It's official: Sen. Barack Obama is running for President!!!!!

[rocketman70]

Link to MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17079682/)

It's not too soon. He has a shot. He has my vote. I freakin' love this guy!!!! http://www.oscarwatch.com/forums/images/smilies/buttrock.gif

I could'nt be prouder to be an Illinoisan or an American right now.

[frizgolf]

His vision of what was to come in Iraq and his opposition to the invasion have helped build his support among the anti-war crowd.
Will he be viewed as a pacifist, and will this be a hindrance to his hopes in Red states?

[jneale]

He copied Hillary's tactics - put the word out on the weekend - talked about all day on the Sunday AM talk shows - the the front page of every paper above the fold Sunday AM and be all that is talked about on Monday.

[twentyshots]

a much needed shot in the arm. he has a lot going for him- i even hear people who probably don't agree with much of his ideology complimenting him (my family members included).
now........how long befor he becomes the punching bag?

he smokes, you know. ;)

[ms. chevious]

yay!!!

7890

[akip]

how long befor he becomes the punching bag?



hmm. right before iowa?

[joebob]

I am very torn about this. Everyone's known since his keynote at the 2004 DNC that he would be a serious player in years to come, destined for the Oval Office. Those that imagined it happening in 2008 were the political equivalent of Hester Prynne.

But DC loves outsiders, and 2 short years isn't enough to dirty him up as an insider. He's captivating to listen to, and easy to watch even if he's not speaking at a podium. He's got charisma, and he's definitely a different brand of individual than the current POTUS.

I'm curious what a certain few pols are thinking when they go to sleep these days. Are they certain that it's a done deal that he will be VP? Are they thankful that this will pressure out the majority of the lesser candidates? Do they hope that he can unseat the popular movement to nominate Clinton? Or do they care one way or another as long as it's an Obama/Clinton ticket?

As recently as a month ago, I responded to a friend's blog about this subject and stated that I felt it was too soon for Obama to run. In short, I thought he could best hope for the VP slot if he weren't assassinated before taking office. I also said that putting Obama on the ticket, even if he could be a great, great leader, would ensure a McCain victory. Given the news, I'll revise.

Obama can't be forced out of this by anyone except his family or tragedy. He's untouchable politically right now. The Republicans have approximately one month to decide who their man will be. That decision is irrelevant, but the pressure is not. The longer they wait, the greater the chances will be that Obama can further distinguish himself. Odds are far less likely that he will tarnish his image as the most dynamic figure in national politics without reciprocated pressures.

The interesting issue remains what the Dems will do. I have changed my mind regarding the slot Obama can attain. In the past month, I have realized that he could win the nomination, but not without partnering with someone like Clinton, maybe even behind closed doors. She may be unlikeable to many people, but she's brilliant, slick, credible as a moderate, and has the 20th century's best persuasive speaker in her kitchen. Not to mention the ability to raise 7 figure sums at the drop of a hat. Everyone knows a black candidate will bring the largest campaign revenues in history on the opposite side.

[twentyshots]

As recently as a month ago, I responded to a friend's blog about this subject and stated that I felt it was too soon for Obama to run. In short, I thought he could best hope for the VP slot if he weren't assassinated before taking office.

it really feels like our country is beyond political assisination for whatever reason. i still think there are crazies out there but political targets seemed to have dwindled over the years. i guess that could open up a whole debate over who is crazier..right wing nut jobs or lefty nut jobs? gun control may be at issue here also.

lefties have had some major gripes over the last six years with nothing too afoul. it makes you wonder.

[akip]

it really feels like our country is beyond political assisination for whatever reason.

why bother facing the electric chair when the opposition and their henchmen will do it for you? ;)

[The Sheck]

it really feels like our country is beyond political assisination for whatever reason.

60% of the population could give a shit about voting, so there's not much of an outcry, anymore.

But I'll just say this: he's the first politician in a long time that people have gotten legitimately excited about on the left. Let's face it. Were we really that jazzed about Gore? Kerry? It may be a little early, but it feels like things could actually get better if he were elected.

[mikeatthemadfro]

I would like to see obama/ edwards...

