Just tell me WHY Obama

[jhv48]

Can't wait till Hawaii wakes up!

[Ron61]

Ernie's awake now. He is out shopping for a new keyboard. The old one wore out.

Ron

[Buzz]

Living here in the Caribbean, one of the wonderful things is that by the very nature of existence in this part of the world, one is forced in business to interact with people from all corners of the globe. Political discussions abound because of the impact that world politics and economics have on decisions regarding (mostly) foreign investment in our relatively tiny economy.

I will try to summarize the basic reasons for the appeal that Obama has to people around the world as well as a surprising (compared to the majority of my Club Cobra family of friends) number of Americans that I meet. Not necessarily my convictions, but this is what I see:

First, let me establish that John McCain is the embodiment of "Presidential Material". He looks and sounds the part and he personifies the concept of speaking softly while carrying a big stick. He has a record of military heroism and a long resume of political service to his country. In the traditional lineage of American Presidents, McCain has the correct DNA - he's made of the right stuff and what he represents comforts those who are sick of compromising with enemies and want to return to a focus on America being America and let the others sort their problems out.

Obama is almost the complete opposite. He does not look the part of a US president. He was not forged into steel in the inferno of war. He is not a cookie-cut, well aged vintage product off the assembly line of the venerable old Washington political machine.

Therin lies his appeal. People are looking for a leader who will abandon the schizophrenia of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The same old attitudes, philosophies, paradigms and modi operandi that seemed to work ok in the past are seen now as contributors to the decline of America's wealth, power and status as leader of the international community.

To many, the world is a recently and profoundly changed place, and the idea of political and cultural isolationism has gone the way of the unicorn. A prosperous nation needs to operate successfully within the world economy and clinging to the concept of isolationism is akin to living in a mansion in the middle of a teeming ghetto. Sipping champagne behind closed gates while the fortune stashed in your mattress dwindles, property values plummet and the millions of outsiders beyond your fence forge relationships and alliances around the consumption, control and distribution of food and natural resources.

The rest of the world is no longer as far away as the time it takes for a fleet of warships to sail the width of an ocean. The distance has been reduced to nanoseconds by the internet and minutes by the proliferation of ballistic missiles in the hands of immature and unsophisticated regimes.

Doing things the way they've always been done no longer works in this different world. The day of the mighty dinosaur has been replaced by a time when success depends less on sheer size and brute strength, and more on the ability adapt effectively to change, interact wisely with others and to deal intelligently with conflict.

Rightfully or not, this is what people see in Obama. A younger, fresher approach with ideals and an open mind - unafraid of criticism for being different and untainted by years and years of cycling through the washer and dryer of traditional political conformity.

The whole "messiah" thing surrounding Obama has less to do with his personal vision of his own greatness and more to do with the reality that many, understanding fully the utopian risks of following a leader based on intangible things like hope and faith, are willing to support him. Is it sensible? No, but then again, neither is schizophrenia.

No offense intended to anyone - take it for what it is.

[Ron61]

Buzz,

I like your assessment. It is about the same as some of the big companies. It worked great 20 years ago so why change. And most of them are no longer around. When we started replacing the old mechanical switching machines with computers and the satellite up links for long distance, it was amazing at how much many of the older people that had 30+ years with the various telephone and long distance companies hated us and stated that those dam things won't last two months. That is not a good comparison, but kind of follows in the mind set of change can't be good. In some cases it can and in some cases I think it better to not change. Just my opinion but I don't really know how to tell if a person will be a good president until they are elected and you can actually see what they do. Kind of like the idiotic tests the various companies used to give to determine if a person would be a good upper echelon manager. They did finally did do away with those.

That being said, I don't really believe much of anything in the news media and what any politician says they will do.

Ron

[cobra de capell]

"The whole "messiah" thing surrounding Obama has less to do with his personal vision of his own greatness and more to do with the reality that many, understanding fully the utopian risks of following a leader based on intangible things like hope and faith, are willing to support him. Is it sensible? No, but then again, neither is schitzophrenia."

Keep in mind that his support comes only from the democrat party and even that party is split on supporting him. He has practically zero appeal to independents and no appeal with Republicans - votes from at least the independent group are needed to get elected POTUS.

Besides, BO's background is more than passingly strange with practically no experience doing anything - in reality, if empty suit were listed in the dictionary - a picture of BO would be right next to it.

[Buzz]

Bearing in mind that I am not campaigning for Obama, just trying to discuss the topic of his appeal, your point about swinging the independent vote is spot on. Will enough of them take the plunge with an act of faith in untested, unproven Obama? Personally, I don't think so.

