Comments on: Is it Over? http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/ America's favorite blog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:47:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: Matt the Contrarian http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33433 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:26:22 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33433 Well, if you must pull out the "Carter was hamstrung by Ford's being hamstrung by OPEC" argument, I'm afraid I might feel tempted to bring in the 500 pound gorilla sporting the "America Hearts Israel' t-shirt, and there's no telling what will happen next. I hesitate, because as you know, whenever the American/Israeli question is brought out with any earnestness, comedic commentary halts, and people start blowing up. Certainly, if Nixon had decided to cease all economic and military aid to Israel, back in those heady days, in exchange for discount prices in oil barrel units, the OPEC resolution would likely have been averted, as well as other things related to Muslim anger management issues. But as Nixon would tell you, sometimes you have to make decisions immediately, according to your gut feelings, that might hurt later. I trust the democrats will receive it with the compassionate understanding they are famous for. Thanks for your response, Chris. I enjoy your writing. Well, if you must pull out the “Carter was hamstrung by Ford’s being hamstrung by OPEC” argument, I’m afraid I might feel tempted to bring in the 500 pound gorilla sporting the “America Hearts Israel’ t-shirt, and there’s no telling what will happen next.
I hesitate, because as you know, whenever the American/Israeli question is brought out with any earnestness, comedic commentary halts, and people start blowing up.
Certainly, if Nixon had decided to cease all economic and military aid to Israel, back in those heady days, in exchange for discount prices in oil barrel units, the OPEC resolution would likely have been averted, as well as other things related to Muslim anger management issues.
But as Nixon would tell you, sometimes you have to make decisions immediately, according to your gut feelings, that might hurt later.
I trust the democrats will receive it with the compassionate understanding they are famous for.
Thanks for your response, Chris. I enjoy your writing.

]]> by: Chris Harlan http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33422 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:31:40 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33422 Hey, contrary Matt, I don't know what the heck you are talking about. A. I'm not an Obamanian, though I will certainly vote for him. B. I don't believe that Bush will be tried for murder, though I suspect it would be charming if he was. C. I would place those 70's economics woes more at the feet of OPEC than I would Jimmy C. I would encourage the people who will be busy countering your people to tell folks that Carter inherited recession and inflation from the previous administration, who did nothing more to deal with it than hand out WIN Buttons (Whip Inflation Now--it was funny then, it is funny still.) Hey, contrary Matt, I don’t know what the heck you are talking about. A. I’m not an Obamanian, though I will certainly vote for him. B. I don’t believe that Bush will be tried for murder, though I suspect it would be charming if he was. C. I would place those 70’s economics woes more at the feet of OPEC than I would Jimmy C. I would encourage the people who will be busy countering your people to tell folks that Carter inherited recession and inflation from the previous administration, who did nothing more to deal with it than hand out WIN Buttons (Whip Inflation Now–it was funny then, it is funny still.)

]]> by: Matt the Contrarian http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33406 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:50:11 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33406 Just remember, Obamians, the same inherent quality of perception that tells you there's a possibility the President of the United States will be tried for mass murder, is the same quality of perception that informs you that Obama should/will be the next President of the United States. By the way, I think in the current fiscal atmosphere, McCain would be well advised to remind us of the Carter adminstration, and how Obama aligns with Carter's political experience in general, and world view in particular. Carter was a great guy, charismatic, had probably the highest IQ of any president in history, and just about buried us, Anybody remember 20% interest rates? Good times. Just remember, Obamians, the same inherent quality of perception that tells you there’s a possibility the President of the United States will be tried for mass murder, is the same quality of perception that informs you that Obama should/will be the next President of the United States.
By the way, I think in the current fiscal atmosphere, McCain would be well advised to remind us of the Carter adminstration, and how Obama aligns with Carter’s political experience in general, and world view in particular.
Carter was a great guy, charismatic, had probably the highest IQ of any president in history, and just about buried us,
Anybody remember 20% interest rates?
Good times.

]]> by: sharon http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33404 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:23:05 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33404 Sing, Scotty, sing!! Sing, Scotty, sing!!

