Why Did Pres. Obama Win Re-Election...Really ?

[Marshan Man]

Welcome to "the right's" alternative betaverse!

Lockers on the left, towels on the right, no shoes please...

It's not just Rush, or FAUX, or Thavage,...

...it's the alternative reality created by all of them working in concert, using the same talking points, and more importantly, the same daily or weekly memes. Repitition is how the lizard brain works, and "the right's" media amoeba spreads far and wide.

It really is a fascinating thing to observe.

[DaggerJohn]

"Who Gets Food Stamps?

The most recent Department of Agriculture report on the general characteristics of the SNAP program’s beneficiaries says that in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2010:

47 percent of beneficiaries were children under age 18.
8 percent were age 60 or older.
41 percent lived in a household with earnings from a job — the so-called “working poor.”
The average household received a monthly benefit of $287.
36 percent were white (non-Hispanic), 22 percent were African American (non-Hispanic) and 10 percent were Hispanic (Table A.21).

Update, Feb. 5: USDA data understate these figures, however, because participants are not required to state their race or ethnic background. As a result, 18.9 percent are listed as “race unknown.”) A more accurate estimate of the racial and ethnic composition of food-stamp recipients can be drawn from U.S. Census data, based on a sample of households surveyed each year in the American Community Survey. For 2010, Census data show the following for households that reported getting food stamp assistance during the year:

49 percent were white (non-Hispanic); 26 percent were black or African American; and 20 percent were Hispanic (of any race)."

http://www.factcheck.org/2012/01/new...d-stamp-claim/

Spot, those figures don't surprise me at all. The figure that really upsets me is that something like 1-of-6 Americans are on food stamps. Shocking and scary.

[dsummoner]

Yes but when people claim that the Koran and a literal interpretation represents all of Islam and it is older you have to accept that is just as bad.

The Qur'an is the literal word of god and a literal interpretation is the only one that is valid. Those that use the secular Western cafeteria approach and claim to be Muslims are not... they are apostates.

[ms maggie]

That is true. The death of the Republican party though has been greatly exaggerated.

What I think most (all?) journalists have missed is the very shaky, unstable "coalition" that makes up the Democratic party today. The constituent elements really have little in common, and much of their loyalty to the Party is identity based. So already Latino activists are seeking payback from Obama for their contribution to his victory. After Obama, blacks will see it as their inherent "right" to have a black on the Presidential ticket. That will necessarily cross the Latinos. Blacks and Latinos are natural compertitors and biased against each other. The problems multiply with the other groups seeking a place in the party. It will be very interesting to see how this all shakes out.

Bad as the Republican party looks now, it may be the Democratic Party--made up of unstable elements, united by what?--that breaks up first.

First, fairly sure just about any group that voted heavily for one party is looking for "payback" in one way or another.

Second, why wil blacks act any differently than Catholics re having a "right" to be on the ticket?

The common denominator of the folks who voted for Obama is (to quote a corny slogan) is "forward". We need as a society to embrace national health care, green energy, gay rights, minority rights. And the idea that we are all in this together.

My concern with the R party is that it will morph into what we have seen in a number of European nations--white nationalism. You can sniff that already on this board.

Best case scenario for R (IMHO) is to go thru its "Goldwater" moment: nominate Paul Ryan in 2016 or someone else far, far right, get torched in the election, and let clearer, more moderate heads prevail.

Of course predicating the future course of parties is a tricky business!

[ms maggie]

Spot, those figures don't surprise me at all. The figure that really upsets me is that something like 1-of-6 Americans are on food stamps. Shocking and scary.

Why are you surprised? Unemployment and under-employment are high. Why wouldn't food stamps be?

[ms maggie]

No - you guys have more than enough bigots of your own - but because the GOP hasn't promised to hand out any free stuff. As soon as they figure out they can buy more votes by spending other people's money they'll be on a par with the Dems. Of course, by then we'll be a third world banana republic. so it probably won’t matter anyway.

On the other hand, the Reverend Wright and the congregation of the Church of the Prodigal Chickens should be mightily pleased though. So I guess there's a silver lining to every cloud.

Can you explain why Asian-Americans, the highest income ethnic demo, went 73% for Obama?

[banner1124]

You must have learned "dolt" on Sesame Street today or you heard it in an old Bugs Bunny cartoon.

You're part of the fringe of the Dem party: a weasly, single white liberal. A Bill Maher type, without the humor.

WOW, you know so little about me it's laughable. But I understand that little things like facts and truth don't really mean anything to folks like you. Even if I were remotely like your characterization that would be preferable to what you are... a small minded bigotted white guy deathly afraid of anyone who's not white. Crawl back into your little hole someplace and let the adults have this discussion.

[Smokey 1]

The common denominator of the folks who voted for Obama is (to quote a corny slogan) is "forward". We need as a society to embrace national health care, green energy, gay rights, minority rights. And the idea that we are all in this together.

