The Democrats may get defeated time and again by the Republicans, but we have to give them this: their etiquette is superior and they know how to play well with others. Gold stars for etiquette, that’s impressive.

Bush’s campaign called McCain’s Daughter a bastard but McCain hugged Bush so all was good.

Cough!Willie Horton.Cough!1!

No, they don’t.

I’m taking some exception to the idea that Claire McCaskill is “on the left.”

Is there a single Democrat who isn’t a coward? I can’t think of one except Grayson. Sounds like Conway might qualify, too.

What is this line the Blue Dorks speak of we don’t lie and we admit mistakes. Rand ties up a girl and makes her worship Aqua Budda and thats ok? Fellow Democrat and Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri need to realize they took an oath to serve the people and obey enforce the law.
Kidnapping goes over that line even if it was 20 years ago?
Lets reverse the question Claire do you have any daughters Rand after he wins the election would like to talk to them about the Lord Aqua Budda.

;-) You just don’t understand, BT. The rules are different for Republicans because they’re God’s Chosen People and the rest of the world… well… we just ain’t.

There is no political arms race in the advertising wars when the Dems decide to unilaterally disarm themselves.

McCaskill should tend to her business in Missouri and let Jack Conway fight Rand Paul’s idiocy on his own.

I’m really tired of these Congressional dinosaurs pissin’ and moanin’ when the goin’ gets tough. What sends ‘em into fits is it makes ‘em think their corporate donors will turn off the spigot.

A lot of liberal activists/pundits are doing the same. I don’t know why these people got into politics but it damn sure wasn’t to help people. Maybe they think its a game, and this is unsportsmanlike conduct.

Jonathan Chait also had the vapors, to which Kos himself replied, in part:

If you’re going to start the “holier-than-thou” bullshit, then you absolutely make religion a valid issue in the campaign. Remember, it was Rand Paul that tried to gin up the outrage machine when Conway said the word “hell” during his Fancy Farm picnic earlier this year. To criticize Conway for pushing back aggressively is not only wrong-headed, it’s also self-defeating.

The GOP has to lie to cause hate They are responsible for all your problems.
The GOP needs to lie about the issues because whether its tax cuts for the rich, we can’t regulate banks that would hurt the economy, we can win the war in Iraq the GOP is always proven wrong.
The GOP has to lie about personal lives because the are Aqua budda, Witches who like horse porn, immigrant nannies etc their personal lives discredit the very issues they choose to run on.

The ad that gave one of JFK’s killers the Presidency.

What?

What sends ‘em into fits is it makes ‘em think their corporate donors will turn off the spigot.

Exactly. And I don’t see what they’re worried about. The Repugs are meaner than a barrel full of rattlesnakes, and their party is awash in corporate cash.

What would your life be like if it weren’t filled with conspiracy theories?

Do Republicans Ever Worry about Their Own Attack Ads Being Too Mean?

No and neither do the librul media.

Boring I suppose. I think ghost is really Alex Jones.

They’re worried about that corporate cash they’ve been suckin’ up for years drying up, even if it is just a fraction of what Rethug pols get.

It’s nice to keep a “higher tone” and to take the “moral high road.”

Yet I fail to see where the Democrats allegedly doing this has made any real “points” with voters or made any perceivable difference in the generally scurilous tones of the campaigns.

I do NOT advocate for outright lying or really bottom-sucking attacks, like what Bush did with McCain on the “black baby” attack, or what Rove did to Max Cleland. Those are disgusting, but of course, conservatives lapped it up and thought it was the greatest.

The examples given here about some recent Dem ads are nothing in comparision. All’s fair in political campaigns. McCaskill needs to find something useful to do with her time.

Oh lordy, he can’t be that bad.

No, you’re right and I take that back. He’s not nearly as rude and annoying as Alex Jones.

While Democrats and Republicans tend to be equally assholish, there are some differences between the bases of the two parties.

Republican supporters tend to be comfortable with cognitive dissonance and with shouting unrighteous things in the name of righteousness. I think that’s why Republicans get away with running sleazy ads and why they are often successful.

But when a Democrat does it, his or her base of potential supporters tends to be less willing to be swayed by it or tolerate it. The ads fail.

Tim Kaine, worst ever. There never has been easier election targets than satanic worshipping, buddha bong hitting, gay bashing gay club owning, and Nazis in full Nazi drag. Then the D’s could be pointing out the Koch Brothers and Exxon are behind the Teq Party. But nooooooo. The Democratic Party is too polite to offend the real corporate masters. Thus there there is no populist campaign, there is no anti-war campaign, there is no solar energy campaign. But the D’s have a campaign based on “Look at all the change we gave you! No more change needed. Stop asking for more.” Obama has effectively neutralized the Left by neutralizing the Democratic Party.

