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Republicans fears of Obama......why Virginia is important
This is actually a thread with two different topics. However, so that I do not commit "flooding" I have compressed them into one thread. I start with my first story: Virginia.
Virginia is important because it is a great electability argument. In Virginia, anyone can vote in the Democratic primary. THERE IS NO PARTY REGISTRATION in Virginia, so even Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary. If Obama wins there, it tells you who independents like. Independents determine who wins the general election.
We've seen Obama winning independents in almost all of the races, so that should tell us something.
As for my second story, it's pretty funny. I randomly saw this on a GOP blog.
Obama/Clinton Divide Needs to Continue Filed under: General Postings / by: gopnation
The GOP should be very, very worried about two things: a) Barack Obama actually winning the Democratic nomination or b) Hillary wins and selects Obama as her running mate. It is becoming increasingly clear that Obama’s appeal is starting to drip out of simple politics and into the mainstream, in a way that hasn’t happened in some time (think Reagan, perhaps). Therefore, it is in our best interest to see Hillary and Obama stay divided with Clinton winning the nomination in such a way that doesn’t allow a Clinton-Obama ticket to develop, thereby denying Obama the White House and his supporters the opportunity to see him lead. Only then can McCain, and the Republicans wins.
Watch this to see how Obama’s message can radiate with the masses in such a way that isn’t political: Yes, we can video.
Always nice to see a little fear in one's enemies.
Why I'm Backing Obama
By Susan Eisenhower
Saturday, February 2, 2008; A15
Forty-seven years ago, my grandfather Dwight D. Eisenhower bid farewell to a nation he had served for more than five decades. In his televised address, Ike famously coined the term "military-industrial complex," and he offered advice that is still relevant today. "As we peer into society's future," he said, we "must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow."
Today we are engaged in a debate about these very issues. Deep in America's heart, I believe, is the nagging fear that our best years as a nation may be over. We are disliked overseas and feel insecure at home. We watch as our federal budget hemorrhages red ink and our civil liberties are eroded. Crises in energy, health care and education threaten our way of life and our ability to compete internationally. There are also the issues of a costly, unpopular war; a long-neglected infrastructure; and an aging and increasingly needy population.
I am not alone in worrying that my generation will fail to do what my grandfather's did so well: Leave America a better, stronger place than the one it found.
Given the magnitude of these issues and the cost of addressing them, our next president must be able to bring about a sense of national unity and change. As we no longer have the financial resources to address all these problems comprehensively and simultaneously, setting priorities will be essential. With hard work, much can be done.
The biggest barrier to rolling up our sleeves and preparing for a better future is our own apathy, fear or immobility. We have been living in a zero-sum political environment where all heads have been lowered to avert being lopped off by angry, noisy extremists. I am convinced that Barack Obama is the one presidential candidate today who can encourage ordinary Americans to stand straight again; he is a man who can salve our national wounds and both inspire and pursue genuine bipartisan cooperation. Just as important, Obama can assure the world and Americans that this great nation's impulses are still free, open, fair and broad-minded.
No measures to avert the serious, looming consequences can be taken without this sense of renewal. Uncommon political courage will be required. Yet this courage can be summoned only if something profoundly different transpires. Putting America first -- ahead of our own selfish interests -- must be our national priority if we are to retain our capacity to lead.
The last time the United States had an open election was 1952. My grandfather was pursued by both political parties and eventually became the Republican nominee. Despite being a charismatic war hero, he did not have an easy ride to the nomination. He went on to win the presidency -- with the indispensable help of a "Democrats for Eisenhower" movement. These crossover voters were attracted by his pledge to bring change to Washington and by the prospect that he would unify the nation.
It is in this great tradition of crossover voters that I support Barack Obama's candidacy for president. If the Democratic Party chooses Obama as its candidate, this lifelong Republican will work to get him elected and encourage him to seek strategic solutions to meet America's greatest challenges. To be successful, our president will need bipartisan help.
Given Obama's support among young people, I believe that he will be most invested in defending the interests of these rising generations and, therefore, the long-term interests of this nation as a whole. Without his leadership, our children and grandchildren are at risk of growing older in a marginalized country that is left to its anger and divisions. Such an outcome would be an unacceptable legacy for any great nation.
Susan Eisenhower, a business consultant, is the author of four books, most recently "Partners in Space: US-Russian Cooperation After the Cold War."
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Formerly W.E.B. Du Bois (you can still call me "WEB")
i am actually kind of looking forward to seeing Obama as the Democrat campaign. While I think Hillary is probably the best choice as of now, if Obama is chosen he is going to get his ass pounded and really reunite the conservative party over his ridiculous liberalness which has been overlooked until the moment he becomes the delegate.
So, in a way, I guess I should be chearing for obama. it means an automatic republican victory, with Hillary's moderate democrats and the conservatives reuniting too form up the 2004 coalition.
but i also like bill clinton and hate john mccain....
i am actually kind of looking forward to seeing Obama as the Democrat campaign. While I think Hillary is probably the best choice as of now, if Obama is chosen he is going to get his ass pounded and really reunite the conservative party over his ridiculous liberalness which has been overlooked until the moment he becomes the delegate.
