Testamonials from WV

Email Print posted by Nick86 05/14/2008 11:45:56 AM EST

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Racism is ALIVE and well in WV, and now I, a Canadian, gets to see the "logic" of red necks. I have to say, it is HIGHLY discouraging and more than that, scary, that these individuals have the ability to vote in the next president of the United States.

 I personally want to smack down the woman in white, her ignorance is so typically Republican that seeing it in the flesh makes you want to yak. If I were a Republican, or Clinton support-which now is basically the same thing-I would not particularly be proud of "my base". I am happy that at least some of the people had the balls to admit the reason they aren't supporting Obama is because he is black, while the others used weak and transparent excuses.

This is why Clinton's appeals have to be ignored, because she is appealing to the lower common denominator. If the Democrats accept her logic that the racist vote is necessary to win ANY election, then a black man will never be president of the United States. Racism will still exist 10, 20, 50 years from now, its like a genetic disease. But, politics in the US does not seem to be about solving issues, or creating coalitions, rather the opposite holds true. To exacerbate division, political expediency, and ineffective government. You can say what you want about Obama, but I have yet to see him divide, or appeal heavily to pandering.

Obama '08
 
< Meanwhile--The Dems take ANOTHER seat from GOP | Republicans Who Just Don't Get It >
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Testamonials from WV | 34 comments (34 topical, 0 hidden)
Sorry "woman in yellow" (none / 0)

Blog: http://perspectivos.blogspo t.com/

by Nick86 on 05/14/2008 11:47:53 AM EST

I wish (none / 0)

you would make proper links. It works like this, highlight some text, like

link here

and click the link icon at the bottom of the text window. Then just paste in your url.

by hazmat on 05/14/2008 12:37:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
linky (none / 0)

The icon for URLs looks like a chain. Your blog link can be this:

Blog linky

without the extra spaces, or you can copy and paste this one. 

by zenie on 05/14/2008 01:17:13 PM EST

[ Parent ]
There are just as many Rednecks in Canada (none / 0)
You obviously haven't been stranded in Saskatoon or Medicine Hat on a cold Friday night and talked to the patrons there - Not a black person for miles... Plenty of Rednecks, though...

Really, you cannot and should not be surprised at this - this is what I have been telling you guys all along - The real issue about Obama is that White America is not ready for a Black President. I'm sorry, but facts are facts...

Now WV is an extreme example yes, but Im telling you that all across America, people are having these conversations about "Is he a Muslim" or "Why should it be a black guy over a woman" etc - and you guys just lambaste me for saying such things.

Im sorry that everyone is not part of the bandwagon - Im sorry that this vision of a United America to most is a pipe dream and an unwanted reality - You guys will see that there is a growing anti Obama sentiment growing - partly due to the elongated Primary, but mostly due to the fact that most Americans will simply not bring themselves to pull the lever for a black guy named "Barack" - We have come a long way, yes, but we sure as Hell haven't come that far...

And if we have, and Im wrong, then we're all the better for it...

:)

by bobo1 on 05/14/2008 12:06:18 PM EST

blame canada (none / 0)
I know some terribly racist Canadian rednecks.  They look at black people as though they were from another planet.

by schmoab on 05/14/2008 12:12:31 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Ok... (none / 0)
Of course Canada has its share of Red Necks, but they are MARGINAL compared to what you have in the United States. Sask. is NOT Texas lets just say. So no, we do not have "just as much" as you do, we are a more progressive civilization. If we were as bad as you, do you really think gay marriage would have become the law of the land as easily as it did? This is a distraction anyways, we are talking about American Red Necks, who are politically powerful unlike here in Canada.

I agree with Bobo to an extent, that yes parts of the United States will not vote for Obama because he is black, or perceived Muslim. But my question is really, so what? Of those states that this deep seated racism resides, how many of them are actually relevant to Democratic chances in November? Obama can win without WV, he can win without OH, he can win without FL. Dems never win in the DEEP south, so I say f*** em. So whats the big fuss about? Frankly, the special elections where Dems won, especially in the DEEP south shows that Obama is not a liability. The biggest liability this year is if you have a (R) beside your name.

