THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE ? PERHAPS
In this election year, as with any election year, it pays to know your candidates. It does matter, now more than ever, to know where these people stand on issues and in what direction they plan on taking this nation. You have to admit, THIS man is on a roll right now. From his fiery speech at the Democratic convention in 2004 to Democratic front-runner in 2008, you have to give credit where credit is due. Obama is taking the left side of the aisle by storm. His messages of "hope" and "change" are resonating throughout the Democratic base and has the likes of the old-gaurd Clintons running for the hills and trembling in their boots.
But do we all really know what this man is about? Probably not. There's questions about his upbringing. Was he or is he still a Muslim? Is he a convert to Christianity and if so, is he now on the jihadists' "hit list"? The son of a native African father and a white American mother, the man does have a diverse and multi-racial upbringing. For a quick biography on Mr. Obama, please give this a read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama We all must give credit where credit is due. This man has charisma, charm and is about as articulate as they come. This is a testament to his upbringing. He has the skeletons is his closet, like they all do, but he seems to have put those well in his past and is poised to take the nomination of the Democratic party. I don't think we can argue that right now.......he IS the front runner of his party.
Now, the bigger question for all of us, both on the left and the right, is where does he stand on the issues and what have his past votes on legislation said about his views? For a really nice look at his record while serving, take a look here: http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm
A very detailed look at the man's record since he's been a public servent. I also would recommend giving a look at his campaign website, which offers a very broad overview of what he feels needs to take place as it relates to the issues of our day: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/
It's nice to see our two Democratic front-runners sharing a happier moment......before the gloves came off and they decided to shred each other...............
If you're a Democrat, you have most likely pinned your hopes on one of these individuals. It's either going to be Barack or Hillary as the nominee for President from the Democratic party. Right now, I'd really put my money on Obama, he seems to have his mojo working right now and Clinton is really on the defensive. She can't seem to break loose from the demons that are her past (and that of her husband's as well). And I'm here to say that Obama MAY indeed become our first black President. Sorry all you Clinton worshipers, Bill was NOT the first.
It must be said that this commentary today is NOT an endorsement for Obama '08. He and I just differ too much on several issues, ones that I have no flexibility on. But it pays to know who these people are, because they CAN and WILL have an effect on my life in the years to come.
Because it matters.
Thanks..............CG
....NO Barak, I will not pull your finger...
I disagree LT.
Obama has plenty of skeletons in his closet but he has not put those behind him.
He belongs to a black separatist church and he supports his radical cousin Odinga in Kenya who wants to rewrite the constitution and impose sharia law on the country. Islam is and has always been spread by the sword.
Obama's muslim connection.
http://www.newswithviews.com/Ryter/jon212.htm
A picture that tells me everything I need to know about what he thinks of our republic. If he can't show respect during the National Anthem, I doubt he will in defending us against his radical brethren.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2263/2212712644_2e6c98d687.jpg
Let's look at it logically: If Obama really were a Muslim, don't you think unadulterated evidence of it would have emerged by now? I think the vetting process of a US Senate campaign in a major and large state like Illinois, including it's huge media-centric city of Chicago, would have revealed if Obama were truly a Muslim. And if not then, then certainly now---under the constant super intense media vetting of all of the current presidential candidates. What does the man have to do to be taken seriously at his word regarding his religious beliefs the same as all the other candidates are? He's said over and over again he's a Christian---accept it! Anyone who perpetuates this preposterous and ugly myth is no different that those assholes in South Carolina who distributed that crap saying McCain sold out his fellow captives to the North Vietnamese. This type of lying, smearing, and fearmongering is the epitome of un-American behavior.
