Obama, As A Figure And Force, Has Done More To Rekindle A Sense Of Hope In The World Than Anyone In

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

history.

Some of that is due to him, some of that is due to timing, some of that is due to forces unknown. But collectively, that which is Obama both in figure and in force, has already brought an atmosphere of hope and visions of a better future to more people on a GLOBAL scale than any singular figure in history.

If you don't think that's worthy of a Nobel Prize, well then... wait... actually, who cares what you think...

[Enrique]

1. I agree

but I don't find it mandatory for everyone else to agree.

[Go2Peace]

106. Obama is inspirational, but he is no Gandhi, at least yet

The great welcome to his appearance on the world stage has a lot to do to the contrast with what came before him. But he in no way can yet be seen in the same vein as the people he is being compared to in this thread.I understand the point of the peace prize and welcome it. I appreciate that he is opening talks to reduce nuclear weapons, but others have tried as well and we shall see how far it gets. He has done a great job of calming the world of their fears of American craziness.

If he really does inspire the world to the point that we get transformational change than indeed he will have become a true hero, but no way is he there yet.

This thread is more about celebrity worship than reality.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

110. He is inspiring,...on a different plane from Gandhi which, Gandhi would embrace.

You know this as an admirer of Gandhi, I assume.

Of course, you and I know, otherwise.

[Go2Peace]

116. I am not sure any of the major historical peace activists would embrace Obama

They were concerned with the victims of wars first. Ghandi would have been more likely to have supported non-violent resistance to our presence in Afganistan and Iraq. He would not have "embraced" a leader like Obama until Obama had actually stopped our part in the fighting. I have no doubt as long as innocents were being killed he would be clearly in opposition to Obama. Which I think is what others were trying to say in other topics.

Like others here, I think Obama appears to be moving toward some very important changes and for a political leader of the US that is indeed monumental and different. But all this placing him with historical transformative figures is premature at this point.

I indeed hope to see Obama mature from an inspirational and thoughtful leader figure to a truly transformational world figure. If he manages to resolve the conflicts in Iraq and Afganistan and move the US off of the tract of constant wars, and turn the world to a true period of peace, well then he would indeed be worthy of that claim. I hope he does.

[LWolf]

2. I do.

Care what I think. You don't have to.

I think the hope he kindled is bogus, and always did. "Hope" is a pretty ambiguous thing, using the emotional triggers for millions to hope for things that aren't on his agenda. It's a masterful manipulation of the masses, it's true.

I'd rather stick to his actions on policy, myself.

If you think he deserves a peace "prize" for his actions, I'm fine with that, even though I don't agree.

[SammyWinstonJack]

124. +1

:thumbsup:

[lamp_shade]

3. Beautiful!! Recommended.

[DevonRex]

4. Agreed. But the anti-Democratic, anti-Obama DUers will unrec this

and piss and moan about how he's not worthy.

[liquid diamond]

109. They are out in full force. This thread only has 6 recs. These

people don't belong here.

[niceypoo]

5. That's a stretch

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. Prove Me Wrong Then.

Who has then? Please back your answer with more than just a name.

[vadawg]

8. okay for me personally Pope John Paul the second way more

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. You Must've Lost Focus Prior To The "Back It Up With More Than A Name" Part.

Care to elaborate?

[vadawg]

10. why do i need to back it up, you never backed up why you feel obama is the most important person eve

im stating that to me pope john paul the second meant more, and im sure there are a lot more people.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

17. Unless You Live In A Cave, The Transformation Of Global Atmosphere Due To Obama Is Well Known.

After the darkest days of the bush regime, the light brought back on a global scale due to the figure and force of Obama, the light and hope that has globally been injected into likely billions, is quite well known regardless of one's stance on Obama.

What I want to know is how your selection has equaled or surpassed that level of renewed hope into the masses on a global scale. So if you would, please back up your selection.

[vadawg]

21. lol im sorry but that is laughable, to think the whole world is sitting in the dark just waiting

for america to light the way, just keep on believing and hoping...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. What Is Laughable Is Your Assertion That I Have Spoken Or Suggested Such.

Your perception appears to be highly flawed as it relates to this topic thus far.

