I can't relate to Barack Obama

[cali]

on a personal level or life experience level. My life experiences are nothing like his. I am undoubtedly not as smart as he is. I'm not as educated. I am certainly not as accomplished.

And that's fine with me. I want the President of the U.S. to be smarter than I am. And far more accomplished, and better educated. I would NEVER vote for someone because I identify with them on a personal level. (ooh, she/he is just like me!)

Sarah Palin is the lowest common denominator. She became governor almost flukishly. She's not an accomplished person. She certainly isn't a well educated one. She's a fucking hockey mom. And she brags about that as if it is a qualification.

The towel snapper and the hockey mom.

Sometimes I think that's what Americans deserve.

[bdamomma]

1. not all Americans deserve it.

[cali]

2. I know, Alyce. And I don't believe in collective punishment

but frankly if Americans are stupid and just ugly enough to vote in a McCain/Palin ticket, that we're going to reap what those assholes sow.

[bdamomma]

35. well we as voters have to get out the vote, and our Party

has to rebound on this, I am sure they will not sit back on this one. I have confidence in both Obama and Biden.

[Liberal Veteran]

3. That's always bothered me also.

If I have a difficult health problem, I want the best doctor. Not a doctor I can have a beer with.

If my plumbing needs fixed, I want a competent plumber, not a drinking buddy.

If I fly, I want an experienced pilot, not someone to shoot the shit with.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. Exactly

If my criteria for a President is that "he's a nice guy," and "I could imagine having a beer with him," I could find any number of Presidential candidates hanging out in bars all over America.

I daresay not one of them would be Presidential material, although I'm sure I'd find a whole bunch of really nice guys.

[liberal N proud]

5. People are shallow when they think on the "personal level"

The President should be there for more than just ME!

They republicons have lowered the bar so low on the office of the president that this is what the NASCAR fans like.

[Oregone]

6. It is what America deserves...

The land of arrogant and bitter ignorance.

They think now they can elect an extraordinary black man to both make amends and correct the nation they destroyed.

Isn't that funny though...Barack Obama may only have a chance to get elected now because the terrible state of the nation, which is full of malcontent people needing hope and a solution to their pain. His chances exist as a reaction to a shithole, rather than merely being the best choice in a well-informed, well-running society.

If Obama was elected in a time of social stability and economic stability, call me impressed. When he is elected when we can't dig this shithole deeper, and we just need someone to keep us afloat until the next asshole comes along, call me cynical.

[marmar]

7. I think there's something to the theory that so many Americans voted for *........

...... because he made them feel better about themselves, in a "If this dude can be president, so can I" kind of way.
And if that's the case, well, Roma esta en fuego! :nuke:

[OwnedByFerrets]

8. Big K & R

[Virginia Dare]

9. You would think we would have learned something from the last 8 years..

you put a seemingly personable but unqualified and ill-suited person in the White House and look what you get?

[Vinca]

10. I've never understood why a candidate "just like you" is a good thing.

Give me the Harvard educated, Constitutional scholar.

[tosh]

29. Yeah!

:thumbsup:

[verges]

30. Especially one who worked hard for it

and earned it.

[bdamomma]

36. I don't want the "she's just like me" mantra we need someone

with brains and not this Christian Dominist crap.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

11. I look at this way: if the American people are stupid enough

to make this election close enough votewise as were 2000 and 2004 and KKKarl and his minions steal it once again, they get what they deserve.

As H L Mencken once said: "Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people".

If they want to be led around by the nose by the "corporate media" and their so-called journalists and the outright racism of the Republican party and the Religious Right, well good luck to them. If they think the last 8 years of Bush/Cheney were bad, guess what, the next 4 with McCain/Palin ain't gonna be a whole lot different.

I'm not saying that this is what is going to happen. I can't predict the future but from past experience, 2000 and 2004, nothing will surprise me. The Pukes will stoop to any level to win power. They think they own the USA and in many ways, they're not far from being wrong.

[nutshell2002]

12. Sometimes I think I live in a parallel universe

where being educated and articulate is somehow spun into something elitist and bad. It must resonate with people who cannot face their own shortcomings or failures. I myself do not need such props.

