Obama wins in SC

[swampfox]

This is a historic day in SC for reasons that news people are not even talking about. Not only has the best candidate won our primary, he has won in defiance of the Uncle Tom PC democratic party machine that was putting all of its eggs in Hillary's basket (so to speak, I guess it's a basket). Black SC voters have generally done as they were told by such political dead weight as our own Sen. D. Jackson. Not even to mention over half of the white democratic voters in SC who did as the Harpootlians (who is still spinning in his desk chair since he lost control recently, I'm sure). This is not your father's SC democratic party anymore.

Bill Clinton made a royal ass of himself, and I think that it came back to bite him on his own.

It took 140 years, but the good people of SC are having their day.

[TahoeT]

Ya know... this really is a remarkable day. Even my much-more-conservative-than-I'll-ever-be older brother just said he's voting for Obama.

A remarkable day, indeed.

[swampfox]

How about that speech when it was over? I think that was easily the best speech I've heard in 40 years.

Over 500,000 South Carolinians voted in our democratic primary. That alone would be enough to be making headlines tomorrow.

I thin a lot of people of all persuasion heard that speech tonight and now realize that there now really is only one candidate.

[cuebald]

Heck, I bet Pitchfork Ben would vote Obama this year.

If anyone was ever serious about wanting a candidate to represent every American, I think they have their wish. His speech was was by far one of the most extrordinary events in years.

He has run an upbeat, positive campaign and sidestepped all the negative BS that anyone has been able to throw at him without getting unduly angry, which would have been duly reported by the cadre of omnipresent reporters hounding him.

I think he's got it.

[Vindicator 1]

I couldn't be happier with todays turn out. There was actually a line to vote at my polling station! First time I'd seen that for a primary.

I think this guy is for real. Our country needs a new direction.

[swampfox]

You probably read that we not only had a record number of voters for a Democratic primary in SC, it was quite a big bigger than the turnout for the Republican primary last week. That's never happened in SC!

I feel proud of SC again. It happened here!

[TahoeT]

You probably read that we not only had a record number of voters for a Democratic primary in SC, it was quite a big bigger than the turnout for the Republican primary last week. That's never happened in SC!

I feel proud of SC again. It happened here!

You have a lot of reasons to be proud.

[swampfox]

Obama won SC in such a big way because he excited people over the possibility that government could work for the best interests of the people, giving them the opportunities that they need to choose and reach their own destinies. It's been a long time since we've had reason to believe that. Hillary Clinton and her husband, meanwhile, continue with "politics as usual". They seem to feel that they ARE the Democratic party and are counting on the usual machine to deliver the votes for them. Calling Bill the "first African-American president" was just so ridiculous that even the standard SC democrat tactic of using black churches to tell people how to vote was not enough to overcome it.

I think that Edwards' message is similar to Obama's but he's just not good at getting it across. It is not believable in the way that Obama's message is believable.

For the first time in a long time I'm excited about the possibility that the negative changes to politics and government that have occurred during most of my life really can be changed. The cynicial status quo of the standard political machines, both parties', seems vulnerable for the first time in a long time. I don't feel the slightest inclination to support Hillary. None of the Republicans interest me. They all offer more of the same with only the slightest of variation, all within the customary boundaries of talking without saying anything. I'm willing to trust Obama with the presidency and then hold him to his campaign promises. If he delivers he may become the most important president since FDR. If he gets into office and doesn't try he'll be eligible to join the lowest of the low, but I really don't expect that to happen.

SC rocked last night. We inspired, we were shining like we haven't in a long time. Let's keep it up.

[cuebald]

There will not be another candidate like Obama during our lifetimes, and those of us who remember JFK's assassination will count ourselves fortunate to have witnessed two such men who could make us believe in the infinite possibility and potential of America and the too-long-forgotten idea that we are all in this together and can live together and work for a common goal. I do not detect the cancerous divisiveness in anything he has said that distinguishes the campaigns of every other candidate from either party.

