Politics 2008:The Caucuses and The Dem/Rep Conventions

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by TotallyWicked

i'm spreading this like wildfire..we got down to this tune in celebration of this historical moment..don't front like you don't like it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiUxCfh6DMU

Hmm I must be the only one in the world who hates this song.

I concur with those who thought Michelle's dress was not that attractive. I can definitely say that I've seen her in much nicer clothes.

I confess I was a little ignorant today. Not over the top, but I definitely was giving certain people the aha look. If you had walked into my law class today, judging from the expression on some of the faces, you would have thought that someone had died. It was ridiculous. One of them even rolled her eyes and declared, "MY hope is in God. This country is really going to be in for a mess." I said, "honey, my hope was in God too...that's why Obama is our next president."

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

At first, I didn't like Michelle's dress, but after a while, it grew on me. She had on a shrug/bolero and that took away from the dress. Without it, the dress was actually nice. I guess it comes down to particular taste.

EVERYBODY is talking about that dress! http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2...as-an-opinion/

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Hmm I must be the only one in the world who hates this song.

I concur with those who thought my Soror's dress was not that attractive. I can definitely say that I've seen her in much nicer clothes.

I confess I was a little ignorant today. Not over the top, but I definitely was giving certain people the aha look. If you had walked into my law class today, judging from the expression on some of the faces, you would have thought that someone had died. It was ridiculous. One of them even rolled her eyes and declared, "MY hope is in God. This country is really going to be in for a mess." I said, "honey, my hope was in God too...that's why Obama is our next president."

Seriously, SOME people are really killing me with their reactions. But I'm glad though. I know these reactions are because they perceive this as a threat to their "white privilege" (which many deny that doesn't exist) but I know better.

It's all fun and games until someone loses an....election!

[AKA2D '91]

Originally Posted by darling1

So how many of us will be in DC Jan 09. I will be there with bells on !!!!!!!

To see Jesse in tears, to see young black men at Spelman cheering. It's too much!!

I missed the last trip to DC, but not this time....
I'm there... Jan 20-22!

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Hmm I must be the only one in the world who hates this song.

I concur with those who thought my Soror's dress was not that attractive. I can definitely say that I've seen her in much nicer clothes.

I confess I was a little ignorant today. Not over the top, but I definitely was giving certain people the aha look. If you had walked into my law class today, judging from the expression on some of the faces, you would have thought that someone had died. It was ridiculous. One of them even rolled her eyes and declared, "MY hope is in God. This country is really going to be in for a mess." I said, "honey, my hope was in God too...that's why Obama is our next president."

Did I miss something? Has Michelle Obama taken the oath? If so, congrats! If not...

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by Honeykiss1974

Seriously, SOME people are really killing me with their reactions. But I'm glad though. I know these reactions are because they perceive this as a threat to their "white privilege" (which many deny that doesn't exist) but I know better.

It's all fun and games until someone loses an....election!

I know what you mean. I work in a big corporate office and until Nov. 5th, all anyone could talk about was the election. I walked in on Nov. 5th and it was the day after the O.J. trial all over again. Nothing but silence except for lots of whispering and side conversations going on. Some people who usually speak to me weren't speaking. It was ridiculous!!! A Black colleague of mine even told me she heard racial slurs in her department and I heard someone speak of assassination and then laugh. Even though they didn't vote for Obama (obviously), they could still be proud of how far the country has come. Sometimes I think that there are some people (maybe many) that could care less how far the country has come. If it were up to them, we might still be picking cotton....

[SummerChild]

Thanks. All this time, I had the impression that it was more of a "you felt more comfortable with the state governance than with the fed governance" thing but now I see. It's based on what you think is the proper allocation of power. Do you think that Republicans also use this as their basis for lobbying for things like abortion to be controlled by the state? This is interesting.

I guess that my gut reaction (setting aside the idea of what the balance of powers should be) is that, based on history, I would rather the feds take control over almost any issue, than the states. All throughout history, the states have had to be "checked" in some sense - when it comes to the treatment of African-Americans, for example. I don't think that I trust the states to get it right.

Interesting viewpoint,
SC

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

I am in favor of state control, because even under state control I am guaranteed my basic rights, freedoms, and liberties as I would under the federal government. The states simply have the right to exercise general powers (with several exceptions), whereas the federal government only had limited powers, again reserved only to what was enumerated in the Constitution.

As far as the basis of my understanding of the Constitution and whether it is a personal understanding of the document, I'm not sure where you're coming from. My basis of understanding as opposed to what other basis?



Again, it is as a means of checks and balances to prevent any possible abuse of legislative power while preserving the rights of the people and of the states.



I hope this sums up your post in a nutshell, but as previously mentioned, the states have general powers, while the federal government have limited powers. However, our Constitution includes stopgaps to prevent the state government from overstepping its bounds and arbitraily infringing on the rights of the people. Essentially, what the federal government is doing (exercising general powers) is actually what the state governments should be doing, but not to the point of infringing on our civil liberties, which is what the federal government is doing.

So this issue is all a matter of recognition and respect of our basic human rights through the freedoms and liberties we exercise as allowed by our United States Constitution, the balancing of power between federal and state to preserve such rights and freedoms, and the enforcement of the Constitution to prevent infringement of such rights.

In 2008 the Constitution has been largely disregarded and/or manipulated to serve the federal government's own selfish ends, hence the numerous dilemmas our country is in today. My vote for Ron Paul served as an appeal for someone to actively (not passively or flippantly) restore our government to follow the laws as enumerated in our Constitution. I can say in all but absolute certainty that Obama and McCain has not addressed this core issue to a lot of America's problems at all.

And THAT is my primary point of contention.



You're quite welcome.

