#2008 Election

[randyite]

#john mccain #obama #2008 election #republicans #rethuglicans #congress #trump #2024 election #politics

[deadpresidents]

What other campaign souvenirs do you have with that badge you shared?

It's actually not a ton of stuff. I wish I'd been better over the years about collecting campaign memorabilia because I'm always jealous whenever I see someone who has a cool collection of things.

I have a ton of buttons and stickers from the Obama campaigns, as well as an Obama '08 yard sign that's signed by Obama. I have a stack of Clinton/Gore bumper stickers that I somehow held on to after all these years.

In 2000, I was young and idealistic and caught up in the excitement of the first Presidential campaign I was of legal voting age for, so I jumped on the Bill Bradley bandwagon very early on in the Democratic primaries. Most of you probably have no idea who Bill Bradley even was, but he was the 2000 version of Bernie Sanders once the legendary Paul Wellstone decided against running for President. Deep down, we all knew that Vice President Gore was going to be the nominee, but there was some excitement for Bradley early on even though he didn't win anything and was basically finished by Super Tuesday. I have some Bradley buttons and stickers, and I have an invitation to a Bill Bradley fundraiser that was going to be held at the home of Geoff Petrie in Granite Bay, a wealthy suburb of Sacramento. At the time, Petrie was the General Manager of the Sacramento Kings and he was a close friend of Bradley, so that was exciting for a 20-year-old basketball fanatic. (Oh...for those who really don't know anything about Bill Bradley, I should also note that not only was he a U.S. Senator from New Jersey, but before that he was star basketball player who won two NBA titles with the New York Knicks and is in the pro and college Basketball Hall of Fame.)

Other than that, I have some posters and a ton of buttons from various campaigns. When I lived in Austin and was regularly going to the @lbjlibrary I would often buy handfuls of the assorted campaign buttons that they sold in their gift shop. I don't know if they still sell them, but it was a huge collection from dozens of different Presidential campaigns from various decades. I think the oldest button I ended up with was for Al Smith's 1928 Democratic Presidential campaign. I'm especially fond of my Wendell Willkie button because it's always fun to mention Wendell Willkie. I got a bunch of Nixon and McGovern buttons and even got a Romney button, but it's not for Mitt -- it's for the unsuccessful campaign for the 1968 GOP nomination by his father, former Michigan Governor George Romney. I have a McGovern/Eagleton button from 1972, which is interesting because Thomas Eagleton was nominated as McGovern's Vice Presidential running mate at the 1972 Democratic Nation Convention and then dropped from the ticket for Sargent Shriver just nineteen days later. And of course, I got a TON of LBJ and LBJ-related buttons -- from the 1964 campaign which sometimes featured LBJ and sometimes featured Hubert Humphrey and sometimes featured both LBJ and HHH, and from the 1960 Kennedy/Johnson campaign.

Here are a few of them (the "We Shall Overcome" button is my favorite:)

The coolest bit of political memorabilia that I have are a set of staff passes from the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment proceedings for President Clinton's impeachment in 1998, including one from the day that the special prosecutor, Kenneth Starr, testified. Former Republican Congressman James E. Rogan, who was one of the thirteen Republicans House Managers who actually acted as prosecutors during the Senate trial following the President's Clinton's impeachment, wrote a really great book called Catching Our Flag: Behind the Scenes of a Presidential Impeachment (BOOK | KINDLE) that I reviewed way back in 2011. In the book, Congressman Rogan (he's a Judge in California now) mentioned that he was a collector of political memorabilia and that he was very cognizant of the fact that he was playing a part in a major historical event -- which I mentioned in the review -- and I also noted that I respected how fair his book was despite the fact that he was a major political player in the impeachment and that he was so clearly from the opposite side of the political tracks than I am. His fairness actually resulted in President Clinton offering to help when Rogan was struggling to win re-election to Congress after the impeachment (which Rogan was grateful for, but turned down because it would hurt him more with his GOP supporters than any Democrats on the fence). ANYWAY...after I posted my review, Congressman Rogan contacted me and thanked me for the review and SENT ME SOME OF THE PASSES THAT HE HAD SAVED FROM THE IMPEACHMENT:

Here's the review of Congressman Rogan's book from 2011 (go buy it). Here's a post where I wrote a little more detail about getting the passes sent to me (and about the whole idea of tickets to impeachment proceedings in general). Also, as I noted in that post, if you are a stalker or a hater, don't go to the address on the letter that Congressman Rogan sent me in that photo because I haven't lived in Texas since 2011. (Also, if you're a stalker who looks like Shakira or Tessa Thompson, just send me a message and I'll give you my address.)

