# "How's that hopey-changey thing workin' out for ya?" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563 "2010-04-01T12:18:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/1 "2010-04-01T12:18:42Z")
“Fantastic, Sarah.” [insert pointer-finger/thumb circle with three other fingers raised, plus wink, here] “How’s the cocky-sucky move going for you?” What’s the best response to Palin’s ill-conceived rhetorical question you’ve heard or imagined? A more serious version might involve taking it straight: “Former Governor Palin asked the other day about how we feel we’re doing on hope and change, and I can report that since we got health care passed, we’re feeling very hopeful, and we think that’s the beginning of real change, just like we promised. Now if we can regulate some banks, which the Republicans will again fight us on, and eventually convince voters that to vote Republican is to endorse endless political squabbling and pointless nay-saying…” and on and on. I mean, she’s mocking hope and change? She thinks voters will assess Obama after a year in office as not providing ENOUGH hope and change–so little hope and change, in fact, that voters are going to conclude “He sucks at providing hope and change”? And no one would conclude that he might have made more progress with a little less footdragging by his political opponents? I’m not sure what she was shooting for here, but I’d like to know some good ripostes to this rhetorical attempt at mockery. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/2 "2010-04-01T13:05:19Z")
A heck of a lot better than VP Palin/ Pres McCain ever would? She’s a loser, this is classic sour grapes. I’d say “fuck her”, but that risks [more retard-wingnut-babies.](http://www.collegehumor.com/picture:1829513) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/3 "2010-04-01T13:10:14Z")
“We’ve made a terrible mistake in voting for hope and change. If only we’d elected Sarah Palin, there’d be NO change and NO hope by now.” ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/4 "2010-04-01T13:11:48Z")
Not enough change, you’re still on my TV. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/5 "2010-04-01T13:14:08Z")
It’s working out great, and I’m glad that we’ve finally got someone great in the White House. How’s the Winky Mooselini thing working out for you? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/6 "2010-04-01T13:20:28Z")
“How’s that hopey-changey thing workin’ out for ya?” Not enough Bonnie Bedlia cold-cocking her while the FOX news cameraman asks “Did ya get that…?” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/7 "2010-04-01T13:26:35Z")
“How’s that hopey-changey thing working out for you?” “Hey, quit it! Oh wait - you already did…” ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/8 "2010-04-01T13:28:40Z")
“Pretty goddamn good. How’s being governor of Alaska working out for you?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Facts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@The\_Facts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Facts)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/9 "2010-04-01T13:37:24Z")
[quote=“pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber, post:1, topic:534563”] “Fantastic, Sarah.” [insert pointer-finger/thumb circle with three other fingers raised, plus wink, here] “How’s the cocky-sucky move going for you?” [QUOTE] Considering how that’s probably how she got herself on the ticket, that’s a pretty good answer. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/10 "2010-04-01T13:37:28Z")
“What would you have us do, Sarah? Quit…?” ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/11 "2010-04-01T14:17:38Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > She thinks voters will assess Obama after a year in office as not providing ENOUGH hope and change–so little hope and change, in fact, that voters are going to conclude “He sucks at providing hope and change”? I think most of America wishes he focused his hope and change efforts on the [economy](http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/), not healthcare, for this past year. Palin’s clearly trying to tap into that dissatisfaction. Thanks to those priorities, he [probably](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/35287.html) wouldn’t even be re-elected, were the election held today. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/12 "2010-04-01T14:31:37Z")
I’m sure Palin wishes Obama had made a specific commitment to getting the jobless rate down to a certain specific percentage by a certain date, preferably in early 2010, instead of simply signing health-care legislation, because then instead of a general attack on his entire “hopey-changey” program, she could point to a clear failure: “How’s that 5% unemployment rate by March of 2010 workin’ out for ya?” Fixing the economic mess Bush left us will take time, and passing health care is a part of that long-range plan, so it’s pretty smart of Obama NOT to have made short range promises to “fix” the economy before tackling health-care, don’t you agree, Smashy? Fortunately for us Obama-fans, he’s got a few more years to get his approval rating back into the stratosphere, by which time the economy is almost certainly going to be better than it is now, and MUCH better than it was when he got it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/13 "2010-04-01T14:33:08Z")
“Far better than if we’d elected you and John McCain, thanks.” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/14 "2010-04-01T14:40:54Z")
I dunno, how’s the Whiney-Quitty thing working out for YOU? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/15 "2010-04-01T14:41:25Z")
Oh, and along similar lines, every time I see one of those bumper stickers that shows GWB’s face and the slogan, “Miss me yet?” I reflexively yell, “FUCK NO!” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/16 "2010-04-01T14:47:10Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I dunno, how’s the Whiney-Quitty thing working out for YOU? Pretty well, it would seem, as she has a best-seller, is “writing” another book, and has TV and speaking commitments that will leave her financially comfortable for the rest of her life. The next book written about her should be titled: In The Right Place: From dimwit to diva overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/17 "2010-04-01T14:47:35Z")
Well yesterday I went on Cafe Press for the first time and created my very first t-shirt to respond to this > **[The custom Women's Dark Pajamas I designed on CafePress.com](https://www.cafepress.com/cp/customize/product.aspx?clear=true&number=%20438697479)** > > Create your own Women's Dark Pajamas as a gift or for yourself at CafePress.com! i have no idea if that link works. I’m still trying to get the hang of Cafe Press’s website because it’s not designed very intuitively. The shirt’s not even in my “shop” yet because I can’t figure out how to move it over there or change the price from the ridiculous $22 down to something more managable for a plain white T. So…yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/18 "2010-04-01T14:51:09Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > What’s the best response to Palin’s ill-conceived rhetorical question you’ve heard or imagined? A more serious version might involve taking it straight: “Former Governor Palin asked the other day about how we feel we’re doing on hope and change, and I can report that since we got health care passed, we’re feeling very hopeful, and we think that’s the beginning of real change, just like we promised. Now if we can regulate some banks, which the Republicans will again fight us on, and eventually convince voters that to vote Republican is to endorse endless political squabbling and pointless nay-saying…” and on and on. A much more realistic response would be to say, “Obama and crew have succeeded in fucking the USA with a sandpaper rubber, and it’s only going to get worse.” ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/19 "2010-04-01T14:51:13Z")
What annoys me the most about the question is not the tacit condemnation of hope and change, but the blatant absurdity of it. A guy called into my morning radio station and repeated the question to all the Obama voters out there without giving any credit to Palin. It was the morning after the House passed the Health care bill. Seriously? That was pretty much easily the best moment of Obama’s presidency so far. All the people who voted for him ought to be really happy about the hope and change because he did what a promised. At least when Palin said it the first time at the Teabagger Orgy, Obama’s agenda was kind of in the doldrums and those Massholes had just elected Brown and it looked like Health care wasn’t going to pass. Now, Obama’s on a very positive trajectory to accomplish more of his agenda and as far as I’m concerned, aside from being obnoxious, the question just doesn’t make sense. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563/20 "2010-04-01T14:53:40Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > it’s only going to get worse." Surely not a return to waterboarding? One torture president was enough. America does not need two. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-that-hopey-changey-thing-workin-out-for-ya/534563.md?page=2)