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Obama Goes On the Offense
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2008 Election, Barack Obama, Barack Obama Convention, Barack Obama Convention Speech, Democratic Convention, Democratic National Convention, Dnc, Obama Convention Speech, Obama DNC Speech, Obama Speech,
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No, Barack Obama did not land a knockout blow tonight. But he showed that he fully understands that the best defense is a good offense. After weeks of absorbing punishment from John McCain, Obama went on the attack.
Obama's decision to target McCain so closely was a risky strategy, but it paid off.
The contrast with past Democratic candidates such as John Kerry and Michael Dukakis could not have been starker. Obama showed that he does not conform to the image of the Democrat as wussbag by directly assailing McCain's foreign policy credentials -- specifically, his claim that he would "follow" Osama bin Laden to the "gates of hell." But why just follow? As Obama made clear, he needs to be taken out.
The Obama campaign should keep concentrating its firepower on the Bush-McCain foreign policy record. McCain isn't simply a cheerleader for the Iraq War; he helped dream it up. If McCain does select Tom Ridge as his running mate, Ridge's lamentable record running the Homeland Security Department will offer a target-rich environment. Obviously, Joe Biden will take the lead in examining the McCain record in coming weeks, while Obama takes as high a road as he can.
But his performance tonight should silence the doubters about his candidacy. Obama came out fighting tonight. His fluid, tough, and forcefully delivered speech indicates that he will be a formidable and potentially devastating opponent in the fall presidential debates. Anyone who can't see that just doesn't get it.
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I did like his energy level in tonight's speech. I'm not sure that 8 more years will work. I don't personally think Mac is anything close to Bush.
That'll be the test of this approach by the Dems, to paint Mac as the same.
If you don't "personally" think that Mac is anything close to Bush, you haven't looked at the record. Keep up your PUMAPAC antics for McCain and you will get the Supreme Court you deserve.
That's what we're hoping for; to turn the liberal tide in the Supreme Court over the last 40 years.
I agree with PumaAnn. I don't find McCain to be anything like Bush and that is very refreshing. But lets see who he picks as his VP - the VP pick in my opinion is very very important contrary to the few people who say it isn't, it's a package deal and the package must work......
I find it hard to describe someone as refreshing when they've voted for Bush policies almost always. He's also been described as Bush on steroids and I hold that view. He is even more of a war-monger, and Huckabee's comments having to do with not wanting to be in a McCain cabinet leads me to believe that McCain will keep the current structure of cronyism and conservative litmus testing for departmental employees in place, regardless of the fact that their hiring practices have been "uncovered" by the DOJ. There's too much corruption and under the table direct accountability to the president. It all needs to be flushed out.
Voted with Bush 90% of the time-
Promises to uphold Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy-
Wants to "stay the course" in Iraq-
Promises to appoint conservative justices to Supreme Court-
Out of touch with ordinary Americans re: economy-
Retracts stance on immigration and torture to appease conservative/neocon base-
How is he NOT like Bush?
McCain/Bush: No way! No how!
Eight is enough!
Thanks, but no thanks!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08
The only difference is, McCain used his daddy to get into Vietnam, not out of it.
But policy-wise, they're twins.
Obama voted with McCain 90% of the time. What does that make him?
I really used to like McCain. In this election, I saw him as the best choice among Republicans. But, I am still very confused by his change in positions. I'm really left with the thinking that he doesn't really mean what he says, that he's still the same guy that ran in 2000, but it gets harder and harder to think that when every time I see him, he moves closer and closer to what Bush represents.
The vote against banning torture really shook my trust in him. It was at that point that I had to start taking him at his word, that he really has come around to the way of thinking that Faldwell is a force for good in the world, life begins at conception, and that the current tax plan should be further shifted to favor the wealthiest of Americans. I thought he was just blowing smoke for his base, but he really seems to believe it now.
It's a real shame to me, that we don't get what I was hoping we would get. A choice between two presidents who would both benefit the country.