I intend to savor every minute and hope and pray that his career doesn't end like JFK.

I believe him: "YES, WE CAN". And we must. We can't afford to screw it up this time or America as we know it is finished.

[swampfox]

You know I think that it says an awful lot about us as South Carolinians that the rest of the world is talking about what happened here last night in the primary, but here, except for a very few of us, we're not talking about it at all. Further, even though we had a record turnout for the primary, it was still only about a quarter of eligible voters.

And then get on a message board moaning and calling names about the ones who eventually get elected after so many of us choose second-class citizenship by deciding not to vote. THAT is embarrassing.

It's at times like this that I think the people in other states and other countries who make fun of us would probably stop doing so out of pity if they knew just how pathetic we as a people really are.

You want specific names? Let me think on this. I don't mind calling them, but there are some ways better than others.

Another big clue: The large number of people who do their moaning and name calling without ever registering a user name, believing that by not doing so they have some extra layer of protection. Maybe some of the employers of our nastiest posters just need a little advice.

[cuebald]

Forget the naysayers and the Nattering Nabobs of Negativism (remember that?).

Screw Harpootlian, democrats, republicans, black, white, yellow, red, male, female, young, old, registered, and unregistered.

Obama is the voice of America. I'm listening.

[swampfox]

Word up!

[TahoeT]

I so agree with you guys. South Carolina DID rock last night - and it turned me into a full-fledged Obama supporter.

I do not like Hillary. I despise her husband. It will be business as usual - which means partisan politics of the worst kind. Nothing will be accomplished and we the people will be screwed even more.

Obama does offer hope.

Caroline kennedy had a GREAT column in today's NY Times...

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

Here's the rest of it...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27kennedy.html?em&ex=1201582800&en=68dbeb8e37c848ac&ei=5087%0A

[cuebald]

Her column was dynamite. I saw it last night online.

If Hillary wins there will be a huge ditch full of toxic waste and crocodiles in the halls of Congress separating democrats from republicans, and neither side will be tempted to cross over. That is not what we need to put Humpty Dumpty together again.

McCain caerries a bit of baggage also, and I still want the question answered about whether he received donations from the Carlyle Group and whether he plans to ask Jeb Bush to run for Vice President with him.

Onama cannot do magic, which is fine. Magic is a big lie anyway. I do believe he can bring this country together. Government is like education. You cannot know everything, but if you know where to look to find the answers you need, you have all the tools you need.

Remember - Obama has as much experience as Lincoln did when he ran for the Presidency. He was from Illinois, too. Coincidence?

[swampfox]

Did you hear any of the other candidates speaking today? They just sounded like politicians, for lack of a better word.

While Obama was speaking last night I swear I was seeing JFK's face on the screen next to his.

I don't care if it looks like it was along racial lines last night. The fact is that it was not, not as much as you might think. The tradition in SC is for the preachers to tell black voters who to vote for, and they have been uniformly told to vote for the democrat elite ever since white Southern politicians stopped pretending that they weren't republicans. Since that time they have embraced the party of Lincoln with all their hearts.

One of our prominent black state senators is also the pastor of a very large church. Every election year he parades the candidates that the democratic party management in SC tells him to parade through his church where they speak during regular church service times. This year his assignment was Hillary. I think he may have gotten his feelings hurt. A couple of elections ago a colleague of mine was running for state superintendent of education, and she was a lifelong member of his church, but since she was not running as a democrat she was not allowed to speak at all. That told me about all I needed to know about the Rev. Senator.

But that was before politics changed, last night in South Carolina. And I think a lot of people across the country listened to the candidates today and had the same feeling that I did. I'd like to think that it might have been the beginning of ending the two-party system altogether. I know the word is being used an awful lot, but what we need is change, and if we have to invite space aliens down to make it happen that will be fine with me.

