Do you really think Obama is the answer?

57Goldtop57Goldtop Posts: 218
edited September 2008 in A Moving Train
I need to preface by saying that I am not affiliated with either party. I vote for the person, not party. I voted for Kerry in 04 and probably will vote for Obama in 08. The title of my post doesn't mean that I think Mccain is the answer.

Ok, so do you think Obama is really the answer? I'm starting to realize that the Pres. can only do so much any way. Isn't it really up to congress to dictate policy etc? Don't the local politicians also make a big impact on your life? I mean the pres can introduce bills to the senate, but they still have to be passed. From what I understand the pres approves the budget.....what else does he do?

Anyway, I know the pres is a figure head for the US and represents us through the world. That seems to be the one big job they have. This current dude hasn't done too well with that. So, I think Obama has the edge there. I will say though I'm a little disappointed in Obama. He sounded so much better/different 4 yrs ago at the convention. Now he's starting to sound just like another politician.

I know some of my post is ignorant so please inform me. It seems to me that both candidates are good men. I think they genuinely would like to work for the people and try to do what they can to make things for us. I will probably vote for Obama, but I don't think I will be that disappointed if Mccain wins.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • NevermindNevermind Posts: 1,006
    A politician wont save us. We must save ourselves.
  • I definitely don't think that he is the "absolute" answer, but I do think that he is our best hope (out of the two) to get this country turned out of the tailspin that we are in and headed even remotely in the right direction.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • I do agree that sometimes the Pres. does get a little to much credit/blame for the state of the country, however...

    One crucially important role of the President is the Commander in Chief. Determining when and where we go to war ultimately impacts everything that occurrs domestically. Therefore, I do think that the President is vital to the overall well-being of the US.

    I understand what you are saying Re: Obama, but I think that there are certain things that must be said during an election to appeal to the general populace. Obama and McCain both pander to the middle in this respect.

    I believe Obama's opposition to the war is crucial in my vote going to him. Because of this stance, I feel that he would be better suited to deal with other "threats" in the future. McCain is a military man pure and simple. He thinks of solving problems in terms of military might. That is not what this country needs when we are already stretched so thin IMO.
    Obama/Biden '08!!!
  • mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
    No Obama is not the answer, neither is McCain. Both of them will continue with the failed policies of the last dozen or so administrations, expansion of the federal government, increased spending, increased militarized and interventionist foreign policy, increased encroachment on state's rights and continue ignoring the Constitution.
    "When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
  • EnkiduEnkidu So Cal Posts: 2,996
    I think Obama is the better choice. Maybe not perfect, but do we really want an extension of the shitty adminstration we've had for the past eight years?
  • digsterdigster Posts: 1,293
    Obama is definetely the best candidate I've ever had a chance to vote for (which admittedly has not been that long). I think the problems we have are too great for a President to answer; take energy for example, lowering gas prices while quickly developing alternative energies to get us off foreign oil will not just take a President, it will take a sea change in the way this country operates and approaches the difficulty it faces. This is why I do not believe that Obama's ability to inspire people should not be disregarded, as it often is in the media. For the next eight years we need an extremely smart and capable group of experts in an Administration along with a leader that inspires its citizens. I think Obama is capable of doing both better than any candidate in the past few years.
  • I definitely don't think that he is the "absolute" answer, but I do think that he is our best hope (out of the two) to get this country turned out of the tailspin that we are in and headed even remotely in the right direction.

    Ok, I need to word this the right way so I don't come off like an idiot. What is the tailspin that we're caught in? Besides the war, what has the government done to set us in this "tailspin"? I don't think the housing situation is the govt's fault. People took loans they shouldn't have taken. There is personal responsibility involved. I hear how bad the economy is, but I see more people dining out, shopping at malls, etc. than ever. We have money. Maybe not as much as we did a few years ago, but we have money. Sure there people that are struggling, but it's always like that. That's capitalism.
  • jeffbrjeffbr Seattle Posts: 7,177
    mammasan wrote:
    No Obama is not the answer, neither is McCain. Both of them will continue with the failed policies of the last dozen or so administrations, expansion of the federal government, increased spending, increased militarized and interventionist foreign policy, increased encroachment on state's rights and continue ignoring the Constitution.

