Harry's Place

And McCain is pulling out of Michigan

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1008/McCain_pulling_out_of_Michigan.html

Ah the Joe Hill angle, eh?

Paged Baez yet?

I know that film crews are full of manly virility and coal miners are notoriously effete, but I can’t help wondering exactly what form the coercion took. The comfy chair maybe? Not (gasp!) the soft cushions?

Could it be that both sides have difficulties with objectivity and fair play?

Organised labour supports Democratic candidate for President!
Musician endorses Democrat cadidate for President!

A new politics for a new century.

“I think we may be seeing the foundations of the Atwater-Rove culture-war politics of the past 30 years or so starting to crumble before our eyes.”

We may be witness to a reconciliation of the New Deal coalition with the Civil Rights coalition. Something I would have thought a pipe dream 6 months ago. So I would roll it back to 1964, the last year some states were in play that are now in play.

Eric Kleefeld at TPM on today’s polling:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/mccain_slips_again_in_todays_t.php

• Gallup: Obama 48%, McCain 43%, with a ±2% margin of error, compared to a 48%-44% Obama lead yesterday.

• Rasmussen: Obama 51%, McCain 44%, with a ±2% margin of error, compared to a 51%-45% Obama lead yesterday.

• Hotline/Diageo: Obama 47%, McCain 42%, with a ±3.2% margin of error, unchanged from yesterday.

• Research 2000: Obama 51%, McCain 40%, with a ±3% margin of error, compared to a 51%-41% Obama lead yesterday..

Adding these polls together and weighting them by sample sizes, Obama is ahead 49.4%-42.9%, up just slightly from a 49.4%-43.7% lead yesterday. Obama has stayed in place, while McCain’s support has slipped by a small amount.”

I guess Obama’s embrace of neanderthal protectionist economics is paying off.
Watch out exporters of the world because HopeChange is coming.

I know that film crews are full of manly virility and coal miners are notoriously effete, but I can’t help wondering exactly what form the coercion took. The comfy chair maybe? Not (gasp!) the soft cushions?

Huh? The miners were upset that the obviously pro-McCain company bosses allowed the film crew onto the mine’s premises. Would they have allowed an Obama campaign film crew equal access?

“Organised labour supports Democratic candidate for President!
Musician endorses Democrat cadidate for President!”

One needs to be blind to the realities of American politics the last 40 years to write that. A time when Appalachian unionists preferred union-busting Repubs to Dems and country-bluegrass became almost the exclusive domain of Repubs.

I don’t want to be overly optimistic, but I think we may be seeing the foundations of the Atwater-Rove culture-war politics of the past 30 years or so starting to crumble before our eyes.

I wouldn’t have thought so, but you may be right.

Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QIGJTHdH50

“Huh? The miners were upset that the obviously pro-McCain company bosses allowed the film crew onto the mine’s premises. Would they have allowed an Obama campaign film crew equal access?”

Probably a fair point, Gene, but a different one. Your original post quotes miners claiming coercion. What coercion? (So Huh? back at you.)

Oh good grief! Gene, we all know Obama’s going to win. You’re not the only fool to think he’s the second coming. Do you remember how Clinton was received

“This was a surprise visit,” explained VP Local 1702, Safety Chairman Eric Greathouse, “and a lot of the miners felt this was a direct slap in the face of the union because they were trying to coerce our people into saying things against Barck Obama.”

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=44752&email=1

OK – Didn’t realize I repeated Gene’s link.

Union leadership backs Obama, then orders its members to strike so as to prevent any individuals contradicting stance of union leadership. Or are we honestly expected to believe that out of 440 union members, not even one has doubts about Obama, or intends to back McCain?

Looks more like the politics of the 1970s to me, Gene.

And you know that Obama is going to sell you out as soon as he gets into the Oval Office, don’t you? The signs are already there, if you take the blinkers off. For example, he’s going to stick it good and hard to the Pakistanis, showing world-weary neo-cons how the American colossus should _really_ be dealing with its recalcitrant “allies”. And after having helped mau-mau the financial system with his ACORN buddies in the 1990s … just what America needs!

Why does Gene support crony Capitalism and the takeover of politics by corrupt corporate interests?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQtq77RQRf0
(watch the vid with sound off, the song sucks)

Convict Raines, don’t put him in the Whitehouse!