Blog: http://perspectivos.blogspo t.com/

by Nick86 on 05/14/2008 12:34:08 PM EST

[ Parent ]
bobo's clairvoyance (none / 0)
That's not what we lambaste you for.

David

by yturks on 05/14/2008 12:34:43 PM EST

[ Parent ]
yes and those people would be (none / 0)
conservative republicans .

Im sorry that you are so narrow minded and blinded by racism and  rush limbaugh rot that you dont understand that if there was a  huge problem with race  Obama would not be WINNING..

He is winning now;.. he is going to be McBush

Get used to it and find some other talking point to obsess on.

mlm

by Chinese Democracy on 05/14/2008 02:52:59 PM EST

[ Parent ]
West Virginia diaspora (none / 0)

I live in Maryland, one of the bluest of blue states. There are a lot of people who moved here from WV first to work in the munitions plants in WWII, and to work in the auto and steel plants in Baltimore and Delaware. Then there are the ones who "was on the way to New York to get welfare and here's where the car broke down" so they stayed [in run-down trailers]. With rare exceptions they're not only ignorant, poorly educated and racist, they don't understand or care to know that there's any other way--no curiousity, no urge to learn more.

As in many other poor countries--and WV is similar to some of the poorest countries--the solution is education. Neighbors like mine see no disconnect between voting for Bush because he's anti-choice, even though his wars have resulted in deaths of close to 1 million people, millions of injuries, and dislocation of millions more people. Oh, Bush is white, and so is McCain. War is OK. Losing the Constitutional protections is just fine, since they don't know anything about that anyway, and don't see any difference between the Bill of Rights and the Ten Commandments--probably never read either one anyway.

If education is a solution, home schooling is the worst form of education because it shelters children from reality and provides the most narrow path to learning, while brainwashing children into believing only what they're told instead of using their education to learn how to think for themselves. No surprise that most of the home schooled children are from West Virginia, Kentucky and western Virginia, and they are woefully lacking in knowledge and ability to think rationally; even our Amish neighbors go to school. No Child's Behind Left legislation reinforces that ignorance: mission accomplished. 

One of my best friends is very conservative. She's also smart and well educated. We can have conversations and agree to disagree, often finding common ground on contentious issues. Many of my WV neighbors don't know enough to have conversations about much more than housekeeping and cars. Unfortunately they are the ones who are losing their jobs, losing their homes and don't know why, so they vote for the people who sent their jobs overseas and allowed the mortgage companies to loan them money that they can't afford to repay.

Bill Clinton signed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 which repealed the Glass-Steagall Act, allowing banks, securities and insurance companies to merge, starting the mechanisms that resulted in the inevitable housing bubble deflation. Poor people have been hit badly, losing homes that they couldn't afford to begin with. In their ignorance and racism, they will vote for the people who are most likely to hurt them, never knowing why. Blame racism, blame Bush, blame Clinton[s] too.

by zenie on 05/14/2008 01:12:02 PM EST

I don't know what to do now (none / 0)

I've been thinking about this for a couple days now, and this video kind of crystallized it for me. I had decided to support Hillary in the fall if she wins, regardless of an ugly convention battle etc. I convinced myself she would be better than McCain (this was difficult). But now that Hillary Clinton has decided to openly embrace racism, how could I ever vote for her? Under any circumstance? Her campaign has turned really ugly. Yes I know that she says she isn't personally racist, but her campaign is pedaling this crap as a reason to vote for her.

