I would do anything to catch Osama, but I won't do that
A few random thoughts:
1) This is perhaps the most annoying and persistent double standard in politics. And it exists for one simple reason: because the Tim Russerts of the world choose to enforce this rule in only one direction. Under Russert Rules, Democrats must renounce and disavow anyone on the "left" who does or says anything objectionable. Republicans, on the other hand, are pretty much free to associate with whomever they please, without ever having to explain themselves. As a result, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani are free to solicit the endorsements of people like John Hagee and Pat Robertson and literally embrace them publicly, while Barack Obama is forced to publicly renounce Louis Farrakhan, a person whom he's never had any contact with and whose support he has never sought. This is another example of the kind of political asymmetry I've written about extensively.
2) This discussion is more than a little premature, but for the record, I've long thought that if Obama wins the nomination, he'll choose one of the Virginia Three as his running mate. By that I mean Senator Jim Webb, Governor Tim Kaine, and former Governor and soon to be Senator Mark Warner (in descending order of likelihood). Mark Warner would be an ideal choice but for the fact that he stands to pick up a crucial Senate seat. Webb seems like the most likely choice given his military background, his consistent opposition to the Iraq War, and his political story. The fact that he's a former Reagan Republican seems to fit well with Obama's general post-partisanship theme. Kaine is a pretty solid choice too, as far as governors go. And all three could potentially put Virginia in play in the general election. I would be shocked if Obama chose someone other than Webb, Kaine, or Warner.
3) Watching McCain and his Republican supporters attack Obama for saying that he would go after Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani tribal regions is almost comical to behold. This is, after all, the same man who vowed in the middle of one of the Republican debates to follow bin Laden to "the gates of hell" if necessary. If I were some tech-savvy youtuber, I would make a video of McCain to the tune of Meatloaf's "I would do anything for love." I can hear it now . . .
1) This is perhaps the most annoying and persistent double standard in politics. And it exists for one simple reason: because the Tim Russerts of the world choose to enforce this rule in only one direction. Under Russert Rules, Democrats must renounce and disavow anyone on the "left" who does or says anything objectionable. Republicans, on the other hand, are pretty much free to associate with whomever they please, without ever having to explain themselves. As a result, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani are free to solicit the endorsements of people like John Hagee and Pat Robertson and literally embrace them publicly, while Barack Obama is forced to publicly renounce Louis Farrakhan, a person whom he's never had any contact with and whose support he has never sought. This is another example of the kind of political asymmetry I've written about extensively.
2) This discussion is more than a little premature, but for the record, I've long thought that if Obama wins the nomination, he'll choose one of the Virginia Three as his running mate. By that I mean Senator Jim Webb, Governor Tim Kaine, and former Governor and soon to be Senator Mark Warner (in descending order of likelihood). Mark Warner would be an ideal choice but for the fact that he stands to pick up a crucial Senate seat. Webb seems like the most likely choice given his military background, his consistent opposition to the Iraq War, and his political story. The fact that he's a former Reagan Republican seems to fit well with Obama's general post-partisanship theme. Kaine is a pretty solid choice too, as far as governors go. And all three could potentially put Virginia in play in the general election. I would be shocked if Obama chose someone other than Webb, Kaine, or Warner.
3) Watching McCain and his Republican supporters attack Obama for saying that he would go after Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani tribal regions is almost comical to behold. This is, after all, the same man who vowed in the middle of one of the Republican debates to follow bin Laden to "the gates of hell" if necessary. If I were some tech-savvy youtuber, I would make a video of McCain to the tune of Meatloaf's "I would do anything for love." I can hear it now . . .
And I would do anything [to catch bin Laden], I'd run right into hell and back. . .
And I would do anything [to catch bin Laden], but I won't do that, oh no, no I won't do that
posted by A.L. at 10:59 PM
10 Comments:
"I would be shocked if Obama chose someone other than Webb, Kaine, or Warner."
Except Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.
Very popular governor that could help deliver even more electoral votes.
