Mar 26
I remember when Nancy Kerrigan was kneecapped like it was yesterday (really, it was the winter of 1994, and I was a senior in college and I was too busy playing beer golf to notice). The statuesque Olympic figure skater was perfecting her routine on the ice when, seemingly out of nowhere, she was clubbed in the knee with a lead pipe. (Kind of like “Clue.”)
Later it came out that her assailant had been hired by her nemesis on the ice Tonya Harding and her ex-husband, but not before Harding won the championship. Kerrigan soon became America’s sweetheart. But she also turned out to be kind of a sanctimonious bitch and you had to admire Tonya’s scrappiness if, you know, you can get over the whole assault thing.
One Democratic Party official is calling Clinton’s strategy of doing whatever it takes to beat Obama “the Harding strategy.”
Meaning that next time Obama is practicing his triple axel, Bill will run out and sweep the leg, forcing the superdelegates to reconsider the electability of a crippled man on crutches.
Meanwhile, a new Gallup poll out today says that if Obama ends up being the nominee, 28 percent of Hillary supporters plan to vote for McCain. And, if Hillary ends up being the nominee, 19 percent of Obama supporters say they’ll vote for McCain. UH-oh.
The data suggest that the continuing and sometimes fractious Democratic nomination fight could have a negative impact for the Democratic Party in next November’s election. A not insignificant percentage of both Obama and Clinton supporters currently say they would vote for McCain if he ends up running against the candidate they do not support.
Clinton supporters appear to be somewhat more reactive than Obama supporters…When almost 3 out of 10 Clinton supporters say they would vote for McCain over Obama, it suggests that divisions are running deep within the Democratic Party. If the fight for the party’s nomination were to continue until the Denver convention in late August, the Democratic Party could suffer some damage as it tries to regroup for the November general election.
Now, despite the fact that I consider Hillary to be the stronger candidate and want her to be the nominee, even if that means breaking legs, I would not vote for McCain in the fall. But the fact that both Hillary and Obama supporters are threatening to jump ship if they don’t get their way is more than a little troubling.
Especially if McCain picks the right VP. Matthew Dowd told Evan Smith that he thinks it will be Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a 36-year-old (!) Indian-American Rhodes Scholar who played an instrumental part in the Katrina recovery.
“I still put on the skates once in a while, but I do not look back. I had a great career. I hope to have a great career in boxing, too.”
– Tonya Harding
The trackback URL is here.
So all the upset and worry about Obama supporters planning to take their marbles (the ones we have left) and go home if they don’t get their way … huh. Turns out Hill supporters are even more inclined to screw up the country by voting McCain if they don’t get their way.
Nice. I know PL is not in that camp, so this is not directed toward you, friend. But let’s look at that disparity, shall we?
These are long-time voters, elderly women included, who are more likely to stubbornly screw over their own country and their own party if they don’t win this time.
Whereas more of the brand new “Obama maniacs” first-time voters are willing to stick to the general principle that yeah, maybe they love love love Obama but at the end of the day, they still love the people of this country, too and will stand up for them even if it means standing up for their second choice.
Wow. That doesn’t sound cult-ish, psycho, immature, unreliable, or brainwashed to me. That sounds like a bunch of good Democrats and conscientious voters.
Let’s give props where they’re due, ok? I have to say. I’m Proud of my People.
There goes the Clinton/Obama dream team ticket. Unless of course there’s a Blades of Glory outcome to all of this.
http://www.showlush.com
All of this seems pretty reactionary to me. As in people are gonna say whatever they’re gonna say right now with regard to jumping ship and voting R if their candidate doesn’t prevail and win the nomination because they’re so emotionally invested. I think most will chill the eff out and come to their senses in November.
Now what really scares me are the people that I encountered last week at memorial service for one of my Dad’s friends. In Kerrville, before any booze had been opened, I heard Obama referred to as both a “towel head” and the n word. Dad and I exchanged more than a few meaningful looks, and I kept waiting for the Hillary bashing to start next. Never happened. Maybe because they don’t see her as a threat anymore. But what I took away from that rather unpleasant experience–one of the bas*tards was the preacher who just given the eulogy–was that there are a lot more effed up racist ass*holes than perhaps any of us are aware.
McKinnon said he’d stay on the sidelines if Obama is the opponent, too. Not that what he does or says is pivotal.
If Obama can’t win the nomination at this point with the delegate lead he has, then he shouldn’t be the next President. He will win the nomination, however, and McCain will still be old, out of touch, and in favor of a war that most of us oppose.