[vadawg]

25. seems that is exactly what you are saying the world has renewed hope now that obama is here

i hate to break it to you, but theres a large percentage of his fellow countrymen who dont even feel this way, what makes you think that his coming has changed the way peoples across the world engage with each other, cause im sure as hell not seeing it.. can you list the peace accords that have came into effect, this mass outflowing of change and hope that has reached across all humanity...

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

114. What "percentage" are you talking about and what the hell are YOU defending?

That is what I want to know.

Acknowledge the difference of presidential leadership from 2008 to 2009,...if you can do that,...we may be able to have a humbling human conversation.

[Arugula Latte]

61. Pope John Paul?

Yeah, I loved it when he reinforced the idea of women as second class citizens. How wonderfully hopeful. :eyes:

[vadawg]

64. yup as i said to me he promised more hope and he helped deliver

to you mayby not, its the same with obama, there are some who believe he will be everything they believe and others who dont get that vibe...

[Arugula Latte]

70. Yeah, you don't have a uterus, so what do you care, huh?

[vadawg]

73. no i dont have a uterus, and you cant see beyond whats important to you

[Arugula Latte]

82. And you casually dismiss the rights of half the population of the world. nt

[vadawg]

84. the same as you dismissed the people who got hope from pope john paul and freedom when he delivered

on the hope...

[Arugula Latte]

86. The pope didn't bring down the Iron Curtain.

Just as Ronnie Reagan didn't, either.

The papacy is a corrupt, lavishly wealthy institution that enjoys trampling the rights of women and gay people. Screw them.

[vadawg]

87. yup okay as i said you feel how you feel and i will feel how i feel about his holiness pope JP

[Arugula Latte]

88. One person's hero is another person's villain. nt

[vadawg]

89. bingo you got it, everyone sees other people from their own perspective

and that colours how we perceive each other also.....

[AngryAmish]

137. Pope John Paul didn;t do much

He was only pope for about a month.

[niceypoo]

11. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Che Guevara....

...Jesus Christ, Harry S Truman, even Bill Clinton after the Reagan/Bush horror, just to name a few off the top of my head.

I actually have to make an accomplishment list for each one? Pleeeease!

You jumped the gun on this one.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

18. With Exception To Jesus, None Of Your Others Are Close.

Have all instilled hope? Yes. Have they instilled hope on the global scale to billions and with as widespread cultural reach as Obama? Not even close.

[G_j]

24. and how's that holding up?

nt

[Democracyinkind]

29. So how many of those billions have you questioned this year brother?

[BlooInBloo]

66. Most of the world was recently asked, actually....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091005/lf_nm_life/us_usa_status

"NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) – The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll.

It climbed from seventh place last year, ahead of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan which completed the top five nations in the Nation Brand Index (NBI).

"What's really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009," said Simon Anholt, the founder of NBI, which measured the global image of 50 countries each year.

He believes that during the previous administration of George W. Bush the United States suffered in the world ranking with its unpopular foreign policies but since Obama was elected, and despite the recent economic turmoil, the country's status has risen globally.

"There is no other explanation," Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama."

[Democracyinkind]

71. I'm not sure that is something ONLY Obama could have achieved,

After those 8 years, the world would have appreciated any change of administration short of a McCain presidency or the like.

And asking 20,000 people with phones isn't exactly as representative as it is often made out to be. I don't think the poll specifically referred to Obama, and reading the rest of the description made me kind of skeptical about the whole method and motivation of it.

But point taken, the world has appreciated the Obama administration and admiration for the US has been restored on the surface quite a bit. That's not something I wouldn't agree to. My point is that the OP massively overstates the importance of the Obama figure outside of the US, on grounds that are not merited. It's just not the case that Obama is viewed as a figure that intrinsically stands for progress and hope regarding his actions. It's much to early to have the kind of coherent sample of actions taken in order to make an assessment of words vs. actions. All I'm saying is that not the whole world is necessarily as naive as the OP.

[BlooInBloo]

75. Nice to see you know more about the survey than the survey's creator.

[Democracyinkind]

76. I only know what he said in that article.

The rest was just critical reading. the poll did not ask about Obama.