Thanks for waking up. But I feel you have some distance to go. Please listen, with an open-mind, really listen to Obama's message. It is clear that 8 is enough.
McCain is the elitist!
McCain is out of touch!
McCain is for more of the same!
and visit this website:
http://www
Well Puma, when you vote in favor of Bush policies over 90% of the time what would one think?
As someone who supported Clinton in the primaries, I was completely reassured by Obama’s acceptance speech. It demonstrated (1) that he has the spine and steel necessary to take on the Republican attack machine, and (2) that he can make the case for specific Democratic policies as forcefully as he delivers his message of hope and change.
In speech, Obama is forceful. Hopefully in debate, he is the same, fluently, without the "uh, ah,..." as if he has to think while he talks. He also has to raise his voive another octave just as in speech in front of the crowd, not mumbles at low voice that is hard to hear when he is one on one.
What is wrong with thinking before you speak? That is part of McPOWPOW problem, he opens his mouth then inserts his foot just like George W. Bush.
It will be prideful having a thinking President once again.
To NavyMom44 comments: When Obama does the "uh, ahs" he reminds me of Bush. Obama does it way too often rather than the occasional uh, ah of McPOWPOW as you so disrespecfully call him.
To 'justobserve' comments: - It's good to see other people notice all the "uh, ahs" that Obama does when speaking, especially when off the prompters. This is one reason we don't think he is as good a speaker as some people state that he is.
That is the sound of a brain working. I know, it's been a while. We've all forgotten what that sounds like.
"As if he has to think while he talks."
Personally, I prefer a presidential candidate to actually think before forming his response. I find it refreshing after eight years of a president who never thinks, and after six months of his opponent merely reciting talking points and responding to every question by reminding us that he was a POW.
I agree. It's a crutch he uses to gather his thoughts. Not a bad thing in and of itself, but it can grate on nerves. McCain suffers from a much more obvious example. The "My Friends" part has really become a crutch for him.
I would prefer "uh, or ah" over foot in mouth disease.
Words that can't be take back--the ones spoken.
He gave Americans an inside look at who he really is! McSame cannot continue to accuse him of being a Muslim, questioning his patriotism, coming from a questionable background, etc. If McCain continues these tactics, Americans will know he and Karl Rove are lying again. They're sick of that kind of Bush politics. Obama will eat the old Rich Man alive in the debates. The POSSIBILITY of change in Washington is too much to turn down.
Change? You mean from war in Iraq to war in Afghanistan? From HMO-based health care to HMO-based health care? From being "tough" with Russia to, well, being tougher with Russia? Obama's foreign policy doesn't sound like much of a change.
Excuse me, focusing on the war in Afghanistan (the right war, the ignored war) instead of the war in Iraq (the wrong war) is a huge change.
You must have missed it FedUp.
How about change in our approach to foreign policy? How about re-establishing America's standing in the world so that we have at least a semblance of the moral high ground? How about never fearing to negotiate but never negotiating out of fear? How about not using bombs as our first response but as our last resort? How about the fact that Obama has already influenced American policy for the better? Remember the bit about how a timeline for withdrawal was such a naive and dangerous position which is now the position being pursued by both the Iraqi and the Bush administrations?
To fedupwithpolitics comments: I'm glad you brought up switching one war for another. And we (the people of America) will pay - that's why the democrats will tax the wealthy - there is no other way to pay for the healthcare for illegal immigrants (I mean, all the people as Obama put it). I actually like that the Dems want to save Soc. Sec. as it is and even strengthen it - but if they don't put a lock-box on borrowing from it, it won't be saved (in my opinion).
To Nomccain comments: historical records show that there is a strong Muslim connection to Obama, coupled with his connections to radical people and many people with questionable past deeds - many people think there is a lot to be worried about regarding Obama. Sorry you don't want to acknowledge these facts.
Your comments are Unamerican and you should be ashamed of yourself.
