Who they gonna use?

With that GOP primadonna Jake Tapper be slobbering all over the microphone?

I found their behavior and lack of ability to be profoundly distasteful.

And gee, I wonder so very much how they felt about you.

In my skool, there was not one AA faculty member I judged to be a real scholar

I'd say you're in a good position to judge scholarship.

I'm pretty sure Milorad's post was a joke. Um, right?

I predict that Clinton will try to be good for most of the debate but she has shown that she cannot resist the scripted lines that her staff writes for her and she will try to deliver a sharp attack or two but in a "witty" way. Like all of her previous attempts at this, I believe these lines will fall flat and show just how typical of a candidate she actually is. This will give Obama a chance again to seem more presidential by taking the high road in terms of these snarky attacks.

I do think though that he is going to have be fairly aggressive in his push back on how she has been trying to define him of late.

well, a. most AAs and all feminists hated me precisely because of my superior intellect and ability, and my lack of a tony pedigree was about their only line of possible attack, sniffing that i was just a dumb hick, and b. my spelling of "skool" is obviously sarcastic, and you're obviously too fucking stupid to recognize it as such.

well, the people who are being fooled by Obama are basically anyone who has not attended an elite law skool and witnessed how shockingly unqualified African-American students and faculty are.

Can you please be specific about "elite law schools"? Which ones do you consider "elite"?

I went to law school - I need to check on whether or not I'm an elitist.

Here's yet another thing that Sen. Obama will have to help him in the general election: he can subtly work the meme that his nomination got the nation BEYOND the Clintons (and today's polls show there would be gratitude for that) and contrast that with how the Repubs are utterly sticking to the very worst of the Bush era. There's a Change election for ya.

I don't see how Hillary will be anything but at her worst tonight.

To Bosnia and Back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exsmFDYyK4U

Interesting, McCitizen. Interesting how you've never noticed that the only idol MoDo is a groupie to is Little Miss Maureen Dowd. Nobobdy, I mean nobody the least bit literate or perspicacious, is counting on her for fluffing.

As with consuming a a whole package of NutterButters, the pleasure is short term with a considerable downside.

Oo I wish I'd said that.

eh, I consider the top 14 or so law skools to be elite to a more or lesser extent. and I was not impressed with any of my classmates, but the AAs were generally far, far less capable intellectually, and what I found offensive was that it would have been strictly verboten to query, does the persistent and far lower bar pass rate of AAs suggest that they are, in some sense i.e. ability to analyze legal issues less qualified, and hence does affirmative action i.e. admitting less qualified over more qualified students, really make sense? I'm sorry, generally, African-Americans are really not very intellectually gifted. That said, most Americans are pretty stupid, but AAs are the bottom of the barrel.

The best endorsement yet! Especially considering my avatar.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/bruce-for-barack-ohhhh-hes-the-one/

http://brucespringsteen.net/news/index.html

I'm not too surprised by this news, but I'm happy that Bruce has come out publicly. Clearly his fans have been bugging him to make a statement!

"and I was not impressed with any of my classmates, but the AAs were generally far, far less capable intellectually, and what I found offensive was that it would have been strictly verboten to query, does the persistent and far lower bar pass rate of AAs suggest that they are, in some sense i.e. ability to analyze legal issues less qualified, and hence does affirmative action i.e. admitting less qualified over more qualified students, really make sense?"

Does that sentence really make sense?

Generally I have found that people who are not impressed with anything don't have high standards, they have a discernment deficiency.

These past few days Hillary has been in the schoolmarm mode explaining to all of us unschooled Democrats and Super delegates the true meaning of Obama's elitist remarks. She cannot move away from this overly solicitous tone if she does not want to drive her negatives up even higher by going into an outright attack mode. She also cannot revive the victim mode she has previously used to great effect as the MSM has had her back on this for days. Her many "solutions" answers do not make for scintillating listening as we have heard them all too many times in too much detail. Her only hope to spark interest is to regale us with a narrative about her days lurking in a duck blind.

Obama meanwhile has an open field. He can be humorous, serious and relaxed as he expand upon his explanation of his "bitter" remarks. When he gives his lighthearted retort that Hillary is "just playing politics" he gets in a devastating zinger without appearing divisive. It also brings home his point of wanting a new kind of politics. On other questions he will do fine as his debating skills have improved with each debate.

