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Post Of The Day

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

I tell you, today is quite a day in the blogs. Look at what Chris Bowers writes today:

Clinton's primary coalition thus far has been largely kept afloat by older Reagan Dems who also tend to be white southern Baptists. And yes, they also tend to be older, as exit polls have shown. . . . I don't care if Democrats never make up any ground among Reagan Democrats ever, as long as we lock up the support of expanding groups like the creative class, white non-Christians, Latinos and Asians for a generation. . . . While Clinton's advantage among Latinos and Asians does not make it a perfect match, Obama's primary coalition is far closer to the coalition we need for an expanding future of the Democratic Party, while Clinton's primary is a lot more like the coalition we have been chasing after for the past twenty-five years or so. . . .

Yep. Except for those pesky Latinos and, of course those older women, and white working class men - I hate the Clinton coalition and I love the way Obama does not make appeals to Reagan Democrats. Why yes, that is what I really love about Obama - the way he is sharply partisan against the Republicans and has not run one of those Unity Schtick campaigns to appeal to Reagan Democrats. Heck never would Obama even say a word of praise of Reagan EVER. And Republicans? No where to be seen in that Obama coalition. Nosirree.

Some things can not be parodied. More

BTW, I think the point Chris was trying to make, that chasing "Values Voters" is futile and stupid, is one I agree with. It was the point of my post What Obama Needs To Learn. It is hilarious that Obama's pandering to "values Voters" has been such a futile failure.

Update (TL): Comments now closed.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Yes, (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by plf1953 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:13:25 PM EST
    We (or guys like Ackerman and Bowers) are living in alternate universes.

    Okay wait. (5.00 / 7) (#2)
    by inclusiveheart on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:14:40 PM EST
    Did I miss something?

    Was there a huge migration of Southern White Baptists to New York, California, Ohio?

    And how come Clinton lost in Georgia - arguably the most Southern White Baptist State next to South Carolina and Alabama where he also won?

    Heh (5.00 / 5) (#15)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:21:33 PM EST
    Apparently.

    And you know Obama never ONCE made an appeal to Spouthern Baptists, never ONCE appeared with one of those Mega Vangelists.

    And Gawd knows that's where the Reagan Dems are.

    [ Parent ]

    Obama isn't chasing Reagan Democrats (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by Josey on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:14:30 PM EST
    he chasing Reagan Republicans! - pushing them to "be a Democrat for a day" then switch back to Republican in Nov.
    This strategy has helped Obama win votes now, but how does it help him win the general?
    Or perhaps when Obama first began the strategy last summer - he thought by now the entire country would have fallen under his spell?

    [ Parent ]
    Reality interrupted. (none / 0) (#100)
    by Angel on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:15:31 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Roast that post, BTD! (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by LarryInNYC on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:14:47 PM EST


    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:17:56 PM EST
    I like Chris, I really do, but come on. That was just too much.

    [ Parent ]
    well, you know (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by Turkana on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:15:39 PM EST
    she isn't winning "the creative class." think i'll have business cards made with that as my title...

    Yes! I will propose to my curriculum (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:19:21 PM EST
    committee a new course that oughta just bring in all those non-Christians in droves:

    XXX 101: The Creative Class Class

    And shall we all now gather 'round to do a draft syllabus?  Suggest yer readings here, yer assignments, yer midterm and final exam questions -- as well as, of course, the final grading formula to determine who gets to pass The Creative Class Class.

    [ Parent ]

    I think satire sites (5.00 / 6) (#16)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:23:52 PM EST
    such as A-list blogs are the "cookbook" for creative classism.

    Creativity Lesson 1:  How to convincingly embrace things you previously shunned and shun things you previously embraced and actually believe yourself -- now that takes some creativity!

    I'll leave the rest for you.

    [ Parent ]

    Aha. The required text will be (5.00 / 8) (#33)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:35:29 PM EST
    Crashing the Cognitive Dissonance Gate for the Creative Class: Convincing Your Audience and Yourself That You Did Not Say the Direct Opposite Yesterday.

    [ Parent ]
    Heh (none / 0) (#40)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:41:26 PM EST
    I can ace that course.

    [ Parent ]
    We gave you a waiver (none / 0) (#70)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:56:45 PM EST
    of this required course, because we want you to be the adjunct instructor.  But being of the creative class as you are, we're open to a more special title to make you feel really, really important.

    But no parking permit.  Plug the meter or take your parking ticket like the rest of us teachers.

    [ Parent ]

    Explosive comment of the day. (none / 0) (#41)
    by katiebird on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:41:39 PM EST
    Wonderful.

    [ Parent ]
    Another topic (none / 0) (#49)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:45:40 PM EST
    Creativity Lesson 2: Jews for Buchannan and Reagan Democrats for Hillary.

    [ Parent ]
    Another lesson could be "How to Caucus and (none / 0) (#55)
    by Angel on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:51:02 PM EST
    Get the Results You Want!"

    [ Parent ]
    To be followed by the next exercise (none / 0) (#65)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:53:38 PM EST
    i.e., Or, If Not the Results You Want, How to Not Report Them to the Texas Secretary of State.

