Barack Obama's Victory Speech In Iowa
By Logan Murphy Thursday Jan 03, 2008 9:38am
During his speech following his victory in Thursday's Iowa caucus, Senator Barack Obama sounded confident, inspired and ready to take the momentum into New Hampshire. It was most refreshing to see a strong turn out from younger people in Iowa and a general enthusiasm for and from Democrats. After all we've endured during the Bush years, it's a most welcome sight.
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There is a long way to go in the primary season and so much can happen in a short time -- there is plenty of room for upsets and surprises along the way. This was strong showing for Democrats and a good night in Iowa.
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Let the games begin.........
I noticed Hawk-a-Bible's speech mimicked the 'just a common guy' and 'hope for the future' memes that Obama has been using. I wonder if that was intentional, i.e. targeting his speech to counter his opponent.
I still don't have a crush on Obama.
Obama girl on the other hand . . .
he will not bring the troops home
he will not work for universal health care
he will not force campaign and election reform
he will continue to be a main player in the military industrial media tainment big pharma heath care complex
he will put corporate greed beofre working class need
he will kill and maim more iraqis
he will support bills that subsidize the big companies that ship our jobs over seas
he will keep us dependant on foreign oil
he will get assassinated (I DO NOT WANT THIS MAN TO DIE!!!!)
I find it interesting that the two candidates who won on both sides were the ones speaking about "hope". Huckabee may be a religious nutter but his message is one of hope and change, same as Obama.
I didn't think it was inspiring. What is the attraction of this guy, that he'll give us "hope". Bullshit, no politician in the modern era delivered anything but illusion to the sheep (especially Reagan, the traitor). And as desirable as a mixed race president would be, he is too Dem machine politics/corporate orientated to serve us well.
Let's be grown ups. If you need a politician to give you hope, then keep sucking your thumb. Let's get over the cult of personality with all these people; individually they are more flawed than you or I. Especially the front runners--the best and most honorable candidates from the Dems were the second tier, Kucinich, Dodd and Richardson. So all the fawning over Obama and Clinton make me sick. Edwards seems more redeemable now.
The Rethugs are a lost cause, even Ron Paul; they should all go join the circus, together.
If Obama would quit the MLK vocal affectation, I wouldn't think he was such a raging phony.
Agreed that it's a long road. There's plenty of time for everyone to screw up. Maybe, hopefully, one day this Iowa and NH farce will become a thing of the past. The thought that it could be "decided" so early on is terrifying and undemocratic.
kudos to Obama for getting the young people out to vote. I'm an Edwards man but credit where credit is due
This emperor has no clothes. Anyone trying this hard to be president should not get the job. I hope he proves me wrong but all I see is another Slick Willie with every utterance spoken with just the right affect. Oh don't get me wrong, I can do without another bumbler like Shrub, but my BS detector goes off every time I hear Obama speak. We really need a reluctant messiah not a car salesman in the White House.
Thank you so much Logan for posting the speech. That was my first chance to see/hear it. I wondered if it was as good as others have said. It sure was. Thanks again.
Karla @ 7:
I know! I heard the same thing last night and I was thrown off by that.
Talk is cheap. Let's win the White House and fight for actual change. Compromising with extremism is a lose-lose situation. We should only compromise after we've set the terms--progressive terms.
I must admit as a twentysomething Edwards supporter, I'm a bit disappointed that (young) people didn't look past the empty rhetoric and check out his policy, corporate ties, voting record, etc. Yes, I'll vote for this man, but he's a moderate, not a liberal fighter. And I must admit I hate how he trivialized our fight against the radical right as a petty "food fight."
Oh, and I did like the speech; I just want him to use that amazing gift of his to inspire a liberal movement against the extremism of the right to restore America.
obama/sharpton 08'!!!! lol....
Nathan @ 12:
Right on man....
My candidate has dropped out. My grandson's candidate won in Iowa. Obama got our youth involved in politics which is a good thing for our country. My generation is the past, my grandson's generation is the future. Therefore, I'll throw my support to Obama who is without a doubt the most charismatic candidate in the race.
as a 30 year old black guy, this is the greatest speech i ever witnessed last night. i'm normally as cynical as anyone else of my generation but when it comes to this, i'm more than biased. it's rare to find this kind of earnestness in someone who i really want to win. i've read all the pros and cons of this guy and for me, his upside far outweighs the negatives. funny thing is the first thing i thought about when i woke up this morning was that i wish my grandmother, who passed a year and a half ago, could have seen this. she was a huge kucinich fan, but i think she would have made an exception for obama.
It's a shame neither Bush or Chaney are leaving...
below_me @ 13:
and what is that supposed to mean?
it is NUTS that so many of you (NOT all) are still having wet dreams over John Edwards. Get over him - give your support to Obama. It really ticks me off when all of DailyKos is trashing Obama all the time. We're trying to get a Democrat elected here. Or would you like another 4 years of a Republican in the White House??? Honestly, people....
Edwards is about as phony as Mitt Romney. And about as electable as John Kerry.
Obama's campaign brings out the difference between the old and the new, the hopeful and the jaded. Perhaps the hopeful "lambs" are stupid, but I want to have hope in the government and the dream of America. He hasn't done anything to lose me, and the more I see and hear about the guy, the more I like him.
For those of you who are determined to look past your heart and remember all the painful losses and disappointments and bad times, no one can blame you for wanting edwards or hillary. You analyze them, break them down into parts. Edwards can do xyz, and Hillary has these votes and this experience. Obama isn't about the parts, he's about the whole. And I think Obama does more than just inspire hope. A whole state of white people voted for him. He's been around for a long time. I think people have found substance to go along with his nobility and charisma. Obama makes me excited to participate in politics, and he makes me long for the future. If he wins, I feel like I'll win too. If Hillary or Edwards wins, I'll feel like the Republicans lost and that something good happened, but I won't feel like I won.
sam @ 19:
You mean Obama
Blah, blah, blah is not a speech. He didn't say anything. If the young are excited by this gibberish, America is doomed.
