Is The GOP Self-Destructing?

VDH doesn’t like what he sees:

So far today I have gotten the usual daily spam e-mail from various fringe and self-acclaimed conservative groups and personages — variously alleging that McCain was not a real war hero, questioning his conduct during capture, commenting on his marital situation, and suggesting he was unhinged and identical to Ted Kennedy, Hillary (fill in the blanks).

There is karma here, isn’t there? These were the same kind of tactics used against John Kerry in 2004 – except then they were accepted by the conservative establishment. What’s triking to me is how the fanaticism of the far-right, aided and abetted by Republican elites, may now be coming back to bite them. McCain is the victim. But perhaps the poison the right has peddled in these past few years has to work its way through the GOP bloodstream before being overcome.

Face Of The Day

Kenyapaulabronsteingetty

A Kenyan runs past flames as a group of houses burn out of control on February 3, 2008 in Kericho, Kenya. The houses belong to ethnic Kikuyu, seen to be aligned with President Kibaki, they are resented for their domination of politics and the economy. Western Kenya has seen some of the worst ethnic clashes in the violence that has killed more than 800 people since December 27. By Paula Bronstein/Getty.

Has She Stopped The ObaMo?

Gallup’s latest has Clinton by five points nationally. Money quote:

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama remain fairly closely matched in national Democratic voters’ nomination preferences, although Clinton appears to have stopped Obama’s momentum over the past two days … Clinton has led Obama in Gallup’s daily interviewing conducted Sunday and Monday. This suggests that her position may be stronger in Super Tuesday voting than some have anticipated given Obama’s rapid closing of the 20-percentage point gap with Clinton that existed two weeks ago. Still, fluidity in the Democratic race in recent days has increased (with support for Obama higher on some individual days than others, and occasionally surpassing support for Clinton), suggesting shifting vote preferences as the media buildup to Super Tuesday has intensified (and as campaign advertising and news has barraged Democratic voters in many Super Tuesday states).

I Love Wisconsin

It turns out Appleton was Joe McCarthy’s home-town. I’m now headed home. Everything I saw here reminded me of why the Mid-West remains my favorite region in America. All the usual cliches – but these were among the most open-minded, warm-hearted, well-informed, polite but unrelenting crowds I’ve ever spoken with. Here’s hoping I get back in one piece, and in time for the results. Cheers from the road.

Christianism Watch

A Florida high school bans all expression of opinion – negative or positive – about homosexuality. Ed Brayton wants the principal fired. From what I’ve read in the ACLU briefing, he’s right:

Defendant Davis called Jane Doe into his office to discuss the incident on the previous Friday. Defendant Davis asked Jane Doe if she had told the teacher’s aide that she was a lesbian. Jane Doe answered "yes" in order to give context to the taunting. He then asked, "are you a lesbian?" Jane Doe answered yes. He explained that Jane Doe should not be gay and she should not tell people she is gay. Mr. Davis then instructed Jane Doe not to talk with the "middle school" girls. Defendant Davis also told Jane Doe that "gay pride" was a disgrace to the school.