President Obama?

[Urse]

You know I had originally resigned myself to the fact that McCain(not one of my top 5 choices) had the best chance against Obama not Hillary. I like Huckabee but even if he sweeps the remaining contests McCain is still going to win. So I voted(early) for Obama thinking he would be the weaker candidate. But the more and more I listen to Obama I almost find myself wanting him to win. Now before anybody flames me for being an idiot I realize he is the most liberal of the remaining candidates. I do not agree with his politics. However, he is an extremely charismatic speaker and has a presence that is hard to deny. I was sitting at home watching his speech to the Viginia(home state) Democrats and was reminded of the feeling I had as a small kid in school listening to Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech. The rhythm is not dissimilar to that of a Black minister. It is very dynamic and builds to a crescendo that evokes emotional responses. I am now thinking that the only hope we have is Hillary. As of right now the Democrats are turning out voters at a 3 to 1 ratio. The anti-Clinton vibe is something we could use to polarize Republican and undecided Independent voters in the fall. It is possible that alot of the forward thinking liberals will not actually pull the lever for a black man(can you say New Hampshire) but that is not looking very likely. People seem to be energized by Obama and that is something the Republicans simply can not match with the oldest presidential candidate ever. If Obama avoids any Howard Deanish behavior he will be the Democratic nominee and he should win in a landslide. I will still vote for McCan't but it will not matter.

[analog_kidd]

I agree, I think it will be McCain. I still think the Dem nomination is up for grabs, and I don't know which is the lesser of the two evils.

Like him or not, Rush Limbaugh has an interesting theory. He says given the choice between the practically Liberal McCain and either of the two Dems, let the Dems win. This way they get the black eye for the next four years. Why should conservatives get a bad rap for a guy who is nearly a Dem anyway.

Not sure I completely agree with that. A lot of damage can be done in the next four years. However, I am tired of getting "beat up" all the time by people who think Bush is the Devil.

[Marswolf]

I don't even bother to listen to Limbaugh anymore. Total idiot.

And Obama on gun control makes Hillary look like a conservative.

[The Rabbi]

Obama will be the Jimmy Carter of the 21st century, as I've mentioned before. An outsider, charming etc he has little contact in Washington and no one owes him anything. Therefore he will get nothing done. But what he can do unilaterally is scary. And the press will give him a pass because they dont want to be seen criticizing America's second Black president.

[Marswolf]

Obama will be the Jimmy Carter of the 21st century, as I've mentioned before. An outsider, charming etc he has little contact in Washington and no one owes him anything. Therefore he will get nothing done. But what he can do unilaterally is scary. And the press will give him a pass because they dont want to be seen criticizing America's second Black president.

Yeah, Obama doesn't have the Washington connections yet, so he wouldn't get much done with the Congress. But Executive Orders would give him a lot of power.

[Guest Len]

This seems a pretty reasonable analysis. Obama has momentum -the prolonged Dem primary season can only help him. He is also a prodigious fund raiser, easily out-stripping Clinton. I know what you mean by his rhetorical style. For those that don't know, I teach public speaking (among other things) for a living and Obama is a walking, talking Public Speaking 101 textbook. Charisma often wins out over anything else. (Think Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton I, Bush II, etc...) I am MOST IMPRESSED with the junior Senator from Illinois, both in terms of his rhetorical skills and his basic message. Combine that with Republicans staying home (Dems out-voted Republicans by 70,000 or so in TN -even assuming some party cross-over, that's impressive) and you have victory for Democrats.

Of course, the junior senator from New York will not go down without a party-hurting, image-ruining, money-draining fight, so don't close the book on McCain just yet. Dems are very good about shooting themselves in the foot, which is why I suppose some of them favor gun control!

