i'm with sarah. we're winning. in fact, we already won four years ago.
i had a neighbor make a comment a year after the last election, "he's just not on our side." he was talking about obama. i called him out in a column. majority rules. "our side" is the same side as the president you fucking goof (i didn't use fucking goof in the column).
You've convinced me, you and Sarah, Josey. We must be winning.
I always want to ask what people mean when they say things like your neighbor. Or when people say "we have to take our country back." Back from whom? Americans elected this President, just as we elected Former President Bush in 2004. I'm still unconvinced about his actual election in 2000 hence the use of the word "elected" instead of "re-elected."
Nevertheless, I hated George W. Bush's policies. HATED them. There was a definite urge and movement to delegitimize his presidency, but what we're seeing with our current president is a movement to delegitimize him as an American. That's what I find so objectionable.
Good point, Averil. Some of them, Trump, for example, can't even accept the fact that President Obama earned his place in history. It destroys their narrative.
This is all so fucking disturbing. What's happened since we elected our first African American president? The crazies who've always been there are coming out swinging. The ignorance is even more on display. It's not shocking. It's our sad reality.
A friend of mine sells crop insurance in Missouri. Last week she went to my stepfather's farm for him to sign some papers. They discussed the election. He told her this: "I can't warm up to that Romney character, and I'm never voting for the black fella, so I guess I'm staying home."
People are so ignorant of history, Bill. It's common to see Romney/Ryan signs planted on a lawn next to a flag pole flying a Confederate flag or the old Georgia state flag with the Confederate flag on it.
there are def nut balls out there....the head of our local republican party told my high school kids (on a field trip to the HQ) that he knew the lazy blacks that obama came from....but dont think he's racist, there is a bunch of lazy white folk out there too....ugh
Lazy is such an interesting way to describe people, isn't it, Brian? It's become a catch-all epithet to justify scorn and hatred. If we determine laziness by the amount of money people earn, we're doomed because I'm sure that the people who clean up after the rest of us are working plenty hard and making very little. Goodness knows it's damned expensive to be poor. To be poor and working and called "lazy" is expensive and an insult.
Yeah, when I go online or turn on the TV I am not all that shocked to find stuff, but I always feel like I ought to be safe from it when I am out and about... I mean if someone had a Romney/Ryan sign in their yard... whatever... that is just expression. But the huge inflamatory ones in the middle of nowhere...
I think that's what makes it so jarring, Hart. The fact that someone took the time and effort to have these signs produced and then went out and proudly stuck them in public places. There are plenty of Romney/Ryan lawn signs in the yards of both individuals and businesses (why would you take a political stand as a business is beyond me) and that barely warrants my attention. But this sign and the others like it? Strange.
And how nice that that sign is surrounded by Imperial Storm Troopers!
Oh, wait...
Mr. Obama is more American than his detractors are or will admit. (Mr. Trump combs his hair and checks his accountants' figures and thinks he's working up a sweat. My pearls, where are my pearls?)
I am only going to post this one comment, because it will go downhill fast from here, but I agree....I miss the old days of civility from 2000-2008. Never saw anything like this then, did we?
I frankly am just tired of it from both sides, and from both sides acting as if they are the pure ones.
Before anyone jumps in and bonks you on the noggin for your comment, Jonah, I'd like to state that I don't ever recall supporting this kind of thing when liberals behave the same way.
Aside from asinine comparisons of Bush to Hitler, I don't think liberals are big on characterizing conservatives as unAmerican, foreign, etc. Of that we are pretty pure. Can we be assholes? Of course. But when is the last time you saw a rash of this kind of organized behavior from liberals? I mean really, I want examples and photos. Lots of photos.
I'm putting this in for devils advocate purposes. I come from a real liberal state and yes, they can be just as crazy. During the Bush-Kerry campaign they were turn my stomach nuts. A peace loving, darling mother of 2 preached through an entire dinner function how she hoped terrorists would kill Bush's twins. The scary thing was her face was pure red, her voice pushed to its limit, and she was dead serious. She later posted it on a bulletin board. Another told me my son should die while he was deployed, that I would get exactly what I deserved for being a Republican. Even though I don't vote party lines, have close gay friends, and never said I was going to vote for Bush. I have many examples and I'm not talking about ignorant oafs. I'm talking ivy league and other top notch university educated people acting just as stupid and crazy as the next guy.
See, Deb, I find that kind of behavior just as disgusting and damaging to our Democracy. I understand that many of these issues are highly emotional for people, but to wish harm on a person because she happens to be the daughter of a sitting president? Those dinner companions should know better.
