Election 2008: So is Barrack Obama finished?
Comments
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I finally got a chance to listen to the speech today. Very impressive, and not just because he's an eloquent speaker. He could have dodged this issue, but he addressed it squarely, and I thought honestly. I respect that a lot.
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jeffrey wrote: Here's a mirror:
I could have sworn for a second that you were going to show us this mirror.
http://image.bayimg.com/dajgiaabd.jpg
But at least it wasn't a rick roll. -
The right-wing blogosphere is ripping the speech to threads: accusations of hypocrisy vis a vis Imus, etc etc etc. Pathetic.
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Just when you thought you had fully taken in all the awesomeness...
18 wrote: He wrote it himself. Think of that. He wrote it. Himself.[/size]
From Daily Kos.
by LarsThorwald
Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 02:01:35 PM PDT
From Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic comes the reporting that Obama wrote his speech on race and America himself. Reports Ambinder:
This wasn't a speech by committee... Obama wrote the speech himself, working on it for two days and nights.... and showed it to only a few of his top advisers.
I spent the last five hours in my woodshop with a lathe and sandpaper and an awl, carving this beautiful oak chair that I now present to you.
I did it because you will need something to sit down on when the full measure of what Ambinder wrote crashes upon you like all the heavens and the stars above.
Let me repeat it.
Because it bears repeating.
That speech today? The one that has pundits--from the liberal David Corn at The Nation ("This is as sophisticated a discussion of race as any American politician has sought to present to the public") to the conservative Charles Murray, of National Review Online ("it is just plain flat out brilliant—rhetorically, but also in capturing a lot of nuance about race in America. It is so far above the standard we're used to from our pols."), and those inbetween--noting the brilliance, sophistication, sincerity and candor of the words spoken by Obama? That speech?
He wrote it himself.
Once more, with feeling:
He wrote it. Himself.
Barack Obama did. He wrote it.
Now, if you are like me, and I pray for your soul you are not, you had the normal reaction to finding out this piece of information. You rushed right to the Library of Congress to determine exactly the last time that a President or a presidential candidate wrote a major speech alone, by himself or herself.
And, of course, what you discover is that other than the speeches Obama has written for himself, the last time a major speech was written without the aid of a speechwriter by a president or presidential candidate was Nixon's "Great Silent Majority" speech delivered on October 13, 1969.
Now that was a good speech. Evil, no doubt, to its very core, and designed to proliferate the feelings that allowed the great Southern Strategy success, but a good speech nevertheless.
In other words, not in my lifetime. And I am oldish. I have kids and wear dark socks with slippers and complain about the quality of my lawn and get hungover way too easily. But in the last 37 years there hasn't been a speech like this written by the man himself. Not like this.
Here is a chair. Regardless of who you support, or what you think of Obama, I want you to sit here, right here on this chair and consider something wonderful. To wit:
It is possible that we will have a President who not only will speak in full, complete sentences, but who will do so in a manner that is eloquent, and who will also be articulate and eloquent in delivering words he is intelligent enough to know, understand, and use in a speech he is capable of writing himself.
This chair, it is oak.
Sit and think about that.
After seven years of the worst crumble-bumblings of the nattering nabob from Crawford, think about that.
He wrote that speech. He wrote it. He, himself. -
::swoons::
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mr. met wrote: ::swoons::
since no one else will ....
lol -
MichaelKeys wrote: The right-wing blogosphere is ripping the speech to threads: accusations of hypocrisy vis a vis Imus, etc etc etc. Pathetic.
For a little comic relief, see the following:
If Ann Coulter had liveblogged the Gettysburg Address -
Carnivore wrote: [quote=jeffrey]Here's a mirror:
I could have sworn for a second that you were going to show us this mirror.
http://image.bayimg.com/dajgiaabd.jpg
Hah, I actually debated doing just that (and googling for img).Carnivore wrote: But at least it wasn't a rick roll.
Stay strong, bro. Even in the face of Powerpoint slides.
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daver wrote: [quote=Boygabriel][quote=SevenOneEighty]But the independents and undecided voters (part of his strength) are fleeing fast.
Can you link to a poll or article that supports this?