I think your right that there is a connection, but then again, most people have some connection. You may not even know that you work or live with/near a Muslim. That was the only part I would have liked to hear him address. To take this out of the election. Is Romney unacceptable simply because he's a Mormon? Is Biden because he's a Catholic? Is Huckabee because he's a Southern Baptist? Is McCain because he's .. whatever he is? Knowlege of a religion doesn't mean that you are a terrorist.
I wish he didn't have any connection to radicals from 30 years ago, but if that's the judge of a president, to never have talked or associated with anyone outside of the mainstream, we would have been left with no choice.
I think his promise more then outweighs any concerns.
This "historical record" to which you refer only exists in the fevered imagination of Faux News echo chamber.
By their standards all Americans are Muslim...
While you're at it, check McCain's connections to "questionable" people. Hey, check his own "questionable" deeds. He wasn't a Legislator for 26 years for nothin'.
Hey, there are strong Catholic connections to me. I went to a Catholic church when I was a child, and catechism after school two weeks a year. When a new priest came in and thundered he would not marry anyone who had not attended the full range of catechism and church classes I abandoned the church in disgust. I have since become an atheist, a humanist, a Buddhist.
That was 38 years ago. Do you still think I'm a shill for the pope?
It's a background assumption in this country that we're all nominally Christian. Saying 'Obama went to a Muslim school' is like saying I went to a Christian school. That doesn't mean you can paint him with a brush dripping with terrorist blood, yet that's the implied connection. Shame on you.
Why does Obama keep challenging McCain to debates,
but all summer, has refused to participate in a town hall meeting?
that's odd. LOL
Obama talked about "a debate," as in: an argument, a discussion.
As for actual debates, there will be three, and McCain will be glad it's only going to be three.
ROTFLMAO
He didn't officially become the nominee until last night. DUH.
Quoted from myself in response to another post:
Obama was not willing to debate McCain in 10 meetings for several simply reasons:
1. In July, Obama had a lot more popularity and press than McCain. To debate McCain that early would have given McCain access to a platform he didn't have.
2. Obama understands that to debate that many times gives more ammunition to other side to work with. The more times you compete with someone, the more they learn your strenghs and weaknesses. This goes both ways, but since Obama was well ahead at the time, he had everything to lose and nothing to gain.
3. No one but us political junkies were paying much attention at the time. There was no obvious benefit in it.
4. Why would he agree to meet on John McCain's terms in John McCain's arena's? If McCain is setting the agenda, it has to be because McCain feels like it benefits him. That would be like Obama saying to McCain, I'll rent a stadium in Cleveland, you rent a stadium in Cincinatti, and let's see who can fill there's up.
"That would be like Obama saying to McCain, I'll rent a stadium in Cleveland, you rent a stadium in Cincinatti, and let's see who can fill there's up."
Exactly!
Timing is everything. Now is the "right time" for Obama to debate McCain.... Doing the right thing, at the right place, at the right time......
Yes, didn't McCain want a town hall near an army base? The Administration controls the military, so they would have preselected the audience to be Bush loyalists. Obama said no but the person setting it up scheduled it anyway, hoping he would show. What a ham-fisted trap set up.
Because the McCain controlled town meetings were stacked with Republican audiences. One of the three presidential debates, where McCain doesn't control the audience, will be in the Town Hall format, so McCain will get his wish. And he'll regret it.
What's odd is McCain hiring the same smear team who said he had an illegitimate black daughter to now smear Obama. What's odd is that McCain doesn't know how many homes he owns or that he doesn't know the difference between Sunnis and Shias and that despite experiencing torture he is willing to sign on to do the same to others.
Well, McCain has had to swallow his pride to get along. How humiliating to have the same team working for him that destroyed him in 2000. But politics makes strange bedfellows. I would have wanted to punch them out, but I guess he has made peace with himself over his past betrayal and humiliation.
