The Three Groups

[H2O Man]

A simple formula in any political campaign provides an interesting view of the republican national convention. A political campaign always considers three distinct groups:

(A) Those who will always be expected to support you.
(B) Those who will always be expected to oppose you.
(C) The "undecided," who in close elections decide the outcome.

By the time of a modern national convention, the candidate always looks to: {1} smooth over any significant differences within Group A, and to present a united front; {2} avoid doing anything that will tend to energize Group B; and {3} look to communicate a convincing message of strength to Group C.

After the national convention, the focus is on reaching the Group C "undecideds," and to present the campaign's views in a manner that discourages Group B voters from going into the voting booths on election day.

Now, consider what John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin, combined with a rather disorganized republican national convention, does in regard to each group. Do not base your opinion on the rantings of the republican lap dogs in the media, such as Mourning Joe on MSNBC.

By selecting Palin, it appears that McCain was looking to solidify support among the social conservatives who form the base of the republican party, and to appeal to females from Group C. Now, a few days later, it seems that McCain's judgement is being questioned. The questions being asked were, in a significant part, raised by energized grass roots members of Group B. As a result, some in the corporate media began asking the same questions; others, like Mourning Joe, try to discredit the questions by attributing them to the energized grass roots.

Joe Scarborough said an interesting thing this morning: when speaking of how the media was influenced by the energized grass roots, he said, "that scares me." I repeat: he said, "that scares me."

When the republican species is frightened, they respond like certain lizards that puff up and try to be scary. Thus, Joe was puffy this morning, saying the energized grass roots is attacking a pregnant 17-year old girl. Nope. That isn't our style. Democrats know that teens get pregnant. It's not a joke to us, and it isn't a source of shame. We are the party of compassion, and we deal with tough situations with respect.

But that compassion should not be mistaken for weakness or stupidity, Joe. We recognize that the republican party has a double standard on family values. We view Sarah Palin as yet another sad example of your republican double standards. More, we see McCain's choice of Palin as yet another example of his impulsive, repulsive, bad judgement. And we are energized -- and we will not be quiet, no matter how "offended" or Scared" you are.

[WeDidIt]

1. K&R

[spanone]

2. 'mourning joe' love that

k&r

[LonelyLRLiberal]

3. Good points - Joe Scaryborough also flat-out lied about Palin's abortion stance today.

He said Palin wanted to leave abortion rights to the States, and when several panel members vehemently disagreed and pointed out that she wants to totally outlaw abortion, Joe shouted them down. He was pretty much out of control and out of contact with reality.


BTW, could Palin be a result of a McCain temper tantrum after no one would go along with Lie-berman or Ridge as VP nominee?

[H2O Man]

6. Joe also did the

puffy "name ONE time" that a republican attacked a democrat's kid -- which not only overlooks the most obvious example of McCain's insulting Chelsea Clinton, but purposely twists the fact that no one is "attacxking" the 17-year old daughter. She is pregnant, and saying she is, is no more an attack than saying she isn't would be defending her.

It can be a difficult situation for any 17-year old. We all hope that their families and the larger community are supportive. We are the political party that advocates compassion as a family/community value.

[kgnu_fan]

4. Thank you, always....nt

[myrna minx]

5. Heh, too true. K&R n/t

[glitch]

7. Awesome post. K & R

BTW What do you think about the AIP/security clearance issue?

[TheKentuckian]

8. I've not seen one person actually attack the kid

attacking the kid would be McCain's little joke on Chelsea.

The kid is just an example, a clear and present example of hoe stupid and dangerous Palin's policies are, but no more than that.

[H2O Man]

11. I think the AIP

issue is a serious one. My understanding is that it represents, among other interests, those who want to turn the state of Alaska into an energy corporation. They want to turn all of the federally-owned lands into part of their corporate development. More, they want to take the remaining Native lands, for the same reason.

Add to that the potential conflicts regarding a security clearance, and it is clearly something that the energized grass roots, the Democrats in Washington, and the Obama campaign need to coordinate efforts on.

[glitch]

13. Yikes! That is actually worse than I had thought. You are so correct, everyone needs to coordinate

with this issue being forefront.

[AuntPatsy]

9. Excellent as always and good points....we as a party support our teenagers

in an obviously much more productive and CARING manner than that of the republicans..its fact...

[H2O Man]

12. As a retired

social worker, I know that the majority of those I worked with over the decades were democrats and progressives. More, I am fully aware that from the national to the local level, the cold-hearted, skin-flints and Scrooges that were always looking to cut funding to programs that serve teens were almost always republicans.

[SalviaBlue]

10. K&R