]]> by: David http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33389 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:43:58 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33389 I hear you on Bugliosi, Chris. I get Robert Wexler's newsletter. Today's says Scott McClellan has agreed to testify under oath before the house judiciary committee. This has legs. I hear you on Bugliosi, Chris. I get Robert Wexler’s newsletter. Today’s says Scott McClellan has agreed to testify under oath before the house judiciary committee. This has legs.

]]> by: Chris Harlan http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33357 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:26:50 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33357 There are probably more than a few GOP strategists who are resigned to--and are perhaps hopeful that they will--loose the general election. Things are so screwed up nationally that they would probably like to sit the next four years on the sidelines and try to convince one and all that the muck we are trudging through is not Bush's brew. Another note: Vincent Bugliosi's The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder is a very interesting read/listen, though I have to put it down occasionally because it makes me mutter angrily at the gym. There are probably more than a few GOP strategists who are resigned to–and are perhaps hopeful that they will–loose the general election. Things are so screwed up nationally that they would probably like to sit the next four years on the sidelines and try to convince one and all that the muck we are trudging through is not Bush’s brew.

Another note: Vincent Bugliosi’s The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder is a very interesting read/listen, though I have to put it down occasionally because it makes me mutter angrily at the gym.

]]> by: David http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33356 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:36:42 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33356 I think the republicans probably have more to attack Obama with, but I also think they have the problem that it won't work this time around. Those tactics failed miserably in the special elections in Mississippi and Louisiana, and I don't think they have an alternate strategy worked out. And McCain looks better beside Hillary than he does beside Obama. I suspect they were planning to fight the last war in the general election, just as they tried to in those special elections, but as Newt the Grinch said, that won't work. And I just don't see them being able to shift their strategy as dramatically as they need to, nor do I think they can do anything about McCain's weaknesses as a campaigner. At one time I would have consdered Obama the easier candidate for the republicans to defeat, but recent events, and the Obama I've seen in his speeches, are what caused me to agree with Adam. Down this way, we got some of that "The republicans are salivating at the idea of running against Obama," which I think at that time was true. And I even think Hillary believed Obama was more vulnerable, based on some of the polls and the fact that the republicans had nothing new to attack her with. She was ignoring how high her own negatives were, however. Most encouraging are two current poll numbers: Obama and McCain are in a statistical dead heat, according to Rasmussen, using multi-day polling, but in each case Obama comes out ahead, like by 46-45, 47-44, those kinds of numbers, and if McCain isn't ahead now, the general election campaign isn't likely to put him there. The other is that Obama has a commanding lead over McCain among Hispanics nationwide, and because it is likely a sense that McCain betrayed them, it won't go away. That makes Florida and North Carolina more winnable, and hurts McCain in the Cactus Corner as well. And McCain is not all that popular even in Arizona. It will be interesting to see how it plays out, and for me personally whether or not I know what the hell I'm talking about. For America, of course, the results will go way beyond being merely interesting. I think the republicans probably have more to attack Obama with, but I also think they have the problem that it won’t work this time around. Those tactics failed miserably in the special elections in Mississippi and Louisiana, and I don’t think they have an alternate strategy worked out. And McCain looks better beside Hillary than he does beside Obama. I suspect they were planning to fight the last war in the general election, just as they tried to in those special elections, but as Newt the Grinch said, that won’t work. And I just don’t see them being able to shift their strategy as dramatically as they need to, nor do I think they can do anything about McCain’s weaknesses as a campaigner. At one time I would have consdered Obama the easier candidate for the republicans to defeat, but recent events, and the Obama I’ve seen in his speeches, are what caused me to agree with Adam.

Down this way, we got some of that “The republicans are salivating at the idea of running against Obama,” which I think at that time was true. And I even think Hillary believed Obama was more vulnerable, based on some of the polls and the fact that the republicans had nothing new to attack her with. She was ignoring how high her own negatives were, however.

