Updated:  The m'ca-cas among us. 

My younger cousin from Maryland used to refer to his dirty diaper as "m'ca-ca."  And that was light years ago.  Even today, my cronies and I say "ca-ca" to describe a situation that reeks or someone who's literally and figuratively "full of it."

IMO, Contemporary "m'cacas" are of the same ilk.  They are a corp of political operatives, predominately Caucasian (if it matters), whose sole purpose is to either distort an  opponent's image or to catch the opponent literally stepping in ca-ca. 

NOTE:  I'm in no way endorsing George Allen or his creative vocabulary.  From my humble perspective, if a candidate (pardon the analogy) steps in ca-ca and continues to wipe it off his shoe at each subsequent whistle stop, I figure he ain't savvy enuff to be elected.  Know what I mean?

Look at it this way.  Some candidates don't need to be stalked by m'cacas.  They are fully capable of mucking up their own campaign without help.  Examples:  John Kerry and Joe Biden. 

But I digress.

I'm still wondering about something, though ..... 

This anti-Mormon refrain is a tad too Clinton-esque to blame on run-of-the-mill operatives.  It's too "planned."  Too accommodating.

It's not like we haven't been warned that the left intends to use the Internet as their own WMD (i.e., words of mass distortion) to win in 2008 .....

Prime Example:

Almost every discussion board/forum in which the topic is Mitt Romney -- someone turns the conversation to religion.  And usually, the turn is anti-Mormon.

Face it.  Either certain discussion forums are magnets for fundamental conservatism or the moonbats are in advanced infiltration mode. 

I'm thinking it's a bit of both with a heavy dose of infiltration.

I want to believe that some trolling moonbats (or pro-Rudy-pro-McVain or pro-whoever-else -- including a few pseudo-intellectuals) are deliberately maligning the Mormon faith to detract from Romney's credentials. 

Similar political tactics have been used before.  Heck -- if Kerry hadn't been so gullible (and a bumbling liar), Swift-boaters would have had little effect on his image. 

Let's be realistic -- most objective, clear-thinking politicos acknowledge that Mitt Romney is a formidable opponent -- regardless of his religion!  Those who fear Romney, however, apparently find it necessary to either incite a few Bible-quoting fanatics or orchestrate an orgy of operative-trolls to obscure and shroud his views. 

Ever watched a "yeah-but(t)" in action?  There's one in every planning group.  Some folks are naturally tunnel-visioned.  Others are plants.  P-O's.  Planted operatives.  Professional operatives.  Political operatives.

Correct me if my memory fails -- but this anti-Mormonism is beginning to look too much like the old W.A.S.P. mentality: attack anyone who isn't of White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestant heritage.  In a political context, this  "elitist" affront is being extended to anyone associated with the conservative movement.  And it's beginning to stick to a few shoes. 

Whether the offensive is real or orchestrated -- conservatism in general and Republicans in particular are getting a bad rap.  And we're making it easy for the operatives (a.k.a., ca-cas) amongst us.

Let's assume (for the sake of discussion) that the left has actually adapted an MSM journalistic strategy to the Internet.  Let's refer to this strategy as a re-defined W.A.S.P. acronym: 

Words to Advance Subliminal Persuasion 

And they're gaining momentum (baiting even less worthy candidate  supporters to join the assault) -- jamming discussion boards and op eds with words [oh -- by the way....] to advance [he's Mormon] subliminal [Mormons may not be Christians?] persuasions [hummmm .... well, are they Christians or not?] to slant opinions of a candidate [i.e., Mitt Romney]. 

Too simplistic, you say?

Then tell me if there has been either an American President or a state governor who has ever placed religion above Constitutional duties.   Please.  Name one.  You certainly won't find Mitt Romney's name on that governor's list. 

But to the contemporary W.A.S.P. operative --- That. Does. Not. Matter! 

What to do?  

First of all -- until someone either puts these trolls in their place (across the floor and out the door) or reveals their tactics (to obstruct, obscure  and shroud the discussion), their game-plan will continue. 

Mitt Romney and his team are too savvy to let that happen to them. 

I'm not too confident about some of the rest of us, however ..... 

If we continue to allow operatives to assail the faith of one candidate, we're as hypocritical as those old W.A.S.P. elitists.  Allowing operatives to manipulate us in continually "wiping our feet" only spreads their ca-ca.  And if we allow them to continue -- don't be surprised if we find ourselves in really deep ca-ca come 2008.

Praise the Lord and pass the ammo.  The ca-ca's are amongst us.  And we're in for the fight of our lives.

