I think Barak Obama is Lincolnesque.

[originalpckelly]

Anyone else get that Lincoln vibe? He is so respectable and well-spoken. I think this guy is definitely Presidential material. He appears to have a weakness of foreign policy, but what we do with that is exactly like what they did with Bush, give him a gray beard with a strong background in foreign affairs. Only this time we have to make sure that it isn't someone with an ideological ax to grind.

This man should be the next President of the United States. He appears to be disarming to Republicans, and since he is a man of faith, they can't bitch and moan about him. He is the right guy for the job.

[Ellen Forradalom]

1. People may say he has no record

but frankly having a record is a liability in a Presidential election. Look what they did to Al Gore. He had a record to stand on while Bush didn't and neither did Nader, so Gore was subject to all kinds of unfair statements.

[Kagemusha]

3. I think the idea Obama can win with no record really scares people.

Because on a serious activist board like DU, that just ain't right.

However true it might be given the alternatives.

[blm]

7. I disagree - I see Obama HAS a record. One INDICATIVE of who he is.

.

[Kagemusha]

8. I did say 'the idea' he has no record, for the record.

Not saying I necessarily agree with that perception here.

[originalpckelly]

19. His record is sort of undistinguished like Kennedy's...

before he ran for President. It is the kind of gray record needed. They can't frame you as a Senator (and that is a dirty word these days) when you do that.

Personally, this nation cares more about character than experience. Just look at Bush, that man is a bumbling idiot who had no experience whatsoever, and he was elected twice (in that thing called reality.)

Neat thing about Obama is that he isn't stupid, he is well spoken and honest. I think he could win.

[ieoeja]

37. Or more appropriately to this thread ... Lincoln's!

As a Senator Obama has held higher office than Lincoln did before his election.

[Demit]

2. How would you ennumerate the similarities?

[ieoeja]

40. Tall and lanky! n/t

[blm]

4. Judgement - he doesn't seem keen on opening the books on BushInc.

He refused to join call to investigate Downing Street Memos.

If you won't investigate something as important as Downing Street Memos, what WILL you open books for?

I welcome his voice in the debate - I hope he has something more important to offer than bipartisanship.

[goclark]

9. He didn't need to join the Downing Street Debate

He knew that Conyers would carry that Hot Potato.

While I'm sure he wanted it exposed, I see it as a football team.

He doesn't have to take the ball on every issue.

That doesn't mean that he would be against Conyers.

[blm]

11. He REFUSED to sign the SENATE letter calling for DSM investigation.

No one asked Obama to lead on it, all he had to do was sign a letter SUPPORTING the call for an investigation.

[goclark]

15. As much as I support the DSM, glad he didn't sign it

When I think back on those times,his signing it would not have changed one single thing. Not one.

No one was going to believe it then and he would have been bashed for signing it except by Progressive Democrats, like us.


He kept his eye on the prize and picked his battles.


OBAMA
:yourock:

[blm]

16. The Downing Street Memos was NOT an insignificant matter or "progressive"

matter that you supported for political positioning.

. It had to do with the LYING that took us to war. It was not the IWR that took us to war - but the LIES behind the debate. The DSM was a smoking gun for those LIES.

You are either FOR protecting the lies or for EXPOSING the lies. It's not progressive or centrist.

[goclark]

25. Fine, however it was not widely understood or

talked about on the RepubliCON controlled News Media at the time period.

I will not hold back my support for him because of the DSM.

Bet John Conyers will not hold back his support for him either.

[blm]

26. If he's the nominee, nor will I - but let's not pretend he's interested in

cleaning up DC or acting differently or bravely, when all of his actions so far, are reminiscent of another charming guy who straddled both sides, and preached bipartisanship as he closed the books on serious outstanding matters for Bush1.

[Benhurst]

18. Now that is see it in that light,

maybe I've been too harsh on my senators, Dole and Burr. :sarcasm:

He should have signed. That doesn't mean that he'd be a bad candidate, but it is not a plus.

[Benhurst]

23. Too late to edit, so: Now that I see it in that light ...

Sorry about that. :spank: Seems I get sloppier every day.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I agree, now that you mention it.

