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 Memoir PoliticsPosted on Sep 4, 2008ST. PAUL, Minn.—Talk about role reversal. The Republican Party, which scoffs at the nonsense of “identity politics,” has staked everything on the compelling life stories of its presidential and vice presidential candidates. The Democratic Party, ever conscious of the diversity of modern America, is doing everything it can to blur the lines of race, class and gender. As if anyone thought otherwise, this is going to be an interesting few weeks until Nov. 4. I guess I didn’t drink enough Kool-Aid before Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s convention speech, which was received inside the Xcel Energy Center here as if Ronald Reagan had returned from the great beyond. I heard criticism of the Democratic ticket, demonization of the media, praise of John McCain’s war record, characterization of Washington as an evil place, promises of lower taxes and a firm but nonspecific pledge to enact thoroughgoing reform. None of that is exactly groundbreaking at a Republican convention. But the point wasn’t the speech. It was the speaker. Palin told the nation very little about what she stands for or even what she has accomplished. Instead, her aim was to show the nation who she is. The reason for framing her introduction to the American people this way is obvious. Palin, unlike most Americans, would like to see abortion banned even in cases of rape or incest. Her record as a mayor and a governor is that of a talented rising star, but it’s a politician’s record, full of reversals and compromises. And nothing we know about her suggests that a rhetorical stroll through the minefields of foreign policy would have been a good idea. Advertisement Until Palin’s star turn, this convention had been primarily about another biography—McCain’s. Again and again, speakers have reminded us of his military service and the torture he endured as a prisoner of war. Perhaps because McCain is still not fully in line with the Republican Party’s activist base on a number of issues, praise of his record in Washington has pretty much been confined to national security issues and his newly appreciated status as a “maverick.” Delegates to this convention, by the way, seem to have convinced themselves that they are all mavericks. Whatever happened to the old truism about how Democrats fall in love while Republicans fall in line? And if everyone in the party becomes a maverick, then aren’t they all just conforming to a new “maverick” norm? But I digress. The McCain-Palin ticket is threatening to become the Biography Channel of this election. The thing is, though, that Republicans don’t have much of a track record at this kind of identity politics. They’re good at driving wedges. But creating empathy? Feeling our pain? That’s what Democrats are supposed to be good at. This year, however, the Democratic Party has a standard-bearer whose biography is different from that of any other major-party presidential candidate in history. Barack Obama’s success has come not from convincing voters that his is a quintessentially American story—although he is working hard to send that message—but from appealing across demographic lines. Obama’s pitch isn’t: “Here’s who I am.” It has to be: “Here’s the promise of a brighter future.” That’s what his set-piece speeches, such as the one at Invesco Field in Denver last week, seek to accomplish: They invite people to envision a better nation and a better world. The two parties haven’t completely changed places. Democrats will have Joe Biden spend lots of quality time in Pennsylvania reminding voters that he was born in Scranton. Republicans will hammer home their promise to keep America safe, with the implication that the Democrats might not. But after the two conventions, it looks as if Obama and Biden are going to do their best to focus voters’ attention on issues—the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, energy and the environment. And it looks as if McCain and Palin have decided to run on a platform of personal history. Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment
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By cyrena, September 7, 2008 at 5:48 pm #
Go Lola!!!
Thanks for writing. I feel better too!
Wildflower,
Thanks for you list from the Congressional Scorecard. It’s good to see ALL of these names (and all with the big “R” next to their names) and McCain at the bottom of even THEM!!
It serves as a good reminder of how we are also complicit in our own demise, when people allow these criminals access to our house. I mean all of these “destroyer’s of the people” are actually “elected”! Makes me feel perfectly justified in yelling at the citizens of these states (and others) for not being more responsible about who they send to Congress, since it’s not just THEMSELVES that they’re subjecting to this dismal fate.
Report thisBy wildflower, September 6, 2008 at 11:19 am #
We all come from different places, and it interesting to hear one anothers thoughts on the convention speeches.
I had a lot of difficulty with Palins speech and it began early when she spoke about love, the needs of special children, her desire to make America a more welcoming place for our children, and the promise that if she and McCain are elected that children would have a friend and advocate in the White House.
Now, if either Palin or McCains political track record had already demonstrated a concern for our Nations children, or if the two were, indeed, proven advocates for Nations children, Palins promise would have been meaningful to me. But the reality is the opposite is true, particularly in the case of Senator John McCain.
Without a doubt, Senator John McCain has proven he is no advocate for our Nations children. Senator McCain, in fact, has the un-distinguish honor of scoring lowest among the low on the Children’s Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard:
Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) 30%
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) 30%
Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) 30%
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) 20%
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) 30%
Sen. James W. DeMint (R-SC) 20%
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 30%
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) 30%
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) 20%
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) 30%
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) 10%
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 30%
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) 20%
The Worst Senators for Children Scored 30 Percent or Below
http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/DocServer/2007_Scorecard_bestworst.pdf?docID=6422
Report thisBy Lola, September 5, 2008 at 10:22 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
First of all, should the GOP actually steal another election, it would probably be appropriate to take the radical right winger voters/idiots off the endangered species list and take to aerial gunning in an effort to keep them from driving the entire nation, like lemmings, off the cliffs in a mass suicide of one of the world’s greatest nations. That said, I can now rest because I actually don’t own a gun, just a vicious tongue!
And, while I’m venting (not vetting), I’d like to speak to “memoirs”, especially McCain’s. For God’s sake, the man actually did hotdog his way too far and got shot down, broke under pressure and caused the deaths of a bunch of his comrades; that does give him a claim to “hero”, right? Okay. So why does he keep repeating his story over and over and over like he is the only hero the United States of America ever had? To my way of thinking that absolutely negates the efforts of all the other heroes of this country past and present. Enough, John, we know your story because you and all of your minions have told it to us ad nauseum. What I want to hear is what you really have in store for all of TODAY’S HEROES. You know, those moms and dads, sons and daughters who are coming home limbless, sightless, scarred for life both physically and emotionally. And their families, what about their families? And the families of all the innocents you and your blood thirsty cohorts in the White House have left in your wakes?
