Hope.
I grew up in Boston during the 70’s & 80’s. Anyone who knows anything about this period in America’s history and still thinks that modern blacks in America simply have to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and stop whining is just not being honest.
It is with this in mind that I offer my my happy astonishment that Barack Obama has accomplished so much as he runs for President.
all bootstraps, no whining. gorgeous.
No matter what happens after this, our world has changed forever. Thank you, fellow voters.
Kay
May 7th, 2008 at 5:40 am
I live in southern Indiana and it felt really, really good to wake up yesterday and vote for Barack. I saw him speak a couple of weeks ago at a local college campus, and when he walked into that room I honest-to-god felt like maybe there was a chance for something good and right to happen in this big, ugly world. I’ve lived in Indiana for all of my 32 years and I’ve heard my share of racist insanity, and for him to do as well as he did in Indiana speaks more highly of the man than most people realize.
He’s going to be our next president.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Barack Obama makes me more hopeful for our country’s future then I have been in as long as I can remember. I need to go to YouTube now and rewatch the “Yes We Can” video a few more times and try not to cry.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:06 am
My wife’s old boss used to always declare that she would never hire a black person, because they were too lazy. And this is in Massachusetts in 2005. Funny how the people who complain most about things like Affirmative Action are the exact reason there is still a need for it.
I’ll still have trouble voting for anyone who appeared on WWE and asked “Can you smell what Barack is cooking?” come November.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:12 am
To be honest, I don’t care who wins, so long as the person is not a repelican. I just hope the winner doesn’t fuck up our capital gains taxes.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I work in a blue collar job with about 50 other white guys. They can’t stand Obama, and for the life of me I can’t understand why. The really think that Republicans sympathize with the plight of the middle class. They slam him for Rev Wright, call him muslim, slam him for no Flag Pin, even for calling Bullshit on the Gas Tax Break. The call him a joke, and a anti-american. It blows my freakin mind. It’s like they expect him to be elected, the right after the inauguration, unzip the suit and reveal he’s really Flavor-Flav. I just roll my eyes and bite my tongue, because you can’t argue with that type of Stupid.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Amen, sister!
May 8th, 2008 at 9:47 am
You might be interested to know that while Massachusetts went for Clinton 56-41, Boston went for Obama 53-45. I lived on the edge of Southie in the late ’80s and saw some icky stuff, so these numbers were very cool to see. My current burg, the People’s Republic, voted for Obama 63-35. I guess not surprising coming from the town which followed up the nation’s first openly gay black mayor with the nation’s first openly lesbian black mayor. Heh.
May 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
If I don’t have anything nice to say, then I won’t say anything at all. So happy voting to you! May progress be everything we ever hoped it would be.
May 10th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Seriously, I’m proud that our country can set aside racial differences and treat Blacks and whites as equals, but what has Barack Obama accomplished? Nothing more than a HORRIBLE candidacy for President of the United States. I’m glad that we can say there’s a possibility of a black president or a woman president, but voting for Barack is most likely a BIG mistake. George W. Bush has done a good job as President and saying otherwise would be disrespectful not only as an Amercan citizen but also as a human being. You seriously need to think about America’s future, rater than just thinking we need change now. And trust me, Barack Obama can’t make America better.
May 10th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Dear Katie -
You lost me at “George W. Bush has done a good job as President”. The rest is just comedy. You’re kidding, right?
Kay
May 10th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Our 4 conversations between 10-midnight Tues night underscore that you already know how I feel. Now I just want to get my hands on Hillary Clinton’s phone number so I can call her at 3am and say, “I’m sorry, I dialed the wrong number.”
May 10th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Like I would kid about something so important! Your problem is that, Barack Obama knows how to win your vote. He’s all talk. Chances are, he won’t be able to get the troops immediately out of Iraq, universal health care will kill the economy (you think it’s already dead?), the amount of babies killed by abortion will be worse than the holocaust, Gay marriage…..no comment, immigration will go through roof, and that is the result of left wing nut taking over the government. Stick to the Constitution, it’s not perfect, but it’s the best we can do.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
and George W. Bush HAS done a good job as president, believe or not.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:19 am
Holy shit, Katie! You’re probably not actually retarded, because you’re clearly adept at operating your computer and navigating websites and such. But to say that GWB has done a good job as president when it’s clear that he’s been a disaster the likes of which no living person has ever seen before is just ridiculous. And then to repeat it!
Then, to make matters worse, you prove your complete ignorance by spouting a slew of right-wing talking points (gay marriage, immigration, abortion [old classic]) and then have the nerve to say the economy will get worse! OMFG! That’s right, OMF GOD! OH MY FUCKING GOD! There’s a reason people want change, but you clearly aren’t going to get it.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Katie-
I respectfully disagree with you but I cannot debate you here on the blog. The forum is a more appropriate place for this discussion. There are (were) thought provoking conservatives in our community who are able to argue with liberals on a level that challenges everyone to think. But when you say silly things about universal health care and GWB being a good President, I find it difficult to take you seriously.
