posted on August 4, 2008 11:14:46 AM new
Hi Helen, Considering that 80% of the country is unhappy with the track we are on and that Bush's numbers are below 20%, Obama should be way ahead. Why would anyone vote for a Bush 3rd term?
I see 2 problems. First is the problem addressed by the article you linked. Obama needs to show more toughness, especially in view of McCain's ridiculous Hilton/Spears and Moses ads. These ads just show how empty McCain's campaign is. They really do not address any real issues. They are trying to create an image of Obama that will stick is some people's minds.
The 2nd problem,IMO,is race. Call me cynical, but I believe that not all people are honestly evaluating the candidates. As much as they may dislike where the country is today and as much as they may dislike McCain, there is still a reluctance to vote for Obama. I have friends, and even my own brother, who insist they can't vote for Obama for a variety of reasons--from his name, to inexperience, to not trusting him or not knowing him. In all our discussions, these people rarely present any facts to back up their arguments. These are intelligent, informed people I am talking about. Do they truly believe these reasons, or are they lying to themselves and me? Why are they so quick to believe the outragous stories we read on the blogs and other internet sources?
The second problem worries me more than the first, as it is an insidious thing. I just don't believe America has progressed as far as we think we have when it comes to racism. Overtly, we have created/changed laws to prevent racism, and it certainly is not politically correct to be a racist, but covertly, there are many people who have the same old stereotypical mindset.
posted on August 4, 2008 02:12:50 PM new
"The 2nd problem,IMO,is race."
I was watching one of those morning shows where a black author was carrying on about "the racism" and "Britney Spears and Paris Hilton" and "phallic symbols" in the latest ad until the hosts were glassy eyed. They asked how he came to the conclusion and he asked them what THEY thought it meant. They both replied they thought it was an illusion to "pretty, but nothing upstairs".
One thing is for sure. When Obama loses, everyone can grind through 60000 posts about "the racism".
posted on August 4, 2008 02:52:15 PM new
Squirrel, I did not think that the Paris Hilton ad was racist. I took it as a reference to all celebrity and no substance. However, that is not my point. I feel an insidious racism from people who would, without doubt, have voted for a candidate like Obama in a heartbeat, if he were white. Some admit this openly, but most may not even realize it themselves, or, if they do, are not about to reveal these thoughts.
posted on August 4, 2008 05:22:41 PM new
"have voted for a candidate like Obama in a heartbeat, if he were white."
I have yet to meet anyone like that. "
Well Squirrel, we obviously travel in different circles.
"that's why Carl Rove is so successful with his smear machine using such emotional issues as racism to sway American voters"
That is exactly what worries me, Helen. The smears only work on people willing to believe them--looking for an acceptable excuse not to vote for Obama.
posted on August 5, 2008 08:59:14 PM new
I have a feeling that a lot of McCain's smears are nothing more than preaching to the choir. Those people aren't and never were going to vote for Obama. Seems to me that minds are pretty well made up and very few who actually plan to show up and vote are likely to switch candidates now. "It's a long time till November" is just about invalid at this point.
posted on August 6, 2008 07:56:48 AM new
I hope that's the case. When over 75% of the American people have lost confidence in the economy and foreign policy it's a real stretch to think that race and religion and other such emotional issues used by Rove to manipulate minds could determine their vote.
Part of the above radio address:
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. On Thursday, I visited the USS Abraham Lincoln, now headed home after the longest carrier deployment in recent history. I delivered good news to the men and women who fought in the cause of freedom: their mission is complete and major combat operations in Iraq have ended. Our coalition is now engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. The United States and our allies have prevailed.
Operation Iraqi Freedom was carried out with a combination of precision, speed and boldness the enemy did not expect and the world had not seen before. From distance bases or ships at sea, we sent planes and missiles that could destroy an enemy division or strike a single building or bunker. Marines and soldiers charged to Baghdad across 350 miles of hostile ground in one of the swiftest mass advances of heavy arms in history. The world has seen the might of the American armed forces.
In this victory, America received valuable help from our allies. This weekend, I am hosting Australian Prime Minister John Howard at my ranch in Crawford, Texas. Prime Minister Howard has been a strong ally in the war on terror, and Australian forces have played an important role in the liberation of Iraq. Australian Special Forces entered Iraq with their American and British counterparts at the very beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They helped to secure sites in western Iraq that could have been used to launch scud missiles. And they disrupted Iraqi troop movements and command posts, paving the way for Army and Marine units making their way to Baghdad...."
A comparison between Bush and Napoleon..... "both began with supreme arrogance and ended as fiascoes. Above all, the leaders of both occupations employed the same basic political vocabulary and rhetorical flimflammery, invoking the spirit of liberty, security, and democracy while largely ignoring the substance of these concepts."
"The French general and the American president do not much resemble one another--except perhaps in the way the prospect of conquest in the Middle East appears to have put fire in their veins and in their unappealing tendency to believe their own propaganda (or at least to keep repeating it long after it became completely implausible). Both leaders invaded and occupied a major Arabic-speaking Muslim country; both harbored dreams of a "Greater Middle East"; both were surprised to find themselves enmeshed in long, bitter, debilitating guerrilla wars. Neither genuinely cared about grassroots democracy, but both found its symbols easy to invoke for gullible domestic publics. Substantial numbers of their new subjects quickly saw, however, that they faced occupations, not liberations."
posted on July 15, 2009 07:54:16 PM newUnfortunately though, the board is slow right now so even an occassional post will be much appreciated.
Well, this thread certainly breathed some life into the RT! Thank goodness. This is the only politically oriented board I can tolerate anymore. At least 90% of the people that post here have some common sense and are a joy to banter with. The other 10% may be walking around with their heads up their butts, but at least they keep things lively.
posted on July 16, 2009 02:31:03 PM new
Well, it will be interesting to see how it is here. It has been quite a long time since I've posted here, and it would be nice to have a political board to post to with a mix.
posted on August 12, 2009 10:32:34 AM new
I was thinking bear the gun runner, or that guy with 12 poles up his bum. On the other hand, Classic was puncutationally challenged.
posted on August 20, 2009 12:06:56 AM new
TBK has had a hard-on for me just about forever. And here I thought he had forgotten all about me, as I am no longer at TRS.
posted on August 20, 2009 01:56:22 PM new
TBK "loves" me too, Mivona. He wants to tie me to the bedpost and sees naked photos where none exist...a clown who veers occassionally to the naughty side.
posted on August 23, 2009 10:49:04 AM new
"I can't promise I will post much, as I have other stuff to fill my life. Being booted from TRS has been a boon!"
posted on August 24, 2009 01:28:36 PM new
Hey I was in your area between the 16th thru the 19th.I even walked by your house completely naked in broad daylight,but you never came out to greet me...WHATS UP WITH THAT???
