Ok so what Exactly are you looking for in terms of substance from Obama?

[Perky]

And are you willing to hold your own candidate to the same standard of substance?

Give us examples of issues that you do not think Obama is substantive on.

[sandnsea]

1. Beef

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

[rucky]

20. This is all good progressive stuff.

Thanks for posting!

[Armstead]

2. I wish he'd have a long talk with Bernie Sanders

Bernie is a Socialist who has much support from all ends of the spectrum in his state.

That's because Bernie "gets it" about the concentration of wealth and power, the dangers of over privatization, the folly of Alan Greenspan and he is able to put things in terms that average people as well as progressives can relate to.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. I would love to see Obama get advice from him. Bernie's great.

And he's such a no-nonsense tell it like it is communicator.

[ecstatic]

4. It's as if people want him to continuously entertain and wow them

with circus tricks and dynamic speeches. He's not here for anyone's amusement; I believe he truly does have a vision and I'm interested in seeing what he can do for this nation.

[Perky]

5. More beef

The Problem
Foreign Oil: America's 20-million-barrel-a-day oil habit costs our economy $1.4 billion a day, and $500 billion in 2006 alone. Every single hour, we spend $41 million on foreign oil.

Climate Change: As a result of climate change, glaciers are melting faster; the polar ice caps are shrinking; trees are blooming earlier; more people are dying in heat waves; species are migrating, and eventually many will become extinct.

Barack Obama's Plan
Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
Cap and Trade: Obama supports implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Obama's cap-and-trade system will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. A 100 percent auction ensures that all polluters pay for every ton of emissions they release, rather than giving these emission rights away to coal and oil companies. Some of the revenue generated by auctioning allowances will be used to support the development of clean energy, to invest in energy efficiency improvements, and to address transition costs, including helping American workers affected by this economic transition.
Confront Deforestation and Promote Carbon Sequestration: Obama will develop domestic incentives that reward forest owners, farmers, and ranchers when they plant trees, restore grasslands, or undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Invest in a Clean Energy Future
Invest $150 Billion over 10 Years in Clean Energy: Obama will invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial-scale renewable energy, invest in low-emissions coal plants, and begin the transition to a new digital electricity grid. A principal focus of this fund will be devoted to ensuring that technologies that are developed in the U.S. are rapidly commercialized in the U.S. and deployed around the globe.
Double Energy Research and Development Funding: Obama will double science and research funding for clean energy projects including those that make use of our biomass, solar and wind resources.
Invest in a Skilled Clean Technologies Workforce: Obama will use proceeds from the cap-and-trade auction program to invest in job training and transition programs to help workers and industries adapt to clean technology development and production. Obama will also create an energy-focused Green Jobs Corps to connect disconnected and disadvantaged youth with job skills for a high-growth industry.
Convert our Manufacturing Centers into Clean Technology Leaders: Obama will establish a federal investment program to help manufacturing centers modernize and Americans learn the new skills they need to produce green products.
Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund: Obama will create a Clean Technologies Venture Capital Fund to fill a critical gap in U.S. technology development. Obama will invest $10 billion per year into this fund for five years. The fund will partner with existing investment funds and our National Laboratories to ensure that promising technologies move beyond the lab and are commercialized in the U.S
Require 25 Percent of Renewable Electricity by 2025: Obama will establish a 25 percent federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to require that 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal by 2025.
Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology: Obama will significantly increase the resources devoted to the commercialization and deployment of low-carbon coal technologies. Obama will consider whatever policy tools are necessary, including standards that ban new traditional coal facilities, to ensure that we move quickly to commercialize and deploy low carbon coal technology.
Support Next Generation Biofuels
Deploy Cellulosic Ethanol: Obama will invest federal resources, including tax incentives, cash prizes and government contracts into developing the most promising technologies with the goal of getting the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol into the system by 2013.
Expand Locally-Owned Biofuel Refineries: Less than 10 percent of new ethanol production today is from farmer-owned refineries. New ethanol refineries help jumpstart rural economies. Obama will create a number of incentives for local communities to invest in their biofuels refineries.
Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard: Barack Obama will establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard to speed the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels. The standard requires fuels suppliers to reduce the carbon their fuel emits by ten percent by 2020.
Increase Renewable Fuel Standard: Obama will require 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be included in the fuel supply by 2022 and will increase that to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol by 2030.
Set America on Path to Oil Independence
Obama's plan will reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels per day, by 2030. This will more than offset the equivalent of the oil we would import from OPEC nations in 2030.

