Two Minutes Hate: Obama says some really stupid shit.
Also, want to start a new country?
To a crowd of wealthy Californians on Sunday, Barack Obama described small-town Pennsylvanians:
“You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not.
“And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
Jesus in a meadow. What classic bullshit.
Jobs dry up and towns become useless: it happens. Been happening since civilization began; that’s kinda why there are thousands of archaeological sites out in the middle of nowhere. You’d think that after 25 years, people would get the hint and MOVE TO WHERE THERE ARE JOBS. Instead, they expect the federal government to magically “regenerate” the community. Of course.
But what I really love about this speech is all the ways he clarifies what he means by “bitter.” Guns and God, right at the top of the list! Clearly here is a man in touch with average Americans, a man who speaks truth to power about real life. Hopechange.
And speaking of the federal government and how it’s funded, a reader named Taylor made some Excel graphs for me based on yesterday’s poll. I can’t figure out how to get the graphs on here, but suffice to say, there are some affluent and tons-o-tax-payin’ people hanging out around here. By far, the highest number of votes were from people who paid more than $30,000 in taxes for 2007.
The total tax paid by the first 574 of you who voted: $10,817,500.00.
For an average of: $18,845.82.
Good grief. We could run our own country, which we totally should.
Heh. Now I want to run the averages on how many guns you rednecks have, too. Some commenters have suggested that all my data-gathering is a thinly veiled attempt to start building that well-funded army I’m going to need to take over Earth. I have no comment on that at this time.
As far as the army goes, I’m in.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:42 pmOr maybe these are the leftovers with no drive or ambition, who are too apathetic to do something about it themselves.
Covington and Newport, KY are kicking the crap out of Cincinnati, OH right across the river in economic development, because our taxes are lower, and there are less impediments to new businesses, and no City Council endlessly arguing on how and when anything gets done. The people in these towns could do the same.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:45 pmIs anyone else reminded of Starnesville in Atlas Shrugged?
April 11th, 2008 at 3:49 pmmhuete, I’ve heard DearRachel mutter that she’s gonna give the commentariat the wappenschawing it so richly deserves. Heads up.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:51 pmViva la Rachelución!
April 11th, 2008 at 3:51 pmA few things that popped in my head as I was reading this.
A) Obama is a knucklehead because he either thinks that PA is in the Midwest or is trying to make some point by way of comparison of PA cities to Midwestern cities in a speech to some Californians (huh?)
b) Apparently Pennsylvania is much like Germany in the 1930’s… not.
c) Rachel, I believe the proper response is not “I have no comment on that at this time.” but rather, “I can neither confirm nor deny.“. That way, you cover yourself legally. Once you have successfully taken control, then you can say whatever the hell you want, but in the mean time, you don;t want to get tripped up by a technicality.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pmI’m in.
As long as we need a director of golf / chief golf instructor.
Oh - and that I get that job.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pmI will gladly join your army, though I only have one gun, a completely functioning replica of an 18th century Pennsylvannia Rifle (black powder, flintlock, muzzleloader). Not much of a home defense weapon, but I can shoot the eye out of a runnin’ squirrel at 200 yards with it! Okay, that part was bullshit, but still, I might be good for border/perimeter defense in our new country. A very symbolic weapon upon which to build a new country, I have to say.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pmHmm, kind of like N’olan’s pre/post Katrina?
Or the great “I have no recollection of those events taking place.
Hey somebody has to coordinate the next revolution, might as well be Rachel.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pmRachel, putting up the excel graphs:
This one takes a little time, but is simple. Assuming you are on a PC. Open the file in Excel, hit “PrtSc” on your computer. Open MSPaint (usually in your accessories folder under program files) and select edit paste. Then chose the marquis box, drag it over the chart you want, select cut. Open a new window, hit paste again, now save the image and you can work with it like any other jpeg.
There are easier ways, but if you have excel and a PC this way should always work. Good luck.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pmI’m from one of those towns where all the jobs dried up. I left, my whole family left. I still know people who stayed, though, and I have to say that none of them are clinging to guns and Jesus. Well, maybe Jesus a little, but that was the same before that economic catastrophe we call the Carter Administration.