Alter over at Newsweek has basically stitched this thing up for Obama already. According to him Obama would need to make a mistake to lose now..... It's amazing how the conventional wisdom changes so quickly. Just yesterday they were noting that winning in Iowa is still far from winning the pie. I guess that only holds if the person you don't like is ahead.
Edwards/Obama 2008
Exactly what has obama done as senator from his state other than run for president? I am a hillary supporter and i am going to try to support the nominee. But it is going to be difficult to support obama. I came around and supported kerry last time after supporting edwards. I don't necessarily need someone to inspire me but I want a hard worker and competent leader. I just don't see any there there with obama. The fact that he is a known former cocaine user doesn't help either. Also, why is it that it is expected that all blacks are suppose to support him. I just don't get it. As an american of african descent, I want the best possible person as president. From the choices we have, I think hillary is that person.
I left this site a while ago because all the negative comments were killing my happy and hopeful high, due to Obama's win last night. Now I've returned and there are some happy and hopeful other people here. Derrick, I bet your grandmother would have made an exception for Obama and I bet she would have been smiling all the while. Ben, you expressed my feelings for me. Thanks for that :)
It looks like Ron Paul finished with 10% of the vote. Does that mean that he gets to debate on FAUX ?
Question Blog @ 4:
What a bunch of bullshit....What cyrstal ball are you looking in? Do you have facts and links to back up any of this shit? I am not in Obamas camp so don't come back with that argument.
Iowa voters were described as "kicking the tires and looking under the hood" of a car. If they really looked under the hood they would have seen Senator Obama sitting on the fence with his finger in the wind. Obama just happened to be out of the Kyl Lieberman amendment....he plays it safe all of the time. How can this fence sitting reflect change?
If this is the way Iowa voters look under the hood I will not be buying any cars in Iowa.
Are there any other candidates besides John Edwards not taking Pac monies?
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/12/12/obama-talks-the-talk-but-wheres-...
sam @ 19:
Right! Let's skip the primaries and the entire nominating process so we can go straight to the general election with Obama.
GOBAMA
GOBAMA
GOBAMA
/end snark
Obama needs to remind people we have a long emergency ahead of us. Lot's of sacrifices and hard work. They all do in fact. But they aren't.
png @ 22:
Doomed if we, doomed if we dont. Kucinich 08
SusanUnPc at No Quarter USA wrote one of the most articulate and fact based articles on the web about Obama. Check it out
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/12/12/obama-talks-the-talk-but-wheres-the-walk/
Sad to see so much negative energy still lurks on this site. Can't people suspend their negativity even for a little while? I for one feel yesterday was a watershed moment for our country and I will savor the moment.
unfrozencaveman @ 34:
Always with the negative waves, Moriarty!
These numbers from my dubious memory, Obama spent 9 million in Iowa, Hillary approx. 7 million, and Edwards only 3 million. Where did Obama come from that the media immediately embraced him and created the Clinton/Obama paradigm. How is it that all this dough gravitated to Barak? And Tweety immediately declared that with Edwards second, the race was now between Obama and Hillary!? Did anyone see Edwards "concession" speech on the tube? It appeared that as he was about to speak, six networks cut to Hillary's (3rd place) speech. What's that smell? Methinks the corporate hacks involved with the subjugation of the middle class really do fear Edwards
His nomination would be disastrous for the party on a McGovernesque scale.
Simply disastrous.
Former San Francisco Mayor (and former State Assembly Speaker) Willie Brown was opining that Obama's next big challenge is South Carolina, and that while Huckabee got a boost from the God Squad, not having the bucks for the long haul are going to nail him.
Before anyone gets excited enough to soil themselves over this, please refer to "I Hate Iowa," by Conor Clarke published yesterday in the Guardian, and other similar articles that point out that not only is the Iowa caucus not a Democratic vote, it's not even a firm, final result until June. Wherever you are, someone reading this, be sure to go out and vote for your chosen candidate in YOUR primary, and pay no attention to the media's magic act in the meantime.
What the greedy bastards of Corporate America fear most is a new President willing to cut them right off at the knees.
pissed off patricia @ 26:
Yay! I respect everyone who argues that he "has no experience." But I don't think it matters as much as people think. FDR was governor for 4 years in New York. A lot of it is just people picking whatever the strongest trait of their favorite is, and saying that's the most important thing. Obama people say Hope/Change, Hillary people say Experience. But of course, it can go either way.
It was a fine speech!
Very inspiring.
This is what this country needs right now. To be inspired by courage and not fear as is the pathetic little fuck-ups specialty in the White House now.
California does not vote until early Feb. I will make up my mind then. I can unequivocally say who I WILL NOT VOTE FOR and that is any Republican out there until this entire crop of conservative degenerates are out of power --- starting with numb-nuts and his grease-ball vice president.
This includes Gomer Huckleberry. Fuck him.
Do I sound pissed? Of course I am. The war drags on and our asshole president, by his actions has made it clear he plans on cleaning out the treasury to reward his friends will continue unabated. And why not? The Congress won't stop him. And his apologists on Fox News and Swastika radio (Rush, Hannity, and the rest) will defend him till the bitter end --- probably because they receive their government checks for doing so (Like conservative Armstrong Williams and others).
Derrick @ 18:
It's a sign of things to come. Oh, the shit Rush and other racists are putting together right now. They'll be just a hair shy from saying the n-word. But it'll only backfire on them.
Michael @ 5:
You must be young Mike. That's called rhetoric. Every politician has campaigned on hope and change, every single election.
