I'm voting for Obama in the Ohio primary because he has the ability to inspire

[Extend a Hand]

• We are facing a global economic meltdown and a number of economists are already talking about "The Greater Depression"
  
• Global climate change is ALREADY upon us and is threatening the world food supply-- the global wheat supply is lower than it's been in decades
  
• Many scientists believe that oil extraction has already peaked and supplies will not be available to meet demand, in fact third world countries have already been priced out of the market and are suffering NOW.
  

This is a perfect storm.

Both Hillary and Obama are great progressive candidates that will no doubt work hard to advance a progressive agenda but I believe that we as a country are going to be needing some inspiration and some hope in what are likely to be dark times.

[FrenchieCat]

1. That is correct!

There is nothing that I will rather do than get up through November wanting to see the pugs defeated, and Bush being replaced with a genuine Anti-Bush named President Obama!

The Wall Streets better European sister, The Financial Times endorses Obama!
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4c003b86-d7ff-11dc-98f7-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

The US is tired and discouraged these days. The country is right to seek a little inspiration, a lifting of the spirits, a sense of renewal. Mrs Clinton is the perfect antithesis of those things. She is commanding in debate; she knows her facts. But she is dreary and angry at the same time, which is no easy feat. She personifies partisan division. And, through her husband and her nostalgia for the 1990s, she is tied to the past. She is indeed the paradigm of business as usual, with the taint of dynastic succession thrown in. The Democrats would be wrong to make her their nominee, in my view, even in a field of unexceptional candidates – but this is not a field of unexceptional candidates.

What makes Mr Obama remarkable is that his message of hope, resonating so powerfully with black America, is cast to every American, regardless of colour, to Democrats and Republicans alike. This is surpassingly important: a man of outstanding intellect and magnetic personality, he is running on a one-nation platform, as though he merely happened to be black. And the best part is, the whole country is paying attention: polls say that he is more electable in November than Mrs Clinton. In a close election, he could make the difference.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4c003b86-d7ff-11dc-98f7-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

[anigbrowl]

10. The FT endorses Obama? Excellent!!!

I am really happy to see that (I'm a Euro, so I miss the FT). I'm hoping the Economist will soon do the same. Obama is the thinking person's choice.

[psquare]

27. Euro papers endorse US candidates? Is this the New or Old Europe?

[jackson_dem]

33. The Economist has said Obama is more right-wing on economics than Hill and Edwards

So read into that...

[Windy]

13. Wonderful endorsement! Leave it to the Europeans ...

Education makes such a difference...

[Extend a Hand]

17. The wingnuts harbor a pathological hate

for Hillary (and Bill) that I've never understood. I think Hillary would make a fine president but Obama will be a GREAT president. I believe that Obama is the man for the hour. I think that he has a better chance of winning in the general election because he doesn't seem to attract rabid haterd like the Clintons. It's not "fair" but I gave up on expecting fair a long time ago. I'll feel bad for Hillary if she loses the nomination.

[Cha]

44. Beautifully crafted endorsement from The Financial Times

of London!~

[Double T]

2. Clinton will get things done while obama will just keep hoping things will get done.

[Extend a Hand]

11. Why do you say that?

from everything I've read both Hillary and Obama have very similar voting records and have even co-sponsored bills on occasion.

[DUyellow]

16. prove it

[Double T]

41. ahhhh.....130 'presents' ISN'T getting the work DONE.

When it comes to obama, there is NO HOPE.

[alteredstate]

49. Oh puhleeeeeze............

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/21/164117/783/290/461422

[Double T]

51. Please WHAT? A politician that tries to make EVERYONE happy.........

is a politician that will never get anything done. obama has proved THIS over and over AGAIN.

[alteredstate]

54. You're wrong.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/21/164117/783/290/461422

Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:

25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change
Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115)
Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133)
Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768)
Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151)
Reduce green house gas emissions (1324)
Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389)
Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202)
Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269)
Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794)
Alternative diesel standards (3554)
Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623)
Renewable diesel standards (1920)
Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555)
Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025)
Alternative energy refueling system (2614)
Climate change education (1389)
Low income energy assistance (2405)
Oil savings targets (339)
Fuel economy reform (3694)
Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617)
Nuclear release notice (2348)
Passenger rail investment (294)
Energy relief for low income families (2405)