Increase Fuel Economy Standards: Obama will double fuel economy standards within 18 years. His plan will provide retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers, so that they can build new fuel-efficient cars rather than overseas companies. Obama will also invest in advanced vehicle technology such as advanced lightweight materials and new engines.
Improve Energy Efficiency 50 Percent by 2030
Set National Building Efficiency Goals: Barack Obama will establish a goal of making all new buildings carbon neutral, or produce zero emissions, by 2030. He'll also establish a national goal of improving new building efficiency by 50 percent and existing building efficiency by 25 percent over the next decade to help us meet the 2030 goal.
Establish a Grant Program for Early Adopters: Obama will create a competitive grant program to award those states and localities that take the first steps to implement new building codes that prioritize energy efficiency.
Invest in a Digital Smart Grid: Obama will pursue a major investment in our utility grid to enable a tremendous increase in renewable generation and accommodate modern energy requirements, such as reliability, smart metering, and distributed storage
Restore U.S. Leadership on Climate Change
Create New Forum of Largest Greenhouse Gas Emitters: Obama will create a Global Energy Forum — that includes all G-8 members plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa –the largest energy consuming nations from both the developed and developing world. The forum would focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues.
Re-Engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change: The UNFCCC process is the main international forum dedicated to addressing the climate problem and an Obama administration will work constructively within it.
Barack Obama's Record
Renewable Fuels: Obama has worked on numerous efforts in the Senate to increase access to and use of renewable fuels. Obama passed legislation with Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) to give gas stations a tax credit for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps. The tax credit covers 30 percent of the costs of switching one or more traditional petroleum pumps to E85, which is an 85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline blend. Obama also sponsored an amendment that became law providing $40 million for commercialization of a combined flexible fuel vehicle/hybrid car within five years.
CAFÉ: Obama introduced a bold new plan that brought Republicans and Democrats, CAFÉ supporters and long-time opponents together in support of legislation that will gradually increase fuel economy standards and offer what the New York Times editorial page called "real as opposed to hypothetical results."

[CTyankee]

6. I have in the past thought he lacked some preparation on foreign policy issues.

But so was Bill Clinton. He learned fast. Obama should look to Joe Biden for guidance here and I hope he will. Should he become president I hope he will be humble enough to reach out to a wide spectrum of Democrats who can help him in areas where he doesn'thave the expertise.

That said, I trust that his heart is in the right place and he certainly is an inspiring individual.

[Bitwit1234]

7. He can start with two things.

1 - When he said he believed bush, that Iran had nuclear weapons and would bomb Iran why did he constantly berate Hillary and Edwards when they said they believed bush had evidence that Saddam had WMD. That they gave him permission to go after the weapons and not to start a war. That is one thing I would really like him to explain. I doubt if he can.

2 - Why does he miss very important votes in the senate. I have given examples before...just one quick one....more health benefits for the military. He constantly, again berates Hillary for voting for the resolution that said that the Iranian guard were terrorists. Well hell they are. BUT HE WOULDN'T EVEN SHOW UP FOR THE VOTE. Now he can't say he did not know that they had the 150 votes he wouldn't vote at, because each and every senator is called personally before they have a vote in the senate. I don't care about all the votes he missed in the Illinois senate I want to know why he holds the record in the senate for missed votes, (outside of Tim Johnson who had the stroke).

And then of course why he supports Liberman, why he used Liberman as a mentor even after Liberman showed his true colors. That would be an extra to explain.

[maximusveritas]

9. Your facts are incorrect

1. Obama never said he believed Bush that Iran had nuclear weapons or that he would bomb Iran. I assume you're referring to his 2004 interview when he responded to a hypothetical question about whether surgical strikes would be an option if diplomatic efforts to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear bomb failed. He said it was on the table, as every other candidate has said and still say. It would be irresponsible to take anything off the table other than a nuclear first strike of course.

2. It's just not true that Obama "holds the record in the senate for missed votes". Here's a link to the number of missed votes:http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/

He's missed 37.6% of his votes so far this session, the same as Dodd, less than Biden and McCain. Edwards and Kerry also missed more by this point in 2004.

3. He doesn't support Lieberman anymore. He backed Lamont against him in the general, so where's you evidence for that?

[Andy823]

8. That's simple

I want to see him really set out plans for getting corporate America out of our government. I want to see lobbyists restrictions as to the money they give congress, and I want to see something serious on the rising cost of oil, which leads to outrageous profits for big oil compaines, while we pay throught teeth at the pump.

And last but not least, I want to see a plan on immigration.

And I will hold Edwards to this also. The one complaint I have always had with Obama is that I see no real plans to make the needed changes we need. I have no doubt he wants change, I just don't know what kind of change he really wants!

