A Glimpse of the New

Political parties usually reform in the wilderness. They suffer some crushing defeat, the old guard is discredited and the pain compels turnover and change. John McCain is trying to reform the Republican Party before a presidential defeat, with the old guard still around, and with a party base that still hasn’t accepted the need to transform. The central drama of this week’s convention was the struggle by reform Republicans to break through the gravitational pull of old habits and create something new.

Before the convention, some McCain aides wanted to sunder the links to the past in one bold stroke: Name Joe Lieberman as the vice presidential nominee, promise to serve only one term, vow to take a hiatus from partisanship and work by compromise to get things done. That proved to be a leap too far.

So McCain was pulled back. But he refused to stay there and pressed ahead by picking Sarah Palin. At first, this seemed like the fresh break he needed. Her career in Alaska has been nibbled on the edges, but the key fact is this: When the testing time came, she quit her government job, put her career on the line and took on the corrupt establishment of her own party.

But again, the forces of the past pulled McCain back. Parts of the press pack elevated Bristol Palin’s pregnancy. A controversy over human reproduction brought back the old culture wars and the mommy wars. Battle lines formed, as in the days of Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas, and everyone took their pre-assigned roles.

One of the off points in McCain's speech last night, was McCain's delusional claim that he'll reduce partisanship in Washington.

First, it's not his to reduce. If the Democrats don't play along, partisanship won't be reduced and there's nothing McCain can do about it. Second, McCain is more like Bush than he'll like to admit. How is this promise, any different from Bush's "new tone" or "I'm a uniter, not divider"? Third, why is it, that we never hear Democrats say they are going to reduce partisanship? The demand is always on Republicans to reduce partisanship, to be bipartisan. What does that mean in reality: Give in and agree with Democrats.

It’s interesting to read this cultural phenomenon from their perspective. They can’t help but “nibble at the edges” to try to break it up somehow. All the facts are there, just like the other pieces we read this morning. But the subtle jabs are aimed at social conservatives, like an annoying little yip-yip dog that just got kicked across the room. It knows it’s beaten but it won’t STFU.

There’s also a 7 point swing over at Intrade in favor of McCuda.

Contract Bid Ask Last Vol Chge
2008.PRES.OBAMA
Barack Obama to win 2008 US Presidential Election M Trade 55.6 55.7 55.7 310169 -4.3
2008.PRES.McCAIN
John McCain to win 2008 US Presidential Election M Trade 43.0 44.1 43.0 430343 +3.4

Here’s how I’ve been bumping Palin/Obama threads. Sung to the tune of “Oh! Susanna, don’t you cry for me.” .... “Oh, no Bama, please don’t lie to me... for I’m off to Free Republic with a laptop on my knee.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2073903/posts?page=31#31

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.