#Political Memorabilia #Campaign Memorabilia #Campaign Buttons #Campaign Posters #Politics #Political Art #2000 Election #2008 Election #Bill Bradley #Barack Obama #President Obama #Clinton Impeachment #Impeachment of Bill Clinton #President Clinton #Bill Clinton #Catching Our Flag: Behind the Scenes of a Presidential Impeachment #Catching Our Flag #James E. Rogan #House Judiciary Committee #Impeachment #1964 Election #LBJ #LBJ Library #@lbjlibrary #President Johnson #Lyndon B. Johnson #We Shall Overcome #Wendell Willkie #Al Smith #Richard Nixon

[bobbyfischalyearfacevalue]

"BACK TF OFF!" MITCH MCCONNELL SNARLS, HISSES, BITES SENATE DEMOCRATS

#2008 election #predilection fraud #ghosting the grim reaper

[lightdancer1]

One would of course be willfully blind to neglect the great change that was the 2008 election:

After two terms of Shrub the American public were willing to accept a Black man not only winning the nomination of a major party, but in the end prevailing over Senator John McCain in one of the most key elections in recent history. However much did not change, the election of Barack Obama as President (and he was the first President I voted for in my first election) was a point where the political ceiling cracked in a way that cannot be undone.

#lightdancer comments on history #black history month #recent history #2008 election #barack obama

[cock-holliday]

Finding it very funny to see people suggesting the 2024 presidential election is some new evil, and yearning longingly for simpler times like pre-2016. Idk how to tell you that 2024 isn’t unique and 2016 wasn’t a shocking departure from civility—you were just 18 years old.

#every election is the ‘end of democracy’ #every election is some new evil #like 2012 wasn’t also heralding the apocalypse #like 2008 wasn’t about ‘restoring our great nation’ post-Bush #like 2000’s case with the votes wasn’t a shocking departure from democracy

[mapsontheweb]

Swing between the 2004 and 2008 US presidential elections. Blue areas show where Obama did better than Kerry, while red areas show where McCain did better than Bush.

#maps #us elections #2004 #2008

[spitblaze]

I'm not a psychologist or a politician or anything approaching an expert about literally anything except a few specific video games but I feel like so many people wouldn't be agonizing over the moral implications of one (1) vote if we as the less-than-uppest-of-upper-crust had the ability to meaningfully affect change in ways other than 'spend money/do not spend money, vote for the red or blue tie'

#spitblaze says things #im aware its significantly more complicated. but i think this is whats driving a not insignificant amount of posting #biden has been doing a godawful job with foreign policy. i am under no illusion that trump will do better #you can still just THREATEN to withhold your vote. i get why some might not want to but its an option. #every presidential election since 2008 has been the most important election in american history. im tired. #idk man. i havent been super engrossed in politics since high school but ive never seen this much agonizing over whether or not #pwople should vote like. at all #personally im of the opinion that you should. its a good thing to do. but you should also exercise your power to put pressure on politician #and threatening to not vote for them is a pretty good way to do that #i gotta stop posting abour serious shit. but maybe id do it less if shit sucked less. so here we are #free palestine. if federal level politics is driving you insane then pay more attention to local level stuff. join a mutual aid org #and donate esims and food money to gaza. do things besides agonizing about november

[footnoteinhistory]

Boston Legal in 2008 making jokes about how much the Supreme Court sucks and insane elections and Donald Trump being president and privacy issues

#david e. kelley you have no idea…… #also odd seeing this show go from Before My Time to events I remember happening in real time as I gained social consciousness #early seasons ​talking about the war: This Show Is A Historical Document #talking about the 2008 election: now what the fuck do you mean that was 15 years ago……. #blegal

[themiiofalltime]

ROUND 1A: BARACK OBAMA (2008 US Presidential Election) vs GAY OBAMA (RTGame, Miitopia)

obamna

#the mii of all time tournament #is a poll #the mii of all time poll #barack obama 2008 us presidential election #barack obama mii #gay obama rt game #gay obama mii #2008 US Presidential Election #rt game #mii

[tomorrowusa]

Michigan is not exactly a bellwether in the strictest sense of the word. However it is still one of the best places to observe trends in American politics.

I clicked the video above expecting to watch just the first few seconds but ended up watching the entire 18 minutes.

It focuses on Michigan because the double peninsula state offers a useful reflection of various directions in politics nationwide. And the vid is nicely done.

One thing we should particularly note about Michigan is that after Democrats won a trifecta there in 2022, they quickly set about making the state more progressive. They repealed anti-union and anti-abortion laws, strengthened LGBTQ+ protections, and abolished the state's peculiar retirement tax. And even before the trifecta, the party helped pass an anti-gerrymandering amendment which later turned out to be key.