[Perky]

12. Here is just one section from his website

The Problem
Foreign Oil: America's 20-million-barrel-a-day oil habit costs our economy $1.4 billion a day, and $500 billion in 2006 alone. Every single hour, we spend $41 million on foreign oil.

Climate Change: As a result of climate change, glaciers are melting faster; the polar ice caps are shrinking; trees are blooming earlier; more people are dying in heat waves; species are migrating, and eventually many will become extinct.

Barack Obama's Plan
Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
Cap and Trade: Obama supports implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Obama's cap-and-trade system will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. A 100 percent auction ensures that all polluters pay for every ton of emissions they release, rather than giving these emission rights away to coal and oil companies. Some of the revenue generated by auctioning allowances will be used to support the development of clean energy, to invest in energy efficiency improvements, and to address transition costs, including helping American workers affected by this economic transition.
Confront Deforestation and Promote Carbon Sequestration: Obama will develop domestic incentives that reward forest owners, farmers, and ranchers when they plant trees, restore grasslands, or undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Invest in a Clean Energy Future
Invest $150 Billion over 10 Years in Clean Energy: Obama will invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial-scale renewable energy, invest in low-emissions coal plants, and begin the transition to a new digital electricity grid. A principal focus of this fund will be devoted to ensuring that technologies that are developed in the U.S. are rapidly commercialized in the U.S. and deployed around the globe.
Double Energy Research and Development Funding: Obama will double science and research funding for clean energy projects including those that make use of our biomass, solar and wind resources.
Invest in a Skilled Clean Technologies Workforce: Obama will use proceeds from the cap-and-trade auction program to invest in job training and transition programs to help workers and industries adapt to clean technology development and production. Obama will also create an energy-focused Green Jobs Corps to connect disconnected and disadvantaged youth with job skills for a high-growth industry.
Convert our Manufacturing Centers into Clean Technology Leaders: Obama will establish a federal investment program to help manufacturing centers modernize and Americans learn the new skills they need to produce green products.
Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund: Obama will create a Clean Technologies Venture Capital Fund to fill a critical gap in U.S. technology development. Obama will invest $10 billion per year into this fund for five years. The fund will partner with existing investment funds and our National Laboratories to ensure that promising technologies move beyond the lab and are commercialized in the U.S
Require 25 Percent of Renewable Electricity by 2025: Obama will establish a 25 percent federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to require that 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal by 2025.
Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology: Obama will significantly increase the resources devoted to the commercialization and deployment of low-carbon coal technologies. Obama will consider whatever policy tools are necessary, including standards that ban new traditional coal facilities, to ensure that we move quickly to commercialize and deploy low carbon coal technology.
Support Next Generation Biofuels
Deploy Cellulosic Ethanol: Obama will invest federal resources, including tax incentives, cash prizes and government contracts into developing the most promising technologies with the goal of getting the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol into the system by 2013.
Expand Locally-Owned Biofuel Refineries: Less than 10 percent of new ethanol production today is from farmer-owned refineries. New ethanol refineries help jumpstart rural economies. Obama will create a number of incentives for local communities to invest in their biofuels refineries.
Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard: Barack Obama will establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard to speed the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels. The standard requires fuels suppliers to reduce the carbon their fuel emits by ten percent by 2020.
Increase Renewable Fuel Standard: Obama will require 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be included in the fuel supply by 2022 and will increase that to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol by 2030.
Set America on Path to Oil Independence
Obama's plan will reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels per day, by 2030. This will more than offset the equivalent of the oil we would import from OPEC nations in 2030.

