OT: Election/Politics thread, Part 6

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 4:28 am

pk500 wrote:
wco81 wrote:What is San Francisco-style socialism?

What programs does the city and county have which makes it "socialist"?
Under Newsom's reign:

1. Universal health care for all city residents
2. Care Not Cash
3. Strong support of gun control, through membership in Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition

Take care,
PK

Hey, it works over here !!

F308GTB · Post by **F308GTB** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:33 am

A couple of things about the outcome:

1) The electoral count was a landslide, but the popular vote wasn't. If President-elect Obama doesn't cater to the middle, he'll be out in 4 years. He may have been a liberal in the Senate, but he can't be in the White House if he expects to have a 2nd term.

2) Hopefully this ends black radicalism in the US. When places like Iowa, which is 2% African-American, votes in large majority for Obama, it tells you that America truly is color blind. I'm not saying that there aren't racists out there (and I'm not singling out caucasians here, there's clear racism by minorities against majority population as well), but America as a whole demonstrated race is not an issue.

3) Doesn't really shock me that a "vote the bums out" mentality didn't take place. Americans b*tch and moan about Washington, but bottom line is things won't change because you didn't vote it. Just look how many incumbents are returning to the jobs in the House and Senate. Look for more ineffective leadership over the next 2-6 years with the same old turkeys.

4) Al Franken may take Minnesota? First Jesse Ventura and now Franken. Mark Minnesota off my list of places to live...

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:04 am

F308GTB wrote:

4) Al Franken may take Minnesota? First Jesse Ventura and now Franken. Mark Minnesota off my list of places to live...

Stuart Smalley Goes To Washington...I agree with you, bro-WTF?

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:08 am

F308GTB wrote:2) Hopefully this ends black radicalism in the US. When places like Iowa, which is 2% African-American, votes in large majority for Obama, it tells you that America truly is color blind. I'm not saying that there aren't racists out there (and I'm not singling out caucasians here, there's clear racism by minorities against majority population as well), but America as a whole demonstrated race is not an issue.

And don't forget minority against minority.....I agree that it should be seen as a very good sign of progress, even though we all know the nut jobs are still out there.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:20 am

Just woke up this morning.

I have mixed feelings about what the next four years might bring.

On the one hand I have hope. Before this election process, I had hoped Colin Powell would run. He was my pick for the next president before any of the primaries had begun. The bright side is that maybe he'll have a position in the Obama adminstration. I also highly respect and ad mire Warren Buffet. My hops is that guys like Powell and Buffet will guide Obama down the right path.

On the other hand is fear. My fear is that Obama has never really shown us his true vision. I really hopes that it is not anything in line with the Pelosi's, Reid's, or Frank's of the world. If he shows himself to be a far left winger then we are going to see a further decline of the country in terms of ecomonic strength and freedoms.

The people have spoken. My side did not win, but I'll live. When I woke this morning the elcetricity still worked. The sun is still coming up. Life goes on, and I hope that he does a much better job than Bush has the last few years. We shall see.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:23 am

TheGamer wrote:I've been thinking all night of the words to express my feelings about having an African American President. All I can think of is how my dad killed himself when I was 11 years old and how mom my struggled to provide for the remaining 4 of her 9 kids without a man in the house or someone to support her. I wish my mom had impressed in to me the importance of education, and I wish I had my dad and grandfathers around to let me know what it meant to be a man, a feeling I didn't feel until I married my wife and met her father who showed me more in 8 years than my natural dad could ever show me. I feel so much pride in seeing what level a black man can reach. From the things I've seen in my life, I never felt that as much self confidence I attempted to instill in to my two boys, that I would be able to present to my two African American boys, that they could truly aspire to the highest office in the land, without feeling that I was lying to their faces.

Jared, thanks for providing me a forum to express.

Powerful post brother. I really don't know where I would have ended up without my fathers guidance. I do know that being a father is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I wish more black men would give it an honest try. Your kids sound pretty blessed too me. Thanks for sharing your feelings. It's very cool that we can tell our son's that one day they could be the President without any doubt. America has come a very long way. We are still the minority. Kudos to the Americans the made the "Bradley effect" a thing of the past.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:26 am

F308GTB wrote: 4) Al Franken may take Minnesota? First Jesse Ventura and now Franken. Mark Minnesota off my list of places to live...

Coleman won!!!!!! Minnesota is a great place too live this morning.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:34 am

matthewk wrote:
On the other hand is fear. My fear is that Obama has never really shown us his true vision. I really hopes that it is not anything in line with the Pelosi's, Reid's, or Frank's of the world. If he shows himself to be a far left winger then we are going to see a further decline of the country in terms of ecomonic strength and freedoms.

The people have spoken. My side did not win, but I'll live. When I woke this morning the elcetricity still worked. The sun is still coming up. Life goes on, and I hope that he does a much better job than Bush has the last few years. We shall see.