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1824791220080319
http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/10525
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/03/poll-shows-rev.html
And personally, I was firmly in the Clinton or Obama, whatever camp. The more I read about some of these things, the more uneasy I feel about Obama. Sorry. Still thinking it out though.
I think he'll continue to do just fine.
I'd say the vast majority of people that are in a tizzy about all this (read: can't think logically and critically for themselves regarding Obama's own positions) are people who will never vote for him anyway.
There may be some in the middle who are a bit put off by this, but with the balance of time (and more strong actual substance put out by Obama himself), he'll continue to impress and cause people to think, in a good way.
Time will certainly tell. -
As long as we're bringing up Internet memes, check out this from YTMND:
http://stopbarack.ytmnd.com/
Dumb, but I can't stop watching it. -
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So, just looking at the past several days...
Wondering if we are finally seeing the rumored block of new Obama superdelegate endorsements rolling out in an orderly manner, one by one, one per day, to shake the bigger superdelegates tree and give a sense of momentum (and perception of HRC support collapse) going into the PA and IN primaries.
Interesting chess match, if that's what's now afoot.
***edited to eliminate typo "endoresements," for I have no idea what a resement is, much less what it would look like inside or if it endoed. -
Here we go...it's getting ugly.
Now she did say this before the recent endorsements:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/candidate-clint.html
Candidate Clinton to Richardson: 'Barack Obama Can't Win'
April 02, 2008 7:39 PM
ABC News' George Stephanopoulos Reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former President Bill Clinton are making very direct arguments to Democratic superdelegates, starkly insisting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., cannot win a general election against presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Sources with direct knowledge of the conversation between Sen. Clinton and Governer Bill Richardson, D-N.M., prior to the Governor's endorsement of Obama say she told him flatly, "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win."
Richardson, who served in President Clinton's cabinet, disagreed.
At a rally in Oregon, standing next to Obama, Richardson insisted, "My great affection and admiration for Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton will never waver," but he added, "It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting among ourselves and to prepare for the tough fight we will face against John McCain in the fall."
WATCH GEORGE'S FULL WORLD NEWS REPORT BY CLICKING HERE
A report in the San Francisco Chronicle detailed another explosive exchange in which the former President angrily objected to Richardson's endorsement.
"Five times to my face (Richardson) said that he would never do that," Clinton said, according to the Chronicle, before, the newspaper reports, he "went on a tirade that ran from the media's unfair treatment of Hillary to questions about the fairness of the votes in state caucuses that voted for Obama. It ended with him asking delegates to imagine what the reaction would be if Obama was trailing by just 1 percent and people were telling him to drop out."
According to another, neutral superdelegate who was in the room for that meeting called the Chronicle's take "a bit exaggerated" but there is no question the Clintons are passionately arguing their case against Obama in what is fast becoming an intense race not just for the votes of the public but of the Democratic elite known as superdelegates -
SevenOneEighty wrote: Here we go...it's getting ugly.
One thing is for sure: the Clintons play for keeps. That they have in common with the GOPers.
Now she did say this before the recent endorsements... -
Of course he can't win.
Cuz if he wins, she loses.
And if she loses, she'll be $12 million in debt before going into her next Senate election, and that's a nearly impossible hole to fill, or to ask anyone to donate into.
So she has to say this and maintain this hard line externally, true or untrue, or else everything crumbles for her in this race and her ongoing political future is at stake.
The only way she can climb out of the current, substantial debt is to win party nomination and get access to more funds.
This is 100% about political survival, at this point.
So naturally she will say and do anything at this point, her entire future depends on it. -
MichaelKeys wrote: [quote=SevenOneEighty]Here we go...it's getting ugly.
One thing is for sure: the Clintons play for keeps. That they have in common with the GOPers.
Now she did say this before the recent endorsements...
The Repugs play for keeps against the Dems. They don't play this dirty against each other. What Clinton is doing is despicable. I've always been a Clinton supporter, but not only do I not want her as our candidate for President, but I'm not even sure I want her as my Senator anymore. -
Carnivore wrote: [quote=MichaelKeys][quote=SevenOneEighty]Here we go...it's getting ugly.
One thing is for sure: the Clintons play for keeps. That they have in common with the GOPers.
Now she did say this before the recent endorsements...
The Repugs play for keeps against the Dems. They don't play this dirty against each other.
