Iowa Watching Party

[NoHall]

That show makes me want to throw something heavy at my not-very-expensive t.v.

 

[Mango]

I said this last night and do feel that the American "intellect" is indeed an insult, and many will vote for Sen Obama out of racial guilt. Many others will do so for other reasons. I think the people who are actually discussing topics such as this are much more intelligent than the average American. I can assure you that last night, there were as many people in the US watching models on TV open brief cases with dollar amounts in them, as there were people who were actually trying to learn about our poliTRICKal system.

Frankly SJ, I am really surprised YOU of all people would raise this since I think I know you somewhat well enough to state that you are the least racist person on this board. Having said that, I have to disagree you emphatically that the "above average intelligence" persons are the ones discussing this. I think it is the racists that are discussing this. Voting for a candidate due to racial guilt is not even in the same ballpark as voting for someone based on their religious preferences or the fact that someone is a woman or black, green, yellow whatever. I'm not saying it's unreasonable to hypothesize that there may be a subconcious element to racial guilt, but who could make a model of this? I think you're either a racist or you're not. I think the Presidency is too powerful a position to allow racial guilt to interfere in ones decision regardless of intelligence level. Just my 02.

 

[peapod1980]

If you are reading any of these political threads, you don't count, even if you watched the briefcase show with Howdy Mandell.

Looks like I'm safe; I'm reading the political threads, and I watch the briefcase show. Howie's teaching my kids the principles of statistics. ;-)

 

[Jdarg]

He has a great speech writer, and a good delivery. Interestingly, some say he reminds them of JFK. I think this speech could have fit in with the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960's. I think it sounds great, but explain how he will bring forth the needed changes in our gov't.

Bitter? Yes, I am bitter that on a whole, Americans choose to ignore our own Gov't.

Quit listening to the speeches (which are never a good look at the whole picture of anybody) and go to his website and read the issues section. He has a plan for many things, but like any other candidate, he knows how he wants things to be, how he would make the changes, but would Congress help enact the changes in the the way he envisioned? I don't think ANY candidate has that kind of magic powers. I have to look at the candidates who at least have a shot in hell of making some improvements, and Obama is one of those candidates.

I have studied a few candidates websites this week, and they are very educational. Speeches and sound bytes only give you about 1/16th of the picture.

 

[Jdarg]

Looks like I'm safe; I'm reading the political threads, and I watch the briefcase show. Howie's teaching my kids the principles of statistics. ;-)

We are watching some weird-a$$ movie about a unicorn ship right now. Don't you just know how much fun I am having, with my mystical creature phobia and all.

 

[peapod1980]

We are watching some weird-a$$ movie about a unicorn ship right now. Don't you just know how much fun I am having, with my mystical creature phobia and all.

Come over--we're watching Disc 3 of "Planet Earth" on Mr. Pod's Christmas present to himself. I can't talk about it. :angry:

 

[NoHall]

We are watching some weird-a$$ movie about a unicorn ship right now. Don't you just know how much fun I am having, with my mystical creature phobia and all.

Come over--we're watching Disc 3 of "Planet Earth" on Mr. Pod's Christmas present to himself. I can't talk about it. :angry:

I'm watching a chick flick that I won't even name. Jude Law is fer sher a mystical creature...

 

[Jdarg]

Come over--we're watching Disc 3 of "Planet Earth" on Mr. Pod's Christmas present to himself. I can't talk about it. :angry:

As long as there aren't any weirdos in it, I'd be perfectly happy with that!

 

[30A Skunkape]

He has a great speech writer, and a good delivery. Interestingly, some say he reminds them of JFK. I think this speech could have fit in with the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960's. I think it sounds great, but explain how he will bring forth the needed changes in our gov't.

Bitter? Yes, I am bitter that on a whole, Americans choose to ignore our own Gov't.

I guess you have a good point on that last bit.

Your observation about the civil rights movement tone of those lines is very astute. I remember a political science class where we discussed the primary system and concluded there'd never be a black president (or any other non-traditional president) as long as Iowa and New Hampshire held so much sway over the process. In 1994, no one really thought a black candidate could win a state that was 97% white. Yet they did. It was one of those moments where you have a sense of history being made. I was so proud of those Iowans last night, because if I'm honest I have to admit I doubted their ability to look beyond race just a little.

[Tehehehe...someone's going to be appalled with himself for logging on to my computer when I was in the other room. ]

 

[goofer]

Don't get me started on the BS waste of tons of $. While there have been a few things good come out of it (Tang, others), the money and brain power spent could have brought us ssssooooo much closer to energy independence that it isn't even funny.

Got to go now and put another $45 in the black stallion's 15 gallon tank.

Now don't forget back in the early 60's energy was plentiful and VERY cheap. Gas was less than 30 cents a gallon. JFK was the embodiment of the new frontier. We were behind the Soviets in space and we needed to get the country moving. Don't be so cynical......boatloads of technology and new industries have been created by the space program. Money very well invested.