Ah, tonight. Clinton needs to simply look and act presidential, but also tough and specific. She can not afford to give Obama a pass on his character and comments.

Obama has a tough challenge tonight. He's got a very thin tightrope to walk--avoid having to explain too many lies, misstatements and omissions as they are increasingly defining his character, or more correctly, his lack of character. He's got to state real "I get it apologies" without deflecting and blaming everyone else. He should face serious questions about racism and elitist arrogance--small town America, typical White persons, etc., new revelations about his relationship with Rezko, his overstated accomplishments in the state and U.S. Senate, his missing 2007 tax info (bugs me that for all his harping on Clinton's returns, that he failed to disclose 2007 info like Hillary did, plus apparently has not released his returns from the 90s). And so much more...

Clinton needs to keep the focus on who Obama is and is not. In addition to lies, misstatements, and omissions, the people he surrounds himself with are also reflective of his character: Wright, Meeks, Rezko...

Matthew
http://www.TheIndependentView.com

Well I'm looking forward to the debate especially since I'm in Philly. I tried to find a way to get tickets but no dice.

eh, I am well paid for my analytical and writing skills, and publications which I have written or edited are widely read by international business and government elites, and cited by the press from the FT to Vedomosti. And yes, while Americans are shockingly ignorant, and Ivy educated people have appallingly ugly prejudices against people from poor and rural America, Ivy educated AAs truly are astonishingly ignorant and yet smug. Affirmative action is a tragedy because it robs black people of incentives to excel, and it turns the few who end up at Harvard etc into unbelievable snobs.

And one thing that won't mean too much here in the primary, though Clinton has called him on it. Obama definitely was not a new figure of hope and change when he took an almost stereotypical role of liberal, elitist-thinking Democrat by going to San Francisco and in a private fundraiser expressed his disdain for small town Americans, disparaging them for their religion and other things. He also used this exclusive setting to paint them as racist, anti-immigrant, and anti-trade. He turned his nose up to them, playing against them to raise money for his campaign. Add to this his cluelessness in bowling...

Two questions: 1) Is this the image of hope and change, or just the unmasking of a typical elitist-thinking Democrat? and 2) just what does he think about the non-latte-drinking Americans in small town America?

BTW, I read a lot of comments from young people especially who used to live in small town America seconding Obama's stereotypic view of their former neighbors. Please give this some thought, do your parents, your families, and your former neighbors really cling to their religion and all?

Finally, thinking past the primaries, consider how poorly all of this plays in the general election. Obama has stuck his foot (and mouth) right into the worst of what many see Democrats as being. It's his own words and actions that will come back to defeat him and other Democrats should he be chosen the party nominee.

I'd really like to see this addressed in the debate tonight, by supporters, and by the party in the coming weeks.

Matthew
http://www.TheProblemWithObama.com

"Obama definitely was not a new figure of hope and change when he took an almost stereotypical role of liberal, elitist-thinking Democrat by going to San Francisco and in a private fundraiser expressed his disdain for small town Americans, disparaging them for their religion and other things. He also used this exclusive setting to paint them as racist, anti-immigrant, and anti-trade. He turned his nose up to them, playing against them to raise money for his campaign."

That's definitely been a winner for her so far - audiences have responded vocally. I think if she hits it hard to a national audience it could put her over the top.

"Gibson and Stephanopoulus"

Gibson is okay.

Stephanapolus is a tool. I know he's "distanced" himself from Clinton, but he's one of the cheesier news weasels out there.

p.s. Kids, don't feed the trolls!

Is there anyway I can catch this on the net - live or recorded ?

Zipperupus,

Obama's elitism and his hate and racism go hand-in-hand. They define his basic character. Obama has shown time-and-again that he is racist and hate-filled by words and association. Will he as president act on this? His elitism shows more of this hate and disdain for people, especially those living in small town America. The rest of his comments the other day showed how broad a stroke he paints. It does fit with the holier-than-thou perception that is increasingly drawn of him. Consider that he has never really apologized for any of his comments. He always deflects, often blaming others, especially the subjects of his disdain, and typically goes to reaffirm what he said in the first place. He's either so out-of-touch or has such a different view that he thinks is better that he becomes arrogant and condescending.

