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randys1

(16,286 posts)
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:18 PM Dec 2015

Come on, be honest, how many laughed out loud as I did when they heard a Black man named

Barack Hussein Obama was running for president?

How many of us laughed at the thought that this rabidly racist society could elect such a man?


They are now saying the same about an old Jewish fella with goofy hair and worse yet, calls himself a Socialist.



No way, right?





NEVER say never!

49 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Come on, be honest, how many laughed out loud as I did when they heard a Black man named (Original Post) randys1 Dec 2015 OP
I didn't laugh out loud at all when I heard then Senator Obama speak at that convention. I knew monmouth4 Dec 2015 #1
Yeah but you and me, we are liberals, Democrats. I laughed out loud at the prospect of this randys1 Dec 2015 #2
Hillary Was the Odds-On Favorite gordyfl Dec 2015 #32
Sounds you might be overly skeptical. MadDAsHell Dec 2015 #43
how far and how fast. meteor-like trajectory. wow. yep. Hiraeth Dec 2015 #18
I heard him too and was mesmerized. I just worried because roguevalley Dec 2015 #19
oh so long ago, that I recorded iton my VCR loyalsister Dec 2015 #39
I was just talking to my daughter about this! Looking back, it is incredible. randome Dec 2015 #3
Know where you're coming. K&R MeNMyVolt Dec 2015 #4
He was a lock against Alan Keys. RandySF Dec 2015 #7
Yeah, but the primary was a bit brutal. MeNMyVolt Dec 2015 #42
Thanks...Hell, I remember voting for Jesse Jackson and I thought he had a better shot then randys1 Dec 2015 #8
"or Donald god damn Duck" MeNMyVolt Dec 2015 #10
No one laughed RandySF Dec 2015 #5
I dont know who called it hypocritical, but my point isnt what WE thought of Barack, but what randys1 Dec 2015 #9
No, you THOUGHT you knew how racist the country was. 7962 Dec 2015 #27
no, the "Is America ready for a black president" debate went on right up until his election n/t Enrique Dec 2015 #26
I most certainly did not! I was fine with it. I wanted hillary but then I got Obama CTyankee Dec 2015 #6
2008 was very unusual; many knew early that democrats had a virtual lock on the general election. unblock Dec 2015 #11
OK, OK but I didn't laugh out loud, so there. Then came the Birthers ad nauseum, and remember libdem4life Dec 2015 #12
I didn't, did you? brooklynite Dec 2015 #13
I did not laugh. 840high Dec 2015 #14
Umm, no. I didn't laugh. JunkyardAngel83 Dec 2015 #15
I saw he was supported by Crown and Pritzker, Downwinder Dec 2015 #16
No, I didn't laugh. After his keynote address at '04 R B Garr Dec 2015 #17
In 1999, 95% of Amercans said.... reACTIONary Dec 2015 #20
#1: a socialist as an anti-capitalist AZ Progressive Dec 2015 #23
If you are explaining you are . ... reACTIONary Dec 2015 #33
THANK you so much for that story. And its true, too. 7962 Dec 2015 #28
I knew about Barack Hussein Obama years before he ran for president. MohRokTah Dec 2015 #21
Good thread Randy. Deserves a kick. MeNMyVolt Dec 2015 #22
Thanks, like I have been saying to one of our other friends here, I like reminding people randys1 Dec 2015 #41
Indeed, never say never. one_voice Dec 2015 #24
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Dec 2015 #25
K & R !!! WillyT Dec 2015 #29
No comparison. Obama had me when redstateblues Dec 2015 #30
I remember when I serriously decided to support Obama in the primary.... reACTIONary Dec 2015 #31
I actually thought he was a shoo-in after his DNC speech in 2004. Starry Messenger Dec 2015 #34
But in this RABIDLY and VICIOUSLY racist country of ours, I was surprised he could win. randys1 Dec 2015 #40
I was excited BeyondGeography Dec 2015 #35
I didn't laugh at Obama, who was a U.S. Senator from Illinois. BlueCheese Dec 2015 #36
Great sentiment. redstateblues Dec 2015 #37
Not at Obama or Hillary or Bernie, at the racist society electing them or not. randys1 Dec 2015 #46
I never doubted Obama's ability to win. BlueCheese Dec 2015 #47
Because we are a viciously and rabidly racist country and we or many of us randys1 Dec 2015 #48
I don't doubt there is a seriously racist element in our society. BlueCheese Dec 2015 #49
Well, I didn't laugh Chitown Kev Dec 2015 #38
I did, I laughed at the idea that this rabidly racist society could do it. Now, it is true that randys1 Dec 2015 #45
Nope. His keynote address at the convention cali Dec 2015 #44

