Why didn’t Barack Obama put it away last night? Well, you can look to all sorts of causes — he had been too far behind in Ohio and Texas to do more than almost catch Hillary Clinton; some of her criticism of his supposed lack of experience had had an effect in recent days; he was on a streak of unfavorable news that outweighed his streak of wins, etc.
But here’s an alternative theory: On the very day of the vote, the chairwoman of the S.C. Democratic Party endorsed him. Here’s what Carol Fowler said in a release from the campaign:
“South Carolina Democrats have told me repeatedly that their greatest concern is that we nominate a candidate who can win in November, and who will help us build the Democratic Party across our state. I have observed the presidential campaigns for more than a year, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Obama campaign has what it takes to bring us a Democratic president. Senator Obama and his team have already made significant organizational contributions to the SC Democratic Party, and I expect their good work to continue through the fall campaign and into his administration.
“Senator Obama has proven, through a lifetime of advocating for middle class families and workers, his unique ability to create change that matters in the lives of Americans. He has proven his ability to win in the so-called "red states" like this one, and has brought countless new voters into the process. The people of South Carolina chose change by a decisive margin on January 26th, and I’m proud to stand with voters across the country who have backed Barack Obama to win in November and to lead our country in a new direction.”
Maybe the Democrats in Ohio, unlike the Democrats in S.C., didn’t care to "nominate a candidate who can win in November." Or maybe, just maybe, it was… dare we say it … the Chicken Curse? Did a gratuitous, out-of-nowhere, five-weeks-plus-after-the-fact endorsement from a party chair from the home of the Gamecocks just have way too much bad mojo riding on it for Obama or anyone else to overcome?
The Curse has, of course, been more or less proven to have effects beyond the football field upon people or endeavors with incidental Gamecock connections — including in the realm of presidential politics. Most experts point with great confidence to the moment when Gary Hart’s chances turned to dust — it was when he decided to engage in monkey business with a former USC cheerleader.
There are those — strict constructionists, I suppose you might call them — who maintain that the curse is limited in its scope, that the cursed must have a brush with someone who has had direct contact with USC athletics, or (and these would be your hyperfundamentalists) just with the football program.
But these things are little understood by science. I think there’s more to it. If the effects can extend beyond athletics, might not the cause as well? Maybe you can get it just from association with anyone who has ever taught at USC, or driven through the campus. Or bet on a cockfight — and in South Carolina, that broadens the field considerably.
In any case, it’s not to be fooled with.
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There’s no question – the Curse is the most powerful force for evil in the universe.
“Senator Obama has proven, through a lifetime of advocating for middle class families and workers, his unique ability to create change that matters in the lives of Americans.
Come on- A LIFETIME! You guys… just once, tell us about all this change and how Obama will stand now on such a thin resume.
Watch NOW who endores whom.
Because we are so shallow and don’t read anymore, we are easily swayed by photos and stories fed to us by the opponents through the media. We listen to trash and absorb it like sponges as if it really matters. We won’t even take the time to look for information for ourselves. Heck none of them have had experience as a President. The only one who has is Bill and he can’t run again. So how can they predict not only what will happen, but what they will do? Did President Bush know the day the planes would hit the towers? They all should get real and listen to the people that pay their salaries to work for the good of the people.
Why is it that we get caught up in issues and things that don’t matter? What should matter is that everyday this drama plays out the world loses respect for us? It won’t matter who wins if they destroy their image and character for a job that is hinged on likability by not only us, but the entire the world. DUMB…DUMB…DUMB!
The Chicken Curse? Didn’t The State’s Doug Nye write the first story about the Chicken Curse? Didn’t Ben Tillman originate the curse? Didn’t Tillman’s nephew murder the co-founder of The State? Isn’t at least a large part of The State’s operation covered by the shadow of Williams-Brice Stadium at some point during each and every day? Didn’t Obama visit The State? Doesn’t that all add up to The State spreading the curse to Obama rather than Carol Fowler? Or is it just that The State should share the responsibility for Obama running out of steam? Or didt Obama get close enough to Williams-Brice to inherit the Gamecocks’ tendency to falter down the stretch?
Now you know why Hillary stayed away, Brad. She feared the curse.
