Obama Announces '08 Bid

[Brando @$$ Fat]

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.js...cvqh=itn_obama

Obama Evokes Lincoln to Launch 2008 Bid
By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer
3 hours ago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Barack Obama announced his bid for president Saturday, a black man evoking Abraham Lincoln's ability to unite a nation and a Democrat portraying himself as a fresh face capable of leading a new generation.

"Let us transform this nation," he told thousands shivering in the cold at the campaign's kickoff.

Obama, 45, is the youngest candidate in the Democrats' 2008 primary field dominated by front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and filled with more experienced lawmakers. In an address from the state capital where he began his elective career 10 years ago, the first-term U.S. senator sought to distinguish himself as a staunch opponent of the Iraq war and a White House hopeful whose lack of political experience is an asset.

"I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change," Obama said to some of the loudest applause of his 20-minute speech.

Obama is looking to cap his remarkable, rapid rise to prominence with the biggest political prize of all _ the presidency. His elective career began just 10 years ago in the Illinois Legislature. He lost a bid for a U.S. House seat, then won the Senate seat in 2004, a relatively smooth election made easier by GOP stumbles.

In his speech, Obama did not mention his roots as the son of a man from Kenya and a woman from Kansas, his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia or the history he would make if elected. That compelling biography has turned him into a political celebrity.

Instead, he focused on his life in Illinois over the past two decades, beginning with a job as a community organizer with a $13,000-a-year salary that strengthened his Christian faith. He said the struggles he saw people face inspired him to get a law degree and run for the Legislature, where he served eight years.

He tied his announcement to the legacy of Lincoln, announcing from the building where the future 16th president served in the state Legislature.

"We can build a more hopeful America. And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a house divided to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America," Obama said. His voice rose to a shout as he spoke over the cheers from thousands who braved temperatures in the teens.

"I know it's a little chilly, but I'm fired up," Obama said as he took the podium with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia, 8, and Sasha, 5, with U2's "City of Blinding Lights" blaring on the speakers.

Local authorities estimated the crowd at between 15,000 and 17,000.

Obama gained national recognition with the publication of two best-selling books, "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," and by delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 _ the same year he was elected to the Senate. His optimistic message and personal story immediately sparked talk of his White House potential.

"He's young and he's fresh," said 22-year-old Rachel Holtz, a graduate student from DeKalb, Ill., who plans to work in education.

Brenda and Michael Talkington, who live near Muncie, Ind., said they have never been involved in a political campaign, but both were laid off from jobs with a lighting company and plan to volunteer for Obama.

"He makes you feel like it is possible to change things," Brenda Talkington said.

She seemed to be reading from Obama's playbook.

He spoke of reshaping the economy for the digital age, investing in education, protecting employee benefits, insuring those who do not have health care, ending poverty, weaning America from foreign oil and fighting terrorism while rebuilding global alliances. But he said the first priority must be to end the war in Iraq.

"It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil war," he said. He noted that he was against the invasion from the start.

Obama talked how previous generations have brought change _ fighting off colonizers, slavery and the Great Depression, welcoming immigrants, building railroads and landing a man on the moon.

"Each and every time, a new generation has risen up and done what's needed to be done," he said. "Today we are called once more _ and it is time for our generation to answer that call."

The Old State Capitol was where Lincoln launched his unsuccessful 1858 U.S. Senate campaign against Stephen Douglas with his famous "House Divided" speech. During his presidential campaign in 1860, Lincoln used rooms in the second floor as his political headquarters, and his body lay in state there in 1865.

Obama said it is because of Lincoln that Americans of every race face the challenges of the 21st century together.

"The life of a tall, gangly, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different future is possible," Obama said. "He tells us that there is power in words. He tells us that there is power in conviction. That beneath all the differences of race and region, faith and station, we are one people. He tells us that there is power in hope."

Obama planned to travel throughout Iowa on Saturday and Sunday before a homecoming rally Sunday night in Chicago.
___________________________________


I guess it was bound to happen. He seems like a great candidate, but there's no doubt his opponents are going to run his lack of experience right in the ground.

