Politics of Hope---can it work?

ledvedderman

For the past year now we've been hearing about Senator Obama's politics of hope. He doesn't want to run a dirty campaign---I get it. I'm curious what everyones take is on this.

The past week whenever he states a difference between him and Clinton, the Clintons camp responds with a comment of "so much for the politics of hope", as if it were an attack.

Obama needs to get on the attack. The first three primary states are still up for grabs. Anyone that believes Clinton has a 15 point lead in Iowa is sadly mistaken.

Is Obama going on the attack to win possibly the most important Presidential election in our history against his politics of hope, or is the thought that he isn't accepting money from DC lobbyists and PACs a greater part of the politics of hope?

macgyver06

you can't vote for obama when there are better candidates out there.. does anyone really know what kind of campaign obama is running and what his clear stance on things is... no...because he is just like clinton and just like bush. no truth until elected...than you realize you elected someone you dont really know.



Gravel '08

ledvedderman

macgyver06 wrote:

you can't vote for obama when there are better candidates out there

You're right, what the hell was I thinking having my own opinion and supporting a *gasp* mainstream candidate who I've worked for while he was in the Illinois Senate.

RolandTD20Kdrummer

An then there was:

http://www.sources.com/Lobby/Lobby_CorpIndex.htm

jlew24asu

macgyver06 wrote:

you can't vote for obama when there are better candidates out there.. does anyone really know what kind of campaign obama is running and what his clear stance on things is... no...because he is just like clinton and just like bush. no truth until elected...than you realize you elected someone you dont really know.



Gravel '08

thats odd. I find it quite clear how he stands on several issues. although I do like gravel's ideas on the progressive tax, the explanation of this tax is what I find most vague.

ledvedderman

Yeah, what am I missing? It isn't too hard to find out where anyone really stands on any issue.

RainDog

jlew24asu wrote:

thats odd. I find it quite clear how he stands on several issues. although I do like gravel's ideas on the progressive tax, the explanation of this tax is what I find most vague.

Yeah, that's what I don't get. Granted, Obama can be a bit heavy on the high-minded rhetoric - and perhaps that's all anyone "hears"; but if you listen, he can be quite specific (usually in about every third paragraph or so ).

And I can't think of anything more vague than Gravel's "rock in the lake" add (though I must admit, I really enjoyed it).

darkcrow

i think if more people got to see and hear him they would believe in the politics of hope. although is it as powerful as the politics of fear and hate? "fear" teorrists.. "hate" immigrants... compared to having belief in people and hope for a better future...

it'd be nice to have a politican like him in the UK, sadly there isn't really anyone of his calibre here...

ledvedderman

He is as genuine of a person off of camera as he is on camera. I really don't think he is out of this at all. I don't think he has to win Iowa, because if he wins NH and SC he has a lot of momentum going into Super Tuesday.

I just hate how the media makes it seem that if he states a difference between himself and Hillary that he has abandoned his politics of hope. Now, if he came out and said "Hillary Clinton wants to kill your dog and drag it through town" I would understand. Stating differences is part of a campaign and part of explaining why someone should vote for you.

Screw it, I say go all out negative on her. You know it's there for the taking, just get Obama or Edwards to the top.

Heineken Helen

ledvedderman wrote:

For the past year now we've been hearing about Senator Obama's politics of hope. He doesn't want to run a dirty campaign---I get it. I'm curious what everyones take is on this.

He obviously has something to hide... and thinks if HE doesn't play dirty, the other side won't either and won't find it.

There is NO such thing as 'clean politics' :eek: Politicians playing grown ups? It just doesn't happen

ledvedderman

Heineken Helen wrote:

He obviously has something to hide... and thinks if HE doesn't play dirty, the other side won't either and won't find it.

There is NO such thing as 'clean politics' :eek: Politicians playing grown ups? It just doesn't happen

You always base your political thoughts on assumptions like "he obviously has something to hide".

There's nothing on him outside of a legal land deal w/ a pretty corrupt Chicago guy by the name of Tony Rezko. I don't think that comes close to something like Whitewater though.

Heineken Helen

ledvedderman wrote:

You always base your political thoughts on assumptions like "he obviously has something to hide".

There's nothing on him outside of a legal land deal w/ a pretty corrupt Chicago guy by the name of Tony Rezko. I don't think that comes close to something like Whitewater though.

well nobody knows about these things until they get out. Show me an honest decent politician and I'll take your point. Surely you're not satisfied with politicians in general?

darkcrow

Heineken Helen wrote:

well nobody knows about these things until they get out. Show me an honest decent politician and I'll take your point. Surely you're not satisfied with politicians in general?

berti ahern... LOL a little political joke for all the irish out there lol

Heineken Helen

darkcrow wrote:

berti ahern... LOL a little political joke for all the irish out there lol

yeh right!

darkcrow

Heineken Helen wrote:

well nobody knows about these things until they get out. Show me an honest decent politician and I'll take your point. Surely you're not satisfied with politicians in general?

Robert Kennedy was quite honest by all accounts. he did a lot for the civil rights movement and when he was attorny general he led the fight again organised crime despite the kennedy's ties to them.

ledvedderman

Heineken Helen wrote:

well nobody knows about these things until they get out. Show me an honest decent politician and I'll take your point. Surely you're not satisfied with politicians in general?

I've been involved in campaigns for a number of years and I can tell you of dozens of politicians who I condiser honest and some of the best friends I've ever had. I'm not satisfied by the group of politicians that people hear about on the news. A good politician is like a good sports referee. You shouldn't even know that they are there. It's the ones who do bonehead shit that give the rest of them a bad name, and then you realize they are there.

It's like saying every Irish person is a drunken moron who beats his wife. Are you happy w/ comments like that? It's a pretty unfair claim to make, so claiming there are no honest politicians is just as crazy. You're on the outside looking in, and really have no clue how it really works.