Obama is so damn patronizing it makes me want to invite him over for dinner and serve possum gumbo just to see if he would eat it. Then I bet he would give a speech about how he et vittles with the poor folk. Asshole.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:16 pmWe have a few nines, a terrific 22, a shotgun and a weird Chinese military rifle purchased for reasons that remain unclear. I know there are more, but only recall the ones within reach. I’m just about fed up and definitely in.
It ain’t going to happen, but it would be nice if the networks surfaced BO’s ongoing stereotyping of those living in the flyover states. The reality is, I’m from Northern California. I fled when it became impossible to get groceries to my car without first paying extortion to large, menacing panhandlers.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:24 pmI, for one, would be happy to serve in the Rachl Lukis Army
April 11th, 2008 at 4:33 pmI bet we could almost buy our own Island in Dubai. They were creating their own little islands that people could buy out in the crystal blue water. The weather looked pretty nice.
It’s amazing how much just those who voted are paying. Scary amazing.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:40 pmI’m totally in. The island in Dubai sounds fantastic.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:45 pmDubai? Are you people out of your minds? The islands may be pretty but it’s a helluva neighborhood.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:50 pmI bet if you asked you’d find that most of those people in the over $30k bracket are small business owners or self employed.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:57 pmHere’s our guns. Though I did trade in my Glock 27 for a Walther PPK/S, which I LOVE. Because you wanted to know, you know you did.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:01 pmI hope when/if Obama does try to reach out to PA or other parts of flyover country, someone hijacks the PA system and plays that snippet about people clinging to God and guns. What do liberals cling to when hope in “the Revolution” and faith in
April 11th, 2008 at 5:04 pmcommunism or socialismliberalism fails them? Nothing. They get pissed off and whine about how the Republicans are screwing them.Well, I can’t hit a golf ball 300 yards; but I can hit a golf ball AT 300 yards.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:06 pmThe Walther doesn’t say PPK/S. It says PPK. It’s called the PPK/S because the barrel was too short and lengthened for the US. You might want to check if it’s legal.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:17 pmWeird how? Does the stock double as a spatula?
April 11th, 2008 at 5:19 pmRach,
Send me the Excel files, and I’ll send you jpegs of the graphs.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pmBECAUSE OF THE HOPINESS!
April 11th, 2008 at 5:37 pmBECAUSE OF THE CHANGINESS!!!!
April 11th, 2008 at 5:38 pmRachel,
I have been feeling sorry for myself every time 04/15 rolls around for several years now. It seems like the more I make, the less percentage of it I get to keep. I don’t feel quite so bad now knowing that I am in equally burdened company here.
At least in Texas you don’t have to pay any damned STATE income tax, like here in Oklahoma. Oddly enough I worry more about the state taxes because if you are a state employee (like me) and are late paying you are subject to immediate termination when the fiscal year ends, BY LAW. Well, unless you are a state legislator (a recent investigation uncovered quite a number of them who haven’t paid for years with no repercussions).
The really bad thing is, we all pay an enormous amount of other taxes over and above those we think about every April. Sales tax, property tax, road use tax in the price of gasoline, automobile tags (a form of tax), etc.
The Founding Fathers would be throwing crates off ships right now over this stuff.
Oh, and I don’t discuss my gun count. Let’s just say more than 5 but less than…never mind.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:38 pm“Clearly here is a man in touch with average Americans” No, just your typical whities.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:42 pmI am hoping that “I have no comment on that at this time.” is code speak for “absolutely true and so obvious I don’t need to draw you a picture.”
April 11th, 2008 at 6:13 pmAhhh.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:27 pmJust another Sunny day in the lovely Republic of Lukistan.
That is quite obviously not a PPK/S, sir, however they are nearly identical and that was the best image I had at the time. Moving on…
April 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pmIt’s more like this:
Jobs have been going, but my job is still here. It pays and pays well. I live in a decent neighborhood, ten minutes drive from work. Traffic is light. The out-of-state tuition at our state University is what the in-state students pay at Penn State.
Yes, taxes are high. I encourage my kids to leave. One has, one will, the other doesn’t want to, but he has a decent job. My house will never go up much in value, but it’s a place to live, not an investment. I’ll retire to Texas. Heck, I’d move tomorrow if I could keep my job.