    +1

    They've both spent their time in the Senate demonstrating the above.
    "I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
  • 57Goldtop wrote:
    Ok, I need to word this the right way so I don't come off like an idiot. What is the tailspin that we're caught in? Besides the war, what has the government done to set us in this "tailspin"? I don't think the housing situation is the govt's fault. People took loans they shouldn't have taken. There is personal responsibility involved. I hear how bad the economy is, but I see more people dining out, shopping at malls, etc. than ever. We have money. Maybe not as much as we did a few years ago, but we have money. Sure there people that are struggling, but it's always like that. That's capitalism.


    Don't worry about sounding like an idiot, calling it a tailspin makes me look a little like an idiot.. but I am referring to a few things -

    One is the war... with Bush and McCain, there really is no end in site to this war which hasn't accomplished anything productive. 4,000+ troops are dead, tens of thousands wounded, hundreds of billions of dollars spent, and for what? To fight terrorism??? The people responsible for the largest terrorist attack against us are still free.

    Foreign policy - Goes along with the war. Our global image is the worst it has been in my lifetime. The arrogant approach to foreign policy has created far more global enemies than friends in the last 7 years.

    Our economy - With the tax cuts and out of control spending, our deficit has risen to unheard of levels...

    Our justice system - The democrats have definitely been complicit in this, so I'm not sure it will get better, but with things like the patriot act, eliminating habeus corpus at will, holding people indefinitely without charging them, evesdropping, etc... all in the name of national security. This is quite frightening.

    I honestly can't think of an area (affected by our government) that has gotten better in the last 8 years, and I just don't see McCain doing anything to change the direction of things.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Don't worry about sounding like an idiot, calling it a tailspin makes me look a little like an idiot.. but I am referring to a few things -

    One is the war... with Bush and McCain, there really is no end in site to this war which hasn't accomplished anything productive. 4,000+ troops are dead, tens of thousands wounded, hundreds of billions of dollars spent, and for what? To fight terrorism??? The people responsible for the largest terrorist attack against us are still free.

    Foreign policy - Goes along with the war. Our global image is the worst it has been in my lifetime. The arrogant approach to foreign policy has created far more global enemies than friends in the last 7 years.

    Our economy - With the tax cuts and out of control spending, our deficit has risen to unheard of levels...

    Our justice system - The democrats have definitely been complicit in this, so I'm not sure it will get better, but with things like the patriot act, eliminating habeus corpus at will, holding people indefinitely without charging them, evesdropping, etc... all in the name of national security. This is quite frightening.

    I honestly can't think of an area (affected by our government) that has gotten better in the last 8 years, and I just don't see McCain doing anything to change the direction of things.

    Great post ~ Could not have said it better myself!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


    As individual fingers we can easily be broken, but together we make a mighty fist ~ Sitting Bull
  • mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
    Don't worry about sounding like an idiot, calling it a tailspin makes me look a little like an idiot.. but I am referring to a few things -

    One is the war... with Bush and McCain, there really is no end in site to this war which hasn't accomplished anything productive. 4,000+ troops are dead, tens of thousands wounded, hundreds of billions of dollars spent, and for what? To fight terrorism??? The people responsible for the largest terrorist attack against us are still free.

    Foreign policy - Goes along with the war. Our global image is the worst it has been in my lifetime. The arrogant approach to foreign policy has created far more global enemies than friends in the last 7 years.

    Our economy - With the tax cuts and out of control spending, our deficit has risen to unheard of levels...

    Our justice system - The democrats have definitely been complicit in this, so I'm not sure it will get better, but with things like the patriot act, eliminating habeus corpus at will, holding people indefinitely without charging them, evesdropping, etc... all in the name of national security. This is quite frightening.

    I honestly can't think of an area (affected by our government) that has gotten better in the last 8 years, and I just don't see McCain doing anything to change the direction of things.

    I would also like to add to your post that a portion of the responsibility for the housing crisis can be blamed on the Federal Reserve.
    "When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    What is the question?
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • digster wrote:
    Obama is definetely the best candidate I've ever had a chance to vote for (which admittedly has not been that long). I think the problems we have are too great for a President to answer; take energy for example, lowering gas prices while quickly developing alternative energies to get us off foreign oil will not just take a President, it will take a sea change in the way this country operates and approaches the difficulty it faces. This is why I do not believe that Obama's ability to inspire people should not be disregarded, as it often is in the media. For the next eight years we need an extremely smart and capable group of experts in an Administration along with a leader that inspires its citizens. I think Obama is capable of doing both better than any candidate in the past few years.

