and Cyberella, lass...

our current president, mr. bush, be an avowed born again Christian. one could make an arguement that shock 'n awe, and our pre-emptive war on iraq, wasn't the best example of bein' civilized.

modern, aye (the weaponry employed was some first rate stuff, cuttin' edge!). civilized, no.

AHOY!!!

-meadhallpirate

If you don’t mind a non-American viewpoint, SonofaHun, I’d like to say that I pretty much feel the same.

If I look solley at policies, I would find it difficult to pick a single candidate that stands above others, either in the Democratic field or the Republican field. I’m no Ron Paul enthusiast, and in any case I’d probably vote Democrats.

But Barack Obama exudes that je ne sais quoi factor that separates him from all the others in terms of prospect for change.

I first heard him speak when I checked out the website for the Democratic National Convention back in 2004, and I was really impressed. I hope he at least gets the VP position, if he doesn’t get the nomination for the President candidature.

Tethys

__________________
-- Harry S. Truman

It's just your mind playing tricks on you that Obama stands for change. They all say they stand for change, and then they get elected and stand for nothing. The Congress passed a resolution on Brett Favre for chrissakes.

You just think Obama means change, when really all he means is inexperience. Just because he's got a fresh face doesn't mean we should vote for him. He still hasn't committed to scrapping the Dept. of Homeland Security, which to me is a no-brainer, but Democrats love big gov't just as much as the Republicans do. Obama has energy, but that's it.

The money behind the Democrat party wants candidates that tell them what they want to hear. So the Dems in Washington oblige them. They know full well that if Hollywood and the Liberal Elitists had their way our society would have a total melt-down. So they talk out of both sides of their faces telling the left the stuff they want to hear and giving Bush a hard time at every turn, then when the camera's are off them they go along with everything he wants because they know Bush is just trying to do what is right even if he doesn't get any credit for it.

I think Hollywood is trying to speak for everyone else and they want us to live our lives their way. No accountability and no right or wrong. Rich Liberals live lives of excess. Why is this? Because they can afford to. That's why they buy Carbon Offsets to rid themselves of their guilt over their wasteful lives then go right back to preaching to the rest of us about how we all need to cut back.

They have no desire to change their lives if it means they have to go without expensive perks but they have no problem condemning the rest of us for not changing to florescent lights or using too much TP when we use the toilet.

__________________
It's hard to stay mad at someone who makes you laugh - Jay Leno

Why were you impressed, and why does that qualify him for president?

__________________

The biggest problem in my mind with Obama (along with many other candidates) is the lack of leadership experience. It is one thing to be one of 100 Senators voting on issues. It is another being individually in charge of a City or State Government (or even a private company) and have to demonstrate leadership in a crisis.

Being intellectual does not make a person be a great leader

I agree in his case. If he had been around in the senate for a while and was at least on some committees or at least lead the way towards some successful legislation I would be more comfortable.

On the other hand, it doesn't preclude one from being a great leader either. What would we say about Lincoln if he was running for president today?

__________________
"Inflation is the opium of the masses." - Henry Hazlitt

I don't disagree with your statement, however, electing someone who has not been tested in a leadership role as President is very risky, especially given the current foreign policy issues the next President will take.

I feel the same way about Hillary, although I know some will argue that Bill will be at her side

While I lean towards moderate Republicans, I would have liked to see the Democrats provide candidates with more leadership experience, such as successsful Governors for my consideration.

I think the challenges that face a president can't be adequately compared with those that face a governor or mayor, but I know what you mean when you say wish a person had some kind of leadership experience. However, because of the unique responsibilites of the president, it is my opinion that the leadership experince gained as a governor or mayor is often overrated when it comes to deciding if a person is qualified for the office.

__________________
"Inflation is the opium of the masses." - Henry Hazlitt

Well, Jot, like I said, he has that “je ne sais quoi” factor, so, basically, I mean an undefinable quality. But, okay, that’s a personal reaction, and I should try to expound a little.

Re the first part of your question, I first read about Barack Obama in a reader’s letter to the Seattle Times in July 2004, the letter’s writer identifying himself as a Republican. He raved about this Barack Obama, who had just addressed the DNC, in particular mentioning the parts of his speech that spoke of there being only one America. My interest roused by this letter, I located the speech on the DNC website, and I read it and listened to it for myself. It was, what can I say, a breath of fresh air, compared to the grating speeches of President Bush.

Quite honestly, to me, Obama simply spoke of ideals that resonated with me, especially the visualisation of an inclusive society, and also the idea of social responsibility.

