Not Fair To Say She Is Driving Them Nuts...

Sarah Palin exposes more wackiness on the left.  Right now she is playing a different game, and well.

Comments

[Jack is Back!]

If only she was smarter and could learn to use a teleprompter. Just not ready for the big time.

[Ignatz]

Just as they did with GWB and Reagan before him, the implication never seems to dawn on the left when someone they label a dunce consistently outsmarts them.

[Mike Myers]

Hey, she's a poor working class girl and can't afford her own teleprompter. She just has to make do with three or four notes written in her hand when she gives an hour long speech. Poor kid!

[clarice]

write andrea and remind her that if she'd only written down the name of the person who told her about Plame on her hand Libby might not have been convicted.

[Thomas Collins]

Campaigning for Perry is part of collecting IOUs for her 2012 Presidential run. Sarah Barracuda is probably misunderestimated more than Reagan was.

By the way, JMH, with respect to the point you made in another post about Palin being a polarizing celebrity figure, my memory of Reagan in the 70s was that he was considered a polarizing figure (although probably not a polarizing celebrity figure, since Reagan was not as much of a celebrity as Palin has become). My view is that Palin is going to be able to control her celebrity, and that she is going to connect with non-elites in a manner that no other presidential aspirant can.

[MayBee]

She is like crack for the news media.

[Dave (in MA)]

Check out the Algonquin Round Table over at PMSNBC... These people are going to end up like the Herbert Lom character in the Pink Panther movies before long.

[Jack is Back!]

Clarice,

You are so naughty:) But what a great idea!

[Appalled]

Palin makes an excellent insurgent.

To those who think she'd be a great President, consider that her most successful political tactic to date has been strategic resignation of office.

[Appalled]

TC:

Thing to remember abut Reagan is that it was only the third try that got him nominanted. If Reagan had won in 1968 (the first time he tried), I'm not sure history would remember him as well.

[Soylent Red]

She should write messages on each hand.

Then, stand at the podium holding both hands up as if to read off them, doing the tennis court head swing, a la teleprompters.

Then she should give an off the cuff remark about wanting to make sure the media gets what passes for a "historic" speech these days.

[Captain Hate]

Anybody that doesn't think she's pawning those nimrods isn't paying attention. She has the left acting like a snake eating its tail; a really really dumb snake that doesn't know when to stop. Bon appetit, idiots.

Plus I'm grateful for Gateway Pundit telling me about a site that mocks some of the more insane ramblings of Dumbass Underground without having to wade in that sewer of lunacy.

[clarice]

seriously, drop Andrea a line. I did.

Let her know she didn't fool everyone.

(Maybe if she ate something once in a while she'd be less idiotic.)

[Thomas Collins]

Appalled, I agree that RWR was in politics and public affairs (union head, Calif. Gov.) for many years before he became Prez. It's difficult to know what would have happened had he become Prez in 1969, only a couple of years after becoming Calif. Governor. However, I think both Reagan and Palin share a visceral sense of how to lead and how the therapeutic bureaucratic state is a dead end (unless you are a EuroTherapyBureaucroState protected by the US defense umbrella).

By the way, re the title of this thread, when I tell my family they're driving me nuts, they respond that driving me nuts is not a drive, it's a short putt!

[narciso]

Possibly, but Reagan would have committed to win, unlike Nixon who was willing to stalemate
in domestic as well as foreign policy. It took
the failures of the Nixon Ford era as well as Carter's pratfalls to put him in sharp relief

[Soylent Red]

TC:

I've heard Rush talk about this and I think it's right WRT RWR and SP...

Reagan held core conservative beliefs. Thus his basic position on everything didn't need to be gamed or strategerized. He could just take a problem, filter it through core conservatism, and out popped the right answer.

His appeal to Americans was based on the fact that he wasn't constantly trying to bullshit them for political advantage. He was simply coming up with answers based on his (and largely their) belief system.

Palin is the same way. Ask any good manager - you don't have to be a in depth policy wonk to know how to make decisions on things. Palin needs to solidify in her own mind her core conservative principles and use the Reagan method of filtering. It's the "solidify in her own mind" that is analogous to Reagan's pre-Presidential political life.

