COVER STORY

Inside Obama’s Dream Machine

An icon of hope, he won't 'kneecap' his foes. But Obama knows what it takes, and how to win.

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  • Posted By: paulte @ 12/23/2008 10:53:02 AM

    As anyone who watched the debates knows, there ain't a whole lot of grey matter in either Obama or McCain. Obama is slightly ahead of McCain on that score and whatever grey matter he has most probably comes form his white mother. Would America have elected a man who was 100% black or mostly black? The answer is clearly no but America has elected a man who is half black, a mulatto in traditional parlance. In reality America has elected it's first mulatto, not a true black man except by American standards which considers a person who is 1/8 black to be black. If Obama had been born in South Africa back in Apartheid days, he would have been classified as a Colored, not as a Black or an African. So much for Obama's blackness!

    If we examine him closely, we can see what is usually called an Oreo cookie, black on the outside, white inside. He may come from the Hood and tried some drugs but he really belongs to the Harvard crowd, fairly bright, arrogant & liberal, not very decent or moral, greedy white people. I don't think I ever heard him say a word about urban renewal in the entire campaign. His wife is described by a phrase my mother used to use, "an uppity one." Everyone in the clan knew what that meant!

    How did this congenial black fellow get to be President? Well, things just seemed to play out for him. He tossed his hat into the ring, having two whole years in the Senate at the same time that the wicked witch of the West , Miss Hillary (Daisy) tossed her broomstick into the ring. 95% white Iowa decided to vote for a black man for some reason in the caucuses. Was this the death knell of white racism? No, this was a way to quash Hillary. And there you have the tale, Obama was a vehicle to quash Hillary. The rest is history. The wicked witch of the west was actually vanquished by this guy.

    I had a lot of respect for him back then. The thought of even voting for him in November and sending him money entered my mind like some wild illicit temptation. Coolness of mind quickly returned but I still retained a soft spot for this guy who ultimately vanquised the wicked witch of the west. He didn't even put her on the ticket. But then he makes her Secretary of State and now I see in the news that she wants more power for the state. Power is her vice just like sex is her husband's vice.

    You made a big mistake Barry! I always felt you would self-destruct. I admit I thought and hoped that it would happen before you got elected but it is inevitable. You've sown the seeds of your own destruction by tarrying with the witch Hillary. She will destroy you! Remember, Macbeth, King Lear & Hamlet. You're about to join them! "Double, double, toil and trouble.....

  • Posted By: trazer @ 09/19/2008 1:08:51 AM

    Broken Obama, who has used hard drugs and taken money from known felons for his and his wife's mortgage, is American's nightmare waiting to happen. There are well qualified blacks like Colin Powell, who understands the world. Obama - well - we all know he has absolutely no idea about how the Security Council works. He forgot that Europe does not vote for the US President. He forgot that American women can't stand him for jilting Hillary.

    • Posted By: Nins @ 09/19/2008 12:47:51 PM

      Trazer, you don't seem to know that Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama for President, despite the fact that Powell is a Repblican. Perhaps you are not aware that Colin Powell resigned as Secretary of State, saying that he could not do an effective job as a diplomat under a President (Bush) who refused all forms of negotiation and undercut the country's diplomatic efforts. You also may not know that Obama holds a degree (with highest honors) in International Relations from Columbia University, the most prestigious foreign affairs school in America. Futhermore, Obama has been on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for four years, and his running mate, Senator Joe Biden, has been Chairman of that committee for a couple of decades, and is widely seen as the Senate's best and most experienced foreign relations hand.

      Maybe you should research a little more before you write your blogs.

  • Posted By: Nins @ 09/19/2008 12:41:13 PM

    Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac, Bear Sterns, Lehman Brothers, AIG and the rest of the failed institutions have failed primarily because of former Senator Phil Gramm. The Gramm-Leach-Biley Act stripped away the regulations separating banking from investment companies, insurance companies and mortgage guaranty companies. Those regulations were added after the Great Depression when it became obvious that allowing banks to be in bed with the stock market was a sure way to rig the system to collapse, as it did in 1929.

