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How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover

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Pinekatz
11/16/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
I'm so sorry the word taint found its way into the vernacular of our conversations. Its just wrong.
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saintjim
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
Alex, you note that "The Obama campaign doesn't officially use Westen's book." I doubt that they use it unofficially, either.

This Drew Westen character sounds like he would be right at home in the Dick Morrisized- DLC dominated- Democratic Party of the Clinton era. Back when all the party stood for was equivocation, triangulation and capitulation, back when it was the skinny guy at the beach waiting for Lee Atwater or Karl Rove to come kick sand in his face.

Granted, to a large extent the party's D.C. leadership is still bound by that timorous '90s mindset. But they aren't alienating people because they're using the wrong rhetoric. It's their actions, or lack of them, that have convinced many swing voters that the Democrats are unwilling to fight for what they believe.
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bjonston
11/01/08

@saintjim: Talk ON my friend!
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Tammany_Fall
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
PIVOT. PIIIVOOOOOOOOTTTTTT!

Sorry. But what a weird word. I couldn't get past it. Can someone tell me what we're supposed to do without sounding like a middle-school lacrosse coach?
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Streeter
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
looks like archie bunker gettin hooked up here.

hey edith (pronounced eat-it with a joisey twist) call that there palin gal and sees whats she cans do for me now will yas huh??

doncha know.
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BookishLookish
11/01/08

@Streeter: That's a Queens twist, and don't you forget it, girlie.
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hatey
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
It's always amazed me that Richard Weaver's claims about language were... highjacked... by his biggest fans... and used in a way he would not have approved.

So, yay. For us. And our handbook.
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Baroness
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
I love how Republicans have at least a dozen extremely well-funded "think tanks", "Institutes" and the like to push their agenda aggressively. American Enterprise Institute, Family Research Council, Center for American Competitiveness whatever, Focus on the Family.. These places subsidize conservative "thinkers" by saving them from, you know, having to get real jobs. They train the pundits that flood the airwaves, extensively coach them on talking points. When the right wing pundits publish books, they are bought in bulk by these "think tanks" to propel them to the top of the bestseller list. In August, there were at least 9 right-wing books on the NYT bestsellers list: every single one had that little dagger that means, "shady bulk sales reported". The Republicans have had this massive activist infrastructure/PR apparatus in place for over 2 decades now.

And Democrats have this.. handbook. Clap. clap.
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BookishLookish
11/01/08

@Baroness: You forgot to mention the contracts with Satan, but point taken, and too true. Dems need to step up.
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bjonston
11/01/08

@Baroness: Now, now. Democrats have something better. Universities. Ever heard of the Ivy League. Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Cornell-those are the think tanks of the Democrats.
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If_I_Had_a_Poodle
11/01/08

@Baroness: "wingnut welfare" is the technical term
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PandoraSpocks
11/01/08

@bjonston: And may I add The Brookings Institute, the newly formed American Majority Institute, and de-facto Democratic organizations like the Trial Lawyers Assn, the ACLU, NOW, NARAL, etc.

Both sides do this.
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Baroness
11/01/08

@PandoraSpocks: But they're all verging on broke. Right wing think-tanks are hideousy overfunded. The ACLU (a very fine org) is trying to raise funds while fake-ass orgs like the American Enterprise institute are swilling champagne. Evil, evil skeletal fuckers like Richard Mellon Scaife have lots more where that came from. Scaife spent a fortune trying to nail Clinton. He failed, but expect the worst from these sorts- they will try and take President Obama down day

one. They are dangerous. Obama winning is just the beginning, for them.

I do wish attention were properly paid to malevolent forces in US life like Scaife, and these alleged "think tanks". They're well-funded assasins who care nothing about the country. Only themselves. And that's why they're dangerous.

As if our dismal Fourth Estate would ever have the balls to to look more closely at this. A ton of cash, and you're an "Institute" with an opinion? Naw, they just read words off a teleprompter. It's not their job to point out the ghastly people pulling the strings, behind the curtain.
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BookishLookish
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
Too true that sympathy is something to which most right-wingers are immune. Don't even try that hand. Euphemism, however, is something that they love.

Class, give examples.
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maude_flanders
11/01/08

@BookishLookish: I guess "compassionate conservative" is too easy an example, a nice way of saying "I'm an ally of both fundie anti-intellectual groups AND big business!"

"War on terror" = "my blunderbuss bullshit in Iraq"

Etc...etc. I'm embarrassed I can't give more examples, because if the Bush-era doublespeak is something that makes me wonder if I'm crazy.

Am I a bad person if I actually LIKE the points made up there re the borders/immigration? Is there anything outrageous up there?
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BookishLookish
11/01/08

@maude_flanders: @MosseyCade @kickingthecrap: Very good, everyone. Now, don't forget Bridge to Nowhere!
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Hey_mikey
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
The sooner Democrats come to terms with how most Americans actually think, the more elections they will win. For example, many Americans believe in the literal existence of immortal, winged beings who are invisible and possess super/magic powers. Leaving aside for the moment whether said beliefs are reasonable, it's key to know that they exist.
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bjonston
11/01/08

@Hey_mikey: Sad. Funny. True. But sad.
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BookishLookish
11/01/08

@Hey_mikey: Yes, but every time a Republican gets thrown out of Congress, an angel gets its wings, didn't ya know?
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jrhys
11/01/08

@Hey_mikey: "immortal, winged beings who are invisible and possess super/magic powers"- that's Cheney right?
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LongIslandSettee
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
I can't stop thinking of that fake "taint appreciation" porno mag once used for laffs on on Mr. Show - the title I believe was Taint Misbehavin'
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Laurent Fignewton
11/01/08

@LongIslandSettee:

It was simply "Taint Magazine" - I know because I'm a rabid Mr. Show fan and I have a Taint sticker on my 'cross bike to profess my love.
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Alex Carnevale
11/01/08

@Laurent Fignewton:

Can we see some proof?

I have a tattoo of the storyboard for Coupon the Movie on my back. Want to see?
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LongIslandSettee
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
Karl Rove's 'taint'? No, dude .... NOOOO!! I just ATE! Awww.
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bjonston
11/01/08

@LongIslandSettee: I always figured Karl Rove didn't have a taint because he's such an enormous asshole.
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bjonston
11/01/08

@bjonston: And taking the analogy a step further, I suppose George Bush could be seen as Karl Rove's taint.
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zapfdingbatme
11/01/08

@bjonston: Does that make Cheney the balls?
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BookishLookish
11/01/08

@bjonston: Tain't necessarily so.
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zapfdingbatme
11/01/08

@BookishLookish: Tain't nothing like a real thing, baby?
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BookishLookish
11/01/08

@lastcigaretteme: Tain't no mountain high enough?
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bjonston
11/01/08

@lastcigaretteme: Yeah. Cheney is the balls. And McCain is the withered prostate. And Palin the chubby man tits.
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nyuser
11/01/08

In reply to How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
What is this picture from?
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bjonston
11/01/08

@nyuser: That photo is from my wildest dreams.
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extra!extra!owentookVAQUERO'sstar★
11/01/08

@nyuser: I think it's by Daniel Kurtzman.

[politicalhumor.about.com]
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Alex Carnevale
11/01/08

@vaquero:

Thanks, Vaquero, I should have said so.
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BookishLookish
11/01/08

@bjonston: Jesus, I can't believe a human who wore a necktie like that was allowed to ascend to power.
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jrhys
11/01/08

@Alex Carnevale:That picture make me very happy on its own, and even happier when I imagine a Tom of Finland moment going down in the next frame...
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