Kevin Criss

Wednesday, Nov 3, 2004 5:44 PM UTC

Lose the old playbook, get some balls

The Salon reader and "black young'n" who predicted a blowout by Kerry explains where he and his fellow liberals went wrong -- and how to prevent it from happening again.

By Kevin Criss

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Some of my friends would say that I am very bold and abrasive, loud and passionate, direct and in-your-face. Some of you out there may have came to that conclusion as well by reading my letter posted on Salon, where I talked a lot of shit and noise. I am going to man up here and say I was completely wrong, bloated and/or whatever the fuck is similar.

First, congratulations sincerely to our president and his political supporters. They obviously had a wonderful night. They kicked our fucking asses. No two ways around it.

Since I was very wrong, I have some obligation to explain my wrong theories, which led me to believe that Sen. John Kerry would blow out President Bush. Obviously I believed strongly in my generation and our ability to decide this election. In comparison to voters last go-around, I felt it was going to be roughly even, where Bush would lose, let’s say, gay Republicans and some fiscal conservatives and Kerry would lose some people who were concerned about security. With that in consideration, I felt that my extremely motivated generation would tip the scale, as we favor Kerry strongly.

Obviously it didn’t happen, or rather something else happened. Bush and his crew got their base out in larger numbers (although voter turnout was up across the board, as some are reporting) where that turned out to truly be the X factor.

But let me keep it real. This is Strictly 4 My L.I.B.E.R.A.L.S. Over the last few years, we plainly got our asses kicked. We have been painted as unpatriotic, treasonous, French, weak or whatever the fuck they say. But for some reason, we have been pussies and taken it. So much so that the word liberal has become a bad word.

Hey, we actually don’t want to discriminate against those not like us. We want to treat the least among us with the most compassion, don’t mind paying taxes, want health care for everyone and peace by the most practical and objective means — and yet we are bad motherfuckers. What I am saying is this: If you want to win and be perennial (and again I said that Kerry would win by blowout, so many may say, “Yeah, right, young’n”), learn that politics is played out, throw that old playbook out, get some balls and don’t take shit no more.

And here is a suggestion: Whoever wants to run in ’08, do something unheard-of and start running by this January.

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 6:42 PM UTC

Get ready for a November surprise

A "black young'n" says the polls and pundits just don't get the new voter realities. Kerry wins in a blowout, predicts this Salon reader.

By Kevin Criss

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I am a 21-year-old African-American/loyal Salon reader/ frequent writer to you. Although I love you all a lot and, like you (assuming so), I am a liberal, I just feel I have to scream at you for a bit. Almost two weeks ago, I sent a letter to you guys telling you how the new Eminem song “Mosh” has many young’ns riled up, angry, motivated and against Bush. Now 10 days or so later, not only you guys but many publications are up on it. My point? Maybe you guys should listen more to us young’ns, maybe have a young person consultant of sorts. After all, we will decide this election, as I will point out later in this letter.

First, let me just say prepare for the death of polls, as that will be the dominant story coming out of election night. First blacks. I saw Ann Coulter on some show where she was literally speaking for black America. Being that she is an aging white chick with poorly dyed roots, she obviously got it wrong. Those polls saying how Bush will get 16 to 18 percent of the black vote are just wrong. To quote ODB, “Nigga please.” Since black people aren’t really polled, here is a bit of insight. Although we aren’t that excited about Kerry, he has nothing to worry about with the African-American community. We as a whole don’t like Bush, period. Yes, Democrats take us for granted and regardless of which party, we are at the bottom of the totem poll, but we realize that Democrats talk to us, try with us, are down with us, and give us a seat at the table. We are gamed to what the GOP do, or rather don’t do for us.

Locally, as all politics are, as a person living in Louisiana, I can tell you that the more racist persons here are a part of the Republican Party and to us the GOP chooses them over us. Plus, we are highly motivated. You just don’t realize how pissed we are from Florida last time. Bringing out Clinton won’t hurt, but Kerry shouldn’t worry about us African-Americans.

Next, us young’ns. We aren’t as stupid as people think. Simply put, we are in Iraq fighting or we know someone there, we have no health insurance, no jobs, and are generally pro-human rights (not for the gay marriage amendment, PATRIOT Act, etc.). We aren’t going to vote for Bush, period. Kerry will take about 70 percent of the young vote. I am predicting, collectively there will at least 20 million more voters from these two groups, young’ns and blacks. You maybe think “yeah the fuck right” — but trust me. On average 30 percent of African-Americans vote. Expect a minimum of 50 percent this time, maybe close to double. That is anywhere between 7 to 9 million more blacks voting. Young’ns will have a similar margin. Again, we at most vote at a 40 percent rate. Young’ns will easily double their numbers, going from 18 million to about 36 million.

Here are things to ponder.

Kerry wins Arizona: This state has the most college students per capita. Kerry will win Flagstaff, Tucson and Tempe. Throw in Native Americans, Latins, and even moderate Republicans who will vote Democratic (they got the Democratic governor elected), and oh I forgot all the Independents, Kerry will win this state.

Kerry wins Nevada: This state simply comes down to Vegas. Kerry will win Vegas by a big enough margin to cancel out the rest of the state.

Kerry win Missouri: What people either don’t realize or just don’t give a fuck to report is that the black mobilization efforts in St. Louis and Kansas City are second to none, literally. Florida got the attention last time, but people seem to have forgotten that blacks there were denied the right to vote at many polling places that were closed on them. Throw in college towns, Kerry wins.

Kerry wins Minnesota: I can’t believe people actually think this state is close. What people tend to forget is that voters here can register as you vote. Throw in Ventura’s endorsement and the young’ns.

Kerry wins Colorado: Sometimes people just got to listen to the streets. I have family and friends in Colorado, and what they tell me is that “Fahrenheit 9/11″ has had a huge impact there, so much so they are still talking about it, and as people watched it they were changed by it. How can a tradtional red state have a rich ass Senate candidate getting his ass kicked and polls showing Bush/Kerry within the margin. Kerry wins.

Kerry wins Texas: PSYCH! But just as people are saying Kerry wins CA, NY, and NJ by closer margins, so does Bush take his own state. I’ll go out on a margin and say Bush gets no more than 60 percent in his own state. Holla.

Just to save space and time: Kerry wins Arkansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Florida, N. Hampshire, and Penn. He may lose Iowa, as I really don’t know much about that state. Kerry wins nationally in a blowout. Election night is over as central time zone states finish reporting. Why? Because of blacks and young’ns. Bush’s people know this, as their strategy is to turn out their base while suppressing our base … fuckers.

I ask that in the future that you at least take in more opinions from us young’ns and Afro Americans.

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