As for suggesting that your son should be harmed for serving? That's the kind of attitude that makes me want to shake the snot out of people. My father and uncles served. Nate is trying for a place in one of the military academies. While I find the idea of war abhorrent, I fully support anyone willing to make their living risking their lives in the service of this country. That's why I don't bitch about paying taxes, why I contribute money to service organizations when I have it to give, etc.
Both Republicans and Democrats can be disgusting and ridiculous in their partisanship. I know that where I live has much to do with how unbalanced my exposure to it is. What I'm curious about though, is if there's been such an organized effort to "other" a sitting president like the one we're seeing this year.
I did not mean to imply you supported this kind of thing, so I apologize if that came through in my previous comment.
I just find the outrage now ridiculous after the previous 8 years. If we can ever get to the place where we agree something is wrong, all the time, not just when it goes against our side, this country will be in a much better place. But when you get called a racist for mentioning that President Obama likes to play golf, well....seems like that day is a long way off.
I broke my word to only post once, but this time I am done for real. But I'll be interested to see future comments on your (as always) thought-provoking post.
That last one must be a whopper, Jonah because my work server won't even let me open it.
All of those signs are despicable and the idiots carrying them would be ashamed if they had a lick of sense. Here's my beef with this. Dangerous dumbasses toting signs wishing the death and destruction of our President is one thing. Sending John Sununu out as a surrogate to say things like he wishes "Obama would learn how to be an American" is something else. They are both equally wrong, but the guy carrying the sign doesn't have a national platform on which to show his ignorance. You can't say the same for Sununu.
And someone? you? were called racist for pointing out that Pres. Obama likes to play golf? That's absurd. Smack the person who said that to you, for me.
I could give you a list of racist things I HAVE heard said in relation to our president, but the golf thing is laughable.
Dammit...you keep making me break my word...but this is only because you refernce John Sununu having a national stage....'cause that's where the "golf=racist" came from as well: http://reason.com/blog/2012/08/30/msnbcs-lawrence-odonnell-mocking-obamas
as for the image that open that won't open, unfortunately many other places you can see it: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://quinersdiner.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/save-mother-earth-kill-bush.png&imgrefurl=http://quinersdiner.com/tag/ted-kennedy/&h=347&w=240&sz=43&tbnid=IqGQ52Iiplx3OM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=62&zoom=1&usg=__-sC7X0Hr3MlmQ31wzmJz6gtmbVg=&docid=TgSuMdWPYElU8M&sa=X&ei=jrmKUPjRGoXm2QXDoIHABg&ved=0CCQQ9QEwAQ&dur=845
I also found one that was picture of Bush with noose around his neck...will spare everyone that one...while Inderstand your larger point about national stage, I'm still gonna have to say advocating the death of a president is at least slightly more objectionable than questioning his "American-ness"
Jonah, this type of thinking is so wrong. Obviously, I don't have to go into how the President has been threatened by idiotic individuals (cough, cough, Tagg Romney) with everything from being charged with treason to death threats. Both sides conducting themselves in this way bring us all down, but I'll never be convinced that the left does this in such an organized fashion. Frankly, lefties can't be that organized about anything.
I cracked up over that Lawrence O'Donnell thing. I don't know how, but I actually saw that edition of Martin Bashir. Maybe I was in the car listening to it on XM. Anyway, I remember thinking even then that Lawrence was really reaching. There are so very many things to find objectionable about Sen. McConnell, I don't know why he'd waste his time going after the dog-whistle. Lawrence was being ridiculous.
I am so with you Lisa. That kind of behavior only hurts us. I'm still an idealist in believing we have the ability to make things better, even though it's questionable at times. I think there are some terribly ignorant people out there who will use anything as a weapon and the attacks *have* been disgusting. Whether you believe in his politics or not, I believe the President has shown himself as a decent upstanding guy.
It's only 53% against Obama. 47% are on his side automatically.
The "American Dream" is long dead. There have been two prime examples of the American dream and they have both been vilified drastically. Two men who came from humble beginnings, children of single mothers who managed to become President, but the Riech-Wing have done their damndest to keep them from being able to govern!! That's Clinton and Obama.
Funny how that works, Kulkuri. Theose who push the idea of the American Dream so strongly have recently nominated men from influential families. Democrats, who allegedly hate America, elect men who exemplify the idea of the American Dream.