BRYAN, STEVENSON AND OBAMA
Perhaps the most charismatic and electrifying speaker in the history of Democratic presidential politics was William Jennings Bryan. So great, elevating and spellbinding was this man's eloquence that the Democrats nominated him not once, not twice, but a record three times to run for President. The last time that this Illinois born orator ran was one hundred years ago in 1908. After 12 years of two Republican administrations Bryan went up against the older, dull, uninspiring William Howard Taft. Byran was 48 years old when he wowed Democrats with his stirring acceptance speech, giving it from the mile high Arena Auditorium in downtown Denver. Bryan would go on to lose in a landslide his golden tongue just couldn't catch on.
44 years later the Democrats nominated another powerhouse orator, this time to retain the White House: Illinois governor Adlai Stevenson who went down in defeat on November 4th losing to Dwight Eisenhower. This would be the first of two defeats for Stevenson against the older dull uninspiring Ike, his eloquence and superior intellect just couldn't catch on.
Obama's rousing acceptance speech that we heard last night at Denver's Invesco Stadium just isn't enough to get him to victory on November 4th. If it were Bryan that was running or Stevenson Democrats would have a better chance at winning; for unlike those two men Obama, as the Illinois born Hillary Clinton said, "has nothing but speeches."
"Obama's rousing acceptance speech that we heard last night at Denver's Invesco Stadium just isn't enough to get him to victory on November 4th."
I haven't heard one person suggest that it is.
"unlike those two men Obama, as the Illinois born Hillary Clinton said, "has nothing but speeches."
More lies from the trolls...
Clearly, Sen. Obama has won the election. He just has to go through the motions now.
Why all this concern and hate about McSame? It is not worth wasting time and the negative energy. Let's stop the hate and sarcasm and get a head start on making this a better country.
Lies? March 1st Clinton said: "John McCain and I offer experince. Obama offers speeches."
Watch .... learn a new way.... If the past molds applied we wouldn't be having this discussion. Obama would be sitting in a quiet corner some where.
Well this is a new day and a new century...
"Illinois born Hillary Clinton said, "has nothing but speeches."
Hillary lost! Her husband, Bill, won due to his oratory talent as well when he was a "young, inexperienced, unknown" governor from a small state, Arkansas. Obama is the mirror image of Bill's. If Hillary now said "just speeches", she may have gotten blindsided by the fact that Bill now got millions out of his speeches. Go figure!
Here's the difference, in case you missed it: "This election is not about me, it's about you."
Election 2008 has now been decided by the American people. You can put Hillary on the stage or Joe or even Dennis, and the result would be the same. And the message was eloquently delivered not by Barack or Al or some politician but by Pam Roper, a life-long Republican nurse from North Carolina, who before Mr. Obama took the spotlight, foretold the November 5 headlines: "I can't afford four more years of this!"
It's not the oratory, although, let's face it, no Republican can match let alone surpass at the moment. It's not the old and grumpy opponent either. When people like Pam declare: "Enough!" and that message is send by text to millions of equally frustrated citizens in real time, then while the Bryan and Stevenson comparison sounds quaint, it's crystal clear that history is written (or re-written), and so it shall be done.
"is sent"
Good points, but you are ignoring the affect of mass media. Bryant and Stevenson never had the advantage of a country wide audience. The range of the print media and the birth of television had nowhere the impact that Obama now enjoys.
BTW, You should have mentioned as well that the country was also just coming out of wars with both men.
Dick Morris made a comment on Faux last night that said that although McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time, Obama voted with McCain 90% of the time. Is that true?
Given that the majority of the votes that Congress makes are worthless, ceremonial votes neither one surprises me but to me, that comment by Morris pokes a huge whole in this McCain = Bush mantra that seems to be the only thing that is being pushed over and over.
You let Dick Morris poke a huge "whole" in the McCain = Bush mantra?
Are you insane?
Only on Fox can Obama be "the most liberal senator" on Wednesday then on Thursday he "voted with McCain 90% of the time". Doesn't that strike you as a little odd?
Are we going to continue to be suckers for deflection ???? huh ???? We are talking about McCain's record. What he and Bush have done with their complicit behavior.
