I know who I'm voting for on Tuesday, finally!

[gaspee]

Not that anyone cares... but I've made up my mind.

My choices, quite frankly, were between still voting for John Edwards, even though he'd dropped out, or voting for Hillary Clinton. I was also thinking about writing in Al Gore.

Obama iz ded to me! for a couple of reasons, one being that I met him one on one at a Whitehouse fund raiser and really disliked the man. And I mean, really disliked. This was before he had to be nice to people because he wanted to be president. Another reason being that I think if he's not a homophobe (which I waver on in my opinion) he feels awfully comfy getting in bed with them to get their votes. If he hadn't had his tent revival meetings in SC with the fun for everyone theme of Jesus hates him some gayz! - he never would have started this momentum.

Anyway, it was throw away my vote or vote for Clinton. I'm voting for Clinton and the other three adults in my house are as well.

And hey, in my little state, four votes really count.

Now if they'd stop tying up my damn phone lines! Grrrr - between the two lines, we've had 9 calls this week. (7 Obama, 2 Clinton) Enough already!

Also, like a lot of Rhode Islanders, my family and I tend to be suspicious of popular opinion and trends. We're very contrary by nature. I am amazed and frankly, quite appalled at the people losing their shit over Obama. It's freaking weird when people treat him like the second coming. Just plain old weird.

My prediction? I don't run with the youngsters or the people likely to vote Obama, so most people I know are voting Clinton. But I deliver Meals on Wheels and I do therapy work with my dogs at Senior Centers. Most of my neighbors are in their 50's or older. I also know mostly lower income white people. My sister says she and her friends (wealthy white people) are split between the two.

I call RI for Clinton with a 52-48 split. Obama takes Providence county with all the out of state college kids (Brown, PC, RISD, Johnson and Wales, RIC, Salve, etc) and Clinton takes the other four counties (yes, we only have 5 counties) with Obama making a good showing in South County (Washington) due to URI.

I still think Obama's going to win the nomination. I don't have to like it, but I think that's what's going to happen. Hey, I can always say, like I do now, don't look at me; I didn't vote for the guy!

[casus belli]

1. You looking for alternative homes to DU? n/t

[gaspee]

9. What does that mean?

[casus belli]

17. Sounds like you intend to not support Obama if he is the nominee. n/t

[gaspee]

20. Nope, I don't

And it's nice of you to try to threaten me. I don't plan on advocating against him and if you know anything about electoral politics, you know that there is no need for me to vote for him in my state. The D, no matter who it is, will take my state 75-25 or 80-20. You don't get much bluer than Little Rhody.

Nice to see the vote Gestapo is out in force already.

And for the record, if I had to, I would vote for him for the common good. Luckily, I live in a state where I can vote for whom I want to and still be assured of the common good.

[casus belli]

31. It was a question

Im not sure why someone would subject themselves to a forum in which the vast majority of posters are supporting someone you hate. That's it. No thinly veiled threats. How exactly could I threaten you?

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Baconfoot]

21. self-delete NT

[Mezzo]

39. casus belli, will you support Hillary if she is the nominee?

[casus belli]

49. Absolutely. No question. n/t

[Raejeanowl]

19. Ask Yourself The Same Question

Because what I DON'T hear from the OP are the reasons Skinner laid out as to why this is going to be a different place after the nomination.

On the other hand, implying that anyone is unwelcome for reasons other than those laid out in Rules is itself a no-no.

[casus belli]

25. I didn't tell her she wasn't welcome.

That wouldn't be my place. I just asked if she planned on not being here when everyone was aligning behind Obama.

[AndyTiedye]

44. A Lot of Us Are Not Lined Up Behind Anyone

I wanted Gore to run, he didn't.
I voted early for Edwards, he dropped out 3 days later.

Obama lost me with the McClurkin thing, and I'm not even gay.
Clinton voted for the IWR (Obama was not in the Senate then, so he had no vote on the IWR, but both have voted for funding the war repeatedly).
Which do I dislike less? Doesn't matter. We already had our primary.
I'll hold my nose and vote for our nominee in November.
(Though if California is at risk, then we're talking about a 1972-style blowout win for McCain).

[casus belli]

51. I respect that.

What I have trouble with, are people who say they absolutely will note vote for our party if the nominee isn't their first choice. That's sort of what I got from the original post, but she has since said she would hold her nose and support the nominee if she didn't live in a state where the race was a no-contest, so it's sort of a moot point. I can respect someone having disagreements with a candidate or some of their positions, but threatening to sit out an election at such a critical time is senseless. There's too much at stake for another four years of a right-wing whitehouse.

[Recursion]

2. 5 counties

4 at high tide

:hide:

[gaspee]

11. 3, Maybe

:hi:

[Recursion]

15. I just love the big blue bug in Providence

It's how I know I'm 30 minutes from home...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. Good On You!!!!

