For any independents wavering on the eve of the election, I thought I would explain why I will vote for Barack Obama. I did not start there. I supported Hillary Clinton because I knew and admired her, and because I was concerned about Obama's lack of experience at the national level.
But two things happened that made me change my mind even before the end of the primaries. One was that I finished a book on leadership, The Powers to Lead. In it, I describe three key soft power skills -- emotional intelligence, vision, and communications -- as well as the hard power skills of organizational and Machiavellian political capacity. Equally important is the contextual intelligence to know how to vary the mix of these skills to produce smart power strategies. Completing this theoretical framework intersected with the progress of the Obama campaign in which he demonstrated that he had all of them.
John McCain, an admirable man, has some key skills, but Obama greatly outscores him. McCain's temper, the disorganization of his campaign, and his erratic choices regarding the vice presidency and the financial crisis, compare unfavorably with Obama's calm response to crises, his forward-looking vision, and his superb organizational skills. In addition, Obama's contextual intelligence about world politics has been shaped from the bottom up with experience in Indonesia and Kenya.
As the center-right London Economist recently pointed out in its endorsement of Obama, his election will do much to restore America's reputation around the world. Every election in a democracy is in part a gamble. (After all, in 1964 Lyndon Johnson was the peace candidate, and in 2000, George W. Bush promised compassionate conservatism and a "humble foreign policy." ) But as the Economist concluded, Obama has campaigned with more style, intelligence and discipline than his opponent....He deserves the presidency." I agree.
I new nothing about them until 2 days ago. Since then I keep on updating myself. And I can tell you one thing. I can not see Mr. McCain doing a good job in front of Putin while I see Mr. Obama. In Mr. McCain I see the same face I am used to see in the last 20 years, the same representative of the most powerful people of America, the same false smile.
On the other hand, Mr. Obama has a sort of inflexibility, a kind of smile that gives me the feeling that he allows me to have opinions but he will call me back to facts when the time for a conclusion will come. Mr. Obama seems more interested in being truthful than in being right.
Again, I might be wrong. I am afraid I am wrong, specially now that he looks more and more like a winner. He can still be a socialist and a demagogue, as some are characterizing him in the Romanian newspapers . I would hate to find out that he is so when he will become the 44th president. But I hope he is not.
He gave me the feeling America will have a sense of direction under his presidency. And that the rest of us will follow that
McCain is the right person for the job at this moment in history. He has crossed the aisle, McCain has co-sponsored bills with democrats, McCain has served his country for over 50 years. He knows domestic policy, He knows foreign policy. He has been under pressure, He has been tested. He's still standing. Obama may have more style than McCain, but not more intelligence or discipline. And since when do we take our cues from English publications?
I, too, was a Hillary supporter because she is a centrist just like McCain. Now I have no choice, Obama is too much of a socialist idiologist for me to vote for him.
Let the best man be chosen!
May the best man win and may there be peace in our country, no matter who wins.
Gracious winners and losers please.
Vote for Barrack Obama because our country needs him right now.
Language lesson. Here Barrack might be called Hapa Haole (half) with respect to his race. Usually it refers to half Hawaiian. Certainly Popolo which is hawaiian for black. Hanai means a very informal adoption of children. Barrack has been Hanai over on the mainland for a long time. Someday we would like him back.
Aloha,
HT
virtues, and that is why I will vote for Obama. Neither McCain or Palin pass this test with me.
It makes me feel so good that you have finally admitted how right I was all along concerning all the things that I tried to convince you of about the Bush/Cheney administration these past 8 years. Your loyal support for McCain/Palin is all the proof and vindication that I need to know that you have amended your positions on the dark period in our history that will be known in history as the 'Bush Years'.
I knew all along in my heart of hearts that one day you would finally come around to my way of thinking. John and Sarah and the entire RNC have distanced themselves as far as humanly possible from Dubya's gang of constitutional rapists and war mongers and most of the Republican members of the House and Senate have done likewise. I tell you, it just makes my heart swell to see all of you finally coming to your senses.
That being said, you might consider something else I have to tell you being as I was right about Bush/Cheney...Very simply...Your vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for 4 more years of the same!
Really...I'd hate to see you have to once again admit how wrong you were and that I was right all along. I know just how painful and humiliating that must be for you!"
What do I have to do, move to a state that has brains?????
Undecided in Ohio, get off your A.S.S. and either vote or just stay the H.E.L.L home and shut up when your government screws you for the next 4 years if McCain gets elected.
Me...I am out of here.
Obama/Biden '08...voted early in Ohio
so the dems have to win by a large enough margin to overcome that
I guess we do but what a drag that is.
I don't want to live like western Europe.
I don't like western Europe.
When I work there I make about half of what I get for the same work in the U.S.A.
You tell me why since you're all such experts when it comes to how things work over there.
In my opinion Europe is one of the most racists places I've ever been.
There is nothing I can learn from those people. They seem narrow minded and heavily regulated.
I can't believe you people think such horrible things about the U.S.A.
Gulag state? More Orwellian than you ever thought possible?
All of that is just crazy
This is America's last chance to change its direction.
I have friends that are gay. I have 2 daughters. I hate the war. A highschool friend's sister was killed in 9/11, she was lovely and she would not have wanted this war in her name, so to speak.
So, in my day-to-day life it's a no-brainer who I'll vote for. What I've heard from each of the candidates in their speeches has confirmed my view. Sen. Obama gets down to about what and how he's going to do it. From Sen. McCain I've heard about his POW experience, and then about Obama's connection to flavor of the week.
I'd rather hear how Sen. McCain plans to change and improve my day to day. Since, I couldn't find out from his speeches, or the debates, so I went to their web site. Don't think so.
Restoring marriage? I am happy with my husband. I want that for everyone. It takes work, but everyone should have that chance. I want my daughters to grow up in an accepting America, not a tolerant America.
There is so much more that I would like to write. Don't even know where to start as far as Gov. Palin goes. But my youngest is up from a nap and gotta go.
Guess that is why Palin wanted others to pay for their own rape kits...to many to put on the tax payers huh????
Obama/Biden '08...voted early in Ohio
The real question is, why vote for McCain? Why are 42% of American voting for Mccain???? Seriously....why???
I've surfed the net, browsed bloggs, and talked to real live friends and neighbors. The answer almost always comes down to religion in some form or another. Don't get me wrong, I think organized religion can be a great force for good in the world, but lately it seems that it is all being used for personal gain. It's like a mini-crusades. How America is attempting to force Christianity (not democracy as they claim) on everyone else.
Some christians in this coutry are terrified of Obama because they really really think he'll destroy their value system. Abortion seems to be a HUGE issue here, along with the fact that he is repetedly being cited as "Extremely leftist", which some apparently take to mean he will undo marriage, kill babies and turn America into a godless haven for the heathen masses, or maybe the muslims. Or something....
Anyway, it's scary what they think. Some really wierd stuff, and they eat it all up like candy. Learn to think for yourselves people!
Obama/Biden '08
could it be that he is black? if Obama were white he would be twenty points ahead... no doubt.