Not to quibble with you, but the GOPers play dirty even amongst themselves. That whole "McCain's got an illegitimate black daughter" smear campaign waged in South Carolina back in 2000 was no aberration. -
MichaelKeys wrote: [quote=Carnivore][quote=MichaelKeys][quote=SevenOneEighty]Here we go...it's getting ugly.
One thing is for sure: the Clintons play for keeps. That they have in common with the GOPers.
Now she did say this before the recent endorsements...
The Repugs play for keeps against the Dems. They don't play this dirty against each other.
Not to quibble with you, but the GOPers play dirty even amongst themselves. That whole "McCain's got an illegitimate black daughter" smear campaign waged in South Carolina back in 2000 was no aberration.
totally agree, MK. the repubs will throw each other under a bus if it'll help them get ahead. look at what happened to colin powell. look at the last few months of the ostensible repub primaries for this election. nasty shit.
whoever gets the dem nod should hire ari fleischer. that guy's a genius. -
Subject: So is Barrack Obama finished?
Check out this one...............
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/CartoonPopUp.aspx?id=291482557500524
________________________________________________
I "lurk" just to keep up with my sons....one lives in Park Slope, the other lives in Crown Heights.
I've been associated with this board since Flexi had super picture, about three years.
Hope you do not mind. -
Obama pwns Clinton and McCain on charges of elitism:
EDIT: Looks like CNN also got it right on this one:
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a few folks forwarded me this article and I appreciate it - thanks for reading my posts and understanding how I feel. I wanted to share, though, to help (hopefully) explain to the obama-lovers how some of us might feel. here's a nice quote:
Obama loyalty, like white masculinity itself, has become normative -– if you're not for him, you'd best be prepared to explain your deviation.
and here is the article:
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/04/14/obama_supporters/print.html
those who sent this to me - please feel free to take credit. not trying to out you, just acknowledging that I didn't find this.
and big XOXOXO to all of you. thanks. -
and wow, I just finished the article (swamped at work) and loved this last paragraph:
"When the election started, I felt very postfeminist," said Wiegand. "I felt like, I'm a woman and I'd love to have a woman president, but I also have many other issues I care about and the Iraq war is a big one, and I'm not going to make my decision just because I'm a woman." But over the course of the campaign, Wiegand said, "there has been a lot of anger toward Hillary that's felt really intense and misogynistic. The gloating after Iowa was something to behold. And it's made me realize we are still dealing with the gender issue. I don't think we know what to make of women in power, or make of Hillary. I don't think the world is as postfeminist as I was feeling that it was." -
^this.
haven't read the article yet, but i will. -
Daruma wrote: No Comment.
interesting. I can tell you what drove me (and several other folks I know) off watching comedy central the last few months:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?id=225This sleazy attempt to smear Obama was brilliantly explained the following night by Stephen Colbert. He pointed out that if Obama is supported by Ted Kennedy, who is Catholic, and the Catholic Church is led by a Pope who was in the Hitler Youth, that can mean only one thing: OBAMA LOVES HITLER!
cause, you know, Michael Moore, as much as I love the guy, doesn't go around twisting the shit out of everyones words and getting folks to admit to admit to eating rabbits on camera to prove a point to ford or chevy ... which has no impact. like, seriously? not locking your doors in canada makes columbine not happen there? dude's not a scientist and he loves his random ass connections. but, as much as I'd love to think colbert sees that, I'm thinking he doesn't. and that's why I, at least, have dropped the CC crew and moore. boring. I like people who call bullshit on all sides. -
As a passionate Obama supporter I found that article really interesting & enlightening. I can definitely see how Hillary supporters get attacked by over-the-top Obama supporters.
At the same time, I feel that article (and others) paints a portrait of Obama supporters that is far too broad. Two wrongs aren't making a right.
We're not all starry eyed, overzealous worshipers of a political rock star. Most people I know can name very concrete reasons why they support Obama over Clinton.
Similarly, all of these people will happily vote for Hillary if she gets the nomination. Myself included.
