Prognosticating the Potomac Primary: Stick a Spork in Her, She's Done

[CorpGovActivist]

This morning, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the talking heads discussing the significant influence of military families in the looming Potomac Primary.

This is http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=corpgovactivist+%22military+families%22">a topic I have highlighted many times in the past.

For example, I correctly called http://www.google.com/search?q=corpgovactivist+%22military+families%22+webb&hl=en&filter=0">the influence that these precincts would play in the Allen-Webb Senate race squeaker in 2006.

If - as I sincerely expect - Senator Obama cleans Senator Clinton's clock on Tuesday, I also expect to hear a lot of discussion to this effect: those who know the Clintons best (i.e., the civilian and military employees of our Federal Government's command-and-control structures) have soundly rejected what she would stand for, should she become President. ON EDIT: I also sincerely believe that Senator Obama has a fighting chance - with help from Kaine, Warner, and Webb - to carry Virginia in the General Election; sadly, I cannot say the same for Senator Clinton.

Cast stones at me all you like. Just be prepared to duck as they come whizzing back at you at high velocity, o, ye http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philistines">Philistine on the Potomac!

:P

- Dave

*****************************************************

Does this sword make my hips look big?



Here I go, slingshot slung and at the ready.



http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=goliath%27s+eye+view+david+michelangelo&spell=1">Sunday reading.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=david+michelangelo&hl=en&sitesearch=">Sunday viewing.

* Few know, however, that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David">David selected FIVE stones from the brook; the other four were for Goliath's brothers. That's just one reason why I voted 5 in Skinner's latest feedback poll.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Most excellent, my dear Dave!

Lol!

K&R

:patriot:

[CorpGovActivist]

2. My very dear Ms. Peggy, if the story of David teaches us anything...

... it teaches us that we can make a joyful noise anywhere.

Even when we are seemingly all alone.

:hug:

[Proud2BAmurkin]

3. Going out on a limb there. Nobody expects Clinton to win VA or MD

[CorpGovActivist]

4. Going out on a limb here. Penn will not have expected the fallout from this...

... particular rout, or its magnitude.

- Dave

[Proud2BAmurkin]

5. Safe to say he didn't expect more than just that but doubt it will matter in the end

[CorpGovActivist]

6. Care to wager a six-pack of microbrew?

[tekisui]

7. Momentum and perception will beat the Ohio/Texas plan.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

8. The same thing that won CA and MA for Obama

[tekisui]

9. We'll see. Niether of those were a romp, like what Obama is picking up this weekend.

[Mme. Defarge]

13. What is so stark

is really the margins by which Obama has won. How can Clinton hope to win in the GE in view of this phenomenon?

[CorpGovActivist]

14. Your hands must be killing, you, Madame.

:hi:

Much knitting these days, one imagines. Much knitting.

:patriot:

[CorpGovActivist]

10. Take a look at a post-BRAC military installations map.

And take into account, in your political calculations, the unspoken, yet resonant effect, that the overwhelming victories for Obama in Potomac command-and-control districts will have at places like:

http://www.lackland.af.mil/

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/

I will wager a six-pack of microbrew on this.

I don't kid about bets or brew. The domino effect here is beyond Penn's ken.

:toast:

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

31. .

[bigbrother05]

11. Is your area Red or Blue sorry for the ignorance

Because me and my son were discussing this, this morning
The effect the military vote would have
We are in San Antonio, Texas red
And the local paper endorsed Obama this day
There is alot of Military, so I know they won't go for McCain, Maybe Huck, alot of tents here, alot
The hatred for Clinton's here goes back to Bush1
But I have to wait until the 4th
Good luck Tuesday

[CorpGovActivist]

12. Virginia as a whole is purple. Regions within VA vary. Tidewater (Norfolk/Navy)...

... has a very high concentration of active-duty and retired military and dependent military families.

Patrick and I live in Northern Virginia, which is a much, much bluer shade of purple.

I'll try to find a good county-by-county map.

You're 100% right about the long memory of these families.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

37. Electoral maps

http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/">Here's a very useful set from Princeton University.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria%2C_Virginia">The independent city of Alexandria, pinpointed for you.

Interesting history, Alexandria.

; )

[ursi]

15. fits with what I've been hearing from military folk and families as well

[CorpGovActivist]

16. Ursi: whereabouts are you?

Thanks for any additional insights you can provide, from your local POV.

Thanks!

:hi:

[TZ]

17. Good points but...

I don't think either Obama or Clinton are going to carry Va in the GE. Granted Northern Va is a very solid powerful democratic base in the state but Conservatives hate Clinton with a passion and...parts of Va--like Roanoake and that area are, shall we say, a bit stuck in the 19th century. I can't see the Redneck, gun toting base in the rest of the state tolerating either a minority or a woman candidate. You don't even have to travel to southern Va to see this attitude. I have a sister in Manassas and sometimes when I visit it seems like a different country.

[CorpGovActivist]

18. Good counterpoints, but...

"I don't think either Obama or Clinton are going to carry Va in the GE."

