The Obama Delusion

SHUT UP LILLEA- people are going to think you missed the short bus to school and are playing on mommy and daddy's computer.

You can post ANY web-site that makes up crap and claims it's true. But can you post a legitimate newspaper that backs up your point? I didn't think so.

This is how you do it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/washington/18assess.html

I sense the same degree of fervor with getting Obama elected the next president as when the masses were rallying for the current president and his team which took nation into a costly and mistaken war in Iraq. If anyone spoke up about taking the time to consider the realities and facts, supporters of the cause would not hesitate to cut them down with unkind words, back then for being unpatriotic, now for being opponents to the winds of change. Ideas for changes must pass the test - changes have short and long term impact that must be considered and how they will be funded must be examined with a fine toothed comb. Fiscal irresponsibility will further weaken America's position in the world - we cannot go on living on borrowed money and put the next generation further into debt.

The mob mentality giving Obama a pass on actually speaking truth to his power is the scary aspect here. All the candidates should be called to task for explaining what they'd do (or not do) - don't you dare give a candidate a free pass on that because he learned to copy some eloquent words from Deval Patrick.

I'll give you some promises, and facts, and if you can reconcile them, then your support of Obama is well warranted. .and you are ahead of Obama in terms of planning..

1) He'll end the war in 2008 - military logisticians have been quoted as saying even an aggressive evacuation would take 20 months. There are over 30,000 vehicles in Iraq - all of them have to be driven 400 miles, washed, loaded into ships, and sent back. Helicopters have to be shrinkrapped. And hopefully we wouldn't sacrifice speed to the safety of the troops in a retreat. And hopefully we wouldn't ignore executions of Iraqis that worked with the Americans, especially if groups started to move in to take over the power vacuum. His talk of ending this (not just beginning to end it, which I believe in) in 2009 isn't just wrong, its naive, and if he believes it, malicious.

2) SS/Medicare - his talk of reforming Social Security involves just raising the earnings cap - basically, adding 12.4% to the tax bracket of anyone earning $102k and upward. So a 28% tax bracket become 40%, and a 39% tax bracket (the former Clinton top rate) becomes 51%. He has no stated position on Medicare, which become insolvent in 11 years. Its already a single payer system - where would the savings come from - the BIG savings necessary so the boomers don't bankrupt it

3) The AMT - elminating the AMT on middle income voters will cost $1 trillion over 10 years. He hasn't stated how he would end it, but we assume he will, so if he lets the top-rate Bush tax cuts expire, then its a wash - 1 trillion in revenue goes to 1 trillion in tax reductions.

4) The Bush tax cuts - many effect the rich, but not most - every bracket was lowered, and middle income families with kids saved well over $1-2k. Does those expire too? And capital gains - with baby boomers retiring, and selling stocks/bonds to finance their retirement, do you want to raise the capital gains quite a bit? In fact, since the capital gains tax was cut, revenues from it have skyrocketed. Do you raise them and watch the revenue plummet?

4) Immigration - he didn't sign onto the comprimise McCain-Kennedy plan (one that over 60 senators supported) - what's his plan?

5) FISA - he didn't sign onto the renewal of FISA wiretap laws, which over 60 senators supported. what's his plan? If two identified terrorists route an internet call through a U.S. router, can we listen in?

And he's been campaigning continuously for the past 8 months.. doing nothing in the Senate. We've had 8 years of arrogance and incompetence in the White House - I feel Obama might drop the arrogance, but leave us with the incompetence.

The mob mentality giving Obama a pass on actually speaking truth to his power is the scary aspect here. All the candidates should be called to task for explaining what they'd do (or not do) - don't you dare give a candidate a free pass on that because he learned to copy some eloquent words from Deval Patrick.

I'll give you some promises, and facts, and if you can reconcile them, then your support of Obama is well warranted. .and you are ahead of Obama in terms of planning..

1) He'll end the war in 2008 - military logisticians have been quoted as saying even an aggressive evacuation would take 20 months. There are over 30,000 vehicles in Iraq - all of them have to be driven 400 miles, washed, loaded into ships, and sent back. Helicopters have to be shrinkrapped. And hopefully we wouldn't sacrifice speed to the safety of the troops in a retreat. And hopefully we wouldn't ignore executions of Iraqis that worked with the Americans, especially if groups started to move in to take over the power vacuum. His talk of ending this (not just beginning to end it, which I believe in) in 2009 isn't just wrong, its naive, and if he believes it, malicious.

2) SS/Medicare - his talk of reforming Social Security involves just raising the earnings cap - basically, adding 12.4% to the tax bracket of anyone earning $102k and upward. So a 28% tax bracket become 40%, and a 39% tax bracket (the former Clinton top rate) becomes 51%. He has no stated position on Medicare, which become insolvent in 11 years. Its already a single payer system - where would the savings come from - the BIG savings necessary so the boomers don't bankrupt it

3) The AMT - elminating the AMT on middle income voters will cost $1 trillion over 10 years. He hasn't stated how he would end it, but we assume he will, so if he lets the top-rate Bush tax cuts expire, then its a wash - 1 trillion in revenue goes to 1 trillion in tax reductions.

