The Untouchables – Obama and Michelle?

Published on July 18th, 2008

Posted by John C Dvorak in Column fodder, Politics

The Untouchables – HUMAN EVENTS — This interesting Pat Buchanan essay openly asks if Obama is getting special kid-gloves treatment by pretty much everyone. The flap over the New Yorker cartoon epitomizes the situation.

Why did progressives recoil [over the New Yorker cartoon]? Because the more savvy among them sense that, like much humor, this cartoon was an exaggeration that contained no small kernel of recognizable truth.

Hey no parodies!

After all, Barack did dump the flag pin. Michelle did say she had never been proud of her country before now. Barack did don that Ali Baba outfit in Somalia. His father and stepfather were Muslims. He does have a benefactor, Bill Ayers, who said after 9-11 he regrets not planting more bombs in the 1960s. He did have a pastor who lionizes Black Muslim Minister Louis Farrakhan. Put glasses on him, and Barack could play Malcolm X in the movies.

And assume the point of the cartoon had been to satirize the Obamas. Why would that have been so outrageous? Journalists, after all, still celebrate Herblock, the cartoonist who portrayed Richard Nixon with the body of a rat climbing out of a sewer.

Hillary Clinton has been compared to the sex-starved Glenn Close character in “Fatal Attraction.” George Bush’s verbal gaffes are endlessly panned by late-night comics and Comedy Central. But Barack gets the special-ed treatment. Our first affirmative action candidate.

The New Yorker made a “damn-fool decision,” said George Lockwood, a lecturer on journalistic ethics.

David West of Brookings wailed to USA Today of the cartoon: “It’s the mass media at its worst. It perpetuates false information, and it’s highly inflammatory. … It gives credibility to what’s been circulating for months, and that’s what makes it dangerous.”

But dangerous to whom? Again, it is only a cartoon.

For it suggests that Obama is an untouchable to be protected. As an African-American, he is not to be treated the same as other politicians. Remnick and Hertzberg obviously felt intense moral pressure to remove any suspicion that they had satirized the Obamas. No problem, however, if they were mocking the American right.

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# 1 Paddy-O said, on July 18th, 2008 at 11:38 am

The 1st Amendment for “progressives” now means Freedom of acceptable speech.

How that is progressive is anyone’s guess…

# 2 srvenable said, on July 18th, 2008 at 11:49 am

Especially irritating are the calls that the New Yorker should have “dumbed down” their satire.

Are we going to have accessibility regulations for humor?

# 3 matt said, on July 18th, 2008 at 11:50 am

I don’t understand this attitude that Barack is being treated with kid gloves, especially after the mainstream media’s constant coverage of the “news-worthy items” Buchanan listed in his article. As soon as I see more in the mainstream media about McCain’s constant “miss-statements”, ridiculous jokes about killing Iranians, the constant flip-flopping in order to appease his base, the way he treated his first wife, as well as all the other things they give him a pass on, I’ll consider their coverage fair and balanced.

# 4 ChasW said, on July 18th, 2008 at 11:54 am

The only reason it got any news coverage was because they could smell ratings on it. Did anybody actually care, or was it just a bunch of people looking to get some attention out of it? I think the latter, personally.

# 5 Paddy-O said, on July 18th, 2008 at 11:55 am

#3 “I don’t understand this attitude that Barack is being treated with kid gloves, especially after the mainstream media’s constant coverage of the “news-worthy items” Buchanan listed in his article.”

These items were brought to the attention of “mainstream” media months before they would touch them. The got embarrassed into reporting after months of being run by non-mainstream media.

# 6 John C Dvorak said, on July 18th, 2008 at 11:59 am

#3 Matt, Here’s what I see. Every time there is a slam on Obama it’s picked up as a bad thing and repudiated and everyone gets so upset. Every time someone slams McCain for being old, for example, I never hear one thing about how age-ist these slams are when they are clearly age-ist. This has to be driving the politically correct crazy since they are the ones who promote the idea that we should not be age-ist. Furthermore many of the McCain gaffes, which must be ongoing at all the town halls he is doing, are never used against him because the media isn’t even attending these things. They are following Obama everywhere.

