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CHRISTMAS come early

Houseonahill — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:29:49 -0600

Houseonahill

www.Houseonahillorg.blogspot.com

I just posted that here in Chicago, people are so cheerful and filled with glee, it feels like Christmas...save for its 70 degrees!

Thanks for sharing the sentiments!

More people need to check

miteegirl — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:07:45 -0500

More people need to check their voter registration information NOW while there is still time to make corrections.

Many of the deadlines for different voter registration options are starting in a couple of weeks. (scroll down in this link for a state by state list of deadlines.)

Here is the information for each state, including how to check on your current voter registration information with the Board of Elections for your state. (FYI, that is the Obama website, I couldn't find a non-partisan website that was as well organized. But I'm open to alternatives!)

Voting 3rd Party

CRosberg — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:17:51 -0500

I, like a lot of people on these boards, fall somewhere between the two major party candidates, and agree more often than I expected to with Bob Barr and some of Ron Paul's more logical conclusions. And, living in Illinois, I'm fairly sure that my state will go to Obama, just like Pam's, so I can afford to consider voting third party...if I want to. But my problem with a lot of third party candidates is the rabidness, which comes in many shapes, forms, and sizes. In my first introduction to Cynthia McKinney's running mate, Rosa Clemente, had me roiling in fear as I listened to the Democracy Now show where the two were interviewed. First, Clemente kept saying "Iran" instead of "Iraq". Now, being a nervous public speaker, I can understand once or twice...but she did it repeatedly, over the course of five minutes, and not in an attempt to make a political point, just making a BIG mistake. Secondly, and I hate to say it this way because it sounds so damned wussy, I was scared of the woman. By way of background, I live in Chicago's most diverse neighborhood, formerly lived in it's second and third most diverse neighborhoods, and had the great fortune to be raised in a family that is the farthest thing from even covert racism that I have ever seen. I was encouraged to explore other cultures and religions at my will, and count myself lucky to have friends from all ethnicities, religions, political bents, home countries, etc. But Clemente sounded like, given half a chance, she would beat me senseless with a crowbar screaming "Kill Whitey". I may have just caught her in a bad interview, and I haven't found much recordings of her speeches since then, but it just goes to show you, I guess, that part of the problem with small-party candidates is that they don't always appeal as broadly as major party ones, especially when they begin behaving in a way that either scares or doesn't make sense to the "majority", whatever that is this week.

It's probably easier to vote 3rd party at the local level

alvenable — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:50:50 -0500

Living just below Pam in Oregon, another state very likely to go to Obama in November, it does make it "eaiser" to weigh all candidates based on the issues that are important to us and not out of fear of altering the outcome of the elections.

That said, it's probably easier for all of us across the U.S. to vote for a third party candidate at the local level rather than solely focusing on those who will be in DC. If we start there, we'll get more people in the pipeline that really align with our respective issues over time and not have to feel as if we're voting for the lesser of two evils.

Dimple and a Smirk (dot) com

Strategic Voting

Pam — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:39:08 -0500

I would really like to vote green but I'm on the fence about it. Mostly, WA is a democratic state and will likely go for Obama, which is why I can consider voting green. If I were to vote in a swing state, though, I think I'd be too stressed about McCain winning to vote green.

It frustrates me that I have to think this way. I really wish for better representation of third party issues in Congress - I'd love to send green reps to Washington, for example but am I at risk of getting someone who reflects my values Not At All if I vote my true politics?

Nerd's Eye View

Not just when we are on AOL

Maria Niles — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:17:04 -0500

Ted, I appreciate that you've respected our community guidelines in your comments. You are welcome to comment on any of our political posts, not just when we are linked from AOL.

Best, from another U of C grad

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I Appreciate Your Feelings

Megan Smith — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:01:09 -0500

Hi Maria,

I appreciate your feelings. And I do think the "hard working white people" was the wrong phrase to use---what, there aren't hard working black people?