Increase Fuel Economy Standards: Obama will double fuel economy standards within 18 years. His plan will provide retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers, so that they can build new fuel-efficient cars rather than overseas companies. Obama will also invest in advanced vehicle technology such as advanced lightweight materials and new engines.
Improve Energy Efficiency 50 Percent by 2030
Set National Building Efficiency Goals: Barack Obama will establish a goal of making all new buildings carbon neutral, or produce zero emissions, by 2030. He'll also establish a national goal of improving new building efficiency by 50 percent and existing building efficiency by 25 percent over the next decade to help us meet the 2030 goal.
Establish a Grant Program for Early Adopters: Obama will create a competitive grant program to award those states and localities that take the first steps to implement new building codes that prioritize energy efficiency.
Invest in a Digital Smart Grid: Obama will pursue a major investment in our utility grid to enable a tremendous increase in renewable generation and accommodate modern energy requirements, such as reliability, smart metering, and distributed storage
Restore U.S. Leadership on Climate Change
Create New Forum of Largest Greenhouse Gas Emitters: Obama will create a Global Energy Forum — that includes all G-8 members plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa –the largest energy consuming nations from both the developed and developing world. The forum would focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues.
Re-Engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change: The UNFCCC process is the main international forum dedicated to addressing the climate problem and an Obama administration will work constructively within it.
Barack Obama's Record
Renewable Fuels: Obama has worked on numerous efforts in the Senate to increase access to and use of renewable fuels. Obama passed legislation with Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) to give gas stations a tax credit for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps. The tax credit covers 30 percent of the costs of switching one or more traditional petroleum pumps to E85, which is an 85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline blend. Obama also sponsored an amendment that became law providing $40 million for commercialization of a combined flexible fuel vehicle/hybrid car within five years.
CAFÉ: Obama introduced a bold new plan that brought Republicans and Democrats, CAFÉ supporters and long-time opponents together in support of legislation that will gradually increase fuel economy standards and offer what the New York Times editorial page called "real as opposed to hypothetical results."

[Lint Head]

10. Impeaching the criminals that occupy the White House now.

Ending corporate rights now. He is a Senator he can do it now.:dem:

[Perky]

16. Umm he is a Senator...the Senate does not have the power to impeach

[Iggo]

11. I'm looking for him to man up...

...and admit that he fucked up royally on the McClurkin thing.

[Perky]

18. That's an issue of substance for you?

Ok. so if he apologizes for making a boneheaded political move, He is a man of substance?

Is that based on the fear that he is a homophobe like Huckabee or because you were offended by his insensitivity. What's the price of redemption? A statement that Gays are born Gay? Repeal of DOMA? A consiturional amendment that guarantees the right of marriage?

[lwcon]

13. A very wise man is asking these two questions (rather, litmus tests)

http://www.correntewire.com/two_simple_litmus_tests_for_obama

(Since I can't seem to get an answer on this, at least one that's on point, I'll elevate it.)

I propose:

1. Social Security. With "crisis," Obama put Social Security privatization back in play.

It should be very easy for Obama to take it back out of play by saying he doesn't support Social Security privatization in any way, shape, or form. Right?

Really, really simple and cost-free statement to make, right?

2. FISA. Now that Dodd's no longer a candidate, I'd like to see Obama on the Senate Floor defending the Fourth Amendment, the Constitution, and not incidentally, not giving retroactive immunity to the huge telco corporations. That's an excellent test for showing that he understands, as Edwards does, the overweening nature of corporate power today

The bio says "Constitutional Scholar." So, is Obama an ivory tower kind of guy, or is he willing to step up and take the body?

OBAMA FAN BASE PROPHYLACTIC:

OK, OK, I'm a dirty hippie and a leftist and an Obama hater and I just don't get it and won't try and and it's my fault and I won't listen and Obama already said these things and he doesn't have to say them anyhow just for you and why should he have to and besides he's a really good speaker and an excellent professor and a good state legislator and actually passed a law at the federal level and did I mention he's a really good speaker?

Humor me.

Pretend I'm a moderate Republican, OK?

Those are my two tests. Sell me.

[hayu_lol]

14. We all know that Edwards had a very lackluster senatorial term...

the major differences between Obama and Clinton is that she generally votes yes or no on issues...and takes the flack or whatever for her votes.

Obama tends not to vote yes or no...leaving him wiggle room...he votes present. Little glaring weakness here isn't there.

Further, Obama was against the war, but was not in the Senate at the time. He did not get the briefing that BushCo staged for the people who were.

This can go back and forth forever. Next?

[lwcon]

17. How about instead of "next"...

... we skip the non-sequiturs.

The opening question was what we're looking for to determine that Obama has substance, and I pasted/linked to a post that asks for two specific things (please see the post) that would impress the writer that Obama has the right stuff.

[Perky]

19. On Social Security from his website

Plan to Strengthen Retirement Security
"We… have an obligation to protect Social Security and ensure that it's a safety net the American people can count on today, tomorrow and forever. Social Security is the cornerstone of the social compact in this country… Coming together to meet this challenge won't be easy… It will take restoring a sense of shared purpose in Washington and across this country. But if you put your trust in me — if you give me 'your hand and your heart' — then that's exactly what I intend to do as your next President."

— Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, October 27, 2007

At a Glance
Protect Social Security
Strengthen Retirement Savings
Affordable Health Care
Protect and Honor Seniors


Speak your mind and help set the policies that will guide this campaign and change the country.

Present your ideas

The Problem
Insecure Retirement Savings: Retirement savings are near a historic low and 75 million working Americans lack employer-based retirement plans. Too many companies have dumped their pension obligations, leaving workers in the cold.

