NationStates Jolt Archive

Bear with me, this thread isn't as useless as it sounds.

It seems the Obama daughters played with confetti after his speech in the stadium, resulting in quite a humanizing moment for Obama. Now, I think that Republicans aren't stupid ENOUGH to go after two little girls for playing with confetti as (for instance) a stunt TO make Obama look more human, but they HAVE been attacking Obama for just about every excuse they could come up with, so I ask: is it possible some might attack them? And what will happen to the Republicans if they do?

Ann Coulter would, given half the chance.

Ann Coulter would, given half the chance.

If she does, there will be a backlash, I hope...

But I'm hoping bigger names do it. If they do so, I bet you the following day there will be political comics with drawings of the Grinch... :p

(And if the person doing so just happens to be Newt Gingrich, well, I bet you and give you infinite odds...)

The political comics will be related to a BIG-ASS backlash...

i dunno but it just wont be as sweet to see john mccain's 40+ year old kids playing with the balloons after his speech.

i dunno but it just wont be as sweet to see john mccain's 40+ year old kids playing with the balloons after his speech.

"Vote for McCain, he's the father of retards!"

:D

I fail to see what is the (imagined or not) problem with playing with confetti. Is this some sort of innuendo that I missed, or what?

I fail to see what is the (imagined or not) problem with playing with confetti. Is this some sort of innuendo that I missed, or what?

Yeah I was thinking the same thing

I fail to see what is the (imagined or not) problem with playing with confetti. Is this some sort of innuendo that I missed, or what?

The imagined one (by Republicans) would be that he got his daughters to play with confetti to help humanize him, as a publicity stunt.

The real one doesn't exist.

I fail to see what is the (imagined or not) problem with playing with confetti. Is this some sort of innuendo that I missed, or what?

My understanding is that Heikoku 2 is asking if there is any possible way that the Republicans could find a way to use a picture or video of Obama's children in an attack ad against Obama.

The imagined one (by Republicans) would be that he got his daughters to play with confetti to help humanize him, as a publicity stunt.

The real one doesn't exist.


That is incredibly stupid.

My understanding is that Heikoku 2 is asking if there is any possible way that the Republicans could find a way to use a picture or video of Obama's children in an attack ad against Obama.

Not exactly: I'm claiming that they MAY find a flimsy, stupid excuse to attack - in ads or in remarks - and that IF they do it'll be at their peril.

So, are there not enough attack ads going around that we need to start discussing imaginary ones?

That is incredibly stupid.

It is, yes, but we ARE talking about a party that yells "Flagpins! POW! Muslim!" whenever confronted.

So, are there not enough attack ads going around that we need to start discussing imaginary ones?

Given what Republicans have been doing...

I should think they wouldn't, even if some might like to. Politicians of either party deseve all the (legitimate; i.e. based on policy) criticism thrown their way. Little girls do not.

well. the attack came. turns out the Constitution has a clause that so no confetti until you win the presidency. the article was found folded up under the rest of the constitution written in what appear to be crayon. Obama had to withdraw his candidacy and Hillary is the new DNC pick for pres.

well. the attack came. turns out the Constitution has a clause that so no confetti until you win the presidency. the article was found folded up under the rest of the constitution written in what appear to be crayon. Obama had to withdraw his candidacy and Hillary is the new DNC pick for pres.
If that was meant to be funny, I'll let you know that it wasn't.

It is, yes, but we ARE talking about a party that yells "Flagpins! POW! Muslim!" whenever confronted.

I could have sworn I saw Obama wearing a flagpin. Heikoku we all know you hate the Republican party with a passion but really can you attack them for something they have done rather than trying to attack them for something they haven't done in an attempt to show us how bad the party is.

I should think they wouldn't, even if some might like to. Politicians of either party deseve all the (legitimate; i.e. based on policy) criticism thrown their way. Little girls do not.

Oh, I'm hoping they DO, because if they do, the backlash will be immense.

I could have sworn I saw Obama wearing a flagpin. Heikoku we all know you hate the Republican party with a passion but really can you attack them for something they have done rather than trying to attack them for something they haven't done in an attempt to show us how bad the party is.

Uhm, has the Republican Party not attacked Obama for "not wearing a flagpin"?

Uhm, has the Republican Party not attacked Obama for "not wearing a flagpin"?

