New new election thread

[mountain bed]

What...me worry? Decent article here:

 

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12433.html

[MrRain422]

I don't think I'd get that worked up over anything the Politico published. But if it helps:

 

1) Race.

 

Yeah, that's the elephant in the room for both sides. It's certainly a factor, though how big of a factor is impossible to determine. This is a legitimate concern, but so far out of the candidate's control that it's not worth fretting over.

 

2) Obama

[ih8music]

Michigan is a weird state this year because, though Democrats are generally up everywhere and Republicans are generally down, Michigan has its own weird dynamic where an ineffective Democratic governor has presided over a prolonged period of economic failure. It's not really Granholm's fault, but she also has done very little to help the situation. Local Democrats may struggle, but I think the people of Michigan still recognize that within the federal government, the Republicans have been too corrupt and incompetent to vote for. Local Dems may have big problems in Michigan but Bush is also unpopular and McCain's ties to Bush are probably too strong. I think Michigan will still go for Obama. Kwame is a total disaster but I don't think that will reflect on Obama -- once Kwame is gone, the new Mayor will be a Dem, as will whoever follows him, and whoever follows him. Detroit isn't going to swing Red no matter what happens.

 

Don't underestimate the damage Kwame has done to the MI Democratic party. I agree that Detroit itself will never turn red, but the scandal does nothing but reinforce the image that many (in fact, the majority) of suburbanites and rural people of MI have of the democrats (corrupt, ineffective, immoral, etc.). Whereas nationally, the vast group of independents/undecided voters are either split 50-50 or leaning in Obama's favor, I think we're going to see most of those votes in MI going to McCain.

 

Whether that's enough to flip MI red, we'll have to see... luckily for the democrats, the state's population is distributed such that it makes it an uphill battle.

[PigSooie]

Report of shots at Arkansas Dems headquarters

 

 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)

[Analogman]

RKansas is not doing so well these days:

 

HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. (AP) - Officers with military rifles have been stopping and questioning passers-by in a violence-plagued Arkansas neighborhood that's been under a 24-hour curfew for a week.

 

The Helena-West Helena City Council voted 9-0 yesterday to allow police to expand that program into any area of the city, even though a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union warns the police stops are unconstitutional.

 

The police chief says patrols have netted 32 arrests since they began last week in a 10-block neighborhood of the town on the banks of the Mississippi River. He says no one's been arrested for actually violating the curfew, but people are being questioned about why they're outside.

 

Mayor James Valley says "citizens deserve peace" and "some infringement of constitutional rights is OK."

 

Some residents at a packed council meeting described a neighborhood under siege because of gunfire and gangs.

 

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[PigSooie]

RKansas is not doing so well these days:

 

I have been trying to understand this story all day. Helena is a shithole, but the idea of this is so foreign.

[MattZ]

What is a 24 hr curfew?

[PigSooie]

Gwatney has been confirmed dead by local media.

[Analogman]

What is a 24 hr curfew?

 

Almost Martial law - I would think.

[kimcatch22]

Officers with military rifles

 

This is the part that really disturbs me. If things are really that out of control, get the National Guard.

[Central Scrutinizer]

This is the part that really disturbs me. If things are really that out of control, get the National Guard.

Are there enough of them back from Iraq?

[PigSooie]

Almost Martial law - I would think.

 

Do you think DWI roadblocks are right?

 

 

It seems sort of like the same thing. I'd never thought of it that way, but someone brought it up on another board.

[ih8music]

Gwatney has been confirmed dead by local media.

RIP.

 

Sad to say, but let's hope it was a personal thing between him & the gunman. If it's another nut that got amped up by right-wing hate mongers like the dude who shot up the gay-friendly church a few weeks ago, we're all going to be due for a little soul-searching about how far we take our passionate political rhetoric.

[Analogman]

Do you think DWI roadblocks are right?

 

 

It seems sort of like the same thing. I'd never thought of it that way, but someone brought it up on another board.

 

 

 

That is interesting.

[PigSooie]

RIP.

 

Sad to say, but let's hope it was a personal thing between him & the gunman. If it's another nut that got amped up by right-wing hate mongers like the dude who shot up the gay-friendly church a few weeks ago, we're all going to be due for a little soul-searching about how far we take our passionate political rhetoric.

 

 

Rumors say the shooter was fired from the car dealership Gwatney owns.

[fatheadfred]

Ddub roadblocks are b.s.

And should we curb our speech out of fear? Maybe think before we speak but continue to deliver our messages...much like the environment within public schools and universities. Anytime a shooting occurs we get tentative. It takes time to regain the ability to look at students and not wonder if they are planning to shoot someone.

 

In the theater of politics and the public this is especially screwy since the public is everywhere and politicians are accessible.

 

But wait, maybe that isn't the story here. Maybe the shooting was over personal shtuff like boinking his ol' lady or something.

 

And who would name their daughter 'Sarah Lee'?

[PigSooie]

Gwatney has been confirmed dead by local media.

 

Looks like the media had bad info. He's in critical condition, and the shooter is dead.

[uncool2pillow]

This is a really funny book! It really pushes (the burns to ashes) the envelope on good taste. Maybe not worth buying, but a trip to the bookstore to read.

[bleedorange]

This is a really funny book! It really pushes (the burns to ashes) the envelope on good taste. Maybe not worth buying, but a trip to the bookstore to read.

 

The desecration of an absolute children's classic is the sad thing there.

[John Smith]

He is definately dead now. Very strange, so sad for the families involved.

[fatheadfred]

The desecration of an absolute children's classic is the sad thing there.

 

That book is ok. Goodnight Moon. I like the randomness of the message, like 'goodnight nothing' and the page is blank. It's a good drunk read.

[Good Old Neon]

Looks like the media had bad info. He's in critical condition, and the shooter is dead.

 

From CNN:

 

Arkansas Democratic leader dies after shooting

 

Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney died today, hours after a shooting at the state party's headquarters, police said. The suspect was shot by police after a chase and also later died, officials said. Former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton issued a statement saying they were "deeply saddened" by Gwatney's death. full story http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/13/arkans...ting/index.html

[explodo]

"In the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations." - John McCain

 

 

Nice selective memory, jackass. Or maybe he assumes that Americans could never invade. They just bring freedom wherever they go.

 

 

His whole Cold War era let's kill those Commie bastards response to the conflict in Georgia has been interesting to watch. He finally has an issue he is comfortable with, war or the possibility of war, and he is suckling on that teat like a kitten. I'd imagine people 50 and above are eating it up.

[Guest Jules]

His whole Cold War era let's kill those Commie bastards response to the conflict in Georgia has been interesting to watch. He finally has an issue he is comfortable with, war or the possibility of war, and he is suckling on that teat like a kitten. I'd imagine people 50 and above are eating it up.

I'm only 31.

[explodo]

I'm only 31.

That doesn't make my statement any less true, T-Bone.