I think her current path will be a quicker crash course route than what Reagan took.

[tea anyone]

Appalled,
I really don't care if she runs for president. What is important is that she is the ONLY one getting the conservative message out---and that is because the media just cannot let her be. It's a twofer, she gets the word out there and she drives them nuts. Add to that-- an extra bonus plus---she has to be getting under BO's skin, so what's not to like???

[Danube of Thought]

"To those who think she'd be a great President, consider that her most successful political tactic to date has been strategic resignation of office."

It would be Obama's as well if he were to do it tomorrow.

[Marko]

Appalled - by your total and complete ignorance. In just a few years as Governor Sarah Palin routed out corruption, including that in the Republican Party. She also took on "Big Oil" and pushed Exxon to either invest in lands they controlled or get out and let someone else do it. She also got the pipeline deal done, which had languished for many years.

In just one year Obama has attacked businesses and profits, has grown the government while killing private industry, has crapped on allies (Britain and others), supported thugs and terrorists (Iran, Chavez, and the attempted coup in Honduras), given terrorists all the rights of Americans, has more marxist czars than the USSR did, has ballooned the deficit to never before seen heights, is championing the takeover of the Health care industry, is on board with the biggest scientific fraud ever perpetrated - the global warming scam, and can't uh, uh, you know, uh speak without a, uh, telepompter thinking for him.

That critical thinking you've been taught isn't working very well.

[Appalled]

DoT:

President Joe Biden....Oh my stars and garters....

ta:

Agree -- she makes a great insurgent. Just don't want her as president, for any number of reasons, one of which being that I'm just not a big fan of the Christian Right, and I believe Ms. Palin is.

[MayBee]

I don't believe Palin will run for president. Of course, she can't say that because then the media would stop covering her so constantly and she couldn't get her message out (or make as much $). She would become just another political person, rather than their obsession.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

So today she sticks it to the goofball left at the Perry speech in Texas. She is photographed with "Hi Mom" written on her palm. Powerline says: "It's Palin's secret weapon: she brings out the stupidity in her political opponents."

[Appalled]

Marko:

The nice thing about it not being 2012 is that support or lack of support for one figure does not mean support or lack of support for another. I'm not part of Obama's current cheering section. Don't know whose cheering section I am a part of, right now. (Well, I know I'm not a Pelosi-Reid fan, and i have opposed Dennis Kucinich since 1976)

[Jim Ryan]

her most successful political tactic to date

...Don't tell me! Is it cleaning up her state's GOP? Earning the highest approval ratings of all 50 governors? Energizing millions upon millions of liberty-minded Americans to renew their dedication to preserving this country's founding principles?

[Frau Babyfett]

To those who think she'd be a great President, consider that her most successful political tactic to date has been strategic resignation of office.
Yes, Palin could have used the Obama Path to Glory and stayed in office and not done a thing to perform the duties. Obama was sworn in as a senator and skirted *his* duties by running for president immediately. Sheesh, around 2004, Axelrod began documenting and shaping (even erasing some) biographical events of the budding Light Bringer. Reagan did not suffer the 24/7 barrage of personal attacks so early in his career. As we know, the organized attacks even continue today in AK. If she were the ignorant redneck babe portrayed, she would already be forgotten.

(clarice, I heard yesterday that having some extra fat increases longevity. Don't pass it on to Andrea.)

[peter]

That Drudge headline about Iran having a February 11 surprise is starting to scare the crap out of me.

[matt]

appalled has a point, but we are not dealing with normal times despite the hogwash now being peddled.

Remember, we have the commercial RE mess and another year at least of massive writedowns by the banks on short sales/foreclosures. On top of this there are real and serious worries about China and several of the European economies. These are highly disruptive events.

We also have a very odd political climate where the push back by the grown ups has just begun and the president has been gored (hee hee) by his own ineptitude and that of his allies.

Palin has a lot to prove yet, but has 2 more years before it gets real serious. We'll see. Palin needs to expand her range of experience to be successful as a leader. Taking the knocks she has and remaining upright is a part of the process.

