Oh, I do. I’d start with parents who don’t think it’s their job to act like parents. Far more important to be popular with the kids than to actually require them to become responsible thinking adults.

You know, parents as politicians.

We could start by pulling MTV off the air (at the very least going back to showing just videos) and imposing a moratorium on “Reality TV.”
I don’t think there is anything more responsible for the dumbing down of our youth.

I think the GOP will keep a lot of support simply from those folks that support their ideology in theory but haven’t necessarily kept up on how badly the current group has applied it. There are plenty of people out there with neither the time nor the inclination to stay informed about national politics but will vote Republican because they hear “I don’t need the government running my life,” “We have to support the troops,” “The Republican Party is the party of tradition, religion, and family values,” etc. – i.e. those who will buy the myths that all those positions are inconsistent with the Democratic party’s platform. Then there are those who are either politically uninvolved or indifferent except for one or two alpha issues, usually abortion or the war or gay marriage.

In short, I don’t think it’s necessarily fair to call McCain voters idiots. That’s a FAR too broad brush. It’s more like – in my experience, at least – principle tends to supercede pragmatism for them. They’ll say “It’s just wrong to take more money from the rich, it just is,” while I’ll say “They can bloody afford it – unlike that guy at the bottom.”

I agree, absolutely. The only exceptions being made for those (typically rich, typically right wing) who actually benefited from the Bush years. Although even for those select few there has been a cost which, while not affecting their pocketbooks immediately directly, has certainly been to their detriment.

This, if nothing else, is why the Democrats should be all over improving education in this country. I know politicians fear an informed electorate capable of critical thinking. But it certainly seems the more educated tend to skew left.

You seem utterly unwilling to face teh possibility that he might win. Or that the economy is not strong. Or that Palin isn’t qualified to be the President-in-waiting. Or many other bits of reality.

That didn’t take long.

Frank, if Obama loses, I won’t be upset because HE lost. I will be upset because the open homosexuals, women, and Iraqis lost. I’m not concerned about Obama, he can handle the loss. I’m more concerned about the people the McCain administration will hurt.

For my part, an Obama loss to McCain in November will result in me becoming even more cynical and disillusioned with the political process and with my faith in our electorate. I’m not going anywhere, I’m not moving to Canada, I’m not going to stop voting, etc. However, if the electorate actually votes McCain into office… whew… I will just have confirmatory evidence that people in this country are, by and large, tremendous idiots. And I don’t really want to feel that way… I want to be proven wrong.

“Wow, what an elitist statement. You think that you’re better than regular folks?”

In this respect, yes I do. I submit that anyone who thought that Bush was the best candidate in 2004 is an idiot. I submit that anyone who is going to vote for McCain in this election is an idiot. I am not an idiot. I don’t want the populace to be, either.

I guess that this is all a long way of saying that if McCain wins in November, I will puke, then hug the toilet and weep.

What a pity.

You seem to be unable to face even the possibility that Obama might lose …

So I leave you with a quote from someone speculating on what it might mean if he DOES lose :

I hope that I’ll take to heart the wisdom offered by two of my students. “Obama losing,” one wrote, “would be hurtful, but it still spells substantial progress. . . . Change WILL come — the wheels have been set in motion.” Declared the second: “Sometimes you have to believe in the change before it comes (and in the face of its apparent defeat) for the change to be possible.”

Even if Barack Obama loses in November, he will have bequeathed to all America something that should bring comfort and pride to even the most disappointed of his followers. He has reached the edge of the pinnacle. And shown that we can stand atop it.

rkennedy@law.harvard.edu

Randall Kennedy is a professor of law at Harvard University and the author, most recently, of “Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal.”

Or rich already.

Bruce Henry: If McCain wins this election, I’m f**king giving up on this country.

So what, exactly, does that translate into? I’m just curious. Many folks have made similar comments in the past (i.e., 4 years ago) and/or threatened to leave, for example. But I’m pretty sure everyone of ‘em is still here.

So, anyway, if Bush McCain wins what does “giving up on the country” actually mean you’ll do?

Duros: Yes.

But let’s stop whining.