I can't remember the last time we had a good nonhuman political animal in the spotlight. But this was Jim Justice, an oversized governor on the GOP convention stage with his overweight dog Babydog, summarizing the GOP message as vast unconditional love.
It really is a welcome relief to look at a fat dog and think about love, simplicity, and smiling. Here's a WaPo article about it:
She has often accompanied Justice on the floor of the state Senate. Her likeness is even featured in a recently painted mural alongside Abraham Lincoln, Appalachian folk instruments and other cultural symbols in the state Capitol, highlighting her local popularity....
Justice is term-limited out of the governorship, and he's running for the U.S. Senate, for the seat Joe Manchin is vacating. West Virginia is one of the 2 states predicted to flip from Democratic to Republican in the Senate. I don't think they needed a fat dog as a thumb on the scales, but they've got one.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxUIl3WWcw6oo0nrBY2Dm-E_vjXPyaK3YXfJEZACLfWsp8cUvXjp5OTepzy4qoF54oqkrb3b9FH0n5pau6NphE05dkNSLCCUO5hwLFCL8oCMn1Bpwwv8NAFWpLmbuOvfRSBPWahB__e2MILAsChDRnC2J9mdNoUr1_mrQmY1BVFpZWfMxWlYi/s1600/Screenshot%202024-07-17%20at%208.31.40%E2%80%AFAM.png)
29 comments:
And Glory glory to old Georgia plays in background.
Nixon and Checkers, 1952. Nixon fighting to stay on the ticket. Ike gave in to the "deplorables" demand to keep Nixon on the ticket. Checkers changed history, although chess is better.
I have a friend who rescues that breed. They have 2-3 at any given time. The dogs all look plump like that. I would not characterize that dog as over-weight. Perhaps a little - but again - they all look like that.
ADORABLE!
That fascist! He's going to force us all to have babies, cart off the homosexuals and Jews --- just like Trump did in his first term!
oh wait.... turns out that's all a leftwing fever-dream. a lie.
Dogs and their owners often resemble each other in appearance because people tend to like things that are familiar to them.
Here in the south most ads on local television incorporate a dog. There must be some rule...
When Jim Justice made his first run for governor, he ran as a Democrat. We lived there at the time, and though I couldn't tell what difference there was between Justice and his competitor, Bill Cole, I voted for Cole. "Less than seven months after taking office, Justice switched back to the Republican Party after announcing his plans at a rally with U.S. president Donald Trump in the state." (Wikipedia).
He gained traction with me when he stepped up by providing emergency housing at the Greenbrier for victims of the flood in White Sulphur Springs. He has gained even more traction with me lately due to the lawfare against him for back taxes on some of his land holdings in the state, and I expect that to be part of his opponent's campaign in his Senate race.
Joe Manchin hasn't been horrible in the Senate, though in some ways Manchin has operated more like a go-along-to-get-along Republican when it comes down to a vote. I think Justice will be slightly more conservative than Manchin, but he's likely to be called far-right/extremist/fascist by those who support whoever runs on the (D) ticket.
Notice ABC News cut the clip when he says "we become totally unhinged if Donald Trump is not elected..."
Poor messaging discipline on Justice's part as well. I think he meant "unhinged as a nation."
A fat dog with a fat governor talking about unconditional love. Is "Big Tent" the theme of the day for the convention?
Definitely a Kirby Smart nose tackle recruit look a like.
Hopefully Kristi Noem wasn't in the vicinity.
I know, I know, low hanging fruit that.
"I have a friend who rescues that breed. They have 2-3 at any given time. The dogs all look plump like that. I would not characterize that dog as over-weight. Perhaps a little - but again - they all look like that."
I hate to say your friend's dogs are fat, but look up proper weight English Bulldogs: here.
They are much slimmer than Babydog.
Th
She's a good girl to just sit there. Bulldogs have a lot of health issues. I like them but wouldn't get one for that reason.
OK - Ann after looking at your link - and back at babydoll - you are right.
That said - the breed rarely runs around like athletes - and they tend to be rather lethargic, and stocky.
Babydog is a perfect West Virginia name for a dog!
I don't think I've ever seen a more stereotypical Southern politician than Jim Justice. All the man needed was a white suit, string tie and a Panama hat.
I get Youtube ads about overweight dogs and shorter life
is this dog abuse by Gov
I know why they did this.
But for the love of god people lose some weight.
Just lose the weight.
Rich said...
Dogs and their owners often resemble each other in appearance because people tend to like things that are familiar to them.
Justification, comfort, and companionship centered around empathy.
A real friend would tell you to lose some weight.
I don't think I've ever seen a more stereotypical Southern politician than Jim Justice. All the man needed was a white suit, string tie and a Panama hat.
You say that like it's a bad thing.
Seriously, which do you prefer; the stereotype you just alluded to, with all the associated positive and negative resonances (venal, comical, the list could go on) or the stereotype embodied by, say, Gavin Newsome (slick, smart, slimy, etc.)? Honestly, I'll take the small-town, knows-everybody, kind-of-shady-but-hey kind of politician right now.
Cute. And I love dogs. But I'm not sure either of them look in shape enough to make it through a Senate term.
I guess Nikki Haley wasn't around?
"A real friend would tell you to lose some weight."
Hate to say it, but I think this is the slimmed-down version of Justice.
Seen on Twitter:
There's a bulldog on the state at the RNC
Oh, that's ok, Noem spoke last night
At least she didn't get that way eating Secret Service Agents.
Makes up for Trump not having one and the one of the Dakota governors shooting one.
Don't let Kristie Noem know! She'll suddenly yell "He was comin' right at me!" and blast the poor thing to kingdom come.
Oh crap. Should have read the comments before rushing off the too-obvious joke. I'm only, what, the fifth person? (the first is a wit, the second is a half-wit, the third is either a third of a wit or a quarter of a wit*, etc.) Sorry.
That dog just sits there quietly not gnawing all and sundry like Biden's.
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