Something to learn from Michigan: Pay a lot more attention to your own state government. The first step is to find out who your legislators are.

Find Your Legislators Look your legislators up by address or use your current location.

If you have the misfortune to be represented by MAGA Republicans, contact your state or county Democratic Party and ask what you can do to help send those varmints packing.

#michigan #us politics #michigan politics #election 2008 #election 2010 #election 2012 #election 2014 #election 2016 #election 2018 #election 2020 #election 2022 #election 2024 #gretchen whitmer #michigan legislature #state legislatures #vote blue no matter who

[deadpresidents]

Did Gore ever say why he didn't run again? Or was it just "I did that and it didn't work out, so I've moved on"?

I don't recall Al Gore ever giving a specific reason for why he never ran for President again after 2000. It's probably a combination of reasons, but I do think he was just ready to move on and focus his energy and platform on the issues he cared about most passionately, like combating climate change.

I'm sure that Gore was also frustrated and disheartened by coming SO close to being elected President and still losing. He won the popular vote in 2000 and it was the Supreme Court's decision (along strict party lines) to halt the recount in Florida and hand the victory to George W. Bush. I mean, imagine that feeling -- that you put everything you had into running for President, won more overall votes than than your opponent, and very possibly would have won a recount that handed you the Presidency, but lost due to an unprecedented decision via the narrowest possible margin by a separate branch of the government that was voting along party lines. There were votes still needing to be counted or recounted, and the Supreme Court just suddenly called the election while his opponent had a razor-thin margin that was shrinking by the hour. Why would you ever put yourself through that again?

Gore also saw an opportunity to make a shitload of money and, as a public servant who had spent the last quarter-century in elective office making money was an appealing idea. And he made a TON of money.

I'd also suggest that the timing never worked out for him once he skipped running in 2004. I've said before that I am confident that Gore would have defeated President Bush's bid for re-election if he had faced him in 2004, and the longer he was out of office, the more likely it would be that the Democratic Party would build a deeper bench of active, exciting potential Presidential candidates. That's exactly what happened and 2004 was probably the last, best chance for Gore to have jumped in the race and been heavily favored to capture the Democratic nomination. The 2008 campaign saw Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton become to top Democratic contenders, and 2012 was a re-election cycle for the incumbent President Obama. Maybe Gore could have made some noise if he decided to run in 2016 or 2020, but by then he had been out of any sort of public office for 15 (and then 20) years, so his time had passed. I've probably written this thousands of times, but ideal timing is a huge aspect of successful Presidential campaigns.

#History #Presidents #Presidential Elections #Presidential candidates #Al Gore #Vice President Gore #2000 Election #2004 Election #2008 Election #Presidential Politics #Politics #Bush v. Gore #Supreme Court

[sexynetra]

1 and 8!

1. what are 3 things you’d say shaped you into who you are?

Middle school choir, literally almost dying that one time, and getting deeply emotionally invested in the 2012 presidential election

8. Any reoccurring dreams?

I don’t usually remember my dreams but afaik it’s a different one each time! Lots of stuff that’s just like interpersonal interactions with my friends I guess 😂

#ask #asks #ask game #sweetestberryofthebunch #I make a lot of jokes about that time I died #I was on life support iirc I’m allowed to make goofs and gags #also I was also invested in the 2008 election but I was 9 at the time so it didn’t become my personality #except I fought with a republican kid and #my argument for why McCain shouldn’t win is that he was too old and he’d die in office #I was wrong but I think it was funny #anyways that kid hosts a far right podcast now I hated him and I was right #but 2012 I was in middle school and I was SO invested #also I’m in choir mode rn cause I have a concert tonight :)

[klapollo]

i used to watch oprah with my nonna after school and i literally remember watching the episode where she introduced obama to the world and i feel like i should have felt some kind of cosmic lightning in my soul for seeing the guy who, for a variety of reasons, was gonna be at the nexus of the vast majority of the horrible shit of the coming future

#i have very vivid memories of the 2008 election cycle

[kyeterna]

scheduled post for 26th of June 2023, the day after the elections

Hey future me, am I right?

Edit: I don't wanna be here anymore

#sketchterna #greek elections moment hooo boi i sure do hope a certain party doesn't get supermajority ahahahhhh #if it does I will be forced straight into the poverty line my family has barely been tiptoeing around ever since 2008 <3333 #god i fucking love this country /s

[mapsontheweb]

Shift in US presidential vote between 2004 and 2008, by county

#maps #us #elections #2004 #2008