"What meaningless rot. There was no "undercurrent" to what I said because my meaning was upfront. Obama was just dogwhistling people like you and you howled as expected. Also, I'm "decrying" dataguyx's opinion because he is a bigot. Just because you happen to agree with him is your issue though your "black apologist" line gives you away."

Actually, I don't agree with dataguyx at all, and I think white people by and large tend to gloss over the psychological effect that slavery has had on the black population, as well as the institutional disadvantages that black people still face, and I think the argument that black folks should "just get over it" is facile and unhelpful.

But you sir, are still an apologist, because you and your camp always seem to show up whenever anyone says that black folks should assume any degree of responsibility whatsoever. You rend your clothes and gnash your teeth, and eyes glaze over all over white America.

"Well, I don't care." Well, KStone, you should, because if your whole argument is that whites are still in charge and that they need to remove the institutional impediments on your people, you're going to need to win them over. Unlike you, Obama's figured out that honey works better than vinegar.

As for whether or not I'm a bigot, you're entitled to your opinion. But if name-calling is how you think you're going to effect change, guess again.

Sincerely,

Diomedes

My eyes have glazed over.

"The only person I called a bigot was dataguyx and it was a well earned and deserved labeling."

For the record, KStone, you called me a bigot as well. As I said, you're entitled to your opinion, but I'd like to bring it up again to highlight how your first impulse when encountering people who disagree with you is to insult them.

And now I see you're insulting peoples' mothers, KStone. Such a class act.

Since you've already told me what you think about me, here's what I think about you: you're a troll. Go back under your bridge.

Diomedes

Obama's strategy of campaigning in red states is, maybe, the first example of long-term thinking that the party has engaged in in a while.

Even if he loses Georgia and Mississippi, he can have a down-ticket effect on close state and Congressional races, bulking up his majority if he achieves the Presidency.

As for the supposed ceiling in African-American voting, the pundits are left to guess as much as we are.

KStone, I didn't even read what you wrote about MikeLeP's wife in Iraq needing to get "looked up" by your friends when I called you a troll.

Now I can see what you really are: a fucking piece of shit.

You do NOT threaten peoples' wives and you do NOT insult peoples' mothers. If you were really from the "streets" like you claim instead of being a two-feet tall coward masterbating in front of your computer screen in your mom's basement, you'd understand that you crossed the lines and you'd apologize.

Instead, you're going to tell me I'm pompous?! Why don't you go suck a tailpipe, you rotten scumbag!

You are a worthless sack of shit and I'm not listening to you anymore. Your opinions are worthless, I'm not even responding to you anymore.

Choke and die.

Diomedes

The author is suggesting that we owe Senator Helms a debt because unlike the "unknown unknowns" of today, Helms and his bigotry were visible, risible and obvious. The logic is that he put it all out there for everyone to see, as opposed to the shadow tactics of his "intellectual" heirs the Bushies.

But he also, Mr. Hannaham, served as a rallying cry for the far right by being so open with his beliefs. The article spends precious little time talking about the possible salutory effect that Helms' consistent thumbing his nose at the left could have had on the morale of people who agreed with him. Sure, maybe his beliefs were easier to pin down than Dark Consigliere Cheney, but there were folks on that side of the aisle operating in the shadows then too. That was not Helms' role; he was the loudspeaker, broadcasting his bile like he did when he was on the radio back in Raleigh.

And why exactly should we thank Helms for 'galvanizing' us by opposing everything we stand for? We would have worked towards our vision of America if he wasn't around... he was just an impediment, and a big one.

Quick example: Legal Aid was a dangerous instrument of the left in the 70's, what with all those class action lawsuits being filed and their potential effect on corporate depredations. So what did Reagan and Helms and all those boys do? They created the Legal Services Corporation to oversee (and rein it) the org and put a stop to federal funding of any legal services non-profit that engaged in class actions.

Legal Aid has been, excuse my language, a neutered bitch ever since. This is progress? We haven't even recovered what we had before.