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My Apology
Many people here know me as one of Obama's most outspoken critics on this website. It's true, at times I may have crossed the line and slurred the man. Please chalk it up to the heat and passion of the moment. You may also recall a time or two when I said that I would rather vote for McCain than Obama; later, I vowed to support and campaign for Nader in his independent bid for the presidency. I take it all back.
At the end of the day, I simply cannot stomach the thought of four more years of a Republican administration. Although for months now I have argued that Obama is inexperienced, callow and power-hungry, I have to admit that these were exagerations of real concerns that I had. They were the reasons that I preferred Clinton to Obama. They ring hollow as reasons to choose McCain over Obama.
I will vote for Obama. Not just because I cannot tolerate the thought of a McCain administration, but also because - after all is said and done - he might be a good leader. Heck, he might be a great leader - I'll even admit that. Time will tell. And that possibility alone stands in marked contrast to what I know of McCain. I have no desire to see any of his policies implemented.
I know that many of you have seen me as a far-right version of gotalife, or Otto F, or even "Present." Some have accused me of being a Republican in sheep's clothing. My friends would laugh at this--nothing could be further from the truth. I'm just a progressive who became deeply, deeply committed to his candidate. And I hope that I can become equally committed to Obama.
Now I seek to join the ranks of Louisville 1975, Armchair Gorilla, and Destor23 before them. This is my concession, and my apology.
Obama 2008!
Comments (154)
Welcome.
June 5, 2008 1:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome aboard. No apologies necessary. This is poltics, not bean bag.
Kudos to Senator Clinton for a tough campaign. Sometimes it feels personal but in the end it really is about what we believe is best for our country.
Lets go kick some cottage cheese in lime green jello (McCain) ass!
June 5, 2008 1:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
You should have written Hillary's speech last night!!
Welcome back!
June 5, 2008 1:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, even this baby has more grace and a better political ear than, er, certain politicians that shall not be named...
June 5, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd, but I suspect a ruse. This post is too sincere by half for such a tricky baby.
June 5, 2008 2:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
snark -- of a very good kind
June 5, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's too bad people can't "negatively recommend" posts....
June 5, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Swaddled subterfuge.
That's all I'm saying.
June 5, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
HUH?!
June 5, 2008 2:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Somewhat of an impersonation.
I guess?
June 5, 2008 7:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Baby, are you just trying to fit in with the cool kids now that it's the pinnacle of TPM fashion to be a former Clinton supporter?
For making me laugh, I bought you a "beer".
June 5, 2008 2:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're right - it is cool to cross over from Clinton to Obama these days. I recommend that everyone do it. You get all kinds of love and affection from the Obama supporters. I figured, why let little details, such as the fact that I've always supported Obama, stand in the way of all that attention.
June 5, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is the most heartfelt speech of any Clinton supporter at TPM. I'm so moved that I'm crying besnottedly into my keyboard and throwing up a little bit you-know-where.
June 5, 2008 3:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, me too. Looks like people have very short memories.
June 5, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
How soon they forget. You go away for a couple of days and no one knows your name.
June 5, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to a shared purpose... restoring our nation and undoing the damage wrought by the Bush/GOP criminals that have held power for far too long.
June 5, 2008 4:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Allsburg, I think some people actually believed you. Have you no shame?
Nevertheless, welcome to the cult... err, club.
BTW who's Armchair Gorilla?
June 5, 2008 5:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am the poster who singlehandedly brought Hillary around to finally facing the reality of her doomed campaign. If you don't know by now, you haven't been following politics for long.
June 5, 2008 9:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
But I am not a gorilla.
June 5, 2008 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure I saw you throw a banana once!
June 5, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe I have a little bit of shame. I did start to feel a little bad after the first few people left comments.
June 5, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, my child, that feeling is embarrassment. I don't blame you for wanting to cover yourself in the cred of an ex-Clinton supporter. We are an elite group of mangled souls.
June 5, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait, so is it a good thing to be an elite group now or are you being self-deprecating?
June 5, 2008 10:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alls:
Did you REALLY think my statement that you should be a Hillary speechwriter was a COMPLIMENT?
Sometimes sarcasm is subtle, but don't think for a moment it isn;t there.
:)
June 5, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Touche. Now if you'd said McCain's speechwriter, I'd have been all over it. Although I'm sure I could do a better job than McCain's current speechwriters. And I'm only six months old.
June 5, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alls:
McCain has speechwriters?
I thought he was using an old copy of a John Birch Society recruitment flyer. :)
In any event, I imagine most 8 month-old babies could write more coherent and uplifting speeches than the stuff John comes up with.