    Lo an behold, a few years after the regulations were removed, the sh!t has hit the fan, and the inter-related investment, insurance, mortgage and banking industries are now starting to collapse, and guess what, you, the taxpayer will have to pay to clean it up.

    Phil Gramm is the Senator who brought you the "Enron Loophole" that de-regulated futures trading, causing the prices of oil, gas and food to spiral out of control.

    Senator Phil Gramm was McCain's top economic advisor until recently, when he was forced to step down after he said that there is no problem with our economy other than a "mental recession" on the part of a "nation of whiners." Phil Gramm is the man who McCain said he wants to name Secretary of the Treasury if he becomes President. You have to believe John McCain when he says that he knows little about the economy -- so little that he doesn't even know who to choose as an advisor.

    Barack Obama addressed the Enron Loophole, futures trading, short-selling and Wall Street de-regulation months ago in his economic position papers, which are available on his website. Obama has been saying all along that he is going to put in strict regulations and clean up Wall Street.

    McCain just started saying that he favors regulation in the past couple of weeks. How is it that McCain is going to put in new regulations, when he plans to appoint Phil Gramm, the man who authored the de-regulation, as Secretary of the Treasury? McCain says he would fire Christopher Cox, the SEC Chairman, to solve the problem. However, the problem is caused by lack of regulations on the legislative level, regulations that were removed before Cox was appointed. The SEC can only enforce regulations that actually exist, so making a scapegoat of Cox solves nothing. I would suggest that McCain is guilty of saying what's politically expedient, that he does not actually intend to regulate the banking industry. McCain knows that most Americans are unaware of the details.

    I am a middle-aged white conservative Republican who loves America. I am voting for Barack Obama.

    http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15050.html
    http://www.newsweek.com/id/145011/page/1
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/6007788.html
    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E0D81038F934A25752C0A9649C8B63
    http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gG5Rzb

  • Posted By: trazer @ 09/19/2008 1:16:20 AM

    Can Obama go the distance? No. and that by itself is the reason to not vote for him and his angry wife.

  • Posted By: trazer @ 09/19/2008 1:10:35 AM

    Broken Obama, who was abandoned by his mom and dad, and basically raised here and there by his mom and mostly by his grandparents, does not understand the American family. He has absolutely abandoned his 2 chlidren by his campaigning and taught them exceptionally bad manners by his making up lies and calling women pigs, and well....jilting Hillary. He has no leadership abilities.

  • Posted By: greboo46 @ 01/15/2008 5:35:17 AM

    All that obama can offer us is a dream other than that he does'nt have much else...greg

    • Posted By: Mimi13 @ 09/19/2008 12:22:07 AM

      And then in other times, the other side is sooooo bad that a hopeful dream, reaching for an ideal, seems like a pretty good idea.

      PS, reading some of these old posts in the light of the happenings of today's issues shows how trivial the debate has been up to this point. Maybe this financial crisis will finally wake this nation up and make us serious about our political candidates. Voting for the guy or gal you'd like to meet at the neighborhood picnic just isn't good enough. I remember responding to one post who extolled the virtures of Palin because she looked like someone you would meet at Walmart. I mean, seriously, is that any way to run a country?

  • Posted By: Nins @ 09/18/2008 9:54:09 PM

    Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac, Bear Sterns, Lehman Brothers, AIG and the rest of the failed institutions have failed primarily because of former Senator Phil Gramm. The Gramm-Leach-Biley Act stripped away the regulations separating banking from investment companies, insurance companies and mortgage guaranty companies. Those regulations were added after the Great Depression when it became obvious that allowing banks to be in bed with the stock market was a sure way to rig the system to collapse, as it did in 1929.

    Lo an behold, a few years after the regulations were removed, the sh!t has hit the fan, and the inter-related investment, insurance, mortgage and banking industries are now starting to collapse, and guess what, you, the taxpayer will have to pay to clean it up.