[jolanar]

I don't see him winning, but it will definitely give him an even bigger boost to his political career.

[The Heart Collector]

If Obama doesn't win I'm setting this entire country on fire.

[Tai Mai Jew]

Obama is a good choice...

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
If Obama doesn't win I'm setting this entire country on fire.

You live in a country where a man like Bush can get elected not once, but TWICE (well, one of those times at least). You should be used to a disappointment by now.

[EVILxxx]

I prefer Obama over Clinton and Edwards.

[electriclite]

Originally posted by EVILxxx
I prefer Obama over Clinton and Edwards.

[outsyder]

Me too. Obama, Giuliani, and McCain are the only ones I would want as President given the current candidate field.

[Thrizzle]

I would vote for Edwards or Obama.....and Gore above those two if he chose to run.

After the past 6 years, i cant see myself supporting a Republican candidate in this next election. I'm sure McCain would make a good president, but he's affiliated with a party that totally fucked everything up over and over again while he barely made a peep.

And does anyone else think Hillary Clinton went insane during the Lewinsky scandal and is now plotting an elaborate scheme to destroy America and within it all the people she perceives to be the perpetrators of her emotional pain during that circus of a marriage of hers. Just a theory though.

[EVILxxx]

Could be. I know I got a real laugh out of this gem:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g3Rf1ZUdUnE

[BubbaStrangelove]

John Glenn '08!!

[Lynn7]

Originally posted by EVILxxx
Could be. I know I got a real laugh out of this gem:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g3Rf1ZUdUnE

That was funny. I thought her saying that was planned and because of that it was very strange. She is a smart, savvy woman but she is pretty nuts. Many accounts from her own people have said she is very difficult and hard to work with. She also responded to the Lewisnsky scandal by speaking of a Right Wing Conspiracy which was brilliantly effective but the country has been divided ever since.

I liked Obama when I saw him on Oprah but having watched him for a while I am getting less impressed. He is light weight and doesn't handle things well - I'm sure this is from his light experience. John Howard the Australian prime minister said that if OBama was pres and pulled out of Iraq it would be a disaster cause Al Qaeda would be waitng for that day- he said I think that Al Qaeda would hope that Obama or the Dems would get in cause they know the US would vacate Iraq, etc. OBamas's response was that if Howard feels so strongly about it then Australia should send in more that the 1400 troops that are there now.
That sounds like an effective put down but why bash an ally when there are other countries who are acting against us? A more effective response would've been to say that the US has been going it in Iraq mostly alone and that the countires of the world should pitch in too to help Iraq.

[BubbaStrangelove]

I get what you are saying, Lynn. What ever Al Qaeda wants, we don't want. If Al Qaeda wants something, we know that we shouldn't let them have it. We're going to get them fuckers.

[electriclite]

Originally posted by Lynn7
John Howard the Australian prime minister said that if OBama was pres and pulled out of Iraq it would be a disaster cause Al Qaeda would be waitng for that day- he said I think that Al Qaeda would hope that Obama or the Dems would get in cause they know the US would vacate Iraq, etc. OBamas's response was that if Howard feels so strongly about it then Australia should send in more that the 1400 troops that are there now.
That sounds like an effective put down but why bash an ally when there are other countries who are acting against us? A more effective response would've been to say that the US has been going it in Iraq mostly alone and that the countires of the world should pitch in too to help Iraq.

My cousin has been living in Australia and has told me that the majority of Australians don't like John Howard.

[Vong]

I can't believe there are arguments out there that debate whether he is black or not. Media bullshit....

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Obama's response to John Howard just proves that there's a much better candidate field this year. I don't think Kerry would have been able to give such a good response to a question like that.

The thing about Obama is that he's starting to catch on with more and more people while Clinton has always been there and everyone who's going to support her has already thrown their support in her direction. If every primary was held a month from now, then Obama would have the nomination.

Obama's only problem at this point is keeping the flame for 21 months and getting elected. Carter and Clinton were both darkhorse candidates so if Obama becomes president it will break that trend for the Democrats.

