Thread: Pundits & Republicans are Wrong

I think the pundits and Republicans are wrong. The long running Democratic primary seems to be energizing the Democrats rather than polarizing them. 200,000 more turned out in the Indiana primary than was predicted initially and they were still shooting at high numbers. Its been that way throughout 2008. All the primaries yet to come are relevant. Once the decision is made the party will unite to defeat the Republicans. I think its been an awesome year politically so far.

The proof will be in the puddin darlin, come Aug & the Dem convention.

Originally Posted by 2lane

I think the pundits and Republicans are wrong. The long running Democratic primary seems to be energizing the Democrats rather than polarizing them. 200,000 more turned out in the Indiana primary than was predicted initially and they were still shooting at high numbers. Its been that way throughout 2008. All the primaries yet to come are relevant. Once the decision is made the party will unite to defeat the Republicans. I think its been an awesome year politically so far.

I think you might be right - there has been a notable decrease in the political divisiveness that nearly crippled America in the last two elections. I was on the political boards in 2004 and remember the incredible hatred of one party to another (I was absolutely shocked when someone posted a link to the "leftersons" and even more shocked when I realised that ANYONE would find that funny)

There has been a slow decay of the mindset "right is right and left is not only wrong but elitist, socialist (and therefore evil), godless and traitorous.

Finally I am seeing America behave like a lot of other countries - looking at REAL issues instead of focussing on one or two "fear factor" points.

Well it's sure entertaining as fuck to watch.

The question is whether they'll be "energized" when November comes and it's time for them to vote for the Democratic candidate they came out and voted against today.

They may just vote McCain because he's not as obnoxious a Democrat as the token female and the token black are, but he's still just like a Democrat nevertheless.

Originally Posted by Bowerbird

Finally I am seeing America behave like a lot of other countries

I guess this is why we feel we are failing, and coming back to the pack..

Originally Posted by Bowerbird

I think you might be right - there has been a notable decrease in the political divisiveness that nearly crippled America in the last two elections.

I don't recall any political divisiveness in the last two presidential elections. My memory says that one liberal kicked the ass out of another, but was pretty much ripped up when all was said and done, but that's because liberals are pussies and don't have a clue what a good ass-whuppin' is all about.

There was almost no political dissent in either of those elections when you compare them to historical standards, such as Nixon vs McGovern, Reagan vs Idiot and Reagan vs Mondale.

Originally Posted by Bowerbird

Finally I am seeing America behave like a lot of other countries - looking at REAL issues instead of focussing on one or two "fear factor" points.

The only real issues are:

How to win in Iraq:
The discussion is "how to run away from Iraq". I know that's how Europe does things, but because it's how Europe does them, we know it's the wrong thing to do.

How to Protect Hardworking Honest Solvent Homeowners From the Sub-Prime Meltdown
The discussion is "how to protect bankers using taxpayer dollars" and "how inflation is good for your friends at the bank." Again, this may be how Europe does things, the correct thing to do in this case is absolutely nothing. The market will fix itself just fine.

What's a Good Energy Policy
The discussion is "how can we make taxpayers pay for what the greens want" and "how loudly can we complain about foreign oil prices when we refuse to open known domestic reserves for exploitation and refuse to permit exploration of other carbon sources"

Invasion, USA
The discussion is "how can we make the Invading Horde comfy so they'll vote for our party" and "how much can exploitative employers pay our party to look the other way".

Government intrusion on freedom at all levels
The discussion is "drugs are evil", "profiling is bad", and, "oh, btw, we're stopping everyone on this road because one of you might have had a drink."

Phony issues are "global warming" (warmer is better), "universal health care" (universe looks healthy to me), "change" (what, underwear, socks, for the vending machine?), and "America is evil".

Originally Posted by 2lane

I think the pundits and Republicans are wrong. The long running Democratic primary seems to be energizing the Democrats rather than polarizing them. 200,000 more turned out in the Indiana primary than was predicted initially and they were still shooting at high numbers. Its been that way throughout 2008. All the primaries yet to come are relevant. Once the decision is made the party will unite to defeat the Republicans. I think its been an awesome year politically so far.

Do you think that any of those 200,000 were Operation Chaos turncoats? Don't count your chickens before they hatch, and these eggs aren't cracking until November.

Originally Posted by Babylon

I guess this is why we feel we are failing, and coming back to the pack..

:laughing:

Originally Posted by Babylon

I guess this is why we feel we are failing, and coming back to the pack..

I think you misunderstand me.

I have talked to a lot of people throughout the world and in a LOT of other countries we look at the issues the leaders bring rather than the party they are with - most notably here in Australia where mandatory voting means we probably have the BIGGEST number of swinging voters in the world.

But going back to 2004 there was a HUGE divisiveness in American politics - this was not only noted by me but by others such as Gore Vidal. Heck just looking at the "Leftersons" gives indication of this - there were (and in many ways still are) more attacks on the people following one political ideology than on the politicians themselves.

Have you never heard the term "Obamaniacs"? "Hillbots"? "Bushites" etc etc.

A quick trawl of the posts here will show generalisations of one side or the other

"Bleeding heart Liberals" "Warmongering Neocons" etc etc.

You know the generalisations - you possibly even use some of them.