As for the bomb bomb bomb Iran I thought it was mildly funny as it was supposed to be. Obama seems to have no real sense of humor that I can see. His wife is no laugh riot, that’s for sure.

# 7 JimD said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

No, McBush is getting the Kid Glove Treatment !!! Why isn’t anyone asking the question the Repukes made famous ??? IE: Are you better off today than you were four (or eight) years ago ??? The Chart you ran on Dvorak here today show the answers !!! If the media asked McBush any HARD QUESTIONS, HE WOULD HAVE TO JUST CURL UP AND DIE !!!

# 8 Raster said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

Next on the New Yorker cover:

McCain will be gleefully waterboarding a Vietnamese soldier while a long line of handcuffed stereotypical “bad guys” stands in wait with bags over their heads.

And the laughs keep comin…

# 9 Micromike said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:02 pm

The first black candidate for president does mean many things are and will be different. It can only be better than the corrupt, racially bigoted shit we have had in the past. Most opposition to Obama is based on racial fear and ignorance which we seem to have in never ending supplies.

Nothing could be worse than Bush and his eternal but completely unnecessary war and McCain is just more bad government waiting to happen.

Let’s grow up and put aside our ignorant fears and give this man a chance. Maybe peace will happen instead of 100 more years of war as McCain predicts.

# 10 Paddy-O said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:04 pm

#7 “If the media asked McBush any HARD QUESTIONS, HE WOULD HAVE TO JUST CURL UP AND DIE !!!”

Kinda like if Omama where to join McCain in a free form public Q&A? But, alas, Omama refuses to do that as it isn’t scripted….

# 11 Mr. Fusion said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Buchanan is as full of crap as is Cow-Paddy.

Obama has been under the microscope far more than McCain has.

When Hagee, a McCain Pastoral supporter, told us Hitler was sent by god to deal with the Jews and Parsley who wanted holy war against all of Islam, the media said nothing. Yet they lambasted Obama for Wright’s comments, most of which are solidly based in history.

Obama got tagged by Rezco because they are neighbors. Yet McCain sleeps with Phil Gramm. Remember the guy partly responsible for $4 gas? Remember Enron? Remember the banks and their bailouts?

Obama has been consistent about torture, FISA, and Iraq. McCain has flip flopped all over each issue and usually ended up voting against what he said he was in favor of.

Buchanan is a wing nut who can’t see the forest for the trees. He hates Bush but hates Democrats more. McCain is such a screwed up candidate that he needs all the help the wing nuts can lie, cheat, invent, or whatever for him.

# 12 Paddy-O said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

#9 “Most opposition to Obama is based on racial fear and ignorance which we seem to have in never ending supplies.”

You have a short memory or, you are very young.

Both parties BEGGED Powell to run for Pres on their ticket.

So, your statement above is of course incorrect
and ridiculous.

# 13 Paddy-O said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:09 pm

#11 “Obama has been consistent about torture, FISA, and Iraq. McCain has flip flopped all over each issue and usually ended up voting against what he said he was in favor of.”

Oh, you mean like the FISA bill that Omama just helped to pass?

God, this is like shooting fish in a barrel.

I vote Mr. Fusion as comic relief poster of the year!

# 14 Mr. Fusion said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:12 pm

#6, JCD,

Every time someone slams McCain for being old, for example, I never hear one thing about how age-ist these slams are when they are clearly age-ist.

No one commented about his age until he committed a gaffe and an aide told us it was a “senior moment”.

…many of the McCain gaffes, … snip …, are never used against him because the media isn’t even attending these things.

I disagree. They aren’t using them because McCain is getting a free pass. MSNBC often shows McCains gaffes at his town hall meetings.

