Talk Elections

Election Archive => 2008 Elections => Topic started by: they don't love you like i love you on December 22, 2008, 06:42:42 PM



Title: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: they don't love you like i love you on December 22, 2008, 06:42:42 PM
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I figure this'll send the Republicans here into a fury. BTW this is just one of many stores in Minneapolis decorated as such.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: J. J. on December 22, 2008, 06:48:25 PM
It reminds me of Mao, and I would note that Mao didn't have to contest elections.

There is a problem that a few folks have raised, and and we have seen developing.  What if Obama disappoints?  It started with the gay community and I should note that some of the more serious attacks on Obama have come from the highest ranking openly gay politician, Barney Frank.



Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: they don't love you like i love you on December 22, 2008, 06:49:30 PM
See my sig for the power of your predicting ability!


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Holmes on December 22, 2008, 06:51:55 PM
It's true though, if every gay person in America was able to do a re-vote, they wouldn't vote for Obama again. :)


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Iosif on December 22, 2008, 06:52:42 PM
Mao - another victim of the "he doesn't like us so he must be evil" American xenophobic mentality.

A political hero of his time.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: The Mikado on December 22, 2008, 06:58:51 PM
Mao - another victim of the "he doesn't like us so he must be evil" American xenophobic mentality.

A political hero of his time.

Ah, yes.  Trying to impress us with your charming "shock the bourgeoisie" schtick again.

Please don't feed the troll.  He's baiting you.  He wants to feel superior to you by defending the perpetrator of the Great Starvation Leap Forward and the Cultural Devolution.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Iosif on December 22, 2008, 07:12:27 PM
Mao - another victim of the "he doesn't like us so he must be evil" American xenophobic mentality.

A political hero of his time.

Ah, yes.  Trying to impress us with your charming "shock the bourgeoisie" schtick again.

Please don't feed the troll.  He's baiting you.  He wants to feel superior to you by defending the perpetrator of the Great Starvation Leap Forward and the Cultural Devolution.

Yes, of course. Everybody outside the banal mainstream is a troll.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Eraserhead on December 22, 2008, 07:32:00 PM
It's true though, if every gay person in America was able to do a re-vote, they wouldn't vote for Obama again. :)

No, that's probably not true, actually. This Warren "controversy" has been blown way out of proportion by the media. The guy is a scumbag, but I doubt there are that many gays that really care about the fact that he's going to get to speak/pray/dance around/whatever for a few minutes at Obama's inaugural. I'd imagine that they have more pressing concerns.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: justfollowingtheelections on December 22, 2008, 08:16:43 PM
It's true though, if every gay person in America was able to do a re-vote, they wouldn't vote for Obama again. :)

They wouldn't be voting for McCain either.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Holmes on December 22, 2008, 08:18:42 PM
It's true though, if every gay person in America was able to do a re-vote, they wouldn't vote for Obama again. :)

No, that's probably not true, actually. This Warren "controversy" has been blown way out of proportion by the media. The guy is a scumbag, but I doubt there are that many gays that really care about the fact that he's going to get to speak/pray/dance around/whatever for a few minutes at Obama's inaugural. I'd imagine that they have more pressing concerns.
I know, I was joking, especially with J.J.'s post. :P But you certainly would think so if you went to Democratic Underground or Daily Kos...


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Stranger in a strange land on December 22, 2008, 08:49:20 PM
It's true though, if every gay person in America was able to do a re-vote, they wouldn't vote for Obama again. :)

They wouldn't be voting for McCain either.

and Obama could have won without their votes.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: longtimelurker on December 22, 2008, 09:01:39 PM
This does not remind me of Mao.  Re-education camps, mass starvation and extermination are what would remind me of Mao.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: riceowl on December 22, 2008, 09:09:29 PM
It's true though, if every gay person in America was able to do a re-vote, they wouldn't vote for Obama again. :)

huh?


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Speed of Sound on December 22, 2008, 09:39:33 PM
It's true though, if every gay person in America was able to do a re-vote, they wouldn't vote for Obama again. :)

huh?
Cause he slightly befriends some anti-gay guy and picked him to do nothing that has anything to do with policy, so obviously all gays hate him now. :P (I remind you here, groups and their supposed 'leaders' almost never agree)


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Lief 🗽 on December 22, 2008, 10:39:44 PM
Nope. I've seen similar displays around Washington, DC too.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Fritz on December 22, 2008, 10:57:22 PM
It's true though, if every gay person in America was able to do a re-vote, they wouldn't vote for Obama again. :)

I would vote for him again.  The Warren thing is not a big enough deal to turn the entire gay community against Obama.  For the most part, I'd say we are a tad bit irked.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Alcon on December 22, 2008, 11:00:35 PM
Considering his approval rating is astronomically higher than on Election Day, I think the idea that Obama has already alienated more voters than he's won is ridiculous.

