July 17, 2024

"She makes us smile. She loves everybody. And how could the message possibly be any simpler than just that?"


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.... 
In 2022, Babydog also made headlines when Justice — responding to a tweet by actress Bette Midler calling West Virginia “poor, illiterate and strung out” — hoisted Babydog upside down and announced: “Babydog tells Bette Midler and all those out there: Kiss her heinie.”
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.

29 comments:

traditionalguy said...

And Glory glory to old Georgia plays in background.

Political Junkie said...

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.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

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!

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

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.

Kakistocracy said...

Dogs and their owners often resemble each other in appearance because people tend to like things that are familiar to them.

rehajm said...

Here in the south most ads on local television incorporate a dog. There must be some rule...

MadTownGuy said...

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.

Wince said...

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."

Randomizer said...

A fat dog with a fat governor talking about unconditional love. Is "Big Tent" the theme of the day for the convention?

traditionalguy said...

Definitely a Kirby Smart nose tackle recruit look a like.

Sally327 said...

Hopefully Kristi Noem wasn't in the vicinity.

I know, I know, low hanging fruit that.

Ann Althouse said...

"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

RCOCEAN II said...

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.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

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.

Sydney said...

Babydog is a perfect West Virginia name for a dog!

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

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.

Narayanan said...

I get Youtube ads about overweight dogs and shorter life
is this dog abuse by Gov

Achilles said...

I know why they did this.

But for the love of god people lose some weight.

Just lose the weight.

Achilles said...

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.

phantommut said...

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.

Temujin said...

Cute. And I love dogs. But I'm not sure either of them look in shape enough to make it through a Senate term.

Leland said...

I guess Nikki Haley wasn't around?

Joe Smith said...

"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.

Greg the Class Traitor said...

Seen on Twitter:
There's a bulldog on the state at the RNC
Oh, that's ok, Noem spoke last night

Tina Trent said...

At least she didn't get that way eating Secret Service Agents.

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

Makes up for Trump not having one and the one of the Dakota governors shooting one.

Prof. M. Drout said...

Don't let Kristie Noem know! She'll suddenly yell "He was comin' right at me!" and blast the poor thing to kingdom come.

Prof. M. Drout said...

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.

Mikey NTH said...

That dog just sits there quietly not gnawing all and sundry like Biden's.