obama the new president

[sara535 15]

Just wanted to say WOOO HOOO and to let you all know that this is big news here in Saudi Arabia. Everyone is very happy and my inlaws were all congratulating me today. Even my mother in law slapped me a high five. I think that now more than ever, this election meant something to the whole world, not just the USA. People of all nationalities here are interested, informed, and very happy about the outcome.

Now let's just hope he doesn't turn out to be some kinda whack job lol.

now i'm totally curious just what exactly is being reported there. are people there completely oblivious to what a yes man obama is for aipac? ralph nader laid into obama something fierce over the palestinian issue a couple days ago, and rightly so. it's really disappointing that nader's message hasn't been more widely heard, especially in the arab world.

And ironic, since Nader is an Arab American.

tana3raf, right? who along with dr michael debakey, who no one knows was arab either, are perhaps the most influential, important arab americans that have ever been.

heeeeeyyy what about Tony Shalhoub??

surely you are not trying to downplay the importance of MONK??

[sandinista! 1,816]

Just wanted to say WOOO HOOO and to let you all know that this is big news here in Saudi Arabia. Everyone is very happy and my inlaws were all congratulating me today. Even my mother in law slapped me a high five. I think that now more than ever, this election meant something to the whole world, not just the USA. People of all nationalities here are interested, informed, and very happy about the outcome.

Now let's just hope he doesn't turn out to be some kinda whack job lol.

now i'm totally curious just what exactly is being reported there. are people there completely oblivious to what a yes man obama is for aipac? ralph nader laid into obama something fierce over the palestinian issue a couple days ago, and rightly so. it's really disappointing that nader's message hasn't been more widely heard, especially in the arab world.

And ironic, since Nader is an Arab American.

tana3raf, right? who along with dr michael debakey, who no one knows was arab either, are perhaps the most influential, important arab americans that have ever been.

heeeeeyyy what about Tony Shalhoub??

surely you are not trying to downplay the importance of MONK??

hehe...the world is certainly a better place with him too. oliver likes him in those spy kids movies.

[lion_lioness 0]

Well since Obama didn't start this war to begin with, the outcome is not his fault. As President, he is going to have to listen to the ppl (and the house/congress), and if that majority says to withdraw, that's what will be done. I understand the fear, too bad the people couldn't make a difference to begin with. I didn't go to Iraq per se, but Jordan is just a hop, skip and a jump, I know/met enough Iraqi's to understand. However, now that we created the mess, we'll have to see what happens.

On a side note, I know quite a few people from Iraq that will probably never return home and out of those few some that actually made enough money to live a better life than me. Alot went on there. We never had any business.....

Ok I'm done.

Erroneous thinking: The President doesn't have to listen to "the people" when it comes to war. It is his enumerated duty to be the commander in chief, provide security for the country, and conduct a war in the manner he sees fit. This is not a matter of popular opinion. It goes much deeper than that.

Obama is an idjit, and we will find out how much of one by the way he conducts the war. He has blown a lot of hot air about it, but now, he will have to put his money where his big mouth has been, and it will be different from the bravado he's been spewing, and the outcome will definitely be his responsibility. He can't blame Bush for everything and command respect. He's going to be the one making the call.

VW,

Absolutely, I agree. My statement was more along the lines of if he doesn't step up (for whatever the reasons). But isn't it also true that on many things the President has to have house/congress approval? He can veto, but rarely have Presidents done that. Let's hope he does step up and make the call though as you said.

[Yass 0]

Forget abt Obama, he is worst than Bush for middle esterns

check it out this article in Washington post f*** the US policy when it comes to US they will always look at us as Terrorist no matter how comes to the presidency .

A mere 12 hours after claiming the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama appeared before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee yesterday -- and changed himself into an Israel hard-liner.

He promised $30 billion in military assistance for Israel. He declared that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force has "rightly been labeled a terrorist organization." He used terms such as "false prophets of extremism" and "corrupt" while discussing Palestinians. And he promised that "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided."

Vowing to stop Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon, the newly minted nominee apparent added: "I will always keep the threat of military action on the table to defend our security and our ally, Israel. Do not be confused."

