West Virginia
Submitted by kmissik on May 13, 2008 - 8:51am.
Democratic politics
Hillary, may you have a resounding victory in the Mountain State today!
Yes, West Virginia matters.
leg, it's because of walking on the ridges of hilltops--thus ridge-runners. Thus we know how to stand on uneven terrain and knock flim-flam men tumbling right down the mountainside!
If the Bamboozler is nominated, this campaign season will mark the year that WV and KY become dedicated members of the Solid South.
I've never heard that over here, but in Scotland, we traditionally bamboozle tourists by telling them that the haggis is an animal that has two short legs and two long ones for walking around the mountains ;)
Brought over by the Scots, I'm sure, and adapted.
lol
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
Didn't realize that the Scots brought the basic
idea over with them. HaHa. Being a hillbilly
with WV ancestors, I've heard that all my life.
Check out my summary of the origin of "hillbilly".
And without the Scotch-Irish, we couldn't have won the Revolutionary War. They were at least 25% of General Washington's army.
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
and I've got the leg-length discrepancy to prove it! ;)
For those who may not know the origin of the term, "hillbillies" and it's connection to the "Scotch-Irish", here's a part Scotch-Irish hillbilly's summary:
1. Hank and Annies daughter, Queen Lizzy of England dies a virgin, and names Good King Jimmy of Scotland as her heir to the throne.
2. Good King Jimmy sends a bunch of hope filled and inspired idealists from "good" London families to Virginia (named in honor of Lizzy, of course) where they name their new town Jimmiestown. They all die.
3. Good King Jimmy, not being the kinda guy who quits easily, re-thinks his empire building game-plan, and sends a bunch of rough and hard-working William-Wallace-like Border Scots to Ireland where they challenge the Irish head-on by building a mighty fortress smack-dab around the most sacred Oak-grove in Ireland. The Irish call the place Doire (meaning "oak-grove", and pronounced Derry). The English investors rename it "Londonderry", but keep the Irish name for the province of "Ulster". The border Scots sent to Ulster are forbidden by English law to marry Irish people, but some of their rambunctious sons and daughters do anyway, figuring a bad rule made by an unfair bunch of London hoity-toities is pretty dang stupid to follow. The offspring of these rebels call themselves "Ulster-Scots", and they spread throughout at least six of Ulster's nine counties, driving many Irish to other parts.
4. About 80 years after the Londonderry walls were built, the Irish and Bad King Jimmy (Great-grandson of Good King Jimmy) attempt to capture Londonderry through mounting the longest seige in English and Irish history, However, due to the incredible toughness and "no-surrender" attitude of the Ulster-Scots defending the walled city, the seige fails when Good King Billy (son-in-law of Bad King Jimmy) sends a ship that breaks through the Irish barriers on the river Foyle, and re-supplies the Ulster Scots who are still alive and starving inside the walled city. Good King Billy's forces then go on to defeat Bad King Jimmies forces in great battles at the river Boyne, and in the rolling hills at Aughrim.
5. Unfortunately, the hoitie-toities in London think little more of the rebellious Ulster Scots than they do of the native Irish, so they exclude both of them from eligibility for many privileges enjoyed by proper English members of the English Church, although they require both the Irish (who are mostly Catholics with names like McCoy, O'Neill, and O'Sullivan) and the Ulster Scots (who are mostly Presbyterians with names like Hatfield, Jackson and Adams) to tithe the English Church. However, at the insistence of Good King Billy, they continue to allow (rather practically) the Ulster Scots to own guns, although they forbid the Irish to own or even carry one. Significantly, they also pass a few laws which give the Ulster Scots some financial advantages over their Irish in-laws. The reputation of Good King Billy grows in the Ulster Scots community. Many of them name their sons, Bill, Billie, or William; and some of them begin annually celebrating his victories at the Battles of the Boyne and Aughrim, both of which occurred early in the month of July.