    [ Parent ]
    And assignments will be graded (none / 0) (#58)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:51:26 PM EST
    in no small part on ability to master and demonstrate Reaganesque "communication skills."

    [ Parent ]
    The more I look at Reagan Democrats (none / 0) (#59)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:51:29 PM EST
    the more I see them as the "creative class".

    [ Parent ]
    This should be at minimum (none / 0) (#47)
    by Virginian on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:44:38 PM EST
    graduate level...18 year olds can handle it IMO...

    [ Parent ]
    Yeh, actually (none / 0) (#74)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:59:14 PM EST
    we find that 18-year-olds excel at resolving cognitive disssonance. They do so by blogging about it, blaming it on their parents and every other baby boomer in sight, and then they feel all better and have a beer.

    [ Parent ]
    Of course, need we point out (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:00:41 PM EST
    that it's from their parents' special six-pack of imported beer that they were saving. So what? Darn boomers and their sense of beer-entitlement.

    [ Parent ]
    Wine (none / 0) (#83)
    by waldenpond on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:04:50 PM EST
    Not a beer, a glass of wine.

    [ Parent ]
    Not where I am in Wisconsin (5.00 / 1) (#165)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:29:29 PM EST
    It's beer, beer, beer.  

    We do lattes, but only with our bratwurst and sauerkraut.

    [ Parent ]

    Hey now...easy...I STILL blame my parents! (none / 0) (#96)
    by Virginian on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:12:09 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    WTF is the "creative class" (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by tree on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:28:27 PM EST
    I've heard the term bandied about but don't quite know who its supposed to refer to. It rather sounds like an elitist term to me. I've got creative friends, and they aren't a "class" in the economic sense. Can anyone help me out here?

    [ Parent ]
    I'm not sure, but (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by inclusiveheart on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:35:00 PM EST
    I may be in it.  One thing though is while I appreciate the fact that Obama's graphics are better than pretty much any political graphics I've ever seen - and he wears great suits - and his ads are good - those things aren't defining issues for me where it comes to my politics.

    [ Parent ]
    Technically, I think Hillary's site is better ... (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:40:25 PM EST
    I'm always getting lost on Obama's site.  I recently had to click through four different pull down menus in search of one of his vaunted speeches. Then do a search.  I still couldn't find it.

    Finally, I googled it.

    But Obama's site is very pretty though.

    [ Parent ]

    User Interface Design (5.00 / 2) (#112)
    by blogtopus on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:22:09 PM EST
    Is more science than creativity. That's why Hillary's site is so easy to navigate: None of those pesky 'creatives' touched the navigation.

    Obama, however, lets everybody hope their way through his site. :-D

    [ Parent ]

    Obama's site (none / 0) (#125)
    by Practically Lactating on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:30:01 PM EST
    seems to be very influenced by the web 2.0 crowd, a crowd that values hype over substance.  

    The celestial lights are intended to distract from the lack of thoughtful design. Good design is about more than putting a glossy finish on your buttons, as Hillary's site exemplifies.

    [ Parent ]

    I'm a Web editor (none / 0) (#188)
    by echinopsia on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:04:07 PM EST
    so I spend a lot of time on the Internet even when I'm working (have to go to the source to fact-check and do reasearch and stuff).

    I think Obama's Web site is very poorly laid out and hard to navigate, but I have been informed it's because I am partisan for Clinton, it because I know anything about Web navigation.

    The only thing I would change on her Web site is to add a prominent link to her Senate site.

    [ Parent ]

    Ha! (none / 0) (#158)
    by ghost2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:19:48 PM EST
    But he is inspirational.  You had to find your way by inspiration, and perhaps you were lacking in creativity.  

    I swear, they don't want people to pay attention to his positions, they are focusing on personality.

    [ Parent ]

    Bloggers think they ... (5.00 / 7) (#34)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:36:02 PM EST
    belong to it.

    ;)

    Seriously, it's a blanket term that includes those in the arts and those in other creative professions like graphic designers and such.

    Personally, I hate the term.  Even though I belong to this group.

    [ Parent ]

    Thats not how bloggers are applying it though (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by Virginian on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:42:22 PM EST
    its is being applied to IT workers, entrepreneurs, journalists (arguably correctly applied there when they just "make-stuff-up"), anyone who reads blogs, etc....

    [ Parent ]
    I'll take your word for it ... (none / 0) (#62)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:52:45 PM EST
    then I don't think I belong.

    Because I actually do make stuff up for a living.

    Phew, that's a load off my mind.  

    [ Parent ]

    It's probably you (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by eric on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:43:55 PM EST
    It's a term invented by Dr. Richard Florida.  Read all about it HERE.

    Basically, it is a class of people that work in "knowledge intensive" jobs in post-industrial America.  If you drive a Saab or a Volvo and drink lattes, you are in it.

    BTW, I am in it and I support Hillary.

    [ Parent ]

    Me too! (none / 0) (#106)
    by otherlisa on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:19:33 PM EST
    But I drive a Mini Cooper, does that count?

