Barack Obama!

[Doris]

Re: Barack 2008!

McCain seems caught in a trap vilifying Obama rather than raising his own profile.

ABC World News reported that McCain continued to condemn Obama's opposition to the surge, saying, "If we had done what Senator Obama wanted done, it would have been chaos, genocide, increased Iranian influence, perhaps al Qaeda establishing bases again."

I've read that the Sunnis decided to cooperate three months before the surge began. Now at last it's out:

On NBC's Meet the Press yesterday, Obama defended his stand on the surge, downplaying its impact and saying, "There's no doubt, and I've said this repeatedly, that our troops make a difference. ... But, for example, in Anbar Province, where we went to visit, the Sunni awakening took place before the surge started, and tribal leaders made a decision that, instead of fighting the Americans, we're going to work with the Americans against al Qaeda."

From Africa: http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=128070

Watching TV, I was amazed by the rock star reception Barack Obama received on Wednesday in Germany. All over Europe, it seems, Obama is the craze. The mood is no different on other continents.

Obama is becoming more of an idea, a concept, beyond the man himself.

In Africa, you and I are excited because America has clearly gone a step further in appreciating a person of colour beyond his presumed prowess in sports or music. Europeans are simply delighted because the Senator represents the antithesis of George W. Bush.

After the Dark Age of Bush, the world craves for the idealised America it thought it knew before. It is plain that the rapturous embrace of Obama outside America signifies this craving.

A craving for an America that, as in a marriage, was sensitive (or pretended to be, which is just as well) to the weaker partner rather than always being a bully.

 

[wayneL]

Re: Barack 2008!

Watching TV, I was amazed by the rock star reception Barack Obama received on Wednesday in Germany. All over Europe, it seems, Obama is the craze. The mood is no different on other continents.

Obama is becoming more of an idea, a concept, beyond the man himself.

In Africa, you and I are excited because America has clearly gone a step further in appreciating a person of colour beyond his presumed prowess in sports or music. Europeans are simply delighted because the Senator represents the antithesis of George W. Bush.

And therein lies the danger.

It is impossible for Obama to live up to the expectations of his own electorate much less the rest of the world. The man does not truly represent those expectations, even as he milks them for all they're worth.

I predict, like that previous messiah, he will come to an untimely (hopefully only political) end and will be figuratively nailed to the cross for double-
crossing his worshipers.

There will be no resurrection however.

 

[wayneL]

Re: Barack 2008!

A humorous, and basically spot on commentary on the Messiah from Gerard Baker:

by
Gerard Baker

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.

The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.

(read the rest on the link below)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece


I have a few Democrat friends who have totally surprised me that they are voting for McCain over Obama. These are staunch Democrats, but they don't think Obama is fit to be President with his extreme left wing values, connections (Rev. Wright, et al), and no credentials.

Many on this forum will be surprised when McCain wins fairly easily. Not quite a landslide, but a very healthy margin. This election is for President of the United States after all, not President of the World.

See Gerard Baker himself witness to us his testament about the Messiah:

 

[ZzzzDad]

Re: Barack 2008!

If anyone believes that the Obama team is different, please read this entire article:

http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Politics/13021.htm

Paper, rapped for outing Obama note, claims campaign pre-approved leak

What initially seemed to be a journalistic scoop of dubious moral propriety now seems to be a case of an Israeli paper being played by the Barack Obama campaign. Maariv, the second most popular newspaper in Israel, was roundly criticized for publishing the note Obama left in the Kotel. But now a Maariv spokesperson says that publication of the note was pre-approved for international publication by the Obama campaign, leading to the conclusion that the "private" prayer was intentionally leaked for public consumption.

SNIP

[Update as to Maariv's statement as published in Haaretz on July 28]: "Obama's note was published in Maariv and other international publications following his authorization to make the content of the note public. Obama submitted a copy of the note to media outlets when he left his hotel in Jerusalem."]

If correct, It appears that Obama made Maariv and other media an instrument of his will. The media, of course, was a most willing tool


The entire article is quite revealing about how the Obama campaign tries to manipulate everyone.

 

[wayneL]

Re: Barack 2008!

If anyone believes that the Obama team is different, please read this entire article:

http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Politics/13021.htm

Paper, rapped for outing Obama note, claims campaign pre-approved leak

What initially seemed to be a journalistic scoop of dubious moral propriety now seems to be a case of an Israeli paper being played by the Barack Obama campaign. Maariv, the second most popular newspaper in Israel, was roundly criticized for publishing the note Obama left in the Kotel. But now a Maariv spokesperson says that publication of the note was pre-approved for international publication by the Obama campaign, leading to the conclusion that the "private" prayer was intentionally leaked for public consumption.

