The Obama Delusion

It's about time someone in the media starts looking at Obama . I was getting sick and tired of the kiddy glove they were handling him with.

I'd agree that Senator Obama, along with his two rivals, Senators Clinton and McCain, are avaoiding the key issue of thwe campaign: how best to keep a strong defense (approx. $700 billion), a stable Federal bureaucracy (give or take a trillion dollars) and how to pay for health and social security and other social welfare programs (say $1.3 trillion).

Still, before I condemn Snator Obama of voodoo economics--not a chapter in any of Professor Samuelson's textbooks-- let's have a look at Senators McCain and Clinton. In opposition to Adam Smith's invisible hand , John McCain offers us the invisible finger, which we know wery well from the last eight years, a version of corporate welfare that today has almost nothing to do with free enterprise, and everything to do with regulatory and tax manupulations by the very wealthy. Senator Clinton's alternative--you can see in her universal health plan--is the all too visible gloved hand of the proctologist, skilling probing to determine if you paid your mandatory health costs. To both I say ouch!

Senator Obama needs to come down from the mountain and dwell among us, something I've said many btimes recently. He has to let the fierce urgency of now put him on the hot seat. Ultimately, he and his rivals will have to face the nation, meet the press, and tell the truth: we can't reverse the structural changes of the last sixteen years to the economy, or to public and private debt, without falling to earth, and making our income and expenses match on another more closely. We will need to both raise taxes and deficit spend on physical and intellectual infrastructures which historically return higher rates that the borrowing costs. A period of personal and governmental austerity is essential, and this is bad news for aspiring young people, corporate executives, and older Americans living on fixed incomes. Even ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan won't help much, thanks to the Bush Legacy Deficit likely to push $10 trillion before the President slinks from office in January 2009, and a structural gap of about $500 billion annually between revenues and outlays.

Yes, by all means ask Senator Obama to say more about how we get from dirt to roses. But, Mr. Samuelson, it's only fair that you challenge Seanators McCain and Clinton in the same way, and judge them by the same criteria. In this op-ed, at least, you don't.

Bravo! It is about time the media took a realistic look at Obama who makes speeches like Rev. King and offers only contradiction in his altruistic plans for a better America.
"Where's the beef?" a line from the immortal founder of Wendy's Dave Thomas fits Obama perfectly. I didn't want to plagiarize there.
I just want to say unequivocably that I am proud of my country. I am proud to have served honorably in the USAF. It's just too bad all Americans do not take the same pride in this country.
I will not be swayed by the Obamanon and his better half who should keep her mouth shut. I'm still voting for Hillary or McCain because they are not going to drive this country back to being a welfare state.

Dear neighbors,
I totally disagree with this report.
I can't believe that anybody can actually vote for Clinton or even worse for McCain.
For god sake...don't you remember what Bill has done with Monica when he was at the White House and all the lies that he said at that time.
Hillary swallowed it just because she didn't want to ruin her political career.
Honestly, I couldn???t watch her plastic face for another 4 years ???it would just be too much for me.
Plus her and Bill are little too much corrupted to run the country again.
And what about this: Cindy McCain as a first lady:) Give me a break!
Do you listen to John McCain ...he can't put 2 and 2 together in his speeches.
Do you watch CNN at all???can???t you see the body language of those two???they can???t run the country, period!
To summarize; I always thought that in a way USA leader is a world leader. And after all that happened in the last decade...I deeply believe that we all (America and the rest of the world) need a new leader. I don't care about experience, I don't care about mistakes that he will make.....let's put it this way; he can't be worse than Bush !
At the end, I wish you all the best my neighbors???..and I can???t wait to see Obama beating McCain by huge margin in November!

Truly yours,

Canadian

I think he does have "change" in store for us. it amounts to about 12Cents. probably what you will have left in your pocket with him in charge. Pie in the sky thats what his platform amounts to. thanks for the fine article and having the courage to write it Mr. Samuelson!

Bravo! It is about time the media took a realistic look at Obama who makes speeches like Rev. King and offers only contradiction in his altruistic plans for a better America.
"Where's the beef?" a line from the immortal founder of Wendy's Dave Thomas fits Obama perfectly. I didn't want to plagiarize there.
I just want to say unequivocably that I am proud of my country. I am proud to have served honorably in the USAF. It's just too bad all Americans do not take the same pride in this country.
I will not be swayed by the Obamanon and his better half who should keep her mouth shut. I'm still voting for Hillary or McCain because they are not going to drive this country back to being a welfare state.

if he wins Im voting for Mccain..

Obama realizes that change does not come from one person, not from a 10-point plan (even his own), not from a set of experiences that entrenches a candidate in Washington games. He realizes that change is derived from the bottom-up. He realizes that inspiring people to hope is NOT a delusion. Our voices will help him lead when he is president just as our voices are helping him win the nomination.

Obama realizes that change does not come from one person, not from a 10-point plan (even his own), not from a set of experiences that entrenches a candidate in Washington games. He realizes that change is derived from the bottom-up. He realizes that inspiring people to hope is NOT a delusion. Our voices will help him lead when he is president just as our voices are helping him win the nomination.

Obama realizes that change does not come from one person, not from a 10-point plan (even his own), not from a set of experiences that entrenches a candidate in Washington games. He realizes that change is derived from the bottom-up. He realizes that inspiring people to hope is NOT a delusion. Our voices will help him lead when he is president just as our voices are helping him win the nomination. ThosasfsadfWashington "exper

all this talk about obama not having experience is nonsense! he is a senator right? so is mrs. clinton. what president this country has had, had experience as president before actually becoming one? what experience does hillary have beside being a wife of an ex president? what experience does any of them have? this country needs a new face, a new name, and a new way to get things done in the u.s. and it's time to stop letting being the president of the united states being the " family job" !!!

