Comments on: GOP Fearmongering Succeeds In Casting Doubt On Legitimacy Of The Electoral Process

By: 1murillo

1murillo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:43:53 +0000

Hoffman will lose (again) even by his fanciful ACORN and union accusations.
The ACORN poll in the story is useless. Political polls can be useful leading up to an event (election) but 1 year later there has been immeasurable trash entered into the social sphere by the GOP. It’s surprising the % was only in the 50s. There are no immediate consequences for the polling audience.

By: 1murillo

1murillo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:37:26 +0000

I love these maps (first saw them in the Stranger, Seattle). This is one place I get my optimism. The cities v rural areas, 3d projections, state maps, all lead to the conclusion that we are moving toward a more purple world.

By: 1murillo

1murillo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:33:48 +0000

The GOP used to be good at winning elections – not good at governing. For the past few cycles (not counting GWB), it hasn’t been good at winning/stealing elections. The reason it’s moving rightward is not because it feels that is better for America, it’s moving rightward because it feels the only way to beat the Democrats is to present a distinct product.

By: robspierre

robspierre — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:32:39 +0000

“a majority of Republicans”

How many is that at this point? eleven? twelve?

At this point, I’m more worried about the threat our own party leaders pose to our liberties than anything that the remaining Flat-Earthers may come up with.

By: 1murillo

1murillo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:29:29 +0000

The US is built to be a 2-party nation. The parties change about every 60 years, so we’re about due. Note that 3rd parties can sometimes make a difference in races, but that they’ll never usurp power from the 2.
However, social and political changes will raise and lower the parties’ stature. It’s important to work in the political system (somewhere) to help bring about this change.
That’s why the GOP is on its way out. Its clinging to all it has just to stay afloat. Realize that it’s mostly an Appalachian white male party now, though there is still enough strength in that area – and enough fear for the party to spread – that it can remain.

By: 1murillo

1murillo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:18:09 +0000

Possibly. But that’s not what we have now. The president has many tools that he isn’t using – thank god because there’s no immediate need. So we must continue working with the confidence that historically, society progresses, though never in a linear direction.

By: 1murillo

1murillo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:11:57 +0000

We challenge by winning elections. Consider that if we liberals win elections and they conservatives cry foul, then we still win. Especially when they cry “ACORN!” or “unions!” to heal their wounds, they show, as Hoffman has here, that he is truly off the wall.

By: 1murillo

1murillo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:06:49 +0000

Amen to that. There will always be a percentage of flat-earthers, birthers, creationists, Palinists(wd?), anti-ACORNists, etc.

Note that Owens won, so did Obama, the great majority of USAmericans consider themselves more liberal than conservative. As our population increases and ages, new ideas are accepted and developed.

We are moving forward; yet there will be loud Limbaughs, Becks, Palins etc. around to rally those troops even in the face of facts. Don’t be swayed by their screeches.

By: onitgoes

onitgoes — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:30:07 +0000

Agreed, but HOW to challenge this b.s. in any really meaningful or effective way is the question.

We’ve all seen how when Democrats/leftists/progressives protest, for ex the Iraq war (in numerous demos some years ago), the media simply doesn’t cover it or covers it in a very slanted & dishonest way, definitely & deliberately downgrading the numbers of protestors, etc.

Yet when teabaggers are paid to be bused in by corporations, the media not only radically inflates the numbers in attendance, but plays a big role in hyping up the action on the ground.

How do we counteract that? It’s been reported on in various ways on the left – via MSNBC and blogs – and shown how dishonest the reporting is, but most people out there don’t see the truth. They are fed the fiction over and over. I’ve even watched the BBC spew out lies and distortions about the teabagger rallies.

So, how do we combat and counteract this?

I think many feel that feet-on-the-ground protests aren’t going to make much difference in such a media environment, and teabaggers will make up fiction about it anyway to make themselves feel better.

And so, how do we make common cause with “sensible & sane” Republicans and other independents to stand up for our rights, to get the real truth out, and to have our government be morally responsible (not asking for much, am I? and yet, it shouldn’t be so difficult)??

I think many on the left are definitely challenging the lies in the media, but what other avenues can we pursue?

By: pluege

pluege — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:48:48 +0000

this is what happens when democrats, independents, and disinterested sane people allow republican lunacy to go unchallenged. Sure republican politicians are universally insane, and republicans/conservatives control the corporate media where most Americans get all of their information, and which media universally promotes republicans and denigrate democrats, but no matter how stacked it is against honesty, truth, and integrity, sane decent people should be outraged and must not stand by idly while republicans dominate all conversation with the violent insane rhetoric.