SNIP

[Update as to Maariv's statement as published in Haaretz on July 28]: "Obama's note was published in Maariv and other international publications following his authorization to make the content of the note public. Obama submitted a copy of the note to media outlets when he left his hotel in Jerusalem."]

If correct, It appears that Obama made Maariv and other media an instrument of his will. The media, of course, was a most willing tool


The entire article is quite revealing about how the Obama campaign tries to manipulate everyone.

Well firstly, this doesn't surprise me. He is a politician, not the messiah.

Secondly, I wouldn't be surprised that any politician pulls stunts like this... they all do

 

[chops_a_must]

Re: Barack 2008!

Well firstly, this doesn't surprise me. He is a politician, not the messiah.

Secondly, I wouldn't be surprised that any politician pulls stunts like this... they all do

Including that 'Major league ******** from the New York Times'?

 

[chops_a_must]

Re: Barack 2008!

Or perhaps Downer leaving top secret documents lying around?

 

[Doris]

Re: Barack 2008!

If anyone believes that the Obama team is different, please read this entire article:

http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Politics/13021.htm

Paper, rapped for outing Obama note, claims campaign pre-approved leak

What initially seemed to be a journalistic scoop of dubious moral propriety now seems to be a case of an Israeli paper being played by the Barack Obama campaign. Maariv, the second most popular newspaper in Israel, was roundly criticized for publishing the note Obama left in the Kotel. But now a Maariv spokesperson says that publication of the note was pre-approved for international publication by the Obama campaign, leading to the conclusion that the "private" prayer was intentionally leaked for public consumption.

SNIP

[Update as to Maariv's statement as published in Haaretz on July 28]: "Obama's note was published in Maariv and other international publications following his authorization to make the content of the note public. Obama submitted a copy of the note to media outlets when he left his hotel in Jerusalem."]

If correct, It appears that Obama made Maariv and other media an instrument of his will. The media, of course, was a most willing tool

The entire article is quite revealing about how the Obama campaign tries to manipulate everyone.

Who is being manipulated? Don't believe all you read.

Obama is too astute for such an obvious ploy. What would he have to gain??!!

If a campaign member leaked it they would be sacked on the spot... a fate worse than death!

1 hour ago:

Western Wall rabbi apologizes for publication of Obama’s note

Published: 07.29.08, 19:36 / Israel News (one day after the item linked above)

The rabbi overseeing the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinowitz, sent a letter on Tuesday to US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, in which he expressed his sorrow over the removal of the note written by Obama from the wall and its subsequent publication in local media.

In addition, the Yeshiva student who removed Obama’s note from the Wall also apologized and asked for Obama’s forgiveness. He said the note had been returned to its place with Rabinowitz’s help.

In the letter, Rabinowitz wrote that as the Western Wall and Holy Sites Rabbi he deeply regrets the aberrant act.

He also said that many people visit the Western Wall; Jews and non-Jews alike and their honor and the honor of their prayers are top priority.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3575001,00.html

 

[Doris]

Re: Barack 2008!

The Republican National Committee has launched a new web ad called “Obama TV Ad In Berlin."

Set to a techno dance beat, the web ad mocks Obama's appeal to Europeans, highlighting interviews with European Obama fans, including one man who sees parallels between Obama and Che Guevara.

The ad is 1 min 8 secs (You'll lovitt Wayne and ZzzzDad)

http://blip.tv/file/1125713

 

[ZzzzDad]

Re: Barack 2008!

Good ad, and resonates with American voters that are very wary of the European love affair with Obama.

Obama made a big mistake having a campaign rally, drawing 200,000 plus Germans. This is the first time in my memory that any candidate has had a campaign rally OUTSIDE of the U.S.

Will come back to haunt him.

 

[Doris]

Re: Barack 2008!

Good ad, and resonates with American voters that are very wary of the European love affair with Obama.

Obama made a big mistake having a campaign rally, drawing 200,000 plus Germans. This is the first time in my memory that any candidate has had a campaign rally OUTSIDE of the U.S.

Will come back to haunt him.

Well it wasn't a campaign rally except for the US voters to see he had clout with world leaders. (Silence McCain)

Do you think it will haunt him when the Europeans realize he was manipulating their egos - for the US to save some of the $10 billion a month on the war in Iraq... to get them to share more of the cost (including human) so he has the $$ to spend on the US economy?