    Well said. I agree.

    Obama is the "best" candidate. He may not be the "answer", but he certainly is hands down the "best" candidate for the current state of affairs in the US. Are there gonna be tough times, uncertainties and tough choices ahead, highly likely.

    I have great concern for our constitution and the current Administration is stepping on it as if it means nothing. Power is a valuable and uncertain resource we all have within us. What I mean by this is we all have the power to choose. What do you wish the future of this country, this world to be?

    I can't stand for the same ol' experienced the last eight years. I would rather make the choice for someone who has vision for growth. Sometimes growth isn't easy, but if we all carry a vision for a better world many things may be possible.

    Check out these sites for more info ...

    moveon.org
    wecansolveit.org
    truemajority.org
    democracyforamerica.org

    I am also wondering what the heck is going on with the Republicans. There was a whole lot of craziness around their convention which gives me great pause. Why were there so many unnecessary police invasions? Nixon has been out of the house for years. : > Fear?!? Nothing near happened at the Democratic convention.

    I just read this off the cuff article ...

    http://www.reelchicago.com/story.cfm?storyID=2092

    ... which I find completely ridiculous this happened. The Republicans have become paranoid to the nines. I say enough already.

    I, as many want this war over and McCain is not heading down that path. Nor do I want someone telling me what I can and can't do with my own body. That is not for the government to decide. That to me is insanity. No matter what I believe about abortion, it just isn't a government issue.

    Then there is the environment, world relations ... the list goes on.

    Obama is not the answer, but he is the "best" choice for the circumstances at this time. With whatever head way he can make to clean up and start to create a shift for damages currently done will be amazing in my eyes.
    "i'm a dedicated insomniac" ~ ev nyc beacon 6/22
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    Don't think Obama's the answer but I do know infusing more religion into our country is not the answer. And having a person that believes in gibberish "god speak" just a heartbeat away from the presidency is just plain lunacy.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • iamicaiamica Chicago Posts: 2,628
    No president can really be "the answer"...in every election it basically boils down to which one will actually help us out of the mess that the last administration created. Some presidents are more successful at that than others, but no president can do everything.
    All I know is the past 8 years have been complete BS, and we need a change.
    Chicago 2000 : Chicago 2003 : Chicago 2006 : Summerfest 2006 : Lollapalooza 2007 : Chicago 2009 : Noblesville (Indy) 2010 : PJ20 (East Troy) 2011 : Wrigley Field 2013 : Milwaukee (Yield) 2014 : Wrigley Field 2016
  • you have to start somewhere...

    An Obama by any other name is still an Obama.

    Do you think RFK could have changed things?

    We only have to look back as far as George W to see what a president is capable of.

    So you either keep beating the goddamn dead horse issues or you put some semblance of faith in your presidential selection.
    the Minions
  • I would have rather John Kerry have become president than Obama. If we're going to have a "just another politician" in the White House, he might as well know what the fuck he's doing.

    Obama is going to be so far in over his head it's ridiculous.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • I would have rather John Kerry have become president than Obama. If we're going to have a "just another politician" in the White House, he might as well know what the fuck he's doing.

    Obama is going to be so far in over his head it's ridiculous.
    i'm kinda thinking Obama might be about as dumb as Bush. maybe not as dumb. but given the terrible campaign choices he's made since beating Clinton, im starting to wonder.

    but we aren't really known for electing smart presidents.
  • MrSmith wrote:
    i'm kinda thinking Obama might be about as dumb as Bush. maybe not as dumb. but given the terrible campaign choices he's made since beating Clinton, im starting to wonder.

    but we aren't really known for electing smart presidents.

    You're absolutely right.

    His campaign since the primaries has been an absolute mess. Starting with his big tour of Europe. Who thought this would be a good idea?

    Kerry lost in '04 in no small part because the electorate was convinced he was going to run our foreign policy decisions through the European Union. So Obama's first big stroke of the summer is to ... go give a bunch of speeches in Europe?

    Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • MattyJoeMattyJoe Posts: 1,424
    One crucially important role of the President is the Commander in Chief. Determining when and where we go to war ultimately impacts everything that occurrs domestically. Therefore, I do think that the President is vital to the overall well-being of the US.

    He cannot act without Congress' approval. Checks and balances, my friends. Basic High School US History.
    I pledge to you a government that will not only work well, but wisely, its ability to act tempered by prudence, and its willingness to do good, balanced by the knowledge that government is never more dangerous than when our desire to have it help us blinds us to its great power to harm us.
    -Reagan
  • I think Obama can lay some groundwork, for Clinton to get in there in 8 years, and turn things around.
    "It's all happening"
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    I would have rather John Kerry have become president than Obama. If we're going to have a "just another politician" in the White House, he might as well know what the fuck he's doing.

    Obama is going to be so far in over his head it's ridiculous.
    over his head???

    So dubya's pretty much running things from hell then.....

    and freakin Palin...absolute joke.

    Obama's smart, he understands the common American more than McCain or Dubya would ever dream of. Oh yea and again...Palins a freakin joke..oh and sooo scary.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    I think Obama can lay some groundwork, for Clinton to get in there in 8 years, and turn things around.

    That's great....
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    MrSmith wrote:
    i'm kinda thinking Obama might be about as dumb as Bush. maybe not as dumb. but given the terrible campaign choices he's made since beating Clinton, im starting to wonder.

    but we aren't really known for electing smart presidents.
    Your kidding right...have you heard either speak?
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    MrSmith wrote:
    i'm kinda thinking Obama might be about as dumb as Bush. maybe not as dumb. but given the terrible campaign choices he's made since beating Clinton, im starting to wonder.

    but we aren't really known for electing smart presidents.

    He's not nearly as dumb as Bush. But for whatever reason, the Democrats always run bonehead campaigns for this office.

    This thing is over. McCain will win easily. And when we look back, we'll look back on the campaigns. McCain smarter? No. But his campaign staff is.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • Uncle Leo wrote:
    He's not nearly as dumb as Bush. But for whatever reason, the Democrats always run bonehead campaigns for this office.

    This thing is over. McCain will win easily. And when we look back, we'll look back on the campaigns. McCain smarter? No. But his campaign staff is.

    Uncle Leo ... Mcain will not win easily. It is a tough race and though you are very right on about the Republican strategy, my bets are still on Obama. He will pull it off.
    "i'm a dedicated insomniac" ~ ev nyc beacon 6/22
  • VinceVince Posts: 174
    Well we have seen what the other party is capable of so why not give the other party a chance.
    “Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”
  • jeffbrjeffbr Seattle Posts: 7,177
    Vince wrote:
    Well we have seen what the other party is capable of so why not give the other party a chance.

    We've seen what both parties are capable of. They've both had their chance. It is time to stop fooling yourself into believing one of the two major parties is better than the other. They both have done nothing but run our economy into ruin and strip our liberties. Partisan Democrats are as crazy as partisan Republicans, but somehow think they own the moral high ground. Strange.
    "I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
  • jeffbr wrote:
    We've seen what both parties are capable of. They've both had their chance. It is time to stop fooling yourself into believing one of the two major parties is better than the other. They both have done nothing but run our economy into ruin and strip our liberties. Partisan Democrats are as crazy as partisan Republicans, but somehow think they own the moral high ground. Strange.


    It's nice to see others can see through the bullshit from both parties, too instead of picking a team and excusing their failures. You can't expect change by supporting the same old problems and the same old people that create them decade after decade. Change will come when we as a nation become bold enough to break the cycle and try something new instead of settling for mediocre politicians who have been bought out from under us already anyways.
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    There are NEVER any truly good choices, none that will actually stand a chance of being elected. The trick is choosing the lesser of two evils. At it's basest level, putting a young, charismatic black man in the White House at least shows that America is willing to embrace progression. Putting an old fool backed up by a gun-toting nutcase is not.

    How anyone can honestly believe the figurehead position means anything anyway is beyond me. Whichever party is in power will undoubtedly fuck it up. America might as well take a step forward while it waits to take its 10 steps back.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
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