Please, Troutboy, USMC Lobo. Come back!!!! Help me out here. Kent?
May 11th, 2008 at 5:13 am
There seems to be a spirited discussion going on here. One thing can’t be argued. Change is required here. If one occasionally gets a glimpse, has a flash of illumination, about how much is really wrong… what’s really going on here… then the fear and sadness can be overwhelming. The big question my friends is, will there be enough change? And enough of the right kind of change?
May 11th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Ok, USA Mike, if you’re trying to convert me to be a liberal, cussing isn’t going to work.
I apologize, I thought those were liberal issues. I have no clue what Barack could do with Darfur, gas prices arent going down no matter what, and GLOBAL WARMING IS A LIE!!!
Kay: thanks for disagreeing respectfully (unlike USA Mike!). This will be the last comment, and I might continue to the forum.
What makes you people think that universal health care will actually be a good thing?!?! Your ignorance is too overwhelming. I’m not a right wing nut or a left wing nut (surprise surprise!). Abortion is where I draw the line and the fact that you support it is disheartening beyond measure. I agree with Dennis. good point!
May 11th, 2008 at 10:57 am
“I’m not a right wing nut or a left wing nut” - so you’re just a nut, then?
Katie, I suggest you stop talking before you dig yourself into a deeper hole - if that’s possible.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:54 am
You make some good points Katie. Left wingers always tout themselves as tolerant, but if you have a different opinion than them, they end up calling you a nut. When people start calling you names( like nea did) it is because they have run out of any rational arguments.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Thanks, Jimmy! On a more positive note, you’re right, Kay! Our world is changed forever! And I like that picture of Barack and Michelle. I know you listen to right wing radio sometimes. Be careful, they’re common sense might sway you someday!
May 12th, 2008 at 6:07 am
I never know if I’m disturbed or amused that right wingers seem to think that abortions will increase with a Democrat in the White House. People don’t get more abortions just because who the president is, they get them because they want or need them. I know people who have had abortions in the past 8 years, believe it or not!!!
Also, you’re going to encourage people to “stick to the Constitution” and yet you support Bush?!?!?!? Does anyone else see how messed up that is?
May 12th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Actually, I have to make another point. The reason we think universal health care will work is other countries do it quite successfully. France and Canada seem to run perfectly fine state run health care systems. How will we pay for it, you might ask? Well, we could always stop spending trillions of dollars on unjust and unnecesary wars.
Or I suppose we could just use all the money we make on the millions of abortions that we all want.
I also love in the same post where you thank Kay for disagreeing respectfully (instead of that potty mouthed USA Mike), you refer to us as ignorant. Good show!!
Here’s a question for you. What makes George W Bush a good president?
May 12th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Conservative Reasoning over the last 8 years:
1. Deregulate Corporations and Big Buisness: Given Free reign they will “do the right thing”, which will help stimulate the economy.
2. All Social Ills can be solved by faith based initiatives. You can get help with you personal problems, we just need you to find Jesus first.
3. Gay Marriage will lead to Dog Marriage.
4. Global Warming is a Hoax, despite all scientific evidence to the contrary, and despite the fact we can’t come up with a good explanation as to why anyone would want to fake that type for personal gain.
5. If we fight them there, we wont fight them here. Unless they come here, through our under-regulated foreign controlled ports and soft borders.
6. The path to real education can only be achieved via Testing. And more Testing. Followed by some tests. With a break in between with some more tests.
May 12th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Katie,
You’ve made your opinion very well known, but I’m still waiting for you to back up said opinions with facts/stats/etc. So far it’s all, “GWB is a good president and Obama will be a bad one,” but you never say *why*.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
i’d like to thank katie for informing me that democrats kill more babies than the holocaust and i will now be sharing this crucial information with everyone i know!!
May 12th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
also, somewhere in that reply i believe i’m missing a pair or two of these: “” .
i encourage you to put them wherever you want to make the post more appealing to YOU, and less appealing to others!
May 13th, 2008 at 11:23 am
1. I’d really like to think this a troll, but sadly I doubt it.
2. “OMF God” cracked me up.
3. As a rule I don’t get too worked up about this particular issue, but in Katie’s case I fervently support retroactive abortion.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
As long as it’s not John McCain, I’m good
May 15th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
It’s as if ‘Fox News For Kids’ has a talking points memo. But hey, who needs action when you got words?
May 20th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Good Day (I hope). I am definitely more to the right but I DO NOT BELIEVE Bush has done a great job, however, no one running will either. The whole freakin’ Congress pretty much has to be replaced to make a difference in our iives. I have noticed a trend with those who are doing well financially (congratulations to you all) wanting to elect Obama or Clinton. Wonder what causes those with different income levels to have such opposite views on important issues such as gay marriage. Race has nothing to do with it though — that’s obvious. Done.
August 6th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Aug, 2009 — Now we know it was the biggest mistake America ever made.