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Friday, January 18, 2008

The Republican Field Girds Itself For South Carolina Showdown

posted by on January 18 at 12:36 PM

Posted by Ryan S. Jackson

The best on-the-stump quote ever, from The Politico’s Roger Simon as he follows Team Fred Thompson on the way to tomorrow’s make-or-break moment in the South Carolina primary:

“It’s good to be back in home territory where they know how to cook green beans!” he said.

Everybody cheered.

“And they are not crunchy!” he continued.

Everybody cheered again.

Folksy. Conservative. Breathing. Fred Thompson has it all going for him tomorrow except for his polling numbers, which are pretty horrid for a state where he intends to make his last stand.

Meanwhile John McCain, 2000’s pariah candidate of alleged-illegitimate-black-child fame, has swept the editorial endorsement of every major paper in the state, and the same polling shows him to be the probable winner; probably mostly because the poll in question has an undecided voter count of 19%, which makes it essentially meaningless.

Mike Huckabee continues his turn hard to the right, adding to his prior statements about homosexual marriage equaling a de facto bestiality endorsement by now coming out in favor of displaying the Confederate flag.

Mitt Romney won’t be actively participating in South Carolina (he’s headed to the sparsely attended Nevada Republican caucus instead), and is already spinning his loss. Following his lead, the Giuliani campaign remains camped out in Florida.

The Ron Paul Blimp, now a neglected media narrative, is presently hovering over a mall in South Carolina.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, who is becoming my favorite weird political obsession, is vowing to convince voters that he can really become the nominee—one rural South Carolina diner at a time.

RSS icon Comments

1

Go Duncan!

Posted by Mr. Poe | January 18, 2008 12:44 PM
2

What? Green beans aren't crunchy?

Posted by J.R. | January 18, 2008 1:10 PM
3

Because, in the South, you get them from a can.

Steamed green beans (so they're still firm) with some bacon or ham is like... like... well like eating baby Jesus, actually.

Posted by NaFun | January 18, 2008 1:15 PM
4

Duncan Hunter is hilarious. After he got booted from the NH debates, he stalked MSNBC pundits and rushed the set and walked on a live broadcast.

Then when he lost (surprise), he called a press conference for a major announcement. Then at the conference, his announcement was...

wait for it...

He's not going to drop out and that it's the media who should drop dead.

When the time comes for him to really leave the race, nobody will care.

Posted by ghostlawns | January 18, 2008 1:15 PM
5


The best part was when the paramedics defibrillated Fred Thompson, not realizing that he's always like that.

Posted by Original Andrew | January 18, 2008 1:17 PM
6

They have curry green beans in the South?

Posted by Will in Seattle | January 18, 2008 1:18 PM
7

Well, it will be interesting to see if Huck is right and God makes him the nominee. If not, we'll I guess either there ain't no god or He went with someone else, Huck...

Posted by andy niable | January 18, 2008 1:35 PM
8

Now Fuckabee starts to show his true colors now by supporting the Confederate flag. He's truly distancing himself as being a true southern Republican - racist to the core. I grew up in SC and I'm black. Anytime, I saw that flag anywhere on someone's car/truck window or in front of their house, that was a sign that they were racist and most likely carried a gun. Believe me, it's true. I hope the majority of white republicans who hate that flag (believe me they're probably the majority) vote for McCain or Romney and help Fuckabee lose.

The last politician to try to run for president who truly stood behind the Confederate Flag was David Duke in 88 and 92. He didn't get much support and we all how racist that fucker is.

Fuckabee's starting to become our version of France's Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Posted by apres_moi_le_deluge | January 18, 2008 1:49 PM
9

Agreed, Apres, you speak from personal experience. I grew up in Idaho, where they didnt fly the flag, but.... well, you could feel it.

But isn't Huckabee the most beatable GOP candidate? There are so many Independents who are standing on the sidelines waiting to vote for Obama... or McCain.

Independents tend to be the voters who decide elections, so...

Posted by andy niable | January 18, 2008 2:02 PM
10

agreed. huckabee's supporters should at least avoid questions like that. i'm not sure they realize how polarizing it is. most republicans i know in this state are embarrassed by confederate flag supporters.

Posted by infrequent | January 18, 2008 2:11 PM
11

@8 merci for the comments.

Huckabee is going for that solid 32% racist vote and if he does come in first in SC, then he hurts McCain who is the strongest candidate.

Isn't it better if Huckster wins, than if McCain wins?

PS-it's also a flag of battle for seceding against the United States -- it's the flag of TRAITORS. Huckabee is standing with TRAITORS.


Posted by unPC | January 18, 2008 7:37 PM
12

Oh, Huckabee you pandering fruitcake... I live in NYC and I still see that stupid flag on bumpers and the back windows of trucks (it's almost always a truck/pickup. Once a minivan.). And every time I see it I want to pull the owner aside and say, "You realize you're a Yankee, right? You know what side the Yanks fought on, right? Knock it off with that racist bullshit."

So go ahead Huckabee, defend the stars and bars; reveal the true content of your character.

*unPC - Traitors and losers to boot.

Posted by Red | January 18, 2008 8:39 PM
13

@8: I grew up in the south, too (Kentucky), and I'm white and my experiences absolutely confirm your observations about the meaning of the confederate flag. It's a racist symbol first and foremost and all that "south's gonna do it again" . . ."the night they drove ol' Dixie down" . . . "O the sun shines bright on mah old Kentucky home" . . . nostalgia is the thinnest of veils.

Posted by Sarah | January 19, 2008 2:03 AM

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