Q: What do John McCain, Bill Jefferson and Eddie Price have in common?
A: People will still support them no matter what.
To all the folks out there who are wondering how William Jefferson could have survived his run-off, to all who wonder how Eddie Price still has supporters in Mandeville, to all who will vote for John McCain this Nov. 4 and especially to all those who aren’t going to vote at all – You get what you vote for.
It might seem ridiculous to compare John McCain to William Jefferson. I’m not really doing that. As far as their characters go, I think McCain is a finer man (though Price probably isn’t). The comparison comes in their supporters, those who, for whatever reason, can’t see the light. Voting for John McCain after 8 years of conservatism control (6 of which were in a time where Republicans controlled the Executive and Legislative branches of government) and in the midst of this economic gloom we are enduring means the lines are so broad between liberal and conservative that many folks wont even vote for the other even in light of obvious malfeasance (read: the Bush Presidency). Simply putting another conservative in office isn’t going to fix it. Deregulation and lowering taxes isn’t going to fix it. All the ideas about trickle down economics have been shown to be humbug.
I shudder to think what may have happened if the $700 billion dollar bailout had occurred with a Democratic president. And they call Obama a Socialist? Wasn’t it George Bush who not only let mortgage brokers go crazy with the credit but also entered the U.S. Government into the banking business? And not in the way they were all along but actually part owner of the companies?
It should be obvious to everyone that the country is worse after 8 years of conservative leadership. None of the problems facing the United States at the begining of Bush’s term have been eased (or are anything close to resembling ease) in the meantime. Those who can’t see that are akin to supporters of William Jefferson. Except instead of supporting a candidate simply for the color of his skin, they are supporting them for their choice of party (and perhaps the color of their skin).
It should be blatant that the Republican party is so far away from their ideals that it will take some sort of conservative messiah to bring them back from the dead. They have never had such a figure. They just have always lacked the inspiration. Because being conservative isn’t about being inspired. And in the last 8 years it hasn’t been about uniting the country either. In the last eight years, it hasn’t been about even following the rules.
With the tactics employed by McCain / Palin recently, it doesn’t look like they will be hoping to unite the country either. If so, what’s with the divisive tactics employed recently?
Yes, if you vote for John McCain, don’t get all uppity when Dollar Bill gets reelected. Because those folks on the other side are doing the same thing you are. They voting for their man. And you’ll vote for yours. Meanwhile the rest of us will shoulder the burden of critical thought. I’m not a Democrat and Barack Obama wouldn’t be my first choice for President if I had my way but he will damn sure do for now.
The argument would be stronger if you used Vitter instead of McCain
Forgot about him but yea, especially that guy.
Varg, I enjoy your blog, butI believe that the attempt to link the McCain
and Jefferson supporters through the Chicory political equivalency prism is pretty lame. Your arguments notwithstanding, there are sound reasons to vote for McCain (or against Obama), but there are no sound reasons to vote for Jefferson.
To his supporters, there are. Just like to McCain supporters there are reasons. But to the rest of us, it’s bogus to vote for either. If you look at it, bot McCain and Jefferson voters aren’t in support of their candidate as they are aginst the other sides.
On reconsideration, your comment that all Obama supporters are thinking people, while all McCain supporters are only so because they lack the “critical thought” to support Obama is even more lame and silly than I first realized.
Many bloggers seem to think that it is necessary to demonize those that disagree with you. May I recommend Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” as a primer.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, I didn’t say all Obama voters are critical thinkers. There are many who are as dull and ignorant as many McCain supporters. In fact, it doesn’t take critical thought. It only takes rational thought. The Republican party has failed the country in ways no Democrat ever has. It’s a simple cause-and-effect. They had the presidency and Congress for six straight years and a mess has followed. It starts with Iraq, works its way through Katrina, has a cup of coffee with high gas prices (and retail items you might notice)and finishes up here in this economic turmoil.
I’m not saying all Obama supporters are enlightened. I am only saying that the state of the country can’t be blamed on liberals or their policies. It just can’t. The responsibility falls on the neo-cons (not those other cons) and their supporters, who also happen to think the whole thing is the other side’s fault and just can’t see the light.