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The American Presidency. No, Not the Movie With Michael Douglas

ElJeffeElJeffe Registered User, ClubPA regular
edited June 2008 in Debate and/or Discourse
Nigeria: Barack Obama
Nigeria: Barack Obama

Vanguard (Lagos)

8 June 2008
Posted to the web 9 June 2008

Kola Animasun
Lagos

BARACK Obama. Nobody now asks who he is. He has broken the barrier of our consciousness and now resides there.

He was not altogether unknown. He has been known in the confines of the United States as senator; damned good lawyer and a well-educated citizen.


Now he stamped most forcefully into the political history of the most powerful democracy in the world. He has stopped to be a byline.

Perhaps, at 46, he typifies what the world thinks and what the world wants as its rulers. Clinton came into the Presidency of the United States at about the age that Obama will, if he wins the Presidency. But Obama's case is different.

He is the first coloured man to win the presidential primary of any major party. He will be the first coloured man if he wins the Presidency. And that will be history.

It clearly shows that America knows her mind and would give anybody the chance at the highest level, regardless. Obama has dealt the last vestiges of racism its punchiest blows. Of course, she is still reeling and let us hope that it would not be a case of being punch-drunk but one of a deadly blow. For good.

It has been a stormy primary: Sometimes dirty in places. Obama, however, discounted the hit beneath the belt and played it with some decency.

Those who resented him, he ignored and wooed them. It is fair to say that both contenders - Hillary Rodham Clinton and himself - were marvelous and in spite of accidents of language here, there and yonder - played according to the rules.

Now that the chicken has come home to roost, Americans have chosen the better of its democratic best. And Clinton was not worsted. She manifested the American penchant and gave her best. She underwent the rigour of election tours and campaigns.

Till the end, Hillary did not show she was worse for tears. They never say die and she fought to the last in South Dakota.

The results showed the amount of work one has put in. As I write this, there is no confirmation that Hillary had been offered or accepted the vice-presidential slot of the Democratic presidential ticket.

But it will be a wonderful combination and a winning one. Both have dynamism and character and will complement each other. Simply because Hillary would pull the women's votes across the board just as it has been demonstrated that Obama has crashed the racial barrier.

Come November, their chances are very, very bright. Particularly against the background of war and economic crises.

Usually, people are clamouring for change. In the opening gambit of his campaign, Obama said: We came together as Democrats, as Republicans, and Independents, to stand up and say we are one nation, we are one people and our time for change has come."

And they may have the change against the background of Afghanistan and Israel. I would keep my fingers crossed. Even if some are skeptical that a blackman cannot mount the Presidency of the United States.

I submitted an entry to Lego Ideas, and if 10,000 people support me, it'll be turned into an actual Lego set!If you'd like to see and support my submission, follow this link.
ElJeffe on
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Posts

  • KilroyKilroy timaeusTestified Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    I was with the article until this bit:
    The results showed the amount of work one has put in. As I write this, there is no confirmation that Hillary had been offered or accepted the vice-presidential slot of the Democratic presidential ticket.

    But it will be a wonderful combination and a winning one. Both have dynamism and character and will complement each other. Simply because Hillary would pull the women's votes across the board just as it has been demonstrated that Obama has crashed the racial barrier.

    I really can't see them working together in harmony very well, especially not after this primary seasons. Their styles and attitudes are just way too different.

    Kilroy on
  • enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    This group sucks, compared to the first. :(

    enlightenedbum on
    The idea that your vote is a moral statement about you or who you vote for is some backwards ass libertarian nonsense. Your vote is about society. Vote to protect the vulnerable.
  • Lord YodLord Yod Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Lord Yod on
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  • ElJeffeElJeffe Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2008
    This group sucks, compared to the first. :(

    Yes.

    ElJeffe on
    I submitted an entry to Lego Ideas, and if 10,000 people support me, it'll be turned into an actual Lego set!If you'd like to see and support my submission, follow this link.
  • LionLion Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    I went with Lugar even though his vote against the new GI Bill was very disappointing.

    Lion on
    PSN: WingedLion | XBL: Winged Lion
  • Bad KittyBad Kitty Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    What a terribly written article.

    Bad Kitty on
  • geckahngeckahn Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    This group sucks, compared to the first. :(

    And compared to the next.