So, in a way, I guess I should be chearing for obama. it means an automatic republican victory, with Hillary's moderate democrats and the conservatives reuniting too form up the 2004 coalition.
but i also like bill clinton and hate john mccain....
so, its hard to tell
Forgive me for saying so, but judging by your posts over the last few months, dealing with the primaries. I hope you kept the receipt for your crystal ball.
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"Oh people, know that you have committed great sins. If you ask me what proof I have for these words, I say it is because I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you!" -- Genghis Khan, Bukhara 1220
While I think Hillary is probably the best choice as of now...
...So, in a way, I guess I should be chearing for obama. it means an automatic republican victory, with Hillary's moderate democrats and the conservatives reuniting too form up the 2004 coalition.
I couldn’t disagree more Dude. I feel the same way you do towards Hillary in place of Obama.
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My pick: Barack Obama A issue I’m concerned with Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
Once again, Dude shows he's loosing touch with reality ^^
Quote:
The biggest barrier to rolling up our sleeves and preparing for a better future is our own apathy, fear or immobility. We have been living in a zero-sum political environment where all heads have been lowered to avert being lopped off by angry, noisy extremists. I am convinced that Barack Obama is the one presidential candidate today who can encourage ordinary Americans to stand straight again
And THAT's what it's about. It is not limited to the US, its all around the western world. Apathy is probably the most dangerous of sentiments you can have, not only when it comes to politics, and yet it's all over the place.
Maybe the Clintons (as a team) are better politicians. Maybe McCain will work well to reduce pork barrel spending. But as long as you don't mobilize those millions of Americans out there that have fallen into an apathic trance in the past years or even decades, it won't matter. And the only one in the race that can do this is Obama.
There used to be a time when I seriously admired the US, even considered it the greatest country in the world. That grandeur is fading. Now, everytime I travel there I get the feeling it's going from bad to worse, and it makes me sad.
Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country - JFK
Obama is inspiring people every day. I believe the only reason why Hillary won so many states in the beginning was because people didn't know about Obama. Now his name has spread (rapidly) and as we are seeing.. he is sweeping the board. Most people only knew the name "Hillary Clinton". Now they are learning about Obama and Clinton and between the two there is really no contest.
When Obama speaks to the people he is personal and knowledgeable. The fact that so many young people are bothering to get out and vote is a testament to that because people under 30 are HORRIBLE at going out to vote. College-age kids almost never vote. But he's getting us out there and that's important. If he wins the primary I will cast my first vote EVER for him because I won't feel as if I am choosing between the "lesser of two evils". If Hillary wins and does not choose him as her running mate then I will simply not vote. Again.
I saw Obama when he came to my city, and I caucused for him. I'll vote for him in the general election. I'm also a freshman in college. I guess I'm one of the young people who are so inspired by him, but for me he's the only electable candidate that the dems have, and he won't be treating his office like business as usual.
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"It is dangerous to be right on matters where the established authority is wrong."
-Voltaire
i am actually kind of looking forward to seeing Obama as the Democrat campaign. While I think Hillary is probably the best choice as of now, if Obama is chosen he is going to get his ass pounded and really reunite the conservative party over his ridiculous liberalness which has been overlooked until the moment he becomes the delegate.
So, in a way, I guess I should be chearing for obama. it means an automatic republican victory, with Hillary's moderate democrats and the conservatives reuniting too form up the 2004 coalition.
but i also like bill clinton and hate john mccain....
so, its hard to tell
Well let's bear in mind that your comments have generally not supported electability for Republicans. Giuliani had some electability, but you also supported some extremely unelectable candidates (i.e. Romney and Huckabee). Romney is such a flip-flopper that he's laughable in a general election. He also had his Mormonism working against him in his own base.
Huckabee is so wacked out with his religious message that even moderate Republicans don't take him seriously.
The most electable candidate you have (McCain) is someone you've consistently opposed. I think that Hillary has no chance against McCain. Hillary has little appeal to independents and she is the one who would unite the Republican base. You don't hear people saying this about Obama:
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Formerly W.E.B. Du Bois (you can still call me "WEB")
I definitely agree that its in the Republican's best interest to have this thing with the Dem's go down to the wire and get as bitter, personal and partisan as possible. But that's just the Democrats bearing their teeth and showing what they are really made of when push comes to shove.
The perfect storm of situations would be the following:
1) Obama wins by a small margin of the elected delegates. He currently leads by 60.
2) Hillary wins enough extra Super Delegates to tip the scales in her favor. She currently has 95 more SD's than Obaman giving her the overall lead.
3) Florida and Michigan are allowed to count their votes. These are places Obama didn't even campaign in since they had 0 votes. Hillary is pushing real hard to have these counted.
4) Hillary is nominated based on a non-elected majority. This would be the case if things continued as they are now.
These 4 things cause Obama supporters to to feel that the election was stolen from the people's choice by old, inside, white, rich, connected Democrats.
Yep. Conservatives are pretty excited about it to playing out this way.
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