The Reluctant Optimist

“Half-empty or half-full, as long as there’s whiskey in my glass.”

Archive for the 'Elections' Category


Moving To The Left On The Environment

Posted by TRO on May 13, 2008

Ugh, McCain is going green and buying into the global warming nonsense. I guess it is to be expected. He is, after all, a liberal who wants to get elected as a Republican in an electoral environment that is not that friendly to Republicans no matter how liberal they are. To do that he needs Independents and moderate Democrats and one way to get them is to track left on issues like the environment. Okay, that’s the way the game is played and I accept it, although I resent his lecturing me on my disbelief in global warming.

Still, he risks losing more of his base than he has already lost and if the end result is he loses more votes from his base than he gains from the middle and left, what has he accomplished?

Except creating this ugly-ass poster.

Posted in 2008 election, Elections, Global Warming, McCain, Politics | No Comments »

Threesomes Are Overrated

Posted by TRO on May 13, 2008

Sixty-four percent of Democrats want Hillary to stay in the race. And if that isn’t interesting enough 42% of Obama backers want her to stay as well. There seems to be a disconnect here between the Democrat leadership/liberal media and the rank and file of the party.

If I were Hillary and I knew I was going to blow Barry away in West Virginia and Kentucky I would keep running too.

The other interesting thing is a lot of rank and file Dems, including blacks, want her to be the VP. I can’t see her taking it though. I don’t think she would be good as a irrelevant second-banana. Actually, she’d be a third-banana behind the delicate little flower, Michelle.

Can you imagine that dynamic? It’s hard enough to deal with one woman, but two at the same time? I have always had the impression that Michelle is the stronger one in that relationship and I can only imagine the fireworks between her and Hillary, or at least the fireworks between her and Barry when she doesn’t like Hillary’s influence on him (if there is any at all).

Am I being sexist by saying, “Meowwww, cat fight?”

No, I think Hillary will take this to the convention and, if she loses, tell her backers to support Obama, maybe even campaign for him a bit, and then return to the Senate to take the lead on some issues in order to rehabilitate her name and maybe try again later.  Since Obama’s presidency would probably be much like Carter’s she has a chance and she knows it.

Posted in Elections, Hillary, Obama, Politics, Women | 1 Comment »

Quick Links

Posted by TRO on May 12, 2008

1 ” . . . inexperienced, self-entitled and effete, a candidate coddled by a loving press corps and lacking the judgment necessary for the highest office in the land.” And yet, the Dems are going to choose him. Eh, I suppose they have no choice really. To do otherwise would alienate the black base and without them they would never win another election.

2. Question: When is war good? Answer: When liberals want to fight it.

3. Obama Flip-Flopping Already? Actually he is lying, but hey it’s just semantics.

4. I suppose this should surprise me, but it’s been my experience that many judges are kinda wacky.

5. The 50 Most Memorable Movie Cars. I recognized all but three, so they must be right.

Posted in 2008 election, Elections, Judicial Branch, Liberals, Obama, Politics | 1 Comment »

And We All Came Together And Said, “F#*k It, McCain!”

Posted by TRO on May 12, 2008

Hat-tip to Demure Thoughts.

Oh and here is some more good stuff at Scrappleface. Read and laugh.

Posted in 2008 election, Conservatism, Democrats, Elections, Humor, Liberals, Politics, Videos | No Comments »

Of Pledges And Pins

Posted by TRO on May 12, 2008

The question I have is not why the school suspended the kids for not standing during the Pledge of Allegiance. If they don’t want to stand, fine. Free speech and all that. (Although it is my personal opinion that kids, while in school, should not have the same free speech rights as adults. Unfortunately, the courts have ruled otherwise in this case so what can you do?)

No, the question I have is why the hell did their parents did not raise them to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s sad that they haven’t taught them to voluntarily show respect for the flag of a nation that secures and protects their right to free speech. Then again, when Barry Obama, the likely Democratic nominee and possible next President of these United States won’t even wear a flag pin why should they?

I bet they know there aren’t 57 states though.

Posted in 2008 election, Democrats, Elections, Obama, Parenting, Personal, Political Correctness, Politics, Popular Culture | No Comments »

Why Is Obama Successful? Well, Here’s One Theory

Posted by TRO on May 12, 2008

Add a fawning main stream media along with some burning-hot Bush hatred and you have a movement.