monmouth4

(9,663 posts)
1. I didn't laugh out loud at all when I heard then Senator Obama speak at that convention. I knew
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:22 PM
Dec 2015

immediately how very special he was. I knew he would go very far, just had no idea how far that would be. I hope Elizabeth speaks at our next one..

randys1

(16,286 posts)
2. Yeah but you and me, we are liberals, Democrats. I laughed out loud at the prospect of this
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:23 PM
Dec 2015

rabidly, viciously racist society having any shot at electing him.

I was wrong.

gordyfl

(598 posts)
32. Hillary Was the Odds-On Favorite
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:42 PM
Dec 2015

I remember first hearing about Barack Obama just days before he spoke at the Democratic Convention. He was still a Senator, but only a State Senator. I had recorded that speech on my old VHS. That's when I first actually saw him. I had saved that tape for a number of years. Then one day I couldn't find it.

What I do remember about that speech? They had a "sound applause meter". Barack Obama scored the highest - even higher than Bill Clinton when he spoke.

When he ran in 2008 Primary, in the beginning I didn't think he had a chance at winning.

He and Hillary had so many debates. Twenty-four I think it was. Hillary was a pro. He was new to national politics, yet he held his own in the debates, no matter what Hillary threw at him. He took the election very seriously. He was well prepared at each event. Each interview. I was impressed. Still, I was a bit surprised that he beat Hillary. After watching the Democratic Primary, I was not surprised he went on to win the general election.

 

MadDAsHell

(2,067 posts)
43. Sounds you might be overly skeptical.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 02:50 PM
Dec 2015

You call this a rabidly, viciously racist society, and yet President Obama didn't just get elected, he won by nearly 15 million votes in his 2 elections. It ain't like he barely squeaked by.

And this isn't even counting his previous electoral history; he and his African-American opponent Alan Keyes gathered a combined 97% of the vote in the 2004 Senate election, from a state that is less than 15% African-American.

What exactly are you saying?


roguevalley

(40,656 posts)
19. I heard him too and was mesmerized. I just worried because
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 10:36 PM
Dec 2015

the first person to do something always gets slammed.

loyalsister

(13,390 posts)
39. oh so long ago, that I recorded iton my VCR
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 03:44 AM
Dec 2015

because I went to a watch party and wanted to really listen to the speeches.
I was blown away by Obama. I passed the tape around to some friends and told them he would be president someday.

I was stunned by how soon he ran. I can remember talking with friends about how cool it would be to elect someone named Barack Hussein Obama.

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
3. I was just talking to my daughter about this! Looking back, it is incredible.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:25 PM
Dec 2015

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]
 

MeNMyVolt

(1,095 posts)
4. Know where you're coming. K&R
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:31 PM
Dec 2015

I was good friends with the cousin of his competitor in the '04 Senate race, and I said "there is no way this state elects a Barack Hussein-whatever".

Actually, his Senatorial election ended my friendship with that person. They took it that hard.

Nice post Randy.

 

MeNMyVolt

(1,095 posts)
42. Yeah, but the primary was a bit brutal.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 01:21 PM
Dec 2015

Lot of inter-party fighting going on. The Dan Hines people, my friend being one, took it very badly.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
8. Thanks...Hell, I remember voting for Jesse Jackson and I thought he had a better shot then
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:35 PM
Dec 2015

than Barack later


And like I have said over and over, you show me, or fivethirtyeight shows me next spring which of our two main candidates has the best chance of winning, and whether that is Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley or Donald god damn Duck, and that is who I am voting for in the primary.