    [ Parent ]
    I drive a Jetta (none / 0) (#113)
    by blogtopus on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:23:17 PM EST
    I think that is a cross between a mini and a volvo.

    [ Parent ]
    my definition (5.00 / 3) (#60)
    by joei on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:51:49 PM EST
    of obama supporters -- the ones who first bought apple iphone before it came out before the price drop and plenty of bug fixes. :)

    [ Parent ]
    Funniest line yet...... (none / 0) (#63)
    by Angel on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:53:15 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    That's a wonderfully clever and ... (none / 0) (#69)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:54:36 PM EST
    round about way of calling them stupid.

    [ Parent ]
    AACK (none / 0) (#117)
    by blogtopus on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:24:38 PM EST
    I bought the phone a few months after it came out because I was going on a trip and didn't want to bring my laptop for email. Best money I spent in a while -- until Jobs doubled the memory. Eeesh. Now I'm going to wait until it has GPS.

    [ Parent ]
    Aha. Known as "first adopters" (none / 0) (#85)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:06:15 PM EST
    or "early adopters" on the adoption-of-innovation curve.

    This does absolutely explain it.  This is the group that defines cool.  If they buy it, it's cool.

    They were the first to "adopt" Obama and buy the unity shtick, thus making it cool.

    Of course, studies track how fast cool becomes uncool, because it is requisite for first adopters to abandon what they have defined as cool as soon as others adopt it.  A problem for the Obama campaign, there. . . .

    [ Parent ]

    oh, (none / 0) (#162)
    by ghost2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:24:08 PM EST
    this cries for a link to Salon article, very snarky and very funny about a young Obama supporter abandoning him since he is now past cool.  

    I am too lazy to give a link. sorry.

    [ Parent ]

    It was Slate (none / 0) (#202)
    by echinopsia on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:43:04 PM EST
    It's not you, it's me


    [ Parent ]
    Why no one pays attention to me?? (none / 0) (#159)
    by ghost2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:22:16 PM EST
    whine whine..

    I have said exactly the same thing about his campaign.  It reminds me exactly of i-phone marketing.

    No one knows what they are getting, but everyone wants one.

    [ Parent ]

    No no no.... (none / 0) (#205)
    by ruffian on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:53:14 PM EST
    I wont let Obama supporters co-opt my iPhone love.  Can't I have anything?

    iPhones are like Hillary - beautiful, practical, smartest on the block.

    [ Parent ]

    Creative Class = Anyone Who Votes For Obama (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by MO Blue on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:07:27 PM EST
    If you vote for Clinton, no matter what you do, you do not belong to the creative class.

    All that aside, here from a post on Open Left  is a definition of the Creative Class:

    God knows there is nothing wrong with a little old-fashioned working-class populism, as I have advocated many times in my day. But I don't see how it adds any working-class voters to the Clinton cause, and it has great potential to drive your numbers down among what some of us call creative-class voters (those who work in universities, the arts, media, high-tech and in small businesses like architecture, engineering and law firms), many of whom are still wavering as to whom to vote for.



    [ Parent ]
    I think the reason I'm voting for Hillary then (none / 0) (#122)
    by blogtopus on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:26:05 PM EST
    is because I'm a creative person who loves hard science fiction. Larry Niven, Pournelle, Pohl. I wonder who they are voting for?

    [ Parent ]
    Everytime I hear... (none / 0) (#26)
    by Alvord on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:32:21 PM EST
    the term "creative class" it reminds me of that jerk Larry Kudlow on CNBC. He used to talk forever about the "investor class".

    I don't know what the creative class is but it sounds pretentious and I don't like it.

    [ Parent ]

    Coined by Richard Florida (none / 0) (#50)
    by Practically Lactating on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:47:22 PM EST
    My understanding (though I admit I have not really read his work) is that the creative class is delineated by profession.  The class seems to be composed of traditional white collar jobs and within this larger group is a subset called the "super-creative core", consisting of the fields of computers and math, media, sports, architecture, engineering, education, art, design, and social sciences.

    Critics of Florida argue that he has repackageed the yuppies of the 80s as the creative class, and when you look at the professions he includes in this group, it seems a fair critique.

    In the manner I see the term here, it seems to be a synonym for the wine swillers (as opposed to the beer drinkers).

    [ Parent ]

    Interpretive Dance rebuttal to hit YouTube shortly (5.00 / 3) (#92)
    by Ellie on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:11:01 PM EST
    Where do they get these goofy analyses slash criticisms anyway?

    :: whammy jammy South Asian tone poem ::

    And why do these criticisms so desperately hinge on the votes or support HRC does get as being somehow "wrong"?

    :: tabla solo ending in gong-chorus ::

    Will the Obama votes in the GE be decked out in little outfits from the latest spring lines and HRC's schlumpfing into the ballot box wearing Mom Jeans? Acid Washed Mom Jeans???

    :: refurbished Champ sample ::
    :: fading high hat ::

    (Folding downwards, backwards into a ball and tiny foetal jazz hands.)

