Post-election video chat: Where does GOP go from here, and does Obama have a mandate?
Here’s the third installment of the Google+ Hangouts that Jay Bookman, Aaron Gould Sheinin and I have been doing. Spoiler alert: You’ll see more disagreement between Jay and me than in the first two…
Please feel free to keep talking on the thread downstairs as well.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 7th, 2012
2:23 pm
Proud (but disgraced) navy vet, I served to defend the very constitution which protects my right to free speech. Someone who allegedly did the same should be ashamed to tell someone to shut up.
Of course, some of us actually consider the oaths we take as important.
Guess that doesn’t work for you.
fair and balanced
November 7th, 2012
2:25 pm
Ivan Cohen at 12:33
“”George Romney must be turning over in his grave regarding his son’s remarks about needing to increase the white vote and decreasing the minority vote.”"
Amen but even more importantly George set out the golden rule for releasing tax returns and his son violated the rule. If ever there was a candidate whose returns were significant in evaluating their fitness to be president it was Mitt. The Queen’s comment of “We have given you people all you need ” had George rolling over.
George lost the nomination in 1968 to the liar Nixon because George told the truth about how we were being misled by the military in Vietnam on how well the war was going, Mitt the draft dodger hires as his top foreign policy aide Dan Senor a/k/a Baghdad Bob who was paid by the military under Bush to lie about how well the war was going. Dad jumped out of the grave after hearing that.
If George ran against Obama he probably would have won.
gm
November 7th, 2012
2:29 pm
God Vs Satan rep party
So for God is 2-0 against southern white male conservatives, tea party, nazis, klan, right wing nut jobs , trump, hannity, rush.
Georgia was on the wrong side of slavery, civil rights, Obama, and they wonder why no one take them serious.
Tealiban Party
November 7th, 2012
2:30 pm
Anyone seen our pal Kayaker?
kayaker 71
October 30th, 2012
4:20 pm
Romney…. 320. Bozo…. 218. Count on it.
Mary Elizabeth
November 7th, 2012
2:30 pm
Kyle, you three journalists work very well together in this kind of informal context, and I hope that you three will have many more broadcast sessions for readers and for citizens throughout the greater Atlanta area. Excellent work!
I have a few remarks, below, regarding the concepts discussed in the video, above. My remarks run a little longer than I had hoped, but I could not cut anything and make the impact I wanted with detail. I hope that this is ok this time. I think my thoughts will generate additional thought.
Conservatives cannot simply pull in constituencies, such as the Latino vote, by voicing a more inclusive mantra. Instead, they will have to fundamentally change, from within, to believe authentically in a vision of all humanity which sees others in egalitarian terms, rather than in hierarchial terms. Monied people often fail to see others through egalitarian eyes, although they can mask their hierarchial vision of others through appearances, such as in supporting humanitarian works of some limited selection.
Some have pondered – over the years since the Civil Rights Movement – why African-Americans have voted for present day Democrats en masse, seemingly becoming only tools to serve that political party’s interests, without awareness. I believe to see African-Americans in this light, because they have voted in large voting blocs for Democrats, is wrongheaded thinking. Those who think that African-Americans have been used by Democrats, instead of making up their own minds, with insight, demonstrate a basic disrespect for the intelligence and awareness of African-Americans. I believe that African-Americans, like women, have a special radar – having been suppressed for generations – as to who authentically sees them and their capabilities and sensibilities with egalitarian eyes and who does not – over and beyond verbal arguments put forth to gain their support. I believe that African-American, like women, have grativated toward the present day Democratic Party because of how Democrats perceive them.
For example, when Gov. Romney changed his political approach toward a more moderate one from a hardline conservative one in the presidential election, he gathered more support overall, but he never really gained the full support of women, or the full support of African Americans, because these two groups have developed a special emotional radar, if you will, which could see beneath his tactical change by his words, alone. These two groups knew how deeply the 47% remark – made by Gov. Romney in private – resonated in his heart and soul, beyond what he said. They could see that he lacked the authentic internal vision to see them as equals, without any condescension in his heart. They could see that he lacked the vision, in other words, of the true egalitarian who sees all human beings as equals (regardless of the cards in life that each human being might be given to play) and regardless of how kind a man he might be with his own loved ones. In other words, they saw that Mitt Romney lacked a deeply human vision of, and understanding for, all humanity that Barack Obama contains in his heart and soul. And they understood that beyond words.
