It's Official Obama is running in '08

[Tristrem]

Today, Obama announced he is running for president in '08. His annoucement can be found here:

http://www.barackobama.com/

here:

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/02/1...ck_obam_11.php

and the cnn story here:

http://http://www.barackobama.com/20...unning_for.php

I think it is good to see a fresh face running for president, not canidates that are recycled, like McCain, or Hillary, Rudi, or Edwards. While some say he is inexperienced, I believe that it could be a good thing. Having a new perspective will help promote change for the better. Sure he has some skeletons in his closet, but who doesn't these days. While he is probably not the most qualified canidate, I think he has the best chance of uniting the country after the election and leading us to a brighter future.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

The "inexperienced" line got old ages ago.

[Ice]

Today, Obama announced he is running for president in '08. His annoucement can be found here:

http://www.barackobama.com/

here:

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/02/1...ck_obam_11.php

and the cnn story here:

http://http://www.barackobama.com/20...unning_for.php

I think it is good to see a fresh face running for president, not canidates that are recycled, like McCain, or Hillary, Rudi, or Edwards. While some say he is inexperienced, I believe that it could be a good thing. Having a new perspective will help promote change for the better. Sure he has some skeletons in his closet, but who doesn't these days. While he is probably not the most qualified canidate, I think he has the best chance of uniting the country after the election and leading us to a brighter future.

Recycled?

[discovery1]

And to think I went to a party and got wasted instead of traveling to Springfield to see him......

[BDC]

And to think I went to a party and got wasted instead of traveling to Springfield to see him......

I'm pretty sure my Tory friend goes to political things to get wasted. Or at least get free smoothies. Life across the pond eh?

I like Obama from what I've seen. He seemed a nice, pretty smart guy. Clinton worried me a bit.

[Xiahou]

The "inexperienced" line got old ages ago.

Well, if the shoe fits...

However, he does have the privilege of being the only major Democrat candidate who's not a total hypocrite on Iraq. At least he was consistently against it from it's outset. More than I can say for the other political opportunists running in his party.

[Tribesman]

However, he does have the privilege of being the only major Democrat candidate who's not a total hypocrite on Iraq. At least he was consistently against it from it's outset. More than I can say for the other political opportunists running in his party.

Yep , while Edwards has come out and said his support was a mistake , Clinton is still just dodging around with the "well if I knew then what I know now........blah blah blah " rubbish .

[KafirChobee]

Can only become the VP running mate, but will make it all a bit interesting none the less.

[Banquo's Ghost]

However, he does have the privilege of being the only major Democrat candidate who's not a total hypocrite on Iraq. At least he was consistently against it from it's outset. More than I can say for the other political opportunists running in his party.

Almost as amusing as the coming spectacle of Republican candidates repudiating their president and their war, don't you think?

[Samurai Waki]

McCain seems to be the only Rep. Candidate with enough nerve to stick by his guns and admit that he supported the president then, and continues to do so for the most part now. He's the only candidate that I doubt will do a 180, even though McCain has fallen out of my graces since last year.

[pevergreen]

Saw him on the news..I would vote him.

Go the random guy!

[Major Robert Dump]

I kind of hope he wins because it will shut up a lot of minority professional victims once and for all.

[Lemur]

Well, now's the true test, isn't it? He's going to get slimed, sleazed, besmirched and generally roughed up. And that's just Hillary at work. Just wait 'till the Republican slime machine gets up and running.

If he's tough and organized enough to make it through the coming mudstorm, then we can talk.

[ajaxfetish]

I think you may be underestimating the tenacity and resourcefulness of professional victims.

Ajax

[Lemur]

I trust everyone has seen the unbelievably funny clip where a guest on Colbert asserts that Obama isn't black. Hi-lar-i-ous.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Colbert: It sounds to me like you're judging whether or not a person is black not on the color of their skin, but on the content of their character, which I think realizes Dr. Kings' dream in a very special way.

Dickerson: I think you mean not so much special as perverted.

Colbert: Would this make it more acceptable to the African American community, if he shared some of the experience, the black American experience, I mean he isn't the descendant of slaves, but what if for a brief period of time he were en-slaved, but you know, nothing racist, he could be Jesse Jackson's slave, or Al Sharpton's slave, and they could say, ok you're free now, no foul, no harm, and then he's got all the street cred he needs.

Dickerson: I think you may have me there, actually.

[Tachikaze]

I hope Obama wins. I'll vote for him.

However, I believe, despite all the hoopla, when the votes are finally cast, he will have no chance. It will be the usual white male with ties to big money.

It was only two generations ago that Afro-Americans were lynched, schools were segregated, and "mixed race" marriages were illegal in about half the states. I think racism is still lurking under the current facade, and in many cases is still blatant.

There's a huge segment of the US population that is horrified that we might have a president with a black father. In fact, Obama might even get assassinated if his chances look too good.

[Xiahou]

I hope Obama wins. I'll vote for him.

What do you like about him? Why would you vote for him? Just wondering.

[Tachikaze]

I trust everyone has seen the unbelievably funny clip where a guest on Colbert asserts that Obama isn't black. Hi-lar-i-ous.

It is hilarious.

