The Left Coaster: Comment on Open Thread

Comments: Open Thread

In North Alabama it's unseasonably cool this morning with a heavy fog!

Posted by tommy at May 17, 2008 04:46 AM

In Central Arizona Obama's unreasonably cool this morning while Hillary's in a heavy fog!

Posted by TIKI AL at May 17, 2008 05:18 AM

In Asheville NC its full sun and 70 degrees

Posted by pragmaticprogressive at May 17, 2008 05:27 AM

Washington, DC (Hillaryland): "small craft advisory" per NWS.

Posted by at May 17, 2008 05:53 AM

Iowa is particularly gorgeous and in the 70's.

Of course, I'm inside all day working.

We've barely had a spring here. It keeps lurching back and forth between early summer weather like this and 40 degree crapola.

Posted by idiosynchronic at May 17, 2008 06:03 AM

The Oregon Coast hit 100 before Phoenix, AZ this year. What's up with that? It's hot here in Portland too.

Posted by Ron Beasley at May 17, 2008 06:18 AM

Wyoming, for some strange reason, is without wind this AM--probably tomorrow. Political breezes are more favorable for Democrats than anytime since 1964.

Posted by jackalope at May 17, 2008 07:24 AM

After 11 straight days of rain and cool weather in St. Louis, the sun came out yesterday just in time for my Nephews's garden wedding.

Posted by JudithOne at May 17, 2008 07:27 AM

Here in Raritan, NJ it is sunny now after a day and a night of rain. hope the weather holds until whenever. :)

Because of the open nature of this thread, I have some evidence on Barack surrogates' use of race in general and race baiting in particular. Hope those reading my post become convinced that it is BoldBarackBold and Boldnot HillaryBold who is using race for personal gain.

Here is my post:

The Obama surrogates has made race as an issue in this primary (with the blessings of the Obama campaign?) and race bait, too , as a counterpoint to whatever future controversies and scandals that Obama might have in the future. He has made race and race baiting the central portion of his campaign. It is with a certainty that Obama surrogates(with the blessings of the Obama campaign?) will answer every controversy and scandal with statements pertaining to race.

Remember the time when the Somali tribal dress that Barack wore in 2006 and was leaked thru the Drudge Report? David Plouffe immidiately accused the Clinton team of ’shameful offensive fear-mongering’. Then there is the op-ed of Orlando Patterson in the NY times which tried to put race in the 3am ad of Sen. Clinton.To qoute the 1st paragraph of the op-ed:

"On first watching Hillary Clinton’s recent “It’s 3 a.m.” advertisement, I was left with an uneasy feeling that something was not quite right — something that went beyond my disappointment that she had decided to go negative. Repeated watching of the ad on YouTube increased my unease. I realized that I had only too often in my study of America’s racial history seen images much like these, and the sentiments to which they allude." And that is only the 1st paragraph.

Then there is the latest "brushing the dirt off the shoulder" incident which the Obama surrogates(?) has linked to the Jay Z song, "Dirt Off Your Shoulder", a racially charged song (see this web link and judge for yourself.)http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jayz/dirtoffyourshoulder.html

And now this:

May 9, 2008 — WASHINGTON - First it was Bill Clinton dismissing Barack Obama as just another black candidate winning South Carolina.

Now comes Hillary Rodham Clinton, splashing moonshine onto those smoldering embers by telling West Virginia voters that “hardworking Americans, white Americans” support her, not Obama.

So “hardworking Americans” who support Hillary are racists, then? If that is Obamas’ position, Boldthen my vote will be Hillarys’ and will write that name in the ballot.Bold Otherwise, other voters will have to decide but not me.

This can be construed as race baiting tactics of the Obama team and surrogates. It only needs a spark.

Please forward to your friends because it is imperative that the American people know who the real Barack Obama is and the way it is seen by me is he wants the race card to be front and foremost always. This could be his strategy up to the GE ( in case he wins the primary) and, heaven forbid, up to the presidency ( in case he wins it.)

In order for me to change this perspective on Obama, he must prove to me by his actions that this perspective is wrong. Otherwise, it will just strenghten it.

Posted by lemonv at May 17, 2008 08:07 AM

Mary, you must be a neighbor. The Safeway had a two-for-one sale on all sorts of ice cream. We've been sitting in the shade in our shorts, spooning each other ice cream, and praying for the fog. People on the coast around the SF Bay aren't used to this. The breeze off the land feels like a car's exhaust.

I think today will be cooler, though. The Blessed Fog will return.

Posted by Bob In Pacifica at May 17, 2008 08:20 AM

lemonv, I think that surrogates for both sides have used sexism and racism as weapons. I remember feeling offended being called a sexist for not supporting Clinton when all of my representatives in Washington are women.

Having said that people should all do some self-examination and determine how much "anger" they are carrying around at the other candidate is based on their own self-generated hate, or anger at what a surrogate said, or on policy differences or what. And since Clinton has lost the nomination, it especially behooves non-Obama-supporting Democrats to figure out if holding grudges is best for themselves and their country.

I am approaching sixty and I can't think of any primary season, including this one, where my first choice won the nomination. A lot of my candidates, or people I looked to as leaders, were shot down. In short, I've learned that democracy is an often dirty, ugly process, and choosing the better option is better than nothing, which is what you get with McCain.

