Some Possible Implications of an Obama Victory

[rwarn17588]

One implication that I welcome ...

The election drove a stake through the heart of the already-dubious notion of the Bradley Effect. Stick a fork in it; it's done. Near as I can tell, the polls and the actual results were pretty much the same and at least in the margin of error.

On another matter, it amuses me to hear the same pundits who called Obama a "socialist" for weeks insist on Election Night that the United States is still a "center-right" nation. That's part of the GOP's problem; it can't keep its stories straight.

I'm surprised that few people have brought this up, but watch the Supreme Court go more leftward. You could see at least two and as many as four Justices retire during Obama's term.

For me, the election was a repudiation against torture. That was one of the issues during the Bush Administration that sickened me. I knew some World War II veterans, and they were adamant and proud that they didn't torture enemy prisoners even though they knew that captive Americans suffered greatly. "We're better than that," I heard more than one of them explain their motivation in taking the high road. I was thankful those old veterans didn't hear about what happened to terrorism suspects -- many of whom were freed later -- in our custody. They would have been heartbroken.

Another lesson learned: Don't start a war unless you're damned sure you've got an airtight reason to do so.

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588


For me, the election was a repudiation against torture. That was one of the issues during the Bush Administration that sickened me. I knew some World War II veterans, and they were adamant and proud that they didn't torture enemy prisoners even though they knew that captive Americans suffered greatly. "We're better than that," I heard more than one of them explain their motivation in taking the high road. I was thankful those old veterans didn't hear about what happened to terrorism suspects -- many of whom were freed later -- in our custody. They would have been heartbroken.

Amen.  I hope Obama puts an end to the torture/rendition/Quantanamo Bay regime quickly and completely. That stuff has to go, like, yesterday.

[nathanm]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy


Elaborate on that. I think Swake's analysis, based somewhat on the same ramblings that WeVsUs made, are pretty accurate.

Wevy made a strong insight that the remaining Congressional republicans are the true believers and will be impossible to sway without heapings of pork or allegations of impropriety. Think Inhofe. Might be good for OK.

Palin is a dogmatic fundie. Huckabee is a person who has the intestinal fortitude to do what needs to be done, even when that consists of raising taxes, despite his religion and political affiliation.

I'd put Inhofe in with Palin. Dogmatic right winger.

And rwarn, despite the right wing fearmongers claims, Obama isn't all that left wing. Compared to Bush or Arkansas Democrats he is, but he's really quite centrist, and it seems likely you'll see that reflected in any Supreme Court appointments he might get to make.

Personally, I'd like to see a couple who are farther left to offset Bush's appointments and numbnuts Scalia, but I don't think Obama will play that game.

And yes, Obama needs to bring the War on Terror back into the realm of law enforcement. It's simply not a military problem in most cases. Afghanistan was an exception, although badly bungled thanks to Bush taking his eye off the ball and going for Iraq.

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by we vs us

Obama's machine isn't going away.  He's done some really revolutionary organizing (and fundraising) and the question is going to be, what happens to it when it's initial purpose is accomplished?  He's going to have this extra-governmental grass-roots structure he can call on.  How will he use it?  Can he use it?  

Welcome to the new machine:Change.gov.

Man, I'm good.

[tim huntzinger]

quote:Originally posted by nathanm



And rwarn, despite the right wing fearmongers claims, Obama isn't all that left wing. Compared to Bush or Arkansas Democrats he is, but he's really quite centrist, and it seems likely you'll see that reflected in any Supreme Court appointments he might get to make.

HA! He was raised by communists! Conceived in Cuba and born in Kenya! His 'father' was a long-time communist agitator in Kenya - eventually forced out.

Implications of the O? A communist-leaning dictatorship! Once O's tax-and-spend policies fail he is going to demand greater control of the economy and Congress is going to give it to him.

You think Inhofe's status is going to equate to more gimmes for Sooners? May as well have elected a mannequin and sent it to the Gulag!  We can only hope that Gub Brad's early O-worship will offset our craven GOP delegation in the O's mind.

[nathanm]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger


HA! He was raised by communists! Conceived in Cuba and born in Kenya! His 'father' was a long-time communist agitator in Kenya - eventually forced out.

