Darin

Friday, November 07, 2003

Dean’s mistake was using that term to describe that demographic. “NASCAR Dads” are this election’s “Soccer Moms” from 2000, but they’re not all ‘Cletus the Slicked-Jawed Yokel’. I would bet his apology was more his campaign chairperson’s idea than his.

One thing I like about Dean is that he doesn’t care if he says something that might trigger a response, positive or negative. Most of the others (Kerry, Gephardt, Lieberman, Edwards) are so embedded into the system they won’t say anything; they just spout the same rhetoric you’ve heard for years. At least Dean and Kucinich tell it like it is; but Kucinich is too “Oompa Loompa” for most voters.
Why is Sharpton up there? Comedic effect. No one truly believes he could win the nomination, maybe even himself. But it’s publicity for him, and that’s really all he’s ever been about.

Dean has grasped a grassroots following using the Web, which is pretty revolutionary. Other politicians have had websites, but they’ve been just sandwich boards for the most part. Dean has appealed to young voters who’ve grown up with computers and the Web and now are quite a force in politics.

Brian N

Friday, November 07, 2003

a good pecentage of Dean supporters are young professionals & college students. However, I would not be so quick to call his younger supporters a force in politics. What about McGovern? It was 1972. The Vietnam War was an unpopular disaster. The anti-War Movement was at its peak. The 18 yr old finally got the right to vote! The McGovern camp was very excited about the number of young people that would vote to get him over the top. An unexpected thing happened on election day. The majority of young people, between the ages of 18-23, something like 66% of them, voted for Nixon. Dean reminds me Bill Bradley at this stage in the Democratic Primaries 4 yrs ago. (granted, Dean does not have that pelican bag underneath his chin) Young professionals & New Hampshire voters were really into Bradley “the outsider candidate.” He said controversial things like he really admired Gorbachev. He was doing well w/ Web fundraising. Admidtely, nothing close to Dean’s success. Dean doesnt have Gore to run against, so he should win the nomination. It has been really impressive to watch this guy run. To see what he’s accomplished w/ the Web fundraising is incredible. I do think he’s arrogant, I would never vote for him, but I do like him. The other 8 candidates are a joke. Remeber people thinking, including me, that it was over for Dean when Clark joined. Jonah Goldber of NRO described Clark as the “Johnny Bravo” of the Demorctaic Party. Remember when Greg Brady became the rock star Johnny Bravo? It was about his talent. He wasnt going to sing, just wear this cool rock costume. Clark had the military uniform, but no substance.

Darin

Friday, November 07, 2003

With as many candidates on the Dems side you have to stand out from the crowd to win, which is what Dean is doing. Who knew who he was outside of Vermont before this started? I think if he gets the nomination (and it’s getting stronger as he gets more endorsements from big unions and other groups), once it gets to him vs. Bush, he’ll most likely move toward the center.

I agree, Clark is Johnny Bravo. My favorite line from him so far is when he said “I’m for health care.” Really? Who isn’t? Wow, he gets my vote. Although, he as Dean’s VP would be a stronger ticket.

Those younger supporters are “a” force, not “the” force, which would be Boomers. More influence, money, and numbers. But it’s still a nice group to have on your side if you can get them out to vote, which remains the big problem.

Actually Dean reminds me of Clinton at the same stage. Who knew who Bill Clinton was in 1991? He was a long shot at the beginning of that process, but look what happened there. He appealed to the young voter.

A lot is yet to be revealed before the 2004 election, with the economy and Iraq. How they manifest themselves will determine what happens, IMO.

BTW, I’m a registered Independent so I haven’t made any decisions at this point.

Billy

Friday, November 07, 2003

Yo, where all the ladies at?

Brian N

Friday, November 07, 2003

I agree, it’s still too early to make any predictions. I’m not so sure about the Clinton/Dean comparison. Sure, Clinton was an unkown Governor from a small state, but not as small as Vermont. Most Americans, maybe mistakenly, think of Vermont as a tiny European country that happens to be in the American North East. Clinton was a Southern Baptist from Arkansas. Dean has passion. That’s what makes him so popluar in the primaries. I wouldnt confuse passion & primary populairty w/ general poplularity. Clinton has charisma, Dean comes off as an arrogant punk. I happen to like him, but I dont think your average voter will. Sure he has to run to the left to win the primary, but not during a time of war. His stance on the war, national security, etc.. will be hard to backtrack on once he’s going up against W. Clinton also had Ross Perot. If it wasnt for Perot, Clinton would have never won. He never received 50% of the vote.