Today is Norman Rockwell's birthday. 

50+ years my elder, he painted the Americana of my childhood and early youth.  As early as I can remember, Life Magazine andThe Saturday Evening Post were in both my grandparent's and my home.

I recall innocently believing that his paintings depicted scenes from the local drugstore, my doctors' offices, our main street, my Dad and uncles who fought in WWII or Korea ....

At some point in time, I taped SEP covers on my bedroom walls -- until my sister demanded equal space for her movie star photos. 

But back to Rockwell's Americana.  Browse his galleries and reclaim a memory of yourself, an aunt, an uncle, a neighbor.   

----------------------------------------------------

And if you also shared a bedroom with a curly-headed, skinny, whiney, cry-baby little sister who insisted on taping up those black and white head shots of Tab Hunter and Sandra Dee -- your personal "Americana" most likely includes one of these           ------>

There is, after all, a bit of Rockwell in all of us.

Not sure this is a good idea, Nancy.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you actually want the U.S. Air Force to provide transportation for you, your staff, family and the CA delegation?  Free?  At your beck and call?

You actually want the military -- whom you've criticized, threatened and basically undercut -- to provide YOU with free air service?  Cross-country?  At tax-payer expense? 

I have a suggestion.  (OK -- scratch that one.  Here's another.)

Do what most of us did who worked for the government in Vietnam. Go stand-by.  Hop a flight -- any flight -- that is going in the direction you want to go.  Rub elbows with the troops who also ride these flights.  Carry your own luggage AND pillow; secure your behind in a cargo net or one of those flip-down metal seats.  Hear the roar of the engines .... pack your own lunch .... relieve yourself behind a drape in the back of the plane.

Maybe THEN you will gain a better understanding and appreciation of the U.S. military. 

But know what?  I betcha Bush gives in.  Sure, the former SotH traveled with a communications system, but I don't think he demanded that his family, staff and state delegation fly along with him.

I only hope someone keeps an account of the mileage AND who the Air Force is chauffeuring in your name.  Maybe we can deduct the incurred expense from the military budget.

Makes me wanna frow'up.

The Anchoress posts a cute coffee caper by the President at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning.   It won't be "cute" if your perspective is dampened by B.D.S., however .... What a shame.

One of the qualities which I admire in Mitt Romney IS his sense of humor.  Check out the videos.  Not that Romney should give up his day job, but he's never at loss for a chuckle -- even at his own expense.

And that, by the way -- is one indication of confidence ...

 I'm impressed with the voting at Pajamas Media thus far -- even though it's only a straw vote.  But then I've been a Romney supporter for months .... A man of integrity, faith, intellect, knowledge and proven leadership.  With time and exposure, I'm confident he will soon be earning the title "the communicator."  Two of his strongest suits (although he looks mighty fine in any of them ..... errrrrrr ..... sorry, Ann) are 1) he doesn't have the DC trappings and 2) he is both articulate and convincing. 

Visit his website.  Look through his videos.  I know -- anyone can put together a sound-byte or video clip.  But listen to Mitt Romney discuss his goals and strategies.  Listen to him interact with others.  Then review what he did as a Republican governor in a Democrat state. 

His critics?  You'll find them in mainstream media.  You'll find them among Republicans who prefer McCain or Rudy or one of the lesser-known candidates.  You'll find them among bloggers and citizen journalists.  You'll find them among naysayers and fanatics.  You'll find them among the hierarchy of blogdom whose forte is planting seeds of dissension and doubt.  But you'll especially find them among Democrats who fear facing Mitt Romney.  

I have repeatedly stated that when the debates begin, there will be no equal to Mitt Romney.  And no one knows this better or fears him more than Democrats.

In his SOTU address, Bush referred to the role of civilians in supporting our military efforts.  Michelle Malkin offers her take on the idea in this  video.

Interestingly -- a couple of weeks ago, I raised a similar question about civilian-support roles in Iraq for Empty-Nesters.

For those who want to know more ..... 

Mitt Romney talks with the Captain about Iraq, Iran, immigration and other topics.

Jack Langer just made my day. 

Or at least he confirmed my previous post on Protesting Just Ain't the Same Anymore .....

Makes me tired just to think of walking around the block beating a tambourine against my varicose veins.  

Huh????  A senior-citizen sit-in? 

Now you're talking!

Farewell, Valiant horse. 

Obviously folks hear what they want to hear.  Maybe some weren't really listening -- too busy nursing their drinks or sitting with critical pen in hand -- focusing only on how "he-should-have-said-it-this-way."  I'm also confident that those fixated on other presidential candidates didn't WANT to hear what he said.