What is really sad and almost pathetic about this is that so many people give him a pass on his hate and racism. As well, they appear to cheer on his arrogance and elitism. Some of this simply reflects an anybody-but-Clinton sentiment, but it also shows how little progress we've made in rooting out hate and racism. The pass that Obama is given on this makes a mockery of a color-blind and sometimes politically correct society we've worked hard for. I hesitate to say politically correct as this is often misused tyranically to stifle conversation and diversity, but the point is that Obama and the attitudes, actions, and words of many of his supporters undermines what progress we've made in the past 30-50 years.

Matthew
http://www.TheIndependentView.com

Zipperupus,

And regarding Clinton. She's not perfect and I don't think any support would suggest she is. She's also made mistakes and is often embarrassed about them. But I've heard her more than once apologize and discuss these without deflecting and casting blame.

Anyway, at the end of the day, she's real, she's very clear about where her heart is and what she wants to do as president. She's got the stature and character to deliver. Compare this to Obama. He has words that often turn out to be laced with omissions, misstatements, and lies. We really do not know who he his, what are his real values and character, and we see incredibly little proof he can deliver action to back up his words.

Some people write that Obama is an empty suit. I think this is an apt conclusion though we see more and more that it is filled with hate, racism, inexperience, and lies.

And for the often disparaging comments many write, writing me off as a troll may allow you to ignore me and others who share similar views about Obama, but realize the risk you run in discounting and bullying critique of Obama with often racist, insulting, derogatory, and offensive comments and labels? You reflect poorly on yourself and the candidate you claim to support--you really help to further define him by your association.

Matthew
http://www.TheIndependentView.com

Mr. Weaver,

You answered part one of my question. I appreciate that. I can actually understand where you are coming from. The Bush ere has made us all very nervous and hostile. I have been a fan of Obama's since his keynote speech in 2004. I was a fan of Bill and Hillary since Bill first made his appearance on Arsenio Hall (Disclaimer: I was 15). What I find interesting is that the elitist comment was thrown at Bill Clinton and his wife, most especially his wife. I remember the "cookiegate" kerfluffle about Hillary's assertion of being a working woman. I found that to be incredibly strong since I was raised by a hardworking single mother. Ironically, I find kinship with Obama for a similar reason.

I thought that Bill and Hillary handled the question of character and charges of elitism with strength and grace. I remember Bill chastising President GHW Bush for the sommunist smears by quoting Bush's father, who stood up against McCarthy in the 1950s. That was a stirring moment when a Democratic politician unmasked the Atwater southern strategt if smear the queer. Bill Clinton's presidential run is what helped launch my passion for politics that stays with me to this day.

When I look at Obama, I see a grassroots politician that is backed by the hard work and small donations of hundreds of thousands of average citizens. I see that is message is not about two Americas but about one America working together to find a common solution. I feel that message in the marrow of my bones.

This recent dustup didn't bother me at all. I grew up Irish Catholic gutter trash... and if there is a bad thing to be in an Irish Catholic family, it is being a bastard. And there I was, an out of wedlock bastard son. Trust me, it is strange to be morally wrong at birth. The one thing you don't feel is elite.

Having grown up poor and in small towns all over te country, I can attest to the bitterness of small town life. Small town gossip, small town churches, small town politics, and small town sins. Reagan was king of the small town... even as factoris closed, truckers were laid off, and family land was parceled away to agribusiness (remember Farm Aid?), they still loved Ronnie. Because Ronnie told them that they were special, the silent majority. Ronnie told them he would not take away their precious guns and he would protect them from godless communists and big government liberalism. Even as their communities were being dismantled and replaced by sprawl, they CLUNG to their beliefs.

So, when I read Obama's remarks, I thought they were spot on. I remember a small town gun show, where vendors sold targets with Hillary's face on them. I have seen bumber stickers that say "liberalism is a mental illness." I have seen the ELITIST attitude of small town life.

Yet Obama is the elitist? Are small town citizens so sacrosanct that to point out that they are faith-based voters is akin to saying that they are second-class?

There are real problems, and this mocked up circus only censors these problems. This worship of the small town ethic as "true America," is absurd and a refuge for scoundrels. There, I've said it: Hillary is using small town pride as a refuge from which to cast stones. This makes her an opportunist, and worse, it betrays the legacy that she helped enact: the legacy of the independent hard-working woman.