10 Concerns about Barack Obama

[HAL 9000 96]

I'd like to hear these Koolaid voices sometime...

Eventually the kool aid gets us all...

Whom calls it usually drinks it.

Bill's Bio.[/url]

Such an elitist!!

Totally O/T - but I wonder if anyone else has noticed that the new political buzzword of choice - "elitist" is actually elitist in itself. Used to be not so long ago that we'd call such people "snobs"... but apparently that's not good enough anymore and we have to call them "elitist".

I guess people think that a (slightly) bigger word makes the criticism more important and substantial.

STFU and eat your scone!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I imagine its probably better to drink the Kool Aid (like Ribena?) than smoke the crack pipe.

[HAL 9000 96]

Right. So, assuming you are weighing your options here on VJ, perhaps you should share with us the OP ED pieces that you are using to evaluate the candidate as a positive instead of a consistent (in your opinion) negative. Feel free to point us in the direction of where these supposed pluses are for you.

Agreed - there isn't much "weighing up" going on if the whole focus of criticism is to fixate exclusively on Obama and post article after article that totally pans him - while the comparative benefits (or drawbacks) between him and McCain are apparently ignored.

But for the record we do ask for the other side of the balance just for kicks.

[Peikko 1,575]

The Rev Wright thing is a difficult one I think. Not because he went to the church, or even because the Rev Wright is a colourful character - but because Barack went from a position of absolute support to downright condemnation purely on the back of 'public opinion'.

I personally think he should have stuck with his guns. Clearly he knew all about the Rev Wright, the good and the bad. Personally, I don't think Barack went along with the more extreme views that the Rev came out with in his sermons. I believe that he thought that despite these controversial opinions, the Rev did some very commendable work in the community and overlooked the rhetoric because the good outweighed the bad.

It would not have been an easy thing to do, to try to persuade the country that he can like the man without believing the message, but that would have been the honest course of action.

I understand to some extent why he made the decision, and I understand some people would never get past the fact that this Rev does make some outrageous comments, but it does show a level of political niavity that he got himself into the position he did over this issue and had to cut off his ties even though I don't think his opinion of the Rev Wright has changed one iota.

Again, the fact that these issues become so overwhelmingly important in US politics is somewhat strange to me, but that's the nature of the beast.

[Sister Fracas 5]

STFU and eat your scone!

It IS a good point about wanting to know the positives about someone else. Where ARE those OP EDs? If not McCain or Obama, who IS a good choice..... not that they have a chance anyway, but inquiring minds are wondering....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The Rev Wright thing is a difficult one I think. Not because he went to the church, or even because the Rev Wright is a colourful character - but because Barack went from a position of absolute support to downright condemnation purely on the back of 'public opinion'.

I personally think he should have stuck with his guns. Clearly he knew all about the Rev Wright, the good and the bad. Personally, I don't think Barack went along with the more extreme views that the Rev came out with in his sermons. I believe that he thought that despite these controversial opinions, the Rev did some very commendable work in the community and overlooked the rhetoric because the good outweighed the bad.

It would not have been an easy thing to do, to try to persuade the country that he can like the man without believing the message, but that would have been the honest course of action.

I understand to some extent why he made the decision, and I understand some people would never get past the fact that this Rev does make some outrageous comments, but it does show a level of political niavity that he got himself into the position he did over this issue and had to cut off his ties even though I don't think his opinion of the Rev Wright has changed one iota.

Again, the fact that these issues become so overwhelmingly important in US politics is somewhat strange to me, but that's the nature of the beast.

I think you hit the nail on the head there.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Barack Obama is politically expedient. Just like other "change agents" like Tony Blair and Bill Clinton - anyone who thinks they aren't going to be disappointed in some way with Obama in 10 years time is kidding themselves.

[HAL 9000 96]

The Rev Wright thing is a difficult one I think. Not because he went to the church, or even because the Rev Wright is a colourful character - but because Barack went from a position of absolute support to downright condemnation purely on the back of 'public opinion'.