# 15 Soonerpet said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

#9 “The first black candidate for president does mean many things are and will be different. It can only be better than the corrupt, racially bigoted shit we have had in the past.”

I love how anyone who doesn’t like Obama is labeled as a racist. If I didn’t like Hillary either does that make me sexist too? What if I didn’t like Edward, bigoted against douchbags? Where does it end? The liberals are all about free speech and independent thought and expression until it conflicts with their own. I happen to disagree with Obama about the war, about the economy, about abortion, about taxes, about immigration and much more. But of course because I’m white and he’s black, if I don’t vote for him I’m racist. Well thanks, I’ll wear it as a badge of honor. I stand up for my beliefs and don’t let the extreme left guilt me into voting for a guy I disagree with.

# 16 Noel said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

If anyone is getting special treatment this time around, it has to be McCain. I haven’t once seen him torn apart for his mistakes in american media.

# 17 Eric said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

This is a brilliant attack on Obama by the Republicans! All the issues that have been brought up are BS, and the underlying message is being subconsciously planted.

The True Message of this Campaign: Obama is an Elitist

# 18 bobbo said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

Well, I think NEITHER candidate is being covered for anything except the most superficial BS.

Their wives?

Their misspeaks?

Their friends?

Their flip-flops?

Their poll ratings?

ALL TOTAL BS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where is the coverage of their proposed budgets to cover their spending programs? NOT A WORD ABOUT THAT!

The only thing that counts in political races is what the candidates are going to actually do==as in a program==as in budgets. FOLLOW THE MONEY.

Even the completely above average peanut gallery at DU is totally swayed by the campaigns and their stooges in the media.

Its why America is going down the toilet.

# 19 Paddy-O said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

#18 – Good call. I tried for MONTHS to get this data out of the Obama campaign and was rebuffed constantly.

# 20 Mr. Fusion said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:42 pm

#10, Cow-Paddy

#7 “If the media asked McBush any HARD QUESTIONS, HE WOULD HAVE TO JUST CURL UP AND DIE !!!”

Kinda like if Omama where to join McCain in a free form public Q&A?

What the eff does your Nigerian grandmother have to do with McCain not being asked tough questions? Can McCain only answer tough questions with your grandmother present? Is she the one hidden by the lectern causing McCain to make all those gaffes? Hhmmm, does that conduct run in your family?

#12, Cow-Paddy,

Both parties BEGGED Powell to run for Pres on their ticket.

And he was unacceptable to the majority of wing nuts and the Democrats didn’t want a Republican But IF he had of run for the Democrats he would face the same obstacles currently faced by Obama.

#13, Cow-Paddy,

Oh, you mean like the FISA bill that Omama just helped to pass?

No. I said Obama. Did your Nigerian grandmother help to pass the FISA bill? What did she do? Kneel under the desks in order to get votes?

The wing nuts are pissed because the FISA bill didn’t give blanket immunity.

# 21 bobbo said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:44 pm

#19–Paddy==thank you==and we won’t have a budget or analysis of same from either candidate during the entire election cycle.

Its demoralizing and disgusting how sheep-like we are even when bellowing like wild animals, still only at the shadows and illusions thrown up by the process meant to keep us all in the dark, voting on values and personality, while those in power remain unaccountable.

Remarkable.

# 22 Stephanie said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:45 pm

Dvorak, don’t disappoint me here!

Making fun of Nixon being drawn as a rat is hardly the same as a candidate which is being perceived as a Muslim which unfortunately is a dirty word among so many ignorant Americans. My grandfather reads a lot of forwards from his peer group of republican buddies who all believe that Obama is a Muslim and went to Muslim school. (Oh well if you read this crap in the local newspaper and your friends tell you that, IT MUST BE TRUE!)
Responsible journalism is not perpetuating stereotypes which are CLEARLY not true. Make fun of his ears, make fun of his perceived lack of experience… but what is irresponsible is using “satire” to make it seem as if he is bed with terrorists. I wish that politicians would stop preying on people’s fears and that is what I see so many people who support John McCain are doing.

