The Culture Wars Return
By Denis Campbell • Sep 6th, 2008 • Category: Politics
John McCain has abandoned any premise of controlling his campaign, his party or even his own destiny. As Charley James writes today, he has chosen an obscure, mean-spirited and vindictive running mate who, as more and more reporters scrape back the patina and veneer of, seems frighteningly similar to the current resident of Navy Observatory Circle, Dick Cheney.
No one recognises this poor speaking, pandering Rove machine manufactured version of McCain, 2008. This version has morphed from Maverick to: a noun, a verb and POW in the same way Rudy ‘a noun, a verb and 9-11’ Giuliani dominated the party in the early stages of the primaries. That he would even allow the horrific graphic video replay of 9-11 to play 7-years after this horror is beyond the pale. The be afraid mantra is everywhere despite quiet and calm in the US the last 8 years.
The economy is in even bigger trouble than most thought and the Republicans want nothing to do with it because it cratered on their watch. So they retreat to the ground they have won in the past. Security.
That McCain would stand in front of a 90%+ lily-white RNC audience of fundamentalist Christians every bit as dangerous as those of the ‘other’ religion in Iraq and Iran, the main difference being that instead of bombs strapped to their backs they take their intolerant, hate-filled and bigoted dogma everywhere, is beyond the pale.
The 2000 version of McCain was much better and compelling. He was recovering from the Keating Five debacle and writing strong campaign reform legislation… against the wishes of his party. ‘That’ McCain was irascible, ornery and ready to fight. Then he spent 8-years (along with Tony Blair in this country) as George Bush’s lapdog, faithfully walking in step behind his master. McCain was formidable in 2000. Today he is a walking cliché who has let a political unknown steal his campaign in the same way George Bush did in 2000.
The news today, according to GOP party leaders, says Ms. Palin is “not yet ready” for media interviews, so she will not appear with any major news outlet for at least two weeks” or 25% of the remaining campaign for fear of making a game ending gaffe?
She is not ready for interviews yet is ready to be Vice President and lead on day one? Do they think us complete idiots?
Sadly, yes.
The strategy worked in 2000 and 2004. Deeply divide the nation along even more narrow ideological lines and make the campaign not about the economy or the 8-failed years of the Bush administration, rather whisper lies about and mock Obama and keep hoping the most nefarious rumours stick throughout the sick machine that spreads them and ends each letter with God Bless You.
The big campaign of ideas has moved to even smaller and smaller things. Unless Obama wins a landslide and gets help in the Congress, it will be four more years of the same gridlock and partisanship.
And no one in the world can afford that.
Denis Campbell is a journalist, author and businessman.
From a farmhouse in South Wales overlooking the Irish Sea, he and his wife run Target Point Ltd, an EU-wide strategy firm working with global businesses across a dozen industries on clarifying and executing strategy and changing their culture and focus. As a businessman living in the EU for 10-years, writing was a passionate hobby. He began blogging in 2006 with a number of pieces examining the corrupt climate of deception in the billion dollar spiritual self-help industry and re-published collected business, political and lifestyle features published across the EU since 2001. It has since grown into The Vadimus Post, from the Latin Quo Vadimus – where are we headed? (…and do we know why?), a daily e-magazine for those wanting to dig deeper, learn more together and dialogue on the key issues of the day.
Thanks for visiting and feel free to let me know your thoughts and opinions.
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You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted, I
Christians every bit as dangerous as those of the ‘other’ religion in Iraq and Iran, the main difference being that instead of bombs strapped to their backs they take their intolerant, hate-filled and bigoted dogma everywhere…
So the “main difference” is that one isn’t actually, you know, dangerous. Uh…good point.
Sometimes words are even more powerful than bombs mate. They are equally dangerous when taken to extremes.
Thanks for the comment.
Sometimes they are. All the more reason not to throw “verbal bombs” at a group of people by comparing them to those detonating actual bombs.