Obama, McCain vow to work closely to change Washington's 'bad habits'
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0
Everton2
There will come a time in the future when all those who road the anti-Obama train will concede to a period of deep reflection. That their misgivings about the man was indeed born of fear, misinformation and prejudice. That at this time in world history providence has allowed the ascendancy of this most transforming figure. It could not have come at a more appropriate time.
0
adaydream
Everton2 - Then there are those posters who'd rather have their fingers cut off before they'd ever post anything positive abour Barack.
I'm glad to see John McCain visit Barack Obama. Friends - No. Can work together - Probably. < :-)
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skipthesong
A good start would be to create a brand new party.
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Nippon5
Another good start is to have everyone stop trying to link the dislike of Obamas policies to his race...
Obama will get his chance at the plate, but people shouldnt try to paint him as the savior of the world nor the bringer of death and destruction.. He hasnt even raised his hand yet...
Im glad the two candidates could over come the idiotic political party BS and meet to have a normalized discussion...
Also aday there are those who would rather cut off their fingers then post anything like we have no idea how he will do, maybe he might not be that good, etc etc... It goes both ways..
0
SezWho2
I think we know that people can dislike Obama's policies for reasons not related to race. That is not how the argument goes, however. The argument is that many people dislike Obama more for his race than for his policies.
I also think that those who paint him as the savior of the world have, by and large, been his opponents. Who has called Obama "the Messiah" or "the one"? Not his supporters.
Obama has attracted supporters because he was successful in changing the conversation about Washington. He even got McCain to try to co-opt the conversation. Whether either of them can actually effect the changes that they are talking about, however, is highly doubtful. Obama's early staffing selections and cabinet considerations certainly do not smack of change.
0
Sarge
"change Washington's bad habits"
Like giving a trillion dollars of taxpayers' money to badly managed financial and automobile companies. Change my rear end.
"it was unlikely McCain would serve in an Obama cabinet."
Really?
"A good start would be to create a brand new party.
The Conservative Party... hmmm....
0
skipthesong
sarge: No, not a conservative party and not a liberal party. How about a party that makes sense?
Really, what is a conservative but a definition and what is a liberal but a definition. Neither the dems nor the repubs should claim a title to either one of those.
I also think that those who paint him as the savior of the world have, by and large, been his opponents. Who has called Obama "the Messiah" or "the one"? Not his supporters." That is more to do with jealousy than racism I believe.
The argument is that many people dislike Obama more for his race than for his policies." Do you believe the reason is so simply? Or could it possible stem from black politics, which basically puts others on a constant defensive, for example Newsweek's Article that if Obama is not elected it will certainly "prove" America is a racist country not specifying the fact that up until now, black politicians who have tried to run weren't anything spectacular and have down right come in many whites faces yet expected themselves to be voted.. Obama won for two reasons, Whites and Hispanics. Let's be mature finally and take that kiddie stuff somewhere else.
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Sarge
skipthesong - "How about a party that makes sense?"
Like I said, a Conservative Party.
"Obama won for two reasons, Whites and Hispanics"
Um, Obama got around half the white vote, he got around 70% of the Hispanic vote and 98% of the black vote. But the two main reasons Obama won is, he has charisma and the financial crisis.
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skipthesong
Obama won is, he has charisma and the financial crisis." I was referring to who voted him, 98% of blacks and 0 whites and 70% of Hispanics wouldn't have given him the tip. Charisma - yes, the financial crises is debatable.
How do you consider a conservative party a party that makes sense? I am a borderline Atheist, you can't possibly assume I would agree with you.
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Nippon5
Skip..
Whats a border line atheist? You dont believe in god until hes needed?.. I'm not religious at all, but I dont use the term atheist..
You are right though that you cant have a party based on being one way or another because what a lib is or a con is has to be based on your own belief and that makes it impossible to have a true lib or con party... How about the "party for a healthier, safer, cleaner, less poverty, more peace less war, no religious wars/fights, no racism/sexism/prejiduce, and all over just nice people..."
Sezwho2 Savior isnt just a religious term.. Many on here and web sites around the internet who support Obama say things like... He will end world hunger, he will end all war... ETC ETC.. those claims are just foolish since we have no idea what he can or can not do...
