Meghan McCain, Media Whore

Apr 24 2009 Published by under Bloggers, Politics, Republicans, The Internet, Twitter

I’ve been bitching a lot today via Twitter about Meghan McCain. Unlike most people complaining, my problems with her have nothing to do with her criticism of the GOP. In many ways, we agree on the fundamental problems the Republicans have with trying to stay relevant in a world that is leaving them behind.

My problems have to do with Meghan McCain as a pseudo-celeb trying to force her views on people. It’s the same problem I have with people like Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian telling me what to think – people who have achieved nothing in life other than being born well.

Her latest appearance on The View was much like her written rant about Karl Rove – exaggeration, fabrication, and utter mind-humbing rot coming from a woman who would be unemployable if she weren’t the daughter of a former POTUS candidate. She has never met a truth she couldn’t stretch.

I joined Twitter a few months ago…

No, you didn’t. You joined six weeks ago. You know how I know that? Because you tweeted it on March 7.

We need to take Twitter back from the creepy people.

The creepy people who have been on Twitter for months or even years longer than you have? That’s right, Rove was on twitter two months before you were? What’s next? Are you going to demand we take America back from those creepy Native Americans that live near your parents’ house in Scottsdale?

Let us, instead, look at who contributes more to Twitter. Karl Rove has 43,000 followers and follows 40,000. That’s right. He actually listens to just about as many people as he talks to. What about you, Meghan?

Followers: 26327
Following: 68

Sixty-eight? I have followed more than 68 people completely on accident! How do you have 26,000 followers, but only listen to 68 people? It’s clear you don’t give a shit about the opinions of more than 99.7% of the people interested in your drivel.

Sometimes [Karl Rove] takes questions; other times he talks about his appearances on cable news and other shows. But he doesn’t say anything substantive.

Oh… so we should judge the two of you on substance. Ok… Surely, for someone with a lot to say, you must really put some thought provoking content up on Twitter, right?

I have a very exciting meeting today and the only dilemma is what to wear.

I remember some frito pies and I feel like I ate a lot of chicken patties and jello growing up 2, I loved my cafeteria!

I used to have the hugest crush on Eminem when I was in high school and he still looks hot in his new music video!!

Howard [Stern], I would so go on your show (but I would go on in a suit and keep my clothes on)

Now compare that to Karl Rove:

Please take time 2 read at least 1 of the interrogation memos. I’ve posted them on my website here > http://twurl.nl/b7iiik

Polling News & Notes: The Internet’s Growing Role in American Politics (PDF Download) http://twurl.nl/xm0eon

Politicians ignore tea parties at their peril. http://jijr.com/hehc

Wow! Clearly Meghan’s is a superior intellect. Why talk about foreign policy, trends in American politics, and political activism when you can talk about clothes, not taking your clothes off, jello and eminem.

(Meghan then goes on to pump up her dad’s use of Twitter and how it’s all him. Of course, this is the same guy that told us he couldn’t use a Blackberry because of his arm injuries. So which is it? Is he an invalid who can’t work his own thumbs, but wanted to keep a finger on the nuclear trigger? Or is he a twittering fool?)

Now, like I said, I have no problem with Meghan’s criticism of the GOP. She’s right on many counts.

What I do find tremendously offensive about her is the the fact that trashing the GOP seems to be more of a routine she performs to keep the media spotlight on herself. Now that dear old dad is no longer running for office, how can I keep people’s attention. I’ve got it. Rather than try to be a constructive voice, I’ll just kick the GOP while it’s down. That should get me on camera.

And don’t, for even a moment, think I am a big fan of Karl’s. For all his recent embrace of the Internet and jumping into the discussion, I have seen firsthand his real disdain for that discussion. I don’t buy his bullshit at all.

However, given a choice between the hypocrite and the ridiculous preening of the media whore, I had to flip a coin…

…and Meghan, you lost.

No responses yet

Only The Left…

Apr 04 2007 Published by under Craziness, Democrats, Politics

Only the left would protest somebody’s presence by refusing to let them leave. That’s what happened following an appearance by Karl Rove at American University. After pelting his car with assorted objects, they decided to lay down in front of his car, preventing his departure.

You would never see that on the right. Sure, there are people who would pelt your car, but they would do so in an effort to make you go away. Once you decided to go, they wouldn’t change their mind and try to make you stay.

No responses yet

Cojones

Jul 14 2006 Published by under Crime, Operatives, Politics, The President

CrimePoliticsAs if our court system isn’t abused enough be people seeking to capitalize on a broken legal system, all we need now is Valerie Plame’s frivolous lawsuit against Rove, Cheney, and Libby. Never mind the fact the special prosecutor has not completed his investigation, but preliminary reports would seem to indicate he is not going to find any wrong doing by at least two of the three (I’m counting Libby as one of the two because while he’s been charged with perjury, he has not been charged with any thing related to the leak.)

This is the epitome of frivolous suits. It is intended as a harassment opportunity and nothing else. Ignore for a moment the fact that Valerie Plame was so concerned about concealing her identity that she posed for Vanity Fair.