Good points Matt. Some of us have posted what we believe will happen if Obama goes the way of the three horses of idiocy (Pelosi,Reid,Frank). One term. This was not a landslide win for Obama in the popular vote. Like he said in his speech,he hasn't won our support. Time will tell.

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:39 am

matthewk wrote:Just woke up this morning.

I have mixed feelings about what the next four years might bring.

On the one hand I have hope. Before this election process, I had hoped Colin Powell would run. He was my pick for the next president before any of the primaries had begun. The bright side is that maybe he'll have a position in the Obama adminstration. I also highly respect and ad mire Warren Buffet. My hops is that guys like Powell and Buffet will guide Obama down the right path.

On the other hand is fear. My fear is that Obama has never really shown us his true vision. I really hopes that it is not anything in line with the Pelosi's, Reid's, or Frank's of the world. If he shows himself to be a far left winger then we are going to see a further decline of the country in terms of ecomonic strength and freedoms.

The people have spoken. My side did not win, but I'll live. When I woke this morning the elcetricity still worked. The sun is still coming up. Life goes on, and I hope that he does a much better job than Bush has the last few years. We shall see.

Wow...captured my thoughts exactly. I fear what is "unknown" about Obama personally as well as his ultimate plan. However, the majority have spoken that they want to go down this road, so I have no choice but to go along. I do hope that he unsderstand that the popular vote shows that roughly less than half the voters did not support his campaign or election. It should be an interesting few months and years during this transition. I am glad that Bush is leaving so we can at least see how another elected official handles the nation's most pressing issues.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:44 am

Now the real work begins.

Post by **Jared** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:13 am

JackDog wrote:
F308GTB wrote: 4) Al Franken may take Minnesota? First Jesse Ventura and now Franken. Mark Minnesota off my list of places to live...
Coleman won!!!!!! Minnesota is a great place too live this morning.

Not over yet. Since the margin of victory is so close, it means an auto-recount, so we won't know about this race for a few days.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:16 am

JackB1 wrote:
DChaps wrote: Keep in mind that regardless of who won, the country is in a complete mess in certain areas and there is no easy fix. No candidate convinced me that their plans for the war, healthcare, economy, environment, etc. are viable so now I can only hope that these plans can work. Call me a pessimist, but my guess is that 4 years from now we will still be in IRAQ, Bin Laden will still be on the loose, healthcare will still be broken, and the environment will still be depleted of its natural resources faster than we can do anything about it. Hopefully I am wrong, but there is a LOT of work to be done and no easy way out. The economy can only get better, right?
I hope you are wrong, but you are right about this being a daunting task for any President. To did us out of the hole Bush got us into will take the mightiest of shovels. But if anyone can do it...Obama can. After all, he is....
"THE ONE"

The hole was dug with many shovels, not one.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:18 am

JackB1 wrote:McCain gave a great concession speech and showed a lot more class than the idiots who kept booing.

Idiots booing during McCain's speech, idiots flashing gang signs at Grant Park. There is plenty of stupidity to go around.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:20 am

A bunch of good posts here. What a bunch of classy sons-a-bitches we have here.

I have never found Obama to be an inspiration personally, but inspiration is in the eye of the beholder, and there's no doubting the way he has inspired America. I'm not ready to say 62 million votes for Obama (at last count) signals a fundamental shift in American politics to the left anymore than 62 million votes in 2004 for Bush signaled a shift to the right, but it was undeniably a powerful moment. A little uncomfortably powerful even for someone like me who holds healthy disdain for all political candidates.

Truth is, we won't know the meaning of this moment for several years.

Until then, Barack, let's see what you got kid!

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:21 am

wco81 wrote:
1. If businesses find the requirement to provide health care to employees onerous, they can relocate out of town. Not too universal if it's so easy to avoid the requirement.

And if this ever goes national the answer will be what? If they don't like it they can relocate out of the country?

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:23 am

webdanzer wrote:AFTER Obama get's the needed electoral votes, pundits on every station (I was flipping around) were all "Yeah, we like him, but who is this guy? What does he really believe? How liberal is he? How is he going to govern?"

Good timing on the questions, guys.

I'm sure the news media is aware that now that the election is done, their ratings will plummett. So they now need to stir up some more of that reality TV controversy to keep people tuning in.

Most of our news outlets are nothing more than reality TV entertainment now.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:32 am

Jared wrote:
JackDog wrote:
F308GTB wrote: 4) Al Franken may take Minnesota? First Jesse Ventura and now Franken. Mark Minnesota off my list of places to live...
Coleman won!!!!!! Minnesota is a great place too live this morning.
Not over yet. Since the margin of victory is so close, it means an auto-recount, so we won't know about this race for a few days.

Nah man. To quote a true poet on this forum"WE WON MOTHERFUCKERS!!!"

