Over 57 million people voted for McCain. That's scary.

[Cyrano]

Very scary. President Elect Obama beat McCain by about eight million votes. But it terrifies me that 57 million Americans are so blind, ignorant, greedy, or insane.

57 million! That's a hell of a lot of people. And, IMO, most of them will never leave the "dark side." They will cling to their kool-aid drinking, demented beliefs for life.

This is a war that has been going on between and among our species for thousands of years - the war between enlightenment and ignorance. And for far too much of that time, the powers of know-nothingness, fear and selfishness have triumphed.

Last Tuesday night, tears were running down my face (and probably yours) when it became apparent that Obama won. But for 57 million Americans, that was not a historic or poignant moment. It was their worst nightmare come true.

We've won a battle, but the war goes on. Most of those 57 million aren't going away. We're going to have to turn out to vote two years from now, four years from now and for the rest of our lives in the same numbers we did this time around.

Those who gave us eight years of Bush/Cheney are already plotting how to reverse the outcome of this year's election. The only thing standing between them and a rerun of the "dark ages" is us. We must stay active, alert and involved.

Bush/Cheney spent eight years telling us to be afraid. Today, the only thing we have to fear is 57 million Americans who voted out of fear, bigotry, greed, and/or ignorance.

We won this time around, but it will never be over. And as we celebrate Obama, and the incredible meaning of his victory, we can't let our guard down. After all, there are about 57 million people who are not celebrating our finest moment.

[NMDemDist2]

1. they are the past

we are the future

[Zynx]

2. 62 million voted for Bush.

[Tiggeroshii]

23. That's a five million person vote loss from Bush

and about a 8 million vote gain from Kerry.

We did well.

[Occam Bandage]

3. Which is why we can't govern dictatorially, because if only a small number of moderates

get turned off, then it's curtains in 2010/2012.

[kestrel91316]

4. These people will eventually grow old and die. We need to start RIGHT NOW

on grooming the next batch of young new voters for 2010 and then 2012. Republicanism will dwindle due to attrition.

[yodoobo]

9. As will we.

Old age and death isn't just limited to the 57 million racist who voted Mccain.

Thats why, as you suggest its vital that get to the young, and educate them properly.

[Bullet1987]

33. Besides, racists teach their children everything they know

Some don't listen and moderate their views...many don't.

[emilyg]

17. With any luck you'll

grow old, too.

[Webster Green]

5. It is insane that there are that many brainwashed fucking morans..

Or racist Neanderthals...or whatever.

Imagine how close we came to Palin being a heartbeat away, and likely becoming president when BushCo Inc. got rid of McLame. :wtf:

[Cyrano]

6. Yep. "Palin a heartbeat away." Now that's a thought that should strike fear into everyone

[Labors of Hercules]

28. Salvationists

Are the bulk of the brainwashed ignorant mob.

That ideology that only those who are "saved" matter, and all who "aren't" don't.

It is what gives 40+ million people the impulse to remain ignorant, self-righteous, prejudiced, and mean.

[Sinti]

7. Terrifying, but the strange thing is, most of them mean well

They are afraid (mostly), some think they're more righteous than we are, and if only we could see the error of our ways we would see the world the way they do - they pray for our souls. Most are not really racist, hate-filled monsters. They're brainwashed and badly in need of deprogramming.

The religious fanatics are actually growing among the youth. The extremist church leaders are drawing them in, using religion as a drug (as it always has been), promising them eternal glory if they become "Warriors for God". This breed of fanatics won't mean well, if they ever get the power they desire - they have 100 million worldwide, a small number for now, but they're growing fast. It's very, very scary.

This thread has an example:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4419937

[yodoobo]

8. 57 million racist.

We've got a long way to go.

[emilyg]

18. So everybody that didn't vote

for O is a racist? I think not.

[yodoobo]

27. Not all

Just most.

I'm sure a few voted for McCain because they think his economic policies are peachy keen. Then there the wealthy who earns over $250k and greedily voted mccain over tax issues.

But the vast majority voted for McCain simply because he is white.

[emilyg]

37. Just like there are Dems who

always vote Dem - there re Repub. who always vote Repub. Nothing to do with color.

[bluesbassman]

10. Just as many of us could never call b*sh our president,

I'm sure many of those 57 million will feel the same. The difference is that b*sh constantly proved our position to be a wise choice. Obama will actually lead this country, and I believe that the thinking people among that 57 million will come to respect him and support his presidency.