I will vote out of rationality on not fear and I hope everyone else will too. I will be so happy when that hick George-dubyah is out of office.
(I am a Texan so I can say that!

# 23 Phydeau said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

*IF* Obama is being treated with kid gloves because of his race, why might that be? Hint: google “Southern Strategy”. Yes, for decades the Republicans have used both blatant and subtle appeals to racism to win elections. So your claims to oppose Obama on his policies and not the color of his skin are, shall we say, less than convincing. And if you’re one of the Republicans who truly does, well, you should have stood up and protested the racism while it was winning you elections. A little too late now. The Republican party has the well-deserved reputation as the Grand Old Racism party.

Payback’s a bitch, ain’t it?

# 24 Jägermeister said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

#18 – bobbo – … NEITHER candidate is being covered for anything except the most superficial BS. …

Good post and so true.

# 25 Andrew said, on July 18th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

You want to talk about kid gloves? McCain has said that the media is his base, they barely cover any mistakes he’s made. He has changed his public policy positions on EVERY major issue since running for President.

Look at this week, Jesse Jackson is overheard saying he wants to castrate Obama and it gets play for 4 days, McCain has an old joke about a women enjoying being raped by an ape, the media says nothing, the campaign response is that its just McCain being McCain, media says nothing.

I know that neither of this things are major issues, but the number of times McCain has been misinformed, hasn’t thought about a issue or changed his policy completely for political expediency.

I don’t mind the making fun of Obama, he’s not a golden cow, but at least he’s consistent. Everyone overlooks the FISA vote wasn’t about telecom immunity, that was just a rider, it was about bringing the judicial process for detainees back under constitutional law. Why was this necessary? Because the Republicans (including John McCain) unconstitutionally (according to the Supreme Court) made military tribunals the courts for detainees over a year ago.

Shooting fish in a barrel, #13, really? Not when you actually UNDERSTAND the issue! Low information voters should not be trying to make these sort of arguments without doing some investigation, that includes all those low information pundits in mainstream media.

# 26 Dr Dodd said, on July 18th, 2008 at 1:00 pm

#23 Phydeau

Well if anyone would know about being a racist or a bitch that would be you. Might as well learn from an expert.

# 27 jschank said, on July 18th, 2008 at 1:04 pm

It seems to me that the magazine cover is less a parody of Obama, as much as ridicule of the media’s crazy speculation. To wit, “he’s a muslim” which was false. Also the “Terrorist fist bump” is pretty much the focal point of the image.

I’m pretty sure this is why all the mainstream media outlets have their panties in a wad. Because they know this, but cannot whine about it directly without looking even more foolish.

# 28 bill said, on July 18th, 2008 at 1:20 pm

Be careful what you say!

He’s going to be the next President of the Estados Unidos de Ame’rica!!!!.

(I can’t wait to find out what is really going to happen!) WOW!

This should be a WILD RIDE indeed!!!

I’ll bet you 500 Pesos!!!

# 29 aartimus aardvark said, on July 18th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

The problem with the New Yorker cover is that it’s only funny if you’re in on the joke. Most Americans aren’t as hip as the New Yorker’s core demographic, and all they will see is a somewhat disturbing depiction of the Obamas in the Oval Office … or if they already believe the stuff depicted in the cartoon, they’ll think it’s right on target. Even worse, they’ll think it must be true because it’s right there on the cover of the New Yorker, which everyone knows is a liberal elite magazine.

# 30 Mr. Fusion said, on July 18th, 2008 at 1:35 pm

#18 & 21, Bobbo,

Where is the coverage of their proposed budgets to cover their spending programs? NOT A WORD ABOUT THAT!

Bullshit !!! Both candidates have extensive web sites explaining their platforms including economic issues. Surprise though, over 90% of what was happening during Clinton’s last year in office is still happening the same way.

