Inside Obama’s Dream Machine

Adam do you really think those republican cross overs really want a democrat for president if you do you must be one of the high schoolers that worked on the campaign. The pols are now, before the republicans start digging the dirt and there is plenty of it in Illinois politics.

Herbie, you fail to address the polling (USA Today/Gallup) showing Obama more electable than HRC come November. He fairs better against all the GOP candidates than HRC.

I could vote for either Clinton or Obama. I think Clinton would make thestrongest leader, and I am including the Clowns running on the Republican ticket. After this last debate, the contrast between the Republican candidates and the Dems is stark. The Republicans are truly a sorry lot. I would like to see a woman president but Obama would probably be better for the country, especially if he is truthful about kicking the lobbyists out of government.

No Bill Clinton definitely had more experience than Barack O. He had been a Governor in Arkansas, balancing budgets and was a Rhodes Scholar. Barack has had 2 years as a Junior Senator! What kind of experience is that? How do you know he can balance a budget much less know what one is? Barack O has not even been veted. Where is the media??? The Media let the American Public down on George Bush. He left Texas in a mess and indebt and ruined a good school system Ann Richards helped to promote from her predicessor. Perhaps the country would not be in the shape it is in if the media had reported the truth. Where is Karl Rove and what is he doing? You can bet he is not sitting around bird watching. Why the media push on Barack O? If we are going to elect a person of color why not Charlie Rangle? He would be excellent and he certainly has the experience and back bone to run this country. However, he is not running so lets take the color out of it and elect a person who can hit the ground running and not be trying out his training wheels. Clinton, Richardson, Dodd, Kucinech, or Ron Paul would take this country in the direction it needs to be going. Barack Obama, I am sure is a very nice person, however,
the country at this critical time does not need a namby pamby and I am sorry to say but this sums up Barack O. and his pie in the sky campaign speaches.

Surely you don't believe that Obama could really win the general election! He is the democratic candidate that the right wingers are all dreaming of. If he wins the nomination for the democratic party what John Kerry went through in 2004 will look like a junior high party compare to what the Right wingers will hit Obama with. Do any of you know about the investigations going on in Chicago conceerning the democratic party? and the chicago machine is behind Obama. Do you listen to any of the right wing radio talk shows, they are all out there cheering him on, they would not want him as the democratic nominee if they had any reason to believe that he will be decimanted by the republican candidate in the general election

Thinking Aloud, you forgot the other part of that logic! If a stranger knocked on my door promising they could double my money in a year, I'd much rather trust them than the person who promised to double my money in a year (who'd already promised that for 8 years and failed to deliver). I'll take a little risk over a known dud any day!

Clinton does not equal "change" no matter how you try to slice it. Voting for her is like voting for a cardboard cutout attached to a popular polling machine.

I read all these messages and I can't believe your all so dumb, Obama will not be the president he will only insure that the republican nominee will win. Don't any of you ever listen to any of the right wing radio talk show host, they are all out there promoting Obama , and how many right wingers will actually go out and vote for him in states where they can cross over, or where they can register as independents and vote in any prim ary?

Sorry if this is a duplicate post (think newsweek could manage to put together a better mechanism for posting here?) but I want to know how Dems feel about Hillary's six years on the board of Wal-Mart, vis a vis her "experience" and her credentials as an agent of change.

Why won't Hillary answer questions about her tenure on the board of Wal-Mart if she is really an agent of change and not a shill for corporate America? Is Wal-Mart the kind of experience she's referring to?

I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message.
Are you serious? This is Newsweek and I'm supposed to believe this is news?
This is just another high-gloss 'Entertainment-Tonight' style portrayal of someone who is a potential president. Why isnt there extensive media scrutiny of every molecule of his personal and professional life, such that we've been fed about his chief opponent for 16 years? Come on, journalists, do your job. We demand it!

Hi, I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message.
You call yourselves Newsweek? This is not news; it's the typical glossy coverage Obama gets from the press. Why isn't the media disecting every molecule of his personal and professional life, as they have of his chief opponent?

Bill Clinton had less experience than Barack Obama.