How could they be confused? As a pandering performance, it was the full Monty by a candidate who, during the primary, had positioned himself to Hillary Clinton's left on matters such as Iran. Yesterday, Obama, who has generally declined to wear an American-flag lapel pin, wore a joint U.S.-Israeli pin, and even tried a Hebrew phrase on the crowd.

Obama even outdid President Bush in his pro-Israel sentiments. On the very day that Obama vowed to protect Jerusalem as Israel's capital -- drawing a furious denunciation from the Palestinian Authority -- Bush announced that he was suspending a move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

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The transformation -- mostly in tone, but occasionally in substance -- might qualify as what Obama likes to call the same old Washington "okey-doke." And the candidate is uncomfortable with such things, as evidenced by his struggle to pronounce the name of the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It came out as "Mahmoud . . . Ahmin -- Ahmeninejad."

The crowd of 7,000 loved him anyway. He received 13 standing ovations, more than twice the number granted the next act, Hillary Clinton. The AIPAC faithful gushed about his performance as they left the Washington Convention Center. "He doesn't even read! He has an extemporaneous delivery," one woman recounted, evidently unaware that Obama had read every word from a teleprompter.

Obama has his work cut out for him with American Jews, a crucial Democratic constituency that had largely favored Clinton. On the campaign trail, he routinely scolded Clinton for supporting a hard-line anti-Iran resolution that labeled the Revolutionary Guard terrorists. He also vowed to meet with figures such as Ahmadinejad during his first year in office, without precondition, and he voiced sympathy on the campaign trail for the Palestinian cause.

But the AIPAC crowd was ready to forgive now that Obama has the nomination. They stood to applaud for more than a minute when he entered the cavernous hall to music that could have been for a Superman movie soundtrack. He hugged and kissed his way across the dais.

He got right to the "provocative e-mails" that have been spreading lies about him being a Muslim plant and other such things. "Let me know if you see this guy named Barack Obama, because he sounds pretty scary," the candidate said, reassuring the crowd that he is "a true friend of Israel."

Indeed, he almost sounded as if he were Jewish. "I had grown up without a sense of roots," he explained. "I understood the Zionist idea, that there is always a homeland at the center of our story."

Somewhere off stage, an AIPAC hand brightened the lights over the audience when it appeared a standing ovation was building -- and Obama presented the audience with many such opportunities.

This Story

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It's a Mitzvah

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Transcript: Washington Sketch

He invoked the Holocaust ("Never again!"), pledged to "never compromise" Israel's security, and scolded those who propose "abandoning a stalwart ally." He offered more military equipment and missile defense for Israel, vowed to "isolate Hamas," and threatened to "do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything in my power. . . . Everything."

The AIPAC crowd grew still when Obama slipped in mentions of his disagreements with their policies. But he was careful to revise and extend his controversial thoughts.

"Contrary to the claims of some, I have no interest in sitting down with our adversaries just for the sake of talking," he said of his talk-with-Ahmadinejad position. "I would be willing to lead tough and principled diplomacy with the appropriate Iranian leaders at a time and place of my choosing, if and only if it can advance the interests of the United States."

His criticism of the Iraq war also produced relative quiet in the room, as did his call for a "contiguous and cohesive" Palestinian state, and for Israel to "refrain from building new settlements, as it agreed to do."

But Obama's hard line found support from an unexpected source -- the woman who followed him to the microphone and who still hasn't conceded the nomination. "I know that Senator Obama will be a good friend to Israel," Clinton vouched.

This backing earned Clinton a lights-on standing ovation. But overall, the reception was relatively tepid for Clinton, and understandably so: She was no longer a viable candidate, and the winner of the nomination was sounding like Bibi Netanyahu as he spoke about preserving Israel's "qualitative military advantage" to thwart "any threat from Gaza to Tehran."

Israel's military action last year "was entirely justified," Obama said, to knock out Syria's "weapons of mass destruction" program. "The danger from Iran is grave, it is real, and my goal will be to eliminate this threat," he added.

The Superman music soon returned, and the man with the Star of David on his lapel left the dais in a shower of hugs and kisses from the AIPAC officers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...ST2008060501524

[S and S 12]

Forget abt Obama, he is worst than Bush for middle esterns

check it out this article in Washington post f*** the US policy when it comes to US they will always look at us as Terrorist no matter how comes to the presidency .

