As well as being charming and charismatic, Barack Obama is a great orator with a lot of substance. He's certainly saying the things I wanna hear. Will he get things done? I think so. Please read this interview http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/21472234There are three big jobs he says he wants to get done: 1. get combat troops out of Iraq 2. pass universal health care 3. create a new energy policy that speaks to our dependence on foreign oil and deals seriously with global warming. Read the article for the specifics on how he plans to accomplish this. He has been speaking about these things for a while and has been very consistent in his positions. Have people been listening?
Obama's candidacy is historic, and therefore I believe it speaks to us all. Over the years so many people have worked so hard, even died, so minorities could have the right to vote. Here is a black man running for president. Wow. But Obama does not talk about himself, he just says that his accomplishments are a testimony to those who came before him.
Obama was raised by a single mother, and then by his grandmother. He did not have a privileged life. I think most Americans can relate to this. He is familiar with the difficulties single mothers face. He embraces working class people of every race, and also does pretty well relating to "the haves." He continuously refers to others instead of himself. He speaks for the majority of Americans who oppose the war. He wants to unify the nation.
But his critics constantly bring up his lack of experience and his "rock star" image, and fail to see that he has substance. As far as experience, I'm excited about a fresh start and willing to take that risk. I think some people just don't want to see beyond that so called "charm and charisma." I think he has many qualities that make him a strong leader. Obama is even tempered, calm and precise. Those are good qualities in a leader. It's an historic time, it's emotional, and it's hopeful. It's nice to be excited about a candidate. I am continuously reminded of this everytime I see our current president speaking. (I mean trying to speak.)
Obama says "I want people to feel connected to their government again, and I want that government to respond to the voices of the people, and not just insiders and special interests. That's real change."
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33 comments:
No experience? Check Barack's record; it's amazing what he has accomplished in such a short time and mostly by partnering and co-sponsoring with Republicans. What a concept. Barack Obama is also "CEO" of a 1,000-person campaign machine juggernaut that kicked the Clintons' rear-ends. Who's the last Republican (or Democrat) to do this? John McLame will be damn lucky if he takes Arizona. 2008 will and should be the most 1-sided and lopsided Presidential election landslide since 1972. Only this time, the American people won't get fooled again. We will get it right and put the right guy in the White House: President Barack Obama. Jesus. How could anyone pick John McSame over Barack Obama for any reason other than having a profound learning disability. I hope I'm not coming off wishy-washy here ...
It won't be a landslide, but he's got my vote.
I agree on Obama, but I think we will have another squeaker. The country remains polarized, and racism is alive and well here in the US of A.
I started out w/ Edwards, then Obama, then Hillary, then Obama. I'd say I'm leaning Obama.
I can't believe we could possibly have another squeaker this time. But I agree that the country is still so divided and racism exists.
Good points about what Obama has accomplished BV! And look at how well he was recently received in Iraq. I really believe he can get things done and is a good communicator.
Mrs. Dottie,
This takes the cake! All I can say is ditto...
"It's nice to be excited about a candidate. I am continuously reminded of this everytime I see our current president speaking. (I mean trying to speak.)"
Thanks Sarina, glad you liked it.
BernO,
I started out Edwards,then Obama, still Obama. Oh, and a little Ron Paul thrown in there for a while.
“Obama's candidacy is historic, and therefore I believe it speaks to us all. Over the years so many people have worked so hard, even died, so minorities could have the right to vote. Here is a black man running for president. Wow. But Obama does not talk about himself, he just says that his accomplishments are a testimony to those who came before him.”
Dolly,
Were you this excited when Lynn Swann ran for governor of Pennsylvania two years ago?
Scott Armstrong
Scott, Was Lynn Swann running for governor? I vaguely remember that.
As I recall, he was chosen by party leaders in H-burg and fosied on the Rs. Scrantoln was forced to bow out. Because he never went thru the vetting of a primary, he was mincemenat in the general election.
He's a lesson to all of us. Let the people decide, not party bosses.
I don't think it will be a squeeker. You are not giving Americans enough credit. The differences between the two campaigns are clear. Sure, there will be small numbers with discriminatory voting, however, most Americans will be voting for economic reasons and world political stability. This will be a no brainer! I've been supporting Obama since day one.
Bernie,
Scranton backed out when it was clear state committee people were moving to Swann. Lynn Swann was a very credible and accomplished candidate, there was however no fawning coverage of his candidacy as there is with Obama.
Again I ask, where any of you excited by Lynn's run for governor?
Scott Armstrong
"Swann was a very credible and accomplished candidate, there was however no fawning coverage of his candidacy as there is with Obama."
