Merry Christmas From Mudcat Saunders, and Arthur

I read Mudcat Saunders' book "Foxes in the Henhouse" and found parts of it quite intelligent, if somewhat in need of an editor. Saunders was also a consultant to (now Senator) Jon Tester and (now Senator) Jim Webb, both of whom I supported in 2006. Now Saunders is on board the John Edwards campaign. And the Edwards campaign has released a DVD which features Saunders and his view of the heartland States and their importance in the upcoming election. It can be viewed on Youtube here.

Saunders and his partner in crime have long maintained that rural and southern voters are more naturally aligned with Democrats, based on the values and needs they share with those of the Democratic Party, but have only been peeled off to the GOP by very clever manipulation and race-baiting, as well as by Democratic Party indifference or pessimism about whether the effort is worth it. Tester and Webb's electoral success suggest that it is worth the trouble (Montana and Virginia) in States that party pundits had written off as not worth the effort, since they leaned red and had incumbents, usually a tough combination to overcome. I should remind you that Tester took out Conrad Burns and Webb took out George Allen, a racist jerk who was also a top-ranked GOP pick for President. Nice saves. Webb has distinguished himself by having an aide get arrested for trying to carry Webb's pistol through Capital Security, thus firmly establishing his credibility. Just joking, but a nice way to insulate himself against an attack by the NRA, isn't it?

And, because the Christmas season would not be complete without political satire, here is a Director's Cut version of Mike Huckabee's Christmas advertisement, which introduces the now-famous soft-core "bookcase as cross" subliminal theme, and with the added voices of some of Mike's band members. In the end it was decided that their voices blocked out some of Mike's soothing platitudes, so that part of the soundtrack was edited out:

...and in answer to your query, Mike, yes we ARE tired of political ads, particularly those that feature flag-wrapped, Bible-thumping, corn-pone, cross-waving scoundrels like yourself.

And to help celebrate the impending final year of the Bush administration it is appropriate to note what Samuel Johnson said in 1774 about false patriots:

The true lover of his country is ready to communicate his fears, and to sound the alarm, whenever he perceives the approach of mischief. But he sounds no alarm, when there is no enemy; he never terrifies his countrymen till he is terrified himself. The patriotism, therefore, may be justly doubted of him, who professes to be disturbed by incredibilities.

Arthur