Most encouraging are two current poll numbers: Obama and McCain are in a statistical dead heat, according to Rasmussen, using multi-day polling, but in each case Obama comes out ahead, like by 46-45, 47-44, those kinds of numbers, and if McCain isn’t ahead now, the general election campaign isn’t likely to put him there. The other is that Obama has a commanding lead over McCain among Hispanics nationwide, and because it is likely a sense that McCain betrayed them, it won’t go away. That makes Florida and North Carolina more winnable, and hurts McCain in the Cactus Corner as well. And McCain is not all that popular even in Arizona.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out, and for me personally whether or not I know what the hell I’m talking about. For America, of course, the results will go way beyond being merely interesting.

]]> by: Matt http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33331 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:39:20 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33331 David, I think the republicans considered it a toss-up. Hillary would have had a more conventional, predictable campaign, which is more desirable, but on the other hand, Obama has a lot of "loose variables" in his campaign that can end up significantly working in McCain's favor. Those being his past, and his wife (loose cannon). We also don't know what republican's have prepared for Obama relating to his past, if he won the nominations, and I'd be quite surprised if they hadn't "baked a cake" for the occasion. Obama renouncing his own church of 20 years, and it's pastors seemed like a bold move by someone who might be paranoid about something else coming up, wanting to "clear the table" quickly, eliminating the "problem" with one quick lie ("my goodness! I've never heard such things from the church elders!"), soon to be forgotten, instead of letting things pile up. David, I think the republicans considered it a toss-up. Hillary would have had a more conventional, predictable campaign, which is more desirable, but on the other hand, Obama has a lot of “loose variables” in his campaign that can end up significantly working in McCain’s favor.
Those being his past, and his wife (loose cannon).
We also don’t know what republican’s have prepared for Obama relating to his past, if he won the nominations, and I’d be quite surprised if they hadn’t “baked a cake” for the occasion.
Obama renouncing his own church of 20 years, and it’s pastors seemed like a bold move by someone who might be paranoid about something else coming up, wanting to “clear the table” quickly, eliminating the “problem” with one quick lie (”my goodness! I’ve never heard such things from the church elders!”), soon to be forgotten, instead of letting things pile up.

]]> by: David http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33327 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:42:16 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33327 Adam got one thing right, and it has always been true. Obama is more electable because of Hillary's high negatives. And I do not care what they say or don't say, the Republicans wanted to run against Hillary, not Obama. Today's speech was delivered by the Hillary I admired and supported pre-authorization for Bush to choose to invade Iraq. Now, if she really can help put a Democrat in the White House, this time around meaning Barack Hussein Obama, she will have undone some of the damage. Problem is some damage takes much longer to repair, as was the case with the social damage done by the Republicans' Willie Horton ad, the idea for which sadly appears to have originated in the Democratic primary. But we're in a war for the future of this country, and we need Hillary to do as much good as she can as part of this war effort. Adam got one thing right, and it has always been true. Obama is more electable because of Hillary’s high negatives. And I do not care what they say or don’t say, the Republicans wanted to run against Hillary, not Obama. Today’s speech was delivered by the Hillary I admired and supported pre-authorization for Bush to choose to invade Iraq. Now, if she really can help put a Democrat in the White House, this time around meaning Barack Hussein Obama, she will have undone some of the damage.

Problem is some damage takes much longer to repair, as was the case with the social damage done by the Republicans’ Willie Horton ad, the idea for which sadly appears to have originated in the Democratic primary.

But we’re in a war for the future of this country, and we need Hillary to do as much good as she can as part of this war effort.

]]> by: Chris Harlan http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33315 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:52:38 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2008/06/03/is-it-over/#comment-33315 Oh my, I've missed so much. Adam, do you believe for a second that Harriet Christian would not vote for BHO because of the campaign? I couldn't listen to the whole rant because it was painful, but it was also painfully clear after twelve and a half seconds that she will never vote for BHO over anyone. She will/would choose a potato over HBO, and that would have been four years ago, and will be four years from now. HRC didn't make Harriet who she is anymore than HRC made George Wallace who he was. Oh my, I’ve missed so much. Adam, do you believe for a second that Harriet Christian would not vote for BHO because of the campaign? I couldn’t listen to the whole rant because it was painful, but it was also painfully clear after twelve and a half seconds that she will never vote for BHO over anyone. She will/would choose a potato over HBO, and that would have been four years ago, and will be four years from now. HRC didn’t make Harriet who she is anymore than HRC made George Wallace who he was.

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