Obama gives Americans too much credit. He needs to recognize that many Americans are pretty stupid.

[Cali_Democrat]

This gas tax holiday bullshit is a classic example of what I'm talking about. Hillary and McCain KNOW Americans are stupid and this kind of thing will get blind support even though it really does NOTHING to address our real concerns about the rising price of gasoline.

This Holiday Hoax would deplete our highway trust fund at a time when our domestic infrastructure is collapsing. It would also be short-lived and would have no effect on the short-term cost of fuel.

Hillary and McCain simply taking advantage of our stupid electorate. Any electorate that would vote for Bush twice is dumb as shit. Maybe Obama could learn a thing or two instead of being so gawd damn honest. I'm serious.

Sometimes you have to bullshit and Obama is very bad at it IMO. That's good for me, I like honesty, but many Americans are dumb as hell and you need to bullshit them in order to get their vote. Hillary and McCain are good at this, Obama not so much.

[cliffordu]

1. Nobody ever lost an election giving a bone to the voter...

Nobody ever lost an election underestimating Americans.

[Cali_Democrat]

32. Ya, but elections in the USA have definitely been stolen

See Bush v. Gore 2000 ;)

[blue sky at night]

2. not sure if anyone remembers...

during the 2006 cycle the gas prices went way down leading up to November....hmmmmmmmm........

[thewiseguy]

4. That wont happen this time. Oil prices are just absurdly high.

Gas prices are yet to catch up with the high crude oil price.

[gristy]

3. Obama is very smart - I'm sure he knows many Americans aren't too bright.

I'm glad he's decided that he's still not going to bullshit us.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Sometimes honesty is not the name of the game, especially in the USA

You've gotta pander sometimes.

[Mobius]

5. LMAO

yeah they are sorry to say & agree

[rwheeler31]

6. Oh please the gops have tried to dumb down

people forever. They just get smarter.

[rodeodance]

8. YOUR OP is demeaning to people who have real problems and live on low

wages or fixed incomes. Some of you O. folks show your elitism and non-caring attitude everytime you post your crap.

[Cali_Democrat]

13. It costs me 60 bucks a week to fill up my tank and I drive a car that gets 30 mpg

I'm effected by the rising cost of fuel in a big way. But you have to realize that this gas tax holiday bullshit is just pandering and does nothing to address concerns about the rising cost of fuel.

[rodeodance]

23. tell that to the voters-that they are stupid. of course you hide behind a

computer screen with your insults!!

[Cali_Democrat]

26. I'm not a politician

But you have to realize that many Americans are dumb as shit. Any electorate that would vote for Bush twice deserves scorn.

[beachmom]

27. Maybe the voters AREN'T stupid, and won't fall for this crap. I disagree with the OP.

Maybe I'll be wrong. But I'm with Obama on saying this gas tax holiday is stupid, and to be respectful to the American people, and saying so.

And honestly, it is not about being "stupid" but rather "uninformed". If voters are not informed enough on the unanimous thumbs down by experts of every stripe, then they might fall for it. They might not have time to read the newspaper, or choose not to and instead watch a TV show. I don't think that people who choose to pick up the newspaper are "elitist". Do you?

[VolcanoJen]

29. I'm not a stupid voter, and I pay $40 a week for gas.

Despite the fact that the Holiday Gas Tax has already been declared a non-starter by both Steny Hoyer and the White House, were Clinton/McCain to get their FantasyLand/Space Mountain/Haunted Mansion bill passed, do you really think that $1.98 per week is going to change my life this summer?

Seriously????? Isn't Hillary the one who is treating us all as though we were completely stupid?

[kmsarvis]

17. Explain how the OP is "demeaning ".

[True_Blue]

35. Obama and his followers are elitists

Obama and his followers think that small town Americans are hicks.

[CreekDog]

9. this is excellent news for Hillary!

:applause:

no wonder she's coming back. :dilemma:

[nevergiveup]

10. I tend to agree with you

but today at work I heard a couple of very blue collar non-political folks saying what a joke it was. Two people obviously do not constitute a very reliable poll but their remarks certainly surprised me.

[EffieBlack]

11. Maybe people will do better if our leaders expect better from us

Treating voters like they're stupid may be good short-run politics, but it's not the behavior I want in my leaders. I want my leaders to appeal to the better angels in us all and to elevate us, not grovel before us.

