Barack Obama is possibly the MOST ASTUTE politician I've ever watched (5/17/05)

[uppityperson]

Walt Starr
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1789001&mesg_id=1789001

Barack Obama is possibly the MOST ASTUTE politician I've ever watched

He's on CSPAN2 right now and his eloquence and charisma makes Clinton look like a rank amateur in the field of politics.

He's positioning himself as a moderate, which is politically astute if you wish to seek a higher office than you currently hold.

This man could be president, if he so chooses.


(a reply)

"He IS a moderate

This is NOT positionning.

It is a little bit early for him to run for president, but it is something definitively possible in 8 or 12 years."

[xochi]

1. I believe he's more self-aware and conscious

of the pitfalls of polarization, and entrenchment in ideology, than many capable politicians. He'll come from a place that transcends many of the divisive lines and loyalties that many on both sides of the aisle get stuck on, so he'll be more able to navigate between them and bring people together to bring about positive change.

[uppityperson]

2. I agree and really hope he is whom he seems to be.

[Coexist]

3. Skinner, just ...

oh never mind.

I read Walt over at Kos sometimes, although I haven't seen him post in awhile. Heard from him?

[uppityperson]

4. Nope, not since the infamous.

I think I heard he is posting elsewhere, but I haven't gotten elsewhere often.

[black light poster]

5. He's by far the best candidate in any number of ways...

...just the best, period, across the board. Everything about the guy telegraphs that he is the ideal person to be American president.

And that, to me, is as shocking as us managing to elect a black man into the world's highest office: That fact that, first, forget the racial aspect, we managed to nominate the absolutely best guy available for the job. And then he won! Because I had become resigned to politics in which the very best possible president NEVER even gets close to making the final cut, much less into office. Our national stupidity index has nearly always been too high.

I anticipate Obama's being a great American presidency. There are past cases of some of the greatest following some of the worst. After the nation falling into disaster under Buchanan, Lincoln. After the tragedy that was Hoover, FDR. And now after the travesty of the 8(-seemed-like-80!)Bush years, Obama. The contrast between the two people, Geo. W. Bush and Barack Obama, could not be more vivid, more stark. And this give me GREAT hope.

[uppityperson]

6. I agree. Did you notice that post was from 3 1/2 yrs ago?

By a brilliant, but former DUer.

[xochi]

8. Exactly, me too! Something sure has shifted.

It feels like a dream. Or, rather, waking up from a looooong nightmare!

[Uzybone]

7. Pretty prescient thread

well at least most of it was. Barack has liberal positions but talks about them in a moderate way. He desperately wants to be bipartisan, but on our terms.