I hope you don’t expect the networks to cover each speech entirely. Yes the sound bites predominate, but don’t forget that they are usually the most important minute of the speech. Each speech is very similar, if not the same, as what the candidate gave yesterday in Bumphuk and tomorrow in Wetodd.

I think I know your frustration and sorry to say, no candidate is going to stand there for three hours outlining the bases of his budget. They will give the rosy picture and ignore the downsides.

# 31 Mr. Fusion said, on July 18th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

#26, Dr Duh,

#23 Phydeau

Well if anyone would know about being a racist or a bitch that would be you. Might as well learn from an expert.

I think he was being subtle suggesting YOU are a fucking racist, bigoted, unpatriotic, bitch. Not that I disagree, but if it was me, I wouldn’t have been so subtle.

# 32 bobbo said, on July 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

#30–Confusion==the subject of this thread and my comment was the media coverage of the candidates.

Buy a candle.

# 33 Cursor_ said, on July 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

I find it fascinating that either side of the political fence should get their panties in a twist as these two are the same creature.

Plutocrat

No matter what happens they will toe the line, change nothing and we will be no truly better off.

The nation changed in 1925. But our government did not.

Cursor_

# 34 Jägermeister said, on July 18th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

#28 – Bill – He’s going to be the next President of the Estados Unidos de Ame’rica!!!!

John C Dvorak… is that you?

[No. - ed.]

# 35 pedro said, on July 18th, 2008 at 2:44 pm

It is very sad to see the supporters of certain candidate cling to an empty promess of change from a charismatic yet obscure person who measures every word he says and what small action he makes rebukes those carefully-chosen words he reads.

It’s also a pitty that their arguments are the same as those made by third world citizens in decaying countries.

Reminds me of the followers of a chap whose only achievements were being a mediocre soldier, a military “bodega” bad administrator & the unhappy leader of a failed coup. His only attributes being a good lier & his capabilities to sweet talk the lowest common denominator

#9 Things can always get worse

#28 Pesos will be passe. Try Ameros

#33 is clearer than most. But still can’t see behind tha “change” veil

# 36 adogg4629 said, on July 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

Pat B. did a great job in presenting a colored truthiness in regards to the New Yorker mag cover. While the insinuations underneath his trughiness are flat out lies, he does re-raise a dead horse that I thought had been beaten to death. The simple fact is that Obama does get a pass from the good natured ribbing and scathing critiques, but on the other hand the worst of McCain’s antics have thus far remained on youtube and out of NBC/CBS and even the New York Times. By the end of August that all will change, but it’s good to see Patty B create a fictional stink out of thin air. Way to blow smoke up our collective asses.

# 37 Peter iNova said, on July 18th, 2008 at 4:30 pm

About the New Yorker cartoon cover (I’m framing mine behind glass with a bold title: In Case Of McCain, Break Glass), I like John Stewart’s take on it the best:

Obama should have shrugged it off. The people who DO get all upset over cartoons are the terrorists!

Does anybody else out there have that old Richie Valens song buzzing in the back of their heads, “O Donna..”

# 38 gquaglia said, on July 18th, 2008 at 4:39 pm

Of course they are untouchable, their black. And just like with every other minority, if you say some negative about them, true or not, you are labeled a racist.

# 39 Self Appointed Genius said, on July 18th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

Nonsense. The liberals are just learning to do what the conservatives mastered years ago: get incomprehensibly angry about media they disapprove of.

# 40 user1 said, on July 18th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

Satire about politics are one thing, race, religion, patriotism and supposed terrorist ties are another.

# 41 MikeN said, on July 18th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

Why is Pat Buchanan complaining? He was against the publishing of those Mohammed cartoons.

# 42 GregAllen said, on July 18th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

>> Paddy-O said,
>> The 1st Amendment for “progressives” now means Freedom of acceptable speech.

Do you understand how free speech works? Free speech means that we don’t ban speech — even offensive speech. We Americans allow offensive speech and then we counter it.

