Republican Hypocrisy category archive
A Divot, Not a Pivot 2
A while ago, I unloaded on the concept of the “pivot,” which seems to be rather a fetish amongst the conventional political media.
Now Clarence Page finds himself wondering where that magickal mystickal Trumpian pivot may be. A snippet–follow the link for the complete article (emphasis added):
Quite the opposite, Trump sounded like he’s doubling down on his efforts to rouse the conservative and largely blue-collar and middle-class base that has turned out in huge numbers, as he puts it, at his rallies.
Frankly, in Trumplandia, there may be multiple divots, but there is not one pivot. Trump is temperamentally incapable of a “pivot.” A “pivot” requires discipline.
Aside:
As a news junky and someone who trained as a historian (I know that’s not parallel, but it’s my blog), I read a lot of stuff and Clarence Page’s commentary has earned my respect. Nevertheless, I find his contention that “Timing and managing your pivot as a candidate is tricky but crucial” to be laughable.
A pivot is “tricky but crucial” only if your message is a PR fabrication conceived in marketing, birthed in strategy, and schooled for maximum duplicity. If your message is correct and true, you need not pirouette away from it.
Reince Cycle 0
No self-awareness. No self-awareness whatsoever.
Coddled Yeggs 0
Catherine Rampell notes that, despite their small-government protestations, what Republicans truly want is a nanny state, one that mops their tears, protects them from the real world, and coos over their booboos, all the while keeping them swaddled in their bigotry and prejudice. A snippet:
(snip)
They . . . want policymakers to bar transgender Americans from using the public bathroom of their choice, lest those in neighboring bathroom stalls feel vaguely threatened.
They want government to protect religious freedom, yet they also want government to expel holders of select religious beliefs — a policy that couldn’t possibly pass constitutional muster even if you could figure out a way to implement it.
They also want their small, spartan government to round up and deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, quickly and on the cheap, but “in a very humane way, a very nice way.”
Follow the link for more on the liturgy of white-wing whining.
“Strict Constructionists” 0
At Cleveland.com, Thomas Suddes marvels at Republicans’ devotion to the Constitution. An excerpt:
Self-Fulfilling Prophets 0
At the Des Moines Register, Matt Sinovic discusses the “con” in “conservative”; here’s a snippet:
Misdirection Play, the Cost of Culture Wars 0
Charlotte Rampell points out that Republican culture wars are getting expensive. Here’s some examples from her list of culture wars. She makes the “misdirection” in the “plays” quite clear:
Is your state so broke it’s shaving days off the school year? Copy Kansas and implement some draconian antiabortion legislation.
Have the highest uninsured population of any state? Look to Texas and pass even more draconian antiabortion legislation.
Are your constituents unhappy with declining economic opportunities? Check out Indiana, Arkansas and Georgia, among others, and introduce legislation to make it easier to discriminate against gay men and lesbians.
Has your state’s credit been downgraded nine times? Is your governor facing a sex scandal? Have you become the nation’s tragicomic punch line?
Find role models in New Jersey, Alabama and Florida, respectively, and join the crusade against Planned Parenthood.
Follow the link for the expense report.
The Born Again Legacy (Updated) 0
There’s the old story about the professor who was speaking about grammar.
“You realize,” he said, “that two negatives make a positive. However, there is never a case in which two positives make a negative.”
From the back of the hall came an anonymous voice which said,
Right.”
I was raised Southern Baptist back before Southern Baptists went nuts. I know lying hypocrites when I see them.
God knows, I’ve seen enough of them.
Addendum, Later That Same Morning:
