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Go Home All Hail Our Obama-bot Overlords

THE PLANK NOVEMBER 3, 2008

All Hail Our Obama-bot Overlords

One of the funniest bits of reportage in this campaign came from the NYT's Julie Bosman whose article about the sad plight of college students supporting McCain included this gem:

The University of Florida
in Gainesville is home to one of the country’s largest McCain student
groups, with more than 1,000 members. Some of its volunteers stand for
nine hours a day in a central campus plaza, pitching to students and
selling T-shirts, their only source of campaign money.

The
Obama group on campus, though, has hired a shuttle bus to drive
Obama-supporting students to an early voting site 20 minutes away.

“Obviously,
we don’t have the resources for that kind of thing,” said Joshua
Simmons, 20, the chairman of Gators for McCain. “Right now, we’re just
making sure that students know that this organization does exist, and
that there are students out there who support McCain.”

As if to
punctuate his point, Mr. Simmons was stopped midsentence while walking
through campus recently and talking on his cellphone.

“What is
that, a robot?” he said, exhaling noisily. “The Obama campaign has a
robot set up in the plaza. It’s holding a sign that says ‘Powered by
hope.’ Which I don’t think is entirely accurate.”

Now, via the Obama campaign, I see that UF's student newspaper is reporting that Simmons has caved:

Simmons said he voted for Obama about two weeks ago.“I’ve seen a different John McCain than the one I signed up to work for,” he said.Simmons
said he submitted his resignation Sunday night and will no longer be
chairman for the group, which has more than 1,000 members.“I expect them to be incredibly pissed off,” he said. 

The robot, however, will be crying windex tears of joy.

--Jason Zengerle

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15 comments

Wow. When you've lost the robot-hating College Republican vote, you've lost the election.

- benjamin81

November 3, 2008 at 12:17pm

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I, for one, will welcome my Obama-bot Overlord with open arms and a warm can of WD-40.

- moldndecay

November 3, 2008 at 12:22pm

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WHEN A GATOR LOSES HIS APPETITE.... Most college campuses are dominated right now by Obama supporters, but the New York Times had an interesting item the other day noting on-campus McCain backers -- and their apparent plight. Most notably, the...

- Anonymous

November 3, 2008 at 12:38pm

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It’s holding a sign that says ‘Powered by hope.’ Which I don’t think is entirely accurate.”

That was actually a good line.  I like the kid.

- boneill

November 3, 2008 at 12:43pm

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Awefuckingsome!

Reminded me of this classic line from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", 1956:

"They're here already! You're next! You're next, You're next...!"

- icarusr

November 3, 2008 at 12:50pm

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Bone, you're right - the kid is smart.  No wonder he switched.

Chairman, no less.

- icarusr

November 3, 2008 at 12:50pm

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You laugh, but when we're all driving robot-cars hope will be the new ethanol.

- adaglas

November 3, 2008 at 12:59pm

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great post Jason this is an awesome story

- Maxblum13

November 3, 2008 at 1:02pm

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Incidentally, talking about turncoats, here is Hitchens, in his latest broadside against the Dynamic Duo:

www.slate.com/.../2203619

Hell hath no fury like a pundit scorned.

- icarusr

November 3, 2008 at 1:08pm

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Who said #1 party schools can't produce world-class geniuses?  

- dylanposer

November 3, 2008 at 1:23pm

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Yes this was delightful. As when John Cole flipped, and demanded his check from Soros and the 40 virgins [still waiting].

- psantillana

November 3, 2008 at 1:26pm

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I demand a picture of this robot.  Was this a circa-late-80s style robot like the one that Nintendo used to sell?  A wisecracking one made out of spare parts a la MST3K?  Or did they splurge on the full-scale animatronic Barack-O-Tron 8000, complete with penetrating gaze and GQ wardrobe?  (Animatronic Biden-O-Tron sold separately, now with over 30 different gaffe sayings!)

- adaglas

November 3, 2008 at 1:33pm

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As the robot in "Lost in Space" used to caution Will Robinson: "NO ON 8!"

- williamyard

November 3, 2008 at 1:45pm

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Damn, that was Biden wearing a Gators cap.  Any way I can rescind my vote?

- cspencef

November 3, 2008 at 2:40pm

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wow, that link led me to this, which is sweet and sad and nice, but sad, but nice:

video.nytimes.com/.../soldier-student.html

- psantillana

November 3, 2008 at 4:40pm

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