Actually, she is right on the button. Although it can seem ridiculous if looked at facetiously (especially her "African-African-American" label), grouping all decendents of Africans in one category is over-generalization. Not only is he not related in any direct way to most Afro-Americans (who are mostly descendents of slaves from West Africa), he has one black parent and one white parent. Like Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, and Vanessa Williams, they are touted as blacks, when it's equally accurate to call them "white".

Of course, I acknowledge in each of these cases that these people had to endure racism based on public perception of them as "black". But the whole situation demonstrates what I have been saying all along. Race is an illusion.

[Tachikaze]

What do you like about him? Why would you vote for him? Just wondering.

I agree with most of his views. Two examples (it's 11:10 PM and I want to go to bed): universal healthcare and his opposition to the invasion of Iraq by the US. He is straightforward and direct, sometimes blunt, doesn't appear to be a phony.

[Ironside]

Of course, I acknowledge in each of these cases that these people had to endure racism based on public perception of them as "black". But the whole situation demonstrates what I have been saying all along. Race is an illusion.

Certainly, but it's a very visual one.

[Bijo]

Today, Obama announced he is running for president in '08.

Hmmm, sounds like another puppet to me. Not to go off-topic, but I think at some point sooner or later, Schwarzenegger's going to be prez :P

Anyway, I wouldn't put my money on Obama.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Hmmm, sounds like another puppet to me. Not to go off-topic, but I think at some point sooner or later, Schwarzenegger's going to be prez :P

Anyway, I wouldn't put my money on Obama.

I doubt the likelihood of an AH-nuld presidency. It would require a constitutional ammendment and those are few and far between -- only 17-18 in the last 21 decades -- and one of those was a repeal of a previous one.

Obama is proving he can raise cash on the national level. He is also showing a glib verbal style as a speaker/personality. Can he overcome the far more developed Clinton machine and get the nomination? Tough odds. If nominated, can he overcome the "liberal as font of all evil" hammering of the GOP in the general? Possibly. I have to agree that he's on an uphill course at the moment.


Tachi':

I am not at all surprised that you support (at least so far) Senator Obama. He is very staunchly on your side of the political perspective on a majority of issues.

When you call race an "illusion," do you mean that race:

a) should be irrelevant as it has no bearing on anything of consequence such as character, intelligence, morality, etc.

b) should be viewed as less than useful since it is nothing but a "social constuction" and is therefore more symptomatic than it is descriptive.

c) a concept without meaning.


I would agree whole-heartedly with "a," would view "b" as correct but not helpful since that can be said of almost any value-laden term, but I would disagree with c).

What say you?

[ajaxfetish]

Actually, she is right on the button. Although it can seem ridiculous if looked at facetiously (especially her "African-African-American" label), grouping all decendents of Africans in one category is over-generalization.

It will be the usual white male with ties to big money.

Just a tangent, but grouping all descendants of Europeans in one category ('white') is also quite an over-generalization, and one we usually have no reservations about making.

Ajax

[Vuk]

This dude, McCain, and Hillary are the ones that I would least like to see in the White House. Hope he is defeated. All we need now is a juicy scandal...

[Stig]

I hope he wins, America could do with a black president imo ... and a democrat ofcourse

[Vuk]

I hope he wins, America could do with a black president imo ... and a democrat ofcourse

That, my little Stiggy Wiggy, is the very soul of racism. His being black should have nothing to do with you wanting him to be prez. If we are ever going to get rid of racial predjiduce, we are going to have to start admiring and hating people for their attributes and ignoring their race. I don't car about your little "ballancing" garbage; you are doing exactly what nessecitated the civil rights movement, you are discriminated on the basis of race.

[Stig]

That, my little Stiggy Wiggy, is the very soul of racism. His being black should have nothing to do with you wanting him to be prez. If we are ever going to get rid of racial predjiduce, we are going to have to start admiring and hating people for their attributes and ignoring their race. I don't car about your little "ballancing" garbage; you are doing exactly what nessecitated the civil rights movement, you are discriminated on the basis of race.

I'm not even bothering to reply to your post

oh stupid me I did, ah well:

MEH!!!

[Lemur]

If we are ever going to get rid of racial predjiduce, we are going to have to start admiring and hating people for their attributes and ignoring their race. I don't car about your little "ballancing" garbage; you are doing exactly what nessecitated the civil rights movement, you are discriminated on the basis of race.

Hmm, there's a bit of Colbert to this line of reasoning. So Stig should not be allowed to like Obama at least in part because of his race? But I thought we already clearly established that Obama is not a black man ...

[Marshal Murat]

I don't know about everyone jumping at the chance to kill him.
I'm about as Southern as you can get without jumping the border, and I don't think he would be a bad president.

I just don't like, can't stand, and sometimes outright despise Clinton.

It's just that he's not really planted in the ground yet.

[Vuk]

While I am at it, I will bash the stupid bi-partisan system. You are a perfect example of how dumb it is...you and most every American. Here you are, not going to vote for your values and your country, but your party!!! There is a problem there. Like most Republican, they would vote for McCain because he is Republican, even though he stands against everything they believe in and flip-flops as much as John Kerry! Vote based on a persons qualifications for the good of you country, don't vote for your party...or a race you endorse...