She then needs to formulate and express a worldview and key specifics, and then communicate these successfully.

What I heard over the weekend was nice, but still vague in many ways. She also does not seem to want to bear a mantle at present and rather freelance her program. That only goes so far. As she gains allies she will be judged as much for the company she keeps.

It is going to be interesting.

[narciso]

That is to misread why she went into public service, and she did so reluctantly, but once
she got involved at each stage of the process
she went all in, from city council, to mayor
to the oil commission to governor. They all underestimated her, and she has pretty much outguessed them, from Councilman Carnery to Mayor Stein to Murkowski/Exxon (pretty much
the same thing)

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

John Murtha has died!

[Jane]

Hmmm now they only have 58 senators.

[MayBee]

Murtha was in the House, Jane.

[clarice]

And I thought the devil would never take that crooked, lying S.O.B.!

[Jane]

LOL Maybee - I'm a moron.

[clarice]

Appalled, Sarah's personal religious beliefs never affected her political beliefs which were socially libertarian. Alaska is a sparsely populated state and like most Alaskans Sarah has a live and let live approach to others.

[clarice]

Jane, Murtha was in Congress.

[peter]

Gee, I guess they'll have to name an airport after him.

[centralcal]

Well, I sure would have liked to see the old SOB tossed into jail, but instead - RIP.

[Janet]

John Murtha has died!

Rep. Jim Moran hardest hit. Who will be his leader now?

[Janet]

Look for Rep.Moran to go into an anti semitic tirade as he loses his bearings and connections.

[PDinDetroit]

peter - I bet Palin would give the appropriate "punch" to Iran.

You Betcha.

[Jack is Back!]

I can hear the cheers at Twenty-Nine Palms, Quantico, Camp LeJeune and Eighth and I. May justice be served by burying him in Okinawa.

[Neo]

The real elephant in the room here is those folks who thought that the “Tea party” is an actual party and that Sarah Palin had joined (or taken it over).

This is still a “movement”, not a party.

Just look at the bumpy landscape that this weekend created. We had (former) Rep. Tom Tancredo’s speech that went into (paraphase) “can’t spell vote or say it”. Also, a taste of the “Birther” thing and Andrew Breitbart with the “press sucks” stuff. None of this gives any “warm and fuzzy” feelings to many who want fiscal responsibility in DC, which I thought was the focus of “Tea Parties”.

These “little issues” do nothing except to push people away, but at the same time I’ve seen a number of “thin skinned” folks who preach about inclusiveness one day and stomp off after one of these “little issues” come up.

The “Tea Party” movement shouldn’t be thought of as a banner of a party (or somebody's 'power trip'), but rather a rallying call for a philosophy of fiscal responsibility.
Let's keep it focused on the target.

[Danube of Thought]

"President Joe Biden..."

You wouldn't prefer it? Seriously?

[Neo]

John Murtha has died!

God does move in mysterious ways

[Janet]

LUN a great picture along with an article on magazine circulation cratering...

[Pops]

The best thing for Govenor Palin to do next is talk about the Washington Press Corp and pronounce it like Obama and call them the NATIONAL PRESS CORPSE.

Another good one is the runor going round that Obama is going to dump Biden for re-election campaign in favor of the TOTUS - Teleprompter of the United States.

[Danube of Thought]

Anybody know the PA procedure for filling out a congressman's term?

Can't wait to hear the sonorous bullshit eulogizing that bloated crook. May he burn in Hell.

[PDinDetroit]

"President Joe Biden..."

You wouldn't prefer it? Seriously?

Nope. It would take until "Round 6" before someone in this current administration had any kahones to be able to lead. Even then, I am not so sure...

LUN

[narciso]

Well first a toast to the Kilo 3/2, that's the unit Murtha specifically slandered for their service in Haditha, but also he had
derided their efforts in Fallujah.

