Just Another Kid With A Funny Name.
Quaunaut
The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
<div class="IPBDescription">Obama for President.</div> Wow. I saw the speech of his just 2 minutes ago, and I must say, he spoke exactly what I've been thinking for a long time. His speech was great, and it was at the National Democratic Convention. Now note- I've been raised in a Republican home. I believe i'm a Independant. So my views are going to be really hard on this guy.
But DAMN he's right.
Here's a copy of his speech:
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let's face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father, my grandfather, was a cook, a domestic servant.
But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place: America, which stood as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. While studying here, my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor he signed up for duty, joined Patton's army and marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised their baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the GI Bill, bought a house through FHA, and moved west in search of opportunity.
And they, too, had big dreams for their daughter, a common dream, born of two continents. My parents shared not only an improbable love; they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or "blessed," believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren't rich, because in a generous America you don't have to be rich to achieve your potential. They are both passed away now. Yet, I know that, on this night, they look down on me with pride.
I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents' dreams live on in my precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible. Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation, not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago, "We hold these truths to he self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody's son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will he counted - or at least, most of the time.
This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promise of future generations. And fellow Americans - Democrats, Republicans, Independents - I say to you tonight: we have more work to do. More to do for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who are losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that's moving to Mexico, and now are having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay seven bucks an hour. More to do for the father I met who was losing his job and choking back tears, wondering how he would pay $4,500 a month for the drugs his son needs without the health benefits he counted on. More to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands more like her, who has the grades, has the drive, has the will, but doesn't have the money to go to college.
Don't get me wrong. The people I meet in small towns and big cities, in diners and office parks, they don't expect government to solve all their problems. They know they have to work hard to get ahead and they want to. Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people will tell you they don't want their tax money wasted by a welfare agency or the Pentagon. Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn. They know that parents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. No, people don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better. And they want that choice.
In this election, we offer that choice. Our party has chosen a man to lead us who embodies the best this country has to offer. That man is John Kerry. John Kerry understands the ideals of community, faith, and sacrifice, because they've defined his life. From his heroic service in Vietnam to his years as prosecutor and lieutenant governor, through two decades in the United States Senate, he has devoted himself to this country. Again and again, we've seen him make tough choices when easier ones were available. His values and his record affirm what is best in us.
John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded. So instead of offering tax breaks to companies shipping jobs overseas, he'll offer them to companies creating jobs here at home. John Kerry believes in an America where all Americans can afford the same health coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves. John Kerry believes in energy independence, so we aren't held hostage to the profits of oil companies or the sabotage of foreign oil fields. John Kerry believes in the constitutional freedoms that have made our country the envy of the world, and he will never sacrifice our basic liberties nor use faith as a wedge to divide us. And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world, war must be an option, but it should never he the first option.
A while back, I met a young man named Shamus at the VFW Hall in East Moline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid, six-two or six-three, clear-eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he'd joined the Marines and was heading to Iraq the following week. As I listened to him explain why he'd enlisted, his absolute faith in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this young man was all any of us might hope for in a child. But then I asked myself: Are we serving Shamus as well as he was serving us? I thought of more than 900 service men and women, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors, who will not be returning to their hometowns. I thought of families I had met who were struggling to get by without a loved one's full income, or whose loved ones had returned with a limb missing or with nerves shattered, but who still lacked long-term health benefits because they were reservists. When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.
Now let me be clear. We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated. John Kerry knows this. And just as Lieutenant Kerry did not hesitate to risk his life to protect the men who served with him in Vietnam, President Kerry will not hesitate one moment to use our military might to keep America safe and secure. John Kerry believes in America. And he knows it's not enough for just some of us to prosper. For alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga.
A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief - I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper - that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one.
Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America - there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have **** friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.
In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope? John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I'm not talking about blind optimism here - the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't talk about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. No, I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a millworker's son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. The audacity of hope!
In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation; the belief in things not seen; the belief that there are better days ahead. I believe we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair. I believe that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us. America!
Tonight, if you feel the same energy I do, the same urgency I do, the same passion I do, the same hopefulness I do - if we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that all across the country, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Maine, the people will rise up in November, and John Kerry will be sworn in as president, and John Edwards will be sworn in as vice president, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come. Thank you and God bless you.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Screw Bush. Screw Nader. Screw Kerry.
Obama.
(and for those wondering- YES, he did want Kerry for president. But I'd rather have him. Why? 'Cause between Kerry and Bush, all I've seen Bush do to segregate is his tax relief for the wealthy. Kerry though makes anyone conservative seem evil, and things surrounding that, which we don't need. Obama realizes we need to be brought back together, as one Nation.)
