Let There Be No Doubts About It Anymore. We Chose the Correct Candidate in Obama.

[David Zephyr]

My companion of over 30 years told me this morning as we both held back tears of joy and pride watching Senator Obama speaking to 200,000 Germans: "David, no other Democrat could have ever drawn that many enthusiastic people to see an American presidential candidate." How true.

We had a great crop this year in the primaries, but let there be no doubts any longer: The great Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, said it best: "Barrack Obama is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate." He is just that.

50 states of primaries and caucuses later, the Democrats chose the right candidate. Be proud.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Thank God Obama's the nominee.

:thumbsup:

[Labors of Hercules]

45. amen.

and amen.

[lynettebro440]

58. I hold my small litttle state of Iowa

as being a defining moment in history on January 3rd, 2008. If we would not have voted him above Clinton and Edwards he may not have ever got this off the ground. Way to go Iowa:)

[Peacetrain]

67. Iowa here also..last July, I knew he was the man

for the times. We had great canidates, and I loved them all. Saw them all, but what is needed to set the ship of state right at this juncture in time, is someone like Obama. So much damage has been done to our economy, military, standing in the world, etc, no one person can bring it back in one or two terms. But we do need someone who can at least get that ship upright, it will be a task and a half..but Senator Obama is the one who has the best shot at doing it. I have never had a doubt, and I have never looked back.

[jazzjunkysue]

130. Yep. You Iowan's proved your mettle and why we trust you to kick off the primary.

Well done. Thanks.

[blue52power]

77. I would still like to see Hillary on the ticket

My preference, I think it would be an unbeatable ticket.

[defendandprotect]

78. HRC is DLC . . . and if she goes on the ticket . . . I'd be seriously questioning it . . .

Why are you pushing DLC here . . . ?

It's poison for the Democratic Party and its ideals ---

[blue52power]

84. what

We're not allowed to say Hillary could strengthen the ticket, lol.

50% of the Party voted for her. She should at least be considered.

[defendandprotect]

144. Hillary is DLC leadership...DLC is corporate-wing of the party...moving party to RIGHT . . .

Is that what you want?

More corporate control of the party?

And/or for the Democratic party to be moved to the RIGHT . . . ????


Where were you all the times this has been discussed about HRC . . .

and about the DLC . . . ??

[blue52power]

149. I'm talking about politics

...and politics is about winning elections.

I'm saying Hillary should be considered because it will give us a strong ticket. Would you prefer Obama with Hillary for 8 years or McCain for 4 years. My ideal would be Wellstone/Kucinich, but that aint happening.

Who brings more to the tickete than Hillary? I'd be interested in your suggestions.

[defendandprotect]

154. Elizabeth Holtzman would help us win elections ---

the "means" is as important as the "ends" . . .

The DLC is about moving the party to the right --- corporatizing it ---

Why aren't you concerned about that --- ???



Oh . . . and now we can't win without HRC . . . ?

Give me a break ---

HRC would also open all the doors to the old Clinton campaign fund raising stuff --- *

which, btw, is quite questionable . . . the selling of the White House/government.

Bill sold quite a bit of government --- and sold out 60 years of Welfare guarantees.


Barbara Boxer is OK, too ---



* among other things . . . a L&T sales clerk began a discussion like this with me when
HRC was running. The first thing she said was she didn't want Bill back in the WH . . .
because he'd be "up everyone woman's skirt" . . .

Granted she's an idiot --- but there's a big Bill hangover that leans that way.

[davidpdx]

169. D&P, I agree with you and am personally getting tired of hearing

that Obama can only win with Clinton on the ticket. It's absolute horsecrap. Obama is going to pick who he thinks is best, it is his choice, not Hillary's.

[Labors of Hercules]

86. I so profoundly disagree with Hillary supporters at this point...

Obama has always been the best person to assume the Presidency, but too many Hillary supporters STILL have not gotten past their blind attachment to her, even if they've grudgingly decided to back Obama.

It is the same mentality we are dealing with in those people who refuse to give up on McCain, even though they KNOW Obama is the best choice.

I didn't support Hillary for President and I sure as hell don't support her for Vice President.

[Demeter]

2. Bill Could Have, Before He Turned to the Dark Side

and did. Newt was not amused.

[Darth_Kitten]

105. How people want to forget the 90's......

:eyes:

[bread_and_roses]

114. And how selective some others' memories are - forgeting NAFTA, the destruction

of the safety net (also called "Welfare Reform")the telecommunications bill...others I can't call to mind in the two minutes I have right now.

[Whisp]

120. and two terms of killing Iraqi's - that one sticks in my craw. nt

[roguevalley]

115. the 90's were good to me and mine but when I look at Barack I don't

see the ghosts of ten million dipshit things clinging to him. I truly do see something new. I agree with the OP.

