October Surprises

Apart from the doubtless drunken holiday party photo, I don’t know that the others are necessarily inappropriate to bring up.

I’m actually more concerned about the false and very misleading ads that are being financed to such a high degree that they will run enough for the lies to become embedded in people’s minds..

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/10/rove_chamber_ads_widely_debunk.html

My guesses:
.
If Ball were a Democrat, it wouldn’t hurt her at all. Since she’s a Republican (who are generally more against those sorts of activities), it may deliver a blow to the enthusiasm gap in her district which might make that race a bit more competitive. However, that’s a fairly mild issue especially considering that she looks college aged in those photos so it’s not exactly outside of what people would expect at that time in your life.
.
Raese’s is a brutal body blow. And I mean BRUTAL. Either his family has moved to Florida but he didn’t go with them or he is really a resident of Florida – either way, he gets walloped. Best October surprise of the season.
.
California, Brown is probably hurt a bit more. It’s a staffer, not him so he’s relatively clean on it, but Brown losses a bit of support from women and anti-immigration advocates…..well, I can’t see them voting Democrat and I doubt that generally moderate Whitman has been giving them much to cheer about anyways.
.
I have no read on Colorado

My bad, Ball is actually a Dem. I just updated.
JNS

What is no surprise Is Ms Small’s distorted reporting , please check Joe Klein ‘s post about Karl Rove and the nature of the ads being funded by him., In case , Ms Small does not know , Rove is a Republican ,

“most of these oppo dumps have come from Dems”
.
That line was funnier before the correction.
.
I wonder if your conclusion is true, though.
.
Maybe “most of these oppo dumps I have chosen have come from Dems”?

Raese story old news. http://www.politico.com/blogs/maggiehaberman/0910/Raeses_riches_in_West_Virginia_Florida_.html
I hate linking to POLITICO.
.
forgottonlord: I am a woman who still supports Jerry Brown. Watching their debate last night left me with the same reaction I had to the last one, Meg Whitman is a smirking, talking point machine that really, really wants to buy herself a new job. Jerry Brown still reminds me of Tommy Smothers.
.
Dimpled, plutocratic robot or Tommy Smothers. I go with Tommy.
.
By the way, after 9 years, Whitman finds out her maid is undocumented. She fires her. Any evidence she offered to help her to get through her legal problems? Nada.

I’ve been back for a short visit to Swampland, as I have been trying to convey the potential enormity and urgency of a situation that people may not be prepared for.
.
I will phrase one single question in a neutral form:
.
What do you think will happen when corporate interests no longer align with your perceptions of what should happen in this country?
.
This question, and the answer to it, transcends the two party system, and the media…

In the case of Jerry Brown and the whore remark, it’s reported that Brown’s wife made the remark.
.
And, what is an illegal maid? Someone that uses non EPA approved cleaning solutions?

Ok, then I don’t think it’ll hurt Ball at all. Again, college aged, it isn’t that contradictory to the interests of the base, it isn’t a violation of most people’s sensibilities, and it probably helps humanize her to some core democratic constituencies.

Actually, that probably helps Brown as far as damage control goes. A woman saying Meg Whitman is a whore would probably not get the same sexism charges that a man saying it would.

Maybe Jay is trying to show she is balanced, as she said she is yesterday (see comment 1.1 http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/10/12/miller-goes-radio-silent/). Of course, balance is now measured in the US by attacking both sides, rather than fair/good reporting.

Add to it that Ball was a tremendous long shot and the whole premise of this seems off.
.
But good shot anyway.

There are quite a few people out there who see those two things as the same thing. What’s good for Capitalism™ is good for America, you betchya!

Great question, 53. Alas, we had plenty of warning from a surprising source. It’s depressing when movies predicted corporate domination over everyone… and we didn’t notice. Not flippant here, art can shape life. We see fictional portrayals of what could be but don’t heed the warning: Robocop‘s private police, Rollerball oligopolies literally running the world (yes, the game had rules and was played for real by actors / stuntmen during breaks), the for-profit replicants from Blade Runner, and my dystopian fave: Ned Beatty’s world view in Network:
.

.
(back in the ‘70’s, sigh)

apr: You’re also a ideologically aware and politically well read individual and unlikely to be swayed by an unfavorable activity of an unidentified staffer of your preferred candidate that the candidate himself does not endorse.
.
Nor does my analysis conclude that women would be fleeing Brown in droves. In fact, I would expect it to be well within the margin of error. But there’s three demographics in effect here: women (generally breaks Democrat), Hispanics (generally breaks heavily Democrat) and anti-immigration (always breaks Republican). Hispanics are already Democrat so the maid does nothing, anti-immigration isn’t going to change its mind, and some women might feel that this “sexist slight” against Whitman is reason enough for them to jump.

