Arkansas Blog

Will the voters ever 'get it', that the average Joe can't afford to support Republicans? This election should be a cakewalk and it's possible it will be lost because of outright stupidity both on the part of the average, not-so-interested voter, and the Democratic party machinery.

This election is giving me an ulcer because we are working so hard to secure another 4 yrs of Bush/Cheney. Karl Rove must be feeling pretty good so far.

Warning -- GOP'ers strongest asset is campaigning and their weakest is governing.

For those who missed it -- America's 25 Lowest Paying Jobs
By KATE LORENZ, CAREERBUILDER.COM EDITOR

http://jobs.aol.com/article/_a/americas-25-lowest-paying-jobs/20071218180609990003?icid=200100397x1208816903x1200507398

Well I can't afford any more Democrats, trust me the Democratic party isn't the one of my father's generation.

The Democratic party reminds me of the European governments, they hand out walfare to anyone who they think will give them a vote.

When are Democrats going to learn? You don't keep moving to the right to get votes. You go after the independent voters. Obama would do well to make friends with the Ron Paul and Ralph Nader people. But that would mean he would actually have to make some major changes. Perhaps even re-think his votes on FISA, renewal of the Patriot Act, voting yes on military funding, posturing against Iran....I want to vote for Obama like crazy, all he has to do is show me a few cards. I'm waiting.

Republicans know that if you give tax cuts to the poor, they'll get uppity.

John McCain lost it when he picked Palin as his number one uno. No one would have ever convinced me that JM would ever have achieved zero creidibility.

Of course her daughters pregnancy is going to put the final coffin nail into Bush "Abstinence" Program.

Don't see Americans wanting someone who makes such seat of the pants decisions.

Here's couple zingers from the media;

Fruit, they say, doesn't fall far from the tree. The folks around Palin's hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, say mom liked to have a good time when she was a cute, perky high school student and beauty queen.

At the University of Idaho, classmates knew Sarah Palin as a party girl who chugged beer, favored ultra-short denim cutoffs and wore suggestive t-shirts that said things like

"I may be broke but I'm not flat busted."

Her family knew. When news organizations asked for photos of a young Palin after she became John McCain's vice presidential pick, the folks back home provided a photo (right) of young Palin in her dorm room wearing that "flat busted" t-shirt. Another favorite of Palin, according to classmates, was a t-shirt that said

"FCK: The only thing missing is 'U.' "

"Yeah, Sarah liked a good time," says a former co-ed who knew Palin at the University of Idaho. "She was real popular with the guys."

Has she ever shot anyone while hunting? If so, she is a qualified Republican vice president.

I know the Dems and Reps are having fun with this cheezy soap opera, but there are a lot of us our here concerned about real substance in this campaign. The only way to get an intelligent discussion going is to bring in the third parties and independents. Since the Republicans have offered such comical candidates, perhaps the Democrats will take the opportunity to get real on issues.

Well, duh...unless you're a religious nut (as compared to religious), a billionaire or someone who makes a living off the military industrial complex there is nothing for you in the Republican Party. And, President Shit for Brains eviscerated the Republican myths about small government/fiscal conservatism that use to attract reasonable 'average' people to the Party. But then the Republican Party wouldn't have made it this far if it wasn't very adept at creating/selling an image that is as far removed from reality as Palin is from feminists/Hillary.

I've never understood how so many Americans keep voting against their own interests...mainly 'cause I stubbornly refuse to believe that there are that many dumb Americans. Sure the Democratic Party has its share of greedy millionaires and often supports the same destructive corporate crap that Republican millionaires do. But at least the Dems manage to leave a few crumbs for the rest of us.

When I watched Matt Taibi's report about the so-called Free Speech zone set up at the Democratic convention I was ashamed of my Party and disappointed in Obama for allowing such un-American crap. They were horrid when Monkeyboy used them to silence critics and the Democratic Party should be ashamed for copying!

I agree, Rod...this mythical Center is a false notion created by both Dems and Repubs. And, Obama support of AT&T's illegal wiretapping cost him much in my book.