[DevonRex]

3. I am proud. Nobody else could have done this. nt

[LSparkle]

4. Andrew Sullivan noted this back in December 07 in an Atlantic article

He predicted almost exactly the strengths we've "rediscovered" in
Obama just over the past week. At last I feel like our party (and
country) has just the candidate it needs at this point in time.

[Whisp]

20. Its a special time to be alive, indeed.

The Mayans say that if you are chosen to live in these times, it has taken generations and eons to pick the right people to be here right now and in the few years ahead. You are here for an important reason. You have very important work to do.

well, something like that.

[Cha]

46. That's interesting..one forgets

about the Mayans and what should be the new age of Harmony coming down the pike.

[roguevalley]

116. may it come fast. I feel the edge of something good coming. I hope so.

[ooglymoogly]

98. Doesn't Andrew Sullivan also sell stick up lightbulbs?

sorry couldn't help it, just joshin'. Lucky for us Obama is turning out to be the near perfect candidate for us at this time.

[Coexist]

5. Amen. My husband thinks I have a crush on him

but it is just so damn thrilling that so many people on the world *love* a Democrat. Our party needed this so bad.

Not just been supportive of, agreed with the policies of, or hoped would win, but the ENTIRE WORLD *LOVES* OUR CANDIDATE!

It is so historic.

[Coexist]

7. oh, and he's the first Democrat I have ever supported,

who I didn't cringe inside awaiting their response to a gaffe or embarassing revelation. I actually look forward to his on-target, kick ass response EVERY TIME!

[bjobotts]

52. 1st dem ever huh. Says alot about you.

[Coexist]

68. Go on...

I've been a Dem all my life, but I have disappointed by so many of them by not hitting back hard - every time, that I get nervous about how they will act when things come up.

What is your problem?

[dionysus]

72. i think it ryhmes with duma.....

:rofl:

[Coexist]

73. !!!

:rofl:

[bjobotts]

104. Got busy. 1st dem you ever supported suggests you don't think veryhighlyof dem candidates

Unless you're like 21 and have little exposure either you were uninvolved in dem primaries or candidates challenging or even those running to make that statement. So it says either you didn't care enough, or don't think much of dem candidates over the years or preferred another party...either way IT SAYS ALOT ABOUT YOU. A statement which shouldn't surprise you.

[bjobotts]

108. Didn't you like Gore, Kucinich, Edwards, Kennedy. I love Obama but he's no messiah

[dionysus]

126. can i ask honestly why you reply to yourself?

:rofl:

[Coexist]

135. yes, I did, a lot.

but Obama's answers to 'crises' have been so out-of-the-park, that I look forward to, instead of worry about, his responses. I have confidence that he will handle it well. No, not just well - he will turn it into a positive in some way. Sorry if you have a problem with that.

[dionysus]

122. no, you are either reading challenged or too lazy to read the body of the post, which is;

oh, and he's the first Democrat I have ever supported, who I didn't cringe inside awaiting their response to a gaffe or embarassing revelation. I actually look forward to his on-target, kick ass response EVERY TIME!

[Coexist]

134. thank you for defending my words

I appreciate it. I feel how I feel and that's about it. We live in an historic time, and Obama is an historic leader.

[mkultra]

79. not as much as this post says about you.

[Darth_Kitten]

107. Why? Because they are NOT treating Obama like some kind of teen idol?

Yes, that DOES say a lot about the poster. Good for him/her.

[Yes We Did]

87. You have been here long enough to know better.

Try reading more than the titles before you respond.

[jberryhill]

99. Methinks you didn't notice....

...that the subject line continued as a complete sentence in the post.

[roguevalley]

118. his conference with Sarkozy this morning was an eye opener. I haven't

seen such intelligence and confidence in a leader in too long. Very John Kennedy in the inspiration he made me feel.

[Coexist]

133. I agree.

[Darth_Kitten]

109. Actually, the world just doesn't love the Republican.......

:eyes:

Actually, I've yet to hear anybody mention Obama here in Canada. Odd, perhaps, or maybe they are just being reasonable and not treating Obama like the Second Coming.

[Runcible Spoon]

123. I don't care how many feel-good world tours Obama embarks upon...

the real proof will be when he starts rolling out his policies. I'm cautiously keeping my fingers crossed.

Until then, I just can't really muster up orgiastic glee. :rofl:

[stillcool]

163. You are looking for orgiastic glee?

from a candidate for the President of the United States Empire?

[Runcible Spoon]

164. a lot of people around here seem to be experiencing it...

just hasn't kicked in for me :shrug:

[stillcool]

167. ah...is that the new

'messiah', 'kool-aid', 'cultist' meme?

[Runcible Spoon]

168. I don't know what the fuck you're trying to insinuate.

I don't get tearful about a politician doing what a politician does. Some people do. If that's what floats their boat, fine. Just doesn't appeal to me. I have no idea why my personal opinion is being accused of being a "meme". I don't spam the message boards trying to get memes going, sorry to burst your bubble.