6. Fed-up with their second-class status under the German-English Kings Georgie, lots of Ulster Scots sell their properties in Ireland and buy second-class passage to the New World. A smaller group of Irish third-class subjects of the Kings Georgie manage to sail with their Ulster-Scots brethren (albeit in third-class, naturally), generally to become indentured servants in the New World. In keeping with tradition, the Ulster Scots in the new world continue to celebrate "Good King Billy" days early each July. The few Irish who sailed with them soon counter by inventing "St. Patrick's Day", and celebrating it each March 17.
7. Many Ulster Scots, and a very few of the Irish who sailed with them, as well as their offspring, find their ways into the Colonial Army. When the American Revolution commences, virtually all of them gladly join up with General Washington's army, where they can fight the English hoitie-toities. Some "Ascendancy Irish" (generally wealthy English protestants) whose families were still or had been Lords in southern Ireland are officers in Washington's army. Therefore, the Ulster Scots pragmatically begin referring to themselves as "Scotch-Irish", so as to humor their officers. A few Scotch-Irish head west into the Appalachians, where they encounter some native Americans that have agreed to help the "whitefaces" who (in their experience) they know prefer to be called English. Naturally, there is conflict; and in general, the Scotch-Irish are the victors.
8. Many more Scotch-Irish move into the Appalachian mountains, attracted by "free" land, and the invariably successful war-stories they hear from the Scotch-Irish who first braved that journey. However, quite a few of them, as well as most of their indentured servant Irish friends, and of course the "Ascendancy Irish" officers who they had served with remain in the cities along the Atlantic coast, or in the farming communities just east of the Appalachian mountains. The Scotch-Irish continue to celebrate "Good King Billy" days early each July.
9. The 4th of July is proclaimed "Independence Day" by the newly created United States of America, and annual celebrations begin to be held in cities and towns throughout the 13 States. Many Scotch-Irish travel from their homes in the Appalachian mountains to attend these celebrations, which by pure accident, happen to occur during the annual "Good King Billy" days they have celebrated for so long. Naturally, while they are there, they also get together and sing songs and make toasts to "Good King Billy".
10. The well-scrubbed little boy is all decked out in his finest clothes for Independence Day. While his father is talking to some old friends in the town square, the little boy intently watches the group of somewhat raggedly dressed strangers all dancing and singing around the brand new statue of George Washington. Some of them are shouting "Here's to good ole General George!" Some are replying, "And Good King Billy, too!" Others are saying, "Here's to you, cousin Billy, and Willie, and Willem, and Billy-Bob, too", and taking long drinks of something from their leather pouches. Others are taking bows.
The little boy turns to his father, pulls on his arm, and asks, "Who are those funny people, Daddy?"
His father answers, "I'm not sure, Andy. A bunch of Billies from the hills, I guess."
The bright little boy thinks for a second, and then he happily shouts out, "Hill Billies, Daddy! They're a bunch of hillbillies!"
His amused father answers, "So they are, my son. So they are."
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
PS: Disclaimer for the benefit of all my Irish friends and family. Yes, I know a loyal Irishman would tell this story differently; but I've got both sides in me, so I hope you'll just grin and bear it.
Let's see what predictions can we make:
1) If Hillary wins by something in the 60% range, they will say: "Well, she was going to win anyhow, Obama did not campaign, it really does not count much, only a couple dozen delegates"
2) If the difference is smaller, they will say: "This is another disappointment for the campaign, she was supposed to win by large double digits margins. The fact that she did not win by a large margin suggests that..... blah, blah, blah"
3) If the outcome is close (highly unlikely), it will be: "this is the last gasp of the campaign, she should drop out, blah, blah, blah, blah....."
The reality is that both are very close in popular votes, she is probably ahead in popular votes of true democrats, both are hundreds of delegates away from the needed 2200 (assuming Florida and Michigan are going to be considered). If this were truly over the hundreds of undecided superdelegates would have expressed their preference. Somehow the torrent is not happening.
You remind me of this post I read last night at Corrente!
Obama Wins Second Place In WV, Hillary Finishes Next To Last!
Tommorrow’s news today.
Tune in tonight for the latest episode of WWTSBQ! Hear Hillary’s campaign obituary (again)
Watch pinheaded pundits pontificate pointlessly!
