GOPMom’s thoughts on Joe Biden
Am I the only one who figured out that someone at the extremely “œdisciplined” Obama camp leaked the news? Why else would they send out their message in the middle of the night? Is this some sort of play on the “œIt’s 3:00AM ““ who do you want to answer the phone” - debate? Did they really think all those Obamaniacs would have their phones on the bedside tables, waiting for the news? They very well might have. But”¦ how happy are all the Obamaniacs this morning, finding out that Obama picked an old, Washington insider (six terms!), white guy? Not very, I presume.
I love how desperate they are. I love that they can’t figure out why they are dropping (daily) in the polls. Of course, being the arrogant, elitist Democrats that they are, the real dilemma they face will never occur to them. It’s actually quite simple. Average, ordinary, yes-there-is-a-middle-class Americans don’t like Barack Obama. And we can see he doesn’t really like us, either. The other day in Virginia it was evident. While he was preaching to a crowd about John McCain’s housing inventory, the crowd was less than inspired. Could it be that Obama has miscalculated, again? Americans don’t like it when you attack the “œAmerican Dream”. You know, the one we’re all working so hard to attain. Obama keeps underestimating the common sense of the electorate. When John McCain jokes that 5 million makes you rich, we get it was a joke. (Maybe Obama was offended because he thinks he’s rich but since he only made 4 million last year, he’s disappointed to be out of the club.) When McCain says we’ll be in Iraq for 100 years, we know he’s thinking about modeling our current presence in South Korea. See, we get it. Why don’t they?
I repeat my earlier assertion ““ they don’t want to win. Why else would they pick Biden? No Conservative and no Republican will vote for this ticket. And no conservative values Democrat, will either. Not unless they want to see the Supreme Court stacked with Liberal wack jobs. I can’t tell you how reassuring this all is. As unpleased as I am with John McCain and his amnesty leanings, I’m still going to vote for him. And this is the secret to the Republican strategy. No matter how much we disagree with our nominee, we’ll all still vote for him. Because the alternative is just too ridiculous.
Enjoy this clip, found by my staff.
Popularity: 24% [?]
Comment by Marie on 23 August 2008:
“They very well might have. But… how happy are all the Obamaniacs this morning, finding out that Obama picked an old, Washington insider (six terms!), white guy? Not very, I presume.”
You presume wrong.
Comment by gopmom on 25 August 2008:
Really, Marie? In one poll, only 37% were pleased by the pick. An additional 39% were unhappy with the pick. The PUMA’s are furious. One in five will vote for whoever the Republican is just out of spite. It’s going to be a very interesting week. My money is still on HRC stealing the nomination out from under him.
But it’s good to hear from you. How’s things? How was the summer?
Comment by AMP on 25 August 2008:
I think those polls are bogus. People won’t vote for the other party out of spite (just like neo-cons won’t vote Democrat out of disgust for McCain), they vote third party, or don’t vote at all. The rest fall in line to whatever path their party shepard tells them to. Also, remember, there were a TON of Republicans that voted for Clinton in the Democrat primaries in order to cause confusion. This means her power is not so great, and that many of the voters who were thought to have backed her, and switched to McCain were already going to do so anyways even if she WAS nominated.
I think Biden was a solid pick for Obama as it adds integrity, moderation and experience. In the end, however, it only exposes Obama’s weeknesses, and reduces the “Change” drive. I think fluff only gets you so far in an election… but hey, we elected GW on it, right? Still, this is the beginning of the end for Obama.
Comment by Marie on 25 August 2008:
How did they do their SRS? What was the age group for their sample? Was this an internet poll(unreliable)? A telephone poll (unreliable)? How reliable is this source? Good statistics are really hard to come by. So give me some sort of credentials for this poll; but until then, I stick by the original comment.
Meanwhile, summer’s over for me. I’m now in school paying for $200 textbooks and sweating through seminars. It’s been a nice experience so far, though.
Comment by gopmom on 26 August 2008:
Marie, I can’t even find the polls anymore. The point is no bounce for Obama in the Biden pick. A bounce wasn’t expected but it was desperately wanted by the MSM since Obama is slipping. McCain and Obama are 45% & 45% as this morning. WHether the numbers are exact or not, he’s losing in popularity daily. Why? Could it be he’s turned out just to be another tax and spend Democrat?
Best of luck with school this year. I trust you checked Amazon for good prices on text books - or the used section of bookstore. I always bought used. As a matter of fact, I helped institute the policy of “no new editions” for two years at my college. And that was back when books were $50-$80.
