McCain Surrogate: We're Winning In "Real Virginia"
Appearing earlier today on MSNBC, McCain surrogate Nancy Pfotenhauer gave an interesting response to poll data showing that the campaign is trailing in Virginia: They're actually winning in "Real Virginia," which is the part of the state outside of Northern Virginia that is "more Southern in nature":
This seems to be in line with Sarah Palin's declaration that the conservative areas where she campaigns are the "Real America," and also hearkens back to John McCain's bother Joe McCain calling Virginia's Democratic strongholds of Arlington and Alexandria "Communist country."
Overall, the McCain campaign seems to be pursuing a very extreme form of a base-centered strategy: Promoting turnout in GOP strongholds by routinely bad-mouthing Democratic areas as not being truly American and as something to be feared.
More Park's sausages, Ma!
October 18, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if you can't win an election at least you can maybe get a culture war or race war out of it.
October 18, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tell it to Dr. Ralph Stanley...
October 18, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
HEY! EVERYBODY! Right now, go check out Neil Young's website - http://www.neilyoung.com/
Click on 'Living With War' and read all about
one woman and her family's one week nightmare vacation with the McCain's in Fiji, circa 2000.
If you thought that the Rolling Stone profile was something, wait till you read this new account, courtesy of rocker Neil Young.
October 18, 2008 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus. That's messed up if it's true.
I'd be pretty suspicious of this right now, though. Last thing we need a BS story to suck up airtime, when McCain is shooting himself in the foot just fine all by himself. You should do a post on this, or send to Josh and see what happens. Let a reporter or two verify it, and then we can let loose.
Seriously, though, if this is true, I am even more terrified at the prospect of a McCain presidency than I was before.
October 19, 2008 12:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's been floating around for a couple of months.
Here is the snopes on it:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/vacation.asp
October 19, 2008 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's been floating around for a couple of months.
Here is the snopes on it:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/vacation.asp
October 19, 2008 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cool. Thanks.
October 19, 2008 12:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seccessionists.
October 18, 2008 11:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL. Maybe Todd can speak in the "real" part.
October 19, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you are watching SNL, my initial take on Palin's 1st few minutes was she looked like McLame in his debates, misplaced, nervous, stressed out, sad, grumpy, and angry.
Let me hear yours.
October 18, 2008 11:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can you give a synopsis? My TV is in a moving van and I couldn't find streaming video.
October 18, 2008 11:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, Tina Fey, not Palin, starts with a press conference, taking questions about how well McLame did in the debate. Instead, she praises Obama as an angel whispering to your ears, etc. Outside in the hallway, Palin is watching Tina Fey doing the conference and she complains that she'd not do the conference that way. Tina Fey, in the mean time, is doing some beauty pageant moves. Some guy (the SNL producer?) says it is only a heightened version of yours. Mark Wahlberg is there to take revenge on the donkey episode, and as he is leaving, Baldin shows up and talks to Palin as if she were Tina Fey. She says she likes her Republican brother better. Baldwin escorts her to the press room. Tina Fey exits, and Palin, with unhappy/sad face, says in a totally unexcited voice, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"
That is the first few minutes.
October 19, 2008 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for that!
October 19, 2008 12:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
They only gave Palin about 4 lines. And, I noitced, almost no screen time with Fey. Anti-climax, which is a good thing. Passes with hardly a breath--then Powell, 150 mil...
October 19, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought she was like the Failin in the deer-in-the- headlight moments in the Gibson and Couric interviews; looked like she was barely able to utter the very short skit she had managed to memorize but obviously nervous.
Tina Fey was very good.
October 19, 2008 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
At the end, she looked once again misplaced. She was literally choking when all she had to do was recite a couple of sentences: "I am not gonna do what we rehearsed...It's gonna be bad for the campaign." Amy agrees to substitute for her in a makeshift fashion with an Eskimo rap song. Camera angle cuts off most of Palin except on two brief instants when she is shakin in the chair. She couldn't even thank the viewers with a cheerful smile. She looked miserable, "un-American" in her own language, not having been able to enjoy SNL.
I liked Amy rapping. My best tonight was the write-in candidate, who had a lot of subtle, uncanny jab at Palin.
October 19, 2008 12:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
The rap was absolutely hilarious! Moose and all
October 19, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just saw the video on Huffington Post. She seemed like a good sport about it, but not very on it with the delivery.
I liked the writing on it, though. I figured it might be a total jump-the-shark moment for SNL (not like it would be the first time), but they kept the spirit of mockery up. Brilliant move having Baldwin there to talk trash.