I also am pretty sure gun control wont be high on the agenda (see my other posts here and there on this issue) for any administration or for a congress that will be dominated numerically (if not in leadership) by fairly conservative Democrats. Many don't want to take your guns away, simply because they have a bunch themselves and actually believe in the RKBA. Add on 180-190 House Republicans looking to stymie the perceived liberal invasion, and I don't see gun control measures passing the house. And it will be tough for Dems to get 60 seats in the Senate, more or less leaving things as they are now on that side of the Hill. Combine all that with an upcoming Supreme Court decision in Heller that I'm betting re-affirms RKBA (albeit in the very narrow fashion this court is known for), and I think gun owners will be fine.

One final thought. Whoever the next President is, they will be inheriting some BIG loose ends from the current administration/disaster. I would not want that job, and I doubt anyone from either party will be smelling like a rose 4 years from now. I would not be surprised to see a one-term President 2009-2013.

You know I had originally resigned myself to the fact that McCain(not one of my top 5 choices) had the best chance against Obama not Hillary. I like Huckabee but even if he sweeps the remaining contests McCain is still going to win. So I voted(early) for Obama thinking he would be the weaker candidate. But the more and more I listen to Obama I almost find myself wanting him to win. Now before anybody flames me for being an idiot I realize he is the most liberal of the remaining candidates. I do not agree with his politics. However, he is an extremely charismatic speaker and has a presence that is hard to deny. I was sitting at home watching his speech to the Viginia(home state) Democrats and was reminded of the feeling I had as a small kid in school listening to Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech. The rhythm is not dissimilar to that of a Black minister. It is very dynamic and builds to a crescendo that evokes emotional responses. I am now thinking that the only hope we have is Hillary. As of right now the Democrats are turning out voters at a 3 to 1 ratio. The anti-Clinton vibe is something we could use to polarize Republican and undecided Independent voters in the fall. It is possible that alot of the forward thinking liberals will not actually pull the lever for a black man(can you say New Hampshire) but that is not looking very likely. People seem to be energized by Obama and that is something the Republicans simply can not match with the oldest presidential candidate ever. If Obama avoids any Howard Deanish behavior he will be the Democratic nominee and he should win in a landslide. I will still vote for McCan't but it will not matter.

[dralarms]

Obama will be the Jimmy Carter of the 21st century, as I've mentioned before. An outsider, charming etc he has little contact in Washington and no one owes him anything. Therefore he will get nothing done. But what he can do unilaterally is scary. And the press will give him a pass because they dont want to be seen criticizing America's second Black president.

Who was the first?

[Guest SleeveleSS]

I find myself leaning toward voting for Obama more and more. I just hate his stance on gun control, but no candidate is perfect. I'm definitely torn, as I don't want to be the reason I have my guns taken away. He just makes so much sense to me on most of the other issues.

[Mike.357]

One thing I wonder about Obama is where is the dirt?

I did see a headline but did not read the story about his drug use as a young man. I hardly consider that real dirt.

Everyone has a ghost in their closet, whats his?

[Im Neero]

Who was the first?

Bill Clinton.

[BrandonTN]

Who was the first?

Bill Clinton

[dralarms]

Bill Clinton.

Bill Clinton

OK I deserved that one.

[Marswolf]

I also am pretty sure gun control wont be high on the agenda (see my other posts here and there on this issue) .

Doesn't look that way from my view.

Looks like he is pure Chicago politician to me. Whether he believes it is I guess is, in Wonder Land, still open to interpretation.

[Urse]

I do not agree with his politics I am just saying he is the most magnetic of the candidates. He wears the mantle of leadership rather easily. I just hope there aren't any racists out there with hatred enough to attempt an assasination. That could send this country into a SHTF situation of scary proportions.

[Guest Engloid]

I was sitting at home watching his speech to the Viginia(home state) Democrats and was reminded of the feeling I had as a small kid in school listening to Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech.

Wasn't that before whites were discriminated against? When blacks, women and minorities weren't hired over a white man, just for being black or women?