Don't bite that poisoned bait !!!!!!
how can that be when mccain has hardly shown up to vote . check his voting record and call morris on his bluff.
Dick Morris is a spinner, and not a reliable source of information. The nonpartisan Congressional Quarterly reported that "McCain's 95 percent support [for Bush] score for last year was the highest in the chamber." End of story.
Dick Morris = Fox News = Republican spin.
End of story!
Here comes the Chicago Politics. O/B08
I would like to see how he plans to do all of the things he promised without raising taxes or borrowing absurd amounts of money. Remember, Bush Sr. Had an 80% approval rating at one point and once he went back on his "no new taxes" promise, was ruined.
As far as attacks go, I thought the Bin Laden thing was kind of low, everyone wants him dead, and I think I remember McCain saying he wanted him brought to justice not just "following" him.
It took me a while to find the thing about how often a Senator votes with the President. First off, that is only on certain issues a President endorses, which is a small percentage of actual votes. McCain does have an 89% (I guess they rounded up to 90) voting record on those issues. However, Obama has voted 40% of the time on them as well, and Biden has 52% of the time.
And if Obama wants to go line by line on the federal budget, he better start now, that thing is 50,000 pages long.
Did you not hear his speech? His plan has BEEN FULLY VETTED!
The reference to Osama is that the US should NOT have gone into Iraq, but instead finished the job in Afghanistan. It wasn't low, it was the truth.
There is a huge difference between 40% and 90%. You do know that, right?
", he better start now". Come on. You can do better than that....
Bush said "I really don't think of him that much"
Mc Cain said "Why would we invasde Pakistan when they are our ally"
Both of them know OBL is in Waziristan. My kids is there. They won't let them go get him. I think Barack is callin gthem out on something we need to figure out. Are the Repubs keeping him around to have a boogey man to pull out whenever they want to scare the stupid?
Um, I don't know how you are at math, but there is a vast difference between 40% and 90%.
Everybody wants bin Laden dead? Oh really? Then why did Bush tell conservative commentator Fred Barnes that capturing bin Laden is “not a top priority use of American resources"?
http://thi
He is raising taxes on the top 5 percent. Take your fingers out of your ears.
Obama said he is going to change the tax code, eliminate loopholes for corporations, the majority of which, by the way , don't pay taxes. That means he is going to transfer taxe burden from middle class to corporations and the rich. If you have a source for claiming he claims or has stated "borrowing absurd amounts of money"-- Please post your source
As a fiscal conservative, I think Obama's still the best choice. I don't think he's going to be able to pay for everything, but even so, it's still less of a deficit then McCain plans to run up. As far as ballancing the budget goes, it's really impossible for the next 10 years or so. Absolutely no hope!
I was struck with the Bin Laden thing. I was one of those who still can't understand how we let him go. It really seemed to me like we focused on Saddam instead of Bin Laden. Whenever I questioned it, I was called a traitor to my country. It's the most unforgivable thing the Bush administration allowed to happen, at least in my mind. I'd have gone along with his side-war, possibly, if we could have whacked Bin Laden, I didn't think that was too much to ask. Get the guy who stuck it to us!
roflmao
The doubters will now come out in force.
They will try to crush Obama with their lies and smears, they will try to 'PROVE" he is not a viable candidate.
They have been nipping around his feet, now they shall try for the knockout punch.
Obama has weathered the storms thrown at him by the best political machine of the last century - the Clinton dynasty.
Obama/Biden 08
Remember to vote all.
Pray for all the troops.
How good was this speech? My 86 year old mother said the only thing she regretted was that she would not be around to see all the changes (She was going to vote for McCain) and has always had problems with race (although, thankfully, it never trickled down to her children).
My 80 year old mother said the same thing...!!
My 84 year old Republican neighbor said the same thing to me when I called her during his speech.
It was great to see Obama come out swinging tonight. He drew sharp distinctions between his candidacy and that of McCain's..