[Squid Vicious]

I fail to see why so many leftists think Obama is the greatest thing ever. Sure, he's young and he looks so damn charming, but he comes across as another spineless Democrat who makes vague proclamations about "transforming the nation," but is only willing to offer band-aid solutions to serious problems. Like Hillary Clinton, he's speaks out against the Iraq war, but doesn't want to, say, hold the people who planned it accountable, and has specifically rejected the idea of setting up a timetable for withdrawal. Not to mention he voted to re-authorize the PATRIOT Act, and is an outspoken supporter of neoliberal policies, among other things.

At least the Republicans come right out and tell you they're gonna fuck you over...

[Badbird]

I don't get the Obama love either. I mean, he speaks well and people obviously like him, but he's only been in office for a couple years. What's he really done?

I think everyone's okay so far. I'd love to see Guliani get the Republican nommination, just to see the conservative base squirm over his liberal views.

My favorite guy, though, is Joe Biden. The guy is so no nonsense it's not even funny. He doesn't speak the retorical political BS, he really tells it like it is.

[Beenthere]

Originally posted by Badbird

My favorite guy, though, is Joe Biden. The guy is so no nonsense it's not even funny. He doesn't speak the retorical political BS, he really tells it like it is.

But he was on Bill Maher show... He has no chance now!

[Lynn7]

Originally posted by Squid Vicious
I fail to see why so many leftists think Obama is the greatest thing ever. Sure, he's young and he looks so damn charming, but he comes across as another spineless Democrat who makes vague proclamations about "transforming the nation," but is only willing to offer band-aid solutions to serious problems. Like Hillary Clinton, he's speaks out against the Iraq war, but doesn't want to, say, hold the people who planned it accountable, and has specifically rejected the idea of setting up a timetable for withdrawal. Not to mention he voted to re-authorize the PATRIOT Act, and is an outspoken supporter of neoliberal policies, among other things.

At least the Republicans come right out and tell you they're gonna fuck you over...

He said that if he is voted pres that he will get the troops out by a specific date- I think he said March of 2008- based on nothing. I guess he thinks we can just pull out with no talking to anyone about possible ramifications like Al Qaeda moving in and taking over (with the help of Iran or Syria) and then they will have access to gazillions of dollars of oil and then watch out! That is what John Howard was talking about. Set a date to pull out and Al Qaeda just bides its time until then.

It's no longer about substance, education or experience with presidents- it is who looks and sounds good. Our nation grows dumber by the day.

[BubbaStrangelove]

Originally posted by Lynn7
It's no longer about substance, education or experience with presidents- it is who looks and sounds good. Our nation grows dumber by the day.

No wonder we got stuck with Bush.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I was pissed to see that Evan Bayh isn't going to run...I think he'd be a great president.

[Lynn7]

Originally posted by BubbaStrangelove
No wonder we got stuck with Bush.

As much as I like President Bush I have to say that he was not all that experienced to run either. Actually, it was the media who really pushed him because he had been so successful in working with Dems and Repubs both in Texas. He was a uniter not a divider, remember? Until he hit the ugly Washington. But compared to Vice President Gore he was the better candidate because Gore was all over the place on every issue. He had no back bone.

Bush was running way ahead of Gore up unitl the final few days of the election because the Gore supporters leaked a 20 year old drunk driving story on Bush the weekend before the election and he had no time to gain trust again. It was a brilliant political move but also so typical of the dirty politics the Dems are capable of. And there is no one better than Hillary at that game- just wait and see.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Originally posted by Lynn7
As much as I like President Bush I have to say that he was not all that experienced to run either. Actually, it was the media who really pushed him because he had been so successful in working with Dems and Repubs both in Texas. He was a uniter not a divider, remember? Until he hit the ugly Washington. But compared to Vice President Gore he was the better candidate because Gore was all over the place on every issue. He had no back bone.

