Barak Obama

QuantumBalance · Post by **QuantumBalance** » 13 May 2007 22:50

I just saw a nice introductory video to Barak Obama. I figure it was biased towards him, but I really liked what I saw. I figure someone here (HDS) could come out and give an alternative (or supporting) viewpoint. Might as well.

heres the vid
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WGGIHqIoP2k& ... ed&search=

I like how he is very educated and seems openminded and is for progress, not power mongering. (biased?)

QuantumBalance · Post by **QuantumBalance** » 13 May 2007 22:53

I just read a few pages of comments for the video. There sure is a lot of hatred and rumors (and truths) but it is just impossible to decifer the truth from the untruths. Ugh.

BenRea · Post by **BenRea** » 18 May 2007 03:24

im writing a small article on him for school, this is what i have so far, its actually in article format:

Obama in â€˜08
By Ben Rea

New ways, new views, a new president. America is nearly begging for a new outlook this coming year. The election of 2008 could change the history of the United Sates, this is the first time ever that an African American has been a front runner to take presidential office.
Barack Obama may not have nearly as much experience as past competitors but what he does have is a plan, a plan to end war, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to strengthen American security, and many more innumerable programs. The list is nearly endless and appertains to the demanding essentials for an uplifting of the Untied States as a whole.

apoplectic · Post by **apoplectic** » 18 May 2007 07:48

BenRea wrote:Barack Obama may not have nearly as much experience as past competitors but what he does have is a plan

bush had a plan...

BenRea · Post by **BenRea** » 18 May 2007 18:07

yea but it sucked, maybe i should say he has a plan that will clearly be successful...?

King Monkey · Post by **King Monkey** » 18 May 2007 21:35

So Obama is leading the opinion polls and stuff at the moment?

Switch Kicker · Post by **Switch Kicker** » 18 May 2007 21:39

I'm voting for this dude.

QuantumBalance · Post by **QuantumBalance** » 19 May 2007 00:28

I would vote for him, but I do know that this is NOT an informed desicion.

Outsider · Post by **Outsider** » 19 May 2007 00:32

QuantumBalance wrote:it is just impossible to decifer the truth from the untruths. Ugh.

Yeah, you know what they say, man... "How can you tell when a politician is lying?" "Its simple: whenever his lips are moving."

HighDemonslayer · Post by **HighDemonslayer** » 19 May 2007 08:28

Obama.... I will admit don't know much about his policy positions, I heard that in Illinois, his voting record was ultra-left on everything.

To assume a Democrat from Illinois tends left is normal. I know, I used to live there.

If someone would like to post an example, supporting or refuting... that would be great.

His voting record is just one aspect of his candidacy.

---------------

My briefest analysis of Obama, at this time, is that he is an empty suit.

He looks good, sounds good, and looks young(er).

He is unqualified and too in-experienced to be elected President.

He IS a handy tool, to advance Hillary's presidency.

They can stage a competition vs. each other, but then voters can still support him becoming vice-president.
--------------------------

There is some good red-meat about Obama too. Most of it involves complicated racial issues, so Ill save that for later.

------------------------

I'd be happy to lash out at the GOP loser candidates in a different thread.

-n

HighDemonslayer · Post by **HighDemonslayer** » 21 May 2007 21:54

im reading some quotes from Obama, and some specific votes he made.

MAybe the source is accurate...................... more later.

hds

flockpocken · Post by **flockpocken** » 22 May 2007 04:27

he's not gonna win...

Switch Kicker · Post by **Switch Kicker** » 22 May 2007 08:29

flockpocken wrote:he's not gonna win...

Then I'll still waste my vote on him.

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 22 May 2007 10:31

He is unqualified and too in-experienced to be elected President.

