February 5, 2008
Everythings been said before, so this is the quick and linky case for Barack Obama.LesserEvilLand Obama makes [ more sense][1]. Clinton will [energize the Republicans][2] who are severely fractured as a party. Obama is already winning over independents, moderates and [Republicans][3]. Clinton [gives you a percentage point win or a loss][4]. Obama runs away with it. Ride the Wave Obama has [generated a movement][5]. Young people [are engaged like never before][6]. Today's 18 and 19 year olds were 11 and 12 when Bush was appointed. The have grown up surrounded by Republican messes. They, just like everyone else, [want change][7]. And so for them, change is not empty rhetoric. We will see [record breaking youth turnout][8] with Obama in November. President as Brand A President Obama as spokesman for the American brand is worldchanging. A man named Obama as leader of the free world will undoubtedly change our image and force those harboring anti-American sentiments to take pause and give us a closer look. It would say something about race and racism in America and help heal those rifts. It would help remind the world that we understand we've messed up in recent years and are taking the steps to change. McCain symbolizes escalation. On Policy If you think we should be changing our strategy abroad, ending the occupation of Iraq, boosting our economy by saving the environment, doing something about health care, restoring civil liberties, and putting our resources into our own infrastructure rather than squandering it away abroad, then the choice is clear. Real change in those areas will not come from the Republicans. .. On Video 2004 Democratic National Convention speech. New Hampshire 'Yes We Can' speech: South Carolina victory speech: UPDATE: Just found this video by Lawrence Lessig explaining his reasons for supporting Obama. If you follow Lessig's work, or are just interested, it's worth a look. [1]: http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2008/02/horserace-stuff.html [2]: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0350597520080204?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&sp=true&rpc=92 [3]: http://www.newsweek.com/id/107476 [4]: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/anotherthing/?pid=279745 [5]: http://lessig.org/blog/2008/02/it_means_something_important.html [6]: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/how-obama-could-create-a-_b_84579.html [7]: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/04/no-wonder-republicans-are-feeling-pessimistic/ [8]: http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/02/05/why-i-am-for-obama-its-more-than-just-the-man-its-the-movement/
Comments
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DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
It's
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godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
A-fucking-men.
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smerdyakov (anonymous) says…
And how bout the fact that he's the only one that gave a rat's about our state before it was clear that it might make a difference: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2007/nov...
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OtherJoel (anonymous) says…
Yeah, I highly doubt Clinton will be a force for change in terms of health care, since the industry is one of her major funders. Michael Moore is wrong about a lot of things, but he nailed this one:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/nyr...
Obama's record is not exactlly squeaky-clean here either (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/art...), but there's a huge difference in terms of scope.
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OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) says…
Young Republicans torn between Obama and McCain
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580...
It's Got to be Obama
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uy...
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DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
The health care industry is not going to nationalize itself. Its a complicated problem that has evolved right along medicine itself. Whoever happens to end up as president will have a bit of influence, but not enough power to require all these billionaires to give their money back.
But hey. There's always hope.
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justthefacts (anonymous) says…
I too think he will be our next President. BO for prez....?!
A lot of Republicans just are not going to vote this time around. They don't like anyone. If they do vote, for BO, it will be b/c he is (a) Not Hillary and (b) not a friend of hers (like McCain - who is so left leaning - despite his veteran war stance - that he was almost the VP candidate on the John Kerry ticket!).
As for health care reform, good luck. Take a quick look at the tax rates paid in countries that provide free or low cost health care for everyone. For people living in such countries who earn over $50,000 a year (which is not hard to do for a family of 2) the rates normally approach 45% (don't believe me; check it out on the know-it-all site, wikkipedia; just look up tax-rates). In Canada the rates go up to 54% or higher (and each province tacks on more tax). Then compare the total tax rates (e.g. England to France) with the health care satisfaction of its citizens.
In my opinion, the only way to get American health care to the free level it is in say France or Denmark is to tax everyone who is breathing up to 75% of their total earnings. That's not going to go over very big in America, at least not until/unless most people aren't able (or willing) to find jobs so they don't have any earnings to tax.
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justthefacts (anonymous) says…
P.S. I know several Blacks (African Americans) who privately but candidly believe that there is no way bo can win in America - not while many states still have a large contingency of voting old white men who secretly will never vote for anyone of darker skin tones. I hope they are wrong. But they sincerely believe there are still not yet enough non-racists who can carry the vote!
