Today a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was released showing only 24% of Americans believe that this country is heading in the right direction. Also, new economic figures were released showing that unemployment is at a four year high at 5.7% with 51,000 jobs lost in July. Over the past seven months, almost half a million jobs have been lost in this country. Clearly Americans are unhappy about the direction of the economy and for good reason. They are also worried about the rising energy prices, the depression in the housing market, the return of inflation and a host of other problems.
With this economic landscape, it is not surprising that President Bush has an approval rating of only 30%. He is not doing well and Americans are anxious about the future. Much of the blame has been centered on the Republican Party, which is why the party is concerned about huge losses in Congress.
Yet, in recent polls, the Republican nominee John McCain is basically tied with Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, and the darling of the media. A new Gallup tracking poll shows Obama with a statistically insignificant 45-44% lead over McCain. Why isn’t Obama destroying the flawed Republican candidate? McCain has had problems unifying his conservative base. He has run a rather lackluster campaign so far and has certainly received scant media attention in comparison to Obama.
The problem for Obama is Obama. He just needs to look in the mirror to figure out why Americans are leery of him. For one, he makes poor decisions. He traveled to Europe to meet foreign leaders and a throng of Berliners. He had plenty of time to exercise and work out, but he did not find time to visit wounded troops in Germany. What a horrible decision! Did he forgo the visit because his adoring throng of media reporters would not have been allowed to join him? Whatever the reason, the decision has hurt Obama.
Americans are also worried about the type of people Obama spends time with. Reverend Jeremiah Wright, his pastor of twenty years, was exposed as a raving racist. Now, Obama acquaintance Ludacris has released a rap song that savages Hillary Clinton, President Bush and John McCain. Ludacris raps about painting the “White House Black.”
Obama met with Ludacris back in 2006 and the rapper considers the Illinois Senator a friend. Obama has chosen to associate with some rather despicable characters Can anyone imagine John McCain meeting with Ludacris? Of course not, McCain has better judgment and this could be the issue that determines the result of this election. The judgment of the candidate is a critical question and it is fair to ask which one of these two men has better judgment?
If Americans can become comfortable with Obama and these concerns are put to rest, then he will likely become the next President. Due to the problems with the GOP, voters are looking for a reason to vote for the Democratic Party. If Obama can ease both the legitimate and illegitimate concerns that Americans have about him, such as his character, his associates, his judgment and his plans for the future, then he will become the next President of the United States.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
You are probably sitting on the thumb on your other hand while you are doing that..... Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now rock back and forth as you sing praises to Obama..... Written by Yeah Slick,,,, I get the picture
on 8/4/2008
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I'm putting my hand to my forehead with the thumb abducted and the index finger pointing skyward (the other fingers are flexed). You get the picture. TW Written by Tee Dub
on 8/4/2008
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The Prince of Char...... er uhhhhh,,,, Change thinks if he plays the race card enough times that will get him elected. He's also saying that McCain people are whispering not to vote for him because he doesn't look like the other presidents on paper money........middle name is Hussein, yadda, yadda, yadda. And this guy is who we have been waiting for? He obviously has a few emotional issues that are simply waiting to emerge full blown..... Written by He sounds paranoid dillusional to me
on 8/4/2008
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Po-po Kajunlady…….. I liked those lap dances the other night so much, I went and let a cool kajun gal do her thing and perform another one on me the next night, and then another , and then the next night too……… She appears to like them as much as I do, THEY ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!! So ya’s don’t like the wisdoms on prolific prophetic paradoxes written by Thomas Sowell?????? I happen to enjoy them very much….. You gotta hand it to those former Marines, they generally have a pretty good perspective on the what it is in life……… So semper fi Kajungoyle, we luvs ya anyways, and will gladly accommodate your lap dance either with the lights on or the lights off……………. I really enjoy the hypocritical latherings emitted by the lil’ dubbers in the crowd… they are sooooooo ‘common sensical in an Oblah-blah type of fashion, especially when they note: “some buzzers here have noted "poor folks don't sign your paychecks.” And the sad thing of it is; those are the honest and basic facts of the matter……. So yeah, if you want to change the what it is now, for the what it is in a 4th world country, keep spewing retarded philosophies and ignorant perspectives on life…….. Written by
on 8/4/2008
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Regarding the racism in Louisiana, what does it mean when Michael Jackson will keep Don Cazayoux from retaining his House seat in November because all of the predominately black precincts will vote for Jackson? If you vote for someone because of their race, you are a racist. I don't vote for anyone I don't think would be a good candidate. I guess most of you would think that I have wasted my votes in most elections, because I have never voted for any of the Dem/Rep since Reagan. I would rather die free than to give my vote to someone who I don't like. In fact, I am going to vote for Kip Holden, but I will vote against his billion dollar tax. I guess I am one of those greedy white folks that Obama doesn't like. Why is it a surprise I would rather see anyone other than him be president? Written by BR Native BB
