regarding memogate
So, let me get this straight.... according to Salon's account:
"When the Terri Schiavo story became national news in mid-March, a curious subplot revolved around a talking-points memo that was reportedly distributed to Republican senators. Reported first by ABC News, and then by the Washington Post, the existence of a memo, which made crass -- and ill-advised, it turns out -- assertions that the Schiavo story was a political winner for Republicans, gave Democrats ammunition in their insistence that the GOP's involvement in the right-to-die case was more about politics than morality."
The document described the case as "a great political issue" that would excite "the pro-life base" and be "a tough issue for Democrats." Then right-wing bloggers tried to claim the memo was a fake planted by the Dems, but...
"Late on Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the author of the memo had stepped forward: An aide to Republican Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida admitted he had written it. Now the facts are clear: The memo is real, and it was written by the Republican side and distributed by the Republican side, making it a GOP talking-points memo."
So ... shockingly (!), Republicans did some thinking about how (wait for the kicker...) [i>current events might benefit their party.
Um ... okay. I am not at all shocked that Republicans have an interest in using hot-button topics to their own advantage. "A woman in a coma is at the center of a vigorous debate -- how can we use this to benefit our party?" "It's raining out -- how can we use this to get our guy elected?" Awesome. That's what politicians do.
In fact, I would really like the Democrats to do more such strategizing. That's your goddamn job. I vote for you, you make shit happen and try to get re-elected. Start now! When something happens, write a memo about how to use it to win stuff. Please. I would like my elected representatives to stop complaining about the other side playing politics. It's like my hometown baseball team complaining that the other guys are exercising before the season starts.
So, let me get this straight.... according to Salon's account:
"When the Terri Schiavo story became national news in mid-March, a curious subplot revolved around a talking-points memo that was reportedly distributed to Republican senators. Reported first by ABC News, and then by the Washington Post, the existence of a memo, which made crass -- and ill-advised, it turns out -- assertions that the Schiavo story was a political winner for Republicans, gave Democrats ammunition in their insistence that the GOP's involvement in the right-to-die case was more about politics than morality."
The document described the case as "a great political issue" that would excite "the pro-life base" and be "a tough issue for Democrats." Then right-wing bloggers tried to claim the memo was a fake planted by the Dems, but...
"Late on Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the author of the memo had stepped forward: An aide to Republican Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida admitted he had written it. Now the facts are clear: The memo is real, and it was written by the Republican side and distributed by the Republican side, making it a GOP talking-points memo."
So ... shockingly (!), Republicans did some thinking about how (wait for the kicker...) [i>current events might benefit their party.
Um ... okay. I am not at all shocked that Republicans have an interest in using hot-button topics to their own advantage. "A woman in a coma is at the center of a vigorous debate -- how can we use this to benefit our party?" "It's raining out -- how can we use this to get our guy elected?" Awesome. That's what politicians do.
In fact, I would really like the Democrats to do more such strategizing. That's your goddamn job. I vote for you, you make shit happen and try to get re-elected. Start now! When something happens, write a memo about how to use it to win stuff. Please. I would like my elected representatives to stop complaining about the other side playing politics. It's like my hometown baseball team complaining that the other guys are exercising before the season starts.