<i.One needs to be blind to the realities of American politics the last 40 years to write that. A time when Appalachian unionists preferred union-busting Repubs to Dems and country-bluegrass became almost the exclusive domain of Repubs.

You can’t be serious!

These are the same guys who pay good money to see Willie Nelson.

Or are we honestly expected to believe that out of 440 union members, not even one has doubts about Obama, or intends to back McCain?

Yes we are!

We are to believe all 440 of ‘em are of a single mind and act in spontaneous unison!

My hunch?

430 of the 440 will vote Republican.

John P.
The polls now show that the most resistant group to Obama (white catholics without college education) are now moving to the Democrat.
Would you say that backs up the premise of Genes post?

John P – poor hombre. It is 2008 and your 1980 sub-reaganesque waffle is hilarious.

Keep it up.

Dawn Chorus, I smell yr desperation in the water……a heady musky brew. Enjoy losing come November.

The polls now show that the most resistant group to Obama (white catholics without college education) are now moving to the Democrat.

I’ve often observed how a college education turns bright people into idiots.

Would you say that backs up the premise of Genes post?.

No.

I’m unionised, am in favour of unions, but also know how intimidating they can be when it comes to reinforcing conformity and the ‘party’ line.

The behavior of these miners, consequently, proves little besides the fact unions sometimes engage in arm-twisting.

To interpret their actions as somehow suporting the Dems is foolish, hasty and short-sighted.

Am off to buy popcorn for the debate.

“We may be witness to a reconciliation of the New Deal coalition with the Civil Rights coalition.”

We can hope.

“I guess Obama’s embrace of neanderthal protectionist economics is paying off.
Watch out exporters of the world because HopeChange is coming.”

Like Obama is a bigger threat to global trade than the price of oil.

“These are the same guys who pay good money to see Willie Nelson.”

Bullshit. 1. The miners are subtle enough, even if you aren’t, to distinguish between a person’s art and his politics. 2. He doesn’t tour any more.

“Like Obama is a bigger threat to global trade than the price of oil.”

Obama’s protectionist policies are foolish and destructive, but they’re not as destructive as the price of oil? Is this the line you’re pushing. Maybe you should make an ad.

“I don’t want to be overly optimistic, but I think we may be seeing the foundations of the Atwater-Rove culture-war politics of the past 30 years or so starting to crumble before our eyes.”

Too bad Biden hates coal.

“Or are we honestly expected to believe that out of 440 union members, not even one has doubts about Obama, or intends to back McCain?”

Just keep your doubts to yourself, Comrade.

Mesquito stands shoulder-to-shoulder with George McGovern for keeping the secret ballot in union votes.

John.
If noone in the US had a college education, McCain would now be equal in the polls.

“Parents Of Obama Volunteer Couldn’t Be More Proud, Sick Of Son”

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/parents_of_obama_volunteer?utm_source=onion_rss_daily

“Obama’s protectionist policies are foolish and destructive, but they’re not as destructive as the price of oil? Is this the line you’re pushing. Maybe you should make an ad.”

Oh, hell no. I think protectionist foolishness is destructive, and I think the high price of oil is destructive (of economic models that require cheap transportation) and that was the “line” I was pushing. It seemed obvious enough to me that it hardly matters which of two or three causes of a problem is more or less contributory. Guess not.

I think McCain will still win West Virginia though, although probably not by much.

Is “stayed home” a euphemism for going on strike? Where would the finished filmed interviews have been shown? How destructive to the working day down a mine is a “surprise visit” from a film crew?

Other than for Obamabots, does anyone else think this is even remotely a story of any interest?

The Republican Party has pursued an economic strategy that’s resulted in the credit crunch, free fall in real estate prices and the devastation of ordinary peoples pensions and savings. They have pursued an environment policy that has disregarded science and has resulted in a refusal to sign up to international protocols to reduce carbon emissions and in foreign policy they have lied to their own citizens over reasons for war in Iraq, failed to capture the man responsible for 9/11 and failed to stop the nuclear programs of either Iran or North Korea.

Does anyone really believe that the Republicans should be re-elected? Does anyone really buy McCain’s maverick bullshit? Does anyone really want to see Pallin as VP let alone as commander in chief.

Blimey! That’s genuinely moving. Not that Obama deserves their support or is anything like the Second Coming. More like America’s Tony Blair.