This is pathetic, my fellow commenters.

I remember getting into all kinds of trouble with people duringthe campaign because I didn’t think Palin was qualified to be VP after the Couric Apocalypse. What did I get in reply? That it was no time to criticize the ticket because we were in it to win, which had nothing to do with comments on a blog post.

Now the savaging of McCain is non-stop, from lots of the same people who hated him in the primary, then were on board for the general, and now hate him again. I for one supported him in the primary, in the general and I still think he’s a great man.

You know, we’re in all kinds of trouble and all this hypocrisy isn’t helping. Politics shouldn’t work this way, you know. These huge swings in opinion (now I love him, now I hate him) aren’t healthy nor helpful.

Baphomet on November 17, 2008 at 2:27 PM

Sorry, I forgot my /sarc tag. I am with you Bap.

Squid Shark on November 17, 2008 at 2:38 PM

Whoa. So sorry dude. Seriously. I actually thought it might be sarcasm, but went straight ahead. Honestly, sorry. Glad we agree.

Baphomet on November 17, 2008 at 2:39 PM

I agree in as much as that this was a bomb-out election. The options were Maverick, Huckashuck, and Romneykins. (Fred was in there somewhere too, but I never heard much about him until he was already out of the running.) And I admit he did quite well given the circumstances. But the guy is still leaning a hard left compared to where in many people’s thoughts the GOP needs to turn its views. Hence the RINO complaints.

I wouldn’t scorn Maverick if he and his had taken a back seat after the election and said “Okay, we tried it his way, it didn’t work – let’s go back to the last thing that worked really really well. Hey, that was Reagan!” But they didn’t and now we’re starting to see the in-party sniping.

*eats*

Grue in the Attic on November 17, 2008 at 2:38 PM

I agree on some things. One thing I disagree with is hyperbole: there is no way, ever, McCain could be “hard left”. Conservatives need to moderate their discourse a little and understand that not anything that isn’t hardcore conservative is “hard left”. McCain may not have been a Southern conservative, but he was as conservative as they come. Should I list all the issues:

Pro-gun
Pro-death penalty
Pro-free trade
Anti-tax
Anti government-run to health care
Hostile to Social Security
Foreign policy hawk

Etc. Yeah, you can mention immigration and some other issue or two, but it’s irrelevant compared to the rest. Or at least, it disallows you from calling him “hard left”.

You know, McCain HAS taken a back seat after the election. He’s been very low profile and hasn’t injected himself into any debates. And by the way, I’m with you on the Reagan think – but the American people aren’t. A couple of years need to pass before the time is ripe for a second age of conservative principles in government. It’s just the way it works.

Baphomet on November 17, 2008 at 2:43 PM

Actually both Jindal and Palin are of Constitutional age and American born. That’s all the qualifications one needs as we can tell from the trainwreck we are watching unfold in these post-election proceedings.

Jindal has never said he doesn’t believe in evolution though, speaking as a current resident of Louisiana, I’m not sure where I see the foreign policy and national security creds in his career which has largely been on the health side of public policy. I’ll also give you that Palin isn’t ready for prime time. At least not yet. I’m not sold on either of these individuals or some of the other names that inexplicably keep getting thrown into the mix like Pawlenty. I do, however, think the future of the GOP is younger, not from DC, probably a governor, probably with a non-traditional political career, and probably less white male.

Finally, as to the “trashing” of McCain, a distinction needs to be drawn as to whether the attacks are personal or are about his campaigning and/or policies. I very much respect the actions of McCain as a POW but his eight-year long temper tantrum because he lost the SC primary to GWB is unseemly. The man spent the better part of the 2000’s acting like a spoiled child not an elder statesman.

highhopes on November 17, 2008 at 3:01 PM

I find your post very reasonable. I think I’m pretty sure Jindal has said he doesn’t believe in evolution and, worse than that, is in favor of teaching “intelligent design” in government schools. That puts the USA in the Middle Ages in terms of education. It is simply something voters should never, ever accept. It’s primitive, it’s brutal.

I’m very much with you on the need of the GOP to reinvent itself, part of which is approaching non-white males. But that’s why I said that it might look like Jindal and Palin are the wave of the future. In terms of identity they are, but in terms of content in my opinion they are a sadly missed opportunity. The packages are great, but what’s inside is, to use your own words, not ready for primetime. My concern would be that they might never be ready.

As for McCain, I think that was more during W’s first term than the second. You must admit he has been very loyal on some issues.

Baphomet on November 17, 2008 at 3:06 PM

Then if comments on a blog are just silly and don’t matter – doesn’t the same apply to megative comments about McCain?

I agree about supporting a party based on issues & candidates but like many others I picked the lesser of two evils when I voted for McCain. Otherwise I would have stayed home.

katiejane on November 17, 2008 at 3:09 PM

That’s a very good point, but it was just that I got the feeling the anti-McCain mania is spiralling out into the GOP mainstream.

Baphomet on November 17, 2008 at 3:11 PM