[cherokeeprogressive]

97. 20,000 people is "most of the world"? Whoa, that's a stretch Bloo

From the story you linked to:

"The global survey, conducted by GFK Roper Public Affairs & Media, involved 20,000 people in 20 rich and developing countries around the globe. They were asked to rate 50 nations in categories such as culture, governance, people, exports, tourism, landscape and education.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

101. Are You That Thick Headed To Not Understand The Concept Of Polling?

Wow.

:dunce:

[cherokeeprogressive]

104. Six billion PLUS people on the fucking planet, and you believe that polling 20,000 of them

from only 20 countries means what, exactly? I mean let's be honest here... there is extrapolation, and there is

Extrapolation,

but my goodness, the poll was only conducted in 20 countries.

Bloo used this poll to make the statement "most of the world". Most of the fucking world? I'd bet my bottom dollar that NO statistician would make the claim that it's possible to extrapolate in that fashion.

[BlooInBloo]

105. Yes.

This has been another episode of Simple Answers To Simple Questions.

[niceypoo]

33. Yes they are

All of them have instilled hope across time. Gandhi was the template for the means by which Martin Luther King ran his campaign of non violence. Che has given hope/inspired billions of Latin Americans over the decades. Read, 'Open veins of Latin America,' sometime.

The world loved Bill Clinton after the nightmare of Reagan/Bush and respect for the US as a peace broker was very, very high throughout his presidency. The same can be said for Jimmy Carter and JFK.

You have no sense of historical context whatsoever.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

37. Nope.

"Ghandi was the template"... Being a catalyst is not the same as having actually directly accomplished the task. Che is laughable in comparison and inspired on a very localized and culturally minimal scale. Yes, the world loved Clinton, but the level of renewed spirit, hope, and vision for a better future were not nearly on the level as Obama. Jimmy Carter and JFK, though both commendable, also didn't come close to having the magnitude of perceptual hope, change and positive outlook amongst billions worldwide.

[niceypoo]

56. You have no sense of historical context whatsoever

Nor do you have anything concrete

[sweetloukillbot]

99. Now, to be fair to Che

He's probably on as many t-shirts as Obama. And more college dorm walls.

[niceypoo]

36. "With Exception To Jesus, None Of Your Others Are Close"

So Obama = Jesus now?

Just couldn't resist that glaring gem...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

38. For Your Own Safety, Please Avoid Smoking Around Your Strawmen.

[niceypoo]

48. Hey, all I did was quote you

Your thread is going over like a lead balloon

[MattSh]

79. Only living people are eligible.

And Martin Luther King won in 1964.

[vadawg]

6. lol oh wait a minute your series arnt you....

[Orwellian_Ghost]

12. Could you actually provide

a concrete list? Nothing speculative please but how about some policy details and specific actions. Nothing abstract please but I'm looking for you to say, uh, provide some real examples. Thanks in advance.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

19. You Seem Stuck In A Cave. Please Don't Take Offense If I Choose Not To Crawl In There With You.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

27. That's a "no" then?

I do understand how difficult, in fact impossible, was my request.

Can't provide what ain't there.

Okay now I'm back to my cave where I'm stuck studying actual policy.

[vadawg]

28. dude ive given up its like we are in a wierd parody of north korea

ive got no idea what is going to get posted next....

[laststeamtrain]

13. Let's stop & think a second: "atmosphere of hope and visions of a better future"

That's gibberish.

Sorry, it is.

It's used car salesman talk.

It can't be argued with. Just walk off the lot.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

20. Is It Inaccurate?

I'm not making this up. It like, actually has happened and stuff.

:dunce:

[laststeamtrain]

26. How can meaningless phrases be accurate or inaccurate? n/t.

[Democracyinkind]

35. You're referring to the happiness and hope of the RW now, I suppose?

hope they have indeed. hope to overthrow obama.

generalizations only work in comedy.

[sendero]

129. Hope and $2 ...

.... will buy you a cup of decent coffee.

Hope in and of itself is way overvalued in our "positive thinking" culture.

[malaise]

14. Than anyone in history is beyond a stretch

but I get your point.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

22. Who Then?

I couldn't think of any. Other than Jesus, I couldn't find anyone who has reached as many, and across as many cultures, as Obama. Many others have inspired regionally, or have been catalysts in a series of events that ended up bringing hope, but none I have found can be credited with having directly inspired and overall changed the global atmosphere across so many regions, cultures and levels than Obama has.