I'm all for equality, but the tides have turned and white men are now the biggest minority. We're discriminated against daily. We even have laws that support it. Our legal system supports it by making it so easy for others to sue. A recent employre of mine was once hiring some people and I was asked to help decide who to hire. They asked about one guy in particular that they knew I had known for some time. I had to tell the truth. I told them that he would likely never come into work sober. They said they hated to hear it and that they now needed to bring him in for a second interview to keep from getting sued. (The guy obviously looked like a stoner.) They had one person apply that had a name that appeared like a woman...so they wanted to bring him/her in for that reason only. This is discrimination, but it's the type that's politically correct.

I actually received a scholarship once...and when they saw I was white, they took it back. I applied for it, but I never lied and said I was black. Try having a scholarship for white people and see how that goes over.

If you're going to be racist, you have that right...but in the professional world, there is no place for it. You should judge every person based on their merits, without ANY regard for color or sex.

I'll stop my rant now.

[Guest 270win]

I'd rather have Hillary in regards to gun control vs. Obama. Hillary has the lovely idea of NY style pistol licensing in order to own and carry a handgun for the rest of the country. Obama's idea is banning the carry and ownership of handguns. He has been VERY vocal of the support of such extreme measures while in Illinois and DC. Even Hillary has called Obama's handgun banning ideas crazy and impractical. Obama is the choice of extremely far hard left ideas, such as Edward "Drunk" Kennedy and Dukakis.

Get Obama in the white house and you will be bringing the NAACP, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the whole crew in on a red carpet. Free everything for everyone that sits on their butts smoking crack.

I'll be supporting McCain before i ever support Hillary socialism and Obama communism (what is he if he can't even pledge allegiance to the US flag?).

[Mike.357]

what is he if he can't even pledge allegiance to the US flag?).

Don't know where this comes from, I thought one of his duties when in the Senate is to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of a session.

[Guest Len]

I think this refers to a picture making the rounds on the 'net that shows Obama not holding his hand over his heart during the pledge. Other candidates in the picture (including Clinton). Only problem with it is that the picture was taken not during the pledge, but during the playing of the National Anthem.

Don't know where this comes from, I thought one of his duties when in the Senate is to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of a session.

[SkWaShDeM]

Don't know where this comes from, I thought one of his duties when in the Senate is to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of a session.

The photo in Time a while back where he was pictured during the National Anthem standing with his hands behind his back, rather than with his hand over his heart is probably what's being referred to. I don't recall any coverage of him refusing to recite the Pledge.

[Guest TargetShooter84]

The thought of "President Obama" makes me shudder....

[et45]

Something just"ain't right" about Obama.He just gives me a strange vibe when I hear him speaking.

[SkWaShDeM]

Something just"ain't right" about Obama.He just gives me a strange vibe when I hear him speaking.

That would be the hairs on the back of your neck standing up to warn you about the screech of pain about to emit from you wallet when the pawn of the Chicago Political Machine cranks up your taxes.

Oh... and he reminds me of Bill Clinton... Without the womanizing record.

Rabbi speaks the truth. Obama would be the Jimmy Carter of this generation. Which would be a good thing. Carter couldn't accomplish anything besides winning his Nobel Peace Prize. Obama wouldn't be able to do anything due to being such an outsider, and such a leftist. He'd probably do something epically stupid in the first two years and hand the legislature back to the Republicans in the midterm elections.

Edited February 11, 2008 by skwashdem

[Guest Boomhower]

I'd rather have Hillary in regards to gun control vs. Obama. Hillary has the lovely idea of NY style pistol licensing in order to own and carry a handgun for the rest of the country. Obama's idea is banning the carry and ownership of handguns. He has been VERY vocal of the support of such extreme measures while in Illinois and DC. Even Hillary has called Obama's handgun banning ideas crazy and impractical. Obama is the choice of extremely far hard left ideas, such as Edward "Drunk" Kennedy and Dukakis.

Get Obama in the white house and you will be bringing the NAACP, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the whole crew in on a red carpet. Free everything for everyone that sits on their butts smoking crack.

I'll be supporting McCain before i ever support Hillary socialism and Obama communism (what is he if he can't even pledge allegiance to the US flag?).

Hear hear....