DISQUS

McCain wins, strokes out and Palin is president.

What will you do? Would you seriously consider emigrating to another country?

Should we starting saving now for a quick escape?

Democrats must learn some respect
by Clive Crook

This article is not the first to note the cultural contradiction in American liberalism, but just now the point bears restating. The election may turn on it.

Democrats speak up for the less prosperous; they have well-intentioned policies to help them; they are disturbed by inequality, and want to do something about it. Their concern is real and admirable. The trouble is, they lack respect for the objects of their solicitude. Their sympathy comes mixed with disdain, and even contempt.

Democrats regard their policies as self-evidently in the interests of the US working and middle classes. Yet those wide segments of US society keep helping to elect Republican presidents. How is one to account for this? Are those people idiots? Frankly, yes - or so many liberals are driven to conclude. Either that or bigots, clinging to guns, God and white supremacy; or else pathetic dupes, ever at the disposal of Republican strategists. If they only had the brains to vote in their interests, Democrats think, the party would never be out of power. But again and again, the Republicans tell their lies, and those stupid damned voters buy it.

It is an attitude that a good part of the US media share. The country has conservative media (Fox News, talk radio) as well as liberal media (most of the rest). Curiously, whereas the conservative media know they are conservative, much of the liberal media believe themselves to be neutral.

Read the rest at http://clivecrook.theatlantic.com/archives/2008...

I realize that you are passionate about Obama's nomination and I know you don't 4 more years of a Republican administration.

You are beginning to sound like a lunatic.

No one is going to take you seriously if continue down this Larry Johnson, noquarter.net route.

With all the great publicity your blog is receiving, do you really want to be associated with the vilest aspects of our political culture?

Just like you've said Hillary supporters like myself should heed the mandate of our candidate and support Obama, shouldn't you heed the call of your nominee and leave this Palin family matter alone?

In a word, yes.

Maybe it's me but what I take from this interview is that she was interested in the national stage. I think she said it was an "impossibility" because she had only recently entered the national stage.

I guess given the opportunity she decided to take advantage of it.

Well then, YOU stay at home and wait for your husband to provide for you. YOU wait for some man to give you validation.

Some of us will be achieving goals in our careers, marrying like minded partners, having great sex and making babies all while watching you dry like a raisin in the sun.

Question:
If you weren't going to vote for McCain anyway, why do you care that Palin is his choice? Why even waste time and energy thinking about her? Why be insulted?

Or do you think there is some political value in him running with this wife, mother, and governor?

She actually has a child going to Iraq and he is a veteran who was a POW, how can you not look like a jerk to uncommitted voters when confronting them on Iraq and Afghanistan.

She was the mayor of a small town, not unlike the towns whose residents were offended by Obama's comments.

As a working mom, with 3 kids in school and a newborn, she more in common with typical American women (regardless of color) than most politicians in DC. If you are saying that she can't be VP, are you suggesting that similarly situated women shouldn't be in executive roles. Are you suggesting that women should be menopausal or asexual in order to seriously considered for leadership roles?

I dare you to say yes.

I'm only a voter and I can only speak for myself. I was underwhelmed by Obama's speech.

I wasn't interested in hearing MLK's children speak. While the the tribute John Lewis was nice that wasn't the history making moment.

Obama's nomination was.

I expected more and the moment called for more.

I wanted a speech for the ages, something that will be as relevant one hundred years from now as it is now. I needed a speech that tied the struggles of people of color in this country to the larger American story. Why not mention MLK by name or A. Philip Randolph or any of the organizers of the March on Washington? Were they not great Americans whose progressive ideas are as important today as they were forty-five years ago. Why not, for example, salute the countless African American, Latino, Asian American and Native American servicemen who served this country abroad even though they were disenfranchised at home? They did that so one day a Barack Obama could stand in front of 80,000 fans and claim his nomination.

Obama had the perfect opportunity to deliver this century's Gettyburg's address instead we were subjected to 38 minutes of rehashed soundbites, talking points and slogans.

And what purpose? To win over white voters? I don't doubt that this "whitewashed" speech (Dr. Julianne Malveux's term, not mine) will calm the nerves of undecided voters. It may even help him win the election, but at what cost?

If he does win, I pray that he will acknowledge the struggles endured by brown folk who put him in the Oval Office. Maybe in his inauguration address he'll call a few by name.




I won't hold my breath.

McKinney 2008

I think I must be the only one put off by the fact that on the 45th anniversary of the March on Washington, he made only a cursory mention of the historical context. Did he even mention MLK by name?

Another thing, he spoke eloquently about the credit crunch and economic problems the country faces now. I guess we are supposed to forget that Biden voted for the bankruptcy bill made made it difficult for many of us to make a new start after set backs.

3 thoughts:

When in doubt, go with the middle-aged white guy.

If Biden is so great, why hasn't ever made an impact as a nominee; he's run at least 3 times.

I guess it's true, book sense can't take the place of old fashion common sense. With Richardson, Sebrus, or Billary, he could rest assured about some safety issues and could complete his agenda if elected.

I think it's better to vote for McKinney or stay at home.

I think of how I wasted my vote on Kerry and Gore, I get mad at myself. They were the "best" candidates. Two men would would keep a Republican out of the White House. I voted for both men because I thought they had the experience and intelligence to lead this country. They had those qualities in spades, what they didn't have was balls. They wouldn't get down dirty and fight for the voters who believed in them.

Now I know not to waste by vote on someone who has the best chance of winning. Do we have the same values. Will he stand down when the Republicans kick him in the balls (and they will. This Fisher Price stuff is going to end after the convention).

You can say a lot of thing about McKinney, but no one will ever say she doesn't call it like she sees. No one will can question her commitment to progressive issues.

How very Christian of you.

DnA,
Critical? That's an understatement. That woman was called everything from mammy to handkerchief head to Auntie by the authors (shout out to rikyrah) and commenters on this site. For what? Having the nerve and balls to stay for someone she believed in. Someone she felt loyalty forwards.

It's shocking when anyone who's an elected official today doesn't follow polls but actually leads. Someone who didn't cower away when pressure from all sides was bearing down on her. Someone who didn't wait until the primary was over to pick a candidate.

We lost one hell of a woman today.

Think about that kind of grit and that backbone of steel when your boy flip flops on another progressive issue or gives another Booker T. Washington Father's Day speech.

I said this when Bernie Mac passed away and I'll say it again now that Congresswoman Tubbs is critically ill, the Obamites are utilizing rootwork to quiet critics who are supposed to be in the fold.

Brother Jesse, you might want to pack it up and go to Iceland until the election is over because these folk ain't playing.

Is anything in that magazine going to make a difference to you when you enter the voting booth?

No.

So why address it?

I'm not smoking nothing. I won't say anything else. You all have send the message

I knew that the Obamites were upset about that bit at the Chicago fundraiser but to go so far as to put roots on someone...My God...they are serious.

I know Jesse and Tavis are nervous right.

Those guys from the Uhuru movement better watch their backs.

I'm just sayin'