Bubba and 21%: A political analysis

[Gromit]

Soxfan-- I think you missed the point with the piece. It is not disrespectful at all -- nor is it intended to be. It is NOT subtle in any way.

It in fact describes the folks -- in a very blatant way-- who will truly decide this election and why it is important that we understand these issues and who they are.

If you ever had a chance to meet the author personally you'd understand that he truly is attempting to provide folks with an accurate image of this demographic in a respectful way. Mainly because he is in fact very much a Bubba himself.

I would argue that it's funny because it's true and it resonates with most of us because we ALL know someone like this.

Most of my relatives in Alabama are exactly like the individual that Barnie Day describes. See my previous post, these folks are the salt of the earth.

Oddly enough the piece in fact doesn't take political sides or suggest that one party is better than the other.

It simply describes a voting demographic and what matters to them without prejudice to party or affiliation.

[Gromit]

JMQ-- Oh yeah my avatar on the campaign poster!! That WOULD rock!!

I can see voters now, "I'm voting for that pirate chick!"

It would be different!

[Teddy Salad]

I grew up in a county over twice the size of Rhode Island with fewer than 6,000 people (that figures out to less than 2 people per square mile, about as rural as it gets). I know lots of Bubbas. One of them is my 83-year old father in law. 8th grade education. A ton of common sense and still has all his marbles. Lifelong Republican. Here's the surprise: He's voting for Obama.

[flip-flop]

First of all, Gromit said nothing to imply Bubbas don't love their country. I believe the label she gave them was "salt of the earth."

I grew up in "real America" where the first day of hunting season was treated (LITERALLY) as a holiday in my high school.

One of my dearest friend's husband would easily be described as a "bubba" -- hell, he'd describe HIMSELF that way. He hunts, fishes, changes his own oil, loves his wife and children and comes home so dirty every night that the first thing he does is take a shower. I love him and respect him as if he was my brother. I don't know or care who he votes for, I suspect it will be McCain, but I know it is not because he thinks Obama hates America and is a socialist.

My stepfather was a cabinet maker and worked 70-80-90 hours a week to make ends meet. He raised me as if I were his own child and he drank VA Gentleman whiskey and pepsi and drove a big chevy truck and listened only to country music. He would have called himself a bubba too. He was a lifelong democrat.

I've known another self-labeled bubba my whole life (he's in this late 40s). He works at a paper mill, typically in putting in 16 hour shifts for days in a row. He was raised on a farm and still lives on the land his family farmed for generations. He goads me ALL the TIME about Sarah. He loves to get under my skin, as he can do, because I love him. But guess what he's decided. He is going to vote for Obama. He voted for Bush twice.

All three of these guys are smart and industrious and proud. No one is trying to tear them down. You do not have to destroy someone who doesn't agree with you to prove your point, but it is often easer to appeal to the most base and vile instincts to bring out the worst in us instead of the best.

Just as no party has a lock on the intellectual vote or the female vote, or the stupid vote for that matter, no party has a lock on the bubba vote. Both sides need to appeal to the middle as much as possible. If McCain had done that there is no way he would be running in 2nd place right now.

I am not as confident as Lulu is that Obama will win. I think the race factor is a complete wild card (just as the woman factor would have been if Hillary got the nom). It makes me question every poll, every analysis, every electoral vote map. I want to believe in my heart that the polls are an honest reflection and Obama will take VA and the election, but I will keep my fingers crossed just in case.

[waterguy]

I'm a bubba and proud of it. I have a college degree but my roots are still bubba. When I get to hi on myself I just have to work with my brother for a few days to see that I'm not the smartest in the family. So you all have a great weekend I'm headed north to shoot some guns and chase a few deer with my bow. I might even have a beer or two sitting in front of the fireplace trying to figure out the what life has in store for me. My wife always said she couldn't figure out how I could go from a hunting lodge to a board room and every one would like me and not know about the other side of my life that is the way I want to keep it.
Tom

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[linne]

I’m really sorry if I perhaps have misunderstood something about this with the “bubba”. It seems as if the description of a bubba has hurt some people. I just read it as a funny exaggerated way to describe a type of people. In DK we have many funny stories about people in a special town (Aarhus) and people in a part of the country (Mols).It’s stories, which tell that people there isn’t so intelligent. People in Aarhus and on Mols laugh of the stories too.