I haven’t heard a single progressive person say that The New Yorker should be banned.

# 43 GregAllen said, on July 18th, 2008 at 7:35 pm

>> gquaglia said,
>> Of course they are untouchable, their black. And just like with every other minority, if you say some negative about them, true or not, you are labeled a racist.

No. You’re a racist if you play the race card.

Criticize Obama’s policies all you want.

# 44 cranky pants said, on July 18th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

The real story here is that Pat Pukecannon is actually making some sense. But then he’ll sober up and be an idiot again.

# 45 deowll said, on July 18th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

Kind of like when women’s tennis made a woman apologize to the williams girls for saying the women’s tennis organization was giving the girls favored treatment.

Please note that she didn’t actually say anything about the William’s girls. Just the Women’s Tennis organization.

It just made the charge stand out in flamming letters thirty feet tall as being proven true.

# 46 pjcamp said, on July 18th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

Ummmm . . . the same Pat Buchanan whose daughter is McCain’s communications director?

After Wright-gate and Bitter-gate and New Yorker-gate you can take this seriously?

# 47 MikeN said, on July 18th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

Media people criticized Bush for his workout regimen, but now Obama is praised for the same.

# 48 John S said, on July 18th, 2008 at 10:23 pm

#6 “Obama seems to have no real sense of humor that I can see. His wife is no laugh riot, that’s for sure.”. Thank you Mr. Dvorak you truly are enlightening. President Bush has a great sense of humour. He jokes all the time. Is this a requirement for the President of the United States. Make Mr. Dvorak laugh and he will vote for you. Of course “Obama” will not get his vote no matter if he can show Mr. Dvorak he has a sense of humour, because “His wife is no laugh riot”! Is Mr. Dvorak certain she is not a “laugh riot”. Yes and so should we all, because if Mr. Dvorak says it is true we can all say That’s for sure.

# 49 Angus said, on July 19th, 2008 at 3:29 am

This is all moot till after the conventions, when the debates start. THAT’S when I’ll make my decision to vote for McCain, or not vote at all.

# 50 Mr. Fusion said, on July 19th, 2008 at 4:55 am

#47, Lyin’ Mike,

The truly scary thing is you might actually believe the garbage you write.

# 51 RickM said, on July 19th, 2008 at 7:23 am

John D. – for your information, McCain makes jokes about his age, and the only time the MSM picks it up is when he does something to bring it up.

Paddy-O – did you really try to get budget policy out of the Obama Campaign for months? You might try his website. Is their a line by line budget outlined, no, but why would you think they would have one.

Speaking of Pat Buchanan, his latest book is “The Unnecessary War.” There is a picture of Hitler and Churchill on the front cover. Want to guess what it’s about.

McCain refers to the press as his “base.” What does that tell you about how he gets treated by the press.

The cover of the New Yorker may seem humorous to people who read the New Yorker, but in middle America where they watch Fox News, whose reporters have openly asked the question as to Obama’s patriotism and religion, it’s just more evidence of Obama being a Muslim or terrorist. That shows you how much the MSM is isolated from the rest of America.

# 52 RickM said, on July 19th, 2008 at 7:39 am

By the way, some one said that they would like to see Obama in a town-hall with McCain and answer questions from “real people.” The crowds for McCain’s town halls are staged. Have you seen McCain get a single tough question from any of his town hall meetings? Why should Obama join one of McCain’s town hall meetings when he would get peppered with questions from people screened by the Republican Party? Would McCain do the same with Democratic voters?

It might be interesting to set up a town hall debate with half the crowd screened by the Democrats, and half by the Republicans. We would then see which candidate can think on their feet.

Besides, Obama is leading. Why would he do anything that McCain or the Republicans would want?

