This Fucking Election: Election 2008 in Review

[Arkana]

I stole this thread title and idea from another board I frequent, but I thought it would be a good one for here as well.

As we look back on the 2008 election season, there is so much to talk about that we hardly know where to start. From the surprising candidacy (and Iowa caucus victories) of Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee, to John McCain coming back from the dead against the Republican field, to the knock-down, drag-out primary battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that resulted in such a bloody civil war across the Democratic Party, to the drama surrounding the VP selections, and finally culminating in Barack Obama's crushing electoral victory after we heard from pundits and experts for a year and a half that he couldn't win, this election had more twists than an episode of Days of Our Lives.

It is with this in mind that I refer to it as "This Fucking Election", as this was my exclamation whenever something ELSE happened to add yet another twist to the drama. So, I ask you folks a series of questions:

What (or who), in your opinion...

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?


My answers:

1. The direction John McCain's campaign took, bar none. I knew Republicans were dirty campaigners--see 2000 and 2004--but I've never seen them go this balls-to-the-wall nasty before. Seeing Palin practically invoke 1984 with her Two Minutes Hate at rallies was scary.

2. Tough one, since This Fucking Election really defied convention in a lot of ways. But I think it was easy to predict that we would flip at least one (if not two) red states to blue. That's all I've really got, because most of the other stuff came out of fucking nowhere.

3. I have to go with Sarah Palin--for worse. We hate her, yes, but she was another "TOTALLY OUT OF FUCKING NOWHERE" move by an erratic John McCain, and she did seem to excite the base and is (now) their presumptive nominee in four years. Of course, I'm hoping this happens--she's dumber than a bag of hammers and it will be made abundantly clear once she's top of a ticket.

For better, though, I'm gonna go with Nate Silver for his utter shakedown of the polling community and being the voice of reason for millions of panicky Obama supporters. Plus, now he's a polling god.

4. Hmm. I know there were millions of times that Obama supporters were freaked out, but when Jeremiah Wright burst onto the scene I was perhaps the most concerned that Obama would lose the nomination fight. There was really no good way to explain away what Wright was saying in those tapes, even if he did have a very distinguished career otherwise. It's that old saying: "You can build a million docks and no one calls you a dockbuilder, you can make a million shoes and no one ever calls you a shoemaker. But when you fuck just one goat..."

5. Obama's campaign model. It will be written about, sung about in epic poems, and followed by future candidates from BOTH parties as a primer on how to win an election.

6. This one goes to approximately 57 million people--those folks who STILL thought that Sarah Palin, in the more-than-likely event that John McCain croaked during his first term, would make a good President. You people are dumber than a bag of rocks.

7. Hillary Clinton. I was one of her biggest detractors during the primary and exulted in her defeat at the end like every other Obama supporter. But I came around--she did help him out, and she gave the most stirring speech at the convention that I think went a long way towards healing any lingering wounds, not to mention making the PUMAs look like the assclowns they were.

Go to it, folks. What do YOU think?

EDIT: If this thread's a success, I'll make another one with some different questions. I have so much fun just talking about this election.

[SoCalDem]

1. fun

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

In late May, when Hillary used the assassination of RFK as a reason for staying in the primaries..not that she thought it, but that she SAID it to REPORTERS:grr:..especially since she was OUT, mathematically, for over 2 months when she said it..

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

There would be negative campaigning..and lots of it, by a desperate Mccain

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?

Sar-aaaaaaah, Saaaaa-raaaaah

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?

The large crowds, and the security risks for Obama

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?

there were so many, none sticks out particularly

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

Sarah..although "hate" is not exactly the word..disgust comes closer..

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?

Huckleberry Huckabee:)

[Starry Messenger]

2. lots to think about.

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

The outrageous debate "moderated" by Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos in Philly. It was so dumb I thought it was a parody.


2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

That McCain would try to hammer away with Reverend Wright's remarks.



3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?

I'm not sure what shook up the field means.



4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?

The Obama family ongoing safety.



5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?

Be the Change. (I hope)



6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

John McCain. I used to think he was just kind of a cuddly ol' dufus from republican-ville. No more. Second place is Nancy Pfotenhauer.



