PR disaster for the GOP: Republicans bet against the United States and lose

[ProSense]

PR disaster for the GOP: Republicans bet against the United States and lose

by JCWilmore
Sun Apr 12, 2009

Earlier today we found out that the standoff with Somalian pirates had come to a happy end for American Captain Richard Phillips. Patriotic Americans have good reason to rejoice this Easter Sunday: top to bottom this story has been a positive reflection on the courage and skill of American merchant sailors, the U.S. Navy, the Navy SEALS, and the leadership of the Obama administration. For the Republican Party, however, this incident has become yet another self-inflicted public relations disaster.

It began shortly after the first reports of the hijacking came in on Wednesday, April 8th, when Rush Limbaugh took to the airwaves to attack the Obama administration over the hijacking. Limbaugh's attack was an expansion on comments made earlier by Dick Cheney that the Obama administration left the American public more open to attack.

<...>

Althouse points like a laser beam at Limbaugh's blunder, in fact she admits to it herself: the Republican Party expected Obama to fail this test, expected him to "be like Jimmy Carter." Just hours after the hijacking, long before most of the facts were known, Republicans and conservatives like Limbaugh and Althouse were placing massive bets against the ability of the United States--under the leadership of the Obama administration--to deal with this crisis. Limbaugh placed a big bet on the table that the United States would fail.

But Limbaugh's mistake should have been almost immediately obvious. Even as we were digesting the first news of the hijacking, more reports came in indicating that the ship's crew of tough American merchant sailors had managed to overpower one of their attackers and had chased the remaining attackers off the vessel. Unfortunately, the fleeing pirates had taken Captain Richard Phillips hostage when they fled in the Maersk Alabama's lifeboat. Rush Limbaugh had bet against these sailors, and so had already lost most of his bet even before his show was over.

But Republicans weren't going to cut their losses: instead they doubled down. After an attempt to trade the captured pirate for Captain Phillips went wrong, Phillips found himself trapped aboard the small lifeboat with four heavily armed pirates. "There's no way Phillips is getting out of this," Republicans seemed to be saying. Once again key Republican talking heads bet against an American mariner, the U.S. Navy, and the leadership of the Obama administration.

Republican spokesman Brad Blakeman was on MSNBC this morning predicting that the U.S. Navy would fail in its mission to rescue Captain Phillips. Over at This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Newt Gingrich went on the attack against the Obama administration, betting against the U.S. Navy. Knowing as we do how this story ends, it's hard not to conclude that Gingrich is a little reckless. Clearly Gingrich has no idea what he's talking about. Gingrich wasn't privy to the Obama administration's deliberations and planning. While Gingrich was loudly condemning the Obama administration as a "do-nothing," halfway around the world the U.S. Navy's SEALs were executing a plan signed off on by Barack Obama, and successfully rescuing Captain Richard Phillips. Newt Gingrich bet against the U.S. Navy SEALs and lost.

more

[Occam Bandage]

1. And to think, it was only a short year ago

that I was reading, "Democrats bet against the United States and lose" about the surge.

[Median Democrat]

2. Is The GOP's Point That The U.S. Navy Was Incompetent And Should Have Ended This Earlier?

That was my impression from watching the GOP talking heads criticizing the handling of the crisis, as well as Obama's refusal to take a more visible role in this crisis, because we know that John McCain would be on TV proclaiming that we are all "merchant marines now."

[tridim]

6. They're just used to Bush's perfect record of incompetence over the last 8 years

They can't let it go and it's destroying them. :) :) :)

Limbaugh's show is going to be hilarious today, but I'll wait for the clips on KO tonight.

[glitch]

8. Don't forget Bush Sr and his many "incompetencies".

No doubt they were hoping for another Blackhawk Down.

[ieoeja]

22. Another Blackhawk Down = Lopsided Military Victory

Consider what happened that day...

- A Communist military coup attempt laid seige to the Russian gov't (it would ultimately fail).