But yes, for ME personally, I feel uncomfortable with this level of adoration for a politician. For ME. You are free to do what, say, and feel what you like.

[stillcool]

170. Well I sure hope someone...

makes you 'orgiastic'. It is a shame that you find it necessary to demean the feelings of those that are a little hopeful..for a few minutes in time..that something new and different might have an affect on the policies that are so destructive to our society. You are so entitled to your opinion, and judgment of others you don't even know. Must be nice way up there.

[dionysus]

125. ah yes, more messiah\cult horseshit.

:eyes:

[Whisp]

129. bullshit on a stick. you know what every Canadian is saying?, sure.

well I'm one too, and know a few others as well and yes, we Are talking about Obama and it's all mostly good.

We are so god damned happy that an intelligent human being just may be the leader of the free world soon.

[Scurrilous]

6. Yep!

:thumbsup:

[Arugula Latte]

8. Definitely. No question in my mind.

Although, I liked Edwards, a lot, too ... But, of the choice between Obama and Hillary, then, yeah, hands down, he's the best choice.

[AtomicKitten]

9. Never doubted it for a moment.

[elizm]

37. Me either ;)

[AtomicKitten]

160. kick and a

:toast:

[monmouth]

10. He truly is just that. An speaking of Richardson, I wouldn't mind him as VP at all....n/t

[H2O Man]

11. Absolutely.

Once in a generation.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

14. Enjoy your stay

It won't be long. :evilgrin:

[scarletwoman]

15. Is your username an indication of where your head is at?

"flip flops"?

FAIL.

[Diamonique]

16. What are you talking about?

You and your family need to stop watching the liars on TV.

He has only flip-flopped on one thing... campaign finance. And the flip-flop he made on that one was smart.

All the other flip-flop nonsense you hear on TV is just that... nonsense. He WILL end the war in Iraq. He has never wavered on that.

So once again I ask... what are you talking about?

[FatDave]

17. enjoy your stay (nt)

[DevonRex]

18. Buh bye.

[Coexist]

19. Barack is spelled with one "r"

y'all always make that mistake.

[nc4bo]

22. So which disposable urinary incontinence product do YOU prefer?

Be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and floppy hats while out in the sun.


edit for NT removal - I wasn't done yet dammit.



Now I'm done.

[AlCzervik]

25. you come from a weird gene pool. Why you family hates his guts and doesn't trust him

is just weird.

[DevonRex]

28. And *poof* he's gone.

[H2O Man]

29. A "flip-flopper"

in his own write.

[KoKo]

32. too flip...for me......n/t

[blonndee]

30. good riddance, sad pumeister.

I feel sorry for you. But not too much. Although you're pathetic, you're nasty. Much like the 28-percenters. Funny how that works with the PUMAs.

[Diane R]

13. Absolutely. Not one other candidate could have pulled this off.

[KoKo]

33. We Dems do the BEST...when we choose Charismatics...

those with tremendous PERSONALITIES...that voters can identify with that overwhelm the puny or the vicious that the Repugs put out with their Echo Chamber that carries them forward.

When we Dems choose "THINKERS" we always lose. (Stephenson, Mondale, McGovern, Dukakis, Carter, (one term, trashed from beginning, and Clinton, accused of Murder and other foul deeds before and after inauguration, Kerry, his War Record besmearched and defiled..) When we chose "Charismatics" we WIN!

But, what do we win...in the end? A "One Termer" or a "Loser." It's choosing the THINKERS that cause us to lose before we even get them into office. That's what worries me...

OBAMA seems to combine both "Thinker and Charismatic" ....let's hope he can sustain that and go on and do BIG THINGS...with that POWER. Think JFK for the only one who ever combined those two talents: Rock Star and Thinker...Charismatic..

But then there is Bill Clinton...the "outlier" who defies some of this thought. :shrug:

[David Zephyr]

35. Thinker and charismatic.

That he is! And I love the idea of him and Michelle taking those two young girls into the White House. America needs to see a young family there in the presidential residence. It will be good for the soul of our country.

Today was a historic day...for the world.

[KoKo]

39. But...as I said in the "dark thought afterthough" What about Clinton...?

He combined Charismatic and Thinker....

Perhaps Obama is the "next evolution" who will escape what was thrown at Clinton? :shrug:

[Indenturedebtor]

50. Clinton was not nearly as eloquent. Nor did he have as much character frankly

He has charisma and is intelligent, but the man has some demons and he's not as smart. :shrug:

We'll see what Obama does with his time in power. I'm hopeful that it will be good for us and the world.

[Tarc]

59. Oh Please. Obama dosn't hold a candle to Pres. Clinton's speaking eloquence

Let's not elevate him above the Clintons, FDRs, and JFKs of the party quite yet. Way too premature.

