Defense Mechanisms

With the Angle/Reid and O'Donnell/Coons debates complete, isn't it great fun watching the entire modern conservative movement literally falling over themselves to find just one aspect of how these completely off-the-rails amateurs bested their opponents?

Allahpundit at Hot Air references the single line from Gloria Borger that virtually every conservative in the country was repeating the following day regarding Coon's apparent demeanor:

Coons can can barely contain his disdain for his opponent.

And while followers of the overly peddled "body language" metric are taking this completely at face value, I would argue that Coons showed more disinterest in O'Donnell's presentation of her "argument" rather than revealing to the audience his contempt of her as a person.

But that line just isn't going to drive up your audience share on your next program on Fox"News", is it?

Where Coons fell short - actually REALLY short - was his explanation of the "bearded-Marxist" line, which conservatives continue to fall back on like it's actually a credible piece of evidence against his candidacy.

Rather than explaining how this satirical approach to his political leanings was used in his writings, he relied on the "ah, I was only kidding" defense, which really isn't much of one.

That aside, I'm quite certain that O'Donnell - like most within the Tea Bagger movement - don't really know what a Marxist is, only that it sounds scary and creates the illusion that you have more validity to your side of any particular issue. Kind of like conservatives screaming about the "Constitutionality" of just about everything Democrats have doing and will do. Rather reminds me of a Micheal Bay film - all special effects and no plot at all.

And then there was Sharron Angle and Harry Reid.

Quite literally the only aspect of Angle's performance - or lack thereof - that conservatives are using for her defense is nothing more than childish taunting. But then again, that is their stock-in-trade.

Malkin's Monday morning quarter-backing of Angle's performance is truly something to marvel at:

In style and substance, Lady in Red Sharron Angle trounced the four-term Democrat Senate incumbent and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at tonight’s Las Vegas debate.

And in the quotable quote of the night, Angle pricked Reid’s delusions about the teetering Social Security system with two terse words:

“Man up.”

Angle smiled, channeling Reagan’s warrior optimism, and asked for Nevadans’ votes to restore prosperity and freedom and American exceptionalism. Without notes.

One could almost sense the collective "face-palm" of High School debate coaches shivering at the thought of the back and forth at competitions resorting to nothing more than "you man up!", "no, YOU man up!"

This is what the Tea Baggers have done to the intellectual process of debate - reduced it to nothing more than a "you're ugly and your momma dresses you funny" blabber-fest. Then again, conservatives are embracing the idea that you don't need higher education or experience to make your country a better place.

I will say this of Reid, he was - and is, really - too stiff and didn't really take it to Angle like he should have. Perhaps his confidence that he's going to win is showing just a little too much. But if he had been tougher on her, I'm sure the conservative narrative would have shifted from Angle being more effective in her responses to her being bullied. And I'm sure the sexist meme wouldn't have been too far behind.

Both debates were predictable and just a little more than disappointing to watch at times. I'm sure that both sides of the political aisle can agree on that aspect. But from a realistic standpoint, Coons was the clear winner on his night and Reid seemed to just be treading water. The later, to me at least, didn't have a clear winner and that fault falls directly at Reids feet.

What I will say is this - if Delaware elects O'Donnell and Nevada elects Angle, they are going to be sorely disappointed. Anyone recall the last time you heard a conservative shout from the mountaintops about the incredible, patriotic, pro-American job Scott Brown is doing?

Republicans Are Having A Good Month

Well, as good as they are framing it to be.

From the reports of resignations by 3 Democrats ( and there are many more Republicans retiring, but you won't hear them speak of that ) to the newly revealed statements of Harry Reid. His racist comments are all the rage in the conservative blogging realm, and calls for his resignation are growing louder and louder.

And while not everyone is claiming that what Reid said is racist, one thing is quite clear - the conservative double-standard is most certainly in play.

Trent Lott made racist statements and his party accepted an apology and moved on. But that was before we had a black President. Conservatives are hyper sensitive about race, and Barack Obama's election simply amplified that to a fault. Many within the conservative ranks of leadership ( Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity ) still used racially charged language when discussing issues, but amplified their labeling of people as racists. So now that Reid's words have been revealed, conservatives are acting like children with new Christmas toys.

The one overriding factor that the reactionary wingnuts aren't taking into account is Obama's acceptance of Reid apology. Does it change what happened? Absolutely not. Should this be used to show that liberals/progressives are somehow "accepting" of racial animus within their own party? Not at all, but that is precisely what Liz Cheney says this is.

If anything, Reid should step down as Senate leader. However, from my perspective, he should never have been leader in the first place. His "skills", or lack thereof, haven't benefited the Democratic platform once. This incident only amplifies his incompetence in more ways than I care to enumerate at this point. The bottom line is that what he did was wrong and no one within the Democratic party thinks everything is "just fine".

But Republicans are forgetting that RNC Chairman Micheal Steele had his own racial slur problem. But this is all part of the great month Republicans are having. They aren't reporting on it in favor of another racial slur. And that is the double standard.