7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?

Chris Matthews. His voice drives me up a wall, but he really came through at the end there.

[Arkana]

4. For question 3, think of someone who "burst onto the scene" as it were.

Someone who came out of nowhere and changed the dynamics of a campaign.

[Starry Messenger]

7. Thank you.

That would probably be Sarah Palin, then. That changed everything. She was such a big bag of fail that it was funny to watch. But she definitely changed the dynamic!

[crispini]

20. You know, I think I'd suppressed the memory of the Gibson-Steph. debate,

now that you just reminded me, I am vividly thinking of them asking Obama about the WEATHER FUCKING UNDERGROUND and simply throwing things at the set in disbelief. Not only was that debate a simplistic rehash of so many of the "smears" about Obama, and blatantly biased, that question simply capped it all off. I couldn't believe that so-called "journalists" gave so much "cred" to a story with no "there" there as to ask about it in a major debate.

[Starry Messenger]

22. I know. Talk about phoning it in.

What a wasted opportunity. Two of the most important Democrats in the nation and these two asshats peppered them with questions that looked like they came right out of some internet questionnaire. Or freeperland. I think that's the same debate where they asked about the flag pin. :crazy:

[TheDoorbellRang]

3. hmmm

1. Most shocking were the haters at the McCain/Palin rallies
2. Easiest to predict -- after the Wisconsin primary, that Obama would win the democratic nomination
3. Obama shook up the field the most! After him, I'd say Palin, and then the one/two punch of Tina Fey and Katie Couric.
4. Reverend Wright was most worrisome in the primaries; Palin in the GE
5. memorable meme - "Yes We Can"
6. I loathe Palin the most
7. Hillary Clinton. At one point during the primaries, I was so angry that I told myself I wouldn't vote for her if she somehow won. After her efforts above and beyond the call of duty this fall, I actually respect her again.

Most awesome moment -- election night when the media called it for President-Elect Barack Obama!

And now I'll read your answers. :D

[Yukari Yakumo]

5. answers

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

McCain picking Palin as VP. Pretty much undid his mantra of experience he was going with. Magnify that since many of those ads came during the Olympics.

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

Palin being an albatross around McCain's neck.

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?

Obama. For usurping what was thought to be a sure thing for Hillary.

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?

Hillary refusing to quit. I think her major backers flat out told her to concede right after the final primaries.

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?

Change

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

Palin. And PUMAs.

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?

McCain. At least he gave a dignified concession when it was over. (Though I still don't care for him.)

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Answers

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign? The selection of Sarah Palin as VP

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?McCain's loss

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?Barack Obama

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?The hateful McCain/Palin rallies

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?Yes We Can

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?Sarah Palin

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?Hillary Clinton

[nevergiveup]

8. My thoughts

1)Palin's hate rallies
2)election turnout
3)Sarah for obvious reasons and Bill Clinton for actually damaging his wife's chances
4)Jeremiah Wright
5)Obama's organizational skills. Throw in his steady temperament and ability to inspire and you have the best presidential candidate I have seen in my lifetime.
6)Joe Lieberman
7)John McCain....I still despise him but maybe just a tad less after hearing his gracious concession speech

[Barb in Atl]

9. 2008 in my Rear View

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?
Obama's victory. Oh sure, I donated, campaigned and WANTED him as my president, but as a 44 yo
black woman here in the U.S., in my heart of hearts, I didn't think it would happen.

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?
Biden as VP

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a
pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?
I'm gonna go with Keith Olbermann. He kept me sane during the long process and he pissed off
the right wing something awful!

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?
Obama family safety kept me kinda' skittish.

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?
Be the change you want to see

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?
Don't like the word hate... but I have a great deal of antipathy for the folks that attended
rallies calling out "terrorist" and using Curious George as props. Not fond of the folks that
agreed with the never ending Iraq War put forth by McCain, either. And though I appreciate the
nod to Lieberman by someone up thread, he's been a cyst on my backside for some time, so his
behavior wasn't a surprise.