[karynnj]

64. Clinton was extremely smart, charismatic, and articulate but NEVER eloquent

There is not a single speech you can point to that was eloquent, while there are many for Obama. Obama has the possibility of being a truly great President. The problems he will face, if elected, will demand it. If he is able to do what is needed, he will be a President of FDR status, which Clinton never came close to.

[Darth_Kitten]

110. revisonist history?

:shrug:

[karynnj]

162. No - it was even what was said then

Give me an example of an eloquent speech - something that went beyond rallying a crowd or being articulate. There are many things that Clinton was - but he was not eloquent. If you think he was guote a speech that you think was eloquent.

[dionysus]

65. actually Obama drinks Bill's milkshake in the eloquence department...

:eyes:

[Indenturedebtor]

74. Seriously? Please post me even some text of an eloquent Clinton speech

Adept, sincere, crafty sure. But eloquent? Not so much heh. And I'm sorry but the Clintons are not in the same ranks AT ALL as FDR and JFK. Not even close.

FDR would have taken one sniff at Nafta and Clintons welfare reform and beaten him over the head with his wheelchair until Clinton stopped moving.

[dionysus]

75. didn't you know that biting your lip and crying crocodile tears constitutes the height of eloquence?

:rofl:

[Indenturedebtor]

76. Lol exactly "What is the meaning of "is" or "was" exactly?"

Hahahah.

[dionysus]

88. the red-faced finger wag also conveys gravitas...

;)

[Indenturedebtor]

92. Lol we better stop or we're going to have a "Leave bill alone" sob moment n/t

[dionysus]

95. whatever do you mean?

[Indenturedebtor]

97. LOL a picture is worth a thousand words n/t

[Darth_Kitten]

112. Well, I'm sure there are better examples for this popular two time President.

I see some strident supporters still need to bash former Presidents in order to make the current candidate look better in their eyes. Very, very sad.

:eyes:

[dionysus]

128. not really.

clinton was no little baby jesus like his ardent fans paint him to be. decent pres, but capilutaded to the RW more often then not. didn't do a damn thing that couldn't get undone by one term of the dumbest president we have ever had.

the clintons are yesterdays news, get over it....

and since you're not even an american, why are you here being anti-obama all the time?

[highplainsdem]

142. I posted a reminder of Bill Clinton's eloquence in reply 132 -- his Brandenburg Gate speech in 1994

to a crowd the Secret Service estimated at 100,000. Brilliant speech.

As I said there, Clinton was so articulate and eloquent we got used to that.

After 8 years of Bush, suddenly any dgeree of eloquence seems amazing.

[highplainsdem]

141. Your ignorance is showing, as well as your Clinton hatred. See my reply below

for an example of an eloquent speech by a dazzling rock star of an American politician who drew a crowd of about 100,000 (Secret Service estimate) to hear him at the Brandenburg Gate in 1994.

[dionysus]

150. awww, someone still has big dawg crush....

:rofl:

ad hom.. check

tired old "hatred" cliche... check....

:rofl:

[highplainsdem]

151. Thank you for proving my point.

[dionysus]

155. hey, it's not my problem that he squandered his legacy with the boatload of douchebaggery he

propagated during this primary....

:shrug:

[highplainsdem]

132. READ THIS - especially if you're foolish enough to believe Clinton wasn't eloquent:

http://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/ga6-940712.htm

This is the embassy's transcript of his speech, so it notes applause.

"Berlin is free!"

Remarks by President Bill Clinton in Address to the People of Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate. Berlin, Germany, July 12, 1994.

Citizens of free Berlin, citizens of United Germany, Chancellor Kohl, Mayor Diepken, Berliners the world over, thank you for this wonderful welcome to your magnificent city. (Applause.)

We stand together where Europe's heart was cut in half and we celebrate unity. We stand where crude walls of concrete separated mother from child, and we meet as one family. We stand where those who sought a new life instead found death. And we rejoice in renewal.

-snip-

The work of freedom is not easy. It requires discipline, responsibility and a faith strong enough to endure failure and criticism. And it requires vigilance. Here, in Germany, in the United States, and throughout the entire world, we must reject those who would divide us with scalding words about race, ethnicity, or religion. (Applause.)

I appeal especially to the young people of this nation -- believe you can live in peace with those who are different from you. Believe in your own future. Believe you can make a difference and summon your own courage to build, and you will. (Applause.)

There is reason for you to believe. Already, the new future is taking shape in the growing chorus of voices that speak the common language of democracy. In the growing economies of Western Europe, the United States and our partners. In the progress of economic reform, democracy and freedom in lands that were not free. In NATO's Partnership for Peace where 21 nations have joined in military cooperation and pledge to respect each other's borders.

It is to all of you in pursuit of that new future that I say in the name of the pilots whose airlift kept Berlin alive, in the name of the sentries at Checkpoint Charlie who stood face-to-face with enemy tanks, in the name of every American president who has come to Berlin, in the name of the American forces who will stay in Europe to guard freedom's future -- in all of their names, I say "Amerika steht an ihrer Seite, jetzt und fuer immer." (Applause.)