    I'm not really sure what to put. I probably like Bloomberg the best out of all of those (minus gore). But that's so not realistic.

    geckahn on
  • Digger DudeDigger Dude Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Is it just me or dose that article have too many metaphors?

    Digger Dude on
  • Andrew_JayAndrew_Jay Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Bad Kitty wrote: »
    What a terribly written article.
    It doesn't ask for my banking information, which automatically makes it one of the better pieces of prose I've seen come out of Nigeria lately.



    To be fair, it's not that badly written at all. Keep in mind that there are two things going on here - First, English is likely the author's second language and his native language quite different than any European language. Second, his English comes from British, rather than American, sources which might also make some of the word choices look odd.

    Andrew_Jay on
  • TeaSpoonTeaSpoon Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Oh, Nigeria, I see. Because this was a badly written article.
    Obama has dealt the last vestiges of racism its punchiest blows. Of course, she is still reeling and let us hope that it would not be a case of being punch-drunk but one of a deadly blow. For good.

    Anyway, good for Obama. When parents fight, the children are the losers.

    TeaSpoon on
  • ElJeffeElJeffe Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2008
    Hey, what do you get when you take two parts dumb, add one part dense, and stir until completely divorced from reality? A Weekly Standard article!
    Obama's Spendthrift Campaign

    Just because the Obama campaign doesn't pay for cabs from O'Hare and staffers are expected to double-up at hotels doesn't make it frugal. Indeed, Obama oversees a team of 700 people--more than twice as many as Bush in 2004--the biggest, most bloated campaign in the history of presidential elections:
    So far in 2008, combined campaign-spending data for the three most recent months available--February, March and April--show that Sen. Obama outspent Sen. McCain 4.5-to-1 on staff salaries, more than 2-to-1 on office rents, and 25-to-1 on broadcast advertising, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

    Sen. Obama has about 700 employees on the payroll, scattered across 19 states. The McCain cadre is around 100, divided among a handful of local offices.
    These hired guns aren't going to deliver Obama the presidency. Having that many cooks in the kitchen is going to dilute his message and bleed him dry. With a burn rate of 114 percent, the Obama campaign won't be able to maintain spending at primary levels even if fundraising were to remain constant--which is unlikely because so many Democratic donors have already given the maximum contribution.

    Makes you wonder what kind of tax-and-spend operation Obama will run once he doesn't have to depend on voluntary contributors to foot the bill. Also makes you wonder how biased the media must be that it would characterize the Obama campaign as lean and efficient when in reality it is desperate, spendthrift, and broke. Finally, makes you wonder how a guy who has raised all this money, won his party's nomination, and received all this fawning attention for his historic achievement remains very nearly tied in the polls.

    See, Obama's campaign spent a lot more money while it was in the middle of a heated primary battle than McCain did while he was sitting back with his secure nomination and watching the show, so clearly Obama doesn't know how to handle his finances.

    And his campaign is broke because look at the monkey.

    edit: Also, Obama's organization is much larger, which is bad because ooh, there's that monkey again.

    ElJeffe on
    I submitted an entry to Lego Ideas, and if 10,000 people support me, it'll be turned into an actual Lego set!If you'd like to see and support my submission, follow this link.
  • LionLion Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Does the Weekly Standard not know people can donate to the DNC and that maxed out Clinton supporters != maxed out Obama supporters?

    Lion on
    PSN: WingedLion | XBL: Winged Lion
  • TeaSpoonTeaSpoon Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Is monkey some kind of racist remark, huh ElJeffe?!

    TeaSpoon on
  • Andrew_JayAndrew_Jay Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    So . . . Obama spends too much on salaries - a full 4.5 times what McCain spends? They just said McCain only has 1/7th the employees. I mean, on an individual basis, he's the own spending more.

    The Weekly Standard would be a lot more credible if they asked for my banking information.

    Andrew_Jay on
  • enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Not to mention the primary/general distinction and the whole small donor base thing.

    But isn't that the Bill Kristol run Weekly Standard? I fail at getting my right wing water carriers straight in my head. Anyway, if it is Kristol, why do we care?

    enlightenedbum on
    The idea that your vote is a moral statement about you or who you vote for is some backwards ass libertarian nonsense. Your vote is about society. Vote to protect the vulnerable.
  • CauldCauld Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Lion wrote: »
    Does the Weekly Standard not know people can donate to the DNC and that maxed out Clinton supporters != maxed out Obama supporters?