Georgia's not alone in being populated with the cognitively challenged. When we drove through Oklahoma recently, we saw anti-Obama billboards urging people to "vote for the REAL American."
Then again, Oklahoma's the state where I noticed one candidate's rationale for voting for him seemed to be simply "I hate Texans."
At the Prez said himself "Don't get mad.... Go Vote!" There is no doubt in my politically analytical mind, Romney IS the candidate that would in fact do the most harm. Funny, we vote by mail & the husband & I spent more time agonizing over a Salmon fishing w gill nets measure than whom to choose for President!
In closing Bill Maher reminds us of what President Obama has NOT done (thankfully)... if you need a good laugh. "Romnesia"
How did I end up in this part of the country? :(
ReplyDeleteI ask myself the same thing, O~. I guess we're here to dilute.
DeleteLook at it this way:
ReplyDeleteIf it is necessary, then we're winning.
Right?
I like the way you think, Sarah.
Deletei'm with sarah. we're winning. in fact, we already won four years ago.
Deletei had a neighbor make a comment a year after the last election, "he's just not on our side." he was talking about obama. i called him out in a column. majority rules. "our side" is the same side as the president you fucking goof (i didn't use fucking goof in the column).
You've convinced me, you and Sarah, Josey. We must be winning.
DeleteI always want to ask what people mean when they say things like your neighbor. Or when people say "we have to take our country back." Back from whom? Americans elected this President, just as we elected Former President Bush in 2004. I'm still unconvinced about his actual election in 2000 hence the use of the word "elected" instead of "re-elected."
Nevertheless, I hated George W. Bush's policies. HATED them. There was a definite urge and movement to delegitimize his presidency, but what we're seeing with our current president is a movement to delegitimize him as an American. That's what I find so objectionable.
Speaking of Georgia, I saw these consecutive stories on the Marketwatch news ticker yesterday:
ReplyDeleteOct. 24, 2012, 12:00 p.m. EDT : Vote in Ga., win a chance at a gun
Oct. 24, 2012, 12:01 p.m. EDT : One dead as man shoots up Ga. megachurch
~
Oh my word, thunder. I know we don't have the corner on stupid market here, but sometimes it seems like we're giving it a good try.
DeleteThis is too disturbing and the reason why I can't watch any of it on tv. Could be it true? Say it isn't so.
ReplyDeleteChillCat, it so true. I can't figure out what so terrifies people about President Obama.
DeleteA sensible, intelligent, successful black man? You can SO figure this one out.
DeleteGood point, Averil. Some of them, Trump, for example, can't even accept the fact that President Obama earned his place in history. It destroys their narrative.
DeleteThis is all so fucking disturbing. What's happened since we elected our first African American president? The crazies who've always been there are coming out swinging. The ignorance is even more on display. It's not shocking. It's our sad reality.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine sells crop insurance in Missouri. Last week she went to my stepfather's farm for him to sign some papers. They discussed the election. He told her this: "I can't warm up to that Romney character, and I'm never voting for the black fella, so I guess I'm staying home."
Is it 2012 or 1952? Just checking....
I've heard this, too, Teri. Just like that sign, I suppose. It's not a Pro-Romney sign, is it? Very telling.
DeleteLincoln should've allowed General Grant a second and third end to the Civil War. Defeating the Confederate Army wasn't enough.
ReplyDeletePeople are so ignorant of history, Bill. It's common to see Romney/Ryan signs planted on a lawn next to a flag pole flying a Confederate flag or the old Georgia state flag with the Confederate flag on it.
Deletethere are def nut balls out there....the head of our local republican party told my high school kids (on a field trip to the HQ) that he knew the lazy blacks that obama came from....but dont think he's racist, there is a bunch of lazy white folk out there too....ugh
ReplyDeleteLazy is such an interesting way to describe people, isn't it, Brian? It's become a catch-all epithet to justify scorn and hatred. If we determine laziness by the amount of money people earn, we're doomed because I'm sure that the people who clean up after the rest of us are working plenty hard and making very little. Goodness knows it's damned expensive to be poor. To be poor and working and called "lazy" is expensive and an insult.
Delete*heavy sigh*
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Meleah.
DeleteA recent programme on German TV about the current presidential race had the title, "The Disunited States of America."
ReplyDeleteLIBEL!
DeleteWe are "The Untied Snakes"
~
Disunited, divided, untied.
DeleteWe're always a nation at war with itself, it seems, Francis.
Yeah, when I go online or turn on the TV I am not all that shocked to find stuff, but I always feel like I ought to be safe from it when I am out and about... I mean if someone had a Romney/Ryan sign in their yard... whatever... that is just expression. But the huge inflamatory ones in the middle of nowhere...
