The GOP Father --p m carpenter's commentary

[Demeter]

http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2006/10/the_gopfather_s.html


'The GOPfather,' starring Mikey Rove and Fredo Mehlman


There's a poignant scene in 'The Godfather' in which mobster novitiate Michael, reflecting on a proposed accommodation with the opposition, says to his criminal paterfamilias: "Won't this be seen as a sign of weakness?" To which wearied, mentoring Vito says: "It is a sign of weakness."

Michael acquiesced for a strategic while, quietly solidified his forces, then merrily went on to garrote and blast his way to power and absolute dominance of the rackets.

The perfect metaphor.

Some saw the GOP as weakened, perhaps even a tad chastised over humiliating revelations that its family-values leadership had swapped the sexual predation of boys for one measly, reliable House seat. Daily scenes of Iraq's carnage -- a hellish situation abetted by mindless, Republican Congressional support of "stay the course" -- didn't help.

So what was to be done? There is no sewer, no pigsty, no circle of hell to which the GOP's interchangeable Roves and Mehlmans won't travel for a one-point uptick.

None of this is to say that Democrats don't occasionally launch objectionable footage themselves. Yet, as the Post points out, "most harsh Democratic attacks have focused on the policies and performance of the GOP majority." Imagine that. Political campaigns about policies and performance.

Besides, if Dems tried replicating the GOP's cesspool, they'd screw it up. It just isn't in them. Some atavistic or 1960s remnant of human decency inhibits the full flowering of their bad selves, a most unfortunate trait in would-be political hit men but quite fortunate for the politically sober.

[Demeter]

1. I Do Not Know Why The Format Came Out the Way It Did

Half of the clip has been turned into a tagline. It says:

"There is no sewer, no pigsty, no circle of hell to which the GOP's interchangeable Roves and Mehlmans won't travel for a one-point uptick.

None of this is to say that Democrats don't occasionally launch objectionable footage themselves. Yet, as the Post points out, "most harsh Democratic attacks have focused on the policies and performance of the GOP majority." Imagine that. Political campaigns about policies and performance.

Besides, if Dems tried replicating the GOP's cesspool, they'd screw it up. It just isn't in them. Some atavistic or 1960s remnant of human decency inhibits the full flowering of their bad selves, a most unfortunate trait in would-be political hit men but quite fortunate for the politically sober."