I would like to see edwards/ obama... (less likely)

Hillary...smart...savvy...but so much more hated by the right...

it comes down to who will win over the group in the middle///plus the wild card every election is ...does a ross perot or a nader take away percentages from either party that cause a viable candidate to lose...

divide and conquer...the ultimate weapon would be to have a conservative...play the spoiler and run third party...

[jps]

a much needed shot in the arm. he has a lot going for him- i even hear people who probably don't agree with much of his ideology complimenting him (my family members included).
now........how long befor he becomes the punching bag?

he smokes, you know. ;)
my family has said some good things about him as well. i was shocked when his name came up and my parents both said, "he's interesting. and different sounding." both are fairly conservative. notice they didnt' say articulate or clean ...

i don't think he will take a vp run unless he knows its a loser ticket. just my opinion at this time, but it seems to me that the only loss on a national campaign he would be able to a part of and still have a chance later on is one where its not his fault that the ticket was a loser. that way he can run again in 4 years (2012) and not be dragged down by being the guy that couldn't help a close campaign win the election.
i've been drinking for a few hours so ...

[wombat18]

how long befor he becomes the punching bag?



Isn't his middle name Hussein? :D

(Like that means anything)

[jps]

Isn't his middle name Hussein? :D

(Like that means anything)
and his last name rhymes with bin laden's first name... and he went to schoool at a madrassa that champions beating women. i think the FAUX News corp has already started in on that angle. apparently his secretary was named lincoln and his wife's maiden name... kennedy. who knew?

[candy4140]

Anyone see him on 60 Minutes last night? Yeah, great speaker...and admitted to doing blow, which is sort of funny. I love how he said trying to spin everything in his past is exhausting and he's not capable of doing that.

You go girl!

[epeolatry]

“People are so tired of dealing with two-foot midgets, you give them someone two foot four and they start proclaiming him a giant.” - Studs Terkel (http://www.harpers.org/BarackObamaInc.html)

thanks for the link...i'm gonna go read it now.

[Unrequited]

Anyone see him on 60 Minutes last night? Yeah, great speaker...and admitted to doing blow, which is sort of funny. I love how he said trying to spin everything in his past is exhausting and he's not capable of doing that.

You go girl!

A President who did blow? Been there done that.

[candy4140]

A President who did blow? Been there done that.

And admitted it? Haven't been there yet.

[Unrequited]

And admitted it? Haven't been there yet.

;) C'mon, Dubya tell the truth?

[classicgrrl]

Obama/Gore








*runs*

[DaHood]

Obama/Gore
I see you're a Republican.....

[classicgrrl]

I see you're a Republican.....

I dislike both sides of the fence.

I actually like Gore - he is semi-intelligent

[DaHood]

I dislike both sides of the fence.

I actually like Gore - he is semi-intelligent
I can't stand either of them, either. And like Gore or not, he's completely unelectable. Obama/Gore = Democrat Death.

Gee, I really wish Jeb would announce his candidacy. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Four more Bush years!!! :eek: :eek:

[akip]

Gee, I really wish Jeb would announce his candidacy. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Four more Bush years!!! :eek: :eek:

don't even joke about that. :eek: :p

[DaHood]

don't even joke about that. :eek: :p
Hell, it's only half a joke. The real horror is that we really could have EIGHT more years of Bush. I think the previous twelve has been well more than sufficient.

[frizgolf]

don't even joke about that. :eek: :p
Jeb's son. 2012.

[DaHood]

Jeb's son. 2012.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Artpunchehorse]

He seems kinda soft to me. I like Edwards better.

[classicgrrl]

I can't stand either of them, either. And like Gore or not, he's completely unelectable. Obama/Gore = Democrat Death.

Gee, I really wish Jeb would announce his candidacy. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Four more Bush years!!! :eek: :eek:


I change my mind. I just dislike the fence period.