October 19, 2008 12:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Real Virginia"??? Isn't that the exact phrase (along with Macaca) that sank George Allen?
This is incredible. They literally have no interest in any moderate or indy votes.
Strange days indeed. Most peculiar.
October 18, 2008 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Starting to look like an end-run around the election itself.
October 18, 2008 11:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're not far from the truth, and that's really scary. I am not religious at all, but tonight, I will say a prayer for the safety of our country, and for Barack.
October 19, 2008 12:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup -- that's the first thing I thought of when I saw that headline. Allen told "Macaca" "Welcome to Real Virginia!"
Thing is, the last time I looked at the breakdown (which is, admittedly, at least a week ago, maybe two), McCain wasn't winning in any area of Virginia -- he was only tied in the southwest part of the state, which is typically a Republican stronghold. He was losing everywhere else: southside VA, central VA, Tidewater, and, of course, NoVa. If he's pulled ahead in the southwest, it probably isn't by much.
October 19, 2008 5:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unbelievable! John McCain has now surpassed George W. Bush for the slimiest, most sleazist campaign in modern history. It appears the goal of McCain camp is to divide Americans along party, ideology and racial lines.
October 18, 2008 11:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
My first thoughts upon reading the post was - this is John "reach across the isle" McCain. Yeah, right. I agree with you - the slimiest since Bush. And Shrub also made big talk of "working together". How do you think the senators across the isle are going to react when McCain walks back in on the senate floor when this is over?
October 19, 2008 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
So from the bullshit McCain uttered in the debate, from the "terrorist," "Pro-America" and "real Verginia" crap, they aim to play a base turnout game again -- despite the fact the base keeps shrinking and our ground game machine is different from that in 2004 (oh, don't forget their voter suppression game as well!).
No surprise... that's all they can do now.
But Palin's RNC speech, their smear attacks, Bachmann -- everything they try fires us up as much or more. It all comes down to our GTVO operation throughout the early voting and on the election day and I believe we can do it.
October 19, 2008 12:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Amen. We'll keep working hard, and we we'll win this.
Then there's going to be some serious soul searching on where we go from here. I thought we were divided after 2000, but these past few weeks have taken it to a whole new, and unsettling level.
October 19, 2008 12:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jeez. I said pray, amen and soul searching in the span of 3 minutes, and I haven't been to church in years.
I can't wait for this to be over.
October 19, 2008 12:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Go forth and sin no more.
October 19, 2008 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
You forgot the go forth and multiply one!
October 19, 2008 2:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
what's especially awesome is the anchorman's reaction. he really can't quite believe what he's hearing. hell, he even gives her a chance to walk back and she just doesn't.
they aren't even trying anymore.
October 19, 2008 1:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
This makes my head hurt.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/us/politics/19palin.html?hp
"You rock me out, Sarah"? "Proud to be voting for a hot chick"? Ugh. There are fascists, whereas there are morons. Pathetic. And wrong.
October 19, 2008 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I just puked a little. Good find, but oh so terrible at the same time.
Is the "that's the candidate I'd like to have a beer with" phenomenon turning into "that's the candidate I'd like to have a beer with (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more)" phenomenon?
October 19, 2008 3:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you look at that campaign, there seems to be a simple objective. Arouse and incite the men. Just get those passions flowing! That's it. Use to be Lie and Cry. Now it's Arouse and Incite.
Disgusting.
Then again it's a mirror image of mcShame himself: A womanizer with a vile temper.
October 19, 2008 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just turned that comment into a post:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/therap/2008/10/mcshame-campaign-in-a-nutshell.php
Some of my best ideas come when I'm commenting.
October 19, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL. If you do say so yourself.
October 19, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Imagine Cindy McCain campaigning alone?
She is crazier than Palin, but she has been drafted into her husband's campaign and will tour Pennsylvania alone. [Want to hear a joke? And for the purpose, she painted her plane pink, bought a pink campaign bus, a pink Cadillac and colored her poodle pink].
Craziest part of this decision is to question NY Times' story on her and ask media to look into Michelle Obama's "possible drug use."
http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/857
October 19, 2008 2:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Palin's SNL skits were MCLAME. Not funny at all.
Missouri hearts Obama: 100,000 in St. Louis and 75,000 in Kansas City.
Colin Powell won't endorse tomorrow. He will be wishy washy as he always is. Tom Brokaw should ask him why not; why is he a lame-ass. I miss Tim Russert. He was very much needed this election.