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?
The folks that "get it", people like Mike Smerconish (sp?) a radio talker from PA who is/was
a republican but hopped on the bandwagon for Obama. When I hear folks say things like they have
hope that PE Obama will do a good job, and it doesn't sound like they are just waiting in the
wings to come out swinging at the moment they perceive an error... I sincerely hope that Obama
will be given the chance to get stuff done before he gets engulfed in the cloud of made up
outrage and drama (as the Clintons always are - really, who prints these stories? What is the
pay off in saying the Clintons create the whirlwind around them when the whirlwind IS the press?)

[qwlauren35]

29. From one 44-year old Black Woman to Another...

I'm glad you're here. Your answer for #1 was mine.

[drthais]

10. ok, my turn

1. most shocking
By far, the knuckle-dragging Palin crowds, who would yell 'KILL HIM!'and we all knew that, given a chance, they most certainly would!

2. easiest to predict event-
The neck-to-neck smackdown between Obama and Hillary-with Obama prevailing
3. the person who 'shook up the field'
Well, I would say Palin, but from a wider view, most definitely Obama
4. worriesome event:
the damned media WOULDN'T CALL VIRGINIA!
5. meme: hey, no contest
YES WE CAN!
6. I think we can all agree
We continue to DETEST Sarah Palin
7. ended up likng more than I thought I would?
well, that would be my sister, who went downtown in New orleans to CHANGE HER REGISTRATION
and vote Democrat for the first time ever!

[stillcool]

11. here's mine..

1. ...all the race shit, all the time

2. ...The only thing I could safely predict was that Massachusetts would go for Obama

3. ...Obama

4. ...Palin rallies

5. ...Yes we can

6. ...I don't like to use the word hate, but John McCain just freaked me out

7. ...BigTree

[MadMaddie]

12. Interesting Questions....Here are my answers

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

The serious blunders Hillary's campaign made, the most important one is that they had no backup plan if she didn't win the first super Tuesday in a blowout.....they never,ever recovered from that. I was really dissapointed in that decision.

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

After Obama won the nomination the racist pulled out all the stops and showed how nasty they could be. I knew it was coming but geeze...

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?

For Good....
Tina Fey, they say commedians and satirist do have an impact on history. In this case Tina Fey only had to repeat Palins actual quotes.....absolutely devastating.

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?

When the Dallas police dropped their protection for Obama in TX. All hell should have been raised about this.

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?

Simple three words: "Yes We Can"!

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

Sarah Palin, Rudi Guiliani, and whiner Lieberwhore....the reasons are too many to list here.

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?

Michelle Obama and the Obama family. They represent every American family.

[Waiting For Everyman]

13. Good questions.

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

That would be between Hillary's RFK reference and failing to concede, or that youtube video of the "punked" phone call to Palin from the Canadian comedians pretending to be Sarkozy. I guess I'd have to go with the comedians on that one.

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

That Palin would reveal just how stupid and/or corrupt she is... even with so little time.

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?

Definitely Obama.

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?

Obama's safety.

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?

The economic crisis and bailout (the failure of Reaganomics).

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

Palin and the RW church.

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?

Colin Powell.

[Mist]

14. Here goes:

1....was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

The hatred and blatant racism at Palin rallies—“Kill him!”

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

McCain campaign going negative—it’s what Repubs. do

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?
Palin -- the surreality of her being in the field at all

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?
Death threats to Obama

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?
“Yes we can!” (runner up: “Yes we did!)

6....was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

Too long a list

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?
Michelle Obama--I didn't dislike her before, but she really won me over with her unflappable cool and her true partnership with Barack.

[riverdale]

15. nobody cares, but i can't resist

What (or who), in your opinion...

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?
John Edwards cheating on his cancer-stricken wife

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?
Negative campaign from Repubs

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?
Rev. Wright

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?
Obama and Biden never aggressively attacked McCain; in fact, they were much more likely to praise him

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?
Big crowds showing up for Obama rallies

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?
GW Bush, still the all-time champion

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?
Chris Matthews

[cokeboat]

16. fun

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?
Obama Iowa win

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?
Who was going to win the VP

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?
Sarah Palin.Duh

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?
Sarah Palin,there was a point they were 6 points ahead of us

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?
The message of change and hope will be one used and studied by historians and politicians alike.

