Bill Cosby made much more salient points about how to overcome the problems facing the “black community” than anything in Obama’s speech.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

Yes - a stain on the constitution. Then let's start the discussion!

Indeed? Then by all means - let's have a natiowide discussion. How shall we fit Wright's "sermons" into that discussion, since they are precipitating it?

JM&J:

According to Slate

Link !!!!! Why Obama's bad investments would make him a better president. - By Henry Blodget - Slate Magazine

Obama's most recent public financial statements, he and his wife, Michelle, were worth between $500,000 and $2 million at the end of 2005 (excluding whatever equity they have in their $1.65 million Chicago house). The bulk of this wealth came from $1.2 million in royalties Obama received that year for The Audacity of Hope and a previously published book (part of a $1.9 million, three-book deal). The $1.2 million figure is presumably pretax, which means that, after paying the IRS, Obama probably kept about $600,000.

All the other canidates are IMO super wealthy

I question the accuracy of your analysis. Can you dispute the nimbers I provided via Slate ?

We don't need to have a nationwide discussion on slavery. No one is suggesting that we do.

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Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he’s president he’ll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys’ network in Washington.' I’m not making this up. This is somebody been in Congress for 26 years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign. And now he tells us that he’s the one who’s gonna take on the old boys' network,” he said. “In the McCain campaign that’s called a staff meeting!- Obama, 9/17/2008

Can you give an example?

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Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he’s president he’ll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys’ network in Washington.' I’m not making this up. This is somebody been in Congress for 26 years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign. And now he tells us that he’s the one who’s gonna take on the old boys' network,” he said. “In the McCain campaign that’s called a staff meeting!- Obama, 9/17/2008

I was thinking of The Pound Cake Speech. Here are some excerpts:

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

If you'd care to read my statement in context, you'll find that "a pass" is taken from the person I was responding to, and that I was talking about presidential candidate's speeches.

It would be kinda bizarre for an American presidential candidate to spend a speech of racial issues in America talking about Africa.
The topic was racial divides in America (which is obviously influences by memories of slavery), not slave-system of the world.

Apparently you didn't read my post very closely, so I shall repeat the relevent phrase with emphasis:

"THAT is what makes his speech inspiring! The fact that he doesn't give up hope of reconcilation"

Hope is inspiring.

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To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt

The battle lines have been drawn. This is going to be a generational issue. People under 40 have reacted to this speech in AMAZINGLY opposite ways than people over 40. Past vs. future. Young people, step up.

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Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he’s president he’ll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys’ network in Washington.' I’m not making this up. This is somebody been in Congress for 26 years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign. And now he tells us that he’s the one who’s gonna take on the old boys' network,” he said. “In the McCain campaign that’s called a staff meeting!- Obama, 9/17/2008

So now we are going to divide the country up by age as well as race.....

Terrific. Just what we need. Still more battle lines. As if we don't have enough confllict.

So much for unity.....

They are affluent by any standards, and that will only increase.

I have no problem with it - it's true for all candidates. That's life in the US.

I would disagree. Slavery is still practiced in Africa, by Africans. It is not the most important point, but it will come into any argument about slavery.


Apparently you are wrong. I read your comments quite closely.

Hope is inspiring when it is based in reality. Hope based on wishful thinking is dangerous and damaging.

I would have accepted Obama's belief in reconciliation a few weeks ago. After hearing his mentor, I do not see how it is possible.

- Hope, in general, is Optimism. An optimistic outlook for whatever situation you face.

- Lack of Hope is Pessimism.

- Disparaging the Hope of others is Cynicism.

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Congratulations President-Elect Obama

…unless other’s hopes are unfounded, in which case this is simply Realism.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

Change and Hope = CHOPE!!! Chope is what Obama is all about. A meaningless word from a meaningless candidate that will say anything to get elected. He's gone from being something new and exciting to being "the black candidate" in record time. Maybe he can "Chope" his way into office?

Seriously, Chope-ama is a great orator. But he is really just another liberal democrat. Leadership is more than voting the party line everytime. Nothing Chope-ama has done is distinguishable from any other liberal.

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I think at this point there needs to be a focus on an immediate increase in spending and I think this is a time when deficit fear has to take a second seat . . . I believe later on there should be tax increases. Speaking personally, I think there are a lot of very rich people out there whom we can tax at a point down the road and recover some of the money."
-- Barney Frank, October 20, 2008