Janine

Friday, November 07, 2003

I’m a lady.
…
…
Just kidding. I’m a man with a big hog.

escargot

Monday, November 10, 2003

So far Dean has focused on the one group that doesn?t vote ? young people. How disappointed they are going to be when he runs to the middle if he gets the nomination. Something tells me Wycliff Jean?s “J’aspera” will not be blaring on the speakers when the confetti drops over the stage. The good and bad news for Dean is that he shoots from the hip. Its too bad for Dean that he and ol slick willy cant be better friends because Clinton could teach him a few things about saying everything while saying nothing. Of course if they all wanted a real lesson on the south from a veteran Dem they would call Zell Miller but I don?t think he is taking their calls right now. There is only one way to get the truck driving, confederate flag waving, JD drink?n, Yokel to vote for Dean and that is if he sends them a tax rebate check so they can buy a new motor for their bass boat and last time I checked he was looking to take back that check not send another one - bubba don?t like it when you mess with his bass boat.

?Bipartisanship: You hug my elephant while I kiss your ass? ? bumper sticker I saw on the way to work this morning.

three

Monday, November 10, 2003

As a ridiculously fervent supporter and volunteer for the Dean campaign I was upset that he apologized for his remarks.

First, he had been using that line since February, when nobody cared what he said. There is no question the attacks on his statements were launched in tandem with his rise to front runner status. Sharpton and Edwards assembled a nasty 1-2 punch with the combination of black race & white southern sympathizer. The next day I saw conservative talk show hosts assembling the same duo of view points on their shows to attack Dean. All the candidates did on the stage that night was give their enemies a good idea. Carol Mosely Braun is the single exception. She was the only candidate to actually address the issue Dean had raised with his remarks. Besides Sharpton and Edwards I was most disappointed by Kerry w/ that smug look on his Skeletor face while Sharpton slung mud across the room.

Second, he makes a good point. When he says that southern politics has been distracted with the topics of “race, god, guns and gays” he’s right. The real issues are poverty, health care and education. Southern race, religion, rifle and bedroom ribaldry are only the markers of division. As Senior Escargot has pointed out, financial concerns often trump social ones, often to unite voters in their voice at the polls. And I think the argument can be made that when public services act to close the gap between the poor and rich in the south you might find even more willingness to reach unity on a range of issues. I’m not sure if sending Bubba a $200 rebate check so that he can buy a new troller motor (one of the only big ticket items you can afford with that amount of money) does much to improve the South. There is no question that the Democrats must not ignore the South, but Zell Miller is no guiding light. It’s true that blue dog Democrats remain, but their legacy is certainly not one to embrace. Don’t forget that it was the ‘we of the South’ Democrats that maintained the defense against civil rights legislation in the US Senate for decades.

This may sound naive, but Dean might be actually be interested in reaching out to the South not only for their vote, but also to help kickstart a process of healing the nation. Invoking the stars and bars may not have been the most tactful approach, but it certainly has opened a national discussion.

Dale the snail

Monday, November 10, 2003

If you only got $200 you need to contact your nearest IRS office because they shorted you by 100 bubbas. If you want a real nice troller motor your going to have to talk the little lady out of her $300.

Democrat Bill Clinton was the president for 8 years and your telling me that all those ungrateful yokels cant look around and see all the things he did for them? Some nerve they have after all the Dems have done that they go and vote Republican in the 2000 Election and last week voted in two new Republican Governors. Stupid southerners ? bite the hand that promises them.

three

Monday, November 10, 2003

Maybe these governors were elected in the southern states for the exact reasons Dean cited, notably race. And I don’t think that anyone, besides you, is calling southerners stupid, perhaps just misled. John Edwards said the South doesn’t need anyone talking down to it. And he’s right. Dean is a state’s rights advocate on many issues including firearms and education, perhaps even more so than Edwards himself. Even worse, Edwards framed it as a comment directed at everyone below the Mason Dixon line. I think the biggest problem here is that Dean tried to condense into a sound byte an issue which is far too complex and important for that medium. Anyone spending significant time in the deep south knows that not all southerners have a confederate flag sticker on their truck (it’s more the ubiquitous ‘3′). They would also know that predominant industries like textile manufacturing are hemorrhaging jobs, especially in states like Georgia and South Carolina. What do you think is a more important issue? A flag or the economy? A troller motor or a healthy educated child?

And I apologize if I misrepresented the size of the tax refund. I didn’t have time to count it before it was in the mail as a contribution for Howard Dean.

Dale the snail

Monday, November 10, 2003

I wonder if Republican Bobby Jindal will be elected governor of the great southern state of Louisiana because of his race.
Isn?t that the great thing about those Tax rebates ? you can spend them anyway you want. Don?t you love it when the government lets you decide whats best to do with your tax dollar? You have made a wise choice with your rebate ? Dean in 04!

http://www.bobbyjindal.com/

Dale the snail

Monday, November 10, 2003

Lets ask the room ? is anyone reading this BLOG in the deep south? Are any of you from the great state of Kentucky? Did any of you support Ernie Fletcher and if so was it because of his race or was it issues? I bet someone will ring in on this…

Darin

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

I’m from Kentucky, but I wouldn’t call it “the deep south”. I voted for Ben Chandler because I feel that even though he is a legacy candidate and supposedly part of the Frankfort “good ol’ boy network”, as Atty General he was laying the hammer down against some of the corruption going on in Frankfort. Unfortunately he was associated with Patton’s administration so he was doomed.