But DAMN he's right.
Here's a copy of his speech:
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let's face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father, my grandfather, was a cook, a domestic servant.
But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place: America, which stood as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. While studying here, my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor he signed up for duty, joined Patton's army and marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised their baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the GI Bill, bought a house through FHA, and moved west in search of opportunity.
And they, too, had big dreams for their daughter, a common dream, born of two continents. My parents shared not only an improbable love; they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or "blessed," believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren't rich, because in a generous America you don't have to be rich to achieve your potential. They are both passed away now. Yet, I know that, on this night, they look down on me with pride.
I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents' dreams live on in my precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible. Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation, not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago, "We hold these truths to he self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody's son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will he counted - or at least, most of the time.
This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promise of future generations. And fellow Americans - Democrats, Republicans, Independents - I say to you tonight: we have more work to do. More to do for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who are losing their union jobs at the Maytag plant that's moving to Mexico, and now are having to compete with their own children for jobs that pay seven bucks an hour. More to do for the father I met who was losing his job and choking back tears, wondering how he would pay $4,500 a month for the drugs his son needs without the health benefits he counted on. More to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands more like her, who has the grades, has the drive, has the will, but doesn't have the money to go to college.
Don't get me wrong. The people I meet in small towns and big cities, in diners and office parks, they don't expect government to solve all their problems. They know they have to work hard to get ahead and they want to. Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people will tell you they don't want their tax money wasted by a welfare agency or the Pentagon. Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn. They know that parents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. No, people don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better. And they want that choice.
In this election, we offer that choice. Our party has chosen a man to lead us who embodies the best this country has to offer. That man is John Kerry. John Kerry understands the ideals of community, faith, and sacrifice, because they've defined his life. From his heroic service in Vietnam to his years as prosecutor and lieutenant governor, through two decades in the United States Senate, he has devoted himself to this country. Again and again, we've seen him make tough choices when easier ones were available. His values and his record affirm what is best in us.
John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded. So instead of offering tax breaks to companies shipping jobs overseas, he'll offer them to companies creating jobs here at home. John Kerry believes in an America where all Americans can afford the same health coverage our politicians in Washington have for themselves. John Kerry believes in energy independence, so we aren't held hostage to the profits of oil companies or the sabotage of foreign oil fields. John Kerry believes in the constitutional freedoms that have made our country the envy of the world, and he will never sacrifice our basic liberties nor use faith as a wedge to divide us. And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world, war must be an option, but it should never he the first option.
A while back, I met a young man named Shamus at the VFW Hall in East Moline, Illinois. He was a good-looking kid, six-two or six-three, clear-eyed, with an easy smile. He told me he'd joined the Marines and was heading to Iraq the following week. As I listened to him explain why he'd enlisted, his absolute faith in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this young man was all any of us might hope for in a child. But then I asked myself: Are we serving Shamus as well as he was serving us? I thought of more than 900 service men and women, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors, who will not be returning to their hometowns. I thought of families I had met who were struggling to get by without a loved one's full income, or whose loved ones had returned with a limb missing or with nerves shattered, but who still lacked long-term health benefits because they were reservists. When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.
Now let me be clear. We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated. John Kerry knows this. And just as Lieutenant Kerry did not hesitate to risk his life to protect the men who served with him in Vietnam, President Kerry will not hesitate one moment to use our military might to keep America safe and secure. John Kerry believes in America. And he knows it's not enough for just some of us to prosper. For alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient in the American saga.
A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even if it's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there's an Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of an attorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's that fundamental belief - I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper - that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one.
Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America - there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have **** friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.
In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope? John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I'm not talking about blind optimism here - the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don't talk about it, or the health care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. No, I'm talking about something more substantial. It's the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a millworker's son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. The audacity of hope!
In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation; the belief in things not seen; the belief that there are better days ahead. I believe we can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road to opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair. I believe that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us. America!
Tonight, if you feel the same energy I do, the same urgency I do, the same passion I do, the same hopefulness I do - if we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that all across the country, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Maine, the people will rise up in November, and John Kerry will be sworn in as president, and John Edwards will be sworn in as vice president, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come. Thank you and God bless you.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Screw Bush. Screw Nader. Screw Kerry.
Obama.
(and for those wondering- YES, he did want Kerry for president. But I'd rather have him. Why? 'Cause between Kerry and Bush, all I've seen Bush do to segregate is his tax relief for the wealthy. Kerry though makes anyone conservative seem evil, and things surrounding that, which we don't need. Obama realizes we need to be brought back together, as one Nation.)
Comments
Well if his speech got more publicity, I doubt much of anyone would oppose.