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?
Sarah Palin

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?
Hilary Clinton

[Window]

17. My responses:

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

- 1) Sarah Palin's hate-filled rallies
- 2) McCain's missteps, i.e., suspending his campaign to rescue the economic mess after declaring it was "fundamentally sound"; Joe the Plumber; McCain's disgusting behavior in all three debates, etc.

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

- Barack Obama would win all three debates

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?

- The Wordsmith Killer from Wasilla, Sarah Palin

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?

- Possible fallout from Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?

- Yes We Can

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

- Sarah Palin

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?

- Hillary Clinton

[Arkana]

18. Kicking for the morning.

[rndmprsn]

19. answers...

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

the gutter level level of campaigning that the mccain/palin campaign sank to by the end of the GE...truly a new low, palin esp.

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

clinton going "kitchen sink" towards the end...i think we all knew where the primary would end up if it was obama v clinton...the clintons are HARD campaigners love em or hate em.

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?

palin.

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?

jeremiah wright and the pick of palin then RNC at which point mccain started to outpoll obama...heady days indeed.

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?

change/hope...the campaign as multi-media event

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

the crazy-gullible, now-only-regional RW in general.

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?

clinton

[coalition_unwilling]

21. Great questions. I need some time

to think about my answers. But one preliminary thought:

My answer to questions 1 and 2 is paradoxically the same, to wit, that Obama defeated Hillary in the primary and McCain in the GE.

Shocking because Hillary was the presumptive Dem nominee heading into the Iowa caucuses, but predictable bc there was no way that Dems would nominate someone who voted for the Iraq War.

Shocking because Obama is black while McCain was white and a war hero (as depicted in the MSM), but predictable because Obama was and is so clearly McCain's superior.

[Starry Messenger]

23. kick.

[Bucky]

24. Intriguing questions. Here's my off the cuff (un-thought-through) answers

            1. the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?

Lieberman getting off without even a wrist slap. It may end up making sense in the long run. It may be very "turn the cheek"ish of Obama. But I never expected it.

            2. the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?

Biden for Vice President. Anyone who thought it would have been Clinton was a fool or a tool.

            3. the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?

Tie: Michelle Obama: Her performance as life partner to the future leader of the free world was nearly flawless.
      and Bill Clinton: He was so off his game, it hurt to watch.

            4. the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?

The vicious feuding between Clinton & Obama supporters and how quickly it degenerated into charges of racism and sexism. In the end it didn't matter, but I was very surprised to see so many liberals acting so illiberal.

            5. the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?

That we're a post-racist society. We still have racism and we still have other race-related issues. But the tiresome meme that all conservatives are racist is dying off. The anti-gay hatred is with us for a long time to come, but I think real progress was made (or at least ratified) on the question of race in America.

            6. the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?

George Bush & Dick Cheney. I'm remarkably consistent.

            7. the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?

John McCain. He's still a hollow man who sold out to the bad guys, but he's ultimately a likeable guy and a good family man.
Close second is Todd Palin. When he gritted his teeth through Greta Van Sustren calling him "First Dude" a thousand times and just said "you can really just call me Todd" I was able to forget how absurdly horrible his politics are and just recognize him as a guy who, however wrongheaded, is just trying to do his best by his family.

[FrenchieCat]

25. My answers to your questions....

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?
The most shocking thing was the media discussing a sensitive subject like race relations like it was a game. The way they so casually and consistently brought up the Bradley Effect and Hard Working Whites from Pennsylvania and Ohio, it just seemed irresponsible and quite dangerous. I realize that the media doesn't "care" about this country, but I didn't think that they would try so hard to polarize the electorate on gender and racial and class lines, even as it wasn't working.


2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?
That Obama would win, regardless of the media talking heads and the GOP's sorry attempts to divide us.

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?
Barack Obama is who won this election, and therefore was clearly the one who shook up the field the most.


4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?
That the electorate would "buy" the racial hatred that the media sold via their Rev. Wright loop-d-loop, their hating on Michelle Obama, and their attempts to portray Obama as radical.


