Scott Kirwin (mail) (www):
That's a lot of kool-aid.
2.27.2008 1:17pm
Cervus:
That bumper sticker is a profoundly negative message, IMO. It implies that Republicans and other Bush voters are the enemy rather than fellow Americans. It's divisive and unwelcome.
2.27.2008 1:17pm
Sigivald (mail):
I don't recall, to echo Cervus, that "my country" went anywhere. Nor do I believe Obama can "bring it back", if only because it never left.

I presume "country", here, to therefore be shorthand for "a Democrat as President".
2.27.2008 1:35pm
Sigivald (mail):
I don't recall, to echo Cervus, that "my country" went anywhere. Nor do I believe Obama can "bring it back", if only because it never left.

I presume "country", here, to therefore be shorthand for "a Democrat as President".
2.27.2008 1:35pm
Paul S (mail) (www):
Obama'08!

I want my vacation from history back?
2.27.2008 2:09pm
Kevin D (mail) (www):
I blame Canadians.
2.27.2008 2:45pm
Snippet:
I want my misery index back!
2.27.2008 3:11pm
Martin L. Shoemaker (www):
Yep, that bumper sticker just cost the Senator my vote.
2.27.2008 3:21pm
Snippet:
I think, "I want my country back!" is almost as perfect an example of the narcissism of the contemporary left as Michelle Obama's newfound pride in an America that seems ready to give her husband the keys to power.

It's not your country; It's our country. Sharing can be hard, but it is quite unavoidable under the circumstances.
2.27.2008 3:22pm
zach.:
Martin,

I don't think the sticker is official Obama merchandise.
2.27.2008 4:12pm
Scott McLoud (mail):
zach,

Then let Obama come out and disown it, like he should be disowning his messiah status.

Ah, but that won't help him get elected! Just like laying out a thought out and consistent policy won't either (or, at least that is what he seems to believe)
2.27.2008 4:55pm
Paul S (mail) (www):
How about this:

Obama - who else would dare to have the audacity to hope in the freest most opportunistic nation in human history!

Or wait, was someone else in possession of his country and that is why hope was so audacious?
2.27.2008 4:55pm
jaymaster (mail):
That’s actually a slogan Dean was using back in ‘04, I believe.
2.27.2008 5:38pm
jaymaster (mail):

Guess maybe I should have clarified that as HOWARD Dean, since there’s another Dean who hangs out around here on occasion…
2.27.2008 5:51pm
zach.:
Scott McLoud,

why should he be required to disown it? because you asked him to? he probably doesn't even know about it. is there any evidence that it's even popular?
2.27.2008 6:01pm
Scott McLoud (mail):
zach,

Because he wants to be a leader. And not just any leader; the leader of the U.S. gov, the nation, his party, the free world. Being a leader means you have to stand up if your followers put something up about you or your candidacy and you don't disown it it means (as a leader) you approve of it, period.

Another example that the Dems don't understand leadership and are not ready to lead.
2.27.2008 6:23pm
Scott McLoud (mail):
"if you don't disown it"

damn, gotta watch what I type.
2.27.2008 6:24pm
zach.:
Scott McLoud,

but you can't hold him responsible for something he doesn't know anything about. saying you're going to hold him accountable for something somebody on the net wrote about him unless and until he denounces it is ridiculous. not only is he not aware of the bumper sticker, but he's also unaware of your personal request of him.
2.27.2008 7:25pm
Scott McLoud (mail):
Hmm, I guess I did overreact a little. I had thought that the bumper sticker was the result of either a major group in his campaign or a major player in the campaign or democratic politics. Now that I see by the link that it is a supporter of infinitesimal significance he doesn't have to disown it to prove his leadership creds.

It still stands if it were a major player or group, though.
2.27.2008 7:31pm
zach.:
Scott,

definitely if it was something that was more high level.
2.27.2008 8:47pm
Mark @ Urthshu (mail) (www):
interesting back and forth between zach and scott, if you don't mind my saying. could it be we're all f'ing tired of mean-spiritedness?

i wonder if this election is going to be the polite/boring or the most subtle? prob'ly all the dirty stuff will be on the net, mostly.
2.27.2008 9:25pm
jaymaster (mail):
Mark,

I think you’ve nailed it!

Are you off the pain meds?
2.27.2008 10:19pm
Mark @ Urthshu (mail) (www):
nope. physical therapy next, but i don't believe i'm getting that elbow back in toto. i saw the xrays finally - broke in 8 places.

thanks for asking
2.27.2008 11:26pm
Snippet:
In this particular situation, "mean spiritedness" is only a small part of the problem.

The real issue here, in my H-U-M-B-L-E opinion is the rank divisiveness (not to mention hypocrisy) inherent in the "I want my country back!" whine.

It would be difficult to formulate a more wrong-headed way of thinking about politics in a democracy. It is not "your" country, and it is not "my" country, and it hasn't gone away, nor has it been transformed into some sort of police state. If it had, Michael Moore and Noam Chompsky woulde be rotting in a re-education camp somewhere, if they were allowed to live.

"Dissent is Patriotic" (another piece of insincere bee ess) may very well be about to take on a deliciously ironic twist.
2.28.2008 8:53am
Martin L. Shoemaker (www):

I don't think the sticker is official Obama merchandise.


It looks like you're right. I stand corrected. The Senator still has a shot at my vote.
2.28.2008 9:47am
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Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.

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