[deaniac21]

13. Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[H2O Man]

21. You can say that again.

[wildflower]

31. LOL! n/t

[joshcryer]

32. LOL, you made me laugh out loud for real.

Cute. ;)

[deaniac21]

14. Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[deaniac21]

15. Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[deaniac21]

Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[deaniac21]

16. Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[deaniac21]

Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[deaniac21]

17. Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[marmar]

27. But are they playing the woman card?

:)

[deaniac21]

Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[deaniac21]

18. Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[deaniac21]

Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[deaniac21]

19. Yep, they are DEFINATELY playing the woman card.

[deaniac21]

20. What happened. This here computer ain't working right.

[Evoman]

23. You probably pressed reply a bunch of times.

Dupes happen to me when I press reply and nothing happens. I figure I didn't press it, so I do it again. But I did and it dupes.

[Evoman]

22. Alright! We get the point!!!

:rofl:

Just buggin'.

[DrZeeLit]

42. Soooo... that would be DEFINITELY????? Okay then.

[cynatnite]

24. Just like having a beer with bush...

I've forgotten what it's like to have smart people running the country.

[nichomachus]

25. Unfortunately, the people running the country are very smart

as long as you realize that Bush isn't running the country. He's just the glad hander in the front office. The guys who are really running it stay behind the scenes.

Grover Norquist, who is in charge of bankrupting the country from within, is in sight of his goal. It won't be long before governments at all levels are bankrupt -- having been starved of tax money -- and "will have no choice" but to close schools, fire teachers, close libraries, end college loan programs, do away with all social programs, privatize social security and end Medicare.

It's already begun and is increasing with breakneck speed every day.

Most people don't realize it because it flies under the radar while everyone is foaming about Bristol's fetus.

[Kitty Herder]

39. You said it.

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." Wouldn't Dorothy and friends have been silly to follow that instruction?

[central scrutinizer]

26. Would you pick a surgeon who "seemed like an ordinary person"?

Or would you want them to produce some proof of their education and accomplishments? Would you pick a carpenter because s/he seemed like a good person to have a beer with, or would you demand to see some of their work first?

[nutshell2002]

28. Don't miss the larger point

The reason the RNC populist "I'm just like you BS" and the media and Obama are the "elitist other" resonates in middle America is because it allows ordinary people to feel better about THEMSELVES. It's ultimately really not about the issues unfortunately. Image politics has won the Republicans too many presidential elections for me to think otherwise.

[Usrename]

33. Let 'em all go have a beer with Sarah Palin. Fine.

Just leave the presidency to Obama/Biden.

[alarimer]

34. Neither can I

But it's okay. I want a President who is smarter than I am.

Palin reminds me of the bitchy cheerleaders I always hated in high school. McCain is the Vice-Principal who was always yelling at people in the hallway to get back to class.

I know at one time I was undecided as to what to do this election and I made noises about sitting out and all that but Obama has my vote for sure. It is no longer about holding my nose and voting for the lesser of the evils. For the first time I am considering donating money to a campaign and getting some signs for my windows. I don't know that I have the money right now though. And I do live in Texas which is likely to go for McCain (although I have actually seen more Obama signs than McCain signs).

[Klukie]

37. You know even the hockey mom thing has got me wondering....

I bet she is the type of hockey mom who gets in the coaches faces if her kid isn't played enough or
the type that would go to blows with another parent. Wouldn't surprise me at all with the tone she had last night.

[FatDave]

38. Funny thing is, I completely can relate to him.

Even though I'm not educated, my life experience is nothing like his, and I'm nowhere near as accomplished. I don't know whether or not he's smarter than me. I know he's very smart, but I ain't no slouch neither (occasional triple-negatives aside).

But anyhow, I relate to him perfectly well. I'm not sure why. It may just be that we both want the same things for our country. Maybe sharing that vision makes me relate to him.

[cali]

41. I know what you mean. that's why I phrased my OP the way I did

I relate to him intellectually and in other ways- who I perceive him to be, what I think his priorities are, where I think he's coming from in so far as his aspirations for this country go. And I'm certainly not belittling my own education and intelligence; I have two Masters degrees, and I know I'm bright. What I'm talking about is that I come from a very different background. And no, I don't think for one minute that I'm qualified for high office. I don't see him as "someone like me".

[paparush]

40. IDIOCRACY - Rent it, watch it, and accept that this is where America is today.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/