RandySF

(57,606 posts)
5. No one laughed
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:33 PM
Dec 2015

He was already nationally well-regarded after speaking at the 2004 DEMOCRATIC National Convention and campaigning for Democrats across the country in 2006. I signed up and contributed as soon as he announced for POTUS in 2007. All this while someone called it hypocritical to join the party after decades as an independent.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
9. I dont know who called it hypocritical, but my point isnt what WE thought of Barack, but what
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:36 PM
Dec 2015

we knew this country was all about, and how racist it was.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
27. No, you THOUGHT you knew how racist the country was.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:23 PM
Dec 2015

Apparently you were wrong. And it wasnt even close. Sure, they're out there, but not nearly in the number you think.
And if he could run a 3rd time, he'd win AGAIN!! (Boy, would Hillary be pissed.......)

CTyankee

(63,768 posts)
6. I most certainly did not! I was fine with it. I wanted hillary but then I got Obama
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:33 PM
Dec 2015

I was fine and I was proud.

unblock

(51,974 posts)
11. 2008 was very unusual; many knew early that democrats had a virtual lock on the general election.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:53 PM
Dec 2015

shrub was such a disaster that many know that another republican was simply *not* going to win in 2008.

this influence a lot of things, such as the massive money that poured into the democratic primary, because that was the only race that mattered. it effectively became *that* presidential election; the general became little more than a formality. it also helped determine how mclame became the republican nominee, and uninspiring figure who won largely on the "it's my turn" train and because other, perhaps more serious candidates, sat it out, having no great desire to win the nomination only to lose the general.

such situations come around very, rarely, and 2016 is not remotely one of those situations. the general this time is very much in play.

that's not to say sanders can't win, but it is saying that 2008 is not at all a useful comparison.

 

libdem4life

(13,877 posts)
12. OK, OK but I didn't laugh out loud, so there. Then came the Birthers ad nauseum, and remember
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 08:58 PM
Dec 2015

the crap about his entire family, education, and ... yes ... going to make us all worship at mosques. And he handled it all with the grace and personal presence beyond my imagination...even when they attacked his wife and daughters.

And yes, Bernie's time will come. Different issues, different styles. We'll also get rehashes of HRC, too. I've already seen some of it, but PBO is a case in point that not being well known does not preclude a successful campaign and residing in the White House.

brooklynite

(93,842 posts)
13. I didn't, did you?
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 09:02 PM
Dec 2015

As for the comparison to Bernie Sanders:

Obama didn't claim to be anything other than a mainstream Democrat.

Obama raised huge anounts of money to compete with the Republicans and wasn't opposed to reaching out to derp-pockets supports (like me)

Obama had (understandably) huge suport from Black Democrats

Obama had a fair amount of establishment politicsl support

R B Garr

(16,919 posts)
17. No, I didn't laugh. After his keynote address at '04
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 09:30 PM
Dec 2015

convention, it was obvious he was a young serious-minded rising STAR. Seriously, you need to go back and listen to that speech. It's on YouTube.

Sanders just looks like an opportunist. He's had a lifetime in politics but never made the efforts to be a leader. He just takes what comes his way and complains. He never blazed his own path like Bill Clinton or Obama have done. Now he even wants Trump's tea baggers. He's an opportunist.

reACTIONary

(5,749 posts)
20. In 1999, 95% of Amercans said....
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 10:57 PM
Dec 2015

... they would vote for an African American....



In June of this year, only 47% said the would vote for a socialist. Even an Athiest does better at 58%!

AZ Progressive

(3,411 posts)
23. #1: a socialist as an anti-capitalist
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:13 PM
Dec 2015

Sanders is not someone that wants to change America's economy from capitalism to socialism, rather he is much more of a social democrat.

#2: Many of those that won't vote are Republicans and right leaning independents

#3: Many of those are older voters

#4: That assumes that a good candidate that is a socialist cannot persuade people to change their mind, which is totally ignorant of the real world.

reACTIONary

(5,749 posts)
33. If you are explaining you are . ...
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:45 PM
Dec 2015

....losing. and bernie will be forced to explain the various socialist sects over and over and where and why he fits in. And all the voters will hear over and over is socialism , socilism , socialism.

If bernie isn't a real socialist he should never have called himself one. Too late now.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
28. THANK you so much for that story. And its true, too.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:28 PM
Dec 2015

I get so tired of hearing about how half the country is a damn racist. Hell, in the runup to '96, Colin Powell was one of the favorites for the GOP nomination!! Had he run, I think he would have taken it too. Maybe even in 2000.