    I was under the impression that you could donate $2,300 for the primary and another $2,300 for the general. I could be wrong, but I swear it said something like that when I donated to Obama.

    Cauld on
  • FunkyWaltDoggFunkyWaltDogg Columbia, SCRegistered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Cauld wrote: »
    Lion wrote: »
    Does the Weekly Standard not know people can donate to the DNC and that maxed out Clinton supporters != maxed out Obama supporters?

    I was under the impression that you could donate $2,300 for the primary and another $2,300 for the general. I could be wrong, but I swear it said something like that when I donated to Obama.

    You can, but I believe he can't spend the general election money until after the convention.

    FunkyWaltDogg on
  • LionLion Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Cauld wrote: »
    Lion wrote: »
    Does the Weekly Standard not know people can donate to the DNC and that maxed out Clinton supporters != maxed out Obama supporters?

    I was under the impression that you could donate $2,300 for the primary and another $2,300 for the general. I could be wrong, but I swear it said something like that when I donated to Obama.

    You can, but I believe he can't spend the general election money until after the convention.

    My thinking was that you could do a $2300/$2300 split per candidate.

    Straight from the FEC

    Lion on
    PSN: WingedLion | XBL: Winged Lion
  • ElJeffeElJeffe Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2008
    Cauld wrote: »
    Lion wrote: »
    Does the Weekly Standard not know people can donate to the DNC and that maxed out Clinton supporters != maxed out Obama supporters?

    I was under the impression that you could donate $2,300 for the primary and another $2,300 for the general. I could be wrong, but I swear it said something like that when I donated to Obama.

    You can, but I believe he can't spend the general election money until after the convention.

    Right. But he still has a butt-ton of fundraising potential until then, both from Hillary supporters and from un-maxed past donors.

    ElJeffe on
    I submitted an entry to Lego Ideas, and if 10,000 people support me, it'll be turned into an actual Lego set!If you'd like to see and support my submission, follow this link.
  • DevoutlyApatheticDevoutlyApathetic Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Man that article fried my brain. McCain didn't spend as much money in the three months he had no opposition!

    I guess they consider Ron Paul as viable as Hillary.

    DevoutlyApathetic on
    Nod. Get treat. PSN: Quippish
  • DevoutlyApatheticDevoutlyApathetic Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Do we have figures about the number of Democratic donors who have given max donations? That line alone wants me to hit some people for the stupid in that article.

    DevoutlyApathetic on
    Nod. Get treat. PSN: Quippish
  • ElJeffeElJeffe Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2008
    I guess they consider Ron Paul as viable as Hillary.

    Well, to be fair...

    ElJeffe on
    I submitted an entry to Lego Ideas, and if 10,000 people support me, it'll be turned into an actual Lego set!If you'd like to see and support my submission, follow this link.
  • Kane Red RobeKane Red Robe Master of Magic ArcanusRegistered User regular
    edited June 2008
    ElJeffe wrote: »
    This group sucks, compared to the first. :(

    Yes.

    Indeed. I voted for Vilsack because of name recognition. Mainly because I can't forget a last name that bad.

    Kane Red Robe on
  • ElJeffeElJeffe Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2008
    I like Vilsack because his name sounds kinda like ballsack.

    And I like Dick Gephardt because his name sounds kinda like dick-fart.

    I'm ElJeffe, and I approve this complete rejection of maturity.

    ElJeffe on
    I submitted an entry to Lego Ideas, and if 10,000 people support me, it'll be turned into an actual Lego set!If you'd like to see and support my submission, follow this link.
  • shrykeshryke Member of the Beast Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    I don't see no Ed Rendell on that poll.

    I'm disappointed.

    shryke on
  • enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Asked on NPR's "All Things Considered" if he is auditioning to be Obama's running mate, Strickland said, "Absolutely not. If drafted I will not run, nominated I will not accept and if elected I will not serve.

    So, I don’t know how more crystal clear I can be."