You tell me mate.

pre-emtive,hypothetical bullshit

two innocent and adorable little girls having some of the most excitement of their lives.

Anyone trying to make something of it is ridiculous.

I would just like to point out the old saying that small children often wind up playing more with the box the toy came in than the toy itself. That and what's not to like about confetti?

Obama's kids are a) preadolescent and b) adorable, and therefore politically off-limits. If they were less-than-stunning teenagers (if, say, they resembled Chelsea Clinton in 1992,) they'd absolutely be targets -- not in something so overt as an attack ad, but in nasty emailed jokes, off-color remarks to fundraisers, that sort of thing.

I'm sure that there are some nasty jokes circulating, but nothing rising to the level of the attacks on Chelsea, or Amy Carter, or the Bush twins.

Ann Coulter would, given half the chance.

Anne Coulter also hates Muslims, Arabs, Jews, women...

:eek: Obama has no male heir!

such a scandal clearly shows that we cannot allow the throne of the US to pass to Obama for it would cause only civil war and the dilution of the royal bloodline

Quite frankly I don't see how the idea in the OP of this thread is conceptually any better than the theoretical attack ad that pants are being wetted over.

Seriously. This is the sort of paranoid foolishness that makes it so hard sometimes to have a reasonable discussion between the two sides. This mentality that all Republicans are, by definition, stupid is not only juvenile but not in the least bit constructive. That goes both ways, of course, but this is an example right here.

Quite frankly I don't see how the idea in the OP of this thread is conceptually any better than the theoretical attack ad that pants are being wetted over.

Seriously. This is the sort of paranoid foolishness that makes it so hard sometimes to have a reasonable discussion between the two sides. This mentality that all Republicans are, by definition, stupid is not only juvenile but not in the least bit constructive. That goes both ways, of course, but this is an example right here.
yeah except that you have to take note of WHO the op is.

his "side" doesnt count.

You tell me mate.

They have. It was a big thing earlier.

yeah except that you have to take note of WHO the op is.

his "side" doesnt count.

Why?

No, seriously, why? Is it just because he isn't being... Reasonable?

They have. It was a big thing earlier.
Yeah, right now they're looking for something new to rag on him about.

Quite frankly I don't see how the idea in the OP of this thread is conceptually any better than the theoretical attack ad that pants are being wetted over.

Seriously. This is the sort of paranoid foolishness that makes it so hard sometimes to have a reasonable discussion between the two sides. This mentality that all Republicans are, by definition, stupid is not only juvenile but not in the least bit constructive. That goes both ways, of course, but this is an example right here.

Again: I was proposing a POSSIBILITY, not claiming it as a LIKELIHOOD, let alone FACT. We had yesterday a Republican attacking Democrats for their TRASH.

Yeah, right now they're looking for something new to rag on him about.

Dont you all see? Obama's middle name is Hussein!!! Thats the same name as Saddam's last name! That means theyre practically brothers! Which means he must hate teh ebil jewz!


GOD WHAT DONT YOU PEOPLE GET ABOUT THIS?!?!? HES A TERRORIST COMMY MUSLIM EXTREMIST!

Why?

No, seriously, why? Is it just because he isn't being... Reasonable?
he is brazillian. he doesnt have to be reasonable. you cant take someone wihtout a real stake in the outcome as an exemplar of those who DO.

he is brazillian. he doesnt have to be reasonable. you cant take someone wihtout a real stake in the outcome as an exemplar of those who DO.

As someone from a country that LBJ helped transform into a dictatorship, I'd say I DO have some stake in the outcome. I was floating a possibility, not a likelihood.

Anne Coulter also hates Muslims, Arabs, Jews, women...

You know, all the things she's not.

Dont you all see? Obama's middle name is Hussein!!! Thats the same name as Saddam's last name! That means theyre practically brothers! Which means he must hate teh ebil jewz!


GOD WHAT DONT YOU PEOPLE GET ABOUT THIS?!?!? HES A TERRORIST COMMY MUSLIM EXTREMIST!
You forgot "Atheist-liberal" :D
he is brazillian. he doesnt have to be reasonable. you cant take someone wihtout a real stake in the outcome as an exemplar of those who DO.
Oh, right. Forgot about the whole location thing.