5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?
The strength and effectiveness of organizing from the ground up and sticking to one main message. Also, the Internet.


6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?
I'm too busy to "hate", but the religious clergy who still to this day advocate against Obama, and have shown themselves unable or unwilling to understand that dropping bombs on the innocent is as much against the Bible as they interpret Abortions to be, are people who's hypocrisy knows no bounds, and therefore earn my unabashed disrespect.


7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?
I end up liking Hillary Clinton more than I thought I would.

[LWolf]

26. Okay.

1. The race/gender wars during the Democratic Primaries.

2. The nomination of a centrist by the Democratic Party.

3. Sarah Palin, who galvanized the disenfranchised left into casting the lesser of two evils vote for Obama.

4. The constant reframing of Obama, the centrist, as a "liberal."

5. It's never about issues, stupid.

6. I don't hate. On principle. Who lost the most of my respect? The Democratic Party, for selling out to centrists.

7. Nobody.

[MadBadger]

33. Bitter much?

[LWolf]

34. Damned straight.

I've never claimed otherwise.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5463074#5463125

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5589078#5589227

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5645773#5650115

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6422700#6423320

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6436260#6436477

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6434082#6440174

[PBS Poll-435]

27. Here's Mine - and K&R btw...

1. Most shocking thing for me was the fact that the pundits, the reporters, the "news" people that could listen to a Sarah Palin speech and keep a straight face. Morning Joe's Mika is the best example in this regard.

2. Easiest to predict event? Pennsylvania. How McCain thought they had a chance there is beyond me.

3. The person that shook up the race the most has got to be, again, Sarah Palin. I was scared after listening to her first speech the day she was announced. Then when I heard her speech at the Convention, I was relieved. One trick pony.

4. Most worrisome event for me was the HATE coming from some of the Conservatives. From Bill Cunningham to Hannity to people in the crowd at SP rallies.

5. The electoral map has been forever altered. If you spend time and money in a place and have a good ground game, you can win anywhere.

6. Easy. McCain. He is not the man who ran in 2000.

7. Dean.

[qwlauren35]

28. Here's My Take:

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?
Obama winning the Presidential Nomination and Election; heck, Obama winning Iowa!!!
The second most shocking thing was seeing McCain choose Palin as a running mate.

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?
McCain winning Alabama, and Bill Clinton having sex while his wife was campaigning.

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?
Sarah Palin. And shook was not the best word.

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?
It wasn't so much an event, it was when the McCain/Palin campaign started saying the Obama pal'ed around with terrorists, and stirred up frightening levels of hatred and fear among their constituents. And I wasn't "worried". I was horrified, terrified, disgusted, furious. Still am. And the post-election gun sales are also worrisome.

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come?
Yes We Can. Because we did.

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?
Sarah Palin, because she just wouldn't let it go.

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?
John McCain (his concession speech) & Hillary Clinton (actually, it was after the convention)

[agentS]

30. My answers are similar

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign? McPalin playing every single dirty card trick (race, gender, child sex ed, reverse racism, crime, etc) and failing. Didn't they learn ANYTHING from the Clinton campaign? Yeah, rhetorical question... They even had a fake assault victim and that racist dog whistle trick didn't work.

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign? Obama winning big. I had him pegged to win MT, ND, and SD, but he still did well.

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)? Sarah Failin. After she showed up and wowed the crowds, it looked like McCain had a chance. For about 3 days...

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you? How mobilized the white supremacist movement would be after the Dem primaries. I thought they would be more organized that they really were.

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come? You don't need Public Financing, just massive public support.

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election? Rupert Murdoch. I knew this guy was scum, but he truly has dug himself deeper by turning his magazines and the Wall St. Journal into an arm of the GOP propaganda machine.

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election? Bill Richardson. He made the right choice endorsing Sen. Obama when he needed it, in the middle of the Rev. Wright controversy.

Fundamentally, I am disappointed with this election. It revealed a LOT of ugliness in America than I originally thought. We have not grown much since the 1950's (see the video of white McCain supporters protesting at the polls while mostly black (and some white) voters were in line for early voting. That reminded me of 1954 Little Rock High School) and this election really showed that.

