[Rhodes22-list] Sailboats - Weather - Politics (Big Al, he was your governor)

[Brad Haslett]

Slim,

Do I think  Obama has a hidden agenda?  Well, yes, and it's not very
hidden.  He's a "typical" lefty, only in his case, a lefty with some really
radical friends (Wright isn't the only one and if O stays in the race we'll
hear about some of the others). He's for garden variety redistribution of
income and those of us, the five per cent who pay eighty per cent of the
taxes,  are his targets.  I don't really care if he's black,  white, or some
other "color", I'm firmly against that.

Twice in the last five years I taken one of the columnists in the Memphis
newspaper to task via a letter to the editor for her race baiting. I don't
find her attitude useful and especially not useful for blacks. But then I'm
not black, so to some extent, you are correct. I do live in a predominantly
black city and don't find reverse discrimination the solution either.  Obama
had no control over being born half black/half white any more than my
daughter has a choice being half Asian/half mutt.   Obama chose to spend 20
years with a hate filled organization, took his kids there, and donated
money.  Is it fair to hold him accountable for that?  Hell yes it is and
many, if not most Americans, vehemently disagree with that behaviour and
they won't spend the time it takes to read this sentence to make-up their
minds.  That's reality.

"The Speech" didn't impress me much.  It wasn't Lincoln's "House Divided" or
Dr. King's "I Have a Dream".  It was a desperate attempt from a slick
politician to save his campaign, even if it means using his grandmother who
raised him because his mother and father had other things to do.

Slim, the last time I checked this was still the nation on everyone's list
that immigrants most want to become citizens of.  Let me ask some of my
Vietnamese customers on the coast how they feel about "God Damn America" and
people who listen to that crap for 20+ years.

It's over pal, and I feel your pain. The Fred08 sticker is still on my truck
because I haven't reconciled to the fact that he bombed so badly.  You're
guy did too, life will go on.

Brad



On Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 3:03 AM, Steven Alm <stevenalm at gmail.com> wrote:

