Okay, I have to ask... WHAT the heck is UP with Obama?

[FirstLight]

I was just as overjoyed with his election as the rest of us...but the past three years have been a series of let downs.

we thought we would get a progressive fighter, one who would end torture, lock up the bad guys, end the wars and bring us back to an even keel as a nation...
but i have not seen him ONCE stand up and fight for these things. and isn't that why we elected him?
and all his 'rationality' gets us is more foaming at the mouth from the freaks on the right, which is bad for all of us.

2012 and the Shift is coming, we know this... but I thought we would step towards it with a positive and progressive stride...
are we actually going to be overcome with darkness and have to see the very fabric of our society come unraveled?

Is there a hint anywhere that tells up what the heck is going on? is this about astrology or is it invasion of the body snatchers or what?

it's just getting too surreal for me. I feel like the air has gone out of my ability to hold that positive vision of the future. I think it's going to be a much bumpier ride than originally hoped for. and that really sucks...

[Missy Vixen]

1. I'm hoping some others will weigh in on this topic

Truthfully, I think he realized he and his family are set for life, and he has bigger things on his plate than the plight of anyone who wasn't lucky enough to go to Harvard and have a combined household income of over half a million a year.

I have been a Democrat since I was old enough to know what politics were. I am horrified at what I see and hear coming out of this White House.

IMHO, YMMV.
-MV

[FirstLight]

2. you think it's

about him being set for life? funny, I thought it was about some ego thing about being the first black pres, and he had no intention of running again...ever...

still, i just can;t figure out how we went from this HUGE high in 2008 to this - it's a lost opportunity, for all of us. but we worked SO hard for this...why are we seeing this shit happen ?

It's like it doesn't matter WHO is in office, the shit is gonna hit the fan one way or another, but I was hoping that at least Obama and the dems
would help steer us away from the edge a bit better...

what also sucks is the feelings that sweep over us in the face of these letdowns... the collective is in despair about LIFE, now we have to worry about our GOVT again? and MORE WAR? :wtf: who ordered THAT?
I have not felt this helpless or hopeless since bush was in office, that's just nuts...

and the reason i am posting here is cuz GD would eat me alive i think...

[bigmonkey]

3. Well, I'm glad you posted here too.

I feel like what I want to say would get eaten alive right now. I see what's happening with him as a microcosm of what happens with all of us, in the sense that we may know we have to take a completely new turn, but "not right now". He seems to be trying to put the situation back into some semblance of order, but he hasn't grasped that it's gone beyond that possibility, if by order is meant the way it was. I'm reminded of that discussion we had about him some weeks ago, and the phrase I pulled out of the discussion, that he's the one to "land the flaming plane" of the old order. In that metaphor, he seems to have forgotten that it's really, truly, going down.

I really don't think it helps, either, that the people giving him economic advice are the inheritors of the Chicago School of Economics; the Friedman-inspired libertarian types who have been mightily messing around with human civilization for the past 30 or so years under false assumptions. The trouble is that the study of economics is mistaken at its base, it has mistaken, unscientific assumptions about continual growth, closed systems, "externalities" and so forth. Criticizing economics with that in mind is such a penetrating criticism that it's just glossed over, for fear of ruining too many careers and financial systems at once.

Why do I think this is important? Because I think it's especially difficult for Obama, if he can overcome the inertia, to basically call his expert, learned, personal friends incompetent to fix the problems. It's such a breach of trust that it's an especially hard hurdle to jump. These aren't just people he's appointed, these are people he's known here in Chicago for about a decade.

It's like all of the reasons why are civilization is stuck are instantiated in this one man, and muddling through just is not the thing that will work now. Unless, of course, the Republicans actually earn, all on their own, the permanent contempt of the voters. It's hard to see how that will happen though, with the MSM wagons permanently pulled around them.

[Celebration]

6. you are close to the truth here

The problem is that right now we need someone that is visionary. He talks like a visionary, but he was raised Hawaiian..........that is part of his soul. He won't make waves. And we need HUGE waves. He is all about placating. I actually like the guy, he is just the wrong person for this time. However, I am hoping that things will change with a second term.

[bigmonkey]

8. One possibility is that the vision comes when the situation becomes ripe for it.

He, and we, may have unpleasant but necessary opportunities to actuate a new vision.

On the second term, I recall reading or listening to a discussion that basically said that his soul contract was fulfilled when he scooted the system through the Bush-created crisis in 2008/2009. That's about 2 1/2 years ago now.

