New Poll Shows Joe ‘You Lie’ Wilson In Trouble
11 September 2009 4:48 pm by Taylor Marsh
Wilson trails Democratic challenger Rob Miller 44-43 in a PPP survey conducted Thursday night and Friday morning. Last year Wilson defeated Miller 54-46. – Public Policy Polling
…and Rob Miller is now over $800,000 in donations and according to someone in the know, has also crushed every other candidate, bar none, for a 48-hour period on Act Blue.
Being South Carolina, people are starting to ask if former Marine Rob Miller might also be another Blue Dog Democrat? Well, compared to Joe Wilson, he’s a vast improvement, not only for South Carolinians, but for this country.
But it does raise the question of having candidates in these Republican strongholds who turn out to be conservative Democrats. Is it helping our cause or moving the Democratic party to the right? (Personally, I just want Wilson out, something that would certainly be better for Congress.)
Pres. Obama wasn’t speaking in front of the House of Commons at “Question Time.” But that does raise an interesting point, which Tina Brown talked about on “Morning Joe” early today. In a nutshell, should we have more “gladiator” politics, including during Obama’s speeches? “In Praise of Hecklers” makes the case:
The convention that Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of the President in His Presence elides the great difference known to every Briton—that between insulting the head of state and insulting the mere head of the executive branch of government.
Queen Elizabeth is one thing; insulting Gordon Brown is practically an obligation. Disrespecting the former is an act of treason; disrespecting the latter and his office, a necessity: Every Wednesday, Brown must endure Prime Minister’s Questions, during which his enemies in Parliament grill him. Prime Minister’s Questions may not be the be all and end all, but it affords an opportunity for “telling truth to power” that does not exist in the regal American system.
America’s problem is that it has combined the head of state and the head of the executive branch into a single office, and it can no longer distinguish between the two roles. Obama’s health-care address was not given in his role as head of state. It was, rather, a political speech made by—pinch yourselves—a mere politician seeking to advance his own political agenda.
The author gives himself away when he excuses the queen from heckling, while saying it’s obligatory to go after the prime minister. Our president is also the commander in chief and the holder of American honor; the closest thing we have to American royalty. When he (someday she) speaks in the well of the House to a joint session, it’s as grand a setting as we have, which doesn’t stop hecklers from making a mockery of the moment, but they’re going to have to pay the price.
Mark McKinnon, a Republican who refused to work against Obama, opines: Send Joe Wilson home. McKinnon also gave to Rob Miller.
I still contend a formal reprimand is in order. Write your Congressperson.