I tend to avoid living in countries that I don't like their policies, call me crazy if you want to, but it makes sense to me.

[sereia 0]

Forget abt Obama, he is worst than Bush for middle esterns

check it out this article in Washington post f*** the US policy when it comes to US they will always look at us as Terrorist no matter how comes to the presidency .

I tend to avoid living in countries that I don't like their policies, call me crazy if you want to, but it makes sense to me.

Users and abusers... *sigh*

[doodlebugg 10]

A mere 12 hours after claiming the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama appeared before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee yesterday -- and changed himself into an Israel hard-liner.

That's ridiculous. He's always been very clear on his stance on Israel so I see no change whatsoever in his actions. Look who he selected for Chief of Staff for goodness sakes!

That being said, although I disagree with his policy on Israel, I still think he's a MUCH better choice than McCain due to the state of the economy.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

I'm happy a man came into office who knows what it's like to be struggle finanacially. That makes all the difference in the world, he would connect with people who are "poor" and understand their pain.

Its a shame people are talking about sharing the wealth! Usually these imbeciles are so selfish, and racist they don't know they will one day grow old. I worked in a nursing home for a while. I would see patients with children who didn't visit them, and one part of me felt sad, but one part of me didn't. That's the way they raised them. Change(money) aint nothing, you win some you lose some. However, when you are old and you are alone. Ha! Ha!Ha! this is sharing the wealth. My time is my wealth! My health is my wealth! So, I believe Obama will try to make the open-minded people to work harder to be involved with social programs. What good is wealth and millions when you can't walk by yourself. I heard the oldest people around me talking about "everything will be free" hahaha! what ignorance. Man I have compassion for anyone, but this not wanting to share the wealth is pure greed. A kind of greed that I know will one day bite you in the ###.

tell me this darling. I paid my way through college, went on to get my masters and I make a decent income. Tell me why the hell I should have to share my wealth with some deadbeat that don't work, refuses to work and wants to stay in the system. Why should my hard earned money go to a single woman that cannot keep her legs together and keeps popping out kids she cannot afford? I worked damn hard to be where I'm at today and I believe you have the choice to make yourself what you are. I grew up with hardly a thing. My parents worked hard for what we had and taught me to be the best I can be. I'm sorry, but if you want to be a high school drop out, smoke crack, get pregnant, be irresponsible, that's your own problem, not the hard working tax payers of America.

I'm all for change. Change for the better. I have a feeling the ones that are so excited now will be the ones that will be crying when their own income goes to spread the wealth.

You're ignorant...If you think that these are the only people that are receiving help from the government. I just hope and pray...you never need anything and that your life is full of no downs.

Sometimes people get down on their luck. I know in some small towns...business owners lost everything once Walmart moved in. So to say that they are lazy...it's just not right. It's just sad that people would feel this way.

The welfare system was designed for just that.. to get people "back on their feet". I see the anger of "supporting" people who seem to do nothing. Not everyone on welfare is a crackhead.

I did grow up with a drug addicted single mom. But, she taught us to be self sufficent adults and to never have to rely on "welfare".

I was laid off a five years ago and needed help while I looked for work. My unemployment set me over the limit for assitance by 7 dollars a month. 7 DOLLARS A MONTH! After swallowing my pride and asking for help.. we didnt get any. and when i asked what type of assistance we did qualify for, the worker literaly laughed in my face and said I had a great work history and unless we were homeless there was nothing they could do.

So for a few months, I struggled and took care of my son on a salary 1/3 of what we were accustomed to. It took a long time to catch up my credit.

Is there something wrong with that picture?!?

So, ya! please add some funds to the system so those people like myself who needed help for a few months could qualify.

I dont like the idea anymore than anyone else that some people abuse the system, but thats not who needs the help. Those people are already in the system.

Lisa

oh ya, the topic lol

I cried tears of joy and I look forward to a new start for this country. I dont care what color Obama is.. he is the man I want leading this country!

Edited November 8, 2008 by Y_habibitk