:toast:

[Frustratedlady]

4. May I ask what you didn't like about him on your one on one meeting?

My fear is that all the people involved in this hoopla, won't show up on election day.

As for the phone calls, we have them year round but we are just accustomed to them, as well as the doorbell and full mailbox. Generally, the phone calls come around 6:00, but I learned that if you don't answer at least one, they will call and call until you do.

[gaspee]

12. I've posted about it here before

But I'll give the short version.

My sister and I went to a Whitehouse fundraiser. Sister - gorgeous, skinny, feminine, rich. Me: Kinda Dykey, not skinny, not rich, not gorgeous, pretty masculine.

After introductions, he was quite nice to sis and treated me like furniture. Did not like. Been dead to me since.

This was not a large fundraiser and it was in a private home.

I don't like any of the implications. Nice to her because she wears designer outfits and is married to a money guy for Whitehouse? Do not like. Nice to her because she's hot? Do not like. Nice to her because she's not a dyke? Do not like.

Mind you, it's not the nice to her part that bugged me, but the contrast to how he treated me.

And that's the tried to keep it short version.

[Frustratedlady]

18. Thanks. I've noticed that when he works the crowds, too.

Sort of a Clinton tactic, if you know what I mean.

[ecstatic]

26. How do other politicians respond to you?

It sounds like the situation between you and Obama was a case of mutual distaste at first sight. In situations like that, sometimes one person feeds off the other's negative energy. There's no telling if maybe you sent a negative vibe to Obama first or vice versa. I say this because I'm yet to hear another account of Obama treating the prettier woman better... although, that's a common trait of most people in general.

[goodgd_yall]

46. It tells me

---and this is borne out by his politics---that he really doesn't relate to GLBT people. He tries to be politically correct about their issues, but his heart isn't in it.

[goodgd_yall]

45. Thanks for this insight

VERY telling. I get what you mean about people treating the dykey looking women differently. I and friends of mine go through this. That kind of behavior does separate the cool people from the---and I'll be kind and not use the "b" word---people with issues.

[quantass]

52. That's it?!?! No offence but that's nothing....that's just Life!

Maybe i had to be there but i just dont see how this concludes that Hilary is better than Obama....This is not to upset you at all but i just dont get it. I was expecting something but felt nothing. Just being honest.

[Enrique]

53. that's life for Obama

voter doesn't like how he treated her, voter won't vote for him. So sorry Obama. :cry:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. good on you and yours! me and my 9 also voted for Clinton.

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[sandnsea]

6. Finally made up your mind??

Sounds like you had your mind made up all along.

[flpoljunkie]

50. Love that photo, sandnsea!

[gabeana]

7. As an Obama supporter

I'd take a 52-48 split, delegates will be evenly split especially in a state that was not supposed to be a threat to Clinton,15 point lead a week ,good to see that the Obama campaign is still working hard, from you experience 7 Obama calls to Clinton 2

by the way I understand how a close up encounter can leave an expression

At a meeting for the young democrats, I met Norm Mineta, he could tell I was new and kinda of uncomfortable, came up to me introduced himself talked to me for about 10 minutes, ever since then i have been one of his biggest fans, So I forgive him for working in the Bush administration

[RBInMaine]

8. A llllllot to say about one's personal opinion. Pretty boring.

[gaspee]

13. Thanks!

Glad I'm boring and not starting fights.

[ecstatic]

24. You accused him of being a homophobe. You did try to start a fight

but people are tired of that bait.

[rug]

36. No, she described a man acting like a homophobe favoring a rich person.

Just who I want heading a Democratic ticket.

[ruggerson]

10. Thanks for the post

I don't think she'll take the nomination either - but the primaries are when you're supposed to vote your heart.

[gaspee]

14. Exactly

My heart's still with Edwards, but I like Senator Clinton and will be proud to vote for her.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[katRI]

22. The three adults in my household are going Obama

One of those 3 being my 92 year old Italian grandmother in-law, so we shall see.

Will be interesting to see the surge of new registrations and how they turn out, mostly unaffiliated registrations which tend to break for Obama, but here in RI I don't think unaffiliated means the same as in other states.

I canvassed for Obama yesterday in Warwick, not many people answered their doors, those that did, not many said who they were supporting. Of course I didn't flat out ask because I think that's rude, LOL. Overall people weren't too interested, but other canvassers had more luck and even splits.

Whether the crowd of 10,000 in the cold rain and slush compared to the 2,000 at the same venue for Hillary says anything about how RI will go, I don't know, but I sure hope so.

Kat

[gaspee]

27. Yup

I think it's going to be a tight one. We have a huge percentage of pop being college kids and I think that makes it very tight.