 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
21. I knew about Barack Hussein Obama years before he ran for president.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:00 PM
Dec 2015

I wanted him to be president ever since I first met him in 2003, and I told him so in 2004.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
41. Thanks, like I have been saying to one of our other friends here, I like reminding people
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 01:10 PM
Dec 2015

that the USA has TENS of MILLIONS of RABIDLY racist vicious motherfuckers

TENS of MILLIONS

did I say Tens of Millions?




Every time I say this it pisses off those viciously racist motherfuckers

redstateblues

(10,565 posts)
30. No comparison. Obama had me when
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:34 PM
Dec 2015

I heard his vision for America. Bernie does not move me at all. Just doesn't. I'd love to feel that way again. Maybe someday. Til then I think Hillary will be a good President

reACTIONary

(5,749 posts)
31. I remember when I serriously decided to support Obama in the primary....
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:35 PM
Dec 2015

.... my bro sent me a u tube outtake man in the street interview conducted at an Obama rally. But it was with a teenager, an young African American about 16 or so. Like any kid, he wasn't dressed to be presentable and you could tell from the way he was approached that the interviewer was just looking for an easy target, hoping to get some pablam about hope and change when he asked why he supported Obama.

The kid came back with a straight up policy answer concerning Obama's heath care position. The news guy seemed a bit suprised but played it straight and followed up with the observation that Obama wasn't being very specific about what he would propose. The kid pointed out that this was a strength because whatever was voted on had to have strong legislative support and it was best to set goals and standards and then work with the legislature to craft the details. The news guy gave up at that point, since he wasn't going to get the goofy hope and dream response he was looking for.

I was impessed and started following Obama more closely .

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
34. I actually thought he was a shoo-in after his DNC speech in 2004.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:53 PM
Dec 2015

I was surprised anyone else thought it was weird.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
40. But in this RABIDLY and VICIOUSLY racist country of ours, I was surprised he could win.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 01:09 PM
Dec 2015

Given there are tens of millions of rabidly vicious racist motherfucker assholes here

etc



It REALLY pisses of CERTAIN people when I state the FACT that there are TENS of MILLIONS of rabidly racist vicious motherfuckers in this country...so I like to say it over and over and over

BlueCheese

(2,522 posts)
36. I didn't laugh at Obama, who was a U.S. Senator from Illinois.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 12:58 AM
Dec 2015

And I don't laugh at Sanders, either. Or Clinton, for that matter.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
46. Not at Obama or Hillary or Bernie, at the racist society electing them or not.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 03:06 PM
Dec 2015

The point of my post, which seemed to be missed by many, is that ANYTHING is possible as to even Bernie can be elected.

There are many saying he cant win, I disagree.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
48. Because we are a viciously and rabidly racist country and we or many of us
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 03:09 PM
Dec 2015

dislike or even hate anyone with a different sounding name and of course if they are not white and male.

Add to that the fact that the GOP steals 5% of the vote before the election is held.

BlueCheese

(2,522 posts)
49. I don't doubt there is a seriously racist element in our society.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 03:15 PM
Dec 2015

But they already mostly vote Republican, so it's not like Obama would have done worse than any other Democrat against them.

Also, Colin Powell had been talked up quite a bit in earlier years.

It's actually pretty amazing the number of demographic breakthroughs that have been occurring of late. It almost went unnoticed that Mitt Romney was the first non-mainstream Christian on a major party ticket.

Chitown Kev

(2,197 posts)
38. Well, I didn't laugh
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 01:51 AM
Dec 2015

whispers about the possibility of Obama become POTUS at some point came as early as the late 1990's from my POV.

Totally an unsurprising thing to me.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
45. I did, I laughed at the idea that this rabidly racist society could do it. Now, it is true that
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 03:05 PM
Dec 2015

about 52% of us are not so racist that we will elect him, with the other 48% dead set against him solely due to skin color.

I am getting a kick out of certain folks around here with their hurt feelings that I keep calling America racist.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
44. Nope. His keynote address at the convention
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 03:02 PM
Dec 2015

made it clear he was a huge force and a rare political superstar

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