4) The Bush tax cuts - many effect the rich, but not most - every bracket was lowered, and middle income families with kids saved well over $1-2k. Does those expire too? And capital gains - with baby boomers retiring, and selling stocks/bonds to finance their retirement, do you want to raise the capital gains quite a bit? In fact, since the capital gains tax was cut, revenues from it have skyrocketed. Do you raise them and watch the revenue plummet?

4) Immigration - he didn't sign onto the comprimise McCain-Kennedy plan (one that over 60 senators supported) - what's his plan?

5) FISA - he didn't sign onto the renewal of FISA wiretap laws, which over 60 senators supported. what's his plan? If two identified terrorists route an internet call through a U.S. router, can we listen in?

And he's been campaigning continuously for the past 8 months.. doing nothing in the Senate. We've had 8 years of arrogance and incompetence in the White House - I feel Obama might drop the arrogance, but leave us with the incompetence.

Get Real you and everyone that do not understand. Republicans quote Regan all the time he never sent one solider to die in a far off country for someone else. he worked with Tip O Neil a Boston Democrat to get things done. Why because he could communicate, understand communicate. When will you tell us what original ideal John McCain has 50 years of more war. To the author is your son or daughter dieing over there or getting maimed for life I bet not. What has this country become the Bush/Clinton Kingdom only they can govern. Look at the mess his father left and Clinton was no better. Have you all forgot the tech bubble that burst and we all lost money from our 401 K's. Delusion let me tell you delusion to continue to do the exact same thing and expect a different outcome. That's idiotic. Guess what the people of this country is not buying your BS about delusion. Got news for you buddy for once the people are not reading the media or listening to the talking heads on TV who claim to know something. They are making decisions for themselves. Now let's address this pride in country issue . It has taken over 220 years for even a Woman or a Black man to be considered for the presidency of this country you think that's right. I bet you do. You know for me as far as I am concerned he not do any worse than all your tried and true experienced people have done. Take for example the two people you laud Mccain and Clinton this man has not only raised more money but has managed his campaign brillantly. You keep Obama and not let these so called press people who never gave him a chance slow you down. The American people support you and that's all that matters.
Bernie E.

Barack Obama, truth sayer, Muslim, Black American,an Individual, a christian, what is he--- all of the above. I BELIEVE SO! I read the article as well as most of the comments for and against and what I need to understand is WHY we are having this discussion about, experience, plans, or ack of a "track record." The truth for me is look at the last 7 years-- where are we-- are we not in the worst possible shape that we have been in for centuries. We have suffered the worst Terrorist attack in recent history and have actively started and contiued a war-- not with the ones responsible for the attack-- but some other terrorist who just happens to have the resources we need. We are in a deficit beyond contemplation that will take decades to recover. Most of are realestate is owned by those outside America's borders-- and we deploy our military to aide other countries and cover the cost (some of which have more wealth) -- and our military- filled with strong and brave men and women who have lost and continue to loose their families and given their lives in a fight to perserve our freedoms against terrorism yet we do not persue the true terrorist. Our education system is last among "super powers"- the "no child left behind" policy is a joke-- most recently, funding ear-marked for HBCUs -- 85 million have been tranferred from education to continue to fund this WAR (you don't have to be educated to kill)--the healthcare system-- well what healthcare is more likely-- social security in its present state-- a thing of the past in a few years-- our GREEN space is decreasing-- Our pollution increasing-- our water is disappearing--our health failing- our way of life sinking and what you think we need is the SAME THING THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS- IN THE WHITE HOUSE !!!! a person who had a "track record" who had 'experience" who had a "plan." II PRAY TO GOD-- please give me something different-- please give me- the inexperience candidate that does not realize that he can not make a CHANGE-- please give me the candidate that speaks of hope and salvation and the light at the end of the tunnel-- please give the the candidate that believes that if we all come together, we can make America a place were are are second to none in education, healthcare, economic growth and military strength. We as Americans need the promise of something more, the promise of something special, the promise to turn the page and reach beyond what EXPERIENCE has brought us!!! WE WANT AN AMERICA THAT IS ETHICAL, GOOD, HONEST, HONORABLE, HOPEFUL, OBJECTIVE, MORAL, TRUTHFUL, UNBIASED, and COLOR BLIND!

We do not need another Clinton in office!
That would be about 28 years of Clintons or Bushes in the Presidential office. No Thank You!
That is not what this country is about, this is a democracy not a Monarchy!

Beware Welfare!

Vote for Clinton.