What irks me though- I've heard more issues being addressed by this guy than Kerry himself. All he ever does is say how bad Bush is, and while I agree, I wanna know what the hell your going to do to fix it.
Eh....mind explaining that/giving evidence? Aristocracy my ****, it's a national pasttime to watch rich people get taken down. Enron, Martha Stewart, just about every rap artist, they are under constant scrutiny. I really can't see how this nation is an aristocracy. As for only rich people getting into the White House....BS. If Obama ran for president (not this election year, but in 4 years when he has gained a reputation) even as an independent he'd have a decent shot at it, and with rhetoric like this he'd be a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate.
Eh....mind explaining that/giving evidence? Aristocracy my ****, it's a national pasttime to watch rich people get taken down. Enron, Martha Stewart, just about every rap artist, they are under constant scrutiny. I really can't see how this nation is an aristocracy. As for only rich people getting into the White House....BS. If Obama ran for president (not this election year, but in 4 years when he has gained a reputation) even as an independent he'd have a decent shot at it, and with rhetoric like this he'd be a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Decent chance is 40+ percent of the vote. He has about as much chance of being elected as I do. Sorry but in some ways commie is right. Despite that "any man over 35" can run, "any man" can't win unless they get the backing of a party to get cash, or are rich as a mofo like Ross Perot.
Eh....mind explaining that/giving evidence? Aristocracy my ****, it's a national pasttime to watch rich people get taken down. Enron, Martha Stewart, just about every rap artist, they are under constant scrutiny. I really can't see how this nation is an aristocracy. As for only rich people getting into the White House....BS. If Obama ran for president (not this election year, but in 4 years when he has gained a reputation) even as an independent he'd have a decent shot at it, and with rhetoric like this he'd be a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Decent chance is 40+ percent of the vote. He has about as much chance of being elected as I do. Sorry but in some ways commie is right. Despite that "any man over 35" can run, "any man" can't win unless they get the backing of a party to get cash, or are rich as a mofo like Ross Perot. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's not because the system is set up that way, it's just that the common American requires a candidate to be shoved into his life through tv, internet, or radio repeatedly in order to vote for that person, and these mass marketing campaigns require a lot of money. It's not that money controls the system (aristocracy), it's just that the voters are too dumb to value anything except repetition. I admit, I should have phrased my last post "if everyone <i>hears</i> Obama's rhetoric, then he's a shoo-in for president". The problem is getting publicity.
And maybe this should be phased to Discussions?
Mrs. Heinz Kerry was also sweet. She speaks like 5 languages! How the hell'd Kerry get that.
Eh....mind explaining that/giving evidence? Aristocracy my ****, it's a national pasttime to watch rich people get taken down. Enron, Martha Stewart, just about every rap artist, they are under constant scrutiny. I really can't see how this nation is an aristocracy. As for only rich people getting into the White House....BS. If Obama ran for president (not this election year, but in 4 years when he has gained a reputation) even as an independent he'd have a decent shot at it, and with rhetoric like this he'd be a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Name a president who wasn't wealthy before election
And maybe this should be phased to Discussions? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
No thanks, here in off topic you don't get ridiculed and bombarded by newsweek URLS
Unfortunately, only Cable channels aired his speech, while the mainstream TV left it off, airing reality TV shows and soapy dramas instead; a poor world we live in.
A good speaker with a good message. If only Kerry can display even HALF the exuberance of Obama's and Clinton's speech.
That was postively moving, even just to read. If anyone can find a video of his speech, please post it.
We're not talking in this election. Obama is a state senator from Illinois running for a Democratic US Senate seat, not an independent/third party candidate like Nader. He is running unopposed and the Republicans can't even find anyone to run against him, other than rumors of Mike Ditka. Even the most hard-line 'conservative' (in '' in regards to his speech and also my annoyance with the completely overdone 'conservative' and 'liberal' label attached to everything) in the Illinois Senate gets along with him, apparently, and one Republican was quoted as saying he's always one with whom you can disagree without being disagreeable. Even if a Republican candidate crops up, after his speech last night I think you'll be hard-pressed to find many people to vote for him. There were more Obama signs than Kerry-Edwards signs... Give this man a few years in the Senate and a public profile as he has now (and being, if elected, the third black senator since Reconstruction wouldn't hurt the profile bit either), and he could be a very strong presidential candidate, though he refuses to look very far beyond his Senate race and his family at this time.
This man is a political powerhouse in the making. I'm very eager to see how he develops in the coming years. Hell, even the guy's wife is smart (Harvard degree as well).