The posters remind me of Mao.  It's a cult of personality.  It's not especially one that worries me, but maybe I'm being insufficiently vigilant.  I also think it's more based on externalities to personality than most cults of personality.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Nixon in '80 on December 23, 2008, 05:15:39 AM
No, this does not scare me.

Yes, this reminds me of Mao, Stalin, Hitler, Kennedy, Reagan, and all cults of personality.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: opebo on December 23, 2008, 05:30:38 AM
Hahaha, why would some photos of a capitalist running dog remind me of Mao?  Mao slaughtered the kind of people Obama serves.

How's that for some shocking honesty for the bourgeoisie?


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Reaganfan on December 23, 2008, 07:59:12 AM
I was at a frickin' Bed, Bath and Beyond and they had a damn Obama commemorative plate! At a store that sells Bed and Bath stuff!! When Clinton won in '92, there wasn't all this. When Bush won in '00, there wasn't all of this.

Why does he have to be any different? I mean...I find it strange that the candidate who did the least amount of work to get to the White House wins this sweeping victory and is seen as a messiah. I really can't understand it. I think it has to do with one thing and one thing only. He gives a mesmerizing speech. Well so do I! Does that mean if I ever become the well-known, foreign policy Senator from Ohio that suddenly they will say "Hey...that Naso guy is electrifying and gives a booming, stirring speech. He could be President of the United States in four years."?


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: tik 🪀✨ on December 23, 2008, 09:27:49 AM
I was at a frickin' Bed, Bath and Beyond and they had a damn Obama commemorative plate! At a store that sells Bed and Bath stuff!! When Clinton won in '92, there wasn't all this. When Bush won in '00, there wasn't all of this.

Why does he have to be any different? I mean...I find it strange that the candidate who did the least amount of work to get to the White House wins this sweeping victory and is seen as a messiah. I really can't understand it. I think it has to do with one thing and one thing only. He gives a mesmerizing speech. Well so do I! Does that mean if I ever become the well-known, foreign policy Senator from Ohio that suddenly they will say "Hey...that Naso guy is electrifying and gives a booming, stirring speech. He could be President of the United States in four years."?

You may have legs to stand on if there hasn't already been a ginger president. NO SOUL IN 2040!


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Nym90 on December 23, 2008, 10:13:37 AM
It reminds me of Mao, and I would note that Mao didn't have to contest elections.

There is a problem that a few folks have raised, and and we have seen developing.  What if Obama disappoints?  It started with the gay community and I should note that some of the more serious attacks on Obama have come from the highest ranking openly gay politician, Barney Frank.



He's bound to disappoint some people.

I will make a bold prediction that he'll disappoint a lot fewer people than Bush did after his 2004 reelection.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: humder on December 23, 2008, 02:57:01 PM
 No, it reminds me of America. American politics is very personality centered. During the election campaign, there was far more about personality than the issues.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: RJ on December 23, 2008, 04:46:17 PM
I don't recall the words "hope" or "change" associated with Mao.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: humder on December 23, 2008, 05:01:28 PM
I don't recall the words "hope" or "change" associated with Mao.


 Exactly. Why are some people scared of others being inspired and hopeful? Why is that a bad thing? It can come across a bit over the top sometimes but that does not compare it to a mass murderer. There are lots of leaders who had a large reaction like Mao but did great things, for example Gandhi and MLK.
  If Obama supporters were attacking Republicans, then you should be scared.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Ban my account ffs! on December 23, 2008, 08:43:02 PM
I was at a frickin' Bed, Bath and Beyond and they had a damn Obama commemorative plate! At a store that sells Bed and Bath stuff!! When Clinton won in '92, there wasn't all this. When Bush won in '00, there wasn't all of this.

Why does he have to be any different? I mean...I find it strange that the candidate who did the least amount of work to get to the White House wins this sweeping victory and is seen as a messiah. I really can't understand it. I think it has to do with one thing and one thing only. He gives a mesmerizing speech. Well so do I! Does that mean if I ever become the well-known, foreign policy Senator from Ohio that suddenly they will say "Hey...that Naso guy is electrifying and gives a booming, stirring speech. He could be President of the United States in four years."?