See Donna Brazile-nut toss Democrats under the bus.
Listen to Tweety misogynize shamelessly with the He-Man Woman Haters Club Chorus.
Find out how a landslide defeat in a swing state is a huge victory for Barack Obama!
Special bonus: a preview of tomorrow’s “new and improved” wankfest!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/13/1017002.aspx
To understand a potential general election match-up between Obama and McCain, the only analysis and data that should be considered valid are the current head-to-head National polls rather than extrapolating irrelevant assumptions from exit poll data in Democratic primaries.
In other words, "Don't listen to the hicks, listen to our friends in the National polling companies."
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=7684
The Mountain State is used to picking winners. Every nominee has carried the state’s primary since 1976, and no Democrat has won the White House without winning West Virginia since 1916.
Democrats carried West Virginia in 1992 and 1996, but lost the state - and the White House - in 2000 and 2004. Hillary has predicted victory against Sen. McCain in West Virginia based on the strength of her economic message.
>snip<
In the face of grim poll numbers, the Obama campaign has attempted to dismiss today’s outcome despite the fact that Sen. Obama has outspent us on advertising, has more staff in the state, and more than double the number of offices.
He has also benefited from the support of the most high-profile endorsers in West Virginia - Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Congressman Nick Rahall. By every measure, the Obama campaign has waged an aggressive campaign in the Mountain State.
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
Riiight. He's the Intellegence Committee member that read the classified intellegence reports and still voted aye on the IMF. Wonder what Obots think about that.
http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_133225322.html
“West Virginia made it possible for John Kennedy to become president in 1960,” Clinton said.
She noted Kennedy, like herself, did not have the required number of delegates necessary to win the party nomination.
“It’s a fact, you don’t get elected president without the votes of the people of West Virginia,” she said.
“If you will work for me in tomorrow’s election, I will work my heart out for you,” she promised the cheering crowd.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/files/audio/20080512_audio.mov
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
...Anyone know?
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
1:40 minutes to go. They will probably call it right away as they did NC for Obama. Or will they not?
...broadcasting the totals after they call it
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
Us Beverly Hillbillies have a real hard time countin an stuff so's we hopes you kin keep this simple fer us folk out west here!
Not tooo many numbers or mathematics y'all.
We be a waitin' them returns! Yee Haw!
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j-rJkxLbJTFVe7_sztS_x_XcNpQwD90L06B83
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/05/13/politics/horserace/entry4094128.shtml
http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=8318663&nav=HMO6HMaY
Nick Kelly
Wes Clark could still secure America as a national security candidate.
will not make any speeches tonight after he loses WV. For a "uniter" one would think he could publicly congratulate her. But no. WV does not exist for O! and his supporters. I imagine the same will be true of KY. The guy is a class A weenie.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
To wish her luck in WV, Ky and the rest of the Primaries.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ghd-xL5gAjc&feature=related
Here's Orange Blossom Special, featuring one of my favorite Billy's - Billy Oh of Tangleweed (one of my favorite local bands; when ever I work a shift where they're playing at the tavern, I need to recover for at least two days. Ya jus' start dancin' around, and pourin' the hootch, and the next thing ya know, yer knees just give out on ya, but ya don' care a whit! They're that good.)
Shameless promotion: If you're in Chicago this Friday, and looking for some great music, they'll be at my favorite watering hole (and on again off again place of employment for over 20 years) Charleston Tavern, 2076 North Hoyne in the Bucktown neighborhood.
in that thar video.
I noticed One Size Fits All Obama today wearing that thar flag pin on his lapel.
All things to All Folks.
I'll just bet Axelrod is in the office now busily creating the O! Hillbilly costume to pick up all those stranded Hillbilly votes they'll need.
Obama plays the banjo. Or some such stunt.
With a flag pin.
...call West Virginians racist, you may not realize that WV broke away from VA in order to join the Union against the South.
Last 10 Presidential elections....it has voted for the Dem nominee 6 times.
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
for results watchin' ... so's we don't have to watch these awful pundits?
And another question.... can Obama ever give a short speech? Can you imagine what we're in for heading into Nov if he's the nom? Speechifying round the clock.