# 53 Misanthropic Scott said, on July 19th, 2008 at 8:14 am

#3, 6, Matt & John C. Dvorak,

I think the real issue is that the press is giving McBush a free ride on the actual issues. Forget about old or black. McCain is saying amazingly stupid things and no one is calling him on them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs-LqhK-c4Y

http://www.newsweek.com/id/114548

So, did anyone actually bother to read what was inside the New Yorker?

Check out this article about “flip-flopping”

Flip-Flop Flap

# 54 Misanthropic Scott said, on July 19th, 2008 at 8:21 am

#11 – Mr. Fusion,

McCain sleeps with Phil Gramm. Remember the guy partly responsible for $4 gas? Remember Enron? Remember the banks and their bailouts?

Excellent point!! But, don’t forget that Gramm is actually not only responsible for the bailouts but for the laws allowing the banks to do whatever they wanted with CDOs, CMOs, and credit default swaps without even the oversight to make sure that those providing the credit default swaps, a form of insurance, actually had the money to provide the insurance.

Foreclosure Phil is even worse than you say.

And, remember, McCain claims to have no financial experience. So, he hires Foreclosure Phil as his financial adviser. Good idea. At least it shows he was being totally honest when he said he did not understand finance.

# 55 Misanthropic Scott said, on July 19th, 2008 at 8:27 am

#22 – Stephanie,

Very well said. I knew there were people with brains in Texas … just not in the Bush family.

<off-topic>
I’m just curious though, as a Texan with a brain, how do you feel about the fact that your vote counts less than those of every other state? Texas is even worse than California and New York. It takes four votes in Texas to equal just one vote in Wyoming.

Is there any movement in Texas to abolish the electoral college?
</off-topic>

# 56 Misanthropic Scott said, on July 19th, 2008 at 8:35 am

#38 – gquaglia,

Of course they are untouchable, their black. And just like with every other minority, if you say some negative about them, true or not, you are labeled a racist.

Um … actually, if you say anything bad about any group as a whole (in the majority or the minority) rather than individuals, that is the definition of racism, if the group is a race, or bigotry either way.

Now, how can atheists get this protection. No one seems to have any qualms about showing open and blatant disrespect and discrimination of atheists. And, no one ever calls the discriminatory induhviduals bigots.

So, actually, you may be incorrect about this being true of any minority.

# 57 bobbo said, on July 19th, 2008 at 8:41 am

#55–Scott==what has you all junked up about the electoral college? Its a constitutional provision requiring 2/3rds (?) of the States to approve a change. Given there is an annual transfer of wealth from the top 50% richer states to the bottom 50% poorer states and most of the poorer states are smaller states, what makes you think there is any chance at all for such a power shift ever being voluntarily agreed to?

Its like gun control. A bad law that our country is based on with lots of politicians holding onto it for dear life as a protection against common sense and political equal representation. Do away with electoral college and you will do away with the State Structure of the USA. You can argue the pro’s and con’s of that, but not the likelihood that it will ever be done.

Why not argue against gravity==shouldn’t it be less?

# 58 Stephanie said, on July 19th, 2008 at 9:43 am

Misanthropic Scott,

I haven’t heard of anyone protesting anything here. Oh how that frustrates me!

I live in Arlington which I do believe is the largest city in America without public transportation. Somehow the taxpayers didn’t want to pony up any money up for that but yet they voted to help fund a new MEGA stadium for the Dallas Cowboys. Are they going to be called the Arlington Cowboys!?! What do you think…

So people are up in arms here when gas is now getting close to $4 a gallon but they voted to pay for football rather than mass transit. Sometimes people only learn the hard way. Not many people will be able to even pay for a seat at the new stadium.

Until people are really hurting (which is getting closer everyday) they don’t do anything about pushing out the “good ol’ boy clubs” out of office.

I sense a slow but sure shift here in conservative land. When those middle class turned poor conservatives are now hurting for aid that no longer exists due to tax cuts, they will end up changing their minds.

Disclaimer – I am a Texan, born here and live here but I did spend 11 years in Southern California.

I do enjoy not paying state income tax though.