I think McCain and Obamas meeting shouldnt be called "He even got McCain to try to co-opt the conversation." when you do this you give no credit to McCain and all the credit to Obama.. I think based on McCains record of going over the party line it most likely was in McCains nature to do this such thing...
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skipthesong
Nippon: I don't know what I believe to be honest. I just dislike the God stuff in my government. My term of being borderline is that I have no proof he exists or does not, like Aliens and Ghosts. But, I will damned if I am to pray. Please bear in mind, I had a very socialist father and a Roman Catholic mother who now practices Santeria as well.... I'm confused!
I would like a party to be completely from religion. That's my first step. I would like a party that would reduce the size of the government. We have all been fooled about military, social welfare, etc... the biggest cost to tax payers is the government itself. I would also like the fed to allow places to choose how they wish to govern their local in terms of democracy.
You are correct about the savior part. Many people are believing that he will do just those things and I hope when those aren't fullfilled they are not disappointed in Obama but themselves for putting too much faith into their government when we should really be going to back to governing ourselves. If we did, I am quite positive that many of the things you listed above would be fullfilled. Have you ever sent a large donation to another country? Have you seen the paper work that you must do?
Your last line I like. I think it is wise for politicians to reach across the rows once in a while.
Moderator: All readers back on topic please. Leave religion out of this discussion.
0
powderfinger
Everton2: "There will come a time in the future when all those who road [rode] the anti-Obama train will concede to a period of deep reflection."
I can't say I rode any figurative train. I don't trust the machine that produced Obama. Upon reflection though, I am okay with the appointments of some of the Clintonistas he's getting. I hope Holbrooke comes on board. Gorelick would be a disaster though.
"That their misgivings about the man was [were] indeed born of fear, misinformation and prejudice..."
Wright, Ayers and Rezko didn't help his cause. Your misgivings and prejudices, concerning the US and its politics, are born of ignorance.
"...That at this time in world history providence has allowed the ascendancy of this most transforming figure. "
Michael Steele is a Republican who happens to be black. Many think he will run the RNC. Is he an equally transformative figure? Indian - American Bobby Jindal (Governor of Louisiana) is one of the rising stars in the Republican party. What of Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice, Colin Powell? Were they any less "transformative"?
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skipthesong
additionally, Obama being what he is, both black and white, don't you think he is best suited to find a solution between black and whites? It is those two groups that have the great fear of each other.
0
sailwind
I'm more concerned about the his tone of his politics than I was ever about the "tone" of his skin.
I must be weird or maybe it's my Military background that exposed me to every race creed or color you can think of, and if they outranked me were called "Sir" or "Maam" than I was ever about his race.
As far as I'm concerned his race is American and just happens to be one of African descent and one who's politics I can find no real common ground, it's way to far left for me, and I don't think it's right for the country.
I'm glad we elected an African American President....But did it happen to be THIS one?
0
powderfinger
Zogby Poll
"512 Obama Voters 11/13/08-11/15/08
97.1% High School Graduate or higher, 55% College Graduates
12 Multiple Choice Questions
*57.4% could NOT correctly say which party controls congress (50/50 shot just by guessing) * 81.8% could NOT correctly say Joe Biden quit a previous campaign because of plagiarism (25% chance by guessing)
82.6% could NOT correctly say that Barack Obama won his first election by getting opponents kicked off the ballot (25% chance by guessing)
88.4% could NOT correctly say that Obama said his policies would likely bankrupt the coal industry and make energy rates skyrocket (25% chance by guessing)
56.1% could NOT correctly say Obama started his political career at the home of two former members of the Weather Underground (25% chance by guessing).
And yet.....
Only 13.7% failed to identify Sarah Palin as the person on which their party spent $150,000 in clothes
Only 6.2% failed to identify Palin as the one with a pregnant teenage daughter
And 86.9 % thought that Palin said that she could see Russia from her "house," even though it was Tina Fey who said this."
http://www.howobamagotelected.com/
0
Sarge
sailwind - "I'm glad we elected an African-American President....But did it happen to be THIS one?"
You mean, "Did it have to be this one?"