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:40 am

Feanor wrote:
JackB1 wrote:
matthewk wrote: I have a feeling the election will be a lot closer than most of the polls have been indicating. I don't think the high turnout will benefit either side exclusively, as there seems to be a lot of quiet republicans that don't care for polls, and will simply show up and vote. At least in my neck of woods that's the impression I'm getting.
I have a feeling it won't be close at all.

We shall see.
It's good that it's not close - we really don't need anymore controversies from hanging chads or phony terrorism lockdowns. I hope that in four, eight or twelve years when a Republican president gets in that it'll be a convincing win then, too.

Did anyon get a look at that ballot in Palm Beach County Florida? The had an arrow with a part in the middle missing and you have to "connect the arrow". What the hell? Didn't they learn anything from the last election down there? Can't they make it simple for all those retired folks in FL?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:41 am

TheGamer wrote:I've been thinking all night of the words to express my feelings about having an African American President. All I can think of is how my dad killed himself when I was 11 years old and how mom my struggled to provide for the remaining 4 of her 9 kids without a man in the house or someone to support her. I wish my mom had impressed in to me the importance of education, and I wish I had my dad and grandfathers around to let me know what it meant to be a man, a feeling I didn't feel until I married my wife and met her father who showed me more in 8 years than my natural dad could ever show me. I feel so much pride in seeing what level a black man can reach. From the things I've seen in my life, I never felt that as much self confidence I attempted to instill in to my two boys, that I would be able to present to my two African American boys, that they could truly aspire to the highest office in the land, without feeling that I was lying to their faces.

Jared, thanks for providing me a forum to express.

This post sums up the significance of Nov. 4, 2008 more than any I've read. Beautiful words, Gamer.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:42 am

davet010 wrote:
pk500 wrote:
wco81 wrote:What is San Francisco-style socialism?

What programs does the city and county have which makes it "socialist"?
Under Newsom's reign:

1. Universal health care for all city residents
2. Care Not Cash
3. Strong support of gun control, through membership in Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition

Take care,
PK
Hey, it works over here !!

You f*cking Commie.

Take care,
PK

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:44 am

RobVarak wrote: Damn shame. He's a truly admirable man, something in short supply. He was similarly classy at the Al Smith dinner as well as with his congratulatory message on the night of Obama's nomination.

A nation can only really be measured by the people it produces, and any nation that can produce a man of McCain's quality, honor and dedication is truly a great one. Patriotism personified by a man who is not abashed to use the term.

It's too bad McCain couldn't show the country that "classy" personality during the debates. He might have done better. Instead, he came off like a cranky, know-it-all, old man. Wonder which is the real John McCain?

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:45 am

JackB1 wrote:
Did anyon get a look at that ballot in Palm Beach County Florida? The had an arrow with a part in the middle missing and you have to "connect the arrow". What the hell? Didn't they learn anything from the last election down there? Can't they make it simple for all those retired folks in FL?

God that's stupid. They will never learn brother. I also wish they would hold the election on a saturday. I honestly believe it would help voter turnout.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:50 am

JackDog wrote:I also wish they would hold the election on a saturday. I honestly believe it would help voter turnout.

But what about the Jews?

Keep it on Tuesday, just make it a national holiday.

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:54 am

JackDog wrote:
JackB1 wrote:
Did anyon get a look at that ballot in Palm Beach County Florida? The had an arrow with a part in the middle missing and you have to "connect the arrow". What the hell? Didn't they learn anything from the last election down there? Can't they make it simple for all those retired folks in FL?
God that's stupid. They will never learn brother. I also wish they would hold the election on a saturday. I honestly believe it would help voter turnout.

The ballots I've cast in Maine since 2000 have had that same format. It is really easy - just like filling in a dot next to the choice. If anything, it is better in that the filled in arrow is a BIG mark pointing towards who you want - easy to double-check and read. Historically, there haven't been any problems here and I doubt there will be in Palm Beach. If you ever do fill out a ballot of this type I'm sure you will get to understand its strengths.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:02 am

JackDog wrote:These post's sum up my thoughts.

My 85 year old Republican father just got off the phone with me an hour ago. He voted for McCain,but he shed tears of joy seeing a black man elected president. That moved me more than I thought it would. I never looked at the man,I looked at his politics. If Obama locksteps with Pelosi and Reid,he will be out in 4 years. If he works towards the center he could get some things done. Time will tell.

God bless our new President.

Nice work Jack pasting in all those comments. We all can be a pretty bright group sometimes

I was honored that you even included one of my quotes

I am so happy for your Dad and for all African Americans that can be very proud today. I think this election will go a long way towards melting away racial inequalities in our country. At the end of the night, seeing Obama's family mingling around with Biden's family up on that stage...all with the same dreams and goals of helping our country...really got me all choked up. We are really all in this together. White, Black...and everything in between. We are all Americans. So sad that Obama's grandma passed away 1 day before seeing her Grandson become President of the United States. Hopefully she is looking down on him from above and thinking "That's my grandson up there!"