Look back at GWB's campaign speeches and notice how many times he said hope and change.
Inspiring huh?
Alter at Newsweek 'Who Will Stop Obama' sounds like Alter's stuck on the evil bad big black thug man. And now puppies, the country will enter its 'issues rollercoaster' at warp speed. Expect a lot more like this.
Johnny2Bad @ 37:
Why because he would bring millions of new young voters into the process? Yes, thats some disaster. Maybe it's time to ratchet back on the hyperbole a bit.
Necadawg Says @ 32:
Obama seems to be the the Nader factor in this campaign for the young folk. The problem is that Nader actually had a great deal of standing strong on principles under his wings... far more than Obama who sits on the fence with his finger in the wind. Then Oprah and Obama spin his fence sitting as "bold". Will college students fall for this hogwash? Sure looks like it.
Obama skipped town on the Kyl Lieberman amendment. I could not stand Hillary's vote for the Kyl Lieberman amendment but at least she took a stand. Obama ran out the back door. I watched Obama during the John Bolton and Condi Rice nomination hearings he played it safe while Biden, Dodd, Kennedy and others asked hard driving questions...Obama played it safe. He keeps saying that he will not do "business as usual" Do not see any evidence of that in Obama's actions. In fact just the opposite.
Obama and Oprah seem to have the media spin machine on full speed. If this is "bold" we are in deep trouble with Obama.
Is there any other candidate besides Edwards "walking the talk" Edwards is not taking any Pac monies.
Will the voters in New Hampshire really "kick the tires and look under the hood"? I sure hope so.
One of the better articles on the web about Obama's fence sitting.
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/12/12/obama-talks-the-talk-but-wheres-the-walk/
I'm taking the standard watch what they do, not what they say approach.
L.A. Confidential @ 40:
LA, exactly....that's why it incredible he won, despite their best efforts
centavo @ 36:
Hey Centavo, I think the money thing is a good point, but also look at where the money is coming from. Barack has gotten over 300,000 donations on his website, with half of them coming from people donating less than $25. That's basically normal people deciding that they believe in him enough to give him a few bucks. That's good money, being spent well. Sure, he gets larger chunks, but I think it shows people believe in him.
pissed off patricia @ 26:
You have said exactly how I feel. I posted on a earlier thread, that I can't understand the hate and angry personal attacks that so called progressives throw around because their guy or gal didn't win. Dems continue to eat their childeren. Why help the wingnuts? If dems do what they always do,they will find a way to lose. We need to keep our eye on the prize. Another four years of repug rule, and this country will not survive.
The neocons are licking their chops..looking at running against Obama
http://www.nationalreview.com/
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
Question Blog @ 4:
After looking at the speech made by Hillary after her loss in Iowa, I look at Madinline Albright and Bill Clinton and the old guard behind her and thought, I don't want this all over again. Right there, I was convinced that I would vote for Obama. I am proud of the people of Iowa for voting for what they feel is the best candidate and not the color of the person's skin. After hearing Obama's speech about not red states or blue states but the United States, I realize this is what is needed. I am tired of republicans and democrats fighting in Congress like Sunis and Shiites (sp) in Iraq. I am also disturbed about my fellow Afro Americans saying they would not vote for Obama, because the feel he is not capable of running the Presidency or he might be killed. This negative thinking must stop. Blacks are always taught no you can't (mostly by our own people) and others are taught yes you can. Hillary in the White House will only polarize American more.
Jimmy Carter made a pledge as president warning America must get off of oil and proposed a comprehensive plan to do so. The oil companies got Reagan in and striped all this away and brought big business to the forefront. He was way ahead of its time.
Kathleen @ 29:
What terrible logic.
If Iowans are bad at buying cars, then it would behoove you to come here next time your Honda needs replaced, since we've only picked the bad ones, leaving the good ones still on the lot.
Even less seriously, we tried to look under the candidates' hoods, but the M$M made fun of plunging necklines, which made this impossible. We tried to kick their tires, but the left-wing blogosphere kept trotting out the "circular firing squad" label, so we had to stop. In the end, we all seemed to flip a three-sided coin: hope, it's-our-turn, or screw-the-Man. Hope won, which is cool.
After your state has had its turn we can get back to comparing Iowans to others.
Bill Clinton didn't go to Iowa, he lost New Hampshire, and he didn't win a primary until Georgia in March--he still became president. It ain't over yet.
No Obama Fan.
Kathleen @ 52:
Suddenly the Neocons are right about something? They are the George Costanza of policians - whatever is the opposite of what they say must be true.
O.K. I'm tired of everyone (you know who you are) thinking if an African American gets elected as President, he will get assasinated. You must watch too much "24" or Fox television. Any negative words towards Barack will backfire on the "haters" out there. This is not Pakistan where they (haters) eliminate their competition and opposing party.
lopaloo102 @ 49:
Um, no. He came in second. The hope guy won.
pissed off patricia @ 26:
First off...OMG. What a load of bullocks. I've seen you here recently and often.
Second, Obama is not the most progressive of the top three Dems. Not even close. So it must be because you like him, personally or that you think that his politics are "Happy & Hopeful".
Well, this guy is an illusion. An Oprah/media created vapor. Happy Hopeful Joy Joy.
God, Patricia, you've convinced me. Finally. I get it now.
We are f*cking doomed.
Kathleen @ 52:
What? Did you expect anything different? Give me a break! What are you trying to say here? That we should not support a African American Democrat because the racist conservatives are sure to give him a hard time? What are you? Some troll trying to sow seeds of doubt? Typical conservative gameplan.
I'll take Obama or even Hillary over a redneck holy roller like Gomer Huckleberry any day!