America is on your side now and forever. Moments ago, with my friend, Chancellor Kohl, I walked where my predecessors could not, through the Brandenburg Gate. For over two centuries in every age, that gate has been a symbol of the time. Sometimes it has been a monument to conquest and a tower of tyranny.

But in our own time, you, courageous Berliners, have again made the Brandenburg what its builders meant it to be -- a gateway. Brandenburg what its builders meant it to be, a gateway. (Applause.) Now, together, we can walk through that gateway to our destiny, to a Europe united, united in peace, united in freedom, united in progress for the first time in history. Nothing will stop us. All things are possible. "Nichts wird uns aufhalten. Alles ist moeglich. Berlin ist frei." (Applause.) Berlin is free. (Applause.)

According to Douglas Jehl's article about Clinton's speech in the NY Times on July 13, 1994: "German police initally said the crowd numbered about 50,000, but the Secret Service later estimated it at 100,000."


Bill Clinton was so very articulate and eloquent, so very often, that we came to take it for granted.

Eloquence seems more unusual after 8 years of Bush embarrassing all of us.

[KoKo]

152. Maybe it's just that Clinton was "Elegant and Populist" for "His Time."

And...that "his time" has passed...long gone...and the DLC and the rest are so corrupted that the memory of the "HOPE FOR CHANGE" Clinton ran on...has gone buried in the dust...of the RW Lies/Impeachment/Monica...and that he frittered away what could have been a NEW FDR LEGACY...which is what he ran on.

I hope and pray that Obama will be different...but so far he seems to run on the same platform as Clinton before him...with the "other hope for change, Carter" thrown into the Mix.

Our Dems are finally "catching up to Repugs" but they still don't seem to get it. We have to hope (ONCE AGAIN) that ANOTHER "Hope & Change" Dem will get in and FINALLY be able to DEFEAT the RW "Mighty Wurlitzer" of Murdoch/Fox and GE/MSNBC/CNBC/NBC and TIME-WARNER of the CNN (WAR IS GOOD whatever it takes) Channel that many of us DU'ers pay "Big BUCks" to access the lying PROPAGANDA!

:shrug:

[mkultra]

82. i disagree

Clinton was faster on his feet but Obama's speeches are far better and their message is much cleaner.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

159. Clinton was a very good speaker, if at times too wordy, but

Obama has at time given me the literal chills with the power of his oratory - like the night of the Iowa caucuses and the night he clinched the nomination. Haven't heard anything like that since the glory days of Mario Cuomo or JFK.

[pipi_k]

61. RE: thinkers

Don't forget about Al Gore.

Great mind...not a whole lot of charisma, unfortunately for this country for the past eight years...

But you know, I think it's only human nature for people to be drawn to other people who have charisma, whether they're thinkers or not. For some people, the act of thinking is way too complicated.

Look at GWB...although how anyone could say he had/has charisma is beyond me, because quite honestly I could never see it and have always thought he was an arrogant little snot who deserved/deserves a good kick in the ass, but anyway...

This whole point about thinkers was bolstered by a political ad I saw on CNN this morning...put out by the Republicans, saying that Obama isn't just a "flip-flopper"...he's WORSE than a flip flopper.

Because (they said) flip floppers only hold one thought/position at a time while Worse Than Flip Floppers actually hold (GASP!!!!) more than one thought/position at a time. Like that's a crime.

Although F. Scott Fitzgerald had a different opinion when he said:

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function."


That was, I suppose, the appeal of Bush. People who voted for him couldn't...probably still can't....function while holding two opposing ideas at the same time. It's either black or white and nothing in between.

I think it's unfortunate that people with the ability to see shades of gray (and black and white at the same time) are so maligned and called, at best, hypocrites or flip floppers....

[President Decider]

21. The world was watching Obama today ..... and he delivered.

Stood at the plate and delivered a long home run for the home team; The once again "PROUD" .... United States of America.

Great job today son, great job!

[David Zephyr]

38. Welcome to the DU, President Decider.

:hi: Proud indeed.

[totodeinhere]

23. This was the greatest moment since JFK's speech in Berlin and it was better than Reagan's "tear...

down this wall" speech.

[KoKo]

34. Yes...and it was Excellently Orchestrated to be that Way for the Viewer and Pundits

of "Mainstream Tee Vee." It was indeed a great moment for his Campaign Handlers. They know how to sell the goods and get some airtime even in the tight Right Wing Marketplace of McCorporate Tee Vee.

Good on his Campaign for "outfoxing, FOX!"

[BeyondGeography]

24. One difference here: My tears flowed freely...nice post, David

K&R

[David Zephyr]

36. Let them flow.

We cried also, but we tried not to so as not to water up the vision.

Historic day!

