris pulling out charred body parts.
And big city courage since then that has kept our biggest city calm and cool and civil.
Flight 93? It was on it's way from Newark to San Francisco.
Why is it acceptable for small town folks -- folks who live in towns Al Qaeda never heard of -- to denigrate the city, but it's a crime when the city sneers at the small town?
I'm pretty sure there are some dead New Yorkers and Chicagoans and Angelenos planted in Arlington cemetery. In fact, here's a few of the many:
Gregory A. Wright: Boston.
Julian S. Melo: Brooklyn
Hai Ming Hsia: New York City
Alberto Abad: Los Angeles
Keith J. More: San Francisco
Torry D. Harris: Chicago1. If you bothered to follow the link and read what I wrote, you would see that I say that American values are the same everywhere - big city or small town - and that today we honor all who fell.
But that would have been too easy. So you simply take from the excerpt my complaint about "elites" and extrapolate the rest of the piece from your imagination.
2. Does it take a national tragedy for those "big city values" to come out? My point was that small town citizens live those values every day - they are as much a part of them as the shirt on their back.
If New York had the same spirit of community every day that they did on 9/11, the place would be a paradise.
Also, are you saying that small town folk's critique of big cities has the same impact nationwide as those offered by elites?
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
ed.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 25.05.2009 @ 10:23
CAN GINGRICH RIDE AN ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT WAVE TO THE OVAL OFFICE?
Mike:
This started as a discussion of elites in the GOP didn't it? As opposed to the grassroots in the party? Or did I miss something?
Manning asks a good question: what exactly --other than some dinosaurs in the MSM -- the elites?
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 23.05.2009 @ 21:12
Mike:
It's about image. "Anti-elitist" and "Southern" adds up to the hillbillies from Deliverance. I don't make the rules.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 22.05.2009 @ 22:54
Mike:
It depends on where you start the graph. In recent years Dems have not lost nearly what the GOP has. But yes, independents rule.
Good. My interest is not in party loyalty but solving problems.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 22.05.2009 @ 22:13
I love the elitists vs. grassroots meme. Why not just call it "smart vs. stupid?" Or "successful vs. loser?" On top of it being the Party of the South? Brilliant!
This is totally the path to success for you guys. You should absolutely push the last few winners out of your party and toward independents.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 22.05.2009 @ 16:45
C3:
I come here because Rick is an interesting writer. And because the reactions he elicits give me a pretty good picture of the state of the GOP. Rightwing Nuthouse is a sort of canary in the mine.
As for "twat" it's the equivalent of calling someone a "dick." I don't find either word offensive. Contrary to what your parents or teachers may have taught you, so-called curse words are very useful and legitimate parts of the English language. Why some people find references to various body parts offensive has always been a mystery to me.
Mr. Gingrich is a public figure, if he doesn't want to be on the receiving end of some mildly crude language he should probably find another line of work.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 22.05.2009 @ 16:03
Gingrich is a twat. (So is Harry Reid, just to provide some partisan balance.) Gingrich rambles on about nano-technology then launches off into some idiot partisan diatribe demanding Pelosi quit as Speaker, totally oblivious to his own personal history in that job.
He is perhaps the single most unlikable politician in the country. Fingernails on chalkboard. He makes the flesh creep. He's that awful. A shrill, bloated gasbag pumped full of self-importance and spewing hypocrisy.
So I do hope you guys run him 2012. If so I vow to contribute $100 to a charity of your choice for every electoral vote he gets outside of the old Confederacy, Utah and Alaska.
Comment Posted By michael reynolds On 22.05.2009 @ 10:07