I didn’t vote for Fletcher because I feel he is an opportunistic politician, hopping from office to office under the watchful eye of King Mitch and the GOP. I really can’t think of anything significant he’s really done other than run for office.

One of the campaign messages by the Repubs was “getting rid of the good ol’ boys network”. The only difference, I’m afraid, is that the network remains and only the names of the good ol’ boys have changed.

Brian Noel

Thursday, November 13, 2003

What do you mean you cant think of anything significant Fletcher has accomplished? What about becoming a great family doctor. What about being awarded Freshman Congressman of the Year? I voted for Fletcher, but it had nothing to do with Race or guns. I could go on, but Angie just took some great lookin’ cheeseburgers off the George Foreman.

Billy, Jude’s over my shoulder now reading all of these comments. He really got a kick out of your “Yo where are all the Ladies at?”

Darin

Friday, November 14, 2003

I’m sure he’s a fine physician. I’m referring to him as a public official. He may have been awarded Freshman Congressman of the Year, but Justin Timberlake was awarded best male artist at the American Music Awards, and we know that doesn’t mean anything.
I mean whenever I read or hear about Fletcher, it’s never about any legislation or movement he’s championed. I’ll hear about his campaign for whatever or how much money he’s raised for his or someone else’s campaign.

Regardless of his political leanings all I ask is that he do a good job, something his Democratic predecessor failed to do IMHO.

The way this comment section’s going, Billy’s going to start posting more stories like this (or maybe not).

Jude N

Saturday, November 15, 2003

dean sholdnt be president. dad and i were playing hoops . alabama won. great game. go duke! yo where all the kids at?

-I promised Jude that I would let him type something to post. He’s been really interested in how your website works. He’s been talking about it ever since he saw me on here lastnight before dinner.

Bill

Sunday, November 16, 2003

Part 2:

But what does he do with the state’s financial mess? It really is pretty simple. He can slash programs, services, defund “the Bucks for Brains,” and layoff government employees. Or he can raise taxes. Or some combination of this. You can dress it up however you want, but this is basically how it breaks down. I’ve heard that he is talking about tax “modernization.” And I imagine Democrats are saying that this is code for raising taxes. Good. Let’s look at the low hanging fruit. The tax on cigarettes in Kentucky is 3 F*^#$NG CENTS!! In comparison, Ohio and West Virginia tax cigrattes 55 cents a pack. This is a colossal no-brainer, Ernie. Raise the tax. I can’t wait to see what happens with this one… Ernie Fletcher is a physician after all.

More fruit: get rid of that RIDICULOUS LICENSE PLATE. I’m not joking, this is a serious issue. The license plate is a little advertisement for the state. What this ad says is not “It’s that Friendly,” but actually “Yes, your pre-conceived notions about us are accurate.”

Fletcher will be a success in my book if he:

- Simply uses decent grammer when speaking in public.
- Does not cheat on his wife
- Acts as if corruption and nepotism are not good things.
- Realizes that education might be a good idea for young Kentuckians.
- Doesn’t give huge tax incentives to low-paying manufacturing outfits to come to the state, collect their winnings, and then relocate to Mexico.
- Isn’t allergic to new ideas.

Am I confident that Fletcher will bring positive change to the state? I hate to be so cynical but… Absolutely not.

Bill

Sunday, November 16, 2003

Part 1:

Go Duke? Look Jude, if you’re going to continue hanging out in the Public Realm comments section, let’s get one thing straight. Kentucky Good. Duke Bad. Say it with me, “Kentucky Good. Duke Bad.” Jude, I’m looking forward to reading more of your comments!

Have you guys been to the new skatepark in Florence? There is a solid two-page review in the last issue of Transworld (with 4-5 photos).

Fletcher/ Chandler election… To people that don’t know Kentucky politics (not that anyone outside the state, with the exception of pundits and party operators who follow voting trends, give a crap about Kentucky politics) there might understandably be a perception that there were clear ideological differences between the two candidates. One, after all, is a Democrat, and the other is Republican. But like so many other things, politics is different in the Bluegrass State. Chandler (the Democratic candidate), I understand, was airing commericals that described him as a “penny-penching conservative”. One issue, that is important to me, signaled a tangible difference in what the state could expect from the two men. Chandler was open to expanded to gambling and Fletcher is not. Gambling is one of those rare issues that seem to unite religous folks and progressives. For a state to go down the road of of keno, video poker, slots, etc. and finally casinos it is to me like throwing up your arms and saying, “We are so stupid and pathetic that we can’t think of anything else other than gambling to relieve our financial problems.” But the sad thing is that any serious research would demonstrate the true costs of gambling. So Fletcher has won and I expect him to stay away from gambling.