Obama: A False Moderate?

[HAL 9000 96]

yawn

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

yawn

OPEN WIDE!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Obama and Bush are not the same.

Mccain and Bush are, that's the reason for the season.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Obama and Bush are not the same.

Mccain and Bush are, that's the reason for the season.

Followers unite!

[GaryC 7]

Obama and Bush are not the same.

Mccain and Bush are, that's the reason for the season.

Shall I take that as a no then?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Obama and Bush are not the same.

Mccain and Bush are, that's the reason for the season.

Shall I take that as a no then?

A no on what?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

In terms of perceptions - things like this highlight Obama's lack of (high profile) experience.

It is starting to look as though this Time For Change stuff has more to do with simply clearing house than actually effecting substantial political change. Who knows - perhaps people are so tired of Bush that this will be enough, its possible I suppose. But the lack of a strong, well-defined campaign platform probably isn't going to help. He needs to pull that together over the next few months.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

But the lack of a strong, well-defined campaign platform probably isn't going to help. He needs to pull that together over the next few months.

If you say that Obama's platform lacks strength, clarity and definition, then I'd submit that the same holds true for any other presidential candidate out there. What specifically makes McCain's or Barr's or Nader's platform any more clear or strong?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

While all the candidates are skirting various different areas of national policy - the problem with Obama is that he started his campaign with this ideological slogan about Change. I don't think its any coincidence that people have been asking what he means by this and how he plans to effect it in practical terms.

In other words he's tied to this slogan - and his opponents and the media are going to assess everything he says against that promise of change. I just hope it doesn't become a ball and chain that drags him down... It also kind of explains why all of the conversations seem come back to it. If he doesn't have the maverick record - he's going to have a hard time convincing some people that he can actually do what he says.

It's a legitimate criticism.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

While all the candidates are skirting various different areas of national policy - the problem with Obama is that he started his campaign with this ideological slogan about Change. I don't think its any coincidence that people have been asking what he means by this and how he plans to effect it in practical terms.

In other words he's tied to this slogan - and his opponents and the media are going to assess everything he says against that promise of change. I just hope it doesn't become a ball and chain that drags him down... It also kind of explains why all of the conversations seem come back to it. If he doesn't have the maverick record - he's going to have a hard time convincing some people that he can actually do what he says.

It's a legitimate criticism.

Any criticism is legitimate if you ask the right crowd. It's called politics.

I may even agree to a point that he pushed this message of change seemingly for the sake of change which is odd at best. But then, this is the American political system so nothing really surprises me all that much. This is still the same country in which W ran as the compassionate conservative - whatever the hell that meant. For Hillary it was the experience she ran on - of which she had actually less in the political system than Obama if you count out the years she was a first lady.

Candidates run on platforms, they offer programs none of which they will ever be able to fully realize and none of which they ever explain coherently how to fund. It's what it takes to get elected. That's the reality of it. Why it is so surprising to many that Obama plays the game the way the game is played is beyond me. He isn't some miracle or something. He's a very skilled politician that appears to have the ability to run efficient and effective campaigns, surround himself with the right people to achieve certain goals. And that is what a President needs to be able to do: effectively manage a political and executive machinery to realize certain targets and goals. Having gotten to this point against the odds, he passes that test.

What's left is his agenda. What is his vision and what are his priorities? For that, you turn to his policy proposals and his record - which is far less empty than some would have you believe. I can identify with most of his platform. There are issues I don't agree with but that's to be expected. On the balance, he represents my priorities and visions much more than any other candidate out there. And that is why I support his candidacy.

[eric&gen 0]

Obama for mod.