The "Yes, we can!" spirit requires a sloughing off of cynicism. I think cynicism comes in part from a constant disregard for the truth. In that spirit, I must comment on John McCain. McCain supposedly gave a great, gracious concession speech. So say all the TV pundits. It is enough to make one cynical.
Even while McCain was making his remarks, the crowd assembled of his strongest supporters booed when Obama's name was mentioned. It was merely a surface manifestation of hatred that McCain and Palin did their best to stir up. As per Newsweek (h/t RP)
The Obama campaign was provided with reports from the Secret Service showing a sharp and disturbing increase in threats to Obama in September and early October, at the same time that many crowds at Palin rallies became more frenzied.
And there is this, minor in the scale of things - perhaps!
NEWSWEEK has also learned that Palin's shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain's top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy......One aide estimated that she spent "tens of thousands" more than the reported $150,000, and that $20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband. Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. An angry aide characterized the shopping spree as "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast," and said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books.The Senator put Palin on the path to the Presidency, and this was probably the most irresponsible act of his career.
This is the truth that must be acknowledged to keep cynicism at bay.
PS: McCain's VP candidate (from R.P.) as per Fox News, the Republican Propaganda Channel:
Carl Cameron just reported on O'Reilly that when Palin was selected, aides to McCain found out that she did not even know that Africa was a continent.
She thought it was a country and that South Africa was to the south of that country:
(via A.M.)
