Oh my goodness.

Is this sort of like when your parents go away for the weekened, and you invite three people over, three hundred show up? At first it's fun, but then they start destroying everything, and you start losing control of the situation, and you're secretly thankful when eventually the cops show up and everyone runs off? At least, that's what happens in the movies.

How weird is it to NEED the support of these hooligans to be elected, but to know that they're batshit loony? Even McCain must realize that.

heh, heh, heh…

let them implode. seems all they have left for supporters are the angry, bigoted, stupid motherf-ers who show up to these things.

I mean, are these really the kind of people you would want backing you? If I were McCain, I'd be ready to drop out knowing that most of my support came from people who think that your name makes you a terrorist.

I think that's all they need Palin for at these rallies–to get up there and say "Drill baby drill". I really hope that the next time she says it, she's carryiing a dildo.

They are certifiable lunatics on both sides of the aisle.

I'd have more respect for Palin if that were to happen at least. Unfortunately, she's probably against drilling lady parts. Just a hunch.

true, et, but we haven't seen behavior like this from the dem side in this election.

at least, not to this extent or with this much vitriol.

Good point, Chelsea. Sex and pregnancy are only for two adults who are willing and married and not 17-year-old hockey players and girls named "Bristol".

I also liked seeing Michelle Obama on some talk shows lately. Instead of pulling a Cindy "Percocet" McCain and calling the McCain campaign 'dirty', she remained gracious and even gave credit to Palin for being a "working mom". Classy.

while in college i took a really fascinating course in ethnic politics/ethnic war, and something that really intrigued me the most was how violence often begins within self identified groups (example: conservative republicans) toward other group members (ie john mccain) that they do not perceive to be "real" group members. honestly, i'm getting very antsy about the serious possibility of some gross displays of violence over the next couple of months. things always get bad when the economy gets bad- that's when people tend to band together and try to purge the "others". and i honestly believe that probably 90% of the people at these wacko rallies are closet fascists who wouldn't think twice of taking their anger out on bystanders.

@ bree - I know. I am worried about the same thing.

@ em & chelsea - Palin should market a new dildo called the Maverick, and it's slogan can be drill, baby…drill.

I know outside of Wisconsin this is probably no big deal, but the rally wasn't in Milwaukee, it was in Milwaukee suburbs which are Republican strongholds. Milwaukee and Madison (and some other areas) go the other way.

McCain is in LaCrosse, WI, today–an area that typically goes left of the dial–and he curiously did not take along Sarah Palin (she headed back to Ohio, I think).

Also, according to a poll this week, Obama is ahead in Madison by 44 points.

I still can't believe the McCain campaign is still harping on the Ayers/Wright situation when the economy is tanking.

It's end of days, y'all

I would like to get some opinions on something I heard on one of the news channels last night. I don't remember which it was. I have been flipping back and forth between several for the last couple of weeks trying to learn as much as I can about both candidates. All this has become like crack to me. I just can't get enough of all the information being put out there. I thought this was interesting though. They were talking about how so many people (including celebs) seem to have such deep hatred for McCain but pointed out that for two decades he was the Democratic parties' favorite republican because he worked across the aisle. What has caused everyone to go from one extreme to the other?

bree and pw, I worry about that too.

this "mob" seems so angry, and when one of them says something like "you need gloves to touch him" (Obama), it makes me scared.

because, wtr, he's not that "maverick" that he used to be.

not sure how much I liked the guy at any point, but as so many commentators have said, the McCain of 2000 would be disgusted at the McCain of 2008. a lot of people feel that he's sold his soul to the conservative base of the GOP in order to get elected.

one thing I can point out is his declaration of wanting to "run a clean campaign based on issues" due to the way Bush trashed him in 2000, and you see what his campaign has resorted to.

As a Wisconsin native, I find all this very upsetting. As a native of said suburbs of Milwaukee, I am not surprised.

However, here is an interesting tidbit: Here in my county (the reddest in the state) you certainly see a lot of McCain signs (generally multiple signs in the same yard). BUT, I have also seen more Democratic signs in yards this year than EVER before. It's going to be an interesting race in this swing state, let me tell you.

So, if it's any consolation, the crazies are coming out precisely because of WI's swing-leaning-blue status. They are the fringe, not the norm. I swear, most of us Wisconsinites are kind, thoughtful, no-nonsense, unpretentious, and educated. …really!

wtr - I think part of the issue is that McCain has completely changed who he is as a political figure because this is his once chance at the presidency.

You'll remember that pP (pre-Palin), evangelicals and the religious right were furious that McCain had won, and were considering "sitting this one out." McCain has changed who he is–and what he stands for–in order to win.

Personally, I think that's frightening.

Katie: yay for Wisconsin!

There were people cutting the brake lines and defacing the homes of those with Liberal signs on their lawns in Toronto this past weekend. This is beyond terrifying. Canada is all kinds of things, but politically intolerant we are not (or at least, haven't been).

If it's gotten to the point here where someone needs to try to murder people with opposing political views, I can't imagine what could go down elsewhere in the world. You know, where handguns are legal and shit.

I also felt the need to defend our fair state (see above).

:|

@ Blue Canary and Katie -

"A study released yesterday by the respected Wisconsin Advertising Project found virtually 100 per cent of the McCain ads for the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4 were negative while about one-third of the Obama ads were negative."

How's that for props for Wisconsin??? :) Not sure if that's just the name, or where they're from, but still!