I’m curious about something and please forgive me for being so nosy - how much are you borrowing and with interest, how much will your education cost you? How much can you expect to earn annually over the first 5/10 years of your career? I won’t post the answers - I’m just wondering if all the expense will be worth it. I met a young woman over the summer who already owes $30,000 for her undergrad, has borrowed to pay for grad school another $30,000 and wants a PhD, just so she can teach special education in public schools. She’ll max out salary wise at $75,000 within 7 years. I told her she was overeducating herself. Surprisingly, she agrees. So, I’m curious if maybe you’re heading down a similar path. Don’t get me wrong, you should get a college education but A - work to pay for it and take 5 or 6 years or B - go to a cheaper school. I think kids these are being sold on the theory that your degree is worth more if it cost more and that is untrue. So, explain.
Comment by Marie on 26 August 2008:
My academic goal currently is to get my bachelors in Biology; I might minor in Chemistry. I’m not sure yet. I’m not launching straight from my bachelors to my masters, though. I’m going into criminalistics (think CSI, but without the bodies and crime scenes. I would just be in the lab), and although a masters is nice, it is not required. For my loans this year, my father took out about $11,000 in his name for my first semester. I took out about $3,000. I did not sign the promissory note for my father’s loan, so I can not tell you the interest specifics. I can tell you that he and I do not have to start paying interest until I graduate. My interest cannot go higher then 8.25% and it decreases annually. I got a grant from the school, so that is paying for my books and a few other things. Payments for my loan start as low as $50 a month.
I did not (although I strongly support!) buy used books. The school gave me an account within their bookstore (and money) to buy books and supplies. However, books that do not pertain to my major, or I don’t feel that I will need, I will either sell back to the school (for cash), or to freshmen next year (for cash).
The school also gave me $5,000 worth of work study for the year. I chose to work in the Dental department; setting up their labs and such.
A criminalist makes an average of $43,000. It really comes down to where you work and how big the places is. One of my career goals is to work for the FBI.
I will probably work while I get my masters, and I’m really not sure if I want a Phd. Your friend is very ambitious, but if anything, a Phd will be something that I do when I’m in my thirties…I have a while to go.
Sorry if this is scattered — But all in all, I’m not really worried about paying of my loans. I have a really good sense of intuition. Now don’t frown and think I’m naive. I can not see the future. I don’t think I want to. But I can tell you that I won’t spend my future drowning in debt. I just feel it. I don’t know how to explain it to you. Especially since you seem to like facts. But my feelings have always been right.
Um, did I answer everything?
Comment by gopmom on 27 August 2008:
Well, Marie. It sounds like you have it more together than most. I still question why you’re going to such an expensive school. But that is your choice and if you’re willing to pay, so be it. But earlier in our exchanges, you seemed demoralized about the amount of loans it would take to get you through school. And you backed the whole Obama - college for everyone plan.
Yes, you answered my questions but is it worth it to take $40,000 plus in loans to only make $43,000 a year? You will be paying for those loans for a very long time.
Comment by Marie on 27 August 2008:
I am going to an expensive school because here is where I’m supposed to be. I visited Howard during my junior year of high school; and I knew immediately after stepping on campus that my place was there. There was no question of money. Money really can’t be a hinderance of getting your s%*t done. However, lack of it shouldn’t keep you shackled and chained to loan payments till your 78. For that reason, and many others is why I support Obama.
Thankfully I didn’t have to take our more then $3-4,000 in loans at this time. My dad did most of it, saying that “college was on him” (for the most part).
I got into UMass Amherst where their tuition for instate students was about $20,000 something. They gave me $18,000 + in scholarships and grants. But I turned it down because I wanted to go to Howard. So yes, taking out loans to cover the costs is worth it to me.
Again, picking a college shouldn’t be about being what you can afford; but unfortunately that’s what a LOT of students have to do. Technically, I can’t afford Howard (my EFC - expected family contribution - was zero), but I need to be here. I was tired of being a minority; I had been going to school in Brookline since kindergarden (sp.). I was one of four black students in my grade in elementary school. The education was worth it, don’t get me wrong, but being the only black student in most, if not all of your classes gets frustrating over time. I found myself growing bitter, and irritated by ignorance that a good amount of my white classmates had on black culture. I know the real world is going to be very much like this, so I decided to go to a predominately black school to get the experience that I missed out on. Also, to meet some cool people that I could actually relate to. I had friends in Brookline, but not close close friends. My best friend is Latina (and an alien), but she was all I had.
I don’t plan on making $43,000 (average) for the rest of my life. After I get my masters, that will open up new oppurtunities in my field. I plan on working for the FBI, so I definitely won’t be eating ramen noodles for the remainder of my years. Like I said, it all depends on where you work. So yes, it is worth it. (Although I have yet to take out $40,000 in loans yet)
Sorry if this was scattered again, my brain is truly fried.