PolyTicks

'Hoosiers for the Hot Chick' (delegate pin)

Where to start... whether to start at all? Most of the Republican Convention speakers were so devoid of reason, reality or rationale, that it seems an indulgent waste of time to even address them. But let's, shall we?

"The hope of the world"

Harvard MBA, Mitt Romney was born and schooled back east, yet with a net worth of between 250 and 500 million USD, not including the blind trust in his children's name, which is valued at about $100 million, he still called Obama/Biden eastern elitists. Got loud applause for it. Clearly no sense of hypocrisy required to be a Rep' delegate.
A Mormon, it shouldn't surprise that his view of the world is simplified into dualities like good/evil and that he believes the US' position in the world is providential. For better or for worse, one is left to presume. Other absolutist positions include never surrendering, except maybe when you're funding your own failing presidential campaign, and the super-patriot claim of never not being proud of America...


"Jesus, Elvis and FDR"

Mike Huckabee, an ordained minister, believer in biblical inerrancy, tried to warn us of the dangerous "European" ideas Obama brought home from his trip overseas. Dangerous European ideas, like Protestantism, minister Mike? Maybe the English model of Republicanism, the basis of the American republic? Or the US constitution based on the enlightenment ideas of Montesquieu, a Frenchman? In his own campaign, however, Huckabee boasted of his experience, claiming he'd been to 41 countries. And what about FDR, one of Huckabee's trinity of heroes, known for Liberal advocacy of social programs, would he agree with Mike's call for ever less and smaller government? He finished with a sentimental story in praise of soldiery having little or no relevance to the convention. Besides, a good soldier does not, necessarily, a good president make.


"Drill Baby Drill"

"Rudy" Giuliani, onetime Democrat, was full of tough talk... but, like Romney, wasn't feeling so tough during their many deferments from service in Vietnam. Country first!

Rudolph, like the others, made generic reference to the "left-wing" media and actually kept a straight face while sawing away on the perennial promise of low taxes to fix the economy. The same wrecked economy that hasn't benefited at all from 8 years of republican "tax cuts". He went on to claim that Republicans, unlike starstruck Democrats, don't let Hollywood celebrities influence their votes. No, they actually elect them: Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sonny Bono...

Guiliani described McCain's 5th rank from the bottom of the naval academy as "Top Gun" and again went through the Hanoi Hilton routine, and I say that not to belittle McCain's experience, but because every speaker told the same story. It's almost as though Americans are meant to feel they owe it to McCain to reward him with the presidency because of his hardship.

By the way, when McCain wasn't a POW, he described his service this way on “60 Minutes” in 1997, “I am a war criminal, I bombed innocent women and children.” But that didn't stop Rudolph from mocking Obama's community service and sharing a hearty convention laugh with the giddy delegates. Napalm = heroic, helping poor minorities = laughable. Charming folks, those lipstick-wearing pitbulls.

Speaking of which, Sarah Palin received an eerily long and frenzied standing ovation. This just for her introduction; imagine what the berserkers will do when they actually get to know her. For her part, she delivered a well-written speech in a confident, competent and likable manner. It is yet to be seen how well she will do in a debate with Biden when she hasn't had 2 days locked away in hotel room to prepare her answers.

So, we heard speakers list bloated unions among the reasons for the economy wetting the bed lately, then Palin proudly introducing her husband Todd as a member of the Steel Workers Union. We heard speaker after speaker decry government spending, taxation and the evils of dependency, yet McCain is going to fix education and healthcare. We had to endure the mantra of less government meddling and interference, then Palin bragging about "veto after veto" in governance. We have to put up with the accusations of sexism leveled at the press from the party of patriarchal bible interpretation... and so it goes in Republican Opposite World.

posted by Atomos @ 23:19