Our best, most inspirational leaders did this. FDR, JFK, MLK, RFK, et al didn't treat voters and the public like drooling idiots - they treated everyone like they KNEW they knew better and could do better if given the chance.

[Cali_Democrat]

28. I hope your right

However, I really have no faith in the American electorate :(

[Auntie Bush]

12. Right!!

They are stupid enough to vote for him and believe all the lies about Hillary. I will find it hard to forgive him and his supporters.

[kmsarvis]

20. Do you think the "gas tax holiday" is a good idea?

If so please explain. I am most interested.

[Auntie Bush]

24. How should I know anymore than you know?

I'm not an economist? Are You? Or do you just jump on the Obama bandwagon and believe the spin?

He used to support a tax break when he was in the Indiana legislature.
Now he flip flopped. Can you explain that? I am most interested too.

[earthlover]

31. Well, think it through instead of defending the pandering....

If the US does indeed make a temporary tax moratorium, this will not require the oil companies to lower the cost of gas by the same amount. The oil companies are in it for profit. If you don't believe this, it is hardly worth discussing because you are brain dead. The oil companies already know we will pay high prices for gasoline. If you don't recognize this, you have been sniffing too many gas fumes. So why wouldn't the gas companies offer us gas at a price that reflects PART of the tax savings, with the rest of the profits going into their pockets? If you can't see this scenario, you are probably sniffing something stronger than gas.

This is a huge cash cow for the oil companies. We will buy more gas, at lower prices....the oil companies will deftly make more money per gallon and simultaneously sell more gallons! The increasing consumption of gasoline will drive up the cost of crude oil. And the price will go up again! Some day, the gas tax will go back into effect, and the dumb ass voters who got suckered by this idea will wonder why the price of gas is $5 per gallon! If their skepticism was not higher than someone who fell off a turnip truck, they would see that this entire pandering is nothing but pandering, and is a cash cow for oil companies with a temporary....TEMPORARY.....reduction in gas prices with vengeance to pay later.

If you are into wishful thinking or gas sniffing, support McCain, and the other Republican candidate running for president who likes this preposterous pandering.

[Auntie Bush]

41. Wow! You sure have GAS on your mind.

How many times did you mention gas? It over runs your explanation.

Just two things: 1. Why did Obama support this idea when he was in the IN legislature if it was so disastrous?. 2. You all say it will be meaningless and will only save people $25 per year. Then in the next breath talk about what a windfall it will be for Oil Companies? Make up your gaseous mind. Let some oxygen in.

[earthlover]

46. Since when was obama in the IN legislature?

He is from IL, not a Hoosier

[Auntie Bush]

49. I know, I know...slip of the finger or mind.

You still didn't answer my post...just dodged it...like Obama dodges the question about just what would he change and/or compromise? The question is still unanswered.

[cyndensco]

48. Ah, to "flip flop"

What a dirty word that is, huh? Back 4 years ago when the republicans were throwing it around the way you just did, it was supposed to be a most cowardly, dishonest action. No, it seemed better to be steadfast in ones beliefs, even if those beliefs were wrong.

I do not know if Obama ever was in favor of a gas holiday when he served in the Illinois legislature (though I'm certain he had no say when he was in the Indiana one). I do know I much prefer a candidate - or anyone, for that matter - who will see the errors of his ways, admit a mistake, and choose another path. I LOVE that he looked at the big picture - recognizing a small savings for a family would not be worth not funding the budget needed to maintain our failing infrastructure and laying off road crews - and called the gas tax holiday what it is: a gimmick.

If only your candidate had flip flopped on her IWR vote, or at least admitted she was wrong...

[ampad]

14. I think that when it comes to finances

and gas (especially in light of the economy) people will do their research on this and make an informed decision. I'm not ready to count out most of the electorate, not yet anyway.

[Cali_Democrat]

15. You're a stronger person than I am

I gave up on the American electorate years ago.

[Telly Savalas]

16. Bullshit is the #1 enemy of our democracy.

A politician who propagates bullshit for short term gain has lost sight of the big picture, and is ultimately being counter-productive.

[sudopod]

19. Please continue saying things that I agree with! ^_^ nt

[Cali_Democrat]

21. Yes, but he needs to win the election and sometimes...

a little bullshit here and there may not be such a bad thing.

[The_Casual_Observer]

18. Good for you

[Cali_Democrat]

37. ?

