Re: Obama's pastor's comments.
 

1rnfl OMG Are you repubs really that nuts! Pleeeaasssee let's all account for our actions in the 70's. I'm from Chicago. I was there during the riots. I knew a couple of weathermen -- it was the 70's for God's sake! Get over it! This is the most ridculious thing I have ever heard. Everyone had some weird friends. Everyone had some revolutionary thing to say. It was the times. It's that simple. And Obama at that time was much younger than I am. Geesh! Grow up. I'm going to guarantee you this will not be an "October Surprise". The next think you'll be saying is that he killed Santa Claus and ate the Easter Bunny! Barack is an adult, speaking to adults. Clearly this is over your head.

Re: Obama's pastor's comments.
 

You hit the nail on the head - No Track Record !

I'm still not convinced with the "guilt by association" inference. There are few lifelong choirboys/girls out there, and in some respects I would prefer a candidate with some rough-and-tumble experience because the folks they will deal with after an election are no angels either.

In my lifetime I've been considered politically just a little to the right of Genghis Khan. Yet, I went later in life and got a degree from one of the most (if not THE most) left-wing universities in the nation. I followed the advice of a great mentor who said you learn more from people with whom you normally disagree than those who mirror your opinions. I found that to be true for me. So, even though I walk around with an "Antioch U." sweatshirt, to assume I'm an ultra-liberal would be exercising the classic "assume" definition. I have friends who are in that ultra-liberal category who are there for me in a heartbeat if I need help, and our politics actually enhance the friendship because we have learned much from each other over decades.

Senator Obama makes himself open for "by association" examination solely because there is no defined substance to his campaign. "Change" is a great rallying cry, but 'change' to what and in what way? How will this 'change' occur? Is 'change' it strictly a people-swap or issue modification? If issue-modification, then how-when-where?

Until "Change" is quantified, Senator Obama's campaign will be saturated with 'by association' references, simply because there is nothing else....

Re: Obama's pastor's comments.
 

RE: Obama's Terrorist Friends!!!!

Chelsea24- No need to get insulting or throw a hissy fit- I was just expressing an observation. OK? Even if this is all clearly over my head. I certainly accept your apology.

Maybe I wasn't clear on something- - I'll now elaborate. I wasn't implying that Obama is suspected of doing anything wrong or that he associated with criminals back in the 70's. The matter being bandied around by the conservative commentators is that he has/had a continuing, present day relationship with two of the more notorious members of the weatherman---William Ayers and Bernadette Dohrn.
Your weatherman acquaintances in Chicago were probably like most of them- mindless, but not really harmless kiddie revolutionaries, just exercising their constitutional rights by trashing military recruitment offices and battling the police in the streets. Surely nothing serious, because, after all, Chelsea, it was "just the 70's"
Ayers and Dohrn were a bit more fervent and accomplished. They and their immediate associates plotted and executed bombings, bank robberies and other crimes. Three of their playmates blew themselves while trying to make bombs in NY City. Poor souls! They were federal fugitives for years, were finally surrendered or apprehended, and received appropriate wrist slappings by an "understanding" judge. Ayers reportedly has recently said that his only regret is that he didn't do more bombings.
Chelsea, can you possibly maintain that if the right wingers are successful in linking Obama to Ayers and Dohrn in a substantial, recent or present day relationship, it will not have a devastating effect on his candidacy?
Personally, I doubt if this will happen. From what I have seen in researching this, they have only documented that he may have met with them a few times, years ago, in the 90's. Also, Obama would not be stupid enough to have a relationship like this. Or would he? Don't forget, the thing about his nutty pastor was bouncing around for many months before it was picked up by the mainstream press & just look at what happened. So who knows where this will go? They have lots of time to develop it and are very persistent. It could be interesting!!

Re: Obama's pastor's comments.
 

Dominick, I didn't throw a hissy fit. I found it amusing. I wasn't trying to insult you personally, that is how you took it. Consequently I did not and do not apologize.

Yes, I agree with you that the right wingers will pretty much try to link anything,everything and everyone they can to Barack Obama. They're scared to death of him.

This is just the usual smoke and mirrors. A kinda of a "let's target this guy, so everyone doesn't see how incompetent our guy really is" mentality. The Bush administration tried that for years but, it has been validated over and over and over again, you can only fool the American public for so long. The right wingers will throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks. I don't think this will be it. I think their bag of tricks is running out. Their tactics have become extremely transparent and wearisome. Just my opinion. :)

Re: Obama's pastor's comments.
 

Hang in there Chelsea 24!! There is a silent majority on your side.

Re: Obama's pastor's comments.
 

As a non-Republican but probably very right of center politically, I don't consider Senator Obama 'scary,' but do consider him hypocritical.