Yay Wisconsin! :) WAP is actually UWAP (University of Wisconsin Advertising Project) but for whatever reason, the 'University of' is always dropped.

Also, my anecdotal evidence backs up the WAP. I haven't seen a single positive ad from McCain in recent memory. I don't even remember what a positive McCain ad consists of.

"Palin should market a new dildo called the Maverick, and it's slogan can be drill, baby…drill."

It should come with a bottle of lube with a little picture of an oil well on it, too. And, obviously, the dildo should be red.

I think we're onto something here, peeps. We may have a future in designing adult toys…

…if only it could somehow run on fossil fuels instead of batteries…

HA! I love it!

I think we should also market a fisting glove called "The Moose".

Alright, I'll stop.

One should wear a glove while fisting? Fuck. There's loads of shit that I don't know.

Actually, you know what, p_w? I think I'm thinking about the gloves that people wear when they have to, like, inseminate a cow. Or a moose! My bad.

…but I guess you *could* wear a fisting glove. You know, in case you're worried about breaking a nail or something.

Won't you take me to, crazy town. I have a feeling one of these things will turn violent. They need to spike the punch with some prozac.

I think the maverick should be wireless so you can take it whatever rally/riot you are attending.

this sounds like a fucking satirical play written in the 1960s.

are you guys sure we're not in a fucking dream or something?

juju–I bet if dildos/vibrators/butt plugs/anal beads/nipple clamps/whatever the hell you're into were allowed/used at these rallies, they wouldn't be as hateful.

em, I would like to see you TRY to inseminate a moose. Incidentally, a female, adult moose is called a cow!

I agree that it should be wireless…makes it easier to run after folk with pitchforks that way.

I'd go to that rally but I'd wear goggles. You know what I'm sayin.

Wow, I didn't know that, p_w. Who knew a comment about fisting would lead to my learning something new?

juju–googles AND a raincoat. I know what you're sayin.

Em, yep. The men are called bulls, and the wee little babies are called calves.

So, you know, fisting teaches lessons. That's what *I* have learned today.

I think you should tape a PSA about fisting teaching lessons. "The more you know" and all that good stuff.

Katie and Blue Canary- On Wisconsin! Milwaukee is one of my favorite cities.

What else can we learn from fisting?

Square pegs, round holes…what else?

Good morning all. I'm surprised that troll Matt isn't here starting crap again. His bad attitude won't ruin my long weekend, though :)

Never fist on a first date. That's a firm rule you should always live by.

Hmmm…there have to be more lessons from fisting. *Puts thinking cap and inseminating glove on*

juju–that sounds like good etiquette.

welp, I guess here is a good a place as any to post a new magnum opus

I think fisting SHOULD happen on a first date. Good to get that potentially awkward stuff out of the way and all.

Ha, Killorn. Awesome. You should post this on a righty-winger blog somewhere and see what kind of responses you get…could be entertaining and/or frightening.

These psychotic sheep won’t be happy until there are full on cross burnings and race riots. God, I weep for our future some days. I need to move from my red state ASAP.

"…because reading and writing is for queers, too."

Please, please tell me that the grammar error in the above phrase was on purpose! (Should be "are", not "is".) Otherwise… ironick!?!

blue canary, katie, (and mrs farve of course)
As a Wisconsin native, I too was a bit surprised by this post, but then again I am from the hippiest Wisconsin city (Madison). Good job explaining bc. Those Milwaukee suburbs are pretty red my parents have told me (they live in Pewaukee).
Every day in Kansas is a reminder of how much I miss the Badger state. Stinkin' Sunflowers.

If McCain does win the White House he'd better watch his back, or some gun totin' dittohead may "cast an early ballot" for Palin for President - right between his eyes.

Does anyone else get creepy apocalyptical willies from all this? Seriously, they've catered to the swaggering bigoted asshole for so long that the party is losing control of a base they courted basically as a strategy.

I wouldn't know if any of John McCain's ads are negative or not. The local Republicans are furious with McCain for pulling out of Michigan.

What really made the news today was former governor Bill Milliken (who served a long term during the 60s and 70s before term limits were made law) refused to support McCain's candidacy. Milliken is a reasonable and moderate Republican, and has been well-liked by both Democrats and Republicans alike. His lack of endorsement is a significant blow.

Right now there are maybe one or two TV spots run by Republican groups, and not very often. Obama ads appear regularly, but not frequently. And there's only one McCain sign on my street. And five Obama signs.

mayancalendar, I sorta think that.

But what I see is the disintegration of the Republican party as we know it. There are so many factions, so much rage, so much power-grabbing and yelling. And very little of it appears to have any basis in rational thought. I can only hope that most Americans can watch the fracas from the sidelines and back away from it. It's kinda turning into a bar fight, where you just want to pay your tab and get the hell out of there.

Poo, you are spot-on. The Reagan-Era Republicans and even the George Bush Sr., "Kinder and Gentler" nation is gone. Too bad. There is is no refinement or grace; all crude and stupid. Shame on them.

I think I'll move to Wisconsin….seems like intelligent people there, and it's a long way from Alaska

@Mike Catt. Indeed.

I agree with drilling in the US, because the main reason this whole mess began with Iraq coming over here terrorizing and killing thousands of people is because we've been going over there taking their oil, why go to some other land and take what's not ours? That's the problem with the US, these damn presidents think they can do whatever they want once they become president. I don't like Bush, but he's right for having those troops over there because if it wasn't for those troops, what would be next to go in the US, THE PENTAGON, EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AND ALL HUMAN LIFE AS WE KNOW IT!