Obama says he's weighing White House run

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061022/ap_on_el_pr/obama2008

Apparently Oprah gave her thumbs up to this guy, which is actually fairly important in the scheme of things (if he runs). He's described as a moderate, but I know little about him.

Anyone have opinions or facts about his background? I'm especially interested in his political postions, that make him a 'moderate'.

 

from what I know, he seems to try to hide his positions on a lot of issues for some reason. His voting record just shows him to be a typical democrat, though.

seems like the 08 democrats want to push a lot of people from the Senate to the Whitehouse. Has that ever happened? Aren't most presidents past governors, not senators?

 

He's been the talk of the town all year. Even though he's a baby as politics go, most everyone that's met him like him. Dare I say, it's almost a G.W. Bush syndrome. Just like Bush, he's passionate and focused (right or wrong).

There's been increasing talk since Warner dropped out. He could give a real challenge to Clinton. Of course, much of the hype is just because many in the party are looking for anyone to challenge Clinton.

If you want to get an idea of his positions, go check out how he's voted. That tells a little more than what the talking points will be.

All I know is the 2008 elections are shaping up to be very poor. Who will the Republicans throw out there? Probable candidates that will make it through the primary are Guiliani and McCain.

We really need a constitutional amendment that says no one associated with the Bush or Clinton family is allowed to run for the presidency anymore.

 

Every 4 years, the choices get crappier for the president. The people who could probably run the country well, don't want to do it - too much work for not enough payoff.

McCain would never survive the primaries. Guiliani could, Gingrich could. Some others. But its thin pickin's right now.

 

I don't know that I would say never. I think it will be challenging, but it's possible. Just like it was in 2000.

The Republican party is fragmenting. True conservatives are getting angrier every day. The candidate that most looks like a true conservative will most likely survive.

For the Democrats it's pretty simple. Present a candidate that's not Clinton. First, she's a woman and the country might not be ready for that. Second, she's far too polarizing. She's the best tool for reenergizing the Republican base to get involved.

 

Surely Guiliani would make a decent president.

 

Republican now days = Pretends to favor business but is really a big government socialist with sexual hang up's.

 

That's not correct at all.

As to the sexual hang ups, I guess that depends what your personal views are. Either way, that's nothing new. The party has held its views on these matters for quite some time.

As to big government, that's something new (read: Bush). True conservatives (especially those with a libertarian point of view) are about limited government. This is one area where the part is split.

The party has always favored business (especially big business) over people. Nothing new here. I'm not sure why you think the party is socialist though. Socialists don't fight to keep the minimum wage down, medication expensive, give tax cuts that favor the rich, try to privatize social security and so on.

 

Without the win-at-all-costs Bush camp smearing McCain this time, he may do well.

 

Vote for democrats and the terrorists win!

 

Republican vs Conservatives is what I'm seeing here...in the big picture. Bush is not fully indentified with the Conservative label. Sure he is to a level, but generally a Conservative is wildly different than most Republicans.

Conservatives use the Republican because the alternatives are not viable for third party.....yet.

Lincoln was a big business politician. I'm sure many democrats of today would hate the living guts out of Lincoln if they lived within his days.

I think this is a fair acessement. Hillary may be able to find her way through the primaries. Her name and capital could knock down most opponents. Winning the general election is another thing.

I don't see McCain winning the Republican primary. Just take a walk through FreeRepublic [a conservative forum], and you'll find that nearly everyone there thinks he's scum. Guilliani is far too liberal on social issues, even though he's probably one of the most trusted on national defense. Gingrich is a bit out there at times, but he's popular among Conservatives. All the other names could be vice, but not prez.

Slim pickings, but I think the dems have to show their best or the Repubs will win by default...in many areas. The face of the SC will dramtically change if Repubs win this next one.

 

I'm laughing so hard at the title I think I'm gonna ... yep, just did.. puked.

 

And they'll raise taxes!

 

"Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois today urged hundreds of blacks not to vote along racial lines next week in Maryland's Senate race. Obama, the only black U.S. senator, came to the state to rally support for Democratic Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, who is white. Cardin's Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, is the first black candidate ever elected statewide and has been courting black Democrats."--Associated Press, Nov. 3

"The nation's only black senator, Barack Obama, D-Ill., asked voters at two black churches and at a Nashville rally to elect [Harold] Ford, a Democrat who is trying to become the first black senator from the South in more than 100 years. 'I know that all of you are going to work the next couple of days to make sure it happens, because I'm feeling lonely in Washington,' Obama said at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. 'I need my dear friend to join me.' "--Associated Press, Nov. 5

Here's a little Obama for ya Rick (courtesy of Opinion Journal's BOTW)

 

Holy shit- a double-talking politician?!

Get a rope......

 

Barack OsamaObama is a white democrat. He no more wants to see a black Senator win than any other democrat.. It's pretty sad when some people can't "keep it real". I can't respect a person who sells out their ethnicity for personal gain and acceptance. That's BS.

 

Playin' the race card today, mia?

 

He seems to have forgotten who he is, and it's sad. It's hard to respect someone who's lost their identity.

 

Who's identity?

 

I think what mia is saying is that he is uppity and doesn't know his place