And it was the Obama supporters that felt entitled, eh?

I'm sure you were saying the same thing about Bush in 2000 when he stepped all over McCain's face... you know.. the one that did the least work got the job.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Wiz in Wis on December 23, 2008, 10:51:30 PM
Guys... perspective please.

Not only is he the first African American president... which on its own should generate most of this, but he is following one of the most unpopular presidents in history. He represents a generational transition, a tone transition, and a party transition. People being enamoured with him should shock no one. If you are worried, it is just a reflection of how dour and cynical recent politics (since Kennedy) has become.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Reaganfan on December 24, 2008, 04:42:12 AM
I was at a frickin' Bed, Bath and Beyond and they had a damn Obama commemorative plate! At a store that sells Bed and Bath stuff!! When Clinton won in '92, there wasn't all this. When Bush won in '00, there wasn't all of this.

Why does he have to be any different? I mean...I find it strange that the candidate who did the least amount of work to get to the White House wins this sweeping victory and is seen as a messiah. I really can't understand it. I think it has to do with one thing and one thing only. He gives a mesmerizing speech. Well so do I! Does that mean if I ever become the well-known, foreign policy Senator from Ohio that suddenly they will say "Hey...that Naso guy is electrifying and gives a booming, stirring speech. He could be President of the United States in four years."?

And it was the Obama supporters that felt entitled, eh?

I'm sure you were saying the same thing about Bush in 2000 when he stepped all over McCain's face... you know.. the one that did the least work got the job.

I actually liked McCain in 2000...but okay...


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Scam of God on December 24, 2008, 04:46:28 AM
Why does he have to be any different? I mean...I find it strange that the candidate who did the least amount of work to get to the White House wins this sweeping victory and is seen as a messiah. I really can't understand it. I think it has to do with one thing and one thing only. He gives a mesmerizing speech. Well so do I! Does that mean if I ever become the well-known, foreign policy Senator from Ohio that suddenly they will say "Hey...that Naso guy is electrifying and gives a booming, stirring speech. He could be President of the United States in four years."?

Yeah lol, goddamn those B-actors running for Governor of California. One of them might end up becoming President without having done real work first, based just on charisma.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Reaganfan on December 24, 2008, 05:05:35 AM
Why does he have to be any different? I mean...I find it strange that the candidate who did the least amount of work to get to the White House wins this sweeping victory and is seen as a messiah. I really can't understand it. I think it has to do with one thing and one thing only. He gives a mesmerizing speech. Well so do I! Does that mean if I ever become the well-known, foreign policy Senator from Ohio that suddenly they will say "Hey...that Naso guy is electrifying and gives a booming, stirring speech. He could be President of the United States in four years."?

Yeah lol, goddamn those B-actors running for Governor of California. One of them might end up becoming President without having done real work first, based just on charisma.

He was a two-term Governor.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Scam of God on December 24, 2008, 05:15:51 AM
Why does he have to be any different? I mean...I find it strange that the candidate who did the least amount of work to get to the White House wins this sweeping victory and is seen as a messiah. I really can't understand it. I think it has to do with one thing and one thing only. He gives a mesmerizing speech. Well so do I! Does that mean if I ever become the well-known, foreign policy Senator from Ohio that suddenly they will say "Hey...that Naso guy is electrifying and gives a booming, stirring speech. He could be President of the United States in four years."?

Yeah lol, goddamn those B-actors running for Governor of California. One of them might end up becoming President without having done real work first, based just on charisma.

He was a two-term Governor.

And he did the exact same thing in that post he did as President: delegate authority to inferiors and ignore day-to-day operations.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Tetro Kornbluth on December 24, 2008, 11:43:10 AM
This only furthers my belief that the next four years will involve America going significantly off the boil again and ended in some disaster. I already have the Republicans winning in 2012.



Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Scam of God on December 24, 2008, 11:44:48 AM
This only furthers my belief that the next four years will involve America going significantly off the boil again and ended in some disaster. I already have the Republicans winning in 2012.

Patently ridiculous, and a lame-ass attempt at being 'against the grain'. Did the 1980's end in disaster for the Republicans, who had a much stronger cult of personality going at the time?