Bush was running way ahead of Gore up unitl the final few days of the election because the Gore supporters leaked a 20 year old drunk driving story on Bush the weekend before the election and he had no time to gain trust again. It was a brilliant political move but also so typical of the dirty politics the Dems are capable of. And there is no one better than Hillary at that game- just wait and see.

I recall Gore being ahead until the final days. It was a long time ago though so I don't know if my memory is 100% on the money.

When it comes to October Surprises, Democrats are without a doubt the dirtiest. However, when it comes to political ads Republicans take it. The two best examples of this are the "Willie Horton" ad from the 1988 election and the "John Kerry windsailing" ad from 2004. The Willie Horton ad made Dukakis out to be a bloodsucking monster, while the Kerry windsurfing ad was just plain embarassing. The only thing they could have done worse than that would be to show Kerry showering.

[The Heart Collector]

Originally posted by Badbird
I mean, he speaks well and people obviously like him, but he's only been in office for a couple years. What's he really done?

Not be a complete fuckup and a horrible person, like everyone else running.

And 'speaks well' is underrating him. The man is a goddamn MACHINE at giving good answers. he's the kind of charismatic, intelligent, diplomatic man who America needs now that EVERYONE HATES YOUR ASS.

[Danger^Cart]

I can't believe the Dems finally have the upperhand....and their two leading candidates are a chick and a black dude. It's like they're handing the election too the fucking Dumbo's.

P.S. Watching Bush's address this morning, I couldn't help but ponder how he ever got elected in the first place. The man is amazingly inarticulate. The man couldn't talk Ghandi into fasting.

[shoe1985]

Originally posted by Danger^Cart
I can't believe the Dems finally have the upperhand....and their two leading candidates are a chick and a black dude. It's like they're handing the election too the fucking Dumbo's.

P.S. Watching Bush's address this morning, I couldn't help but ponder how he ever got elected in the first place. The man is amazingly inarticulate. The man couldn't talk Ghandi into fasting.

The reason they have the upper hand is because people are sick of the Republicans. They have become lame ducks and letting lobbyists control them. The Dems have already put in measures to prevent this, but some will still do it on both sides.

Obama is the best candidate I have seen going for President. He has already given the negative reasons not to vote for him, and those are terrible reasons not too. He wants to unite us as a country, something we need. I don't care about skin color.

Hillary is a good person for the role, but I think she will get lost in the mix.

John McCain would be the next person I would vote for, after Obama. The guy should be the President right now. He has relatives in Iraq, who does Bush have in this war? He speaks his mind, and isn't afraid to make people angry. He has good views on subjects.

[Danger^Cart]

It doesn't hurt that senator whats-his-face's "racist" comment got blown waaay out of porportion, either. I agree the guy's golden in the image department, but he's still black, and sadly enough, I'm not sure this country is anywhere near ready for a black president. Same argument applies to the ice queen.

As for McCain, any presidential candidate who does a "seeeeeeecrets" segment on Conan is A-OKAY in my book. Bush takes himself too seriously, when he's anything but.

[Lynn7]

Originally posted by Brando @$$ Fat
I recall Gore being ahead until the final days. It was a long time ago though so I don't know if my memory is 100% on the money.

When it comes to October Surprises, Democrats are without a doubt the dirtiest. However, when it comes to political ads Republicans take it. The two best examples of this are the "Willie Horton" ad from the 1988 election and the "John Kerry windsailing" ad from 2004. The Willie Horton ad made Dukakis out to be a bloodsucking monster, while the Kerry windsurfing ad was just plain embarassing. The only thing they could have done worse than that would be to show Kerry showering.

See, I think it was very fair to run the Willie Horton ad because it showed what Dukakis did while he was governor of my state. He allowed a furlough for this dangerous man who murdered an innocent or two while out on a furlough. Shouldn't voters know how a potential candidate for president stands on the issues? I think it was amazing that the Dems managed to turn the tables on that ad and convince everyone the ad was wrong to run. And it still works!

