Racism, perhaps. I think sexism has been too all-pervasive in too many human cultures and civilizations to be classified as a sociopathy.
Yeah. I just keep using “racism/sexism” on this issue because I am referring back to my original predictions last year that both Obama and Clinton would be at disadvantages because of “isms”. At that point, it wasn’t at all clear who would win the nomination.
At this point, racism is still apropos while sexism isn’t because Obama will be the nominee.
UPON LATER REVIEW-- I see I sort of misunderstood your post. I agree about the pervasiveness of sexism. Fear and loathing of “The Other” (people who look different than your group) is pretty pervasive too.
Phlosphr and Shayna and all other Obama supporters, I so hope you are right in your assertions about the numbers and I hope both of you (and anybody you can drag along) will (continue to) vote with your levers, dollars and feet in the street like I intend for the first time in my life.
Because none of this debate here and elsewhere means anything if we don’t all follow through before and in November.
I don’t know if Nunn still has the juice politically outside Georgia. Few people under 35 would even know who he is. Moreover, he’s not exactly a charismatic politician. Makes John Kerry look like he’s on the meth.
That said, I do think his presence on the ticket might put Georgia in play. Nunn has a lot of credibility 'round here, especially with older voters. His presence on the ticket would be…reassuring to them.
When do possible cabinet selections get announced? Just imagine a foreign policy campaign tour with the future Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense- Richardson and Hagel.
Neither seems like a spotlight seeker, but with their diplomatic, Military, and foreign policy experience, by the end of the tour they might even have people asking them to run as their own ticket. Plus if you promote the tour enough, look at the ground you cover- experience touters, veterans, hispanics, white men, republicans; you name it they got it.
With all that locked up in two high profile cabinet spots, you bring in Sebelius as VP. She has the governing experience at home(in the ‘Heartland’ no less) and fills the void created by Hillary. Demos- experience; economy and healthcare voters; and any or all combos of elders, whites, females, and moderates.
As far as Webb goes, I understand the plusses he brings(tough, white southern military guy), but personally I’d rather he stay put in the Senate. He is a strong presense there and we need that seat. However, he is also a former Republican who might be too much to the right and is too connected to the MIC for me to feel comfortable with him so high on the succession plan.* He could make a good Sec. Defense, but I still think Hagel would be a more effective choice there.
*I know, I hate that it even occurs to me to think like that, but history has taught me to always at least consider worst case scenarios. Trust me if I could do away with the anxiety and cynicism, I would; but there it is.
Hey! Something at last we agree on!
-XT
Donna?
The political environment is ripe right now for Obama to actually win in November - and that is truly scaring a lot of people. But those people do not represent numbers sufficient of which to bring about a loss by Obama. His shear presence set up in every state [set-up by this primary season] is going to only strengthen over the next few months. Every state still has vast networks of resources and field offices not set to close untill he walks into the white house. This has been planned for months…
He sure looks white to me. Speaking Spanish isn’t a racial characteristic, IMHO.
Next to Obama, he’ll look white enough. Nice white-sounding name. It’s sad this stuff matters, but it does.
Uh, no. Sociopathy is a psychological disorder characterized by the presence of a number of symptoms, none of which are “racism.”
Not every unlikeable attitude constitutes sociopathy.
Sorry to be pedantic, but there it is.
The best thing to come from Hillabee’s campaign; I do believe the long primarys really have been and still are a good thing and wouldn’t really mind them playing out, I just wish she ran things a bit, shall we say, nicer? Of course on the flip side, I think she has taken all the oomph out of the Repug’s three Rs playbook (Race, Rezko, wRight) and Obama is vastly stronger for it.
One thing I know, we should not allow rightwing concern trolls try and break our system. Their winner-take-all-delegates set up is a horrible, horrible idea. Without proportional delgegates there would be no widespread ground game, no Edwards/Kucinich-influenced populist/progressive platform, and maybe not even the chance of this thread existing.
/hijack.
Invariably after the election is over. The only exception I can think of is the open secret that Colin Powell would be Bush’s Secretary of State if Bush won in 2000. And even then it wasn’t announced officially, but leaked out.
The trouble is, announcing the cabinet doesn’t accomplish anything. Nobody’s going to vote for Obama because they learned he made a good pick for Secretary of State, unless they were already going to vote for him. It takes the spotlight off the candidate if the appointment is a “name” and doesn’t do a damn thing if the appointment is of some obscure person. And besides, all cabinet positions need to be approved by the Senate.
It’s pretty much “not done”.
Yeah, but just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it shouldn’t ever be done.
Good cabinet selections are another thing that might reassure balky white blue collar voters who might otherwise be inclined to buy into the “secret Muslim” or scary-black-man BS.
In fact, the Colin Powell “leak” was done for a similar reason – to reassure voters who were balking at George W. Bush’s lack of foreign policy experience (or even overseas travel).
I was gonna post this but since you beat me to it, I’ll just add, it might help, even if the more significant positions are just “leaked” or hinted at.
He looks Mexican to a Yank, and that still matters here.
Not to pile on Lemur866, as I am only learning as I go here and I appreciate the post, but I also don’t think it is too likely that any reasonable cabinet announcement could take the spotlight off of Obama. I mean, he is, after all, the guy that has out shined the shiniest name in politics.
All though, if it did take the spotlight off of him for a little bit(I doubt high coverage would last more than a week) that might not be a bad thing either. With the internet and 24/7 news coverage of today it is going to be a looong general election. Obama has run a savy enough campaign he could use the break of coverage on him to his advantage, he could tide over a Republican attack, a mistake of his own, or just give himself, and his family, a beneficial rest allong the trail.
I have to say I had no clue that Mr. Richardson is Hispanic - but I guess that’s not surprising for a Canadian to say. He doesn’t “look” Hispanic to me. He’s just a nice-looking man with dark hair.
And to prove it, you link to a post, written by you, that has a bunch of cites that don’t appear to have anything to do with Bill Richardson or his appearance.
Your post is your cite, huh?
Not if I tell you why. See, Richarson is just the spearhead of The Reconquista – of course, this time around it’s part of a group effort.
Venceremos! 
Wow! You guy’s sure have a fine eye for erm…races?
TBO, that thread puts me to sleep. I’m weird that way I guess – like in not carrying a human-color chart with me at all times.