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Tetro Kornbluth on December 24, 2008, 12:14:26 PM
This only furthers my belief that the next four years will involve America going significantly off the boil again and ended in some disaster. I already have the Republicans winning in 2012.

Patently ridiculous, and a lame-ass attempt at being 'against the grain'. Did the 1980's end in disaster for the Republicans, who had a much stronger cult of personality going at the time?

No: Logically you are correct. But I call this intitution (which has served me well in the past, moreso I admit in the results of football matches but I get this feeling. Trust me, no-one hates "OMG AIM SO DIFFERENT!1111" opinions more than me.)


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Scam of God on December 24, 2008, 12:16:55 PM
This only furthers my belief that the next four years will involve America going significantly off the boil again and ended in some disaster. I already have the Republicans winning in 2012.

Patently ridiculous, and a lame-ass attempt at being 'against the grain'. Did the 1980's end in disaster for the Republicans, who had a much stronger cult of personality going at the time?

No: Logically you are correct. But I call this intitution.

The only possible (valid) rationale you can have is the idea that Obama will 'disappoint' his hardcore supporters; but, as well you ought to know, even if he fails to live up to any of his campaign promises, they'll happily swallow them and rationalize them away, just as Reagan's did when virtually none of his tax proposals got through his first few years.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Tetro Kornbluth on December 24, 2008, 12:20:26 PM
This only furthers my belief that the next four years will involve America going significantly off the boil again and ended in some disaster. I already have the Republicans winning in 2012.

Patently ridiculous, and a lame-ass attempt at being 'against the grain'. Did the 1980's end in disaster for the Republicans, who had a much stronger cult of personality going at the time?

No: Logically you are correct. But I call this intitution.

The only possible (valid) rationale you can have is the idea that Obama will 'disappoint' his hardcore supporters; but, as well you ought to know, even if he fails to live up to any of his campaign promises, they'll happily swallow them and rationalize them away, just as Reagan's did when virtually none of his tax proposals got through his first few years.

Here you ignore the rather large differences in mentality between "typical dedicated liberal" and "typical dedicated conservative". Also if I can defend my irrational position with a rational point, there is still the declining economy and the Middle East. Okay those were issues in Reagan's time too, but they actually declined after a period of time (in terms of popular, public perception - which is the only thing that matters in terms of presidential popular politics.), we seem to starting a major recession and a Middle East is still a situation is search of an event. So who knows what the situation will be in 2012?


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Scam of God on December 24, 2008, 12:28:11 PM
This only furthers my belief that the next four years will involve America going significantly off the boil again and ended in some disaster. I already have the Republicans winning in 2012.

Patently ridiculous, and a lame-ass attempt at being 'against the grain'. Did the 1980's end in disaster for the Republicans, who had a much stronger cult of personality going at the time?

No: Logically you are correct. But I call this intitution.

The only possible (valid) rationale you can have is the idea that Obama will 'disappoint' his hardcore supporters; but, as well you ought to know, even if he fails to live up to any of his campaign promises, they'll happily swallow them and rationalize them away, just as Reagan's did when virtually none of his tax proposals got through his first few years.

Here you ignore the rather large differences in mentality between "typical dedicated liberal" and "typical dedicated conservative".

Actually, I think that the differences is quite the inverse of what you imply: liberals, having been for so long virtually powerless in the halls of power, will be quite willing to give someone they perceive as one of their own a pass on virtually anything that isn't intentionally abusive of them. Conservatives, on the other hand, have gotten very used to having the reins of power, and are almost single-minded on their insistence for ideological purity. We suffered through Clinton's triangulations; we can suffer through Obama's moderations.

Moreover, the memory of Dubya will be alive and well in four years.

Quote
there is still the declining economy and the Middle East. Okay those were issues in Reagan's time too, but they actually declined after a period of time (in terms of popular, public perception - which is the only thing that matters in terms of presidential popular politics.)

Not really. Check Reagan's approval polls from 1982, which, if I can recall from memory, were pretty regularly below 50%, but above 40% - that was actually the height of that particular economic catastrophe, and people knew it, but the general public didn't blame Reagan for it. They were willing to give him time.

Quote
So who knows what the situation will be in 2012?