21 addressed Health Care
Drug re-importation (334)
Health information technology (1262, 1418)
Discount drug prices (2347)
Health care associated infections (2278)
Hospital quality report cards (692, 1824)
Medical error disclosure and compensation (1784)
Emergency medical care and response (1873)
Stem cell research (5)
Medical Malpractice insurance (1525)
Health centers renewal (901, 3771)
Children’s health insurance (401)
Home health care (2061)
Medicare independent living (2103)
Microbicides for HIV/AIDS (823)
Ovarian cancer biomarker research (2569)
Gynological cancers (1172)
Access to personalized medicine through use of human genome (976)
Paralysis research and care (1183)

20 addressed Public Health:
Violence against women (1197)
Biodefense and pandemic preparedness and response (1821, 1880)
Viral influenza control (969)
End homelessness (1518)
Reduce STDs/unintended pregnancy (1790)
Smoking prevention and tobacco control (625)
Minority health improvement and disparity elimination (4024)
Nutrition and physical education in schools (2066)
Health impact assessments (1067, 2506)
Healthy communities (1068)
Combat methamphetamines (2071)
Paid sick leave (910)
Prohibit mercury sales (833, 1818)
Prohibit sale of lead products (1306, 2132)
Lead exposure in children (1811, 2132)

14 address Consumer Protection/Labor
Stop unfair labor practices (842)
Fair minimum wage (2, 1062, 2725, 3829)
Internet freedom (2917)
Credit card safety (2411)
Media ownership (2332)
Protecting taxpayer privacy (2484)
Working family child assistance (218)
Habeus Corpus Restoration (185)
Bankruptcy protection for employees and retirees (2092)
FAA fair labor management dispute resolution (2201)
Working families flexibility (2419).

13 addressed the Needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces:
Improve Benefits (117)
Suicide prevention (479)
Needs of homeless veterans (1180)
Homes for veterans (1084)
GI Bill enhancement (43)
Military job protection
Dignity in care for wounded vets (713)
Housing assistance for low income veterans (1084)
Military children in public schools (2151)
Military eye injury research and care (1999)
Research physical/mental health needs from Iraq War (1271)
Proper administration of discharge for personality disorder (1817, 1885)
Security of personal data of veterans (3592)

12 addressed Congressional Ethics and Accountability
Lobbying and ethics reform (230)
Stop fraud (2280)
Legislative transparency and accountability (525)
Open government (2180, 2488)
Restoring fiscal discipline (10)
Transparency and integrity in earmarks (2261)
Accountability of conference committee deliberations and reports (2179)
Federal funding accountability and transparency (2590)
Accountability and oversight for private security functions under Federal
contract (674)
Accountability for contractors and personnel under federal contracts
(2147) Resctrictions awarding government contracts (2519)

10 addressed Foreign Policy:
Iraq war de-escalation (313)
US policy for Iraq (433),
Divestiture from Iran (1430)
Sudan divestment authorization (831)
Millennium Development Goals (2433)
Multilateral debt relief (1320)
Development bank reform (1129)
Nuclear nonproliferation (3131,977,2224).

9 address Voting/Elections
Prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (453)
Voter access to polls and services in Federal elections (737)
Voter intimidation and deceptive practices (1975)
Senate campaign disclosure parity (185)
Require reporting for bundled campaign contributions (2030)
Election jamming prevention (4102)
Campaign disclosure parity (223)
Presidential funding (2412)
Integrity of electronic voting systems (1487)

11 addressed Education
Increase access of low income African Americans to higher education (1513)
Establish teaching residency programs (1574)
Increase early intervention services (2111)
Middle school curriculum improvements (2227)
Public database of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid (2428)
Summer learning programs (116)
TANF financial education promotion (924)
Higher education (1642)
Build capacity at community colleges (379)
Campus law enforcement in emergencies (1228)
Support for teachers (2060).

6 addressed Hurrican Katrina
Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319)
Emergency relief (1637)
Bankruptcy relief and community protection (1647)
Working family tax relief (2257)
Fair wages for recovery workers (1749)
Gulf coast infrastructure redevelopment (1836)

5 addressed the Environment
Drinking water security (218, 1426)
Water resources development (728)
Waste water treatment (1995)
Combat illegal logging (1930)
Spent nuclear fuel tracking and Acountability (1194)
Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (Introduced in Senate)

4 addressed Discrimination
Claims for civil class action based on discrimination (1989)
Domestic partnership benefits (2521)
Unresolved civil rights crimes (535)
Equality or two parent families (2286)

4 addressed Homeland Security
Judicial review of FISA orders (2369)
National emergency family locator (1630)
Amend US Patriot Act (2167)
Chemical security and safety (2486)

[FrenchieCat]

22. What has she actually "done"?

When she has been given the chance?