    Phil Gramm is the Senator who brought you the "Enron Loophole" that de-regulated futures trading, causing the prices of oil, gas and food to spiral out of control.

    Senator Phil Gramm was McCain's top economic advisor until recently, when he was forced to step down after he said that there is no problem with our economy other than a "mental recession" on the part of a "nation of whiners." Phil Gramm is the man who McCain said he wants to name Secretary of the Treasury if he becomes President. You have to believe John McCain when he says that he knows little about the economy -- so little that he doesn't even know who to choose as an advisor.

    Barack Obama addressed the Enron Loophole, futures trading, short-selling and Wall Street de-regulation months ago in his economic position papers, which are available on his website. Obama has been saying all along that he is going to put in strict regulations and clean up Wall Street.

    McCain just started saying that he favors regulation in the past couple of weeks. How is it that McCain is going to put in new regulations, when he plans to appoint Phil Gramm, the man who caused the de-regulation, as Secretary of the Treasury? McCain says he would fire Christopher Cox, the SEC Chairman, to solve the problem. However, the problem is caused by lack of regulations on the legislative level, regulations that were removed before Cox was appointed. The SEC can only enforce regulations that actually exist, so making a scapegoat of Cox solves nothing. I would suggest that McCain is guilty of saying what's politically expedient, that he does not actually intend to regulate the banking industry. McCain knows that most Americans are unaware of the details.

    I am a middle-aged white conservative Republican who loves America. I am voting for Barack Obama.

    http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15050.html
    http://www.newsweek.com/id/145011/page/1
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/6007788.html
    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E0D81038F934A25752C0A9649C8B63
    http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gG5Rzb

  • Posted By: mgartist @ 05/28/2008 10:19:23 AM

    If Obama does not choose Hillary Clinton as his running mate I am concerned he will loose to McCain that would be a desaster. This is a very scary time for me I want a demecrate in the White House. Obama needs to let is ego go and do what is best for the party. John Edwards is not going to get you the nomination I have talked to may people the Hillary supporter would rather vote for McCain than Obama. So I suggest strongly you think twice about anyone other than Hillary she will help you to the White House. I believe in you but you have to come down off your high horse and get us to the White House.

  • Posted By: mccallmsh @ 02/20/2008 11:50:05 AM

    In my opnion and that of healthy-minded people, the problem lies with the hate amd cynisism and the negative role these bring into our thinking. W e are all different. God made us this way for a reason, and I believe we can overcome our differences and embrace eachother in a human way that reflects that. I also Believe t Barack Obama is one of this kind of human . He is reflecting the way in which and also why his message and campaign is so successful. Ther is no deniying this fact.

  • Posted By: BOAPW @ 01/07/2008 6:28:03 PM

    The silence on my questions is all I need. I was a Bidin supporter. Now I am independent.

    You should at least have answers.

    He is not ready and should not have run. He is no Collen Powell and I knew Collen Powell.

    We are all a mixed raced who came to America illegally. Me included. All we want is competance which neither party seems able to delvier.

    • Posted By: Dena Silver @ 02/20/2008 11:38:15 AM

      Correct your spelling: Biden , Colin Powell, competence. This time, we have candidates who can pronounce "nuclear."

  • Posted By: av3who @ 01/07/2008 7:19:08 PM

    "obama is a dictator"? very polite and factual BOAP. As I said before your credibility dwindles with each post.
    Tara, grow up. Obama is not Muslim.

    • Posted By: Dena Silver @ 02/20/2008 11:34:35 AM

      The last thing Obama is is a dictator. One of the women he worked with at Harvard said he was so interested in consensus that she sometimes wished he would just tell them what to do.
      If you don't know what you're talking about, don't publicize your thoughts.

  • Posted By: cadre57 @ 01/07/2008 7:28:01 PM

    We cannot have a black muslim for a president. That will be the end of America. Osama is a liability and should bow out of the race. Oh where are the southern racist when you need 'em?