Speaking of substance, anybody else think that Cindy McCain was going for the Paris Hilton look in her appearance with Laura Bush at the GOP CON-vention?

She's really in touch with the common man.

AIPAC may not be too happy with Palin's reported associations/support for Pat Buchanan and the Alaska Independence Party (or her end-timer preachers with big mouths)

rudy giuliani's keynote speech for tonight has been canceled, with Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman replacing (word is Palin will speak possibly Thursday night)

buying time ?

As much as I tut tut over the ongoing Palin soap opera, I have to admit it really is time to move on to more substantial issues, those which will have far reaching effects on not only those of us in the United States, but throughout the world. I want more than "god-fearing" from the Republicans and more than a single catch word -- "change" -- from the Democrats.
Substance please -- not that I'm likely to change my almost across the board allegiance to Democratic candidates. As Max pointed out, those of us who have to watch our pennies fare better under democratic administrations.

Yeah, as Max said, we've only know that since the mid 50s.

The repubs get people to vote against their own interests with the culture war. Abortion, Gays, Guns, and God. They have convinced the average American that evil will destroy America, that God will punish America, that there is someone to blame. It's human nature. I don't understand it but anyone who watches reality TV knows it true. It is why the Roman Emperors built the colliseam. A mob can be controlled if somewhat dangerously. An intelligent middle class is going to expect a republic. But, go on with your issues. Maybe things have gotten bad enough for the Dems to slip by. I hope so. President Palin will be entertainment beyond belief, beyond W.

It is our duty to smack McCain & Co. with everything we've got 24-7 until Election Stealing Day comes on November 4th. High road my ass! You can't take manners to a knife fight and Gore & Kerry showed us what we get fighting fair with the Republicans. Fan the Palin flames, fan the Nazi arrests of protesters in St. Paul, fan any flame that might burn a Republican because the fate of our country depends on it.

We can find our manners on Jan. 21, 2009, right now use every fact and figure, explore every rumor no matter how far fetched it may seem...because it is seems too stupid or too horrible....if it's about a Republican, it's probably true. We can multi-task...we can travel the low road and the high road and still have time to guess at what they're going to do tomorrow. This is all out war to save America-AT&T.

As they club and arrest our kids in St. Paul and kill our kids in Iraq, we should be busy applying as much pressure to the necks of these criminals as we can. Forget taking off the gloves....put on your Democratic brass knuckles and start breaking some lying R jaws!

DBI. I'm suggesting that playing the slimy cartoon game of the Republicans will lose the Dems more votes than it will gain them. There is an informed, undecided contingent that wants to vote for Obama. It's up to him to communicate with them. Tabloid tales about Republicans won't convince them. Good speeches won't convince them. Good policy and actions will. Do you suggest that main stream Democrats prefer lowering the bar?

zelda has it almost right, and Rod, I'd LOVE to believe "There is an informed, undecided contingent that wants to vote for Obama." ...although I see little evidence to support that either. I think the "middle" is not so much mythical as it is DUMBASSes and folks too lazy to pay attention until the week before the election! Let's be real: in YOUR estimation what would be the characteristics of anyone who has yet to make up their mind? It's not rocket science, and anyone in "the middle" still is just stupid, uninformed, disconnected - or more likely "all of the above."

My idealistic self wants to believe Rod's characterization. My reality-based, 68-year experienced skeptical BUSH HATING self says: DUMBASSES. Longing to be wrong, still appreciating thoughtful arguments!
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Most of us know only partisans, but there really is a middle out there and when the partisans cancel each other out, it is the middle that elects our POTUS, and they often do it on the most flimsy criteria. I happen to know a lot of these people and they vote Republican or they vote Democrat based on reasons I find crazy, but they vote. My conservative Democrat sister is strongly considering McCain because of Palin and I find that abominable. She likes the idea that Palin is from Alaska and there is oil there. She's tired of the $4 per gal. gasoline and for some crazy reason thinks Palin in office will help. She's also on Medicare and when I warn her what might happen under McCain, she just wanders back to the gasoline price. NUTS! I know others who are just now tuning in to find out who is running for office and they consider how they "look". McCain "looks" fatherly and safe - Obama "looks" strange.