    So, uh, we've lost Ted Strickland from the veepstakes.

    enlightenedbum on
    The idea that your vote is a moral statement about you or who you vote for is some backwards ass libertarian nonsense. Your vote is about society. Vote to protect the vulnerable.
  • PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Asked on NPR's "All Things Considered" if he is auditioning to be Obama's running mate, Strickland said, "Absolutely not. If drafted I will not run, nominated I will not accept and if elected I will not serve.

    So, I don’t know how more crystal clear I can be."

    So, uh, we've lost Ted Strickland from the veepstakes.

    Well he does have to take care of propane and propane accessories.

    Preacher on
    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
  • clownfoodclownfood packet pusher in the wallsRegistered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Cauld wrote: »
    Lion wrote: »
    Does the Weekly Standard not know people can donate to the DNC and that maxed out Clinton supporters != maxed out Obama supporters?

    I was under the impression that you could donate $2,300 for the primary and another $2,300 for the general. I could be wrong, but I swear it said something like that when I donated to Obama.

    You can, but I believe he can't spend the general election money until after the convention.

    Just because Hillary isn't in the race at the moment, doesn't mean he can't run ads to keep his name in the public eye. He probably still has quite the war chest from the primary season.

    clownfood on
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  • LionLion Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    shryke wrote: »
    I don't see no Ed Rendell on that poll.

    I'm disappointed.

    That was the last thread. He got 1 vote.

    Lion on
    PSN: WingedLion | XBL: Winged Lion
  • deowolfdeowolf is allowed to do that. Traffic.Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    shryke wrote: »
    I don't see no Ed Rendell on that poll.

    I'm disappointed.

    Hasn't one burley VP with a potty mouth from a barbaric, backwards state been enough?

    deowolf on
    [SIGPIC]acocoSig.jpg[/SIGPIC]
  • nexuscrawlernexuscrawler Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Weekly Standard makes my brain hurt

    They have a long article about how Obama's neighborhood in Chicago is pretentious.

    I'm sure McCain lives in a broken dwon old bungalo....

    These halfassed, repeated attempts to paint Obama as some kind of blue blood is pathetic.

    nexuscrawler on
  • HakkekageHakkekage Space Whore Academy summa cum laudeRegistered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Lord Yod wrote: »

    Damn straight

    Hakkekage on
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  • MrMonroeMrMonroe passed out on the floor nowRegistered User regular
    edited June 2008
    It's a little presumptuous to have kept Clinton off this list, no? They've both been very mum about it, even if it does seem like a bad idea to me.

    I went with Richardson anyway; good to have some executive experience on the ticket as well.

    MrMonroe on
  • ThanatosThanatos Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    MrMonroe wrote: »
    It's a little presumptuous to have kept Clinton off this list, no? They've both been very mum about it, even if it does seem like a bad idea to me.

    I went with Richardson anyway; good to have some executive experience on the ticket as well.
    Clinton was on the last list.

    Thanatos on
  • LitejediLitejedi New York CityRegistered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Clinton was in the first heat.

    Litejedi on
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  • KetBraKetBra Dressed Ridiculously Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    I think the problem with the lines of attack against Obama is that they are contradictory a lot of the time. He's the Muslim who goes the the Christian church with the crazy preacher. He's the scary black man who lives in an upscale, pretentious neighbourhood.

    KetBra on
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  • SpeakeasySpeakeasy Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    I don't see why Richardson isn't getting more votes. He has tons of experience and can help with the Latino vote.

    Speakeasy on
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  • DrakeonDrakeon Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    I voted Bloomberg, not because I necessarily thought he'd be the best VP pick, but he was the best I saw out of the this bunch. Well that and I don't know what half of them have done.

    Drakeon on
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  • ThanatosThanatos Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Speakeasy wrote: »
    I don't see why Richardson isn't getting more votes. He has tons of experience and can help with the Latino vote.
    Wait, was that? I'm sorry, I fell asleep halfway through that paragraph.

    Thanatos on
  • enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    edited June 2008
    Speakeasy wrote: »
    I don't see why Richardson isn't getting more votes. He has tons of experience and can help with the Latino vote.

    The "awful campaigner" might have something to do with it.

    enlightenedbum on
    The idea that your vote is a moral statement about you or who you vote for is some backwards ass libertarian nonsense. Your vote is about society. Vote to protect the vulnerable.
This discussion has been closed.