Voted for war....twice?

[jackson_dem]

34. Twice?

[FrenchieCat]

35. Once for Iraq, and once for Iran!

[jackson_dem]

37. When was the Iran war vote?

[FrenchieCat]

38. iF you don't know, then

I don't know what to say about you.

That's that. :shrug:

[jackson_dem]

39. "Present"

;)

[Double T]

42. obama wasn't even around to vote or NOT vote for war.

He SHOULD keep his mouth shut on the war issue. coulda, woulda, shoulda obama.

[DuaneBidoux]

50. First of all, to get things done you have to get elected. Poles say it is unlikely for her.

Nobody has ever been elected president with negative feelings as high as hers. All polls done so far say she loses to McCain and McCain loses to Obama.

That is good enough for me. I'm in Texas, and will be voting Obama a week from Tuesday.

[jlake]

This is not American Idol.

[K Gardner]

4. Its not American Gladiator either.

[Extend a Hand]

6. I did not find American Idol to be inspiring

the one time I watched it.

[K Gardner]

3. Short, sweet and highly accurate. A Perfect Storm indeed :-)

[Scurrilous]

5. K & R

:thumbsup:

[NMMNG]

7. So you're looking for a preacher?

:shrug:

[Extend a Hand]

8. I *REALLY* don't find most preachers to be inspirational

When I was a kid I got pinched all the time for wiggling in church. x(

[NMMNG]

15. I don't either

Nor do I find Barack inspirational, particularly since 98% of his speeches are done in his faux preacher style. It makes me cringe, to be frank.

[Extend a Hand]

23. lol, you must have gone to more high-falutin' churches

than the southern Baptist churches that I attended (with much whining and complaining). Those were all hell-fire and brimstone :evilgrin:

They weren't too big on hope or unity or even facts.

[NMMNG]

26. Not high-falutin' by any means

But definitely not "fire and brimstone".

However I'm again an atheist and also a lesbian who has studied the RRRW propaganda machine extensively. Therefore I have a keen ear for the code-speak, evangelical rhetoric, faux preacher voices and such. That's only some of what I've noticed in Obama that turns me off in a serious way.

[Extend a Hand]

29. I guess he never struck me that way

because of my upbringing. Where I came from a yankee-sounding Harvard-educated lawyer would've been viewed with deep suspicion.

My husband who is a brilliant, northern, private-school educated atheist agrees with you that he sounds like a preacher. He must sound like a northern preacher ;)

Most of my family will be probably be voting for the Huckanut.
:puke:

I'm the liberal black sheep in my family.

[FrenchieCat]

21. That's what folks who don't like Obama have attempted to label him as.....

a Black preacher.

But he is not that at all, and them saying it, won't make it so.

Marginalizing him has and will backfire.

Don't listen to the cynics and their cynicism!
They know nothing about Barack Obama, and they don't want to know....and that's alright.

Watch this instead. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY&NR=1

[Extend a Hand]

25. Wasn't that a fabulous video!!!

I don't understood that preacher meme and I've seen A LOT of preachers. I was dragged to church three times a week with plenty of 'revival meetings' in between.

[Recursion]

47. What's wrong with preachers? My mom is a preacher.

I like preachers.

[seriousstan]

9. So Barockstar is your political compass?

[Extend a Hand]

12. I don't understand your question.

[Prophet 451]

14. Which is great, but...

Can he get things done?

Don't misunderstand me, I like Obama and, presuming he's the nominee (which looks likely right now), I'm sure he'll make a decent president but inspiration is only one part of the magic formula, he needs to be able to get things done. Obama's rhetoric about change and hope is very inspiring but the idea of reaching across teh aisle, working with the Repubs, just strikes me as naive. The current batch of Rs see politics as a street fight and the first time Obama tries anything bipartisan, they're going to shiv him in the ribs. I don't think Obama understands quite how ugly, obstructionist and downright vicious the Rs are willing to get.