Nope, you go on "together" and leave me out of it. I am not in it with you or any of Barry's supporters.

[banner1124]

Son-of-a-Gun. Completely fooled. Ah, well, I'll let him respond.

We've both been on this forum long enough that I would have thought you knew that already

[ms maggie]

Nope, you go on "together" and leave me out of it. I am not in it with you or any of Barry's supporters.

Sure you are. That's what elections are about.

[DaggerJohn]

What do you mean by "unstable elements"?

I was borrowing a term from chemistry. What I mean is that a lot of the constituent groups of the Party--or at least of Obama's coalition--have no natural affinity to one another (in fact, they tend to be competitive) and have no common unifying purpose or philosophy of government. I also mean that many of the elements are drawn into the Party because they are deemed to be the "face" of the Party (identity politics).

Mark my words, after Obama, the black Democrats will consider it their inherent right to have a black on the Presidential ticket. Latinos have been so pumped up with visions of their voting power that they will demand inclusion on the big ticket as well (It's their turn, right?) Gays are the new blacks--a protected group with considerable power. How long will they take a minor role in the direction of the party. You see where I'm going with this... Diversity's great, but it's also, as the word implies, divisive.

[banner1124]

Nope, you go on "together" and leave me out of it. I am not in it with you or any of Barry's supporters.

Then why don't you pack up your chit and get the hell outta dodge

[CajunRaven]

They need to ditch the Jesus freaks like Murdock and Santorum too

Do you really need to use the term Jesus Freak?

But yeah, these guys need to go. I'd like to see a more libertarian approach. Leave folks alone if they're not bothering others and focus on small government and fiscal conservatism.

Of course, the other side that wants to tell you how big your soda should be need to go as well. And yes I know what Bloomberg calls himself.

[Creekman]

Are you saying that MSNBC was a part of Obama's masterful, precision campaign? I mean I've always thought as much, but I never thought to hear one of you guys admit it.

When are you going to admit that FOX is a political arm of the Republican Party?

[DaggerJohn]

WOW, you know so little about me it's laughable. But I understand that little things like facts and truth don't really mean anything to folks like you. Even if I were remotely like your characterization that would be preferable to what you are... a small minded bigotted white guy deathly afraid of anyone who's not white. Crawl back into your little hole someplace and let the adults have this discussion.

Deathly afraid? I am willing to bet that I interact socially with more Latinos and Asians--blacks not so much--than you. I am also willing to admit that there are attributes of these groups that I much admire and that we Americans would do well to adopt.

[Smokey 1]

Then why don't you pack up your chit and get the hell outta dodge

Nope, this is my country as much as it is anyone elses. You all can do whatever you want just leave me out of your little "kum by ya" circle jerk.

I thought that "love or leave it" crap was just something right wingers spouted. Interesting that now the leftists are in power they are using that dictatorial phrase.

[gonzoliberal]

I was borrowing a term from chemistry. What I mean is that a lot of the constituent groups of the Party--or at least of Obama's coalition--have no natural affinity to one another (in fact, they tend to be competitive) and have no common unifying purpose or philosophy of government. I also mean that many of the elements are drawn into the Party because they are deemed to be the "face" of the Party (identity politics).

Mark my words, after Obama, the black Democrats will consider it their inherent right to have a black on the Presidential ticket. Latinos have been so pumped up with visions of their voting power that they will demand inclusion on the big ticket as well (It's their turn, right?) Gays are the new blacks--a protected group with considerable power. How long will they take a minor role in the direction of the party. You see where I'm going with this... Diversity's great, but it's also, as the word implies, divisive.

I have faith that my country can survive such a challenge.

It's not like it's new.

...'been goin' on for three hundred years or more.

Before there was a flag, there was a common bond among all who came here.
It is this common bond that reached beyond the bounds of ethnicity or culture and created a great nation.

And it is this common bond that will get us through the next four years, or four decades, or however long racists pray for division.

[CajunRaven]

Romney was put in a no win situation. He had to placate those tea party psychos just to get the Republican nomination. At that point it became virtually impossible for him to pivot to the center when he was starting at batcrap crazy.

Going to the right of Rick Perry on immigration was a big mistake.

[Smokey 1]

Sure you are. That's what elections are about.

Nope, I will work against you and yours.

[DaggerJohn]

Can you explain why Asian-Americans, the highest income ethnic demo, went 73% for Obama?

I can, as I know many of them personally. Most of the ones I know are immigrants. Successful as they are, they really haven't completely adopted American attitudes (thank God.) But in terms of political understanding, brilliant as they are, they also haven't really haven't digested our political heritage and culutre. They come from government-does-all mentality. So they naturally gravitate to the Democrat party.

I suspect that as they become more acclimated, given their innate conservatism, their brilliance and entrepreneurial spirit, they'll find a natural home in the Republican party.