Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois)

[PROGRESSIVE1]

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=O000167

[FightinNewDem]

1. I just like the sound of that!

I also like the sound of "Senator Ken Salazar"!

[ShaneGR]

2. shhhhhh

Someday this board will hate him (Not I).

[imabadman]

3. Unfortunately, I think you are right.

And now that he is in the Senate, he will begin to build a record. Every vote will end up being the equivalent to pissing in someone’s corn flakes.

[tx_dem41]

4. Heck....in two days (when he doesn't stand up)...

they'll hate him.

[Kilkenny5]

14. Granted everyone has the right to their opinion

But to be honest there's absolutely NO reason to hate Obama.

[tx_dem41]

18. I agree wholeheartedly......

tell that to some of the other DUers.

[eg101]

23. unless your job got shipped overseas, then you might hate him

cuz I heard him say he supported "free trade".

But there is really no reason to hate him for his support of shipping jobs overseas unless you yourself have your own job shipped overseas. After all, America is all about looking out for yourself and only yourself. When voters organize to support each other, that only inevitably leads to nastiness.

[Withywindle]

5. You know you've 'arrived' when...

...you get your own DU bash threads.




(Obama's such the It Guy, he had two or three before he was even sworn in.)

[greenohio]

7. So true. So true.

[Rowdyboy]

9. Did you miss all the anti-Barack garbage a few weeks ago?

They're already piling on. He's not NEARLY "progressive" enough for some here.

[Gloria]

6. He's already signed a book deal for 3 books (one, the obligatory

children's book, apparently).

Hasn't done a thing yet, but has his book deal. He's on my watch list, as in....not sure about this guy....He could turn out to be another Harold Ford.

[Withywindle]

10. I would assume that's because...

the book he already wrote almost 10 years ago became a best-seller when it was reissued this year. It's vivid and novelistic; he's a good writer. It's not out of the blue that he got a big deal to write more.

[fujiyama]

15. Another Harold Ford?

Puhleeeze...Why? Because they're of the same race?

While Obama may face very high expectations, Harold Ford never said he was a liberal. He's a moderate, from a conservative state.

[Gloria]

21. If you saw him on the Charlie Rose interview a month ago or more,

you'd be left with some questions. I was.

[fujiyama]

22. It's good to have

questions. After all, we don't know how he'll do.

But give him some time. We don't know how he'll be. There is a possibility he could be disappointing...Perhaps turn out like Hillary Clinton - a dull, get along with the repukes type of moderate.

There's also a possibility he could be someone like Feingold or the late Wellstone, or hey even if he's as good as the other senator from his state (Dick Durbin), he can't be all that bad.

So let's give him time and judge him in about 4 years. His record in the IL state legistlature was encouraging. He was vocal in his opposition of the war early on (very much unlike Ford) and other parts of the bush agenda.

[Pithy Cherub]

8. Love the title, Senator Obama

His first week will be full of fireworks. Wishing him all success and the heart to make it through the really rough patches ahead!

[jswordy]

11. We're so stinkin' DESPERATE for someone...

...to be the hero riding in wearing the white hat that we as a party are latching on to this kid with all our hopes and dreams, and he hasn't done a damn thing yet.

Heh...it blows me away, makes me ROFLMFAO, that some of the very folks who dissed Edwards in the primaries as inexperienced, etc., are now talking about PRESIDENT Obama.

Geez...give the kid a chance to CAST HIS FIRST VOTE, willya?

After all, he could just be a flash in the pan. Pretty much all I have heard him talk about in speeches so far is HIMSELF. LOL -- if I hear that line ONE MORE TIME about a guy with his funny name getting elected, I will PUKE!

I wish Obama all the luck in the world, but the rest of us all need to get off his ass and let the man carve out a record. Then, after say 2 terms or so, we might be able to see if it is remotely possible that Red America could even conceive of -- let alone elect -- a black president, or even vice president.

Let the kid alone to grow some and learn the ropes. And stop pinning hopes on him that just take us mentally away from the real, hard painful work the party must perform to turn itself into a winner.

Soapbox removed! Heh.

[dogman]

17. Sorry but he's been in state politics and he's been effective.

I do agree that he has time to ripen and hopefully continues the course he's set. Try to realize the attempts to rhyme Obama with Osama. He has raised himself up on his own without a rich family to push him out front. His win in the Illinois Primary was no small feat. He has a lot of promise which is more than can be said for a lot of Dems these days. His message is one of hope and that should be encouraged as long as he stays on course.

[Phoebe_in_Sydney]

19. Relevance of experience

I think Obama's background in constitutional law has a bit more relevance than Edwards' trial lawyer background.

He also has 8 years experience as a state legislator where, from what I hear, he's been very active.

And, personally, while I couldn't understand the fuss about Edwards as an orator, Obama absolutely gave me chills.

I'm not necessarily declaring him Presidential material -- I'd like to see a bit more of what he does in Washington -- but I don't think its fair to say that if you didn't think Edwards had enough experience to be POTUS that you should also rule out Obama.

[Melech Hamoshiach]

12. damn pukes

are already calling him Sen "Osama".

Bastards.

[ThorsHammer]

13. Don't want to jinx him, but.....

he's one of the few politicians I've been excited about. Clinton had a similar vibe, but Obama also has the multiethnic background and has done a lot of good work for his community. I'm not ready to crown him President just yet, but am glad to see him on the national stage now.

[fujiyama]

16. Give Obama some time...

No one knows how Obama will be in the senate. His record thus far in the Illinois state senate is encouraging. Plus, Obama also told the DLC to remove his name from some list they had.

[Clarkie1]

20. Clark/Obama 08' - A Higher Standard of Leadership