[sorval]

131. dont raise your expectations too much

FISA brought me back down to earth with Obama. He *might* be a good president, possibly even a great president--but he's a politician, he's human, and he has been moving like a middle of the roader. You can't be sure his views on a lot of things will align with a purely progressive agenda. His speech was good, but I haven't seen him attack core rethuglican ideas so much as work to coexist with them. Until he suggests a paradigm change, like FDR's New deal, or JFK's ask not... then you should still have doubts. Maybe, as some people suggest -- he is posing as a middle of the roader, but maybe he truly IS a middle of the roader. A policy swing back to the middle of the road is half way there in my book.
His war policy is half way where it should be, and his Free trade agenda makes me question his allegiances as well. He should call it fair trade instead of free trade.

He will be "great" when he (does a few of) leads the party to end the war, reinstates habeus, removes unlawful detention and torture, dismantles the imperial presidential powers, overhauls the tax code giveaways to the powerful, establishes "real" free and fair trade (which ends up being a complex topic), balances the budget, moves toward more modern health policy, and removes the FISA neutering that he just voted for. He also needs to reestablish the rule of law in politics by punishing previous criminal behavior, and permanently abolishing the presidential pardon -- the pardon is anathema to justice. And, he needs to sign onto the world criminal court (and thats just for his first 100 days).

Being a good middle of the road democrat isn't being great. And he has a ton of horrific challenges ahead, and 8 years plus of house cleaning to do. And lets face it, our best hope or not, he is new to a lot of this stuff. It's an impossible job, and messianic belief in the guy isn't going to help things.
Looking into the future, a middle of the roader isn't going to discredit and bury the republican ideas like they need to be buried. Being a middle of the roader means keeping those ideas alive. I don't see our party even beginning to dig holes on all this stuff we need to bury.

And he just got lovingly stroking Israel over there, I'm not certain he will be a balanced hand in the middle east, and thats what that region needs. Its the only way to get out of military conflict in the area. While we back Israel to the hilt, we will be in military conflict there, and Israel will feel free to do whatever they want, damn the consequences. We need to rethink our policy for the whole region- what we have now is utter crap.

So, I think we need less crying, more yelling and making him say what he means, and promising to do whats right. We need promises now, not protest later.

And before you start with the "Sounds like you want McCain to win!" chorus--- McCain isn't going to win. We don't need to live in such constant fear of that possibility that its the only thing we can ever think about.
This election will be a victory in the larger campaign, but it will be just one of many we will need. We have such a long long way to go.

[KoKo]

26. Yes! For the Media Sports Cycle we live in ....OBAMA WAS THE ONE!

ROCK STAR...Charisma....JFK, memory morphed, with a new message (with hints of old Dem Ideals)that rings across the world as Multi-Racial and Multi-Inclusionary.

We finally got a REAL African-American who understands the GLOBAL SITUATION. We've boken the "code" that all "African-Americans" should be like Reverends Jackson or Sharpton or others who were so personally tied to the Reverend King and those "old memories" of Freedom Marches and such ...

New Face of America and we ARE GLOBAL...and for Obama to reach back to John Fitzgerald Kennedy's German Speech is just incredible. It's an amazing "passing of the torch" to a generation decades later.

It's truly an exciting time, isn't it, David? Glad that we lived so long. Plus! The Sports Media Mavens have got to love him...he's got it ALL!

koko

[politicasista]

27. Obama earned it.

:patriot:

[BlooInBloo]

31. But he can't get the bigot vote!!!! Oh NOESSSS!!!!

:rofl:

[KoKo]

40. The "Bigot Vote" is shrinking. But, we all know how they vote...no matter what

or who they are presented with as candidates. Amazing isn't it...the "closed minds" that exist in some 20% of our Population but they still can keep Hate Radio and Fox News and Murdoch/Moon/GE Empires going...after all these decades.

[BlooInBloo]

41. No it's not. It'll be close to 50-50 or worse in every non-coastal state....

That's why this will be a very exciting election day.

[KoKo]

42. You are counting on "Closet Bigots" or "DRE Machines" to make it 50/50?

Well...I have to say you might have a point, there....

[Frisbee]

90. Most of them...

wouldn't vote for a Democrat under any circumstances. I also doubt most of them would have been willing to vote for a woman.

[roseBudd]

43. He is like Morpheus, his place is to show us the door, it is up to us to walk through, I am

[angee_is_mad]

44. Hell yeah!!!!!

We chose the right candidate at the right time!!!

[AZBlue]

47. Yes we did!

Yes we can!

[flamingdem]

48. Vielen Dank Barack Obama

I was so happy to see how Berlin turned out to see Obama today. Something tells me that a worldwide movement is in place, it's not radical but it is elegant and sane.

[blondie58]

60. Ja, es ist sehr gut

and a big welcome to you flamingdem!

[flamingdem]

94. Danke fur zie wilcommen zu DU n/t

[roguevalley]

124. THe pictures from Berlin were beautiful, Berlin looked beautiful. It

was nice to feel close to Europe again. :)

[grantcart]

49. The system worked -- who knew?

[Name removed]

51. Deleted sub-thread

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

[LaStrega]

53. K & R w00t!

[LaStrega]

54. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

Meh. So sue me.