on 8/3/2008
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Newsweek's Jonathan Alter has the same thing to say.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/150477
Playing the victim by accusing the other side of playing the race card is just the same as, just another form, of playing the race card. Given that, racist is still "vote against the other guy because he's black; vote for me because I'm white...." We can't just leave aside that there has yet to be a black president. While voting for someone just because they're black is wrong and being able to judge someone totally on the merits of what policies they propose and how they might handle the presidency and run the government and leave skin color totally out of the decision is right, yes, of course there are many who no doubt will be proud to vote for Obama because he'd be the first black president and I can't count that as racist or for the moment see a whole lot wrong with it. A lot of people in this country do very much need to see for a fact that, yes, no matter who you are or what color your skin is you can become president if you work hard, study, make good grades, etc., and getting a position on merit is indeed what America is still all about. Now, if you say that based strictly on policies, ability to run the government, etc. Obama doesn't have what it takes, OK, fine. McCain, the son of a Navy Admiral, for all of his years of experience and wisdom is somehow, in the way he's been running his campaign, not at all demonstrating that he has what it takes for his part. But, for the moment at least, Obama IS appearing more presidential (though anyone could easily appear more presidential than the current occupant of the office) and I can see how that's starting to scare or at least discomfort at least some people. I suppose that we're too used to seeing this bumbler that we unfortunately have right now; we've forgotten what a president SHOULD look like and, unfortunately for his part McCain, though we know he's capable, is just not showing us that, and especially with his "don't against 'strange and scary' Obama..." tack. Obama is hardly wrong to tell people that they should not be scared. If indeed Obama has the intellect, the temperament, the ability, etc., then to the contrary people really ought to be proud. Written by Richard P.
on 8/3/2008
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Yes, exactly, the McCain of 2000 may well have been a good president, but, sadly, that person is long gone. Written by Richard P.
on 8/3/2008
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There's been a Bush in the presidency or vice-presidency 20 of the past 28 years. And then now here's McCain offering only to continue these same policies which beg the question of "are you and the nation better off now than you were 8 years ago?" Or, how many who aren't among the wealthiest elite are even just as well off now than they were 8 years ago? This country is not a dynastic monarchy, but rather revolted to get its start against the ruinous policies of one. If you vote for McCain you might as well be voting for the Bush dynasty and another 4 years of those policies, well, if that's not scary then nothing is. Written by Richard P.
on 8/3/2008
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BB, I think you're forgetting that Duke had over 55% of the White vote when he ran against Edwards. So over half of the state's White voters thought voting for the criminal wasn't "important" - they'd rather vote for a Neo-Nazi former Grand Wizard of the KKK. That, mon cher ami, is the recent legacy of White voters in this state. Look, I know Obama isn't perfect (no politician is), but no one with even a modicum of sense is going to vote for McSame. As I said on July 7th to Rhett's Wife (which she almost surely never read, as it disappeared shortly thereafter): "RhettsWife, Darlin', tu connais que je t'aime beaucoup, mais I would love for you to explain to me how it is that the GOP gets its reputation as the stalwart defenders of the nation's purse? It doesn't take much research to discover that the GOP wastes more money on defense contractors and runs up deficits as high as the eye can see in order to give the wealthiest of the wealthy hefty tax cuts - all because we should be grateful to those rich rascals, because as some buzzers here have noted "poor folks don't sign your paychecks." The Republicans are much less responsible than the Democrats when it comes to government spending - they just have different (and to my mind, wrong) priorities. McCain seems a genuine fellow, and I think the country would have been better off had not the GWB campaign smears against him worked in 2000 - he certainly would have been a better president than Chimpy McFlightsuit. However, we have had nearly eight years of failed Republican policies and it is time to change directions. Ask yourself about Bush and Cheney's war - about Bush and Cheney's deficits - about Bush and Cheney's friends who are enriching themselves on our tax dollars. Ask yourself about our nation's financial health. We are borrowing the money from China, from Japan, to pay for these wars - do you and Rhett have children? Grandchildren? Well, then you need to think about them - they'll be paying Bush's debts. Here's a better ditty for you - "Voting for McCain is More of the Same." Moi je connais bien que je va voter pour Obama le novembre qui vient. Ça c'est tout. TW" Written by Tee Dub
on 8/3/2008
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"Vote for the guy who isn't going to bring 4 more years of these same policies that are making the U.S. into a third-rate power and a third-rate country whether he's orange or green or purple or plaid. It's important." Written by Richard P.
