Yes, we can.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Alex

That doesn't even make sense.

It does make sense.

Unless I read it incorrectly, Lani is saying that she didn't vote for Gore because she didn't like Clinton. I gather that many people would not vote for McCain because they don't like Bush (hence Obama using Bush in the same sentence as McCain any opportunity he gets). So while it may be a bit strong to say she is voting for Obama because she can't stand Bush, she is voting for Obama at least in part because of her disillusionment of the republican party and her dislike of Bush.

Maybe I read it and earlier statements incorrectly.

[scaeagles]

And voting for Obama because of vague promises of hope and change is indeed the same as your McCain analogy.

But to be fair, I do understand your first point. The second half of it is why I am not voting for Obama. I am not voting for McCain because he inspires me, I'll tell you certainly.

[scaeagles]

From some political insiders I have strong respect for (in their analysis if not their personal lives), the dems are looking at the numbers and know that at this stage in 2000 and 2004 Bush was down double digits to Gore and Kerry. This is making them quite nervous privately.

But i have to say that your statement is a bit insulting. You are implying that most people will vote for McCain instead of Obama because they think in a backwards fashion.

[Alex]

What I meant didn't make sense was the "make one with Obama and Hillary" thing. Unless somehow voting for Obama would be a continuation of Hillary Clinton's presidential legacy.

And I really don't understand how voting for Obama because he inspires is the same as not voting for McCain because he's Chinese. It is the same as voting for McCain because he has convinced you that he can be trusted in a way that is important to you. It may not be the most rigorous standard but neither is it simple idiocy.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Alex

What I meant didn't make sense was the "make one with Obama and Hillary" thing. Unless somehow voting for Obama would be a continuation of Hillary Clinton's presidential legacy.

The first part was a joke. Her avatar made me laugh, and I thought one of Obama and Hillary (who was at least co-President in the last dem adminstration) would be funny.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

The first part was a joke. Her avatar made me laugh, and I thought one of Obama and Hillary (who was at least co-President in the last dem adminstration) would be funny.

Ok, but it still doesn't make sense.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Alex

I really don't understand how voting for Obama because he inspires....

Perhaps this is just me. I don't look to politicians to inspire me. Reagan did inspire me, certainly, but my devotion to the man came from his policies. Clinton was a hell of a lot more inspiring in 1992 than was Perot or GHWBush, but he didn't get my vote. Likewise in 1996 with Dole.

[Alex]

And I really think the idea that this is currently a close race is mostly a product of the hype machine in the media needing it to be interesting. Just like they refused to act on the certainty that Clinton was done for weeks before she made it official (but they didn't really offer the same boost to Huckabee because the Dem side was much more interesting).

While the overall popular vote may be close poll wise, we all know that ain't particularly important. The electoral vote paints an extremely uphill battle for McCain.

Of course, many things can change by November (maybe Obama will admit that actually he is the anti-Christ and his first act as president will be to use DoD money for slave reparations and grant succession to the Hawaii Nativist movement) but at the moment I don't feel it is particularly close. Not a Reagan in '84 landslide but all the cards have to come up just right for McCain.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Alex

While the overall popular vote may be close poll wise, we all know that ain't particularly important. The electoral vote paints an extremely uphill battle for McCain.

Uphill, yes, but I'd hardly call it extreme. Right now in state by state polls Obama leads in what amounts to 289 electoral votes....which means McCain needs to take 20 of them.

17 of those electors belong to the State of Michigan, where Obama holds a very narrow lead of about 2%. Another 5 electors can be found in Nevada where Obama also holds a very narrow 2% lead. Those two states alone swings the election back to McCain(provided he holds onto all that he already has).

How to get those two states? Simple if you ask me.......Nevada has a very large Mormon population(even their Democrat US Senator is Mormon) and Michigan once had a governor named..............Romney.

[Alex]

Fine, but it isn't really idiocy if others do. And you quite clearly equated voting for someone because he has convinced you he'll do a good job with the very clear idiocy of not voting for Obama because he is Muslim and his name sounds similar to a bad guy.

And really, Clinton was more inspiring to you than the others? What exactly did he inspire in you?