The Politics Of Fear

Well, at least they are honest about it now.

The Republican National Committee plans to raise money this election cycle through an aggressive campaign capitalizing on “fear” of President Barack Obama and a promise to "save the country from trending toward socialism."

The strategy was detailed in a confidential party fundraising presentation, obtained by POLITICO, which also outlines how “ego-driven” wealthy donors can be tapped with offers of access and “tchochkes.”

While this doesn't come as a shock to me or any liberal/progressive, it's interesting to see conservatives already trying to back-peddle on this.

If it’s a day ending in “Y”, it must be time for a Politico story about the RNC alienating its fundraisers. The good news? Given Obama’s state-by-state approval ratings, if fear of The One’s agenda is the key to big money then the path to November shall be paved with bricks of gold. The bad news? Calling your donors “reactionary” and “ego-driven” isn’t usually the quickest way to their wallets.

But they are ego-driven and reactionary, that's why this sort of campaign works so well for the RNC and conservatives all across the nation.

O'Donnell's Had Enough

And rightfully so.

Mark Thiessen has tried to pull this same crap about how torture of terrorists prevented the Library Tower bombing, though that has been debunked multiple times, and Lawrence reacts the way one would expect him to.



While conservatives are is already gleefully portraying this as a completely "unhinged" and "unprofessional" rant on O'Donnell's part, one has to wonder why this didn't come sooner.

The very smug demeanor of Thiessen, who is quite comfortable with his lie, shows just how well conservatives have brainwashed themselves. They actually believe the inane drivel that seeps from their very pores.

The one part I don't quite get is Scarborough kicking everyone off the set after commercial so he can interview Thiessen. I didn't see this live, but it's a fair assumption that Joe played patty-cake with this clown and let him peddle his fact-free screed with no challenges what-so-ever.

Liberals and Progressives are fed up with people like Mark Thiessen, and there's nothing wrong with being passionate about your standpoint.

Who Are These "Real" Americans Anyway

It's interesting to hear people like Brzezinski talk about who is and who isn't "real". Aside from the existential arguments that can stem from such a perculiar statement, this is part and parcel of the conservative movement - to quantify someone's patriotism and their very status as citizens of America based on what they believe in.

I think Palin is a completely vaccuous, willfully-ignorant, prude but she's still an American. She's even real. The very fact that she has the ability to say the obsurd things that she does is proof that she is a real American. Where else could you be this uninformed about the vast population of the country and still be elected as Governor?

Palin's standpoint on issues aside ( of which Mika could only mention "life" ) it's statements like who is and who isn't "real" that causes the conservative movement to continually loose ground with those in larger, metropolitan areas.

And it is rather humorous that Brzezinski would make such a laughable statement and be the very caricature of the silver-spoon, snobbish, elite that she pretends not to be. And when Scarborough pointe3d that out, it seemed that even Mike knew he was right.

But don't you think that both Mika and Joe really don't care about what Palin thinks or even what those in middle-America ( whom Mika claims to have met before ) think? Don't you get the feeling that they are just looking for that next soundbit to exploit, that new meme to try out just to see what sort of traffic follows?

Is Joe Rush's New "Point Man"?

I keep getting this feeling that Joe Scarborough is Rush Limbaugh's new "Monitor Of Republican Representatives"



Joe has recently told Rep. Mike Pence to "be careful" when speaking abouty Limbaugh.

While it is expected for Fox"News" to act in a genuflective nature to any and everyting that Obama says, Scarborough is showing himself to be more in line with that thinking that he normally distances himself from.

More from Think Progress

Joe Knows Talking Points

Joe Scarborough will believe anything that will make him favorable, albeit momentarily, with both parties.

Since Dick Cheney is getting so much face-time now, he's going to play with the conservative base and run with the "Obama has made the coutnry less safe" meme.



Here's why you can't rely on what Dick Cheney or Joe Scarborough have to say about the "safety" of America. They have no proof that what they did or what Barack Obama's administration is doing has made the country any less or any more safe. They cite these mysteriously vague statistical percentages that simply don't match up with the data that is readily available.

The main thesis statement of the Bush administration is that America was safer because they "tortured", because of the "Patriot Act", rendition, removing habeas corpus, and more importantly because they said so. They expected us to believe them and no question, for one second, that what they were postulating just might not be true.

Dick Cheney isn't going to go away, and he certainly isn't going to change his mind about what he and George W. Bush have done to this country. We can uncover all the evidence that is out there that proves their tactics did more to damage the credibility of America, as well as not improve national security, and he will still say that he was right.

And as long as Dick says it, Joe will parrot it back.

More from Media Matters

Hive Five! Nice!

HIGH-FIVE INAUGURATION! - watch more funny videos

Lots a great cameos in this one.

And, I'm not a fan of Newt Gingrich - at all - but his appearance is probably the best.

It's Just "Fuck" People, Get Over It

It's not like there was a dead woman in his office.