The problem is that the activists in the Republican party are looking for candidates that pass a “purity” test, that does incalculable harm to the nominee during the subsequent electoral campaign.

The rise of You Tube has really changed the political landscape in America. What a candidate used to say on Tuesday in front of his supporters had no consequences on what he said Wednesday to the electorate at large. Many politicians have used the “I’ve never said” or “you misconstrued my statement” with the obligatory staffer “proving that the Congressman or Senator actually said…” . Easily accessible video equipment (iphone) is permanently change the electoral process.

The Republicans are more at risk in th cycle because they are the opposition, and as such must make very strong statements of opposition to the Democrats. It would appear that the media consultants have either not learned the lessons of 2008 (think Rev. Wright), or (and more likely) are being ignored by desperate candidates seeking their party’s nomination. Watching the Daily show (yes liberal but superb at attacking hypocrisy) has shown that your own words can now easily be used against you (without editing even).

In the case of Ms. Angle her primaries statements were only acceptable to the anointed few of the far right of the republican party, for not only is Ms. Angle a Republican she arises from the fringe (Patriot Majority) who’s views are probably “repulsive” to most republicans and definitely to the electorate at large. She has been a gadfly moving left to right to win elections (it is hard to say if her moves were made out of changing convictions or expediency).

The great lesson of the Angle disaster is that for a politician speaking without strong policy commitment has far reaching implications in their ability to eventually win. Hence the need for such a discussion forum as David is providing here.

To be fair, I believe that is one more press conference than Sarah Palin has ever faced. They are two empty peas in a pod. Since George W., Republicans really seem to have decided that they like their candidates vapid, uninformed, but assured as hell.

He was joking, he was referring to his own predictions. “Sharron Angle has her fans; she’s been endorsed by Mark Levin, Erick Erickson of RedState, and the Club for Growth. Ultimately, this is a choice for Nevada Republicans; if they conclude that Angle’s no-holds-barred conservatism is what they want to represent them, they’re free to make that choice. But they shouldn’t be surprised to see 70-year-old Harry Reid doing cartwheels shortly thereafter.”

She was a lot of things at one time, but she couldn’t last in the Democratic Party for five minutes today.

In his defense, he didn’t know this was making him into a colossal d**k. He just assumed everybody else was obviously trying to use political power to profit personally. He had no idea that was unethical — he was just doing that whole Tony Robbins “Seize The Day” proactive type of thing.

God help me, and us. You are all my Countrymen and so to some extent we are all brothers, and I love my brothers above all others. But some of my brothers are Grade-A Monty Python twits. Which is fine except for their dangerous obsession with running the country . I don’t mind nitwits, but you don’t let them stand next to the deep fat fryer — they’re going to hurt themselves!