And you think McCain or Clinton will do better? I disagree, how many specifics did we here form Bush or ANY candidate for that matter in the past. I am from Texas, he was elected my governor AFTER failing at everything he ever tried. I think that Barack is just what we need, why is it that suddenly we want to hear more specifics from our candidates? We have watched these feel good election speeches FOR YEARS, voted blindly and NOW you are worried? I am with the fella from WI; It is time to take the table cloth off and give it a good shake! Yes we know what to expect w/Clinton & McCain....4 years of McCain going against what he truly believes to pacify evangelicals or 4 years of party wars and stalemates. Wake up! We have to choose someone new, how many brothers, sons, spouses can the Clinton's and Bush's produce. I am sooooo over this Monarchy....THAT'S WHY WE LEFT ENGLAND FOLKS! Please do not allow FEAR to rule your vote. SUCK IT UP, BE BRAVE & VOTE OBAMA08

I laugh at the thought of all this "rhetoric" talk and your article is full of it. To argue your point of Obama not being qualified and has no ground to stand on is clearly your misconception of what America wants. They don't want substance, they want something different. Regardless of the countless years Hilary or McCain have served this country, you could ask yourself the same question. What has Hilary done for you, or McCain. I know Bill Clinton did alot and being "happily" married, his wife took the credit and was deemed a strong person just because she stood by her husband when HE made the decisions. She talks about health care health care health care!!! She sure didn't change health care when her own husband was president so why does she deserve a second chance? Now don't get me wrong, I am a strong Bill & Hilary supporter and always will be, but because of her own "background" I choose Obama. The country could not dig itself any deeper and give him a chance because its still a win-win situation. Hilary's not going to stop being Hilary nor is Obama so when the day is over and all is said and done, they still support each other and when rhetoric hits the fan and begins shooting the "$%#*" everywhere, people like you get hit and tell your own story.
As for McCain, labeled the "Maverick", I am an Arizona resident and I know he sure didn't do a damn thing for my people of this state. He went off being the old man he was and dabbled here and there but never far enough because he needed to save face. If such a good leader and good doer, why was he surpassed all these years and never tried to become a "hero" when he was younger? My beliefs, remember they are my beliefs, is that McCain never cared about no one but his own higher class white people. Its been that way for years and will continue being that way and thats the harsh truth and in no way do I want that man as president to jeopardize my country's rights for his own "rhetoric" agenda.

The people are not confused Mr. Samuelson, they know exactly what they want and are willing to take that risk. The only delusion here is that you would downplay the intelligence of many of the American people.

Yes Obama is somewhat far to the left, but he never denies it. His rhetoric is a combination of two ideas: one being we need to unite the country, the other being we need to change the country. He believes, as do many liberal democrats that liberal ideals will bring about change, and I and many in the democratic party agree with him. Whast is amazing about Obama is his ability to take in Independants and Republicans who know his policies. Obama is bringing about a wave of change, and he does not refute that is is a left-leaning change. Therefore, if you disagree with his policies, please say it rather than act like he's a lier and thief, because that is a completely UNFAIR assessment.

Oh and to abced: Obama is a very spiritual Christian, and to say otherwise is a lie. But it shouldn't matter if he was a Muslim, surely one's religion should not being a deciding factor in why they are elected. That is out and out bigoted.

Yes Obama is somewhat far to the left, but he never denies it. His rhetoric is a combination of two ideas: one being we need to unite the country, the other being we need to change the country. He believes, as do many liberal democrats that liberal ideals will bring about change, and I and many in the democratic party agree with him. Whast is amazing about Obama is his ability to take in Independants and Republicans who know his policies. Obama is bringing about a wave of change, and he does not refute that is is a left-leaning change. Therefore, if you disagree with his policies, please say it rather than act like he's a lier and thief, because that is a completely UNFAIR assessment.

Oh and to abced: Obama is a very spiritual Christian, and to say otherwise is a lie. But it shouldn't matter if he was a Muslim, surely one's religion should not being a deciding factor in why they are elected. That is out and out bigoted.

I assure you that this creep is a Republican trying his best to improve McCain's chances of winning should Obama prevail in the democratic primary. How absurd for this joker to "hold Obama to a higher standard than the other candidates"? I, too, am disgusted by worthless journalism such as this. I am an independent and want to vote for the best candidate, irregardless of race; however, such one sided reporting aggravates me and turns me further against the probable republican candidate who has significant negative issues of his own. My good friend Robert Samuelson, when you are prepared to do a similar examination of McCain, write another article. Otherwise, I hope I never hear from you again.

I think the author has correctly pointed out the Obama factor as delusional to its core. The media, the pundits
and the public are blinded by up lifting sound bites which were foregin to them for last eight years. I hope these people will come to senses and really see what they are getting from each candidates. Get out of this blind mob pscychology and be individualistically objective in desiding your vote because in the poling booth you are alone there is no mob to fallow.
BNR-NY

The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
(Daniel 4:25) It is time for CHANGE...

Obama is good because of this he scares a lot of people. What did the two senators do? Clinton was in the white house with her husband , how many years, eight? What is she going to do what she could not do during those eight years. He headed the commission on health care reform, her husband was the most popular president. Obama on the other hand, is new. Was bush expereinced when he took office. Senator Obama is a senator. Listen senator, hello! Has the same level of exposure to legislation as other have. Why do you have election every 4 years if experince was the only things that mattered. Let's have it every 25 years so we have better senators. No, the system is democracy, you need new fresh ideas.