The Obama Delusion

Its not only our leaders who bring about change, its the people who bring about change. Leaders inspire people. But lately none of our leaders seem to be able to inspire anyone. Whats wrong with hope and ispiration? So what if we fail in some areas. At least we tried!!! Barack Obama is the best choice for change. Is anyone happy with the way our country has been going? I sure am not. Maybe we might, just might try doing things a different way. I wasn't comparing Obama to Kennedy for their past achievements. Obviously President Kennedy was a great person and President. I was just comparing the inspiration that both of them brought to the American People when we needed it most. Who cares about politicians if they can't get the people to change their ways of thinking. We need the people to wake up and stand up and do something. Whether big or small.

Good rehetoric. My issue is that you have done what so much of the media has in that you have done what Roger Clemens said of Andy Pettitte. You have "misremembered" the facts. Clinton did accuse Obama of plagirism because of his plans but because of his speech content. Great job at setting the record straight! You should keep writing this dribble.---Joe.---Indy, IN.

Good rehetoric. My issue is that you have done what so much of the media has in that you have done what Roger Clemens said of Andy Pettitte. You have "misremembered" the facts. Clinton didn't accuse Obama of plagiarism because of his plans but because of his speech content. Great job at setting the record straight! You should keep writing this dribble.---Joe.---Indy, IN.

What is most interesting to me is that the greatest orator presidents were Lincoln, both Roosevelts, Kennedy and Reagan. They come from both parties and have one thing in common: They were great presidents.

I totally agree. Why did you wait so long to make this know to the public. I hope I see more of this in the coming days, but its a little late, I'm sorry to say. This nomintion process has turned out to be just like American Idol. I thought the Election System was something more important than a television show.

I have not horse in this race. For a foreign born resident ( living legally here) with no privilege to vote , I am following this race more closely than I probably should. However, having said that, I felt a need to post this comment because of the appreciation I have this great country. This race is not just about who will be the next president of USA, but who is the next person that can lead the world and who can get other world leaders together to solve problems facing many other nations in the world that have similar principles, morals and human beings in general. In support of the author???s comments here, yes it might be true that despite his eloquence and message of change, Obama's policies might be very close to that of Clinton's. The policies might be same which will lead to similar living standards and governance weather it is Obama or Clinton. However, there in lies the difference and the reason for choosing Obama. For a the world's second largest democracy (after India) , it is important to have a leader who can clearly convey the message of its citizens to the world. The warmth, love for all religions and races in this country and the secularism. It is important to convey the message of "land of free" to the world around and emphasize it. Now, McCain can probably do it, but Hillary..I don???t think so. Obama brings the love and affection to the role. He is freshly, people trust him. More important he is intelligent enough to not commit stupid mistakes that previous administrations have done that led to lower credibility for USA around the world. Obama is the only person in this race that can convince the world by following the right policies (both domestic and foreign) and expressing them clearly through his eloquence that , indeed USA is the land of the free and home of the brave. "He is the only one who can make right friends around the globe and solve issues like job losses due to globalization in this country, issue like terrorism both here and globally by working with right friends without chastising them and branding them as "axis of evil" without talking to them. All this needs eloquence and ability to carry out diplomacy. We all have seen the limitation any army has. They can curtail terrorism in one country. Even,an army as powerful as the US Army with brave soldiers can stop attacks in one county but cannot stop spread of ill-feelings in other parts of the world. This is where eloquence and the right thinking and intelligence will play a role.

PS: I am from India. Having grown up with dreams to come to this country I am proud to be here and would wish for the reputation of the country to be back where it was before 2003.There are still a lot of young people around the world who see USA in high regard and lets make sure it stays the same before it is too late or before some radical terrorist group changes their mind.

So what member of the McCain campaign wrote this article for you? Of course he is promising the moon. It???s the primaries. He needs to distance himself from the others. All that is left is Hillary. Does anybody really think Hillary is going to provide healthcare for all (she was so successful in her husbands first term) or that McCain is going to make college affordable? (how many tears has he been in the Senate as the average American watched virtually every educational tax break disappear?).