What Digby said:

In this recent piece he [Robert Parry] takes us on a little trip down memory lane, explaining what anyone who has closely observed the way politics works in this era has long ago concluded: when the Democrats lose to Republicans — for whatever reason — they never, ever conclude that it was because they weren’t liberal enough. Indeed, they take the opposite lesson.

The reasons for this are complicated and Parry explains them well. They have to do with money and media. But in my view this phenomenon is mostly due to psychology. The two political tribes in America attract different kinds of people. Let’s call them the Lovers and the Fighters. (I think you can figure out who’s who.) http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/lovers-and-fighters.html

There have been some hard hitting but very truthful ads here about Goodhair. Personally I’m glad the gloves have come off. Perry is corrupt to the bone and the press and the Democratic Party have ceded the moral high ground and the values drivel to him over and over. The man is a criminal and that needs to be pointed out.

But the D’s have a campaign based on “Look at all the change we gave you! No more change needed. Stop asking for more.”

You forgot “we suck less than they do”.

Doesn’t Claire McCaskill have enough on her hands helping Robin Carnahan defeat the culture-of-Delay-corruption poster boy Roy Blunt? I mean, why is she even issuing an opinion about an ad in a different state’s Senate race. She’s a busybody who needs to learn to say when asked about something that’s none of her business, “I have no comment.”

As my grandma used to say when one of us got too interested in another grandchild’s projects, play, or bidness: Ten’ yer own affairs, Claire.

Many of the Lovers have been real fighters and found a better way. The Fighters have been neither real fighters nor real lovers and are trying to prove otherwise to themselves.

That’s the false dichotomy. The real struggle is between the rich ruling caste and their lemmings and everybody else.

Things that horrify Jonathan Chait and Claire McCaskill far less than Conway’s ad:

– Workers at a Republican-owned Alabama manufacturing plant ordered to vote Republican

– Sharron Angle.

– Saudi-owned companies (and other foreign-owned companies) buy anti-Dem ads via US Chamber of Commerce (but I’ll bet they’ll happily latch onto this attempt by The Hill to confuse the issue)

If Grayson is defeated next month I can die a happy tin can.

Criminal?
You mean like Rangel and Waters?

Yup.

To the best of my knowledge Rangel and Waters aren’t arsonists.

Grayson won’t be defeated and I predict that when you die, it will be bitter and alone.

Great for the Dems to finally fight back…..I hope they continue to fight back for once.

Yet, the thought of Steny Hoyer as the next Democratic Party leader does not leave me all that enthused for the future of this party, either.

Criminal? You mean like Rangel and Waters?

Oh I must jump in here. I love Maxine. Perhaps you could tell us what terrible bankster fraud she has committed. So far Melanie Sloan and CREW cannot.

However Maxine wants foreclosures stopped and and the fraudsters investigated. Melanie and CREW have yet to discover the nationwide mortgage fraud.

Yet, the thought of Steny Hoyer as the next Democratic Party leader does not leave me all that enthused for the future of this party, either.

Yeah, I’d be more concerned about it if I thought either of these parties were worth having a future.

Nah, tinman1967 is a parody (pretend) troll.

That Conway ad is truly revolting.

The Right think they’re being tough against an evil opponent, so in their minds they can’t possibly go too far.

What they are doing, of course, is being mean, which the Right often confuse with being tough.

Headed for Nirvana

It’s a good read, and she may be right, they won’t learn the lesson. She closes then with we have to have a new strategy if they won’t work for our votes. That’s correct, and it DOES NOT include the Democratic Party.

If they refuse to heed the message or change, that’s their choice. Then it becomes our choice of what to do in the face of that. IMO it’s an easy, easy choice. I don’t see any true progressive can support the policies of this Democratic Party if it refuses to change, so it must be our choice to abandon the Party and look to another option.

I’m not as pessimistic as Digby. I already know they’re hearing the message, because that’s why they’re responding the way they are with the whole “Buck Up” message. They know their problem is on the left. THEY KNOW IT! Message, as predicted, is being received. I still believe there’s hope that this dynamic paves the way for the more liberal members to assert their leadership over the party. I believe it’s possible, and hope it’s likely.

The third party route sucks, will take a long time, and be frustrating. But I simply can’t support Republican policies, even if they’re being implemented by people with D’s after their names.