ReplyDeleteI think that's what makes it so jarring, Hart. The fact that someone took the time and effort to have these signs produced and then went out and proudly stuck them in public places. There are plenty of Romney/Ryan lawn signs in the yards of both individuals and businesses (why would you take a political stand as a business is beyond me) and that barely warrants my attention. But this sign and the others like it? Strange.
DeleteAnd how nice that that sign is surrounded by Imperial Storm Troopers!
ReplyDeleteOh, wait...
Mr. Obama is more American than his detractors are or will admit. (Mr. Trump combs his hair and checks his accountants' figures and thinks he's working up a sweat. My pearls, where are my pearls?)
D. you made me laugh out loud. I'll never see another cottonfield in full bloom without thinking of Imperial Storm Troopers.
DeleteThe sign is missing the names of the other 80 gajillion politicians in this stupid country.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Randal.
DeleteHere in Ohio we have a big billboard that says, in gigantic red letters, "Obama believes in abortion and gay marriage! DO YOU??"
ReplyDeleteThe first time I saw it, I shouted, "YES!"
Yes!
Delete~
Yes, Laura, YES!
DeleteI am only going to post this one comment, because it will go downhill fast from here, but I agree....I miss the old days of civility from 2000-2008. Never saw anything like this then, did we?
ReplyDeleteI frankly am just tired of it from both sides, and from both sides acting as if they are the pure ones.
Before anyone jumps in and bonks you on the noggin for your comment, Jonah, I'd like to state that I don't ever recall supporting this kind of thing when liberals behave the same way.
DeleteAside from asinine comparisons of Bush to Hitler, I don't think liberals are big on characterizing conservatives as unAmerican, foreign, etc. Of that we are pretty pure. Can we be assholes? Of course. But when is the last time you saw a rash of this kind of organized behavior from liberals? I mean really, I want examples and photos. Lots of photos.
I'm putting this in for devils advocate purposes. I come from a real liberal state and yes, they can be just as crazy. During the Bush-Kerry campaign they were turn my stomach nuts. A peace loving, darling mother of 2 preached through an entire dinner function how she hoped terrorists would kill Bush's twins. The scary thing was her face was pure red, her voice pushed to its limit, and she was dead serious. She later posted it on a bulletin board. Another told me my son should die while he was deployed, that I would get exactly what I deserved for being a Republican. Even though I don't vote party lines, have close gay friends, and never said I was going to vote for Bush. I have many examples and I'm not talking about ignorant oafs. I'm talking ivy league and other top notch university educated people acting just as stupid and crazy as the next guy.
DeleteFor the record I think that sign is stupid.
DeleteSee, Deb, I find that kind of behavior just as disgusting and damaging to our Democracy. I understand that many of these issues are highly emotional for people, but to wish harm on a person because she happens to be the daughter of a sitting president? Those dinner companions should know better.
DeleteAs for suggesting that your son should be harmed for serving? That's the kind of attitude that makes me want to shake the snot out of people. My father and uncles served. Nate is trying for a place in one of the military academies. While I find the idea of war abhorrent, I fully support anyone willing to make their living risking their lives in the service of this country. That's why I don't bitch about paying taxes, why I contribute money to service organizations when I have it to give, etc.
Both Republicans and Democrats can be disgusting and ridiculous in their partisanship. I know that where I live has much to do with how unbalanced my exposure to it is. What I'm curious about though, is if there's been such an organized effort to "other" a sitting president like the one we're seeing this year.
OK I'll concede, very little if any hints that Bush was unamerican, which of course we all know is far worse than this:
Deletehttp://www.thepeoplescube.com/images/rallies/Bush_2.jpg
http://www.zombietime.com/sf_rallies_june_5+6_2004/signs/125-2584_IMG.JPG
http://www.inminds.co.uk/stopbush-3222-20nov03.jpg
I did not mean to imply you supported this kind of thing, so I apologize if that came through in my previous comment.
I just find the outrage now ridiculous after the previous 8 years. If we can ever get to the place where we agree something is wrong, all the time, not just when it goes against our side, this country will be in a much better place. But when you get called a racist for mentioning that President Obama likes to play golf, well....seems like that day is a long way off.
I broke my word to only post once, but this time I am done for real. But I'll be interested to see future comments on your (as always) thought-provoking post.
That last one must be a whopper, Jonah because my work server won't even let me open it.
