The audacity of Obama

[pergesu]

I don't see Obama having enough real experience in much of anything to be making a run for presidency...don't get me wrong though, I'm glad to see an African American male running...just wish it was Colin Powell at this time though...now there is an immediately electable African American that should run for President...he would get my vote!

Let's all be very clear: America is in no way going to have an African-American president in this millenium. It has nothing to do with 'elecatability' at all. It's not racism either. It's politics. It's a great story but it won't happen.

erm, for real? There's been tons of "we'll never have..." said in America over the past 250 years. Independence from Britain, freedom for slaves, women's suffrage, going to the moon, a female Supreme Court justice, an african-american supreme court justice, a catholic president...

Americans no longer fear having a black president. It might not happen this election, but it's silly to think that we can overcome all the things I said above (and many, many more) but remain absolutely stagnant for the next 993 years.

[ethios4]

I don't even know who really decides who will be the GOP candidate of choice, or who really decides what his cabinet will look like....good question!

Bush admin, for example - Bush is bad, but it's his cronies that really fuck shit up....Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, et al....

Good point, but I think it applies just the same to Dems....just cuz their Dems doesn't mean they're righteous by default...they could, and probably would, just as easily bring in some bastards as well. In my book, 4-8 years of Dem control of the White House might feel nice, but if radical changes aren't made to reverse what the Bush admin, and others, have done, the Dems are just passive placeholders to get us complacent for the next round of GOP buggery in our asses.

I don't necessarily want another Repub in there, but I gotta go with the one I feel is best, regardless of party.

[Tone Deft]

Good point, but I think it applies just the same to Dems..

true, and it's going to suck being a liberal when that shit hits the fan. ALL politicians are slimy, even when my vote puts my choice into office it's not like all the world's problems will be solved and nothing bad will ever happen again.

[pulsoc]

Ron Paul looks GREAT in terms of his understanding of the situation in Iraq and privacy from gov't. BUT, he is pro-life and has an unrealistic immigration position.

[ethios4]

He is pro-life, but feels that it is not up to federal government to legislate. He favors allowing states and lower levels of government to pass legislation on the issue as they see fit, but not for the issue to be decided by courts or feds.

I think thats a great stance because it would allow for a diversity of options...if you don't like living in a state that allows abortion, move to one that doesn't.

[Nogi]

I think thats a great stance because it would allow for a diversity of options...if you don't like living in a state that allows abortion, move to one that doesn't.

I think that might actually be the opposite of diversity. No?

[smutek]

He is pro-life, but feels that it is not up to federal government to legislate. He favors allowing states and lower levels of government to pass legislation on the issue as they see fit, but not for the issue to be decided by courts or feds.

Hmm... a real republican?

What I mean is, and please correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that one of the traditional core republcan values? Smaller Federal Government? Compared to the people in office now, no wonder Republicans get a bad name.

As for me, I like Kucinich but if I were a Republican I would vote Ron Paul - hell might even end up voting for him anyway. There are only two "main stream" canidates that I would consider voting for at the moment, Kucinich and Paul, just that I lean more towards Kucinich because I was raised a Democrat.

[Tone Deft]

I think thats a great stance because it would allow for a diversity of options...if you don't like living in a state that allows abortion, move to one that doesn't.

I think that might actually be the opposite of diversity. No?

everyone will move to California or Alabama, party lines will become more rigid and it will be easier for CA to secede from the rest of the states. VIVA LA REVOLUCION!!!

Imagine this... Ron Paul is elected, people show up at his swearing in ceremony without protest, most people are actually happy, even the weather's perfect. Ron says his oath and is sworn in, the skies darken, the ground shakes, the skin on Ron's face splits open and Jeb Bush emerges.

[ethios4]

Hmm... a real republican?

What I mean is, and please correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that one of the traditional core republcan values? Smaller Federal Government? Compared to the people in office now, no wonder Republicans get a bad name.

Exactly! It boggles my mind that he is constantly portrayed as some far-out guy, when really he's just a real republican.

As for diversity, I think allowing a state to ban abortion would probably feel like diversity to a person who strongly believes abortion is criminal. Personally, I'm in favor of allowing states to decide these sorts of things, even though I know that, living in Oklahoma, my state would probably be among the most draconian and I would likely move to a much more socially liberal state. I feel that way based on the belief that the tendency of federal government is to centralize and consolidate power, which ultimately leads to the kind of problems we are experiencing today.

Again, I feel Ron Paul's solutions hurt because we are far from where we should be - not because they are misguided or untrue.

[simpleton]

...don't get me wrong though, I'm glad to see an African American male running...just wish it was Colin Powell at this time though...now there is an immediately electable African American that should run for President...he would get my vote!

Yeah that was true up until the moment he went up to the UN and showed us picks of tracktor trailers converted into mobile bioweapons factories that were supposedly roaming the countryside. He blew his credibility with that bullshit lie and thus threw away his future political career.

[Tone Deft]

...don't get me wrong though, I'm glad to see an African American male running...just wish it was Colin Powell at this time though...now there is an immediately electable African American that should run for President...he would get my vote!

Yeah that was true up until the moment he went up to the UN and showed us picks of tracktor trailers converted into mobile bioweapons factories that were supposedly roaming the countryside. He blew his credibility with that bullshit lie and thus threw away his future political career.

omfg that was FAAAAAAAARRRR outshadowed when he went to the mic saying "this is bullshit, I'm not saying this" regarding yellow cake uranium from Africa LIES.

the only thing about Colin Powell that I didn't like was having a military man for president. now that we have a AWOL military douche bag in command I see now that having a former general in command would at least show respect to the troops, Tommy Franks was another one (albeit a white boy.)

[BinaryB]

I keep coming back to the idea that there should be a draft and significant taxation to support wars. It would hurt in many ways, but war should never be an easy venture to get into, IMO

I agree with you about taxation, and I would add rationing, extended work hours and martial law.

But having soldiered myself, I wouldn't want to have been burdened with conscripts;they're worse than not having enough soldiers. Honestly. They reduce your capability rather than augment it.

Please try to imagine what it feels like having people like you representing the ordinary person...

But having been human myself, I wouldn't want to have been burdened with conscripted civilians (soldiers);
they're worse than not having enough people. Honestly. They reduce your capability rather than augment it.

Fighting for a democracy that forces you to kill people. Hmmmmm.

I kept away from your attempt at justifying your imperialistic bloodlust
but you are getting dangerous now.

I am proud that my GreatGreat...Grandfather fought for freedom in
(to quote the Australian Government who is helping the U.S.)
"a key event in the development of Australian democracy."

You bring dishonor to the idea of democracy.

I hope you are ready for the consequences of your actions mate.
Learn to love a little.