[Loudmxr]

55. The interview reminded me of an old Kennedy interview with Sander Vanocre

:toast:

[rucognizant]

56. CNN got it right!

This morning they're saying 200,000. attended ( that I heard on Deutsch World News Journal last night!)

[Pacifist Patriot]

57. BBC World Service reported 10,000 yesterday afternoon.

Wonder why such a huge discrepancy.

[meowomon]

62. He still has me but...

I am still shocked over the FISA vote.

[NYDem Observer]

63. I agree wholeheartedly! K&R

[Catherine Vincent]

66. I proudly support Senator Barack Obama but

some of you here are freaking me out.

[Peacetrain]

69. You know what, I don't blame you for freaking out a little..

But it really in NOT hero worship, or that Messiah complex that rush is stuck on.. It is just such a sight of relief to think we are this close to moving the neo cons out of power. If Richardson, or Clinton or Biden was the head of the ticket, I would be just as relieved. But it is nice to see the we have not completely lost our standing internationally. That has been nice.

[Catherine Vincent]

70. It's hard to believe that a little over six months from now that terrible

man will be out of office.

[Peacetrain]

71. I know! This has been a long 7 years

but thank GOD for the American Way. Even this group has a finite time at the wheel of power. WHEW! what amazes me is the amount of damage they were able to do from habeas corpus, forward. If we get another neo con in there, I am not sure how easily we will be able to come back from it. I am trying not to count my chickens before they hatch but sometimes you just have to :woohoo:

[Puzzler]

140. The American Way?

"... but thank GOD for the American Way. Even this group has a finite time at the wheel of power. WHEW! what amazes me is the amount of damage they were able to do from habeas corpus, forward"


Sorry, but if it hadn't been for the "American Way", this Bush debacle wouldn't have happened, or at the very least, lasted as long as it has. If the US had a parliamentary system, a moron like Bush could never have ascended to power (yeah, I know the UK had Blair, but he wasn't a moron, and they got rid of him... thanks to the "British Way").

[Peacetrain]

143. For all its faults, I'll keep it

:).. we do shift back and forth, but so far so good.. we keep pulling back together. When I say thank GOD for the American way, it is because, power is limited, and the voters get to straighten out the mess the politicians have made. Because invariably, power corrupts. Same as your system in that sense.

I have to admit, I love watching the parliamentary reports on cnn from London, but honestly Puzzler, that is not us. We are who we are, where "the women are strong, the men are good looking, and the children are above average".. *LOL* :hi:

[Puzzler]

148. Actually, live in Canada...

... another parliamentary system. And an election system that is tightly federally regulated, with paper ballots. It's simple, and it works.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-American, but parts of your electoral system suck.

[Peacetrain]

158. Oh I should have figured that out from the flag

Somedays I am just not paying enough attention. You will not get any argument out of me there "parts of your electoral system suck". Some parts of our system do suck. In particular the electoral college. We have had a few elections (sometimes in our favor, last time not), where the canidate who had the majority of the vote did not get the office.

But we keep on plowing through, and make the best of it in the end. Again it works for us. Well it works when my side wins, now when the republicans win, it sucks goose eggs!! :)

Our voting machines ay yi yi.. that is another story all together. But I think many of us are moving back to the paper ballot. I know in my part of Iowa, we do the paper ballot. Many more fiascoes like Florida in 2000 and we will all be walking around with purple fingers to prove we voted.

[Kierkegaard]

80. I'm freaking out a bit because, for the first time in a loooong time,

we have a candidate who has the whole package. He's from humble beginnings, a true American success story, fairly scandal-proof, unflappable, articulate, dignified and brilliant.

It's a relief knowing we won't have another repugnantcon in office, but even moreso because in Obama and our present circumstance, we have the makings of a truly remarkable period in American history. It's pretty exciting! :bounce:

[Peacetrain]

137. Yes it is..and Yes we can

:bounce: It will be a great relief not to have to peek at the papers through closed fingers afraid of what doofus thing the president has said this time!

[roguevalley]

127. I agree. We have a nice man with a good family who is educated

up the wazoo, who is elegant and eloquent and a throw back to an age of dems that ruled the world. It isn't hero worship. Its pride.

[Peacetrain]

138. I am so proud.. yep, that is exactly what it is

I can actually be proud of who leads the country again... I have been having a Dixie Chicks moment for years now.. ;)

[mkultra]

85. Its nothing to worry about

Enthusiasm is OK. Ive noticed that over the last couple of cycles, we have not been as excited as the Neo-cons because our candidates haven't had this kind of draw. I just happy to finally see a candidate who talks about unity and decency.



lib·er·al (lĭb'ər-əl, lĭb'rəl) pronunciation
adj.