[niceypoo]

40. "who has reached as many, and across as many cultures, as Obama"

Care to list some of these 'many' or some of these cultures he has reached across?

"none I have found can be credited with having directly inspired and overall changed the global atmosphere across so many regions, cultures and levels than Obama has"

Care to offer anything concrete to back up this generalization?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

43. LOL

Reality. Try entering it sometime.

[vadawg]

49. dude you need to leave new jersey sometime, you honestly believe that the people of the world are

just waiting with baited breath for the obama led change to their lives, if so i worry about you and the CO content of your abode...

[niceypoo]

58. Ill accept that as a big, fat, 'NO."

[Selatius]

128. That's probably the worst cop-out answer I've seen on DU this year. nt

[Zix]

143. You're not very good at this at all, are you?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

148. You Kidding? I'm The King.

[Zix]

151. Unless you genuinely don't give a toss whether other people

agree with your OP and all you're interested in is asserting In Capital Letters In The Subject Line Of Each Post that you're somehow very important and ooooh, look what an important thread you've posted... all you're doing is making yourself look ridiculous. That's a distraction from your point.

I think your OP is wrong, but I'm not wholly didactic and am open to arguments. But every time someone points out how over the top your post seems you react as if they've insulted you personally and end up degrading your own thread. You've no back up for yourself in response to their criticisms. Other people have stepped in to do this for you, it may interest you to know that although I still disagree with your OP many people on this thread have stepped in on your side with far greater eloquence and backed up their assertions with polls and experience and have at least made me consider that the OP is a point to be answered rather than mindless hyperbole. All you have done is degrade the entire thread, and thus your original premise, with useless, reflexive "internet ner ner guy" games.

If you start a discussion with a premise that others are likely to disagree with you are far more likely to attract the attention of people willing to hear your case if you demonstrate that there's something going on in your brain other than "tee hee I'm going to post a contentious thread and convince everyone I'm right by being more rude than anyone else is to me" because that will convince NOBODY.

It's amazing watching you further upthread. Allies to your premise answer points carefully and succinctly and then you wade into their part of the discussion and ruin it with meaningless gibberish, over and over again.

All of this, of course, rests on the assumption that you're actually interested in convincing people that Obama really is as important as you think he is. If you just wanted the maximum number of possible responses (for some reason) feel free to ignore everything I just said. And me personally, if you like.

[GodDamLiberal]

15. The second coming

of jesus fucking christ and we didn't know it.
Was there acid in the kool-aid?

[Fumesucker]

60. Not acid... PCP..

And lots of it.

Owsley is a mild euphoric compared to what the OP is on.

[kestrel91316]

16. +10

[elizfeelinggreat]

30. I agree

and many of these complainers are the same people who loved to call Bush the "leader of the free world", etc.

[MadHound]

31. Wow, you have utterly gone around the bend

You might have an argument if you had limited your premise to the present day, but to claim in the entire history of the world, that is beyond insane.

This sort of post ranks right up there with your classic "Thank God it Passed" as far as pure craziness.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

42. So Then Give Me A Name And Reasons Why They Had A Greater Magnitude.

Oh... And to this day it cracks me up that so many morons took the 'Thank God it passed' OP seriously while being too stupid to realize that its SOLE intent was to piss those same morons off, just for sake of doing so.

[Fumesucker]

32. He's Ghandi,The Christ, Mohammed, Buddha And Churchill All Rolled Into One..

Quetzalcoatl, The Great Pumpkin and Mithra are there too.

He's more inspirational than God Himself!

All kneel to the great, wise and mighty O!












































:sarcasm:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

91. The OP is his

Saruman.

[SammyWinstonJack]

126. .

:spray:

[Democracyinkind]

34. Scary shit. Really. Where do you get these ideas?

From a European perspective, I can tell you that Obama is yet a small footnote in history, as most presidents are after only nine months in office.

Yes, they have invested in a very succesful PR campaign and they have come up with a slogan and a vague agenda that had a very inspiring effect on the world. But in the end actions count for more than appearance, at least outside the US that is, and that is why such general glorifications (like you post) or such general damnations (that others post) are not warranted for another 4 to 8 years at least.

