The Obama Delusion

Taxes are what hold the working class down. Businesses hire employees, so taxing them to death isn't good either. Look at dubai, there is no oil there any more, however, they are tax free zone and people are thriving. Look at cuba, high taxes aka socialism, they are not thriving. How could you vote for a man with a che poster in his campaign room!

The main jist of your punditry is "no we can't." Thanks. We already know that. Now let's try something that we don't know. Or do we just spend another decade in political squabbling and partisan gridlock while our nation goes to hell. Or do we just maybe maybe do something patriotic and in the context of a presidency built on the premise of dialogue, try to achieve compromise for the good of the nation. You can say no we can't all you want, and you can give it the air of credibility that comes with your position at Newsweek. In the end, however, I have tried your way and I for one join the millions who are willing to try Mr. Obama's way.

Obama lemmings: Barack Hussein is NOT JFK. JFK was a tested war hero who actually had a well constructed platform prior to his nomination. Think very carefully about your big experiment. Our children will pay for your decisions.

Your ridiculous critique of Obama lacks any sort of real "analysis". You could take out Obama's name in your article and substitute anyone that has talked about change, including McCain and Clinton.

Is this what the media has resorted to: half-assed attempts by unoriginal writers to conjure up some "story". Please, go back to selling ads to car companies.

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 kept 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 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 we got, positive rager is what we're missing.

Flipside for this Article.

The "Political & Corporate Delusion":

Please don't elect anyone by a meaningful majority that might elicit public support that would stand up, speak up, & show up demanding transparency & accountability from Congress, corporations & their lobbyists. There is a price to pay for turning a back to Americans in order to grow corporate & shareholder value especially when a growing majority of shareholders aren't Americans. The GOP has doubled our National Debt in 8 years which is unprecedented. That's hardly Conservative but that's not what they mean when they Label themselves "Conservatives". Conservative to them means "Please Conserve this past political GAME & Please Conserve the Wealth & Power I have amassed by being a player in it!!!

Your bright enough to "GET this" you just don't want to because you like the attention you get from those that play the game.

Americans are sick to death of the game. They're sick to death of political inaction on their behalf. They're tired of politicians consumed with "The Appearance of Doing Good'" while all the while collecting $ from the power brokers.

Barack says lets end the game & it won't be easy. That my friend sounds like Real Straight Talk to which I'll gladly sign on. You don't believe it's possible to change Washington but Barack has convinced millions that it is and once you believe it's possible you do feel excitement stir from within. A President alone can't get anything meaningful done without bartering our future, but a President backed by an engaged populous should scare the "" out of all of the game players. We will hold him to this promise.

There are ways to increase the Socail Security trust without taxes on individuals (like getting rid of corporate wellfare!) Obama wasn't my first pick, but he the last one standing with a glimpse into the reality that the biggest drag on this country is not the war, is not over taxation, is not exhorbitant health care, but it is the creator of all of those. LOBBYING! Corporate Capital Controls the US Government. And Corporate Capital is the exact oposite of creating the infrastructure which brings out the best in every individual. THIS IS THE NATION's MAJOR PROBLEM. and OBAMA IS ENGAGING IT!

In all earnestness, we must check what our officials say vs. what they do. We must see if their action is consistent with their talk. This author is NOT doing that, but simply splitting hairs. The best example he can come up with is SS, which is a weak black vs. white straw man argument with no vision. You call yourself a journalist? Refusing to be moved by another human being does not make you any smarter. It just makes you a crumungen. You've given no examples of his rhetoric not matching his action. You're either a bitter old man or a corporate schill.

I sincerely think that what you are failing to mention in your article is that we have had the status quo for 20 years or more. We have had partisan politics for over 20 Years. Nothing has gotten done. There have been no worth while legislation in nearly 50 Years, by the " seasoned professional Washington Insiders". Your comment is at least I know what I am getting with McCain or Hillary. And you are right those two offer the same old partisan politics which in one word is NOTHING !! So are you better to get promises of something vs promises of nothing.

Voting for McCain would be like voting for the same old policies, extension of war, and additional wars, a first lady that has more in common with Betty Ford and Michael Jackson, and the continued economic issues that we currently have today.

Voting for Hillary, is like voting for McCain, because she cannot beat him the general election. Obama supporters in general will not back Hillary or show up at the polls, and if she did happen to win the general election , it will be a repeat of the past twenty years with divisive partisan politics, a person who may have solutions but because of her and her husband politics, will not be able to implement.

So the option is yours,.. war, nothing, or the promise of change and hope.

His economic policies are very irrational. Anyone who has taken a freshman college economics class knows that you can't just tax the businesses and people to death. It will destroy the economy. Equally important, he has a picture of Che in his campaign office. Che killed thousands of people for Castro's movement. Everyone knows that communism and socialism are terrible government systems. Soviet Russia killed 18 million of its own people. That fact that he has any admiration for communism makes me sick to my stomach.