I'm going back to the still now to see if the moonshine's ready for tonight's celebrations.
Yee
Haww
See the whole gang here...Welcome home MS!!! Now back to the madness! Shoulda' stayed on the ship! LOL! Oh well a nice bread
...for WV results...
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/15501
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
shorter than the other -(not good, causes back problems). Also, hillbilly ancestors from Tennessee.
And I will not be watching any pundits except C-Span, and this blog.
Glad you're back, MS, you really didn't miss much, a lot of stress-related stuff related to you-know-who. I hope you rested from your cruise. My cruise many years ago was the absolutely best vacation, for getting rested, and staying rested when I got home. But otherwise boring- I'll never go on another, been there-done that. The southern waters are beautiful, but I'd rather go to museums, see places of history, drink up centuries old art & architecture!
Reminds me, I need a vacation! With Hillary firmly planted in the White House, I may plan a grand one, leaving the nation in good hands. My last trip to France was during W's first term, before the war started, being debated in Congress; and I could tell already that he was very unpopular over there; also nearly everyone in our group thought W was awful - so conversation twas fun! And this was before so much more had transpired to embarass our country; wish I could get the same group together and go somewhere else, before it gets too expensive for me to travel.
I want to go back to Scotland and research our family: McDuff, Johnston, others. This is so rambling - sorry.
I haven't seen my white squirrel this week. maybe that was an unlucky sign, since Hillary barely won Indiana; I thought she was going to do much better than that.
and wrangled up the rest of the dems in the family to come on down and watch the West Virginny results together on the flat picture box tonight after eatin' viddles!
I got a snapshot with the picture takin' machine!
Nice pic. The family the family is getting real up to date using a digital picture takin' machine. :)
Barry
Are you safer today than you were seven years ago?©
The Media Downplays West Virginia , Focuses on Obama and McCain
Update: The first discussion of West Virgina I've heard is happening with Terry McCauliffe talking to Chris Matthews. He says Hillary will win W. Va. by 2:1 and by possibly 200,000 votes. He expects she will be ahead in the popular vote once KY and Puerto Rico vote, counting the 2.3 million votes in FL and MI. He says she will give the best speech ever tonight, he's seen a copy. He says the superdelgates will go her way once they realize she's better to beat McCain. He still expects the race to be decided in June.
****
The media is focused on Barack Obama. Even his flag pin is more important than the West Virginia primary. MSNBC is running Obama's delegate numbers at the bottom of the screen. Fox News is reporting on various state elections. My local news is talking about Roy Romer's endorsement of Obama today.Matthews even says Obama's speech tonight was bad. Olbermann mocks McCauliffe's characterization of her speech. [More...]
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Obama To Speak In MO, BEFORE The Polls Close
I wonder about this. CNN is reporting Obama will speak from Missouri within the hour BEFORE`the West Virginia polls close. I believe that is a mistake. Does Obama really need to spin now? He needs to fight for these voters. This is not the way to do it. (6:15)Obama speaking now. Talking about Dems not being divided and clear choice in November. Sounds like the standard stump speech.
Imo, this is bad from the Obama camp.
Exit poll - Clinton wins 69% of the white vote, 71% of women. This is a biiiiig won.
Exit poll. Experience voters - Clinton 93-3. Changers voters - Obama 53-45.
Jerome Armstrong makes a great point:
Since it looks like Clinton is being predicted to gain over 60 percent of the votes in WV, I thought I'd list which other state primaries have given such high margins:
* Arkansas (70%) Clinton
* Georgia (67%) Obama
* Illinois (65%) Obama
* Virginia (64%) Obama
* Maryland (62%) Obama
* Mississippi (61%) Obama
This makes the likely result of the West Virginia result a bad one for Obama. It can not be explained away, even by the Obama News Network.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
My great grandparents came over the mountains
from West (by God) Virginia to settle in the
foothills of the Smokies. You could tell they
were Scotch-Irish hillbillies by the fact that
one leg was shorter than the other. (Well so my
mom claimed. I never knew them, so I can't
actually verify this.)