So What Exactly Did We Learn From Super Tuesday?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008Posted in: American Politics
I think more people like Hillary, than we think. Well, either that or more people see her as the lesser of the two evils.
By the way, just how old is John McCain anyway?
Shiloh Walker
February 7
8:36 pm
lol… Aztec, I don’t want or expect everybody to agree with me.
The world would get very…very…very boring.
😛
Ann Bruce
February 7
9:23 pm
Totally agree.
Honestly, I don’t see why what these people do in their personal lives affect their political lives. (Unless, you’re a right-wing hypocrite who condemns all gays and then gets caught with his pants down with another man.)
Frankly, most Europeans–that I know, anyway–don’t understand this quirk of American politics. For instance, French presidents have a history of having mistresses. Sarkozy is the first French president I can remember who doesn’t have a mistress. Mitterrand had a daughter with his live-in mistress. And Chirac might as well have had a revolving door for his bedroom.
IMHO, a government should be run like a business. You wouldn’t fire a CEO who increases your share price year after year just because he cheated on his wife. That’s a personal matter between husband and wife, not one for the shareholders. Shareholders won’t care about the matter unless his performance became negatively affected. Then they won’t care why he’s failing at his job, just that he’s failing and needs to be packaged off and replaced.
veinglory
February 7
11:12 pm
Statistically the primaries are not going to hand victory to either now. It will come down to pure politics. A reasonable test of who will be able to play that game well in power, I think. (i.e. it may be a swamp but that ain’t gonna change any time soon).
Angelia Sparrow
February 7
11:30 pm
Mitt Romney is out.
And it looks like Mike Huckabee is courting the VP spot for the Republicans.
Pam Spaulding has an article on why this should scare the daylights out of any woman or minority religion.
http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2008/02/06/our-worst-nightmare-hucka-vp/
I remember when he ran his wife for Secretary of State while he was the Governor. That was too incestuous even for Arkansas politics.
Seressia
February 8
2:12 am
Barack plays the race card, so
Hilary plays the gender card, while
McCain will try to find some conservative cards to play.
Everyone’s playing whatever card they can in this game.
Me, I’m incensed that the “pundits” assumed I voted for Barack because he’s black, while they say white males voted for him because they want change. Cause you know, black women never think about the issues before they vote.
Gennita Low
February 8
2:25 am
Uh, go Ron Paul.
🙂
And yo, Ralph’s wakin’ up and thinking ’bout joining the fun.
Shirley
February 8
2:30 am
I agree with Ann. LOL, maybe I’m more European of mind than American.
To be blunt, I’ve voted in presidential elections for nearly sixty years. I heard my mother and grandmother talk about how lucky I was to get to vote at eighteen when my mother was nearly thirty and my grandmother in her fifties, so maybe my take on this is a bit different. I really and fully appreciate the right to vote because women I loved and respected didn’t always have it.
And to be honest, Black American (men at least) have had the right to vote for a hell of a lot longer than women. So while Obama is an engaging and passionate candidate, I tire of the chatter about ‘time for a black man to lead’. Maybe it is, but personally, this old broad is most likely voting for the woman. Looking at this comment trail, I think we can all see how difficult it will be for a woman to win the race and lead this country. No blame or aspersions, but people’s opinions of her are ‘changed’ by her personal life. If one were to say that about a gay candidate, it’d be racist/bigoted/ungodly in the NON PC. But it’s okay to talk like that about HC. Puhleese, as my grandkids say so often.
I don’t agree with any one candidate on all the issues. I’m not for legalizing the illegals that are here now. They need to get out and get in line like the thousands that try to immigrate here legally every year. And I don’t give two figs about the argument that the price of a head of lettuce will go up three dollars or ten or whatever. If the growers try to heft prices that high, they’ll be reminded about supply and demand real quick. I can grow lettuce for myself cheaper, I don’t need to buy it and a lot of my friends think the same way.
I don’t agree with HC on the war. Obama either. I think we need a full and immediate withdrawl yesterday. The surge has given the Iraqis almost two years to get their shit together, but they haven’t. It’s time for us to leave and let them duke it out, so to speak. I don’t really care what the rest of the world thinks. Until we’re gone, they won’t bother to sort themselves out because we’re there to hold back the masses, and die, while they fuck about. I don’t think so.