[vadawg]

41. applaud, yup thats what i get as well, no one i know outside of the US really cares

and a lot of people here are not to keen on him either. I just dont get this hero worship adulation thing some people have going on, its getting creepy...

[Democracyinkind]

45. creepy indeed. I like the president, but I stopped worshiping when I came to the age of reason.

[Fumesucker]

46. *Getting* creepy?

Thank Gawd It Passed was creepy, this is well beyond mere creepy.

What's the obverse of a concern troll?

[vadawg]

57. yup i think this kind of adoration in supporters is very scarey

it sets my radar off big time, i feel the same way about them as i did about the mad righties who adored bush, both sets of people would happily put me against a wall if it served what they thought the object of their adoration wanted... its way beyond creepy...

[Fumesucker]

63. I just fervently hope there aren't another 27% on the left to match the 27% of nutcases..

On the right..

I'd hate to be part of the sane minority.

If you haven't yet read it, Dr Bob Altemeyer's "The Authoritarians" tells you a great deal about this kind of personality.

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

[vadawg]

83. going by the amount of hero worship we see nowadays, i think your fears are realised

[Fumesucker]

85. Yep, this thread is well up in the positive recs..

And yet it seems utterly delusional..

[zoff]

150. Altemeyer IS a damn good read.

[niceypoo]

44. The OP is attempting to project his/her personal view of Obama onto the rest of the world

...and doing a horrible job of it.

[Fumesucker]

54. The OP does that with *everything*..

And does an equally horrible job.

[Zix]

39. What utter crud, Hyperbole has a new poster child...

[Democracyinkind]

47. David Hasselhof

to name one.

[vadawg]

50. +1,000,000 the Hoff is a god

cant believe i didnt even think of him....

[asdjrocky]

51. "Who cares what you think..."

The new motto of DU.

[Deja Q]

52. Agreed! Obama damn well deserved it! Indeed, anyone suggesting he should now earn it should

shut the fuck up and prove their own mettle instead of being snide toddlers.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

55. The One Thing I Love Most About When You Post Is Your Sig Picture.

One of the greatest fictional characters of all time.

[G_j]

53. and dissing the Dalai Lama is hopeful?

:shrug:

[QC]

92. The dictators in Beijing find it highly hopeful. n/t

[ProSense]

59. That is exactly the point of these

statements

[branders seine]

62. I think he deserves the prize,

but I also think "more than anyone else in history" is grotesque hyperbole.

[Bluerthanblue]

65. glad to agree with you OMC- and to rec this thread.

:hi:

[MrScorpio]

67. Recc'd, baby! nt

[Mari333]

68. soldiers having their legs and guts blown out in Afghanistan dont give a shit about a peace prize.

[ismnotwasm]

69. Agreed

Thank you

[WolverineDG]

72. I just spent a month in Europe among people from many nations

& continents. You cannot believe just how much his election has affected the outlook of the entire world, not just on America, but on their own futures as well. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason he was nominated & won.

dg

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

77. Thank You For Your Response And Experience.

[WolverineDG]

78. There were several who were in tears about it

especially a woman from somewhere in Africa (we were in a hotel lobby to complain about the fact that the English TV channels weren't working & she told me how much it meant to her that Obama was elected when she heard my accent & figured I was from the US...never got where she was from though).

I have never had people run up to me when they find out I'm an American & absolutely gush over the president. Quite a shock from 2 years ago....

dg

[vadawg]

80. and i can guarentee there are more people concerned with who is going to win the latest reality show

or that ronaldo signed for real or that zambrotta failed a drugs test. Do you really believe that its made a difference to the lifes of the peoples of other cultures and parts of the world. My anecdotal evidence is the oppossite of your anecdotal evidence and ill raise you one wombat...

[WolverineDG]

96. Perhaps, but I was there for over a month

and every time someone learned I was from the US, they would come over & start talking about Obama & health care or immigration or a number of other US issues that I was not up-to-date on (since I didn't have access to the net to catch up on the news) but they were remarkably informed about them.

Perhaps there are those in Europe who don't care for Obama, but the people that I met were very positive about him & the US because he was elected.

dg

[MattSh]

81. That happened a lot in January, February, and March...

Then people all over Europe got on with their lives.

I live in Europe year round and nobody spends much time thinking or speaking of Obama anymore.

