Talk about a well-rounded man, who just happens to be President!

[babylonsister]

We have this wonderful piece to savor...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x490536

In Writings of Obama, a Philosophy Is Unearthed

snip//

When the Harvard historian James T. Kloppenberg decided to write about the influences that shaped President Obama’s view of the world, he interviewed the president’s former professors and classmates, combed through his books, essays, and speeches, and even read every article published during the three years Mr. Obama was involved with the Harvard Law Review (“a superb cure for insomnia,” Mr. Kloppenberg said). What he did not do was speak to President Obama.
“He would have had to deny every word,” Mr. Kloppenberg said with a smile. The reason, he explained, is his conclusion that President Obama is a true intellectual — a word that is frequently considered an epithet among populists with a robust suspicion of Ivy League elites.

snip//


And then he goes on Jon Stewart and hits it out of the park! How cool is that? Comparisons to recent past is so damn easy, and President Obama rocked and rolled!

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. I don't think there's a topic he can't grapple. I watch in utter amazement.

So many things on his plate, and he can speak intelligently & in depth, on every one of them. Go figure. He won't be truly appreciated until he's out of office, in 2017. :toast:

[Whisp]

24. I think his core beliefs do coincide with his political talk

He does believe in a fair society, in justice and he believes we should take care of each other.

I don't doubt he is sincere in this.

It just isn't normal for one like that to become President so his beliefs look suspicious and therefore the ridiculous accusations of 'corporate shill homophobe kenyan' nonsense gets thrown out.

We are so marinated in mistrust and cynicism we can't see a good thing when it's right in front of our faces. Everything is seen as dog eat dog and there is little room for forgotten simple human kindnesses and caring.

[flamingdem]

27. +1 true! nt

[whistler162]

2. Okay what about Taft?

[cilla4progress]

3. I know.

On the one hand we have the amazing individual as President; on the other, he is being treated like crap across the board. I am convinced it is his appeal, his superiority (really!), his uniqueness and charisma, that are driving the right so crazy (and to top it off, he's African-American). Historically, it was often the powerful, the "uppity," who got the most grief. I just hope we all survive this intact.

[babylonsister]

4. Hey, sweetie. I remain impressed at his capacity to

do so many things. No, he's not perfect, and he's admitted that, but he's a helluva lot better than this country currently has a right to.

[cilla4progress]

6. I totally agree, Babs.

I am getting into "grief" mode... a constant lump in my throat.

Here in red America where I live, voter turnout is unusually high for mid-terms: 70-80%. I'm going to bank on that being good for Dems, so I can get through the next few days...

I wish we could secede...

[babylonsister]

7. Secede? Baloney! I live in a red state, too, but so what?

JUST VOTE!

And whatever happens, I refuse to be discouraged. We will still have a great President that I am proud of, and lots of people who worked long and hard for our party.

Take all that to the bank whatever happens, and be encouraged. :hug:

[cilla4progress]

8. Thanks. This is healing.

What I'm reading here tonight.

[gulliver]

5. He's a gem.

It's one of the cooler things to happen in my lifetime that this guy is actually the president.

[nofurylike]

9. K&R! GREAT post, babylonsister!! THANK YOU so much!! nt

[Clio the Leo]

10. one of my. favorite things is what I call "Stump the Obama"...

.... when he goes to these town halls and opens the floor up to ANY question that folks can hit him with.

I remember someone asking about international patent laws .... some VERY obscure thing .... and he spoke for 20 minutes about it.

The ONLY time I've ever seen him admit to not knowing something ... he was giving Oprah a tour of the Oval, she looked at the Christmas tree and said in her Oprah way, "oh! Dried hydrangeas! I love those!" when she realized she was getting a blank stare from the President she second guessed herself and said, "that's what those are, right?" and he shrugged his shoulders and said, "I dunno."

It was cute. ...... but you can BET the next person he gave the tour to "those are dried hydrangeas harvested from northern Maryland from which they are native!"

[denimgirly]

11. I Hope He Learns to be Strong.

After November i hope he doesnt revert back to capitulation and actually stand for his beliefs. You can have all the knowledge in the world but if u lack desire or guts it is meaningless.

[babylonsister]

12. Get lost. If he wasn't strong, he wouldn't be President, especially

amid all the barbs he receives, from both sides. Walk a mile in his shoes and get back to me. Oh! That's right, that will never happen. :eyes:

[CakeGrrl]

13. What would you know about even RECOGNIZING strength?

Let's see YOU perservere in that climate. You'd probably last a day.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[vaberella]

15. EPIC FAIL on your part. n/t

[krkaufman]

18. Not sure how that's the case.

Obama, himself, in a recent NYT mag piece expressed his view that the Republicans will likely be more conciliatory after the election, and that he expects to be able to work with them on legislation. When combined with the boost in his approval polls, owing to his more aggressive campaign-driven rhetoric, such a view seems downright delusional.

Time will tell but, regardless, the previous poster's comment is a concern for many.

[CBR]

21. Yes being the first black major party nominee and president takes

no strength whatsoever.

[treestar]

26. Yeah, maybe he'll just punch Lieberman in the face on the floor of the Senate

That'll make Lieberman vote for single payer, dammitt!

[krkaufman]

16. Gotta say... Obama *was* impressive on TDS.

He subtly got in Stewart's face when JS characterized Obama's agenda as "timid," was on topic, and fully in command of the interview. Stewart was surprisingly aggressive in the interview, given his usual penchant for deferring to establishment figures (though moreso when they're Republican), but Obama seemingly manhandled JS during the interview, without embarrassing him.

p.s. And no question, at least once during the interview I was reminded of how ignorant and inarticulate the previous guy was, completely at the other end of the spectrum.

[AtomicKitten]

17. I thought it was a great interview. Jon and Pres O at their best. nt

[Spazito]

19. I agree! It was a great interview...

Stewart didn't pander to the President, he asked good, solid questions and received honest answers. The respect for each other was very apparent, imo, and that enhanced the interview.

[JNelson6563]

20. I really need to see the video.

I missed it and have read several accounts here of it being JS asking hard questions but little or no info on the President's answers. Why is that?

Julie--who knows perfectly well why that is

[Spazito]

22. Yep, unfortunately, for some it matters not what the President said in his...

answers, it still would not be good enough, detailed enough, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Stewart's audience, unlike some on DU, liked both Stewart's questions AND the President's answers. It showed, yet again, the naysayers on DU are NOT the norm, not the norm at all, imo.

[AtomicKitten]

23. My DVR cut off the last few minutes, so I'm re-recording it today.

I was laughing at their banter. Jon was funny and probing with his questions, and the prez answered him without hesitation or equivocation. A good time was had by all!

Can't wait until this weekend. The Comedy Channel is airing the rally and it will be streamed live uncensored online.

[Spazito]

25. Yes, I am very much looking forward to the rally coverage as well!

It should be great!

[Qutzupalotl]

28. The interview ran long.

DVR Colbert afterwards and you'll see the end.

[AtomicKitten]

29. Hey thanks. I actually have that but haven't viewed it yet. nt