comment #1

rocco says ...

Christ, does the guy know any other words?? Even if he's just trying to be cute...

I can see the whole campaign strategy now...be audacious, be bold, be daring, come along on a journey of progression and enlightenment, take a chance for change!

Give me a break.

Even before Obama emerged as a candidate I thought the title "The Audacity of Hope" was pretentious and assuming. Nothing wrong with that I suppose, but the fact that he OPENS his announcement to run by hedging, well, that should tell you everything you need to know about the guy.

Seriously, can the Democrats put forward just one candidate in my lifetime for whom I can consider voting? I'm practically begging to be won over... you think it's fun being forced to vote for or be associated with Christian fundamentalists?

comment #2

D.Z. says ...

del: "Christ, does the guy know any other words??"

More than Shrub.

comment #3

Craig Kennedy says ...

I prefer politics that can't be summed up by one-liners, but I'll take the pretension of "Audacity of Hope" over the lie of "Compassionate Conservatism", thanks.

comment #4

Walter Sobchak says ...

"Hollywood Elsewhere", your number one internet source for the latest news from Hollywood and the Barack Obama campaign!

comment #5

jeffmcm says ...

Delbomber, what rhetoric do you want him to spout? "Abortions for some, small American flags for others!"

comment #6

The Bandsaw Vigilante says ...

It wouldn't've suprised me much if he *had* shouted that, considering that there were some amazingly loud, annoying-as-all-fuck abortion-rights protesters chanting their fool asses off at the edge of the crowd today.

(Incidentally...from the angle of that image, and assuming I'm gauging the depth correctly, you can *almost* see where I was standing this morning. Hunh.)

comment #7

The Bandsaw Vigilante says ...

Bah...meant to say "anti-abortion rights" up there, but blonde-momented...my bad.

(No edit-function?)

comment #8

The Bandsaw Vigilante says ...

Bah...meant to say "anti-abortion rights" up there just now, but mentally vapor-locked and blonde-momented...my bad.

(No edit-function?)

comment #9

rocco says ...

Being for change isn't enough...being a catalyst for change isn't enough...until the "change" rhetoric turns into a change plan, that's all it is: rhetoric....he's too apologetic, too green...

...and until Obama can convince me that sitting across from a man like, say, Vladimir Putin wouldn't cause him to bend over and squeal like a pig on cue, I'll be another red fleck on map come next November.

comment #10

EegrBvr says ...

"until Obama can convince me that sitting across from a man like, say, Vladimir Putin wouldn't cause him to bend over and squeal like a pig on cue"

o i'm pretti shure obama will be able to see putins sole

'I'll be another red fleck on map come next November.'

the suspence is killing us.

pretty pretty pleaze tell us whether hooterville will be 100% red state moron.
I think we'll just think of u as a little braunchemise fleck if that's ok.

comment #11

nemo says ...

"until Obama can convince me that sitting across from a man like, say, Vladimir Putin wouldn't cause him to bend over and squeal like a pig on cue"

You're joking, right? Vladimir Putin has done nothing but play George Bush like a violin. Ever since Bush looked into his soul.

comment #12

nemo says ...

Choosing Springfield for his announcement was a canny bit of showbiz on Obama's part. Springfield was where Abraham Lincoln spent most of his career before becoming President.

comment #13

rocco says ...

Come on...the guy effectively opened his announcement with an apology...for a candidate where race is such a focus, I wonder, is he purposely (as in facetiously) or unconsciously filling the role of "house negro"?? I'm sorry to put it that way, I'm not trying to be inflammatory, but when people who are often stereotyped act in stereotypical ways, it begs the question, and failing to acknowledge it is just disingenuous. Either way, he's already pandering...

He's an affable guy, but his stuff is straight from the pep rally...pure amateur hour. I'm not saying we need another cowboy, god no, but someone who is at least assertive and confident. I keep holding out hope that he'll show it to us, because god knows Republicans could never be smart enough to compromise on any social issues and nominate someone attractive (politcally, that is) across lines who might actually be electable like Rudy. Of course it's still too early to know his agenda, but the guy at least talks the talk.

comment #14

EegrBvr says ...