But I will give John this, though. He CAN complete a grammatically correct sentence i English - which is more than we can say for George. :)
June 5, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's speeches really aren't that bad, composition wise. He just can't pull off the oratory to save his life. Even the train wreck from Tuesday night -- if I imagine Obama giving that speech, it sounds a gazillion times better.
June 5, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
To borrow a pre-internet comment about Patrick J. Buchanan, "I'll bet the speeches sound a lot better in the original German."
June 5, 2008 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now that's funny. Can you remember who said it? Franken maybe?
June 5, 2008 10:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, I should have googled first. It was Molly Ivins.
June 5, 2008 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Six months old? How can you support Obama, when your self-interest clearly lies with McCain? He has promised you bottled hot water should you ever become dehydrated!
June 5, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I heard him say that, and I'm still trying to figure that out.
June 5, 2008 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I understand completely. It's trench warfare. But in the end, all the intra-party squabbling is just paintball. The real battle is against the Evil Empire. Now we go after McCain. I'm gonna enjoy this. As good Democrats like you begin switching into general election mode, I've got a feeling the Republicans are gonna wonder what hit them.
June 5, 2008 6:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd. Consider the last 4-5 months water under the political bridge. Now, let's all go play "demolition derby" with the Straight Talk Express. :)
June 5, 2008 7:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
O I'm so glad to read this.
It is very big of Hillary supporters to come out and say this. I appreciate it - we are on the same side!
This is going to be a great election season - I know it. I am so ready to stop the acrimony and get started kicking the fascists out of our government and we all need each other! Plus, its' going to be great and I want all of you with all of us when we do it - we all got to this point together - let's kick some fascist' ass together!!!
Thanks, Allsburg. Thanks.
June 5, 2008 8:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome aboard. And as for me, no apologies needed for supporting your candidate with a great deal of passion.
June 5, 2008 8:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
(I) Hillary Clinton, your future president, reject and denounce your obvious attempt to look cool by making a false jump on the "switch-to-Obama" bandwagon. Babies drool, they're not cool. So get off the Hillary->Obama bandwagon, and instead go back to the Obama->Hillary->Obama->Gravel->Obama bandwagon where you belong.
Leading the drooling baby vote!
Leading the drooling Gravel vote!
Leading you all!
Much Love,
Hillary/Gravel 08.
June 5, 2008 8:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let's do this!
You could be a massive asset in this campaign, recruiting your brethren, people who shared your concerns.
I hope you will. And I think you'll come to love Obama.
June 5, 2008 8:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
As soon as he learns to walk and talk.
June 5, 2008 8:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
The question is whether he will learn how before McCain forgets...
June 5, 2008 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did you see the video of George H.W. Bush and McCain walking (tottering) across the tarmac in Houston together? They both had that old man shuffle. Like they need walkers or something. No offense to allsburg. I know he still holds onto chairs and stuff to get around.
June 5, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
And their secret closed door fundraiser (because you know McSame cannot be seen with him)
He he too funny
June 5, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hah! Nice one!
: )
June 5, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Allsburg......if your right..then you are so far right your left....always thought you were probably a card carrying member of the US communist party.......How wrong can one person be? :)
June 5, 2008 8:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am confused. I always thought your sympathies were with Obama, although it was hard to judge from your inscrutable avatar and tongue in cheek persona. Either way, we should not hesitate to criticize our candidate of choice. There's no disloyalty in that.
June 5, 2008 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect I may have been snarked.
June 5, 2008 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your suspicion serves you well.
June 5, 2008 9:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed, our European friend.
I was really moved, after ACG said in a thread a few weeks ago that it would vote for Obama, to see ACG come out as an Obama supporter to the shower of love. But hey, there's enough love to go around this week, even for PDs who use AG for a moniker. ;)
Mad props to the baby.
Spaniard! Spaniard!
June 5, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a flip flopper.
What's a PD?
June 5, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I figured it out. I am a stranger even to myself. How depressing.
June 5, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps. Certainly Allenesque.
Maybe it's a Brooklyn thing?
June 5, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey guys, I'd like to have something clarified. Are we still drinking Kool-aid (and is that now the official drink of the campaign?) or is that over now?
June 5, 2008 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now that is a good question. I'm not really sure. Maybe in the interest of unity we've moved on to KoolAid spiked with Crown Royal?
June 5, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well played little baby.
June 5, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now lets go slaughter some McCaininites.
June 5, 2008 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Since I've only recently transferred my allegiance to Obama, I'm still looking for the few remaining Hillary supporters to hunt down so that I can get in on the action, however belatedly.
June 5, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, Obama really is pushing hard for the Ancient Hebrew vote:
June 5, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for this post. Hillary and Obama are so close ideologically, it seems their respective supporters should be natural allies. McCain and his gang are on the other hand miles to the right.
