[Archived] Barack Obama

[rebelmswar]

Had to laugh at the are people THAT stupid comment.. we are referring to Americans.. who voted bush in.. Trust me on this he is a damn site better than the Hilderbeast or the other chap..

I have allot of American friends.. from the more affluent parts of the states of course.. and this guy really does want to make a difference.

Not been so optimistic in quite a few years.. this time maybe we will have a half decent American president.

Wonder when people will start screaming about xenophobia on this one. I doubt anyone will.

Unless you are European or at least from the North East or South West of the USA your opinions are invalid due to what exactly?

Or where you just saying they are all stupid?

This analysis from the Financial Times by my reckoning points to Obama winning by 9 points over McCain

I don't doubt that at all, he is a useless candidate to put up against someone with the charisma and style of Obama.

My cat has more charisma taking a crap than McCain does on Viagra.

Need a new party in this country, then the bridge building with Europe and in fact the world can begin. They are both so far away from each other that they pander to the worst of both sides.

[philipl]

It comes down to distance. Even with DC-9s, 727s and trucks, small town America in the "Big Schmuk" in between LA and NY is a helluva long way from anywhere in particular.

They are not stupid, just not cosmoplolitan. Blackburn today makes most of the States look very rich but very backwards at the same time.

If we think some Brits are thick and insular, oh boy, go meet a whole load of Middle America.

[Veevs]

just on a few little side notes..

Have you ever looked at the current America health care system.. if thats actually a way of describing it..?

America might be rich but do you know how many live way below the poverty level out there?

Do you really think its wrong for an American to actually recognise there is more to this world than America? Its refreshing that he is already talking to the rest of the western world, building unsurpassed worldwide support and not going down the usual Yankie we are right and you are all wrong route.

Can he do any worse than Bush and Blair era that has stuck us in a 2-3yr recession thanks to stupid investment in the sub prime market?

Seen the kind of people who are backing Obama?

Up against a former American soldier.. how do you think the rest of the world will take to another cowboy in charge of the US?

And yes you can write off the republicans straight off.. there is so much anger in America at the moment in regards to what they have done to the country that this is really a one horse race. The whole sub prime thing has actually left whole towns near enough ghost towns, got to love the money men though, if I was in power I would have the fools who thought that up put on trial for human rights issues, imagine giving someone with no money a house on a low interest rate for a couple of years then raising the interest rate beyong belief.. then you take their possessions and kick them out on the street... great tactic.

Wonder when people will start screaming about xenophobia on this one. I doubt anyone will.

Unless you are European or at least from the North East or South West of the USA your opinions are invalid due to what exactly?

Or where you just saying they are all stupid?

I don't doubt that at all, he is a useless candidate to put up against someone with the charisma and style of Obama.

My cat has more charisma taking a crap than McCain does on Viagra.

Need a new party in this country, then the bridge building with Europe and in fact the world can begin. They are both so far away from each other that they pander to the worst of both sides.

Like I said I have allot of America friends, I am not Xenophobic I am a realist, the education system in large parts of the US is regarded as appaling even by the people who live there.

Love the cat comment.. your probably not wrong.. sad state of affairs but hell the world is in a bit of a sad state of affairs.

[Frisky Jim]

Are you thinkingMartin Luther King Frisky Jim?

Yes.

We all know that there are sinister forces lurking in America who would be quite happy to see off Obama, simply because of the colour of his skin. I hope it doesn't happen, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did.

[rebelmswar]

It comes down to distance. Even with DC-9s, 727s and trucks, small town America in the "Big Schmuk" in between LA and NY is a helluva long way from anywhere in particular.

They are not stupid, just not cosmoplolitan. Blackburn today makes most of the States look very rich but very backwards at the same time.

If we think some Brits are thick and insular, oh boy, go meet a whole load of Middle America.

I agree that middle American historical and political knowledge is sub par at best, but by the same stick they have a lot of voting potential.

All either of these clowns have to do is dazzle the masses one way, be it right or left and they are away in a flock of righteous indignation to wave some banner or other.