[better days]

Man yall guys need to stop now before you wet your leg. Ok rebuttal time. I voted for Hillary, since I could. Here is what I think is going on, which we will see if it's true. Obama still doesn't stand a chance. South Carolina showed it's true racist colors as every black that wasn't in jail and could vote, did. Nothing unusual there, Jesse Jackson won here twice I think. Nothing historic about blacks voting for any black guy who's a democrat. My daughter asked me if I'm voting for Obama, young white kids, 18 to 30 are spreading things such as if Obama is elected, he will legalize marijuana. This is one thing that is happening, rumors of great things that interest all people. Hell Ron Paul said similar things that got young white kids interested. He is promising alot, and letting things spread that are popular but mis-truths. He has not one single thing to show, nothing except his wants for our collective needs. He's more of a used car salesman if anything. Hey I've got plenty of problems that government could help me on. If he gets in office things will change in the first year, but then back business as usual I'm sure. I'm the first to tell you if he helps me out of this fix I'm in for living long enough to let health care cost ruin me just because of cancer, I'll see yall old white guys at the MLK at the dome next year.

[TahoeT]

Polls being what they are, you need to take them with a grain of salt, but these exit poll numbers are interesting:

Obama wins 68% of 18-29 year olds
Obama wins 62% of 30-44 year olds
Obama wins 55% of 45-59 year olds
Obama wins 63% of people who have never voted before
Obama wins 54% of of non-college educated voters
Obama wins 52% of college educated voters
Obama wins 55% of people who make less than $100,000
Obama wins 57% of people who make less than $50,000
Obama wins 52% of people who said the economy was the most important issue

Not just the black vote this time around. And not just the legalized pot vote, either.

One of the biggest challenges of getting this country back on track is the people believing we CAN. Hillary is just more of the same.

[better days]

I agree about Hillary being more of the same but I'm also saying a lot of whites voted that may or may not vote for democrats and were using the vote for Hillary to stop Obama.

[swampfox]

I did the same thing a couple of elections ago. Voted for McCain, I think it was, in the primary trying to help him beat the Bush.

But it didn't work then or now.

The marijuana thing is yet another rumor started by one of the swift boat groups. Like many things that candidates promise, a president could not "legalize marijuana" even if he/she wanted to. That would be a legislative action, for Congress.

I think Obama can win against either Romney or McCain. (Not in SC, but that's not even a discussion, is it?) And I don't care how it happens. What if he can't deliver on the specific issues that he talks about? He inspires people. And for that matter if Elmer Fudd was elected it would feel like a good old tent revival compared to what we got now.

As for the nomination, I don't think anybody believes Hillary anymore, especially after she and Bill made such asses of themselves in and about the SC primary. And now that the Kennedys are endorsing Obama (Ted, Caroline, and, a few years ago Bobby's wife Ethel, but not Bobby's daughter and son) the next primaries are going to be very interesting. Maybe Hillary will win. She's certainly proven that, with her husband, she is not above dirty tricks and misrepresenting the facts, which have been proven over and over to be effective campaign tools. In other words, politics as usual, which is the thing that I think people are tired of. It was pathetic the way the Clintons were scrambling for the support of whatever Kennedys they could get.

But Hillary now has the opportunity, should she decide to continue on this path, to tear the Democratic party apart, even more than Huckabee could do the same for the Republicans. Obama handled the Clintons' last dirty trick (misrepresenting what he had said about Reagan) with considerable grace. I think he's ready when more of the same happens. I think that the various lies being spread by the swift boat crowd (like he's a Muslim, a drug addict, even a terrorist) might just backfire and make people mad rather than disenchanted with Obama.

And lastly, I think Obama's chances are, again, enhanced by the fact that if elected he would be replacing George Bush. I think people want a big change, not a little one. Hillary represents a little one. And let's not forget that Congress is up for re-election this fall too. All of the House and a third of the Senate. Congress' approval rating is even lower than the Bush's. Maybe this will be the year that people vote the weasels out. (80%+ of Americans disapprove of Congress, but they keep sending their own senators and representatives back to Washington time after time. Who is the fool here?)

