OT: Election/Politics thread, Part 6

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:17 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:Really Teal? The Koolaid man...isn't that the slightest bit racist?

Against Cherry Red Americans?

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:22 pm

RobVarak wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:Really Teal? The Koolaid man...isn't that the slightest bit racist?
Against Cherry Red Americans?

Exactly, Rob...how so, db? I'm not aware of the koolaid man having a particular racial affiliation-he's red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, pink...in fact, two colors I've never seen him embrace are black and white...

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:23 pm

Simply racial stereotypes. That's all.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:28 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:Simply racial stereotypes. That's all.

I think it's more of an allusion to Jonestown than anything racial. May want to recalibrate that radar.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:31 pm

Nah...it's racist, but whatever. Carry on.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:33 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:Simply racial stereotypes. That's all.

??? You have my ear man. How is that racist? Seriously Scott,I'm interested in hearing your take on this.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:35 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:Nah...it's racist, but whatever. Carry on.

Well aren't you peculiarly equipped to render conclusive judgment.

If it was a grape juice box or a pack of Kools maybe I'd agree, but the Kool Aid man? Nah...its not.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:36 pm

Sweet, so if I like Kool-Aid, I can get some United Negro College Fund money?

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:45 pm

I'm not sure if it's racist, but it is an odd choice.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:48 pm

JackDog wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:Simply racial stereotypes. That's all.
??? You have my ear man. How is that racist? Seriously Scott,I'm interested in hearing your take on this.

Same here. Educate me. DB.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:55 pm

Thought it was a solid speech but not the epoch for the ages that many expected would be engraved into monuments or buildings for generations to come. There was no "The only thing we have to fear" or "Ask not what your country can do" in it.

Obama's nomination acceptance speech in Denver and his election night speech were more uplifting and more electrifying than this one, but then he didn't carry the burden of leadership of the free world.

Obama was a rock star at the convention and on election night. He's President today, and I think the more solemn, sober overtones of this speech, compared to the come-to-Jesus revival tone of his nomination and election night speeches, reflect that.

As I saw Dick Cheney sitting there during the speech, all I could think of was him mimicking Clint Eastwood's Walt Kowalski character in "Gran Torino," grunting under his breath in disgust at every sentence.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:02 pm

One final observation, and you can take it any way you like. Those who know me realize this is not a racist rant.

I watched coverage on MSNBC, and nine out 10 crowd shots showed black visitors only. I know and very much appreciate that this is a monumental day for blacks and race relations in America, but Barack Obama is the President of the United States of America, not of the United Black States of America.

Many Americans of all races are happy and hopeful about today's events, not just black Americans.

MSNBC was playing overdosing pander bear to the cause of the day, as usual.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:05 pm

pk500 wrote:
JackDog wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:Simply racial stereotypes. That's all.
??? You have my ear man. How is that racist? Seriously Scott,I'm interested in hearing your take on this.
Same here. Educate me. DB.

Take care,
PK

Shouldn't it be Hammer?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:08 pm

The address followed the same structure that he's used for all of his major speeches. Relatively straightforward, even mundane elements to start with just a hint of rhetorical flourish at the end. The line about his father was good and the Washington quote tie-in were the highlights.

Honestly, I don't know of any speechwriter who could craft words equal to the event. The magnitude was just too great that nothing could match the simple image of him taking the oath.

Who knew that John Roberts is a closet judicial activist, revising the oath of office on the fly!

Edit:

There were a few notes in his address that I was surprised by. The line about sacrificing values for security was inappropriate and off-key. Notwithstanding the inappropriate tone for an inaugural, it was also cheap...and wrong.

On a less political note, the ridiculous line about "harnessing the sun" etc., should have been excised. I'm pretty sure that Favreau is a pretty good writer, but Obama needs to find a better editor.

Points for brevity and the ending, but some of the early content was greatly lacking.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:17 pm

I just think it's odd how you get the first black pres and you end up using the Kool-Aide man instead of him in an avatar. Being that Kool-Aide is joked about being a 'african american' drink by comedians such as Dave Chappel and Chris Rock, both african american...it would seem to me that a white guy shouldn't be using it as his avatar.

You are right though Rob...I suppose I'm not equipped to say whether it is or isn't since I'm a white dude, but it certainly made me raise my eyebrows when I saw it. The better question is what the hell is the point of sticking the Kool-Aide man in an avatar about the new president? Where is the affiliation? Last I checked, he didn't vote. So why not use Tony the Tiger? That's the point.

