We take especial delight in confounding folks by voting our interests instead of preconceived prejudices. To wit:
"There’s a lot of people out there think you’re a bunch of inbred, redneck racists," he told a couple dozen people wearing union hats and jackets. "They say you won’t vote for a man who’s black."
"The rest of the country thought when Kennedy ran we were a bunch of ignorant, inbred religious bigots," he said. "They were wrong, and we made Kennedy president."
As a local judicial candidate spoke in Logan, two of the politicians wandered off to marvel at the scene taking place behind them. There, a polite, black former Marine, Mitchell Cook, was handing blue Obama bumper stickers and yard signs to drivers pulling into the mall and was even attaching the bumper stickers himself to some of the pickups and battered two-doors.
Lawn signs are sprouting up here like weeds — lots of McCain/Palin signs, but a whole bunch of corresponding Obama/Biden ones in the mix. We had trouble getting Obama signs for the longest time — we were off the campaign radar map far too long, but we’ve gotten signs more recently, and folks are making good use of them.
And WV is definitely back on the competitive map and Obama campaign radar.
That Obama Wisconsin lead is bigger than McCain’s West Virginia edge is striking. Think about it: Who would have guessed that at this point in time in the campaign, Obama would have a better shot at winning West Virginia than McCain does in Wisconsin.
Add to that the fact that Obama has 14 satellite offices around the state and several paid staff members as well as droves of volunteers contrasted with only one paid staffer for McCain? And a recent additional ad buy within the state on top of surrounding state ads that have been playing for weeks? You begin to see why the polls are tightening here…and you can start with fears about the economy as the catalyst.
Speaking of fears, McCain might want to call off his campaign hecklers at early voting locations. That could result in criminal detention and possible charges if they keep it up.
WVBlue has some great snapshots from the recent tour of Southern coalfields and Dem strongholds in WV that local Democratic politicians and union leaders just concluded. And reports are that Sen. Joe Biden will be in Charleston on Friday — I’m working on a press pass and hope to have on-the-spot reportage if I can get one.
FiveThirtyEight finally hit WV in their battleground analysis and the bottom line comes down to one thing: turnout. Which is true for most states at this point. So get out there and make some calls or do some canvassing for a candidate of your choice!
(YouTube — From an Obama rally in Charleston, WV last week.)
Related posts:
- Election 2009: What Happened in Virginia?
- A Union Man Ponders the Democrats’ Collapse in the Virginia Elections
- Gubernatorial Candidate Creigh Deeds Offers to “Opt Out” Virginia from Public Option
- Ceci Connolly Was the “Play” in the Washington Post’s Pay-to-Play Dinner Scheme
- Prairie Humanism and the Politics of the West
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wow, who woulda thought? yippee!
Have been hoping you would post about where things are in WV Christy!
Sounds great and BTW,a hearty (albeit belated) Happy BD. Glad to hear you had a good day.
Hope you get the press pass Christy. That rally should be a lot of fun.
In NYC, the only time we ever see the prez is when he makes a speech at the U.N. You’d never know there was a prez election this year in NYS. No campaigning whatsoever.
But is it the REAL West Virginia?
Lots of Skynard lovers in Northern Illinois Sarah’s future son in law claims to be a redneck, Joe the Plumber might also claim that mantel.
Jeff Foxworthy should do some jokes about, You might not be RedNeck if you can afford a few hundred books for new hockey equipment.
Or if you know GOP talking points better than you know plumbing.
check out this awesome video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1exiyBYnJ00
Go West Virginia!
Agree re NYS but am not sure I’m enjoying now living in a battleground state. It’s impossible to get away from the whinings of McCain/Palin.
Throw in the scurrilous Dole ads and and I could throw up.
Am getting all of my news on the PC. Television is virtually unwatchable.
Why wait?
Heya — yeah, had a great birthday weekend. Was fantastic to have Mr. ReddHedd home again. The Peanut and Grandpa have been playing with walkie talkies. *G*
We’ve had a few early voting machine hiccups, but I think WV is still in play in a lot of respects. Biden coming on Friday is a good move.
What is John spending his money on if Obama takes a few Southern states then Obama will appear legit to the rest of the country.
McCain has been trying to say Obama that regular America won’t vote for him.
Wins in the South will undercut every George Will, Pat Buchanan GOP talking point about how Obama doesn’t represent real America.
Thus far, at least in that particular jurisdiction, the local sheriff hasn’t seen something that rises to the level of arrest. But I think it comes close, and would suspect that folks may start calling the local prosecutor’s office if this keeps up…
I’m so glad to hear this. I have a dear friend in KY. She owns the only food store in a tiny burgh there and had been telling me it seemed pretty split, up until about 2 weeks ago. It seems McConnell has ticked off so many people with his war on SCHIP that the talk by the wood stove in the store is ALL about kicking him out, and how Obama is going to be the winner down south.