It started in SC, we will be able to say, if Obama wins. These next primaries, including "Super Tuesday", will be fascinatin', and may yet be inconclusive. I think it would be great if the national convention comes with the nominee yet unchosen. Democracy on the rise.

[better days]

The Clintons as everyone knows plays hardball. Hillary did not stand a chance in S.C., due to the large black vote. Bill just brought Obama out is all. I want to know what Obama thinks of reparations to blacks due to slavery. He is half black so I guest its a fair question. Just to vote for someone because it feels good is about stupid and irresponsible to the rest of Americans who want to know details and see a response that's not guarded. Obama is the black man in the race, accept it as fact. Will he play to a national audience, I have my doubts but we will see. If Hillary wins the nomination that little dictator guy from Iran could win against her. I admit this is fun to watch.

[cuebald]

Obama's black?

I'll be damned. I hadn't noticed.

[TahoeT]

Just to vote for someone because it feels good is about stupid and irresponsible to the rest of Americans who want to know details and see a response that's not guarded.

That pretty much sums up my sentiment about anyone who voted for Bush in 2004. I can't think of anything more irresponsible.

Me, personally... I want CHANGE in our government. I'm not going to see change with Clinton, and I'm not going to see change in any Republican.

So I am supporting Obama. His multi-racial background has nothing to do with my vote. The vision he has expressed for America does.

[better days]

Tim your personal opinion or even hind sight about Bush and the '04 election after the first 4 years is whats expected from someone. Now that I think about it, I guess anyone who supports a candidate because it inspires them or offers hope would have such thoughts. Anyone who voted for Bush was not being irresponsible, they were inspired to. Now Obama is a different story, no record and avoidance of being direct about certain things. This will hurt him because if he wants my support, which he will need the older white male conservative vote, he must offer me more than the placebo feel good lines that has hooked folks so far.

[TahoeT]

I don't think Bush "inspired" as much as the thought of changing course caused "fear.'

The whole shebang about Kerry not being up to being Commander-in-Chief - the swift-boating - played into that fear (if it didn't downright cause it.) Terrorists lurking under every bush (no pun intended.) Terrorism Threat Level Orange broadcast on TV every day... The fear fires were stoked well...

I think we need to stop living in fear and live in reality. Instead of cowering in fear and being told this is for our own good, we need to stand up and demand accountability. We need a president who will lead us in the direction of hope and cooperation - not more of the polarization we have been living through.

Obama has more political experience than Bush's 5 years as Texas governor. I think he could do it.

[Captain Worley]

I don't think Bush "inspired" as much as the thought of changing course caused "fear.'


I don't think it is fear. I think that a lot of Americans were tired of taking hits from the terrorists and having the government do little or nothing. I'm glad to see the US taking an active roll against terrorists. I'm glad we changed from a reactive strike strategy to a pre-emptive strike strategy.

Yeah, Bush has done things I disagree with, but I think he's handling the war on terror just fine. Iraq has held elections, Iran stopped (supposedly, granted) its nuclear weapons program, and N. Korea looks to be shutting theirs down. I'd say he's been pretty darn successful.

[TahoeT]

I still see it as fear. Bush has done more to create terrorists with his invasion of Iraq than any terrorist threats we had prior to his taking office.

The 2004 elections were 19 months after the invasion. The country was terror-gripped. The whole election was centered around the war and terrorism - and fear of changing course.

I honestly can't think of anything I agree with on his war on terror. Taking off my shoes and putting my 3oz of shampoo in a baggie certainly isn't making me feel safer - especially when folks testing TSA security are getting mock bombs through with no problem.

The government doesn't have nearly the amount of Arabic linguists to even begin to sorth through the volumes of material they are "intercepting" while the military discharges Arabic translators because they're gay. Our Constitutional guarantee prohibiting unreasonable search and seizure is thrown out the window while our ports are wide open and our borders are wide open.

Hell - if anyone wanted to get a nuclear device into the country, all they'd have to do is disquise it as cocaine.

