Topic: Oh! Bama (Read 50461 times)

Arc · « **Reply #80 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:24:45 AM »

Quote from: TA on February 20, 2008, 01:58:37 PM

So, you're saying an Obama/Richardson ticket.

Si.

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

Actually, it is still a

.

S D S · « **Reply #81 on:** February 21, 2008, 08:48:47 AM »

Aw, jeez.

Threats against Obama are mounting, rhetoric is starting to boil over.

What would this mean for us as a nation? I agree with The Pain:

Quote

If it happens—God forbid—it will be a tragedy not only for one man, those who love him, and those who had pinned their political hopes on him, but for the whole nation. It will threaten to make us believe that the worst among us somehow are somehow representative of all of us. Just when we were on the verge of a symbolic redemption in the eyes of the world, it’ll confirm that we are a lawless, violent nation of racists and killers.

Arc · « **Reply #82 on:** February 21, 2008, 10:03:09 AM »

What the-

I was just reading that before I clicked over to this thread.

Tim hits on a slew of points throughout his joyously intense comment, and I've only issues with a few of them. Firstly, in that his tone makes an assault on Barack out to be damn near inevitable, and secondly in his assertion that the masses are flocking to the Democratic party due to the economy. As if. They're just as blind & tone-deaf to the economy today as when in recession.

No, the shift comes from a culmination of factors, one of which is artificial attraction. That is the silent killer of which I battle in the shadows of photoshops and tearing down rivals.

However, with the sliver of artificial attraction, so too come the artificial threats. Altogether more prevalent in this age, we are told that we must have our fingers upon the nation's pulse at all times. So wrapped in the fringe views of others, we forget that we are winning. That the movement is historical, massive, and worthy.

Tim's bet on a War with Iran happening this year? I've taken up the very same bet, six months ago. Tim's desire to make his mailbox vote a dramatically justified screed? Been there, done that. Tim's questioning on whether his views on Hillary are subtly sexist? Check that one off for me as well.

These aren't happenstance. These are the motions which I, and millions of others have experienced in varying degrees. The youth vote was the only demographic to increase in 2004. Expect November to a regular bonanza of 80's spawn.

Oh, and Dems Abroad? 66% went Obama.

Thad · « **Reply #83 on:** February 21, 2008, 10:27:33 AM »

Quote from: Arc on February 21, 2008, 10:03:09 AM

his assertion that the masses are flocking to the Democratic party due to the economy. As if. They're just as blind & tone-deaf to the economy today as when in recession.

They know the economy is bad.

They know it was good when we had a Democrat in the White House.

That's about as complex an understanding as the average person has of the issue, but it DOES make a difference in how they vote.

Quote from: Arc on February 21, 2008, 10:03:09 AM

However, with the sliver of artificial attraction, so too come the artificial threats.

Bear in mind, too, that this is the Internet Age. Death threats used to take a lot more effort. I'm sure Clinton's gotten her share too; hell, even McCain probably has.

I don't mean to trivialize the threat of racism and violence, but I think Obama is easily a lot safer than, say, Jackie Robinson and Ernest Green were in their day. Those guys went to work and school, respectively, every day, without Secret Service to protect them.

I don't think Obama's in serious danger. I DO think that, the louder these fringe nutjobs get, the worse the Repubican Party is going to look for it.

Even in the right-wing mainstream you're going to see an increasing number of really stupid gaffes. Witness O'Reilly's "lynching party against Michelle Obama" remark -- what a stupid damn choice of words. And good ol' Rush -- remember he got kicked off ESPN just for suggesting a football player was only getting press because he was black. Expect a lot more of that kind of verbal diarrhea -- much more benign than assassination mutterings, but still does a pretty good job of making the Republicans look like a bunch of out-of-touch old white men.

Not that that takes a lot of effort, mind.

Mongrel · « **Reply #84 on:** February 21, 2008, 07:05:19 PM »

Man... every now and then Aislin just hits that muthafuckin' high note.

Thad · « **Reply #85 on:** March 17, 2008, 11:02:17 PM »

...So all right, the Wright story.

Thing one: it's overblown.

Thing two: he's still said some stupid shit.

Thing three: but if he'd toned down the inflammatory rhetoric a bit, it would probably be a lot easier for middle America to notice that the guy has a POINT.

Saying "God damn America" is a stupid damn way to get your point across, but the point he was making -- that the US government expects loyalty from a minority community that it's treating grossly unfairly -- is perfectly valid.

Similarly, blaming America for 9/11 is a great way to get people to close their ears and refuse to listen to anything else you say, which is a pity, because our foreign policy HAS made us a hell of a lot of enemies, and it's absolutely possible to reexamine our role in the world and why people see us as oppressors without forgiving or appeasing extremists ('sup D'Souza), or justifying their actions.

Kazz · « **Reply #86 on:** March 18, 2008, 12:26:39 AM »

What can I say? We deserve to suffer and die.