1.
1. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

[Runcible Spoon]

119. that makes two of us.

a politician is a politician, I don't care how eloquent a public speaker he is. Put your money where your mouth is, Obama, throw your base a bone, purge your team of anything Chicago School, and maybe I can get more excited than grumpily pulling your lever on election day with my nose held.

To me, talk is cheap. I may be old-fashioned that way, though. :shrug:

[defendandprotect]

81. Meanwhile...let's not run away with ourselves . . . we have a guy who can SPEAK . . .

that's already a big difference ---

Now we have to prevent election steals --- and other dirty onslaughts from the GOP --

That alone is a lot to concentrate on ---

We still have a party platform ahead of us --- and a convention.

I'm sure we all want it to be inspirational and peaceful--!


As we can reflect back on now, re Bill Clinton ... a lot of government and ideals of

democracy were given away in that period under cover of a more peaceful time.

A lot of government was up for political sale.


We are still in dangerous times --- I wouldn't be naming anyone our "savior" . . .

[penndragon69]

83. baROCKIN the USA!

[Marrah_G]

89. I t was a pretty good speech, I was moved almost to tears near the end.

I don't share your passion for the candidate but this week has gained me a little more confidence in him. Hopefully that will grow into a feeling of confidence when I vote in Nov. (nothing sucks more then the hold-your-nose vote feelings)

[polichick]

91. Yes, we did - and yes, we can!

[Winston.]

93. Let There Be No Doubts About It Anymore. We Chose the Correct Candidate in Obama.

Sure, if you don't really care about the issues and want to win at all cost. I'm sure the corporate interests and industrial military complex he represent must be very happy also.

[dionysus]

96. so who were you pulling for then?

[Name removed]

100. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

101. well seeing as this site is for people supporting democrats, you are in the wrong place.

maybe you can make a utopiaunderground site or something....

[Peacetrain]

102. ROFL! utopiaunderground..

Can I steal that one???

[dionysus]

121. you may

:hi:

[Peacetrain]

136. Thank you!!

:hi:

[Winston.]

165. Utopian ?

You consider respect of the constitution and the rule of law Utopian, it doesn't bother you the million dead in Iraq, now it's on to Afghanistan... in this perpetual war for perpetual profit, right! you don't really care as long as "your guy" gets in the white house...

[bunnies]

111. Shouldnt you be out pounding pavement Mr. Nader?

What are you doing on DU? :shrug:

[LSK]

139. THATS A BUNCH OF UNDOCUMENTED BULLSHIT THAT YOU SPEW

What links does he have to the military industrial complex????????????? PROVIDE EVIDENCE.

[KoKo]

156. I know the Firedoglake Folks and Glenn Greenwald and others

are upset with some of Obama's "Inner Circle" like Cass Sunstein who just married Samatha Powers (met her on Obama campaign trail) ....and they make some good points on the "very lefty blogs." But, Dems needed a Charismatic/Thinker to "break through." Let's hope we finally found the Candidate who can win in a "LANDSLIDE" to thwart the DRE Machines and the Rove Tactics and the rest that have stolen elections from us in the last eight years.

Obama's gotta WIN BIG to go against the AWESOME POWER STRUCTURE of Bush/Cheney.

We have to have hope...because it's all we have left to us. Anyone watch the pitiful Conyer's Hearings today? If you did...then you know what we are up against. And, Pelosi making Porter Goss the "Co-Chair of the House Ethics Committee." If you didn't get the message since our Dems took over Congress as to what's going on...then your ears are plugged. :-( So sad...

[Darth_Kitten]

103. Uh???

How would you know? :shrug:

[Skittles]

113. they don't quite get that part, Darth

selective reasoning

[KoKo]

153. "Selective Reasoning? How So?

:shrug:

[iamthebandfanman]

106. hes the right one

but only because hes the type of person that people listen to. he can bridge alot of gaps.

i think he'll do wonders for bringing the country back together.


with that being said, there way better people who coulda won purely based on policy.
i wasnt an obama supporter until it was down to him and hillary... so i have my own beefs with him...

but like i say, hes a wonderful communicator and he'll be good for the world.. not only our own country.

[Whisp]

117. Yes We Did and Hallejuiah for it. nt

[Rocky2007]

145. No doubt about it~~~

In 2004 during the Democratic convention I knew he would become a driving force for this party.

During that summer I had switched parties to become a Democrat. I just had a feeling ~~~ .

So glad I did :woohoo:

[eleny]

146. Agreed!

K&R

[happydreams]

147. .....

:eyes:

[Raine]

157. Agree

and I'm so PROUD of him and us (the Democratic Party) for picking him! :bounce:

[derby378]

161. Make no mistake, however - if Obama is talked into pardoning Bush...

...the Democratic Party is lost, perhaps for all time.

[paulk]

166. I suppose we'll know that better come November

in the meantime this is nothing more than the usual DU circle jerk....