As for the pundits, I guess I should have distinguished between journalists and pundits. Pundits will say whatever they want, wherever they want, but it's the job of good journalists to tell the public, after the fact mind you, who is voting for who. If there is a primary and once it's over, Wolf Blitzer tells me that 45% of whites in the primary voted for Obama and 65% of blacks voted for Obama, I consider that as part of his job: to give me the facts. But don't then tell me what will happen next week.

Pundits are different because they have much more blatant agendas and biases. As long as I know that going in, I take everything they say with a grain of salt.

Part of Hillary's strategy right now, in fact her only strategy left, is to try to convince the super delegates that she would win in a general election where Obama would not. I don't think it's going to work, but considering the number of delegates she has won, I think she's earned the right to make her case. I think what she said the other day was clumsy, but I don't really think it was race baiting.

I think politics always has been and always will be a tough game that involves tough talk about your opponent. In this case one opponent is a woman and one a black man and saying anything that is remotely critical of either one is new territory for all of us. But honestly, I still don't think this primary season has been nearly as dirty as some have portrayed it.

Megan
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Thanks, Megan

Maria Niles — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:02:53 -0500

I appreciate you diving in, thank you.

I think there is some truth to what you perceive. I believe we are in uncharted territory to some degree in terms of talking about race (and gender). And, yes I think both Obama and Clinton are in some ways in a no win position. But I think it is important that we have these conversations because though it may be painful we cannot move forward until we have them.

Here's my take (and I think it is not an uncommon reaction)... I do think it was race baiting as a political strategy and while I don't think Bill and Hillary are racists I do think they are cynically using race as a political wedge and I'm disappointed in them for that. This statement was to me the clearest example of that. And just because pundits talk about stuff like this endlessly doesn't make it OK. Pat Buchanan pushes this spin and he is an unrepentant racist. Why on earth should Clinton follow his lead? I think we should want her to be better than the cynical media pundits whose job it is to sensationalize to get ratings and make money for their corporate employers.

I also watch The View (though I increasingly wonder why) and I saw the discussion you reference. Whoopi is wrong (and I was yelling at my television when she said it). Clinton was not quoting a poll. The AP poll did not distinguish white voters as "hard working Americans." Nor was she asked about that poll or that metric. She was asked a general question about how she could get the nomination.

Clinton chose to use those words to characterize white voters who earn under $50,000 a year and who have at most a high school education. Given the questioning of Obama's patriotism which has been to some degree premised on his blackness and the historical characterization of people of color as lazy and the perception that Clinton's campaign has been racially insensitive and Clinton's intelligence, I can't see that she chose those words by mistake. The perception of race baiting was further reinforced in my mind when she called this demographic slice a broad coalition and then her surrogate reinforced the idea that a broad winning coalition does not include "eggheads and African Americans" (and since I resemble that remark, I'm a little salty ;).

Additionally, she chose to reference a poll taken of voters prior to the Indiana and North Carolina vote when she was answering after the voting. The pre-election poll showed a decline in votes in that demographic for Obama when the actual election results showed that he increased his percentage of vote in that demographic.

Given that election results were known, given that referencing outdated and inaccurate data would only help support the notion that superdelegates should choose her as the nominee because Obama cannot get white votes and that spin will be able to be reinforced by today's results in Kentucky and West Virginia (even though it is demonstrably false that Obama cannot win in states with almost completely white populations) again I can't see that it was not strategic race baiting on Clinton's part.

Race baiting is a time honored political strategy. So, while you can give credit for Clinton for being a tough politician playing the game hard, I was offended because I'm sick of this style of politics and I'd like us to move beyond it.

Although it is difficult for either Clinton or Obama to talk about what racial groups are supporting them, it can be done. And I absolutely agree that we need to figure out a way to talk about race honestly and without taking offense at the mere mention of the topic. I just don't believe this was the way.

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Dear Lainad re DUDE you make no sense

Ted in Chicago — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:24:44 -0500

One - thank you - makes me feel young(er)

Second - I read the below

You seriously need to back up your arguments because right now they make absolutely no sense.

