Excited Voters

I have the TV on and was watching the news, and for the third or fourth time a voter interviewed as they were leaving the polling place described how momentous they felt their vote for Obama was, and how he excited them more than any other candidate in their voting history.

I just don't get this. I can see someone saying he is better than the other guy, and certainly better than what we have had, but I am not seeing anything about him and his prospects as a leader that excite me.

Can anyone explain this excitement?

People are stupid.

laststandchili wrote:

People are stupid.

Nah, that isn't it.

I know some smart people who have expressed such excitement of the wonders that lay before us. I just worry I missed an important speech or something like that.

Change.

Actually...I have a more important question. Changed channel to find Gunsmoke rerun on TV Land. Was that Burt Reynolds I saw on that show??

A word of advice...if you use a computer for work, do not, I repeat, do not install a TV tuner in your computer. It has made me quite unproductive.

Agent 13 wrote:

Actually...I have a more important question. Changed channel to find Gunsmoke rerun on TV Land. Was that Burt Reynolds I saw on that show??

Yup, Burt Reynolds played a blacksmith on "Gunsmoke" in the early '60s.

Burt did a lot of tv roles. I think he was on an episode or two of the Twilight Zone.

Maybe it isn't stupidity, but what can possibly be leading to the moony effect that has swept such a wide swath of the population?

Is it the Kennedy effect? A whipsaw of public sentiment against the old white guy? Actual mass hysteria of a totally willful sort?

Anyway, I'm trying to find a new hobby for the next four years. The Clinton era was excrutiating, and I don't think I can bear up to the next four years of vitriol sloshing back and forth.

I think hooking up a tv tuner to your computer is probably a good start. Catch some Sanford and Son, maybe a little Barney Miller. That or follow Clothier's lead; subscribe to Hustler and lock yourself in the crapper.

laststandchili wrote:

Maybe it isn't stupidity, but what can possibly be leading to the moony effect that has swept such a wide swath of the population?

That moony effect is what I don't get.

As I wrote, I can understand and list many reasons I don't like the cranky old dude, but for me, a vote "for" either one would be more of a vote against the other than a vote for either.

That said, I have some friends who have never been very politically active, yet they now have signs on their lawns for Obama. The desire for change is understandable, but they gnuinely seem to feel this guy has some magical potential. I'd love to share their enthusiasm, but I just don't see what they do...or what they think they do.

Maybe the fact that he's never done much of anything indicates that he must be a fount of future mega-level activity.

I've almost fallen out of my chair on receipt of emails from liberal pals who've sent missive after missive decrying Palin's lack of experience.

Pot. Kettle here. Breaking news...........

laststandchili wrote:

Maybe the fact that he's never done much of anything indicates that he must be a fount of future mega-level activity.

If the lack of past accomplishment is an indicator of "mega-level" future activity, I got a BIG future!

You gotta take the glass half full view.

So, if Obama still allows interstate travel, do you think you'll make the next Meat and Eat and Smoke?

Clinton era issues?

You didn't like the idea of the largest expansion in a peacetime economy? Nah, why would any one like that?

And why are people so excited?

Are you better off now then you were 4 years ago? 8 years ago?

Do you not get the feeling of the general populace that the current president is both a boob and a tool?

How can you not see what the excitemment is about Barack? Plus the fact that he's black?


It's supposed to be the government of the people, not of people that Bush went to college with, or was in the oil biz with.


You republicans slay me.

clothier wrote:

Clinton era issues?

You didn't like the idea of the largest expansion in a peacetime economy? Nah, why would any one like that?

And why are people so excited?

Are you better off now then you were 4 years ago? 8 years ago?

Do you not get the feeling of the general populace that the current president is both a boob and a tool?

How can you not see what the excitemment is about Barack? Plus the fact that he's black?


It's supposed to be the government of the people, not of people that Bush went to college with, or was in the oil biz with.


You republicans slay me.

I was refering to the partisan sturm and drang coming from both directions during the Clinton regime.

In terms of the economic expansion, that was largely a result of growth in the tech industry. The only gov't involvement in that was the fact that shutting down the USSR made a ton of previously classified, and primarily, military toys available to the private sector. Either way, the economy isn't the gov'ts problem. Both sides claim job growth, record GDP growth, record home ownership among minorities, etc. but it's not their job. Check the Constitution.

I get the "feeling" that the general populace finds American Idol captivating and highly entertaining. Certainly doesn't lead me to trust their political instincts. There's also the "feeling" that other countries don't like us as much as they used to. They won't either. As long as we have more money and a higher standard of living than the rest of the planet they aren't going to like us.