[silverfox]

I like Obama, but I think the Edwards/Clinton ticket would have a better chance. Edwards has said multiple times that he would not run as a VP candidate. I'm not a huge fan of Hillary, but thinking that Bill would be back in the mix does make me a little tingly. I want to cry every time I hear Bill Clinton give a speech when I compare it to the stylings of GW. :(

[AvatarOfVishnu]

let's face it the Dem nominee can only be:
A) Hillary
B) Obama or
C) Edwards

all the others are either angling for a VP slot or are fringe candidates w/ no prayer (eg Kucinich).....although if things get weird, Gore as elder statesman could jump in, but thats unlikely

the GOP will probably nominate either McCain or Guiliani, in either case there will be those on the hard right who can't accept these moderates which will open the door up for a wacky right-wing crazy to mount a 3rd party candidacy

the key for an 08 victory for the Dems (full disclosure: i am a democrat) is to choose somebody who can both appease the left & remain a credible mainstreamer who appeals to independent voters while the GOP has to deal w/ their infighting.....right now I'm afraid that Hillary isn't doing either very well - her answers about the war aren't satisfying the peace advocates & she is distrusted/disliked/downright hated by many outside the Democratic party.....as much as I like her, I don't see her as the Dems best hope for retaking the White House

I like Obama alot too, but I forsee a mass movement of IA caucus-goers shifting toward Edwards as the safe choice (much like what happened in 04 when Kerry surged ahead right at the very end).

As far as VPs?:
Edwards has ruled himself out
Gore won't take that job again
Hillary or Obama well I get the impression that their egos may make it difficult to accept the lower position, but they would both make history if elected VPs as 1st woman or 1st black (so it's possible)
Richardson I like him alot - he's super smart & has mega foreign policy credentials (& could energize portions of the hispanic community to vote who wouldnt normally show up)
Biden,Vilsack,Bayh,Nunn,Dodd,Clark,Feingold are the other potential VP picks this time around

[Docta]

obama has all the momentum right now, boy do we love him in our household. i take a pulse of candidates through my mom, who's not political. and she too loves him.

the only republican who scare me, as a dem, at this point really is huckabee. here's hoping the gop doesn't nominate this clinton II on the right from hope, arkansas.

[Breeze]

Jeb's son. 2012.

Better that than his daughter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noelle_Bush#Notoriety), I'd say.

[jps]

obama has all the momentum right now, boy do we love him in our household. i take a pulse of candidates through my mom, who's not political. and she too loves him.

the only republican who scare me, as a dem, at this point really is huckabee. here's hoping the gop doesn't nominate this clinton II on the right from hope, arkansas.
from way early on... i think huckabee is the guy that takes the nomination for the GOP. He has the story. the conservative creds. and he's a governor (of a southern state no less). Plus, have you seen him talk? He can... a switch from the current situation. I don't know enough about his policy positions and probably won't agree with many/any of them, but he has appeal.

I think obama is the only person in the senate that can win the presidency from either party. mostly just because he's only been there 2 years. there are a few that might get a nomination though.

richardson might have had a shot if the race hadn't started so early and taken off so quickly. the way it looks for the dems is that the nominee will be decided by the second or third primary.

its too soon... i suppose that comes from seeking a light at the end of the tunnel? there aren't even a lot of people that voted for him that talk about him anymore.

[IPalindromeI]

I'm I just smarter now (doubt it) or are presidential canidates getting worse, I hate all of these guys!

[Docta]

i'm a nerd and like watching these guys campaign on cspan. huckabee loves all this stuff, genuinely enjoys talking to all these yahoos he shakes hands with. this is pretty unique (clintonesq). newt gingrich looks like he's having a root canal when forced to fraternize with the common folk.

like obama, even if you disagree with him on some issues huckabee makes it easy to like him and even vote for him. for both of them, it's not about division but unification. "we can disagree on some issues but let me show you where i want to take the country." i don't know that the other candidates possess that right now, perhaps edwards to some extent.

how about all the references to reagan being put on obama too? barack himself is talking about how reagan was smart and talked with the soviets, arguing we need to do the same with iran and syria.

[Sushi]

I just got back from the rally Obama did here in Cleveland, and I must say that I was quite impressed with him. I got there at 5 and took my place in an already-long line. By the time they opened the doors, there were easily 1,000 in line behind me. They had four large-screen TVs set up outside the hall to accomodate the oveflow. People were very well behaved and polite and orderly. I chatted with folks in line and then with people in the hall while we waited (it was a standingroom only deal with thrust stage in the middle of a gym). I talked to a several people, black and white, male and female, young and old, and the one phrase that kept coming up was "He seems too good to be true."