I am not an American citizen and I do feel that all people concerns are important regardless how ignorant they are.

If someone posted that all Iraqi's are backward so their views should not be listened to in regards to us leaving Iraq, they would be called racist. That was what I was trying to get across.

The fact that a Senator that has not even done his job for the small amount of time he has had it, has the ability and experience to lead a country is laughable. Same for people who think a aging POW is up for the stress that the office brings.

I honestly don't care which one of these Muppet's win, I really don't.

In the end they are both bad and if you think for one second Obama will stick to his promises about withdrawal or fixing the health care system you are going to be shocked. Same for McCain with what he wants to do, I am sure he has no idea what he wants to do anyway.

[rebelmswar]

Yes.

We all know that there are sinister forces lurking in America who would be quite happy to see off Obama, simply because of the colour of his skin. I hope it doesn't happen, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did.

X-files fan are you?

There is a chance that some crazy civil war enthusiast will try his chances.

But the simple fact that HE IS an African American and running for PRESIDENT and could very well WIN shows the fact that the USA as a whole is a little less racist than people believe.

[American Rover12]

If we think some Brits are thick and insular, oh boy, go meet a whole load of Middle America.

This isn't directly at you, but Barack goes to Europe and it's too presumptuous and over stepping his bounds and it's a cheap show. Yet those who live in middle America are thick and insular and not worldly. Curious?

But the simple fact that HE IS an African American and running for PRESIDENT and could very well WIN shows the fact that the USA as a whole is a little less racist than people believe.

Or extremely racist for voting for a man just for the color of his skin.

[blue phil]

I don't doubt that at all, he is a useless candidate to put up against someone with the charisma and style of Obama.

I must be missing something . This bloke doesn't have much style or charisma that I cn detect - he just comes out with the same old platitudes as any other politician . Not one single utterance he came out with on this tour had any real significance to me . Nothing new there at all .

I suggest anyone who believes he has charisma go and listen to a few of the speeches by Martin L King . He was a great man ...though he wouldn't last two minutes today .

Yet those who live in middle America are thick and insular and not worldly.

A typical but all too familiar over generalisation by ageing student-type anti Americans . Say anything against Islam and they go beserk.....

[Bazzanotsogreat]

It comes down to distance. Even with DC-9s, 727s and trucks, small town America in the "Big Schmuk" in between LA and NY is a helluva long way from anywhere in particular.

They are not stupid, just not cosmoplolitan. Blackburn today makes most of the States look very rich but very backwards at the same time.

If we think some Brits are thick and insular, oh boy, go meet a whole load of Middle America.

Hypocrisy of the highest order.

PhilpL, was one the posters who ran to the mods when people posted similar opinions on the Islamic world. Yet it is deemed okay to make sweeping massively derogative comments about ‘middle-America’. Posters such as PhilipL shouldn’t have the right to post such open & free comments about races of people- that luxury disappeared when he was part of pc crew that lobbied the banning of certain topics.

[philipl]

[Bazzanotsogreat]

:rolleye

[rebelmswar]

I must be missing something . This bloke doesn't have much style or charisma that I cn detect - he just comes out with the same old platitudes as any other politician . Not one single utterance he came out with on this tour had any real significance to me . Nothing new there at all .

I saw him here in Raleigh and thought he was crap, whining on about medical companies and big oil.

Everyone else was mesmerized and some people where crying. I have no idea how he does it but whatever it is he does it much better than the fossil.

[tony gale's mic]

Or extremely racist for voting for a man just for the color of his skin.

Yes, because you don't agree with his views then there's no chance he could have achieved this off his own back, it must be down to his race!

[American Rover12]

Yes, because you don't agree with his views then there's no chance he could have achieved this off his own back, it must be down to his race!

Hm, I think my post's message was misinterpreted. I was simply pointing out the opposite end of the racism card. It is racist to not vote for someone just based on skin color, just as it is to vote for them because of their skin color. I wasn't giving my opinion. Rebelmswar pointed out that the fact that a black man is in serious contention was a sign of America not being as racist as perceived as a whole. While I agree that America is making the right strides to equality, I (as blissfully ignorant as I might be) while not denying that race is an issue here, am simply choosing to ignore and look past it.