You know, all the things she's not.
I am always amazed that with a target as easy to hit as Ann Coulter (let's face it, the woman is a nut), folk still insist on resorting to immature sexist attacks.

Why bother with such ignorant bigotry when you could just point at any of the innumerable crazy-ass statements she has made during her career?

I am always amazed that with a target as easy to hit as Ann Coulter (let's face it, the woman is a nut), folk still insist on resorting to immature sexist attacks.

Why bother with such ignorant bigotry when you could just point at any of the innumerable crazy-ass statements she has made during her career?

Well, it's true that she's more or less attacking anything and everything she's not. And probably things that she is. She's attacked women for wanting equality (or was this the Asian version of Ann Coulter, I can't remember), said she wanted Indonesians at a festival bombed, and those who survived converted to Christianity at gunpoint, gone on record as having wanted free speech stripped from those she doesn't like. There's a huge list.

I'm surprised she hasn't been committed to the loony bin yet. She'd give psychologists enough data to last for years.

"Vote for McCain, he's the father of retards!"
:D
You shouldn't laugh too much, that's pretty much going to be one of their slogans, albeit changed slightly:
"Vote for McCain: His VP is the mother of a retard!"

Expect to see them really push the fact she decided against an abortion at age 44 knowing that the fetus had Downs.
A Perfect GOP-mum there: willing to risk health problems just to give birth to a mentally-retarded child who'll need full-time care for the rest of his shorten life (few live past 40 and if they do suffer from all sorts of degenerative diseases). Because spitting out babies is the most important thing a woman can do.

Because spitting out babies is the most important thing a woman can do.

Especially since we'll need them in Iraq by the time they mature if George W. McCain is President.

You shouldn't laugh too much, that's pretty much going to be one of their slogans, albeit changed slightly:
"Vote for McCain: His VP is the mother of a retard!"

I shouldn't have to live in a world where all the good points are terrible ones...

I am always amazed that with a target as easy to hit as Ann Coulter (let's face it, the woman is a nut), folk still insist on resorting to immature sexist attacks.

Why bother with such ignorant bigotry when you could just point at any of the innumerable crazy-ass statements she has made during her career?

I can't speak for Maineiacs but there are some who actually do believe that Anne Coulter is a transvestite.

Again: I was proposing a POSSIBILITY, not claiming it as a LIKELIHOOD, let alone FACT. We had yesterday a Republican attacking Democrats for their TRASH.

Trash filled with American flags...regardless of intention, which I highly doubt was anything more than an accident or bad timing, it was downright stupid to do something like that especially when the Democratic party's long been a victim of allegations about its lack of patriotism. Truth is, nobody wins by being nice. The Democrats need to drag this campaign as low as it can possibly go and stop only short of libel when it comes to attacking McCain if they want to muscle out a strong lead.

Remember, people don't think of Dukakis' policies. They think of Willie Horton and him in a tank.

A Perfect GOP-mum there: willing to risk health problems just to give birth to a mentally-retarded child who'll need full-time care for the rest of his shorten life (few live past 40 and if they do suffer from all sorts of degenerative diseases). Because spitting out babies is the most important thing a woman can do.

They could simply turn it around and say you're in favor of killing children with Down's Syndrome.

Trash filled with American flags...regardless of intention, which I highly doubt was anything more than an accident or bad timing, it was downright stupid to do something like that especially when the Democratic party's long been a victim of allegations about its lack of patriotism.

Truth is, nobody wins by being nice.

Well, the point I made there was, given the stupidity of the claims, it WOULDN'T be such an impossibility. :p

Also, I got nothing out of being "not nice" regarding Sarah Palin. -_-

Well, the point I made there was, given the stupidity of the claims, it WOULDN'T be such an impossibility. :p

Also, I got nothing out of being "not nice" regarding Sarah Palin. -_-

Nah, the Republicans know where to draw the line. That's how their attack ads are so effective. The Democrats just haven't nailed it down; I think they're so worried about offending people that they end up being too weak, and too many of their 527's are too far-left to really sway voters. That leaves them with the issues, which is why they can only win if they run young, charismatic candidates that can make them interesting to voters. People don't want to watch some modern-day Brezhnev drone on about tax reform and Social Security, they want to see a young man from Hope (or Chicago) talk about the economic issues and problems facing Americans in familiar language and friendly terms.

