It looks like Obama has finally clinched the Democratic nomination for President. Hillary has yet to concede, but the call is expected to go through soon.
Predictions? VP? Campaign strategy? Results in November?
There's nothing like the atmosphere in America during a Presidential election season and I don't think this one will disappoint.
Posts: 274 | Location: San Diego/Las Vegas | Registered: May 02, 2008
Against all projections of a black male being elected, I believe that Obama will win in November by a substantial margin.
Just look at Bush's polls. Certainly McCain is not Bush, but there is no getting around the fact that McCain would have a lot of "baggage" by merely endorsing most of Bush's policies.
The American public really wants change. I wish it could have been Edwards or Clinton. But it is Obama, a very decent guy, who I hope will be a good President. One thing is sure...there is no way he could be worst than Bush.
Posts: 1680 | Location: San Francisco, CA, USA | Registered: August 20, 2003
Against all projections of a black male being elected, I believe that Obama will win in November by a substantial margin.
We can hope.
Last night was interesting to watch. It was a pretty smart idea for Sen. McCain to make that preemptive speech in Louisiana, at least in concept. Lavish in his praise of Sen. Clinton, it was a clear attempt by to lure her supporters to him and away from the Democratic nominee in November. In actual execution, though, it was just a dreadful, wooden performance. Bill Kristol on Fox said, "Well, that didn't help", and questioned McCain's line, "The pundits and party leaders have determined Barack Obama will be my opponent". Well, no, Senator -- he's the Democratic nominee because he got to 2,118 delegates first.
Replay Sen. McCain's speech, then replay the one by Sen. Obama, and you have to think the Obama camp just can't wait for head-to-head campaign events over the next five months.
As for Sen. Clinton's speech in New York, didn't it make you ask yourself, "Huh?? What the hell is she doing??" Introduced by Terry McAuliffe as "the next President of the United States, it was as neither of them can count as high as 2,118.
'Question authority. Think for yourself. Filter out the spin. Engage elected officials critically. Make them defend what they're doing in your name. Derive the truth. Speak truth to power.'
Posts: 2861 | Location: Boston | Registered: April 16, 2005
Yeah last night was very interesting. I had to stay awake for late because of time difference but it was worth it. McCain's speech was pretty good, like he's talking to 1st graders. I just love how this guy talks, specially when he kept on saying the "That's not change we can believe in" line.
McCain is creepy, just really, really creepy. Especially when he speaks in that low voice and does that smile.
So Jack, what do you think would be Obama's next step?? He should pick up a VP now. I think a smart move would be putting Hillary on the ticket. God knows I don't like her, I don't know why but I just don't like her, but it would be a political savvy action to do so, so he could get those who support Hillary, and they aren't few. But of course Hillary and Bill come in one package, and that's something he should be aware of.
______________________________ H.O.Roshdy.
"Stick to your blue collar RASS, I will smoke Cohibas"- ccsigloIII.
[[The Cabron of Cairo]]
Posts: 1797 | Location: Egypt | Registered: June 14, 2007
It's been interesting to-date, and will only get more so.
Choice of running-mate will tell us a lot about both candidates, and could make or break either campaign.
On McCain's side, I think he needs to reach out to the moderate center, which will cost him conservative votes. He also needs to clearly distance himself from Bush wherever possible.
Obama needs to be much more specific, and he has to make good choices on running-mate and advisors. He also needs to make a concerted effort to recapture the "blue-collar" democrats that he lost to Clinton during the primaries.
Ultimately, I believe that whichever candidate wins the center will win the election; both candidates have traction in that space, and the one that is most effective at reaching out to those voters will have a decided advantage.
With any luck, it won't be another election driven by polarization and Liberal/Conservative angst. Those do nothing to address the core issues that we face - they only serve to divide and distract as each side brings out their wedge issues and hot-buttons.
Should be interesting!
So many cigars, so little time...
Posts: 2154 | Location: South of the Mason/Dixon Line | Registered: September 24, 2007
Putting the Hildabeast on the ticket may be a good political move. However, it seems to blatantly contradict Obama's mantra of bringing CHANGE to Washington, D.C.
After last night, I think its going to take a major implosion in the Obama camp to lose this one in November. Although my philosophies do not line up with Obama in almost all regards, I'm willing (do I have a choice?) to see what Obama could do in the White House.
If Hillary does get on the ticket as VP, that will guarantee that I will not vote for Obama.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: TSF,
"The more a feller’s got on his mind, the less time he's got to think on any one thing." - Festus Haggen
Posts: 998 | Location: Georgia, USA | Registered: January 18, 2006
Putting the Hildabeast on the ticket may be a good political move. However, it seems to blatantly contradict Obama's mantra of bringing CHANGE to Washington, D.C.
This is also true. It's a really tough situation here for Obama's camp: pick Hillary and win her supporters but then blow all your change argument, don't pick Hillary and risk her supporters but remain solid on your campaign's claims.