- US special forces raided a meeting in Somalia capturing dozens of top Somali officials, killing hundreds of Somali militia while suffering only minor casualties ourselves.


Republicans transformed a lopsided victory into an embarrassing loss through sheer propaganda.

[glitch]

24. Actually I read the mission was a high risk relatively low return set up designed to embroil Clinton

in a morass fresh into his Presidency. The propaganda making it an embarrassing loss was part of that, certainly.

[Solomon]

3. Premature Ejaculation.

They keep doing this. Over and over and over.

They shoot their load before the story is even out there.

They take one fact, build a stupid narrative, and then try to move on to another story when they're wrong.

I'm starting to enjoy it.

What's the next outrage? Keep kicking the guy is all I've got to say. It's working good for them.

[Supersedeas]

5. the GOP needs more than little blue pills at this point--rooting against Americans for short-time

partisan political gain has become a crutchlike addition.

Patriotism....not for them, not if it means partisan crow pie.

[indepat]

4. Proud to kick yet another instance of 'puke malice to the greatest page

;)

[glitch]

7. In this case, the pukes didn't get a chance to fuck up the mission, like so many times before.

That must burn.

[KansDem]

9. It's apparent that Repubs are not "Americans..."

They are CorpoFascists, of which there are three kinds:

1) The "leaders" who will bet against America if they think they stand to profit, i.e., Ronald Reagan and his dealings with the Iranians, and the Bushes who allowed the Saudis to attack us on 9/11. Nothing's too dastardly if big profits were at hand...

2) The "enablers" who advertise and propagandize for the "leaders," i.e. the Rush Limbaughs, the Michelle Bachmanns, the Pat Robertsons, etc., who follow blindly (and who too stand to make a profit).

3) The "followers" who comprised the largest group of Repubs: ignorant, self-centered hate-mongers without whom the "leaders" cannot assume and maintain power...

It's all about fucking money with these people. Treason, murder, fraud...nothing's beyond the scope of human decency and respect.

Oh, and "power" too...Money and power.

[liberalmuse]

10. I really enjoyed this Kos diary more than most, lately.

The author tells it like it is, without mincing words.

[Vogon_Glory]

11. Alas, This Isn't A Republican Public Relations Disaster...

Alas, the happy outcome of Captain Phillips' ordeal wasn't a full-fledged Republican Party PR disaster. It looks more like a minor mess.

On the other hand, if the Republi-clowns keep shooting bullets through their size 18's, it will mean another Republi-clown disaster in 2010.

:evilgrin:

:toast:

:dem:

[Egnever]

12. Will they ever learn that bravado is not the answer to everything?

These dumb asses think the answer to everything is to yell we will blow you up! There is no subtlety in them.

[DuaneBidoux]

26. Well they stomp as loudly as elephants and carry an incompetent stick.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

13. GET THE REPUBLICAN HAS-BEENS OF THE NEWS

THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS THEY ARE PROPAGANDISTS

[safeinOhio]

14. Great LTTE from Sunday

Hope this guy has a good place to hide.




http://www.lenconnect.com/opinions/letters_to_the_editor/x1931070687/LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR


Obama and the pirates
To the editor,

Does anyone remember Granada? Arms and ammo were readied by militants! Then-President Reagan kept it quiet and directed our forces to go at once and secure the area. They did. No more problem.

How things change. A few Somali pirates have a ship’s captain and a crew member hostage, demanding safe passage and money. Our government sends a destroyer, FBI agents and some Navy personnel. Also, John Kerry (Democrat) is outraged by this act and threatens to call Congress together and have a hearing. Wow! A hearing! Bet the pirates are trembling in their boots. Just think, a congressional hearing!

But not to worry. Secretary of State Hillary thinks the pirates are bad, bad, bad. She threatens to call for an international resolution! Yikes, an international resolution. Were I one of those naughty pirates I’d be worried to death!

So far, not a word from our president. Maybe he can hold a news conference with his teleprompter and bore the pirates to death. His captivating smile should bring them to their knees! (The European press called the president “boring.”)