I read and hear these things, and I think that we are not really SO divided in this country. MSM just likes to push that line.
Colorado is deep pure brilliant blue, I can tell you now. The only McCain/Palin signs I see are on the foreclosed houses and properties. I can’t explain that, but Obi’s signs are EVERYWHERE!
GO OBAMA.
:D
and Thanks for this Christy! It just made my day!
EPU’D from the last thread, but I ‘m hopping mad about this so… OT:
Ghouliani has been asking “who was Obama’s drug dealer?’ The answer to this from every Obama spokesperson should be: “Gee… I don’t know. Who was Cindy McCain’s? Oh… that’s right… her charity.”
EPU But now there are death threats by the Hate Talk Express.
Sorry
Should read
Jeff Foxworthy should do some jokes about, You might not be RedNeck if you can afford a few hundred bucks for new hockey equipment.
Things to do to keep your sanity. Tape Rachel and watch that in the morning instead of local channels or MSM. Most networks have episodes of their shows on line, i.e I just started watching Heroes on line. Read a book, play music or just go for a walk. Of course vote early.
I expect no less from Ghouliani. He is simply scum…of the lowest order…..primordial ooze.
yes..the campaign is mobilized in WV, ND, and GA I heard. Georgia!
Any more news on the rethug anti-voter terrorism in NC?
Dugg!
and happily so!
I hope so. This kind of behavior needs to be nipped in the bud.
West Virginia is a blue state that got lost. In spite of prejudice, Obama is the man to bring them back into the fold.
Just disgusting. I’m afraid that I won’t make it to the election. My head is going to explode.
EPU from downstairs. with a broken heart, I post this story. Please all of you be careful
Ha! beat me too it, busted…
and I am so sorry I missed your Bday, Christy! Belated Many happy returns of the day -
Have already voted in NC. It was a wonderful experience…well organized, informative poll workers — no hecklers at the polls.
Went from the polls to the local Obama headquarters and was finally able to get a sign. If the organization/enthusiasm of this locality is any indication of O’s national ground game, no wonder the Rethugs are so cranky. *g*
Some neighbors of ours who had a big Obama sign in their front yard for the primary got letters from people saying they would pray for them, because Obama was the antichrist. I kid you not.
Reports about early voting in Florida have some polling places with as many as 1500 people in line. Maybe it will be better than the pathetic 11% turnout for the congressional/local primary in August.
Vandalism is simply a method to keep people away from the polls. It’s not going to work this time.
Sorry to go OT, I can’t fins a MSM confirmation of this story about one of our warships being on fire in the Persian Gulf.
Anyone else heard anything?
I have two links but I can’t confirm.
http://www.congresscheck.com/2…..sian-gulf/
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.a…..=351020205
let’s hope that the brownshirts don’t harass them
They’ll catch these scumbags because they won’t be able to keep their stooooopid mouths shut. They’ll just have to brag about it and somebody will drop a dime on them. Then the justice system needs to drop a million ton shit hammer on them.
This is an especially nauseating example of the emerging national pattern of criminal behavior directed at Obama and his supporters. Hopefully the disease comes with a cure.
letters that had a Villa Park Village Hall return address.
Brilliant.
Illinois is another battleground state where . . . well really not so much, although we do get ads because of the spillover into Indiana so we can pretend.
I hope so. That they would do such a thing to an innocent animal and then that it is aiomed at Obama and all the brownshirt stuff going on (tires slashed, threatening letters and phone calls), a sense of dread is coming over me
for SD @ 32
I don’t know.. intimidating voters AT THE POLLS and slashing their tires, while they’re there, isn’t merely vandalism. It’s directed violence, intended to advance a political agenda by fomenting fear. In a word, domestic terrorism. The people doing it should be prosecuted accordingly.
People will not take kindly to killing an innocent animal no matter what their own politics are. Whoever did this is as dumb as a bag of hammers.
I am enraged at this behavior by the campaign. they have opened a pandora’s box that they cannot control and that could lead to someone besides animals losing their life. It is beyond irresponsible. The sooner these people are out of office, power and utterly destroyed, the better
Happy belated B-Day, Christy! It’s just plain odd up here in Putnam County New York. This is Uppercoplandia and the natives compete fiercely for all of the local political seats. During election season the signs are thick along the roadsides and at intersections. This year… not many at all. Nothing on lawns anywhere. No Obama or McCain signs to be found. No bumper stickers in the parking lot of the Shop-Rite. I think no one wants to show their hand because they are afraid it waill cause a rift with their neighbors. It’s truly the dead calm before the storm.