    Vote Hillary for president - only an experienced woman can help America out of the Bush quagmire.

    • Posted By: Dena Silver @ 02/20/2008 11:32:16 AM

      Obama is far, far from a black Muslim. Read something other than propaganda. Read his autobiography.

  • Posted By: herbiemax @ 01/09/2008 9:53:16 PM

    I have a problem with both Hillary and Barracks attitude on Illegal imigration, are all of you in support of it? please answer

    • Posted By: DenaSilver @ 02/20/2008 11:28:29 AM

      Obama is in favor of respecting the rule of law and protecting our borders, HOWEVER he understands the plight of MOST immigrants, the ones in search of a decent, better and safe life for their children, which is what (he points out) those who came before us (without the rigamarol imposed on immigrants today)
      were in search of.

    • Posted By: DenaSilver @ 02/20/2008 11:27:13 AM

      Obama is in favor of respecting the rule of law and protecting our borders, HOWEVER he understands the plight of MOST immigrants, the ones in search of a decent, better and safe life for their children, which is what (he points out) those who came before us (without the rigamarol imposed on immigrants today)
      were in search of.

    • Posted By: DenaSilver @ 02/20/2008 11:26:42 AM

      Obama is in favor of respecting the rule of law and protecting our borders, HOWEVER he understands the plight of MOST immigrants, the ones in search of a decent, better and safe life for their children, which is what (he points out) those who came before us (without the rigamarol imposed on immigrants today)
      were in search of.

  • Posted By: ClarDyp @ 02/12/2008 10:01:47 PM

    Obama offers to bring change, and I am sure he will, if elected president. He promises to take the pocketbooks of all working Americans, take out all of the money and redistribute it to the masses. He is biting at the bit to get control of everyone's money, so "every single American" can have "all they deserve". Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that we ALL deserve all things. We are the Land of the Free, not The Land Where Everything is Free. I am very afraid of this man. His "Martin Luther King" speaking voice is hypnotizing the multitudes. These people do not even know how Obama plans to do the things he promises. They just know he promises "change" and he promises to take care of them. Just wait till they find out how he is going to make these things work. Paychecks will be cut. Taxes will be so out the roof, there will be nothing left. But, you better believe it, there will be social programs out the roof, too. I say to Obama, "Leave my paycheck alone. I refute your tax plan. I do not trust you. " One more thing, Obama ought to be ashamed to have his allegience pledged to a racist church. He cannot deny that his church is racist. His church uses the word "blackness" more than the word "Jesus". He professes how we are getting past racism, yet he is one himself. God protect us from the likes of Barak Hussien Obama.

  • Posted By: toijoi @ 01/12/2008 4:33:09 PM

    Just state what is really on your mind!! Your scared to death that a "BLACK MAN" just might really win this election and run this damn country.The Republicans had their chance and they F**** Up!!!! Big Time, by electing Bush!! Come on now. Think out side the box. This is the 21st century , not to mention year "2008" and anything is possible .....I love the "Motto" they are all using this year. "IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE". And you know it.

    • Posted By: tarainla @ 01/12/2008 4:59:19 PM

      Not a blackman, just OBAMA, he is all FLUFF. I know much better black men, he is not our only one!! There will be others. Do we think sooo little of our black community and know so little of it, talk about ignorance!

      • Posted By: cyberella @ 01/31/2008 9:08:45 PM

        A change to what? Educate yourself.
        Google "Freedom's Enemies, Barack Hussein Obama" by Beckwith.
        Massive file on Obama's past Islamic history and present connections with black supremacist radicals/American Muslim activists- backed up by at least two links.