Oh, ye of little faith.

"Granted Northern Va is a very solid powerful democratic base in the state"

That's a given now.

"but Conservatives hate Clinton with a passion"

Agreed.

"and...parts of Va--like Roanoake and that area are, shall we say, a bit stuck in the 19th century."

Oops. I grew up here ... in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raleigh_County">Raleigh County, WV. My grandparents lived here ... in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDowell_County%2C_West_Virginia">McDowell County.

That's where the SW toe of VA slips under. The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke%2C_Virginia">Roanoke region contains a lot of my extended family.



"I can't see the Redneck, gun toting base in the rest of the state tolerating either a minority or a woman candidate."

Please note the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimball%2C_West_Virginia">tolerant history of Kimball, where my grandparents took their mail.

Let me tell you something. My grandfather was one of the least formally educated, but wisest characters I ever met.

Every summer that http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7451244&mesg_id=7451244">I spent with my grandparents in that magic hidden holler, Mr. Butler came for a visit.

Mr. Butler was African-American, and my grandmother treated him like visiting royalty. My Paw Paw and he would sit on the front porch, listening to baseball games (Yankees, if they were playing), and laugh and laugh about the old times.

When I asked my grandfather once about how he and Mr. Butler became such good friends (I was bothered, because I'd been teased at school for befriending Letisha C.), my grandfather explained that - once, during a mining cave-in, Mr. Butler saved his life.

"Besides, David," my Paw Paw said, "at the end of a hard day in the coal mines, every man's a black man. Don't make no difference."

Those are the wisest words I have ever heard spoken on race relations, and that's the God's Truth.

"You don't even have to travel to southern Va to see this attitude. I have a sister in Manassas and sometimes when I visit it seems like a different country."

Times are changing. I prefer to hope, rather than fear.

- Dave

P.S. The county seat of my home county, Beckley, has "http://www.beckleymine.com/">a mine of its own," and I'd invite you to peruse some of the pictures and exhibits on race relations and the mine wars. I'd also invite anyone with doubts about Appalachians' ability to defy the pundits - if those voters aren't written off, that is - to consider the WV primary in 1960 (JFK).

Finally, I'd suggest renting http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093509/">Matewan, which co-starred James Earl Jones, whose hair and make-up my mom did. The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matewan">indie film accurately depicted one of the bloodiest events in the UMWA's organizing history, culminating with the death of one of my favorite relatives: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Hatfield">Sid Hatfield, an incorruptible sheriff.

[TZ]

20. Good to know

I've only travelled through SW Virginia a couple of times and there were places we stopped that frankly, scared me. Good to know there are large pockets of civility down there.

[CorpGovActivist]

21. Good food, and if you ever have a flat tire...

... I'd wager you have a helping hand to help you fix it in under 30 minutes.

Especially if you have out-of-state plates.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

23. P.S. Looking forward to the DC get-together!

:hug:

[Eurobabe]

19. Suppose that's why Clinton has a new campaign chair

Maggie Williams? Breaking on CNN.

GoBAMA!!

[CorpGovActivist]

22. Did they jettison Penn altogether?

Thanks for the heads-up!

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

24. Patti Solis Doyle out.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&scoring=d&q=clinton+campaign+manager">Ah. Penn appears to still be intact.

What a mistake Senator Clinton insists on repeating!

[Eurobabe]

25. Smell something burning?

:rofl:

[CorpGovActivist]

26. The funny thing is, this conflagration was preventable.

Called Penn as a liability quite some time ago.

Deck chairs. Titanic.

[Eurobabe]

27. Seems this is in order then...

[CorpGovActivist]

28. It has been a privilege...

... to http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?ei=UTF-8&b=0&vid=540910&gid=125987">play with you.

Glub. Glub.

[Eurobabe]

29. you so silly!

Now pass the goddamn Koolaid, would ya? I'm THIRSTY.

[CorpGovActivist]

30. Kool-Aid is better with...

[Elspeth]

32. You just WISH you had an ass that good.

Thanks for the eye candy, even if it's just sculpture.

[CorpGovActivist]

33. I've had no complaints thus far...

:9

But http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBsAWqb7KP0&feature=related">we all lose our charms in the end!

; )

- Dave

P.S. Besides, Carrera marble doesn't have that certain bouncy recoil.

:blush:

[Elspeth]

34. No complaints? Well we all learn to settle in the end....

:evilgrin:


Diamonds are a girl's best friend, and all...

[CorpGovActivist]

35. *shrug* Snagged at 22, and nearly 14 blissful years...

... http://patrickj.smugmug.com/">later, the memories just keep on comin'.

:toast:

P.S. http://patrickj.smugmug.com/gallery/12083_ucBNR#396223">I will pick a troll's nose, here or at Disney World. But one of my favorite things to do? A http://patrickj.smugmug.com/gallery/12075_bZKNN#395689">visit with an old friend.

[CorpGovActivist]

36. "Just sculpture"

What medium appeals most to you?

:evilgrin: