I’ve witnessed strands of political banter on this site. I’m not sure exactly how to focus our discussion, so I’d figure it’s a good idea to start with the Iowa Caucus. I’m sure you all know the results. They are summarized below (source):
Democrats:
Barack Obama (38%), John Edwards (30%), Hillary Clinton (29%), Bill Richardson (2%), Joe Biden (1%), Chris Dodd 0%, and Dennis Kucinich 0%
Rebpublicans:
Mike Huckabee (34%), Mitt Romney (25%), Fred Thompson (13%), John McCain (13%), Ron Paul (10%), Rudy Giuliani (4%), and Duncan Hunter (1%)
New Hampshire doesn’t happen until January 8th, so these results mean very little in the great scheme of things; but the Republican results surprised me.
While I will never reveal my political affiliation on this site, I am going to rip on both winners. In fact, I’m going to be the ANTI-POLITIK for 2008. That’s right candidates, I will make fun of all of you! Ready, set, go…
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Obama - Sure, he’s a minority and has a sense of hope about him, but he also has absolutely no substance. He sounds like a nice guy and I’m sure he is. Obama strikes me as a candidate who, much like all democrats, floats on an air of I don’t really have to make any decisions as long as I’m a wisp o change and don’t get disagreeable. He’s like a Disneyland, trapped in a politician.
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Huckabee - Can you say scary social policies and banking on the religious right? Huckabee comes across as a deeply moral Christian with a sort of Southern Charm. He’s like a Bill Clinton for the Republicans (only, he probably gets laid, way way less). But seriously folks, are we going to elect a creationist who wants to control your personal life? Maybe he will get a VP with gay children and he will change his mind. I do like him though and he seems like a solid human being. My insticts tell me: there has to got to be a snake hiding under there.
Look, I’m not ever happy with politics but at least Iowans picked decent human beings as opposed to… shudder..a manimal or an actor (nothing against actors).
Was I spot on?
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tagged as: Election 2008, Not Virginia, Politicians, Politics
OK, I’ll bite.
1) Politics has zero place on this site, IMO.
2) I’m sure you were just trolling anyway, but Obama has plenty of “substance” - I think if you’re going to attack him there are plenty of ways to do it, but a vague assertion that he has no “substance” is a pretty pathetic attempt. Come on, get nasty if you’re gonna troll.
Ok, I could be wrong about that, but considering I’ve heard it from staunch democrats, I know others share that opinion. If you can rip better on the winners, than please do so!
Please refer back to point #1.
What has 2 thumbs, loathes politics and is “welcome to the internet”?
Looks like Huckabee can rock. And his name is pretty cool. I’m voting for Eric Cartman. Damn Hippies.
don’t forget to bring a towel!
I’ve never posted before but have to respond …
I enjoy the CVL/local stuff on this site but I don’t want to read about national politics here — plenty of that to be found elsewhere (especially opinion). Can we skip this one please?
The hippie episode was pretty sweet last night. Hadn’t seen it in a while.
In case politics does have a place on this site, I thought Huckabee was the best speaker last night (in their victory/concession speeches). Not so much in content (I’m generally on the other side), but in delivery. He’s got a great sense of when to pause, when to the emphasize, etc.
McCain was brief and not memorable. He looked pretty old compared to everybody else, but then again, he is. And I only saw about 5 seconds of Romney’s speech, since he chose to give it the same time as Huckabee.
For the Dems, I thought Obama’s speech was the best, with the content being better than the delivery. Although I will say he’s gotten better than I remember him being (from tv, didn’t see him here).
I thought Clinton’s speech was strong on content, ok on delivery. I was really clueless as to how she would spin a “3rd place” finish, and I thought she did the best she could. Gave a team player speech, basically saying, thanks for all your hard work everybody. We all want the same thing, and that’s a Democrat in the White House.
Edwards was a little disappointing for me, since I always expect him to be just a commanding public speaker (given his background as a trial lawyer). Not that he was bad, but he didn’t own the podium, like Huckabee.
For all those who don’t like it, are you being forced to read it?
I think it’s more about the super saturation of politics anymore, and how this site is largely a safe haven from the red v. blue of oh so much media (web and traditional).
