Shaking my head...

[misanthrope]

...We have one of the most unpopular presidents in history in office. His administration has been an abject failure on a variety of fronts.

The economic sector is starting a tailspin. Financial institutions are failing right and left while the stock market is plummeting.

Oil is at an all-time high and the price of living ratchets up as do the unemployment figures.

The country has poured trillions into an iffy war in the miasmic Middle East.

Another busy hurricane season is taking its toll. The worst storm of the year has surged through the fourth biggest metropolis in the nation, causing billions in damage amidst new reports that hundreds may have died. Word from the area has it that FEMA is still lurching along unevenly.

An air of uncertainty hangs over the nation.

The presidential candidate of the party in power is a feeble old man with a reputation for dissonance and disease. His record shows a coziness with the ideas and directions of the unpopular incumbent and demonstrates a shabby understanding of foreign relations and economics. His campaign is filled with many of the same players from the disliked president's cabal.

His handpicked vice presidential candidate is a willfully ignorant reactionary, a ruthlessly ambitious and secretive religious extremist with woefully few qualifications.

Their opponents? Well, that presidential candidate is a youthful, charismatic U.S. Senator who combines oratorical gifts with intellectual capacity and an air of approachability.

His running mate has an extensive background in foreign relations and three decades of experience in the Senate that would serve him well as president pro tem of that very house, as the vice presidential duties are proscribed in the Constitution.

So who is leading the polls in this election? "No contest," you say?

It's a dead heat. Why? HOW?

Well, you see, the skin of the young man challenging the status quo is darker than the skin of the others. It doesn't mean everyone voting for his opponent is overtly basing their decision on that, but more are influenced by it than they realize, enough to influence a substantial portion of voters.

Every now and again, I think about all of this and it amazes me this scenario has unfolded. Not shocked, just disappointed at such a manifestation of a nation's id.

If we have not done enough to discredit America in the previous eight years, this will complete the job.

If John McCain is elected, it will be a watershed moment in American history, but it won't ever be celebrated except by those who wish to see our demise.

Amazing, just...amazing.

[MadrasT]

1. I'm shaking my head right along with you.

It's mind bending, isn't it?

[firedupdem]

2. It is just amazing. He should be walking into the white house in

a landslide election but we have to fight every step of the way. Sad Sad America.

[sharesunited]

3. You can never be too tan or too thin. Obama is both.

But resolve to be happy even if it doesn't go his way.

[madeline_con]

4. "But resolve to be happy ..."

Blissful idiocy? :wtf:

[firedupdem]

5. I don't even consider the thought of him not winning... n/t

[OHdem10]

6. One theory is for years the GOP have spent convincing the

public that they are "leaders" and the Democrats are a buch of weak-kneed
Liberals. Their uncanny ability to "change the subject" is their
winning tool.

Take time and watch and compare. Surf Political Programming and News
Shows over a period of time. Be honest with yourself. Look at whom
the GOP puts on air and their abilities then look at Democrats.

Most Americans get their news from TV. The Visuals Matter. Impressions
of Parties are formed without a word being said.

[MadMaddie]

7. I don't believe the polls. It would be like....let's see....like

believing the * admin that the economy is strong and is in a little slump.

The polls are bullshit, who are they polling? What part of the country are they polling? Rasmussan already said that they intentionally sway their polls numbers to the right....

[ColbertWatcher]

8. "If John McCain is elected" it was stolen. n/t

[Booster]

9. Very good post. You've put into words how I feel also. I just can't

believe this stupid election is as close as they would have us believe - there are just too many signs that the opposite is true. I know I'm in liberal California, but when I wear my Obama/Biden t-shirt out people's faces light up and I get thumbs up. Even the Republicans I do know make a joke of John McCain and Sarah Palin both. I refuse to pay too much attention to the polls.

[Contrary1]

10. I don't believe for a minute it is a dead heat...

but, let's pretend it is. This is their post convention bounce. Look for the numbers to fall as the Lipsticked Hockey Mom shows that she is a one trick pony.

She can't get through a single "speech" without reiterating a lie that has already been debunked. She will lose what few Hillary voters she snagged, and any other right winger with a brain, which
would be a small number too. :)

Her refusal to talk to the Trooper Gate investigators, after saying she would cooperate, isn't going to help her any with the fence sitters.

And, then there's Biden, who will annihilate her in the debate.

The Republicans can't do anything right in regard to Hurricane Ike. They will either piss off Junior's home state by not reacting quickly enough, or they will piss off the Katrina victims, along with others by showing what they could have done back then, but didn't.

And the economy...just the fact that McCain wanted to tie Social Security to Wall Street should be enough, but it won't be. Fear of the Bogey man is not the first thing on most American's minds right now. It's how to put gas in the tank, feed their families, pay the utility bills, etc...

As cold weather approaches, along with the holidays, voters will turn against the Republicans. They will either stay home out of disgust, or cross over.

And as far as stealing this one? I'm really not too worried about that one. By November, it will be obvious that Obama is the one to lead us out of this nightmare, and I can't picture him backing down from a fight.

[mahina]

11. K&R, just thinking the same,

but not nearly as eloquently. Well said, and it needed saying.

[magellan]

12. I've shook my head so much over the last 8 years

...all the rocks have fallen out.

Right there with you, misanthrope. I wouldn't have believed so many Americans could be so dumb if I didn't see proof of it in my own neighborhood (McSame signs). I don't understand anyone who could vote Repub at this point and I don't care to.

[misanthrope]

13. Don't see many McCain bumper stickers here...

...but I do see more yard signs.

The local paper comes out with an editorial every day blaming Democrats for something and foretelling disaster on Obama's coattails. I expect McCain to win the citywide vote by about 60-40. Beyond the city limits and "over the bay" (where all the white folks have fled) McCain will win with 80 percent or greater.

[Greyhound]

17. Many of us have wondered...

:kick: & R

[justiceischeap]

14. Scary thought--Right Wing Whacko's out breeding Liberal minded folk?

I think that's part of the problem (or part of their plan). It could be argued that some of these far, far right fundies are a cult and they indoctrinate their children from an early age (child abuse?). I also think popping out as many little fundies to carry forward is eventually going to be our demise.

[misanthrope]

15. I think you're correct...

...dysgenics is certainly a portion of the problem. Of course, education is the only way to combat that but it's awfully hard when they keep dragging things down to their level.

I also believe in the cult-like aspect to fundamentalist religions because I was raised in one and remember it all too clearly.

[GeorgeGist]

16. Maybe the LHC will discover the source ...

of ignorance that separates humans from wisdom.

[coalition_unwilling]

18. Osama bin Laden is probably praying fervently for a McBush win. I look

for a video by OBL "opposing" McBush to be released in late October, the idea being if OBL is opposed to McBush, patriotic Americans should vote for McBush.

One thing you have to give OBL, he has a solid understanding of strategy.

[DumptyHumpty]

19. I feel your pain.

According to another poll, Obama leads by four points, todays gallup is now within one point--let's not forget that McCain was ahead by seven, eight points after the Palin announcement. The slide takes time, since most news coverage is about foolish personal stuff and frankly, the storm, Ike. It will still be a few days until we see a bigger bump for Obama.

Thom Hartmann said it best the other day. The people tend to not be very up to speed at the actual issues, so they follow personal stuff, who they like.

We need to make Palin look as sour as old milk. Obama has this in his court, only he can lose this. If he doesn't win, it is frankly his fault.