I saw the video of the speech on MSNBC. Not a site I usually frequent, but it was the first spot I found it. Very powerful and stirring. The first thought in my mind was a comparison to Martin Luther King, Jr. in presence and style. He's no MLK, but a man with even a fraction of that power in his mind and words is a force to be reckoned with. I wish him all the best. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Edit: apparently 5th since reconstruction, not third... Could have sworn I saw the number 3 somewhere. I'll leave mention to both, or perhaps average it at 4th. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
We're not talking in this election. Obama is a state senator from Illinois running for a Democratic US Senate seat, not an independent/third party candidate like Nader. He is running unopposed and the Republicans can't even find anyone to run against him, other than rumors of Mike Ditka. Even the most hard-line 'conservative' (in '' in regards to his speech and also my annoyance with the completely overdone 'conservative' and 'liberal' label attached to everything) in the Illinois Senate gets along with him, apparently, and one Republican was quoted as saying he's always one with whom you can disagree without being disagreeable. Even if a Republican candidate crops up, after his speech last night I think you'll be hard-pressed to find many people to vote for him. There were more Obama signs than Kerry-Edwards signs... Give this man a few years in the Senate and a public profile as he has now (and being, if elected, the third black senator since Reconstruction wouldn't hurt the profile bit either), and he could be a very strong presidential candidate, though he refuses to look very far beyond his Senate race and his family at this time.
This man is a political powerhouse in the making. I'm very eager to see how he develops in the coming years. Hell, even the guy's wife is smart (Harvard degree as well).
I saw the video of the speech on MSNBC. Not a site I usually frequent, but it was the first spot I found it. Very powerful and stirring. The first thought in my mind was a comparison to Martin Luther King, Jr. in presence and style. He's no MLK, but a man with even a fraction of that power in his mind and words is a force to be reckoned with. I wish him all the best. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
To be honest, my first was the comparence to the AntiChrist because he was speaking directly to me- he was saying everything I wanted to hear.
But then he showed his human side a bit and had one of the things in the speech do 1 extra line, so he can't be the AntiChrist.
Thus, <3 Obama. And yeah- I saw HUNDREDS of those damned things, it was amazing. Everywhere.
/me runs
/me runs <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
...that also made me go "Well, he has 2 strikes"...heh. Great though, I went back and watched his entire 17 minute piece. Sheer brilliance.
Wow.
That is all.
**** the freaking DNC! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Eh....mind explaining that/giving evidence? Aristocracy my ****, it's a national pasttime to watch rich people get taken down. Enron, Martha Stewart, just about every rap artist, they are under constant scrutiny. I really can't see how this nation is an aristocracy. As for only rich people getting into the White House....BS. If Obama ran for president (not this election year, but in 4 years when he has gained a reputation) even as an independent he'd have a decent shot at it, and with rhetoric like this he'd be a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Name a president who wasn't wealthy before election <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Abraham Lincoln anyone?
Eh....mind explaining that/giving evidence? Aristocracy my ****, it's a national pasttime to watch rich people get taken down. Enron, Martha Stewart, just about every rap artist, they are under constant scrutiny. I really can't see how this nation is an aristocracy. As for only rich people getting into the White House....BS. If Obama ran for president (not this election year, but in 4 years when he has gained a reputation) even as an independent he'd have a decent shot at it, and with rhetoric like this he'd be a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Name a president who wasn't wealthy before election <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Abraham Lincoln anyone? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ronald Reagan
Eh....mind explaining that/giving evidence? Aristocracy my ****, it's a national pasttime to watch rich people get taken down. Enron, Martha Stewart, just about every rap artist, they are under constant scrutiny. I really can't see how this nation is an aristocracy. As for only rich people getting into the White House....BS. If Obama ran for president (not this election year, but in 4 years when he has gained a reputation) even as an independent he'd have a decent shot at it, and with rhetoric like this he'd be a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Name a president who wasn't wealthy before election <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Abraham Lincoln anyone? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ronald Reagan <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I thought actors got paid
Eh....mind explaining that/giving evidence? Aristocracy my ****, it's a national pasttime to watch rich people get taken down. Enron, Martha Stewart, just about every rap artist, they are under constant scrutiny. I really can't see how this nation is an aristocracy. As for only rich people getting into the White House....BS. If Obama ran for president (not this election year, but in 4 years when he has gained a reputation) even as an independent he'd have a decent shot at it, and with rhetoric like this he'd be a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Name a president who wasn't wealthy before election <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Abraham Lincoln anyone? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ronald Reagan <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I thought actors got paid <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He grew up in a crappy household, quite frankly his dad was the town drunkard and his family didn't make a whole lot.
Reagan was a excellent swimmer who became a town hero by saving a whole crapload of lives as a lifeguard. Who later became an actor.