on 8/3/2008
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I have to think that if Obama was white, he would have been ridden out of the race a long time ago. There is no place in a national campaign for racism, and many of the most vocal of Obama's supporters are making this election a referendum on the willingness of white Americans to simply support a black candidate. I am not going to listen to the racist rantings of Mr. Wright, Ludacris, or even the jealous Jessie Jackson, but just as white politicians are held to the standard that they shall not associate with racists, so must black politicians. I can tell you that I will not vote against Obama because he is black, but neither will I vote for him because he is black. He seems to want to have it both ways by telling the voters that the other side is going to use fear to keep us from voting for him, but the more I listen to him, the more I realize that he is using that same tactic. To all of those who think that Louisiana is full of racists, Just go back and look at the election results of the Edwin Edwards David Dule Governor's election. I'm sure that most of us who had to choose then would rather jump off the state capitol than have to vote for Edwin Edwards again, but if we had to we would. Back then we had a bumper sticker that read: "Vote for the crook, It's important". If we vote for a black leader that does not want to offend the racists that support him, he is a racist. Therefore: "Vote for the old white fart, It's just as important. Written by BR Native BB
on 8/3/2008
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The saddest thing is that we need to be discussing and debating policy. How about the federal debt? Energy independence and new energy sources for when there won't be enough oil no matter where drilling is allowed (and drilling in different places can realistically only be considered as a very short-term aid and not at all as a whole solution)? Restoring respect for America in the world community that Bush has destroyed? It's the conservatives who have chosen to take the campaign in this direction and focus on what's trivial. Written by Richard P.
on 8/3/2008
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"Thomas Sowell was born " (as written below)... SHUT-UP already! ...............I'm sick of seeing your ranting on and on "under different names"............Why don't you get your own blog- and stop trying to dominate this one....... (No lap dance tonight?) Written by KjunLady
on 8/2/2008
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"Obama acquaintance Ludacris has released a rap song that savages Hillary Clinton, President Bush and John McCain. Ludacris raps about painting the 'White House Black.' "..................Jeff, you sound like that choir-boy, Sean Hannity.......No matter how you crunch the numbers, Barack Obama is going to win the Presidency in a land-slide... and you have how many weeks left to entertain us until November? ..... It's time to stop injecting racism (You KNOW quoting a black rapper incites Looziana backwards racists, ....er....better known as Republicans in some parts) ... AND, you also said, "A new Gallup tracking poll shows Obama with a statistically insignificant 45-44% lead over McCain.".. Complete the story, Jeff-- That same day, the Gallup Poll published an 8 point lead for Obama.. even, your boy, Bill O'Reilly, was perplexed.
Written by KjunLady
on 8/2/2008
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Oh yeah, Obama's decision not to turn a visit to troops in Germany into a media circus was so deplorable that we'd be better off with four more years of Bush policies. Yeah, that sounds about right! Jeff, you should be ashamed of yourself. You're not even trying. Written by David (neither Vitter nor Duke)
on 8/1/2008
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Sure, you can say that there are two less-than-optimal choices being presented. But, hey, is that all that the right-wingers can come up with these days? The country is headed in the wrong direction, so say the voters. Change, as in major change, is clearly desired. Written by Richard P.
on 8/1/2008
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Interesting post about Thomas Sowell, but he is a well known arch-conservative, so nothing surprising. Jeff, I suggest you read today's Bayou Buzz column by Dan Juneau. He is spot on in his analysis of how this race is shaping up. Written by CL
on 8/1/2008
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{Unknown author wrote this introduction} - - - - - - - - - Thomas Sowell was born in North Carolina and grew up in Harlem . As with many others in his neighborhood, he left home early and did not finish high school. The next few years were difficult ones, but eventually he joined the Marine Corps and became a photographer in the Korean War. After leaving the service, Sowell entered Harvard University , worked a part-time job as a photographer and studied the science that would become his passion and profession: economics.... . . . After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard University (1958), he went on to receive his master's in economics from Columbia University (1959) and a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago (1968). . . . In the early '60s, Sowell held jobs as an economist with the Department of Labor and AT&T. But his real interest was in teaching and scholarship. In 1965, at Cornell University , he began the first of many professorships. His other teaching assignments include Rutgers University , Amherst University , Brandeis University and the University of California at Los Angeles , where he taught in the early '70s and also from 1984 to 1989.. . . Sowell has published a large volume of writing. His dozen books, as well as numerous articles and essays, cover a wide range of topics, from classic economic theory to judicial activism, from civil rights to choosing the right college. Moreover, much of his writing is considered ground-breaking -- work that will outlive the great majority of scholarship done today. . . . . Though Sowell had been a regular contributor to newspapers in the late '70s and early '80s, he did not begin his career as a newspaper columnist until 1984. George F. Will's writing, says Sowell, proved to him that someone could say something of substance