16 Responses to “Reflections on a Selection of Election Inspections”

1. laila says:

   Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 12:12 am

   I wish I could understand why the ramussen has mccain up…why the discrepancy?

   Reply
2. Lynne says:

   Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 5:27 am

   You are the KING of snark and have the best blog out there. Thanks and keep it up.

   Reply
3. Jodi says:

   Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 7:17 am

   Sexist? Really? Since when is lack of substance equated to a female? Only a sexist person would come up with that analogy. Good Grief!

   Reply
4. JoeC says:

   Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 7:31 am

   Lynne: I have a swell head…I mean, you know, after your compliment my head is really swelling. If this blog actually got very popular, my head would get so large I would have to walk bent over, dragging my heavy noggin on the ground ;-)

   Jodi: I agree. At some point shouting “sexist” at everything you don’t like becomes reverse-sexism, or anti-counter-chauvinistic, or upsidedown-inverted-pro-bullpucky, or something. It’s a fuzzy line, but McCain and Palin are about a hundred miles south of the line, so it doesn’t matter that the line is fuzzy; it’s clear that they’ve crossed it.

   Reply
5. Jodi says:

   Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 1:37 pm

   This may be a little OT (off topic):

   http://www.redroom.com/blog/tim-wise/this-your-nation-white-privilege

   I just thought you would like to share with your readers.

   Luv YA!

   Reply
6. Anonymous says:

   Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 3:45 pm

   Joe; I would like your opinion on several things that have been troubeling me regarding this campaign.
   I blogged about the fact that Obama backers flooded a Chicago radio station when the host dared to have a guest who was looking into the connection between Obama and William Ayers several weeks ago. Again last night night he had an author who wrote a book on why he was against Obama. It’s one thing for callers to take it upon themselves to voice their opinions and another to be emailed and told to do so by the Obama campaign backers and what to say from prepared statements sent to them.And then there is the over use of the word racism whenever anyone should disagree. It’s one thing to voice ones opinion, but another to use email and telephone lists to have people do your bidding. It scares me where this could be leading.

   Reply
7. Indigobusiness says:

   Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 4:51 pm

   Laila- Polls are nearly as reliable as elections, these days. Most pollsters survey those with landline phones, thus skewing the demographic to McPain.

   Not to worry.

   ————-

   Bighead Joe- Verily, etc.

   Reply
8. JoeC says:

   Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 6:02 pm

   Jodi: Thanks for the article link. Tim Wise makes some insightful points, and as we were talking about recently, there’s no question racism is still alive in mainstream USA. Not saying it’s a big surprise, but just a fact. But again, good “make you think” article from Mr. Wise.

   Anonymous: As for the racism, from what I have seen Obama has downplayed racism as much as possible, certainly less than McCain has played the “sexism” card. On the sending of prepared statements via phone and email, I have two thoughts…

   First, I don’t like it when it’s used by the right-wing neocons, and they have mastered the art form. Remember when the whole Neocon crew showed up on every media outlet imagineable and stated the same exact words about needing to invade Iraq because there were WMD there? Remember when every right-wing pundit used the exact same phrases to denounce Scott McClellan’s book? Clearly, they were all reading from the same script. I didn’t like this because the message was a known lie, and at the same time I admired them for their organization and the skillful capacity it took to hoist such a big snow job on an entire nation.

   Two: Sending out prepared scripts/statements IS effective, and it’s a logistical skill, and it is and has been part of the election game for a long time now. So, I think Obama’s campaign (or McCain’s campaign) would be derelict in their responsibilities if they didn’t use it. It may be a sad sign of the times, but so is the forward pass in football. You may think American football should go back to the days before the forward pass, but at the same time, if one of today’s teams can’t run it up the middle for three quarters and still refuses to throw the ball, the coach should be fired. Likewise, I see emailing/phoning talking points in today’s politics as a necessity, and even a responsibility, however much we may despise the tactic.

   Indigobusiness: It eases my mind a great deal to see somebody with your rational intelligence say “Not to worry.” It really does. Whoever our new command in chief is next year, I hope we’ll hear more “Not to worry” from him, and less fanning of xenophobic fears.

   Reply
9. Indigobusiness says:

   Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 8:52 pm

   Sorry, Joe, far be it from me to intentionally mislead you…maybe I should’ve more fittingly said: What, me worry?

   The accuracy of polls is maybe the only thing that doesn’t concern me, lately.

   And, anyway, if they are accurate, we are a batshit crazy nation of fatted fools in the midst of our Empire’s fall, and deserve whatever we get.

   I believe in the good people, but I’m growing weary.