I see you've been listening to much Limbaugh, Hannity, and friends. Why don't you get the facts, rather than believing BS spewed by the right wing hate machine?

Well, I don't know about what his father did, but Obama the younger only met Obama the elder once in his entire life, so does it really matter even if what you say is true?

[USRufnex]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger


HA! He was raised by communists! Conceived in Cuba and born in Kenya! His 'father' was a long-time communist agitator in Kenya - eventually forced out.

Implications of the O? A communist-leaning dictatorship! Once O's tax-and-spend policies fail he is going to demand greater control of the economy and Congress is going to give it to him.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

According to some of the "people" the national TV news shows (NBC, CBS, ABC) have interviewed, if Obama wins we will all be eating watermellon and "chitlins," wearing tap shoes, capping our front teeth gold, and praising Allah.  The prejudice and ignorance still alive in this country in 2008 is incredible.

You forgot about worshiping Mao, Pol Pot, Stalin, and Marx.

quote:
IMO, an Obama victory is eminent and the best thing that could happen to the U.S. at this time.

I agree.  My Australian friend told me he couldn't believe we actually did it.  The world likes us again.  If the economy goes up, I'll be able to visit overseas without telling everyone I'm Canadian.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

We vs. Us, Obama was born in 1961.  Baby Boomers were born from 1946 until 1964.  Obama is a Boomer.

There are subgroups within the Boomer years.  Older, Middle and Younger.  And there is a dynamic that plays out between the Boomer Subgroups.

President-Elect Obama was born during an "overlap" between the Boomers and Gen X.  Gen X is considered starting circa 1960.  Generational demographics isn't an exact science, and the dates tend to overlap.  I consider Obama a solid Xer, he speaks and thinks like a member of my generation.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

One implication that I welcome ...

The election drove a stake through the heart of the already-dubious notion of the Bradley Effect. Stick a fork in it; it's done. Near as I can tell, the polls and the actual results were pretty much the same and at least in the margin of error.

It's interesting that the exit polls were "off" in 2004 for the first time ever, and in 2008 they were once again correct.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

Implications of the O? A communist-leaning dictatorship! Once O's tax-and-spend policies fail he is going to demand greater control of the economy and Congress is going to give it to him.

I'd rather see tax-and-spend policies than the borrow-and spend (and spend and spend and spend) policies of the failed Bush administration.

[rwarn17588]

quote:Originally posted by bugo

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

One implication that I welcome ...

The election drove a stake through the heart of the already-dubious notion of the Bradley Effect. Stick a fork in it; it's done. Near as I can tell, the polls and the actual results were pretty much the same and at least in the margin of error.

It's interesting that the exit polls were "off" in 2004 for the first time ever, and in 2008 they were once again correct.

The exit polls were weighed incorrectly in 2004. A number of experts noted this just hours after their release.

After all the heat they took, you know the exit pollsters were motivated to get it right this time.

The usual tracking polls -- Gallup, Rasmussen, SurveyUSA, etc. -- showed that Kerry didn't lead after mid-August. Bush won. So those polls were on the money, too.

The Bradley Effect was little more than a dubious theory. A Harvard researcher found that it didn't exist after the mid-1990s, if it existed at all. The complete lack of divergence in the polls and the actual election counts in 2008 show that the Bradley Effect is done, kaput.

[Gaspar]

Stock Market 101

Lets see. . . If I sell all of my stocks now I will have to give up 15% to the Government in capital gains.

If I wait until next year, under Obama's proposed plan, I'll have to give up more than 30%.

What do I do?

What is the world doing now?

Where is the money going?

[nathanm]

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

Stock Market 101

Lets see. . . If I sell all of my stocks now I will have to give up 15% to the Government in capital gains.

You've really held all your stock more than a year? You're a rare one these days, Gaspar.

[bokworker]

quote:Originally posted by nathanm

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

Stock Market 101

Lets see. . . If I sell all of my stocks now I will have to give up 15% to the Government in capital gains.

You've really held all your stock more than a year? You're a rare one these days, Gaspar.

You really have gains to pay taxes on Gaspar? You are even rarer!