It is truly revolting to aqua buddha lovers everywhere. How dare Conway mock aqua buddha!

To criticize Conway for pushing back aggressively is not only wrong-headed, it’s also self-defeating.

But isn’t losing to the GOP this year’s Democratic game plan?

Will you die if he wins heartless?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/rand-paul-to-jack-conway-you-demean-kentucky.php
Here are some clips from the Ayn Rand Paul versus Conway debate. It is so wrong for Conway to hurt Ayn Rand’s feelings. No hand shaking there! It is incredibly rare to see a D actually fight.

There may be a difference between the House re-election game plan and the Obama White House game plan. Watching Barack Obama repeatedly use messaging that boosts GOP support and turnout makes me wonder whether he wants a GOP do-nothing impeachment-crazed Speaker Boehner to run against in 2012.

But I’m pretty sure from Nancy Pelosi on down, the Democratic House caucus wants to get re-elected. And build their ranks, for that matter.

I must also add that not only does Jack Conway look like a fighter, he looks fine while fighting. Easy on the eyes doesn’t begin to describe him. I’ll never forget the swoon-y Twitters and FB messages from the gay blogosphere attending Netroots Nation this year. From afar, I guessed Conway casts quite a spell….

Goodhair will lose, most deservedly, and don’t forget, early voting starts today.

Are you channeling Ann Richards?

Jane has a fresh cross-post up: The Bigger Problem with Valerie Jarrett and the HRC

Greenwald doesn’t like the ad either:

Many of the attempts to demonize tea party candidates are overblown and clearly designed to distract from the Democrats’ intense unpopularity and failures (see, for instance, the attacks from Jack Conway on Rand Paul for not being a True Christian)

Obama finds support from the right

I have mixed feelings about the ad. I think there’s many other things we can attack Paul for.

I believe the word is taqiyya. It is when a muslim (or a Republican) lies for the good of his purpose [like obtaining power]. According to the Quran, it is not a sin. Democrats are however forbidden to do this until after they get elected.

Problem is, attack ads work–despite what Ms. McCaskill says.

This one has the advantage of muddying the religious waters. There are no doubt people in KY who will now not vote for Paul because they think he’s a Buddhist. Mission accomplished.

So, yeah, Dems. Go ahead and use ‘em. Whenever you can.

Using 20 year old college hijinks to suggest that someone’s faith is insincere while simultaneously suggesting that atheism, Buddhism, or any non-Christian faith is incompatible with public office is pretty revolting.

Hooray for the fighting spirit of Jack Conway, Scott McAdams and Alan Grayson!! More please, more. Send Baby Paul and the rest of these “manly” Dad party pols crying back into their victimhood.

You may have noticed that politics is not a Garden Party or Tea Party. It is not for the faint hearted and Rand played the religious card first. So far the only folks clutching pearls seem to be the usual Beltway suspects. I have yet to hear anyone from Kentucky being offended.

What a totally lame rationalization. This ad is dirty, therefore politics is dirty, therefore this ad is OK? That’s nonsense. Anyone can see right through that.

What do you mean that Rand Paul played the religious card first? I don’t recall him saying anything about Conway’s faith or anyone’s faith but his own.

http://www.familyofsecrets.com/revelations/

Republicans are Meanies? So f’in what! The Left is TOO NICE and think TRUTH solves all. It does if the people believe the truth. How many Americans believe LIES? I rest my case.

He played the card when he tied up the girl and made her pray to aqua budda the law may have a statue of limitations the public doesn’t.
Would I want Rand anywhere near my sister nope not until he had convinced me he had changed his views about religion, Kidnapping Girls and forced conversions.
I don’t care if its been 20 years!

After Alan Grayson released an ad calling his opponent “Taliban Dan,” there was a lot of silly hand-wringing on the left about how misleading and unfair it was.

Uh Blue Texan, it wasn’t misleading and unfair, it was an outright LIE. There is a bit of difference but I guess progressives are allowed to lie if the ends justify the means, no?

Define dirt the ad is true on the facts. The only dirt is it reports Rand’s true nature. Voters need to know the facts. You would think the GOP and Tea Baggers would Vet their candidates for attempted felonies.

Rand Paul and Sarah Palin: We Wouldn’t Need Gov If Everyone Were Christian! from May

Rand Paul Won’t Say How Old He Thinks Earth Is

for a start. Plus Rand disagreed with his father on the Park51 Cultural Center.