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OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) says…
cool interactive google map w/ twitter updates about the vote today:
http://maps.google.com/maps/mpl?modul...
i don't twitter, but it's neat seeing the updates coming in from all over.
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alm77 (anonymous) says…
We're doing it. We'll be caucusing tonight! YaY!! I just hope I'm not the only Obama supporter on the West side. Anyone else going to the armory tonight? This former Republican is pretty nervous. I need all the encouragement I can get....
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OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) says…
here's a video Lawrence Lessig made explaining his reasons for supporting Obama. Worth a look: http://lessig.org/blog/2008/02/20_min...
(though if you don't know who he is, you might need to watch another video to explain why you should care. :) )
alm77, good on you.
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linswri (anonymous) says…
alm77- I'll be there with you, so there will be at least 2 of us...and my infant son, so 2 1/2 :)
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alm77 (anonymous) says…
YaY! My husband too. Will there be child care? I'll call the sitter if I need to. I tried to call Obama's gang here in town, but they didn't answer the phone.
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linswri (anonymous) says…
I don't know if there is child care there. It would be awesome if there was, but I don't have anyone to call anyways, so regardless, baby Sam will be experiencing his first caucus. :) My husband will also be there, so at least 4! :)
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smerdyakov (anonymous) says…
I know who Lessig is and respect his writing on copyright particularly, but WOW is that an unwatchable/hard to listen to "video." Go-bama.
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OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) says…
Another well-made case for Obama: http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008...
smerdyakov, that's how Lessig does all his presentations. i actually like his style, but i can see how it wouldn't appeal to everyone. some are better than that one though.
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DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
justhefacts:
I know your Black (African American) friends are holding a historically accurate stance. The gift that GW has given this process is the prolonged exposure to what the old white man vanguard is incapable of managing. The fact that the Republicans never came up with a viable candidate is a fairly strong signal that the old white man is done in this country. The rules have changed.
I disagree with Obama on many issues, but, like it or not, he is a charismatic figure. Clean and articulate, sure. Certainly cleaner and more articulate than Joe Biden. But watching this race over the last few months, and the way he has put this together out of nothing says to me that he is probably the cleanest and most articulate of presidential candidates in my lifetime. And before. I guess you could say Kennedy was articulate through the Boston accent. (yuk yuk).
I don't know that this country is ready for a "Black President", I don't even know what that means. But I hate to say it, I called 2008 for Barack Obama as soon as he announced. My surprise today is that Clinton did so well against him.
The serious issue in all this that we keep forgetting to address is that if he picks Hillary Clinton as his running mate, then is Bill the second lady? How does that work.
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alm77 (anonymous) says…
He'll never pick her. She's unelectable. I'm a reformed Republican going to caucus for him tonight and if he picks her for the VP, I won't vote for him in November. I'm a card carrying member of the "Anybody but Hillary" club and I'm sticking to that.
I lived in Illinois during his "up and coming" and Obama is the closest thing to an honest politician that there ever will be. Hillary is not even close.
He's got my vote and the only way he can screw that up is by running with her.
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OnShakedown (Chris Tackett) says…
alm77,
I don't think he'd pick her either. And I don't think he'd have to. However, I do think that if she ends up with the nomination, there is a chance she'll pick him, if only to try and utilize his movement and help unite the party.
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alm77 (anonymous) says…
chris, yes. I think she alluded to that at the end of the last debate.
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DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
Sorry guys, I was just picturing Bill in a dress. Maybe blue? In need of a dry cleaning?
stop it dotdot!!! this is serious!!!
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alm77 (anonymous) says…
Caucus was a long walk from the car. A cold wet line and a very anticlimactic count. We went in, we got counted, we left. Nothing like I expected. It was worth it though. I'd do it again. I do wish we had primaries instead.
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godjilla (Jill Ensley) says…
I heart caucusing.
2218 people at the Fairgrounds, overwhelmingly for Obama. Amazing turnout, Douglas County, amazing.
Also, I saw a girl in a blue coat (similar to the famous blue dress) wearing a beret. You think she planned that? Subtle, yet ewwww.
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DOTDOT (anonymous) says…
Have a cigar.
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dolores2175 (April Fleming) says…
After the caucuses, 5 reasons Hillary should be concerned.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/...
I'd much rather just vote in a primary myself, but it was kind of fun seeing so many people there. And who wouldn't miss all of the caucus jokes?
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