tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post3088526205325334870..comments2023-10-19T03:40:40.815-04:00Comments on Go Knit In Your Hat: My two centsCarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07651035210994960810noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-42169492154004533472008-02-07T10:39:00.000-05:002008-02-07T10:39:00.000-05:00I'm with you, from the real commitment to Edwards ...I'm with you, from the real commitment to Edwards to the need for hope. Thanks.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09543197858284977937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-21276153967320695812008-02-06T17:19:00.000-05:002008-02-06T17:19:00.000-05:00One of the problems with Al Gore running for Presi...One of the problems with Al Gore running for President is a problem faced by a lot of candidates. He was being molded into something by his campaigners, his handlers, which was unnatural. It didn't allow him to be himself, and that put him at a huge disadvantage. I'm not sure if it is a bad sign for how he would have been as president, but I feel that if he had fired some of his image people then he could have made that step out which would have made him a lot more accessible to the American public.<BR/><BR/>I voted on Super Tuesday. I think that Obama will get the candidacy even though I didn't vote for him.Seanna Leahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10211334943923310861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-27875829664326920542008-02-03T21:57:00.000-05:002008-02-03T21:57:00.000-05:00This is a great blog post. I agree with you and I...This is a great blog post. I agree with you and I appreciate your articulate, sensitive, and logical reasoning behind your support for Obama. I agree with you 100%. <BR/><BR/>And just for the record, Al Gore is not president NOT because "W" campaigned better, but because the Supreme Court chose him. Nobody owes Hillary anything. Her sense of entitlement is fallacious. Her sense of "manifest destiny" is dangerous, even. <BR/><BR/>Experience is not all it's cracked up to be. The most experienced person in Washington is probably Dick Cheney. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Much of Hillary's "experience" is as a political wife and as a Wal-Mark apologist!<BR/><BR/><BR/>My issues are getting out of Iraq first and foremost. Secondly, I am worried that the USA is becoming a rogue nation, a theocracy as clumsy as some of the countries we supposedly abhor. The furthering of political dynasties feeds right into that perception. Economic justice and civil rights matter too.sunt_lacrimae_rerumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05659053841051896981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-15470035370500476812008-02-02T18:33:00.000-05:002008-02-02T18:33:00.000-05:00I want a bumper sticker "Afraid for him, Afraid of...I want a bumper sticker "Afraid for him, Afraid of Her"<BR/><BR/>I do fear a race civil disturbance should something happen to Obama, just because I saw/experienced the race riots when MLK died. I pray that the secret service will keep him and his family safe and secure. But there are no guarantees in life.<BR/><BR/>I am also afraid of Hillary. I know that she is smart, intelligent, savvy and I get a feeling not based on anything, that she's vindictive. I once talked with a co-worker about her and his remark was that "Bill will keep her inline." Yeah right and what about the middle east, Iran, Iraq, where women have no political presence in the governing of their country? Do you really think they are going to listen to her?<BR/><BR/>That said, plus I want to say so much more I will probably vote Obama. I want to hope, dream of a positive change, envision a future brighter than what is going on today.<BR/><BR/>PattyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-17084073882591988502008-02-01T19:26:00.000-05:002008-02-01T19:26:00.000-05:00the "but he lacks experience" line is all Clinton-...the "but he lacks experience" line is all Clinton-party hype. Obama's experience compares quite favorably to that of Clinton. He has served IL with distinction (and has been elected to the US Senate twice, not once) and has sponsored & co-sponsored quite a bit of major legislation on the issues he'd face as President. By comparison, HRC's first term in the Senate was marked by her vote to authorize the Iraq war, her vote for the Patriot Act, and her many votes to approve the nominations numerous Bush appointees that she should hang her head over. It's hardly an extra 4 years I'd be crowing over, if I were her.<BR/><BR/>That and he's got several more years' experience in elected office than HRC does, namely being the star of the IL state senate, which is no bush league (check out our state's politics sometime! crazy hard stuff)... and while Hillary was serving on the board of Wal-Mart, Barack was pounding the pavement as a young civil rights lawyer and working as a community organizer, actually giving a shit about the people that Hillary was helping to exploit. Now THAT'S what I call experience I can trust.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-63356683808921678512008-02-01T09:55:00.000-05:002008-02-01T09:55:00.000-05:00The idea of voting for someone to protect someonee...The idea of voting for someone to protect someone<BR/>else from assassination seems a (nothing personal)<BR/>bad choice.<BR/>I think it's a mistake to live our lives based on the fear of an unlikely event.