Now that Obama has his presumptive nomination, has he begun to show his true colors? Will religion still stain U.S. Policy once he takes office?
From the Boston Globe:…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Obama's Recent Remarks Could Derail Democratic Campaign For The White House - Comments Page 2
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Baritone
Jet,
I'm not quite as fearful of the future as you seem to be. While a McCain presidency does not sit well with me, I don't imagine that my day to day life will change dramatically one way or the other. After 8 years of W, how much worse can the "Old Fart" {;-) be?
Likewise, if elected, should Obama fall short of his ardent following's expectations (which almost certainly he will) I imagine I will be able to live with it.
I do believe that the relative success or failure of an Obama (or any) presidency may well rest on the choices he makes for his staff, his cabinet and the rest. Often a president is no better nor worse than the information and advice afforded him by those given the task to administrate.
You seem to fear Obama will prove to be weak willed, and/or that his inexperience will wind up smacking him (and the rest of us in consequence) in the face. That could certainly happen. It's a crap shoot no mater how you look at it, or who you support.
I believe (and hope - keeping fingers crossed) that he will prove to be a forceful and intelligent leader who will surprise and perhaps chagrin his detractors. Of course, first, he has to get himself elected. In the process I imagine that he will make other moves that serve to confound, even anger his base. It is a delicate balancing act that may propel him into the oval office or leave him in McCain's creaky old dust.
B-tone
27 - Clavos
"Work for Obama, fight for Obama, give to Obama, not because he is perfect, but because the alternative is too horrible to contemplate if you're a liberal.
There. Now it makes sense.
28 - Baritone
Jet,
My "high" minded dream was just that. I haven't imbibed in anything stronger than Vernor's Ginger Ale for around 30 years. I did fly with Lucy in the Sky on a few occasions and pull a few tokes now and again, but those days are long gone.
I do like to alternately sniff a sprig of Basil and one of Rosemary while visiting my sadly overgrown, weed infested garden now and again. I find it 'tres difficile' to get down to the earth with stiff, arthritic knees.
B-tone
29 - Jet in Columbus
I know the feeling Mr. B. Sniffing my cat's catnip is doing nothing for me (despite how much it looks like that other stuff) anywhere near what it apparently does for her.
Maybe I should go out and get some rolling papers...
30 - Baritone
Clav,
Did I sense a bit of derision in your noting my charter membership in Boomerworld?(:~#)>-<==<|
B-tone
31 - Clavos
Derision? Derision?
Moi??
Why, B-tone how could you even think such a thing?
I'm cut, B-tone.
Cut to the quick, I say.
32 - Jet in Columbus
Clavos, that HAD to be the worse fake remorse I've ever seen. Are you ashamed of yourself? :)
33 - Jet in Columbus
... you need to work on your French accent too.
(:^p~~~~~~~~
34 - Clavos
Actually, I was proclaiming my innocence.
It's mind-boggling that B-tone would suspect me, the most even-tempered, kindly, pollyanna-like guy on this site, possibly the entire blogosphere, of being derisive...
What is this world coming to?
Can't we all just get along?
Next he'll accuse me of sarcasm, mark my words...
35 - Lee Richards
Jet,
You mention Obama's inexperience as a big concern in a couple of your comments. Everyone elected to a first term as president is inexperienced in that office.
More important to me is the experience, intelligence, honesty and common sense of the people a new president will surround himself with, consult, and listen to. His advisors, cabinet, staff, and think-tank friends should have all kinds of experiences and varied backgrounds(business, military, state and federal government, international relations, etc.), be willing and able to present facts and viable options to him, and help the president reach carefully considered and reasoned decisions.
The entire executive branch--under a smart president exercising good judgement--is what makes an administration more likely to be successful.
The presidency, by necessity, is on-the-job training.
36 - Baritone
Be careful Jet, I think this site is regularly monitored by Homeland Screwinus, or something like that. Swat teams will be busting down your door momentarily. [;)
B-tone
37 - Jet in Columbus
Clav, I can't seem to remember when I was so moved... forgive me for doubting you?
38 - Jet in Columbus
God I hope they're cute, musclebound, blond...
39 - Jet in Columbus
Lee, I'd say that Hillary undeniably has both a literal and figurative leg up on everyone by watching her husband learn the job first hand and then have to deal with Washington insiders and outsiders for eight years...
...and downstairs maids
40 - Cindy D
suddenly i am feeling young again...
41 - Cindy D
oh i almost forgot to respond to the article...
i agree with everything lee richards said.
42 - Ruvy
I'm with the Obnoxious American. I'm sick and tired of your elections already, and all your yammering about it. Unless some really major earth shattering event occurs, I'm voting for Obama in November, in hope that he wins, so the reservists here will see what a real Jew-hater (surrounded by a whole flock of the bastards) does in office - and get good and mad and kick out the American puppets in office here.
Carry on, though....
YAWWWWWWN!!!
43 - Dave Nalle
Ruvy, our TV has been taken over by reality shows. We need the election to keep us entertained.