Just all you be careful out there.
I agree — that sort of idiocy does not happen in the county where I live precisely because the local prosecutor would have their asses hauled into a cell to cool off for a while. And people know it wouldn’t be tolerated. You can stand several hundred feet away and hold signs. But harassing people on the way to vote is intolerable in my book.
But I don’t live in Princeton, WV, where the heckling occurred, so I can’t tell you if this is usual stupidity or not…
Oh Christy I must have missed that it was your birthday. Parabens! (congrats) and Feliz Aniversário!!!! I hope it was wonderful.
Thank you, muchly. It was a lovely birthday.
A friend of mine teaches at the local Xian school. You can imagine just what a McShame/Plain [sic] place that is.
He was called into the headmaster’s office a couple of weeks ago and told to keep his political views to himself. I asked him last night if he was going to wear an Obama button on election day. He looked a little morose and said, “I’d love to, but I wouldn’t dare to.”
amerika
I’m the only mom in the parking lot at The Peanut’s school with an Obama sticker, even though I know there are a few more Dems who take their kids there. It’s a private school because The Peanut needed a smaller class size, and we knew there would be things that came up as questions as we went forward — lots of Catholics for McCain stickers.
It gives me a chuckle to pull into the parking lot and be the heathen momma. *G* Didn’t expect to have that crop up so early…
There have been hints that Arizona might be in play too…… The last poll was with Obama within 4% of McCain…… which was within the margin of error….. that was about a month ago and just wonder if someone with strings and power killed any story…..
the other day I saw my first Mcain/Palin bumper sticker here in AZ….. on a Lexis no less…..
This will make national news and I’m gonna predict the fenderheads will be in custody by the end of next week. It’s almost 12 hours after the cub was found and there’s no tellin’ how many people these bozos have bragged to about it. They’re more than likely very young and just won’t be able to keep it to themselves and somebody will overhear it or get it second hand. It is never bear season for cubs. The wildlife folks will be on this toot sweet.
Hello, sleezeball bigot, I’m detective Jones and I’d like to ask you a few questions.
check out Ari’s note at Oxdown
In the south that’s “all y’all” *g*
Suspected sleazeball bigot.
The fact that McCain’s been back to do events in AZ more than once the last few months I pretty telling, I think. And wouldn’t that be an exceptionally humiliating moment? That’s approaching Bob Dole territory, right there…
*G* well all y’all be careful out there
It’s up to us not to let them. It’s important to call law enforcement officials and let them help. They aren’t thugs they are home grown terrorists and it’s going to get worse. We need to do our part to get out the vote and encourage supporters to vote early, if their state allows. John Lewis was correct would he told McCain to tone it down.
Exactly so — it is never, EVER season for cubs. Those are some seriously screwed up assholes, I have to say. I come from a family that takes its hunting seriously, and my father would beat the living crap out of those folks with his bare hands for pulling a stunt like that with a cub. Unbelievably stupid and shitty…
Fitting, since McCain has spent his entire life on the dole….
Happy Birthday Christy, Glad that you had such a special day. I figure that Powell’s comments about McCain’s campaign was the frosting on the cake for you.
I was at a rehearsal and saw a friend and his wife with McShame/Plain stickers on their shirts. I know them to be thinking folk and I was so surprised I said, “You’ve got to be kidding. That’s a joke, right?”
It wasn’t.
After I thought about it for a bit, I figured it out. They are fervent Catholics, and they’re single issue voters. They don’t like McCain (both said precisely that), so they’re going to vote based on abortion stances.
What can you do?
*sigh* Single-issue voters annoy me.
not much you can do
why had Romney been labeled on MSNBC as the former democratic gov from Mass.?
I do hope it is a clarifying moment for Colin Powell to realize that now that he’s no longer on GOP message he’s been reduced to just another N-word by many in the far right opinionatti.
-G
Tell them it is not an issue because nothing is going to change regardless of who wins. Rethugs realize that if abortion was made illegal they would lose 1/2 of their base and have no interest in seeing that happen.
The Obama campaign is working really hard here….. We have a “Tour Bus” Campaign bus that has been traveling the state….. Obama offices are popping up all over the place…. Have seen way more Obama bumper stickers here and just Saturday that I saw my first McCain one…….