Nikki–the likability factor ought to be the least of the qualities we consider when looking for an appropriate candidate to lead the country.
Remember all the dunderheads who voted for Bush because Rove cultivated the meme that his boy was a cowboy, a folksy “regular guy” with whom you’d like to have a non-alcoholic beer? Yeah–a regular guy by way of Andover Prep and Yale and Harvard and Skull & Bones and a lifetime of legacy wealth and filial influence by way of his CIA-director/vice president/president of a father, with absolutely no record of his own other than as a failed businessman and governor of a state in which the governor has very little actual power. At least when they put Reagan on a horse you could buy it–you’d already seen the image in a movie.
And as for the current candidates, McCain has cred thanks to his service and sacrifice, but is now as dirty as they come thanks to his many years suckling at the teat of lobbyists and corporations. Clinton has the taint of, well, Clinton. But Obama? He went from being president of the Harvard Law Review to becoming a community activist and a constitutional scholar, and while he’s only been in the Senate a short while (but how long does it take to get tainted like McCain, you may ask–see Obama’s allegiance to Energen), I would accept that record as proof of his viability over that of a warmongering, pandering old man or a power-hungry ex first lady who, like her lascivious, didn’t-inhale liar of a husband, will do and say anything to get back into office.
Sorry for taking this all so seriously. You may all go back to your little chicken superstition discussion now.
Wait till they find out:Bat Boy is Reverend Obama’s illegitimate son.
James,
Here’s how untainted Obama is:
He said, at a fund-raiser in Harlem Nov. 29, “I don’t want to wake up four years from now and discover that we still have more young black men in prison than in college.”
According to the Washington Post, that’s a (perish the thought) LIE. There aren’t more young black men in prison than in college. So here we have a black man telling a lie in Harlem about black people to get elected.
That’s real character, James, a shining example of the way of the Democrat. Apparently Obama will say anything to get to the public trough himself.
Of course, any reasoning person would have concluded that to practice politics in Illinois post Daly, that would have to be the case.
But you just wrote that likeability should be the least important characteristic of a presidential candidate, and then picked the candidate who has only likeability going for him, Obama.
I believe you stepped in your own pie, James. Maybe it was the Chicken Curse.
Obama is out of step with SC. How? He voted to allow adults to transport minors across state lines for the purpose of having an abortion in order to circumvent those states with parental consent laws. This is advocating government usurping parental rights and the federal government usurping states rights. SC has always been the strongest of states rights and parental rights states in America. And you’re telling me people are looking at the issues? How about his criticism of Clinton for her Iran vote in October? He says she didn’t learn the first time and her “vote was dangerous” (exact quote). How did Obama vote? He didn’t. He was one of two Senators not to show up for this vote that passed 76-22. Not only is he out of step with SC, he is out of step with his own party (at least when he shows up). Again, look at his actions and not his words.
Weldon, if the worst thing you can come up with about Obama is that he stretched the truth about the number of black men in jail, then the GOP really doesn’t have much of substance in the coming election.
The fact is the GOP was in charge of all branches of the government between January, 2003 and January 2007. During that time we invaded a harmless third world country, set the stage for the coming recession and many of our cherished civil liberties have been taken away. Thankfully the takeover of congress by the good guys has taken some of the steam out of the GOP march of terror. But we cannot really turn the country around until an adult is in charge of the White House. Barack Obama would make a fine president and he needs our support to ensure another blood thirsty war hawk does not continue the imperialistic policies of Bush.
We have ricin in Las Vegas, bombs in Times Square and a string of public shooting incidents across America. Yet the pro-imperialism warhawks try to tell us there haven’t been any terrorist attacks since 9-11. Baloney. We’re under constant threat from terrorists. They just don’t meet the definition of the neo-con for what a terrorist is. But they kill and destroy just the same.
It’s way past time to call the war in Iraq a failed diversion from the REAL problems facing America. This continued hunt for phantom enemies in far away places only distracts us from the real dangers. Health care, poverty, dispair, economic woes and drunk drivers are each about 10 times more important than foreign-born terrorism. Yet the myth persists that somehow people with brown skin threaten us in some significant way. That is pure nonsense and nothing but a drumed-up scare strategy used by the GOP to gain votes. Sadly, it seems to work.
