An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right
Is Barack Ready . . . And Do We Really Want Him, Anyways?
Over on my blog, I take a look at two pieces that bring some of the Barack Obama hype back down to Earth.
I am once again inclined to issue an “amen.” His whacko extremist-left, borderline socialist agenda for America aside, maybe the lovable, bright-eyed puppy dog from Illinois with the eagerly-wagging tail should focus on passing some significant legislation here and there before he thinks he’s qualified to be Commander in Chief.
As an Illinois resident, I percieved Obama was more concerned with being a rock star than being my Senator in recent times; upon further consideration, he’s a skilled lip-syncher, not even a real virtuoso.
9 Responses to “Is Barack Ready . . . And Do We Really Want Him, Anyways?”
So what research have you done on Obama? Are you just relying on editorials or what the newspapers say? Or have you actually gone to his website to find out his positions, and his accomplisments?
http://obama.senate.gov/
Meanwhile, this piece by Hilzoy over at Obsidian Wings is an excellent overview of some of Obama’s legislative accomplishments And most of it seems pragmatic and sensible, not “wacky liberal”.
Son, check your sources. World Net Daily is the same “news” site that claims that soy will make you gay.
So this is what passes for moderate…
This is actually funny. You guys keep saying the response to him will be Liberal or “wacky liberal”
AND YET.
I’ve a question for you? Not really needing an answer because we all know what the answer will be.
Question: When the Republicans run what will be the label you throw at them?
NEO CON? WACKO RELIGIOUS RIGHT? CONSERVATIVE.
The labels will never stop. That is why the Democrats are so busy trying to relabel themselves with Progressive, Populist, Moderate, Centrist…..Anything but LIBERAL.
Upinsmoke- I agree there is too much labeling and also sloganeering instead of an honest look at voting records and policy. There is one difference between the parties. The GOP has very few moderates left in Congress- many were defeated in this last midterm. The Dems do have a liberal, Nancy Pelosi wing. But they also have a large centrist wing, and even have a few conservatives like Jim Webb in office now.
Maybe its my partisan bent, but I don’t see Obama as being a flaming liberal-he seems more like a moderate.
A smart but extremely callow teenager who throws around phrases like “whacko extremist-left, borderline socialist agenda for America” when writing about Barack “Isosceles” Obama (!) is supposed to be part of a moderate blog, let alone a blog that repeatedly prides itself on being centrist?
Wait. I get it. You’re going for being centrist on average.
So when does Ted Rall join up?
Kim I understand what you are saying and while on the surface I agree that what you are saying SEEMS cognitive. I know politics and I know the power of the Far left. (Far right if we were talking about republicans here.but were not so Ill defer to the far left)
The far left will write letters and apply huge amounts of pressure, like Michael Moore did to several congressmen and senators including Hillary Clinton whom the next day demanded Rumsfeld step down. Now if this was not a flagrant and overt acknowledgement of how powerful the fringe is in each group I dont know what is.
The facts are thus: The Democrats and Republicans both have to pander to their core constituency or face being defeated. The left refused to do this for 12 years until this election and finally with no small help from the Republicans they were able to gain control again due to A cognitive effort by the Dem party to put Moderates in places where NO liberal would ever get elected.
And yet. When you have the olde guard of Left Liberals running the show with the likes of MOVEON.ORG and Michael Moore in the background threatening you at every turn……the pressure will be more then they can bear and we will once again end up with a do nothing congress and I fear another Democratic defeat in 2008.
However I do predict the senate will swing republican in 2008 but that Dems will win the white house and control the house. If these moderate do what they say they will do then they will be in power for the next 40 years. If they renig as I believe they will…….well then it will Politics as usual and shame on the American voters for once again falling for lies, lies and more lies.
The pollsters I follow seem to say the opposite. What insights do you base this on?
Regarding Obama, and all candidates, I tend to focus more on their temperament in how they go about deliberating issues than on a specific issue. I like signs of pragmatism over ideology.
Obama seems to have an excellent and open mind.
However I do predict the senate will swing republican in 2008
And this prediction is based on……….what exactly?
I think the Dems victory was due to the well publicized drift of moderates from the Republican party, plus a depressed Republican vote overall. All the Dems need to do is raise minimum wage, pass a few ethics bills, work on alternative fuels, support the military and stand in opposition to the war on Iraq, and they should win big in ’08. That is unless there’s another terrorist attack domestically.
Usually, both parties pander during the primaries, move to the center during the election, then pander again to special interest groups after the election. If the moderates can exert power as they did in ’06, there is a chance that they can weaken the party bases.
Hello did you guys not read the paragraph right above the predicton????