This is a subtle awareness and a subtle change of consciousness that Republicans will have to come to understand in their hearts as well as in their minds, and that takes longer to understand than a “sensitivity training” session. It requires a change of how one sees the world and those who inhabit it.
voice of reason
November 7th, 2012
2:31 pm
Please see Bookman’s column. Kyle, it describes how the conservative media consistently lies to and misleads their readers and listeners. Remember Romney’s people felt that facts didn’t matter, hence the lies about Jeep moving their plants to China. This coming from (Bishop) Romney. I guess its permissible to lie if you’re a Bishop.
fair and balanced
November 7th, 2012
2:40 pm
Most humorous news yesterday- Chrysler gave its emploiyees the day off to vote. Jeeps were seen circling around Romneys last campaign rally.
Partisay
November 7th, 2012
2:42 pm
Anyone seen our pal Kayaker?
kayaker 71
September 20th, 2012
8:41 am
Once again….. when the dust settles and all the votes are counted,,,, Romney 320 electoral votes…… Bozo 218. Count on it.
Umm….I think the dust has settled.
independent thinker
November 7th, 2012
2:47 pm
Anybody notice the look on Rove’s face when all the networks announced Obama won???. I wonder if he had a change of underwear with him. Would love to hear the calls from the 1% who lost tens of millions due to having that clown in charge. Obama got enough of a mandate in the battleground states that no amount of Rove and Romney’s dirty tricks or even Scalia could have undone the final results. My favorite was Romney losing New Hampshire. -That is a mandate.
curious
November 7th, 2012
2:55 pm
Have the right wing special interest groups estimated their Return on Investment, yet?
chat33
November 7th, 2012
2:57 pm
No celebration here…Obama has done nothing for me in 4 years as I work for a living. He only helps the slackers of the world who sit at home and live off my hard earned tax paying dollars. This will be another 4 years of nothing but tears! I mean to elect him the first time was stupid, but to do it twice well that’s just beyond ignorance.
splavistic
November 7th, 2012
2:59 pm
6 Reasons Why GOP do not appeal to a majority of modern Americans:
1. Focus on outdated social issues (gay marriage, etc.)
2. General disdain for immigrants and minorities (just read some of the posts on this site!)
3. Overt religiosity (not everybody is an Evangelical Christian)
4. Allegiance to the very rich over the middle/working classes (just coz they’re rich, doesn’t make them good)
5. Lack of climate concern (our Earth is dying, people! Wake up on this issue!)
6. General Bellicosity (pro-guns, pro-war, pro-death penalty)
America isn’t changing. It has been trending toward a TRUE melting pot for decades, and is getting more liberal to boot. GOP needs to change or fade away. Fiscal conservatism and smaller government is a good thing across all society, but the socially conservative baggage that comes along with this economic policy is ugly and distasteful.
Bruno
November 7th, 2012
3:01 pm
it describes how the conservative media consistently lies to and misleads their readers and listeners.
voice of reason–All I keep seeing from the Libs today are these grand pronouncements about how this election validated their darkest thoughts about conservatives. Quite a reach considering that Obama won by a scant 1% of the popular vote.
The reality is that Obama has been a mediocre President at best. If you want to get excited about persistent 8% unemployment and a skyrocketing national debt, then don’t let me stand in your way.
Glenn
November 7th, 2012
3:04 pm
Kylester ,The problem the Republicans are always going to have is you will always be scary to many a person . Its the way these candidates have to be rightwing lunatics to get the nomination & then somehow come across as moderate for the general election . Remember just a couple months ago Romney said he was the most conservative candidate before sounding like the second coming of Obama on the third debate . Remember W running on cap & trade in 2000 . Its like a joke I heard yesterday . A liberal , a conservative , & a moderate walk into a bar . The bartender turns around and says ” Hey Mitt ” . You will never know what your getting with the R-nominee .
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 7th, 2012
3:06 pm
What is hilarious is how the conservative media got it soooooooo totally wrong. I think if my news sources were that far off the mark I would be seriously questioning their methods.
All wrong:
Rove
Hannity
Gingrich
The list foes on and on and on.
Instead of doing the real work of figuring this thing out, they were just telling you folks what you wanted to hear.
Truly sad.
Bob
November 7th, 2012
3:06 pm
Four more years of blaming Bush. Oh well, when the next term is over the rich will be richer and the poor will be poorer. I thought Obama would win and dumped some stock, seems like others are doing the same.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 7th, 2012
3:08 pm
The reality is that Obama has been a mediocre President at best. If you want to get excited about persistent 8% unemployment and a skyrocketing national debt, then don’t let me stand in your way.
That’s right – this election should have been won by the Republicans.
How…..HOW in the WORLD did you folks screw this thing up???
Rush
November 7th, 2012
3:08 pm
Well at some point the makers will no longer make enough for the takers to continue this little move to the left……all look at Europe and that will be coming to the USA in an expedited manner.