Presidents surround themselves with advisors who have been in the game for decades.

A president needs to inspire, unite and lead. Above all else, he/she needs to be credible and believable.

I do not get than from W, nor do I believe Hillary.

I feel that Obama has a little more in common with the "common man", hence his credibility.

There is no way Hillary understands what the average american's life is like. She's been in politics far too long and comes off as being "patrician". There simply is too much ambition and condescension in her.

Finally, I also believe that the Clinton's will use the White House to undertake a campaign of political retribution. I, for one, am tired of that. I just want a President who won't make me roll my eyes with disbelief, and just get back to running the country instead of engaging in political infighting.

We are Americans before we are Republicans, Democrats or Independents.

Barack Obama can get up before a crowd and impress anyone listening, however, when answering questions during a debate is another matter. His lack of knowledge clearly shows and he either mimics anothers answer or goes into his speach mode. Republicans are clearly pushing him because they know, should he get the nomination, they can smear him into next week. He will crumble and fold under the Republican Mean Machine. Republicans who are switching sides now are only taking orders from Karl Rove. You wonder what he is doing in his "retirement". Pay attention and do not underestimate him as Democrates are famous for doing. Also, is Obama someone we want in the White House should Osama (amost rhymes) come knocking on US soil? I don't. I want someone who will stand up and know what to do immediately and with experience as Hillary and or Richardson have. They are strong and have a record of courage to make changes and not back down.

A bit sparse... that's an understatement! I mean come on, for a Senator to vote 70% "present" versus "yay" or "nay" is not a record to really be proud of. Senator Barack Hussein Obama can't make a stand if he wanted to and doesn't have the RECORD to show that he can not only talk the talk, but walk the walk! Take a look at his record, those of you who are undecided! Hillary Clinton at least is a strong leader, willing to make a stand and one who lived during and administration of tremendous growth and prosperity. She will do the same for us in the future. As they used to say, "Don't stop thinkin' about tomorrow!" Hillary WON'T!

Lincoln was a great president but I think you need to check the facts. He also surrounded himself with the opposition completely unlike Obama. Obama is the most liberal of the democratic candidates and yet they say republicans like him. They like him, because they know and understand that in reality in a nationwide campaign he would loose to a moderate republican.

I am all for a Democrat in office, but I want one that has experience or will fight for the little guy. At least the others have a little if not a lot more time in national politics.

On "change": Voters are ready for the Obama "unite and govern" recipe for governing and are fed up with the status quo ???divide and conquer??? (triangulation) recipe used by Clinton and other entrenched politicians.

On "experience": With only 2 years experience in the Senate - Abraham Lincoln ran for President against the entrenched politicians of his day and won. He turned out to be one of the best presidents (if not the best) ever elected!

The conversation HANS100 overheard, "I hate Hillary ... I like Obama ... he is fun," may not reflect deep thinking, but it's the way huge numbers of Americans have always voted. JFK beat Nixon because Nixon looked sweaty and unshaven in their first televised debate. It's what we have to work with in a system that guarantees everyone the right to vote, no matter how shallow, frivolous, or ignorant.

But I am flabbergasted by people who support Hillary based on her claimed "experience," or "gravitas." What experience? She has never run anything, she has never led anything, she has never succeeded at anything on her own merit. If she hadn't married a consummate politician, no one would ever have heard of her. Every member of the military knows she has openly expressed her loathing for them (her word). What kind of Commander in Chief would she be? Her attempt at health care "reform" died a well-deserved death, but it revealed her penchant for unworkable, oppressive, Byzantine bureaucracy.

And why would anyone vote for someone whose mantra is "change," without having the slightest clue what kind of "change" she would bring? Change for its own sake is just disruptive and stupid. Specific goals may make sense, but not just "change." That is at least as dumb as voting for someone because he's "fun."

Obama's resume is a bit sparse for a presidential contender, but he has accomplished no less than Hillary, and has done it with grace and energy, without making enemies. Ultimately, the president's power comes from his ability to inspire and persuade. Obama could do that, and grow on the job. Hillary would start out with at least 50% of the country detesting her, and would likely accomplish nothing.