GREG @ 53:
There's one reason why Obama won Iowa. He's promising the evangelicals that he will expand the Faith-Based Initiative--even though it's unconstitutional. It's the same divisive stuff that Bush trotted out, so when you say you don't want the same old tired stuff, you're getting it with Barack.
Kathleen @ 52:
Kathleen, thanks for all your great information, you've really elevated the dialogue. Although not a college student, I do seem to have fallen for this hogwash. Sarcasm is intended.
Obama got the largest numbers of Independents in Iowa. He won in an all-white state. He got the center, which is how people win in the major election. I think Hillary gives the Republicans the most to motivate against. While Edwards is a much safer choice, I have doubts if he can't convince people to vote for him in Iowa, a state he got 34% of last year, and has been campaigning in FOREVER. Yeah, Obama spent more money than him there, but how do you go down from four years earlier?
I think Obama is the most electable, the most inspiring, the most competent, and best choice. I used to doubt his electability: no longer.
Anyone but Hillary or a Republican... nuff said!
Kathleen @ 52:
Illusions of grandeur, vaporous talking points...they master in failure.
Kathleen @ 52:
that's just the point obama is making. so-called progressives are still running campaigns of fear about what "they" are going to do to "us". that's cynical and that's a loser's mentality. do you think "they" run their campaigns that way? i see hilnbill already starting to ratchet up the rhetoric about him getting alot of support from indies and a little from republicans. and the problem with that is? hilary will get far less indies in the general and NO republicans. in '00 and '04 we ran as a scared party. barak is not afraid of them. the ones who are open-minded he's going to try to woo and to hell with the others. i may be catching this hope/optimism thing here because i believe that there are more sensible people in this country than not. we lost our last election because we were afraid and fear is sensed. if we run the race that is supposed to be run, it won't be close.
Ben @ 50:
Obama's spin machine is on the full cycle. Oprah and Obama almost made spinning look good...but not quite. Obama is a fence sitter.
JTM @ 58:
LOL JTM, you think edwards is the one the corporations fear?
obama is the hope guy cause he'll bring authentic change, and break down the big money...they're peeing their pants right now....
You have said exactly how I feel. I posted on a earlier thread, that I can't understand the hate and angry personal attacks that so called progressives throw around because their guy or gal didn't win. Dems continue to eat their childeren. Why help the wingnuts? If dems do what they always do,they will find a way to lose. We need to keep our eye on the prize. Another four years of repug rule, and this country will not survive.
I don't see it as hate or personal attack unless it just an outright lie. It's not because my gal didn't win but it seem that some think obama has won the presidency already. What are we to do, all join hands and support obama just because he got 38% of 200,000 votes? We got GWB because they kept their eyes on the prize. Of couse any dem would be better than what we have.
Give Me Convenience @ 39:
None of the articles I've read mention it, but Obama got 16 delegates, Clinton got 15 delegates, and Edwards got 14 delegates, so it isn't exactly a stunning victory. The Democrats are still very competitive.
Neocon @ 60:
Yep, what worries is me are a few comments I saw last night like "If Hillary's the nominee, I'm voting for Huckabee..". They'll take the tunnel with the light at the end that they know is a train.
Johnny2Bad @ 59:
Hey, always available to be helpful when I can. :)
We need to consider electing a candidate who is not part of the CFR.
Jaden @ 63:
And if Hillary is able to pull this one off? Or she ends up being the Obama's VP choice? (assuming he moves on to win the rest of the primaries --- which is not guaranteed, especially with the racist conservative slime machine gearing up as exampled by the crap that troll Kathleen tried to pass off as objective).
Are you saying you would vote for Nader --- as he will be sure to run as he likes the money. Way to go dude! That type of thinking is what got us numbnuts now.
JTM @ 54:
Ben @ 62:
I'll assume that you know the difference between raw numbers and percents.
I'll now remind you that a heck of lot of new people came this time.
Edwards about broke even, in terms of raw numbers. Maybe a small gain.
A large majority of the new people went for Obama.
Ergo, Edwards' percent dropped.
diamondmc @ 28:
lopaloo102 @ 67:
I don't want to be negative today, but I'd hazard the guess that the health-insurance industry does not really care whether it's Clinton or Obama. Both would be just peachy. On the flip side, they find anyone even suggesting anything close to single-payer to be an enemy.
sam @ 19:
Sam you're right! We ARE trying to get a Democrat elected here. Let's not start eating our own dead. Edwards would make a fine candidate. I think it is Barak's time though.
kaT @ 69:
Um, no. We have only elected the county delegates. We have two more steps before the state's delegates are determined. That's why no article is mentioning the split in those terms.
I know, because an Obama-supporting friend has already emailed me asking me to switch. I'm a county delegate for Edwards.
StirFry @ 70:
The majority of the Democrats took this nation into an unnecessary and immoral war along with the majority of Republicans. I do not trust any candidate based purely on their party. My stance on Obama is based on watching and listening to him during many judicial hearings and his persistent "fence sitting", and then he confirmed that "fence sitting" for me by slipping out the back door during the Kyl Lieberman amendment. This was telling. and confirmed that "finger in the wind" strategy that he has been taking.
If you want to write off legitimate questions as a troll visit which is often the case when legitimate questions are asked in the lefty blogosphere then go right ahead.
Questioning and examining Obama's fence sittting and Hillary's warmongering is a good thing.
JTM @ 75:
Ok... but Obama still beat the guy that was there forever. Or am I wrong about that as well? Maybe it doesn't matter that you get people motivated to go out and vote for you. I don't know what you're arguing here, other than just pointing out that my use of the percent symbol isn't the right way to make my point (which is still just as valid).
