Barack Obama has had enough

[Renew Deal]

Run time: 02:59 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyW7X4isOEo   Posted on YouTube: September 16, 2006 By YouTube Member: HillbillyReport Views on YouTube: 94607   Posted on DU: December 12, 2006 By DU Member: Renew Deal Views on DU: 1653

 
I don't know what that site is, but it show's Obama's ability to get on message.

[Tiggeroshii]

1. I've had enough as well

...I don't ike how long it takes to load

[ShortnFiery]

16. IMO, it's well worth the wait.

Go Obama! Now I would vote for him to be our next President. :hi:

[sandnsea]

2. I do like me some Obama

He can really give a barnburner of a speech, no doubt about that!

[katsy]

3. He's gifted nt.

[ProfessorPlum]

4. Well said

I wish his votes reflected this. Also, his wishy washy appearances with the grand poohbahs of the chattering classes.

[Infinite Hope]

5. To me, it's not very eloquent. It's a basic rally speech. n/t

[knowledgeispwr]

6. Um, Alright.

Not really anything special. So he's had enough; so have we. I have yet to understand the 'Obama-fever.'

And before anyone takes issue, I'm a young black American.

[rebel with a cause]

7. I'm not taking issue with you

I'm an old white American but hope you can overlook that. ;) I have to ask where are you from and if you have ever seen or met Obama?

I am from Illinois and have done both several times. I caught the "Obama fever" in 2004, and volunteered for him here in SI. He is very impressive in person, more so than he is on screen. Do I think he is perfect? No way. Do I think he comes across as a fairly nice guy? Yes I do. Do I think he is intelligent? Oh my, yes. Do I like him better than some of those likely to be a candidate? Have to say that I do. Do I think he is the answer to all our prayers? I would never say that, neither do I worship at his feet.
O8)

Do I have the Obama-fever today? No, but I don't know where I will stand in 2008. I have not made up my mind on who I want to run for president, but I know a couple that I do not want to. There are still two more years for us to listen and watch. We have to think about this very carefully. This should not be a popularity contest, we should be thinking of who we think will be able to get this country back on its feet, improve our national image, and make peace with the world. We cannot have another election where our biggest motto is something like "anybody but bush." There is just too much riding on us stopping the craziness that is in control of our country now.

[Infinite Hope]

8. Sensationalism of celebrities.

This comment is a general comment referring to all candidates:

Meeting them is irrelevant because if mere meeting them is what changes your mind about a candidate, you're getting caught up in the sensationalism of meeting celebrity. You see it all the time, especially with younger people. They don't follow politics or some even do. They meet a candidate, get star struck, and immediately support that person.

Meeting a candidate in person can be important, especially if you converse with them directly. But sometimes that creates sensationalist support rather than support based upon substance of the candidate. If that substance is not present on TV, in Congress, or elsewhere and only exists when you meet them in person, it's probably not worth voting for them because for some reason, they are not a candidate of substance.

Edit: As for Obama, he still has two years to prove himself if he wants to run in 2008. Sure, it's political staging, but he needs to start being aggressive legislatively so he has specifics and concrete action to point to. It can easily be done. It must be done to prove he's not merely a sensationalist candidate with 8 second sound bites and 3 books written for every rung of the ladder he climbs. If he's able to overcome the obstacles of others in the Senate potentially trying to sabotage his legislation or somehow amend it to take partial claim to it and gets some things of substance passed, I will strongly consider him for 2008.

[rebel with a cause]

10. I sensationalized him!

I met Obama in 2004 after I became a supporter of his. I got the "fever" after hearing about him and reading what he was standing for. After four years of bush, I was looking for someone who I could believe. I stated that he was a good speaker, and he was. I said he seemed to be an intelligent nice guy, and he did. I also said that I had not picked him as a candidate for 2008, and I have not.

Meeting a candidate in person may lead a lot of people to sensationalist support, but not me. You see, I am always critical of everyone and everything. As for conversing with him directly, why yes I did about five or six times. We made small talk a little, but mainly I was there to find out what he really stood for. I wanted to see his eyes when he answered my questions, I did not want to hear the same old political rhetoric. I put him on the spot but he answered my questions. You don't know me, or you would know that I will put a person on the spot, no matter who they are. And if I disagree with them, I tell them so. And I did. I will be respectful of someone, and may even flatter them a little for my own amusement, but I do not hero worship.