Digby discusses the difference in the coverage of the Brown staffer remark and an event in the AH-nold campaign.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/village-schoolmarm-ethics.html

I think though that we are in a very serious situation, far outstripping anything we’ve ever experienced.
.
The two big races here in Washington state are being overwhelmed by corporate propaganda. I’ve lived during the Cold War and the ’70s and people do not realizing that we are now experiencing propagandizing on a level we have never experienced.
.
I’m not even equating GOP ads with theirs. Honestly. The GOP is giving them a big hand up to the levers of power, but what do you think will happen once corporate interests gain control?
.
They will eat the GOP. And the Democratic party?
.
Because the new campaign landscape is so much different than it was before the Supreme court decision, since the Democratic party does not represent their interests, they (we) will shrivel and die on the vine for lack of funds.
.
Note that of the last five Swampland blogs, four have been about this very subject, but they are all missing the point! They point at individual trees n a large and unexplored forest.
.
No one is paying any attention to it…

forgottonlord: I think most women are offended when someone calls another woman whore. I am. But, I think either most Californias are unaware of the incident or understand it was said by a staffer and not by Jerry Brown himself. Goodness, Californians elected the “Gropenator”.
As a woman, I am more distressed by Whitman’s cavalier firing of a woman who worked for her for 9 years and giving her no support. Then saying that the woman had probably intercepted her mail.
In any case, Brown is going to win, as is Boxer. I didn’t live in Ca during Brown’s “moonbeam” days. But, I am looking forward to his governing. Interesting times.

Fitty: Shhhhh! I’m trying to listen to the 4PM playing of our Corporate Anthem!
.
Now, what was your question?

JNS: Read and re-read your post. No mention of issues. Pls fix. Thxkbai.

53_3: My fear it is too late, that we are now officially solely owned by corporate interests. We exist, like employees of those interests, at their whim.
.
My concern is can we possibly, as the right wing says, take back our country. We will have to find a means to educate the public to the insidious destruction of the middle class, the co-opting of our media, and the sale of our political system across party lines to the olicarchs.

Grammar Nazi:
.
“Ball admits it’s her in the photos”
.
Shouldn’t it read: “Ball admits it is she in the photos…”?

” I think most women are offended when someone calls another woman whore.”
.
Apparently with the exception of NOW which is supposed to support the effort of women.

Ivy_B thanks to the link to Digby. She is so right. I live in Ca and the media mainly made jokes and underminded the women who came forward.
I posted earlier when discussing Brown v Whitman in response to someone’s concern about Brown losing the women’s vote that after all we elected the “Gropenator”.

Amazing to see the galloping paranoia overtaking the left here. It does follow Obama’s pattern of failure. Be convinced you are right about everything, believe that your extremist left view is a moderate position then blame Bush, talk radio, Fox News, Wall St, Insurance Companies, janitors for Presidential Seal falling for everything that goes wrong It’s everybody but me.
.
Introspection about the process will be less relevant than introspection about your beliefs that are out of step with the vast majority of Americans. And that’s real.

I agree with both of you.
.
Sorry to spoil the fun, but placing the question at 5.3 (kawinkydinky? who knows?) in front of the joyful celebrants as the recipients of this new found fountain of money is starting to have an effect.
.
And so far, all I’ve seen is evasive ignorance of what might happen. Right as we speak, yet another Crossroads GPS ad is airing here…

I hate to burst your bubble, freeinpa, but ask yourself the question I put at 5.3 honestly and we shall see…

According to left loons here it has always been corporate control? So is it now corporate controlled squared?

I vote just paranoia and whining.

But the problem with it isn’t that it’s a sexist slight (or at least, I don’t think it should be). The problem with it is that it’s an unprofessional personal slight – albeit using a sexist term. Furthermore, it’s from an individual who is not Brown who is expressing the personal slight when not actually representing Brown’s campaign that is going to be painted as representing Brown’s campaign with a sexist slight.
.
Yes, most Californians are smart enough to have figured this out….or use this to solidify their already permanent opposition against him. But elections aren’t won by the majority – contrary to political opinion. Elections are won by that 30-50% gap between the mostly solidified positions on either side. There are very few people on this site that generally find themselves in that gap come October and I certainly doubt that you’re one of them. The people in the middle, I don’t think, are generally fully in tune with the proposed policies and what their impacts are. They are swayed far more by claims – both factual and fallacious – than those on either side which tend to take new facts and claims and reject or accept it as it solidifies their belief. And yes, I think they are far more likely to be swayed by October Surprises – no matter how spurious.

