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I am not really interested in politics and don't think this site should be a forum for political conversation. But that is niether her or there. I view John McCain as the best of the options likely to be on the ticket for President. I am interested in increased levels of defense spending, lower taxes for both corporations and individuals, smaller government, and the privatization of social security (which will likely never happen). Nonetheless, my vote really means nothing in liberal New York, where I just get my vote on the record and is not enough to put a Republican candidate over the top. Mr. Pid, you are correct when you say that the President gets too much credit and too much blame regarding the strength and weakness in the economy. Actually, the Federal Reserve probably plays a greater role in the health of the economy than the President does. This is something that is lost on most people. Just my quick 2 cent political rant.

I wouldn't purport to speak for Mr. Obama, but I would like to make a response to the thrust of Ms. Glick's piece. Given the target audience and venue of publication of her article, I can well understand her preoccupation with the import to Israel of the US Presidential election. While US foreign policy is certainly a relevant and germane issue, it is NOT the most ordinate one. The election of a US President is about what's best for the US, not what's best for Israel. Further, US policy towards the Arab and Muslim worlds hasn't exactly been a shining beacon of success and infusing some fresh perspectives there might produce a more constructive future for all, including Israel. As far as a President's ability to "lead" our economy, I think it's important to remember how the basic structure works. All money (i.e. spending) bills originate in the House of Representatives, and must pass muster in the Senate before being forwarded to the Executive branch for final authorization and implementation. The Executive branch has no power to introduce any spending plans of it's own. It is more than welcome, and usually does draft suggestions of what spending they would like to make, but it is the Legislature that actually creates the acts and laws that cause all government spending to occur. That's why I chuckle every time I read some rose colored glass filtered story about the economic prosperity of the Clinton administration. As though Mr. Clinton had anything to do with it. Does everyone remember who was running the Legislature in the 90's? Nevertheless, it is the common misconception that the President deserves the credit - or blame - for the relative success of what is basically a free market economy. In addition to electing a new President this November, every single seat in the House is also on the ballot, along with one third of the seats in the Senate. Just something to keep in mind. Conversation is always more interesting than recitation, so speak your mind and not someone else's.

I like Obama for his support of small buisness, but Id be cool with having just about anyone besides Bush in office. Nader would be cool too. yay cool moose party.

I'm ready to see some real unity in this country and to get back to a place where people around the world take us seriously again. The problem I see with all of these candidates is that non of them seem to have a strong stance on foreign relations.

Does he have the ability to lead this country out of it's current mess? Or will he behave like most Democrats and be afraid to govern? All his talk about change will go out the window when he fails in universal health care, aiding Kosovo, tuirniong the econonmy around. Remember, this country will expect quick results and when the country does not get the results can he handle the pressure?

that nasty Mr Obama, consorting with foreigners, getting dressed up foreigner outfits, knowing people who have radical views, taking an interest in different perspectives as to how things are and might be, not buying into the orthodoxy of the paranoid 'us (=US) and them' world view. Hell pretty soon we are going to hear that he was once mean to a puppy and went to a Dixie Chicks show.

I support Obama as any good Head with their eyes open can see Obama isa great man! All the negativity is amazing! If you are a SEER as are Bob, Phil snd Mickey we ALL saw the X factor in Obama- you can HEAR Truth in his voice just as you COULD HEAR IT in the DEAD. I was ASTOUNDED TO FIND MY BROTHERS all agreed enough to reunite- SOMETHING is Happening here and all the pro Israel pro war posters have lost touch. Feel the FORCE- OBAMA has it! WE ALL INDEPENDENTLY CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION! ASTOUNDING! LIKE- HEY THIS GUY IS DIFFERENT! Great work boys......and play like its your last GIG always! Black Peter is upon us all...... AUM Peachy!!! GO OBAMA! "if the Thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!"- The Wheel "Gonna find out something only dead men know" - Silvio Class of Red Rocks '79... Life without the Dead is not life...and so we carry on...

