The Art of Republican Smear

Anatomy or Art?

I just watched the March 9, 2008 program, Eye on New Mexico and I cannot post video (copyright considerations) but here are the links:

Part 1
Part 2

I posted this comment in Dennis Domrzalski's f-brilliant blog.

WOW!

Ex-Governor Cargo held his own against the GOP lawyer/henchman sent to do him in.

Dennis,
You were spot on to stop the specious allegations aimed at impugning former Governor Cargo's integrity. I feel bad for the ex-governor because he genuinely seemed to be speaking as a voice of conscience and the reward he received was to be scorched with the brand of a 'traitor' by the party he has devoted his life to. Such is the Rovian legacy: Republicans eat not only their young but their old as well.

Exclusionary, unethical practices questioned; the tie between voting and money in the NM GOP

Nicole,
You did ask a poignant question about the implications tied to the fees, what the entire Republican get-together was about and what potential implications are tied to the process. Your question clarified why there might even be a controversy at all.

Cargo’s point is valid in that fee requirements are cost-prohibitive for poor people. They amount to little more than variations of the postbellum Jim Crow Laws that served to rob African Americans of political power by keeping them in their place. Moreover, they are exclusionary and tend to favor the 'haves' who can afford to pay in order to register their voice. It sets up a system whereby the rich and powerful can place their agendas over and above the unfortunate members of the party who simply cannot afford to pay to have their voices heard.

Of course, it also opens the door for slick lawyers to figure out how to select their candidate because they can buy the votes simply by paying the entry fees en masse.

While I am glad Cargo had the opportunity to b*tch slap the sleazy attorney (who graciously decided to parrot the party line – never mind the reality that he has acted as legal counsel to Bush, Heather and the NM Republican party) with the last word. Dave finished strong and made it clear that in New Mexico, Republicans have always had to reach across party lines in order to get things done.

As for Lou Melvin;
Her refusal to talk with you and the intervening conversation by Friedman speaks volumes about the Republicans ridiculous attempt to contain this story as they circle the wagons and work out their inane strategy;

1) co-opt unethical faux-journalist/bloggers to bemoan lack of 'journalistic integrity' while relying on biased sources (Like Haussaman's former blogger who now happens to be Heather Wilson's spokesman, Heather Cheshire - I like to call her the Cheshire cat.

2) send out mercenaries like Paddie Rogers to engage in character assassination – apparently these dopes fail to realize that people other than faithful Republican drones are watching your show as well. In my opinion, they came off looking bad as they tried to smear the ex-Governor.

Newt Gingrich, Tom Delay and Karl Rove's legacy;
how to poo poo Lonesome Dave...

Characterizations by Republican smear artists who describe him as the old, annoying 'Uncle Dave' persona have blown up in their faces. In light of his repartee, the label just gives him more traction because it reveals his uncompromising character, tempered by age and wisdom. Despite the fact that he is old, Governor Cargo clearly has it going on upstairs. He remains in possession of his faculties enough to square off with the bung-hole who showed up with the task of to slitting the ex-Governor’s political throat on Sunday morning Television.

The old man has character traits rarely associated with the Republicans these days; conscience and cojones.

I only wish the program was longer because he only got stronger as the dialogue unfolded. Atta boy Dave.

Kudos to you all!