[tony gale's mic]

Hm, I think my post's message was misinterpreted. I was simply pointing out the opposite end of the racism card. It is racist to not vote for someone just based on skin color, just as it is to vote for them because of their skin color. I wasn't giving my opinion. Rebelmswar pointed out that the fact that a black man is in serious contention was a sign of America not being as racist as perceived as a whole. While I agree that America is making the right strides to equality, I (as blissfully ignorant as I might be) while not denying that race is an issue here, am simply choosing to ignore and look past it.

Fair enough if you want to look past race...you can't say fairer than that.

I will say though, while people should only vote for him based on his politics and policies etc, it's not a bad thing to have the opinion that a black president would be a good thing. He's engaging people in politics who wouldnt have been interested otherwise, he's provoking debate and while America isn't a racist country, sections of it do have that problem. If he can do a good job whilst in office and take America in the right direction, I think at least some of those people will hopefully see some sense. And if he leaves a good legacy behind then it will have a massive impact on race relations, or you'd hope so at least.

However, as a disclaimer and in case my views become misconstrued, noone should vote for him based on that. Those things I mentioned are just highlighting the fact that his race can be seen as a positive issue. But none of those are the jobs of a President and are just additional benefits, the real meat are his policies etc. But putting universal healthcare at the forefront for me is a big plus, at least from this side of the Atlantic. This has definitely looked like one of the biggest problems with the US and if I lived there that would definitely get my vote.

[American]

Not fully in support of his policies, but unlike most democrats, I like that he isn't going to force things on people. As an example, his health care policy would encourage, but not force, people to pay for coverage.

Mostly, though, the reason he's important is that he is not just the same old words from the same old politicians. He inspires people, and we haven't had a leader like that since Reagan, and haven't had a liberal leader like that since Kennedy. Anyone that gets so many people, especially young people, interested and involved is good in my book. I think we're at a point where nothing gets done because of all of the infighting between parties that it doesn't matter what our president believes in, it matters that he can inspire.

[American Rover12]

I will say though, while people should only vote for him based on his politics and policies etc, it's not a bad thing to have the opinion that a black president would be a good thing. He's engaging people in politics who wouldnt have been interested otherwise, he's provoking debate and while America isn't a racist country, sections of it do have that problem.

I can understand that, fair point.

If he can do a good job whilst in office and take America in the right direction, I think at least some of those people will hopefully see some sense. And if he leaves a good legacy behind then it will have a massive impact on race relations, or you'd hope so at least.

Hopefully that's not just wishful thinking

However, as a disclaimer and in case my views become misconstrued, noone should vote for him based on that. Those things I mentioned are just highlighting the fact that his race can be seen as a positive issue. But none of those are the jobs of a President and are just additional benefits, the real meat are his policies etc.

I think we're pack on the same page.

[rebelmswar]

http://www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr07-28-08.html

Found this monstrously funny, I think he even described him once as "emissary of the devil"

It couldn't possibly be better unless it was as meant comedy.

[Grabbi Graeme]

Obama was always going to be a big media draw, Mcain couldn't pay for the media attention that Obama is getting, but if you think this is good, wait a few years down the line when Arnie goes for the White House now that will be the biggest show in the USA.

[American]

Arnie can't. You have to be born in America. The only reason McCain is allowed is because he was born on a US military base.

[DingleBaiter]

Arnie can't. You have to be born in America. The only reason McCain is allowed is because he was born on a US military base.

Were records kept so long ago to note this? Thought it would be so long ago America wouldn't have had a military; actually, thinking of it, Columbus probably handn't been born....

[philipl]

What a pratt that Jesus-pusher is. Whatever he is, that man is not a Christian.

[Eddie]

[RibbleValleyRover]

[Eddie]

Arnie can't. You have to be born in America. The only reason McCain is allowed is because he was born on a US military base.

For now. Eventually that will have to be changed, it is a horribly out-dated rule.