I will never, ever, ever vote for someone who says they are a better candidate because racists prefer them. What is she thinking? That in a banner year for democrats we're all going to turn into jingoistic race-baiting republicans? This is not what the democratic party is about.

by hazmat on 05/14/2008 01:52:48 PM EST

Kind of a false construct (none / 0)

We would not have to vote for Hillary unless she won the primary.
She would never have done this or a number of other "strategies" that made us throw up in our mouths if she hadn't already essentially lost.

This is ugly but its politics.  The fact she is doing it is basically an admission of defeat.

What I am saying (poorly) is there was never any chance of us having to choose between someone who ran on racism and McCain because Hillary didn't (and would not have) decided to run on racism until she had lost anyway.

Now why she won't drop out is beyond me. 

by ProfRich on 05/14/2008 02:11:22 PM EST

[ Parent ]
yes (none / 0)
but it's really, really sad, because as someone who has always had great respect for Hillary as a person, a liberal legislator, and an Icon of the democratic party, she is beginning to be seriously tarnished in my eyes as a result of this.

by hazmat on 05/14/2008 02:16:04 PM EST

[ Parent ]
test (none / 0)
"<a href='a brokenlink'>a broken link<a/>"

by hazmat on 05/16/2008 02:48:29 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Two Words (none / 0)

If the choice comes down to Hillary or McCain, I'll hate it. But, my vote will go to Hillary, as I hold my nose and choke down my utter disappointment.

Why?  

 Two words:  Supreme Court.

 No matter who she's appealing to, no matter what crap she's pulled, there's no way that McCain winning won't screw us for generations through Supreme Court nominees.

by pmdtrans on 05/14/2008 04:01:10 PM EST

[ Parent ]
From one who happens to BE black (none / 0)
First of all, it's interesting and funny to watch you guys fight over who has more racists the US or Canada. I've been to Canada a few times, but only to civilized places line Montreal and Toronto and I must say that I have never experienced the kind of racism that Afro Ams have to deal with in the US. Stuff like people locking their car doors when you walk by, or following you around in a store like you are going to steal something, or going out of the way to provide as service to a white person, when you were there first. I don't see that kind of stuff in Canada and I got nothin' but love for Canadiens.

The point here, and I have made this point in other posts is that THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING US. This is our test. Are we all ready to rise above this shit and come together as a people? I know there are some irredeemably racist folks in both the US and Canada (both white AND black AND brown for that matter) and I feel sorry for them, because they will be left behind to stew in their hate. As for the rest of us Americans, let's show the world that we are in fact an enlightened people, ready to move beyond the 20th century battles, better than the people who only want to divide us for their own political ends. Conquering this issue will be a big part of America regaining its respect and returning to the world scene as a leader.

by mijoh on 05/14/2008 03:53:41 PM EST

Three invitations to Nick (none / 0)
The first invitation is for you to read this recent essay by Michael Hirsh in Newsweek. He explains who the rednecks are, and how they've been controlling the political agenda in America for many years.

The second invitation is for you to look at the red section of this map, so you can become familar with where the rednecks live. Just to make it easier for you, think red=redneck. 
rednecks


The third invitation is for you to visit a redneck state like Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma. I can introduce you to some real life rednecks so you can live out your dream, which you stated as: "I personally want to smack down the woman in white"

You've probably heard of "southern hospitality". I know plenty of southern rednecks in all of these states, and they would love to meet a skinny little punk ass Uruguanian-Canadian with an arrogant, haughty attitutude. Then you can surprise them by smacking down their women, kind of like a segment in the Borat movie. I'll even film the enounter for rebroadcast on TYT, and we'll see what develops. It should be entertaining.

Oh. One more thing. I know some mighty big rednecks.

by KenTX on 05/14/2008 05:43:11 PM EST

Thanks, Ken (none / 0)
That's productive. I know you're just picking on Nick's statement of "smacking" that woman down but still... proving your point by saying your redneck thugs can whup on Nick?

Okay, Let's play that game. Come up to Chicago where I can introduce you to some people who would love to meet a right-wing Texan of any size, especially when they hear how much you love those racist rednecks.