1. Back up - I noted above or below (hats off to the blog keeper for putting this all in some logical order) that much of what I say is my opinion - hearing - observation - reading - of what is public domain infromatio and public news on CNN or Youtube or in the NYT

2. No sense - Well I could back it up with statistics and it would still make no sense if that is how you feel. I could back it up with annotated footnotes and it would still make no sense if that is how you feel.

Obviously you feel somewhere I have made a false argument. Please elaborate and i will try and make my thinking clearer and my argument sharper - if you can accept that I present it as what I hope is no too biased and educated informed opinion.

Title it YOU TED MAKE NO SENSE - Tell me what made no sense to you and I will visit tommorrow and try and explain my logic reasoning or whatever

By now I assume many of you who met me here can see my thoughts are aimed at the liberal middle but are often in semi conflict with each other as I see the world from my view - and my view is often gray (no pun intended)

Vote DEM and DEM and DEM again (We get three votes in IL but if its BO do not think I will need all three)

M SMITH

Ted in Chicago — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:16:14 -0500

Glad you decided to jump in

To what you said - Bingo - you win the prize - to my ears ..... well said - and I will take it for opinion and observation and impression - and one I share

Re the 90% of Blacks Voting for BO

Ted in Chicago — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:12:09 -0500

Unless I had the hard drive from Axelrod's lap top I can not prove his strategy - I and just expose what I believe - it is opinion -

I feel comfortable I am right - and I look forward to history to tell us the stories - after the election when a DEM is elected

Re the 90% - let us try it this way - as I were Axelrod woking with BO

If I were Axelrod and BO - I would assume going in -that if (when) I survived the first or first and second round - I would start to get nearly all of the Black vote

As I said before - I understand affinity voting and minority for minority voting etc. It is often not fact based or democratic ----but it is real -understandable and historically motivated.

Given Iowan and NH were first up - I would run a non color based race - loudly - as loud as I could - and then louder. IMO that is what they did - and if those who want facts need them - then do the archiving for the CNN and NYT articles back then - that were indeed mostly - Is he Black Enough.

Once Iowa and NH were done - and I did well with white voters - (are there others in Iowa and NH?) - I would push for the black vote to come close to 100% for me.

I would not do this with a black candidacy type race (See Sharpton See Jackson).

I would do it - as I believe it was done.

I would jump on any and all comments by white opponent that came within a mile of being able to look racist -and push the message THEY are playng a coded race card. I would shout it from the roof tops (but mostly with surrogates and innuendo) I would add in a dash of they are insulting blacks and are taking blacks for granted

I have re read what I could find of the LBJ/MLK comments and the it is a myth give me a break BC run on paragraph re BO and the IRAQ war. In my personal white man's read and ears - they were not racist --- and in my opinion - Axelrod was smart to use them and their proximity to possible racism to whip up the affinity vote THAT WAS ALWAYS THERE - without having my candidate call for Blacks to support me

That is what I believe happened - and what I believe was planned - and I leave to the book writers 20 years from now to show I was wrong or right.

The Clintons did not lose the Black Vote - after a few white location primaries - the Black vote - understandably - was there for BO to motivate and he did

I do not even dislike what he did - I would have done the same as a gay or Irishmen or Hunter or Jew

I do dislike that the media and BO supporters blame the introduction of race into the competition on the Clintons - and that Axelrod got be the DEM Rove - laughing behind closed doors at how dumb the media was.

All opinion- and all by one who will vote BO in a nano second - and support him with money etc and posts vs McCain

____________

re another post and the slice - yes its a slice that HRC points to that she can do better with

Yes no one wins an election just with that slice - but no DEM has won withough it since JFK

Call it bigots

Call it angry bitter people

Call it Clinton Dems

Call it Reagan Republicans

Gore and Kerry lost because they could not get that extra slice - Ohio or FL .... and BO will be in worse shape as the people in MI (the DEMS) know he was the one who stopped the recount more then any other

The map withouth OH and FL and maybe MI - is the map that lost for Gore and Kerry ..... and montana and ND will not make up for it

And NO I do not know that HRC could or would win OH or FL -- but I do think the demographics are more in her favor - and that i why somehow - someway - some of us still believe in the BO and HRC ticket