The part McCain left out is he will follow Bin Laden to the gates of hell so long as said gates of hell are not located in Pakistan, which is where I think they are.
Webb is off my Christmas card list since he voted for telecom immunity.
Has Howard Dean been mentioned by anyone as a possible VP pick? He's certainly done a lot for the Democratic Party as party chairman, and I would think his political positions are closer to Obama's (or Clinton's) than any of the Virginians.
Under Russert Rules, Democrats must renounce and disavow anyone on the "left" who does or says anything objectionable. Republicans, on the other hand, are pretty much free to associate with whomever they please, without ever having to explain themselves.
In complete fairness, I think something else is at work, too. There was a cartoon I particularly liked that has one of those thermometers fundraisers use to show how many donations they receive, only this was a religious organization counting its converts. Instead of exact numbers of converts, they listed the stages of religious organization: "Handful of wackos," "Bunch of nuts," "Dittoheads," "Cult," "Faction," "Sect," and "Mainstream Religion."
I think that once a religion attracts enough adherents to qualify as "mainstream," the MSM are terrified of treating them as dangerously deranged for fear of being considered bigoted. Conservatives always complain about the MSM's unwillingness to attack Islam as a whole, as opposed to its extremist fringe. Islam is a mainstream religion and must therefore be treated with respect.
Well, John Hagee and his fellow Christian Fundamentalist millenarians have enough followers to rate as "mainstream" and therefore to be treated with respect. Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam is a cult (at best) and therefore not so entitled.
I suppose it's possible that Obama might pick Webb for VP, but I think it's unlikely he would pick another politician with little government experience. If he wants someone with little government experience (perhaps to emphasize the new blood and fresh perspective angle), I would think that person would have to have lots of experience in some other field or have a compelling story or personality. That's why I think it's more likely he'd pick someone like Wes Clark, with all his military experience (experience that trumps Webb's). I know Clark is backing Hillary, but if candidates can choose their opponents as running mates, they can certainly choose people who simply endorsed an opponent.
As someone who really admires Wes Clark and thinks he would be a great president himself, I really hope our ticket is Obama-Clark.
If Obama wants to go the other way -- someone with little government experience but with other compelling qualities -- he might try an outside-the-box choice like Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana.
I also think - or hope - our candidate, whoever it is, is sensitive to our precarious and tentative situation in Virginia. We need Mark Warner to pick up the open seat, and we need Webb to stay in the senate so we don't jeopardize that seat. It seems unwise to me for us to poach from our Virginia delegation. That said, however, Webb makes more sense than Warner (if Kaine can appoint his successor). Kaine makes no sense to me at all. With less than one term as governor and little other experience or compelling qualities, what on earth would he bring to the ticket (or to the government, for that matter)?
JEP
Bloggers always lament Tim Russerts double standard. A simple way to fix it, Obama and Clinton can both reply to a stupid question or statement by saying "With all due respect, Mr Russert, that is a stupid question and I will not dignify it with a response. If you want to ask me a question on serious issues, I will be happy to answer."
Repeat as needed for all Russert's gotcha questions
And, as I've often pointed out, McCain severely misuses this adage, which usually affords its subject a great deal of admiration and respect: "My boss is a bastard, but he's always right," said Kenny. "Seriously, I have the utmost respect for the man. I would follow him to the gates of Hell." The phrase McCain has chosen is much different from the more angry and insulting "then I'll see you in Hell" or the simple "go to Hell." He has actually stated that he sees bin Laden as some sort of admirable leader, no?
"John Hagee and his fellow Christian Fundamentalist millenarians have enough followers to rate as "mainstream" and therefore to be treated with respect."
Deep in the heart of Texas, yes. Across the Bible belt, yeah. In the Northeast, upper Midwest and West Coast, I don't think so.
jerold, Wes Clark is high on my list of good V.P. prospects, too. But after Clark's early and strong backing for Clinton, I would be surprised if Obama were to pick him.
I would be much less surprised if Obama were to pick Tom Daschle, another good prospect.
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