<BR/>People end up hiding in closets protected by piles of newspapers that way.<BR/>And, as Carol asked, how to point out successfully who might be a target?<BR/><BR/>Mark David Chapman LOVED John Lennon.<BR/>Worshipped him for years.<BR/>He only killed him when John "disappointed" him.<BR/><BR/>It isn't Hillary's marrying Bill or even sticking with him that bothers me. I don't think people's sex lives are relevant to running a country.<BR/>It's that I think she makes every decision based on<BR/>how it will affect her political hopes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-85309670294246340842008-02-01T09:06:00.000-05:002008-02-01T09:06:00.000-05:00You know, if Obama isn't scared, why should you be...You know, if Obama isn't scared, why should you be? And given the tremendous strides in presidential security since then (no more open limosines, for example) the likelihood of incidents is substantially less. I also think that such scenarios could equally apply to Hillary, since misogyny is certainly alive and well and there's no shortage of Clinton-haters.<BR/><BR/>I would hate to see you not vote for someone due to fear that a lunatic might try to take matters into their own hands. That gives the lunatic fringe too much power over us.<BR/><BR/>I also wonder if some of these scary scenarios -- possible assassination attempts or rioting in the south -- are being planted by Obama's enemies. Sounds like something from the Karl Rove playbook.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07651035210994960810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-25744440802131874622008-02-01T08:47:00.000-05:002008-02-01T08:47:00.000-05:00Our household is torn between the two remaining De...Our household is torn between the two remaining Dems, and we have to decide before next Tuesday. I wish we could have both, as Wolf Blitzer suggested last night. I have to say that Obama's candidacy scares me a bit, and no one is saying this out loud. I'm old enough to remember the devastation in the aftermath of of the deaths of JFK, RFK and King.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-54129151316134563272008-02-01T08:08:00.000-05:002008-02-01T08:08:00.000-05:00Ah, I went to see all three Democratic candidates ...Ah, I went to see all three Democratic candidates speak in NH about a month ago. I like all three but Hillary is my gal. One of the reasons I dismissed Obama is because he took no questions from the voters at any of his events. If he won't listen to us now, what will it be like later. Whereas Hillary answered questions, with absolute honesty and conviction for over two hours. I also liked Edwards but both he and Obama were not focused on the past (Selma, etc.) and I wanted to hear solutions for the future. Visit my blog for mid January to see pics of the candidates, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-88085753468008503792008-02-01T08:00:00.000-05:002008-02-01T08:00:00.000-05:00Jenni, I (respectfully) take issue with your assum...Jenni, I (respectfully) take issue with your assumption that our statements that either democratic frontrunner is better than anyone in the republican field is not based in knowledge about the candidates' positions. <BR/><BR/>The remaining republican frontrunners have refused to commit to end our involvement in Iraq. They stand firmly in favor of pro-life outlawing of abortion, and in favor of banning gay marriage. They continue to talk about silly tax cuts that will benefit the wealthiest while we have a spiraling budget deficit. They are but a few examples.<BR/><BR/>The republican party is speaking as one on certain critical issues. I heartily disagree with all or most of those issues, and they are important to me, which is why I will vote for any democrat (i.e. anyone whose views are closer to my own) than any of the republican contenders.<BR/><BR/>I also respectfully disagree that our discussions are somehow contrary to the point of democracy. Here we are, frankly and openly discussing our political views and favored candidates. The vast majority of folks who have commented are well-informed on the issues that matter. I suspect that a high percentage of them are regular voters, too: I have not missed voting in an election in years, and I believe I've never missed a presidential one since I turned old enough to vote.<BR/><BR/>I am a political realist, in many ways. I think about what, realistically speaking, my choices will be in November when I walk into that ballot box. Unless some brand new republican contender comes out of the woodwork, the republican field is hopelessly at odds with most of my priorities. Any of the leading democrats is closer to my priorities, and therefore will get my vote. I can dream about what my ideal candidate would be, but democracy doesn't give me the constitutional right to have a dream candidate to vote for; it only assures me that, god willing, i'll be able to get into that ballot box and make my choice from the ones that appear there.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07651035210994960810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-41510818113367075732008-02-01T07:41:00.000-05:002008-02-01T07:41:00.000-05:00The debate last night was surely interesting! A jo...The debate last night was surely interesting! A joint ticket?! Doubtful.