This kind of stuff means diddlysquat for modern President's. Policy in regards to this kind of stuff is dependent on the cabinet people and other underlings that a canidate would bring with him to office, so it's absolutely irrelevent whether or not he has forign policy expereience or qualifications. People always look down on voting for Presidential canidates on personality, but that's what I intend to do for my entire voting career. The President these days is more of a figurehead than anything, and seeing as economic ups and downs are generally out of his control, as long as he is a genuine leader with good ideas for the public sector and foriegn policy (Who didn't vote for the Iraq war? Oh, right, Obama) then it makes no difference whether he was a Senator or a Congressman or a Govenor or if he served on the Intelligence committee or not.

I will admit don't know much about his policy positions, I heard that in Illinois, his voting record was ultra-left on everything.

I've heard things like this a lot lately, so until you can back them up, I'm goign to assume your getting your information from Sean Hannity.

Besides, I really don't give a shit if the guy voted for tax inreases, gun control, or abortion rights ect ect (Insert standard Liberal issue here), because really, we have a much bigger picture to be looking at. And I'm a Libertarian for God's sake. The entire world is currently either spiralling towards disaster or sitting stagnate, so whether or not this guy did blow but didn't inhale or supported some unpopular issue means jackshit to me. He seems the only canidate in the running that will be able to make things right in this country, and who isn't a divisive character (Unless you're in the Klan).

flockpocken · Post by **flockpocken** » 22 May 2007 13:04

Switch Kicker wrote:
flockpocken wrote:he's not gonna win...
Then I'll still waste my vote on him.

i dont have anything against you or barak by any means... i'm just sayin that the odds are against him. for several reasons.

brian relly · Post by **brian relly** » 22 May 2007 14:05

all I knowsi he was one hell of a keynote speaker at DNC '04

HighDemonslayer · Post by **HighDemonslayer** » 23 May 2007 16:05

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Barack_Obama.htm

The quotes there open in a popup window.

excerpts:

-------------------------------------------------------

Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act.

Reference: USA PATRIOT Act Additional Reauthorizing Amendments; Bill S. 2271 ; vote number 2006-025 on Mar 1, 2006

-------------------------------------------
* Principles that Obama supports on gun issues:

Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
* Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
* Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.

Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998

-------------------------

That website seems biased, but probably biased in favor of Obama's "beliefs".

BainbridgeShred said:

The President these days is more of a figurehead than anything, and seeing as economic ups and downs are generally out of his control, as long as he is a genuine leader with good ideas for the public sector and foriegn policy

(....)

So is the Prez supposed to be a good-looking, brainless figurehead..... or is he supposed to be genuine, with good ideas?

Make up your mind.

Are you aware that Presidents have veto power over Congressional bills?

And do you not notice the almost-daily expansions of presidential powers, and end-runs around congressional oversight?

These powers will be assumed by the next Executive(s), and perhaps be used against us, to the worst possible outcome.

Also How many entangling trade, and "security" agreements did Bush make with other countries, without any congressional input or oversight?

How many authorizations for sell-offs of U.S. infrastructure to foreign powers, did Bush preside over?

As Bush has shown us, the Presidents office is capable of many actions that can cripple our future economy, and wholesale-sellout to foreign interests.

B.Shred also said:

Besides, I really don't give a shit if the guy voted for tax inreases, gun control, or abortion rights ect ect (Insert standard Liberal issue here), because really, we have a much bigger picture to be looking at.(....)The entire world is currently either spiralling towards disaster or sitting stagnate, so whether or not this guy did blow but didn't inhale or supported some unpopular issue means jackshit to me. He seems the only canidate in the running that will be able to make things right in this country, and who isn't a divisive character (Unless you're in the Klan).

You don't care about his policy positions, what he has voted for, or what other issues he may have supported.

Sounds like the definition of a shallow, un-informed voter.

Please explain to us how he will "make things right in this country", when you know nothing about what he stands for, or what steps he will take.

You should restrict your voting to American Idol.

-n

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 23 May 2007 17:17

* Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.

OMG MY CIVILZ RIGHTSSSSSSSS!!!@###$%^@#@!

So is the Prez supposed to be a good-looking, brainless figurehead..... or is he supposed to be genuine, with good ideas?

Make up your mind.