My dad answered our door to a canvasser yesterday (you aren't by any chance a 70 year old very thin woman, are you?) and didn't tell who he was voting for.

My entire household is registered unaffiliated and all but my elderly dad usually vote D - he votes R, but he's voting for Clinton on Tuesday.

[katRI]

30. no 33 year old wishing she was a skinny woman...

from what I understand (forgot where I read it so take with a grain of salt), college students in RI overall don't tend to be registered here if they are out of staters...so the college presence doesn't bode as well, I don't know.

I just know that there were a LOT of people at RIC and a really diverse crowd, if they all follow the bring 10 to the polls philosophy, it will be an upset in RI, but I am not that confident. I am seeing more Hillary signs than Obama, but not many of either. I definitely think Obama will pull close, but I am not so sure far enough, I think RI'ers are hard to read on this.

Chafee got an amazing welcome at the rally yesterday, kind of sad for me, I did vote against him but that was one of the hardest votes I ever made, I wish he would have disaffiliated earlier. He definitely deserves respect for his IWR vote.

Kat

[gaspee]

35. I love Chafee

He's about the only republican I've ever liked *G*

And I voted against him also - even though I wanted to vote for him.

I don't hang out with a very diverse crowd, so I like hearing about what's going on.

[gaspee]

23. Just wanted to say

I've got a few ignores in the thread and my guess is they've been rude and or insulting to me. Let me guess... belittling and attempting to insult me based on my opinion.

And now I've got to run to the store - thanks for listening to me, for those that did.

:toast:

[cali]

28. I abhor broad brushes in general, and I abhor your grotesque characterization

Of Obama supporters specifically. Let me tell you about my family. We're all supporting Obama: Mother: 86 years old, life long dem activist, delegate to three conventions, elected dem official, college educated. Sister #1: Successful designer/artist and her muscian husband, both have MFAs. Sister #2: Senior Scientist at NRDC and her attorney husband. Sister #3: High School history teacher and her husband also an eductor. Brother: Successful entrpeneur and his wife a stay at home mom. Me: former administrator of social service programs with 2 MAs. Not to mention our collective children- the ones old enough to vote. They all live in CT and MA and they've all voted for Obama. I live in VT and I vote Tuesday in town meeting, and I don't know one person who's planning on voting for Clinton.

[progressive_realist]

29. Thanks for sharing the story

I always enjoy reading the personal stories people choose to share. I find the demographic splits between the candidates fascinating to see on the individual level. Obama has a definite weakness in attracting lower to middle income voters. I really hope he picks Edwards as his VP so we can bridge that divide.

[gaspee]

34. Let me be clear

I don't think I was too clear in my original post.

I know almost all blue collar workers. Quahhoggers, welders, auto mechanics, newspaper carriers, Dunkin Donuts workers, house painters...

Those are the people I know and those are the people I'm talking about.

And you're right - all lower income whites and hispanics. The lower income African Americans I know are all voting Obama. The lower income LGBTQ folk - of whom I know a lot of - are voting Clinton.

I think it's interesting also.

And also, most people I know in real life can discuss the election without fighting about it - which is really good to see. And most of them like both candidates.

[progressive_realist]

37. Anonymous internet postings can encourage poor behavior

But in real life I too have found the discussions to be much more civil. I also think people are much more engaged in this political season than in elections past. I'm not sure if it is because there is no incumbent or because Bush has been such an awful President or both, but everyone is paying close attention this time around.

[Obamaniac]

32. Hillary sucks

and will lose. Way to throw away your vote./

[RetroLounge]

40. Nice, and typical of your thought process.

:eyes:

RL

[ruggerson]

41. Welcome (back) to DU

[Donkeykick]

33. I'm voting for Hillary here in Ohio.

But I think that Obama is going to take the thing. If he does I'll vote for him in the General Election. :shrug:

[JimGinPA]

42. A Vote For Clinton Is A Vote For McCain...

Her "35 years of experience" argument would not hold water against McCain's experience.

[goodgd_yall]

43. I've always like Rhode Islanders---I guess this is one reason

"Also, like a lot of Rhode Islanders, my family and I tend to be suspicious of popular opinion and trends. We're very contrary by nature. I am amazed and frankly, quite appalled at the people losing their shit over Obama. It's freaking weird when people treat him like the second coming. Just plain old weird."

[LadyVT]

47. Thanks! If Hillary stays in it long enough for the outcome of Rezko trial,

that could swing the superdelegates her way. Remember, the superdelegates can change their minds up until they vote, no matter who they've endorsed (and that, of course, goes for Obama superdelegates, also).

[Seabiscuit]

48. If Obama blows it and loses to McCain, I'll be able to say the same thing: "I didn't vote for the

guy!" I voted for Edwards on Super Tuesday, even though he'd just dropped out.