The Obama Delusion

finally a journalist with a view that I can relate to , unfortunately unless these barakamaniacs wake up form the trans they are in with Sen Obama, we are doomed for another 4 years of nothing.

You guys missed the point entirely. Take another sip of Obama Koolaid, hopefully you will wake up before it is too late.

iteach... one thing to note is that the people who have voted for Obama are largely better educated and wealthier than those that voted for Hillary. What does this tell you?

How can we justify holding Mr. Obama to a "higher standard"? It is not enough to simply accept that his poilicies and solutions may be similar to Mrs Clinton's, but his advantage lies in his being more eloquent and infinitely more "likable"? And isn't the "symbolism" of his life story a victory in its own right? Can't we simply accept the "progress" that this implies?

wow, that is an extremely powerful article. But the very fact that obama's camapaign is similar to Hilary's should not be taken against him. They are pledges that the democratic party upholds. If John Edward was still on the campaign trail, one would realise that all three candidates would have almost identical public mandate. The euphoria for Obama sometime hits one and pushes one to think whether the people who are voting for Obama are actually voting for him because they believe in his policies or are just moved by his message of hope and belief. I peronally love both candidates but the reasons I would vote for Obama are as follow: Mr Barack is more of a people person than Hilary. This can be seen in the way he speaks to people and in the way he speaks to the press. Secondly, Mr Barack is less aggressive than Hilary. I believe that Obama is more of a diplomat or a peace maker than Hilary will ever be. I don't believe that Obama is only about talk. He has done a significant amount of work both in his short term in the senate and as a legislature in his state of Chicago. On the other hand, I don't think that being the first lady qualifies one to become the Commander in Chief. I believe that experience is required for the position but equally necessary are good morals, values, understanding and intelligence. On a final note, I think that our correspoindance is definitly wrong in trying to interpret Obama's message literally. What Obama is saying when he speaks of change is that we need a change of ideas not a change of senior personels in congress and the senate. we know that radical change is an anathema, and especially so with policies that are very controversial in the society but by takings little steps to introduce new ideas we know that one day change will come.

Amen!. question: why can't the obama-ites see through the rhetoric of the pied piper, charming on the surface to be sure, different style in his delivery, but still at the end of the day a politician - just like the others......
amelie

I found this article surprisingly tone-deaf, largely because Obama is not receiving support for the reasons alleged here. I went to see Obama here in Iowa City a few days before the caucus--I go to school here--and after his rally I felt two things: 1) inspired, and 2) absolutely certain Obama couldn't possibly win the nomination. I said to a friend of mine, "I like him, but obviously he can't win, which is too bad." "Why can't he win?" she asked. And I explained it to her: He can't win because he's not a polished politician, he doesn't have that feel to him, he's basically a regular guy--I *know* guys like that, I told her--and he'll say things off the cuff, "youngish" things, which will make him look like a neophyte. And so he has. Things like, "You're likeable enough, Hillary," which politicos stupidly saw as evidence of political naivete and which voters like myself were stunned by *because it was a politician telling an off-the-cuff joke*. I actually laughed out loud when he said it, because he clearly meant it nicely but humorously. Other voters I know felt the same way. This guy makes you believe in him, believe that he's different--and his policies have nothing to do with it. See him in person, and you'll come away feeling like there's an indefinable difference between him and every other politician you've met/heard from. Perhaps it's because, unlike any other politician ever, he spent many years organizing in the street, and he *hasn't* forgotten those experiences.

RIGHT ON AT LEAST THERE IS ONE JOURNALIST THAT UNDERSTANDS HOW I VIEW SEN OBAMA. PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY GOT IT WRONG 8 YARS AGO , AGAIN 4 YEARS AGO , AND NOW IT LOOKS THUS FAR IF THEY DON'T WAKE UP FROM THIS HYPNOTIC TRANS , THERE GOING TO SCREW UP ANOTHER 4 YEARS. WAKE UP YOU BARAKAMANIACS.

What you aren't taking into account is that NO president can really do ANYTHING, let alone single-handedly accomplish all the things that Hillary says she's going to do. Obama is clear about his own limitations, and the requirement that we all have a part to play. He's made a good case for the necessity of radical change, don't you think? Good timing and a critical mass of public opinion will be required to change anything significantly -- something which Obama's movement responds to and Hillary's solutions don't. The practicality of anyone's specific proposals is almost completely irrelevant, because a President isn't a dictator, and can't single-handedly put any solution in place. Obama's ability to forge consensus has been amply demonstrated by this campaign; Hillary's divisiveness has been on display for decades.

I think Mr Obama is proposing a different way to get these things done. Not by politics as usual, but by inclusion and obligation to country. These solutions will be achievable by us as a group rather than a government entity. Like Kennedy, he is hedging his promises on our commitment and willingness to work for them. Not garnishing our wages to achieve them like Mrs. Clinton.

Thank you for being one of the few journalists who has examined the rhetoric. It is discouraging to watch so many people focused on personality politics. One is demonized; the other is godlike. It is not wise to be influenced by rhetoric without examing the content and the political record very carefully. The media is as much to blame as the people who, sadly, are following someone who is able to deliver a good speech.

The reason it seems to some that Obama is delusional is that we have become conditioned to believe two things about our politics. 1. It's a politician's job to drive us, not lead us. 2. Anyone who disagrees with us is somehow defective, unless of course they are an evil threat that we need to fear. When someone tries to break that mold there are people who have difficulty getting their heads around a different way of thinking.

I ABSOLUTLEY AGREE! I am concerned that the undereducated, less-informed will get out to vote, electing Obama without realizing what they have done.

I, for one, wish that Edwards hadn't dropped out so soon-he was and still is my choice for change!
single mom with a PhD

Thank you!!!! Finally, someone who sees it like it is. Now, if only the rest of the Kool Aid drinking Obamabots would open their eyes and start asking questions, they may be surprised at the answers they receive -- if any.

LET'S COMPARE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CANDIDATES:

OBAMA - He is not a rookie, he is in the senate for 11 years (ILL + US).

HILLARY - Failed health care plan, voted for war and strongly supported NAFTA. Plus, 8 years as first lady, 8 years as first lady. Traveled to many countries as the wife of the US President.....

JOHN MCCAIN - ZERO in all areas except national security. All he knows is to fight wars against one country after the other because he had a bad experience in Vietnam. In his career in senate, he missed 45% of the time to vote.

CAN ANYONE TELL ME ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF MCCAIN OTHER THAN "WAR"???????

I've noticed all the Hillary supporters spit venom and hatred - humm - just like her!