Dave
44 - Ruvy
We need the election to keep us entertained.
Dave,
You would do better with a cup of Turkish coffee and a game of shesh besh, Dave.
45 - Jet in Columbus
Yes Dave, but "Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?"
46 - Baritone
Clav,
I would NEVER accuse you of sarcasm. Derision yes. Sarcasm, no. I have long considered you the "Mr. Rogers" of BC, and, perhaps, as you suggest all of blogdom.
Won't you be my neighbor?
B-tone
47 - Clavos, aka Mr. Rogers
B-tone,
ROFLOL!
48 - Baritone
Lee pretty much mirrored my comment as regards the quality of those Obama chooses to make up his administration should he prevail in November, but he also wisely took it one step further in noting that Obama (or any president) must be intelligent and wise in his (or her) reaction to their advice and council. That, obviously, is of paramount importance. At times, it may be the wiser choice to ignore that advice and counciling and go in a different direction altogether. It takes brains and wisdom, and, yes, courage to make those kinds of choices. Will Obama measure up? Stay tuned.
B-tone
49 - Jet in Columbus
Dear god, please don't say we're going to have to reply "Correct as usual, you majesty" to him?
50 - Jet in Columbus
Re: 48... but Mr. B. how do you explain Bush?
51 - Baritone
Explain Bush?
Well, Bush and his administration would be the antithesis of everything I've said, wouldn't they?
Pardon my French, mon ami, but don't the Bush years pretty much amount to a cluster fuck of the entire country, perhaps the entire world?
I think some key words I used above that but a rare few would ever consider in the same thought would be "intelligence" and "wisdom" juxtaposed with "George W. Bush." For my money the now rather infamous photo of our current pres taken while attending Yale; the one with the floppy hat on his head and a megaphone in hand pretty much says it all regarding the relative intelligence of GWB. It's hardly an image that has "future president" written all over it.
B-tone
52 - Jet in Columbus
The photo that haunts me is him sitting there reading "My Pet Goat" while the country was in crisis mode.
There are two saving graces for our country...
A lousy president with a good staff
A good president with a lousy staff
Bush was a lousy president with an even worse staff of advisors... probably why they had the last GOP congress sneak him and his croneys immunity against being prosecuted for war crimes.
How did he know he'd need it?
With Obama being SUPPOSEDLY as pure as the driven snow, he might be naive enough to pick a bunch of political con men as advisors and not realize it untill it's too late-like Bush did.
53 - Baritone
Let's hope that Obama has the innate intelligence to dodge that particular bullet.
Early on I was backing Clinton. I still could certainly live with her as president. She actually might me damn good at it. But, ultimately I had to read the handwriting, even if she didn't. I felt, and still feel that Obama represents something new or different. Whether that's good or bad only time will tell and will be judged in the eyes of the beholder.
I don't see him as some kind of great saviour. We all too often hang our hopes on the rising star of someone who, regardless of how talented and smart could not possibly achieve the grandiose heights those hopes represent.
I just hope that should Obama prevail, that he is able to shake things up, just enough to set a bit of a different course for this country. I frankly don't believe that radical change would be good for anyone. Basically, our system works, just not as well, as equitably, or as timely as most would wish it. We don't need wholesale changes, but rather tweaking here and there to get us off of the status quo.
B-tone
54 - Jet in Columbus
I'm skeptical, but skeptically optomistic. If Obama continues on the course that inspired this article, I won't in good conscience be able to vote for him.
55 - Baritone
The campaign has a long way to go. Some people seem to think it's in the stretch run, but, hell, we haven't even had the conventions yet. A lot of things will change over time.
I am looking forward to the debates. They may shake things out a good deal - seeing the two of them one on one as it were. The biggest advantage Obama has is that he can go to his left. (haha)
B-tone
56 - Jet in Columbus
That's one thing I'll give him, he's a damned good speaker, but unscripted might be dicey up against a practiced veteran of the campaign trail like McCain.
57 - Baritone
Oh, I don't know. Obama thinks on his feet pretty well. He only rarely succumbs to those momentary brain farts that often plague lesser pols, and rarely looses his cool.
McCain, on the other hand, is not so quick, and his temper seeps through often when someone pushes him harder than he's comfortable with.
And, Obama has it all over McCain when it comes to style points. He looks good in his suits, and I've yet to see him sporting a band-aid on his head.
B-tone
58 - Jet in Columbus
You know, the way Bush screwed over McCain in the southern primaries in 2000 it's a wonder they even speak to each other.
59 - Baritone
I rather imagine that their supposed alliance is more for show than anything else. Even more so than the 'forgive and forget' motions that Obama and Clinton have been going through of late.
That rather odd photo of McCain attempting to hug Bush is reminiscent of a scene in the Seinfeld episode wherein Jerry and George start to hug after their "show" is picked up by NBC. They make a couple of awkward passes at it, but then give it up, neither of them being capable of such emotional demonstrations.