Rush
November 7th, 2012
3:10 pm
The line for the next four years will be it is the obstructionist House that will not go along with us…..we would be living in Utopia if not for those people. Watch and see how soon this comes to pass.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 7th, 2012
3:10 pm
I mean to elect him the first time was stupid, but to do it twice well that’s just beyond ignorance.
Now you folks know the stunned feeling we on the left had in 2004. But we figured it out. I really don’t think you Cons will figure it out, face the reality, and accept that reality quite so fast.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 7th, 2012
3:15 pm
You cons want some advice? Make Puerto Rico a state as quickly as you can.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 7th, 2012
3:19 pm
Charles Krauthammer defines a mandate after Bush’s win in 2004:
I think it was a huge issue that the president was weak in his first term. He had less of the power and strength and capital, as he speaks of, than he does today. And now that he’s been elected with a large majority, or a significant majority, and with a mandate, I think part of that mandate is to get the right judges, by his likes.”
Bush won with 286 electoral votes to John Kerry’s 252, and with a 2.4 percent margin in the popular vote. Obama currently has 303 electoral votes to Romney’s 206, and he’s likely to add to that the 29 votes from Florida, which hasn’t been called yet, for a grand total of 332. It’s to early to tell on the popular vote, but it will be between 2 and 3 percent.
http://www.salon.com/2012/11/07/the_rights_new_line_obama_has_no_mandate/
Bruno
November 7th, 2012
3:19 pm
Oh well, when the next term is over the rich will be richer and the poor will be poorer.
Bob–For some reason, the Libs never notice the disconnect between the talk and the walk. Obama has scored political point after political point demonizing the rich for the past 4 years, but exactly what have he and his cohorts in Congress done to reduce the disparity between rich and poor in this country?? That is other than making us all a little bit poorer?? Nothing. In fact, the Dems gladly extended the Bush tax cuts, which according to the Dems unfairly favors the wealthy. Minority unemployment in particular has soared under Obama. Toss in their extension of the Patriot Act and their refusal to close Gitmo, and I would say that the Dems are first-class hypocrites.
@@
November 7th, 2012
3:21 pm
I was just reading where 85% of Clayton County voters supported Obama.
Okay.
They also supported the charter amendment and Victor Hill (!!?!!AGAIN!!?!!).
Difficult to figure out THAT kinda thought process.
50+1
November 7th, 2012
3:25 pm
Bruno—W couldn’t even win the popular vote in 2000, but still ended up being President. BFD. O is elected President. Your man is the loser. Deal with it.
50+1
November 7th, 2012
3:27 pm
Bruno—instead of calling people names, if you must, call them fellow Americans.
wisconsin
November 7th, 2012
3:27 pm
Hey people Oh Happy Day!!!! I went to two of the President’s rally in Wisconsin with my 14 year old son and both rallys there was a diverse group of people white, black, Asian, Latios, Mexician, hispantic old ,young, middle age etc… this is why the President got a second term… Go back and look at the Rallys Romney & Ryan had all white…. America is made up if all races of color …..something for you Republican’s to think about and one more thing Wisconsin didn’t even vote for the hometown boy so what does that say about Ryan…..
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 7th, 2012
3:30 pm
I can state with a great deal of confidence that with a few exceptions, the conservatives on this blog would not have behaved anywhere near as childishly and boorishly as those on the left have today.
You are largely as classless as the president you reelected.
And it explains a great deal regarding the overall decline in this nation and its dismal future.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 7th, 2012
3:33 pm
Uh, Wisconsin?
It appears “the hometown boy” was reelected to his house seat.
You are too funny
November 7th, 2012
3:35 pm
“I can state with a great deal of confidence that with a few exceptions, the conservatives on this blog would not have behaved anywhere near as childishly and boorishly as those on the left have today.”
You must ignore the conservative bloggers including yourself when you post on a regular basis, especially leading up to the election.
The irony must be stinging…….
It will be alright, little dude, but believe as you wish.
Sour grapes and sore losing is not a good trait.
Now get your last word in to make yourself feel better.
50+1
November 7th, 2012
3:37 pm
Bruno– from Wikipedia Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis)[1] is a political philosophy or worldview founded on the ideas of liberty and equality.[2] Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and a right to life, liberty, and property. Yup, sure sounds anti-American and totally unChristian .
