06.02.08
Posted in Politics, Race, men & women, sex tagged 2008 Election, Appalachia mountains voters, Bill Clinton, Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, Republican Party, Voters at 5:15 pm by soulful07
Yes you can stop rubbing your eyes that’s right I went there. She also has a young people problem, a grass roots organization problem, a college educated problem, a math problem, etc… You know it’s funny we are well into the silly season (to quote a phrase), but grouping clusters and splitting hairs to form a willing coalition of voters is beyond silly isn’t it? In the real world people don’t vote in blocks or do they…
The democratic/republican party has without fail every year taken a crap on the swing voters who every election do the heavy lifting to push their respective parties over the hump. In 2008 it will be the conservatives/religious right who sit on their hands. In 2004 it was the youth vote who was the scapegoat for the democrats, party insiders complained openly that youth didn’t “show up”… Why should youth voters show up and continue to support a party that has get out the vote parties and cool people making commercials telling the kids to vote or die then come January, says thanks now get outta here? African Americans also share a common feeling of complete and utter abandonment after every election. And judging by what happens in Denver we shall see what these various groups who are completely ignored by the media will do.
People with short memories don’t recall that Hillary up until Iowa was winning the black vote. And up until South Carolina was competitive with black voters, Barack Obama didn’t take the vote from her, he didn’t steal the vote, they jumped ship to the winning candidate and frankly I can’t blame them. But there was also something else at play here. Black voters saw the writing on the wall, and noticed a certain condescending tone and that hasn’t sat well with these voters for some time now. How bad does it not sit well with them you ask? 90% vs. 10% is not a good average to have for somebody (Hillary Clinton) who would NEED them desperately in the fall. What is even more hilarious is the callous disregard for them as a whole which shows the all around general disrespect from various people in the media and political parties. There is no other voting block out there with such a huge contrast of support or lack thereof. Even with Hillary’s commanding lead among women voters and women over 50 she isn’t winning it 90 to 10. The fact that this isn’t news is what it is, people have brushed it off as just being excited because he is black blah blah blah I’m not a historian but nobody loses that kind of support over night and have it not be a problem in the future. And I don’t have to be a talking blow hard on CNN to realize that, had this been any other voter block like for instance Whites, Hispanics, Catholics, Jews, “hard working Americans” and now apparently Puerto Ricans etc… The media would be going crazy over this right now ohhhh wait… Yet a candidate has lost a commanding lead well over 50% of support overnight from a particular voting group and nothing not a blip not a peep not a sound. Shocking I tell you.
I have a little bit of news for the media, black people weren’t sold on Obama from the beginning; black people aren’t mindless Kool-Aid drinking sheeple. Black people saw what was going on and made a decision. There was no group meeting and somebody got up and said hey the black guy won Iowa we gotta support him now. There was no black memo, voters were split evenly for months on this issue and finally the color coded disrespect/neglect had reached the level of “Enough”. So what does this mean you ask? I don’t know, but what I do know from talking to people is that silently many black people feel they are already living bush’s “3rd term” and have been living it for years McCain, Bush, Bush2, Gore, Clinton, Clinton 2, Reagan, Obama, is no different to them. People assume very poorly I might add, that block voters don’t care or just can’t be bothered with politics. It isn’t because these things aren’t interesting quite to the contrary; it is because many black people do not feel the difference between political parties. They feel that many if not all politicians say things then get into office and ignore them. They feel that this is a game and nothing ever changes on their side of town so to speak. And over the last couple hundred years give or take can you blame them. It is from this “eyes wide open” stance that they view their life and this view is shaped. Their struggle is no different for the hard working white people Hillary Clinton covets today from the Appalachia mountains, but said screw em when her husband first ran for the presidency, their beefs are no less grounded on recurring cycles of thanks for your vote now beat it until we need it again in 4 years.
As we step further into this century if the feeling of neglect continues so will the shifting support that democrats once counted on and bragged about, and to me that sounds like a bigger problem.
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05.18.08
Posted in Politics, Race, men & women, sex tagged 2008 Election, African Americans, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Nancy Keenan, Naral, Pro Choice, Pro Life, Racism, Sexism, white women at 2:55 am by soulful07
Wow… I wasn’t going to even broach this topic because of how delicate one must tread to not offend women, men, African Americans, white women etc… etc… etc… I really tried to stay away but this blog keeps calling me and quite frankly I’m freaking outraged at the outrage. It boggles the mind, to put this in prospective imagine that you were in a race but you can’t use the tires you wanted to finish the race, in the garage is another pair which fits your car perfectly, and not only that, chances are these same new tires will help you get to the finish line faster. Imagine that the driver was so upset about using the “other” tires that they would be willing to poke holes in all four PERFECTLY good tires and demand to drive of the original flat ones or nothing, thus allowing your competitor to finish the race take the trophy and basically ruin everything you worked your entire life for. This is exactly the position that many pro choice supporters are choosing to be in. I used to think ohh it is just the heat of the moment and everything will subside. Ummmmmm… no.
