Barack Obama.....Am I missing something?

[sm1]

Before I get to the point of this post, I would like to point out that I am an Independent voter who will not be voting for John McCain or Barack Obama. I think McCain is a very dangerous man who just may get us into World War III. That said, I simply do not understand this unbelievable level of hero worship that has been accompanying Obama.

The mantra from day one has been that it is not about experience, it is about judgment. Ok, I get it - it's not about quantity of experience, it's about quality. Fine, makes sense. Except here is what I do not get: What exactly has Obama done to make anybody believe that he falls into the "quality" category?

He came out against the Iraq War. Great, I applaud him for that and give him credit. But on the flip side, it is one thing to come out against the war when you are a state legislator from a district that heavily opposes the war. It is another when you are a U.S. Senator who is dealing with a war crazy country and you may have to face retribution for your anti-war vote. Cynthia McKinney, Dennis Kucinch, Ron Paul - these are people who had the courage to stand up and say that the Iraq War was a mistake, knowing they were going to face criticism from a lot of angry people. This was not a concern for Obama.

Would he have voted no on the war in Iraq otherwise? We can't be sure. Even we were to give him the benefit of the doubt here, is that all he is actually running on in terms of judgment? I mean, is there anything that he's accomplished in the Senate that is supposed to make us believe that he is the worthy of this kind of optimism that he's going to be such an amazing President? I'm talking about something tangible here and not just the generic stuff I've been hearing like "He's inspiring" or "He gives us hope."

If you believe that Bush has been terrible, McCain would be a continuation, and the country needs a new direction, I can completely understand your reasoning. But if you are voting for him because you think his record indicates he's going to be a great President, then please enlighten me as to how you have drawn that conclusion, because I really don't get it.

-Scott

[aammondd]

I am in effect voting against Obama I still do not like McCain but I do like Palin.

The only reason McCain gets my vote is because he is the only one with a reasonable chance of stopping Obama. Many said Reagan would get us into WWIII and that didnt happen. I can only hope that McCain would be similar in his foreign policy stance. I know Obama wont be.

Its enough for me to know how dangerous Obama is for this nation for me to vote to stop him.

McCain has promised to shrink the government. To me thats another plus.
I know that Obama will grow it.

As I said I dont like McCain but Ill take someone like him over Obama until we can wake enough people up to reality or we can find another leader like Reagan.

Mind you Reagan made some mistakes too but overall he was great for the country. We desperately need the likes of him again.

[joe]

Scott,
At this time, no one has earned my vote. There is no guarantee McCain will lead us into WWIII. That is a logic based in fear. I also don't play the voting card that my vote is cast to be against someone.

Less than a year ago, Democratic Presidential candidates like Biden and Clinton were saying how Obama lacked the experience for the position. After all the smoke clears, he is the only one left standing and is now receiving praise from those two people, based on his experience, how he is the best man for the job. Sure, one excuse is that is how politics is played out and many things are said. Maybe so, but it also tells me they are liars and hypocrites.

[pbrauer]

Originally Posted by sm1

That said, I simply do not understand this unbelievable level of hero worship that has been accompanying Obama.

After 8 years of a failed presidency, Democrats had two great candidates to choose from and they choose Obama over Clinton, both had worshippers however.

While Obama is called The Messiah, The Shining One or simply The One by the RW, just look at the worshipping and fawning over Gov. Sarah Palin who has no apparent qualifications for the job. It's the pot calling the kettle black.

Pete

[aammondd]

I almost forgot who I was going to respond to.

[joe]

Lesko said:

Democrats had two great candidates to choose from and they choose Obama over Clinton

I give up. You chose Obama over Clinton. Why are you are withholding the names of the two great Democratic candidates?

After 8 years of a failed presidency

Think of something different. That is how we felt after the Klintoon years.

[aammondd]

joe see my post above. You forgot too.

[joe]

I forgot what?

[aammondd]

Who you were talking to. Simply a waste fo time.

