OBAMA!
Well it’s official, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) is starting his run for the presidency…
Personally, I’m 100% behind Senator Obama. I think he is really the best candidate on the Left to mobilize the base, pull the swing votes, and most importantly, run the country openly, honestly and fairly.
Thoughts? Comments?
I don’t see him as that different from Hillary. At this point, either one would be fine, though.
I like Edwards, he’s direct, honest and a fighter.
Obama’s been too willing to use the right’s framing of issues, and he’s just not very specific. I do think Obama’s better than Hillary, but Edwards is better than Obama.
I like Obama, but I’m not convinced he’s ready yet. He has such potential to speak out and be a leader, but I don’t feel that he’s done it.
I also noticed that one very important four letter word was missing from his video announcement today: IRAQ.
I remain open though and hope that he does earn my vote over the next year. I believe he could be an outstanding President. At this point Edwards is my #1 choice.
Watch his “about” video here… he mentions that he was against Iraq
http://www.barackobama.com/video/about.php
I know that he is against the war and has always been. I know that he is against escalation.
I’m just saying he didn’t mention it in his announcement statement. An issue I’m looking for our candidates to put front and center.
Fair enough… bottomline is that you’d still vote for him (in the general election) since you already know this.
This is just the first round, and there will be much rhetoric to dissect in the coming year and a half, and although his opening message is vague, I agree with his strategy at this point. He’s putting his name and face out to build up momentum… the specific issues (and mind you Iraq is my biggest issue too) will come out in time.
Gore is still my choice.
The fact that you and so many on the left are 100% behind a candidate that you know nothing about, one with little experience or track record, is a sign that you’re really in trouble. (Yes, he’s given a few good speeches.) Introspect a little. It’s not “reality based.” It’s a complete triumph of wishful thinking. But then, not being a leftist, I think that wishful thinking is a core value of the left.
Obama is prettier than Hillary, but I’m afraid he’s an empty suit. Any comparisons to JFK miss the fact that Kennedy got gravitas from his WW2 service which overcame the twin stigmas of his youth and his Catholicism. Even then, he barely beat Tricky Dick.
Obama might have graduated from Harvard Law summa cum laude but the rest of his history, while interesting, is no more impressive than that of any other Washington overachiever.
I think Obama is pretty smart, but I don’t think he’s shown he’s as politically cunning as hillary. People like to say that she has no experience, but she’s been on the hill since 1992 and cut her teeth while up there. Obama gave a great speech at the 2004 convention but really, I didn’t agree with much that he said there. He isn’t progressive enough for me. I think Hillary, while playing the centrist, still has proven that she’s enough behind universal health care and against the war in Iraq that she’s good enough for me. John Edwards has a nice smile and I like him, but I like Hillary more.
I saw Hillary speak when she came to my then college campus (SUNY Albany) for Hardball’s college tour in 2003 or so. The war hadn’t started yet. She was pretty good at dodging the questions she didn’t want to answer and answering the ones she did want to. I think she’s cunning, and that’s what we really need in a president. Obama hasn’t showed me that yet.
No doubt that Hillary is tricky - you can’t be married to Bill Clinton for 20+ years and not be. Every time I see her though, I am reminded of a quote applied to Jefferson Davis when he was a U.S. Senator from Mississippi: “Cold as a lizard and ambitious as Satan.” If we want amoral and cunning leadership we should just elect Lord Voldemort.
Hillary is also electoral poison west of the Allaghenies and east of the Sierra Nevada. Nothing will get the bubbas in Fly-Over country out like a chance to finally vote against Hillary. Trust me on this, I’m originally from Indiana and one of the most pleasurable things I’ve done since I’ve been in NY is to vote against Hillary.
I’m voting for Kucinich - again! He’s the only real liberal, and he’d be a great president. I still have my button - and my song!
I’m Voting For Kucinich
(to the tune of Woody Guthrie’s “Union Maid”)
If you really give a damn
About the working man
Just walk right in
With a smile and grin
Don’t worry, friend
We’re gonna win
Just pull the lever for
Our rights from shore to shore
It’ll all be fine
November time
We’ll kick Bush out the door
>
Oh, no you can’t scare me
I’m voting for Kucinich
Give me a kinish
Made out of spinich
Oh, no you can’t scare me
I’m voting for Kucinich
Right to the finish
November nigh
I may vote for Kucinich as well. I’m disappointed Feingold didn’t run.
Mind you, Kucinich might not be in the race by the time the NY primary finally rolls around. A late primary is good for state and local offices, but it’s deadly if the state wants to have any say in who the president will be.