I think both Clinton and Obama supporters are getting misrepresented by those among them who yell the loudest. Then again, in American Politics, what else is knew?
sigh.alafairnadia wrote: a few folks forwarded me this article and I appreciate it - thanks for reading my posts and understanding how I feel. I wanted to share, though, to help (hopefully) explain to the obama-lovers how some of us might feel. here's a nice quote:
Obama loyalty, like white masculinity itself, has become normative -– if you're not for him, you'd best be prepared to explain your deviation.
and here is the article:
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/04/14/obama_supporters/print.html
those who sent this to me - please feel free to take credit. not trying to out you, just acknowledging that I didn't find this.
and big XOXOXO to all of you. thanks. -
Boygabriel wrote: As a passionate Obama supporter I found that article really interesting & enlightening. I can definitely see how Hillary supporters get attacked by over-the-top Obama supporters.
I think everyone is feeling to some degree or another totally misunderstood on all sides. it's pretty frustrating. everyone I know has concrete reasons for whoever they support and concrete reasons for disliking another candidate if they have any dislike for them (I don't dislike obama - I just like clinton better, for example). I only recently learned that some male obama supporters feel like that article was saying they're "obviously" misogynists. I definitely don't read it that way, and don't believe that to be true. and I think the misogyny perceived is more insidious and institutional, not overt "I hates women" misogyny, so it's a lot harder to quantify and pinpoint. a very "I know it when I see it" type of thing. or like how the use of the word "abrasive" to describe a woman can go from valid to sexist due to context, tone, relationship, etc.
At the same time, I feel that article (and others) paints a portrait of Obama supporters that is far too broad. Two wrongs aren't making a right.
We're not all starry eyed, overzealous worshipers of a political rock star. Most people I know can name very concrete reasons why they support Obama over Clinton.
Similarly, all of these people will happily vote for Hillary if she gets the nomination. Myself included.
I think both Clinton and Obama supporters are getting misrepresented by those among them who yell the loudest. Then again, in American Politics, what else is knew?
sigh.
[quote=alafairnadia]a few folks forwarded me this article and I appreciate it - thanks for reading my posts and understanding how I feel. I wanted to share, though, to help (hopefully) explain to the obama-lovers how some of us might feel. here's a nice quote:
Obama loyalty, like white masculinity itself, has become normative -– if you're not for him, you'd best be prepared to explain your deviation.
and here is the article:
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/04/14/obama_supporters/print.html
those who sent this to me - please feel free to take credit. not trying to out you, just acknowledging that I didn't find this.
and big XOXOXO to all of you. thanks.
obviously, I'm coming at this from a female standpoint and have very strong beliefs about these issues. I also just changed jobs to a place that is over 60% female and have been immediately shocked by the amount of positive difference there is in attitude and deportment by EVERYONE because the business has a balanced structure in terms of gender and power distribution. the job switch has made me feel like a lot of folks may think we're past second-wave feminism but really, we're not that far past it if at all. it's been a really shocking experience, frankly. -
Tsk Tsk. Barry Hussein still can't close the deal. Guess he ticked off those gun and religion clinging people.
Friends of Barry Hussein Pt. 1:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/04/020358.php
Friends of Barry Hussein Pt. 2:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/04/020362.php
Smackdown:
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smoking gun! mushroom cloud!
greeted with roses!
last throes!
they'll stand up so we can stand down!
freedom is on the march!
Barry Hussein!
& so on
lol. I love you eggcream.eggcream wrote: Tsk Tsk. Barry Hussein still can't close the deal. Guess he ticked off those gun and religion clinging people.
Friends of Barry Hussein Pt. 1:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/04/020358.php
Friends of Barry Hussein Pt. 2:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/04/020362.php
Smackdown: -
eggcream wrote: Tsk Tsk. Barry Hussein still can't close the deal. Guess he ticked off those gun and religion clinging people.
Eh, I still think this is better than a candidate embracing an endorsement from someone who thinks the Middle East problems stem from "Jews rejecting their covenant with Jehovah," who said that Hurricane Katrina was "a judgement of God against the city of New Orleans," who said Catholicism was a cult, who said that the pope was the anti-Christ (although, he didn't say WHICH Pope -- has that changed, I wonder?), and who once supported a war in Iran because he believes it would bring about The Rapture.
Friends of Barry Hussein Pt. 1:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/04/020358.php
Friends of Barry Hussein Pt. 2:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/04/020362.php
Smackdown:
http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/the_mccainhagee_connection_1.php
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/02/29/hagee/
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