Trouble In The Promised Land?
September 23rd, 2008 | by Craig |Ouch. That’s gotta hurt.
Another state in which Palin's down-home, conservative appeal may be having an effect is Montana, where Obama also recently decreased his advertising budget by 50%. Although Obama approached — and in a few polls, even led — McCain in surveys of North Dakota and Montana over the summer, when Obama was the only candidate advertising there, he now trails McCain by double digits in those states. Real Clear Politics, a nonpartisan website that tracks the campaign, recently moved both states into the "solid McCain" column. Still, the campaign is taking a wait-and-see approach in Montana as staff and volunteers race to register as many voters as possible. Essentially, the campaign's entire state-by-state strategy will come down to voter registration: it will keep investing in the states where it can sign up enough new Democrats to make the race competitive and will likely abandon those where it can't.
Never fear, sports fans. If the Chosen One fails to carry the western states, the ground work is already laid to blame it on racism. If you’re very quiet, you can hear David Neiwert having an Obama-gasm in the background when you read this piece.
(Thanks, I think, to my good friend Phil at RNS.)
17 Responses to “Trouble In The Promised Land?”
By Teresa on Sep 23, 2008 | Reply
Well, I know I’m in a sea of blue out here in Massachusetts. We’ll see, but I’m guessing Obama thinks he has this state in the bag. That does mean we won’t see as much of the ad blitz - YAY. But I wish I felt like my vote would count more than it will… heh.
By Chad on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
“Rural Radicals:Righteous Rage in the American Grain”?
Yeah. Okay.
By Steve T. on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
Well when you find someone in Montana blaming it on racism you just let us know. God knows some gasbag in Philly doesn’t somehow represent the voice of the left - though I’m sure you’d like to believe it does.
By Craig on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
Steve, you have a real knack for putting the “jerk” in knee-jerk.
Nationally, the groundwork is being laid so that if the Chosen One loses, they will point to the West (assuming it goes Red) and say, “See! What a bunch of hicks and racists. They just can’t take hints from their betters.”
Watch and see.
No one in Montana is doing it blatantly yet, but 5 will get you 10 that the meme will be picked up by the Usual Suspects — there are rumblings over in Theft in the West’s diaryland, so it’s only a matter of time before it gets to the front page.
Try to think “big picture” once in a while, will ya?
By Steve T. on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
Sometimes I think your picture is too big, Craig. You latch yourself to extremely stupid elements of the left and attach their beliefs to us all. It’s in the nature of blogging to generalize, but it’s still possible to paint with too broad a brush - and you excel at it.
By Craig on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
Steve, why don’t you just take it as a given that when I talk about “The Left,” I mean, “The Left, Except for Steve Tokarski.”
Granted, I use the word “they” as a pretty ambiguous referent in my original post, so to clarify, when I say “they,” in this instance I mean a great number of Obama supporters, especially those in the media, which, as of this writing, does not include Steve Tokarski.
Does that work better for you?
By Steve T. on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
Yeah, just copy and paste that to the end of every one of your posts.
I’d appreciate it.
By Steve T. on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
Maybe this is where my young idealism lies. I want to believe that “the left” as some kind of uniform entity is better than your characterization of it. Perhaps my growing up will involve me abandoning that mindset… though it certainly won’t find me embracing yours.
Because you guys are all idiots.
By Craig on Sep 25, 2008 | Reply
Are you sure you want to say “certainly?” I’m at the point in my life where I really dislike absolutes.
In all seriousness, Steve, you probably don’t believe me, but I like you and I like your intellect. You and I can have a decent discussion about what “you” think and what “I” think and drop the labels. They’re convenient to make a larger point, at times, so don’t read too much into it.
By Mark T on Sep 27, 2008 | Reply
A proper treatment requires dissection, issue by issue, visiting nuances and cutting through propaganda. That’s now allowed - if we did that, we would see that there are very few substantive differences between Obama and McCain. It is a cultural divide that separates them. McCain will play to the anti-intellectual streak in Americans, especially prevalent in Montana, and Obama, no matter how he tries, will not be able to hide his academic background and high intelligence. That works against him. He’s Woodrow Wilson, I’m afraid.
Most of you on the right are predictably knee-jerk. Frankly, Craig, I see as much knee-jerkiness in you as in any of the other right wingers whose blogs I visit. You’ve got your own flavor, and have an offbeat wit and bring derisive humor into it more than others, but this is still a right wing coffee shop. No lattes.
By Mark T on Sep 27, 2008 | Reply
Damn! “That’s now allowed” was to be “That’s not allowed”.
By Craig on Sep 27, 2008 | Reply
You and I are actually in agreement about McCain vs. Obama. Obama will tack hard to the left, while McCain will tack softly to the left.
If you seriously wanted to talk about issues then we can, but you really have no room to talk about derisiveness, since that’s your stock in trade.
By Mark T on Sep 27, 2008 | Reply
generally when I come here, which ain’t so often since you shut off comments (I got out of the habit), you’ve put up some derisive comment about liberals that I react to. From that you frame me as a negative nabob. But I think you set the tone with your potshots. You rarely have a kind word for liberals, and usually deride us.
By Craig on Sep 27, 2008 | Reply
Mark, do you lack the capacity for introspection? Do a quick search on your site for the phrase “right-wingers,” then call me back.
Or maybe call Dr. Freud first.
By David Crisp on Sep 27, 2008 | Reply
The “Chosen One”? You are a smart guy, Craig. Why say such a stupid thing?
By Jimmy don\'t play that on Oct 2, 2008 | Reply
Howls of derisive laughter, Bruce! (Monty Python, for you young’uns). A tiny correction for Mark T: The proper term is “Nattering nabob of negativism” … If you’re going to quote the great Spiro T. Agnew, kindly be accurate. And Craig, you posit the left’s reaction to an Obama loss as “See! What a bunch of hicks and racists. They just can’t take hints from their betters.” - I do believe the word you are seeking here to describe us is “uppity.”
Decorum - spell it like it sounds. (Arthur Kopit, for you young’uns)
By Gman on Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
It’s pretty entertaining seeing Mark & Steve T whining about being lumped into the left-wing, then to see them call Craig and his blog “right-wing.” This forces me to conclude one thing: Mark & Steve T aren’t intelligent enough to understand what is meant by left-wing and right-wing.