Scott, credible and accomplished candidate? Lynn Swann was a pro football hall of famer, former host (for 14 weeks) of the TV show "To Tell The Truth," a football sportscaster for ABC TV for many years, he also made a cameo appearance on the TV show "Mister Rogers Neighborhood," and he sat on the boards of several big companies. He never held any elected office prior to wanting to be Governor of Pennsylvania.
Wasn't Lynn Swann's "credibility and accomplishment" all about name/face recognition because of TV? i.e., your classic style over substance thing ... i.e., the same argument some people make, erroneously, and laughably, about the highly credible and accomplished Barack Obama?
Scott,
Who is Dolly? I thought Swann seemed to support most of Bush's policies, like NCLB and war in Iraq, and even though he seems like a good person, cares about kids and families, former chairman of president's council on physical fitness, I could not get too excited about him because I believe Bush's policies were and still are wrong.
Mrs. Dolly
I thought Swann was a disappointment. I didn't want Rendell in again but, let's face it, there was no real candidate to challenge him. Sure, maybe Swann's run was historic in that he was a black football player, but he seemed to have no experience and no opinions of his own.
"He (Swann) seemed to have no experience and no opinions of his own."
My perception also.
Similar/Parallel Case (?) pro wrestling hall of famer Jesse Ventura ... at least ran for, and won (against an 18-year incumbent) the Mayorship of a town in Minnesota before tackling a run for Minnesota Governor which he won, to many people's surprise. He didn't seek a second term. I don't know enough about him to have an opinion re: how good a Governor he was or not ...
Dotty,
Sorry about the “Dolly” thing, my time at the computer is extremely limited. Lynn Swann is a very credible person, accomplished, highly articulate, well informed, and hard working, he also happens to be a conservative which explains the medias cold shoulder and the put downs we see here. The license much of the Left takes today to insult those who don’t share their political views is unfortunate and counter productive to the aspiration of healthy political dialogue.
Scott Armstrong
Scott,
Is it really only the left that insults those who don't take on their views? Now that's not fair. I just read on the blogs that Obama is "incompetent" and an "elitist" And the right media people like Sean Hannity and Rush spew so much venom and hatred toward "liberals" Isn't that counter productive? I think people are really fed up with where our Republican president has taken this country and they have every right to be mad. I believe that Obama wants to reach out to all Americans and unite the country.
"Lynn Swann is a very credible person, accomplished, highly articulate, well informed, and hard working ..."
Scott, I agree completely and he was one helluva football player. Missing totally from the equation though is "qualified to be Governor."
" ... he also happens to be a conservative which explains the medias cold shoulder and the put downs we see here."
Scott, "put downs" and resume items are different. I listed some of Lynn Swann's resume items. Yes, they do seem sorta ridiculous in the context of someone thinking they'd qualify them for a Governor's position. But they're just the facts. And maybe they explain the media's cold shoulder.
"The license much of the Left takes today to insult those who don’t share their political views is unfortunate and counter productive to the aspiration of healthy political dialogue."
Oh!! Such delicate flowers you GOPs have become lately!! We tree-huggin' bullies will have to be more gentle with youse :) eh? Scott, vote Obama. It'll be really cool, you'll see ...
Dotty,
We can all find excuses to race to the bottom. I haven’t read insults from Republicans on your blog or on Bernie’s, what I have seen by the few Republicans who bother is an attempt to articulate our point of view. It is unfortunate that too often it is met with insult rather than reason.
In my opinion it is a waste of time for us to attempt measure the anger emanating from both sides of the political spectrum in an effort to determine which is worse. A more productive approach for us here would involve respect for opposing points of view.
You believe that America is fed up with where the Republicans have taken the country, you will find out on the first Tuesday in November whether that is true or not. We will all live with the result. Let me just add this one point, it wasn’t the Republicans who took this county to war, it was a joint effort of both parties. The difference between the two is that the Republicans chose to stick it out to a final victory. If the Democrats had their way a certain slaughter would have resulted by the withdrawal of troops, a civil war would have ensued in Iraq and almost certainly the most brutal party in that conflict would have won. I for one never saw that strategy as a peaceful or thoughtful option for this county.
Conservatives understand the world is what it is and seldom what we want it to be, perhaps that realization is what divides us.
Scott Armstrong
Bob,
I can take it and have taken much worse by standing up and speaking out in Allentown’s city hall.
Scott Armstrong
Bob, let that be a lesson to you ...
Is the lesson one of dealing with fatuity?