[Extend a Hand]

18. I figure

that you don't get to be a US senator without already having run across your share of backstabbers. I guess we'll really never know if the losing candidate would have been more effective since only one can win. I'm more inclined to give Obama the edge on that score just because I figure the rabid RW'ers are more likely to cut off their collective nose to spite their face just to obstruct Hillary. For me though, speculation about which candidate would be more effective as president is not really a deal maker or breaker because we can't possibly know the answer.

[Prophet 451]

19. Point

I'm not for Hillary either simply because, assuming her politics are similar to Bill's, she's corporatist. I just, there's a lot of "unknown quantity" about Obama.

[FrenchieCat]

20. Yes, he can get things "done".....

and here's some of what he has already done:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4723451&mesg_id=4723451

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4578207

[Prophet 451]

24. OK, good answer :) n/t

[Cha]

46. Thanks, I missed

that first "Talkie Do" link.

[Voice for Peace]

31. He's got a better chance than Hillary in that regard. Her ideas may be good but

she would be ferociously blocked by republicans in congress. I think Obama
has a much better chance of success overall.

[Prophet 451]

53. Point very well taken n/t

[liberalnurse]

28. That is reassuring to know.

I look forward to Obama and Soviet leader Putin meeting?

I'm so thrilled that Obama can inspire this retired, murdering KGB agent.

I feel so safe now. We can soon add Inspired to this images below.

[Extend a Hand]

30. I must have missed something

did Putin say he was inspired by Obama?

I think Putin looks like an ax murderer. :scared:

[FrenchieCat]

32. Hey, it's possible.

He's inspiring quite a few these days. Imagine that! :)

[jackson_dem]

36. Obama leads Hillary 50% to 46% in the popular vote (excluding Florida and Michigan)

Given that I have never gotten why it is believed by many voters and much of the msm that only Obama has an ability to inspire. If that were the case he would be winning by more than 4% (3% if you include Florida).

[TexasObserver]

40. Agree. The president must be able to inspire and lead the nation, and Obama's qualities matters.

It's not enough to be reasonably competent, as Hillary is.

Her disasterous campaign leadership and spending are ample evidence she's not an executive and should stick to non executive roles.

[KAZ]

43. Nice, positive post Sad_One! He does inspire. n/t

[candice]

45. "inspiration" won't cut it if the candidate doesn't have the experience...

...one year in the U.S. Congress before running for President doesn't instill any confidence in me. It makes me question the judgment of the person doing so. Obama's background shows someone always on to the next job, but he should stay in the Senate awhile, call some meetings of his committee, and give us a better idea of what to be hopeful and inspired about!

He doesn't seem that interested in real policy and doing the hard work that is going to be required. He could make a career as the new Billy Graham, although I saw Billy Graham once up close in a small gathering and was a thousand times more moved by him than I've been watching Obama implement David Axelrod's campaign for Patrick over again. (The spellbinder is whether "Yes we can" is going to transform into "Together we can" as it did in the Patrick campaign.)

Read this article about the politics of hope brought to you by David Axelrod, definitely worth his salary:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/12/bay_state_voters_know_their_limits/

In the eyes of many voters, Patrick's biggest initiative - the thing he is really fighting for - is a plan to raise revenues by building three casinos. This has given hope to those who love slot machines and blackjack, or are unusually focused on the state revenue picture. But it has given absolutely no hope to those who suffer from gambling addictions, worry about traffic, or think casinos are tawdry.

[Recursion]

48. Bad judgment is not "experience"

What has Senator Clinton really done that has prepared her for the white house? Voted for an ill-considered and illegal war? Created a behind-closed-doors health plan that justly crashed and burned?

[Muzza]

52. NIL INSPIRATION!

Obama's inspiration factor for me? ZERO. I cannot be inspired by a man who I believe is insincere, dishonest, unethical and hypocritcal. He evokes one emotion in me - ANGER. His attempts to deceive the voting public have enraged me. Thankfully I did not fall victim to his shameless campaign. I have, though, been the victim of horrible verbal attacks from obsessed Obama fans who oppose my views.

[Forkboy]

55. I want a nickle for every time you use the word "shameless".

I should be rich by next weekend.

[OnionPatch]

56. He's inspiring people who have been sitting out the elections for a long time.

This is what we've dreamed of happening and bitched about because it wasn't happening in the past. Young people, blacks and independents especially, all turning out like I've never witnessed before. It's a wonderful thing to behold.