Second, you're right the tea parties, aren't
a party as such, but it is a movement, some
of the wackier threads were on display, but
she managed to put an umbrella over them

[Extraneus]

I spent an evening with a couple of old friends recently, and after a fair quantity of adult beverages the conversation got around to politics. Turns out these two are MSNBC fans, think today's best pundit is Jon Stewart, Obama really haded it to the Republicans at that GOP outing, etc. Both very smart, in their late 60's, and formerly Republicans, I tried not to ridicule or overly press them on anything, but I did get around to asking about the change of heart that led to them from Republicans to Moonbats, and the answer was the Christian Right. Believe it or not.

[Pops]

I guess the biggest difference between the 'birthers' who want proof of Obamas citizenship and the Press Corpses Reagan, Bush, Palin are all stupid...is citizenship is actually a requirement in the Constitution, whereas someones educational route goes un-mentioned.

You can educate the hell out of stupid people- Obama proves that everyday.

And by the way, has anyone checked to see if Obamas Mother ever renounced her citizenship??

She was raised and schooled as a Communist, many of whom renounced their citisenship and moved overseas.

One wonders if Hillary isn't busy combing the State Department archives for any letter from Obamas Mom rescinding her citizenship in solidarity with the peoples of Vietnam, or Laos, or Indonesia, ...etc.

[Appalled]

Extraneus:

people who are inclined to the political faith of Reagan -- which is stop taxing me so much and telling me what to do, aren't necessarilally going to be all that thrilled about the Religious Right -- whose message often comes across as Let me get the Federal government to tell me what to do.

[Pops]

http://lornakismet.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/teleprompter1.jpg

[Pops]

OR
http://777denny.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/obama_teleprompter_incompetence_poster.jpg

[Janet]

Extraneous - The whole Christian Right as the boogie man really kills me. It's like Israel as the boogie man in foreign policy circles. Below is a repost about the Green Police/Audi commercial...

It IS creepy. Just what I fear from the greens too.
I have to shake my head when the left is always fretting about those prudish Christians imposing their lifestyle on them. Talk about imposing a lifestyle...nobody can beat the radical environmentalist.

If the Christian Right IS trying to take over our culture...they aren't doing too good of a job. It is the left that is imposing their ideology.

[Porchlight]

Appalled, you might go back and look at Palin's record in Alaska. Despite her personal views, how did she govern? Do you see the hand of the Christian Right at work? I don't.

For example, she vetoed a bill that would have denied same-sex benefits to gay couples in AK state jobs. She explained that although she personally didn't favor same-sex benefits for gays, the AK Supreme Court had found the law unconstitutional and therefore as governor she couldn't support it.

It seems to me that her record of governance is more important in these cases than whatever her personal views might be, but YMMV.

[sbw]

Grace suggests one not speak ill of the dead...

but I am reminded of the comment of one of Lebanese descent who used to work in our office who, on the passing of someone worthy of the comment would recall the remark from his heritage that, "He was so crooked they're going to have to screw him into the ground."

[glenda]

Clarice & Maybee... Nobody does it better!

I'm sitting here, coming out of a 3week viral infection fog---and my girls describe the serpent, andrea mitchell, so well!! LOL !

Can you imagine the panic for putdowns at their journolista meetings? AM is the example Moms should use as "what never to grow up to be or emulate or admire" The venom from that serpent is so 8th grade!
What school did AM attend? Oh yea, the one that teaches you to marry a rich old, important man who enables you to have a job, neverless, even to be admitted into impolite liberal loser society.

[Pops]

Reagans position on abortion was pretty clear without the Christian right.

From his own pen:

http://www.nationalreview.com/document/reagan200406101030.asp

[Jane]

the answer was the Christian Right. Believe it or not.

Oh I believe it - that's the Northeast in a nutshell - and I do mean nut. TBH Religion emphasis used to bother me a lot because I'm pretty ambivalent on that issue, but the persecution of the religious right bothers me more.

I'd be interested in when they decided to jump ship. I bet it was under Clinton, which was precisely when I jumped ship in the other direction.

[clarice]

Ditto, Jane.

