Comments on: Insight into Republican America

By: KJ

KJ — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:04:22 +0000

I watched the final debate last night and although McCain probably performed better than previously it was clear to see that this man cannot really control his anger all the well. For him to make out that he was bullied by Obama supports when in fact it was the other way around is absurd.

By: declan

declan — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:27:11 +0000

Is it just me- but I haven’t heard ‘flip-flopper’ used once during this campaign. What would be the equivalant Fox news buzz term this time ’round? With Mc Cain’s U-turns wouldn’t it be appropriate?

By: doctorvee

doctorvee — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:19:59 +0000

Bill, you bring up a really good point. I do not see the election as a foregone conclusion, even if the wheels have come off the McCain wagon somewhat.

I have read in a few places (I can’t remember where, unfortunately) that the phenomenon you point out is no longer a major factor. I guess we have already had a trial run with the primaries. There was at least one time when Obama didn’t win a primary even though the opinion polls were all going his way. But that was New Hampshire (I think?) when Hillary Clinton switched on the water works. I guess we just have to wait and see though. It will be an incredible come-down, though, if he loses the election despite having a fairly substantial poll lead.

This does remind me of a phenomenon I read about in Freakonomics. In the US version of The Weakest Link, black players were voted off at the rate you would expect according to their ability alone, so if people are racist in this instance they are embarrassed to show it. However, Hispanics were still more likely to be voted off in early rounds because it is still not seen to be as much of a taboo to discriminate against Hispanics. It is always a danger that people will be embarrassed to speak out against the black guy in public, but act differently in the privacy of the voting booth.

By: Bill (Scotland)

Bill (Scotland) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:05:32 +0000

Personally I didn’t care for Hilary Clinton, but she is a clever, sophisticated woman who would probably have made a very competent President. Gender, or race, is not the problem. McCain might have made a good President, but he has chosen an ignoramus, and a liar, as his running-mate; I hope he does not win therefore, specially as he has a ‘dicky’ heart. Obama’s politics are not entirely to my taste, but he seems like a clever and decent man and I’m hoping that he, the better man, will win; and his running-mate Biden seems OK too.

I was speaking to an American friend and former colleague yesterday (ain’t Skype a wonderful thing, and two-way video too!); he usually lives in Hawaii (back and forth to Shanghai – he’s a Mandarin-speaking linguist and business specialist), but is currently in Detroit. He was telling me that whilst he will probably vote for Obama (and he’s basically a fairly liberal Republican, so not a Bush/Cheney supporter) he has talked to a lot of people who tell him that, whatever the polls may say, there are a lot of people who when they go into the polling station will never actually pull the lever for a black man. I read all the polls on the 538 and RCP blogs, but I think it would be premature to think that the result is by any means a foregone conclusion.

By: jack stephen

jack stephen — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:52:55 +0000

That woman, eh?
Where have I heard that before?….

By: Vicky

Vicky — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:55:56 +0000

I suspect that some of his more pragmatic advisers told him to tone it down, as I doubt very much that it’s winning him the support of the undecideds.

Anyway, he’s less of a problem than his moronic running mate. Having a woman in the White House would be great, but having *that* woman anywhere near such a powerful position would be bloody terrifying.