I agree it’s time for a change. And since firing the entirety of our government would, and let’s be honest, is probably the best solution, it isn’t going to happen. So I’ll vote for Hilary come November, should she win – the Dem either way- and I’ll pray that anyone really interested in change will do the same.
Shirley
sallahdog
February 8
1:35 pm
Actually EMANCIPATED black men were accorded the vote in 1869… Of course even when all blacks were allowed to vote by law, they took their lives in their hands if they tried to, all the way into the 1950s and 60s in parts of the country….
In parts of the country, like Wyoming, women were allowed to vote that same year with the whole country coming on board in 1920,mostly in response to WWI and the need for women to fill mens jobs in the workplace.Women finally had the power to push it through nationally…
Women have always been patronized for voting, blacks were killed for voting… sooo.. I would say blacks had a tougher time for longer than women in this country on the voting issue… lol… just a little history lesson for today… I am always stunned when I see minorities or even women who say, I can’t be bothered to vote, people were beaten and even died, to give them the right… Its one I talk about constantly to my kids….
sallahdog
February 8
1:56 pm
And I don’t give two figs about the argument that the price of a head of lettuce will go up three dollars or ten or whatever. If the growers try to heft prices that high, they’ll be reminded about supply and demand real quick. I can grow lettuce for myself cheaper, I don’t need to buy it and a lot of my friends think the same way.
not to pick on you, but the problem with Agriculture (we owned a farm till 2 years ago) is that prices, adjusted for inflation, are actually lower than they were 30 years ago… which means profit for growers is LOW, sometimes almost nonexistent with a lot of farmers continuing on because its a family tradition… In the 70s, the family(my husbands) began to get jobs off the farm in order to make ends meet, and we finally gave up the ghost a few years ago when suburban sprawl made it worth it, to sell… So what your really saying, if lettuce goes up 3 times what it is now, is that you won’t have the luxury of buying it grown in this country, because those lettuce growers will be out of business.. You will probably be buying lettuce grown in some 3rd world country,and bemoaning the fact that no one buys American anymore,….
Scott
February 8
2:23 pm
I don’t care if it is the right time for a black man to be President, or if it’s the right time for a woman to be President. I don’t care if a freakin’ alien was born on American soil (therefore eligible to run for President) and it was time for “it” to be President. I don’t care if it’s the right time to get a Democrat in the Oval Office. If I believe in what the person stands for, and that that person will do the best they can to bring their policies to life, then damn it I am going to vote for them no matter what their appearance. And as it stands right now, Barack Obama is my choice.
I don’t see Hillary as being “bitchy” or power hungry because she is a woman. ANY CANDIDATE could be seen as power hungry. They’re trying to become the President of the United States for crying out loud, how more power hungry can you get? However, I don’t feel good about Hillary’s past. I also disagree with her stances. The differences between her and Obama are the differences between her and I.
I don’t consider myself a Democrat or a Republican. Never have, never will. I am an American that is getting very pissed off at the state of the country and the inability for ALL politicians to work TOGETHER as Americans! And I believe that Obama, though he may not be able to do what he wants, truly believes in what he stands for. I believe he understands what most of us go through, as his book title states, “The Audacity of Hope”. I also agree with most everything that Obama wants to do. And I believe that because of his lack of experience (meaning less time to be corrupted by the bullshit that currently inhabits the Capitol Building) that he is going to change things, or at least work his ass off trying.
On the lighter side, I find it interesting that there is a great discussion about American politics on a web site of a British citizen. 😉
Teddypig
February 8
4:30 pm
Is she power hungry? Yes. Is she ambitious? Yes. But who among the candidates is not? Why do we attack Hillary for being ambitious and power hungry when we would never say that about the men? Because she’s a woman? Talk about a double standard! I know Obama supporters rush to claim that he’s the opposite in that respect, but come on! He wants to be the President of the frackin’ United States! Who aspires to that role who isn’t ambitious?
That! Is what bothers me most, we have women who judge her for that affair her husband had. Because despite how much we talk about feminism here in the US there are still people who would rather criticize her for not being a good wife or for not controlling his actions or being too ambitious or for seeking her own political career.
Notice how everyone attributes her opinions to her husband?
Obama reminds me of Carter. Nice guy and all that but not any real political experience to actually pull off any of his promises. Carter was also elected because he was a political outsider and was totally ineffective in office.
Desiree Erotique
February 8
5:42 pm
I supported Ron Paul. If he decides not to run now as an Independent I will go with Obama.
