Oi.

From the executive, to the House, to the Senate, Republicans were soundly defeated across the board in Tuesday's election, giving the legislative edge to the Democratic Party.

A landslide of Democratic proportions happened.

Flashback

Flashback to 2004, after the defeat of Senator John Kerry by the incumbent George Bush, I can still recall being lectured by Sean Hannity on television, in condescending tones explaining why the Democrats lost. Hannity repeatably pointed to the post-electoral map of the United States, convincingly engulfed in a sea of red, telling us to " look at it Democrats."

Why did the Democratic Party lose so? Hannity stated that the Democrats lost because the United States is a "center right" nation and implied that the liberal values of the Democratic party were now out of step with mainstream America and the map showed that liberalism had been irrecoverably invalidated in the US of A.

Yep, as far back as 2004 the myth of the "center right" had begun.

Hannity, look at the map.

Former Wisconsin Governor and presidential hopeful, Tommy Thompson, accurately described the electoral map as "The whole thing is blue!" And regarding our state, "Wisconsin is the bluest of the blue!”

I'm not here to rub in the Democratic victory because I remember how I felt in 2004, however if we are to apply Hannity's argument, Republicans – you are out of step with mainstream America.

But you see, I'm not a blockhead like Hannity. I don't believe that for a second that republicanism is dead. 

I Wish I Knew How to Quit You

Republicans, as you begin rebuild your party after all the finger pointing has finished...please, do not  talk, walk, marry, or dress like a liberal.

I, we, America, needs you the way you are. In fact, if going more to the right, more conservative, thinks that helps you as some pundits suggests, by all means, go further to the right.

You are the opposition after all, sometimes vile and sometimes grudgingly correct, but opposition nonetheless. I love you just the way you are – in all your regressive splendor – especially on social issues.  

Stay the course. Don't become liberals. 

Liberals, please do not become conservatives under the false perception that you must to do so to maintain your majorities. 

Myths Exposed

There is no center and there is no moderate - there is no monolithic mainstream when matter of social priority involved. Because a majority of people agree on an issue, it does not make the belief correct.

If you believe that gays can marry or have civil unions - then you are on the left. If you believe that gays can not and approve of legal bans against it, you are on the right. There is no middle ground. There is no center. There are no moderates where these issues are concerned.

You are either pregnant or your not.

Yet, that does not stop politicians and pundits from making this un-nuanced, broad appeal to popularity.

In Conclusion

Democrats and liberals did not win largely on social policies and values as the ballot initiatives in various states illustrate, but on more pressing concerns of the economy, domestic policy, and foreign policy.

It is those issues which the nation has shifted left. Went blue. Shifted liberal.

Civil rights for gays and homosexuals, abortion rights, sits firmly in the clutches of the right. Shifted toward the social conservatives. Went red.

And the "center" - be damned.

Yesterday, my wife and I took an eight-mile hike on the Ice Trail near Eagle. We are so lucky to live in an area that is so rich in nature that only takes minutes to get lost in. It was nice to take a  break from all the politics and bother in our lives to spend some time together.

Note: I didn't spend long processing the photos. I did only a basic tweaking of the saturation and sharpness. The colors are as natural and vibrant as you see them on the trail.

Last post, I predicted (the most obvious thing in the world) that the same-sex marriage ruling in Connecticut would bring out the religious-right bigots denouncing the court ruling. You know, the same type of "compassionate" conservatives that are known for shouting "off with his head" in reference to Obama at a recent Waukesha McCain/Palin rally.

Heck, these are same compassionate conservatives that are so blood thirsty that when McCain stated that Obama was a "decent" man, McCain was booed by his own supporters at a Minnesota rally.

Today, on the the 10th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death - the gay man that was murdered and allowed to die in a Wyoming corn field, Fred Phelp's Westboro Baptist Church, protested Hamilton High School because they dare to have a gay student association. This is the same group of religious conservatives who picket our soldiers funerals breathlessly screaming that it is God's punishment and that the soldiers are in burning and rotting in Hell. (Video from last night's report.)

As I watched the news video this evening, Phelps wretched daughter was spewing her hate while other members were waving signs of God Hates F ags and 10 Year Old Matthew is in Hell.

To the counter protesters and students at Hamilton High school who stood-up to these bullies and bigots, you truly represent the best that America promises.

You understand the values which America stands for and for that you shoud be acknowledged and congratulated.

From time to time, I open my blog to guest posters to comment on issues on blog at LCL. Over the months, Liberal Hammer and I have become friends. An no, Liberal Hammer is not a sock-puppet. Check with Erin Mellone to verify our IP addresses.

You can leave comments or concerns below, or email Liberal Hammer via this site.

_________________________________________________________________________

What would you say if a left-wing Radio Host was in the front row of an Obama campaign event? And that this host did not disclose his media credentials as part of the media and a paid public speaker before his statement. What if the Obama Campaign was using hatred and smears to incite his crowds the past few weeks? Would that not raise a questions?

Well this is what happened in Waukesha at the McCain town hall meeting on October 9th, 2008.