B-tone
60 - Dr Dreadful
B-Tone, I haven't seen that photo, but bearing in mind what happened to that guy who decided to kvetch at Cheney when he ran into him in a mall a couple of years back, I wonder if McCain was a bit worried that he was about to be jumped by the Secret Service for laying hands on the president...
61 - Jet in Columbus
I just popped out to get some prescriptions filled ... Can any of you change a tire?
62 - Baritone
I can. If you can pull up out back of the house - drive slowly so as not to damage the rim, I'd be glad to change it for you. Let's see you're in Columbus and I'm in Indy. Naw, that's not too far. You can do it. And I'll have a cold brewsky awaitin' for ya.
B-tone
63 - Mojo
Maliki's Recent Remarks Could Derail Democratic Campaign For The White House
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki raised the prospect on Monday of setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops as part of negotiations over a new security agreement with Washington.
Now that the Iraqis have made their move (as Bush asked us to wait for) Does this mean that Obama's platform will be limited to increasing taxes, expanding affirmative action and supporting the racial (anti white) hate speach of his supporters and close friends?
Mojo
64 - Baritone
When and where has Obama stated that he intends to raise taxes, other than for the rich?
When and where has Obama stated that he intends to expand affirmative action?
When and where has Obama EVER stated support for hate speach?
All this crap is made up out of thin air because there is really nothing substantive to attack him with.
B-tone
65 - Dr Dreadful
Mojo,
Obama's platform is quite extensive, but I'm damned if I can see where it contains any of those things. Perhaps you can indicate where he espouses all or any of them.
Perhaps they're on his website*. For his platform, click on the 'Issues' tab where you'll find the various topics helpfully listed by category.
Shouldn't be too hard to find. Have fun!
* I attempted to provide a link to Obama's website, but Akismet for some unfathomable reason declared it to be spam. Not to worry: give you one guess what the website address is...
66 - Mojo
TAXES
*Associated Press 11/2007 - Democrat Barack Obama said Sunday that if elected he will push to increase the amount of income that currently is taxed to provide monthly Social Security benefits.
*During a speech with John Edwards - He stated that he wants to raise the capital gains tax to 40%, and he's talked about raising the dividends tax as well.
*Repealing the Bush tax cuts is raising taxes
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
*Obama's in an interview with Stephanopoulos stated that we should "change the focus of affirmative action policies in higher education -- away from race to economic" CODE WORD - expand affirmative action to include middle class minorities...
HATE SPEECH
*He sat in a pew and listened to and even socialized with an avowed racists Rev Wright for over 20 years...and did nothing but support him financially and politically...
If you want to debate the issues please take the time to research the candidate and their positions before blindly voting the party line...
Mojo
67 - Condor
B-tone,
Verners today is not the Verners of 30 years ago. Verners of 30 years ago was brewed and casked in used bourbon barrels for 1 year.
Today it is chemically reproduced.
Mama was from Charlevoix, I have local knowledge.
68 - Dr Dreadful
Mojo,
That AP reference on taxes is from November 2007 - before the primaries even began.
The interview with Stephanopoulos took place even longer ago - May 2007.
What potential presidential candidates say in the run-up to their candidacies are not necessarily what will end up in their platforms.
As to your third point: first of all, whether the words of Jeremiah Wright constitute hate speech is debatable and secondly, you claimed that Obama supported such. He has, as I shouldn't have to tell you, gone on record condemning Wright's sentiments.
Obama's presidential platform - as distinct from his personal private opinions - is on his website for all to see.
You said it yourself: if you want to debate the issues please take the time to research the candidate and their positions before blindly voting the party line.
69 - Dr Dreadful
Wait-a-minute...
[Logs onto comments tool, checks Mojo's IP address]
What's up, JOM?
70 - Bennett
Yeah, the nuckleheaded blather made it suspect. Glad for the confirmation. Move along, nothing to debate here (at least not with O-JOM)
71 - Mojo
Oh.....I see even though these statements are true and documented, it doesnt matter to you. Its obvious that this is a pattern with him...he is worse than Kerry.
You beleive what he shouldnt be accoutable for what he said less than 6 months ago or what he did at least once a week for 20 years?
Oh I forgot with affirmative action we have to lower the standards in order to level the playing field...
Its all clear now
Mojo
72 - Mojo
Dregde....I cum in peace...
Mojo
73 - Jet in Columbus
Bennett this article was designed to accomadate both sides of the argument with a civil tongue, which it was right up to a few minutes ago...
74 - Mojo
Dregde....I cum in peace...as you can see no personal attacks from me, Mojo...but alas I am again threatened with bodily harm and personal attacks..why is the left so mean spririted?
Ill just ignore them and stay on topic...
Mojo
75 - Dr Dreadful
Jet, he is banned, but a ban can only do so much. As he's figured out, all he needs to do is go to a public library or an internet café and post under another name.
Unfortunately, this means we can't be 100% certain that it is JOM.
We are keeping a close eye, but in the meantime I think the best thing for you to do is just ignore him.