  • Posted By: dolsen @ 01/18/2008 1:57:19 PM

    Obama has no experience whatsoever. He ran for senate 3 years ago for the first time and has only halped pass one real piece of legislation and people want to hand him the most powerful position in the world? I think he is just the latest big fad in this country like walking around with a water bottle in you hand and talking about your gym membership. If someone says they like him, ooh! then it must be good to like him. He's so cute! WAKE UP! There is no substance to this man. He has no experience. He wouldn't know a good idea or solution if it hit him in the face. He has never had to come up with one before. He has never run anything. He has never managed people, had to meet a payroll, owned a business, or even raised his kids. He hasn't even begun to figure out what lifes about yet. Deal with his kids public school teachers for twenty or so years and then he'll start to clue in to that area of society. He needs to start with the PTA or city council and work his way up and get some experience before he should be taken seriously. He's got nothing to tell me at this point. I'm more experienced than he is! ! What a joke.

    • Posted By: chris.lima @ 01/24/2008 3:35:18 PM

      white boy hating

      • Posted By: cyberella @ 01/31/2008 9:04:13 PM

        Lost in all the hype about Obama is his disturbing history. He has said the Palestinians are ???the most oppressed people in the world???. He took a trip with Louis Farrakhan to visit Mohammar Qaddafi in 1984. He only ???converted??? to Christianity in 1996. There are many very disturbing facts about this man which clearly demonstrate he is not the person portrayed by a drooling media and who has mesmerized gullible primary voters. He seems to me a very, very dangerous man.

  • Posted By: anniesmiles @ 01/13/2008 6:06:25 AM

    Well..i have read through the majortiy of these posts. I would judge by some of the rhetoric...that many of the Obama supporters were watching Saturday Morning cartoons when Senator Clinton was heading a task force in Arkansas to improve schools. Those changes are nationwide today. I dont care if the candidate is pink or purple. I remember the Kennedy years. He would"nt pass the test today. They would out his philandering...and wonder why Jackie stayed with him. Mrs. Clinton is right...Martin Luther King brought civil rights to the country's attention...but it took Lyndon Johnsons arm twisting tactics in congress to get the bill passed and law. I have gained some wisdom over the years. I want something something more than a fancy orator...who uses a tele prompter and has said anything new....for several months now.

    I check records...just like a check resume"s. So far ..I"ve discovered that Senator Obama hasnt been back to vote in the USA Senate since he started campaigning. He missed just over a third of his votes while he was there. He is the chairman of the sub-committee for European Foreign Affairs....which includes Afganistan...but has failed to call one single meeting. He passed a bill that prohibits lobbiest to provide sit down dinners to lawmakers. They are still allowed to have stand up buffets.

    In the Illinois Senate...he voted ..absent..over one hundred times. One was a vote to limit porn shops a certain distance from a school. He was the only one who voted that way. I dont know how that could be...a strategy to protect controversy. It sounds more like not wanting to take a stand.

    He voted present on a bill that would allow third trimester abortion ...that resulted in live birth...to allow a baby to die. This same vote came up in the USA Senate...and Senator Clinton voted no...insuring that the child would get medical care. He followed her vote in the Senate. He voted to fund the war everytime it came up. He states that his judgement is superior to everyone else. His speech that protests the war.....was the same one given by Dick Chenny after the Gulf War. Every intelligent report...from Great Britain...Italy...France...Germany...Israel....stated that Iraq had weapons. Colin Powell ,who I think most people believe has great integrity, stated the same thing. Hillary Clinton did not read the reports...but was briefed by others . Most of the time...our Senators are briefed about bills. Read her speech at the time of the vote. Even than...she said...last resort. I dont fault her for that vote. She has sponsored a bill with Senator Lindsay Graham to improve Tri Care...which improved the health insurance of our National Guard upon their return from the War. Senator Lindsay Graham is a Republican...who lead the attemtp to impeach her husband, I think that proves she is bi-partisan..and can work across the aisle

    • Posted By: adam in iowa city @ 01/14/2008 2:15:10 AM

      You might read the "incremental revolutionary" article before you start regurgitating Hillary/GOP talking points. It addresses the tactical present votes, to prevent right wing anti-choice legislation. It also points out the disingenuous nature of Clinton attacking the "stand up buffet" lobbyist meals, after she was instrumental in blocking the more substantive lobbying reform Obama was supporting. If you review resumes like you review records, I'd question the person who reviewed yours.