    [ Parent ]

    I have no clue (none / 0) (#138)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:46:52 PM EST
    what this means. As such, rated with a 5.

    TThanks!

    : returning to the fetal position now :

    [ Parent ]

    I'm not that creative but I loved it. (5.00 / 2) (#142)
    by RalphB on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:49:10 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    You're not supposed to have a clue. (5.00 / 2) (#166)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:31:09 PM EST
    It's interpretive dance.

    But you're still supposed to clap enthusiastically.  As if it gave you an epiphany.

    [ Parent ]

    This entire thread (5.00 / 1) (#156)
    by ghost2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:17:56 PM EST
    is wonderful.

    [ Parent ]
    Ugh (5.00 / 4) (#7)
    by Steve M on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:18:02 PM EST
    those pesky Latinos!  Is there any possible way we could construct a coalition that doesn't include them?  (It's a rhetorical question, no points for saying "we could nominate Obama.")

    Chris is a very smart guy but these folks need to get over the idea that a winning national coalition is something you tinker with in Frankenstein's lab.  You don't go around throwing groups by the wayside, saying "we'll just replace them with this group instead!"  You take whatever you can get in this business.

    Maybe once the Democrats win a few more elections I'll feel confident in declaring that we don't need the seniors any more, or things of that sort.

    You just do not get it Steve (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:20:00 PM EST
    It's a "creative class" thing.

    [ Parent ]
    BTD (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by plf1953 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:24:33 PM EST
    You know these guys and probably talk to them off-line, or at least, privately online.

    What is going on with them?

    Are they really Kool-aid drinkers, are they vying for spots in the Obama administration, are they trying to become mainstream "journalists," or what?

    [ Parent ]

    Actually I agree with (none / 0) (#20)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:27:33 PM EST
    the point Chris is actually trying to make, that "values voters" are impervious. See the addition to my post. The problem is he took his aim at the wrong candidate.

    [ Parent ]
    You don't expect him... (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Alvord on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:34:07 PM EST
    ...to take aim at Obama do you?

    [ Parent ]
    Sometimes he does (none / 0) (#30)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:34:46 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    But Reagan Democrats ... (none / 0) (#79)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:01:51 PM EST
    aren't "values voters."  Quite the opposite.

    They're white, ethnic Northern and Midwesterners.  They usually belong to UNIONS.  

    They're part of the old FDR coalition.  And we do need them back.

    Not just for their votes.  They're good for the party for a whole host of other reasons.

    [ Parent ]

    The definition I saw (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:08:52 PM EST
    was that they're also middle class who feel that the poor have gotten all the breaks (I laugh as I write this).

    (mandates, we don't need no stinkin' mandates!)

    So maybe Obama and Hillary are splitting the Reagan Democrats.

    [ Parent ]

    They're proved pretty darn good (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:09:24 PM EST
    for the country, too, over the long term. Work ethic and all that. Not always good on social issues, but they can be reached. And once with you, they're loyal . . . unlike the "creative class" that has to keep having the newest thing to be cool.

    [ Parent ]
    Loyalty to the 'creative class' (none / 0) (#109)
    by felizarte on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:21:18 PM EST
    it would seem is only loyalty to them and not a two-way street. And yet, it seems so confusing that they do not seem to notice the possibility that whom they have perceived to be' worthy' of them, may not all be pure.

    I like Hillary.  With her, 'What you see is what you get' and to a graphic artists, that is saying everything.

    [ Parent ]

    How can any of what he wrote be valid (none / 0) (#102)
    by RalphB on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:16:16 PM EST
    when he doesn't even understand who the "Reagan Democrats" were?  You're absolutely right, the Democratic party needs them back in a bad way.


    [ Parent ]
    God (none / 0) (#28)
    by Steve M on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:33:59 PM EST
    You are SO pesky sometimes.

    And hot-tempered!

    But I freely admit that I am completely uncreative.

    [ Parent ]

    No wonder I voted for Clinton (5.00 / 4) (#8)
    by litigatormom on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:18:11 PM EST
    I am a middle-aged Latina! I had no choice!  And thought I made a judgment on the merits!  Not to mention my apparently delusional belief that I was a liberal instead of a Reagan Democrat.
    Silly me.

    I wonder (5.00 / 3) (#12)
    by katiebird on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:20:33 PM EST
    where a 50-year-old Portuguese female Web Developer fits in?

    I guess it's my age:  it drove me to her.....

    [ Parent ]

    Sigh (5.00 / 2) (#144)
    by zyx on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:51:57 PM EST
    I might volunteer for Clinton if she goes as far as our state primary in May, and the thought of making phone calls terrifies me.  And our state will probably be more of an Obama state.  I have a schtick going on with my stepdaughter about how people will yell at me about calling them at home, and how I'm "probably a bitter woman who is over 50! With short hair!"...and so on.

    Hey, me bitter?  Only when I look at what my retirement funds have done in the last seven years, and a few things like that.

    [ Parent ]

    please do what you can. (5.00 / 2) (#163)
    by ghost2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:26:35 PM EST
    drops add up to oceans.

