Of all of the races yesterday, the most interesting for me was the Missouri Senate race. Senator Claire McCaskill was one of the least popular members of the Senate and a virtual guarantee for defeat until Rep. Todd Akin delivered victory from the jaws of defeat. Akin’s infamous rape remarks made him completely toxic to the entire nation and the GOP leadership quickly called for his withdrawal from the race. Akin treated the suggestion as absurd and allowed two deadlines to pass that would have allowed his party to repair the damage that he caused. At one time, politicians would put the interests of their party and their country before their own. However, we live in a different time and Akin is the face of the times: egotistical, selfish, and extremist. Linda MacMahon in Connecticut cut the same intensely egotistical image: spending $100 million of her own money in two unsuccessful efforts to make herself a Senator despite a fairly toxic personality and image associated with professional wrestling. Despite the sound defeat in the last election, MacMahon spent even more of her own money as the former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment to secure a second defeat. The question for the GOP is whether the disaster this election will cause anyone in the party to consider the eradication of moderates in their party and the loss of what we once called “Rockefeller Republicans.”
In the end, Akin appears to have been unable to even break 40 percent of the vote.
Had Akin withdrawn, the GOP would have likely secured the seat in Missouri. Not only Akin but the entire Tea Party worked last night to the great benefit for the Democrats — alienating moderate voters and securing wins across the country.
Akin will be left to history as a sad clownish figure who refused to accept the obvious reality that his own comments and extremist views destroyed any chance for election. MacMahon will fill another footnote on the amount of money someone is willing to spend in pursuit of egotism. Notably, MacMahon never appeared to have any particular vision or idea or cause — she just wanted to be a Senator and thought she had the money to guarantee it like some choreographed WWF bout. They are not the only such figures in this election.
The question is how we end up with such caricatured candidates in national elections and the overall low quality of politicians in this country. I have long blamed the monopoly of the two major parties on our politics. I still hold that view. However, Akin also represents a sad cultural reality today. It is not just the loss of moderation in politics but a loss of a sense of personal integrity and responsibility. Akin immediately blamed others and refused to stand aside for the benefit of his state and party. He is for me the face of what is wrong with our politics: an anti-intellectual extremist who ultimately shows little sense of duty or calling beyond himself.
Source: USA Today
Mike, raff, omg. They already think they are entitled. Give them real titles and what else will they expect? all of us to genuflect as they float by?
Great idea Mike A.!
Although it would require a constitutional amendment, perhaps we should consider establishing an honorary nobility. If we were to bestow titles on the 1%, they might consider that sufficient homage and leave politics alone. Mitt Romney could be the Duke of Winnipesaukee, Donald Trump the Earl of Atlantic City. And as special patrons for those who dislike children, Rush Limbaugh, Baron of Palm Beach, and his consort, Barrenness Coulter.
Tony C:
I have met one or 2 in my life. I met a budding one when I was in my late 20’s, I worked with him and he was a real d1ck. His wife was as sweet as they come though, I couldnt figure it out but he was a charming, handsome guy so that may account for it.
He used to crap all over the secretaries and they hated him but the bosses loved him and he was promoted pretty quickly.
@Bron: I don’t know the percentages.
However, it is best to face the reality of the situation; which is that psychopathy is very good for the bottom line. Psychopaths have no empathy, no sympathy, no sense of guilt at wrong-doing, lying or purposeful fraud, they have no respect for a fair or equitable outcome.
They cannot be trusted, they will steal if they can get away with it, lie, purposely commit fraud, try to skip their bills if they can, and will mislead and betray their friends, customers, employees, investors and family if they can. Just look at Bernie Madoff. They are predators on humanity, without guilt or regret for the pain and suffering they cause; real or financial.
And there are millions of them in this country, and since psychopathy does not affect intelligence, there are tens of thousands of them in the top 1% of intelligence. What is a good profession to reward a fearless, ruthless genius that sees all other humans as prey?
Read the Chris Hedges Lament.
MikeS and TonyC,
You two have attacked the big problem—-how do we change society. Not having media on the table to discuss was a wise decision—we know that they are bought and not even the access control tactics by govenment will help there—aaat least not completely.
What I would like to add is some speculations on influence on our young, the ones most likely to change—both in themselves and tha nation.
Chronologically it is the parents who get the first shot, but TV seems to quibble about who is first.
Then school, because in spite of interworkings in the stuent microcosm, the new ideas come with authroitorial weight from school. And kids assume correctly (?) that as the school is, so is the world. Kids don’t have time for parents after school, and neither do parents vice versa I believe, all good examples to the contrary.
So when they come out their bias is pretty well fixed.
Only the few who are inclined to think and form their own ideas, in the work or college world will change.