[sbw]

[OT] I took the occasion to comment on the Rand thread at Volokh and clearly what I have to say is of little interest to those convinced that the other side is wrong, even if they haven't anything better to offer.

one time my dad, on his way in to the couch for an after dinner nap, said, "I think I'll go preconceive some notions."

[Extraneus]

I think you're right about the timing, Jane.

[MayBee]

"I think I'll go preconceive some notions."

Love that!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I just got off the phone with one of my closest friends, dating back to grade school years. She still lives in Johnstown, the town where I was born and raised. She hadn't heard the news on Murtha yet, when I told her. I heard her repeat, "Murtha died," to someone else who was with her, then there was about a half a beat of silence. Then all of a sudden I heard a whoop and holler and the words, "It's about time, it was the only way to get rid of the old bastard."

So, one reaction from Murtha's district.

[Jane]

SBW, That's great!

Ex, lots of people thought Clinton's sex life should be between he and his wife (and all the other women I guess) so the issue of morality - or ignoring it, pushed people to his side. They equate morality with the Religious Right.

For me, the issue was ethics. I just don't believe it is okay to lie under oath, even if it is "just about sex" and the numbers of people who defended that really offended me.

[Eric]

The most important thing I read on this thread, aside from Murtha's passing was "as she gathers allies."

To wit, Sarah Palin is already big enough that allies come to her, enemies attack her, and yet, there she stands.

This will be an interesting three years!

[clarice]

Jane, I think it outrageous that in sexual harassment cases involving employers the plaintiff gets to ask the boss under oath about his whole sex life. It's legally sanctioned blackmail, but it was Clinton who made that a part of the law by E.O. so I have no problem with his being stuck with it.

[clarice]

BTW MayBee you've been missed.

[Jane]

it was Clinton who made that a part of the law by E.O. so I have no problem with his being stuck with it.

I know - it was the hypocrisy of all hypocrisies.

[fdcol63]

Wait ... I'm confused. I thought it wasn't "sex" after all .... it was just a BJ.

[pagar]

DOT has expressed my thoughts on John Murtha perfectly.

[fdcol63]

I hope Murtha has a Marine escort on his way to his eternal reward.

[JM Hanes]

Thomas Collins:

"my memory of Reagan in the 70s was that he was considered a polarizing figure"

The Reagan/Palin analogy may be attractive, but it's not hard to list enough substantial differences between them that I don't think it takes you terribly far. She doesn't just polarize the general public. There are divisions on the right, itself, as well, where reaction to Palin skeptics gets every bit as intense as the criticism they voice.

I'm not sure what you mean when you suggest that "Palin is going to be able to control her celebrity." She has certainly made savvy use of it, but at the same time, coverage of the Tea Party convention, for instance, centered on Palin and speculation about her personal political ambitions, not on the fundamental Tea Partiers agenda -- or even on the obvious intersection of her vision and theirs. Ironically, a lot of Palin supporters seem to share that focus.

Politico supplies the emblematic MSM narrative:

This weekend’s Tea Party convention did little to unite or advance the fractious populist movement, but it did mark the debut of Sarah Palin as the movement’s spokeswoman, if not leader, and perhaps the beginning of a new phase in her political career.

Dan Riehl supplies the umbrage on the right.

Palin clearly speaks to the non-elites and communicates their concerns adeptly on her Facebook page. She is also sustained, in remarkable proportion, by grass roots support. Whether she can expand that convergence of interests beyond her natural conservative base -- even within the Tea Party contingent itself -- into widespread support for her own actual election to national office decidedly remains to be seen, IMO. She still gets a lot of attention because she might run for office, and her astute "coyness" in that regard gives her a powerful bully pulpit. If and when she actually runs, however, the game will change dramatically, not just in the press and in the electorate as a whole. Divisions on the right will also be thrown into high relief.

Outside the emergence of Tea Party activists, I believe the most promising trend to date has been the growing number of attractive candidates now willing to throw their hats into the ring, even in ostensible Democratic strongholds. I'm concerned that in their enthusiasm for Palin, a lot of her supporters undervalue the crying need for a deeper Republican bench. That includes developing other fresh, viable alternatives for the Presidency as well as lower offices, and in that regard, I think the oxygen Palin's celebrity sucks up is a real double edged sword.