So Bud, what you’re saying is the war is the creator of all our ills (it may be wrong but is far from the reason of all our nations ills). Tell people to get a job and get educated. There are thousands of programs already for the less fortunate. But they have to get off their tail and actually do something and not just talk about it or complain about it. Some may have to move where there is a job. And don’t give me the line that they can’t afford to. The illegal immigrants sure do move for work. Obama is perpetuating the myths and excuses rather than forcing personal accountaibility. It isn’t a chicken curse. America is waking up.
The Iraq occupation is not the cause of America’s problems but it does exacerbate them. While we’re draining money and human resources from the homeland to a nation far, far away whatever problems we have tend to worsen. I would suggest that we spend more money on infrastructure improvements, health care and homeland security and less, far less, on military misadventures. It’s all a matter of priorities.
(Of course there’s the pie-in-the-sky party, led by our very own Brad Warthen, who want to do everything. Spend in Iraq. Spend on healthcare. Spend on education. Spend, spend, spend. People of this persuasion simply don’t understand that money doesn’t just fall from the sky.)
Here’s a must read, by Joe Conason, for anyone who STILL believes John McCain is some kind of straight-talking, non-partisan maverick.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/political_commentary/commentary_by_joe_conason/mccain_s_very_own_farrakhan
-Rasmussen.com
Right on, Bud. For those interested in more about how this capricious war adventure has impacted our nation in a variety of ways, this is pretty devastating stuff.
bud … just curious, nothing ill intended by asking: You haven’t mentioned Hillary in a very long time. Is she still your favorite, or has Obamania won you over? Just curious (honest) since you were such a die-hard Hillary defender for so long.
Gordon, I’m a bit conflicted on the dem candidates. Of late Hillary does seem to be playing nasty. It could be simply a function of the media lens that distors everything we see. And Obama just seems so incredibly charismatic. He has, to a large extent, won me over. Yet the resilient nature of Senator Clinton and her fighting spirit is to be admired. There doesn’t seem to be much difference on the issues between the two.
In the end I’d like to see them both on the ticket in November. That seems about the only way out of the box the Democrats have gotten themselves in with regard to a number of issues: Florida/Wisconsin, the super delegates etc. Hopefully the respite Senator McCain is enjoying won’t give him a big advantage, but I’m afraid it may.
Of course that should have been Florida/Michigan not Wisconsin. I guess all those Yankee states look the same.
Bud, Iraq with Saddam Hussein at the helm was no “harmless third-world country,” and you haven’t lost any liberties because of the Iraq war. Thanks to 9-11, you can’t take some things onto a plane anymore. I didn’t realize that meant so much to you.
Thanks, bud. I was curious how this drama is playing out among the faithful. … I still can’t agree with their spending proposals, but there’s good argument that McCain will be just as costly with his 100 year war – though he shouldn’t be blamed for honesty. In truth, I don’t see how Obama (or Hillary) could extract us from Iraq, despite the campaign promises. If they’re depending on war savings to pay for programs, it’ll be a long time coming — if ever.
Careful John Monk..
The evil one eye of Pitchfork Ben will cast the Chiken Curse on yoo tooo!
Who Will Obama Select as his Vice President?
Submitted by Anonymous on March 21, 2008 – 1:23am.
With the recent news about Obama’s spiritual advisor, we need to examine Obama’s circle of friends. I know and trust Hillary’s advisor’s. How can we trust anyone else?
Tara W.
http://CenterLine.tv
So, to recap: Fox wouldn’ t support a film about Brawndo, the energy drink that destroys plants, debases the human race, and makes those who drink“ win at yelling,” but they are now putting wholehearted support behind the actual drink , which they’ re attempting to sell to social network junkies without a trace of a reference back to the film. To be fair, I’ ve seen the movie, and as far as I can tell, it didn’ t exactly feel“ like having sex with a tractor trailer in a parking lot.” So I’ m going to give…
I am not sure if Obama will get the nomination. Hillary may take it from him via the Super Delegates. I think McCain can defeat either of them, however.
I am not sure if Obama will get the nomination. Hillary may take it from him via the Super Delegates. I think McCain can defeat either of them, however.