I’m so disappointed in the Clintons right now and their win-at-any-cost or position-themselves-for-2012, principles?-what principles? strategy* and their defacto endorsement of McCain over Obama, I think they should be drummed out of the country, not to mention the party.
But you know what? I’ll vote for her in November if she’s the nominee because I actually care whether our troops stay in Iraq another 4 years with no end in sight, and I’d actually like someone to get to work on health care without 4 years passing with no action, and I think its important to have someone — anyone — in the White House before 4 more years go by with an appreciation of racial struggles and knowlege of progressive issues.
Apparently that’s the difference between me and Hil.
*my medication says that side effects include an excessive use of hypens.
Re: 5. Don’t Mess w/ Pink
And hyphens.
Re: 3. lush
I’ve had similar experiences with educated professional (!?) members of my wife’s family and their pastor (southern baptist, naturally). Some sheeple believe anything that comes from a preacher’s pulpit. Love your neighbor as long as he isn’t colored or gay or Muslim.
Hillary appeals to the older, the blue-collar, and the PL types(whatever that might be). It seems logical to me that older and blue-collar types would have more difficulty accepting a black candidate. Never mind their mental disconnect of voting R over their own self interests, i.e., jobs and providing most of the members of the military.
Its going to take a mighty effort from the eventual nominee to overcome the collective stupidity of the electorate.
First rule of firing squad’s: don’t stand in a circle.
Re: 6. Don’t Mess w/ Pink
And hymens.
Re: 8. West Texas Hillbilly
Excessive use of hymens.
http://www.showlush.com
Re: 7. treehugger
Oh, there was one other thing I learned at the memorial service from that preacher. The world ends in 2012. So, y’all better party like it’s 2011.
Re: 10. lush
Oh man, that really hurts Hillary’s strategy of giving ‘08 to McCain and trying again in ‘12. The first female post-rapture president.
“… the collective stupidity of the electorate.”
Abso-fuckin-lutely.
Lush has a good point. It’s probably a lot of rhetoric and emotion at this point. Plus, a lot of people are probably saying that as a way to hopefully sway undecideds to their side.
The stuff about the guys in Kerrville, though, yikes. Towel-head? Seriously? You know, I think that as much hatred and distrust there is out there of women, I think it’s probably still much worse against black people.
This may seem counter-intuitive, but that’s yet another reason I’d like to see Obama as the nominee and, eventually, in the White House. Maybe that violent, ugly racism would make it harder for him to win. Then again, though, it would piss off all the right people, like those assholes who you unfortunately encountered in Kerrville.
Also, I think someone here’s pointed this out before, but I’d be willing to bet (and hope, fervently) that the majority of racist/sexist types tend to hang out on the right side of the aisle and probably wouldn’t vote for either of the Ds anyway.
http://www.yougottaplayhurt.blogspot.com
Senator Obama made his first serious mistake of the campaign so far.
He came back from vacation.
Nancy Kerrigan was my first homosexual fantasy. I was in 7th grade and thought the sun rose and set in her big pearly white teeth and…uh..well, anyway..
As far as this 28%. What a bluff. And if it’s true, it only reiterates that Clinton voters are truly reactionary minority-distrusting, budweiser-drinking idiots who vote Democrat only because they’re poor.
http://www.inthepinktexas.com
Re: 3. lush
I definitely agree that emotions will cool down by November. In the end, a Democrat is a Democrat and I can’t imagine many people crossing over as if to prove a point. Not that this isn’t their right.
However, given that this race is so completely different from anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes, supporters are much more emotionally invested whether they’re cheering for the first woman or the first black man, as evidenced by this very blog.
In the end, will voters hold grudges because they’ve taken this so personally? I don’t think any of us will know until Election Day.
http://www.inthepinktexas.com
Re: 14. Amy
I may be poor and culturally insensitive, but I never, ever drink domestic.
I wonder if any of the african americans mourners at a memorial service on the other side of the tracks in kerrville used the word cracker . Not to make excuses, but is it not racism if it goes the other way? IJS
Re: 16. Pink Lady
Pinot from California/Washington/Oregon is domestic.
IJS.
Re: 15. Pink Lady
I think this is why John McCain actually has a shot in the Fall. Despite his conservative voting record, he’s built a solid reputation as an independent-minded pol who isn’t afraid to 1) take an unpopular stand and 2) work with people across the aisle to get things done. He’s got cross-over appeal written all over him.
I will give both nominees a hard look in the light of day in a few months, but it would take a sea change for me to vote for HRC.
Re: 15. Pink Lady
I don’t think we have to worry about them crossing the aisles, but it may mean they don’t show up to vote at all.
Re: 14. Amy
Lesbian fantasies. Very not barely legal girls. And Clinton. All in one comment posting.