Overall, Palin is a good choice simply because she helps create a shield for McCain that is, in my opinion, far more effective than the race shield surrounding Obama. It also created disorder in the media and Obama campaigns, both of which are necessary to weaken his post-convention boost and attempt to stir up tensions in the party. The Democrats have to be very careful in their attacks on her both for racial and sexist reasons whereas McCain can pretty freely attack Obama with comparatively less fallout.

After all, what's more disturbing than a young black man brutally attacking a white woman?

Remember, people don't think of Dukakis' policies. They think of Willie Horton and him in a tank.

And those people had kids. And those kids are what we call The Perfect Reality Television Show Audience.

And those people had kids. And those kids are what we call The Perfect Reality Television Show Audience.

And it all comes full circle.

I think Obama's continuing mediocre performance is reflective of that, even though I'd say the bulk of the American people share at least some of his ideas. He really needs to take a page from the Clinton playbook and focus on economic issues as well as make himself more accessible, if only to eliminate those nagging comments about "arrogance" or "elitism". McCain doesn't have the same kind of coolness about him that seems to dog Obama, which makes it easier for people to like him whereas Obama seems to be either loved by rather unnervingly enthusiastic supporters or disliked.

Ultimately, economic issues will drive this election and likely 2012 as well, and that's where Obama is stronger. People don't want more of the same and they sure as hell don't want the "things actually aren't that bad" rhetoric used by Bush until the beginning of this year. The US economy quite frankly sucks right now, and a lot of people are feeling eight years of stagnant wages and a lower real median income several thousand dollars lower than its peak in 2000. They want something different, something that can bring them the kinds of broad-based income and employment gains seen in the 1990's. While any president certainly can't do that on their own, Obama's policies are to many people an attempt to achieve such a goal.

That being said, I think he needs to embrace Clinton's stance on free trade to bring people like me to his side; there are a lot of us in business and related fields that likely share his social ideas, but are somewhat put off by his economic ideas, many of which are good in principle but need to have better means of funding and implementation.

I can't speak for Maineiacs but there are some who actually do believe that Anne Coulter is a transvestite.

I've been going on the assumption that she's certifiably insane and a transsexual.

The Democrats have to be very careful in their attacks on her both for racial and sexist reasons whereas McCain can pretty freely attack Obama with comparatively less fallout.

After all, what's more disturbing than a young black man brutally attacking a white woman?
Which is why Biden will no doubt be doing most of the attacks, especially on her total lack of experience. Expect to see Hilary wade in and go all out.

Which is why Biden will no doubt be doing most of the attacks, especially on her total lack of experience. Expect to see Hilary wade in and go all out.

I don't think Hillary will be very active, but Biden most definitely will. McCain will continue to attack Obama, but won't be able to shield Palin from Biden in the debates. Ultimately, however, I don't think anyone wants to see another Cheney in the White House so they will be far more interested in whether the Presidential candidates are capable of being, well, Presidential. Obama needs to clearly distinguish the fact that he's in charge and that he will be the guiding hand for policy in his Administration, and if he fails to do that it will greatly unravel any progress Biden inflicts on Palin.

There's still a lot of tensions between Hillary and Barack over the primaries, so I think she'd prefer to keep her involvement to a minimum. Either way, regardless of who wins we'll either have a minority or a woman in a position of power in the executive branch of the US government, so it's not a total loss when it comes to the ongoing struggle to overcome racial and gender inequality.

And it all comes full circle.

I think Obama's continuing mediocre performance is reflective of that, even though I'd say the bulk of the American people share at least some of his ideas. He really needs to take a page from the Clinton playbook and focus on economic issues as well as make himself more accessible, if only to eliminate those nagging comments about "arrogance" or "elitism". McCain doesn't have the same kind of coolness about him that seems to dog Obama, which makes it easier for people to like him whereas Obama seems to be either loved by rather unnervingly enthusiastic supporters or disliked.

Anyone who looks at and listens to both McCain and Obama and thinks Obama is the elitist is a dumbass who wants to believe that. It doesn't matter what Obama does, they are still going to believe it. Like the dipshits that still think he is a Muslim. He could put on overalls and go pick ears of corn, people would watch it and call him an elitist.