Oh. One more thing. I know some mighty big blacks and latinos. You know, the ones who've actually had to prove their toughness in street fights and who've had to be on the other side of those guns you good 'ol boys love so much.

by Weapon X on 05/14/2008 10:43:52 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Chicago? (none / 0)
Don't make me laugh. I walk around on the streets of South Chicago and Gary, Indiana with no fear, because the inhabitants are weaklings.The great college football players come from Dixie, not Chicago. You Yankees are a bunch of punks.

by KenTX on 05/15/2008 11:52:58 AM EST

[ Parent ]
BTW (none / 0)
That map is a load of crap. Neither the red nor the blue states are actually so (save maybe four or five total). The votes that map is based off of are usually damn near 50/50 splits, 45/55 is considered "dominant." And even in the states where its 60/40, that's only 3 out 5.

And wait till after November. There's gonna be one helluva dominant blue hue to that map.

by Weapon X on 05/14/2008 10:49:02 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Gee, a big red map... (none / 0)
of the past.

I'm shocked, really, I would have never thought KenTX would post a big red map that isn't relevent.

Hey look, Mississippi, Indiana, and North Carolina are all still red.  I guess those special elections didn't register yet.

Really, I have never ever expected such an original graphic.

by richardshort2001 on 05/15/2008 12:12:24 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Better map (none / 0)

Since in this country we count people not acres when it comes to elections (except for all those pesky democrat votin' soldiers, we cage them out) here is a cartogram (google it bobo) showing state size based on population.

 Why doesn't TX fall into the Gulf?

by ProfRich on 05/15/2008 12:55:53 AM EST

[ Parent ]
that is cool (none / 0)
I've never seen this ma...cartogram.  California looks like a big blue ass.  Democratic donkey I mean.

by desertpear on 05/15/2008 01:39:39 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Nice map (none / 0)

Ken likes to talk about all the people who are moving to the south and how that is going to guarantee GOP victories for years to come. He actually linked to an article recently that talked about it. As usual, Ken did not read it before linking to it (hint for the next time he links to it and yes he will).

AS an Ex Northern Republican who lived in the south I can guarantee you one thing, Southern Republicans give us the creeps.

I guess Southern Republican politicians are giving southerners the creeps also. How else could Democrats win in conservative districts in LA and MS?

Viva la tax cut 

 

by z1p101 on 05/15/2008 01:45:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Why haven't we heard the magic word? (none / 0)

How did we see an almost 70-point swing in Mississippi?  50+ swing in LA.  The answer might be extremely simple.  I can't believe nobody has said it.  Ready?

Katrina!

The bitch is back.

Republicans have been spinning this story that Katrina meant there were lot fewer Dems (read black people) on the Gulf Coast and LA was pissed at the state government so now that area would be even redder and Mary Landreaux would lose her Senate seat and gee wasn't that hurricane extra funny now.

After the last two weeks there is some chance they were wrong.  Landreux looks good in polls, by the way.  And now these house elections.
What if the people of LA, MS and presumably AL are actually kinda pissed at the GOP for the response to Katrina?  That might be a problem for the Republicans.  Now it might not be enough to throw the states to Obama (although a 50 point swing would do it) but it might be enough to ding em up pretty bad in the House as well as deliver for Landreaux.  AL and MS both have senate races that appear safe as of now but if this theory holds, look out.  Those are two of the only safe seats in the Senate on the right.

Now I am not calling for big Dem victories on the Gulf but I think Landreaux is ok.  I think the Dems might grab a few "untouchable" house seats here.  I think McCain might have to visit, maybe spend a few bucks.  But if this theory is true, look out!  Could be a massive landslide if the "Solid South" cracks up.