Senator Obama has so far completed just a tad over half his term (his first term) as Senator from Illinois. Considering the learning curve experienced by freshman US Senators, he's only had the real understanding of the job for a couple of years tops. It smacks of never really wanting to represent the Illinois populace, but just using the title as a stepping-stone. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/c...mbers/o000167/ provides a synopsis of his Senate record, to include the fact that he has missed 37% of the legislative votes in the Senate for the current term.

Senator Obama was a State Senator for 8 years. He was a very active legislator in the Illinois Senate, with many of his sponsored bills . The websites http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n2369157.shtml and http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/20...A_GRAPHIC.html
provide a synopsis of that record. Neither of the site are from what can be described in any context as "right wing."

Senator Obama's experience as a manager or business executive is minuscule, with no record of ever managing anything other than local projects of limited staff numbers and small dollar value. The President of the US is the Chief Executive of an entity (Executive Branch) of approximately 2 million employees (USPS not included), countless contractors, worldwide 'offices' and a myriad of diverse missions, services and products - and my poor intellect believes that anyone who heads such an organization should have SOME managerial/executive experience related to the job (state governors being the closest experientially to presidents).

There seems to be a rush for unquantified 'change' and that is highly understandable. My question is simply how does this gentleman, at this time and experience in his life, demonstrate he is indeed qualified to be Chief Executive with all of the responsibilities the job entails? To apply an old commercial line - Where's the beef?

I've read Senator Obama's record in detail for the eleven years of his political career, including which votes he made and which he missed. I think as a legislator at the state level he demonstrated desire (my opinion of his voting record is immaterial) and willingness to succeed at that level. As a US Senator, his record is very spotty during his half-term, especially with missing over a third of senate calls-to-vote.

Senator Obama's meteoric rise within the Democratic Party seems to be as a 'fresh face' who also speaks well. There really isn't anything else (unless I'm really missing it, and that is quite possible). It's a shame he didn't complete at least one full term as a Senator, and even more of a shame that he didn't take a shot at being the Illinois Governor - as that experience would match a lot better to what the US President must consider on a daily basis.

The same criteria comparison of Senator Obama applies also to Senator Rodham-Clinton and Senator McCain. They stack up differently among the criteria, with none of them being the total package.

"Change" is going to happen, but the US Presidency is a rough place for on-the-job training on all job responsibilities.

Re: Obama's pastor's comments.
 

Do agree that I would like it if Senator Barack Obama were a lot more experienced in politics and governance than he is. Senators Clinton and McCain also though do not seem to have all that much in the way of actual experience in governing even though Hillary Clinton has a lot of it as part of the Billary combination. What scares me about voting for Hillary Clinton is that you are in effect also voting for William Jefferson Clinton by voting for Hillary Clinton. He is not the hands off kind of guy (pun?? intended).

He is very articulate even if he seems to take 500 words to explain what could be more eloquently put into 50.

Re: Obama's pastor's comments.
 

Chelsea...you said,

OMG Are you repubs really that nuts! Pleeeaasssee let's all account for our actions in the 70's. I'm from Chicago. I was there during the riots. I knew a couple of weathermen -- This is the most ridculious thing I have ever heard.

That is a cold, understatement that puts nothing but political spin on tragic human events that deserve the truth. They had names. Maybe if I put names to those who were ruthlessly gunned down and murdered after stopping a van containing Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert, both Weather Underground members and their accomplices, maybe you will reassess your cavalier dismissal blaming it on the 70's as if it was a frat party gone out of control.

Nyack police officers Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown were shot and killed. Boudin was caught at the scene. This same group of cold blooded killers had just killed Brinks guard Peter Paige during the Brinks bank robbery an hour earlier. William Ahres and Bernadette Dohrn frequently are considered the founders of the Weather Underground.

Obama's connection with them is surfacing but your cheap shot accusation giving "repubs" attribution is a bit premature. The Clinton campaign has been linked to several recent "leaks". They should certainly not be above suspicion.

There was a recent memorial held for the families and victims of that tragic crime. I know with certainty that Obama wasn't there. I know he has been very busy but if he found time to chat with his weathermen friends, he should al least have given their victims equal time, but then, maybe that's just me.

I think the survivors of those victims would find it difficult to accept your justification, "it was the 70's for God's sake! Get over it!" They will never get over it. If it was your husband, son, brother, or father that was gunned down by these ruthless thugs, would you get over it?

Re: Obama's pastor's comments.
 

First, I would never diminish anyone's loss of a loved one. Second, I'm absolutedly not buying this whole Obama weathermen thing. Again, I believe this is just smoke and mirrors. Third, was McCain at this memorial? And last, but not least, I think your response is a "cheap shot" as you put it. When this becomes a big story with hard evidence, which it won't, I will issue an apology. It is my opinion, which I am entitled to, that this Obama/Weathermen tie-in is a bunch of cr@p.