I do think, though, that all the talk of change and the stirring up that Obama's run has generated will have a positive result. Even the McCain campaign has jumped on the change and reform bandwagon. The established order will endure but it will will take a hard look at the way things need to be done versus the way they've always been done; and that is a good thing for all of us.

[J. T. Toad]

Has anyone noticed how rarely certain individuals post responses to question posed?


Reminds me of Chicken Little.... keeps saying the sky is falling but never answers the questions to explain WHY the chicken feels that way.... seems kinda Marxist Manifesto type of propaganda.

[J. T. Toad]

Carpet Bomb McCain blah blah blah

What was that about Obama's hoighty toity better than thou no smear campaign?


http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09...cain-computer/


ah what a tangled web we weave, only to be exposed with time.......

[jhv48]

And we're off again!

I almost thought we were going to have an intelligent conversation and sharing of views.

Wrong again!

[J. T. Toad]

Originally Posted by jhv48

And were off again!

I almost thought we were going to have an intelligent conversation and sharing of views.

Wrong again!

I despise discussion when clarifying questions don't get answered.

[cobra de capell]

Originally Posted by jhv48

And were off again!

I almost thought we were going to have an intelligent conversation and sharing of views.

Wrong again!

I suspect that that happens to you a lot.

[cobra de capell]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Rarely has an intelligent question been asked here. The question of why Obama is a very broad question with no singular answer. None the less, it has been answered numerous times. There are none so blind as those that will not see.

So, ex - in the words of Dennis Miller, “Sarah Palin is so far into BO’s head, he doesn’t know whether to defecate or wind his watch.”

Why is BO running against the VP candidate, why is BO's VP candidate telling voters that Hillary may have been the better choice? Why is BO now losing in most polls?

Could it be that your boy is imploding?

Obama does seem to be acting like a radio controlled toy where the handset off stage is malfunctioning. I love the fact that he is getting a taste of what it’s like to have to fight every day for even a sound bite. Here we are at the middle of September and it’s still all Sarah Palin 24/7...and Charlie has two more segments left to air.

By the way, did anyone hear the National Service discussions last night? I don’t know if it’s just me but I am at the point where I cannot stand hearing Obama’s drone over and over again. It comes across as nothingness, like the Orwellian figure in the original Apple 1984 ad. It’s funny, Obama began the campaign with a spoof on Hillary using that retooled ad, and now he sounds closer to the talking head in it than Hillary ever did.

As a matter of fact, if any of McCain’s folks are out there, why not retool that same ad? Start off with Hillary talking on the screen...then morph it into Obama droning away. Then have Sarah Palin come down the aisle with the hammer and throw it through the screen.

Fade to: McCain Palin...Real Change...Right Now.

[bomelia]

I think it is prolly a good thing I can't see CDC's posts.

Buzz, Ernie, if that is why you like him, then fair enough. Mind you, I do not much care what the world thinks...

My main reason for supporting McCain is because I believe that when it comes to America's security, he will not back down. Nor will he appologize for America when he is abroad. I believe he will appoint conservative judges. He will in turn shape policy for years after he is gone. I believe he will damage ear marks. I believe he will not re-allow partial birth abortion. I believe he will keep our military strong.

You see, I just don't get how the world gets even a small say in how we should elect our leaders. The last time we elected someone that was an outsider (well, now that I think of it, the last two times), our military has suffered.

We suffered credibility blows under both of those presidents. We may suffer in the "likability" department, but nobody phuks with the US and gets to get away with it anymore. AND FOR THAT VERY REASON, IF BUSH COULD RUN AGAIN, I WOULD VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN.

Mike

[bomelia]

One more thing. This should really make it a simple decision for all. Some of you seem to know who the French, Germans, Europeans, etc would like to have as president of America. Fine. I can see that clearly. Now ask yourselves who Bin Laden or Iran or many of the ME countries would like to see elected as our President. Yeah, this is a war weary question. Its been asked many times before. Have you noticed that this time around, Bin Laden ain't telling who he wants? (last time he "endorsed" Kerry, remember?)

Yup, even the radical Islamists know who their man for president is. When you have had George Bush up your a$$ for the last seven years, you definitely have an opinion about who you would like to see in office next.

Mike

[Buzz]

Mike, maybe Bin Laden hasn't endorsed Obama because he is afraid he might make good on his threat to follow his sorry a$$ across the Afghan border into Pakistan.

It goes without saying that no one but Americans should choose the president, I was just commenting on what people (including many Americans) see as Obama's appeal.

[bomelia]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Mike, maybe Bin Laden hasn't endorsed Obama because he is afraid he might make good on his threat to follow his sorry a$$ across the Afghan border into Pakistan.

As I write this, and as you may well know, this very mission is under way. I do not know if it is politically motivated or if the conditions are now just right. I suspect it is more of the latter and some of the former.

Mike