I like Obama okay, although I do not agree with everything he has done in the last two years. I honestly do not think he will be the candidate in 2008. I wish him the best, because I do not fear him. But I am not pushing him on anyone else. 2004 taught me not to care that much when it comes to the presidential candidate. What will be will be as far as I am concerned. There is nothing I can do to change the outcome of the primary or the election. I tried as hard as I could two years ago and look where it got us. I have not picked who I will vote for in the primary because I don't know even who will be in the running.

[Infinite Hope]

12. Then you don't fall into the category I spoke of. Congrats...

...on meeting him. I'm glad you thoughtfully consider and are cynical of candidates. That's a virtue.

[knowledgeispwr]

9. Thanks for a thoughtful reply.

I am from North Carolina and I have not seen or met Obama in person.

He may seem impressive in person, I'll give you that; though a lot of people will never meet him in person . I'm worried that Obama is an opportunist and I think he should wait to run for president. It seems to me that if he seriously ran, a number of people would think he ran for Senate as a simple stepping stone to the White House and would be turned off because of it.

Senator Edwards turned off a lot of people in North Carolina when he ran because people thought he should have been being a Senator and not running for president (and he was at the end of his term at the time). Nevertheless, I think Edwards has been largely forgiven for that because of all he has done otherwise.

[rebel with a cause]

11. I cannot tell you who to support, I don't even know who I will.

I really don't think Obama is an opportunist, but I could be wrong. People were pushing him toward 2008 in 2004 and he was really embarrassed by it. He would tell people during his stump stops to not put him on a pedestal. He would say for them not to think he was going to be anyone important or special, that if he won he would only be a little fish in the big pond of Washington D.C.

I do not think there are many here in Illinois who would begrudge him the run for the White House. I just don't know what else I can say. He is pretty popular here. He was so popular in 04 that the repug did not even put a relevant candidate against him. Since he has been in office, I believe he has kept most of his promises, but I can't be sure since I no longer follow politics that closely. To be truthful, I think most of the people here want him to run because they believe he would make that great a president.

I am a hard person to please when it comes to things like this. Small things can cause me to question what should be. No one is perfect, but sometimes I expect them to be. Okay, I'll be honest, I expect it all the time from everyone. ;) That is why I will wait until I know who all is running, and I have time to look at what everyone has voted on and etc. For now I will hold my peace and try to be positive and keep my criticisms to myself.

O8) I wish.

Edited, as most of my posts are, for grammar.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. SI means Southern Illinois?

If so, were you ever able to meet and talk to the late, great Paul Simon? If so, how does Obama compare?

[rebel with a cause]

14. Unfortunately, I never got to really talk with him but I did meet him several times.

Living most of my life in SI, I couldn't help but know about Simon but my son had more of a connection with him. Mr. Simon taught here at Southern Illinois University and my son attended one of his classes in journalism. He really liked him and thought he was a nice guy, and funny. Simon had that small town quality about him, a man of the people. I always thought that he would have been a great president, but it was not meant to be.I attended Simon's memorial service where quite a few politicians came from Washington to pay tribute to him. Kennedy was especially moving in his tribute.

Comparing the two men is a little hard for me, but I will try. Simon had been Obama's mentor, and endorsed Obama for the senate before his death. Simon's daughter Sheila appeared for Obama in his campaign and made a television advertisement for him. I had forgotten all about it, but Simon's endorsement probably helped Obama out down here, because Simon was so loved and respected. Obama is considered to be much like Simon in his political ideals and was compared to him during the 2004 campaign. In comparing the two, Obama is more sophisticated to Simon's small town. Obama is probably not as laid back as Simon was, but he id thoughtful when he speaks, which I remember Simon as being also. Idealistic they do seem very close, liberal but not trapped into one way of thinking. Their personalities are similar also, intelligent with self defacing humor. I think they do have a lot in common when it comes to meeting people also. They both made/make you feel like you matter. Eye to eye contact and really listening to what you say.

Simon's daughter Sheila is now running for the position of major in Carbondale. I really like her, but since I no longer live in that town, I won't be able to vote for her. Hope she does well.

I hope this answers your question.

[Catch22Dem]

15. I like how he works "fearmongering" in there. Very nice!

Oh, and he can say NUCLEAR without fucking it up.

[ShortnFiery]

17. Shit! That makes him 100x smarter than her Chimperor

and he's no warmongering centrist like Hillary. Gee, to me in order, it's Gore, Edwards, Kerry and Obama. It's bracketing down for me. Just like Artillery. No more warmongering assholes in high office. ;)