October 19, 2008 3:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
You mean the same Tim Russert that threw soft ball questions to Bush in 2004? Yeah, we need him real bad.
October 19, 2008 5:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bad news for Nancy Pfotenhauer: You need to win in both real, pro-American Virginia, but also in fake, anti-American Virginia, otherwise the votes go to Obama.
October 19, 2008 3:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Laughing! Picturing Nancy as you are saying this. Maybe if she just keeps *talking*, without interruption, it will all become "real" Virginia
October 19, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought Palin did as well as could be expected and was a good sport about it.
SNL didn't take it too easy on her but wasn't vicious either. Well played by all.
Having Alec Baldwin was great as was Palin's reminder that it was "Caribou" Barbie.
Obama will win. The R spin will be something like he didn't get 400 EV's as was "predicted" therefore no mandate. If the campaign had only been a little longer we would have won....
GOTV
October 19, 2008 4:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like that part about the 400 electoral votes!! And here is the rub for me. You know Obama is going to work hard to bring everyone, even those nasty republican, together. God bless him, I'll be right there to when he tell us how. But meanwhile I'll work hard to get Obama elected.
October 19, 2008 5:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
remember early September it was all about Sarah Barracuda, a distraction from politics then came the economic melt down. now a new distraction.
WE ARE NO LONGER TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMI!!!!
October 19, 2008 4:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Southern... like Alaska.
October 19, 2008 4:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
They are also succeeding in most of the states that tried to succeed from America. And apparently, that includes Alaska.
October 19, 2008 4:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's something to ponder:
"WITH Barack Obama now a red hot 1/9 favourite to beat 5/1 shot John McCain in the current US Presidential race, William Hill have installed Obama as Even money favourite to win in 2012.
'Obama is such a hot favourite at the moment that we are offering punters the chance to gamble that he will be in pole position to win in 2012' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.'There is ยฃ10 million riding on the outcome of this Presidential race - a record betting turnover doubling that of 2006'.
Hills have opened a book on how many Electoral College votes the two candidates will get in the current election and offer 6/4 that Obama will secure 370 or more; 5/1 269 or less;
McCain is 6/4 for 170 or less and 5/1 271 or more.
Hills are betting on a number of individual States and bet:
Colorado: 1/8 Dems; 9/2 Rep
Florida 1/3 Dem; 9/4 Rep
Indiana Eves Dem ; 8/11 Rep
Missouri; 4/7 Dem 5/4 Rep
New Hants 1/7 Dem; 4/1 Rep
North Carolina 4/9 Dem; 13/8 Rep
William Hill are Britain's largest bookmakers. Now here's the thing: bookies are NOT in the business of losing money. Here in the UK, they have called every election for the last 60 years.
If they make McLame a 5/1 shot, it's because they DO NOT expect to have to pay out. So take heart, folks. I don't want to throw a jinx on this, but it looks like, (knock on wood), you're almost home and dry...thank fuck.
October 19, 2008 5:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Would Neil Young be so dumb as to put the letter he has up on his website without his lawyer vetting it's allegations and it's author?
No way.
HEY! EVERYBODY! Right now, go check out Neil Young's website - http://www.neilyoung.com/
Click on 'Living With War' and read all about
one woman and her family's one week nightmare vacation with the McCain's in Fiji, circa 2000.
If you thought that the Rolling Stone profile was something, wait till you read this new account, courtesy of singer/songwriter Neil Young.
October 19, 2008 7:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama raises $150 million in Sept:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/19/55944/514/495/635148
October 19, 2008 7:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Damn! $150 million in September!
October 19, 2008 8:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
More good news:
"24 hours ago, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann announced that all those who disagree with her are "Anti-American." Since then, the outpouring of support for my campaign has been extraordinary. Since Congresswoman Bachmann's outrageous remarks, my campaign has raised $438,346.57, and we're working to reach $500,000 by 5 p.m. today."
- El Tinklenberg
The thought of that vile woman digging her own political grave with her big, ugly mouth
has just made my week-end. Great stuff!
October 19, 2008 8:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the Neil Young link, John Crandell. I knew McSlime was a raging ass-hole, but even so...I'm shaking my head in disbelief. The thought of this odious man sitting in the Senate is unacceptable, never mind having the worthless maggot in the White House.
October 19, 2008 8:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama campaign nets 150 K in Sept.
October 19, 2008 8:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry... 150 mil.
October 19, 2008 8:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, if Powell really wastes our time coming on Meet the Press today to say that even though he is not going to endorse either candidate right now, he much values the way they've raised so many fascinating issues, it will be another huge tactical error for the man who seemed so ready to toss away his integrity back at the UN.