Oh, here’s another one good one.

Hat-tip to Media Blog.

Posted in 2008 election, Elections, Obama, Politics | No Comments »

Barbara Walters Wannabes

Posted by TRO on May 10, 2008

Could the press corps be any more in bed with Obama? Or want to be that is? Oh well, if Babs can do it, why not any aspiring journalist.

Watch as Barry gives them the money-maker shot virtually assuring another month of good press. Maybe he is like Jack Kennedy after all.

Hat-tip to Michelle Malkin.

Posted in 2008 election, Elections, Liberals, Main Stream Media, Obama, Politics, Women | 3 Comments »

The Official Obama Flag Pin

Posted by TRO on May 10, 2008

In honor of his remarkable, indeed unprecedented, travel to 57 states.

From Suitably Flip.

In case you missed it, this is in reference to this:

And as to why it matters - well, can you imagine the left’s reaction had it come from McCain?  Nuff said.

Posted in 2008 election, Elections, McCain, Obama, Politics, Videos | 3 Comments »

The Picture Has Nothing To Do With The Post

Posted by TRO on May 9, 2008

I apologize for the lack of posting, but I was out of state working and just didn’t have time. To make up for it, here’s a few links I found interesting.

1. Obama versus McCain: Let’s Get It On. Best line is the last line: “If John McCain can’t talk the American people out of re-Carterizing themselves, what has he been preparing for all these years?” Yep, Carter all over again. And I called that one before the election too, just ask all my relatives who voted for him while I backed Ford.

2. I spoke with another Democrat while on travel who told me he would vote for McCain this year. He dislikes Bush, positively hates Reagan (no clue what Reagan did to him but the guy was almost pathological about him), and considered himself a yellow-dog Democrat up until this year. He didn’t give me any real reasons, but he is a working-class, gun-toting, religion-clinging white Kentuckian. Make of that what you will.

3. Dan Rather can’t seem to find work, but the real kick here is he applied to Fox News. They should have hired him in my opinion, can you imagine how fun that would be?

4. My Alma Mater gave out its first ever space law degree. I don’t know if that is something I should be proud of or embarrassed about. I am leaning towards embarrassment but, hey, it gives me an opportunity to post this. Via Ace.

5. It appears that my prediction about Obama’s response to any political attack was true. Of course, it’s not a race card in this instance, but calling McCain’s statement of fact that the terrorist group Hamas wants Obama to be elected a “smear” is going to be a standard practice.

6. “We may now understand why Barack does not wear a flag lapel pin. He’s afraid that Bill Ayers will stomp on him.”

7. “Great tits cope well with warming.” Well, of course they do. Unfortunately, it’s not what you think.

8. The five greatest movie teachers, plus one. They all suck in my opinion, all the more so because they left out the number one movie teacher of all time.

9. Global warming does not exist. That is my official opinion and anyone who doesn’t agree with me is the equivalent of an Holocaust** denier. Hey, don’t get mad at me for saying that, I just stole it from the global warming enviro-nuts.

9. I’m assuming that you only need one search term, that being “gingers.”

10. Speaking of gingers, observe one ginger’s obsession with a Saab.

PLUS ONE:

With some commentary here, here, and here. Great line: “Can He Spell ‘Potato?’”

Correction:
New best line:

“This faux pas is beyond weird; I know the guy is tired, but “How many states are there in America?” is the kind of question they ask you at the hospital after you’ve had a seizure to see if your brain is still working.”

Although this one is good too: “Maybe he needs to start wearing a flag pin so he could use the stars on it as a reference.”

** I’m not making fun of the Holocaust. I am using it this way to show how ludicrous it is to compare those two things, which the left does all the time.

Posted in 2008 election, Education, Elections, Gingers (Redheads), Main Stream Media, McCain, Obama, Politics, Popular Culture, Videos, Women | 1 Comment »

And The Band Plays On?

Posted by TRO on May 7, 2008

Obama kicked Hillary’s butt in North Carolina. No surprise really with him winning over 90% of the black vote in a state with about 38% black voters. Lots of under-30s voted for him too - or the naivete of youth - but he lost big with working-class whites, including many of the working-class white males he had done well with in the past.