[joe]

Oh, ok.

[sm1]

After 8 years of a failed presidency, Democrats had two great candidates to choose from and they choose Obama over Clinton, both had worshippers however.

While Obama is called The Messiah, The Shining One or simply The One by the RW, just look at the worshipping and fawning over Gov. Sarah Palin who has no apparent qualifications for the job. It's the pot calling the kettle black.>>>>


As I said in my initial post, I completely understand why somebody would vote for Obama based on the idea that Bush has been terrible and McCain is too much like him. I also understand voting for Obanma on ideology.

However, what I don't get is why everybody acts like he is so amazing. Say what you will about the Clintons, they both had legitimate records - tangible things you could point to that would make you say "He/she did this, great job" or "He/she did this, not so great job." And even if they both had ardent supporters, neither of them drew crowds of 75,000 or were able to raise the kind of money he's been able to raise.

With Obama all I hear about is judgment and I can't exactly figure out what anybody is talking about. He was against the Iraq War. Ok, even if we say he would have voted against it if he was in the Senate at the time (which is not a sure bet at all), is that the only thing people are basing this on? What else has he actually done that makes everybody think his judgment is so great? Aside from offering "Hope" and "Change" that is.

As far as Sarah Palin goes, I wouldn't really compare the kind of worship she's been getting to what Obama has gotten, it's not even close. But even if it was, that would be a separate issue. Reaction to Sarah Palin, positive, negative, or neutral, would still have absolutely nothing to do with the issue of why everybody has been so gung ho about how Obama has such great judgment.

-Scott

[aammondd]

Sheeople

Does that help

[sm1]

<<<<Scott,
At this time, no one has earned my vote. There is no guarantee McCain will lead us into WWIII. That is a logic based in fear. I also don't play the voting card that my vote is cast to be against someone.

Less than a year ago, Democratic Presidential candidates like Biden and Clinton were saying how Obama lacked the experience or the position. After all the smoke clears, he is the only one left standing and is now receiving praise from those two people, based on his experience, how he is the best man for the job. Sure, one excuse is that is how politics is played out and many things are said. Maybe so, but it also tells me they are liars and hypocrites.>>>>


Joe,

I totally understand what you are saying re: McCain. I tend to think that he is potentially very dangerous based on his ardent pro Iraq War stance from day one and his hawkish talk towards Iran and Russia. He doesn't seem like much of a diplomat. Don't get me wrong, I've got no problem with getting tough when we absolutely have to, but there is tough and there is a little nutty. It is always possible that I could be wrong and if elected, he'd actually get us out of Iraq within a reasonable time and that we'd avoid any other foreign conflict. But given his demeanor and general courses of action, I am lead to believe that will not be the case.

Don't get me wrong, while I am no McCain fan, I also do not like Obama. I see nothing he's done that would make me believe he can be a good President. I think a great deal of his domestic policies are based in idealism and not reality. I tend to agree with a friend of mine the other day who said "Dude, some choice we've got - George Bush's 3rd term or Jimmy Carter's 2nd."

And I do agree with you about not voting "against" somebody. I vote almost exclusively third party for that exact reason. I'd rather vote for somebody I actually like than simply vote the lesser of two evils. Some people prefer it the other way. To each is own, I suppose.

-Scott

[joe]

Scott,
Prior to his time in the Senate, Obama claims he was against the war in Iraq. Everytime a vote has come up, he helps fund it. While he claims the Bush admin has spent billions in Iraq, he has contributed to support that spending. A real leader knows when to say "Enough" and mean it.

[sm1]

Joe,

No argument from me on that one. He also voted to re-authorize the Patriot Act. Believe me, I am certainly not touting the guy. I'm just curious as to why so many the people who support him claim he has such great judgment and would make an incredible president when I can't see anything he's supposedly done to support that claim.

-Scott

[rachel]

He has demonstrated the quality of his judgment in his choices of associates. Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezco, Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn...

[speaktothesky]

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Barack Obama
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