I know people who won’t move because of family. Again, that’s their choice. I’m not going to condescend, or call them names.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pmI paid over $15,000.00 in Federal Income taxes for 2007. I own approximately 300 guns give or take a few. I am a collector licensed by the federal government.
Most of my guns are what is known as Curio & Relic. However, all are in excellent shooting condition and I have at least 500 rounds of ammo for each and every one of them. About 30 of my guns are modern firearms made in the past 10 years or so.
I also have a concealed weapons permit and carry two handguns every time I leave the house.
I say we start a “Republic of Sunny” with the 2nd Amendment as our dogma.
Joe
April 11th, 2008 at 6:36 pmAmerica has an awesome army. The muslim’s have suicide bombers and the American mainstream media. The Republic of Sunny needs a Dogma enforcement arm to act (Sunny can be the ‘Dog,’ and Rachel can be the ‘Ma’). I would like to suggest we form Sunny’s Vigilant Assassin’s. You could send them out is small groups to improve the gene pool, and remove the dumbasses from the World Political stage.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:47 pmRachel’s Raiders. Just let us know when to muster, Commander!
April 11th, 2008 at 7:01 pmI only have 5 guns now, hoped to buy another one today, but stayed home and worked. Also need lots of ammo for when the hopey/changey motherfuckers come to get them. What scares me is that here in NC I see thousands of Obama bumper stickers? What the fuck is wrong with these people?
April 11th, 2008 at 7:23 pmRachel’s Raging Ridgebacks would be a better name, in my oh-so-humble opinion.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:29 pmLook at the bright side: At least now, we have a more exact definition of “typical white person”.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:33 pmYou go to these Ivy League colleges, like Columbia and Harvard, where diversity of thought has been gone now for 40 years, and they overflow with nothing but a leftist worldview. And it’s not surprising that an alumnus, like Barack Obama, becomes an arrogant, condescending liberal that clings to socialism, identity politics, and the very totalitarian belief that he can, to paraphrase his wife, ‘fix our broken souls.’ It is also not surprising that he clings to antipathy toward those who don’t think like he does and narcissistically defines them as “divisive” as a way to explain his frustrations.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:46 pmFeels like there might be a T-Shirt coming from this post.
Rachel’s Raiders
April 11th, 2008 at 8:18 pmRachel’s Raging Ridgebacks
Lucas’s Legion
Sunny’s Vigilant Assassin’s
Islam has this interesting concept that if you are a Muslim, then by definition you belong to a single, global nation under sharia. It doesn’t matter where you live physically, it only matters what you believe.
So, noting that we’re taking our cue from the Nation of Islam concept, and further noting Sunny’s love of pork, I propose:
Nation of Salami
April 11th, 2008 at 8:49 pmAnd it’s not surprising that Obama abuses people who aren’t like HIM by attributing ridiculous and petty motives to their most deeply held beliefs.
What a nozzle.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:30 pmI love it! The “SVA” or RR or RRR. hahahaha
As to the Islands in Dubai…I’m not kidding. I watched two hours on national geographic and those islands are freaking amazing. And the prince who was in charge of it sounded like a totally normal down to earth capitalist.
And I believe that Dubai is the least “Islamic” oppressive state. But I could be totally wrong. I just loved the islands. 
April 11th, 2008 at 9:40 pmI was just astounded by the garbage that Barry man was speaking. What prejudice, what stereotyping, what snobbery and shallowness! He for sure is the son of a communist hippie. He refuses to acknowledge real economics, the Market, or Supply & Demand, all which cannot be circumvented. Instead he makes promises with our Tax Dollars, implying, like in this quote, that ‘The Government’ is capable of restoring the glory days of steel town/small town PA. He seems to convey the idea that the Bush & Clinton administrations just did not care enough. What he really believes he will never say as it it too Radical for the freedom loving American. He panders to his audience - he got a standing ovation recently when he told a PA audience he would ‘restore the Constitution.’ Gaggh!