[WolverineDG]

95. That wasn't my experience

Once people found out I was from the US, their first question was always "So what do you think about Obama?"

dg

[niyad]

118. just saw your sig line--love it

[Name removed]

74. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cm0431]

90. I can think of someone FAR better

[silverlib]

94. Oh for St. Peter's sake!

I heard this man doesn't accept material gifts - only gifts of conscience.

What a disappointing reply from a newbie!

[HughMoran]

93. How come nobody is whining about the 28 unrecs this thread has?

Funny how people's outrage is selective depending on how they "feel" about the poster. Says a lot IMO...

[lamp_shade]

98. This is a wonderful post. Sad that so many disgruntleds had to unrec it.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

102. Ehhhh, I Don't Care About Rec's One Way Or The Other.

To me, it's the viewcount that matters most in posts. If people read what you write, regardless of their ultimate approval or disapproval, than the point has been made ya know?

To be honest though; I'm a bit amazed that this much later the rec's are still in the positive lol.

[RetroLounge]

100. ...

RL

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

103. No Thanks. You Can Keep It.

You really shouldn't offer your prescription meds to someone who doesn't have a prescription ya know. It's illegal.

Nice pic though. Your camera has some pretty good macro ability. :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

111. You're too kind, Retro

What he needs is beyond the mainstream of the usual prescribed pharmaceuticals.

[RetroLounge]

131. Yeah, that's so sadly true...

:hi:

RL

[blues90]

107. Did you make this up or was it some delusional grand wizard ?

I don't believe this to be the case at all.

For one thing he is just one man. No one can change the globe single handed.

When I see this sea change which through my life has been offered up many times by other leaders or presidents I'll then believe it.

If any change will come it will come from the people who have just had enough of this hell on earth crap we deal with now.

[liquid diamond]

108. Amen. Based on all the hate posts here, I thought I had

mistakenly wandered onto the freep boards. How does it feel for you people to be on the same side as Rush, Hannity, the teabaggers, and Michael Steele? Congratulations Mr. President. Fuck all the haters here.

[Fumesucker]

123. Not thinking Obama is the most influential figure in human history does not equal hating..

That you cannot tell the difference is telling.

[redqueen]

127. Not "most influential."

"Has Done More To Rekindle A Sense Of Hope In The World"

[Fumesucker]

132. A bullshit nitpicking sidestep of the issue..

Obama is a politician, no more, no less, better than many, worse than some.

I don't get my inspiration or my hope from politicians and I think anyone that does is delusional at best.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

134. Awwwwwww, You're Still Upset?

There there fumey wumey... It'll allllll be ok... There there...

:hug:

[Fumesucker]

136. Not upset..

Amused, bemused and a little aghast..

But not angry.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

140. Of Course You Are. But It'll Allllll Be Ok Fumey Wumey. I Promise.

I mean, I know it eats you up alive that this thread, despite different morons' best attempts, still had rec's in the positive (though who cares if that lasts), but in the end you'll be ok fumey wumey. Really, you will be...

:hug:

[Fumesucker]

141. You never fail to disappoint..

You attempt to divide people every chance you get and I must admit you are good at it.

Some people think blind worship is a bad thing, your actions tend to run those people out of the party to which you ostensibly belong.

Frankly I wonder whose side you are really on sometimes, other than your own of course, that's obvious.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

142. There There Fumey Wumey... It'll Allllllll Be Ok...

There there...

:hug:

[Fumesucker]

144. LOL... I haven't seen somone play with another person's name like that since grammar school..

Remarkably arrested development in your case.

[U4ikLefty]

112. Bless you OMC...never change.

Just when I think I read a post from the biggest turd on DU, you start a thread.

...and THAT gives me hope!!!

[Zomby Woof]

113. He is completely incapable of change

No life experience he has ever had is capable of teaching him humility, remorse, or kindness.

[rug]

115. Didn't you mean he's inspired more hope than any sentient being in the existence of the galaxy?

[busybl]

117. and that is why they gave him the prize

[cui bono]

119. You forgot "by not being Bush". A lot of the hype is from that.

The world would've been grateful for any Dem as POTUS. But it is true that there was something about Obama that did bring a lot of hope. Now if only he'd deliver on it. But he's just not. Sadly. Hope doesn't change people's lives, action does.