James T. Harris was the right-wing talk show host who was in the front row. He has a radio show on 620 WTMJ called “The National Conversation”. Before his statement he did not DISCLOSE his media affiliation, “I am begging you, sir! I am begging you. Take it to him!" radio host James T. Harris told McCain, to cheers from an audience of several thousand. (Source)

Not surprisingly, the Journal Sentinel, parent company of 620 WTMJ did not DISCLOSE their association with Harris as his employer. Is the Journal Sentinel Corporation in the business of creating news? They already play right-wingers that are riled up by the right-wing talk show hosts against their “perceived liberal biased newspaper” for ratings. But below are points of what is important about yesterday’s events:

1. The fact that Harris did not disclose his role in the media before his statement is dubious, disturbing, and misleading to the national audience and voters!
2. The fact that Harris was in the front row shows some sort of undisclosed coordination with the McCain campaign and begs the question if he was being used as a plant. It was an unethical and disingenuous exercise for a supposed unscripted “town hall” event!
3. Is Harris’s payment the publicity he is receiving now?
4. McCain’s media perception as genuine and a straight talker does not hold any water with a planted media operative in the front row of a “town hall” meeting!
5. You are forced to ask questions about McCain’s Judgment, honor, and his sincerity at the beginning of the campaign where he said he would stay away from negative campaigning, when in fact 100% of McCain’s advertising in our state has been negative?

And what about this “Inciting the Republican Mob” campaign tactic by the McCain Campaign?

Where is this leading us?

Americans should beware the angry mob and the few fringe mentally disturbed racist right-wingers who might take Harris’s and McCain/Palin’s terrorist and socialist implications & smears seriously. These reactionaries may turn them into action that may interpret “Take it to Him!” as something other than character assassination.

As of today, Rasmussen, CNN/Time, WISC-TV, and the Strategic Vision polls track that Senator Barack Obama leads Senator John McCain in Wisconsin with a margin from anywhere as low as 5% to as high as 10%. If these four independent polls are correct, McCain will lose the state's ten electoral votes.

Sensing this, we can see why McCain and sidekick Palin took the approach they did today with their Waukesha appearance. Instead of campaigning in a non-Republican stronghold, McCain and Palin decided that a campaign stop in Waukesha would show just how brave they were. Brave? How brave can you be in front of an audience so partisan and from a county that votes predictably Republican year after year – as predictably as a flood of unregulated Chinese manufacturing that produces cheap, landfill products seemingly designed to deliver grievous bodily harm.

McCain assures us, he's a proven, experienced leader.

However, what kind of leader are you, when your playbook includes standard right-wing chotckies? You know those thirty-two pieces of flair that republicans wear on their chest as some kind of badge of honor? Instead of substance, McCain blames the usual suspects as an excuse for the adversity that he faces. Regardless of the accuracy of these polls, the effect on McCain/Palin campaign can be evaluated by the rhetoric they use.

Today, when a supporter yells "it's the socialists" McCain replies "the Democrats" for the ongoing housing and banking crisis. Ignoring the fact that it was he, John McCain, who suspended his campaign to deliver zippo.

Your leadership, Senator?

McCain does not limit the his excuses to the Democratic Party alone. Why are McCain and Palin doing so lousy in the polls nationally and regionally? Well as Fox 6 reports, McCain/Palin blames the "mainstream media" because, apparently, the MSM isn't asking tough questions. Awww.... that mean old mainstream media. Poor McCain :(

Again Senator, your leadership?

Are we witnessing another wheel falling of the "sidekick" express? I don't know. McCain is correct when he stated today, that "the political pundits in the last two years have written off my campaign."

Obama has not yet won and the campaign season is decidedly not over, and McCain has an immense political apparatus supporting him. We can expect more of the same from McCain in the next twenty-six days. At least, McCain will have drilled the necessary fuel for his own excuses. 

If this is the way McCain runs a campaign, how will he run a country?

Oh yeah... like Bush - he will blame Clinton.

That's pin 33 and counting....

It was nice to take a break this weekend and play with my hobby, photography. I was lucky enough to hook up with the Chicago Mountaineering Club which "was founded in 1940 and has a mission to promote interest in the sport and craft of mountaineering." This weekend was the Old Timers-New Climbers Outing. Great people. Good times.

Anyway, here's some pictures I took and wanted to share. (Clicking on the photo will take you to my photo blog and smaller sizes.)

Ron ascends on a very difficult 9 climb.

Ron earlier on an easier, but fun one.

I didn't get her name. She was a newbie and did an excellent job. Good subject too.

Jen was a newbie too. She did very well.

My wife, a newbie, gets in the act! Good job!

Thanks to all who made our weekend exciting and letting me take a hundred clicks or so!

Yo! Neo-cons, waterboarding advocates, and pro-torture aficionados, listen up - you have new enemies of the state you should be aware of.

At least two faith communities in Milwaukee and six in other parts of Wisconsin are participating in a month-long national campaign against use of torture by the United States

Quick! You better deport all these religious folk soon: Albany Lutheran Church, Albany; St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere; Dale Heights Presbyterian Church, Madison; First Congregational United Church of Christ, Madison; First United Methodist Church, Madison; and Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Woodruff.

You have your orders, now march!

Source