1 out of 3 is cool, and legal.
Bobby Jindal’s real name is Piyush Jindal. Just fyi…
Re: 14. Amy
Why do you hate Budweiser?
Re: 12. Lurkette.
If you think the Kerrvillians reserve their hate for people of color, you should see what happens when a few thousand treehugging hippie music lovers hit town for the Kerrville Folk Festival. Sure, most of us who attend just dress and act like hippies, but that’s part of the fun, which includes pissing off the locals. And we know where their rebellious teenaged children are….heh.
Re: 19. Perry’s Mollycoddler
Piyush HUSSEIN Jindal.
P.S. Tonya in the news: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004302673_webtonya24m.html
Here’s the money quote:
“I’m a redneck girl. I live in the middle of … nowhere,” she told The Kansas City Star during a December appearance at a mixed-martial-arts competition. “I cut wood, drink beer, work on cars, that kind of thing. That’s who I am.”
Re: 20. treehugger
Oh, I never miss the folk fest (long skirt, hippie dancing and all).
But I rarely go into town, as I’m usually too wasted to leave the campground.
Re: 21. The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton
Taking bets at what’s between the “middle of …” and “nowhere.”
I’m guessing the real comment was, “I live in the middle of BumFuckNowhere.”
Re: 22. Lurkette
Cool. I’m the geezer/letch/old guy in the campground Kerrtry Store. Come by and I’ll buy you a beer or 3. I’m also the ID Nazi so be prepared.
This year will be my 29th consecutive, speaking of wasted days in May and June.
Re: 21. The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton
Why is this election only about middle names?
~Perry’s Osama Mollycoddler
http://www.showlush.com
Re: 25. Lurkette
Now seems like the perfect time to admit I’ve never attended the folk festival. Can I be your date this year?
Re: 29. lush
Talk about lesbian fantasies.
/WHAT?!
Re: 9. treehugger
Is that possible?
If Hillary is Tonya, that makes Bill her Jeff Gillooly. Kinda fits when you think about it.
Re: 29. lush
YES! And DMWP, you oughta check out the bathrooms. Communal shower, no ceilings, close quarters.
Whiskey - I think you just came up with Hillary Campaign’s next big T-shirt:
“I wanna be your Jeff Gillooly.”
http://www.showlush.com
Re: 30. Don’t Mess w/ Pink
Thank goodness I’m no longer abstaining.
/WHAT?!
So, after all they’ve been through, the Clintons appear headed back to the trailer park, metaphorically speaking. I’m still cracking up about the sniper fire and Sinbad.
Re: 34. lush
Its a big tent.
/WHAT?
Re: 36. treehugger
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Re: 31. Don’t Mess w/ Pink
How about excessive excuse of hymens?
Or maybe its a D.C. phenomena….annual cherry blossums.
Re: 37.
Camp much?
http://www.showlush.com
Re: 38. treehugger
She camps in kitten heels.
Re: 38. treehugger
“Camp much?” Those days are pretty much gone, I’m afraid. I’ve gone from a backpacking maniac to a Four Seasons freak.
/Gonna get rid of all that gear at a garage sale one of these days. But I still have this fantasy about hiking the Weminuche in heels and an Ann Taylor suit. Besides, I still love that little tent with the corded, snap-together poles.
Re: 39. lush
Kitten heels my ass. Two-and-a-half-inch spikes.
http://www.showlush.com
Re: 41. Don’t Mess w/ Pink
My bad. I say you give that camping gear one last hurrah and come to the KFF with Lurkette and I.
/threesome!
//WHAT?!
Whew! I was wondering when we were going to get back to talking about lesbian threesomes and hymens. Had me worried there.
http://www.showlush.com
Re: 43. The Other Guy
You’re not exactly new here, so I’m not sure what had you worried.
Can’t believe I read the words “Tonya Harding” and “hymen” in the same blog post. /Shiver!
If you can’t wait ’til Memorial Day for the Kerrville Folk Fest, come on out to the Salt Lick in April for Old Settler’s. Great music, awesome camping. Bring your tie dye skirts and leave your bra at home.
Re: 45. Chilicook
Good idea. KFF is free for me, though. Know any staff? I’m fluent in keg and TABC certified.
http://amberbama.blogspot.com
Re: 24. The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton
Let us not forget the opening of “Tonya and Nancy: The Rock Opera”.
If we’re lucky it’ll come to the Paramount.
http://stonyplanet.com
I really appreciate your post, thank you. To my mind all we have to do is to wait until November 5 and of course to vote. As for Hillary she was a good candidate.