2008 Presidential primaries thread

[Dids]

"Does anyone think being a smoker will hurt Obama? I've seen it mentioned here before. In todays day and age this is a pretty bad message to send home with soccer moms who are looking for a role model in their candidate."

I think even the retarded American electorate is smart enough to ignore stuff like that, and those that aren't make up a meaningless % of voters.

I would also hope it's true that if Bush's coke use and drinking weren't a problem, that smoking wouldn't be as well.

[jackdaniels]

I didn't realize he quit. Good for him (and his candidacy).

Dids: I don't belive Bush ever admitted to his coke use. Also, he quit drinking many years before he ran for POTUS and it was STILL brought up. While smoking is not as problematic as drinking (or drug use) obviously, the problem is that smoking decreases the "sexy" factor of a candidate. He instantly becomes someone who cannot quit (read: weak) or doesn't want to quit (faced with all the evidence out there about smoking - read: stupid) - either way, it is someone soccer moms don't want their kids to emulate. For right or wrong, the POTUS is a role model to many Americans and the right person for the job (which is much more than a ceremonial role model) is often skipped in favour of the person who "looks better, smells better and sells better". Smoking, these days, is a problem for any candidate. If Obama is not successful with quitting, any papparazi coming up with a pic of him puffing away will likely put a serious dent into Obama's campaign.

[Dids]

Bush all but admitted it, and it's pretty much public knowledge.

I think the object lesson here is that everybody understands people [censored] around when they're young. What kills you is when you BS about fessing up. That's something that Bush did better than Clinton did, and one of the big things that haunts Clinton's legacy.

[Aloysius]

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Does anyone think being a smoker will hurt Obama? I've seen it mentioned here before. In todays day and age this is a pretty bad message to send home with soccer moms who are looking for a role model in their candidate.

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It might, but he did recently quit.

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Here is one writer's take on Obama's smoking habit - "Smoker's Voice: How Obama's filthy habit could win him the presidency"

It's in Slate - which, I mentioned is notorious for spin... this is just my sense of it from being an occasional reader of the mag. Also what my buddy (who was an editor there for a while), and my bro (who used to FL there) said - that they are pretty lefty-agenda driven.

-Al

[Your Mom]

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I'm sure you also think that the first blogger is ridiculous as well, right?

Well, I wouldn't say ridiculous, and my opinion is based more on her reflexive "feminism" than for her comments on Catholics. She's tediously controversial. O'Reilly's a lying douchebag.

I don't have to find someone on the left ridiculous to be right in seeing someone on the Right as the same. But if you're working yourself into some kind of hellacious hissy fit, don't let me stop you.

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Haha, anyone who says something derogatory about Christianity, in this case Catholics specifically, is "controversial." Give me a [censored] break. If I made a reference to putting Jews in the pizza oven, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be controversial. I'd be an anti-semetic bigot. If you're okay with your president or potential president employing these kind of people, then by all means, proceed. The fact that these people wrote these kind of things before Edwards hired them makes it worse, not better.

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How is "putting Jews in the pizza oven" the same as making a joke about the semen of the holy spirit? One is about murdering people, one is not.

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Prob not the same thing. I just think we can criticize religious views without thinking of the most disgusting thing possible to make our point.

[guids]

Personally, I think Obama's smoking is actually pretty cool, not becuase smoking is cool, and I know smoking is dumb, etc, but for some reason, it makes him seem more human, I cant explain why, but the image of the president in teh oval office, having a smoke in this age of PC crap, while mulling over some tough decision is kind of old school. I realize this makes no sense, but whatever.

[jackdaniels]

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Bush all but admitted it, and it's pretty much public knowledge.


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I very much doubt this is the case. If you polled the US general population you would prolly find that those who believe he did Cocaine in the past are either on the left or disaffected, non-voting members of the public.

Bush followed Shaggy's advice and kept saying "It wasn't me!". I would wager his candidacy (or at the very least, his presidency) would go differently if he was caught lying or came out and said he used to snort teh blow.

[nyc999]

New McCain video going around, getting tons of views:

"The Real McCain"

Just a note: I'm sure this type of video could be made for several politicians on the right and left. With that said, this one was made and could sway a few opinions.

[Aloysius]

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New McCain video going around, getting tons of views:

"The Real McCain"

Just a note: I'm sure this type of video could be made for several politicians on the right and left. With that said, this one was made and could sway a few opinions.

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Haha - nice vid. Reminded me of this article in Atlantic couple issues ago - Untruth and Consequences: Why Presidents Lie

Article traces Presidential lying, and the reasons for it (e.g. FDR lying about his health during WWII) - and how Bush doesn't seem to fit the typical mold.

-Al

[El Diablo]

All,

Keep discussion on the candidates and upcoming races, please.

No more posts on media bias.

No more posts on Iraq.

If one of you wants to start a media bias thread, I think that would be a great thread.

There's an existing thread on Iraq by iron. If it makes sense to post more in that, great, otherwise someone should start a new Iraq thread if there's a new direction to discuss.