I worked with a couple hundred of these people for years and I promise you we are in trouble because they don't know how to judge POTUS material and made me seriously question that we don't have some test to gain the right to vote - it's that bad, IMO.

>>Tabloid tales about Republicans won't convince them. Good speeches won't convince them. Good policy and actions will. Do you suggest that main stream Democrats prefer lowering the bar?<<

Ahem, Rod, I believe it was the "Architect" him self who remarked that sex scandals and corruption charges are what cost the Republicans the sweeping defeat in 2006.

But, I would like to think you are correct. Experience tells me otherwise. We're a nation of soap operas.

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>>Well I can't afford any more Democrats, trust me the Democratic party isn't the one of my father's generation.<<

Nor is the Republican Party the party of your mother or grandfather. Recall President Eisenhower's comments about some "stupid people" from Texas who want to dismantle Social Security? Recall Eisenhower's warning about the "military industrial complex?" In his farewell address Eisenhower mentioned that for every bomb made, every warship launched, numerous children would die of starvation. Yes, both parties have changed and that includes the R's getting a little more crazy each year.

Richard Nixon signed the Environment Protection Act into existence and supported it. Two decades later and Raygun was attempting to dismantle the Act and Bush and Company all but have dismantled it.
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I don't think issues explored in depth are going to wake up the uninformed or those in some sort of MSM or fundie hypnotic state. Either way... television and radio which is where most of these folks will make their decisions will not explore anything in depth.. it's not their model, their purpose nor their intent.

I would much rather take the brass knuckles out now, than have to look at the death and destruction which will absolutely happen on the worst scale if McPalin is elected or steals another.

This VP candidate is still being vetted... and she should be before landing in what can be the most dangerous seats in the world.

I don't want a VP with a Bachelors Degree from the University of Idaho who only ordered her first passport a year ago. Who works with Senator indicted Ted Stevens and his 527's and big oil...and big mining... The largest open pit mine in the world (draining into the ocean to boot) in the making with her approval. If reminding the pro lifers.. this woman was so very crude and tacky by pushing her 17 year old scared pregnant daughter out in front of rumored story to hide behind her daughter (what kind of person/mother does that?!).. This Gov mother put her own very late term baby at serious risk... is not the model pro lifer they think she is... so be it. it's their issue... they own it.. and she gave the world the details. We all owe it to ourselves to heed their warning or not.. no matter how disgusting.She knows how complicated these things can be...yet will absolutely work to make sure all women are forced to have a child in cases of rape or incest. How do people remain polite about that at all, much more when as many as three Supremes may turn over in the very near future.

If Obama had nominated someone like this... it would already be a political blood bath dwarfing the Clinton years.

Look at the nicest way a life long friend could put it about Sarah.

ALASKA PIPELINE: Amy Gwin, 43, of University City, grew up in Alaska and competed in the Miss Wasilla, Alaska, competition in 1984 against GOP vice presidential choice Sarah Palin. Gwin said Friday that she won the Miss Congeniality award in the competition, although Palin's Wikipedia entry says she won the contest - and the Miss Congeniality award.

It actually gets better:

Gwin was a year behind Palin, now 44, at Wasilla High School, which had about 800 students. Gwin said Palin was "a high school star in a good way," a beauty who got good grades and excelled at athletics. Gwin, who was president of her class, does not recall Palin holding school office. The Wikipedia entry on Palin said she was head of the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes and captain of the basketball team. Gwin said she was not surprised when Palin became the governor of Alaska, but is astonished that she got the GOP nod for vice president. Asked whether she would support Palin because she knows her, Gwin said: "I wouldn't support her if she was my very best friend. I support Obama and don't share any of her (Palin's) politics. She's very shallow."