It is still the case that we aren't privy to what's really going on, as well. I don't mean this as a blanket excuse, because it certainly seems that clear opportunities to try to lever the country out of the political hole it's in have been lost. But still, if you follow the conspiracy stuff some, the crisis may be much more thoroughgoing than it even seems to us. It's possible some of those opportunities have been lost because they were overshadowed by crises we haven't seen, but I don't know. Certainly the projected Ascension-related events would drown out most of the politics of the everyday.

There was war and conflict in Hawaiian society, as far as I can remember. How did that fit with the Hawaiian philosophy of life. Can Obama "channel" Kamehameha?

[LiberalEsto]

40. I don't know whether it's true but

very recently someone reliable told me that one of Obama's early advisers (from a major university- not Chicago), who quit out of frustration, insists he was told what he was expected to do by major behind-the-scenes players at the start of his term. And that he was in fear of his life. Some version of this may be possible, in my opinion. However, that does not let him off the hook as far as I am concerned.

Honestly, I did not support Obama when he was mentioned as a candidate, and did not work on his campaign or contribute to it.I did vote for him.

He seemed too corporate-oriented and too passive in his track record in previous offices. He did not seem to me to have the guts to clean up the Bush disaster. I supported Edwards, but looking back I wish I had supported Hillary Clinton, who at least has some courage and has already been through the GOP hate mill during Bill's terms in office.

There are also articles I have read saying that Obama worked for the CIA through Business International, that they paid for him to attend Harvard, and that his family's involvement with the CIA includes both his parents and his mother's father. If this is true, it would go a long way toward explaining Obama's behavior in office.

Here are links to articles by journalist Wayne Madsen on this subject:

http://www.a-w-i-p.com/index.php/2010/08/09/obama-s-cia-pedigree

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/08/18/wayne-madsen-obamas-cia-connections-part-i-and-ii/

More on Madsen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Madsen

Although some have dismissed him as a conspiracy theorist, I've been around a long time and worked as a newspaper journalist for more than 25 years. I've seen plenty of things that were dismissed initially as conspiracy theories that have later been substantiated.

Obama has been very soft on the CIA and its role in torturing prisoners. He has broken campaign promises to investigate torture and secret torture sites in other countries, close Guantanamo, and pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan. I very much would like to know if he has done this because he may be backed by the CIA or because he is afraid of them. But I doubt these things will ever be answered.

[Celebration]

42. Both Clinton and Obama

almost certainly went to the Bilderberg meeting in Virginia........when he gave the slip to the people following him and then they both claimed they were meeting with Diane Feinstein. I feel that was a lie. They were meeting with the Bilderberg group.

I pretty much knew we were in trouble then.........no matter who was elected.

There really weren't any viable candidates. Hillary, Bill, no difference, and Bill deregulated banks and put in NAFTA. At least Obama didn't have that history. Wayne Madsen is not a credible source, IMHO.

[murielm99]

43. While I appreciate your efforts,

I cannot consider Madsen a credible source.

Obama has plenty of non-conspiracy reasons to fear for his life. There have been more credible threats against him, first as a candidate, then as a President, than anyone else. I think this is driven by racism.

Leonard Pitts wrote about the threats, and the extra work the Secret Service has to do to protect this President.

Maybe I shouldn't put this here, but I do know some black people who are convinced that he will be assassinated. They just seem to accept that that is the fate of the first black President. That is a terrible, terrible thing.

I would like very much for this President to get back on track for us. I want so much to be able to trust and admire him as our party leader and President.

[eilen]

4. Remember all that stuff Psychic Consortiums wrote about him?

I'm thinking they were channeling an alternate universe.

I'm done with that guy. When are people going to listen when he tells him who he is? I voted for a leader not a mediator.

I am interested in hearing what Blue Iris has to say.

[Matariki]

5. I recall Obama having a difficult Neptune aspect in his chart - similar to Palin's

Neptune in Scorpio is square Sun and Mercury in Leo and with Jupiter in Aquarius.

During the election we discussed Palin's chart and how her Neptune/Sun square was a clear indication of her tendency to prevaricate - while, in our enthusiasm for Obama we looked at the same aspect and interpreted it as people projecting things on him ;-)

Palin's Scorpio Neptune squares a tight conjuction of Sun, Mars and Saturn in Aquarius - a bit more aggressive and intense. But still.

I think it would have been safe to say that Obama wasn't quite what he seemed and a lot of projection was going on.