End result of North Carolina? Not much past probably winning him the nomination which he pretty much had sewn-up anyway. The Democrats will not carry North Carolina in the general nor will his monolithic black support help him much either, since blacks vote Democrat anyway.

Now on to Indiana. Hillary won, but barely, owing a big part of that slim percentage to the 91% black vote Obama captured. Again, Obama probably had the nomination sewn-up already so all this does is give Hillary pause about going on past Kentucky and West Virginia - both states she will win easily - and onto the convention. Again, the Dems will not win Indiana in the general and the same thing applies to the black vote there as it does everywhere.

And neither contest factors in the pissed-off Hillary supporters who have said they will vote for McCain over Obama - close to 40% in Indiana. A trend that will probably flow through all the states during the general although there will be some mending of fences between the two camps, of course.

All good news for McCain when you think on it, but there doesn’t seem to be enough Democrats thinking on it.

Bad for them, good for McCain.

So, all eyes are on Hillary. Will she stay or will she go. I hope she stays (and I think she will, but who knows) because watching the Dems tear themselves up is quite amusing and telling. Also, I can’t stand Obama so I do still hold some small hope he won’t be the nominee. Why, you ask, when his and her policies are pretty much the same - they’re both socialists after all.

Well, because Obama and his mentor Reverend Wright have done great damage to race relations in this country since he started running and I simply cannot fathom the increased damage he will cause during the general election. I would hate to see an election fought along racial lines (it already is as these primaries show), but frankly I don’t see how it will not be done that way. And it certainly won’t be McCain doing it; it will be Obama and his supporters who will call every attack on his policies and character and judgment a racial attack. And it will be because of continued stupid statements from the likes of Reverend Wright and the ever bitter and miserable Michelle “I had to pay back my school loans to Princeton and I am still pissed about it” Obama. It’s inevitable. There’s a whole deck of race cards just waiting to be laid out.

I could be wrong. I hope I am.

But I’m not.

QUICK UPDATE:

Here’s something interesting that sort of fits into my race card prediction above:

Question: Will white voters vote for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama in the fall?

Answer: Some will, but I predict most won’t. It’s not his race. It’s his politics. No Democratic presidential candidate has received a majority of the white vote since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. In fact, only 3 have since the Civil War (Samuel Tilden in 1876, Franklin Roosevelt 4 times and LBJ). I doubt Obama will. Of course, racism — or “fear-mongering” — will be blamed.


STILL ANOTHER UPDATE ON THE RACIAL DIVIDE:

At The Campaign Spot where they list a nice little group of media-types talking about whites not voting for him because he is black and, of course, not because of his lack of character, poor judgment or his socialist policies.

I don’t know whether they are trying to shame white voters into voting for him or simply preparing their excuses for a loss in the general election.  Either way, it is only going to get worse.

Posted in 2008 election, Elections, Hillary, McCain, Obama, Politics, Racism | 2 Comments »

Of Character And Crowns**

Posted by TRO on May 4, 2008

Knowing that Barack Hussein Obama has been hurt by his 20-year close relationship with that racist, anti-Semite, anti-American Reverend Wright, the left is now starting to try to establish a similar connection between McCain and some controversial preachers who support him.

Now it would be a legitimate political attack on McCain if the two situations were remotely alike, but clearly they are not. On the one hand we have a two decade-old close, personal friendship with the man who married Barry and his delicate little flower of a wife Michelle and baptized their children, and on the other hand we have a politician who is courting his base by accepting the endorsement of some TV preachers who mean little to anyone outside of their viewership and who have had no influence on McCain’s life to date, nor will they have in the future knowing McCain’s maverick attitude towards his own party.

The left can try to make that comparison, but I don’t believe that Independents nor moderate Dems are going to buy it. I certainly don’t. But then again, I read on another blog that those of us who don’t are either hypocrites or racists, so take what I believe with a grain of salt being that I am a gun-toting, God-clinging white guy whose brain is wired differently from progressive liberals and blacks. It’s just my burden to bear I guess.

Still, my burden is not as heavy as Barry’s according to Michelle, who says he has almost reached his boiling-point over having to answer questions about his character and judgment.