    [ Parent ]
    Plus (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by spit on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:20:42 PM EST
    you're obviously just not, you know, in the creative class. Whatever that means.

    [ Parent ]
    Absolutely "non-creative" (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by litigatormom on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:35:17 PM EST
    I am a lawyer -- like both Clinton and Obama.

    [ Parent ]
    I think he's thinking (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:20:37 PM EST
    more about TV demographics than about voters.

    They are getting more and more confused by the day.  

    damn! (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by cpinva on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:24:46 PM EST
    i knew it would happen! i spend 30 odd years honing my professional accounting skills, instead of going into stand-up comedy. thousands of hours of classes/study/on the job, etc. had i but taken the easy (and more profitable) way, the material writes itself!

    is there anything these people won't do or say? have they no shame? clinton wins convincingly: she's a hack, a monster, a divisive/polarizing personality. she loses, in states that, for the most part, will go mccain in nov. and..............she's a hack, a monster, a divisive/polarizing personality.

    clinton runs a tough campaign; she's so ambitious she'll do anything to win. obama is a saint, he picks bugs off the road, moves them to the side so they don't get run over. the only reason he's running is because so many millions came to his house and begged him to.

    unf*ing believable. she wins two big states, and a small one, out of 4, she should quit? huh? what "through the looking glass" logic drives these people?

    i have no illusions about sen. clinton, she's hardly the perfect democratic candidate. of course, there's never been a perfect democratic candidate, but i digress. however, when all is said and done, i'll take clinton for $100 alex.

    I didn't get the memo (5.00 / 4) (#21)
    by cmugirl on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:28:22 PM EST
    Am I supposed to support Obama - being an under 40,Catholic, highly educated girl from the birthplace of Reagan Democrat country - Macomb County, MI? I'm so confused - can somebody help me with my identity?

    I think I need a hug (or therapy)....

    See, if you really were in the creative class (5.00 / 2) (#94)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:11:49 PM EST
    you would not need a hug or therapy for your self-affirmation. Having the latest cell-phone would do it.

    [ Parent ]
    Speaking of crazy posts... (5.00 / 4) (#23)
    by znosaro on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:29:18 PM EST
    Did anyone read this in Roll Call magazine yesterday? (speaking of voters who said race was important in their decision splitting 54-46 for Hillary)

    "Clearly, this represents white prejudice against Obama because he is an African-American and not the racial solidarity that regularly wins him 90 percent of the African-American vote."

    It was said, apparently, without any irony.  Is there really some kind of psychoactive Obama kool-aid these people are drinking?  I always thought we were kidding about that...

    If there is any racial backlash from non-blacks (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by felizarte on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:54:11 PM EST
    Obama's supporters bear much responsibility for this.  Although Barack carefully cultivated his "transcendental" image carefully in the beginning, once the AA community went all out for him, then pressuring other AA for supporting Clinton out of the goodwill established for decades, this had the effect of making Obama the AA candidate.  The genie is out of the bottle; impossible to put it back in.

    If race as an issue is to be dismissed, there won't be any reason to say: "he will win such state because there is a sizeable AA pool of voters," or "large latino voters," "white males," "white women," etc.

    It is reality and there is no way any group of voters can be wished away.

    [ Parent ]

    Prejudice and Solidarity (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by blogtopus on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:30:07 PM EST
    This irony brought to you by Active-On. Apply directly to the hindbrain!

    [ Parent ]
    What? Oh my gawd that's stupid. (none / 0) (#51)
    by RalphB on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:48:04 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Ugh...logic just seems to have gone out the window (5.00 / 3) (#25)
    by Virginian on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:30:01 PM EST
    this primary season. A lot of left blogs just seem to base everything off of disjointed logical arguments, false arguments, lies, half-truths, and even bad statistics/data (some just made up)...it is really becoming hard to stomach...more so because as BTD (or others) points out the hypocrisy or flaws in the argument, it is always met with deniers...

    I believe Illinois (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by PlayInPeoria on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:41:22 PM EST
    is above the Mason-Dixon line. We do have some Southern Baptist.

    This I do not like....

    One of the reasons is that Reagan Dems are still voting, and still on the brink of swinging not only the 2008 general election, but also the 2008 primary for the same stupid, racist reasons that they put Republicans in power back in the last quarter of the 20th century .

    Is he calling all Reagan Dems racist?

    Yes (5.00 / 3) (#43)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:42:29 PM EST
    He is calling Clinton supporters racist basically.

    [ Parent ]
    It's part of the oddness in some ... (5.00 / 3) (#53)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:48:15 PM EST
    Obama supporters.  The famous "exclusionary we."

    We are the we, but you are not the we.

    [ Parent ]

    and old and dumb (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by Salt on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:58:46 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    That's how I hear it ... (5.00 / 2) (#84)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:06:10 PM EST
    and beyond being odd and amusing.  There's a tinge of scariness to it.  A tinge of the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

    [ Parent ]
    Psst, don't tell 'em (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by Cream City on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:15:46 PM EST
    that, as too many of us have found out to our shock, that Obama is less than three years away from automatically getting AARP invitations in the mail.