[WhiteTara]

7. Okay, I have to say this up front. I was thrilled a democrat

won. I was worried that Barack won. I was sorry that Hillary couldn't leave her scripted speech to be authentic. If she had been able to step out of the persona and be a human she would have won hands down. But, Barack was better at the extemporaious (however that is spelled). I watched him on the podium and the people behind him were the nasty guys with money and an agenda. But, I crossed my fingers and hoped along witht he county knowing at the outset that he wanted to be the "DECIDER" just like *.

So, he's just what we expect from a corrupt society filled with "I want and I want what I want and I want it RIGHT NOW"


It could be the end of the world as we know it.

Good nite.

[Missy Vixen]

9. I saw Obama's speech at the Democratic convention in 2004

I turned to my husband and said, "He's going to be President." I don't claim huge amounts of psychic ability, but I knew it as much as I've ever known anything else in my life.

I remember telling people that we knew very little about his record because he did not spend much time in the Senate. I was told to shut up, and I didn't know what I was talking about. Of course not. I've just been volunteering for Democratic candidates for the past 30+ years.

Someone here bet me a beer he was "different". I still haven't collected that beer.

[WhiteTara]

13. I can't give you that beer either, cause

he's not so different. He thinks with his gut and it says "I want caviar."

[murielm99]

11. After he won the nomination, I worked hard for him.

Before that, I was worried. I did not like the way the caucuses were conducted in Iowa. His people came in and took over, closing doors early and pushing people around.

Here in Illinois, his organization on the ground acted very entitled. I belong to several Democratic groups. Word came down from on high that we were all supposed to endorse him, BEFORE the primaries. I prevented that in one group, because it was specifically against the bylaws. Many of the groups that have that in writing did it anyway. His people acted all shocked when anyone tried to stop it. I heard other stories about how they were acting in other places, and did not like it. I can't document this, but I know what I was seeing and hearing. And I am a second generation activist.

Politics is mean and dirty. But much of what happened early in the primary season was unnecessary. I, too, would have preferred Hillary.

I will never get an honest answer from the party regulars in this state, but I wonder what many of them are really thinking.

I knew he would be President. It was decided in 2004. I just wonder if behind the scenes repubbies had a hand in that decision. That is why they chose a throwaway candidate to run against him. He had a throwaway run against him in the Senate race, too. The powers that be wanted him, for reasons that may be clearer now.

I hate saying these things. I hope I am wrong. I pray I am wrong.

p.s. I am not trying to imply that I am important. I simply have spent a lot of time working for Democrats.

[WhiteTara]

12. I saw him at the California Democratic Convention in 07

and knew he would win also. But I saw the people behind him on the podium. We had defeated Steve Something or other for the gov slot and there that pretend dem was sitting right behind Obama. I knew then that we would have problems. Hillary had such a chance, but when it comes down to it, she won't leave the script and be a human with human answers.

[Missy Vixen]

21. I think Hillary is afraid of being human

I think she's been hurt/disappointed so badly, by so many, she's putting up a wall to protect herself.

I hope she gets to a place in her life when she can just be herself. I would love to see who that person is.

In the meantime, I was an Edwards supporter. I had to really take a hard look at myself and what I am drawn to after his issues. After all, shouldn't I have realized what a snake he was if I had any intuition at ALL?

:eyes:

[WhiteTara]

28. I was so lucky to see every candidate at the 07 convention

and what I saw about Edwards is that he talked/talks out of the side of his mouth. That really bothered me because I saw it as a sign he was not a straight talker.

[MagickMuffin]

30. Don't feel bad about your choice of Edwards

I too, was for Edwards, however, it was also the driving force behind candidate Edwards which was his wife Elizabeth. I think they were trying to make Americans aware of the disparages there are between the wealthiest and the poor. I do not think that changes how I feel about John. I think his heart was in the right place but his ego was not. Sad really, that he could not contain himself and his urges. But human nature and human behavior is a tough thing to conquer sometimes.

[murielm99]

34. If she is afraid of being human, that is because of politics.

Many women are not tough enough for the give and take. And of course, women are hit harder, by the pundits, comedians and their fellow politicians. There are nasty sexist attitudes. There are cruel jokes, and females are subjected to scrutiny that men are not.

Hillary is tough. She has to be. That is why she can seem to be afraid of being human.

Read some of her books. I do think she is human.

One of the things that really galled me about the primary season was the accusations that the Clintons were racist. Nothing could be farther from the truth. And most of their black friends know it. I was afraid to say anything here, but I think Obama's people were playing the race card on that one.