It is hopeful that if the Democrats can come together, we will be unbeatable. The NYT made a point about some of the big swing states that Obama lost to Clinton, including CA, NY, OH, NJ, NH among others. In all of these, Obama got more votes in "losing" that McCain got in "winning" the Republican primary. I think McCain is going to get buried in November, and your post ratchets up my optimism a bit more.
June 5, 2008 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
And all this time I thought you were an Obama supporter, in fact, I never thought you were anything but an Obama supporter.
June 5, 2008 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Right. It's all about the snark.
Baby, now you've been caught by Josh... (or not!)
June 5, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you sure? I have to say I'm really amazed, honestly, until today I thought he was an Obama supporter. I still think he was an Obama supporter.
June 5, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
He was, Bev; all along.
Look below for more info. (Hint: This is what little baby wishes to hear from Clinton supporters.)
June 5, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you positive? I could have sworn he supported Obama.
June 5, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shall we add this to the sure fire ways to get a post on the recd list?
June 5, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
My thoughts exactly.
June 5, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good for you, now on to McCain.
I've always loved babys...........
June 5, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you were to open up a baby's head - and I am not for a moment suggesting that you should - you would find nothing but an enormous drool gland. ~Dave Barry
An I know something about drool. However, I hope the baby is being honest.
June 5, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
That baby? Honest?
June 5, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oops - I've always loved babIES. Duh
June 5, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
"a Republican in sheep's clothing"
Is that Ted Nugent?
June 5, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Chuck Norris
June 5, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
So how could a self-proclaimed progressive have supported a candidate that supports imperialist wars? And how could you have supported a candidate that voted in the Senate for the interests of the monied class against the interests of the rest of us, e.g., on narrowing bankruptcy protections? I'm at a loss as to how Hillary and her supporters could have proclaimed her to be a candidate of a progressive movement.
June 5, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
That comment was the Nader of this thread.
We callow Obamites confuse Nader with nadir, Hegel with Hagel.
You know how it is.
June 5, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, we Kant!
June 5, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Genghis: Yes, we Khan.
June 5, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very funny allsburg, but it doesn't taste good. I'm getting dizzy watching you do victory laps.
June 5, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
hey go figure, Allsburg, great to see you posting diaries again and I'll be frank, I thought your Obama criticism was all snark, and admit I am mildly surprised that you were actually a Clinton supporter. (and yes I am being serious.) It is a great moment to be a progressive, and I am really looking forward to the G.E. campaign.
Welcome to Obama Country!
June 5, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did you say something? I confess, I never actually read your comments. I just looked at that overwhelming adorableness and my brain went all ooba-gooba-gaba-goo! and my busted biological clock went clink, and then I just moved on to the pillow guy.
June 5, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
This has been an incredibly impassioned primary battle. I think everybody has probably said things they'd say differently out of the passion of the moment. I just want to say that you've really honored this site with this post.
June 5, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, not Josh too--Now I really feel ashamed.
June 5, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tsk, Tsk Allsburg. :)
June 5, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're just like the guy in some cheesy comedy who comes out as gay, but isn't really gay, and everybody just keep patronizing him saying how they're totally fine with it.
This is really funny.
June 5, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
HA HA!
Underestimated the extensive depths of your own astounding power of snark, didn't ya?
If you were a superhero, you'd be "Super Snark", faster than a speeding fiber optic connection, able to ensnare legions of unsuspecting bloggers with a single bound, defending farce, sarcasm, and the American Way!
June 5, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
snark or no snark, it's OK allsburg, it is the thought that counts.
June 5, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for saying that. I tried to play this snark as straight and sincerely as possible. In fact, it's what I hope and pray a lot of true Clinton supporters are thinking right now.
June 5, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's because you haven't reached the age of reason yet. If we thought like you we'd sign on to the Obama for that voyage toward the edge of the world. She told us what to do Tuesday night. Here's some advice, because I've taken a funny kind of liking to you, kid. Don't do any heavy lifting with a "former" Clintonista this Fall.
June 5, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the CIA has a job opening with your name on it.
June 5, 2008 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to the big down side to getting so familiar with fellow participants on a public website that one ends up writing like it's your own private Dorothy Parker round table or "Cheers" where everyone knows your name: it's easy to forget that it's not a private club, that's it's a public website, and not everyone knows.