It's exciting because he's black? Really? I don't equate the experiences of blacks and whites in this country, because it's very clearly not been an even game, but voting based on skin color? Is that really the basis of the excitement? He's well spoken, and clean. Lets go nuts and vote for the black guy?

No president has ever held an open call to fill positions in their administration. It's always been college chums and business cronies and retreads from previous administrations. Who the hell else are they supposed to go to?

clothier wrote:

And why are people so excited?

Are you better off now then you were 4 years ago? 8 years ago?

Do you not get the feeling of the general populace that the current president is both a boob and a tool?

How can you not see what the excitemment is about Barack? Plus the fact that he's black?


It's supposed to be the government of the people, not of people that Bush went to college with, or was in the oil biz with.


You republicans slay me.

I said I get why people would be glad that the times are a changin'. I completely get that, but that is a different issue than being excited about Barack. I am not a fan of opera, so if forced to listen to opera, I'll be happy when the show moves toward closing, but that doesn't mean I'll necessarily get a chubby over any damn thing that comes next. What if it is a Rosemary Clooney tribute? Or chamber music? Or Rosemary Clooney singing Chamber Music?

I have heard people say anything is better than what we have had. This I get.

I have heard people say we couldn't do much worse than what we have had. This I get.

People have said GWBush is a major tool. Again, this needs no explanation.

It is the "GWB is a tool, I hated the past 8 years, a turnip would be better than GWB, and this means Obama is great" line of thought that confuses me.

See the difference there?

pastrami-on-wry wrote:

Burt Reynolds played a blacksmith on "Gunsmoke" in the early '60s.

Wait. A "smithy" driving a Trans Am?? How freakin' cool is that?!!

Agent 13 wrote:

clothier wrote:

And why are people so excited?

Are you better off now then you were 4 years ago? 8 years ago?

Do you not get the feeling of the general populace that the current president is both a boob and a tool?

How can you not see what the excitemment is about Barack? Plus the fact that he's black?


It's supposed to be the government of the people, not of people that Bush went to college with, or was in the oil biz with.


You republicans slay me.

I said I get why people would be glad that the times are a changin'. I completely get that, but that is a different issue than being excited about Barack. I am not a fan of opera, so if forced to listen to opera, I'll be happy when the show moves toward closing, but that doesn't mean I'll necessarily get a chubby over any damn thing that comes next. What if it is a Rosemary Clooney tribute? Or chamber music? Or Rosemary Clooney singing Chamber Music?

I have heard people say anything is better than what we have had. This I get.

I have heard people say we couldn't do much worse than what we have had. This I get.

People have said GWBush is a major tool. Again, this needs no explanation.

It is the "GWB is a tool, I hated the past 8 years, a turnip would be better than GWB, and this means Obama is great" line of thought that confuses me.

See the difference there?

These political rants of yours would have more effect if you would end them with a Howard Dean-esque squeal at the end.

YEEEEE-AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Independent George wrote:

YEEEEE-AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Well, now that I know the correct spelling of YEEEEE-AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! maybe I will.

That was such a great yell...well...not for old Howard.

To the original question, he is NOT AN OLD WHITE MAN! You sullen f-tards.

Thats brilliant.

Its a shame you guys couldn't find a quadriplegic lesbian Asian woman with a speech impediment to deify.

Maybe next time around.

This just in:

(AP) Los Angeles police authorities are confirming today a motor vehicle crash involving comedienne Margaret Cho and one in which she suffered complete loss of her lower jaw as well as the use of her less-than-funny limbs.

Not worried about next time for now, still celebrating.

Angry Liberal wrote:

To the original question, he is NOT AN OLD WHITE MAN! You sullen f-tards.

Really? That is what did it for you? That would make it seem like it has nothing to do with Obama at all. Does this mean you would have been equally excited by any non "old white man"? Would Charles Rangel have given you a similar woody? Carol Moseley Braun? Bobby Jindal?

Urkel?

Agent 13 wrote:

Angry Liberal wrote:

To the original question, he is NOT AN OLD WHITE MAN! You sullen f-tards.

Really? That is what did it for you? That would make it seem like it has nothing to do with Obama at all. Does this mean you would have been equally excited by any non "old white man"? Would Charles Rangel have given you a similar woody? Carol Moseley Braun? Bobby Jindal?

Given this criteria wouldn't Tiger Woods have been a better candidate?

Talk about diversity in one neat little exciting package.

laststandchili wrote:

Given this criteria wouldn't Tiger Woods have been a better candidate?

Talk about diversity in one neat little exciting package.

I don't know. What if that knee injury has affected his game? Diversity? good...Compromised long game? Not good.