I’m not saying don’t post this stuff, I’m just saying that for me, I’d rather not engage until we see how Charlottesville swings in the primaries.
ok ok fine by me.. sorry folks!
Jesus. It’s obvious 99% of us are liberals. We’re on a blog talking about out dining and culture and we live in Charlottesville. You do the math.
Yea, yea, republicans like to eat well and talk about beer too. Whatever.
For all those who don’t like it, are you being forced to read it?
No, but I’m not forced to read the crap on the cville craigslist rnr either. Doesn’t mean it didn’t ruin it.
I married a republican so I’ve developed an aversion to talking politics (the New Yorker fills my need for self important liberalism). On presidential elections we go arm in arm to cancel out each other’s vote and watch the results roll in at separate friend’s houses. The other three years we sneak off to the polls hoping the other one will forget it’s Election Day and only reveal our “I voted” stickers after the polls close. It may not be healthy, but it beats the first year when we tried to “discuss” our differences.
By the time Charlottesville votes, we’ll most likely be down to one candidate from each party who’s a virtual lock for the nomination. I encourage this dialouge, and at this time. Personally I think McCain is going to come out of NH in good shape, and that Romney, Giuliani, and others beside Huckabee will be done for, a week from now. Having overcome Hillary’s lead as presumptive nominee handily, I don’t think Obama can be discounted anymore. Look for Edwards as VP on the Dem’s ticket to shore up support in the south (something he failed to do for Kerry, but that was then…)
Off the wall predictions? Republicans win in ‘08 on a split ticket of McCain/Lieberman.. hows that for crazy?
I avoid talking politics because liberals usually assume I’m conservative, and conservatives that I’m liberal when, in actuality, I’m just a contrarian prick…
well, that’s kinda what I wanted to be, oy.
i absolutely think it’s okay to talk about politics on here. Just because we may not share the same ideas, and opionions doesn’t mean we should avoid. I love a good debate! I don’t want a boring site that only talks about restaurants, bars and me making out with thor.
We’ve only made out 20 times.. is that newsworthy?
maybe
I am torn between wanting to make a statement by not voting and my fear of voting for a Republican if Hillary wins the Democratic nomination.
Don’t worry, Ethan. I think Obama is a lock. Not so sure about the repubs, but, if I had to bet, I think Huckabee wins, if he can get to SC before McCain gets momentum.
This was a low blow. I actually like the people on this site…no good can come from political discussions. I am going to make a point and change the subject. Who here thinks there should be another CVillain party. I think it should include the electric slide. There is just nowhere in Cville to do the electric slide. It makes me sad.
and there’s no place to do the Soulja Boy. Where can I crank that around here? Everyone seems to play techno only. BTW: I fuckin hate 216’s music. Stop being afraid that people will actually get too excited because you play the hot dance tracks.
And the DJ actually “doles” it out too! He’s like “alright, since yall’ve been good I’ll play some Beyonce.” Fuck you! Why limit the play of the top 40 you know everyone wants to hear?
How’s that for a thread derailment?
Barack the Cornbelt
How many have participated in our Virginia caucus system? I did once, and it is the rankest system I have ever seen. I’m not sure how the Iowa system compares, but I think it pretty disgusting that Virginia practices a system which makes such a mockery of democracy.
Of course the lawny would have actually participated in the democratic process ; )
Lawny: Virginia has a primary system, not a caucus styem. Of course, you’re still free to find it rank, but it would be more helpful if you actually detailed why.
Actually, Stanley, we do have caucuses (or “mass meetings,” as they are often called) in Virginia. It’s an option. The Republicans are the ones most likely to resort to it, in my short memory. It’s a way to limit the voting to people who are truly interested in party politics, largely because it often requires you to give up a whole Saturday, as well as to pay an entrance fee. So far as I know, caucuses may be used for the presidential nominee selection, but rarely (well, pretty much never) are. Much more likely to involve nomination of a local candidate for the state legislature. Read more, here, about the use of mass meetings by Republicans, in Virginia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_of_Virginia
The state Republican party will be nominating a candidate for for U.S. Senate this year. There was an intraparty debate as to primary vs. caucus. Former Guv Chuckles Gilmore wanted the caucus (see ThatGrrl #28), and Tom Davis, moderate Repub from Nova wanted a primary. Gilmore got his way, Davis decided not to run, and Hello Senator Mark Warner.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that . . . just an example of how it can work.