I have now read again what Gromit wrote - with new eyes. And I cannot see that Gromit is disrespectful. Just telling which 21% can settle the election.

You all seem to know a bubba, or you feel that you are a bubba yourself. But I doubt that your bubba fulfil everything in the description?

Peace!

Linne

[soxfan22]

Hey linne...My two cents -

Here, the term "bubba" can be one of endearment, or one that can be derogitory. Depends I guess on the context.

For instance, many people in this country often refer to former president Bill Clinton as Bubba. That is mostly due to the fact that he is from Arkansas and speaks with a southern drawl. But I would say in his case, it is a term of endearment. People here, for the most part, admire Bill Clinton despite his personal misgivings (myself included - his charity work with George Bush Sr. is truly inspirational).

But then it can also be used as a derogitory term to describe someone usually native of our southern states, who is generally uneducated and "unsophisticated". This is what I think of when I hear pundits talking about the "bubba vote" - which is what the original post was talking about.

Here is a definition from Answers.com:

1. Chiefly Southern U.S. Brother.
2. A white working-class man of the southern United States, stereotypically regarded as uneducated and gregarious with his peers.

And then from Wiki:

Because of its association with the southern part of the United States, bubba is often used outside the South as a pejorative meaning low economic status and limited education. The term "bubba" may also be taken to mean one who is a "good ol' boy" who has difficult business and social relationships due to his self-absorbed outlook on life. It is also used pejoratively in prison sex jokes, where Bubba is a stereotyped homosexual male who rapes his fellow inmates, usually when they "drop the soap".

And yes, that bottom part about dropping the soap in prison. "Watch out for Bubba" when you get to the clink.

So, we have many meanings for the slang word "Bubba".

If you really want to be disturbed, watch the movie "Deliverance" sometime.

[linne]

Okay, Sox, thank you for the explanation. Now I know what a Bubba can be. I have a positive nature, so I prefer to think that when I see something about Bubba it's meant endearment (endearment is a new word for me, I hope, I have used it correctly).

Linne

Here is one of our Aarhus stories:

It has been discussed if they had to put a sign up in the roundabouts in Aarhus telling that it's only allowed to take 3 rounds.


(you know people in Aarhus are not so intelligent, they cannot find out which way to go, which disturb the traffic)

[California Girl]

That's a good joke, Linne! LOL!

And good for you on your use of the word "endearment"! Yes, you not only spelled it correctly, you also used it correctly! I've been noticing how much your English has improved since you started posting on the Forum!

[linne]

Thank you CA girl! I hope you are right about my English, but must admit that I very often use spelling control. But the words come easier to me today.

How is the reaction in USA to Palin's telephone talk
with "the French president"??

Linne

[sailorgirl]

Thank you CA girl! I hope you are right about my English, but must admit that I very often use spelling control. But the words come easier to me today.

How is the reaction in USA to Palin's telephone talk
with "the French president"??

Linne

Pretty much as you would expect. Palin supporters felt it was unfair, Palin opponents felt it was an example of her inexeperiance. With all things in this election it seems to depend which side you're on.

[linne]

Yes, I can see that, sailorgirl. The reactions were of course foreseeable. I found it so funny and had both feelings:
it wasn't fair, and it showed her unexpireance.

Linne

[soxfan22]

Funny stuff...She's not their only 'victim':

In 2007, they conned Sarkozy himself by impersonating Prime Minister Stephen Harper. And their 2006 call to former French president Jacques Chirac was rated by the BBC as one of the top 30 all-time best moments in radio history.

They've also gotten Mick Jagger and Bill Gates. Sarah's in good company, and she took it with class.

[Pia]

For those who might not have seen/heard it.........

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story ... 3b97da5cd8