Thankfully the W04 bumper stickers seemed to have disappeared…… the last one I commented on in the parking lot to the car driver……
me – “so what do you think of your guy there” pointing to the sticker……
driver – “oh, just bought the car, been meaning to remove it”
Or you can watch Democracy Now! in the AM. Come to think of it, watch Democracy Now in the AM, and Maddow in the afternoon/evening. And if Democracy Now ain’t on your TeeVee, you can watch it on the toobz.
Bob in HI
I thought it was only Faux News that liked that trick. Still, the Mittster has flip-flopped so many times that mistakes are bound to be made.
don’t kid yourself, that is all he ever was. he was just tolerated because of his political views and penchant to do as he was told
Wayne LaPierre learned it the hard way when 440 West By God Virginia Coal Miners took a sick day rather than be used in an Anti-Obama commerical
I love me some Mountaineers !
I just hope the people who faced foreclosure due to the democrat’s (intentional) errors with Fannie and Freddie (By the way… who received the 1st and 2nd largest politcal “donations” from these two special interest groups??)….
Anyhow.. I just hope the people who had to sell their homes, land and/or cars just to beat foreclosure realize that Obama’s CAPITAL GAINS TAX is going to hit them hard…
Talk about adding insult to injury!!! You lose your home or car, sell it under the value to avoid foreclosure and now Obama wants you to PAY A HIGHER capital gains tax on it!!! Talk about total BS!!!
NObama!
that was for Greg @ 64
Me too, Puma.
The problem with Catholics is that they generally don’t know their bible well enough to really understand that abortion never appears in the gospels. Anywhere. In the OT, when things like it are mentioned (like causing a miscarriage) the prescribed penalties are weighted.
It’s not nearly as cut-and-dried as the Bishop’s Conference and the Vatican would like it to be. Oh, wait, it IS that cut-and-dried, because Pope Paul VI spoke ex cathedra on the matter.
I cannot even browse through Reddit without more and more unbelievable insanity. Would you believe that Obama is a Muslim Commie. There are bumper stickers to prove it. These are lunatics, but they must have some organization to get these, hammer and sickle (with a crescent) bumper stickers. This is a pile of warm steaming macaca, stinks of KKKarl Rove.
Right. Point out that Bush had both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court in his pocket for a while there, and he never even tried to move an abortion ban. Then stand back while the heads explode.
woof woof
sweet!
Sometimes, you just have to say to yourself “people are stupid” and let it go.
Yep….. Hows tricks?
“Look, Martha, we caught another one.”
I’m an emotional heap today (yesterday as well but much less snippy ) *g* How are you?
who is Rudy’s Dung Dealer ?
for katy @ 79
hehe
Hang on there, hoss.
If you sell a house and lose money on the deal, there’s no capital gain and (therefore) no tax to be paid. There’s no way you can sell a car (antiques and exotica excepted and few of us own those things) and make a profit unless you’re a dealer. In that case it’s your business, and it’s inventory and not subject to capital gains.
This story needs to be looked into.
I can only imagine that “Muslims for McCain” is a pretty small organization.
-G
Geez, Junior, get a clue. With the stock market in the toilet there are no capital gains. As for Fannie and Freddie, did you miss the fact that the Republicans were in control of the White House for the last 8 years and Congress most of that time? Why didn’t they do anything then? Oh right, because this is a fake issue.
a little puny… toss it back
The membership largely coincides with Al Qaeda’s recruiting department.
Weel, I realize that. I just hope it is a realization that he comes to believe too.
He was “one of the good ones”.
Listening to that bloated Pus Limpbag rail on about race is sickening.
-G
IIMHO he churns out enough of it to keep him up to his ears for years to come.
Stop with the facts, your enlightening me aaaaarrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!
Christy,
Thanks for the News from WV. Heck, if they elect Byrd for decades, why not Obama?
Now if I can migrate a little OT for a moment, why won’t any of the major news networks deconstruct the themes of the McCain/Palin campaign for the all but overt racism? I am amazed that the MSM can still find people of color to speak for McCain/Palin. I guess the human capacity for denial and delusion is limitless.
It has been fairly well supported that Black support for Obama is in the upper 90s, but that has been mainly attributed to the magnetic pull of Black for Black, rather than antagonism of McCain/Palin. But after the comments about “real America” and “real Virginia,” who are they kidding? Do we see Palin campaigning among Black farmers in the South? Do we see either Palin or McCain campaigning in Black districts anywhere?
And what about the Latino vote? Has either McCain or Palin been campaigning for their votes?
So far as I can tell, McCain and Palin seem to be campaigning almost exclusively for White votes, in terms of where they are campaigning, where their ads are running, and what they are saying. I hope someone can show me that I am wrong about this.
Bob in HI
this from a puffed up gas bag who was caught in the Dominican Republic with a bunch of viagra…yeah typical. They bash what they actually like/love/take part in
projection, anyone?