April 11th, 2008 at 9:56 pmGlenn Reynolds has many great links concerning Obama’s remarks:
Obama’s Stupid Shit 1
April 11th, 2008 at 10:21 pmObama’s Stupid Shit 2
DG - Hazel’s pistol says PPK/S on the slide. And PPK’s are fully legal in the US. The PPK/S has a longer slide and is a bit taller than the PPK so that it could be imported after GCA68. However, both the PPK and the PPK/S are now being manufactured in this country, so both can be had. (Albeit, not in the same quality as the pre-68’s)
April 11th, 2008 at 10:29 pmAs a side note, my first PPK.380 cost me $89.95 in the early 60’s.
I think it is important to always keep one fact in mind while listening to anything that Obama or any other liberal ever says. That is the fact that none of the people, none of the groups that he or his wife speak to mean a damned thing to them. It is all about their power and their own belief that they understand how best to utilize the proletariat.
We as individuals don’t mean anything to any of these leftist assholes, and sadly it is more often than not that way with all politicians regardless of their party. What we count as, is the raw stupid material that can be utilized to support the enlightened few. Those few who really understand how the world works, and how it should be run. We are a necessary inconvenience that is needed to keep things moving along. Sort of like the manure that fertilizes crops. Just the unwashed masses that can be manipulated by pretty words and empty promises. The really sad thing is that as we go along that is becoming more and more true.
It makes me wonder at times if the left has always had a one hundred year plan and we are at the half way point now. We’ve seen the first half and that was taking over the schools and the formation of the belief system of the young. Now they are moving on to using those molded minds to seize more and more control.
Then again it may just be that we are seeing the elevation of narcissistic behaveour to truly dizzying heights.
Whichever is the case I for one don’t want to be an unwashed mass. I like being an individual that at least has some control over my destiny. If a candidate ever would like me to fervently work on their campaign all they would have to do is stand up and truthfully say, “If I am elected the government will leave people the hell alone. Feel free to succeed or fail you are on your own.” I would stomp around door to door and pass out fliers until even the Jehovah’s Witnesses would stand back and say, “Damn, look at that guy go.”
OK, I’m ranting and wandering all over the place now so I’ll stop, but the more I thought about what this jackass and his wife say the more pissed I got.
Oh, and I would have no problem living in a country run by our Overlord and Master Rachl Lukis. Sign me up and send me the memo for when we leave.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:13 pmI’m a wannabe redneck; I’m from the UK but my fiance lives in South Carolina. When I get my Green Card, can I join your army?
I used to like Obama because he seemed so down-to-earth, but the more I learn about him and what he believes, the more worried I become. And I’m not even American. If I was, I’d be dreading the prospect of an Obama presidency right now.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:14 pm@derrell — you speak for me. Tell it, Derrill, tell it!
I’m Jeff Bonwick, and I endorse Derrill’s message.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:22 pmI, too, would like to move to this country. And since you’ll be so busy running it I would be more than happy to be in charge of keeping the royal hounds happy and humiliated (because lets face it, you’ll still want to exploit Sunny even when you are the ruler of your own country).
April 12th, 2008 at 2:38 amWhy did many PA towns “dry up” in the past 25 years? Well, for one, Bethlehem Steel went out of business. During WWII we bombed the shit out of Japanese and German steel mills, which we then helped pay to rebuild with the latest technology, such as continuous casting making foreign steel cheaper to import than to buy from Pennsylvania.
That, and the fact that the Steel Workers Unions had for years jacked up the benefits of workers, due to no competeition that when the Japanese and German mill came online, they could not compete.
Also, until the last two decades, we built lots and lots of warships, all steel. We don’t do that so much anymore. ( blame the Dems) so much of the economy from that was lost too.
The steel industry started in PA in 1857, and had about a 150 year run. Now PA is chanign it’s entire economy and it will take time. RIght now, they are looking at medicine and robotics for the future.
April 12th, 2008 at 6:48 amMe! Me! I wanna join!
And Rob F sounds like a good contender for our own OSS. Use him for the foreign ventures since he may be able to speak more than one language. I only speak Mercahn and Texanese.
Oh, and I just bought a new revolver yesterday, so that brings me up to 6 guns (and climbing!)