Obama fought back and directly addressed the false Muslim charges yet again today:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/22/obama-battles-muslim-rumor-head-on/
Steve, the man is sharp, aticulate, charismatic, well educated, well-mannered, etc. etc. LT and I had this conversation today, Obama has a lot going for him. Problem is, he lacks experience....which is, despite popular belief, important. And he happens to lean more to the "left" of center than I care to accept. He and I just don't see eye-to-eye on most things and that is too bad, because I really do like him and enjoy listening to him. Not that there's a Republican candidate who has everything that I want. There isn't. There is no true conservative running and I can accept that. That's why I'm going to throw my vote at Rudy, provided he wins the nomination. He is the only Rep candidate that stands a chance at defeating either one of the Democratic front runners and I'll tell you why. He has the name, the star power and the centrist/crossover appeal that it will take to garner enough votes to win the election. Any Rep candidate will need some crossover votes to win, I think the voter turnout, especially on the Democratic side, will be large. Mitt...no chance, Huck....no chance.....McCain....no chance. Rudy has the only shot at getting the middle-of-the-aisle votes to win this thing. Call it taking the lesser of two evils. I'll vote for anyone (well, almost anyone) to keep a Clinton out of the White House.
CG,
I'll say it again, a President Giuliani would be the worst thing to ever happen to this country, and I do mean ever. He would be far worse than Bush, and Bush is the absolute worst president this country has ever had. There's a million reasons why Giuliani is not qualified nor should be president, with the reason at the top of that list most important of all: Rudy choice of John Podhoretz as his foreign policy adviser. Be VERY afraid.
And do you really want a president who behaves like such a douchebag all the time:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/us/politics/22giuliani.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Steve, I read the article yesterday, to be honest with you, sounds kind of like how the Clintons used to deal with those that crossed them. As for his foreign policy adviser, I'll have to look at him more closely, don't know much about him.
What measuring stick are you using to gauge the candidates' qualifications? Just curious if you're going to hold each one to the same standard?
Steve, checked out several articles and write ups on Podhoretz, what's your beef with him? Is it the neo-con title and upbringing? I mean, I know we are on oposite sides of the aisle on most things, but what specifically is it with him? Is it his perceived lack of experience? I mean, he's a former speech writer, columnist and commentator, with little diplomatic and political experience, is that it?
Show me the light my brother.......
What scares me most about the whack job Pdhoretz is the giant hard on he has for using nuclear weapons for sport. His views on the world are completely psychotic.
Podhoretz is the neo-con on steroids. He was shut out of being on Bush's foreign policy team because they considered him too extreme. Just wrap your head around THAT! If it's WWIII you're looking for, say around February 2009, then he's your guy.
I do hold every candidate to the same standards, CG. And Rudy fails them all in my book.
A thousand pardons guys, but I've mixed my Podhorestz's up. It's John's father NORMAN who is working for Giuliani. Again, sorry for the mistake, and no I haven't been smoking dope.
No problem, honest mistake. Now you're going to make me do MORE research aren't you? Geez.......
There's hardly much difference between father & son there CG, that apple definitely didn't fall from the tree.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27dowd.html?ref=opinion
Obama is drawing energy, and if he continues to do so he will beat Hillary. If his PR and campaign managers keep him armed and ready for the Clinton's slanderous ways? He will win. My gosh look at the contrast between the personalities between Obama and Hillary. It's like having a choice between playing checkers or going to a Hockey game...
Time for the Clinton's to say bye bye... Can you imagine the cry baby fits and whining we are going to hear from the Clinton's and their supporters after Obama beats her??? WOW!
(Still hearing crickets in the Republican camp, Where are you guys!?)
Thx LT.....
Did ya ever notice how prevalent them their crickets are in January LT???????
The Clinton attack machine is working in reversed roles this time: in '92, Hillary took flack to keep attention off Bill. It worked. In '08, now Bill is running his mouth with ever more disingenuous, outrageous statements, to take attention off Hil's abundance of shortcomings and pitfalls. So far, Obama is ineffectual in combatting the tactic.
Either way, I cannot ideologically support either Obama or Hitlary in '08; their brands of socialism I see as making us more vulnerable for more September 11ths, just as Slick Willie made us for the first one.