The John Kerry windsailing was fair too. It represented who he is. He is a man who lives a very elite lifestyle. He is one of the beautiful people. Windsurfing is just the tip of the iceberg with that guy. A fair ad for sure. He goes around yelling about how people are poor etc and yet he spends money on luxuries. Luxuries are fine but if you feel so strongly about helping people why is there nothing about him helping them with some of that extra cash he has? Why no stories about him in the soup kitchens? He's a big hypocrite. And showing that about him is relevant.


We just elected a Democratic goverenor (Duvall Patrick) for the first time in Mass in about 15 years. His first weeks in office he has used the state helicopter to save himself the hassle of driving between engagements and he has rejected the car that Governor Romney had been driving (that the state leased and then bought) and has decided to buy himself a new cadillac costing the state more than $1,000 a month. People in the state are not too happy about how he is starting. Shouldn't that money be better left in the treasury for the poor people? Romney ( a Republican) never even took a salary cause he had his own money. I just get tired of the Dems always presenting themselves as for the small guys when in fact they are usually all about padding their own pockets with lots of feebies. A national example of this is Pelosi's wish for a bigger plane because it would be terrible if she had to stop to refuel along the way. We can't have that.


I know I have mentioned before that I used to vote all Democrat but these are some of the reasons why I left that behind.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Originally posted by Lynn7
See, I think it was very fair to run the Willie Horton ad because it showed what Dukakis did while he was governor of my state. He allowed a furlough for this dangerous man who murdered an innocent or two while out on a furlough. Shouldn't voters know how a potential candidate for president stands on the issues? I think it was amazing that the Dems managed to turn the tables on that ad and convince everyone the ad was wrong to run. And it still works!

The John Kerry windsailing was fair too. It represented who he is. He is a man who lives a very elite lifestyle. He is one of the beautiful people. Windsurfing is just the tip of the iceberg with that guy. A fair ad for sure. He goes around yelling about how people are poor etc and yet he spends money on luxuries. Luxuries are fine but if you feel so strongly about helping people why is there nothing about him helping them with some of that extra cash he has? Why no stories about him in the soup kitchens? He's a big hypocrite. And showing that about him is relevant.

Well, I won't deny that Michael Dukakis's position there was wrong, but that Kerry thing was plain wrong. Period. It may have shown that he is nothing more than an elitist, but wasn't it filmed by a Republican while Kerry was on his own property? That's pretty cheap campaigning. Lynn, I respect that you have strong ties to your party but you can't deny that Republicans are capable of the same dirty campaign tactics that the Dems are capable of.

[Thrizzle]

Please, no Rudy Giuliani. He's a total egomaniac.

Here are some of his travel demands:

In addition to his $100,000 speaking fee, the former mayor insists that he be shuttled to and from any event by a private plane — and not just any plane, mind you!

“Please note that the private aircraft MUST BE a Gulfstream IV or bigger,” notes the contract, referring to a $30 million jet that can clock 600 mph.

Once there, Hizzoner demands that he be met by “one sedan and one large SUV,” and booked into a hotel room “with a king-size bed, on an upper floor, with a balcony and view,” plus four more rooms on the same floor for his entourage.

And, oh, yeah, America’s Mayor doesn’t like “candid photo opportunities,” but he will stand for posed pictures provided they are taken in a room “with sufficient light” and “without direct, on-camera flash bulbs.”

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/9964.html
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive...giuliani1.html

[EVILxxx]

Like I would ever bee caught dead in a Gulfstream III.
Seriously that's ridiculous. I've heard of a few of those types and their ridiculous public speaking demands. That's one of the worst though I think.
I'd probably still vote for him though in light of the other candidates. I like Mitt Romney, but i don't think he has much of a chance.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Originally posted by EVILxxx
Like I would ever bee caught dead in a Gulfstream III.
Seriously that's ridiculous. I've heard of a few of those types and their ridiculous public speaking demands. That's one of the worst though I think.
I'd probably still vote for him though in light of the other candidates. I like Mitt Romney, but i don't think he has much of a chance.

That would be so weird if Romney did win, considering that he's a Republican from Massachusetts.

