reposted with diarist permission

All, I can say is, "Get the F*CK outta here!!!"

George Allen, THE RACIST, George Allen?

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Please Contribute to MyDD's 2008 Fundraiser Before it Ends Monday

Marc Ambinder does some speculating as to who John McCain might chose as his running mate. One of the names, in particular, jumped out at me (well, two, if you count the misspelling of Bobby Jindal's name):

1. Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)
2. Gov. John Huntsman (R-UT)
3. Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
4. Ex-Sen. Fred Thompson
5. Ex-Sen. George Allen
6. Gov. Bobby Jindall (R-LA)
7. Mike Huckabee
8. Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)
9. Mitt Romney

Is George Allen really in the running to be McCain's Vice Presidential nominee? One might think that such a possibility is a bit absurd -- after all, Allen's name has been thoroughly tarnished, not only in his home state of Virginia (which seems like it will be a key swing state in November's presidential election) but also across the country as a result of his utterance of the term "Macaca" and subsequent reporting on allegations of racism on Allen's part. However, McCain did chose Allen to introduce him at the CPAC conference, and Allen did just endorse McCain. And presumably Allen would be able to help McCain shore up support among conservatives, who still seem to like the tainted Virginian.

Maybe Allen's name being floated is just that -- or even less than that, speculation on the part of Ambinder. But given that more Americans viewed Allen unfavorably than favorably even before the Macaca incident, and after the incident 62 percent of Americans indicated that they did not want to see Allen run for President (compared with the paltry 13 percent saying they would like to see him make a White House bid), it sure seems that Allen would be a large net negative on a Republican ticket. So notwithstanding the fear of the possibility that Allen would become the Vice President of the United States, I certainly would not be too unhappy about seeing him on the GOP ticket this fall.

I published this today for Beyond Chron, San Francisco's Alternative Online Daily.

About a month ago, I was on a radio talk show (KALW-91.7 FM) to discuss the 2008 Presidential primary - when a caller predicted that this would be the "YouTube election." Now that any web-savvy citizen can post a video online (or even create a mash-up video that satirizes a presidential candidate), elections will be decided less through conventional media buys - and more through the grassroots actions of political activists who may have no affiliation with a campaign.  With this week's release of the anonymous YouTube video lampooning Hillary Clinton as "Big Brother," we know that the caller's prediction was right.  It's a brave new world, and campaigns must learn to adapt.

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While yesterday I focused on the fact that the Republican Party is reeling, today - thanks to the latest outburst from Glenn Beck - I'd like to remind everyone of something equally important: This is who they are. The face of Beck, Ann Coulter, George Allen and so many other right-wing bigots, misogynists and low-down assholes is the face of the Republican Party. The face and, to be sure, the heart and soul. Take a good look, America, because the smiling faces you see on the right belie a cold, dark interior far more accurate than outward appearances. And remember what you see, because obscuring the truth about themselves is the only thing keeping the Republican Party from being marginalized to permanent minority status at the far fringes of society.

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(crossposted at dailykos)

The 2006-midterm elections presented Democrats with a historic opportunity to strengthen the party brand and retake control of both houses of congress.  Party members of all stripes helped secure an election day capped with record setting victories through the nation.  

Although Howard Dean's 50-state strategy emphasizes long run party building over the short term electoral gains, its immediate success was vitally important not only to Americans hoping to derail the Bush agenda, but also to Democratic people powered movements in general.  Would grassroots level party building strengthen the brand or would it be wasted on people picking their noses in "red America"?

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