Since Charleston is my real home, I know a little bit about the state. First, outside of Charleston it's f'ing scary. Much like Austin, when you pass Crosstown Blvd, it's no teeth and aggressive ignorance for miles and miles.
I'm actually a little surprised that Obama took SC. I knew Edwards wouldn't because even though he's got roots from the area, people hate him there. He was a trial lawyer, you know. Plus, he's the richest man in NC and lives in a big ass mansion. So, a.) He's new money and not Southern Aristocracy and if there's one thing we hate it's interlopers and b.) Running around saying you're the son of a millworker gets old. We all want to say, "But you sure are rich now, John." Besides that, more than half the GD populations of SC and NC are sons and daughters of mill workers. What the heck do you think was the economic roots of those states...nuclear engineering?
Ok, on to Clinton. While people may have loved Bill...or begrudgingly accepted him in the South, that love did not and does not translate to Hillary. When I visit, I hear people talk about her and some literally think she is Satan. I'm not talking about thinking she's a devil...they think she is the literal Lucifer himself come to bring the Apocalypse if she is elected. I know.
I believe this trend will be similar in her support throughout the Southern states.
So, that leaves us with Obama. The South has a large percentage of African-American voters and young voters. (Maybe? I don't know...you know I don't look at statistics. I just make them up.) I'll just say there's a lot more black people back home because I see them and I don't see as many in Austin. There's the basis for my hypothesis. I'm a social scientist! Look at me!
Obama's victory cut across all demos and is an interesting look at changing attitudes and voter behavior in the South.
The vote for Obama tells me that people are fired up. They do want dramatic change and if there is anything South Carolina will do...it's stir some shit up. You'll remember it was that hot head Calhoun that basically started the whole "Let's secede, y'all." thing.
I think people in the south are better able to recognize evil when they see it, so there's the explanation for the ass kicking Hillary took. That and watching Big Bill go around shaking his finger at us again, trying so desperatly to explain how everyone else is lying, not them, pretty well reminded us all that we don't want these two douche bags back in the WH.
Does anybody else find it interesting that Hillary has no support from her fellow Senators and Obama is picking up people like Ted Kennedy? Seems to me the people that know the two of them best are
giving her the finger, she must be a real asshole.
The endorsement of Toady Kennedy is going to translate into what, exactly?
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I thought the economic root of SC was slavery.