> Brad,
>
> Let me get this straight.  You think Obama's toast because he knows some
> one
> who's angry about the black experience in America?  Or he knows some one
> who
> knows some one who knows some one who likes Farrakhan?  This guilt by
> association is a lot of BS.  Do you really think Obama's a racist
> extremist?  Do you really think he's a Muslim?  A commy?  Do you really
> think he has some hidden, anti-American agenda?  First, he's just as much
> white as he is black.  Why not call him a white man?  Next, let's remember
> that the USA has not exactly been kind to blacks and I think it's pretty
> easy for us white folks to dismiss Rev. Wright's comments as racist, but
> he
> (Wright) is not wrong when he says America is controlled by rich white men
> to the exclusion of blacks.  If you were black, I'm sure you'd have a
> whole
> different take on the American experience.  But it's almost impossible for
> the typical white person to see that.
>
> I do not use the word "typical" lightly.  Neither does Obama.  Of course
> there is such a thing.  We all have our own bias.  It's like the default
> setting on your computer.  If you told me a story about a person who... I
> would automatically think you're telling me about a middle-aged,
> middle-class white male because that's my default bias.  I can't change
> that.  I can't change who I am.  And of course there's nothing wrong with
> that.  It's when you get to the stereotypes and prejudice (root word is
> pre-judge) that we get into trouble.  This is where Rev. Wright got into
> trouble--by letting his bias lean into the stereotypes and prejudice and I
> think Obama made that very clear in his now-famous speech addressing race
> in
> America.  The only road to success is to be positive instead of divisive.
>
> I know what the right is asking here--how can you damn America when she's
> sending you a welfare check every month?  The left is saying we wouldn't
> have to send the checks if we didn't have such an inhospitable environment
> for them.  This paradox will not be solved anytime soon but I truly
> believe
> Obama's got the issue well-organized in his head and has the guts to fight
> the good fight against this ugly monster of racism that is still so
> prevalent in our great but could be greater country.
>
> To put it in another perspective, my own dear old dad is a
> dyed-in-the-wool
> right winger and many times I've heard him utter extremely racist remarks,
> the specifics of which I'm far too polite to repeat here.  Were I a
> candidate and his remarks were leaked to the public, I suppose my campaign
> would be over.  After all, he's not merely my pastor, he's my flesh and
> blood.  I could hardly deny that he's been my mentor.  I love my dad no
> matter what trash he talks but many would conclude that I'm a racist too
> by
> association.  Is that fair?
>
> Next question: who said the world is fair?  Maybe you're right, Brad, and
> he
> is toast because of this.  Or maybe the general population forgets all
> about
> this by the time of the general election.  People have pretty short
> memories.  Either way it doesn't speak very well for the typical American
> voter if they vote one way or the other based on this single issue.  Many
> will not vote for Obama because he's (half) black.  Many will not vote for
> HillBilly because she's female.  Many will not vote for McCain because
> he's
> old.  I think you're in the minority though if you're voting
> *for*something--most people vote
> *against* something--myself included--I'll be voting against the incumbent
> party.
>
> Slim
>
> On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 5:07 PM, Tootle <ekroposki at charter.net> wrote:
>
> >
> > Captain Rummy,
> >    The list is quiet because of the weather.  Brad sailed his boat to
> his
> > house... And how much snow did you get this afternoon?  It was snowing
> in
> > Wahalla around 2 P.M.
> >
> >     Maybe all the snow in Upstate New York has kept the New York Rhodies
> > quiet about their former Governor and for that matter their current
> > Governor...  Apparently they both have the same problem, only one was
> > caught
> > by wire tap...
> >
> > Brad,
> >
> >     Come on now, Obama is not toast.  He still has some Rhodies in his
> > following.  You never heard those Rhodies disclaim him.  They probably
> > enjoyed Rev. Wright's sermons.  You should send those sermons to Bill
> > Effros
> > and ask him to comment.  Maybe those Rhodies can get Rev. Wright to
> preach
> > at their boat launchings.  They probably enjoy those UTubes:
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJB-qkfUHc&feature=related
> >
> > See this:
> > http://www.nabble.com/file/p16262834/cloth.gif cloth.gif
> >
> >
> > Ed K
> > Greenville, SC, USA
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Obviously, the list is slow to take advantage of 'global warming' and
> not
> > starting the season early.  I'll take advantage of the lull and fire
> some
> > shots at something other than squirrels.
> >
> > Economy - Business runs in cycles, get it?  There's always the 'next
> best
> > thing' and when it falls flat on its ass, there's always 'the next best
> > thing'.  If you have half a brain you understand this cycle.  If you
> have
> > 1/4 a brain, you worry about recessions.  Don't believe anything anyone
> > says
> > about our current economy.  We're in a recession!  Either the sky is
> > falling
> > or stocks are on sale!  I'm buying!
> >
> > Politics - Obama is toast!  You don't win 'white' votes lecturing them
> on
> > how their grandmother was a 'racist'.  This guy will be lucky to get
> > re-elected to the Senate from Illinois.  Trust me on this, a lot of
> people
> > in downstate IL would love to have their vote back.  He doesn't stand a
> > chance in the general as POTUS and is a footnote in Illinois politics as
> > well.
> >
> > Sailing - the cost is going up!  Sails are made from oil based products
> > and
> > you'll see the price increases at replacement time.  On the other hand,
> my
> > fuel budget for five years of sailing is still less than $200 (not
> > counting
> > the cost of getting to/from the boat).  Just when you lose faith in the
> > world, you realize there are a few good men like Stan Spitzer who build
> a
> > superior product that everyone can enjoy.
> >
> > Have a nice day and 'don't worry, be happy!"
> >
> > Brad
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> >
> > http://www.nabble.com/file/p16262834/cloth.gif cloth.gif
> > --
> > View this message in context:
> >
> http://www.nabble.com/Politics---Economics---Sailboats-tp16256610p16262834.html
> > Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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> >
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