U.S. Presidential Election 2008

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by Sean

So my conclusion at this point is that Hillary supporters have to be either willfully ignoring the glaring faults of their candidate, or flat out ignorant.

personally, and this may be overly cynical, i think there's a strong need to identify with victims in a portion of the population. we're a culture of victimization and we love nothing more than to back someone whose injustice we feel we can partake of. i honestly and truly believe that the most vehemently outspoken hillary supporters are more driven by their perception of her persecution-by-media than actual qualifications. it's not that they ignore the faults, it's that they don't believe in them. hillary is a victim, and they can participate in that victimization by proxy by supporting her until the bitter end.

and there you have it. my elitist view of the idiocracy of america.

[Deckard]

Originally Posted by cacophony

...and there you have it. my elitist view of the idiocracy of america.

No need to feel you're being elitist. Openly acknowledging this idiocracy remains one of the biggest taboos of the current time - one that's far more insidious than the usual political correctness boogeymen the media likes to tear into.

</ot>

[Strangelet]

Originally Posted by Deckard

No need to feel you're being elitist. Openly acknowledging this idiocracy remains one of the biggest taboos of the current time - one that's far more insidious than the usual political correctness boogeymen the media likes to tear into.
</ot>

i'm ready to concede the point

[King of Snake]

BREAKING NEWS!

Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early

[BeautifulBurnout]

Originally Posted by King of Snake

BREAKING NEWS!

Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early

Awesome.

Dunno if anyone read the "tickertape" latest news scrolling across the bottom too? FAF.

[Strangelet]

See, this is why I resist the urge to be bitter about the intelligence of the common human

In Pennsylvania, the [bitter] flap seems to have marginally helped Obama more than hurt him: 24% said his handling of the issue made them think more highly of him; 15% said it made them think less highly of him; 58% said it made no difference in their views.

How surprising would this be if you only understood the tastes and awareness of society from listening to pundits on 24 hour news stations?
And if it is surprising, should we be thinking of a more appropriate model than the idiocracy? Maybe something that expresses the public not as apathetic morons first and foremost, but casualties of a shock and awe campaign of manipulation, one that is increasingly wearing thin?

Basically, what those in power should remember, is people smarten up real fast when their fundamental dreams and needs are thwarted.

[Deckard]

I admit that's actually surprising to me. And encouraging.

should we be thinking of a more appropriate model than the idiocracy?

Yes - to some degree.
I tend to resort to visions of an "idiocracy" more out of despair than anything else (like when reading about Clinton's lead in Pennsylvania returning to double digits following "bittergate"), but of course you're absolutely right that the source of much of this analysis/punditry needs to be viewed in some context as well, and these latest poll ratings are sufficient to, at the very least, re-evaluate the way I've been viewing it all up til now.

Also, as a general aside to no-one in particular, let me just make clear, in case it's not obvious, that my tendency to lapse into despair at what I see as widespread ignorance - whether it's Hillary's support, or the belief that Saddam had something to do with 9/11, or the number who believe that the world is only 8,000 years old and the Lord Jesus is their saviour - my inclination to roll my eyes at these things is never originating from a craving to elevate myself or just be a smug git. It is genuine despair that I feel. And some frustration.