Oops. Got ahead of myself. I'm a precinct delegate (with about zero chance of being a county delegate, since I have no connections).
unfrozencaveman @ 34:
That's for sure. As the saying goes, your attitude creates your reality. Poor attitude equals a poor reality. Cynicism and doubt are the death of hope and are just what the republicans are counting on to win. They are counting on apathetic and cynical voters to sabotage efforts for change so they can maintain their defective status quo through fear and manipulation.
And I don't want to hear this bull about "well, we're just being realistic," a nice excuse for maintaining the status quo. You are the owner of your attitude and have the power to do something redemptive or just complain.
Iowa Democrats outvoted Republicans yesterday 239,000 to 114,000. The number of those voting nearly doubled from the last caucus, which was also a record. This is powerful, people. Time to dump the doubt and get to work to make a better America. It's up to you.
Check out Judicial Watch's Ten Most Wanted List
http://www.judicialwatch.org/judicial-watch-announces-list-washington-s-ten-most-wanted-corrupt-politicians-2007
Judicial Watch Announces List of Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” for 2007
Washington, DC –Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released its 2007 list of Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians.” The list, in alphabetical order, includes:
1. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY): In addition to her long and sordid ethics record, Senator Hillary Clinton took a lot of heat in 2007 – and rightly so – for blocking the release her official White House records. Many suspect these records contain a treasure trove of information related to her role in a number of serious Clinton-era scandals. Moreover, in March 2007, Judicial Watch filed an ethics complaint against Senator Clinton for filing false financial disclosure forms with the U.S. Senate (again). And Hillary’s top campaign contributor, Norman Hsu, was exposed as a felon and a fugitive from justice in 2007. Hsu pleaded guilt to one count of grand theft for defrauding investors as part of a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme.
Ben @ 62:
Edwards not taking any Pac Money! This is Huge! Surprised that folks do not see this
pissed off patricia @ 71:
My Happy, Hopeful Joy-filled Hallmark thank you note is in the mail.
Bill got 3% in Iowa in 92. Don't count the Clintons dead yet.
GREG @ 53:
I would hope that we can all at least agree with this (emphasis mine). I'm not black, but it makes me grind my teeth when Obama is dismissed this way. I'm an Edwards guy, and am pleased as punch that he came in second over HC, but am even more glad that Iowans turned out in droves to support their choice (or, sadly, second choice) candidate.
Obama is doing great things. But I wonder how he is going to bridge ties between the Democrats and the Republicans. How is he going to convince Republicans to end the Iraq war and how is he going to make Republicans want affordable health care for all Americans. The things that Obama says he stands for directly conflict the values of Republicans. How he is going to make everyone, Republicans included, choose Democratic values.
Ben @ 62:
The "center"??? He won the "center" of hard core democratic party caucus goers.
Hardly the center of the country.
That "center" is so far to the right, its scary.
sam @ 68:
I don't see it as hate or personal attack unless it just an outright lie. It's not because my gal didn't win but it seem that some think obama has won the presidency already. What are we to do, all join hands and support obama just because he got 38% of 200,000 votes? We got GWB because they kept their eyes on the prize. Of couse any dem would be better than what we have.
And that is what I am saying. Disagree on issues and policy, but I don't understand,the angry personal and character attacks that I would expect from right wing repugs.
Johnny2Bad @ 85:
Oh save your time and effort. Your sparkling and cheerful personality is gratitude enough.
Imagine their surprise when all the southern red states suddenly turn blue...
Obama/Edwards '08
obama was not my first choice, nor second.... maybe not even third....
that said, i was thrilled to see hillary come in third, and i think obama was very inspirational in his speechifying.
still, though, i am wondering how much kucinich's (and later biden and dodd) support for obama swayed the results. say kucinich and others directed their supporters to caucus for edwards, for example. and, again, i would love to know why kucinich chose obama over edwards. edwards' anti-corporate stump speech seems to jibe better with the kucinich platform than obama's.
i wish obama was more willing to challenge the corporate government. but, to me, he is infinitely better than clinton.
as far as the GOP goes, last night should have put the fear of god into the party puppet masters.
Kathleen @ 80:
Um Kathleen...
With respect...
You are full of crap.
The basis of your original post was a pathetic attempt to sow seeds of doubt about Senator Obama... I see this elections cycles flavor of spin by conservative trolls like you will be that he is a "fence-sitter"... kind of like the bullshit "flip-flopper" crap to draw attention away from the corruption and incompetence of your idiot hero president and conservative dogma in general. Now you try and come at us with what you think are legitimate debate points on Obama? I don't think so. EVERYONE sees right through your nonsense. Now get back to brother Rushes show so he can tell you what else to think.
L.A. Confidential @ 31:
Did you actually listen to his speech?
pissed off patricia @ 91:
"Happy" to do it. "Hopeful" that you'll like it.
Joy.
Joy.
There sure is a lot of hatred on this site. I used to think that was strictly a Republican problem, but I guess Dems have it too.
Go Obama.
The only thing I worry about with all this "coming together" talk is that we are going to have another pardoning of Nixon on our hands to "help heal the country." I can see everybody setting it up right now.
I think we need to begin watching how this issue is framed very closely. Coming together alone is not enough. We need to come together in the right way. We can come together to bring law and order back into government and hold people who have looted our blood and treasure accountable. Or, we can come together to forget about all the hell we've been through and let everyone walk so that we stop arguing about it and go back to shopping. Which kind of coming together do we want?
Kathleen @ 52:
This sounds like smoke and mirrors by the GOP. They were supposed to be licking their chops at the idea of running against Hillary a few months ago. I think they know they're going to lose to any Democrat and this is just a brave face to show to their sheep.
Obama has no real politik experience and will get crushed by the likes of Vladimir Putin and Hu Jintao, plus his social policies are insane!
Well, at least he showed up for it.
Neocon @ 94:
"EVERYONE sees right through (the) nonsense"? Hmmm.
Thanks for speaking for everybody here, Neo but....I liked it.