The rally itself sucked--doors opened at 6, "proceedings" started at 7. Said proceedings included:
1) Some lame local DJ acting as MC and trying to "Barack" the house--I swore that if he said "Cleveland Ba-racks" one more time, I was going over the stansion and slugging him,
2) A drum and electric violin combo,
3) A local "poet,"
4) The drumline for a local high school band, which was actually really good and got the crowd up, only to be brought back down by,
5) A group of "at-risk" youth who had just passed through a program to get them through high school and the nice white lady who got them through the program.

Barack Obama came out at 8, by which time my legs and feet were tired and there was a spotlight shining directly in my eyes (I'm still seeing lights). But he was really worth it. He's a very eloquent speaker without sounding slick. He can get the cadences of a preacher without sounding like you're being preached at, if that makes any sense--very Bill Clinton in that way. They're both eloquent in a gentle, subtle way. I liked what he had to say. He talked about the war and energy policies, although in a 25-minute-speech, he wasn't going to hit on anything in depth. His thing is that this is our campaign, that it belongs to the people and that if gets elected without a consensus and the backing of the people, nothing will change. He really wants to change America. He struck just the right notes of populism and patriotism.

I was close enough to the front that when he pressed the flesh on the way out, he stopped right in front of me and shook my hand. I swear, when he looked deep into my eyes, I was ready to kiss him (he's that good looking). He definitely is one of those charismatic folks who can momentarily make you feel like you are the only person in the universe. I thanked him for being there and said the first thing that came to my mind: "You're the real deal."

I do believe he is. I like, admire, and respect Hillary Clinton. I think John Edwards is a decent sort of guy. But neither of them enthuse me.

[The Sheck]

I dunno guys...Gore is loved by the left for that global warming film. He even got the Republicans to change their stance regarding that. And for whatever reasons, he found his balls in the last few years. Plus, he's willing to make fun of himself.

I think there are plenty of folks in the Democrat camp who would be scared if he ran, because he has just a good a shot as anyone to win.

[weeone]

Obama was here on Sunday ... I missed out, but I caught the end of one of his appearances here back in October, I believe ? ... he's an incredible speaker. Like almost too good to be true, but I'm drawn to the conclusion that he's good AND true, for whatever reason. My friend, Joey came over tonight and made a pretty good point : to an extent, it's now or never for Hilary. Barack is young enough that he has a little room to wiggle... future elections. But for Hilary, this seems to be the moment to seize the opportunity. Joey even whimsied a little into the scenario that BILL would be her running mate. How amazing ... the thought never occurred to me. Granted I live in a dreamworld, but I'm holding out for the Clinton/Clinton ticket. I can wait for Obama ... he's got a long time left in him to impact our country. Sometimes I think that being President of the USA is the least effective way to impact our country. I digress, maniacally, and am trying to fit every last idle thought into this post for some reason. Anyway... is there a McCain thread ? He's getting scary. He used to be my (R) safety. :(

[justa bill]

this is interesting... http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2026232,00.html

Obama told of family's slave-owning history in deep South


An amateur genealogist has revealed a surprise in the family tree of the black contender in the race to be the Democrats' presidential candidate

Paul Harris in New York
Sunday March 4, 2007
The Observer

It is a question that few thought a man aiming to be America's first black President would ever have to answer: did your family once own slaves?
But that question is now likely to be asked of Senator Barack Obama, who is bidding for the 2008 presidential nomination of the Democratic Party, in part on the appeal of his bi-racial background.

As the son of a black Kenyan father and a white Kansan mother, Obama has seemed to embody a harmonious vision of America's multiracial society. However, recent revelations have thrown up an unexpected twist in the tale.

Obama's ancestors on his white mother's side appear to have been slave owners. William Reitwiesner, an amateur genealogical researcher, has published a history of Obama's mother's family and discovered that her ancestors have a distinctly shadowy past.
Reitwiesner traced Obama's great-great-great-great-grandfather, George Washington Overall, and found that he owned two slaves in Kentucky: a 15-year-old girl and a 25-year-old man. He also found out that Obama's great-great-great-great-great-grandmother, Mary Duvall, also owned a pair of slaves listed in an 1850 census record. They were a 60-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman. In fact, the Duvalls were a wealthy family whose members were descended from a major landowner, Maureen Duvall, whose estate owned at least 18 slaves in the 17th century.

there's a lot more to the story. click the link....