And that's the only thing that matters.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Tetro Kornbluth on December 24, 2008, 12:31:38 PM
Again I don't necessarily disagree with what you say, Just I have a hunch otherwise. I do disagree with this:

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Actually, I think that the differences is quite the inverse of what you imply: liberals, having been for so long virtually powerless in the halls of power, will be quite willing to give someone they perceive as one of their own a pass on virtually anything that isn't intentionally abusive of them. Conservatives, on the other hand, have gotten very used to having the reins of power, and are almost single-minded on their insistence for ideological purity. We suffered through Clinton's triangulations; we can suffer through Obama's moderations.

Will the expectations meet the reality? What if "events" mean that Obama has to act, surely he can't have a Clinton-like presidency where nothing really happens for 8 years (not true, but for the American public it was the case.)


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Scam of God on December 24, 2008, 12:36:12 PM
Will the expectations meet the reality? What if "events" mean that Obama has to act, surely he can't have a Clinton-like presidency where nothing really happens for 8 years (not true, but for the American public it was the case.)

Then he'll have an opportunity to institute liberal reforms to issues where they are pertinent, as I believe he will, and I also believe the public will be generally amicable towards them.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Tetro Kornbluth on December 24, 2008, 12:38:54 PM
Will the expectations meet the reality? What if "events" mean that Obama has to act, surely he can't have a Clinton-like presidency where nothing really happens for 8 years (not true, but for the American public it was the case.)

Then he'll have an opportunity to institute liberal reforms to issues where they are pertinent, as I believe he will, and I also believe the public will be generally amicable towards them.

There is nothing more difficult than instituting a new order of things*.

(* - not that I genuinely believe Obama's mantra about Change being anything really tangiable, however if the situation means he has to act and do things, will he make relatively conservative decisions or much more reformist ones. I believe he will do the former, but what if they don't work?)


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: they don't love you like i love you on December 24, 2008, 01:05:32 PM
Didn't Gully's "intuition" say that Hillary would win the nomination and then the Republicans win the presidency because of anti-Hillary hatred?


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Tetro Kornbluth on December 24, 2008, 01:08:38 PM
Didn't Gully's "intuition" say that Hillary would win the nomination and then the Republicans win the presidency because of anti-Hillary hatred?

That was a guess (I did think that at one point, back after New Hampshire though I changed my tune quite quickly, I can't remember whether I posted it or not). This is a feeling.

Of course I'm quite happy to be proven wrong here.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on December 24, 2008, 02:24:35 PM
     It scares me in that it reminds me of some sort of rash. Fortunately I don't see those where I live, so it's not a problem.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: they don't love you like i love you on December 24, 2008, 02:36:02 PM
     It scares me in that it reminds me of some sort of rash. Fortunately I don't see those where I live, so it's not a problem.

I thought this sort of thing would be very popular in San Francisco.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Associate Justice PiT on December 24, 2008, 02:55:45 PM
     It scares me in that it reminds me of some sort of rash. Fortunately I don't see those where I live, so it's not a problem.

I thought this sort of thing would be very popular in San Francisco.

     I've seen one Obama poster in an apartment window & a few Obama/Biden bumper stickers, but nothing else as far as things for President go. On the other hand, I saw at least a dozen posters each for the two top candidates for Board of Supervisors.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Stranger in a strange land on December 24, 2008, 03:32:12 PM
meh, no more than this:

()


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: © tweed on December 24, 2008, 04:02:35 PM

that wasn't put out by the Bush campaign


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Jake on December 24, 2008, 04:42:24 PM
Guys... perspective please.

Not only is he the first African American president... which on its own should generate most of this, but he is following one of the most unpopular presidents in history. He represents a generational transition, a tone transition, and a party transition. People being enamoured with him should shock no one. If you are worried, it is just a reflection of how dour and cynical recent politics (since Kennedy) has become.

The idea that someone should not have faith in politicians is not "dour and cynical", it's realistic.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: J. J. on December 24, 2008, 04:49:12 PM
It reminds me of Mao, and I would note that Mao didn't have to contest elections.

There is a problem that a few folks have raised, and and we have seen developing.  What if Obama disappoints?  It started with the gay community and I should note that some of the more serious attacks on Obama have come from the highest ranking openly gay politician, Barney Frank.



He's bound to disappoint some people.

I will make a bold prediction that he'll disappoint a lot fewer people than Bush did after his 2004 reelection.

That I am not sure of.  Obama benefited from not being pinned down on the issues; as president, he will have to be.  The question is, how many and will there be defections to him.

So far, there are some rough patches, and he has yet to be sworn in.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Alcon on December 24, 2008, 04:59:54 PM
So far, there are some rough patches, and he has yet to be sworn in.

