Now this is funny. Here’s an e-mail that Ben Smith received from a Republican Consultant working a Mid-western state focus group.
It’s a good thing I was not drinking anything, else I would have been asking Ben Smith for a replacement laptop.
Quote:
Reagan Dems and Independents. Call them blue-collar plus. Slightly more Target than Walmart.
Yes, the spot worked. Yes, they believed the charges against Obama. Yes, they actually think he’s too liberal, consorts with bad people and WON’T BE A GOOD PRESIDENT…but they STILL don’t give a f***. They said right out, “He won’t do anything better than McCain” but they’re STILL voting for Obama.
The two most unreal moments of my professional life of watching focus groups:
54 year-old white male, voted Kerry ’04, Bush ’00, Dole ’96, hunter, NASCAR fan…hard for Obama said: “I’m gonna hate him the minute I vote for him. He’s gonna be a bad president. But I won’t ever vote for another god-damn Republican. I want the government to take over all of Wall Street and bankers and the car companies and Wal-Mart run this county like we used to when Reagan was President.”
The next was a woman, late 50s, Democrat but strongly pro-life. Loved B. and H. Clinton, loved Bush in 2000. “Well, I don’t know much about this terrorist group Barack used to be in with that Weather guy but I’m sick of paying for health insurance at work and that’s why I’m supporting Barack.”
I felt like I was taking crazy pills. I sat on the other side of the glass and realized…this really is the Apocalypse. The Seventh Seal is broken and its time for eight years of pure, delicious crazy..
*Snort* That’s just too funny. I’m sorry. I can’t help it. It’s too funny. 
*wiping eyes* Oh man…. *cough* I guess the the only thing I can say is, Reap what you sow.
Others: Hot Air, The Corner, Wizbang
Ohhh funny but tragic, right? So much for the Wisdom of Crowds, this is the Ignorance of the Masses. As a well-informed member of the electorate, I will always research and parse the platform and policies of any candidate…but I fear I am in the minority.
My co-worker recently reminded me that people don’t decide elections on the issues for two reasons:
1) They base their decision on irrational bases: personality, looks, what their spouse thinks, etc., rather than analyze and understand the issues.
2) They base their vote on a misunderstanding of the issues AND their irrational reasons.
Unfortunately, there are more informed *non-voters* than there are voters, based on my rather anecdotal observations.
Very true. I was referring to the way it was worded. Plus, Karl Rove and Co. royally screwed it up for the Republicans.
Agreed – wording is what prevents me from metaphorically slitting my wrists over the state of the country. What would I do without comic relief!
Rove, et al (lots of players to indict both figuratively and literally) absolutely ruined the GOP. They had a lot of help from Neo-Cons like Kristol (and Co.) – perhaps the “blow back” will be positive – GOPers saying, “Hey, wait, these are not Republican values!” We can hope, anyway.
Agreed. Painfully Agreed.