You need to speak more slowly, conservatives are dim.
Facts are horrible things. They’re the same for everybody … you can ignore them, but do it at your peril.
G’night FDLer’s.
Mrs. BC just successfully defended her doctoral dissipation, and we’re going out to celebrate.
y’all know there was a 5 and half year period when McRacist couldn’t feed the trolls, right ???
Former Sen. John Danforth is out in Missouri campaigning for McCain as McCain launches his end of days strategy of divide and conquer.
Danforth was lamenting the far rightward shift of the GOP and the divisiveness of the party a short while ago.
What an old fraud.
-G
L i k e t h i s ?
You have been lied to. Go to Obama’s site and see for yourself. If I can sell my modest home and make more than a 500,000 profit on it, then I might have to pay capital taxes. If you are selling a house under value to avoid foreclosure your profit is unlikely to be that high. With the stock market in the tank, I for sure won’t have to worry about capital gains taxes for awhile.
This Catholic’s voting for Obama
Bill Donahue or whatever his name is and the rest of the knuckledraggers don’t speak for me
Bravo Mrs. BC!
New thread upstairs.
Huge congrats to Mrs.BC! Enjoy!
please extend my congratulations to her and to you as well. Have a blast…it is well earned. *g*
Doctoral dissipation – I seem to suffer from that.
;~P
Wow, Enjoy yourselves.
Good for her. I hope she finds herself gainfully employed in her field, if she isn’t already. The job market for PhDs is a little rough.
L i k e t h i s . . . .
You ain’t kiddin’!
Bob you are correct. McCain can’t run and win on issues; he is running on slander, innuendo, and fear
Oh, I have found another specific example not stupid, but stupider. This one is a congress kritter.
’specially in my “field”
;~P
Believe me, I’m experiencing it first hand. I’m sure the Republicans must be to blame for this, too.
Thanks Christy.
digg
Beu(jlmeal)ler?
I very much hope that you in WV have your votes counted properly.
From the Republican dictionary:
Class warfare (n.) Any economic policy that does not directly line the pockets of a billionaire.
A fellow WVa advised that the voting anomalies were not to be judged as something new in the state’s history. I’d advised that she got that right.
anyone can be vp! check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1exiyBYnJ00
Breaking:
Scott Bloch, Federal Special Council in charge of protecting whistleblowers resigning effective January.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponlin…..ation.html
Excellent Christy. I’ve gotten a little spoiled living in Vermont with plenty of progressive politics and outstanding politicians – but I can imagine the deep satisfaction anyone living in a red state, and seeing it go blue.
I really do think Obama has the potential be transformational. The devisiveness and hatred will burn itself out – it’s too extreme, too ugly to be sustained. Most people in this country are well intentioned and fair minded. I believe that, and for the first time in some years, I feel hopeful for the future.
It boggles the mind, but still doesn’t strike me as more stupidder than Michele Bachmann.
BTW, in my part of WV I’ve seen about an equal number of signs for McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden AND those stupid stickers for Bush have been eradicated.
Are you kidding? From the very first day of early voting there were vote-flipping and other erros occuring.
Of course, it might just be because we have our first ever in my lifetime Republican Secretary of State or it might just be because we HAVA electronic voting machines mandated by Republican federal government.
Turnout will be a big issue here and even then Obama-Biden might have to fight it out in the courts if they haven’t won handily elsewhere.
I am sure they are not polling in LA but I would also remind folks that Louisiana usually votes with the winner. We voted Clinton both times and Bush both times. (Well maybe we got it wrong those last two times.) We recently had a Dem governor and we have one Dem Senator, Mary Landrieu. I know she is a blue dog, but we needed her last round in the Senate.
I am hoping one poll I saw recently was correct and Obama is in striking distance in LA. I think it will be the same here, turnout is the key.
Touch-screen voting machines are apparently flipping from Democratic to Republican in West Virginia.
http://wvgazette.com/News/200810170676
got it
the last ten times
Christy – What do you think of Obama’s chances in WV with reports like this:
“More vote-flipping in West Virginia
More W.Va. voters say machines are switching votes
In six cases, Democratic votes flipped to GOP
By Paul J. Nyden
Staff writer
10/18/08-WINFIELD, W.Va. — Three Putnam County voters say electronic voting machines changed their votes from Democrats to Republicans when they cast early ballots last week.
This is the second West Virginia county where voters have reported this problem. Last week, three voters in Jackson County told The Charleston Gazette their electronic vote for “Barack Obama” kept flipping to “John McCain”…”
http://markcrispinmiller.blogs…..ginia.html