Hmph, I didn’t know that, ThatGrrl. Showing my tranplant colors, I guess. Thanks for the info and the link!
Hey, unless you’ve ever actually been to one of those meetings (or run for office, have run a campaign, regularly attend party meetings or work for the State Board of Elections), extremely unlikely you’d be familiar with the mass meeting concept, Stanley. A lot of folks born and raised in Virginia probably aren’t terribly aware of it.
In my experience, parties resort to mass meetings when they want to exclude the unwashed public from the decision-making process. Not pretty, but largely true. Incumbents (or, at least folks who have already attained a different elected office from the one for which they are currently running) tend to use it to quietly knock off newbies who might be a problem in an open primary. Old guard party members are virtual shoe-ins, in a mass meeting. Few newbies can garner enough support to really be a factor, there. Particularly when it means showing up at a certain place, at a certain time, paying an entrance fee and hanging around all day while people vote on the schedule, approve the meeint rules, listen to speeches….yawn. I think I fell asleep there, for a minute.
Oops. That should be “meeting rules.” And yes, you vote on all that stuff, before they even get around to discussing the candidates. Often by voice vote, but it still has to be done. Mass meetings are B-O-R-I-N-G.
Man, that’s some croneyism bullshit right there. Good info, TG.
Another type of party “caucus” in Virgina involves using the municipal voting machines, but at fewer locations than a normal primary, or just one central location. Voters make a nominal pledge to support the party’s candidate in the general election. It’s the same as a “primary”, except for the pledge, and the central location. Also, the allocation of “delegates” based on the votes can be wanky compared to a primary. My info may be out of date, but that “caucus” method has been used in Va.
The parties choose the ins and outs of the nominating method in a previous meeting, which is open to anyone (?), but not likely to be well-attended. Seems to me it is easy for politically motivated zealots to take over a mainline party this way. See: Republican Party, Virginia, History, 1980-1999.
The “mass meeting” is how Cville dems have often picked their city council candidates, who almost always win the general. Maybe that’s what you went to Lawny? It does not use the voting machines. When I went it was a CHS auditorium (now MLK), for a coupla hours on a Saturday morning. It was free, but you couldn’t leave and come back. After listening to the candidate’s speeches, and some minimal party business, we broke up into precincts. Each precinct group just basically looked at each other, made small talk and handed in scraps of paper. I believe it was secret ballot, unlike Iowa. But you had some idea of who was doing what because the group was so small.
That mass meeting at CHS had tons of people, 500 or 1000 or so, because “Democrats for Change” were way organized that year. The meetings can be a lot smaller and “ranker”.
I heard something about the Virginia Republican party requiring some sort of signed pledge to vote for a Republican in the general election in order to vote for a Republican in the primary. Does anyone else know anything about this?
Ethan, the pledge idea was abandoned almost immediately.
It’s not enforceable. Just go in there and vote for Ron Paul for the sake of all that is holy. Repugs losing, that is.
I’m guessing this board is 1/2 dem, 1/2 repub, 1/2 libertarian anyway.
blahblahblah politics are for boring people…
I like CSPAN.
Well, one thing I notice, in my post gig haze of confusion, is that the idea of talking about “politics” has brought out a lot more new names posting to this site. More is better right? At least thats what they told me when I bought my Yukon, which I use to drive to Harris Tweeter to by over priced cans of beans because they look so much better under halogen lights.
If it were true majority rule, then “nobody” would be president, because most folks don’t vote. Me? Im registered with the Dance Party!
Doof/Maude/silmo/yupster et al… thanks for coming out tonight. It ALWAYS makes my night to see you guys. ALWAYS!
Much gratitude.
Thank you for entertaining us with your shenanigans, yo. I’m voting dance party for city council! The more absurd the platform the better.
I am nighttiming baby, (drinking milk and singing) and pondering the absurdity of the notion that people could actually be allowed to vote for the candidate of their choice, now that would be scary….If people really could choose their federal government or at least the head of same. ooohhh
#39 is just plain silly.
two, have you heard that song nigttiming? I have such a crush on you, especially if you are referring to that song.
Caroline: Jason S. Coconut records, what can I say
You are not too bad youself…
*sigh*