Income Security: With skyrocketing health care, energy and housing costs, and the risk of being defrauded by insurance companies, too many seniors do not have the resources to live comfortably.

Barack Obama's Plan
Protect Social Security
Obama is committed to ensuring Social Security is solvent and viable for the American people, now and in the future. Obama will be honest with the American people about the long-term solvency of Social Security and the ways we can address the shortfall. Obama will protect Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries alike. And he does not believe it is necessary or fair to hardworking seniors to raise the retirement age.Obama is strongly opposed to privatizing Social Security.

Obama believes that the first place to look for ways to strengthen Social Security is the payroll tax system. Currently, the Social Security payroll tax applies to only the first $97,500 a worker makes. Obama supports increasing the maximum amount of earnings covered by Social Security and he will work with Congress and the American people to choose a payroll tax reform package that will keep Social Security solvent for at least the next half century.

Strengthen Retirement Savings
Reform Corporate Bankruptcy Laws to Protect Workers and Retirees: Current bankruptcy laws protect banks before workers. Obama will protect pensions by putting promises to workers higher on the list of debts that companies cannot shed; ensuring that the bankruptcy courts do not demand more sacrifice from workers than executives; telling companies that they cannot issue executive bonuses while cutting worker pensions; increasing the amount of unpaid wages and benefits workers can claim in court; and limiting the circumstances under which retiree benefits can be reduced.
Require Full Disclosure of Company Pension Investments: Obama will ensure that all employees who have company pensions receive detailed annual disclosures about their pension fund's investments. This will provide retirees important resources to make their pension fund more secure.
Eliminate Income Taxes for Seniors Making Less Than $50,000: Obama will eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year. This will provide an immediate tax cut averaging $1,400 to 7 million seniors and relieve millions from the burden of filing tax returns.
Create Automatic Workplace Pensions: Obama's retirement security plan will automatically enroll workers in a workplace pension plan. Under his plan, employers who do not currently offer a retirement plan, will be required to enroll their employees in a direct-deposit IRA account that is compatible to existing direct-deposit payroll systems. Employees may opt-out if they choose. Experts estimate that this program will increase the savings participation rate for low and middle-income workers from its current 15 percent level to around 80 percent.
Expand Retirement Savings Incentives for Working Families: Obama will ensure savings incentives are fair to all workers by creating a generous savings match for low and middle-income Americans. His plan will match 50 percent of the first $1,000 of savings for families that earn less than $75,000. The savings match will be automatically deposited into designated personal accounts. Over 80 percent of these savings incentives will go to new savers.
Prevent Age Discrimination: Obama will fight job discrimination for aging employees by strengthening the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and empowering the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to prevent all forms of discrimination.

[Perky]

21. From the senate website regarding FISA

“Senator Obama unequivocally opposes giving retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies and has cosponsored Senator Dodd’s efforts to remove that provision from the FISA bill. Granting such immunity undermines the constitutional protections Americans trust the Congress to protect. Senator Obama supports a filibuster of this bill, and strongly urges others to do the same.

[elizm]

23. I'm done trying to sell anyone too lazy to seek it on their own..

Obama has the most liberal record of all of the candidates. He has never changed his message regardless of what the polls have said. He is a candidate Democrats can beleive in....and has shown that he can bring others into our big tent and restore our faith in this country as well as restore the faith of the world in what America is supposed to stand for. Your 'very wise friend' needs to get up off his/her you know what and stand with us to take our country back. Thank you.

[Radical Activist]

15. Its a meaningless one liner

that people use so they can feel superior about supporting a former Senator with a much more conservative record.

[sandyd921]

22. Recognize that playing nicey-nice with corporations

is not going to get us anywhere. Sorry but, Health insurance, big pharma, and oil companies are not going to give anything up just because you sing kumbaya and say let's sit down and talk. I'd also like to see some recognition that they basically have bought our government and are running this country and that our democracy, civil and human rights, and constitution have been trashed. I want to see whoever wins this election understand that we are in the fight of our lives and be ready and willing to fight!

[Mike03]

24. For one thing, I'm not "against" Obama.

I just prefer Edwards because of how focused he is on universal health care.

So, I guess I want to know that Obama cares about the working class Americans.

He's fairly strong on foreign policy, which is good, but in the meantime millions of Americans are dying from a mass of causes, and our veterans are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan half-maimed, brain dead and probably dangerous to society, and what is he going to do about that?

And why doesn't he talk more about Iraq or Universal Health Care?

He's inspiring as hell, but he needs to complete the loop.