I use HRC and only two initials for BO - as I take BHO as code for bigots suggesting he is muslim - I do not do it as an eighth grade joke

It was my delight to engage - and I wish all of you well - and a DEM in the WH

And if the blog her will use WV as a title to attract AOL again - I look forward to visiting again

(even you Princeton ------ I read your bio and it is impressive and very NJ - said by one born and raised in Pateson then Fair Lawn and then New Brunswick - and then off to the wilderness of the midwest and the U of C - and the oasis called Chicago. Indeed my haunts were -- Hyde Park and South Shore - the area of BO - and I was night administrator at the U of C hospital and proudly the only white to wash his car every Sat morning at 79th and Stony ....... bye bye

Okay, Here I Go

Megan Smith — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:46:17 -0500

I really, really tried to stop myself from jumping in on this, because I'm exhausted---for non political reasons---but here I go.

My question is, can HRC publicly say anything about which races are supporting her without sounding racist?

I ask this because on yesterday's "The View" Whoopi Goldberg made what I thought was an interesting point. She said that HRC was simply quoting the AP article, and saying exactly what many media pundits have been saying publicly for weeks. So why can't she say the same thing without catching so much heat for it? Is it because no one who's running for office should say out loud what race of people they think are supporting them?

My opinion? I think we're so not used to politicians talking about race publicly---this situation is a first after all---that HRC in some respects is in a damned if she does, damned if she doesn't position. Obama is as well, but in a different way.

I heard what she said in the audio, and the only thing I thought was, wow that's ballsy for her as the person running to even bring the issue up. But this is politics and she's being a tough politician.

Was it race baiting? I sway back and forth on that one, but my gut instinct says no.

I don't think she's racist, I don't think Bill Clinton is racist, I think we are in a situation we've never been in before and everyone is so not used to that, that all kinds of feelings that we as a society have never explored in public are right at the surface and very sensitive to being stepped on.

Megan
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HAS BO Ever said ---- YUP he sure did - over and over he said it

Ted in Chicago — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:39:25 -0500

The question was raised

Has Obama ever said that he is not a politician

HUh

Does a Bear Shit in the Woods?

That was the entire premise of his original movement

Although I can go BC on you and say it matters what the definition of politician is

But in common usage - to be a politician - an elected official carries tons of negative baggage

BO said he was not that type of politician and he has proved he most certainly is and is good at it -

E.G. I never saw those papers I sent in to the state legislature re gun control (that I Ted loved) - my aides did it

E.G. Rezko never helped on the RE Deal - oops he did do a 30 minute walk through and told me it was a steal. E.G. OOPS it was not 150K but 300K (for both of these see the Chicago papers as they wrote up his visit to their editorial boards to clear the air on Rezko and changed his story about 10 ways)

E.G. I barely knew Ayers (so what if I STARTED my run for STATE office in his home)

E.G. To the Sun Times in Chicago and to Cable news - I was never ever in the pews when hate came out from RW --- vs the Rolling Stone article he admitted to reading and the speech in which he said was I ever there.... yes

etc etc etc

YES
YES
YES

Bo told us - and college kids - he was not that kind of politician and has shown himself to be exactly what he said we needed to sweep out -

June 3 is not pushing out

Maria Niles — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:20:52 -0500

If you read my post you will see that I praised what Clinton's candidacy has done for women. I said that I am waiting for June 3 which is when all the primaries will be done. All I am asking for is what you just posited:

HRC needs to tone down if not eliminate any dirt vis BO - a few jabs - but no punches - and to finish all the primaries.

Her comments did not signal this approach. However, she hasn't repeated them so I am hopeful she got the message about hurtful they were.

What in my comment that you quote at the top indicates that I wish to dump on and cruicify her?

Could I ask you to read what I wrote before jumping off into pontificating about your general thoughts about the candidates, the campaign and supporters?

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I agree, see below

Maria Niles — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:10:26 -0500

I agree. See my comment below. They are both politicians and they share very similar policy proposals and both more different from McCain than they are from each other.

Just because the media spins a narrative doesn't mean you have to buy it, nor does choice of a candidate mean their supporters have bought it.

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