The Rude Pundit Nails It

[Stevendsmith]

A Conversation That Bodes Ill For the Coming Contest: A Play:

Characters:

The Rude Pundit - a wanton blogger

The Rude Mom - an AARP member who previously voted for Clinton, Gore, and Kerry. And, once upon a time, JFK

Setting: The Rude Pundit is home at Casa de Rude, in the midst of a phone call with the Rude Mom.

Time: Last night, prior to an evening of vodka and Ukrainian karaoke that would make the Rude Pundit wake up late, thus delaying his bloggery for the day.

Rude Pundit: So you're voting in the primary.

Rude Mom: I think we'll be out of town.

RP: You know your primary actually matters this year.

RM: Oh, no, it doesn't.

RP: (After a moment of incoherent sputtering) Are you voting for Obama or Clinton?

RM: I really like John McCain.

RP: (After comically loud sputtering) Wait, McCain? Why the fuck would you vote for McCain?

RM: (Who has learned to ignore RP's little Tourette's-like outbursts) I like him. He's always seemed like a fair man. He's a moderate Republican, not like the others.

RP: (Secretly knowing the answer is "Lieberman") But why do you support him?

RM: I just said. He's very fair.

RP: So you want the war to continue.

RM: No, of course not.

RP: If you vote for McCain, that's what you're voting for. You're saying you want the war to keep going as it is.

RM: The war is not the only issue.

RP: Um, if you want to get anything else done in this country, ya gotta stop the war. The war is the only issue.

RM: No, it isn't.

RP: So you're pro-life.

RM: Of course not. Don't be silly.

RP: So that means you're pro-choice.

RM: (Realizing that, if they were in the same room, she would be slapping the shit out of RP) Yes.

RP: You know McCain wants to put judges on the Supreme Court that'll overturn Roe v. Wade. Motherfucker's pro-life.

RM: Oh, he's not really. He's just been saying that since 2000 to try to get the conservatives to vote for him.

RP: No, he's pro-life.

RM: But he supports stem cell research.

RP: Yeah, but he's pro-life.

RM: Look, I don't know right now. I just like him. I admire him.

RP: What about Obama?

RM: I don't like him. I don't like some of the things he said at the debates.

RP: What do you mean?

RM: He was just arrogant. I didn't like him.

RP: You mean he was an uppity nigger?

RM: (Almost audibly rolling her eyes) Stop it.

RP: No, I mean, what didn't you like?

RM: Didn't he get his home half price from someone in the mafia?

RP: I don't think that's the story.

RM: That's what they said at one of the debates.

RP: Have you heard him give a speech?

RM: He's wonderful. Very inspiring.

RP: What about Clinton?

RM: Oh, no, I don't like her. I could never vote for her.

RP: I can't believe you're seriously thinking about McCain.

RM: I don't know yet. What difference does it make?

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2008/02/conversation-that-bodes-ill-for-coming.html

[Truth2Tell]

1. OMFG

I had almost this EXACT same conversation with my identical boomer mother about 1 week ago! Swear to god.

This is not good people.

[Stevendsmith]

3. Seriously!

Hordes of uninformed Americans (of all political stripes) will vote for McCain simply because they believe in the mythology of Saint McCain the "moderate" and "reasonable."

This is a big problem, guys!

We each need to ferret out potential McCain voters (don't assume your liberal friends and family would not vote for him) and make the obvious points that he's a pro-war, anti-choice, hardcore Bushist Rethug.

It's amazing and tragic that this has to be done!

[griffi94]

5. yep same with both my parents

[leftofthedial]

7. which is more compelling?

the mythology of McCain the moderate

or the mythology of either Clinton or Obama as a progressive?

[Truth2Tell]

8. which is more compelling?

Whatever the TeeeVeeee tells people is more compelling. And for the the next nine months the TeeeVeee will be a relentless barrage of "maverick," "independent," "war hero" blah blah blah.

Whoever wins the Democratic nomination had best be prepared to immidiately strip off the gloves and start fighting like a cornered hyena. Kerry/Gore pussyfooting WILL NOT cut it.

[radfringe]

2. What difference does it make?

unfortunately, people aren't really seeing any difference of any consequence that will improve their lives

if you want to see what people think will happen after November... look no further than this board

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2836001

[sjdnb]

4. I know a whole bunch of old-school Dems and/or those who are not P/Js

who are talking the same way.

Concerns me that at a time where the incumbent and his party are so unfavorably rated and mired in scandals, etc. that we could actually lose this one. If we can't win now, does anyone think we ever really will?

It's why I think JE's dropping out may come back to haunt the country. Not only did people know he was not going to steal their chicken - they believed he wanted them to have more chickens. He also spoke most directly to ending the war and occupation asap.

[Stevendsmith]

6. Idiotic people are not making the McCain / Bush / Republican connection

What the hell is going on?