The rest? Pearls before swine.

[napi21]

11. Lionel on AAR was saying the same thing! HOW could so many

people watch & listen to Palin and not be terrified of her becoming President? I agree, I don't understand it either! McNuts consistently appeared to be a very old man who has serious health problems. How crazy do you have to be not to realize Sarah would be WORSE THAN SHRUB? I don't hate her, but I honestly don't think she's even capable of being a good governor for AK, let alone lead the US!

[Cyrano]

12. Yep. We just barely avoided an express train to the dark ages.

[Hepburn]

13. What is scarier is that ...

... they voted for PALIN!!!! :scared:

[Hamlette]

15. yes, and from what I'm hearing on other sites

they believe the media is biased, that even the liberal democrats believe Fox is the only fair and balanced new source, and that Palin was mistreated. Made to look stupid by the media. And all those clothes? They are going to poor people which is so wonderful we should all be thankful. Oh, and democrats are going to bankrupt the rich in this country and according to those in the middle class, the rich are the only ones who can keep our country solvent and safe so when the dems bankrupt the rich, it is over. (Of course, I'm old enough to remember when the top tax rate was over 50%, now Obama wants to go from what, 32 to 35%? Good gawd these people are ill informed).

It is astonishing how stupid Americans are.

Democracy cannot thrive or survive with an uninformed electorate.

[amborin]

14. good post

the fundies have spent decades creating their base

since the early 80s, they've spent countless millions on right wing think tanks, organizing, etc.....

they are way ahead of dems and progressives

the 57 million votes for mccain is further proof, to me, that the '04 election wasn't stolen

the problem wasn't fraud but a right wing, ignorant electorate

part of the problem, too, are our schools

public schools need more funding and tougher curriculum standards, renewed emphasis on civics (which used to be required but no longer is for a long time now), and more rigor

we need to fight the charter school movement and vouchers...they play right into the hands of our American madrassas

[abumbyanyothername]

16. Enthusiasm gap + party unity

Millions of volunteers worked on Obama's campaign and had a positive experience. They will see elections as involving early involvement, phone banking, canvassing, donating and not just voting. This will have a residual effect for 4-5 elections at least.

The Republican party is fractured and doesn't know what to do next. The East Coast (intellectual and conservative) republicans are peeling away from the wingnuts (religious voters). The military hawks have been exhausted by Cheneyism and are by no means a permanent addition to the Dem party. But the Republicans have to figure out how to rebuild their brand and that is going to take a while.

Virginia should probably hold for a few election cycles. North Carolina probably depends on how the economy goes as the banking industry was liberalizing the state with imports. CO, NV, NM should hold and AZ will likely join the Western coalition unless something changes the Latino vote -- I would think that a platform addressing working class family interests would hit in the sweet spot of the Latino demographic. The new west = > 100 EVs and together with the Northeast makes nearly 200 EVs and that is a good start. If we bring back rust belt manufacturing with a new energy program, we are nearly invincible.

The Southern republican coalition will weaken with every passing year.

[HughBeaumont]

19. 57 million people thought it was a good idea to have Sarah Palin run the country.

57 million people think "Trickle Down" economics is the right thing to do.

57 million people think we should simply stop the tree mulchers known as VietRaq and Afghanis-nam by throwing more bodies in it. For years.

57 million people think 13 trillion dollar National Debts are no big deal.

57 million people think bad Republican Policy can cure WORSE Republican policy.

57 million people think you can just forget about taxing ANYone and think there'll never be a bill come due or a price to be paid.

57 million people think that dead guy on a cross is going to feed their families.

57 million people believed Barack Obama was dishonest; but believe an oxycontin addict, a pseudo-tough guy with a jaw the size of a football field, a falafel fetishist, the station run by a Reaganite and the various Big Mouth Singers on their channels whose rants are just two syllables away from blurting a racial slur are honest, hard-working people who deserve our attention.

57 million people still use "Red Menace" burns. In 2008.

57 million people think the police protect us out of the goodness of our hearts, their trash goes to some faraway magical land when they put it to the curb, busses are provided by cities free of charge and libraries . . .. well, come on. Seriously, reading books just ain't a Republican thing unless it's Mein Kampf, The Turner Diaries, Unfit for Command or Obama-Nation.