Obviously you guys don't agree with me...so whatever. It just caught my eye and seemed like it could be deemed offensive. I've been wrong before.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:24 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I just think it's odd how you get the first black pres and you end up using the Kool-Aide man instead of him in an avatar. Being that Kool-Aide is joked about being a 'african american' drink by comedians such as Dave Chappel and Chris Rock, both african american...it would seem to me that a white guy shouldn't be using it as his avatar.

You are right though Rob...I suppose I'm not equipped to say whether it is or isn't since I'm a white dude, but it certainly made me raise my eyebrows when I saw it. The better question is what the hell is the point of sticking the Kool-Aide man in an avatar about the new president? Where is the affiliation? Last I checked, he didn't vote. So why not use Tony the Tiger? That's the point.

Obviously you guys don't agree with me...so whatever. It just caught my eye and seemed like it could be deemed offensive. I've been wrong before.

It's a gag on the cult-like following that Obama has engendered.

Jonestown's cultural legacy, one of them anyway, is the use of the phrase "drinking the Kool Aid" to indicate that one has bought into some type of group-think.

Post by **Jared** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:25 pm

I think the Kool-Aid man, unfortunately, has a dual meaning ("drinking the Kool-Aid", as in Obama is a cult leader; and Kool-Aid as a stereotypical African-American food/drink (see grape soda, watermelon, fried chicken, etc.)).

I'm pretty sure that Teal wasn't aware of the latter meaning. However, I'm some people that use it this way are well aware of the dual meaning.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:26 pm

RobVarak wrote:On a less political note, the ridiculous line about "harnessing the sun" etc., should have been excised. I'm pretty sure that Favreau is a pretty good writer, but Obama needs to find a better editor.

Jon Favreau of "Swingers" fame wrote the address? Cool! ROENICK!

Take care,
PK

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:28 pm

If there is any justice in the world, Aretha Franklin devoured that "poet" for a snack while waiting to exit the stage.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:29 pm

pk500 wrote:
RobVarak wrote:On a less political note, the ridiculous line about "harnessing the sun" etc., should have been excised. I'm pretty sure that Favreau is a pretty good writer, but Obama needs to find a better editor.
Jon Favreau of "Swingers" fame wrote the address? Cool! ROENICK!

Take care,
PK

Crazy, innit?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Favreau_(speechwriter)

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:30 pm

pk500 wrote:
JackDog wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:Simply racial stereotypes. That's all.
??? You have my ear man. How is that racist? Seriously Scott,I'm interested in hearing your take on this.
Same here. Educate me. DB.

Take care,
PK

I'll try. Kool Aid is a cheap drink that I know at least my family drank because we couldn't afford anything more expensive. Probably a lot of people on welfare drink kool aid. The avatar, using the slogan of the campaign of the first black president could probably provoke the same responses as a caricature if someone sitting on a porch eating watermelon.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:31 pm

TheGamer wrote:The avatar, using the slogan of the campaign of the first black president could probably provoke the same responses as a caricature if someone sitting on a porch eating watermelon.

Edit.

I think that's unlikely.

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:32 pm

RobVarak wrote:
TheGamer wrote:The avatar, using the slogan of the campaign of the first black president could probably provoke the same responses as a caricature if someone sitting on a porch eating watermelon.
Bullshit.

no its not

Nozzleman_216 · Post by **Nozzleman_216** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:33 pm

pk500 wrote:One final observation, and you can take it any way you like. Those who know me realize this is not a racist rant.

I watched coverage on MSNBC, and nine out 10 crowd shots showed black visitors only. I know and very much appreciate that this is a monumental day for blacks and race relations in America, but Barack Obama is the President of the United States of America, not of the United Black States of America.

Many Americans of all races are happy and hopeful about today's events, not just black Americans.

MSNBC was playing overdosing pander bear to the cause of the day, as usual.

Take care,
PK

FOX was the same way. I hate FOX news, but my LOCAL FOX 28 had it in HD and it just so happened it was the FNC broadcast. But yes, same shots you speak of. Disappointing to say the least.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:33 pm

TheGamer wrote:
RobVarak wrote:
TheGamer wrote:The avatar, using the slogan of the campaign of the first black president could probably provoke the same responses as a caricature if someone sitting on a porch eating watermelon.
Bullshit.
no its not

LOL If those images provoke the same responses, then I would suggest that the reacting party may be seriously unhinged. And if so, then it's because of their lack of knowledge about Jonestown rather than anything inherently reacist about the Goddamn Kool Aid Man. Seriously, people!