in so short a space (750 words). And besides, writing for the general public enables him to address the heart of issues without the smoke and mirrors that so often accompany academic writing.. . . . In 1990, he won the prestigious Francis Boyer Award, presented by The American Enterprise Institute. . . . . . Currently Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute in Stanford , Calif. - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Obama and McCain - - - - - Thomas Sowell - - - - - - Column from Thursday, June 05, 2008 - -- - - - -- Now that the two parties have finally selected their presidential candidates, it is time for a sober-- if not grim-- assessment of where we are. Not since 1972 have we been presented with two such painfully inadequate candidates. When election day came that year, I could not bring myself to vote for either George McGovern or Richard Nixon. I stayed home. . . . . . This year, none of us has that luxury. While all sorts of gushing is going on in the media, and posturing is going on in politics, the biggest national sponsor of terrorism in the world-- Iran-- is moving step by step toward building a nuclear bomb. . .. . The point when they get that bomb will be the point of no return. Iran 's nuclear bomb will be the terrorists' nuclear bomb-- and they can make 9/11 look
like child's play. . . . . . All the options that are on the table right now will be swept off the table forever. Our choices will be to give in to whatever the terrorists demand -- however outrageous those demands might be-- or to risk seeing American cities start disappearing in radioactive mushroom clouds. . . . . . . All the things we are preoccupied with today, from the price of gasoline to
health care to global warming, will suddenly no longer matter. . . . . . Just as the Nazis did not find it enough to simply kill people in their concentration camps, but had to humiliate and dehumanize them first, so we can expect terrorists with nuclear weapons to both humiliate us and force us to humiliate ourselves, before they finally start killing us. . . . .. They have already telegraphed their punches with their sadistic beheadings of innocent civilians, and with the popularity of videotapes of those beheadings in the Middle East . . .. . . . They have already telegraphed their intention to dictate to us with such things as Osama bin Laden's threats to target those places in America that did not vote the way he prescribed in the 2004 elections. He could not back up those threats then but he may be able to in a very few years. .. . . . The terrorists have given us as clear a picture of what they are all about as Adolf Hitler and the Nazis did during the 1930s-- and our 'leaders' and intelligentsia have ignored the warning signs as resolutely as the 'leaders' and intelligentsia of the 1930s downplayed the dangers of Hitler. . . . .. . We are much like people drifting down the Niagara River , oblivious to the waterfalls up ahead. Once we go over those falls, we cannot come back up again. . .. . . .. What does this have to do with today's presidential candidates? It has everything to do with them. . . . One of these candidates will determine what we are going to do to stop Iran from going nuclear-- or whether we are going to do anything other than talk, as Western leaders talked in the 1930s. . . .. . There is one big difference between now and the 1930s. Although the West's lack of military preparedness and its political irresolution led to three solid years of devastating losses to Nazi Germany and imperial Japan ,
nevertheless when all the West's industrial and military forces were finally mobilized, the democracies were able to turn the tide and win decisively. . . . . . .. But you cannot lose a nuclear war for three years and then come back. You cannot even sustain the will to resist for three years when you are first broken down morally by threats and then devastated by nuclear bombs. . . . . . Our one window of opportunity to prevent this will occur within the term of whoever becomes President of the United States next January. . .. . . At a time like this, we do not have the luxury of waiting for our ideal
candidate or of indulging our emotions by voting for some third party candidate
to show our displeasure-- at the cost of putting someone in the White House
who is not up to the job. . . . . .. Senator John McCain has been criticized in this column many times. But, when all is said and done, Senator McCain has not spent decades aiding and abetting people who hate America . . . .. . . . On the contrary, he has paid a huge price for resisting our enemies, even when they held him prisoner and tortured him. The choice between him and Barack
Obama should be a no-brainer......................
Written by
on 8/1/2008
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Jeff,
Let's be real. If Obama was White, he would be leading by double digits in every poll. Finally, David Gergen and some others are beginning to give voice to that fact, even though most of the pundits have tried to ignore that 500 pound monster in our midst for fear of raising the racial issue. In many states, and surely in those of the deep South, there is a significant segment of the voting public that would not vote for a Black candidate if he were the Second Coming of the Diety. Even with that challenge, it is astounding that Obama is doing so well in most parts of the country and is well ahead in potential Electoral College delegates if you do a state-by-state analysis. The national polls are interesting, but not very consequential, even though McCain has led only one poll for one day in the last two months. Written by CL
on 8/1/2008
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Today a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was released showing only 24% of Americans believe that this country is heading in the right direction. Also, new economic figures were released showing that unemployment is at a four year high at 5.7% with 51,000 jobs lost in July. Over the past seven months, almost half a million jobs have been lost in this country. Clearly Americans are unhappy about the direction of the economy and for good reason. They are also worried about the rising energy prices, the depression in the housing market, the return of inflation and a host of other problems. 