Your first paragraph was spot-on, but are we going to have to deal with your 2008 Election form of analysis for four years?  Look at Obama's approvals in public polling.  Why would you ignore that, in lieu of "there are some rough patches, and he has yet to be sworn in"?


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Lief 🗽 on December 24, 2008, 05:09:00 PM
ROFL @ JJ

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/24/cnn-poll-obama-transition-draws-approval-of-4-in-5-americans/

Quote
(CNN) – Hawaii's always been a great spot for honeymoons — and Barack Obama, who's spending the holiday season there on the beach at Kailua, is unquestionably having one of the best in modern presidential history.

Eighty-two percent of those questioned in a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday morning approve of the way the Obama is handling his presidential transition. That's up 3 points from when we asked this question at the beginning of December. Fifteen percent of those surveyed disapprove of the way Obama's handling his transition, down 3 points from our last poll.

The 82 percent approval is higher than then President-elect George W. Bush 8 years ago, who had a 65 percent transition approval rating, and Bill Clinton, at 67 percent in 1992.

"Barack Obama is having a better honeymoon with the American public than any incoming president in the past three decades. He's putting up better numbers, usually by double digits, than Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, or either George Bush on every item traditionally measured in transition polls," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

The poll also suggests that the public approves of the President-elect's cabinet nominees, with 56 percent of those questioned saying Obama's appointments have been outstanding or above average, with 32 percent feeling the picks have been average, and 11 percent saying Obama's choices have been below average or poor.

That 56 percent figure is 18 points higher than those who said then President-elect Bush's cabinet appointments were outstanding or above average and 26 points higher than those who felt the same way about then President-elect Clinton's nominees.

"Obama walks in with nearly twice the support on the economy that President-elect Clinton had in January, 1993, and he beats Ronald Reagan as well," adds Holland.

A third say that their impression of Obama has gotten better since the election, with only 8 percent saying their opinion has gotten worse.

Presidents usually start to lose support once they assume office and start making the tough decisions. But with eight in ten currently approving of Obama, he can give away 20 or 30 points, estimates Holland, and still have a majority of the country on his side.

The CNN/Opinion Research poll was conducted Friday through Sunday, with 1,013 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: they don't love you like i love you on December 24, 2008, 06:17:01 PM
ROFL @ JJ

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/24/cnn-poll-obama-transition-draws-approval-of-4-in-5-americans/

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(CNN) – Hawaii's always been a great spot for honeymoons — and Barack Obama, who's spending the holiday season there on the beach at Kailua, is unquestionably having one of the best in modern presidential history.

Eighty-two percent of those questioned in a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday morning approve of the way the Obama is handling his presidential transition. That's up 3 points from when we asked this question at the beginning of December. Fifteen percent of those surveyed disapprove of the way Obama's handling his transition, down 3 points from our last poll.

The 82 percent approval is higher than then President-elect George W. Bush 8 years ago, who had a 65 percent transition approval rating, and Bill Clinton, at 67 percent in 1992.

"Barack Obama is having a better honeymoon with the American public than any incoming president in the past three decades. He's putting up better numbers, usually by double digits, than Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, or either George Bush on every item traditionally measured in transition polls," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

The poll also suggests that the public approves of the President-elect's cabinet nominees, with 56 percent of those questioned saying Obama's appointments have been outstanding or above average, with 32 percent feeling the picks have been average, and 11 percent saying Obama's choices have been below average or poor.

That 56 percent figure is 18 points higher than those who said then President-elect Bush's cabinet appointments were outstanding or above average and 26 points higher than those who felt the same way about then President-elect Clinton's nominees.

"Obama walks in with nearly twice the support on the economy that President-elect Clinton had in January, 1993, and he beats Ronald Reagan as well," adds Holland.

A third say that their impression of Obama has gotten better since the election, with only 8 percent saying their opinion has gotten worse.

Presidents usually start to lose support once they assume office and start making the tough decisions. But with eight in ten currently approving of Obama, he can give away 20 or 30 points, estimates Holland, and still have a majority of the country on his side.

The CNN/Opinion Research poll was conducted Friday through Sunday, with 1,013 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Please note my sig when analyzing any of his posts.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Queen Mum Inks.LWC on December 24, 2008, 06:18:14 PM
It reminds me of Mao, and I would note that Mao didn't have to contest elections.

