Jonathan Wallace

To whomever doubts the relevance of social media: “Local Republicans close ranks around Brady”

This article is littered with quotes from facebook statuses.

"I've been meaning to post this for awhile. Quad City friends, please do not go to St. Giuseppe's Pizza. Your money will go to a bad cause."

St. G’s is Bobby Schilling’s business. You know, a business…those things that are leaving Illinois in hordes. It supports his family and they make some damn good calzones.

Apparently, that’s a bad cause.

Other bad causes Schilling supports through his restaurant? Optimist International and the local humane shelter.

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List of businesses Hare’s brought to the 17th

Phil Hare’s career defining moment

Blogging is the epitome of narcissism.

I saw a Facebook post the other day where a guy posted a link to a Haitian charity, which after being criticized by a friend, he responded that he’d be willing to “issue a retraction.” I got the sense that I was the only witness to something very strange. Who was this intended for? What body would be overseeing this formal procedure? Why would he say that?

Schopenhauer had a name for this empty talk, he called it “fencing in the mirror.” It’s more common than you think. Consider all the times you’ve seen some blogger apologize for not posting recently – profusely addressing some concern that likely was never expressed.

 h/t Ryan Holiday

Some people are confused.

Consider 71st State Rep. candidate, Dennis Ahern:

“I am an unapologetic social and liberal conservative. “*

Congratulations, you’ve alienated your base.

Ahern: “My family has been called the Republican wing of the Democratic Party for a long time.”

Cognitive dissonance occurs when there is a contradiction between belief and action. This guy is the front runner in the Democratic primary?

Ahern: “I’m pro-concealed carry and pro-life.”

You are in the wrong party.

“I’m disappointed,” he said of Mr. Brown’s win. “I think about a few things: one, this is a very, very ultra-right wing conservative that took over for Sen. Kennedy.” Congressman Phil Hare

Scott Brown makes Dennis Ahern look like a Tea Party-er and Phil Hare look like a lame duck. Dr. Shor at UChicago finds, “two thirds of other Massachusetts Republican state legislators were more conservative than [Scott Brown] was.” Either a) Illinois Congressman Phil Hare is further left than a Massachuets politician or b) has no idea where he stands on the ideological spectrum – I’m betting on the latter.

Moves like these are desperate attempts to attract potential voters or draw lines in the sand. “I’m not Scott Brown” or “I’m pretty much a Republican” aren’t just talking points, they are identities created by the fear of losing.

No worries, people that will be swayed by these wannabe populists don’t vote anyways.

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h/t: QCExaminer, “Lies My Congressman Told Me”

*see comments for correction