Plastic Soul

[H2O Man]

While imitation is often considered the most sincere form of flattery, there are times when obviously insincere imitation falls flat. Such was the case last night, when Bobby Jindal delivered a feeble "republican response" to President Obama’s speech.

Two things stand out: first, as MSNBC’s Chris Matthews pointed out, the republican party has, in recent history, nominated a right-wing candidate following a lose such as the 2008 election; and second, the current crop of right-wing candidates is shallow.

In the 2008 contest, there was no question that Hillary Clinton gave Barack Obama a far tougher fight than John McCain possibly could. Hence, the republicans attempted to exploit this by placing Sarah Palin on their ticket. Her performance will be best remembered by a series of skits on Saturday Night Live.

Last night, Bobby Jindal attempted to define himself as the republican version of Barack Obama, with his pathetic struggle to connect his life experience with that of the President. Slick as sandpaper, that.

Is this the new "hip-hop" republican party? Or was it more of a "hokey-pokey"? I found myself remembering when the Beatles had come to the United States, and Palace records attempted to trick fans by releasing an album with two titles – "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Beatle Mania" – by a group with two names – "The Schoolboys" and "the Moptops." The album cover featured rather crude drawings of the real Beatles.

Will the GOP run an Elvis imitator as their VP candidate?

[lazyriver]

1. An Elvis imitator would be a much stronger candidate than

any of the "new faces" they have been testing out lately.

[KittyWampus]

9. OMG! I would LOVE an Elvis impersonator to run for POTUS.

that would be so cool.

[lunatica]

2. The Republican party has become Idiocracy

They're left with the lowest common denominator

[TahitiNut]

3. The almost total absence of any real skills in the GOP is becoming more evident.

They're the "let those other guys do it" party -- they're entire strategy is one of subcontracting, outsourcing, and pass the buck. Why? Because they don't know Jack Shit about doing a job themselves - not adminstration and not operation -- nada. They regard government as a mechanism for collecting taxes (from the little guys), passing laws (to entrench privilege), and forcing governments of other nations to enact entitlements for the global corporatists (and letting the little guys die for that). That's it. They don't know how to pave a road, peel potatoes, build a levee, evacuate people, or perform the logistical task to bring emergency supplies to a drowning city. They don't know Jack Shit ... but give him government checks to do a job (including a tidy profit).

Back in the 70s, I worked for a bank. The subject of banking regulations came up. A coworker (and mentor) advised me that banking regulations were essential. I asked why. He said because these people are too fucking stupid to do business properly without them. He pointed out that they were the losers I went to college with. They only made it through college taking the simplest of subjects and needed test files (in their fraternities) to even pass.

It was an "ah hah!" moment. It's true.

[havocmom]

6. they got nuttin, except some really silly idea about mass marketing

They see color and gender as marketable now, so they are reaching for color and gender. They can't see that America, for the most part, is WAY beyond appearance and into substance.

One hopes they keep thinking they can hip hop back into power. The kids know they are relics and pathetic. The kids give me a renewed hope.

[TahitiNut]

12. I think of it more as "pimping" than marketing.

They're "pimping" for the global corporatists. (Pimps can't do it themselves, either.)

[havocmom]

14. Nut, I was thinkin' on this. Dems run real candidates. GOP runs puppets

Have we had a real president of the GOP persuasion since Nixon? OK, 41 was an attempt and it failed.

They have only pretty faces as front men. They do not WANT real leadership because they like the leaders who are really too ideologically ugly to run for office*.

* see cheney, Lay, Forbes, Perle, and, the big bad Wolfowitz...

REAL bosses of the GOP try to figure out what America is 'buying' any given election cycle then they look for some unfortunate schmuck who appears to fill the bill. The one real criteria the GOP power brokers seem to have is this: Must be compliant. Complacent helps. But taking orders is Job 1.

GOP think tank view of selecting 'leaders':

McCain: maybe America will buy a decorated, disabled Vet. Hey, what could be more jingoistic-ly patriotic?

Palin: Hey, Hillary did pretty well in the DEM primaries. Maybe America is in the mood to buy female!

OK, OK... we get it. America wants some color. Mr. Steele, would you step up to the plate as RNC puppet de jour?

Obama makes for brilliant leadership. We need to emulate him = Paging Mr. Jindal. Paging Mr. Jindal.

Pretty puppets, all in a row. That is the GOP and it has its roots in the corporatist running things. They think APPEARANCE is all that matters. Marketability. Same bozos who are running the corporations into the ground, despite the playing field they tilted their own way, are the ones running the GOP. No ideas, lots of schemes.

