Well, it's nice that Kos and his Kossacks are deciding that the whole idea of "the moral high ground" is an outdated, silly concept and going for the "if it isn't illegal, it's just fine" rule in politics by deciding they want to monkey-wrench the Michigan Republican primary. Their theory seems to be that since anyone of any party can vote in the Republican primary (and the Democratic primary is pointless, as the Democratic National Committee has chosen to strip the state of its delegates to the national convention), they ought to vote for the Republican who will most likely cause the most problems for the Republicans.
Somehow, they've decided it'll be Mitt Romney. How a candidate with a spotless personal history, a ton of money, a solid machine, and a history of success (setting aside his 1994 challenge to Ted Kennedy, which was more of a "someone's gotta go get knocked off by Teddy, so this'll be a way you can pay your dues" move) comes across as the weakest, I dunno, but Mitt's the choice.
But that aside, this is kind of refreshing. Now we don't have to worry about the Nutroots howling about certain things that they find reprehensible, but not technically illegal. Here are a few examples of people who won't have to worry about being assailed by the Nutroots:
Mark Foley. The disgraced, page-chasing former Congressman was very careful to never quite cross the line from "creepy, sick bastard" to "would-be criminal." He made sure the pages were of legal age before trying to pursue them.
Karl Rove. Despite the best efforts and profoundest fantasies of the Nutroots, Rove left the White House without ever being indicted, let alone convicted. It's never been proven that he ever violated a single law during his lengthy political career.
Conrad Burns. The former senator was implicated in the Jack Abramoff scandal, and that likely played a factor in his defeat in 2006. He's now been cleared of all charges by the Justice Department.
Those are just three people who are now off the hook for attacks from Kos, Atrios, and a good chunk of the Nutroots movement.
It's a little late for a Christmas present, but better late than never -- and it's the thought that counts.
And we should be wise to remember that it's now offiical Kos policy that "if it isn't illegal, it's just fine." I don't recall any laws against trolling web sites, using multiple identities and spouting all sorts of fun things, "mobying" a site (saying outrageous stuff just to later cite that as "proof" of how nuts the people at the site are), and other kinds of net-mischief.
Of course, we here at Wizbang have never subscribed to the "if it isn't illegal, it's OK" rule. We have our own standards of conduct, and have no tolerance for such activities when we discover them.
But we would never dream of holding another site to the same standards we impose on ourselves.
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Comments (14)
"We have our own standards ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by jp2 | January 11, 2008 6:41 PM | Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
"We have our own standards of conduct, and have no tolerance for such activities when we discover them."
Where are these standards listed? I find untruths printed here weekly. You personally have come clean on a couple of lies and mistakes (commendable), but others, not so much.
1. Posted by jp2 | January 11, 2008 6:41 PM |
Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2008 18:41
2. Posted by Jo | January 11, 2008 6:52 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Democrats are the ones that are ethical, tolerant and fair to all.....except when they're not. And they're "not" about 99.9% of the time.
All talk. No action.
2. Posted by Jo | January 11, 2008 6:52 PM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2008 18:52
3. Posted by marc | January 11, 2008 7:22 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
"Where are these standards listed?"
Under your foil hat jp2.
3. Posted by marc | January 11, 2008 7:22 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2008 19:22
4. Posted by Alan Orfi | January 11, 2008 7:54 PM | Score: -1 (3 votes cast)
I thought Huckabee was supposed to be the Republicans' weakest candidate. At least that's what I've been hearing for the past two months from the conservative media.
4. Posted by Alan Orfi | January 11, 2008 7:54 PM |
Score: -1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2008 19:54
5. Posted by JFO | January 11, 2008 8:49 PM | Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
Probably up your a** Marc. You bellow about nothing so much it must be because you're in pain trying to pull the "standards" out of there.
5. Posted by JFO | January 11, 2008 8:49 PM |
Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2008 20:49
6. Posted by Lyle Seaman | January 11, 2008 9:06 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
It's totally poetic, since this is exactly what Romney said (on ABC's "This Week") that he himself did when he voted for Paul Tsongas in the Massachusetts Democratic primary.
Yes, I think it's sleazy. I think that if someone who leans left wants to vote in the Republican primary in Michigan, they owe it to themselves and to the nation to make a good-faith effort to vote for the Republican they'd most like to have as their second choice.
