Biden: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail

By Anita Thompson, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 09:47:50 PM EST
Tags: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail (all tags)

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Joe Biden channeling Hunter at a rally in Florida:

"You know, the idea here that somehow these guys are once again injecting fear and loathing into this campaign is ... I think it's mildly dangerous," Biden said. "Here you have out there these kinds of, you know, incitements out there -- guy introducing Barack using his middle name as if it's some [epithet] or something,"

[more...]

Biden, after taking two days off the campaign trail following the death of his mother-in-law, opened a campaign swing through Florida by attacking McCain for recent remarks from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and other allies linking Obama to 1960s radical William Ayers. He called Palin's remarks "simply wrong" for a vice-presidential candidate, his first direct criticism of his counterpart on the GOP ticket.
"You know, the idea here that somehow these guys are once again injecting fear and loathing into this campaign is ... I think it's mildly dangerous," Biden said. "Here you have out there these kinds of, you know, incitements out there -- guy introducing Barack using his middle name as if it's some epitaph [meant epithet] or something,"

My friend and former Columbia teacher sent me the article from Washington Post. Yes, it is indeed true that fear and loathing on the campaign trail can be dangerous!

XXXAnita

p.s.Your comments on the debate were spot on. I couldn't agree more.

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Biden: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail | 14 comments (14 topical)

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This Kinno...Biden chap... (none / 0) (#1)
by Salo on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:07:41 PM EST

...mildly dangerous...epitaphs...what's on the man's mind? He's like an America Id.

No one quite knows. He's says it all with such bloody panche though it almost sounds like Cicero or Alcibaides.

: Malapropism yes, but maybe it IS an epitaph (5.00 / 0) (#10)
by Anita Thompson on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:44:46 PM EST

Well, to be fair, it might BE an epitaph for the McCain people. Let's say he really was channeling. It's worth a thought.... hmm? malapropisms can come in handy once in while.

: Cicero, Alcibiades (none / 0) (#5)
by eric on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:14:44 PM EST

that sent me to wikipedia...

Is that a kitten? (none / 0) (#2)
by nycstray on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:17:12 PM EST

Yes, I need to get my eyes checked! BUT, if that's a kitten cuddle tender moment, the pic needs to be bigger ;)

Just sayin'!

yes, it's a kitten (none / 0) (#3)
by Jeralyn on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:33:13 PM EST

larger version here.


: Thanks!! {grin} (none / 0) (#7)
by nycstray on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:34:32 PM EST

yes! That IS a kitten (none / 0) (#9)
by Anita Thompson on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:39:00 PM EST

His name is (was) Victor. That was Hunter's beloved part snow-leopard kitten named Victor. They are together now, wherever that is...


: Thanks! I was wondering about (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by nycstray on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 12:47:46 AM EST

the markings on the head from what I could see. Almost looks pointed in markings, but also seems to have the tiger/tabby marks on the top of the head. I used to have a household with the head markings. Good for petting ;)
I'd love to live with a more exotic kitty. Maybe that will come about when I move rural next year. I'm sure there's one needing rescue somewhere . . .
Thanks for the pic and info. Very nice to see. Leaves a smile on my face. Nothing like a man with a kitten :) And if life is as I wish, they are together beyond the Rainbow Bridge. Heh, they may have run into a few of mine . . .

Jeez, couldn't they just SAY IT CLEARLY (none / 0) (#4)
by Newt on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:09:08 PM EST

You know, the idea here that somehow these guys are once again injecting fear and loathing into this campaign...

OK, we get it, but why not just say:

McCain lies. Here is how and when he lied: <insert any of a number of statements>
Palin lies. Here is how and when she lied: <insert any of a number of statements>
Obama is not a terrorist. McCain, Palin and right wing pundits should not imply that he is because when they do, they degrade our political discourse, deceive the public and discourage the electorate from participating in this wonderful democracy.

Is it just me, or are other people thinking our candidates should stop beating around the bush and start using a stick or at least strongly call them on their sh!t. The right wing is inciting violence, their pundits are dishonestly reinforcing the nonsense anti-Obama stuff that's been circulated on the Internet for months, and their candidates are lying. Why can't our side just say that?

"...you have out there these kinds of, you know, incitements out there..." Jeesh.

That's one of the reasons I liked (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by nycstray on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:37:42 PM EST

Hillary. She was straight up and blunt. This beat around the bush crap just makes my brain wander to other pressing issues on hand. I just don't have the time for it.


Our beloved Hillary was straight up, (none / 0) (#12)
by Anita Thompson on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:55:59 PM EST

But was advised many times to use surrogates instead. Maybe she should have followed that advice. I don't know.


: I think it will work for her well (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by nycstray on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 01:04:02 AM EST

she may have been advised to use surrogates, but she put herself out there and I think we all really know her now. It may have hurt her in the beginning, but she got stronger as she went on. That tells me something (along with how this played out). When she speaks, people are more apt to listen now. And if they don't, another politician isn't above co-opting her position.
She's my Senator, and I didn't realize all her opinions until this election. I have found many things she's working on/promoting that would have never hit the radar (less antibiotics in FF meats, etc). And they are issues that are/should be popular across party lines. Here's hoping she doesn't get stifled, and if she does, someone co-ops her.
For the record, when she was first going to run here, I was like, Oy. BUT, she would be running against Rudy and I was all in {grin}. She has really worked hard for the state and country. Never relied on "preconceived" expectations. She works it.

I believe larry in nyc advocates (none / 0) (#6)
by oculus on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:27:13 PM EST

using a big stick.


: Carry a Big Stick, don't BE the big stick... (5.00 / 0) (#11)
by Anita Thompson on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 11:52:11 PM EST

You're right, but that is not the strategy... Speak softly, but carry a big stick means you use surrogates to say the hard truths. That's one reason we miss Hunter. He was a big stick, and he also carried a big stick. And could cuddle with the best of them too...