    Yep, folks, AARP will find you when you turn 49.  My IRS forms went astray when I moved, but AARP had no problem following me from address to address with assiduity.  And really ruining my 49th birthday.

    [ Parent ]

    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by spit on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:46:56 PM EST
    I got AARP stuff in the mail when I left my part time job teaching horse riding at UCDavis -- they technically retired me.

    I was 23, I believe. Made me laugh really hard.

    [ Parent ]

    AARP is scraping the bottom of the barrel (none / 0) (#169)
    by wasabi on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:33:49 PM EST
    My son who is 16 got some literature from them.

    [ Parent ]
    oh I'm not amused (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by Salt on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:19:14 PM EST
    and I think there is real problem long term for the Party, the none fringe Republicans gave up their Party to their fringe for power lets see what Dems do with the same challenge.  

    Ed Rendell is a good Dem Party leader; hello electoral votes not pledged delegates...ding ding he on CNN.

    [ Parent ]

    Oh snap! (none / 0) (#136)
    by tree on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:44:55 PM EST
    That's strange, cause I was just thinking the same thing.  

    [ Parent ]
    This is how someone described her base today: (none / 0) (#204)
    by echinopsia on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:49:55 PM EST
    The uneducated whites, malheureusement, who make up Hillary's base, voting, and apparently, here online.


    [ Parent ]
    I knew it would be just a matter of time (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by felizarte on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:44:23 PM EST
    before what began as a whisper in some quarters:  ". . . but  emperor has no clothes on . . ." would resonate.  Hillary's wins on March 4 certainly reset the clock and people have a little facts and observations to flesh out Barack Obama as a would be commander in chief, CEO of the most powerful country in the world, and Chief Diplomat.  His image is morphing into a common politician.  If the MSM and the incredible funds at his disposal could not win him Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, what will?  No wonder his team and supporters are beside themselves!

    This really is the "Post of the Day." (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Angel on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:48:05 PM EST
    I am LMAO.  Hmmmm....let's see, 50ish white babe, NEVER goes to church, disliked Ronald Raygun and everything he stood for....I could go on but won't.  We are living in an alternate universe.

    Older but (5.00 / 1) (#115)
    by kenoshaMarge on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:23:57 PM EST
    much of the same bio. Wisconsin, army brat, loathed Reagan, left the Catholic Church years ago, always voted Democrat and have always been told I was very "creative". I considered myself a values voter, my values, not anyone else's.

    What am I then? Which nice little round hole are we square pegs supposed to fit into?

     I am an old white woman that voted for Hillary in the Primary but anyone that calls me a Reagan anything had best be prepared to learn a few of the expletives I learned over a long and colorful relationship with the English language.

    [ Parent ]

    Woe is me (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by miriam on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:53:16 PM EST
    I am so ashamed.  I voted for the wrong candidate.  But how was I to know that being economically upper middle class by virtue of graduate degrees, and being a published author, and being a lapsed Presbyterian I was demographically bound to vote for Obama?  The only saving face factor left to me is that I'm reasonably certain I am not alone in committing this faux pas.  

    Well I had zero idea (none / 0) (#71)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:56:51 PM EST
    that I was a Southern Baptist.  You learn something new everyday...

    [ Parent ]
    I Was Really Surprised To Find Out That I Was (none / 0) (#116)
    by MO Blue on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:24:30 PM EST
    even religious let alone Southern Baptist. My Catholic mother must be spinning in her grave at my conversion.

    Not real sure how I fit in with being a Reagan Dem since I really, really disliked his presidency. But I though Obama said Reagan was a great transformational president who provided clarity, optimism and  a return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship that had been missing.

    [ Parent ]

    Well (5.00 / 1) (#128)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:31:49 PM EST
    I've already decided that the Creative Class==the Reagan NeoDemocrats.  

    [ Parent ]
    NeoDems (none / 0) (#135)
    by blogtopus on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:44:12 PM EST
    Great term!

    [ Parent ]
    I Never Knew (5.00 / 11) (#72)
    by ruffian on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:58:18 PM EST
    This primary season has been a tough experience for me in so many ways. This is going to be long - I need to vent.  

    I'm a 50 yr old woman.  I've been a proudly liberal feminist all my life, and while I admire Hillary and Bill Clinton often found them too conservative for my politics. Perhaps because I knew they were not as liberal as the right made them out to be, I defended them extra hard in the 90's. After all, if they were too liberal for the 'mainstream', then what was I? I was happy and proud to see Hillary elected to the Senate, even though I do not always agree with her, most notably on her Iraq vote.  But during those years when she would be on TV explaining the issues I was very impressed with her ability to answer any question on the fly, and realized I had not known her at all for all of these years. When Obama came on the scene I was as moved by his convention speech as everyone else and hoped that some day he would be the electable liberal I had been waiting for. I was disappointed as a couple of years went by and he seemed like just another centrist, not even trying to get us out of Iraq or speaking out strongly against the constitutional abuses like Dodd did.