April 12th, 2008 at 8:23 amAn SKS Perchance? I love mine — just my size! Da Boss is 6′5″ and 210 — he gets the Enfield :).
As for Herr Obama, if he’s so very concerned about the vanishing middle class, then why not support making the Bush tax cuts permanent, instead of letting them expire — to the tune of about 2K annually for an average household of 4!
April 12th, 2008 at 9:02 amI suggest we take over a valley in Colorado, like in Atlas Shrugged.
Everyone can snowboard in the winter, fish in the summer, and with all the technical know how of these posters, we could build an island in the lake, cover it with a bubble, make it look just like the desert and sunbathe in bikinis all year long.
Plus it’s easier to defend. Go Wolverines! Oh, wait, different story.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:13 amI too am a wannabe redneck. I live in teh socialist peoples republic of London. Last year I paid about $24,000 in taxes & “national insurance”. Feh, I’m feeling all Galt’s Gulch too.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:33 amDear Barack,
Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
You’re a tool.
That is all.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:39 amOverheard in Homer City, PA.
Jim: You know that Obama boy?
Bill: Of course I do, I’m voting for him.
Jim: Well he told a bunch of rich folks in California that we’re just a bunch of gun totin’-bible thumpin’…rednecks!
Bill: No!
Jim: Says so right here in this newspaper. What you think of that guy now?
Bill: Now Jim, you know I don’t like talking politics, best just ring up my things and I’ll be on my way.
Jim: Shit-a-pukas Bill, don’t get your panties all in a knot…
Bill: Just ring it up Jim.
Jim: OK ok. Lets see here…we got…one Bill Gaither DVD…one box 30-30 Winchester…one set banjo strings…
April 12th, 2008 at 10:58 amTo raise money for Obama, Barack
April 12th, 2008 at 11:21 amTo a billionaire’s house they did flock
That bitter Keystone State
Full of guns, God and hate
May just give the Left Coast a shock
Pennsylvania is in the midwest? When did this happen?
The thing that disturbs me most about these types of speeches given by twats who don’t even know what the fricken midwest is, is that the swooning liberal fools fall for it hook, line and sinker every single time.
They also do not realize the history of ANYTHING and it doesn’t matter if the jobs dried up because of their policies/votes/ideas, they won’t remember that when the shit hits the fan. They have no reasoning skills. That has been proven time and again. They see band aids, never the bigger picture. They do not understand that for every action, there is a reaction. They don’t grasp the concept of anything. Nothing!
And they won’t remember a damn thing when they all get what they THINK they want and it all turns out to be very, very bad. They will be the first ones whining about how crappy everything is now and blaming the Republicans. And that will be in hushed tones at underground poetry readings because they will have lost their right to free speech and expression.
If these idiots on the left had a clue about anything, we wouldn’t be discussing the possibility of Osama as our next president. We’d still all be laughing at the very idea he even tried to run for anything at all.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:58 pmCount me in as a member of the RLA. I can bring 7 pistols, 4 rifles (including an EBR), and 2 shotguns to the party.
April 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pmThe world needs a good dose of Ayn Rand.
April 12th, 2008 at 5:33 pmCount me in. I’m another long-time lurker deciding to - well, delurk heh!
I’m a damn good shot with my .44, but I only speak one language - Alabama Southern. How I ended up married to a soldier from Jersey is a story in itself.
Anyhow, I voted in your poll, but had to vote in the $0 taxes paid category. We’re normally tax payers, but thanks to the lovely extension that was tossed at our soldiers in 2007, husband’s income was tax exempt for the entire year.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:05 pmSeriously, are any of you still thinking of voting for this clown, Obama?
Ol’ man McCain isn’t looking so bad, is he.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:15 pmI didn’t notice if you linked to it, but CHUCK Z. has some good things to say RE: Obama’s little speech.
CHUCK Z.
BTW: I’d suggest “Lucas’ Legion”: then we could attract the hordes of StarWars fanatics to bolster our numbers.
I volunteer for Chief of Research and Development.
April 14th, 2008 at 2:35 pmIt’s high time we had some Battle Armor and BattleMechs.
Someone else said “bitterquidduck”. I need a new keyboard
April 15th, 2008 at 12:12 pm