Wednesday, November 4, 2009

I’ve been a bad, bad blogging girl

GOP Blowback My apologies to my blogging friends...I have been a terrible reader and commenter as of late, and I can only chalk it up to the time of year. I'll get back to my rounds soon, I promise. I always struggle a little around this time, as we say goodbye to summer and a reluctant hello to winter. Actually, "hello" is not exactly what I want to say to winter, but I'll skip it...this time. I even missed making an entry yesterday, but the one I wanted to make required a little more thought than I was ready to devote to it, plus I wanted to see the outcome of yesterday's elections. Yeah, it's a political one...shocking, I know. I've got my usual Ken-is-on-a-business trip (a couple of days in Chicago) dinner of Eggplant Parmigiana put together, and can pop it in the oven when I'm ready. I put on the Ting Tings while I puttered in the kitchen ("That's not my name! That's not my name!"), and had fun dancing around and singing. Eggplant is a kind critic. Sheeba is not. He looked at me with wide eyes and started tearing around the house, but that's pretty typical for him, so maybe it wasn't me. :)

So, to the meat of this entry (although I'm going vegetarian tonight). Like many political junkies followers, I was interested to see what would happen with some of these races going on around the country. Many were calling it a referendum on President Obama's Presidency, but I think that's probably a bit of an exaggeration. Basing the success or failure of a Presidency on an off-year election seems a little silly to me. I don't know what the long-term impact of this will have...I suspect very little.

What was more interesting to me was the NY-23 race in which Sarah Palin endorsed the Conservative Party candidate, causing others to jump on the bandwagon and also endorse him. I found that interesting, because from everything I read, Doug Hoffman had little knowledge of or interest in that district. It seemed to me to be a typical kneejerk reaction to buzzwords, without bothering to do a little digging. Again, shocking! Palin's endorsement was apparently and inexplicably influential, causing the moderate Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, to drop out of the race. Limbocontin and others were quick to join in condemning the moderate Republican (Scozzafava didn't toe the party line with social issues), and that bloated gasbag went so far as to make a joke about her "bestiality" in dealing with RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). I thought that was pretty offensive, but that is nothing unusual coming from him.

The choice for voters then was the Conservative Hoffman and the Democrat Bill Owens, and they chose Bill Owens, giving the district a Democratic Congressman for the first time in more than a century.

This is fascinating to me, because I have to wonder if we are witnessing the death of the Republican Party as we know it, or possibly the ascension of a third, the Conservative Party. My personal opinion is yes to the former and no to the latter. Is this the Nader Effect writ large?

RIP GOP I don't believe that the GOP is really going to die off in my lifetime, but I believe its days are numbered if they continue with this platform. With people like Palin and Limbaugh unable to recognize that we aren't living in 50's-era America any longer--it wasn't all that great for anyone but middle class white males, anyway--and unwilling to broaden their tent to be more inclusive, I don't believe they can survive for long in an increasingly diverse America. Hey, like REO Speedwagon said, roll with the changes or shut the fuck up. (Well, they didn't actually say that last part.) There are all kinds of people in this country and world, and their exclusionary tactics are offensive to me. Right here at Nutwood, they have lost 100% of the residents' support, and although I remain fiscally conservative in many ways, I also believe that we are not helping our fellow citizens as much as we can, and I will never accept such a narrow view of social issues. They have lost me for good. And if they keep calling, they're going to get an earful pretty soon.

As for the Conservative Party, I think they overestimate their influence. Well, I suppose in the NY-23 race, their influence was fairly substantial...causing the Democrat candidate to win. If Scozzafava had stayed in the race, she may well have beat him, and the Republicans would have another Representative. But nope. So I guess in this case, I can say, "Thanks for the help, Palin!" Overall, though, the teabaggers are pretty much a tempest in a teapot. Glenn Beck may have up to 3 million viewers on any given night, but that's really not a whole lot in a nation with a population of 308,000,000. [whipping out her handy dandy Google calculator] Thank you, Google...I see that equates to less than one hundredth of one percent. I'm reasonably certain that the majority of people find him an imbecilic fucktard who is a complete and utter loon. Oh, and I also see that as of Tuesday afternoon, drooling idiot Michele Bachmann's call to arms to verbally assault legislators in the halls of Congress has garnered an impressive 25 participants.

As you can imagine, I find all of this extremely fascinating, watching the dynamics of these things play out. The hysteria of the Becks, Bachmanns, et al, is entertaining from a psychological perspective. It makes me feel a little like Alice in Wonderland at times, but at least in Wonderland that caterpillar had a hookah to share. Here, I just stare open-jawed at the TV as I hear the latest lunacy from these people, wonder if they've encountered that hookah-smoking caterpillar themselves, and then burst into laughter. If nothing else, it's sure good for a laugh!