He has a certain gravitas. I like him a lot, too, but I don't think he'll be ready by 2008, since he's still just a freshman senator. Maybe VP, this time around, and then, who knows... But I agree, he'll go far...:-)

[goclark]

6. What a keen assessment of him

I'm for him for all of those reasons and more.

He would restore the Worlds faith in America and bring TRUTH back to the WH.


He is a NEW/FRESH Image and America needs that desperately.

Obama
:yourock:

[blm]

10. His record doesn't strike me that he's for truth and openness.

Looks more that he wants peace and bipartisanship, which translates into letting BushInc off the hook, yet again.

[Kolesar]

14. I am glad you are paying attention, DSM & all

Heretofore, my impression of Barak was that he was kind of bland without much to say. Has anybody heard him talk about climate protection? (serious question). I have not noticed.

[leftchick]

24. very well said blm!

hey! We agreed on something! :)

[goclark]

28. Better his record than McCain's

Give the man a chance without blaming him for everything.

Let the best man or woman win based on the knowledge we have at the time.

I am not ruling out Clinton, Kerry, Feingold, Edwards even Biden.

I am going to keep an open mind.

If we keep picking OBAMA etc. apart, we'll hear our threads read on Russ and Company.

[blm]

29. It's not bad for Obama to hear us and adjust. There should be a definite appeal

to any politician postBush to want the corruption rooted out. and exposed and open government to prevail. THAT would be the surest path to the presidency. He iether chooses it or doesn't.

I am hoping they ALL do pledge honest and open government. People are sick of the secrecy and those who protect and foster that secrecy.

[leftofthedial]

12. I agree.

Both are overrated.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Original, please consider posting in this thread...

to indicate that you would participate in a DU Barack Obama Group forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2900493&mesg_id=2900493

I'm preparing a proposal to the administrators and am seeking support for the forum among DUers, which is required. Several candidates have forums already up and running. Thanks for your post, and your consideration!

[valerief]

17. You know how some sitcoms are funny and some aren't? A lot

has to do with good writing, but a lot has to do with good delivery by the actors. I find I laugh harder at sitcoms where actors speak in a more natural voice rather than that "get it out clearly for the audience" voice.

Obama has a "get it out clearly for audience" delivery. Bill Clinton has a more natural delivery. We need a candidate that can speak to a crowd like a person, not like a politician.

[hiaasenrocks]

21. Agreed. Obama talks a lot but doesn't really say anything.

As much as I supported Kerry in '04, I thought that was part of his problem too. I can remember several instances in which Kerry was giving an answer to something and by the time he was done I couldn't remember what the question was and I had learned nothing about his position on anything.

Politicians need to realize that using more words doesn't necessarily make you sound more intelligent. In fact, it clouds your message and you lose people in the process.

I think in the wake of eight years of Bush*, a man who can barely speak his own name without screwing it up, some folks see a well-spoken candidate as the answer. But speaking well in itself isn't the answer, and that's about all Obama seems to have going for him.

I'm very confident he won't be the nominee, so I'm not overly concerned with this. The Democratic Party will find someone with experience who can connect with the average voter out there, and we'll be fine.

[GeorgeGist]

20. more Clintonesque...

and we should all know the consequences of that false Hope.

[goclark]

27. I'll take Clinton's brain and style

any day of the week.


What politician is not a "politician?"

[saracat]

22. Nope. I saw Obabma speak yesterday .This is the second time I have heard him.

He seems a nice enough guy and that is all. There is no substance .Good back story , nice looking and nothing else.And sorry but he isn't that great a speaker.He is good but so are a lot of people. He is just being tagged with a mantle by the press.I found it insulting that he was there to support our Arizona candidates and shirts were being sold saying Barak Obama for President as well as buttons and people brought signs to wave.It is still 2006 folks, and this election counts ! I also thought it was disgusting the way the local media specifically talked only to African Americans and only about Obama. We had a stage and an audience full of candidates and all they wanted to talk about was an out of state Senator? But at least the press showed up which is better than nothing! And we do have to thank Obama for that! But Barak has a lot of growing to do before he is presidential material.