So the form of school education gets my nod, and notice that I did not say schoolbooks. Who reads books.
FWIW
Having said that, it is clear that MANY factors will influence our society, but changing minds will be done most effectively when they are still susceiptimble to forming.
Dredd,
I believe it for simple money buys influence reasons that it will be status quo who comes on “visibly” on top.
You don’t find new financers to support an agenda change.
When have they had a moderate, let alone liberal (by their measures) candidate anywhere. Go back and hit the latest.
Assange: Reelected Obama a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’
Published: 08 November, 2012, 16:49
http://rt.com/news/wikileaks-assange-obama-wolf-256/
“WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sees no reason to celebrate the reelection of US President Barack Obama. The US aggressively pursued and “persecuted” the whistleblower site under a Democratic administration, he explained.
“Obama seems to be a nice man, and that is precisely the problem,” the 41-year-old told AFP, speaking from his room in London’s Ecuadorian embassy.
“It’s better to have a sheep in wolf’s clothing than a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” he said. “All of the activities against WikiLeaks by the United States have occurred under an Obama administration.”” continues…
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/must-read/michael-moore-tweets-about-war-women-election-day-2012
November 7th, 2012 12:21 PM
Michael Moore Tweets About the War on Women on Election Day, 2012
From @MMFlint
“McCaskill, Warren, Stabenaw, Klobuchar, Baldwin Senate victories = Declare a War on Women, prepare to lose. #legitimate”
“RT @PaulRyanGosling: Hey girl, how the f*** are all these women winning?! They don’t even wear TIES.”
“RT @KailiJoy: Magic lady parts not only detect rape sperm but also turn out the vote against rape apologists. #winning”
“Looks like that old folk wisdom is true – if it’s a legitimate loon, the female vote has ways to shut that whole thing down.”
“I’d say there’s a binder full of women going to the U.S. Senate.”
“Then we can make predictions for the 2012 House and Senate races.”
I meant 2014 not 2012 …
“The question is how we end up with such caricatured candidates in national elections and the overall low quality of politicians in this country.”
A lot of it is fantasy world ideology:
(How Science Defeated The Republican Pollsters). They believe that whole-hardheartedly in elitist GOP circles, however, some of the money-men are waking up.
Let’s wait until the back-room civil war within the GOP is over, and see who walks out as their leaders.
Then we can make predictions for the 2012 House and Senate races.
If the status quo “stop evil Bronco Bama” prevails over the next two years, they will lose the House next.
“From Bron’s lips to the GOP’s ear. That is exactly what they need to do. But I would also take gay-bashing and immigrant-bashing off the table.”
But of course. If you are going to have a platform based on individual rights, it must include all people.
It seems pretty simple.
Blouise, It is hard for them to do that since their base resides in the evangelical churches.
Malisha:
It seems to me we do. Plus there are a good many private charities which do so as well.
Tony C:
that was an interesting link.
What is the occurrence in terms of percentage in those professions?
Bron, I believe if our society offered women plenty of help with their children, and no financial, physical, “moral,” social or other beatings related to their pregnancies, we could cut down on abortions by 90% within a decade. Furthermore, that last 10% are pregnancies that would probably end up being terminated illegally if necessary, fueling a subculture of such violence and criminality that it wouldn’t be worth another “war on drugs” kind of preoccupation for us. It would be a “war on wrongfully pregnant females.”
I’m just saying…
“The only thing conservatives need to do is to get rid of the Romneys and Aikens in our party and start running people like Gary Johnson of New Mexico. Libertarian leaning republicans. I am pretty sure we would attract conservative democrats and women and minorities. I think we also need to tell the evangelicals that abortion cannot be an issue any more. If they dont like it, fight it by changing people’s minds and leave it out of politics.” (Bron)
From Bron’s lips to the GOP’s ear. That is exactly what they need to do. But I would also take gay-bashing and immigrant-bashing off the table.
“A person following the “lesser of two evils” strategy would have elected Coakley in 2010, and would have been forced to vote for the incumbent Coakley again in 2012. That is the flaw in the “lesser of two evils” strategy; it leaves no room for improvement and provides no incentive for improvement.” (Tony C.)
Now that is one of the best arguments I’ve read on the lesser of two evils question. Well done!
Interesting article; “Which Professions Have The Most Psychopaths?”
CEOs, Lawyers and Media personalities top the list!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-barker/which-professions-have-the-most-psychopaths_b_2084246.html
It would seem that a true old fashioned 19th century liberal could do well in a nation wide or even local race.
They would have the progressive bona fides about live and let live and the conservative inclination toward free markets.
Call it the Liberty Party or Individual Rights Party.