I see his aim as fully focused on infrastructure and the economy to re-build the health and strength of the US.
World cooperation will enable this focus to be applied.

I noticed one of his goals is to reduce middle income tax... You should be relieved?

 

[ZzzzDad]

Re: Barack 2008!

Well it wasn't a campaign rally except for the US voters to see he had clout with world leaders. (Silence McCain)

Do you think it will haunt him when the Europeans realize he was manipulating their egos - for the US to save some of the $10 billion a month on the war in Iraq... to get them to share more of the cost (including human) so he has the $$ to spend on the US economy?

I see his aim as fully focused on infrastructure and the economy to re-build the health and strength of the US.
World cooperation will enable this focus to be applied.

I noticed one of his goals is to reduce middle income tax... You should be relieved?

Barack Obama has no intention on actually delivering on a middle class tax cut. He has too many projects planned to be able to accomplish that. On top of that, he wants the Bush tax cuts to expire, which (despite what the media and Democrats would have you believe) contains numerous middle class tax cuts. Many of us middle classers have investments in stocks (and not just in our IRAs or other retirement accounts).

As for trying to fool the Europeans, that is a laugh. He is of the same mindset as them, socialism economically, and appeasing the Islamic extremists when it comes to foreign policy.

Just out of curiosity Doris, why are you so enamored with Obama. I saw in one of your earlier posts that because of your grandchildren, you feel a connection with him. But that is no reason to support someone in and of itself. I have interracial children myself, but that would not be a reason to vote for somebody. With me, I can't agree on almost all of his positions. I don't think he has the experience needed and you can't just rely on aides or advisors to gain that experience. On top of that, he can't ever admit when he is wrong, such as on the success of the surge, etc.

As others have noted, and I tend to agree, he reminds me of Jimmy Carter, - idealist, and very naive.

 

[wayneL]

Re: Barack 2008!

The thing that annoys me is the American voter's need to have a president who is iconic. Policy and long term vision have no place in American presidential races. They just want, having been brought up to do so, somebody they can worship in a rock-star, celebrity, glossy magazine manner.

What I find sooooo disappointing is that so many Europeans, having been bathed in an imported and poisonous American pseudo-culture via TV and the Internet, are looking for the same thing.

Why else would European plebeians give a **** about some cliche creating, Baptist minister style politician from the evil empire, which they all despise despite metamorphosing into, by osmosis. (sorry for the mixed metaphors)

What the world needs from America is an iconoclast - the one thing it will never get.

Until then, Europeans should stay at arms length from smooth talking Anthony Robins clones and they should stay at arms length from an America that elects them... friends, allies, traders, but not this cultural homogeny(if that's a word) as evidenced by Europeans actually campaigning for a bloody US presidential candidate, that none of us can vote for. WTF?

I really like most Americans, there are many beautiful people there, I was partly raised there, it has the potential to be the greatest nation on the planet (and I'll talk about that some other time), but I wish they would **** off from the cultural life of the rest of the world. And I wish Europeans (and Australians for that matter) would pay attention to the diabolical and scandalous state of their own politics and do something about it.

Go home Yankee politician!!!

 

[Doris]

Re: Barack 2008!

Obama Ad- 31 seconds

What he says he will do:




McCain Ad: 32 seconds

Very informative campaign message of a worthy future president:

I missed the bit about what he said he will do




Barack responds to McCain's ad: 1:15



McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said:

"Barack Obama has played the race card, and he played it from the bottom of the deck."
"It's divisive, negative, shameful and wrong."

Obama's "Race Card":

Obama began his day Wednesday, charging: "Nobody really thinks that Bush or McCain have a real answer for the challenges we face, so what they're going to try to do is make you scared of me. You know, he's not patriotic enough. He's got a funny name. You know, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills, you know. He's risky."

McCain defended the more aggressive strategy at a town hall meeting in Wisconsin, where a young woman asked him why he had launched an ad juxtaposing Obama with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. "What we are talking about here is substance, and not style," he said. "Campaigns are tough, but I am proud of the campaign we have run, I'm proud of the issues we have raised."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/01/AR2008080102970.html?hpid=topnews

 

[2020hindsight]

Re: Barack 2008!

lol
well Doris, I reckon we are gonna find out how good he is.
cos the bookies all reckon he's gonna win

 

[Doris]

Re: Barack 2008!

lol
well Doris, I reckon we are gonna find out how good he is.
cos the bookies all reckon he's gonna win

Well, 2020... Barack Obama's Iowa crowd elects him president already!

"Apparently we missed a little something, like the next three months and that bothersome thing called Election Day".