Sidebar: Plame claims the sunglasses she wore were an effective disguise and thus the pictures were ok. Is it just me, or is that the lamest idea of an effective disguise since Clark Kent’s glasses? I sincerely hope and pray that the CIA has better capabilities for protecting our agents’ identities than a large supply of Oakleys. Really, does anyone outside of DC Comics and old 50s movies honestly believe that somehow I become unrecognizable if I’m wearing sunglasses? But I digress

Plame is filing suit (and having Joe appear on every news program he can locate) in an effort to protect her family from retaliation by “America’s enemies.” Get real.

Sidebar: When Salman Rushdie thought his life was in danger, he was seen less often than Elvis – which was a feat given that the King had been dead for 10 years, but was still turning up in donut shops throughout the midwest.

If Plame is so concerned about her safety, having her husband appear live from DC on the news every other night is a pretty strange way to protect them. If she’s so concerned about the “loss of employment opportunities” maybe she should have been concerned about the generally upheld principles against nepotism before she signed her husband up to go to Niger.

Sidebar: That actually raises another question for me. If you were concerned about protecting your family, would you send your spouse to a shithole like Niger? It sounds to me like someone wanted a wild weekend with the gardener and needed a way to get the hubby out of town.

At any rate, I find Plame’s whole argument for the suit laughable, but assuming it actually went down the way she claims, you’d think she would wait for the outcome of the investigation, and sue those who are actually found responsible (if anyone is. It sounds like there is a strong possibility that nobody actually knew she was a covert operative when they referred to Wilson’s wife, there may likely be no case anyway.)

Why would you start a civil suit in the middle of an investigation by a special prosecutor – especially knowing that it may deter people from cooperating for fear of being sucked into your quest for more money.

Seriously, does this suit seem flimsy and opportunistic to anyone else?

No responses yet

Big News Day

Jun 13 2006 Published by under Democrats, Politics, Republicans

PoliticsIt’s a big news day in politics. Not only has the special prosecutor indicated he will not indict Karl Rove (did you hear the huge sigh of relief in this town early this morning?), but apparently the Democrats have finally decided to stand for something (subscription required).

While the Rove story is on the front page of almost every electronic news outlet, the Democrats agenda didn’t even warrant a front page mention on Roll Call. Honestly, I think that’s bigger news if it actually contains something specific. My bet is it won’t, however. Here’s my guess as to what is in their agenda:

  • Reduce U.S. reliance on non-renewable energy.
  • Expand public and private health insurance.
  • Raise the Minimum Wage
  • Create New Jobs
  • Strengthen the Middle Class
  • Restore Fiscal Discipline
  • Fully Fund No-Child Left Behind

Sound familiar? It should. It’s the Kerry Plan. I would bet money that they do not offer up a lot more than these bullet points. It will sound really good, but offer no specifics. So let me interpret what it means.

  • Reduce U.S. reliance on non-renewable energy – Pay platitudes to actually kicking the oil habit, raise taxes to fund a few new clean energy initiatives that will soon be forgotten and go back to relying on an oil based economy.
  • Expand public and private health insurance – raise taxes to pay for increased federal involvement in health care, allow trial lawyers to savage care providers and drive up costs, occasionally suggest a universal health care plan based on some marginally first-world foreign country.
  • Raise the Minimum Wage – Increase the burden on small business owners in the name of an obscure minority that actually receive the minimum wage anymore because many states have passed higher minimum wage laws than the fed requires anyway.
  • Create New Jobs – Think “Economic Stimulus Package” or in other words, raise taxes.
  • Strengthen the Middle Class – By taxing prosperity and increasing the amount of money flowing to the welfare state we will continue our efforts to ensure that only the Hollywood elite and our friends in the media receive excessive pay for doing little actual work.
  • Restore Fiscal Discipline – Raise taxes.
  • Fully Fund No-Child Left Behind – Raise taxes.

That’s my guess. If it sounded like there is a common thematic in there (hint: raising taxes for damn near everything), that’s probably for good reason.

No responses yet

Strange Things Are Afoot At The Circle K

Apr 19 2006 Published by under Government, Operatives, Politics, Republicans

PoliticsGovernmentThe White House “shake up” continues today. Rove is out as director of policy and McClellan is leaving the Press Secretary job. Half of that is good news and half of it matters little, if at all.

Rove’s talents lie in election strategy. His energy is needed to make sure we don’t lose our ass in November. With Karl back at the political wheel full-time, we’re in a much better place heading into November. I’m just hoping the shift comes early enough to make a difference.

Letting Joel Kaplan run with policy is also a good idea. Governing and politics should be two separate things with a constant eye on and healthy skepticism of each other. They should not be one and the same. That leads to making policy decisions based on purely political ends. That, in my opinion, is too often where we go wrong with government.

As for McClellan, that really makes no difference at all. Honestly, this is the equivalent of the monkey telling the organ grinder he wants to move on. If you want to stir up the White House Communications machine, that should include Nicolle Wallace and Dan Bartlett. They are the heart of the communications beast, so pitching McClellan over the bridge is really going to do little.

To be clear, I’m don’t think Dan or Nicolle should leave. I think the Rove/Kaplan shift will address a lot of our issues. I’m just saying the Press Secretary is not an integral cog that will make a difference if replaced. The incoming spokesman will not likely be cleared to say a lot more than Scott could. If the new guy also says nothing, the net impact is zero.

No responses yet