There is a problem that a few folks have raised, and and we have seen developing.  What if Obama disappoints?  It started with the gay community and I should note that some of the more serious attacks on Obama have come from the highest ranking openly gay politician, Barney Frank.



My question was what if he disappoints, mainly economically - will people blame Obama, or Bush?


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: J. J. on December 24, 2008, 06:31:23 PM
So far, there are some rough patches, and he has yet to be sworn in.

Your first paragraph was spot-on, but are we going to have to deal with your 2008 Election form of analysis for four years?  Look at Obama's approvals in public polling.  Why would you ignore that, in lieu of "there are some rough patches, and he has yet to be sworn in"?

Alcon, I was surprised by Frank's comments, first on the bailout and the gay community's reaction.  I do not recall a president elect being so criticized by one of his own constituency groups before he was actually sworn in.    If Frank were a Republican or an old-style bole weevil, it wouldn't be a blip.  It is a bit more than a blip.

Then there is the Blago "scandal" which wasn't handled particularly well, at least in keeping with the "change" mantra.  Obama, and his staffers to be, are probably not hiding anything improper, but the delay in releasing makes it look like he's hiding something.

Like I said, rough patches.  There is a difference between things are not going as well as they should, and "OMG Obama's doomed."


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Alcon on December 24, 2008, 06:42:13 PM
J. J.,

Why would you focus on "rough patches" when he has the highest approval ratings of any incoming President in decades?  Especially because the interest group he pissed off is one of the least likely to abandon the Democratic Parties even when they disapprove.

I mean, if he's pissed off the gays and still has these approval ratings, he'd be approaching 2012 with the potential for an incredible landslide.  Yet you characterize his process so far as having "rough patches," instead of having incredibly high approvals?  That's the characterization you choose to center your analysis around?

Reminds me of all the stuff you looked at when you botched this year, just saying.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: J. J. on December 24, 2008, 07:32:12 PM
J. J.,

Why would you focus on "rough patches" when he has the highest approval ratings of any incoming President in decades?  Especially because the interest group he pissed off is one of the least likely to abandon the Democratic Parties even when they disapprove.

I'm not focusing on them, but I'm not ignoring them either.  And, I've seen very high approval ratings nosedive with actual performance.   If they were actually based on performance, I'd be impressed.  I'm not and I feel it's a bit unfair to praise or criticize Obama as president elect, because there is not too much there yet.

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I mean, if he's pissed off the gays and still has these approval ratings, he'd be approaching 2012 with the potential for an incredible landslide.  Yet you characterize his process so far as having "rough patches," instead of having incredibly high approvals?  That's the characterization you choose to center your analysis around?

Reminds me of all the stuff you looked at when you botched this year, just saying.

The thing with the Frank problem is that this the first time I've heard part of a president's core constituency voice criticism of (minimal) action before the guy is even sworn in.  Some things, like appointments, I have seen, but not the comments on the bailout.

Right now, the approval is for the cabinet appointments (which generally get my approval as well) and some other thing.  People are saying, "We approve of change," or "We approve that we're not a racist country (sorta, anymore)."  Those last two things will melt away with the Spring Thaw, when actual performance comes into play.  Those things are not going to last. 


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Rob on December 24, 2008, 07:47:35 PM
he has the highest approval ratings of any incoming President in decades

Those polls are tainted by the Bradley Effect.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: J. J. on December 24, 2008, 08:25:55 PM
he has the highest approval ratings of any incoming President in decades

Those polls are tainted by the Bradley Effect.

::)

No, but it might be that in Obama people see Obama as symbol of change and of "inclusion."  He has to be inclusive, inclusion has to be seen being important, and he has to make the right kind of change for the numbers to hold.

At this point, I think he's made some good cabinet choices, but that was expected.

I've seen good poll numbers come and go.  Right now, they are pretty meaningless, which is both good and bad.  Even if six months from now, they drop 10-15 points, it's just settling back down.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: RosettaStoned on December 30, 2008, 04:50:13 PM
Not scary at all.


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: Rob on December 31, 2008, 12:52:58 AM

Hey, maybe you aren't as dumb as I thought you were! Any mention of the "Bradley Effect" deserves an eye-roll. :)


Title: Re: Does this scare you and remind you of Mao?
Post by: they don't love you like i love you on December 31, 2008, 02:38:31 PM

I don't think these were from the Obama campaign either. There was a blurb in the City Pages about the local artist who designed them.