Harriet is one of the most beloved people here at the White House," Snow said, adding that she was a scrupulous lawyer who aggressively defended the Constitution.
These people are completely divorced from reality? or is it just that Harriet is beloved but ignored, like a slightly stupid spaniel?
I've never maintained that reality has a lot to do with decision-making in this administration, and certainly nothing to do with the public statements of its spokespersons. I think, however, it's much deeper and broader than just this administration.
Digby brings out this little tidbit about McCain, from this story:
The 2006 election has not changed Sen. John McCain’s support for victory in Iraq one iota.
While some Democrats have interpreted their party’s triumphs in last November’s balloting as a call by voters to end the U.S. deployment in Iraq, McCain, a leading contender for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, made it clear Friday he doesn’t see it that way.
McCain seems to be launching his 2008 campaign by taking the role of foremost advocate of sending significantly more troops for long-term deployment to Iraq. . . .
But McCain cited Lieberman’s decisive victory over anti-war Democrat Ned Lamont as proof that the electorate was not clamoring for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
“Of course I disagree” with the notion that last November’s election was a mandate to end the Iraq deployment, McCain said heatedly in comments to reporters. Gesturing to Lieberman at his side, McCain said, “There’s no way this guy could have been re-elected if it was as simple as that. Americans are frustrated and angry and that frustration and anger is justified. But when you ask most Americans should we get out right away, most of them say no.”
OK -- this is McCain doing the right-wing shuffle: no one has said right away. Not even John Murtha said right away, although he was smart enough to pick up the Republican tactic of espousing a radical viewpoint to move the discussion in his direction. But, right away? Most Americans are smart enough to figure out that's a recipe for an even bigger disaster than the one that Bush has already created and McCain/Lieberman are trying to make worse. (I may just start calling them McLieberman -- it has a nice generic ring to it.) But out, definitely, ASAP. If McCain thinks he can parley one win for the pro-war side against loss of both houses of Congress, he's delusional. Maybe even delusional enough to be president.
By the way, don't you love the McCain-Lieberman love-fest? Want to bet what the likely ticket is if McCain wins the nomination? Any credibility Lieberman had as a Democrat is long gone. He'll bolt the party to become a Republican if McCain looks likely to take the nomination.
The right's reaction to reality gets a lovely expose by Glenn Greenwald in his examination of the whole AP/Jamil Hussein story. David Neiwert has a detailed discussion, as well (citing a lot of the same posts), but quotes Steve Gilliard's comment to great effect:
You know, these morons don't even get why this story was important.
It wasn't about sourcing, but the fact that the Madhi Army went batshit. That their power is unchallenged within Baghdad.
So they concentrate on the details and forget the more important story, which is the rise of Sadr and his militia. They think the AP made this up? The AP has photos which would make them puke.
They deny the obvious.
They also managed to get Jamil Hussein arrested for speaking with the press.
So, when it comes right down to it, no, Piet, reality isn't part of the mix. Nor are common sense, integrity, maturity, or any other characteristic that we normally think of as "adult."
The real problem is that this has become a large component of the American attitude: belief is more important than fact; all opinions are equally valid; if someone says it, it's true. That's also the basis of the new conservatism.
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