KAP

[SummerChild]

I agree with the picking cotton statement. When I walked into my firm on Wednesday, I could hear a pin drop all day long. I thought it was hilarious. I laughed and cried all day long. I even had the pleasure of going into one of the partner's offices to ask him about one of the cases. He didn't want to talk about the case ... or anything else at that moment in time - clearly, he hadn't voted for President-Elect Obama. I could barely keep myself from smirking ... esp b/c he knows that he was my professor and I'm a supporter. LOLOLOLOL.

It's really a shame though, when you think about just how small-minded some people are and how there is a cloud of elitism in this country for some. It is almost as if "how dare he beat one of us." It's ridiculous. The United States really needs to realize that it is one of the FEW countries in the world that maintain racism to the level that we do. The other countries in the world had backed President-Elect Obama MONTHS ago ... and was wondering what OUR problem was - why the race was STILL so close. Tsk, tsk. GET.OVER.YOURSELVES. And they call themselves Americans. Tsk, tsk.

I am proud, however, that CLEARLY he amassed votes of people of all races, religions and creeds in order to whip Mr. McCain like he did. Obviously, America has grown SOME.

I gotta book me a hotel room in D.C. before the prices shoot up.

ETA:
Is anyone thinking about going to the swearing in, an inaugural ball or the inaugural parade? Does anyone know if the websites selling tix are legit?

SC

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I know what you mean. I work in a big corporate office and until Nov. 5th, all anyone could talk about was the election. I walked in on Nov. 5th and it was the day after the O.J. trial all over again. Nothing but silence except for lots of whispering and side conversations going on. Some people who usually speak to me weren't speaking. It was ridiculous!!! A Black colleague of mine even told me she heard racial slurs in her department and I heard someone speak of assassination and then laugh. Even though they didn't vote for Obama (obviously), they could still be proud of how far the country has come. Sometimes I think that there are some people (maybe many) that could care less how far the country has come. If it were up to them, we might still be picking cotton....

[TonyB06]

The election of Barack Obama as president has been interesting on many levels. The depth of my emotions, setting aside the politics/policy aspect of this, is still something I'm tripping about.

Clearly barriers have been broken and the possibility of reconciliation and bridge-building on many levels is possible.

Still, none of us should be naive enough to assume that the problems which have plagued the nation since its founding are gone because of one election. But I think Obama's election affords us all a chance to take a fresh look at ourselves and each other -- our perceptions, our ideas, our ability to reach out for concensus, while remaining true to what we value.

Props to President-Elect Barack Obama. May God bless you and keep you and your family safe as you lead the nation.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Did I miss something? Has Michelle Obama taken the oath? If so, congrats! If not...

My mistake... she's not a Soror

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

I agree with the picking cotton statement. When I walked into my firm on Wednesday, I could hear a pin drop all day long. I thought it was hilarious. I laughed and cried all day long. I even had the pleasure of going into one of the partner's offices to ask him about one of the cases. He didn't want to talk about the case ... or anything else at that moment in time - clearly, he hadn't voted for President-Elect Obama. I could barely keep myself from smirking ... esp b/c he knows that he was my professor and I'm a supporter. LOLOLOLOL.

It's really a shame though, when you think about just how small-minded some people are and how there is a cloud of elitism in this country for some. It is almost as if "how dare he beat one of us." It's ridiculous. The United States really needs to realize that it is one of the FEW countries in the world that maintain racism to the level that we do. The other countries in the world had backed President-Elect Obama MONTHS ago ... and was wondering what OUR problem was - why the race was STILL so close. Tsk, tsk. GET.OVER.YOURSELVES. And they call themselves Americans. Tsk, tsk.

I am proud, however, that CLEARLY he amassed votes of people of all races, religions and creeds in order to whip Mr. McCain like he did. Obviously, America has grown SOME.

I gotta book me a hotel room in D.C. before the prices shoot up.

ETA:
Is anyone thinking about going to the swearing in, an inaugural ball or the inaugural parade? Does anyone know if the websites selling tix are legit?

SC

WELL said.

All day at school people were walking around as if someone died. It's absurd. Apparently "they" really have this notion that we aren't supposed to have ANYTHING. It's sickening. And you are right about other countries.

As for the websites selling tickets, some Sorors sent out an email saying that the sites are NOT legit. The only way to get legitimate tickets is through your congressional representative.

I really want to go, but I'm concerned it will be too much for me physically to go considering the crowds and all the walking and the weather.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

Still, none of us should be naive enough to assume that the problems which have plagued the nation since its founding are gone because of one election.

I was rolling my eyes at some of the commentators over the past few days who were seriously talking about how we have achieved post-racialism.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

As for the websites selling tickets, some Sorors sent out an email saying that the sites are NOT legit. The only way to get legitimate tickets is through your congressional representative.

Pardon the crash, I just wanted to pass on this link for info. about the Inaugural events: http://inaugural.senate.gov/index.cfm Contact your Congressman and Senators' offices for FREE tickets before you consider spending any money on the reseller sites (I think "unwanted" tickets will be too sparse to have many on the secondary market anyway). An article in the Washington Post today said the hotels are filling up fast, too!

/end crash

[Honeykiss1974]

Fortunately, in my workplace, people have been happy and talking about how great it is. It's the MCCain people that are quiet and silent as a church mouse.

In fact, myself and 4 other co-workers spent 2 hours over lunch hunting for newspapers and taking them to Kinkos to get laminated on Nov. 5th. Maybe its because the majority of my workplace is under 35.

Even our VP was talking about how great Obama was (and she is under 40).

[TonyB06]

Let the record show that at 2:43 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2008, I saw the following web/bumper sticker: "Impeach Obama."

Some people, apparently, may be off the hinge, for real.