Since the 2012 election I have been engaged with the scintillating analysis Rachel Maddow made on that evening, after Romney’s crushing defeat, after the staggering repudiation of Republican candidates and ideals, with the inherent challenge and call-out in her wise words.
If you would like to see the essential parts, they are available here, in a 16:05 video.
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For me the crucial bit begins at 13:58. Fair use does not permit posting the complete presentation, but below is an excerpt that I loved.
(FYI: The complete transcript is posted at nbc news. Search on this phrase to go straight to the crux.
“MADDOW: Ohio really did go to President Obama last night.”)
She said it was a big night for Democrats, obviously, but that it could also be a great night for the entire country, because of our two-party system.
the idea is supposed to be that the two sides, both come up with ways to confront and fix the real problems facing our country. They both propose possible solutions to our real problems. And we debate between those possible solutions.
And by the process of debate, we pick the best idea.
Maddow craves a quality debate about real ideas to make things better. That has not been the specialty of Republicans in recent years. They have specialized in wedge issues, in divisiveness, manipulation, polarization, obstruction, cheating, lying … it is a long list. But by and large they have completely abdicated their responsibility to offer alternative solutions to real-world problems, focusing instead on crime, abortion, attacks on gay rights and just about all minorities/out-groups, cultivation (and reinforcement!) of hatreds. Can anyone in attendance tonight think of any real solutions they have presented or suggested on any real problem, in the past 12 years, let’s say? I cannot. Everything is dedicated to election, not serving the public.
So Rachel called them out. To grow up. To stand up and fulfill the role they are supposed to.
So, tonight I have written a blueprint for reform for the Republican Party, to help them help our nation forward.
Dear Republicans,
To begin with, show some openness to diversity. Our nation was founded on it. It has always been a melting pot, and it still is. The electorate is changing. It is not a bad thing. It is a natural thing, an inevitable thing. A beautiful thing! We need it, all of us. It helps us grow. It makes us better human beings.
Focus on what is best for the country, not what is most expedient for winning elections. If something is good for the country, vote for it. Even if a Democrat proposed it. You owe it to those who voted for you. You owe it to yourselves.
Hmm. Well, no chance of THAT happening, let’s try another tack.
Offer things the people want, don’t stir up voters against things, don’t divide, don’t play on wedge issues, on polarization.
Speak with your actions, with your deeds, not with empty rhetoric.And most of all make sure the two are consistent.
::sigh:: No, that isn’t happening, either. Well, how about …
Let your policies and principles be fairly evaluated in the free market of ideas, and if you don’t like the response, change THAT, not your marketing plan. Accept that government is necessary. It would be necessary if every Democrat disappeared from the planet, and nothing you could do or say could ever change that.
Nope. There’s no way they’ll bite on that. Forget it.
Support our children. Support their health care. Support their education (this is absolutely a national security issue, even! Our country is falling behind the rest of the world!) Support our veterans. Support them AFTER their service has concluded. Support their health care. They have earned it. Support women. They are the mothers of our country, past, present and future. They make sacrifices for us on every level. They work as hard as anyone you have ever seen for our benefit and our welfare. They have earned it, and they earn it anew all the time. Support our workers. They are the engine behind our entire country. They have earned it, they deserve it. Support our citizens. Support their rights. Support their right to participate in our elections, to vote. Support their right to marriage, to be different. They deserve it. All of our citizens do.
Sorry, you guys, in my hopefulness I sometimes forget who we’re dealing with.
F&^k ‘em.
On to tonight’s comments! Compiled by brillig!
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From ozsea1:
This comment by LeftHandedMan would be a great diary
From brillig:
From Jed Lewison's diary Republican voter explains why she's against Obamacare: 'Because I can't stand the president' comes a thread begun by gfre detailing just possibly why she can't.
From HoundDog:
LeftHandedMan's reaction to my post on Richard Martinez's interview really nails a core idea we should think about more.
Top Mojo for yesterday, May 25th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary FAQing Top Mojo.
1) The only one? by susans — 180
2) I suspect that even the CDC count of 1.3 million by Susan from 29 — 131
3) What? Are you kidding me? by SouthernLiberalinMD — 117
4) Let Me Mansplain this to you. by aoeu — 106
5) Let's call this terrorism by Dave in Northridge — 99
6) One sister raped, another sexually assaulted by Bionic — 98
7) I think if you read carefully, you will see that by Wee Mama — 94
8) Dudes, we KNOW you're Not All Like That. by gardnerhill — 88
9) I'm certain you're not, and I'm sorry for anyone by allergywoman — 84
10) Keep pretending like someone, anyone by Whimsical Rapscallion — 84
11) the key quote by TrueBlueMajority — 83
12) In the moral weighing, guns lose. by brooklynbadboy — 82
13) I find it interesting by Empty Vessel — 79
14) It is the most heart-breaking of all, because by Susan from 29 — 79
15) Rant on, PQ, rant on! by Diogenes2008 — 78
16) I was raped by mollyd — 78
17) Watching Timmy G chuckle his way through his by River Rover — 76
18) Feminist Hulk in the house! by cai — 76
19) Yeah, that took a long time to beat. Decades. by SouthernLiberalinMD — 75
20) and people who fantasize about killing cops by thereisnospoon — 75
21) You are probably unaware . by indycam — 74
22) You don't need to have been raped to feel the by Susan from 29 — 73
23) that was going to be my comment by ferg — 73
24) I haven't even gotten into that yet. by SouthernLiberalinMD — 73
25) Thanks for your thoughtful post! by CeciliaAldarondo — 72
26) You have known rapists, you just were unaware by Oregon Expat — 72
27) She's someone. by cai — 71
28) Oh, lord yes. That would be, what, 1/300th by SouthernLiberalinMD — 70
29) Thanks also to nomandates for teaching me how to by cai — 69
30) Absolutely by Susan from 29 — 66
31) Bingo by Tod — 66
32) I don't know who said it but this sums it up: by AgavePup — 66
Top Pictures for yesterday, May 25th. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you jotter for the image magic!