'Come on...Rudy... at least talks the talk'

Even 3rd rate libertarians shouldn't try to convince peepul that Obama isn't as good a speaker as Rudy.

BTW, Bush's cowboy hat, it's a strap-on, found it in stage props for a cheer-skit at Phillips-andover. The ASSertive and confident lies he puts out on a nonstop basis stir hearts and minds of toads everywhere.

comment #15

nola says ...

Delbomber, you might want to ease up on the House Negro comments.

It's beyond fucked up and offensive. Just because a black person doesn't campaign in a tracksuit, speak in double negatives or isn't a preacher doesn't mean they are an Uncle Tom.

comment #16

rocco says ...

nola, for any candidate to open so sophomoricaly would be a bad move...and race is an issue here...Obama has not shied away from it, nor should anyone else. Suggesting someone is portraying a stereotype is not in itself bigoted. It's a blunt reality that he is going to have to overcome preconceptions and stereotypes to have even a prayer at winning (should he earn the nomination). To open so apologetically and with such reverence, well, I just think it was a mistake...it's like something straight from an SNL opening skit.

comment #17

Rich S. says ...

I'm amazed (but perhaps I shouldn't be) how many responses above take direct shots at Bush. It only adds to my already sinking feeling about how this next election is going to play out.

Newsflash: George W. Bush is in his second term. He does not have enough support even within his own party to amend the Constitution and get elected for a third term. Neither does he have enough support in the military to lead a coup. In other words- he's finished. He will not be the next president.

If you want to criticize his policies until the end of his second term, please do so. But don't promote the next guy by saying "Well, at least he's not Bush." The next guy isn't going to be Bush, regardless of whether its a Democrat or a Republican.

I think delbomber is only reflecting what a lot of conservatives/libertarians feel. They're tired of the Republican party being hijacked by the religious right and sick of the betrayal of conservative ideals by unchecked spending. But for the same reason the same old, same old keeps getting elected on the right side of the aisle, the same thing keeps happening on the left. The base will only nominate an individual from the far side of the spectrum, so the middle is given no real alternative.

Obama may be the real deal, but his speech announcing his candidacy sure didn't offer anything new. "Things in Washington must change." No wonder he picked Springfield. That line was old when Lincoln ran and it's been used by every non-incumbent candidate since the founding of the republic. Of course you can't judge him on his opening remarks, but if that's his whole campaign, it's going to be a long year and a half.

comment #18

EegrBvr says ...

'I'm amazed (but perhaps I shouldn't be) how many responses above take direct shots at Bush. It only adds to my already sinking feeling about how this next election is going to play out.'

o really. how many assholes felt compelled to post when any other candidates announced? how many of the other candidacy announcements were analyzed for their intellectual/moral content? how many questioned the announcer's ability to lead? how many managed a racial slur in their analysis?

did delbomber say bush was a cowboy and imply that he would sit across from Vladimir Putin and not bend over and squeal like a pig on cue?

no one gives a fuck about libertarian pussies, their idiotic opinions, or how they vote. If all of them had voted for Gore in FL he still would have lost, there's that few of them.

what is your sinking feeling about? 3/4 of the country despise bush and his policies. here is the benchmark for whether either party has a candidate worthy of an enthusiastic vote> 180 degree about face on bush policies energy,environment,public health,taxes,spending,education,foreign policy,you-name-it has been a disaster for the country.

Obama's not my guy, but i'm sick of the nazis on this fucking board spouting off like assholes and not too thrilled with there defenders for that matter-wake up or shut up.

comment #19

Brigadier Pudding says ...

"We are very fortunate to have President Bush. Presidents ... have to make decisions and move the country forward, and that's the kind of president I would like to be." - Rudolph Giuliani

Yeah, you repubs sure know how to pick 'em.

comment #20

Josh Massey says ...

If all liberals spoke as eloquently as EegrBvr, we conservatives would be in real trouble.

comment #21

rocco says ...

Hey GeeNius, ever consider I'm talking about Obama because Jeff posted about Obama? If or when Jeff starts tossing the salad of other candidates, I'll probably throw in a few croutons.