Politics As (Un)Usual

I learned a new word yesterday*: “Myrmidon.” As in:

1. Classical Mythology. one of the warlike people of ancient Thessaly who accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War.

2. (lowercase) a person who executes without question or scruple a master's commands.

Or… as in: “What the myrmidons of conventional wisdom just don't get about Palin.” Excerpt:

These folks lecture the rest of us about how to run the country; they are keepers of the conventional wisdom. And now, as the 2008 campaign enters the stretch run, we are about to see just how very much these folks know that is nonsense.

Take, for instance, the mantra of “change.” Having nominated Barack Obama and Joe Biden, respectively, for president and vice president — both prominent members of the most unpopular Congress in living memory — the Democratic wing of the political class chants incessantly about “change we can believe in.”

But it’s nothing less than a con job because the only change Obama and Biden offer is rhetorical. In terms of concrete policy proposals, what they offer is more government, more taxes, more regulation, more bureaucrats, more of everything that is wrong with Washington.

Peddling old liberal nostrums dressed up in new slogans works in a Democratic primary, but such moldy junk from the Great Society closet will turn off most of the rest of America once it begins to focus seriously on the campaign, as it will now that Labor Day is behind us.

There’s more at the link, and it’s very, very good. I think Mr. Tapscott put his finger on something most of us knew intuitively after doing our homework on young Mrs. Palin. She doesn’t fit the mold. She’s a politician, true, but she’s a politician in the time-honored tradition of the American “backwoods” politician… the kind one used to find in abundance in American political life but not so much these days, except perhaps on the local level. And this is a good thing, to my way of thinking. I firmly believe the rest of America (with the exception of the you-know-whos) will identify with Palin… especially in contrast to the two professional political hacks with non-existent track records nominated by the other guys.

I know people don’t vote for the vice-presidential candidate… they vote for the guy at the top of the ticket. But, in this case the Number Two is generating such positive vibes in the Republican Party… and has such a wonderful story to tell… that she’s burnishing the image of Number One simply by association. And the uncommitted middle can’t help but notice. Hell, it’s been “All Sarah, All the Time” ever since Friday. Only Gustav had the power to knock Mrs. Palin off the front pages and off the cable news channels, and that’s saying something, Gentle Reader.

I believe substance will ultimately transcend form. We… the fortunate few on the Right… seemingly have substance in spades. As opposed to, ya know… Hopeychange. Be Afraid, Democrats. Be VERY afraid.

* Yes, I did read The Iliad. Long ago and far away, however. About 50 years ago, give or take a month or three. Time fades away.

―:☺:―

So… Glen Greenwald has his panties in a twist over this: “Scenes from St. Paul -- Democracy Now's Amy Goodman arrested.” Excerpt:

Following up on this weekend's extreme raids on various homes, at least 50 people were arrested here today in St. Paul, Minnesota. Beginning last night, St. Paul was the most militarized I have ever seen an American city be, even more so than Manhattan in the week of 9/11 -- with troops of federal, state and local law enforcement agents marching around with riot gear, machine guns, and tear gas cannisters, shouting military chants and marching in military formations. Humvees and law enforcement officers with rifles were posted on various buildings and balconies. Numerous protesters and observers were tear gassed and injured. I'll have video of the day's events posted shortly.

Perhaps most extraordinarily, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now -- the radio and TV broadcaster who has been a working journalist for close to 20 years -- was arrested on the street and charged with "conspiracy to riot."

Well, dang. Squads of cops “marching in military formations”… how absolutely Brown-Shirt of them, eh? No word on how they got the Humvees up on those buildings and balconies, however. That would have been news I could use. Nope…it’s all about Ms. Goodman, one of the Left’s absolute darlings. But, Hey! She was arrested!!1!! You don’t suppose that might have had something/anything to do with this, would ya?

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Protesters attacked delegates, smashed windows, punctured car tires and threw bottles Monday, a violent counterpoint to an otherwise peaceful anti-war march at the Republican National Convention. Police wielding pepper spray arrested at least 56 people.

The trouble happened not far from the Xcel Energy Center convention site, and many of those involved in the more violent protest were clad in black and identified themselves to reporters as anarchists. They wrought havoc by damaging property and setting at least one fire. Most of the trouble was in pockets of a neighborhood near downtown, several blocks from where the convention was taking place.

[…]

Members of the Connecticut delegation said they were attacked by protesters when they got off their bus near the Xcel Center, KMSP-TV reported. Delegate Rob Simmons told the station that a group of protesters came toward his delegation and tried to rip the credentials off their necks and sprayed them with a toxic substance that burned their eyes and stained their clothes.

One 80-year-old member of the delegation had to be treated for injuries, and several other delegates had to rinse their eyes and clothing, the station reported.

So, now. Let me get this straight. An 80 year-old member of the Connecticut RNC delegation was treated for injuries inflicted by a mob of “peaceful protesters” and Amy Goodman was arrested… and released three hours later? Dang. Greenwald is right. What a frickin’ outrage.