[purple_octopus]

I don't understand why this is at all news-worthy. What does this have to do with how well Obama would serve as president?

[Unrequited]

I don't understand why this is at all news-worthy. What does this have to do with how well Obama would serve as president?

You're right. It's irrelevant.

[justa bill]

yeah, it has nothing to do with his qualifications. i still think it's interesting.

1. the whole "Al Sharpton's Ancestors Were Slaves Owned by Strom Thurmond" thing was just discovered. in some ways, that's not surprising. this, however, is.

2. it is interesting because it does not make Obama a bad person in anyway. at least not from my point of view. i would imagine it will change how some people feel about him though.

3. who knew there were "amateur genealogists" that "spontaneously" researched other people's families. what is that about?

[Shlep]

I got wind of the story that Obamas' family (one side of it, anyway) used to own slaves, and how this can negatively affect his campaign for the White House. That some bit of unpleasant info about a distant relative in the Antebellum South could be dredged up and used to assail a Presidential campaign in 2007 has convinced me that I shouldn't wait any longer, and instead just go ahead and start hating the entire fucking 2008 right now. No sense putting it off, right?

In 1992, I was supposed to care that one of the candidates, who was a hippie living in the UK attending college in the 60s, may have smoked a goofbutt; as someone who was smoking pot regularly at that time, I personally found his lame evasion "I did not inhale" to be more damning. In 2004, the race turned into a massive pissing contest over which blue-blood Ivy Leaguers' brief fling in military service over 30 years prior to the election was slightly less impressive.

Now I'm supposed to give a shit that a far-flung member of a candidates' family owned slaves during a period when-- lest we forget, shameful though it may be-- owning slaves was legal? Never mind that the fact that Obama has a white slaveowner in his past is the direct result of his being the scion of an interracial marriage, something which would lead *ME* to believe that the guy has developed a pretty open-minded attitude on things racial.

Obamas' camp, I notice, was quick to respond that he also had family members who fought for the Union Army. Since this is hardly the sort of things that woos voters in the South, I'll be looking forward to see how *that* gets spun. And I can imagine what I can look forward to in future elections...

"A pile of brittle, yellowed documents found in the cellar of New England church built in the late 17th century suggests that a distant relative of the GOP candidate for President was scamming the Narragansett Indian tribe, selling them phoney beaver pelts at inflated prices and causing a sudden devaluation of Naraggansett wampum beads that wrecked the tribal economy which building what would become his families' billion-dollar fortune."

"A tapestry found in a metal box in Coventry, England which is believed to be from the middle of the 12th century suggests that an ancestor of the Democratic White House hopeful was not in charge of a regiment of English archers at the Battle Of Hastings as has been claimed, but rather was given the job of shield-bearer for the Duke of Normandy, safely out of harms' way, probably due to his father being an old hunting buddy and college mead-drinking partner of William I."

"Fossil records from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania suggest the Republicans hopefuls' great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great
grandfather profitted handsomely selling pointy pieces of flint to warring tribes on both sides of a series of skirmishes apparently intended to gain control of a shallow creek. This contradicts earlier cave paintings suggesting his job was merely keeping small, sporadic fires burning."

[DaHood]

the whole "Al Sharpton's Ancestors Were Slaves Owned by Strom Thurmond" thing was just discovered.
Ooh. Let's leave that thread where it belongs. :p

[justa bill]

Ooh. Let's leave that thread where it belongs. :p

i'm not sure i ever opened that one. was it deleted or something. ('cuase i was going to post this there....)

[markalot]

This just in:

Jesse Jackson has decided to back the black guy for president. I know, it's a shocking development, I thought sure he would go for Hillary.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070330/ap_on_el_pr/obama_jackson_5

[3rd Silo Record]

This just in:

Jesse Jackson has decided to back the black guy for president. I know, it's a shocking development, I thought sure he would go for Hillary.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070330/ap_on_el_pr/obama_jackson_5

Barack's campaign is officially ruined now.

[Duemellon]

http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/042107.jpg (http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/2007/04/21/)

[Docta]

http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/042107.jpg (http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/2007/04/21/)

love it, hysterical

[OldManIndieKid]

i'm not sure i ever opened that one. was it deleted or something. ('cuase i was going to post this there....)Yeah, it was deleted. I tried to start a rational, interesting, thought-provoking thread. And it somehow devolved into some wiggidy-wac-mud-slinging (as things will do from time to time down here in the CE/P slums).