Now there is the issue of those displaced Katrina victims.  Where did they go?  Ken can tell you they are mostly in Texas.  Now McCain needs Texas more than any other state he has a chance in.  Texas has not been polling that great for McCain.  Senator Cornyn-R has a 4 point lead on some bald Mexican guy name Rick Noriega who no one has ever heard of.  Add the pissed off Katrina refugees to the pissed off Mexicans and you get an explosive mix for the Democrats here in the Lone Star State.  Maybe I am wrong.  But maybe Katrina is going to drive votes and, contrary to the GOP fantasies, she ain't driving them to the right. 

by ProfRich on 05/15/2008 02:20:56 AM EST

[ Parent ]
God... (none / 0)
works in mysterious ways!

Blog: http://perspectivos.blogspo t.com/

by Nick86 on 05/15/2008 02:39:54 AM EST

[ Parent ]
True (none / 0)

But it's not just down there, it's everywhere. People are just tired of these Republican's and their smug "we don't have to listen to you" attitude (see Cheney's "So" statement). These guys are just not getting the message that the American people expect Congressmen to work for them and their wishes.

As far as Katrina goes, the last thing people wanted to hear is their representatives (Democrat or Republican) making excuses for Bush and the rest. They wanted action, not politics but all Republican politicians understand is how to play follow the leader even if he brings them off the edge of a cliff.

I agree with you on McCain. The only reason he has a chance right now is because he has this "Maverick" label and needs to keep it and appease the far right wing at the same time. That is a hard juggling act. Right now he is flip flopping running hard and fast to the right. He is even pissing off the American Legion in the process and if he loses their support, stick a fork in his old wrinkled ass.

by z1p101 on 05/15/2008 12:50:49 PM EST

[ Parent ]
the magic words are (none / 0)
"Gasoline prices!"

by KenTX on 05/15/2008 12:52:04 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Maybe so (none / 0)
But no matter what the words are, the end result is GOP ass kicking so I'm good.  Gas prices is even better because that covers the whole US, not just the Gulf Coast.

by ProfRich on 05/15/2008 01:35:04 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I had an interesting conversation with bobo last (none / 0)
night... I know, I know.

Anyway I was thinking the same thing about LA possible going blue.  What group in America has more of a reason to get energized to vote Democratic 08 than New Orleans blacks?  (Other than parents of 4000+ soldiers.)

by richardshort2001 on 05/16/2008 12:05:49 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Sense for the senseless (none / 0)

I don't know if its Katrina but something is going on down LA and MS way.  The Hastert seat in IL is awesome but understandable.  I think there was an 8pt swing from 06 to the special.  Nice.  Good news for Dems but that kind of swing happens dozens of times in every election.

Now in LA and MS they were both over 50 point swings and that is a big deal.

I am deranged and obsessive so I have compiled a massive spreadsheet of how every state has voted in every election and then normalized the margin in each state to the overall margin.  What jumps out at you when you do this is how there are long periods of static and then regions explode across party lines (the South jumping in 1968 comes to mind).  These are the great realignments we are talking about.  50+ point swings are extremely rare and don't really happen for one election cylce.  They stay around.  Is it Katrina? Is it gas prices like Ken's suggests? Is it some other variable we are missing?  I dunno.  But anyone who thinks we are gonna redo 2004 and see who can steal/suppress the most vots in Ohio just doesn't get it. 

by ProfRich on 05/16/2008 12:25:20 AM EST

[ Parent ]
This map is more accurate (none / 0)

Blog: http://perspectivos.blogspo t.com/

by Nick86 on 05/14/2008 06:36:14 PM EST

I like that map. (none / 0)
Mexico needs to cover about the bottom half of Texas though.

by ProfRich on 05/14/2008 10:57:56 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Can you paint my house in purple? (none / 0)

by richardshort2001 on 05/15/2008 12:08:17 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Florida replaced... (none / 0)
Notice how Ill. would become Canada's new wang state!

Blog: http://perspectivos.blogspo t.com/

by Nick86 on 05/15/2008 02:03:07 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Testamonials from WV | 34 comments (34 topical, 0 hidden)
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