There are a number of reasons I’d never vote for Hillary Clinton, reasons which have to do with her husband. As for the idea she has been singled out for criticism because she’s a woman, I can’t buy that for a moment. I do believe, however, she’s every bit as unscrupulous as many, many male politicians who have met their rightful criticism in the media and fair doubt by voters. Ambition is a fine thing to have -whether you or male or female- but character is a much more pertinent quality.
Ann Bruce
February 8
7:17 pm
Sadly, American politics affects the entire world…as was and is still being shown by the current administration.
Scott
February 8
7:26 pm
Yes, I am very aware of that. Just trying to tease Karen. Probably should have worded that differently.
Karen Scott
February 8
7:58 pm
Aint it great though? So many interesting and polarised viewpoints.
Karen Scott
February 8
7:59 pm
Oh by the way, just in case I didn’t mention it earlier, I blame Gisele Bundchen for the state American politics is in.
Scott
February 9
1:27 am
Someone needs to spank her for all the trouble she is causing lately. I will volunteer myself to by the spanker. 😉
azteclady
February 9
1:28 am
The poor *cough* *cough* the poor woman is going to get a complex.
Ann Bruce
February 9
5:02 am
Scott, my apologies. And I knew you were teasing Karen. But Bush really gets my blood pressure rising and it’s hard for me not to jab at him.
Komodo Dragon
February 10
12:43 pm
Well the whole presidential race has been all over the place this year. No clear winner yet 🙁
Scott
February 11
1:02 pm
No problems Ann. I know the feeling.
Shirley
February 11
8:09 pm
by sallahdog –
“not to pick on you, but the problem with Agriculture (we owned a farm till 2 years ago) is that prices, adjusted for inflation, are actually lower than they were 30 years ago… which means profit for growers is LOW, sometimes almost nonexistent with a lot of farmers continuing on because its a family tradition… In the 70s, the family(my husbands) began to get jobs off the farm in order to make ends meet, and we finally gave up the ghost a few years ago when suburban sprawl made it worth it, to sell… So what your really saying, if lettuce goes up 3 times what it is now, is that you won’t have the luxury of buying it grown in this country, because those lettuce growers will be out of business.. You will probably be buying lettuce grown in some 3rd world country,and bemoaning the fact that no one buys American anymore,….”
ROFL, no honey. I meant what I said. I’ll grow my own. Lettuce is a hearty plant, if you can keep the rabbits and dear away, and potting soil is cheap. I won’t buy lettuce at the market. And if a third world is providing the cheaper produce at the market, good for them.
And I know all about farming. It wasn’t until the last couple of years that the farmers in Iowa, my home state, finally started to actually make good money – so to speak – thanks to the push for ethanol and bio-diesel. You make the start of a good point though. Why aren’t our farmers making money? Because the middle man, the major corps, and the public want to make as much as they can while spending as little as possible. We want cheap food, so our agricultural community often doesn’t make money on what they provide. And out of the little they do make, aside from upkeep on a farm, they have to pay disgusting amounts to shippers/trucking companies to get their product out to the world. Then the grocer has to pay too. And that gets passed on to the working man. Only mega-growers and corps get to make real money and that’s cause they don’t pay workers shit and they harvest several times what the average farmer can.
Prime example: the minimum wage increase. It’s supposed to help all those people working for shit pay by getting them more money in the pocket. Except, it never does. Why? I don’t think I have to explain it, but in short it’s because businesses have to pay out more, so they charge more, in effect canceling out any benefit. If we had a government that said you can’t up your prices, you just have to deal with a smaller profit, maybe it would work. We’ll never know.
Back to the politics, however, while I don’t agree with Scott’s choice, necessarily, I do agree with what he’s said about the political climate of the USA. I don’t care who gets in as long as they actually DO something to get this place back on track. I probably won’t be around for another twenty years, but I’ll tell you I’m praying I won’t be. The entire world is in turmoil, and as one who grew up during at least part of WWII, lived through both Korea and Vietnam, and the gas crisis of the seventies, I have this awful feeling that the shit is about to hit the fan. LOL, I wouldn’t be surprised if I woke up next month or next year and found that I couldn’t go to the docs because gasoline is not available, California and Florida are suddenly underwater, and the middle east has just launched a nuclear attack. That’s an extreme example, keep in mind I’m not saying I think it’ll happen that way. What I’m saying is I wouldn’t be surprised.