I see the man as a failure in every aspect of his presidency. I can't think of a single thing he has done, except, perhaps, make the Democrats look good by comparison.

[Cowboy]

Maybe he will rename us "The United Black States of America". Since these (link below) are the kind of places he is a member of. At the top of his website home page ( http://www.barackobama.com) there is a link called People. Can anyone help me find the caucasian area that explains what he will do for us? Other than a big sign that says "CHANGE". Change what, his drawers?

http://www.blackplanet.com/barack_Obama/

[Cowboy]

I still see it as fear. Bush has done more to create terrorists with his invasion of Iraq than any terrorist threats we had prior to his taking office.

The 2004 elections were 19 months after the invasion. The country was terror-gripped. The whole election was centered around the war and terrorism - and fear of changing course.

I honestly can't think of anything I agree with on his war on terror. Taking off my shoes and putting my 3oz of shampoo in a baggie certainly isn't making me feel safer - especially when folks testing TSA security are getting mock bombs through with no problem.

The government doesn't have nearly the amount of Arabic linguists to even begin to sorth through the volumes of material they are "intercepting" while the military discharges Arabic translators because they're gay. Our Constitutional guarantee prohibiting unreasonable search and seizure is thrown out the window while our ports are wide open and our borders are wide open.

Hell - if anyone wanted to get a nuclear device into the country, all they'd have to do is disquise it as cocaine.

I see the man as a failure in every aspect of his presidency. I can't think of a single thing he has done, except, perhaps, make the Democrats look good by comparison.

Tahoe, you are a pitiful excuse for a veteran to have that kind of hate toward the elected Leader of our country. It is only gangs like homosexuals, majority of blacks, welfare recipients, disability scammers, and the like that don't like someone like Bush because ya'll want something that he and the majority of working, tax-paying Americans are not willing to give you. You want gay-marriage, we don't agree with it. Blacks want reparation-we don't agree with it. Welfare recipients won't a hand-out, we don't agree with it. You chose the path that you are taking in life-deal with it. Obama can't give you what you are wanting either because the majority of us aren't going to give in.

[Captain Worley]

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree, Tim.

I do agree with what you said about the Arabic translators; we do need a lot more of them. I wonder if they've ever come up with a total immersion class like they did for Russian during the cold war.

Cowboy, just because someone has a different opinion from you is no reason to get all sideways...I don't agree with Tim, Swamp, or Cue on the war, but we all seem to accept each others views and get along.

[Cowboy]

Cowboy, just because someone has a different opinion from you is no reason to get all sideways...I don't agree with Tim, Swamp, or Cue on the war, but we all seem to accept each others views and get along.

Well I don't respect, agree, or accept to tolerate the bashing of our President who I, along with the majority of others elected into office. There is a time to do something about it. November.

As long as others speak their mind, I will also.

[swampfox]

Criticizing government is one of the major rights, some would say duties, of people living in a democracy.

You are speaking your mind with some of the most anti-American BS that I've heard in a long time. You are choosing second-class citizenship and trying to impose it on others by saying that we should be silent when we disagree with, or even when we're horrified by, the actions of the government.

You're on your own with that, Beefbuster.

[Gator96]

This is giving me an ulcer.

[swampfox]

Try Pepcid-AC.

If you're near a school there's usually a bowl of it in the teachers' lounge. Just tell 'em you belong there. That's usually enough to get past their tight security.

[TahoeT]

Tahoe, you are a pitiful excuse for a veteran to have that kind of hate toward the elected Leader of our country. It is only gangs like homosexuals, majority of blacks, welfare recipients, disability scammers, and the like that don't like someone like Bush because ya'll want something that he and the majority of working, tax-paying Americans are not willing to give you. You want gay-marriage, we don't agree with it. Blacks want reparation-we don't agree with it. Welfare recipients won't a hand-out, we don't agree with it. You chose the path that you are taking in life-deal with it. Obama can't give you what you are wanting either because the majority of us aren't going to give in.

