c.Figallo

Posts Tagged ‘Rovian’

The Republicans have become experts at lying. Bush has lied to the public for 8 years. He was elected to two terms. His approval ratings are in the ditch, but that doesn’t seem to be affecting McCain’s prospects as he claims to be running against the Republican old guard while also feeding whatever it is that middle and lower class Republican voters find beneficial to them about the patriotic, fear-of-strangers, love of guns, condemnation of abortion mentality of the right wing.

I don’t think the lies are so much the problem as it is this mentality – this fear-driven attitude – that Repub strategists have become so adept at evoking.

As a non-self-destructive liberal, I’m set on voting for Obama-Biden in November. I’m willing to settle for the compromises they’re presenting for whatever political reasons rather than continue to allow Republicans to trash this country and – to the shrinking extent that America influences what other nations do – the planet.

Whatever decency and honor John McCain may have held in my regard – and I’ll admit, that’s mostly due to John Stewart’s ability to touch McCain’s jive-ass ex-Navy personality – I have nothing but contempt for the bastard since the absurd choice of a charm school rookie as his running mate.

Given the global warming situation, the very fate of the planet is put at risk by the prospect of Sarah Palin inheriting the White House. Even had he chosen a qualified VP partner, the Repubs stand to continue to drive this country toward disaster on all fronts – economy, energy, education, diplomacy and perhaps most importantly for the unity of this nation, the survival of a strong and attainable middle class.

But I have to hand it to the Rovians behind the Republican strategy: they started with a poor hand and, through an audacious, off-the-wall bet, they’ve gained the advantage in this race. Of course, they’ve had to outright lie through their teeth in full view of the public to do it. And the Democratic strategy team has had to adjust. Now they are responding promptly, calling the Repubs on their lies, with even the mainstream media supporting them. But I doubt that it’s enough.

Countering lies with the truth won’t be sufficient to derail the wave of enthusiasm that’s risen up around media queen Sarah Palin. Maybe the debates will expose her or show her to be incompetent, but George Bush looked absolutely lame and overmatched in the first two debates with Kerry, yet he still won the election. I’m beginning to believe that, like a genius chess player, the Rovians have found a way to bring a big chunk of undecideds to their side, while the Dems are forced into defensive mode rather than spend their energy and media time winning over their own chunk.

There’s still time for a counter surge, but I have to wonder why the Dems don’t have their own version of Karl Rove among all those braniac, Ivy League poli-sci laureates. I mean, c’mon!