Oh, yes. He could give the pirates a bailout of a trillion or two. He’s good at spending.
If Reagan was president now, the captain and crew members would be home with their families eating a meal at McDonald’s in peace. There would also be a few less pirates to contend with.

As it is, I would not be surprised to see the president bow and apologize for our cargo ship being only 350 miles from the Somali coast. Semper Fi!

George Nessler
Adrian

[yardwork]

21. He appears to write letters to the editor with some frequency.

ADRIAN, Mich. -

Just cleaning my own mind
To the editor,

I will take a page from (Telegram columnist) David Frownfelder, if he doesn’t mind, and clear my own mind.

— How about these Adrian drivers? Every day on Adrian streets is an adventure. “Drivers” pull out in front of traffic from parking spaces, residences and businesses, and turn in front of you in oncoming traffic, usually only to slow in front of you. Recently, I drove only about 1 1/2 miles and had to slow down as someone pulled out of a driveway in front of me, then another someone turned left across my lane, then still another “driver” tried to get over into the turn lane which I was already in. After horn sounding and braking, suddenly our cars were stopped. My front fender and his were about 12 inches apart! When I stopped, it left a space in front of me, and this guy pulled into it and went on ahead! Oh yes. Courtesy is not dead.

Have I missed something? Is there a driving school that teaches these things? If so, they have a lot of students with “A” grades!

— What is the reason for our federal government to subsidize the oil companies to the tune of $17 billion? (That’s 17 with a bunch of zeros!) According to an article in the Tampa Tribune, the oil companies made record profits in 2007. Exxon made $1,287 profit. Not every hour. Not every minute. Every second! And our tax dollars go to subsidize them on top of that. I think that’s called “greed”! I understand gasoline is just 45 cents per gallon in Saudi Arabia.

— We pour millions upon millions to rebuild Iraq. Shouldn’t we get some of that oil?

— How about all those tornadoes, storms, floods, cyclones, fires, earthquakes, etc.?

— Maybe all people, especially governments, should pick up, dust off and read the Holy Bible. Second Chronicles, Chapter 7, Verse 14, has some very good advice. It is God’s word, folks. Abiding by it just might do wonders. I am sure the U.S. Congress will read it and do it! Yes. I also believe pigs can fly!

Here it is: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Amen!

George Nessler
Adrian

[northernlights]

15. they never learn to cut their losses

Ever. Gamblers to the soul, they always double-down and turn a small loss into a big one. :rofl:

[acmavm]

16. Apparently the repubics didn't pay much attention during the

campaign because if they did they would have known not to let Obama's calm demeanor fool them into making idiotic statements (like McCain did).

[wowimthere]

17. Spot ON!!!!

[emulatorloo]

18. Kick - they will stoop to anything and stop at nothing (I mean Republicans)

I don't know which is worse, the Pirates or the Republicans. At least the Pirates don't get tons of free air time to air their "opinions".

[Ganja Ninja]

19. The best thing the GOP could do for itself is to just STFU for the time being.

Bwahahahahah! Good luck with that! Their media egomaniacs can't shut up.

[opihimoimoi]

20. The GOP are BULLIES....the schoolyard dudes are all grown up

and in position to BULLY

We all noe some bullies...they lie cheat steal, they pout, blame, and make troubles...

and such sore losers...when small they used run home to mommy when other kids teased them....

Bullies are Bad Shit...they care not for others...no empathy...

[wildflower]

23. This prematurity reminds me of McCain

Rushing to the mike to proclaim, "We're all Georgians now!" And of course, suddenly suspending his campaign to focus on the economy.

Meanwhile, Obama did what had to be done, but quietly.

[Flying Dream Blues]

25. Why, oh why do they hate America?? nt

[Laelth]

27. The adults are in charge again, finally. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Cha]

28. How big of a damn dumb traitor do you have to be

to bet against the US Navy..as an "American"?

[formercia]

29. And Obama did it without a Mission Accomplished banner.

'cuz we know how those turn out.....