But if they're going to go that route, it's hard to argue that the tool they should use is the same tool that was so proud of gaming the system himself.
6. Posted by Lyle Seaman | January 11, 2008 9:06 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2008 21:06
7. Posted by Jo | January 11, 2008 11:27 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Where are these standards listed? I find untruths printed here weekly..
Me too jp2, and that's why we laugh at your posts. Truth does not become you. We wish it did.
7. Posted by Jo | January 11, 2008 11:27 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2008 23:27
8. Posted by Knightbrigade | January 11, 2008 11:42 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I was actualy thinking about this kind of strategy to knock out Teddy Gasbag Kennedy in a Democratic primary.
The political "machine" sleeps in a primary most of the time, low turnout etc.. Who cares if Democrats rally and win the general election, as long as the drunken libtard is OUT..
Run some no name (D) shmuck, have all Republicans register as IND., then slap.
The Rules in politics are........There ARE NO rules...
Does this make me a KOS Klown!?? oh nooo...
8. Posted by Knightbrigade | January 11, 2008 11:42 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2008 23:42
9. Posted by Baggi | January 11, 2008 11:45 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I support Romney but I think whoever wins Michigan shouldn't celebrate that win. Even if the Kossacks hadn't come out with stuch a stupid idea, the fact is that anyone can muck with the system.
Let Republicans pick the Republican candidate. South Carolina will be interesting in that regard, it will be the first state with a normal primary (Not a caucus) where the Republicans will get to pick their candidate.
They may not be the most representative of the entire Republican base in the United States, but moreso than S.C., Iowa, or Michigan.
9. Posted by Baggi | January 11, 2008 11:45 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2008 23:45
10. Posted by Jim Addison | January 12, 2008 12:00 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Did Kos ever really claim a "moral high ground" at all? I seem to recall him bluntly rejecting ideology in favor of whatever won. Power is what he wants; once he has that, he'll come up with a program soon enough.
If he has to tell lies and destroy reputations along the way, it's just the cost of doing politics to him. It's all in the Lenin playbook, nothing new here.
~~~~~~
Baggi ~ As with most Southern states, South Carolina has no party registration. Anyone can vote in either primary here - the only restriction is that if you vote in one party's primary, you can't vote in the other's primary or run-off (in state races).
10. Posted by Jim Addison | January 12, 2008 12:00 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2008 00:00
11. Posted by Les Nessman | January 12, 2008 12:10 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
"..that since anyone of any party can vote in the Republican primary.."
Well, there's the problem right there.
The idiot Repubs and the idiot Dems have these arcane state rules that warp the spirit of the Primary elections. I guess each side thinks they can sneak some advantage over the other side with these stupid rules?
How bout we let Dems elect the Dem standardbearer and let the Repubs elect the Repub standardbearer?
11. Posted by Les Nessman | January 12, 2008 12:10 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2008 00:10
12. Posted by marc | January 12, 2008 12:27 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Lyle seaman - "I think that if someone who leans left wants to vote in the Republican primary in Michigan, they owe it to themselves and to the nation to make a good-faith effort to vote for the Republican they'd most like to have as their second choice."
I wouldn't have a problem with that either. But that isn't what the DKos Kiddies are trying to do. They want to specifically stuff the ballot box with the Repub they feel has the best chance to lose to their Dem candidate.
And that is flat out BS.
12. Posted by marc | January 12, 2008 12:27 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2008 00:27
13. Posted by ODA315 | January 12, 2008 2:06 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Hey JFO, I just saw a well dreesed executive shove a little old black, blind, homosexual, illegal alien woman to the ground. If you hurry on out you could get a little business drummed up.
ps, don't forget your C collar.
13. Posted by ODA315 | January 12, 2008 2:06 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2008 02:06
14. Posted by Baggi | January 12, 2008 3:59 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Jim,
This is getting rediculous with everyone being able to vote in our Primaries. Is Florida the first state where this doesn't happen?
Washington State where I live is the same thing. We have no party affiliation in this State. So anyone can come and declare themselves a Republican on Feb 09 and vote. Silly.
14. Posted by Baggi | January 12, 2008 3:59 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 12, 2008 03:59