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Republican Blowback
Author: BobR    Date: 2015-07-22 10:54:18

If there's one concept Republicans do not ever seem to understand, it's "blowback". Most of our bumbling in the Middle East is the typical example, but it happens with seeming regularity in their political decisions, actions, and propaganda. The current political circus is a prime example.

Back in 2004, John Kerry was running against George W. Bush for president. We were going through a rather nauseating display of jingoism, nationalism, and chest-thumping patriotism. Everyone was bending over backwards to proclaim "WE SUPPORT THE TROOPS". It was a reaction to the hostile reception VietNam vets got upon returning from war, as well as an "us against them" posturing when it came to anyone in the Middle East. All vets were sacred.

Except one.

That one was John Kerry. Despite his honorable service in combat in VietNam, despite being awarded several medals, he was attacked. First, for his demeanor after that war, and then the very veracity of the events leading up to his being awarded those medals. It was a despicable attack coordinated by Republican operatives. It even created a new phrase: Swiftboating. It's one of many dark spots in Republican campaign tactics.

Fast-forward four years, and now John McCain is running for president against Barack Obama. In a desperate move, McCain chooses Sarah Palin as his running mate. It doesn't take long for the world to realize that 1) she is a first-class idiot, and 2) she is a bull in a china shop when it comes to politics.

Of course, we all know how that election turned out. Palin went on to stain the airwaves with her presence, finding a welcoming home at FOX "News" to spew her particularly retarded political diarrhea. FOX has had a major stake in turning what should be a noble and respectable political process into a putrefying mess of false accusations, sleaze, empty talking heads, and bimbo mean-girl ditzyness. Palin wallowed in it, and politics in general continued to swirl in the bowl.

Donald Trump, it seems, is a perfect match for this. He is the personification of the FOX "News" ethic (now there's an oxymoron) - bluster and bullshit, dressed up in an "I'm rich, so my opinion has weight" false sense of importance. He is an infected pimple on the ass of the body politic.

It should come as no surprise, then that Trump used the tactics of FOX and the Republican party to trash one of his opponents, effectively "swiftboating" John McCain and his military service. He criticized McCain for being captured, declaring that he likes people who weren't captured. It's breath-takingly galling, coming from someone who managed to find enough deferments to keep himself out of the military, while less privileged kids were dying in swamps on the other side of the planet.

As expected, the Republican party faithful (and Trump's fellow candidates) are decrying Trump's attack on McCain's military history:
"As an individual who has worn the uniform of this country, I was highly offended by what Donald Trump said about John McCain and his years of sacrifice in a dirty, dingy terrible prison in North Vietnam," former Texas Gov. Rick Perry told the audience later in the day. "Donald Trump owes every American veteran and in particular John McCain an apology."

Bush tweeted: "Enough with the slanderous attacks. @SenJohnMcCain and all our veterans — particularly POWs have earned our respect and admiration."

Yes, Jeb Bush - George Bush's brother - thinks all veterans "have earned our respect and admiration". I wonder what he thought of the attacks on John Kerry, orchestrated by his brother's supporters in 2004? I am sure he is retroactively disgusted.

The Republicans created this beast, and they coarsened the discourse. Now they are feeling the blowback from it. To paraphrase a great a American, the arc of Kharma is long, but it bends towards deliciousness.
 

22 comments (Latest Comment: 07/22/2015 21:43:15 by Mondobubba)
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Comment by Raine on 07/22/2015 13:06:41
good morning.

This party has no sense of decency. Take a look at how many of these people took money from the swifboat crew.

Then there is this, I posted it a few days ago, but it is worth rementioning.
http://d35brb9zkkbdsd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Jeb-Bush-Swift-Boat-Letter.0-638x825.jpg


Comment by wickedpam on 07/22/2015 13:11:07
Morning

Comment by Scoopster on 07/22/2015 13:25:32
Mornin all on the way to work from the doc. He wants me to have my shoulder xrayd.

Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2015 13:31:18
Morning comrades. Doctoring is a thing this week- at the podiatrist having my terminus checked out. I have already been exposed to rays.

Comment by Raine on 07/22/2015 13:44:32
OMG! They just mentioned on the show that Trump sounded like Dr. Evil when he spoke yesterday!!!

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/22/2015 13:59:06
Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2015 14:57:01
So, back from my podiatral professional. Xrays ruled out anything significant. Now sporting an extra support brace for the ol' achilles. Of course she thinks I need orthotics, but they all say that.

I can only have one conclusion from all this medical business of late...we're all fucking old.



Comment by Mondobubba on 07/22/2015 15:05:21
Quote by TriSec:
So, back from my podiatral professional. Xrays ruled out anything significant. Now sporting an extra support brace for the ol' achilles. Of course she thinks I need orthotics, but they all say that.

I can only have one conclusion from all this medical business of late...we're all fucking old.



Yeah, orthotics been there. Insurance was all

Not covered for the issue I was having.


Comment by Mondobubba on 07/22/2015 15:06:30
Quote by TriSec:
So, back from my podiatral professional. Xrays ruled out anything significant. Now sporting an extra support brace for the ol' achilles. Of course she thinks I need orthotics, but they all say that.

I can only have one conclusion from all this medical business of late...we're all fucking old.



Yeah, I mean your Heir Apparent is what about 30 now?


Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2015 15:37:41
Quote by Mondobubba:


Yeah, I mean your Heir Apparent is what about 30 now?


You're all going to want to sit down - Master Javier is entering High School this September; he's a freshman.

We did just get off the plane with that squalling bundle of trouble just last week, yes?



Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/22/2015 16:18:11
Hello, bloggers!

I hope that everyone is well. I had to drive up to O'Hare yesterday to pick up a friend at O'Hare airport and spent time with her.

No real news on jobs or anything really. As for the GOP, it seems that the chickens are coming home to roost - and that they chickens are actually very hungry velociraptors.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/22/2015 16:22:17
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Mondobubba:


Yeah, I mean your Heir Apparent is what about 30 now?


You're all going to want to sit down - Master Javier is entering High School this September; he's a freshman.

We did just get off the plane with that squalling bundle of trouble just last week, yes?



Yeah, I think you did.


Comment by Scoopster on 07/22/2015 16:28:14
Comment by Raine on 07/22/2015 16:53:08
Quote by Scoopster:
Way to go LPJ!!

YES!

Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2015 17:45:00
Yard Sard.

Yard Sard.

Yard Sard.

Sorry.



Comment by livingonli on 07/22/2015 18:35:11
I go back to work one day, and then I have a day off, and then back to work again.

Comment by Raine on 07/22/2015 19:52:18
Quote by livingonli:
I go back to work one day, and then I have a day off, and then back to work again.
Looks like you will have great weather for the day off!


Comment by Mondobubba on 07/22/2015 20:00:38
Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2015 20:24:43

Ratings starved TriSec calls me a jackass. We're not dealing with Albert Einstein. #MakeAmericaGreatAgain


Well, I never!



Comment by livingonli on 07/22/2015 20:38:25
It looks like the AT&T-DirecTV merger, unlike the Comcast-Time Warner merger will be allowed to go forward.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/22/2015 21:14:37
Quote by TriSec:

Ratings starved TriSec calls me a jackass. We're not dealing with Albert Einstein. #MakeAmericaGreatAgain


Well, I never!




Said the same thing to me. How unoriginal. What a loser.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/22/2015 21:43:15
Quote by TriSec:

Ratings starved TriSec calls me a jackass. We're not dealing with Albert Einstein. #MakeAmericaGreatAgain


Well, I never!




Tri challenge for the evening. Make that insult into a haiku.