[EVILxxx]

I think being a Republican who was the governor of Mass will only help him in the final election. It will probably hurt him in the Primaries. He's pretty moderate on a lot of things and he did an amazing job as the CEO of the 2002 Olympics.

[Danger^Cart]

Originally posted by Thrizzle
Please, no Rudy Giuliani. He's a total egomaniac.

Here are some of his travel demands:

In addition to his $100,000 speaking fee, the former mayor insists that he be shuttled to and from any event by a private plane — and not just any plane, mind you!

“Please note that the private aircraft MUST BE a Gulfstream IV or bigger,” notes the contract, referring to a $30 million jet that can clock 600 mph.

Once there, Hizzoner demands that he be met by “one sedan and one large SUV,” and booked into a hotel room “with a king-size bed, on an upper floor, with a balcony and view,” plus four more rooms on the same floor for his entourage.

And, oh, yeah, America’s Mayor doesn’t like “candid photo opportunities,” but he will stand for posed pictures provided they are taken in a room “with sufficient light” and “without direct, on-camera flash bulbs.”

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/9964.html
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive...giuliani1.html

Wow, what a fuckin' diva. You have to take into account how much of the public is privvy to this information, however, and how important a factor it would play should he make it past the primary's. Not to mention, you can't neglect the 9/11 card he's got up his sleeve. While it may have lost some of its oompf do too Bush's incoherent babble on the subject and that, by this point, most American's are sick and tired of hearing about it and would like too just move on, it's still a pretty powerful campaign tool, for all those true-blue Americans.

[electriclite]

Originally posted by Lynn7

The John Kerry windsailing was fair too. It represented who he is. He is a man who lives a very elite lifestyle. He is one of the beautiful people. Windsurfing is just the tip of the iceberg with that guy. A fair ad for sure. He goes around yelling about how people are poor etc and yet he spends money on luxuries. Luxuries are fine but if you feel so strongly about helping people why is there nothing about him helping them with some of that extra cash he has? Why no stories about him in the soup kitchens? He's a big hypocrite. And showing that about him is relevant.


We just elected a Democratic goverenor (Duvall Patrick) for the first time in Mass in about 15 years. His first weeks in office he has used the state helicopter to save himself the hassle of driving between engagements and he has rejected the car that Governor Romney had been driving (that the state leased and then bought) and has decided to buy himself a new cadillac costing the state more than $1,000 a month. People in the state are not too happy about how he is starting. Shouldn't that money be better left in the treasury for the poor people? Romney ( a Republican) never even took a salary cause he had his own money. I just get tired of the Dems always presenting themselves as for the small guys when in fact they are usually all about padding their own pockets with lots of feebies. A national example of this is Pelosi's wish for a bigger plane because it would be terrible if she had to stop to refuel along the way. We can't have that.

Yeah, but abuse of government funds and property is an across the aisle offense, perpetrated by both parties.

Let's not forget former Congressman Trent Lott's classy use of a helicopter shortly after hurricane Katrina to inspect his property. The government couldn't get to New Orleans for 5 days, but Trent Lott got there with the quickness to make sure his property was ok.

None of these congressmen or Senators are on our level financially, if they were they wouldn't be in office. It takes money to get to high government office. So as far as I'm concerned none of them really know what most of us are going through to get by day by day. Maybe once upon a time they may have (if they weren't born with a silver-spoon) but time on the Hill is known for causing amnesia.

You look at the Kennedy's and know they're blissfully unaware of how the other half lives, but the Bush's are as much a dynasty as that family, and just as unaware. Take Barbara Bush's post Katrina comment about the refugees crammed stadiums:

"So many of the people in the arenas here, you know, were under-privileged anyway. This is working very well for them"

Elitism and the questionable appropriations of government finances needs to be treated as an equal opportunity offense in Washington, otherwise one party gets away with it while we chastise the other like its solely an affliction of their party.

[Lynn7]

I hate when Republicans take the freebies too. Why I am singling out the Dems is that they claim to care so much for the little people but they only want to help them by raising tax money. It never seems to be out of their own pocket. And also the fact that they suck money out of our taxes to pay for frivolous things.