What was the lie? American Conservatives and the Taliban have much more in common that American conservatives do with the American Left.
Taliban and American Conservatives both hate gay marriage, Both hate abortion, think a woman’s place is in the home, both are funded by oil companies, both have private militias that fight America.
Shall I go on?

The R’s and their partners the Koch Brothers Tea Party always claim how religious they are in general. In particular, Ayn Rand made religion an issue and he thinks religion is the basis of society. Ayn Rand and Christians do not really need laws because 98% are not criminals. The laws are for the nonreligious… blah blah blah. He is so religious now. But why did he abandon Aqua Buddha for Jesus. It is very creepy to tie someone up and make them take “drugs”, even if marijuana. Rand needs to explain this “prank”. If this was a D, would an R need more than 5 seconds to decide to play the “Aqua Buddha Card”.

I’m a Christian. We go to the Presbyterian Church. My wife’s a deacon there and we’ve gone there ever since we came to town. I see that Christianity and values is the basis of our society. I think that — in some ways it’s funny, ’cause people talk about laws, and they say, “Well, we have a law against this.” Laws really only work because most of us don’t even need the laws. You know what I mean? Ninety-eight percent of us won’t murder people, won’t steal, won’t break the law, and it helps a society to have that religious underpinning. You still need to have the laws, I mean, you have to have laws, but I think it helps to have a people who believe in law and order and who have a moral compass or a moral basis for their day-to-day life.

Wait, which part of that is attacking the sincerity of someone’s faith? Because I don’t see it. And I have no interest in D vs R, by the way. What could more boring than debating whether Democrats or Republicans are worse? All I know is that this ad is vile, and nowhere do I see any support for the claim that Rand Paul “played the religion card first.”

Who cares what any political ad says.
Or for that matter, what any candidate says.
It’s all bullshit.
Every one of them is in it for themselves.

Need more factoids about Rand Paul’s religious hypocrisy? First he worships Aqua Buddha then he worships Jesus. Not the community orgnizer Jesus but the hypocritical fundie Jesus. How about using religion to attack science? How about the age of the Earth? How about government ordered praying to the Christian God?

QUESTION: Was there a point in life where you became a Christian [...] and also, how old is the world?

PAUL: I forgot to say I was only taking easy questions (crowd laughs). [...] I’m gonna have to pass on the age of the earth. I think I’m just gonna have to pass on that one.

Later in the question-and-answer period, Paul explained to a questioner who asked about his views on separation of church and state that he does think “church really should be separate from the government,” but added that he thinks “you could have prayer in public schools.” (HT: Barefoot and Progressive)

Although he is a Democrat (a major strike in my view) I like this Grayson character for one thing. He throws down the gauntlet and takes no prisoners! I like that, courage under fire!

The Supreme Grandstander.
Never misses an opportunity to jump on the bandwagon du jour; questionable sincerity.
When push comes to shove, Grayson gets in line.

Talks the talk, doesn’t walk the walk.

When did this place turn into Daily Kos? I don’t see any arguments in favor of this ad, just a bunch of shoe-size IQ lame excuses:

1. The real issue isn’t the ad, it’s that Paul got “testy” and “defensive” in response. That just goes to “prove” that he’s unfit for office. OK, let’s kick anyone who’s ever been testy and defensive out of politics.

2. This ad shows Paul’s “hypocrisy”, because he made fun of religion in the early 1908s and now he professes to be a Christian. OK, one of my friends just celebrated her 10th AA birthday. I guess that she must never, ever encourage a drunk to stop drinking, because that would make her a “hypocrite”. Besides, she really didn’t quit anyway, because however you behaved in college is the exact same way that you will behave for the rest of your life. People never, ever change in the slightest way, EVER.

3. If you don’t launch an ad attacking Paul as not being a real Christian, then you must be a wuss. OK, by this logic, attacking Paul’s extremist stands on the issues makes you a wuss unless you’re attacking him for not being a real Christian. By this logic, unless the cops are allowed to brutalize anyone who looks at them cross-eyed, they can’t do anything at all to stop criminals.

4. IOKIYAD, because keeping the cause of keeping the Democrats in power trumps everything else.

The Republicans don’t play by any rules with their ads, in case you hadn’t noticed.

Now, when you’re playing against someone who doesn’t play by any rules, you can either impose rules on yourself — which guarantees you’ll lose, or you can play the game the same way they do.

I prefer the second option.

Fine. Then you have absolutely no right whatsoever to complain about the GOP when they play dirtball, and I’ll throw this quote right back in your face if you do.