Hi Mark,

I like your post and appreciate the argument you make. But I don't think they can attack Obama while in office like they did Clinton for several reasons. Some of which you are already seeing happening right now as the tactics from the McCain campaign backfire.

1. Obama is an African-American. We see already how much of the anger directed at him not only borders on the racist but is, in fact, outright racism. And it's backfiring big time. That kind of emotion they cannot control. It was okay to hate Clinton, the worst thing someone could call him was a hillbilly. With Obama, they will not be able to contain the racism attacked to their opposition of Obama and that will not be countenanced by the press or by the public. Racism is a big no-no and the subtlety of it that takes place today in the right wing media will give way to overt racism. And Fox News and Limbaugh will be expending all their energies distancing themselves from the most outlandish of the racism that takes place under their noses.

2. The times are different. Republican rule has literally fucked up the planet's economy. The world is far more integrated economically than it ever was and Obama will be working to solve many of the world's problems. He will be embraced and Americans will be proud to be leaders again.

3. Republicans will have to get out of their "angry white guy" mode because with current demographics they won't have any chance at a majority of the electorate until they change their tune.

Don't worry. Obama in office will be the worst thing that ever happened to the Right. He'll be the best thing that has happened to the US in a long time and his victory will represent one of the greatest moments in US history.

Another very significant difference-- during the Clinton years, the "deregulated free market" philosophies of the Republicans still had some credibility. This time around? Not so much. I think you're right in essence, it's been said before that the Conservative movement tends to have more energy and effectiveness (unfortunately) as an 'outsider' minority than they do when they're actually in charge of things. This might be because they're happier when they can just be 'agin it', whatever 'it' may be, than when they actually have to make things work.

In any case, while it's pretty thin gruel as silver linings go, the current financial market failure and its consequences are going to be with us for some time, and it's going to be a rotten, stinking albatross draped around the neck of the Republican party for about that same length of time.

I think they'll find things to be a little tougher for them this timne around than they were in the Clinton years.

All too true, Mark. The right has always portrayed themselves as the poor persecuted puppy dogs who just want people to be free. They love being the underdog, love to be able to say they're fighting against "liberal conspiracies" and such. While an Obama presidency could prove to be good for the country, the far right will just retreat to the "private sector" where they can do what they do best - plot and scheme from behind closed doors.

Mark,

I agree with your take to a point. Actually, although an Obama victory would be a godsend for the nation (and the world), I believe it would add more fodder for the loonies of the right to chomp on for the next 4 years. Their "boys" have done such a great job of screwing things up, it will likely take at least three administrations to correct the mess.

There is only so much reparation that can be done within the first next admin. Front and center would be the economy. Then the Iraq situation. Then the Supreme Court. Then business regulation. Then...... All this while the "Righties" will rag on about how ineffective the current Dem congress has been and how Obama was all talk in the runup but can't deliver the goods in office.

It took 8 years to screw it all up. It might take a LOT longer to correct. And don't think for a moment that Ms. pit bull won't be drumming up her run for the top office in 2012. We can only hope that were he to become president, Mr. Obama will be given the opportunity to fulfill his term and not be met with the unthinkable "ire" of a 2nd Ammendment whacko.

I'm sure by now you've seen the footage of McCain cautioning his followers at a rally where a woman called Bacack, "an arab."

The Clintons response has always been contained in their admonition for impoving education--if you notice--they always made it an issue when it wasn't on anybody elses radar. Obama, as their protege, has done the same, and I think will continue to do so.

The "liberal" response to ignorance has always been education. It struck me as absurd when the Clinton's had to be circumspect about calling the "conspiracy" against them "right wing" knowing full well they'd be ridiculed for it, and the press would dutifully report it as
"suspicious" on their part.

I think we'll be very fortunate to get through this election without violence, and I can't begin to imagine what kind the fraud they are going to commit at the polls.

Great post, arousing many good comments!

Considering that they have been trying to pin blame for the economy on Obama even now, they will conveniently forget how long the Repugs took to destroy the republic. Lush Rimbaugh will probably need and get a raise (have you looked at your own prescription costs?). They will talk hate.

The real threat is the racism being awakened by this. If the South explodes this time, I say let's just let them secede.

Rated!

Lt. Columbo, I hope you're right, but I find the rage and ignorance being reported by cable news and independent bloggers alarming. I think it's true on the whole that the media will not tolerate overt racism, and I think it's true that that's just what's coming to the surface. But I also think many people are slow to change, that the obstacles are considerable.