Alot.
So keep your "EVERYONE's" to yourself.
Question Blog @ 4:
uhhh, Iowa proved the crazies are in the minority. GOBAMA
Obama / Boxer '08 (or Fiengold...or Whitehouse....or some other Dem senator with backbone)
Edwards is great when he talks about the working poor. But then I think back to his closing arguments as a litigator..."Your baby is running out of oxygen".....and then I remember he's about as genuine as a used car salesman.
Sorry to say it, but Hillary sounded like a tired old potato next to Obama.
bmw 528 @ 83:
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! We got to be positive. The whole world is watching.
Yeah. Marvelous.
A corporate flunky peddling hope to children.
Obama bussed college stidents in from Illinois to get the caucus out. He had 5,000 transportation captains. He didn't need the DNC to help him. He had the Illinois Democratic Party and Chicago to do it. Illinois isn't part of the50 state Democratic Party strategy. Why is this? I am a too old hopeless person who thinks that talk is nice but action is better. Obama needs to stsart committing himself now and not just be " present".
great, but will he stop the war?
probably not.
Okay all of you angry people have a great day being angry. I'll take my happiness with me and hit the road. Try not to tear yourselves apart. :)
cleo @ 108:
After 8 years of bush, nothing would be funnier to me than a Obama vs Huckabee race. Although the comedic value won't help heal the nation, we'll deserve whatever happens.
Sunnyside @ 88:
Can you give me some examples of these "great things". Seriously. I would be on Obama's bus if I had ever witnessed some "bold" stance, or vote, but I have not. If Obama would have had the balls to vote against the warmongers Kyl Lieberman amendment or ask some hardball questions in any of the Condi Rice or John Bolton nomination hearings or other Senate hearings he would have had me. But I have not witnessed any of these "bold" actions. Please show me.
If Obama or Hillary had taken a solid stance against any aggressive moves towards Iran based on unsubstantiated hogwash spit out by the "cakewalk in Iraq" zealots they would have had me. But they did not. Hillary demonstrated she is owned by PAC money and Obama walked out the back door on that vote. I really think there is not a whole lot of difference between Edwards Obama and Hillary on health care, raising the minimum wage, equity in education etc etc.....but on National Security HIllary played her warmonger card and Obama sat on the fence.
Edwards has apologized for his very stupid mistake in 2002 by voting for the war resolution, he has taken a solid stance on diplomacy and negotiations with Iran, he is not owned by PAC money (Hillary is Aipac's girl on the middle east) Who knows about Obama he did not take a stand.
I do not want to witness any other wars or more people dying in the middle east due to the actions of my country. Edwards is our best bet in the middle east and the PAC's are terrified
Richard @ 97:
ALOT of hatred.
chris @ 100:
Whoa trigger, whomever gets elected still has the support of the entire country; or are you saying that if Obama was president, that you'd allow that to happen?
More insane than cutting taxes during a vast military expedition?
seele
i wouldn't call it hatred--- lots of people had their hearts set on edwards, many clinton....it hurts to get walloped like this...especially for edwards, who has been campaigning in iowa since the last election...
but we're all on the same team, and even those who don't come to see that obama is the best candidate for change and victory, will nonetheless support his candidacy, if yesterday turns out to be as significant as it likely is.
and who knows, maybe will obama will decide that edwards would make a good vp....not a bad choice
Sorry, but what is wrong with you?
This is a democracy - or is supposed to be. This really is a celebrity sweapstakes - and the winner is, O'Bama.
I was chastised yesterday by an O'Bama supporter for accusing him of being a celebrity candidate. And now this. His supporters behaving at his performance as if he were a celebrity.
Its not rational, IMO.
They should be suspicious of anyone who covets the whitehouse and hold them to account - instead it was a Hanna Montana concert complete with shrieking.
Our political process is broken.
Obama just doesn't appeal to me that much. People always talk about how he's such a great speaker, how he inspires, etc. But for me, he isn't and he doesn't. To me Obama reminds me of the Disney channel. They are great at manufacturing hype but their content is pretty weak. I remember all the hype surrounding his speech at the DNC in 2004. I was not impressed and I'm still not. I don't see what others claim to see in Obama.
Anyway the only candidate who impresses me is Hilary Clinton. Even after over a decade of smearing (and smearing from democrats too) she's come out strong. She resilient, and this is what makes her stand out. Also, regarding Clinton, I can only roll my eyes at the folk here (and democtrats) who call her a bitch or say she a neo-con, republican light, or just like Bush. All you are doing is echoing right wing talking points. Echoing the narrative created my the media about how she is supposedly unelectable, too divisive, etc. It's hogwash. Sometimes I think I give too much credit to democrats. I just assume they are solid thinkers, smart folk, on top of the issues, unmoved by spin, etc, but coming to this site and reading the comments makes me have my doubts. For all the dislike of Chris Matthews around here it's ironic that many have the same disdain for Clinton as he does. You are all "tweeties". But with that said there are some good comments hidden around here.
AIPAC shill
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/03/obamas_aipac_speech_text_as_pr.html
Sunnyside @ 88:
O'Bama isnt doing anything but playing hooky from the senate.
But I do think you are right in your comments. The truth is that half the country just loves what has happened over the last seven years. They hate that they are losing in Iraq. If they were winning in Iraq, they would have found heaven on earth.
So there is the rub. They love fascism, we hate it. They dont want to help anyone but themselves, we want a civil society. How to you resolve those differences.
It might be possible, and it might mean the end of the republic.
After the last 40 years, I'm not sure those two camps can coexist.
debaser71 @ 116:
Speaking of manufacturing - wasn't Clinton's post-mortem speach last night (and it's audience) entirely manufactured?