  • Posted By: anniesmiles @ 01/13/2008 6:06:18 AM

    Well..i have read through the majortiy of these posts. I would judge by some of the rhetoric...that many of the Obama supporters were watching Saturday Morning cartoons when Senator Clinton was heading a task force in Arkansas to improve schools. Those changes are nationwide today. I dont care if the candidate is pink or purple. I remember the Kennedy years. He would"nt pass the test today. They would out his philandering...and wonder why Jackie stayed with him. Mrs. Clinton is right...Martin Luther King brought civil rights to the country's attention...but it took Lyndon Johnsons arm twisting tactics in congress to get the bill passed and law. I have gained some wisdom over the years. I want something something more than a fancy orator...who uses a tele prompter and has said anything new....for several months now.

    I check records...just like a check resume"s. So far ..I"ve discovered that Senator Obama hasnt been back to vote in the USA Senate since he started campaigning. He missed just over a third of his votes while he was there. He is the chairman of the sub-committee for European Foreign Affairs....which includes Afganistan...but has failed to call one single meeting. He passed a bill that prohibits lobbiest to provide sit down dinners to lawmakers. They are still allowed to have stand up buffets.

    In the Illinois Senate...he voted ..absent..over one hundred times. One was a vote to limit porn shops a certain distance from a school. He was the only one who voted that way. I dont know how that could be...a strategy to protect controversy. It sounds more like not wanting to take a stand.

    He voted present on a bill that would allow third trimester abortion ...that resulted in live birth...to allow a baby to die. This same vote came up in the USA Senate...and Senator Clinton voted no...insuring that the child would get medical care. He followed her vote in the Senate. He voted to fund the war everytime it came up. He states that his judgement is superior to everyone else. His speech that protests the war.....was the same one given by Dick Chenny after the Gulf War. Every intelligent report...from Great Britain...Italy...France...Germany...Israel....stated that Iraq had weapons. Colin Powell ,who I think most people believe has great integrity, stated the same thing. Hillary Clinton did not read the reports...but was briefed by others . Most of the time...our Senators are briefed about bills. Read her speech at the time of the vote. Even than...she said...last resort. I dont fault her for that vote. She has sponsored a bill with Senator Lindsay Graham to improve Tri Care...which improved the health insurance of our National Guard upon their return from the War. Senator Lindsay Graham is a Republican...who lead the attemtp to impeach her husband, I think that proves she is bi-partisan..and can work across the aisle

  • Posted By: tarainla @ 01/12/2008 2:59:49 AM

    Shoot I'll even go work on the campaign against OBAMA>I will not allow, this country to be lead by a person schooled by ISLAMO JIHADISTS, that will not speak openly about this reality, be accountable to it publicly, whether he be black, white,red, they are not off the hook of accountability. Childhood impressionism is the strongest. I LOVE MY COUNTRY> I AM NOT BLINDED BY ALL THE HOOPLA>

    • Posted By: adam in iowa city @ 01/12/2008 5:50:49 PM

      Great, Tara, I'm sure any campaign would welcome a nut job like yourself. You do more damage to any cause you support than you could imagine.

  • Posted By: deanphoward1725 @ 01/12/2008 10:31:05 AM

    Check out this piece on Obama, very interesting

    http://www.newstatesman.com/200801100000

    • Posted By: tarainla @ 01/12/2008 5:17:52 PM

      Thank-you. Very informative on his true political nature, and how the US is perceived by one of our strongest allies, Grat Britain. I had heard OBAMA supported more deployment into Afgahnistan as well, from his own mouth, in an offhanded remark, it was quite frightening. But Pakistan as well, that would really help now that they have assasinated a leader, I hope everyone understands this is sarcasm. I wonder why he is not a Republican., he does like the idea of war and invasion.

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