As for your support of Edwards, don't beat yourself up over it. Many good people were drawn to him. I know some experienced people who supported him. I know one of his delegates from this area. We spoke at length about why he supported Edwards.

My daughter met Elizabeth and John at the Harkin steak fry, and got to know them better during the Iowa caucuses. I have a lovely picture of my daughter with Elizabeth, at the Harkin steak fry.

My family was all over the map during the primaries. My oldest daughter and I supported Hillary. The youngest supported Edwards. My husband, my son and his fiance supported Obama.

We know better than to fight over something like a primary. We save all that for the repubbies. After Obama won the nomination, we all got to work for him.

[Autumn]

38. Okay, I just have to say what I know about

Hillary from my personal experience, when she made a trip to Iraq, she did something very wonderful for a young 21 year old soldier who was in a little panic over a personal problem at home with a loved one. She went to the trouble of getting information and making a phone call to check on it,just to put his mind at ease, having had a chance to talk to her I found her very personable and very caring. She has my unending respect and admiration for that phone call.

[Tumbulu]

10. Well, I have decided that he is doing his best under the very

bizarre circumstances that we all find ourselves in at this time.

I still believe what the Psychic Consortium people said, laugh all you want.

And I believe in fairies (heck I plant entire fields for them) and all sorts of magical forces.

What I do not understand at all is his need to placate the wrongwing losers, but I bet there is more than meets the eye about the power that they yield.

I do know that in many ways, on the ground, that his presidency has ushered in a major shift for the better. There is just a very long way to go.

[stellanoir]

14. "Just imagine being a CEO of an enormous company

within which one half of your board of directors want nothing more than for you to fail."

"The reason we are invariably disappointed in our leaders is to inspire greater autonomy within ourselves."

I could say a lot more beyond those quotations but they both really rang true to me.

[japple]

15. I haven't given up on him. I don't think we know what he is going

through. I do wish he would get advice from elder wise folks like Jimmy Carter.

[noel711]

16. What I have learned about the president...

From the very beginning of his public life, he plays it all carefully...
he plays his cards close to his chest,
and even when he reveals where he stands.. he is guarded.
It's who he is, probably how he was raised.
Life taught him some tough lessons when he was very young,
and very few of us share his experience.

When I think of all the times we thought he was down..
he always surprised us in the end.
He is an old soul, and has reasons why he does what he does.
We don't know what he does, and he won't say.

He is a survivor, and although there are times I think: "I am through..."
something comes around to remind me why he is where he is.

Recently it seems he's got much hidden.. you can tell even by his voice..
he's not giving an inch.

I hope he can bounce back... but we know he's not the only player on
the basketball court... and often he's alone against the opposition.

No matter how you feel about how he's coped, he and his family need our
thoughts and prayers. We all have dark times...

[elleng]

19. Right. Thanks

[Avalux]

17. We have to get over the idea that 'president' has a lot of power.

Unfortunately, we put Obama on a very high pedestal; invested all of our hopes in his ability to fix everything Bush and the Republicans have worked so hard to destroy, since Reagan.

How can we expect one man to do this? I am a bit more pragmatic about Obama and at this time, feel he is doing what he can; against extraordinary obstacles. I still feel his heart is in the right place although that doesn't help much when it comes to ruthless politics. I can't think of anyone who could stop the gutting of our country.

[elleng]

18. Yes. Thanks

[Proud_Lefty]

20. Bingo

This country is not run by the president or congress for that matter. It's run by the powers that be, the big money, the corporations. Obama was allowed in, but now he has to play by their rules or else. I heard over and over again after the 2004 election when I was so devastated that Kerry would have continued the same Bush policies and nothing would have changed. Why would Obama be any different? He's not in charge and is playing his cards accordingly. Saying what the masses want to hear while doing what the PTB expect of him. Yes, he needs our prayers. This shit coming out isn't him personally and I won't believe that it is him for a second.

[get the red out]

35. Absolutely

I've always been very pragmatic about the Presidency. I look at is as a earthen damn against the raging waters of complete insanity; or in the wrong hands, open flood gates. A President can't do much more than that. Dick Cheney manipulated the entire Bush years, a mere "President Bush" and normal staffers couldn't have done what was done during those eight years of complete falsehood.

[Flying Dream Blues]

22. I was watching the inauguration and was on a huge

spiritual high. I believed in Obama as a person and I still do, though it has been very hard. But while watching the inauguration, feeling more buoyant and joyful as I had in a very long time, I got a chill when I saw Cheney (in his Mr. Potter wheelchair, so apt) look at Obama. As clear as day, I got a hit in that moment--it was as if the words were spoken by Cheney, "We'll be in touch." I don't know if they have something on Obama or what, but I did sense there was something menacing that Obama would soon be apprised of.