[OldManIndieKid]

I don't understand why this is at all news-worthy. What does this have to do with how well Obama would serve as president?Says a minority octopus. You're just trying to divert our attention away from the real fact. That because you are purple octopus, you are less of an octopus than the rest of us. The sooner you own up to that, the better off you'll be.... :D

[Brentmint]

Bump-worthy. (http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/07/why-clinton-wil.html)

[classicgrrl]

I am voting for this man.
He has gotten me back into the voting booth after 5 long absent years.

and but DAMN, does he have one HELL of a wife!

:D

[akip]

i'm almost finished with the book "richistan" and i'm thinking the liberal billionaires must be throwing their money behind hillary if she's raising so much cash and so far ahead in the polls. 'cause even with hillary's bill advantage, you'd just think obama would be the natural candidate.

[akip]

Why's that?

because he's got the big uniting persona, and very little baggage. americans like the fresh face of hope, something hillary is not. hillary has experience, but when push comes to shove, americans don't vote for that.

[akip]

I guess I'm just saying it's a choice between idealism and realism. Of these two, what really gets things done in Washington, and which candidate is more prepared for it? I'd have to lean towards Hillary.

quite true and, yeah, the realist in me says underneath the metallic exterior, hillary's got the depth and breadth to (better) handle governing in a difficult era. but image is what takes over in the voting booth.

[REMgirl]

Akip, I expect you hear more about Hillary as your Senator than we do here in Ohio. What's the general public's take on her there? Are they behind her as a candidate?

I'm still not sold on anyone. I like Obama, I like Edwards, and the rest I don't know about.

[akip]

Akip, I expect you hear more about Hillary as your Senator than we do here in Ohio. What's the general public's take on her there? Are they behind her as a candidate?


overall, she's very respected as a senator---won over a lot of skeptics. and as i mentioned before, she's great one-on-one, comes across very differently than on tv. spouse has met her a couple of times (i met her once) and says she's warm, incredibly smart, listens, does her homework, and comes through.

[jneale]

the rest I don't know about.

Get to know this guy:

Bill Richardson (http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/)

He is the only one that has a clue - yeah - he f'ed up recently with the word for faggot in spanish - but it was taken way out of context.....

he is the only guy with experience

IF the Hil gets the nom - I really hope she picks him as VP.

[euro60]

I'm surprised nobody has noted here that Barack is visiting Cincinnati today. Bring your wallet if you wanna go!



Sen. Obama visits today

BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS | BWEATHERS@ENQUIRER.COM

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama is scheduled to be in Cincinnati today for fundraiser at the Westin Hotel.

The Illinois Senator will host a private reception at 5:30 p.m., and a general reception at 6 p.m.

A $50 donation gets you a ticket to the general reception.

It will cost you $1,000 to attend the private reception.

[Brentmint]

Get to know this guy:

Bill Richardson (http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/)

he is the only guy with experience


Bill Richardson had some charismatic ads up before he became a little more well-known, but in the debates he came across as a total moron. Really, a complete idiot. His could be a case of the oft-asserted Bush Syndrome, whereby the man is thoughtful and well-informed in private but in front of a camera transforms into a bumbling idiot. I think he lacks the gravitas and leadership qualities -- and certainly base support -- to win the nomination. And to describe him as the "only guy" with experience is to be terribly misinformed. (A less incorrect but still wrong description would be to peg him as the only "person" with experience.)

Obama should accept the VP if he's got his wits about him, and Hillary will offer it if she's got hers. As Dennis Miller put it: I don't think Edwards is necessarily an empty suit, but I do think he's a clever mannequin. Barring a meltdown, it's Hill and Barack from here on out.

[jneale]

but in the debates he came across as a total moron. Really, a complete idiot.

look @ the guy's record - his relevant experience (if you want to pick words.)

this election stuff has become about the sound bites & image

[Brentmint]

You're right that Richardson has seen a lot of government, and he's done some very nice things in the area of foreign relations and energy, particularly his support of nuclear power. But just because he's seen the block doesn't mean he's fit to direct its traffic. Go here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/) and check out the "Meet the Candidates" section, and I think you get a pretty fair look at Richardson. Russert highlights a lot of his shortcomings.