* Side note: Did you know if you type Wolfowitz in a DU reply and hit spell check, you get "Halfwits" as the first correction suggestion? :rofl: Sweet!

[ThomWV]

11. An "Ah Aha" moment indeed

I had never thought of it that way - and you're right. Now that I think back on it you've pretty much painted the picture. You know the ones who were one notch lower than the future bankers? The future real estate barons. We'd have all been better off if those folks had just got jobs driving school busses and been done with it.

[Greyhound]

18. Funny how often this happens. As children we grow up with this idea that "big people"

know so much more than we do and do things we can't imagine, so they are better than we are. Then we get big and find out that it was only a lack of perspective. Similarly, we have this notion that those that "run" large businesses must have some clue and know things we do not.

Then you meet them, work with them, get to know them, and the illusion is dispelled.

Idiot frat boys run the world and they don't stop being idiots when daddy hands them the keys that were handed to them.

[Junkdrawer]

4. I Googled up the album cover...

http://monstr66.narod.ru/beatlesnovelty.htm

[H2O Man]

21. Yikes!

That is a little different than the one that someone gave me as a joke when I was in college.

[Junkdrawer]

23. If you click on the link, they have a big collection of them....

It's a .ru (Russian) site, but my virus software didn't detect anything bad.....

[ThomWV]

5. They've got 3 years to look for the face of Jesus in the ashes

I'll tell you something we should be very thankful for - that they cut the balls off of Colin Powell on the day they sent him to the United Nations. Otherwise we'd be in trouble for 2012. Here's why.

The Republicans began with Palin, have now moved to Jindal, and will toss up someone else next month in their search to find a noodle that will stick to the wall. They will try every sort of Republican there is. My greatest fear is that somewhere along the line they will find an Eisenhower like figure and latch on to him or her. Straight up old time style Republican, staunch banker-type (not in the context of today's bankers, more like our image of one from the mid 50's), with military background. Bingo, they hit a home run with everyone who voted for Bush in 2000 and again in 2004. Powell could have been that person were it not for the above. My fear is there is someone like him out there - and it does not have to be a man, let alone a black man.

[Still Sensible]

7. They could be so desperate by 2012 that they throw up

Jeb Bush! One would think the last thing they want to do is put any Bush on the ticket, but the way they think it's possible they'll come to the conclusion that Jeb would give them a chance to take back Florida and his positions on diversity and immigration could play well to the general public. Of course, barring an Obama administration meltdown it wouldn't work, but what else have they got?

[mod mom]

8. Bobby's hip hop was in the delivery of Mr Rogers (with no disrespect to Mr Rogers

who was speaking to pre-school children).

[KittyWampus]

10. NeoCons told us that they invent their own reality. Their alternate version has become too dystopic

[blogslut]

13. The GOP is holding public auditions.

They're desperate to find someone that can replicate the Obama effect because they actually think they can manufacture that sort of thing.

How very Hollywood.

[havocmom]

15. Can we get some more Rs for H2O Man's great analysis?

[H2O Man]

16. Good idea .......

I wish I could!

[havocmom]

17. Sorry I can only recommend once per theade.

But I can keep beating the drum. I am never too proud to promote good stuff.

Besides your astute (as always) OP, there are some pretty decent comments in this thread.

[PufPuf23]

19. Recommended

Regards Jindal coming to the USA in the womb and the arguments of the right wing of the rights of the fetus, perhaps should Jindal ever run for POTUS one could argue Bobby did not come to being on USA soil and hence not a natural citizen. whew terrible sentence.

Not serious but marginally amusing.

Mr. Rogers comes to mind as well.

[Me.]

20. Aah The Irony

After denouncing the train to 'Disneyland' Bobby Jindal is taking his family to Disneyworld for a vacation.

I tried R-ing this thread 10x but as this is DU instead of that place that starts with a C they only let you vote once.

[Cha]

22. They say imitation is the best form of

flattery but they can't even get that right.

The gop..party of no ideas except a cheap imitation.

[Me.]

24. Ersatz

They can't figure our president out so how can they think they can copy him. Bobby J. thought he had him outgunned when he wrote those silly little words of his, but Obama beat him to the punch

[JeffR]

25. It's sadly typical of you progressives that you can't recognize a real rock star

when you see one.

I just slapped this together to help you get your mind straight:

[H2O Man]

26. Wow!

It will be difficult to NOT think of this image, should Bobby J every grave my tv screen again.

[JeffR]

27. Wait till you hear his rendition of "Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love"

It'll stiffen nipples coast to coast.

[H2O Man]

29. "Wow" pales in comparison

to the "YIKES!" that thought demands.

[havocmom]

28. Jeff, you are one sick puppy! Now I am all shook up

uh huh!
:rofl: