- This topic has 228 replies, 46 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 7 months ago by
.
- Posts
I know it’s very important, but, am I alone in finding it all soooooooo boring now. Seems to have been getting mega-coverage for ages now, so much so that it has become a bore.
It is boring, it’s American. It would be funny if they elected a black president, I know a few Yanks who would be raging.
If Obama doesn’t win it will be because he’s black.
It is boring, it’s American. It would be funny if they elected a black president, I know a few Yanks who would be raging.
If Obama doesn’t win it will be because he’s black.
So everyone who votes for McCain is implicitly racist (for not voting for Obama instead)?
I hate that monodynamic thinking. You’re as backwards as any of those Southern-state, Bush-loving ‘Yanks’ that Michael Moore like to bang-on about.
I fear McCain has shot himself in the foot with the selection of an Alaskan "hockey-mum" as Vice President. Hopefully, its not fatal!
Firefox, the difference is that both Powell and Rice were unelected, and were hired by the Executive because of their allegiance to the Bush/Cheney political agenda (Powell probably less so than Rice). Neither were there to promote anything other than that agenda.
Obama represents something entirely different, and the parallel you draw is therefore inaccurate.
I do, however, have a certain sympathy with the view which suggests that Obama will likely become ‘part of the machine’, if he is elected. But I’d rather take my chances on him, than someone who has been part of the machine for decades – ‘maverick’ or not.
Let’s face it: if Morgan Freeman ran for president he would be elected.
Being Black doesn’t seem to have had a detrimental effect on the careers of numerous mainstream entertainers. And the election process is just another branch of the entertainment industry. Rap music, Will Smith, Opera Winfrey, Black president: it’s all the same.
Whenever I watch Sky News and the American reporters are saying things like ‘can America really elect a Black president?’ incredulously, it sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me… it’s like they’re trying to make this (predictable) election resemble the script for a bad movie about an underdog who succeeds ‘against the odds’, and this (‘can America really elect a Black president?’) is the exposition; and the climax is when they act all suprised when he wins, and write self-congratulating pieces about how great and liberal America is now.
This article in the Sunday Times on the convention is worth reading:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w … 639739.ece
It’s by AA Gill. He wrote this paragraph which contains a sentence you can try to write for forty years and still not succeed:
Cumulatively, these stories sound like the Yorkshireman’s sketch from Monty Python as a 12-step share. Each silky, coiffured and polished senator, congressman and governor outdoes the other with Stygian hardship. The effect is so cloyingly sentimental, it could give cynicism diabetes. But I am again the only one who finds the parade of Little Nell revelations hideously patronising. The implication being that if you don’t wind up at least as an Ivy League lawyer, then your poverty wasn’t bad enough and your dream isn’t lavish and American enough. The only person who doesn’t tell us about growing up in a bucket under the sink is Ted Kennedy, because we already know that he was born into patrician splendour paid for by illegal whisky-running during prohibition.
*swoon*
Feast on that.I haven’t got a comment on the US presidency. It’s about as relevant to me as a discussion on the agenda of Der Kompost Conference (Munchen, Aug 2008). I’m surprised it gets so much airtime, my invisible pals. [/size:1qrp5nhx]
I’d be surprised if American public elect a black president or, if they look like doing so, whether ‘America’ will allow it to happen.
The way I see it, those Americans that "aren’t ready for a black President" were never likely to vote Democrat anyway- I don’t think it will make much difference Obama being black. I did however love the totally superficial publicity stunt pulled by McCain in bringing in a young (in political terms), female running-mate.
whether ‘America’ will allow it to happen.
Surely you don’t believe in those conspiracy theories that America is controlled by a secret cabal (in this case, a secret cabal of racists) who really pull the strings behind George Bush or whatever.
The way I see it, those Americans that "aren’t ready for a black President" were never likely to vote Democrat anyway- I don’t think it will make much difference Obama being black. I did however love the totally superficial publicity stunt pulled by McCain in bringing in a young (in political terms), female running-mate.
Desperate isn’t it? It’s so obvious that he’s chasing the votes from the housewifes who supported Clinton and don’t want to move onto Obama. Daft too because McCain’s main criticism of Obama was his lack of experience; now if he uses that he will look like a hypocrite
I really don’t care who wins, as both Obama and McCain are infinitely preferable to the cretinous incumbent.
What I find sadly amusing and just a little bit chilling are the flag-waving whoopee, tears of joy and near mass-hysteria displayed at all these conventions and caucases by the American public towards something as duplicitous, self-serving and unendearing as a politician.
Tooo reminiscent of the Nuremburg Rallies for my liking
It’s by AA Gill. He wrote this paragraph which contains a sentence you can try to write for forty years and still not succeed:
Cumulatively, these stories sound like the Yorkshireman’s sketch from Monty Python as a 12-step share. Each silky, coiffured and polished senator, congressman and governor outdoes the other with Stygian hardship. The effect is so cloyingly sentimental, it could give cynicism diabetes. But I am again the only one who finds the parade of Little Nell revelations hideously patronising. The implication being that if you don’t wind up at least as an Ivy League lawyer, then your poverty wasn’t bad enough and your dream isn’t lavish and American enough. The only person who doesn’t tell us about growing up in a bucket under the sink is Ted Kennedy, because we already know that he was born into patrician splendour paid for by illegal whisky-running during prohibition.
*swoon*
Feast on that.Alongside Sir Clement’s piece on offloading Eau Good in the Post yesterday, that’s the finest thing I’ve read all weekend. Absolutely wonderful – thanks for posting it!
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
The USA in particular has made little progress in improving the lot of the majority of its black citizens, culminating in the tragedy of New Orleans. Whether the administration is Democrat or Republican, the housing projects remain, and the lack of meaningful welfare support for the poorest citizens continues to be an abhorrent abuse of human rights
Funny how asian, jewish, latino, irish, polish citizens seem to have prospered without goverment intervention (which would in itself be discriminatory and racist if simply targeted at one particular colour).
Many blacks have prospered well in the USA. Probably more so than in any country in the world today. Self help in a country which offers more opportunities than most is the key.
Obama’s weak point is his long lasting connections to Wright (and at a first remove the deeply racist Farrakhan). That is an element of black culture that the vast majority of voters will not want to touch. Maybe he has sucessfully distanced himself now, but it would have been impossible to imagine Colin Powell getting mixed up with the same bunch
Obamas other mistake is to have courted europe so enthusiastically. The sandal wearing germans in berlin and the "cheese eating surrnder monkeys" endorsements are a negative. Even liberal americans (read Thomas Friedman for example) are scathing about continentantal europes world view
Firefox, the difference is that both Powell and Rice were unelected, and were hired by the Executive because of their allegiance to the Bush/Cheney political agenda (Powell probably less so than Rice). Neither were there to promote anything other than that agenda
Completely wide of the mark.Powell not at all so. He was brought in simply because he was/is a fine administrator who is hugely respected. His views are miles away from Cheney, wolfowitz and others, who he had refered to as the "crazies"
Completely wide of the mark.Powell not at all so. He was brought in simply because he was/is a fine administrator who is hugely respected. His views are miles away from Cheney, wolfowitz and others, who he had refered to as the "crazies"
Yeah, ok – I can give you that one, I suppose.
I disagree, they were not elected .. it’s ok someone getting an office because their peers think they are good, it’s completely different when it comes to an illogical public vote.
Embarassing
Your references to Asians, Jews et al is meaningless
Of course its bloody relevant. They were discrimated minorities too FFS
Anybody who has mixed in Jewish and Asian circles here or in the States will readily tell you both such races are as adept at being racist towards African Americans as an WASP. Ditto Latino’s Irish and Poles. More worryingly, the implication of your comments appears to be that African Americans are in some way inferior to the ethnic groups you described – a very dubious and in itself racist suggestion
First part…so? Whats that got to with anything?
Second part is usual offensive crap from you. I said that in the US blacks have progressed more than most countries (as the 75% who live well above poverty lines show). Wheres that indicate that they are inferior? Did i make that suggestion about Powell?
He has tried to reinvent himself as some sort of moderate who views the Bush team as out of control, ultra right-wing bordeline Nazis
Absolute rubbish Anyone with any basic knowledge of the politics in the US will know full well that Powell was always a moderate
The USA in particular has made little progress in improving the lot of the majority of its black citizens
So you havent even heard of affirmative action then? incredible. A policy which doesnt exist in any other western country and was designed to help blacks up the ladder (and which i largely disagree with frankly, because i do not believe that they need help as Obama and his wife have shown).
it is racist to suggest that prefernetial treatment should be given to purely black neighbourhoods over any other grouping. That is the only racism on this thread
Feast on that.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.