If nothing else, the past eight years have demonstrated that the powerful can sell just about anything if the conditions are right. The case against invading Iraq was just as plain in 2002 and 2003 as it is now, yet how many Americans supported the invasion? Upwards of 80%? How many of those have confronted their own ignorance in retrospect, have taken on the responsibility of reading the news more carefully, more skeptically; of getting involved in some more constructive way? How many have taken on the responsibility of seeking a more wizened set of values than patriotism via military smack-down? Or of recommending it to their fellows?

How many instead have just blamed it all on Bush and company and moved on? If this is the tendency, we have not learned our lesson. We will be duped again. We will be betrayed by our leaders again. We will be in foolish, unnecessary wars again.

Meanwhile, there are media outlets which pander directly to a certain kind of ignorance of the right -- stoking it, furthering it, feeding it more spin and falsehood. They continue unchecked and do tremendous damage, in my estimation. They are treated as authorities when they are not; they are trusted when they should not be; they are credited with straight talk when they do not give it.

I really hope you're right, that this is a changing of the tide. But I strongly feel that the work is just beginning. And that work will have to be an ACTIVE process undertaken by everyone who wants a country that lives by a higher light than what we've got now. We have to participate. We have to participate more.

What is really the cause of the problems and economy crisis?



Remember that during the Clinton years, the banks were pressured

to lend money to the poor and the ones on welfare. It was a great idea

and giving homes and loans to them may have been good but there are

those that do not know their financial limits!



The Bush administration may be a failure but fault was not only them.

Although there is a lack of leadership, Congress, Banks, Wall Street's greed

and the American People are all elements in this economic crisis.

There is no politician who has the guts to tell the American People to

conserve and live within their means.



You know why the rich gets richer? Because they do not spend

beyond what there is to spend. They save their money!

That is all there is to it!

Hi Matt,

I appreciate your concerns but I wouldn't worry so much.

Yes, there is an ugly streak in US society that is racist and that right wing media pander to through their coded talk.

But that's just my point. There's no code left. You can't control the code with a black President. And when that overt racism rears it's head, all those "legitimate" media outlets which danced around racism don't have any cover left. They are exposed and will be shunned and marginalized.

Will Fox News and Limbaugh go away? No, but they will be far less relevant. I can imagine all the fun left wing bloggers will have pulling racist comments and suggestions from all those right wing media.

You mention support for the war, partly, one can argue driven by fear and xenophobia against Arab/Muslims. But no overt racism came from the administration on that. They worked it in reverse, actually. Saying the US was there to help liberate the people and plant the seeds of democracy.

You see what I'm saying? Most people who harbor racial fears or xenophobia won't admit it -- even to themselves. The right wing has played those people well. But with overt racism on display, it will cause those people to re-think what they believe in and repudiate any overt racism aimed at Obama.

An Obama victory would be the greatest moment in American history since the days of Civil Rights. It will inspire people all over the world and not just in America. Even Reagan understood you sell "sunny optimism" not negativity. But negativity is all the right wing will have left.

Good days lie ahead. Believe me.

You may be right -- but I think there is also a rift in the Repub party now (as there has always been). When the neo-cons and the religious right took over, Bush benefited. But now, I don't think they know what to do if they can't get both the extreme and "moderate" wings to come together. David Brooks had a nice article in the Times about how the Republican party has embraced anti-intellectualism (and education in general) at their peril. And by the way, I'm starting to agree with Stellaa -- these outbursts finally led to the Jon Lewis comments and a demand from McCain that Obama apologize!!

Besides not liking McCain, another reason is whoever takes over in 2009 will inherit a country like American in 1929. I don't see any way of avoiding a huge fucking disaster at this point.

Let them get all riled up.

Our attitude should be as follows:

We won. So shut your punk ass up and either help us solve the problems we're facing or get the hell out of the way.

I have a Republican friend who said he's thought of voting for Obama himself. It's the Republican version of the scorched earth policy. The expectation is that Obama can't do nearly enough to appease a pissed off electorate in four years. That's when the good ole 'pugs will come swooping in on their white horse to save America from the queers, liberals, socialists, and tax raisers. Unfortunately, most American sheep are impatient, quick to anger, and short on long-term memory. It's a strategy that might work if there's no palpable progress on the economy, healthcare, or education costs in four years.

Another possibility is that the Republican party will spend the next four years struggling over which group will control it -- the 'fiscal conservatives', the libertarians, or the social conservatives.

If they keep fighting each other long enough, and we're lucky enough (with the help of an Obama administration) to have an improved economy, we might get a second term.