[MorningGlow]

24. FDB, I got the same chill when I saw Obama's face as he walked to the podium

He had an expression that I wish I could have explained away as "solemn because of the enormity of being sworn in as the first black president", but I couldn't. Because I "knew" he had just had the shite scared out of him in a private "talking to" from TPTB.

[FirstLight]

26. something sinister beneath the surface....

I think this may be something for us to look at a little closer.

I seem to recall once hearing or reading something where someone said, 'after the inauguration, someone took him into a room, showed him the 'real' tapes of the kennedy assasination, and told him he had to play by their rules or he and his family were in for the same thing...if he tried toi undo what they had already put in place...'

there's something to be said for the PTB, the ones we DON'T elect. This is the force that is holding us ALL hostage right now. I try not to label them (illuminati, reptilians, etc) and I certainly don't like to give them that power in my beliefs...BUT they are a force to contend with.


maybe we should try looking at Obama as a hostage just like us? Is anyone seeing this?

[wovenpaint]

32. Same feelings here-there's much that is hidden

I've felt this way since I saw the look on his face as he emerged from a meeting with b*sh after winning...he looked scared. He'd just been told about the economy et al. I think that he was set up.

The late comedian, Bill Hicks had a bit where he described how new presidents are invited into a smoky back room with the people who REALLY run things. He's handed a glass of fine whiskey, a Cuban cigar and then watches a film of what really happened in Dallas in 1963... So, when asked what I think of the job President Obama is doing, I say-"They know where he lives and they have his family, what else can he do?"

I know, I've gotten quite cynical...yet I still believe that things will be soon changing for the better-I abide by my sig line!

[Mist]

37. I agree. I remember that as coming from someone, but couldn't remember who. I think it's

the truth. TPTB indeed run things, and presidents are figureheads. My expectations re: Obama were nil to begin with. More people are waking up to how things actually are run in the world.

[eilen]

41. If you use that logic than it does not really matter who is elected. nt/

[liberalmuse]

23. President Obama can only do so much...

His isn't a dictatorship and he's certainly gotten a lot of opposition for anything he's proposed thus far. I believe he is an honorable man, but he's also human, and he's got more on his plate than most of the US Presidents had before him barring a few.

It's up to us, the collective, the citizens of the US to actively participate in making this a better country, a better world. Individually, we need to look at our daily activities and I think we'll get the answer as to why things are the way they are. Where is our money and energy going? President Obama needs our help if he's going to succeed. I can't fault this man for trying to change things, but for also being civil about it, even if it's not the way I'd like him to be sometimes. Even so, I cannot bring myself to get down on him, even though I may be disappointed at times. I feel he's doing all he can, exhaustively, with nothing more than sharp criticism being hurled his way from all sides. I have the angels right now and I'm going to ask that they send their love, light, courage, wisdom, forsight and strength to our President.

[MorningGlow]

25. +1

I have always felt the same way, LM--he doesn't run the country alone. Granted, he could take a page from Clinton's presidential manual, about how to broker backroom deals with the opposition, but I believe Obama is more of a straight shooter than that. (Besides, look what happened to Bill when the repubs figured out they could trample him--they simply took him down. No honor among thieves.)

Plus Obama expects others to be grownups and behave accordingly; instead he's surrounded by juvenile poo-flingers whose main goal is to obstruct anything good he attempts. No wonder he's gone grey already.

[sandyshoes17]

27. The PTB

These people have so much power right now. that's why it's so important to me. I think if a repub makes it in office it's done. Either that or they are grabbing for it all before they get swept away. But they scare me. He can only go against them so much. I am starting to believe anyone who gets elected is just a puppet. That's why they have all those crazies on there side, it doesn't matter, they just want someone who will do what they say. What scares me is the American people who believe all this. They are so easily manipulated, its become us versus them mentality. I just hope the truth comes out and people wake up. It's a far reach.

[MagickMuffin]

29. Since you asked from my perspective

If anyone REALLY listened to Obama's campaign speeches the main phrase that still implies today is "YES WE CAN! I can't do this alone, I need your help! You need to get involved within your communities!"

I did just that by becoming a Precinct Chair, in which I am still to this day.