From the article: "President-elect Barack Obama"
This is a joke, right?
0
RomeoRamenII
While Sen. McCain will keep his promise to work for the good of the country, obama has a history of not keeping his promises.
0
Nessie
Typo there, RR. You forgot "club" after "country."
0
Sarge
Nessie - You forgot to check McCain's history of serving his country. No country clubs involved.
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Noripinhead
So now everybody on the board can be happy--McCain as a top advisor, Hillary as Secretary of State, and Sarah Palin as the White House Tiny Fey impersonator. It's like "The Brady Bunch" reunion. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!
0
SezWho2
skipthesong,
I didn't say that Obama's opponents mockingly elevated him to an exalted position because of race. However, I certainly do think that it is as simple as a matter of race that many people took such pains to twist his policies and twist his associations and speculate on the policies that those associations would bring.
0
Betzee
Is there any evidence that the McCain/Palin supporters were more informed?
A woman in one of Palin’s crowds praised her for being “a mom like me … who thinks the way I do” and added, for ill measure, “That’s what I want in the White House.” Fine, but in what capacity?
Do this lady’s like-minded folk wonder how, say, Jefferson, Lincoln, the Roosevelts, et al (add your own favorites) managed so well without being soccer moms? Without being whizzes in the kitchen, whipping up moose soufflés? Without executing and wounding wolves from the air and without promoting that sad, threadbare hoax — sexual abstinence — as the answer to the sizzling loins of the young?
Would any of this be a problem for you if your guy had won?
0
SezWho2
Nippon5,
You're right about the word, of course. But when you use it without making it clear that you intend it in a secular context, you can hardly fault anyone for construing it in the sense that it is most often heard. As far as people claiming that Obama will do this and end that, I don't hear any more of that kind of talk than I hear of Bush having brought freedom to two countries and made America safe. I'd say that extremists are fairly evenly distributed.
0
sailwind
McCain was primary in the post you responded to. You ignored that and went to smear Palin....again.
What a shocker on your part.
0
Betzee
SezWho,
I agree. I've never heard anyone claim "Obama is going to solve world hunger" or solve the litany of other problems which have proved intractable. These are strawmen which take on a life of their own in cyberspace.
I found it significant in his Grant Park victory speech, he asked for God's blessing, he didn't invoke it.
0
Betzee
Sailwind,
It seemed odd someone would commission a poll on level of knowledge of Obama supporters without a comparable look at McCain supporters. One without the other is simply a partisan exercise, sort of like a privately arranged polygraph test in which the results can be buried if they don't demonstrate what you want, and I'm entitled to respond to that.
Notice you didn't respond to any substantive issues and simply launched an attack on me for raising them, what a surprise!
Moderator: Readers, please stay on topic.
0
ca1ic0cat
I wish them luck. I think Washington's bad habits are bigger and better entrenched than both of them put together.
0
goodDonkey
Sarge referenced:
Sarge said:
Sarge, that was the denial slipping out. He hasn't fully accepted that Obama is the President Elect. He is asking if Obama is really president. He is calling out. That is a good sign.
Once again I have to commend McCain for his humility. The way our country has worked for some time is that the opposition party becomes the watchdog when they are out of power. I am very interested in hearing McCain's views about the automobile corporations bailout plans. I am very worried about big business being in the pocket of the Republicans. I think if we were able to get away from patronage to special interest groups we would end up with better legislation. I don't see that happening. I believe Obama took less money from special interest groups than any other presidential candidate for a long time. Having said that Democrats and Republicans are accepting massive funds from such groups. With the cost of campaigns there is not a lot of choice. That is especially true of congressional campaigns. The last thing I want to hear is that candidates should use their own money. Then only the rich would winning. Money is a necessity to get the message out.
I think that McCain efforts would be better invested in going after pork barrel spending than campaign finance reform (for now at least). But people need to understand not all earmarks are pure pork. We need continuing efforts for our highways. We need to advance our efforts in pure science and that takes a continuing monetary commitment. There are other worthy causes but so much money is wasted. I would love to hear McCain admit that some earmarks are good for our country. Then I would love to see him head up an effort to expose the billions of dollars that are going to waste.
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