For all of the Obama skeptics (including myself), some encouraging news.

[kstewart33]

Can he actually engineer the passage of legislation that few support? Well, yes he can, so says this legislator/journalist:

Judge Him by His Laws

By Charles Peters/Washington Post
Friday, January 4, 2008; A21

People who complain that Barack Obama lacks experience must be unaware of his legislative achievements. One reason these accomplishments are unfamiliar is that the media have not devoted enough attention to Obama's bills and the effort required to pass them, ignoring impressive, hard evidence of his character and ability.

Since most of Obama's legislation was enacted in Illinois, most of the evidence is found there -- and it has been largely ignored by the media in a kind of Washington snobbery that assumes state legislatures are not to be taken seriously. (Another factor is reporters' fascination with the horse race at the expense of substance that they assume is boring, a fascination that despite being ridiculed for years continues to dominate political journalism.)

I am a rarity among Washington journalists in that I have served in a state legislature. I know from my time in the West Virginia legislature that the challenges faced by reform-minded state representatives are no less, if indeed not more, formidable than those encountered in Congress. For me, at least, trying to deal with those challenges involved as much drama as any election. And the "heart and soul" bill, the one for which a legislator gives everything he or she has to get passed, has long told me more than anything else about a person's character and ability.

Consider a bill into which Obama clearly put his heart and soul. The problem he wanted to address was that too many confessions, rather than being voluntary, were coerced -- by beating the daylights out of the accused.

More at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR2008010303303.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Kick.

Obama's not my first choice, but this is well worth looking at. Thanks.

[papau]

2. Obama’s Vote in Illinois Was Often Just ‘Present’

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20cnd-obama.html?hp

[Scriptor Ignotus]

11. I know you're quoting the headline

but 3% (130 present votes out of about 4000 votes total) is not "often" in any definition of the word I've ever heard.

Also, "In more than 50 votes, he seemed to be acting in concert with other Democrats as part of a strategy."

So that's really 80 votes out of 4000 he voted present. Again, not really "often".

[papau]

12. later analysis was high political risk for both yes or no was main characteristic of the 130 voted P

It is a question of who walks the walk in addition to talking the talk. The anti-IWR speech had little risk for a Chicago state rep from Bobby Rush's district. When there was political risk he voted as a politician - not a bad thing - but one does notice that there were very few vote differences between Hillary and Obama in the Senate.

In any case I would not worry :-) Internal polling suggests 65 to 70% of the indies in NH will abandon McCain and let Romney win, so as to vote in the Dem primary and carry Obama to victory. Many of the GOP in NH want to feel good about voting for a black fellow. I think Obama has a lock - no matter how well Hillary campaigns. The Boston Globe and all the small local papers they own are pushing Obama very hard in their editorials in their paper and in the radio and TV properties they own. It will be interesting to see if Obama can break 50%.

[frazzled]

3. Yes, and in a state where reform is notoriously difficult to achieve

If you don't know that Illinois politics is as hardball (and dirty) as it comes, then you need to be reminded. The interests are so entrenched here it is unbelievable. Opposition comes not just from a strong Republican party but from the famous Democratic "machine" itself--in firm place since Daley père was the czar.

To achieve reform here takes remarkable skill. It is something that made me decide to throw my support to Obama; he has proved that his kind of leadership can actually get things done. It's worth a try: after all, as Obama says, we've been talking about health care and energy and such for decades now, and nothing has happened. Threats and fighting will not make it happen; collusion will not make it happen. Sage and firm negotiating skills may just make it happen. This is the "change" he is talking about and that people are responding to. It's not a centrist politics: it's a post-partisan politics that stands firm on principle and works from a position of strength but knows that change can only come through mutual respect.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. didn't know this

thanks for the information

[flpoljunkie]

5. Thanks. Could you edit your post and add the link to this article.

[BenDavid]

6. O did well last night, but lets not measure the drapes just yet.

[TheDoorbellRang]

7. Very interesting

I've gotta actually start looking at the candidates left before our February primary, and this is the sort of stuff I truly appreciate -- my first three choices either didn't run or dropped out last night. :(

[JanErikM]

8. Skeptic in need of assistance

I'm a skeptic myself, and would appreciate it if any of you would link me to a speech where Obama speaks about something with fire in his belly. I don't want to say "black rage", but you get the idea. He's always speaking about hope, using flowery words and with little true substance, it seems... I like him, but I'd like to see a small preview of what he might be like when debating against someone like Giuliani or Huckabee. I want to see him show some angry'ish emotions. Can anyone link me?

[kstewart33]

9. He definitely needs to improve his debating skills.

Debating requires short, succinct sentences with punch. That, at least to date, he lacks.

[papau]

13. He'd take Rudy given Rudy's anger - but Huckabee would out-charm him & add substance - only the

anti-evolution and fair tax stands give me hope - indeed convince me - Huck would be rejected.

If Obama wins nomination he wins Whitehorse - IMO

but after winning IA, NH, and SC there will be 2/5 - and I doubt even the media push can make Obama a lock on 2/5.

[Cha]

14. I personally liked his

victory speech in Iowa very much! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x80754

[laureloak]

10. Ring, Ring.....Your corporate owners are calling....

Time to return the "favor".