[ripple]

30. I doubt Obama had any thing to do with the

2008 political props. I think it's awesome that he's getting out there and campaigning for other dems so much. As you saw, he attracts attention- and that kind of attention is excellent for dems at this stage in the game.

I've also seen Obama speak and while I was impressed with what he had to say, I was even more impressed with the reaction of others who were there. You could literally feel the energy in the room. I disagree with you about him having a lack of substance- it's not only there, but more importantly, he is able to effectively articulate his ideas without coming across as a preachy career politician. I'm afraid that if he spends too long in the Senate, he could lose that edge over the other potential contenders.

[saracat]

39. I think the media is creating the energy. Seriously. They have somehow

"picked" Obama.I like the guy , he just isn't seasoned enough.And the only edge that any of these politico's have is the media. Obama is campaigning for Dems but I find it distracting that he is combining it with both a book tour and a presidential announcement. I know they would probably all do it but it strikes me as a bit self serving.The concentration should be on this years slate of candidates not a barely "potential" presidential candidate.

[Strawman]

31. I think alot of people are looking for a Lincoln

Someone to preserve our Union. People in this country have been put into a state of fear about the livelihoods by globalization and about their existence by terror-talk. And this is happening during a time where we appear to be more divided than ever: divided from other Americans, divided from our traditional allies, families are divided. Politicians use "wedge issues" to split us apart every election cycle.

Nativists feel that Spanish speaking immigrants are threatening our national identity just like Know-Nothings did back in the 1850's. There's no longer a common set of facts at the foundation of our political culture. They seem to be different depending on one's partisan bent. There's not a sense of a common culture or shared values. The only thing that seems to bring us all together these days is sports.

I know that Lincoln sought to bring people together around a profound respect for the law. That's the essence of the Lyceum Address. I'm not sure that Obama has a message that's as coherent, but he does seem to want to play the unifier role. And he's a walking example of not just national but global unity and a cosmopolitan identity. But I wonder if we're all just projecting what we want and need onto him, as opposed to him being some kind of great leader.

There's defnintely a tension in American history between the desire to come together and the desire to split apart. I think we may be approaching a period where the former impulse predominates. I think that's the attraction of Obama. I'm just not convinced that he deserves the benefit of our projection and that he's not just another DLC hack.

[Efilroft Sul]

32. Lincolnish, superstantial, and a Megamerican.

That's what Colbert would say.

[coalition_unwilling]

33. I like Obama a lot, but he's not Lincolnesque by any stretch of

the imagination. I don't believe we have any politician right now who is Lincolnesque -- they only come around once in a century. Martin Luther King Jr. was probably the last one, possibly Robert F. Kennedy. I thought perhaps Al Sharpton might have some Lincolnesque potential, but I haven't heard much from him lately.

[SoCalDem]

34. Every time I see the media fawning over him, I hear this song

in the background..

with a few word-changes it's exactly their plan for Obama.. by the time '08 rolls around they will be well past the fawning and into attack mode.. just like they did Dean..and McCain....and many others

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OyfIixFmrQ

[THUNDER HANDS]

35. i don't see how anyone couldn't like him

you might not agree with him on everything, but hell, you don't agree with your spouse on everything - do you? And if you can live with, marry, be with your spouse, why can't you support Obama for President?

It's a no-brainer for me.

I can't wait for the presidential season to begin. If we have Gore, Kerry, Clinton and Obama running in 2008 then we have one hell of a Final Four, probably the strongest crop of candidates in decades.

[mvd]

36. I think Obama can communicate to sensible Republicans

We'll never get that rigid amount of conservatives, but Obama uses language that makes people listen. He just appeared locally, and was treated like a movie star. It might be too early in 2008, and I personally like some others in the Black Caucus more, but I think he'd be a good candidate sometime.

[Marnieworld]

38. I would prefer someone with more experience

He just got to the Senate fir chrissakes and he's young enough to wait a while.

[Dob Bole]

41. He's been to more countries than Bush... nt