Posted by Bob In Pacifica at May 17, 2008 08:30 AM

I agree Bob. It's like the 'politics is like making sausage' analogy...

Whatever may or may not have been intended in the rough back and forth of this the primary season, fanning the flames of racial and sexual bias are not Democratic strategies. They are diversionary 'issues' that have been and will be used against us in the GE by the Republicans.

Whatever is alleged to have happened in the interim (and I don't buy lemonv's anaysis), Obama did not begin the primary campaign with a "race baiting" strategy, nor does it serve our common interests in the GE.

The Republicans will once again demonstrate their 'mastery' of mud and innuendo. I just saw Gov. Dukakis on TV; he certainly remembers the Willie Horton ad and wishes to this day that he had responded immediately and with overt resentment (like Obama did against the Bush/McCain Nazi "appeaser" smear attempt).

We ain't seen nothing yet. Let's get our Democratic 'ducks in a row' quickly or we'll be quacking on the wrong side of the shooting gallery!

Posted by pragmaticprogressive at May 17, 2008 09:06 AM

The Oregon Coast hit 100 before Phoenix, AZ this year. What's up with that?

The high pressure system is sitting over you guys right now. It will soon be here, we're supposed to breaking temps here in the Phoenix area on Mon. and Tues.

I grew up on the West side of San Jose, near Los Gatos. I always remember cooling off by going to Santa Cruz or up to the Coastal Mountains. Sometimes on weekends like this we'd shoot over to Yosemite or Tahoe.

And when I was younger, I'd just go out back and turn on the hose and stand under the cold water. Always remembering to wait a few seconds for that hot hose water to come out first. If not you always ended up with a good scald on your hide.

In fact thanks for reminding me Bob, I have to give my family a call in the area.

Posted by Seven of Six at May 17, 2008 09:08 AM

In case you're not paying attention to the news today...Senator Ted Kennedy is in hospital for heart problems.

Posted by peter at May 17, 2008 09:35 AM

"You ain't seen nothing yet." Perhaps we have not been looking in the right places. The Snopes Top 25 has been carrying the kind of information on Senator Obama used by Democrats in West Virginia and independents elsewhere, much of it racial, most of it false and malicious. These tales have been in the top three since October 2007. Now, two "Mr. Clean" stories on McCain have hit the top spot for the past three weeks--Obama has a dozen in number three. This track is an easy way to spread B.S. without the slightest chance of accountability. This is a four inch pipeline to a large group of voters in the group being discussed on TLC day after day.

Posted by jackalope at May 17, 2008 09:51 AM

I like that Obama responds immediately to attacks (or perceived attacks--not sure if Bush was talking about him or not), but it seems that all of his responses are: "that's the kind of attack that's divisive. We need change." I think he needs to respond a little more strongly. He did, at least to McCain--pointing out that McCain said we should talk to Hamas. But the "that is divisive" mantra to anyone who disagrees with him on anything, valid or not, is starting to sound whiny to me.

Posted by CG at May 17, 2008 10:08 AM

So when do we get to blame global warming?

And pete - keep working at it. It's now being said that Ted suffered something like a mild seizure or stroke. He's lucid and communicated with people since this morning.

Posted by idiosynchronic at May 17, 2008 10:19 AM

I meant no disrespect, just wanted to inform. I've spread the word to get prayers said.

Posted by peter at May 17, 2008 11:18 AM

Peter - when are you going to get it through that thick head of yours that your name is synonymous with trollery, disrespect, and lying?

This isn't some situation where we've earned your respect through argumentation or you're respected by us as our honorable opposition.

Well, I can't speak for the whole blog. But I see your name and even what may strike you as an innocent news item looks to me as another opportunity you've found to poke at us with a stick.

Posted by idiosynchronic at May 17, 2008 11:35 AM

peter, the stooge for bu$h/cheney criminals!

If he didn't have that rolling IP address he'd be long gone!

Posted by Seven of Six at May 17, 2008 11:44 AM

"innocent news item looks to me as another opportunity you've found to poke at us with a stick."

Someone being ill wouldn't be something I'd use to poke at anyone. I do care about the health of, even the opposition.

Posted by peter at May 17, 2008 11:52 AM

CG, why don't you try and actually listen to what Obama says in response to ReThug attacks. He uses a scapel, not a hatchet, and it is very effective.

Posted by gay veteran at May 17, 2008 01:49 PM

I did hear part of one speech where he responded to McCain. It was pretty good, but I still think he overdoes the "that kind of attack is divisive". Anyone who disagrees with him is being divisive. He's not being affective if the only thing reported is the soundbite I just quoted.

Posted by CG at May 17, 2008 04:35 PM

It's 5:30 pm now, and down here a mile from the Pacific Coast it's probably dipped below 70. The fog has returned. My girlfriend and I took a walk along the beach through the fog. Wonderful. BBQ chicken and soup and bread. Mmmmmm.

Life is good this afternoon. Hope all is well in your corners of the world.

Posted by Bob In Pacifica at May 17, 2008 05:33 PM

Spring -- the leaves out on the trees -- was half a week earlier than last year. That makes two and a half weeks (closer to three) sooner than 15 years ago.

We've had a slight rain deficit (we'd had about a quarter of an inch up till today out of 3.79" normal) but i t rained last night and it's raining now after a glorious day of eastern forest green.

Posted by boomerg'ma at May 17, 2008 05:59 PM