Catalogue the embarrassments so that I don’t have to.
They Don’t Mind Him. For Now
Greenwald with an astute observation that needs to be remembered:
There’s a prevailing sense that Obama is not as offensive to the right-wing GOP faction as other Democratic and liberal candidates in the past have been, or that he’s less “divisive” among them than Hillary. And that’s true: for now, while he tries to take down the individual who has long provoked the most intense hatred — literally — among the Right. But anyone who doesn’t think that that’s all going to change instantaneously if Obama is the nominee hasn’t been watching how this faction operates over the last 20 years. Hatred is their fuel. Just look at the bottomless personal animus they managed to generate over an anemic, mundane, inoffensive figure like John Kerry. At their Convention, they waved signs with band-aids mocking his purple hearts while cheering on two combat-avoiders.
If Obama wins the nomination for the Democrats, all of that will change, and it will change overnight. We will be regaled with long tales of madrassas, Obama’s first name will become Hussein, and everyone’s pets will be running around frothing from all the dog whistles. Obama is getting a free ride at the moment because of the intense, nutty, and 15 year old hate for the Clagina (in all honesty, I was a hater up until a few years ago when I realized cold and calculating competence is better than willful dishonesty and feckless incompetence). But if and when the queen is vanquished, all that venom will need a target, and that target will be Obama.
*** Update ***
I should probably note that the inevitable shift from full-on Clinton hatred to reverse Obamania by our right-wing friends could, quite possibly, be the least interesting political jujitzu they engage in this election year.
No, folks. The most interesting flip-flop of this election cycle could come if Huckabee actually wins the nomination. Then we will get the treat of watching all the establishment right-wingers, who have spent the last few months calling Huckabee a religious nutjob and the like, contort 180 degrees and attack the left-wing for pointing out that he is… a religious nutjob. Which he is.
If you need a preview of this, read the Sundries Shack, where itinerant fool Jimmie has spent the past few years taking great offense whenever someone points out the unhealthy fusion of right-wing politics and religion, but who has been less a fan of said fusion since the Huckaboom.
Huckabee Takes The Lead
And the Young Earth crowd thinks they have the GOP by the balls:
As the only Huck-supporting Redstate contributor, I thought it would be appropriate for me to offer a few thoughts on tonight’s victory.
First, Governor Huckabee’s win in Iowa sends a message to the GOP establishment that SoCons are not going to sit back and allow the party to be hijacked by those who don’t have our interests at heart. We are still the heart and soul of the party, and we’re not going anywhere. If you want the nomination, you’re going to have to deal with us and our concerns (i.e., “Culture of Life” issues).
“It’s our party now, bitches!”
And it is JUST what the GOP deserves. Look, all you establishment Republicans, I know you weren’t serious about Terri Schiavo. That is why it was so depressing watching you throw the concept of federalism out the window to pander to these guys. But they were deadly serious. The same with all the anti-gay stuff. I know a number of the Republicans I grew up with could not care less about the current ant-gay marriage jihad some want to wage. I know most of my republican friends really aren’t homophobes. But you had to bend over to the religious right, and this was an easy way to get their support. besides, who were the log Cabin Republicans going to vote for anyway? The same with stem cells, abstinence only, etc. Whatever you have to do keep ’em quiet and keep ’em voting- you will accept a certain amount of ignorance, religious hokum, and bigotry, just so long as the votes keep coming.
So, with Huckabee, you are getting EXACTLY what you deserved. And it was not hard to predict- I think as early as April I was pointing out how likable the guy is, and that he was going to do well.
Enjoy it. It is your party now, and you made it.
Obama’s Victory Speech
He sounds more presidential than all the others combined. An amazing speech. Count me as a new supporter. (Sorry John Edwards.)
Time For Someone Else To Sit In The Religious Right’s Chump Seat
Atrios calls it “huckenfreude.”
Following an entertaining discussion in our comments, an artist’s conception of the rampaging Huckernaut:
Note to the GOP: better throw a temper tantrum and smash the Huckabee campaign to bits. There’s no way that won’t work.
***Update***
A moment of silence for Hugh Hewitt’s credibility, even if it already died more deaths than Jason Voorhees.
Time For Someone Else To Sit In The Religious Right’s Chump SeatPost + Comments (54)
Live Blogging the Caucuses
For those of you who don’t have access to a television, I’ll keep you up to date on results till about 11pm EST.
Update XV: (10:00pm): I said I would go till 11, but it seems to have been called – Huckabee and Obama. Just want to say that I hope Mitt Romney goes completely broke during the primary season, and I hope he loses miserably.
Oh, and Edwards is slightly ahead of Clinton. w00T!
Update XIV: (9:52pm): Quote of the day from Donna Brazile (paraphrase):
African Americans have always lifted up Democrats. Now it’s time for Democrats to lift up an African American.
Fine by me!
Update XIII: (9:343pm): A commenter:
Clinton’s going to get ugggggly against Obama now.
I think that’s probably true, and it would be Clinton’s downfall. She needs to reach out to Obama supporters. Anything else would seem like “I’m the candidate that’s supposed to win!” It would turn off a lot of people. Obama is now completely viable. Hillary can no longer consider him anything less than a solid challenger. In fact, she now has to look at him as someone with whom she has to catch up.
An Open Caucus Thread
Predictions? Expectations? Put them here.
BTW- One more reason why Dodd is teh awesome. He really is the best candidate the Dems are offering, and he doesn’t stand a chance. Kind of depressing.