I really couldn't care less who becomes governor of Maryland, but clearly this guy needs to find some other line of work.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...-2002Sep20.html

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Townsend Fires New Strategist For ‘Nazi’ Remark

By Lori Montgomery and Craig Whitlock
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, September 21, 2002; Page A1

Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's gubernatorial campaign last night fired a political consultant who vowed on his first day on the job to portray Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. as a "Nazi" to African American voters in Prince George's County.
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Godwin's Law, anyone?

What is Godwin's Law?

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I just moved from Maryland, where I always voted for Glendening (he lost a political crusade to honor the death of his gay brother with LGBT rights legislation) and Townsend. FYI: His brother, a highly respectable professional man, died from AIDS-related complications.

Nevertheless, the only agreement I can have with Townsend on this one is her likely decision to "strike" because the election was too close. Although the use of "Nazi" was very strong - in context it was understandable.

Even VP Gore, at the end of a draining campaign, said of the coming election: "This is a choice between good and evil."

[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: bluebird48234 ]

His only mistake was saying what he was going to do. He should have just done it. All's fair. Besides, maybe he really does think Ehrlich is Nazi-esque.

But whatever. I bet they hire him back though when this dies down.

[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: William1865 ]

I am from Atlanta but know of Glendenings' crusade for environmental protection. His reach is far spread, and I hate to see his name brought in on this issue.

Here goes: I agree with William that they just may bring him back once this dies down. Wasn't this guy just doing what Republicans (and Democrats) do all the time? Trying to portray the opposition--who have become the "enemy," unfortunately--as such arch-nemesis that voters could not in good conscience vote for her/him? "Fascist," "communist," etc. all have lost their venom, though "Nazi" still retains its spectacular power.

Just look at the lather the Bushies are in because German Justice Minister Herta Däubler-Gmelin uttered what not a few people think: that Bush's Iraq fanaticism is in part a political diversion and a lust for resources. She compared the BEHAVIOR, not the man, TO HITLER--and it's led to an international incident. That old idiot racist Jesse Helms even threatened the possible removal of military bases in Germany as a result of this flap! I mean, come on!

Maybe if she'd compared W. to Charlemagne there'd have been far less of an imbroglio, probably because most people, including W., hardly know who Charlemagne is. "Hitler," however, is as vivid to most people as a full moon, a cup of coffee or a traffic backup.

Woops.... I think Ill stay out of this one.
I saw "Truly an Idiot" and thought it must be about Bush.

Carry on boys.

Maryland is the state where, in 1998, Democrats beat Ellen Sauerbrey by telling blacks she "voted against civil rights legislation" - meaning, she voted against a sexual harrassment bill that most Democrats also opposed. Lovely state, really. The only reason I go there is to watch a loser baseball team that's owned by some useless pinko Commie, and if DC gets a team I won't even have to do that.

[quote] where I always voted for Glendening (he lost a political crusade to honor the death of his gay brother with LGBT rights legislation)

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Actually, he succeeded on that campaign - the law went into effect last Fall, after the cheating conservatives (part of "Take Back Maryland") had to concede they'd failed to gather enough legitimate votes to force a referendum.

[quote]Originally posted by fantomas:
Wasn't this guy just doing what Republicans (and Democrats) do all the time?

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Yes. Now I'll add the second paragraph, the one I left out (subversively?) in my original, thread-starting post:

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The campaign fired Julius Henson, a strategist wooed by both camps in the Maryland governor's race for his ability to turn out black voters, after comments he made in an interview with The Washington Post.
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That's right - BOTH sides wanted to hire this guy.

[quote]Originally posted by bluebird48234:
What is Godwin's Law?

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http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/ent...dwin's-Law.html

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Godwin's Law

[Usenet] "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." There is a tradition in many groups that, once this occurs, that thread is over, and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically lost whatever argument was in progress. Godwin's Law thus practically guarantees the existence of an upper bound on thread length in those groups. However there is also a widely-recognized codicil that any intentional triggering of Godwin's Law in order to invoke its thread-ending effects will be unsuccessful.
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