Thursday, October 16, 2008

An Unkindness of Ravens

“The devotees of the party in power
are smug and arrogant. The devotees
of the party out of power are insane.”
(Megan McArdle)

This photo, taken from a video of the last presidential debate, is doing the rounds on the blogosphere, and the many sycophants dissolve in mirth. It is one of those moments when I wonder to myself, yet again, about the gap between Senator Obama's seeming integrity, and his supporters' scurrilous mobbing instinct. If they love him so much, why do they behave like a horde of vultures swooping on a piece of meat?

The malign motivation encapsulated in that photo reminded of something Jane Austen's famous heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, from Pride and Prejudice, said, when she realized the extent of her own prejudice against Mr. Darcy:

"And yet I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided a dislike to him, without any reason. It is such a spur to one's genius, such an opening for wit, to have a dislike of that kind. One may be continually abusive without saying anything just; but one cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty."

McCain is a decent, wise gentleman who devoted his life to public service. This kind of witless sneer is simply unwarranted.

Still three weeks to go before the US election day, I shudder to think what else will be trotted out there for the merriment of Obama's voters.

What does it say about Obama's worth when his most eager supporters advocate for him by poking cruel fun at his adversary?

_____

This article by Oliver Kamm, for whom I have huge respect, is somewhat relevant:

I admire McCain, and his instincts on foreign policy - including the Iraq War - seem to me sound. Had there been a McCain-Lieberman ticket, it would have been neither conservative nor even Republican, and I would have supported it. Like Christopher, I am no admirer of Barack Obama, whose grasp of foreign policy is worryingly confused (in particular, his willingness to meet leaders of rogue states without preconditions shows a man unversed in the exercise of diplomatic leverage).

Possibly I'm exercising wishful thinking here, but both parts of the judgement are founded on advice from sources I trust: I take literally Obama's stated willingness to pursue al-Qaeda into Pakistan and to confront Iran's nuclear ambitions, while not believing his stated plans for premature redeployment of troops from Iraq. And, like almost all of my readers (you are always the wild card when I make generalisations like that, Mr Irving), I am impressed and moved at the prospect that the world's leading democracy might be led by a black man, when the stain of segregation was erased less than half a century ago.

9 Comments:

At 1:10 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Are you interested in Obama supporters treatment of the opposition?

Try looking into the Mainstream Media's treatment of Joe the Plumber, the average American, that went out to see Obama when Obama came to his street campaigning, asked a question, which revealed Obama's inner Marxist. Joe has been researched thoroughly looking for dirt and smears.

Are all citizens who ask Obama a question in a rope line on the street vetted by Obamabots in such a manner.

I think Orwell would have something eloquent to say on these matters.

I pray for the Republic.

 
At 1:53 PM EDT, Blogger The Contentious Centrist said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 3:32 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah but have we seen a pic like this on the cover of a Mainstream news mag?

This is how they introduced new Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich to the American public in 1994.


So it makes a difference....with the MSM in your pocket.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/lowbridge/gingrichcover.jpg

Did you catch Obama claiming that Fox News is responsible for negative 3 points to him in the polls. The sheer balls of that statement....as if that isnt offet by negative 20 points by the other big 7 news networks and Hollywood.

How about this little gem, 200 prominent Republicans FBI dossiers were found in the political Whitehouse's West Wing......media yawner. Do you think that if Karl Rove in Bush's West Wing was caught with 200 high ranking Democrats FBI docos, that the explanation "It was an accident, simple goof/mistake...nothing to see here" would be accepted and promoted by the press.

 
At 4:25 PM EDT, Blogger The Contentious Centrist said...

I deleted my first comment. Just FYI.

Obama is the new toy. I rmember Clinton was also a media darling, until he became president. It was a big surprise for him when they started treating him like a scrutinized president, not a favoured candidate... Just you wait and see... The whole Obama thing is such a novelty, such a dream come true... A huge sigh of relief. Finally, the score is evened. You need to look at the good of it. Even those who are critical of Obama concede that his election will be a good thing for American psyche.

 
At 4:54 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

No doubt, Obama will be a boost to US foreign policy initiatives. And the lack of scrutiny, cheering of the MSM both domestic and foreign policy wise will also be a big boost to US favoribility ratings.

BTW, I do think the Republicans blew their chance with Bush and holding Congress for 4 years. However, events(9/11) and war make that somewhat inevitable. The Left will never support war, with a Republican in the Whitehouse...never. The center Left might with a Dem president...and that is a pretty small might.

The biggest blow to the GOP was the loss of Newt Gingrich as House(Congress) leadership. Denny Hastert is a decent man, but he is no leader and no ideas man. Trent Lott, and whoever is leading the GOP now is completely ineffectual for the most part.

The Republicans need to regroup. However, this leaves the door open for 1933 and 1964-65 style expansion of Leftist policy. BUT, and this is a big but, Roberts and Alito make the Supreme Court a somewhat effective block(as opposed to the Left Activist court expanded and manipulated by FDR, and the famous Warren Court).

I wonder if the Dems will try to expand the Supreme Court again, to get their agenda past the Constitution and a Originalist Constitutionalist court.

 
At 10:24 PM EDT, Blogger Dianamorris said...

Re the photo. Somehow publishing a silly photo of McCain (by Obama supporters) or indirectly implying that McCain is old (maybe) by Obama doesn't quite strike me as up there with McCain supporters accusing Obama of terrorist affiliations and chanting "kill him". Oh well, that's just me.

 
At 8:33 AM EDT, Blogger The Contentious Centrist said...

I have a certain policy about comments. They are left where they are as they are, even when they are bellicose or irrrelevant, or merely ignorant, as a monument to the stupidity and bigotry of their authors.

 
At 5:02 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks Noga!

Diane, the Secret Service investigated the "kill him" story, and found no evidence. Its just another lie perpectuated by the MSM in order to manipulate the masses....play into peoples bigoted beliefs.

 
At 10:28 AM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dianne, here is a thought experiment:

Imagine if a conservative political candidate launched their political career in the apartment of a "reformed" anti-abortion (or KKK) activist who openly claimed "I wish I had bombed more abortion clinics (or black churches)!"

Do you think the NYT and other mainstream media organs would be outraged?

If so, why are they not outraged about Ayers? WTF is up with that? Could it be that left-wing extremists are given a pass bythe MSM?

I was reading a story in the NYT this Sunday about an activist for Indymedia who was killed in Mexico. Indymedia was described as "left-leaning" (rather than rabidly radical) while conservative paramilitaries were termed "thugs". No bias there....

 

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