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Thursday:

The crowd was an enthusiastic one, like so many of Obama's gatherings.
Its members were ready to see and cheer their leader.

But before listening to his usual stump speech, the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to him.
On Monday Obama will turn 47.

But the happy crowd did not sing the song, "Happy Birthday, Senator Obama."

It was a small but revealing thing.
The very confident crowd sang the song, "Happy Birthday, Mr. President."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/08/president-obama.html

 

[Julia]

Re: Barack 2008!

I wonder how the competition would be stacking up had the media got behind McCain to the extent that they have been all over Obama?

Personally I don't really care. Don't like either of them.

 

[wayneL]

Re: Barack 2008!

The crowd was an enthusiastic one, like so many of Obama's gatherings.
Its members were ready to see and cheer their leader.

But before listening to his usual stump speech, the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to him.
On Monday Obama will turn 47.

But the happy crowd did not sing the song, "Happy Birthday, Senator Obama."

It was a small but revealing thing.
The very confident crowd sang the song, "Happy Birthday, Mr. President."

 

[Doris]

Re: Barack 2008!

lol
well Doris, I reckon we are gonna find out how good he is.
cos the bookies all reckon he's gonna win

Well he's won support for his stand on Iraq so the economy/oil costs are next on the agenda to defeat McCain.

McCain has his sights squarely on Obama's opposition to offshore drilling, labeling him "Dr. No when it comes to energy production." The tactic is not surprising, because polls have shown that consumers ”” even in environmentally sensitive states like Florida ”” are desperate for politicians to do something about energy and favor offshore drilling by big margins.

"I'm in favor of solving problems," Obama responded.

"What I don't want to do is say something because it sounds good politically."
Obama seeks to turn the issue on its head, arguing that McCain and Bush are practicing the old politics of simply promising people something that's symbolic without addressing the real problem.

Discounting drilling, he proposes energy rebates, a crackdown on oil speculators who manipulate the market and a renewed focus on energy alternatives.

"Instead of offering any real plan to lower gas prices, Sen. McCain touts his support for George Bush's plan for offshore oil drilling," Obama said. "But even the Bush administration acknowledges that offshore oil drilling will have little impact on prices.

It won't lower prices today. It won't lower prices during the next administration. In fact, we won't see a drop of oil from this drilling for almost 10 years."

Obama cited Exxon Mobil's record profits ”” the company on Thursday reported second-quarter earnings of $11.68 billion, the biggest ever by a U.S. corporation ”” while contending that the GOP candidate's plan for offshore drilling won't help consumers and "reads like an oil-company wish list."

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3jYOLGEhVkPK4v-HWPexFIrGDYAD929CBF80

Even Big Oil Admits Off-Shore Drilling Would Yield No Results For Up To 10 Years.
“Opening America’s coastal waters to oil drilling, as John McCain urged in an address Tuesday, is unlikely to provide Americans with more oil for at least seven to 10 years. That’s the estimate from the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry trade group.”

Obama wants complex tax laws simplified and made fair.
He contends that McCain panders to the oil men. This backs that up:

McCain’s Tax Plan Gives Top Five Oil Companies $3.8 Billion A Year In Tax Breaks. According to a study conducted by the Center for American Progress, “The McCain plan would deliver approximately $170 billion a year in tax cuts to corporations, including some corporations that are very large and profitable. Just one of the proposals -cutting the corporate rate from 35 percent to 25 percent-would cut taxes for five largest U.S. oil companies by $3.8 billion a year.” [Center for American Progress, 3/27/08]

Not surprisingly, Al Gore supports Obama's solutions:

Gore: “When You’re In A Hole, Stop Digging!”

Former Vice President Al Gore said, “There used to be an old-timey remedy for hangovers called ‘the hair of the dog that bit you.’ They’d recommend going in and just having another drink in the morning if you had a hangover.

Well, that’s sort of what this reminds me of.

‘Oh, we have a fossil fuel crisis? Well, let’s just go back for more.’

When you’re in a hole, stop digging!”

http://progressiveaccountability.org/

 

[wayneL]

Re: Barack 2008!

Not surprisingly, Al Gore supports Obama's solutions:

...and in one fell swoop, Obama loses all credibility with thinkers. The Al Bore kiss of death.

Look, Lucifer dressed in his normal red and carrying his pitchfork could beat McCain with one hand tied behind his back. The sheeple will vote for Obama, but that won't make Obama a good pres.

Stand by for extreme disappointment when this clown turns out to be human AND a typical politician.

You cannot polish a turd.