As far as Ms Do-it-all goes, she definitely is in lock step with McSame… “Look at me! Look at me! I dress, I walk, I lie!” Her poor daughter looked like a doe in the headlights after having her sexual life paraded in front of the world; topped only by the boyfriend when he, too, was thrust into that same headlight. Some woman! I’m a woman, and believe me, Sarah Palin is no real woman! I do, however, believe that Ms Lipstick/Pit Bull is fair game. She threw down the glove with that statement, so now let’s see if her memoirs, past and present, can stand up honest, open dialog about what she knows and what she really has in store for the nation, not just cute little “hockey mom” bits but the real guts of what’s important in the world today. If you’re looking to possibly becoming the leader of the “free” world, you’d better come up with some reason why anybody would want you in that position besides small town trivia (besides being a woman I am also a small town woman and have been for most of my 67 years so there’s no sexism in my comments).
Time to change the “memoirs”. Time to change lies. And time to tell the real-time “memoirs” of the promise of what could become one of the 21st Century’s greatest nations on earth.
There. I feel better.
Report thisBy wish i knew, September 5, 2008 at 9:51 pm #
Wait, stop, Doc. John McCain was in a war???
YOU SIR crack me up. Cheers!
Report thisBy Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, September 5, 2008 at 5:30 pm #
I want you to know wish I knew that John McCain was a War Hero!! Now you know, in case your moniker was an honest espression of desire. Now you can change it to now I know. I used to be Dr. Knowsmostofit, PhD, PhD and then I found out that John McCain is a War Hero, so now I know it all.
Whatta guy, that John Keating Five McCain!
How can you be everything he is and a War Hero to boot? Where does he put it all? Aha!, that explains the seven or so houses!!
Report thisBy wish i knew, September 5, 2008 at 4:14 pm #
the republican campaign message has changed focus so many times, and the sheep just follow along.
there was absolutely no substance to anything at the RNC. just outright lies, “the democrats suck”, and “yay for us” - whatever they plan to do to actually change our country, the populace will obviously just follow along and trust that it will be ok because nobody chose to elaborate really on any of the issues. I guess they assume it is “in GOD’S HANDS”.... gag. they are free to believe that - that freedom thing I know is hard for them to keep straight - but the arrogant assumption that all of America feels that way is beyond reproach.
the DNC wasn’t only about issues, it was about us. the REAL american public. all of the people out here of all races, faiths, creeds, lifestyles, etc.
obama isn’t telling us what he will do, he is telling us what we all have to do.
but the republican flock would much rather hear mccain tell them he wants them all to pay no taxes and be rich.
yeah, that makes sense. that’s going to happen under a mccain administration.
NOT.
Report thisand they say HE is the experienced one…
By Leefeller, September 5, 2008 at 10:15 am #
If indeed, McCain the great 20 hour war hero, dumps the wolf killer vice president, a nice juicy surprise would be for him to select Hillary, Palin will be instant history. Some of the looney Christians will miss her, a few polar bear raper’s and of course the wolf killers who will save on Helicopter fuel.
How about that war?
Report thisBy Purple Girl, September 5, 2008 at 8:37 am #
Palin is going to get her ass handed to her at the first VP debate (I think I heard it will be Gwynn Ifell, man is Palin in for a TEST)
But this is what is expected and planned. Biden will make her look like the unqualified Bumkin she is, If she doesn’t reveal it herself.
Why would the Campaign which ‘Mac does not Speak for’ Pick Palin? To be the excuse CheneyCorp needs to give DICK another four years in the WH
Everyone I have heard says ‘It doesn’t make Sense’ why they choose Palin, Little Real Experience ( AK Pop= 600,000…What is the Pop Of Chicago,Detroit, NY?).She has no experience with an economy that goes beyond Fishing and Oil Rigging.What does she know About manufacturing Jobs and the Blight in the Rust Belt. Her Foreign experience includes an Eskimo and a Polar Bear.Her ‘MOMMY’ judgement and committment is in serious contention, not because of her daughters pregnancy, but because of her Action/Inactions on the Day Trig was Born. and of course her decisions to take on the 2nd most demanding job in the World, with a newborn who has Down syndrome- FYI these childrens need extra attention from EVERYONE around them, esp Mom.
There will be some monumental reason come Oct which will cause Mac to “fire” her or which will cause her to ‘Step Down’(family problem)
After 40 yrs running this country ‘in the shadows’, Then given Unbridled power as ‘VP’ with Dumbass W, there is No Way Cheney is giving Up His Throne.
Ya think Cheneycorp does Not realize she will Not be able to hold her own in a Debate with Biden?
Come On folks- Stop taking everything at Face value.after 4 decades of BS, You haven’t figured out Not everything is as they TELL YOU it is?
Ya think these guys want a female VP- havent in the last 24 yrs, why start Now? Hillary? And all they could come Up with was ‘Snowbunny’ Sarah?
She’ll not just be proven an Insult to women, She’ll be revealed as a Successionist, anti American Sentiments!
They Vetted her alright, good old ‘Perfect Patsy’
LAYING THE ‘BAIT’(PALIN) IN SEPT
AND FAIT ACCOMPLI ‘SWITCH’ (CHENEY)COMING IN OCT!
Still a step behind the ‘Conventional Wisedom’ and Common Sense of the Masses
Report thisLooks like a Duck, walks like a duck,Quacks like a duck… Damn it! Its a F’ing Duck!