Now, Cowboy, where did I say I hate Boy George?

I said I see him as a failure in every aspect of his presidency. I didn't say I hate him.

And just so ya know... I'm a working, tax-paying American, also.

Nor is it up to you to give me my civil rights. Honey, if you don't like gay marriage, don't marry a homosexual. Otherwise it doesn't have anything to do with you. It doesn't affect you. You don't have to f*cking like it. It has nothing to do with you.

BTW... are you a veteran, yourself?

[TahoeT]

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree, Tim.

Well... I gave it that ol' college try... :cheer:

[TahoeT]

Maybe he will rename us "The United Black States of America". Since these (link below) are the kind of places he is a member of. At the top of his website home page ( http://www.barackobama.com) there is a link called People. Can anyone help me find the caucasian area that explains what he will do for us? Other than a big sign that says "CHANGE". Change what, his drawers?

http://www.blackplanet.com/barack_Obama/

Well, heck... those caucasian folks could be:


Americans Abroad
Environmentalists
Generation Obama
Kids
LGBT
People of faith
Students
Veteran's or
Women9 categories out of 13. White folk seem to be in the majority on his web page, too.

[cuebald]

Cowboy, just because someone has a different opinion from you is no reason to get all sideways...I don't agree with Tim, Swamp, or Cue on the war, but we all seem to accept each others views and get along.

Hear, hear!

The war is only one topic in a world full of them. If we all agreed on everything, there would be nothing to talk about.

We may disagree,Cap'n, but your reasoning makes a lot of sense and I learn from your posts how you made it to the place you are in.

It's all about respect. If you have it you can disagree all you like. My Father told me once to marry someone I could fight with without getting mad at. It was good advice. Attacking someone personally who doesn't share your opinion probably will not convert them to your way of thinking.

[better days]

I'm a person who has been taught by my life's experiences. With a little self analyzation, as an individual I'm susceptible to skepticism of all things good. Maybe it's due to my addictions to things that make a person feel good, usually in my case it was always self destructive and unlawful at times. Folks be careful of what you wish for or accept as whats missing from your own "feel good" inventory. This goes for life and politics. All things come at a cost, either up front and obvious on the surface, or either hidden among the details written in small print.

[swampfox]

VERY well said, BD. Excellent advice, too.

As far as politics goes, you're absolutely right that everything is in the small print or written between the lines. Democracy requires a little effort or else it stops working.

For example, all presidential candidates promise things that they can't deliver. A president has no authority over taxes, for example. He/she may make his/her wishes known to Congress, but that's about it.

And in life; Simple things like buying a car. Commercials say things like "best in its class". Who knows what a car class is, or what other cars are in it? Maybe it's a class of one?

And things like credit; Used car dealers advertise credit at a 3% rate. How many people even find out that that is the rate per month, not per year. Yet the dealer has met his legal obligation to state what the interest rate is, sort of.

I'm glad you wrote what you did. We'd all do well to pay attention to it.

[Keeper]

KFC's new special-----The OBAMA-4 pc. white/dark mixed dinner.

[swampfox]

If you knew much about your own family I bet you'd be surprised!

[Lakal]

I'm a person who has been taught by my life's experiences. With a little self analyzation, as an individual I'm susceptible to skepticism of all things good. Maybe it's due to my addictions to things that make a person feel good, usually in my case it was always self destructive and unlawful at times. Folks be careful of what you wish for or accept as whats missing from your own "feel good" inventory. This goes for life and politics. All things come at a cost, either up front and obvious on the surface, or either hidden among the details written in small print.


BD - what a good post. I sense you have travelled quite a journey. Good luck and thank you.

[better days]

Thank-you both for your kindness. We all look at things differently but in the end want mostly the same things. I write what comes to mind at the moment, that was before I had a follow up appointment with my doctor. Lakel my journey continues a while longer anyway. The cancer threat seems gone, but there's still a few potholes on the road to recovery though.

[swampfox]

Well hang in there.