Barack Obama addresses the Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner At this weekend's Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner -- one of the most important political events in the Democratic primary process -- Barack Obama fired up the crowd with an impassioned speech that showed the judgment and leadership that inspire our movement. http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/jjspeech
Ok, to be fair, I tried to give the video an honest view. Here's my thoughts on the speech, and Obama in general General notes from the speech We are in a defining moment in history Working harder for less Paying more for healthcare and college Lost trust in government If Democrats are serious about election and winning, they can't be fearful of losing it We need meaningful change, change that America can believe in Days of corporate lobbyists setting agenda in Washington are over. "I have done more than any other candidate in this race to take on the lobbyists, and I have won" Will close Guantanamo, have troops home in 16 months. Opinions I stopped listening with about 5 minutes to go. I have to commend Obama as probably the best public speaker on either side in this election, that man just needs a microphone and he can get people fired up. It is also one thing I acknowledge as a weakness of my candidate, Dr. Paul. He simply isn't that great on the spot. On the other hand, a lot of what Obama says fits the stereotype of the typical politician. Half the notes I took are just general things that mean nothing. Obama said we are at a "defining moment in history"; I think every politician in the past couple hundred years has said that. Some of what he says is actual meat though. He talks about fighting lobbyists and their control over Washington, and how he's done more than any other candidate. But how does it hold up? He's admittedly better than most politicians in Washington, but not flawless. He still has ties to state lobbyists and special interests. And to say he's the candidate who combats lobbyists the hardest? Audacious claim, considering Dr. Paul is known as Dr. No in Washington for his steadfast refusal to work with lobbyists. A recent news story quoted an anonymous Washington lobbyist as saying "He [Paul] can't be bought." He talks about Americans paying too much for things, particularly Healthcare and college. This is the same man who just said he would help Social Security by raising income taxes, and who voted no on a bill to reduce federal spending by $40B for things like Medicare, Medicaid, and student loans. He says he'll close Guantanamo and have our troops home in 16 months. All too keen to criticize the Iraq war, Obama won't take the nuclear option off the table when dealing with Iran, and encourages missile strikes upon Iran if they don't abandon their nuclear energy program. What's that phrase about out of the fire, and into the frying pan? Conclusion Overall, I like Obama. He's young, idealistic, and has great charisma. He isn't a Washington regular, so he's not corrupted yet, and he wants to bring change to D.C. At the same point, it seems like a whole lot of talking, but not a lot of meaning. He calls for many of the same reforms as Dr. Paul and others want, but he doesn't really come forth with a plan to implement them. A lot of the plans he has proposed involve further taxing in the hopes of making existent governmental programs better. I disagree with this sentiment, and I'm oft reminded of the phrase "you can't polish a turd". Obama voted against a bill that would cut funding to programs rated ineffective, and that in my opinion sums up his attitude and major underlying plan. He doesn't really want change, he just wants to throw a lot of money around and hope things change. I utterly disagree that money is the solution to all problems, and instead back Dr. Paul in his belief that some government programs and departments JUST DON'T WORK, and we should stop wasting money on them. Obama's words describe a man frustrated with the system, and eager to radically bring about change to our government for the better, but his actions and plans indicate a statist maintaining the status quo of the conservative-liberal duopoly. I like what he has to say, but I don't think he actually can get anything done about it, because I believe he's approaching America's problems in an entirely incorrect manner. I see a parallel in a lot of his speeches to my candidate, Ron Paul, but in my 72 year old veteran of Washington's words I see much more change and hope for America than what I see coming from a presidency of this young, junior senator. With that, I continue steadfast in my support of Ron Paul.
Obama is involved with the CFR. I have zero use for globalists, personally I consider them traitors. He's a great speaker and has a lot of charisma, basically the black Mitt Romney. Sorry, but Obama supports the notion of a socialist American where Blacks, Muslims, Jews, Christians are all part of collective groups, not individuals. I have yet to see him take on one tough major issue, and define a clear and absolute stance on it. I don't know where he stands on the economy. I don't know where he stands on managed trade. I don't know where he stands on government secrecy. I don't know where he stands on the Patriot Act. I don't know where he stands on State's rights. I don't know where he stands on the Constitution. I don't know where he stands on the 2nd Amendment. I don't know where he stands on executive power. I don't know where he stands on monetary policy. I don't know where he stands on the national debt. Look at his issues page. It's a joke. http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/ He's for stopping genocide in Darfur, but he's done nothing to stop genocide in Iraq. He's for Net Neutrality and managed network infrastructure. He's for taxing the young, the worker of today to pay for yesterday's retirees, while maintaining this Woodrow Wilson-esque nonsense of global empire through (sic) compassionate subsidies and aid with American Tax Payer dollars. You give me 60 minutes with this guy, or most of the other leading candidates in front of a camera, and I will burn their house down by asking tough questions and demanding real positions. It's not that I will challenge their views, I just won't let them duck and weave with smiles, cliches and dodges. They have to go on record as being for something more tangible than "hope, change". I won't let them get away with jokes, smiles and criticizing the current Administration or their opponents.
He'll never be the Hilary’s VP because he'll out shadow her. You can't have a more interesting VP then President.