DeleteAll of those signs are despicable and the idiots carrying them would be ashamed if they had a lick of sense. Here's my beef with this. Dangerous dumbasses toting signs wishing the death and destruction of our President is one thing. Sending John Sununu out as a surrogate to say things like he wishes "Obama would learn how to be an American" is something else. They are both equally wrong, but the guy carrying the sign doesn't have a national platform on which to show his ignorance. You can't say the same for Sununu.
And someone? you? were called racist for pointing out that Pres. Obama likes to play golf? That's absurd. Smack the person who said that to you, for me.
I could give you a list of racist things I HAVE heard said in relation to our president, but the golf thing is laughable.
Dammit...you keep making me break my word...but this is only because you refernce John Sununu having a national stage....'cause that's where the "golf=racist" came from as well:
Deletehttp://reason.com/blog/2012/08/30/msnbcs-lawrence-odonnell-mocking-obamas
as for the image that open that won't open, unfortunately many other places you can see it:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://quinersdiner.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/save-mother-earth-kill-bush.png&imgrefurl=http://quinersdiner.com/tag/ted-kennedy/&h=347&w=240&sz=43&tbnid=IqGQ52Iiplx3OM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=62&zoom=1&usg=__-sC7X0Hr3MlmQ31wzmJz6gtmbVg=&docid=TgSuMdWPYElU8M&sa=X&ei=jrmKUPjRGoXm2QXDoIHABg&ved=0CCQQ9QEwAQ&dur=845
I also found one that was picture of Bush with noose around his neck...will spare everyone that one...while Inderstand your larger point about national stage, I'm still gonna have to say advocating the death of a president is at least slightly more objectionable than questioning his "American-ness"
Jonah, this type of thinking is so wrong. Obviously, I don't have to go into how the President has been threatened by idiotic individuals (cough, cough, Tagg Romney) with everything from being charged with treason to death threats. Both sides conducting themselves in this way bring us all down, but I'll never be convinced that the left does this in such an organized fashion. Frankly, lefties can't be that organized about anything.
DeleteI cracked up over that Lawrence O'Donnell thing. I don't know how, but I actually saw that edition of Martin Bashir. Maybe I was in the car listening to it on XM. Anyway, I remember thinking even then that Lawrence was really reaching. There are so very many things to find objectionable about Sen. McConnell, I don't know why he'd waste his time going after the dog-whistle. Lawrence was being ridiculous.
I am so with you Lisa. That kind of behavior only hurts us. I'm still an idealist in believing we have the ability to make things better, even though it's questionable at times. I think there are some terribly ignorant people out there who will use anything as a weapon and the attacks *have* been disgusting. Whether you believe in his politics or not, I believe the President has shown himself as a decent upstanding guy.
DeleteIt's only 53% against Obama. 47% are on his side automatically.
ReplyDeleteThe "American Dream" is long dead. There have been two prime examples of the American dream and they have both been vilified drastically. Two men who came from humble beginnings, children of single mothers who managed to become President, but the Riech-Wing have done their damndest to keep them from being able to govern!! That's Clinton and Obama.
Funny how that works, Kulkuri. Theose who push the idea of the American Dream so strongly have recently nominated men from influential families. Democrats, who allegedly hate America, elect men who exemplify the idea of the American Dream.
DeleteThe unfortunate aspect of having been whipped into a frenzy is that the people so affected cease to think.
ReplyDeleteAnd in one beautifully crafted sentence, susan sums it up.
Deleteceases to think
Georgia's not alone in being populated with the cognitively challenged. When we drove through Oklahoma recently, we saw anti-Obama billboards urging people to "vote for the REAL American."
ReplyDeleteThen again, Oklahoma's the state where I noticed one candidate's rationale for voting for him seemed to be simply "I hate Texans."
Can't cure stupid.
At the Prez said himself "Don't get mad.... Go Vote!"
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt in my politically analytical mind, Romney IS the candidate that would in fact do the most harm.
Funny, we vote by mail & the husband & I spent more time agonizing over a Salmon fishing w gill nets measure than whom to choose for President!
In closing Bill Maher reminds us of what President Obama has NOT done (thankfully)... if you need a good laugh. "Romnesia"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y0aydhFHNE&feature=youtu.be
Did you see Josh Whedon's take? Hilarious.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TiXUF9xbTo
That's why we rarely venture OTP.
ReplyDeleteHere in California we are getting a barrage of anti-Obama ads - what is the point? Except now I have more empathy for the battleground states.
ReplyDelete