My thoughts about Hillary is this, I think she knew she was going to have a hard time winning the nomination. I think both Hillary and Bill Clinton broker a backroom deal where she got to choose a Cabinet position. I also believe that the Clinton's had a huge role in who got appointed to the Cabinet. After all look at ALL the ex-Clinton personnel.


Obama took on a major Mind-Fook that has been festering in this country for a very long long time, but became a lot more so after 9-11. Let me take that back it REALLY got extreme with the 2000 Selection. I was a witness to that fiasco and it wasn't pretty. For all the Nadar haters, his right to run for President is what Democracy is all about. However, he didn't not throw the race in Florida. As we all recall the Bush Brothers were both Governors of two critical states that held a lot of electoral votes. They had months to work out the kinks and it was brought forth with a force no one could reckoned with. The Bush Family has a huge control over this country and what happens within it.

I also believe that Candidate Gore was threatened. When he gave his concession speech everyone of the family members looked as white as ghost and scared. It is a moment in history I will never forget.


So, with everything that has happened taking the steering wheel and trying to get back on the road to recovery has been a challenge. I am of the mind that Obama or H. Clinton would have the same approach to driving the car. We are ALL just passagers, however, we can offer to help drive by being mindful of not screaming every few minutes "Are WE there yet!" We need to do all we can to help. We need to be calm and send our Prayers and POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTS to make sure WE are heard. America is a collective. As individuals we can control our thoughts to be a positive thoughts, or send negative ones. That choice belongs to us.


I realize there are several ASAHers who no matter what will continue to dislike Obama. That is also a choice. I prefer to continue to be an influence in the process. Until I became a Precinct Chair I had no idea what role I have in the process within the Party.

Are there things I wish WE could change, of course there are. Am I 100% happy about how things are going, of course not. But I will continue to do my civic duties and remain a part of the process.


Until I have walked a mile in Obama's shoes I will not judge him. I have no idea what he is having to deal with. However, I have always felt his comprising consists of trying to please everyone, which is never an easy task. I also believe that this is something he feels he MUST do to appeal to the America people. That he is the grown up in the room.

[Celebration]

31. I think you are mostly correct but

Two huge issues of mine are the wars all over the world, and legalization of pot. I don't even smoke pot and probably wouldn't if it were legalized. I am so sick of the war on drugs.

I think he would be hugely popular at home and appeal to the vast majority of people with these two issues. Even most tea partiers would like these.

So, who supports these things? Ron Paul! Good grief, I am not going to be a Ron Paul supporter for other reasons, but this is just extremely frustrating, especially given his turnaround on medical marijuana.

He is missing opportunities, IMHO. He needs to weigh more the wishes of the electorate, not just the lobbyists.

[MagickMuffin]

33. Well being someone who also favors an end to the WOD

I know nothing will happen during this term, however, if he got reelected perhaps maybe :shrug: It certainly bothers me as someone who smoked knows good and well that the propaganda behind the Reefer Madness is just that MADNESS. Barack knows this, but he obviously can't or doesn't have much power to change anything.


Eric Holder is a disaster. I was hoping he would be better than he has turned out to be. The money that has been wasted on the WOD is insane. We definitely could have been using that money for more important things, like say Health care, or education or other infrastructure. Such a waste of resources.


Ron Paul's appeal is mainly because of his opposition to ALL wars, but first and foremost is because of the WOD. A very large segment of Americans partake in smoking Cannabis, which means both political parties and even those who don't participate in the election process.

[get the red out]

36. The alternative to Obama

Is any one of a flock of insane ghouls. Do I agree with Dennis Kuchinich more on some of the positions the President has taken, YES; could someone that progressive ever stand a snowballs chance in hell of becoming President of the United States, NO. Would allowing a Republican into office help people see the light? Maybe, but it would be far too late when measures that make the Patriot Act look good were enacted.

We don't have much in this country, not much at all as I see it, if we can have a President that isn't up Fox News' ass that's better than the alternative. This isn't a completely free country due to the media's influence on public opinion, as long as there is no freedom in the media, and money is considered "speech", we simply have to take what we can get and that's reality as I see it.

[Lucinda]

39. IMO The only time I have ever seen the "real" Obama

is when he is with children. If you look at his face he is truly joyful.

Other than that, he is masked, and I believe deliberately remains vague. He may have wanted to BE POTUS, but he didn't have any plan of his own once he got there. What we are seeing is the same man who has always been there. He says enough for people to assume he is speaking for them. He may or may not have believed the things he DID say specifically, but not enough to take a stand and fight for them. He is a great speaker, but the words are inspiration, not action.