Politics: Onward from New Hampshire

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Confidential to Ann Coulter: Why are you a hateful bitch? {Spree: venomous harpy disparages war record of Silver Star-winning triple-amputee Vietnam vet, saying he "didn't give his limbs for his country or leave them on the battlefield"}.

Didn't you notice this:

"Bush's National Guard service is the most thoroughly investigated event since the Kennedy assassination. "

She's speaking in code, man. Connect the dots.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Dean may quit!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,111751,00.html

The most interesting theory that I've heard so far - which is nothing more than a theory, it can't be proved - is that he was warned ahead of time by the Saudis. Now, who knows what the real situation is?

You'd better milk this right now, because no one's going to know what you're talking about soon. I'm feeling your pain. I have a whole box of Admiral Stockdale material in the closet.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
bilmore is products defense? I had the sense he was in-house?

Could be -- I don't know and wasn't trying to guess. I just know that asbestos litigation and tort reform have been significant issues for him -- and he has expressed adverse opinions regarding "plaintiff's lawyers" in general. Thus my comment.

S_A_M

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
You'd better milk this right now, because no one's going to know what you're talking about soon. I'm feeling your pain. I have a whole box of Admiral Stockdale material in the closet.

Admiral Stockdale put Golden Billy in White House. But you are right about my favorite quote, the above was my swan song. Now the questions presented are:
Is Hank Chinaski a single post poster?
Can ole Hank develop something new?
Will Hank's humor fade as quickly as Chevy Chase's after Gerald Ford left office?

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Could be -- I don't know and wasn't trying to guess. I just know that asbestos litigation and tort reform have been significant issues for him -- and he has expressed adverse opinions regarding "plaintiff's lawyers" in general. Thus my comment.

S_A_M

You may all be right.

Then again, I may simply be a bitter housewife watching life pass me by in Akron.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by bilmore
You may all be right.

Then again, I may simply be a bitter housewife watching life pass me by in Akron.

Bitter housewife in Akron is violins,
Acne middle school student in rural Manitoba is SS,
bilmore is ass't Chief Product Defense Counsel in-house at 3M. He handles most adhesive tape claims.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by sgtclub
I may be the only one, but I'd much rather run against Edwards. The gravitas factor tilts dramatically in Bush's favor, especially on national security issues, and Edwards class warfare approach is a known historical loser.

In 2000, no one though Bush had gravitas.

As for his approach -- from Edwards it doesn't sound like "class warfare" because he's not angry. He's "Mr. Positive" -- reaching out compassionately to those Americans left behind while speaking optimistically about the promise of America.

In truth, he's right that in many ways there are at least "two Americas". We're in the more comfortable and privileged of the bunch (although even our lowest tier is way ahead of most of the world).

As for the approach being a "historical loser" -- that depends on when you stop your review of history. Also -- in the year 2000, that "Class warfare" approach got more votes than did GWB -- even when pushed by an angry-sounding, uncharismatic guy. There is much more economic insecurity among many Americans now than in 2000. People are worried about jobs, health care, etc., and unless the job market turns up nicely in the next few months, the Edwards message may do a lot better than you think.

S_A_M

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by bilmore
Now, having lost the "left wing of the democratic party" candidate from the process, I'm almost certain that Nader will throw his consumer-friendly hat into the ring. (It has padded edges, and an airbag inside of it. Well, until he throws it, at least.) I think he would have stayed away had Dean stayed in, but he'll now argue that true liberals are no longer represented by the two major parties.

I give him two weeks to announce.

Stop saying that name! It's like "Beetlejuice"!

S_A_M

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
bilmore is ass't Chief Product Defense Counsel in-house at 3M. He handles most adhesive tape claims.

Do any of them stick?

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Gattigap
In a literal sense you're right, but Edwards' "class warfare approach" is the most optimistic variation on this theme I've ever seen. Most populists are so angry that the eyes bulge, face turns red, and they blurt our screams of "yeaaggghhhhh!" after crushing losses. It would be interesting to see how a happy warrior would do.

Agree with you on the gravitas factor, though.

And, S_A_M, I agree with you on the trade policy positions. They trouble me too, though I'd imagine you could soften the edges over the course of the campaign.

Agreed on the optismism factor. It is stunning when you look back a most presidential races that the more optimistic candidate nearly always wins. But Edwards' protectionism is just plain ass backwards and would be extremely damaging for the country. I give Kerry credit for realizing (at least until he flips) that we cannot retreat from free trade. The genie is out of the bottle. However, the vilification of businesses that outsource overseas is either just plain ignorant or political expediency.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Do any of them stick?

Groan.

Just . . . groan.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
In 2000, no one though Bush had gravitas.

In 2000, the nation's biggest worry was whcih dry cleaner had the best track record for getting sperm out of a blue dress.

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man In truth, he's right that in many ways there are at least "two Americas". We're in the more comfortable and privileged of the bunch (although even our lowest tier is way ahead of most of the world).

Hogwash. The haves/have nots theory is just a myth when you look at the data.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Hogwash. The haves/have nots theory is just a myth when you look at the data.

What data are you looking at? I'm assuming it's not the data showing the growing concentration of wealth in this country, or the estimate of x million people who don't have health insurance.

I think Edwards' message is different from the usual class warfare conception because he's not saying "let's tear down the haves." Instead he's saying, I'm one of you, I'm going to fight to see that all of you get what you deserve as Americans. It may be a distinction without a difference, but I for one would like to see how it plays in a national general election...

[bilmore]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
I think Edwards' message is different from the usual class warfare conception because he's not saying "let's tear down the haves." Instead he's saying, I'm one of you, I'm going to fight to see that all of you get what you deserve as Americans. It may be a distinction without a difference, but I for one would like to see how it plays in a national general election...

Only if he can get the have-nots to vote, and I suspect the anger thing motivates more than the happy face.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by sgtclub
The haves/have nots theory is just a myth when you look at the data.

I'm comfortable running on a "some aspects of American wealth distribution are inequitable" platform if you're going to be running in the South on the "Saddam had/will have had/would have had/was sincerely believed to have had nukes" platform.

At the end of the day, "corporations are evil" has no more, but certainly no less, thought put into it than the "France is evil" electoral theme.

ETA: Bilmore's summation applies equally to all four of my proposed themes, and I therefore adopt it as my own.