18 comments:

  1. Yes, indeed thanks for the help Palin. It seems whatever she touches dies a slow death. Her backing is a guarantee to a demise. You would think she would get the hint and stay the hell out of politics. I had to laugh when I saw her book has already been lowered in price. If it was a bestseller it wouldn't be coming down in price this soon after release. Then again she already made a mint off it before it was even published.

    And yes I noticed you've been rather quiet dear friend. I also knew from previous years this time of the year garners that reaction. Or was it the biting attitude combined with poprocks and soda that gave it away (winks). Hope things look better for you soon. (Hugs)Indigo

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  2. It's ok if you are quiet... I know you are there! I have been wayyyy buzy and lax on my reading, writing, and commenting too! We can only do what we can do!

    be well...

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  3. I've always been impressed by your ability to comment on just about every blog post I make, and I know you do the same for others. So take a rest, girl!

    Meanwhile, if there was an award for "Descriptions of Politician", you'd be a shoe-in!

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  4. I think you should be in a debate against HIMSELF of the "formerly nicotined stained fingers" I remember (forgive me) being a devoted listener years ago, My, how things have changed once I got some sense! Now he is a source of comedy for me or heart stimulant when I boil over!

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  5. I do not believe that the Republican party is history. Rather, since the Republicans have gone so conservative, and the majority of the Democrats are very liberal, I see the rise of the Indedpendent Party as the real third alternative. I know that that is the camp I am currently in.

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  6. I think that Sarah Palin should continue endorsing candidates.

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  7. Am I to understand that you watch Beck? You seem to know everything he's talking about.
    Joyce

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  8. Beth - actually, you transposed a zero or two. Beck's three million listeners comes out less than one percent of 308 million - not less than one one-hundredth of one percent. To be more precise, it comes out to 0.974025somethingsomethingsomething percent.

    Always happy to help.... :D

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  9. PS: I'm pretty sure if the American Nazi Party Wing of the Crazy Right had left Ms. Scozzafava alone, she probably would have won handily. She was the choice of the local RNC, and is generally considered to be a staunch Republican - well, before the Republican Party turned into the ChiComs during the Cultural Revolution, at least!

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  10. Tim, right you are, and I appreciate the correction. I was thinking in terms of decimals rather than percentages. Thank you! Still...a pretty small number!

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  11. Great post. "imbecilic fucktards" I love that I am going to use it.

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  12. Hi Beth,
    There must be something in the air! I gave up on my blog post yesterday, as well, because I didn't have sufficient information to finish it. Oh well, tomorrow's another day.
    Best,
    Marty

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  13. I can never look at or hear about eggplant without thinking of you!!! I remember when you became of fan of eggplant when I was on FB. :) I'm sure Sheeba wants nothing to do with eggplant though. "That's Not My Name" is one of those tunes that sticks in your head...thank you, now I'll be singing that the rest of the day.

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  14. Aw Beth, why apologize for noting blogging?!? It's YOURS isn't it? You write for pleasure, yes? And if not in the mood or finding time, why should you feel guilty about it and express sorrow? Any post is welcome. It's another opportunity to share, not a platform to hope for absolution. Beth you've always been such a delight, an honest opinionated person so anytime you feel like it, whether comments or not, it makes you feel better yes? If not, I know you wouldn't do it. BTW we in NJ just got our GOP Gov so where's that hookah?

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  15. no one on earth can say it like you. You are so funny and SO right. I dislike Beck with a passion.

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  16. There is a recent book, Republican Gomorrah (http://www.republicangomorrah.com/) that discusses the demise and how it might or might not go. Their current problem is they courted the religious right-wingnut sector and are now extremely beholden to them. That seems to be a mistake they can't divorce themselves from. So their future might really lie in how they deal with it.
    Unfortunately, while I might agree with Ken, taking the middle of the road side will not advance us anywhere. The conservative base is leaning so far to the right, we have to (at least outwardly) project a far left attitude or the right will always win. The right site always sticks together and supports each other, no matter what. On the left side, we're not so good at forgiving and forgetting. We hold too many grudges and can't act as a unified force. When we act too moderate, things like the Maine decision is allowed to happen.

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  17. Do you believe in voodoo? Maybe if we got enough Republican dolls together we could knock off this wacko, religiously coo-coo party!

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  18. I do love your writing! You always tell it like it is. You make me think and you make me laugh out loud at the same time Love the Alice in Wonderland imagery.

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I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you?