I just about fell out of my chair when I visited Malkin's blog this morning. Something came over me and I was compelled to hear her nutty assessment of the Iowa caucus. Strangely, she blogged about the "MSM fearmongering" regarding racial tensions. WTF? Who knows more about fearmongering than the mushroom cloud crew?
Johnny2Bad @ 102:
If you think just by calling someone asking legitimate questions a "troll" works with thinking people, you are kidding yourself. Talk about spreading fear.
The "seeds of doubt" about Obama, Hillary, Edwards or any of the candidates are out there for the plucking. Examining those full grown doubts is healthy and part of the process.
I sincerely ask again Give me some specific examples of Obama taking a "bold" stance on issues. Some examples where he has actually stood for "change". Some examples please.
Best article about Obama and "sitting on the fence"
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2007/12/12/obama-talks-the-talk-but-wheres-the-walk/
Seymour Hersh statement on why Hillary voted for the Kyl Lieberman amendment
http://www.democracynow.org/2007/10/2/seymour_hersh_white_house_intensif...
AMY GOODMAN: In Iran.
SEYMOUR HERSH: In Iran, rather. They don’t—it’s just not a problem. He didn’t mean—I don’t know whether the translation was flat, you know, when translations are always pretty bad, as any of you know. I’ve given speeches in foreign countries, and getting the translation back is always pretty comical. It’s never very good.
AMY GOODMAN: Sy Hersh, I wanted to switch gears for the last question, and this has to do with it not just being Republicans who are sounding a drumbeat for war. The three leading Democratic presidential candidates—Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards—have all declared no options off the table. This is a clip from last week’s Democratic debate. It was the day the Senate approved a controversial resolution calling on the State Department to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. At the debate, Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Gravel bitterly criticized Hillary Clinton for voting in favor.
MIKE GRAVEL: This is fantasy land. We’re talking about ending the war. My god, we’re just starting a war right today. There was a vote in the Senate today. Joe Lieberman, who authored the Iraq resolution, has authored another resolution, and it is essentially a fig leaf to let George Bush go to war with Iran. And I want to congratulate Biden for voting against it, Dodd for voting against it, and I’m ashamed of you, Hillary, for voting for it. You’re not going to get another shot at this, because what’s happened, if this war ensues, we invade, and they’re looking for an excuse to do it. And Obama was not even there to vote.
TIM RUSSERT: Senator Clinton, I want to give you a chance to respond.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON: [laughter]
AMY GOODMAN: That was Hillary Clinton laughing. Fifteen seconds, Seymour Hersh. Your response?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npzN3dZR6JM
SEYMOUR HERSH: Money. A lot of the Jewish money from New York. Come on, let’s not kid about it. A significant percentage of Jewish money, and many leading American Jews support the Israeli position that Iran is an existential threat. And I think it’s as simple as that. When you’re from New York and from New York City, you take the view of—right now, when you’re running a campaign, you follow that line. And there’s no other explanation for it, because she’s smart enough to know the downside.
AMY GOODMAN: And Obama and Edwards?
SEYMOUR HERSH: I—you know, it’s shocking. It’s really surprising and shocking, but there we are. That’s American politics circa 2007.
Kathleen @ 52:
Really? With defective, clueless candidates mired in the past promoting a bankrupt philosophy? Good luck to them, they will need a lot of it.
anon @ 115:
You were also chastised for thinking he's Irish. Looks like you're oh for two.
Anthology @ 107:
Piss off loser. Thats the kinda bullshit that helped sink dems and helped necon thugs controll these past seven years.
GREG @ 106:
You're welcome, and indeed, the world is watching to see if we will take a more positive and redemptive role in the world community or continue to promote the farce that we call the neocon status quo.
Derrick @ 16:
How do you feel about Obama not voting on the Kyl Lieberman amendment?
Cite?
Simon White-Thatch Potentloins @ 99:
good point
JTM @ 123:
You know, I dont think much of liars. Do you imagine that I dont know that he is black and that his father is from E. Africa?
The O'Bama is intentional. He is from ... wait for it Mickey ... Harvard. See the connection now that I've drawn it in crayon?
His performance last night was classic hollywood. Politicians should server the public not the reverse. That wasnt apparent last night.
He is an absentee senator with little or no experience .. and the crowd last night demonstrated that he is a celebrity.
diamondmc @ 124:
Wrong.
Forty years of tolerating thugs was responsible for that. There should have been a resistence 30 years ago and there never was.
Looks like Democratic voters are once again going to settle for a pro-war, anti-civil liberty, corporatist candidate. The message this Obama win sends to the Democratic Party is that it can continue to stand for nothing and still win, so long as the package is attractive enough. This is not a good thing.
Max @ 127:
Kat can't site anything, when pull stuff like that out of your arse.
unfrozencaveman @ 119:
Hey look it's tweety!
anon @ 130:
So boo hoo! whine about the past. Try being realistic about where we are now. If we try to get everthing we want all at one time, we are going to end up getting nothing but more repug rule.
"EVERYONE sees right through (the) nonsense"? Hmmm.
Thanks for speaking for everybody here, Neo but....I liked it.
Alot.
So keep your "EVERYONE's" to yourself.
Um... "2bad" do you show this same type of self righteous outrage when the racist corrupt conservative on Faux News use that same type of terminology?
Probably not.
It is only ok when corrupt conservatives do it but cannot stand when their own tactics are thrown right back in their faces.
The comments in this thread show racism is alive and well in America, but I would never expect to see it on a "progressive" blog and it is very disheartening.
You do know you ain't going to get a candidate that you agree with 100%, right? I bet some of you would be saying FDR shouldn't get elected because he isn't liberal enough. We are living in a time where change is needed and Obama will bring that change.
Look at the faces behind Clinton last night. Do you want eight more years of corruption and lies. Do you want more scandals? Do you want all the hell that the establishment Bush and Clinton royal families have brought?