Wow, his boiling-point huh? I wonder what happens when he reaches it. Does steam come out of his big ears? That would be cool it if did.

I really don’t know why the lovely Michelle and the great Barry don’t know this, but anyone running for president should expect to have his or her character and judgment questioned. I mean every damn person who ran for that office before was questioned in that manner, so why is Barry exempt? Oh yes, as Don Surber says, we should just go ahead and coronate the guy. He is bringing hope and change for heaven’s sake, so why the hell should we question him at all? That’s want his supporters have decided. He’s the guy no matter what his past relationships - terrorists, racists, shady Chicago slum-lords - and we should just shut the hell up and place that crown on his head.

One has to wonder though. What will Barry and Michelle do if he is elected? The questioning of a candidate’s character and judgment doesn’t stop after the inauguration. Hell, that’s when it really gets started.

Just ask G.W. Bush.

QUICK UPDATE:

Here’s a very interesting article, the thrust of which is why Oprah left the Reverend Wright’s church back in the 1990s, but which also explains why Barry joined and ultimately remained.

Friends of Sen. Barack Obama, whose relationship with Wright has rocked his bid for the White House, insist that it would be unfair to compare Winfrey’s decision to leave Trinity United with his own decision to stay. “[His] reasons for attending Trinity were totally different,” said one campaign adviser, who declined to be named discussing the Illinois senator’s sentiments. “Early on, he was in search of his identity as an African-American and, more importantly, as an African-American man. Reverend Wright and other male members of the church were instrumental in helping him understand the black experience in America.

So he joined the church to find his African-American “identity,” as defined by Wright and his church (We sure know how they define it, don’t we?) - something that was necessary to win any public office in Chicago - but now has dumped Wright to help shed a bit of that identity to win over the white working-class voters he is losing every day.

Calling the man an empty suit is too kind really.

** Changed the title again. I just do that sometimes.

Posted in 2008 election, Elections, McCain, Obama, Politics | 3 Comments »

Eight Things

Posted by TRO on May 1, 2008

1. Global Warming Could Stop Naturally In Ten Years - but don’t let that inconvenient news keep you from going green and starving a third-worlder.

2. I never had sexual relations with that Pastor.

3. Eight essential gadgets for the secret agent.

4. Ten worst job interview questions.

5. Facebook in real life. I’ve never tried it so I have no clue if this is funny or not. On the other hand, British accents always make things funny.

6. Today, (April 30th) is French No-Spank Day. Fortunately it was about spanking children, for the moment spanking brunette women on the bum is still allowed. Dodges a bullet there I tell ya.

7. “Youthful passion is really quite tedious.” Most of the tedious passion he is speaking about is the liberal kind, thank goodness.

8. Fort Bragg soldier receives Distinguished Service Cross - the second highest honor our nation offers its brave warriors. Another American hero mostly ignored by the liberal press.

PLUS ONE:

This blogger is very upset that a Macy’s buyer didn’t know what she meant when she asked about Macy’s “green policy.” I do find it amusing that the buyer didn’t know she meant environmental policies, but other than that I have the exact opposite reaction. I love that Macy’s isn’t concerned about green policy. In fact, while I have never shopped at Macy’s before, I am going to go out of my way to shop there from now on. Green policies are sometimes doing more bad than good. Yeah, yeah, I want to protect the environment (and do more than my share actually - if you only knew), but this type of obsession is not a good thing; obsessions rarely are.

Posted in 2008 election, Blogs, Elections, Funny Foreign Customs, Global Warming, Jobs, Main Stream Media, Military, Obama, Political Correctness, Politics, Popular Culture, US Army | 1 Comment »

Hey, Don’t Kid Yourself, Those Things Sting Like Hell

Posted by TRO on April 30, 2008

Posted in 2008 election, Elections, McCain, Obama, Politics | No Comments »

Obama The Naif

Posted by TRO on April 30, 2008

Posted in 2008 election, Elections, Obama, Politics | 1 Comment »

Friend And Mentor Or Just His Pastor - You Decide

Posted by TRO on April 30, 2008

Because evidently Barry cannot.

Posted in Elections, Obama, Politics | No Comments »