<BR/><BR/>What pains me the most about many of the comments here: voting for the 'electable' person, the individual who can win against the Republican nomination. This is not the point of democracy. This attitude is why Edwards dropped out, Bill Bradley is but a dream, and dare I mention Kucinich? I will reiterate: read the platforms and critically think about which candidate better aligns with your opinions and views. Then go vote. What you find may just surprise you.Jennihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04056027379014820277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-75466358107475264092008-02-01T00:03:00.000-05:002008-02-01T00:03:00.000-05:00Lve you Carol for loving Edwards! I am totally bum...Lve you Carol for loving Edwards! I am totally bummed but now leaning toward Obama. Love you Joe for bringing up Bill Bradley! I still have my Bill Bradley for President t-shirt and Bill Bradley para Presidente button. Sigh.<BR/><BR/>AllisonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-84251976917848327082008-01-31T21:57:00.000-05:002008-01-31T21:57:00.000-05:00Hi again,Carol, thanks for keeping this going and ...Hi again,<BR/>Carol, thanks for keeping this going and to everyone for being so civil about this discussion. Seeing so many thoughtful comments from around the country I'm learning so much from each of you about why you feel the way you do. <BR/><BR/>While I think change is good and growth is important I really think experience counts for a lot these days. <BR/><BR/>I admire Obama very much. I worry for him and his family. I still think his time will come but he needs more experience: perhaps a cabinet position or a leadership position in the Senate this time around? <BR/><BR/>While the Clintons are far from perfect they have experience and things were pretty good in the U.S. of A. during Bill's term. While he made some stupid decisions in his personal life they weren't about his marriage or his family or his governance. they were about his own weaknesses and drives. most of us have done stupid things in our pasts, we just haven't gotten caught. I think Hillary understood his weaknesses and his strengths and I'm sure she made him pay for being an idiot. <BR/><BR/>As I said before, Hillary got my primary vote and I hope she can make the voters around the country understand who she is and how much experience she has built up through her years and years of direct and indirect public service. The comment above about how much military wives learn as spouses was very enlightening. Hillary has experienced even more in her career.<BR/><BR/>But most of all, everyone, please think hard about the candidate of your choice and vote in your primary, and again in the general election. This country needs the votes of thoughtful people in all the states.<BR/><BR/>Linda in FloridaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-22027542889951797172008-01-31T20:58:00.000-05:002008-01-31T20:58:00.000-05:00Amen, Carol and well written.Obama makes me rememb...Amen, Carol and well written.<BR/><BR/>Obama makes me remember why I love politics and the idea of actually thinking: what might be possible? He's inspirational, thoughtful and smart. That's what's made me a huge supporter. We could use a bit of that in our world.<BR/><BR/>I've been put off by the Hillary campaign machine and the idea of a dynasty.... most recently, the idea that women should vote for a woman. I believe in choice for women and that includes voting. Do not castigate me for considering Hillary and voting for Obama.<BR/><BR/>In the end, I will vote for the Dem. candidate. But I would like to feel inspired and hopeful when I vote.<BR/>SuzanneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-85970524660977329622008-01-31T20:38:00.000-05:002008-01-31T20:38:00.000-05:00Is anybody else weirded out by the thought of dyna...Is anybody else weirded out by the thought of dynastic presidencies?? First George H.W. Bush, then his son W. I don't really think I want Bill Clinton and then his wife. Just seems wrong to me.Janice in GAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642298460152468319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-71207408605400055762008-01-31T20:19:00.000-05:002008-01-31T20:19:00.000-05:00m-h, it's hard for me to judge. I think that seems...m-h, it's hard for me to judge. I think that seems unlikely but I live in an urban area that has a large african-american population.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07651035210994960810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-63009091299986613572008-01-31T20:04:00.000-05:002008-01-31T20:04:00.000-05:00I, too, am straddling the fence on Clinton or Obam...I, too, am straddling the fence on Clinton or Obama, if those are my only choices. I have no respect for how Hillary has tolerated that cheating dog of a husband; that being said, he was a great president. I wish they would have abolished the electoral college a long long time ago, in this techy world, it is so archaic. Hillary has tons of political experience, she has served as first lady in various places for years and years, an unpaid position. Try to tell any military wife that she has no military experience... how do you think that will go over? Still, I don't really trust Hillary. <BR/>I was listening intently to Obama until he invoked Reagan. Are you kidding me????? Reaganomics nearly ruined our country, wanna have your kids get catsup as a vegetable at school again? In addition, there has been an admission that Reagan was severly impaired by Alzheimers his entire last term. And now Obama HAS talked about gender and race and religion and said that Hillary would be a step backward - compared to the last 7 years???? seriously????