Wow what a shameless attempt to put words in my mouth. I said the President is supposed to be a figure head, tie in the terms "good-looking" and "brainless" like that is what I implied, when clearly it wasn't. You ask me to make up my mind, and I think it's obvious that I'd pick the latter. No where did I imply that the Presidency was an empty office. It's still the highest office in the nation, but it is more about morale leadership than policy decisions these days.

Are you aware that Presidents have veto power over Congressional bills?

I was going to mention this in my first post but I guess I forgot. Yeah, you're right. That is one of the biggest roles of the President.

And do you not notice the almost-daily expansions of presidential powers, and end-runs around congressional oversight?

Since basically 1776, power has been shifting more and more towards the Congress and away from the President. This process increased light years when FDR took over in 1932 an ushered in the modern political era, aka the government becoming increasingly more and more centralized around Washington. But it was really the Govenor's and Mayor's who lost power in this, more so than the President anyways.

The expansion of Presidential powers really amounts to nothing, and it was nothing any former administration couldn't have done. It is the result of 7 years of neo-Conservatism, and probably wont have a long lasting effect.

These powers will be assumed by the next Executive(s), and perhaps be used against us, to the worst possible outcome.

Depends who we elect. If we elect a strong, ethically founded leader, we have nothing to worry about. If we elect another neo-Conservative, then who knows what will happen. That's really what I meant when I said I vote on personality. I vote on who I trust the most, before I vote on how someone voted on gun control, and issue that I really don't give a shit about and is designed solely to pump up the gun owning base.

Trust me, I'm all for individual rights (Peep the M4 in my trunk), but I don't know why you expect me or anyone else to give a shit about how Obama voted on gun control in 1998 when our current standing with the world is in the shitter. Like I said, their is a bigger picture to be worrying about as far as this election is concerned. This is not 1980, this is 1988, this is not 1992, this is not 2000. I blow snot rockets on anyone who tries to bring up gun control or other divise issues at a time like this, when we have millions of illegal immigrants entering our country, an economy set to burst wide open, an increasingly hostile China and Russia (Putin is scared shitless of a Ukraine type situation happening in his country, and what with the going on's in Estonia right now... He's a dictator and hates America), and Muslim's ready to kill my brother in Baghdad or any one us here at home; don't even come with that gun control shit. Go vote for Guiliani or something.

As Bush has shown us, the Presidents office is capable of many actions that can cripple our future economy, and wholesale-sellout to foreign interests.

Bush just let the shit happen. He had to. Big time donors to his campaigns expected him to. A President with a good personality (IE morale foundation) would not let that shit happen. I see Obama as canidate with the strongest morale foundation. Thus I'm voting for him, whether I agree with his posistion on gun control or not.

Sounds like the definition of a shallow, un-informed voter.

You sound like your pussy's hurt.

Please explain to us how he will "make things right in this country", when you know nothing about what he stands for, or what steps he will take.

Excuse me? Did I say I didn't know anything about his policy posistions, are are you just pulling that out of your ass? I've been keeping track of this guy since '04, and all I'm saying is whether or not he represents everything I stand for, I'm going to vote for him anyways because I think he best fufill's what is needed in a President right now. If this were 1980/1988/1992/2000, I would probably vote for Ron Paul, but he is not what America needs right now. Obama is what America needs right now. Gun control my cock.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 23 May 2007 18:12

HighDemonslayer wrote:
He is unqualified and too in-experienced to be elected President.

n

Didn't you vote for George W. Bush?

HighDemonslayer wrote:As Bush has shown us, the Presidents office is capable of many actions that can cripple our future economy, and wholesale-sellout to foreign interests.

-n

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 23 May 2007 19:44

Another thing..

You don't care about his policy positions, what he has voted for, or what other issues he may have supported.

Sounds like the definition of a shallow, un-informed voter.

It has always seemed like you pride yourself for being Modified resident "independent thinker", so do you really consider it shallow and uninformed when someone is willing to cross party lines for the betterment of the country? Do you disagree that minute policy matters should take a backseat in times of national and worldwide crisis like these?