At Daily Kos, Bill in Portland Maine is known as a satirist, but I think he gets this 100% correct when talking about Republican “code” and “dog whistle” politics. The thing was too staged to be an accident.
So what about Sarah? She was using a sophisticated unspoken code last Thursday. Her mouth was saying, “Blah blah blah,” but the message from the activity going on behind her sent a clear signal to her Republican rivals, which I’ve translated here:
“I am going to destroy you.
Huckabee, I mean you. Romney, you, too also. Jindal and Pawlenty, you pencil-neck lightweights, get on your knees and beg for mercy. Yeah, Newt, I’m lookin’ at you, too, also—if you value your wattle you’ll go back into hiding. And Rudy: don’t even think about runnin’ again also—just don’t. That goes for all ‘o ya! Because I can see ya from my house and I know where to find ya.
You see those turkeys behind me? That’s you, guys, if you dare to challenge me in 2012. That election is mine, you hear? Mine! You betcha, also.”
People laughed at Sarah for staging such a clumsy photo-op. But it was code. Her rivals heard it loud and clear. And I have it on good authority that at least one of them will pass on carving the turkey this year and order Chinese takeout instead.