I personally think he should have stuck with his guns. Clearly he knew all about the Rev Wright, the good and the bad. Personally, I don't think Barack went along with the more extreme views that the Rev came out with in his sermons. I believe that he thought that despite these controversial opinions, the Rev did some very commendable work in the community and overlooked the rhetoric because the good outweighed the bad.

It would not have been an easy thing to do, to try to persuade the country that he can like the man without believing the message, but that would have been the honest course of action.

I understand to some extent why he made the decision, and I understand some people would never get past the fact that this Rev does make some outrageous comments, but it does show a level of political niavity that he got himself into the position he did over this issue and had to cut off his ties even though I don't think his opinion of the Rev Wright has changed one iota.

Again, the fact that these issues become so overwhelmingly important in US politics is somewhat strange to me, but that's the nature of the beast.

I think you hit the nail on the head there.

Pretty much the point to be made. It is funny how it resembles the I smoked but did not inhale of times immemorial when major political upheaval was all about the weed and blue dresses.

[Peikko 1,575]

Total agreement with rkl57.

[Dan J 277]

The article in summary basically says, Obama is not inline with neoconservative polices and values. Don't vote for him. This will only reaffirm those who agree with neoconservatives, who probably would never have voted for Obama anyway.

What the author doesn't get, is that the neoconservative way of doing things, is on its way out.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

STFU and eat your scone!

It IS a good point about wanting to know the positives about someone else. Where ARE those OP EDs? If not McCain or Obama, who IS a good choice..... not that they have a chance anyway, but inquiring minds are wondering....

Well assuming that there are no credible independents or libertarian candidates - I would imagine it would come down to registering a protest vote by scribbling obscenities on the ballot...

[Peikko 1,575]

At the end of the day though (ooh, I hate that phrase!) I don't like McCain politics. Still, I am handing him one thing, he has the finger on the button of the propoganda machine. He knows the issues that are of interest to the floating voter and he is pushing them hard.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Barack Obama is politically expedient. Just like other "change agents" like Tony Blair and Bill Clinton - anyone who thinks they aren't going to be disappointed in some way with Obama in 10 years time is kidding themselves.

Absolutely - Blair offered a lot of promise but in the end I think he just p*ssed off the people who bought his high-sounding promises - after the train-wreck of the last Tory Govt.

Still it was the right time for that "Change" - the tories had really exhausted their stay in office, and Blair at least seemed to be injecting a new energy into the political process.

As far as Obama goes - I don't think the Republican administration is as weak or fragmented as the UK tories, so I find it hard to believe that if he does win that he'd do it with a landslide. Far from it actually - the whole "Change we can believe in" was a mistake IMO - as its now being applied to every statement he makes and every issue he discusses policy on.

Its not "new" its just "not Bush".

Edited June 24, 2008 by Number 6

[HAL 9000 96]

The article in summary basically says, Obama is not inline with neoconservative polices and values. Don't vote for him. This will only reaffirm those who agree with neoconservatives, who probably would never have voted for Obama anyway.

What the author doesn't get, is that the neoconservative way of doing things, is on its way out.

Heeeeeeeence, my very *astute* and unassumed translation in post #2.

[Peikko 1,575]

Barack Obama is politically expedient. Just like other "change agents" like Tony Blair and Bill Clinton - anyone who thinks they aren't going to be disappointed in some way with Obama in 10 years time is kidding themselves.

Absolutely - Blair offered a lot of promise but in the end I think he just p*ssed off the people bought his promises after the train-wreck of the last Tory Govt.

Still it was the right time for that Change - the tories had really exhausted their stay in office, and Blair at least seemed to be injecting a new energy into the political process.

As far as Obama goes - I don't think the Republican administration is as weak or fragmented as the UK tories, so I find it hard to believe that if he does win that he'd do it with a landslide. Far from it actually - the whole "Change we can believe in" was a mistake IMO - as its now being applied to every statement he makes and every issue he discusses policy on.

Its not "new" its just "not Bush".

Oh boy I agree and yes 'change we can believe in' is such a weak slogan. It is totally meaningless but I guess someone thought it was 'catchy' and he is now stuck with it.