[fdcol63]

Palin can't drive the Left nuts .... they're already bat shit crazy.

[Neo]

Anybody know the PA procedure for filling out a congressman's term?

There will be a special election, date wise, it will be attached to the next primary election, if it's not too close (I'm not sure the minimum period required).

Looks like it will be a May primary.

February 16 - First day to circulate and file nomination petitions
March 9 - Last day to circulate and file nomination petitions
March 10 - First day to circulate and file nomination papers
March 24 - Last day for withdrawal by candidates who filed nomination petitions
April 19 - Last day to REGISTER before the primary
May 11 - Last day to apply for a civilian absentee ballot
May 14 - Last day for County Board of Elections to receive voted civilian absentee ballots . . .
May 18 - PRIMARY election

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I don't know how many of you are big REDEYE fans like I am. It airs at 3 AM on the East Coast, midnight out here in the West. There is an interesting headline at Drudge being touted on Twitter:

"3AM FOX NEWS SHOW TOPS CNN'S ENTIRE PRIMETIME LINEUP!"

[MayBee]

clarice- xoxoxo

[misterx]

I think she can see her hand from her house.

[Janet]

...and another not-so-little bit, speaking as a member of the Christian Right...I don't know why so many people believe what the MSM says about us. They are eye witnesses to how unfairly the Tea Party participants are treated and portrayed , or how Israel is treated and portrayed. Why believe the MSM concerning the Christian Right?
The MSM NEVER has the interest of conservatives in mind. I go to a huge evangelical church that is a hospital for sinners...not a cathedral for saints. It is full of energy and love to help individuals and families.
*We help run an after school facility/program next to the high school in Anacostia.
*We run a day care facility, after school program at one of the housing projects in DC.
*We are building a facility for special needs children on site, and we offer camps, and support programs for the special needs kids, their siblings, and their parents.
*We have a clothing ministry, a food ministry, a prison ministry,
*We have a military family ministry, and Operation Kindness which sends care packages to our troops
*We have oodles of youth and teen events

and tons more stuff...It is all kind, good, and uplifting. For heaven sake we even help paint and fix up the DC schools before they open. I just don't get the whole "problem" with the Christian Right.

[clarice]

JMH, Cantor, Brown, Ryan--that's a lot deeper bench that the other side has IMO.

[Jane]

Some democrat congressperson on Cavuto just said that Murtha died of Medical Malpractice. (His intestine was perforated in gall bladder surgery). Stuart Varney asked the guy if Murtha was a martyr for health care reform.

Oh dear.

[Porchlight]

There are divisions on the right, itself, as well, where reaction to Palin skeptics gets every bit as intense as the criticism they voice.

There were divisions on the right during Reagan's ascendancy, too. The Reagan wing and the Ford wing of the party famously warred to see who would control the party - conservatives or "Rockefeller" moderate (some would say liberal) Republicans. Reagan and the conservatives won. It is not unlike today.

[narciso]

Riehl is really getting on my nerves, it started with the TPC, but it's just gone into
every aspect, What was that Will Rogers joke about Democrats, I belong to no particular
political party, well that's the tea party, but they focus their attention they can get things done

[clarice]

The Daily Caller.com:
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza noted that Murtha’s death will set off a competitive special election, likely to be held on May 18, the date already set for federal primaries around the state. Cillizza writes that “Murtha’s district is the only one in the country won by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004 and by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008, according to Republican sources, and that trend line coupled with the volatile national environment for Democrats ensures Republicans will heavily target the contest.”

[Thomas Collins]

JMH, by Palin controlling her celebrity, I mean (i) she won't let her celebrity status become a factor in marginalizing her as a serious Prez candidate, and (ii) her celebrity status won't get in the way of GOP recruitment of candidates. I think she is savvy enough and ambitious enough to put the energy into recruitment and supporting recruits because she knows that IOU collecting is a part of a Presidential run. I think she has a substantial base of support that goes beyond the conservative movement.