For those of ya’ll not in the know, women who support the right to chose are breaking out the pitch forks and bonfires and are set to march against Naral the pro choice organization because they have decided to break ranks and announce support for (pro choice) Barack Obama two weeks before the last vote. I actually put on my investigative journalist hat and did some research and wow is all I can say. Damn is another word that comes to mind. Women are pissed to say the least, I tried to sit through and read the vile offensive remarks left by pro choice supporters over this flap by the organization’s leaders. The repercussions are serous in nature, but outlandish on basis. Women from all around have threatened to quit their membership, vote for the republicans who hate their rights, create their own group, campaign with pro life people, and the list gets stupider and stupider as you read. Why you ask? Because they didn’t give their endorsement to the woman in the race. On first take it sounds reasonable pro choice members giving the endorsement to a woman makes perfect sense, because she personally and physically connects with the issues at hand in a way no man could ever do. However and this is the BIG however pro choice members as a organization giving their endorsement to the only woman in the race who is in no position to win is a head scratcher.
The situation becomes even more bizarre when you add to the fact that these same women who are fighting for these same important rights are willing to possibly give up Supreme Court nominations which could/will overturn everything they have fought for, and back, support, campaign for John McCain a nominee who is against everything they stand for. Ohh but it gets better they have thrown all their support behind the nominee (Hillary) who has a shaky at best record with regards to women’s issues and mostly jumped behind them when it was politically convenient. So if you are keeping score the guy (Barack) with an 100% pro choice senate rating is no good. But that’s not all the great fighters of the people have put the needs of one over the needs of the many on the line for a symbolic fight which will do nothing but harm to themselves and their credibility. That’s not just a head scratcher I think you have just reached the twilight zone. I’ve said it time and time again I looooove this Barack Obama presidential run, not because he is such a great guy or I agree with everything he says or does (because I don’t) nope I LOVE this thing because some how some way everybody’s true intentions are bubbling to the surface and you get to see what they are really really about.
The worst thing about all of this is the fact these people with the pitch forks know the stakes, but their feelings are more important than the actual freaking issues, and that’s where I hop off the sympathy bus. This is no longer a fight for women’s rights or politics this is about ovaries and who doesn’t have any, and I can’t respect that, just as I wouldn’t support a vote based on skin color. While Obama has recently gained a majority in the black minority vote, ninety something percent I think it is, believe it or not it wasn’t always like that Hillary once owned that vote. Hillary has also always owned the white woman and seniors vote. It wasn’t really “news” per say just an understanding, and today a section of the women voting bloc has decided to take their toys and leave the sandbox because their candidate is losing (fair and square). This tit for tat my way or else nonsense is everything that is wrong with American politics. Personally I don’t think you can complain about sexism then actually base your votes on sexism it kind of defeats and demeans the whole argument but I digress.
The thing that really grinds my gears and makes me blow my top is the fact that Hillary was given head start so to speak with everything possible going in her favor, money, name recognition, strategy, the former most beloved president as a surrogate, she was even spotted 150 super delegates before a single vote was cast (these people weren’t even interested in hearing the other candidates arguments) and yet here she is today losing. Much has been made about the reasons for why she is losing but frankly none of them have anything to do with things being “unfair”. No other nominee in presidential history was given such a head start and to complain about fairness when your opponent is a tall skinny black guy in America, with an Arab sounding name, who is has to fight off allegations about his patriotism based simply on a flag pin is ludicrous and outrageous to say the least. I could go on but you get my point this is a joke a rather selfish self centered joke, but none the less come November when nobody hears the punch line there will be no laughter just tears, but at least you would have showed them who was boss right?
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04.07.08
Posted in 2008 Election, Barack Obama, CNN, Democrats, Ed Rendell, Hillary Clinton, Politics, Race, Republicans, crybaby, sex tagged 2008 Election, Air America, Barack Obama, Ed Rendell, Hillary Clinton, Liberals, Lose the election, Randi Rhodes at 4:45 am by soulful07
I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to write this particular blog. I have had many reservations about this race, and how things are beginning to play out. Adding more fuel to the fire doesn’t change things, but I think it does provide a little prospective on what has happened and is happening.
I’ve been paying attention to presidential elections for quite some time now. This particular race is special not from an first (African America or woman) prospective, no it’s something bigger. Don’t worry this isn’t one of those red light specials heaping magic praise on Obama. While I admire the guy I am more impressed with his campaign and the residual effects of this 2008 presidential race. True colors, you can’t make this stuff up, you can’t script it, you can’t even prepare for it but when you least expect it, these things show through.