“I vote just paranoia and whining”
.
An honest republican!

“But the problem with it isn’t that it’s a sexist slight…”
.
That’s because it wasn’t. Male politicians get called whores all the time (I’m pretty sure I’ve done it in the past 24 hours) and the context makes clear that’s how Brown’s staffer meant it. That’s why Whitman’s attempt to make sexist hay out of it is falling flat and making her look desperate. I also wonder about the wisdom of continuing to bring up the phrase “Meg Whitman is a whore,” even if it was the opposing campaign that said it.

“But the problem with it isn’t that it’s a sexist slight (or at least, I don’t think it should be). The problem with it is that it’s an unprofessional personal slight – albeit using a sexist term. Furthermore, it’s from an individual who is not Brown who is expressing the personal slight when not actually representing Brown’s campaign that is going to be painted as representing Brown’s campaign with a sexist slight”
.
Seriously if it was someone on Boehner staff that called Nancy Pelosi a whore. NOW would be picketing his office. And what happened to the Democratic he is responsible for the people on his staff. And was it a staff member? Since there is little coverage of this I can’t really confirm but one report said it was Browns wife. I doubt it but I suppose anything is possible. Not representing Brown’s campaign? They just finished a discussion about endoresements and it was in relation to the discussion.
.
You are pulling at thin straws just as Brown did in the debate when he started “it was a private conversation”. Boos from the crowd changed that tact quickly.
.
“Yes, most Californians are smart enough to have figured this out….or use this to solidify their already permanent opposition against him.
.
Quite an open minded comment. Only the smart people understand what happened the rest are haters.
.
Has the left learned nothing from the past 2 years. It seems the truly dumb ones are the folks on the left who keep insisting only they understand anything.

Republican Bill Brady (IL Governor’s race) will kill your dog.
.
(the guardian article has the ad – follow link)
.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/richard-adams-blog/2010/oct/13/bill-brady-dog-pat-quinn-illinois-governor-election

That wasn’t the question, freeinpa.
.
Surely, since it doesn’t matter about whether you are a Dem or a GOPer, you can answer it, directly right?
.
right?

Come to think of it, wasn’t this on Prairie Home Companion?

So far, GOPers have ignored the question presented at 5 and 5.3.
.
Perhaps they are even more fearful than I am? So fearful they dare not speak it’s name?
.
jeopardy.wav
jeopardy.wav
jeopardy.wav

Of course that was after Issa wept for us all after financing the Davis recall and admitting Arnold would be the candidate. What a “girlie man”. A sexist term Arnold loves. This was also after the Republicans embraced the “Gropenator” as their hero.
Not so much anymore.

I guess we will have to invent a new phrase to describe the successor to “Crony Capitalism”.
-
How about “Crony Democracy” ?

Poor Ms. Ball. I can honestly say, “I don’t care.” Terrible. And JNS, you should be ashamed of yourself for linking it.

JNS, I think Iott just likes doing reenactments, since he’s done WWI, WWII and Civil War (as a union guy). If that’s true, you owe that as an update.
.
The reindeer dildo thing is absolute crap. I don’t care that she’s a Dem–it’s just plain wrong. Whoever leaked those photos ought to be ashamed of themselves. It’s disgusting.

Are you saying that Brown’s wife is a man? Now that would be news.

If you think corporate interests are a problem and something to fear, what about a government that seeks to increase its power and control, stopping at nothing to feed itself. A government that only looks after its own interests. A government that has made dependents out of 48% of the population. It doesn’t listen to what its citizens say, it doesn’t care because the politicians have become artful at becoming re-elected. They have sliced and diced the population into us vs them, class vs class, workers vs corporations, race vs race and on and on.
.
As the private employment sector continues to shrink, those that don’t depend on the government for aid, Social Security, welfare, food stamps, etc. are highly paid government workers that make double what their counterparts in private industry makes in salary and benefits.
.
And freeinpa is correct, the left has been paranoid about corporations since I can remember back in the 60s, man.

Missed the point that I’ve made with all others, liberalmeltdown:
.
I already know your views on government. That wasn’t what I asked.
.
That said, with the Supreme Court decision being so recent, I will point out that the past, in this case, is not the key to the future…

53, your point is a tiny speck on a grain of sand somewhere in the immense universe. Only you know where it is.