Well, as you all may know, I can't vote. Therefore, I don't watch or care about politics. Just kidding. I care. I'm a pretty left-wing person. Probably more left wing than most of my cobloggers here, even. (Sorry, Nick, but it's true). So I would definitely vote for whatever Democrat they put up against the republicans. Probably I would want that to be Barack Obama, because every time he speaks he sounds so intelligent and eloquent, unlike our president who sounds like a garbage truck crunching up a half ton of dirty diapers. Also, I agree with what he says that sounds so intelligent, too.
Anyway, this wasn't a make out with Barack topic, it was a race/sex matter in election topic. Which is strange, because I actually posed this question to my college freshmen students a couple of weeks ago as our daily debate topic. So here's some of what they said. (PS - I believe the issues are way more important than the race or sex of the candidate, for what that's worth. Which is approximately zero (0) votes)
- It would be nice if Obama were nominated, since "colored people" (student's term) have been through so much over the years, and it would be like an apology.
- Nobody will vote for Obama or Clinton because only old people vote, and they are racist and sexist. (I basically think this one might be true. Maybe I'm cynical.)
- Obama wouldn't make a good president because he would just want to help black people. Or conversely, he would make a good president because he would be able to help black people.
- Clinton would make a bad president because women are more emotional, and in a time of war she might not be able to send troops to their deaths because she would feel bad for them.
- Clinton would make a bad president because women get PMS and if she's really angry she might invade some country.
- Clinton would make a bad president because the rest of the world would view America as weak if there were a woman in charge (I had to point out that many world powers have had female leaders. Including Canada, by the way)
- Obama would make a good president because it would show the world that a black man would make a good leader (Again, I had to point out that numerous countries have black leaders, and in fact the secretary general of the United Nations is black)
- Clinton won't be elected because people will worry that she'll have a scandal to get back at her husband
Anyway, those are the highlights of the discussion. Had I known we'd have such a similar topic in here so soon, I would have taken notes.
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7 comments:
That's hilarious, in a sad, sad way. Can you convince these little punks who are your students *not* to vote?
Also, who says Canada *isn't* weak, huh?
And get your citizenship, you damn democracy freeloader.
PS - I love you Glenn.
I dunno if your Canada comment really counts. Kim Campbells leadership was not the result of a parliamentary election and she was only in office for 4-5 months. BUT, technically, Canada HAS had a female prime minister. They have also had female governors general, but we all know what a joke that is.
Reading what your students say about anything is soul crushing. I don't think I could do your job.
Also, the current UN Secretary General is SOUTH KOREAN :-)
As usual, I agree with Jane. Get your citizenship, punk!
Also, you could have reminded your students that Germany has a female Chancellor (although sadly you may have had to explain what a Chancellor is). Yeah, remember that lady that Bush inappropriately groped at the G-8 summit (sadly, you might have to explain what that is, too)? Yeah, she's the head of Germany, and I don't think any of your students would think Germany a weak country (although actual educated people might argue that point).
Finally, I can't fucking believe your student used the term "colored people." I'm sorry, did it become 1953 without my noticing? WTF? Have any of the students actually even ever met a black person before? I think you're going to have to stop telling me these stories, Glenn, because they are terrifying.
As pure novelty, Hillary and Obama both fail the test. If there was a sense that the electorate would vote for someone outside the demographic norm, Condoleeza Rice could easily be inserted as a VP candidate.
Actually, I've heard a theory that in the next year Cheney would resign/retire due to his health and Rice would step in as VP then, giving her a head start. Far fetched, but is the current administration more interested in holding on to power or...anything else?
Last thoughts:
- Kim Campbell is about as sympathetic a conservative figure as there ever will be
- my grandfather uses the term "coloured," but he's pushing 70 and European, so coloured is progressive for him
- re:citizenship - does Glenn feel a bit like Skywalker being enticed to join the Dark Side? Seems that way to me.
Actually, I've heard a theory that in the next year Cheney would resign/retire due to his health and Rice would step in as VP then, giving her a head start.
Man, that would be such a Russian thing to do. (Anyone remember Yeltsin's resignation and appointment of Putin as his successor three months before the presidential election back in 2000?)
Also, the French look like they are about to elect a woman (and a very good looking one, too); we know how much the conservatives here LOVE the French.
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