57 million people think "the way things are" is the best plan.

57 million people were still all about not voting FOR Obama instead of loaded with reasons TO vote FOR McCain.

57 million people just do. Not. CARE.

Plain & simple.

[Patchuli]

29. I agree with most of what you said

but leave the Christian faith out of it please. Your comment was offensive. Part of the rest of us that voted for President-Elect Obama are Christians and we do believe that our Heavenly Father provides. That is too divisive, something that the Democratic Party cannot afford, now or ever again. You know, united we stand, divided we fall.

[HughBeaumont]

30. You know what else is divisive?

Many, MANY members of your faith, Democrat and Republican alike, telling my sister-in-law she has no right to get married and using the most ridiculous reasoning on earth as justification for their belief.

How many times did I have to hear for EIGHT YEARS that Bewsh . . . "well, he's a man of Gawd", while giving the poor dirt to eat, allowing the sick to die because they just weren't wealthy enough, giving all the breaks and perks to the people that need them the least, giving civil rights to all except those they find disgusting and slaughtering Iraqi and Afghan children and women? How many of these people formed the majority that allowed this country to be ruined for at least the next decade, allowed all of this death to happen and balled and chained our President Elect from the starting blocks?

I'm sorry if you're offended, but there's too much wrong with your faith and many others for me to understand where you're coming from, especially with all of the blood that was (and continues to be) spilled for it's rise to power.

[Patchuli]

36. Perhaps you should learn to stop lumping folks

in the same label-pile. For your information since you didn't check first, this family voted NOOOOOOOOO on 8. My daughter is gay and I'd like her to marry her partner with the same rights and privileges that her father and I have. 8 had nothing to do with religion for me; it had to do with civil rights.

And yes, your comment was beyond offensive. Maybe if you're going to demand respect, you ought to both earn it and learn to give it to others. Judgmental behavior is wrong on your part and the bigotry towards people of faith is just as f'ed up as homophobia.

[madrchsod]

20. not all of them were insane .....

from some of the comments i`ve heard..no experience,he`s going to tax small business,and the republicans who will vote republican no matter what. there were only one or two that thought he was a muslim terrorist or he was a "n".

if things work out and the economy gets back on track we will be able attract even more republicans. we need to hold the house and senate in 2010 and the presidency in 2012.

[cooolandrew]

21. Yes agree, that's why we have to keep the truth campaigning going.

[happychatter]

22. with a free press and some education they will be reduced to a permanent minority NT

[Guava Jelly]

24. Thats down 2 million

:)

[WeDidIt]

25. That is the fourth most votes anybody ever got for president

Obama is #1
Bush is #2 (2004)
Kerry is #3
McCain is #4
Gore is #5

[Montauk6]

26. PRECISELY why we can never take ANY election for granted again!

During the midterms, those polling places need to be flooded with people just as it was this past Tuesday.

[WinkyDink]

31. ITA. They didn't go away after Goldwater's thrashing, did they? Norquist and Rove still live.

Money is even now changing hands, I'd wager, to go after the Obamas (plural) as with the Clintons.

EVIL NEVER RESTS.

[GreenPartyVoter]

32. That freaks me out too. What a long way we have to go on educating people

[1Hippiechick]

34. Why do you think so many people identified w/Palin?!?

That's why they defended her so! How many of them would know the difference between a continent and a country? The very things she was criticized for, they defended as being treated unfairly. That's how narrow-minded they are - it's all about whom THEY "feel comfortable with - she's like me." Never mind that we live in a GLOBAL society and need a leader who can organize and motivate people to come together. And that dumba$$ doesn't know the first thing about protocol! OMG! When she was being punkd, she chastised her assistant for not having the President of France already on the line when SHE got on the phone?!? OMG! Just how stupid and narcissistic can one person be?!?

I have yet to hear how they defended that damn $250k wardrobe budget, though.

And every friggin' RepubliKLAN senator who defended her as being the best choice for the ticket ought to be voted out of office, imo.

How STUPID we must look to the rest of the world!

[galaxy21]

35. 57 million people were willing to take the chance that Palin could get nuclear codes

I mean, honestly, how anyone could look at some of those interviews she did, and still be willing to risk a 1 in 3 chance she'd end up president is beyond me.

[Danger Mouse]

38. Hmm...a lot of people vote without really thinking about it.