Bob
November 7th, 2012
3:38 pm
wisconsin ” I went to two of the President’s rally in Wisconsin with my 14 year old son and both rallys there was a diverse group of people white, black, Asian, Latios, Mexician, hispantic old ,young, middle age etc… this is why the President got a second term”. Correct, a diverse group with a strong percentage that voted to raise someone else’s taxes and you think that will help the country long term ? Once that diverse group overtakes the non diverse group, who will pay their way ?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 7th, 2012
3:40 pm
Neither is excessive gloating, too funny, something your kind seems to excel in.
You are too funny
November 7th, 2012
3:44 pm
Tiberius
You are turning those sour grapes into whine. You may as well sell it as Right Wing Vino. (RWV)………….
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
November 7th, 2012
3:46 pm
How…..HOW in the WORLD did you folks screw this thing up???
———-
Didn’t bring a big enough slop bucket to satisfy the liberal pigs.
Bruno
November 7th, 2012
3:49 pm
would not have behaved anywhere near as childishly and boorishly as those on the left have today.
Ti–I can only imagine the depths of the emotional poverty of the Libs here based upon their gloating over a 1% Presidential victory. Pretty sad.
wisconsin
November 7th, 2012
3:51 pm
whine whine whine if you dont like it pack your freakin bags amd move to Canada if you cant stand that the President will be in the White house for the next 4 years and Romeny wasn’t going to raise your taxes you and everybody else is crazy to think that he wasnt.. unless you are rich like Ryan and Romney you are among all the common folks too!!!!!
You are too funny
November 7th, 2012
3:52 pm
Classless? Yes you are. Good day
_____________________________________
Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 18th, 2012
12:47 pm
As the re-election of their Messiah becomes less and less likely, the libs are becoming more and more unhinged on this blog.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 7th, 2012
3:53 pm
Tonight the Cons will go home and turn on Fox News. The one media outlet that wasn’t even in the ballpark regarding this election. Not even in the ballpark.
And yet none of the Cons are upset with Fox……..
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 7th, 2012
3:54 pm
No whine, too funny. I’m made of sterner stuff than that. However, I should have expected this behavior from a group who said they wouldn’t spike the football on bin laden, then built an entire campaign slogan around it.
Bottom line you liberals are a bunch of classless liars, and that includes your president.
You are too funny
November 7th, 2012
3:55 pm
Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 2nd, 2012
8:04 am
stands, I’m looking at early voting numbers rather than polling.
One, because the majority of polls in question have oversampling of Democrats trying to mimic 2008 turnout (which I don’t believe will happen), and two, because voting trends of actual and historical trump polls.
This is not the Obama-mania election of 2008; more in the mold of a traditional election where both candidates are equally inspiring and uninspiring to their respective parties. And if I were Obama, I wouldn’t like the cry for help out of Pennsylvania yesterday, especially with a possible depressed vote out of Democrat stronghold Philly due to the storm while western PA (more fertile GOP territory) has no issues.
You are too funny
November 7th, 2012
3:56 pm
Bruno
October 15th, 2012
12:54 pm
If obama would like to go, I’d be willing to pack his chute for him…
Now, now, JKL2. We’ll simply wish him well with his speaking tour after he’s run out of Wahington on a rail this November. I doubt if he will give Bill Clinton much competition, however.
You are too funny
November 7th, 2012
3:57 pm
You speak of stern yet you are whining and crying now
JDW
November 7th, 2012
3:57 pm
@Tiberius…”I can state with a great deal of confidence that with a few exceptions, the conservatives on this blog would not have behaved anywhere near as childishly and boorishly as those on the left have today.”
Wahhhhhhh…Wahhhhhhhh…Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
On a day in day out basis you are unquestionably the most childish and boorish contributor to any blog that will have you, as many decline to do. Your petulant whining is completely SOP for you and only remarkable in the fact that it took you until this afternoon to succumb to your need to pontificate in the face of defeat.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 7th, 2012
3:57 pm
At least now we have irrefutable proof that Fox is not a news organization – it’s just one long infomercial that sells peace of mind.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 7th, 2012
4:00 pm
Finn the difference is that we are intelligent enough to understand the difference between opinion, and reporting.
I have no problem with someone’s opinion being wrong, as long as it was formed by honest work.
Which is why I have no respect for your opinions.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
November 7th, 2012
4:04 pm
Your continued incorrect opinion is noted, JDW.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 7th, 2012
4:04 pm
Cons need to run Christie in 2016 cause he may get them some blue northeast states – NJ, NY, etc.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
November 7th, 2012
4:05 pm
Bottom line you liberals are a bunch of classless liars, and that includes your president.
We really got to them didn’t we….
LOL
They cant stand it that Obama was re elected.
Its a beautiful day in America.
Bob
November 7th, 2012
4:05 pm
Finn, are you the same finn that did not not the difference between mute point and moot point ?