It's tough. But if most of Hillary's supporters supported her out of partisanship, then Obama shouldn't worry about having them because they'll vote Dem either way.
I think if he doesn't chose Hillary, he should go for Edwards.
______________________________ H.O.Roshdy.
"Stick to your blue collar RASS, I will smoke Cohibas"- ccsigloIII.
[[The Cabron of Cairo]]
Posts: 1797 | Location: Egypt | Registered: June 14, 2007
'Question authority. Think for yourself. Filter out the spin. Engage elected officials critically. Make them defend what they're doing in your name. Derive the truth. Speak truth to power.'
Posts: 2861 | Location: Boston | Registered: April 16, 2005
Originally posted by cherrymaxap: From what I've heard, Obama is going to dismantle the military, or wants to. My info could be wrong however.
He's definitely going to make some huge cuts. I think Presley posted a video of him illustrating this. This is probably the number one reason I cannot vote for him.
Posts: 1521 | Location: WI | Registered: November 16, 2007
Replay Sen. McCain's speech, then replay the one by Sen. Obama, and you have to think the Obama camp just can't wait for head-to-head campaign events over the next five months.
I imagine it is McCain that cannot wait. Obama is the better speaker when it comes to reading a teleprompter in front of a crowd, or a prepared speech. McCain has a weakness there. However, Obama has shown considerable weakness in debate, and this is where he will lose the election, right before our eyes. Up till now, it's all been a media cake-walk for Obama. Sure, he was bothered a bit by Rev Wright and such but nothing like the scrutiny he'll get now by real media outlets (not NBC or MSNBC). Secondly, McCain is going to rip out his throat in debates, Obama has a habit of stammering for answers when debated aggressively and McCain is going to exploit that to the fullest. McCain is not going to let him lay out his B.S. liberal agenda without forcing Obama to tell us how he'll pay for his programs. Obama's speech last night is nothing we haven't heard a million times by candidates like John Kerry and John Edwards. There is nothing new there, his style is all delivery. I predict McCain will win by a landslide. McCain is already leading by three points in places like Michigan, one of the most economically depressed areas in the country which usually goes democrat. Senator Obama will get a bounce but McCain has played it very smart. McCain had Obama on defense all last week on foreign policy, challenging him on Iran and asking him to visit Iraq with him. Obama is a light-weight and never would have won the nomination if the Rev. Wright and William Ayers stuff came out before Iowa. The DNC has to know he cannot win, however, they do not want to alienate blacks and they despise the Clintons. I do not see how Obama can pick Clinton as the VP. His campaign has been all about change, picking her would be counter-productive.
Of course non of this matters if the speculation is true that Karl Rove has a videotape of Michelle Obama in the Trinity United Methodist Churh, railing against "whitey"; ready for release in late September/early October. John McCain said it best last night, he said something to the effect that we know him and what he stands for, his whole life. We do not know anything about Obama. The fact that this race is competitive right now is a bad sign for Obama. The democrats should be killing us, if you listen to the media. My money is on McCain. America wants a leader, not a rockstar.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." Ronald Reagan
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." Ronald Reagan
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." Ronald Reagan
Originally posted by Presley: Obama is a light-weight and never would have won the nomination if the Rev. Wright and William Ayers stuff came out before Iowa.
IMO, this is absolutely true. Hillary would have won the nomination rather easily if this was the case.
Posts: 1521 | Location: WI | Registered: November 16, 2007
This is probably the number one reason I cannot vote for him.[/quote]
You and all of America. You know the nomination and the election are as different as night and day.America does indeed need change but not the change Obama brings.I predict voters will come out in record numbers to assure he is not the elected candidate.I guess we will all have to wait and see in November.
"Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God" -Thomas Jefferson
"The tree of freedom must be nurtured from time to time with the blood of its patriots" -Thomas Jefferson
"When the Government Fears the People, There is Liberty; When the People Fear the Government, There is Tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 3893 | Location: Reggio di Calabria, Italy / New York United States | Registered: July 12, 2007
Originally posted by Presley: Obama is a light-weight and never would have won the nomination if the Rev. Wright and William Ayers stuff came out before Iowa.
IMO, this is absolutely true. Hillary would have won the nomination rather easily if this was the case.
That's precisely why she just can't let go. She knows he cannot win and I believe she has even slipped and said it a time or two.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." Ronald Reagan
Obama's speech last night is nothing we haven't heard a million times by candidates like John Kerry and John Edwards.
Neither of these clowns ever came close to Obama's oratory.
You make good points, only time will tell and I believe the obvious variable that has been introduced into this election will have a significant effect on the predictablility of this election and we may see unprecedented voting behavior.
"The more a feller’s got on his mind, the less time he's got to think on any one thing." - Festus Haggen
Posts: 998 | Location: Georgia, USA | Registered: January 18, 2006