What Mr. Samuselson fails to acknowledge is the fact that this election is to a certain extent about character and the ability to unite and work together for the benefit of the American people. Hillary Clinton is so vindictive and divisive that she can;t even unite the Democratic party behind her. Obama on the other hand can form an inclusive coalition and work together. He also does not come with all the baggage related to all the corruption and scandals associated with the Clintons. There is a reason that Obama has consistently carried the most educated and higher income bracket demographics. It is simply because he's the candidate that makes sense and he's the candidate that can win the general election. Hillary Clinton can't win the general election and I hope for our sake that she's not planning to steal the nomination and causing a civil war within the Democratic party.

What Mr. Samuselson fails to acknowledge is the fact that this election is to a certain extent about character and the ability to unite and work together for the benefit of the American people. Hillary Clinton is so vindictive and divisive that she can;t even unite the Democratic party behind her. Obama on the other hand can form an inclusive coalition and work together. He also does not come with all the baggage related to all the corruption and scandals associated with the Clintons. There is a reason that Obama has consistently carried the most educated and higher income bracket demographics. It is simply because he's the candidate that makes sense and he's the candidate that can win the general election. Hillary Clinton can't win the general election and I hope for our sake that she's not planning to steal the nomination and causing a civil war within the Democratic party.

OBAMA Delusion? Better than the simpleton in the White House now and probably significantly better than Senator John McCain who graduated in the bottom 1% of his class at the US Naval Academy. The real question you should examine as an economist is: Why does it seem that contemporary Republican candidates for President are such poor academic achievers? John McCain did not fail Economics 101....he never took it!

I think you have missed the whole point --- what is unique about Obama and what he is doing is crossing all demographics. He is including all in a process which is a huge change. People feel that it can be their government again instead of Hillary's or McCain's. It is the inclusiveness that is change. American people have been alienated too long without a voice. The policies could all be identical to each other and
not all could bridge the communication gaps to enact the policies. Just look at the Congress. Obama
will bring the change of listening to all parties, seeking any experts advice, actively seek common ground and
respect those involved in the process. This is the change. Newsweek needs a change.

I am bying stock in Kool-Aid

Yet again someone else has missed the point, the objective, and the goal of Obama and his campaign. Let's assume you're right about it all being hopeful rhetoric, that his policies are weak, unrealistic and all to similar to Hillary's. I dare anyone to argue that whoever of the three remaining candidates wins the presidency could possibly due more harm to our country in any area than G.W. and his cronies. Bueller, Bueller, anyone, anyone? That being said, how bad can it really be that this man with so little experience is lifting the nations spirits, instilling pride, and giving hope to a new generation as they begin to believe in their country again, if for the first time ever. (uh-oh, someone better throw me in the stockade with Michelle obama for making that unpatriotic remark.) For years we've all been watching the same ole politicians say the same ole things, then getting elected and seeing very little change and none of their promises and policy stances come to fruition. So whether or not President Obamas policy promises hold true or not, real change has already begun in America. People all over the country are going to work smiling and hopeful. Something this simple (even on a small scale) can cause them to treat their family a little better, do a little bit better job at work, put in a lttle more effort in becoming a better citizen and person. All the while the country is more engaged in political discussions now more than ever. So, Mr. Newsweek journalist, I don't know which parent beat you, or what girl broke your heart , or if you you came into this world predisposed as pescimistic sinical critic, but you've missed the point.

Apparently, you are not aware of Senator Obama's call to impose payroll taxes beyond the $96,000 salary limit currently set. Specifically, Senator Obama will fix the problem with social security, as Senators Biden and Edwards also suggested, by imposing the payroll tax not just on those making under $96,000, but also on incomes in excess of $200,000. This (as Senator Biden pointed out in a debate) will help close the social security shortfall. Also, you do not seem to understand that if we can, in fact, change our system from a "disease care" system to a "prevention heatlhcare system" we will save millions, if not billions, of dollars at the local level, the state level and the federal level. Also, a healthier elderly population will save us billions in medicare dollars. If you do not believe Senator Obama, or myself, about this, please check out the amount of money Sweden (the Country who has most successfully achieved a "prevention health care system") spends on health care per capita. Also, check out how this change has benefited Sweden so much that they may pass us per capita in GDP by 2050.

Finally, you completely miss the most important message of Senator Obama. Senator Obama is trying to do this a different way; specifically, he is trying to do this with the American people at his back. While I can certainly understand why a journalist would be cynical about this call by Senator Obama, I do believe you can examine Senator Obama's actions to date and see all of the following: first, Senator Obama is, in fact, running a different kind of campaign; second, many Americans who were formally apathetic about the political process have re-engaged with a vengeance and most of us will continue to be engaged, involved and active after the November election; third, Senator Obama is calling on us not just to be involved in the political process, but also, to be involved at the local and community level. This last cannot be underestimated. I will provide just a few examples of how these "words" by Senator Obama could make a fundamental difference for the better. The more parents who participate in the PTA, the better the local school system. The more people who mentor children, the less children are lost in an alienated state. The better people parent their own children, the more productive citizens these children will be. Rhetoric isn't everything, but one should not discount the power of words simply because one has seen so many words spun to no meaning. I would ask you and anyone else reading my words to set aside their fear that this cannot be true and realize that it is, as Senator Obama repeatedly tells us, up to us (the People) to make it true.