From experience, I think that if people want to keep a site interesting, with fresh blood, it's important for people to write as if the audience is not just the regulars, to remember that always, if you are talking to regulars, say so, make it clear. I have found from experience (including as a moderator on a site like this) not to forget that there's a big audience out there that's lurking or perhaps only participating once in a while, an audience that doesn't know the inside soap opera stuff like Billy Glad and Genghis having a feud right now or whatever. Best to write for a big audience, not just the other people who post, because you are. Here's why: It's not about people not liking the feeling they've been had by snark (I've seen posts from The Onion do that hundreds of times and no one gets mad). It's not about being against cliques and groups forming and having fun, most people have nothing against that, many enjoy it. It's just that if you don't somehow make it clear that that is what you are doing, that that's what's going on it gives off that one has to first be part of an in club to post on the site without being made a fool. It's discouraging to possible posters who might have something interesting to say that they have to run a guantlet of figuring out who everyone is before they post something. And you end up with your own incestuous in group the only ones posting, with no fresh blood. You'd be surprised how many people are fearful of contributing to a forum site because of the appearance of an in-group where they don't understand the language and the nararative going on. If not fearful, they just figure it's not worth the time to figure out the intercinine situation.
June 5, 2008 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
artAppraiser, you make some good points. Quite frankly, this was kind of close to the reaction I expected with this piece, although it appears to have become more popular than I anticipated. But while there is a danger of becoming too much of an "in crowd" kind of thing, I think that the family and community aspect of the site is one of the things that people find appealing. It's a fine line to ride. And quite frankly, in any friendly close-knit community, you will ocassionally either pull a prank on others, or have one pulled on you. Sure, people react differently to that kind of conduct. But it's all in good fun. Let's not sterilize the site to avoid seeming insular - if we do that, we might discover that it's less fun for everyone, even the ones who haven't been brought entirely into the fold yet.
June 5, 2008 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Couldn't agree more. My first snarkposting attempt failed spectacularly, and it kinda took the wind out of my sails. But then I figured maybe these people all know each other IRL or something. Or maybe the rec list is more like the cool kids' lunch table conversation that you overhear as you pass by but can't really join in on. In on? Upon? Whatever...
Anyway, why isn't anyone talking about McCain wanting to spend another TRILLION dollars to keep us in Iraq for another four years (at a minimum), AND make Bush's tax cuts permanent, all the while calling Obama a tax-and-spend liberal? And he somehow thinks a top-down review of all "failed government programs" will come up with an extra TRILLION dollars? Color me skeptical...
June 5, 2008 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi prObama,
Interesting to read about your experience playing with this raggle-taggle group. Mine was different, and I think the reason is that I lurked around for quite a while before I bothered to post -- so by the time I revealed myself, I already "knew" everyone. And I knew how to read the snark. (Or maybe this group's sense of humor is so much like my friends' IRL that it just sorta made sense already.) Of course, I still don't make the rec list (except when announcing bar-events), but my small victory is when I can get a conversation going on a thread that I started.
Btw, I just read your first post and enjoyed it.
June 5, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the comment. I've been lurking for quite awhile, and my snarkometer seems to be in good working order, even though I have to use tinfoil, duct tape, and some speaker wire to keep it running.
I have to admit though, I didn't catch this one.
June 6, 2008 12:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd like to think that Josh is just playing along here.
June 5, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've read his comment a couple times now, and it may just be perfect counter-snark. I'll go with that.
June 5, 2008 11:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a TRUE democrat! Welcome.
June 5, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Slay the fatted calf!
June 5, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bravo, and thank you. It takes integrity to make the shift that you have made and to acknowledge it publicly. You have my admiration.
June 5, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well said Allsburg.
Nice adult approach, and Im with ya all the way.
No way in hell could McCain successfully run this country, or any country. He past his time unfortunately.
Nice Job.
June 5, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bravo Allsburg! Well played.
At no time did I see your fingers leave your hands!
June 5, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Though I smell a hint of snark, I'm hopeful that deep down, these words are honest and that we all can be united in the fall.
June 5, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's poop you smell. He hasn't been changed since lunch.
June 5, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the somewhat uncrowded field of candidates for funniest HRC supporter, Billy Glad knows no peer.
June 5, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brother/Sister Allsburg,welcome aboard you big baby! It'll be an honor to fight beside you this summer.Yes We Can!
June 5, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since you were an Obama supporter, your snarky attempt to tell those of us who supported the better candidate that we are supposed to apologize is not appreciated.
I do not need to apologize for supporting the candidate I believe in. If I went around supporting the candidate I thought was less progressive and less experienced and lesser in nearly every point that matters to me simply because all the "cool kids" do it, then I should apologize.
June 5, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oregon Activist, far be it from me to tell you what to do. You read too much into my post. I would never tell Clinton supporters or Republicans who to vote for in the fall.
June 5, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Humor will be exterminated. There is no place for it among we enlightened folk. Thank you for your continued efforts in this gravely important cause.
June 5, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right on, Edmund!
June 5, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
oh, be *still* my heart.
June 5, 2008 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fraud.
Snot nosed prevaricator.
Get a job.
And stop droooling!
June 5, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is the Messiah!
June 5, 2008 1:50 PM |