    When Hillary announced her run for the presidency I cringed inside because I knew what the press coverage would be like, but waited to see the competition. I hoped in vain for Gore, was glad Kerry sat it out, glad Edwards and Dodd entered, and was very surprised when Obama entered the race so soon after his election to the Senate.  

    Without Gore in the race I really had no preference until the debates started. Once again, Hillary impressed me the most with her intellect and command of every issue, but I was closer to Edwards on the issues and liberal firebrand style. I thought of Obama as having great potential, but clearly not ready for prime time, especially after he pledged to meet with all of those dictators in the first year in office.  I could see the Republican attack ads in my head, and discounted his candidacy.

    Then came Iowa.  Until Clinton lost there, and the ensuing media and liberal blogosphere pile-on, I did not realize the depth of the misogyny in this society, especially among liberals, for god's sake! The liberal blogosphere seemed mostly united behind Obama, even though in my view he is no more liberal than Clinton. It still makes no sense to me, and I suppose it is based solely on his Iraq war stance. At any rate, bloggers and media were not content to fluff Obama, they also had to attack Clinton. I felt I had to defend her in all kinds of forums, and quickly became a partisan on her side. What put me over the edge was the Obama camp's successful effort to paint the Clintons as racists. If such a thing can happen to Bill and Hillary Clinton, it can happen to anyone.  I am quite sure they will never forgive Obama for that. I know I won't.

    Now I see that as a woman past the age of 30 I am put aside as 'old', and possibly even a Reagan Democrat!! Not worthy of the attention or respect of a popular 'young' (only 4 yrs younger than I) god like Obama, and his hipper than hip followers. Imagine my surprise.

    I am seriously rethinking my politics these days, and feel the Dem party is no place for me. I've never thought we really needed a third party, but I am leaning that way now. I'll vote for Obama if he is the nominee, but I'm sorry I have to do it with a heavy heart and not the excitement I would have felt if his supporters could have won without trashing women and the only Democratic political family in recent memory that has won the presidency, and took the heat for all liberals at great personal cost. They deserve some respect for that, not attacks from liberals.

    It really did not have to be this way.

    I'll add... (5.00 / 3) (#82)
    by ruffian on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:04:31 PM EST
    After reading other comments in the same vein, I left something out - I am a software engineer and always saw myself as a member of the creative class.  Again, imagine my surpise to find I can't possibly any of the things I always thought I was.  

    I'm also quite hot, I might add. Anyone would take me for an Obama-babe.

    [ Parent ]

    It makes more sense (5.00 / 2) (#87)
    by Edgar08 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:07:50 PM EST
    When you realize you're not just talking about two candidates and their supporters but two groups of consultants and aspiring consultants fighting over money.


    [ Parent ]
    Edgar, this is too true ... (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:15:00 PM EST
    I think I'm just going to put my head on my keyboard now and cry.

    Remember issues?

    Oh, right, we're not supposed to talk about those anymore.

    [ Parent ]

    except for the third party stuff - (5.00 / 2) (#118)
    by otherlisa on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:24:51 PM EST
    - I could have written this post (though I doubt as eloquently). It exactly describes my progression during this primary season. Gore to Edwards to Clinton, doubts and all.

    I'm not ready to take the 3rd party route but am thinking that advocacy in issues rather than candidates might be the path I'll take in the future.

    I've been lurking here for a while because it's one of the few "progressive" blogs I can actually stomach any more.

    [ Parent ]

    I was referring to Ruffian's post (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by otherlisa on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:25:52 PM EST
    Sorry for the confusion.

    [ Parent ]
    Just realized (5.00 / 6) (#145)
    by Foxx on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 05:55:48 PM EST
    reading this (and thank you), that the painting of the Clintons as racists is Swift-boating.

    Take a war hero and paint him a coward. Take people committed anti-racists their whole lives and paint them racist.

    [ Parent ]

    Dem party (5.00 / 1) (#172)
    by wasabi on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:38:10 PM EST
    Please stay in our party.  We NEED people like you!  My story is the same as yours...

    [ Parent ]
    thank you, I will (5.00 / 1) (#185)
    by ruffian on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:00:04 PM EST
    Thanks for everyone being so supportive.  I'll stay a Democrat even though the DNC won't count my Florida vote. Don't get me started on that!!

    [ Parent ]
    Oh, my, ruffian (none / 0) (#164)
    by katiebird on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:28:39 PM EST
    I was slower than you, but the progression was very similar.  Same-ish doubts about Bill not being quite liberal enough.  But fiercely protective of him as he was trashed.  In fact, my first falling-out with NPR was when I realized no one there was defending him at all.  I might as well have been listening to right-wing talk radio for the way NPR reporters talked about the Clinton administration.

    And the Gore, Edwards thing. My first flutter was the debate where Edwards & Obama seemed to gang up on Hillary.  My husband and I were so impressed with her -- the way she handled herself & her answers.

    I really thought/assumed that my support of Hillary would be of the hold-my-nose level of commitment.  But I've been impressed with her more with each exposure.