Thank GOD for Sarah Palin, huh?

[Alter Ego]

31. That last bit...I've never seen it.

Is that for real? Cause if it is, it sucks.

[MadBadger]

32. Let's Give this a go:

1. The Most Shocking thing was McCain picking Sarah Palin. None of us were thinking Palin probably until we heard her name being mentioned that Friday MOnring. It was a 4th Down Hail Mary that soared 20 Yards Out of Bounds.

Also, in a close second, McCain uttering the words: "The Fundamentals of the economy are strong." I mean seriously? DUMBASS

2. The Easist Event to predict was Obama getting blown out in Kentucky and West Virginia during the primaries. No big shock there.

3. Sarah Palin as well. She shook it up in the beginning for the good of the McCain team...then very very bad.

4. The most worrisome Eent was the very beginning in Iowa. If Obama hadnt won Iowa, it was over.

5. The theme of Change vs. Experience was the major theme for this campaign, and Change kicked ass.

6. Sarah Motherfucking Palin

7. Strong Hillary supporters like Debbie Wasserman-Schulz who really went to bat for Obama.

[ErinBerin84]

35. I kind of cheated. I gave multiple answers.

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign?


I guess Sarah Palin. I wasn't shocked that he picked a woman, but I didn't think they would go for the one who was being investigated for an ethics violation in her state. Also, I was surprised that Charles Gibson and Katie Couric asked some actual questions...they weren't even that tough of questions, but I was afraid it would be all about "media sexism" and some bullshit...and shocking that the McCain camp did not...you know...make sure that the person they were choosing was UTTERLY CLUELESS about world events...they had what, a four month head start over us? From the primaries...I guess it was "Shame on you, Barack Obama!" It's so funny looking back on the primary stuff now that Clinton is going to be SOS. I remember turning on my tv the day that happened and was like "What the hell is going on? This primary needs to end before we all go mad..." Suspending the campaign during the economic crisis was another WTF.


2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign?
That Obama was going to win the debates. John McCain was a joke of a candidate, and Clinton was a worlds better debater that McCain, so Obama got in a lot of practice. Beating McCain after Clinton would be a breeze. Also, I figured that Obama would pick Biden for VP. Also predictable, that the media was really overblowing the PUMA nonsense for more than it was worth. I knew that Hillary and Bill's speeches would be fine, the media just needed to use the PUMA BS to work into their narrative.


3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)?
Sarah Palin I suppose. And Nate Silver.



4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you?


Rev Wright, though at that point I was sure that Obama was going to get the nomination. The Florida/Michigan stuff was pretty wacky too.


5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come? Change


6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election?
Long list. McCain, McCain flacks like Tucker Bounds and Rick Davis. Sarah Palin. Tom Brokaw. Mark Penn.

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election?
Debbie Wasserman Shultz. and Hillary.

[Alter Ego]

36. Kicking my own thread shamelessly.

[tabbycat31]

37. here goes

1. ...was the most shocking thing you witnessed in this campaign
McCain picking Sarah Palin as a running mate. Completely undid his "experience" campaign, as well as the attacks on Barack Obama's "celebrity" considering Palin has become quite the celebrity herself. Other shocking things--- states like Indiana and North Carolina going blue for the first time in my lifetime.

2. ...was the easiest-to-predict event in this campaign? This campaign was not about predictions coming true unless your name is Nate Silver. I'd say Rudy Guiliani's complete nosedive.

3. ...was the person who shook up the field the most (for good or for bad, can be a candidate, a pundit, a blogger, a pollster...anyone you wish)? For good-- Nate Silver, for bad-- Sarah Palin and her hate rallies

4. ...was the most worrisome event during this campaign for you? The safety of the Obama family. Brought on by Caribou Barbie herself.

5. ...was the element/theme/meme from this campaign that will stick with us for years to come? That a positive campaign does work, and the high road leads to the White House

6. ...was the person you ended up hating more than anyone after the election? Sarah Palin

7. ...was the person you ended up liking more than you thought you would after the election? Hillary Clinton. I liked her before, but her national presence is now so much higher