[calmblueocean]

22. I've been wrestling with these same thoughts lately

When Obama gave his "More Perfect Union" speech on race, I thought, "This is great, but there's a hunk of our electorate that won't even process it. Sometimes you just need to whittle it all down to a sentence, and repeat it until it sticks. And if you can't fit your message into a sentence, then you need a new message."

Obama isn't great at doing that. Hillary is very good at it. Bush is fantastic.

But, of course, it's just that kind of politics that've destroyed our country. Bush used to lump John Kerry in with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein as enemies of the state in his speeches. "He can run, but he cannot hide!" Bush would say, over and over again. I thought that shit was odious then, and it think it's just as odious when someone from our side does it. I guess that's what I like about Obama, that he makes me feel like politics can potentially be more than just calling your opponent names or hurling accusations of guilt by association.

Maybe he's wrong, maybe this country is too damn dumb to elect Obama. I know 2004 really changed my opinion about the wisdom of the American people. Some days my hopes are pretty low on that front. But if Obama wins, frankly, it's a gamechanger. It means our political dialogue is going to start getting smarter, and god knows we need that. Some days, I wish Obama could be more like Bush or Hillary, but he is who he is, and there's something good in that.

[Cali_Democrat]

30. It's a tough blance

Honesty is a must for me, but sometimes you need to do more pandering and be less honest in the right situation. I know it sounds politically incorrect, but that's reality

I think right now that Obama is all honesty and not enough pandering. I wish I had faith in our country, but I lost it all during the Bush years.

I know stupidity has destroyed out country, but maybe a little bullshit is necessary for in order for Obama to become President. :shrug:

[Truthy Nessy]

25. Just put over 7 thousand miles on my car on trip across USA

I can confirm that Americans are not that smart and I found that more than half of them are like the people in DEER HUNTING WITH Jesus. see http://www.joebageant.com/
Joe Bageant is an excellent writer and I found he hit the nail on the head for those who are ignorant in America by writing about his own small town's residents.

[annie1]

33. But that is exactly what he's running against. i applaud him for it...

and appreciate it. i'm really irritated that she is talking about a gas tax holiday. and i'm sure he knows many voters are dumb and uses it to his advantage.

[Hoof Hearted]

34. He should make your title his campaign slogan.

Really.

[Cali_Democrat]

36. I'm no politician as you can see.

Obama has to be more politically correct than me. He can't say the truth. The truth is that America is filled with a bunch of dim bulbs, like Bill Maher said. We are a ridiculously stupid country.

Any country that buys Bush's stupid talking points is DUMB.

"They hate us for our freedom"

:rofl:

[AdHocSolver]

38. Not so much "stupid" as gullible, and living in a fantasy world.

Most Americans refuse to see reality. They are quick to grasp at straws. Americans are quick to believe a liar like Bush, when he tells them what they want to believe. Americans are quick to belittle the truth, and attack anyone who points out the facts.

Americans want to believe that this gas tax "holiday" will save them money. Obama can point out that the amount is small, and that the loss in revenue for road repair will be significant. Also, the oil companies can raise their prices to absorb the tax reduction as profit, and the public won't benefit anyway. That is reality.

Americans are so willing to latch on to any "solution" no matter how ill-conceived it is. Another useless idea is lowering interest rates to jump start the economy. Another is giving tax cuts to the rich to encourage "investment". All of these "solutions" were tried and caused many of the problems we now have. That people still give them credibility cannot be explained as being merely stupid.

The problem these people have goes beyond stupid. These people have reached delusional. That McCain and Clinton still promote these ideas shows how they view the public. Obama's approach demonstrates a belief and a hope that most Americans can deal with reality. If Obama is wrong, then this country is unsalvageable anyway.

[quantass]

39. *** I say we vote CANADA as our NEW OVERLORD ***

All hail us!!

[Cali_Democrat]

40. LOL!! I love Canadians!!!

We're not worthy!!!

[Bensthename]

42. Last 2 elections are a good example of the average voters IQ

[NNN0LHI]

43. After Bush got done running from one rabbit hole to another after 9/11 he had a +90% approval rating

Which backs up the point of your headline very well.

Don

[Hoof Hearted]

44. This ties in nicely with that other thread. Ya'll need to get together.

[RichardRay]

45. I have a diametrically opposed opinion on that one...

The Wisom of Crowds

We're just not that smart...

[uponit7771]

47. The fact that he's in the race and Wright is less of a problem for him than Bush is for McSame makes

...your position not credible.