The Hamlet act didn't do much for Mario Cuomo's career and it can't help Powell either. Shit or get off the pot, Mr. Secretary.
October 19, 2008 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here is Real Virginia:
http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?CHID=2&AID=31454
This gives you a good idea of what's going on here. I've lived here for 20 years, and although it makes me sick to know that people like this are all around me, I feel a moral obligation to stay. So do many like-minded friends, some of whom are doing their best to contest this racist BS, as you will see in the comments to the above article.
My one hope is that we'll have a result similar to that with Senator Macaca. Most people around here are conservative but civil - they don't cotton to bad behavior. I think that's what happened with Allen - collective embarrassment. And given how McCain is behaving, maybe, just maybe, there's a chance.
October 19, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
They say "real," but I only hear "echt." Am I alone in this?
October 19, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah...the reinvocation of the fantasy-based community.
Don't like a result--or a state? Just say it isn't so.
October 19, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
What time does Meet the Press come on in the East?
If Powell really goes on there, and says that even know he won't endorse candidates now, both of them have raised issues in the most fascinating fucking ways, it will be another self-inflicted mar to his uneven reputation.
[Sorry in advance if this ends up as a double post.]
Shit or get off the pot, Mr. Secretary. Or as the ole bluesman say, "It's never too late to be good."
October 19, 2008 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmnnnn
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-powell20-2008oct20,0,3457356.story
October 19, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
10:30
October 19, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
And just a touch of the divisive flavor of "that one":
From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/that-one.html
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
"That One"
What a very odd thing for McCain to say.
McCain repeatedly invoked the need for a "steady hand on the tiller" tonight--for someone who will be calm and cool in the crises that the upcoming years will present us.
Yet this is a man who is utterly unable to contain his contempt--even on a night when, even as Bill Bennett says, he needed to "break through", and even when such a strange expression of disdain could only highlight pettiness, anger and partisanship that voters wish that candidates would steer away from in the greater interest of the nation.
McCain's fundamental position--one from which he finds his momentum and meaning--is so often one of a contemptuous anger for those who do not understand what he believes he has learned--e.g., "them".
This is the impulsive, gut-driven, black and white thinking that we have seen throughout the campaign.
We have had 8 years of a President driven by impulsive, black and white, gut-driven, categorical thinking. In those 8 years, from a position that manifested from the very start an angry, assumed knowledge, and a contempt for the position of others, we have now seen the results.
So this time: choose that one.
Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/that-one.html
October 19, 2008 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
I love this.
This is McCain's thinking personified: Real Virginia, False Virginia, This One, That One. All dividing lines, as you say, all black and white.
Don't get too comfortable, but we may get to say so long to this thinking soon!
October 19, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's all perfectly clear. There's West Virginia, Real Virginia and Faux Virginia. Still not clear on which part of North Carolina of is really in America and which part isn't, however.
October 19, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a "real Virginian" who was born and reared in the Shenandoah Valley in a town smaller than Wasilla, AK, to parents who were also native Virginians, I am truly offended by McCain's comment. It suggests that people in the rural parts of the state are either a) racist, b) not smart enough to see through McCain's and Palin's pandering and lies, or c) both.
I want to point out AGAIN that Virginia was the first state in the U.S. to elect an African-American governor (Doug Wilder back in 1989, long before the NoVA tech boom). As for "sweetannie," up there who feels a "moral obligation to stay" in Virginia, sweet lord, get down off that high horse, sister. I'm glad you're voting Democratic, but spare me the self-righteousness.
October 19, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just fyi, I wrote" McCain's comment," but I realize it's a surrogate who said it.
October 19, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think I'll stay on my high horse. It's safer from the flame-throwing up here.
The moral obligation I feel is about not letting racist assholes scare me into relocating. Is that so self-righteous?
In the end, I don't care what you think of me as long as you vote for Obama. :-)
October 19, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cindy NoBrain; Caribou Barbie; Nance HR Puff-n-Stuff...Where does John McLame manage to find such talent to represent his campaign? Somewhere, in real America, in a little town filled with pro Americans, there is an underfunded Think Tank, housed in a trailor park, staffed with ex-beauty queens, on a mission to change the world. ALLEY OF THE EX-DOLLS. Bo Derrick, Sandra Bullock, and Angie Harmon will be great in the McLame movie.
October 19, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who's elitist again?
October 19, 2008 9:55 PM | Reply | Permalink