Arc · « **Reply #87 on:** March 18, 2008, 07:12:29 AM »

Quote from: Thad on March 17, 2008, 11:02:17 PM

it's overblown.

A dozen times over.

Didn't have a problem with what was said, and didn't have a problem with people taking offense. Had a problem with goobers shouting from the rooftops about how 'THIS IS A BIG DEAL', and 'OBAMA IS TOAST'. Clearly they wanted to inflate this as it could be their final shot, while the media coyly don't press onward to larger questions regarding Hillary & McCain (records & lobbyists).

All the while, the bloviators conveniently ignored that Ferraro & Iseman were in the news for all of two days each. Then, nothing. They're trying to play this two day story out to two weeks, and the desperation is showing.

Anywho, it prompted Obama to make a speech today in Philadelphia, on race, and where it goes from here.

Thad · « **Reply #88 on:** March 18, 2008, 10:29:09 AM »

August also points out how the more extreme Obama haters went from "HE'S A MUSLIM!" to "THE PASTOR AT HIS CHURCH HATES AMERICA!" without missing a beat.

S D S · « **Reply #89 on:** March 18, 2008, 12:37:47 PM »

OH, wow.

That speech.

Not only was it a well-done reply to Wright and critics of Obama's association thereof... it was a layered, complex look at race in America today. I can't believe a politician would give a speech like that without trying to knock it down to sound bites.

And much to my cynical side's surprise, I actually caught a lump in my throat once or twice.

Thad · « **Reply #90 on:** March 18, 2008, 01:18:34 PM »

As far as I'm concerned that should be the last word on whether Clinton or Obama is better prepared for dealing with right-wing smears. We'll see what the response is.

Kazz · « **Reply #91 on:** March 18, 2008, 01:37:06 PM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU

just for convenience

Thad · « **Reply #92 on:** March 18, 2008, 01:53:12 PM »

He covered an awful lot of ground, and more importantly, it's ground that a hell of a lot of politicians don't acknowledge.

One of the most interesting bits to me was his statement that Brown v Board didn't really bring an end to school segregation. Now, I was raised by public educators, and this simple fact was a part of my education on the civil rights movement, but it's not something I hear the Democrats talk about very much, let alone the Republicans.

It was also nice to get a whiff at the end of taking on the corporations who put profits ahead of their employees. That stance has been lacking in this campaign, what with the media basically ignoring everything John Edwards said in favor of discussing his hair; it's good to hear it coming from a candidate who can't be ignored.

Like I said, the question now is what the reaction's going to be. I think the pundits are going to be hard-pressed to keep up their current line of attack, but I don't think it'll be long before they find a new one.

It's going to be a long seven and a half months. But I think Obama can handle the smear machine.

Of course, after that, it's a question of whether he can actually DELIVER on any of this stuff. But for now, I'm satisfied that he's talking about it.

Kazz · « **Reply #93 on:** March 18, 2008, 02:53:46 PM »

My dad heard Obama's speech and has walked around all day declaring him a "fuckin' genius." Then he sat in front of Fox News and started declaring people who insulted Obama "fuckin' assholes."

I'm so fuckin' proud.

Mongrel · « **Reply #94 on:** March 18, 2008, 04:11:37 PM »

My angle is rather succinct: I think he just won.

Thad · « **Reply #95 on:** March 18, 2008, 04:30:40 PM »

Exposure is his friend. The more people hear him speak, the better he does. And, perhaps most importantly, he's something of an anti-Rove -- he can spin a weakness into a strength, seemingly effortlessly.

I don't want to seem like a gushing fan coronating him as the messiah or anything. I'm just saying he's an excellent politician. I'm not going to dismiss his faults (and the criticisms on experience and whether he'll govern as well as he speaks ARE valid, plus all this talk of reconciliation makes me worry he'll spend too much time compromising with Republicans), but I definitely think he's the man for his time and place. He fits right in there.

Kazz · « **Reply #96 on:** March 18, 2008, 05:22:02 PM »

Well, let's put it this way. At this point, if Obama doesn't get the presidency, America failed.

Not because he's perfect, but because Clinton and McCain both represent the same old shit that got us where we are.

SCD · « **Reply #97 on:** March 18, 2008, 07:02:05 PM »

Wow. I think that's the democratic race right there.

This is going to be a good election, and I look forward to hearing the debates.

Brentai · « **Reply #98 on:** March 18, 2008, 10:02:32 PM »

Yeah, I'm detached enough that the main reason I want Obama to go on to the next round is simply because I think he'll have a more entertaining exchange with Sarge.

So, I'm happy.

...I keep forgetting that the man is actually my avatar here.

Kashan · « **Reply #99 on:** March 19, 2008, 12:27:05 PM »

I wish Obama was my father.

News:

Author Topic: Oh! Bama (Read 50461 times)