   Reply
10. La Sirena says:

    Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 8:21 am

    I’m with IB on this one. I will try to keep my chin up and volunteer time to help get Obama elected, because right now I still believe in the American people.

    If McCain wins, I’ll continue to be a good little tax paying worker bee — which will probably mean desperate poverty and starvation , and also WWIII — so at that point I guess it won’t even matter anymore, because we will all be dead.

    Yes, folks. Let me echo in reverse that famous GOP saying of the 2000s… that saying invented by “Whistle” Dick Cheney and parrotted by the likes of Rudy Giuliani and Libby Dole:

    If you vote Republican in Novemeber, we are all going to die.
    The (Russians, Pakistanis, Afghanis, Iranians, Bolivians and Venezuelans) will attack us if SOMEBODY (ie. the President) doesn’t try to initiate some diplomatic strategy.

    I don’t mean that Republicans as a whole are flawed…however, the policy makers of that party have established a platform and agenda that is so disingenuous and delusional and out of touch that they have become a danger to themselves and others.

    TTFN!

    Reply
11. Anonymous says:

    Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 9:22 am

    Joe - Amen I say to you. I wish people would understand, the only way the government is going to turn the economy is through taxes; yes, even the government needs money. Of course they could just make more, and move us into a recession (smart idea?) or just borrow more and raise the debt. That is, unless McCain has a magical pot of gold some where (oh no, they stole me lucky charms)…

    If McCain and Palin (”Wonder Twins” as I like to call them) win, I’m moving to Europe… atl east they know can get past the fact that Obama’s young and black.

    Reply
12. frank says:

    Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    for all to read;the united states; thanks to the fat cats; in washington; for 8yrs. plus wall street; fat cats; who dont give a dam about; we the people; must go…even republicans; who are wealthy; have to be thinking;now; other than the toys they own; that they also; can lose it all; [wallstreet]…need i say more?we have lost 76000 jobs since january…gas prices up 36percent in 1 yr. many people ; not only will be jobles; they will be homeless too..as thousands are; already…and we must; sendmayor koch to florida ; to speak to all jewish communities; there; he can relate to all of jewish people..we can win florida this time around;……….barack obama…barack obama….VOTE DEMOCRATIC..SAVE AMERICA…

    Reply
13. Xman says:

    Monday, September 22, 2008 at 11:53 am

    As the poet said: Logic is a poor weapon against fear.
    In the Rocky Mountains, I am surrounded by fear. Naked fear that a Black man will make whitey pay for all the past crimes. Fear that White religion will be replaced or threatened by black religion…the kind where people jump, roll and shout in the aisles. Fear that the elegant grace of whiteness in traditional ceremonies, offices, etc. will be replaced by blacks who are only one generation from uncouth thugs. Fear and a belief that blacks are closer to apes than whites…so whites should be in charge. Fear that their daughters will be attracted to blacks. White guys know blacks dominate sports, and have bigger willies, so they fear their own obsolesence. Fear that blacks will embrace terrorists. My own mother thinks blacks have their own unique smell…I would have to guess, not a good one.

    I can’t think of a way to counter all this nonsense. But I know it will be in the primitive, non-evolved brains of many “good people” as they go into the ballot box.

    Reply
14. Indigobusiness says:

    Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    Touche’, Xman. My referencing the “good people” is merely a way to differentiate between those operating out of good conscience as opposed to bigotry or deceit. But, I guess there are the sincerely bigoted.

    As I read your comment, I couldn’t help but wonder if fear of uncouth thugs or bigger willies would be on the table in the upcoming debate.

    Reply
15. Xman says:

    Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    I knew what you were saying, Indigo. Of course I agree. I guess I am more and more doubtful of the general public’s ability to really know if they are operating out of “good” conscience (they all think they are). As you know there are far more programmed little parrots than there are those who know they are programmed and are trying to shake it. In fact, the programmed little parrots think those who are trying to throw off the programming are the parrots. It is strangely comforting to know that in 50,000 years or so, the general public will look apon us as cavemen….maybe of the “Redneckianthal Period”.

    Reply
16. Indigobusiness says:

    Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 8:47 pm

    OK, Xman. To belabor this, as I’m wont to do, you sharpen the point and force my reaction.

    I’m not so sure everyone acts out of good conscience. I mean, compulsive liars are compelled to “embellish” the truth whenever possible, while sociopaths operate out of a whole other set of anti-ethics which seems to be the gathering style of the successful American. It’s the new view.

    We seem to be swimming in confused seas of sharp-eyed sharks, who will consume themselves as they consume the rest…if this scenario plays out.

    I tend to agree with Bill Joy, we don’t have that much time to get sorted.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Name

Mail (will not be published)

Website

CAPTCHA Code (enter the letters displayed above).