I find this disturbing, and have not seen any response to it. THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH Caroline Glick Jerusalem Post, January 21, 2008 …Barack Obama has a good chance of securing his party's nomination for president and winning the general election…. Although the rumors that Obama—whose father and step-father were Muslims and who was educated in Muslim schools in Indonesia—is a Muslim are demonstrably false, his Christian affiliations are a cause for alarm in and of themselves. Obama belongs to the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Its minister and Obama's spiritual adviser is Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. In an investigative report on Obama published last week by the American Thinker Web site, Ed Lasky documented multiple examples of Wright's anti-Jewish and anti-white animus. Wright has called for divestment from Israel and refers to Israel as a "racist" state. Theologically, he believes that the true "Chosen People" are the blacks. Indeed, he is a black supremacist. He believes that black values are superior to middle class American values and that blacks should isolate themselves from the wider American society. Wright is a long-time friend of the virulently anti-Semitic head of the Nation of Islam—fellow Chicagoan Louis Farrakhan. The two traveled together to Libya some years ago to pay homage to Muammar Gaddafi. Last year Wright presented Farrakhan with a "Lifetime Achievement" award…. Obama's affiliation with Wright aligns with his choice of financial backers and foreign policy advisors. To varying degrees, all of them exhibit hostility towards Israel and support for appeasing jihadists. As Lasky notes, Obama has received generous support from billionaire George Soros. In recent years, Soros has devoted himself to replacing politicians who support fighting the forces of global terror and supporting Israel with politicians who support appeasing jihadists and dumping Israel. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama opposed defining Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group. He calls for the US to withdraw from Iraq - only to return if genocide is being carried out and then, only as part of an international force. He also supports opening negotiations with Iran even if the Iranians continue to enrich uranium. In forming these views, he is assisted by his foreign policy team which includes Zbigniew Brzezinski, Mark Brzezinski, Anthony Lake, Susan Rice and Robert Malley. All of these people are known either for their anti-Israel views or their pro-Arab views—or both. Malley, a Palestinian apologist invented and propagated the false claim that the 2000 Camp David summit between the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and then prime minister Ehud Barak failed because Israel wasn't serious about giving the Palestinians a state. This view is disputed by Barak and Clinton. For her part, as chief foreign policy advisor to Senator John Kerry during the 2004 presidential elections, Susan Rice reportedly convinced Kerry to announce that if elected he would appoint Jimmy Carter and James Baker to serve as his envoys for Middle East peace. Mark Brzezinski has openly called for unconditional negotiations with Iran. For more than 30 years, Zbigniew Brzezinski has distinguished himself as one of Israel's greatest foes in Washington. Unfortunately, in the anti-war frenzy now gripping much of the Democratic Party, one could say that there is nothing notable about the fact that Obama has hired anti-Israel foreign policy advisors, attends an anti-Israel church, and receives financial backing from anti-Israel billionaires. But even in this atmosphere Obama stands out—for not only does he theoretically support appeasement, he is actively advancing the interests of Islamists seeking to take control over a state allied with the US. [In] Kenya…elections pitted incumbent President Mwai Kibaki against Raila Odinga who leads the Orange Democratic Movement. While the polls showed the public favoring Odinga, Kibaki was declared the winner. Odinga rejected the results and his supporters have gone on rampages throughout the country that have killed some 700 people so far…. Kibaki is close ally of the US in the war against Islamic terror. In stark contrast, Odinga is an ally of Islamic extremists. On August 29 Odinga wrote a letter to Kenya's pro-jihadist National Muslim Leaders Forum. There he pledged that if elected he would establish Sharia courts throughout the country; enact Islamic dress codes for women; ban alcohol and pork; indoctrinate schoolchildren in the tenets of Islam; ban Christian missionary activities, and dismiss the police commissioner, "Who has allowed himself to be used by heathens and Zionists." Although Odinga is an Anglican, he referred to Islam as the "one true religion" and scorned Christians as "worshipers of the cross." Obama strongly supports Odinga who claims to be his cousin. As Daniel Johnson reported recently in the New York Sun, during his 2006 visit to Kenya, Obama was so outspoken in his support for Odinga that the Kenyan government complained to the State Department that Obama was interfering with the internal politics of the country. …. It can only be hoped that in the coming weeks and months ahead of the presidential election, the political center of American politics will reassert itself and that the final race will be between leaders who abjure bigotry and understand that foreign policy is neither about minding your business nor being polite. It is about opposing enemies, supporting allies and knowing the difference between them.

Obama has great pr, but I fear it is all an optical illusion.But before you hand him the keys to the store, try goggling Obama/Exelon. This guy is heavy in bed with nuclear, and that scares the shit out of me. And anyone else remember recent elections where you've been bombarded this heavily with how charismatic and charming the candidate is? Hell, they said Reagan was an orator. And Bush was the guy you wanted to have a beer with. I haven't seen much content from Obama, but I have seen a lot of spin, much of it painfully dishonest. I wish the band had stayed on the sidelines a little longer on this one.

Hey.. I created a Deadheads for Obama widget (sprout) using my new company's technology at http://sproutbuilder.com http://greenhouse.sproutbuilder.com/sprout/seed/FACwDX14AGFPBBwp You can also see updated versions at: http://sproutbuilder.com/deadheads Hope you all enjoy it and spread the word. peace, carnet