Fortunately, someone else (who was present) heard what I heard in the audio tape.  Thanks, to Kevin Mooney for confirming my observations.

Mitt Romney Buffs His Conservative Credentials
By Kevin Mooney
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
January 29, 2007

America is at risk of becoming "the France of the 21st Century" unless policymakers curtail burdensome government policies and extravagant entitlement spending that work against the creative energies of free people, said former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Romney, who recently formed a presidential exploratory committee, delivered his remarks on Saturday at the National Review Conservative Summit, a gathering of conservative activists, lawmakers and pundits in Washington, D.C.

Romney said the "bar must be raised" in both domestic and foreign affairs at a time when Asian nations stand poised to challenge American primacy. The growing threat of "radical violent Islam" and the specter of a nuclear Iran also figured prominently in Romney's talk.

Present-day superpower status will not necessarily transfer over the long term, he said, if American policy-makers entertain false notions about the true source of the nation's strength.

Romney invoked the historical example of France to show how quickly once-great nations can lose power and influence when the wrong polices are embraced. To drive the point home, Romney quoted his father, who said, "Nothing is as vulnerable as entrenched success."

Unlike liberal Democrats who view government as the greatest source of American strength, Republicans understand that it is the "hard-working, innovative, risk-taking, God-fearing, family-loving and freedom-loving" American people who make the nation great and ensure its superpower status, Romney said.

Americans are fully capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st Century, he continued, so long as they have greater individual freedom, lower rates of taxation, less cumbersome investment opportunities and a more efficient government.

Romney expressed support for making the Bush tax cuts permanent and pointed out that has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge."

He also expressed concern over what he termed a "disinvestment in technology" by corporations, driven in part by a high number of lawsuits. Americans corporations spent more money defending tort claims last year, Romney contends, than they did on research and development.

He also addressed the growth of entitlement programs.

"Spending in Washington is simply out of control," Romney said. America's long-term vitality is threatened by a mix of "pork-barrel" projects and extravagant entitlement expenditures, he argued.

Over two-thirds of federal spending will be directed to entitlement spending and the interest expense that goes with it by the time the next president finishes his second term, Romney claimed.

"How can we remain the world's military and economic superpower with that kind of entitlement expense trajectory?" he asked.

While he was governor, Romney said he pursued free-market reforms in health care and "choice" initiatives in education that could be applied on the national level. He also detailed efforts aimed at eliminating unnecessary and wasteful spending in the state budget.

Foreign policy

Romney said the threat of "jihadism" is "woefully misunderstood" and in some respects underestimated.

A network of radical elements -- including al Qaeda, Hizballah, the Muslim Brotherhood and others - is able to reach millions of people with a message that is "devastating to civilization," and those radicals are working "to replace all moderate Islamic governments with a single caliphate and to govern all nations that have ever been touched by Islam," he said.

"For that to happen, they need to crush the superpower that keeps the world order in check, [and] that's the U.S. They want to collapse our economy, our government and our military."

While this may seem like a far-fetched proposition to some, Romney argued that the jihad elements are "crazy but not stupid," and have identified certain points of vulnerability, such as the "interdependent" nature of the U.S. economy.

Romney said Iran is "at the heart of the jihadist threat" and "must be stopped."

Some of the key policy proposals Romney discussed included a call to indict Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for "incitement to genocide."

He also outlined steps that could be taken both diplomatically and financially to isolate the regime in Iran. Romney, for instance, favors the imposition of restrictions on investments that would go to corporations doing business in Iran.

"Military options are not off the table," he added. "Nor are they coming off the table."

Cultural issues

Several high-profile issues assumed center stage in Massachusetts during Romney's term as governor, including same-sex marriage and the role of the judiciary.

At a time when the state supreme court was ruling in favor of homosexual marriage, Romney said he did "everything within my power and within the law to stand up for traditional marriage." He also expressed the view that marriage is not primarily about adults and adult rights but rather about "the development and nurturing of children."

While he acknowledged he was once "pro-choice" and not always a "Ronald Reagan conservative" on the question of abortion, Romney said he has "changed his view."

The turning point came, he explained, when he began to study stem cell research and found that a "bright line" could be crossed making it possible to create life simply for purpose of "experimentation and destruction," he added.

From that point forward, Romney said he squarely aligned himself with the pro-life cause and sought to advance measures as governor that would protect the "sanctity of life."

Nicely said, Mitt Romney.