[jneale]

Russert highlights a lot of his shortcomings.


That would assume I valued his opinion.

[Brentmint]

That would assume I valued his opinion.

In that case, it's not Mr. Russert's opinion you're disvaluing, it's mine, and if the fact that no one of consequence supports his plan for Iraq withdrawl; that he shows a complete lack of clarity on comprehensive immigration reform; that New Mexico's ranking out of fifty states on issues of people living below the poverty line, children without health insurance, teen high school dropouts, and violent crime is 48th, 46th, 47th, and 46th respectively after Richardson was governor for five years; that he went straight from his position as Secretary of Energy to join the boards of two oil companies, one of which (Valero Energy) bragged openly that high gasoline prices that year provided "outstanding profit margins" (to which Richardson said, "I have to earn a living.") -- if these things aren't shortcomings, I'd hate to hear why you refuse to support another candidate.

The guy is a little too sleazy, which is why Obama has 258,000 doners to his campaign when Richardson has nowhere near that sort of support.

[akip]

new mexico's a very poor state (despite a smattering of millionaire ghettos in santa fe, los alamos and taos) with many deep problems which richardson inherited. education and per capita income were down among the three lowest in the nation long before he ever took the reigns.

i left just as he became governor, so i haven't been around to observe him in that capacity, but my santa fe friends are divided on him.

[euro60]

i left just as he became governor, so i haven't been around to observe him in that capacity, but my santa fe friends are divided on him.
akip, you gave up new mexico for buffalo? :rolleyes: :confused:

[Docta]

ok, yes i was an obama fanboy before but that has been cemented seeing him speak in person tonight. wow.

[akip]

akip, you gave up new mexico for buffalo? :rolleyes: :confused:

oh god, let's not even go there. my tale of woes. ;)

[jneale]

In that case, it's not Mr. Russert's opinion you're disvaluing, it's mine, and if the fact that no one of consequence supports his plan for Iraq withdrawl; that he shows a complete lack of clarity on comprehensive immigration reform; that New Mexico's ranking out of fifty states on issues of people living below the poverty line, children without health insurance, teen high school dropouts, and violent crime is 48th, 46th, 47th, and 46th respectively after Richardson was governor for five years; that he went straight from his position as Secretary of Energy to join the boards of two oil companies, one of which (Valero Energy) bragged openly that high gasoline prices that year provided "outstanding profit margins" (to which Richardson said, "I have to earn a living.") -- if these things aren't shortcomings, I'd hate to hear why you refuse to support another candidate.

The guy is a little too sleazy , which is why Obama has 258,000 doners to his campaign when Richardson has nowhere near that sort of support.

someone is beginning to sound like a plant...

[Brentmint]

someone is beginning to sound like a plant...

I wish I knew what that means.

Interesting that the Big O (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070718/D8QELUL80.html) is lending her support to Obama, instead of the endorsing the possibility of a female president.

[euro60]

Obama's visit to Cincinnati yesterday was quite a smash success (http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070718/NEWS01/707180403/1077/COL02), according to many sources. My 17 yr. old daughter and one of her friends ended up being a volunteer for the events and got in for free, got to meet Obama, etc. and needless to say was quite excited (and that's an understatement) when she got back at about 9:30 last night.

[jneale]

I wish I knew what that means.
http://ugly-halloween-costumes.com/scary/Spam/spam-big.jpg

[akip]

That's right! No new voices! I demand this board remain a clique-ish, inbred circle jerk! Fuck You Spambot!!

gee, i thought it was a clique-ish, inbred circle cat fight. :confused:

[akip]

btw, i'm intrigued by that dark horse "none of the above' who's polling so well among republicans.

but obama's pulling the independent vote, it seems.

[euro60]

btw, i'm intrigued by that dark horse "none of the above' who's polling so well among republicans.


it is not a *dark* horse, akip :D
http://a7.vox.com/6a00d4142cb4cc3c7f00d09e616befbe2b-500pi

[joebob]

Holy hell, Barack's going to appear on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart next Wednesday, August 22!

[Orville Wrong]

It's official, Hillary has already kicked his ass.