With Biden now on board, I can't wait to watch them put McCain on the ropes.
I feel euphoric..
I'm concened. I was a Hillary supporter, and she clearly outlined how she would pay for every program she put out. Obama, not so Much. I'll vote for him no doubt. But I am quite concerned how the Republican party will rip him up about the trillions in programs he proposes and promising a tax cut to 95% of Americans. I don't see how this is realistic. I expected the truth. We got truth from Hillary. She told us how she would pay for all she proposed. We got pipe dreams that can't possibly all come to pass from Obama.
Hi gct,
Maybe you just haven't read or followed Obama much? But I am sure you watched the speech last night. He reminded you that:
"Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime - "
Whats the problem?
GCT,
You have a point, but...
Which is the lesser of two evils? The guy who cuts taxes on the poor and middle class, raises them on the rich, and uses the excess money to pay for infrastructure (still leaving our record deficits alone). Or the guy who will cut taxes on the rich, boost spending on corporate welfare, and save the money by cutting that useless program Medicare (still leaving our record deficits alone).
And which plan do you really think will get our tax revenues up? I will give you a hint, trickle down has lead to record deficits both times it has been tried.
Actually, he has laid out how he's going to pay for it. Go back and read the transcript.
If you believe Hillary tells the truth, I've got some land in Whitewater to sell you.
Why don't you worry about the trillions being spent needlessly now by Repubs. with McCain's help.
You weren't listening if you didn't hear him sat the taxes are going up for the top 5 percent who make most of the money in the USA
Senator Obama also clearly outlined how he would pay for his proposals, and as we understood from the primary, Senator Obama and Senator Clinton offered virtually the same explanations for paying for their programs, including reversing Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations to pay for tax breaks for the middle class. So if you don't think Senator Obama's proposals are realistic or truthful, then why do you think Senator Clinton's were?
As a former Hillary Clinton supporter who worked for her in Nevada, I did not think I could be turned. I may still not be completely onboard, but after Obama's speech tonight, I may be getting my suitcase out of the closet soon. That was an Obama I have not seen before. The speech was not just roaring oratory which we knew he could do, but it had substance and strength. It may be hard to get all he wants done, but why not at least try. It pays to dream big. Do you Obamamaniacs have room for a broken-hearted Hillary supporter who has always believed the country could not stand 4 more years of Bush/Cheney/Mccain?
Come on in Jqburt ,the water's fine!
YOU BET there's room!! Start packing that suitcase! Even though she fell heartbreakingly short of the candidacy, I believe Hillary will be a major player and significant voice in the new administration. She is so knowledgeable and has so much to contribute; I can't imagine that potential would not be tapped in some sort of key capacity.
O has already changed the platform with her input.
We're all really glad that you watched the speech and are ready to give our guy a chance. Welcome to the future!
Climb on board
We have room from shore to shore. We have room in big cities and small towns. We have room in penthouses, mansions, ranch homes, and mobile parks. We have room in open prairies, wooded areas, swamp land, deserts, and permafrost. We have room in the board office, the assembly line, the farm field, and the custodians closet. We have room in upper management, middle management, no management, and just managing to get by. We have room in blue states, red states, and purple states. We have room for Christians, Muslims, Catholic, Jews, Gentiles, Atheist, or whatever power you look to. We have room for Americans who hope for a better way of doing governing in America.
So we DEFINITELY have room for you and the 18 Million people who see that Obama's dream for America is a lot closer to Hillary's vision, than John McCains.
Scoot over everyone, make room for one more!
I like Hillary and Obama--no one said she wasn't an amazing politician. I have been unhappy because I though the Hillary folks were being unfair and not listening to Obama. I don't agree with him on FISA but I am willing to elect him and work to change his mind.
I get it... can't wait for the fall debates. I don't see how McCain can compete one-on-one with Obama!
He'll just shout "POW!" over and over.
Maybe if the commentators don't softball McCain to much and ask him some hard questions like: Define honor- he will blow his top for the world to see and display his famous temper.
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