# 59 brendal said, on July 19th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad U.S.

# 60 Misanthropic Scott said, on July 19th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

#57 – bobbo,

#55–Scott==what has you all junked up about the electoral college?

The fact that my vote doesn’t count at all in practice or as much as many other people’s even in theory is a huge part of it. My state is often a landslide. Why vote? Democracy means one person one vote, not one Wyomingite is worth four Texans.

Clearly land doesn’t vote. If land voted, it sure as hell wouldn’t vote to be raped and pillaged. So, people vote; land does not.

Its a constitutional provision requiring 2/3rds (?) of the States to approve a change. Given there is an annual transfer of wealth from the top 50% richer states to the bottom 50% poorer states and most of the poorer states are smaller states, what makes you think there is any chance at all for such a power shift ever being voluntarily agreed to?

Interestingly, that is merely an argument of hopelessness, not an argument that the electoral college is correct or fair.

Its like gun control. A bad law that our country is based on with lots of politicians holding onto it for dear life as a protection against common sense and political equal representation.

I’m not seeing the correlation.

Do away with electoral college and you will do away with the State Structure of the USA. You can argue the pro’s and con’s of that, but not the likelihood that it will ever be done.

True and true. But, do you then argue that because something bad is hard to change that we should not try? I think you may be being even more defeatist and pessimistic than me.

Why not argue against gravity==shouldn’t it be less?

I think we don’t get to vote on the physical constants of the universe, so this may be just a tad of a red herring.

#58 – Stephanie,

I haven’t heard of anyone protesting anything here. Oh how that frustrates me!

Damn!! Sorry to hear that. I thought/hoped that a state like Texas would have been the perfect place for such a movement to start. You guys get hit even harder than we do here in New York and you don’t have the hatred from middle America that New York and California do.

Sorry for my tendency to answer rhetorical questions. I think that I couldn’t care less about the names of teams, NJ Giants vs NY Giants when they play in NJ, I couldn’t care less. What do I think? I think we have more important matters. I think you should get your public transportation.

Sometimes people only learn the hard way.

Unfortunately, that is the only way most people learn, if they learn at all. Let’s see if we can learn the hard way before it’s too late.

Anyway, it gives me hope to hear a sane voice from the “red states”, as if we needed to define our nation along such lines. Perhaps the powers that be like to divide us into red/blue to divide and conquer. Who knows? I’m sure we all have a lot more in common than we have differences if we could look at what’s really important and stop getting caught up in all the BS.

# 61 pedro said, on July 19th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

Is it me or this diatribe became stale?

# 62 Mr. Fusion said, on July 20th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

#61, pedro,

It’s you.

# 63 Stephanie said, on July 20th, 2008 at 7:43 pm

Vote Pedro for President… NOT (in my best Borat voice).

# 64 fulanoche said, on July 21st, 2008 at 3:29 am

Obama–African-American

Isn’t he White African-American?

# 65 Misanthropic Scott said, on July 21st, 2008 at 4:12 am

#64 – fulanoche,

If that makes a difference to you, then you are a racist. For the rest of us, who cares? He’s by far the better option for president. And, he can not only pronounce the names of foreign countries, he can even pronounce nuclear!!

Back to the African-American question though, pick up a book on evolution. Humans evolved in Africa. Therefore, we are all African in origin. So, there are 300 million African-Americans, plus a whole lot of African-Europeans, African-Asians, African-Canadians, African-Latin-Americans, African-etc.

Does that answer the question?

Remember, there are two types of people in the world, those who divide the world into two types of people and those who do not. Let’s try to stay in the latter group.

# 66 Mr. Fusion said, on July 21st, 2008 at 10:28 am

#65, Scott,

I thought there were three types of people. Those who divide the world into two types of people and everyone else.

# 67 Misanthropic Scott said, on July 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pm

#66 – Mr. Fusion,

No no no. There are three types of people in the world, those who can count and those who cannot.

Or was it this? There are 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who do not.

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