<BR/><BR/>I would vote for Edwards and especially Gore, if I could. I will decide by who is best behaved by Tuesday ( our prelim here in AZ ). <BR/><BR/>If McCain wins the presidency, I will be leaving the country. His idea of law and order is to support a sheriff that kills. Read about what we have to put up with here in AZ by reading some of the articles in the New Times (Phoenix edition ) archives...... so scary.<BR/><BR/>So my vote will go to the best behaved "first" or I'll write in Al Gore.<BR/><BR/>BTW, as a kind reminder, America, whether North or South are continents and we do not have sole use of the phrase "American", any more than an Italian or Irish or Spaniard has sole use of "European". It is a true insult to all peoples in both North and South America for us to be that arrogant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-23896451994131125812008-01-31T19:57:00.000-05:002008-01-31T19:57:00.000-05:00A while back I took a quiz on the Washington Post'...A while back I took a quiz on the Washington Post's website asking my views on various issues and then matching me up with a candidate -- John Edwards. I was disappointed but not surprised when he dropped out. Now I'm bouncing between Clinton and Obama. I really liked your post. <BR/><BR/>However, now I'm concerned that Mr. Chimps the free-wheeling monkey has entered the race. I need to check out his platform ...Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06579984749815238197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-74956095656521318962008-01-31T19:30:00.000-05:002008-01-31T19:30:00.000-05:00Like Kate, I'm watching from the sidelines here. B...Like Kate, I'm watching from the sidelines here. But something people are saying to me here is that they wonder if the election of a black president may lead to civil unrest in some of the more unreconstructed areas of the US. What do you Americans think about this? No-one has mentioned it so far. Is it a real risk?M-Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18409916623998907121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-76077659519430277512008-01-31T19:09:00.000-05:002008-01-31T19:09:00.000-05:00i could see one of them as Prez, and the other as ...i could see one of them as Prez, and the other as vice-prez. Quite a combination.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16034017711522226964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-28720770870925630572008-01-31T18:24:00.000-05:002008-01-31T18:24:00.000-05:00Geez, Alice, maybe we're long lost sisters. Last ...Geez, Alice, maybe we're long lost sisters. Last weekend my dad starting spouting stuff from Rush Limbaugh. His spouting turned to sputtering when I asked him why he cared what a convicted druggie said about politics.... (;Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07651035210994960810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-44762892516283475282008-01-31T18:08:00.000-05:002008-01-31T18:08:00.000-05:00Thanks Carol, for a very interesting post. And I d...Thanks Carol, for a very interesting post. And I don't mean interesting in the derogatory <I>interesting</I> way. Stupid text. I'm being earnest, truly.<BR/><BR/>I commented because I concur completely with your statement,<BR/><BR/>> I want a candidate whose nomination won’t serve as a rallying call for the crazy conservatives (and Hillary’s certainly will....<BR/><BR/>based completely on personal experience. Nothing will get my ultra-conservative (but not a nutcase) father more worked up than saying the word "Clinton" around him. He won't articulate why, but he despises Mr. Clinton. He'll vote for Mr. Chimps the Freewheeling Monkey if that's the other candidate besides Mrs. Clinton.Big Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13669587398699403481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-44882493803981493782008-01-31T17:56:00.000-05:002008-01-31T17:56:00.000-05:00I don't get the impression that Obama is a man of ...I don't get the impression that Obama is a man of ideas. We need policy, not "inspiration". Hillary's connection to Walmart among other things gives me the creeps. Without a viable progressive candidate now that Edwards is out, and the way the economy is going, things don't look good.Katie Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14978130678737900234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-69803387236609549732008-01-31T17:13:00.000-05:002008-01-31T17:13:00.000-05:00Mr. Obama is exciting a lot of people. He has int...Mr. Obama is exciting a lot of people. He has intelligence and charisma. We will see if that is enough to overcome his lack of political experience.<BR/><BR/>I think intelligence and leadership ability and the ability to inspire people is enough to overcome inexperience.owenandbenjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474307542498791351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18710479.post-22707228015339110352008-01-31T16:44:00.000-05:002008-01-31T16:44:00.000-05:00I've always been fascinated by the complexity of t...I've always been fascinated by the complexity of the American Electoral system and the extreme pressure it places on one human being to be all things to all people. <BR/><BR/>I can only watch from the sidelines and hope fervently that the recent Australian Federal Election results may inspire voters in the States; An incumbent Head of State is voted out of his seat by a dissatisfied and unrepresented electorate. <BR/>All power to the people!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895928331190609942noreply@blogger.com