Scott Armstrong
Scott,
Wasn't it Cheney's idea to invade Iraq? I know that democrats supported this idea, and I think more should have questioned it and spoken out against it. I was against the war from the very beginning, so I don't consider any "victories" in war. I think finding Osama Bin Laden would be a victory.
You speak about conservative qualities and beliefs quite a bit, and I realize there are differences between us politically, but sometimes I think we need to try harder to see what we have in common. I think sometimes you come across like your conservative beliefs are above all else. I would certainly vote for a conservative republican if I liked the candidate. Would you vote for a democrat?
Who is Bob? No Bob here Scott.
Just Dolly and Bill
"Is the lesson one of dealing with fatuity?"
Scott, I hope you're referring (in jest) to your fatuity-- which means 'stupidity' for those of us who had to look it up.
There was certainly nothing 'stupid' about the reasonable, respectful, and factual responses I gave you regarding "Lynn Swann for Governor."
I would hate to think that you would counter my reason with insult-- the very thing you accuse Democrats of doing to Republicans.
Dottie,
It wasn’t Dick Cheney’s idea to go to war with Iraq; there was a national discussion on the subject that stretched out over a year, time enough for the Democrats in the Senate to endorse the plan twice with a floor vote. In fact before the invasion many leading Democrats criticized George Bush senior for not going all the way to Baghdad in the first gulf war. Many Democrats also publicly supported the use of torture after 9-11 for terrorist suspects, if you doubt me check the record, it is all there, we are not suppose to remember now. The Democrats constantly rail against the Homeland Security Act but again have always supported it in the House and Senate with their votes. I could go on, but I think the duplicity is clear enough.
Would I ever support a Democrat? I got one elected to the office of magistrate here in the city four years ago, she was the best person for the job and I ran her campaign. Would I vote for any of the Democrats that will be on the ballot this fall? No, because I feel they are not the best people for the job. We can disagree respectfully on Obama,( although I am not a big fan of John McCain), I think it is a no brainer that Charlie Dent is a better bet than my former friend “Sam” Bennet, and Jenn Mann has been too silent on the gross incompetence of her fellow city Democrats to keep my respect. Silence is not leadership.
I am a small government conservative; therefore it is unlikely that I would support anyone who believes in government solutions to this county’s problems. When I worked for the local Republican Committee I would tell students that if they believed that the government could solve their problems then they were very likely Democrats, if on the other hand one viewed government as a self consumed bureaucracy then they were probably Republicans. Viva La Difference, we don’t have to hate each other over it.
Scott Armstrong
I can't help but notice that whenever a conservative in the local blogosphere loses a comment debate to a Liberal who's playing fair and square, the republican always accuses the Winning Liberal of being "insulting." It's really funny. Or they'll say they "don't have time to debate it further." Or they'll duck a completely reasonable question about "fatuity." Yeow. They can dish it out but they sure can't take it! I guess that's why they don't venture onto non-conservative blogs that much. They don't want their spooky extreme radical (conservative?!) ideas challenged by reasonable and logical Liberals. They just want to cling together in a clan. Maybe it's better that way ...
Scott,
I'm not happy with the Democrats either. And I like Dent. But I disagree with your summation and definition of democrats as "believing that government can solve their problems." That's a bit extreme. I think we have had this discussion before, so Viva la Difference. But as far as the city goes, I agree about the lack of leadership and too much bureaucracy
and that silence is not leadership.
I voted for some Republicans locally. I agree with a lot of what Molovinsky says, and he's a conservative.(with a creative sensibility)
But I think you owe Bill Villa and my readers an explanation about that "fatuity" comment. I hope you weren't countering Bill's reasoning with insult.
And please think about getting back into your art work and joining our group! :D
"I think you owe Bill Villa and my readers an explanation about that "fatuity" comment. I hope you weren't countering Bill's reasoning with insult."
That's exactly what he was doing but don't hold your breath waiting for an explanation. Being a NeoCon means never having to say you're sorry or I was wrong.
i see armstrong addressses the girl(mrs dotty) but avoids villa, the man. interesting
Dottie,
So with all the words thrown around in this discussion it is only my rhetoric that is being called into question? I think a review of the posting will reveal my tone as quite temperate.
Scott Armstrong
Scott: a review of this post reveals that you countered Bill Villa's logical reason with insult, called him "stupid," and then ran away. Next time a Liberal Democrat out-debates you (a.k.a. "insults" you), try to think of it as "quite temperate" :D
Sorry Dottie-don't see it that way and I'm troubled you do.
By the way,I've never "run away" from anything.
Scott Armstrong
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