Obama acknowledged there are still inequalities in the U.S., (“we have more work to do”, he said, citing examples). I liked his passage about the “audacity of hope. He didn’t just speak of the racial divide; he came from the perspective of an American bond to all his fellow-Americans (“I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper”). As a peace advocate, Barack Obama’s reflections about his encounter with Shamus, the young Marine, really struck a chord with me. But, as Barack Obama pointed out, “there are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it”. Indeed, perhaps the most notable point of his message is when he says, “There’s not a liberal America and a conservative America”. I liked that point because I believe this polarity I see today in politics is based in part on false perceptions.

To me, Obama’s vision of America has global scope: we live in one world and we are global citizens. This does not mean that I am oblivious to the reality of the injustices and inequalities that prevail in our world. On the contrary, it means I feel a deeper sense of kinship to my fellow human beings, and consequently a greater sense of responsibility to them. It’s possible different groups can be proud of their culture and yet also be proud to be Americans, Australians or global citizens. I believe this is the essence of the “E pluribus unum” (Out of many, one) maxim Barack Obama quotes in his speech. In Australia, this concept is celebrated in a wonderful song titled “We are one, but we are many”. There is a very poignant and beautiful poem written by a woman named Cheryl Sawyer as a tribute to September 11, simply entitled “One”. I also remember the immediate aftermath of America’s tragedy when the sentiment “We are all Americans” echoed in many parts of the world. It is an appeal to embrace this sense of oneness of spirit in the microcosmos of American society I heard in Barack Obama’s speech. So, this is what impressed me.
Re the second part of your question, I don’t think it’s the case for me that his 2004 DNC speech qualifies Obama for President. Much in the same way as I have been deliberating the meaning of the reaction of Americans to the speech delivered by French President Nicolas Sarcozy to the U.S. Congress, I have deliberated in my own mind my own reaction to Obama’s speech. In the end, I guess that it comes back to a belief I have that the President of a nation should be above party politics. The system is not structured this way at present, but Obama, in words at least, projects as this kind of leader. He is intelligent, articulate and stately, qualities that I think are important in a leader.

Of course it’s a personal viewpoint, and I think it is difficult to justify one’s preferences in politics to others, as each of us will come to decide whom we’d like to be elected based on our own beliefs and ideals. Also, I based my choice on the basis of the list of candidates running for the 2008 primaries, and this is not to say that there are not other men and women out there who perhaps would make a better President.

I am also mindful that a good rhetorician can deceive, and perhaps I’m putting far too much hope in Obama. In fact, to be truthful, I am not at all convinced anyone would be able to change the course of U.S. or world politics significantly. But the U.S. has an election in 2008, and who becomes President can make a difference, I think.

Tethys

__________________
-- Harry S. Truman

That sounds like a nice critique of a good speaker and is motivational but doesn't tell me too much about what he would do once in office.

You are too good looking to be saying things like that.

__________________
One day, I will sneak across the border into Canada and be an illegal alien. It will be fun.

True, and that's why I noted, "I am also mindful that a good rhetorician can deceive, and perhaps I’m putting far too much hope in Obama."

The specifics of what he may do will probably not rest only on him. First, the new President, whoever is elected, will inherit the state of affairs that were the legacy of the present administration. Iraq, for example, is a dilemma because there is no simple solution. It would not be on what to do about Iraq that I would expect a difference from Obama if he won office, but rather on issues that will come to the fore in the future. What’s important here, however, is that Obama had declared his opposition to the invasion of Iraq. So, we can surmise that, had he been in office, he would likely not have taken the decision to invade Iraq. In my view, this scores points for him in terms of confidence in the potential of his decision making capacity when it comes to future foreign policy decisions he will face. His intelligence is another factor in reducing the probability of him making foolish decisions.

Any President also has to engage with his/her aides, his/her party, Congress, lobby groups, and with other local and global forces that will impact his decisions. I think Obama will be less prone to being influenced by only one faction, such as President Bush came under the spell of the neo-cons.

Tethys

__________________
-- Harry S. Truman

"hmmmm....aye.

though i think the lass, Cyberella, thoughts be pretty much a bigoted point 'o view, i still think they be intresting...at least in one respect;"


Explain, meadhallpirate. What have I said that was 'bigoted'?

__________________
As a culture, we lose our way when we abandon our Judeo-Christian heritage and foundation.

Never forget:
http://www.frugalsites.net/911/attack/