I know that most of our lawmakers are millioaires and yet they take their salaries despite that and I haven't heard of anyone donating that salary to any charity. It burns me to see hypocrisy like that.

Brando, if Kerry was photographed on his own property wind surfing, it is not like he was doing anything wrong. He was just photographed doing what he does. The Bushes have been photographed playing golf and so has Clinton. I think that windsurfing picture bothered Dems because they wanted him to be more stealth about his wealth than to see him presented doing that expensive hobby. That is because they say one thing and do another. Dems are just as guilty as Repubs of catering to big business and about padding their own pockets but they pretend they aren't like that.

I came across this article written by Al Franken's alter ego (Ann Coulter )on Obama's overuse of platitudes in his speeches.



Coulter's take on Obama

[BubbaStrangelove]

Originally posted by Lynn7
Bush was running way ahead of Gore up unitl the final few days of the election because the Gore supporters leaked a 20 year old drunk driving story on Bush the weekend before the election and he had no time to gain trust again. It was a brilliant political move but also so typical of the dirty politics the Dems are capable of. And there is no one better than Hillary at that game- just wait and see.

What in God's name are you talking about? The drunk driving record that was "leaked" was a public record. You can't leak a public record.

He's the only president in history that's been convicted of drunk driving. Given the strong public opinion on drunk driving, it's not exactly dirty to point that out.

Man, you could turn helping an old lady cross the road into "dirty politics" - well, at least if a democrat did it. If it were a Republican you'd probably say they were doing God's Work. I'm pretty sure that a majority of people would say that's a better example of dirty politics.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Originally posted by Lynn7

Brando, if Kerry was photographed on his own property wind surfing, it is not like he was doing anything wrong. He was just photographed doing what he does. The Bushes have been photographed playing golf and so has Clinton. I think that windsurfing picture bothered Dems because they wanted him to be more stealth about his wealth than to see him presented doing that expensive hobby. That is because they say one thing and do another. Dems are just as guilty as Repubs of catering to big business and about padding their own pockets but they pretend they aren't like that.

I know...and I think that on someone's private property, it's wrong. Bush, Kerry, Clinton, Gore.....doesn't matter who, because it's pretty cheap. Those are my beliefs.

[electriclite]

Originally posted by Lynn7

I came across this article written by Al Franken's alter ego (Ann Coulter )on Obama's overuse of platitudes in his speeches.



Coulter's take on Obama

I'm sure she gets a chuckle at the fact that Obama's middle name is Hussein, which explains her referring to him as B. Hussein Obama throughout the rest of the article.

But her usage of his name in that fashion reflects back to the heart of the subject she's ranting about: The stupidity of the American voter and how easily manipulated they can be by the popular wordsmiths of the political writing world.

Obama uses platitudes and reads like a Hallmark card but Ann gets to constantly bring up the fact that Obama's middle name is Hussein. For what purpose? Humor? If it were that, she need only mention it once and she'd get her chuckle, but if she's repeatedly mentioning it then its not for humor. If you have to repeat the same joke over and over again, guess what? It means it wasn't funny the first time and you're just beating a dead horse.

Then what's the purpose? Oh I dunna... maybe it wasn't a dead horse she was beating but instead, repeatedly poking a stick at America's lightly sleeping xenophobia?

The exploitation of America's idiocy, capitalized on both sides, continues on. So rarely does one get to see both sides usage of it in the same article and written by someone from the far side of the idealogical spectrum.

I wouldn't put it past a politician, even Obama, to capitalize on the 6 years of "Bushisms" the American public has been entertained/ exhausted by, by using big words and platitudes to differentiate themselves from the current administration.

But I once recall a definition of the job of a politician, and it was to create inspiration within the public, to inspire hope where one usually wouldn't (all too true in the realm of politics) and a belief in what that politician intends to do and possibly stands for. Not just because they belong to a similar party or are of the same faith, but by sheer power of their will and spirit............ but I feel I'm too cynical for that.