[Neo]

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement on the passing of Rep. John Murtha (D-PA):

“Today, our nation has lost a decorated veteran and the House of Representatives has lost one of its own. I was saddened to hear of John Murtha’s passing, and my thoughts and prayers are with his friends and loved ones. I also want to express my condolences to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who valued Congressman Murtha’s advice and friendship. He will be missed.”

The truest part is the last ... "He will be missed"

[clarice]

Janet, If it's any comfort, I don't get it either..but it is apparent the demonizing helps keep the muddle voting Dem. Anytime a jerk like robertson opens his mouth about some tragedy being God's punishment, the meme gets a new injection of life.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Dan Riehl has become an idiot. First he was going to leave blogging behind and then he did an about face and became a cheerleader for CPAC and the Washington Repub elites (themselves a bunch of idiots). Lately, he has become petty and petulant, which seems to be a working strategy as he seems to be one of Instapundit's favorite links of late. I can't read him anymore and keep my blood pressure in check.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Every time you hear that Murtha was such a great friend to the military, remember this Code Pink picture and repeat: Haditha Marines, Haditha Marines.

[Porchlight]

Even some of my more sensible righty friends are afraid of the Christian Right, Janet. I think it is a boogieman but they are convinced otherwise.

Frankly, I think we are damned lucky as a country to have such rockribbed people as you and your fellow churchgoers on the frontlines in every crisis and in an ongoing capacity.

[Frau Babyfett]

The religious right gets all the public damnation by those on the other side of the spectrum who fear what might be done. They chose to ignore the religious left which has actually done harm: protecting BJC, handing Castro propaganda in the Elian debacle, being stooges for anti-war/anti-American forces both domestic and foreign.

[Fresh Air]

and the answer was the Christian Right. Believe it or not.

Let me guess...secular Jews?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

From the WaPo:

The death of longtime Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha (D) this afternoon will set off a special election in his very competitive western Pennsylvania 12th district.

According to state law, the governor has ten days once the vacancy is officially declared to decide on the date for the special election, which can come no sooner than 60 days following that proclamation.

That likely means the special election will be held on May 18, which is the date already set for federal primaries around the state. (Special elections costs the state huge sums of money and it's likely that Gov. Ed Rendell will choose to go with an already established election day to save some cash.)

[Pops]

Today I got up and turned on my left-wing liberal approved light bulb, put on my left-wing, liberal approved, animal-friendly robe because my left-wing liberal approved thermostat isn't allowed to be above 62 in my left-wing liberal approved wind-generated energy efficient liberal approved 600 square foot apartment, in my left-wing liberal approved government housing and went out to my left wing liberal approved electric car and drove in my left-wing liberal approved HOV lane to my left-wing liberal approved doctor appointment in his left wing liberal approved smokeless waiting room, with my 3rd world left-wing liberal approved doctor prior to attending my left wing liberal approved, rally protesting the Christian Rights attacks on my freedom!

[Extraneus]

Nope. Catholics. One non-religious, whose brother is a (gay) priest; the other goes to church. Go figure.

[Cecil Turner]

"It's about time, it was the only way to get rid of the old bastard."

A sad commentary on our political system, and yet the exact response I had. Nearly 30 years after AbScam, he finally dies, in office, from natural causes. (Okay, maybe not entirely natural, since he'd recently undergone gall bladder surgery.) I guess that's better than Ted Kennedy, who lasted 40 years after Chappaquiddick.

You'd think we could find some non-crooks for these lifelong Congressional seats, or possibly find some way of unseating those who were obviously crooks. I suspect, however, some of my liberal countrymen will find some "deeper" meaning (probably related to health care reform).

[Pops]

John Boehner should have ended his Murtha comment with:

"But what sorries me more than his passing, is the eight Marines he smeared will never receive a much due apology."

[Cecil Turner]

I see from Jane's comment that's already happened. Er, never mind.

[centralcal]

I think Dan Riehl is going through some kind of male menopause - hot flashes, followed by normal temper, then back to really hot flashes - etc, etc, etc.

He is really hard to read many days.