    I've watched several of her town halls and read through the materials on her website.  And I'm really comfortable & happy with my support for her candidacy.

    [ Parent ]

    Funny about NPR (5.00 / 2) (#184)
    by ruffian on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:56:22 PM EST
    I had that happen too.  Like a good little liberal I used to wake up with NPR every morning.  Then at some point I realized my blood pressure was rising before I even got out of bed.  So I switched over to XM radio Air America - loved Mark Maron.  then they canned him, and after a few permutations it went to The Young Turks, and I liked them a lot also, for a while.  After Air America let them go I could not stand Bill Press, so I even went through a lot of trouble to hook up my computer to my bedroom speakers (actually, not that much trouble since I am also a Mac user - see?  I really fit the Obama profile) to get their podcast and listen to that in the morning,  Now they are so much in the tank for Obama that I can hardly listen to them either.    So I listen to them until they start going overboard on trashing Hillary, and then switch to Taylor Marsh's podcast!!!

    I realize that some criticism of Hillary is justified, and do not mind that.  But they get into calling her voters ill -informed and stupid, etc.  and deliberately mis-state some key facts.  In Cenk Uygar's defense, I have sent him some letters and he does respond positively and acknowledge errors, which is why I keep listening.

    I did not comment on issues because that was not the topic of the post, but like you I have listened and read the totality of her views and truly believe that she is the best qualified to be president.  That was one of the reasons I was so sad after Iowa.  I felt (feel) like we have a chance to elect a very qualified person who can pull us out of the messes we are in as a nation, and instead we are rearranging the deck chairs on the sinking ship.  After the ship is righted I will be all for Obama or someone else to point it in another direction and get us there.  But you can't steer a sinking ship.  I can't help but think we are making a huge mistake.

    [ Parent ]

    What? (5.00 / 0) (#75)
    by CentristDemocrat on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 04:59:29 PM EST
    Hi I'm new here, I've been reading for a whie, but this is my first post.

    First, I'm an Asian American, and is there some sort of confusion going on here? The post claimed that they wanted to build a new "multi-ethnic" Democratic coalitient, which includes, Latinos, African, and Asian Ameriacns as well as "progressive whites."

    Well as far as I know, Clinton has crushed Obama with Latinos and Asian Americans, Obama has African Americans who almost blindly vote for him irrespecitve of what he says, and Obama has the far-left and he' essentially 'data-mined' the youth vote.

    But Clinton has 2/3 major non-white ethnicities under her belt, and i should poitn out, that several RAND studies have stated that Latino Ameriacns are going to be 1/3 of the US population in the future, BUT Asian Ameriacns in a few decades will be close to 10 - 12% of the US population, which is what the African American population will be at in a few decades; and Asians have higher-per capita income then African Americans, do not underestimate their influence, which has been virtually invisible till now.

    That being said, it is very disqueiting to see that Barack Obama cannot win convincingly in either the Asian or Latino American groups in most of these primaries. As far as I can tell, that could cost him California and the South-West.

    And your not going to get those voters by ultra-left candidate.... Asian Americans don't support affirmative actions (especially in California) which screws them immensely, both Latino and Asian Americans are usually strong on small-buisness, and both groups would probably find it difficult to support an anti-buisness far-left candidate.

    I don't think the solution is positiong even MORE leftist then we already are. Clinton (Bill) was a moderate democrat, he didn't go bat-butz liberatrian, but he wasn't some sort of central-organizer socialist either. He promoted both Latino and Asian-Americans in his administration and attempted to cater to some of their agendas.

    This is where I see there being conflict... cause far-left "progressives" and African Americans, by-in-large would be diametrically opposed to the postions of Latino and Asian Americans. In some sense, what we're seeing is a conflict between the Old-Leftist Democratic party (African Americans and "progresives" (a la Teddy Kennedy demorat) and the newer democrats who are much more up-wardly mobile and centrist.

    If the democrats can't hold the center, they won't win period. And I think that is why your seeing the schism currently (other then teh fact that alot of people just don't buy Obama's high-handed rhetoric).

    A last note: I'm not sure what the "Creative class" means, but I'm a college graduate and soon-to-be graduate student... I studied Mathematics and Economics and am going to study Mathematics at the masters level. So i'm not an "idiot," yet I don't buy the non-sense kumbaya taht Obama spouts etiher. Yet according to some commentary, only morons and "uneducated" suppors Clinton.

    Sorry to burst your bubble, but from what I've seen, "intelligent" people i.e. people who study enigneering, the sciences, economics, CS etc., tend to either be republcians or go right-of-center/moderate.

    The people in university that I see that are "far-leftist progressives" are people who study "communications," "journalism," "art-history," "political science" etc. etc., essentially liberal arts, and subjects that are not very profound.

    So I think it's sort of funny that Obama people claim their more "intellinget" when it's just they're people just end up taking mroe time in their life studying nonsense. Cause I know many respectable people who work in your local garage or plumbers or just ordinary folk, who in my judgemnet, are infinteyl smarter then the "liberal arts" crowd.