[armyowalgreens]

120. You had me until you said "than anyone in history"...

Then I realized this OP is utterly ridiculous.

[JohnnyLib2]

121. Good grief.

[madokie]

122. I agree

rec #5

[redqueen]

125. Does 'timing' refer to/include his ability connect with so many people

due to the technology we have now?

That's a big part of it too... and I agree. "In figure and in force,"... that's what people don't seem to be catching on to. It's not what he's done, it's what he represents... what the fact that he was elected in this country represents.

K&R

[JohnnyLib2]

130. A philosophy prof liked to say : "Hubris can mislead thee."

I think that applies, because a sense of hope is so terribly fragile. The OP could well be accurate for these current few months. There are no guarantees for the future...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

138. Very True.

But peace inside of itself is equally fragile. So any recipient of the prize ever really had the same risk of ultimate failure (so to speak).

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

133. Hope. Isn't that what televangelists offer?

[Fumesucker]

139. Exactly, Obama as televangelist..

I would think that anyone who truly believes Obama is on the right track would reject this view wholeheartedly as being poisonous in the long term.

Look what happened to Churchill after WWII was done.

[lumberjack_jeff]

135. Hope We Can! n/t

[superduperfarleft]

145. Wow, americans sure are a self-centered bunch, aren't they? n/t

[Fading Captain]

146. Anyone in history? LOL That's so fucking stupid

I don't know where you guys come up with this nonsense. I think there are people here who have day jobs down at the hyperbole store.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

147. And Yet, You Can't Provide A Name And Explanation As To Otherwise.

:hi:

[Zix]

152. Why should they?

You're the one making the assertion! The burden of proof is on you!

:eyes:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

153. Ummmmm, Yeah...

...I should write the name of every historical figure in history and then proceed to compare Obama to them one by one in order to prove that he's their greater; as opposed to actually asking the knee jerkers that disagree to actually, like, ya know, say why and stuff.

God, that suggestion was some kind of stupid.

[conscious evolution]

149. Too bad its a false sense of hope

The world is really gonna be pissed when they realize he is just another politician protecting corporate interests.
At least with shrub people knew they were getting fucked.

[cherokeeprogressive]

154. The more I consider it, the more it seems that the OP has a tiny kernel of truth. The tiniest.

Obama has the benefit of the Information Superhighway, satellite and cable television, Wi-Fi, and a 24 hour news cycle, even though those things came about through no action on his part. The number of people with access to these things worldwide is growing at a pace that almost defies imagination. People without enough fresh water or food or security are aware of his election, and have heard at least some of his words.

His rhetoric has reached more people than that of any public figure who came before him. That said, no one in Ethiopia ate a better meal today than they did 264 days ago, when he took office. No one in the West Bank slept any better last night than they did 264 days ago, knowing Barack Obama was on their side. No Isreali did either. No gay person went downtown with the certainty that they'd not be subject to the worst kind of discrimination, i.e. physical harm. They went downtown tonight with the same trepidation they did 264 days ago. Few workers, if any, who have lost their jobs in the last 264 days, got their jobs back in the last week with any degree of certainty that they might last.

Afghanistanis died this week, at the hand of Americans, and Americans died this week, at the hands of Afghanis. Iraqis died this week, at the hands of Americans, and Americans died this week, at the hands of Iraqis.

HOWEVER... The rhetoric is out there for all to see, and to take comfort from. The rhetoric is out there to believe in, to take as concrete action rather than mere words.

A good game has been talked. The world has taken hope from such talk. No matter that not much has changed, the word is out.

Hope.

Change? Well that's another thing... but at this point, Hope is paramount. The sense of HOPE has been rekindled. Thanks to the Information Superhighway, satellite and cable television, Wi-Fi, and the 24 hour news cycle. Hope has been rekindled. In larger numbers because of technology than any other public figure IN HISTORY has had at their disposal.

Hope in one hand, and shit in the other. Which is worth more?

OPERATIONMINDCRIME is right though on that point. Hope. It's what's for dinner.

[Rex]

155. Obama is amazing.

Simply outstanding! K&R!

[Hannah Bell]

156. anyone in *history*? you're high, put down the pipe.