Let's unite behind Obama - I'm sure they'll do him like they did JFK and RFK, but hell - before they put him down we need to support him
diamondmc @ 134:
That is what we will get in anycase. Have you paid any attention at all to the 'democratic' congress? That is also a result of inaction of the last thirty years.
Life didnt start with your birth. At one point the republican party was a very small party. The democratic party was the party. Civil rights and racism changed that. (Many republicans today would have been democrats prior to that period). This isnt about what can be gained, its about what has been lost and why.
I reject the DLC argument that a conservative corporatist is a good thing as long as they are democrats. O'Bama is a corporatist - conservative, we dont know yet. His wife, as I understand it, is a supporter of clintons failed trade policies - that is conservative. I may have that wrong - I may not. But O'Bama just loves ADM.
From where I stand, the democratic party is lousy with 'republicans' - like clinton.
Iowa-shmIowa....It doesn't matter. It's pretty much a given that the next president will be a Dem. The WarPigs and other 'republicans' have pretty much destroyed any credibility for their party in any capacity for a very long time to come. The Dem who gets the prize will go the the republicrat who is the easiest for the true masters of this country to manipulate. Logically that would be Obama. Let's face it, he's a freshman Senator just barely out of state legislation, still babe in diapers for Christ sake. He just doesn't have the experience. He probably still gets lost between his office and the Senate Chamber, which would explain why he wasn't present for many of the votes. Like it has been said further up the thread, Iowa is no crystal ball.
png @ 22:
Did you watch the speech? He said what every other candidate would have said had they won. The difference is he said it well. Shrub can't even put a sentence together and this whole posting is ripping Obama to shreds. My god, look what 8 years of Bush has done to you all. Are you really this cynical and hopeless?
I thought he MLK-esque speech was invigorating and inspiring, a nice change from the boring drab BS I would have heard coming out of Hillary's or Edward's mouth. Obama did a fantastic job and I am glad I am supporting his campaign, I am not ashamed that I dream of a better America, however cliched some of you may think that sounds. Obama rarely said "I" in that speech, all I heard was "we" and "you".
Can he do the job once he is there? Of course he can, Bush has demonstrated that a chimp can hold the office. What I am interested in is can he stand up to the same old cronyism, corporatism, and back stabbing of the inner beltway. I will vote for Obama primarily because he has no experience inside the beltway.
Great speech. Ladies and gentlemen, Obama could well pull this off. How about them apples? Wow! Good on him!
anon @ 115:
Are you serious? Now it's a negative to get excited for your candidate and express enthusiasm? You people are starting to scare me.
budda @ 136:
How about a black 'qualified' candidate for president. Someone like say .... Rep. Conyers. Your accusation of racism is a false flag. O'Bama is not the best qualified and he is unproven.
In Bush's words, "bring em' on".
Kathleen @ 52:
Question Blog @ 4:
After Kathleen's post, I went and watched this about five times.
I'm sorry, I can't help it, but Clinton's smugness rivals that of Bush in this case. If you're ant-war and pro-Clinton, that video must be in your nightmares.
But, oddly, it hurts me more that there's nothing Obama can say in reply to Gravel's admonition that he should have been there to vote ... and vote 'no.' He's exactly right and, so, if you're anti-war and pro-Obama, that video should haunt you, too. Especially when people poke fingers at Obama's voting record.
More positive: If anyone has any sway at all with Obama, then please suggest that he issue an apology along the lines of Edwards' (without hedging because he's worried about how it will be spun against him). Obama should have stuck with his original vote against Iraq authorization. He should admit that opening the door to a war with Iran (or standing by while others did so) was wrong, especially since his main positive with regard to foreign affairs is his real-world experience with other cultures and trying to talk with people, instead of bully and threaten.
If change is the catch-phrase (and I'm totally cool with that), then the most important change in foreign policy is one that Obama could implement maybe better than most: talking with people and really listening and understanding their points of view. But his silence on the saber-rattling against Iran is not helping one bit.
anon @ 137:
So lets just all lay down and die because if your right theirs no hope anyway right? If we can't get everything we want right now its all over. BULLSHIT..........................
Kathleen @ 121:
I don't believe Obama at all. He tells us that, had he been in the Senate when the AUMF for the Iraq war had been up for a vote, he would have voted against it. Right. So, now that he really IS in the Senate, when the chance to vote against pernicious legislation such as Kyl-Lieberman comes along, does he actually vote against these bills? Uh, no. He prioritizes his own self-aggrandizement more highly. The man has both an actual duty and an actual chance to defend the Republic, and he CAN'T BE BOTHERED. He's a United States Senator, for God's sake. He can blither all he likes about "Hope" and "Change", but when given a chance to contribute to the advancement of either of these, he's nowhere to be found. That's a track record. That's a damned sorry track record. Do any of you Obamiacs know what time it really is? I don't want a rhetorician in the executive office, I want someone who will mix it up and fight for progressive ideas whenever the chance presents itself. The wingnuts have stolen a seven year march on us. The time to challenge their depredations is now, and any so-called Democrat who isn't possessed of a sense of urgency about protecting the integrity of the Constitution and the rule of law is nothing but a danger to both.
lopaloo102 @ 114:
Dude it's hatred! Just like you said 'people have their hearts set on' so and so. These posters are not using their minds, they are wearing their heart on their sleeve and it's been reduced to a popularity contest.
And why should this NOT be a popularity contest? All the democratic contenders have the same policies! People cite reason X, Y, and Z as why one is better then the other, I have seen those debates, the democratic contender's platforms are virtually identical, and their differences are, well I don't see much of a difference.
Same thing with the republicans, their policies are the same to. So it comes down to who is likeable, and Iowa said Obama is more likeable.
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