Backs against the wall
When Hilary Clinton was perceived to be the front runner, she was friendly, laughing, and enjoying every minute of it. When Hilary Clinton was perceived to be losing in every perceivable fashion a very different person showed up to the plate. Over the last few days it was revealed that one of Hilary’s staunchest supporters for well over 16 years (Randi Rhodes) called her an f#@king whore. I can attest to the staunchest part because I used to listen to Air America and I heard her defend Hilary tooth and nail for years. I actually did some research and found the day the camel’s back broke so to speak for Randi. It was very what’s the word… Shocking… no, Revealing… no, interesting? Most definitely “interesting”, Randi laid it all out there, the brushing things (facts) aside, how outraged she was about her actions towards the party, again relating to the backs against the wall. Many many people have been thoroughly disgusted with the type of campaign Mrs. Clinton has run so far (myself included). For years I was told the Clintons ran the tightest ship in the business and quite frankly I believed it. They withstood attacks for many years, and the objective side of me ignored the fact that THESE ATTACKS WERE ALWAYS SELF INFLICTED, but people always rushed to bail them out every time. This tightest ship has run out of money two times already, failed to pay healthcare for its workers (ohh the irony), failed to pay bills (3 million still outstanding), it was also the very least prepared, and organized. One of my favourite games to play now is guessing which campaign banner Hilary was going to stand behind each speech. There was no theme just the wish to win when your back is against the wall.
Racism/ Sexism
One of the magical most interesting aspects of this campaign is the over use of racism/sexism. I’ve noticed the two candidates use these issues to their advantage on various occasions. Racism has worked to Senator Obama’s advantage a many times mainly because the republicans are scared shitless to use it against him. Hilary on the other hand has used sexism to her advantage so often I can’t keep track of it any more.
A new term has been created in the vernacular “Reverse Racism” and from my understanding it is when racist bastards like Sean Hanity cry about people being racist to a racist. In this world of being super politically correct everybody is jumping in front of words like they are bullets to protect my sensitive ears. It’s funny every election so far this primary season CNN… well pretty much every news source has reminded us, black people are supporting Barack Obama. Normally I just let these things go but when they were going over the stats in Wyoming and they tried but couldn’t spin it to match the only black people supporting him theme, I knew cable news was lost to us forever. The day they report Hilary has won the feminist vote I think I’m going to just turn my TV in and go back to cave drawings to figure out my news.
Donors
It’s a funny thing, the other day a group of 20 super rich donors to the Democratic Party wrote a letter threatening Speaker Polesi demanding she be even vaguer about her vague support! And I thought to myself it’s about time people stand up and make things even more confusing. At first I said to myself what gall, but in retrospect these people had made back room deals to get favors in return, and damnit this is America they should get their money’s worth. 2008 has taught us that in this space time continuum the poor guy with a 20 dollar donation is magically equal to the rich guy’s 1 million dollar donation (for now). And you know what, suprise suprise the rich guy is freaking pissed about it. While I’m not naive Obama has taken money from lots of rich people hell he even took money from the nuclear industry but, and this is a big but, the little people somehow have a say in things too for a change. I know, it blew my mind. Besides breaking ever record imaginable this thing is turning everything on its head every which way from Sunday. Personally I think it’s a good thing, for politics and the country.
“Liberals”
Some Democrats are racist, sexist, two way talking bastards. There I said it. Deal with it. It’s true. The dirty little secret is finally out, I admire the republicans for their forward stance on segregation and open oppression of the little man. It’s not about the shit they believe in, no no this is strictly about making people some money. And you know what, sure it’s an ass backwards and probably vile way of thinking, but I can respect somebody who isn’t a fraud. If and I’m talking the mother load here, if there is one thing I am glad is finally coming to the fore front, it is this under the table resentment from people who call themselves liberals. It only took a black guy and a woman at the same time to create the perfect storm but here it is. I don’t condone all the bitch talk on message boards and just in general conversation. But on the flip side many Hilary supporters are so hung up on having a woman in office they don’t or can’t even believe the racist shit coming out of their mouths and neither can I.
Entitlement
While I think Hilary is a smart woman and she is very qualified to be commander in chief as she puts it, I laughed my ass off when I saw her enter this race like it was supposed to be handed to her. She and Rudy rode in on the same horses and sadly those two will leave on this horse one way or another. Listening to talk radio is depressing, but listening to these uninformed callers makes you want to jump out of a window. The thing that is most sad are the people who feel Barack should wait his turn like everybody is waiting to go down a slide in the school yard playground. Wait your turn? What kind of nonsensical argument is that to make? It isn’t even grounded on anything but day in and day out I hear house wives and various other intelligent women demand Barack sit his butt down and wait in line. I’m sorry but if wait your turn is the only argument you have for Hilary to be president it speaks volumes about why she shouldn’t be president.
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