The media needs to stop making the American voter out to be some stupid uninformed electorate. The average voter knows these are all empty promises. Voters are sending a clear message in the primaries. That message is there has to be someone other than a Bush or a Clinton that can lead this nation.

In November, America will decide its next President based on one simple theme. Do we stay in Iraq or do we get out? Do we continue with the status quo or do we bring a fresh attitude to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? The average voter realizes all of these promises won???t happen overnight. They do realize though that if it is going to ever change, it has to begin somewhere. The decision is do we let a true American hero continue down the same path and wait for another time, or do we vote for a person giving them a chance to become a new American hero?

Being a pessimist is a product of a very lazy mind. Sen. Obama is person with great integrity. He has inspired a nation to dream again. And, for the first time in a verY long long time, I am proud of my country too. By the way, JFK was 42 when he took office. He had limited experience too.. He did just fine. Sen. Obama will too. Maybe you need to take a hard look at what is motivating you to write such a empty article.Maybe you would do well to start dreming again if not for yourself, then for those who love you.

It would be nice to be very objective as a jounalist. Doesnt mean that you cannot take sides, but speak the truth wholly. Better is silence that a clattering gong.
Hillary is in the situation that she is now because she supposedly has better experience, but has not been able to put it to use. And so has been running a very uneffective campaign. If in simple things she has failed herself, why should this nation be commited to her.
Experience they say is the best teacher for listening ears and willing hand. If Hillary could not plan a good campaign to present herself worthy and electable on the democratic ticket given her "wealth of experience and accomplishments" (and a newcomer displayed better judgement calls).....tell me why she should be nominated?

I totally agree with "stellahoss" I really think the other two choices (Clinton and McCain) are scary!!!

The negative comments in this article about Obama apply to all of the candidates. Your new commentary is more of the same. In order to get the job, why does a Black man have to be held to a higher standard in order to win? Seems to me some people just keep moving the bar where he (YES A BLACK MAN) is concerned.

1. Frist he would not be able to organize, then he would not be able to raise money, them well blacks aren't voting for him why should we, then well whites are voting for him but it is just young dumb white people, then women won't vote for him, then Latinos won''t vote for him, oh and he is not electable against the Republicans.

Seems like every obstacle he overcomes, he is just asked to jump through more hoops. Why is this the case?

Mr. Samuelson ... your writing on this topic is as symbolic of all style no substance as you claim Mr. Obama to be. The words are eloquent, the arguments well-formed. But you miss the essence of what gives more substance to Mr. Obama than Senators Clinton and McCain combined. What good, in a post 9-11 world full of melting polar ice caps and millions of Americans without health insurance is a "known quantity"? Competence, smarts, experience, having a "plan" is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a president's ability to strike a blow for national progress on the key issues of our time. The virtual rage ... positive rage ... you see at Mr. Obama's rallies and speeches is not an intangible thing. It's the same positive rage ... a steely determination to persist and win ... that enabled our nation to survive the Civil War, got us through the Great Depression, brought down segregation, ended the Vietnam war, kicked Nixon out of the White House, and maybe even elected Ronald Reagan! All of Mr. McCain's experience cannot straighten the miserable, doubting world posture Americans find themselves in, and no amount of detail in a Hillary Clinton plan can break the fever telling us we have a healthcare crisis. Mr. Obama's ability to connect with voters and send their aspirations soaring is not some kind of cosmetic value. It is the attitude turned tangible substance that, when when it takes hold, enables Americans to get things done. Neither Clinton nor McCain offer this or understand it. It''s time we American's took a risk and decided to fix our country rather than demand a more detailed map of how to get there. Detailed maps, known quatties, "experienced" elected representatives we got, positive rage is what we're missing.

Thank you for this reality check! I'm happy to see that there is at least one reporter out there who willing to offer a critique of this candidate.

And for those of you who think that HRC is divisive, give Mrs. Obama a few more months in front of the cameras!

Do these idiots think we need them to decide our choice for us? Every time there's an election, someone comes out with a article supporting THEIR candidate of choice. Every newspaper has an "expert" Let the people make up their own mind and investigate for themselves. The Swiftboat tactics worked in the last election, and who did we get? George Bush! I'm not saying Kerry was the best option, but I don't think he would have been worse than Bush.