Re-Think

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An interesting Newsweek piece by Fareed Zakaria (dated 7.19) that carefully explains how the rap on Barack Obama (i.e., softheaded idealist who thinks that he can charm America's enemies) is off the mark, and that his world view "is far from that of a typical liberal, [and] much closer to that of a traditional realist." From an historical perspective, at least, Zakaria claims that Obama seems more "the cool conservative" -- particularly given his reported admiration for the dispassionate foreign policy moves of the first Bush administration -- "and McCain the exuberant idealist."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 20, 2008 at 1:30 PM

comment #1

Entropy says ...

If this is true, then why would you like him?

The media knows Obama has the most extreme leftists on his side and that people are starting to see through the Pollyanna facade. Now they have to protray him as a centrist to win. Might work. Not guaranteed with polls closing in.

What Obama does not undertand is that Reagan did not move to the center...he moved the electorate to the right.

Posted by Entropy at July 20, 2008 1:48 PM

comment #2

snackyx says ...

"From an historical perspective, at least, she claims..."

I believe Zakaria is a HE, not a SHE.

Posted by snackyx at July 20, 2008 1:52 PM

comment #3

Scott Feinberg says ...

Snackyx is correct

Posted by Scott Feinberg at July 20, 2008 1:56 PM

comment #4

SpinDozer says ...

'The media knows Obama has the most extreme leftists on his side and that people are starting to see through the Pollyanna facade. Now they have to protray him as a centrist to win. Might work. Not guaranteed with polls closing in.'

I guess this makes sense if you come from the far right. The 'extreme leftists' you refer to must be somewhere between Shining Path guerrilla supporters and regular democrats, but I can assure you they do not have any Pollyana facade to overcome, they are supporting the very much lesser of two evils. What a right winger like you ought to be concerned with is McCain's newly minted right wing credentials while he simultaneously tries to appeal to the Center with pledges to do something about Global Warming (which doesn't exist, right?).

You are also quite wrong about the electorate as virtually any public opinion poll on any number of issues would show. What Reagan changed (for the worse - aided and abetted by a complicit media) was the language of the debate.

Posted by SpinDozer at July 20, 2008 2:14 PM

comment #5

SaveFarris says ...

"He doesn't divide the world into good and evil even when speaking about terrorism."

That may just be the most naive thing I've ever read. Go ahead Barack and tell us that those who rammed planes into buildings and target civilians aren't "evil". Go ahead. See how that works out for you.

Posted by SaveFarris at July 20, 2008 2:19 PM

comment #6

D.Z. says ...

Farris: "Go ahead Barack and tell us that those who rammed planes into buildings and target civilians aren't "evil". Go ahead."

Reagan didn't think they were evil when he trained them to do that...

Posted by D.Z. at July 20, 2008 2:52 PM

comment #7

George Prager says ...

I believe Zakaria is a HE, not a SHE.

Meanwhile, it turns out that Ramesh Ponnuru is not a lesbian:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=v0S5HeKcjg0

Posted by George Prager at July 20, 2008 3:10 PM

comment #8

Count Thread says ...

Danny, swallow a gun.

Posted by Count Thread at July 20, 2008 3:26 PM

comment #9

BurmaShave says ...

Jesus Wells, she? really?

Posted by BurmaShave at July 20, 2008 3:44 PM

comment #10

Count Thread says ...

Cut him slack-- he's so much more informed than the rubes, he can afford to not know who the hell Fareed Zakaria is.

Fareed, Fallujah, Fallopian-- doesn't matter, just as long as "she" is supporting the Obamessiah,

Posted by Count Thread at July 20, 2008 4:33 PM

comment #11

BurmaShave says ...

I suppose we're lucky he didn't call him Fareed Wallah Mullah

Posted by BurmaShave at July 20, 2008 7:49 PM

comment #12

Sweetbubba says ...

Given his constant flubs, it's apparent Obama is no scholar of history, that's for sure. Hopefully he's a smart enough guy to figure it out as he goes along, and is strong enough willed to do what's right even if it's contrary to previous positions.

Posted by Sweetbubba at July 20, 2008 8:12 PM

comment #13

Edward says ...

Sweetbubba talked about Obama's constant flubs...And McCain is the ideal of straight talk and fine thought?

Posted by Edward at July 20, 2008 9:45 PM

comment #14

Sweetbubba says ...

McCain has tons of flaws and I don't support him, but at least he doesn't have Obama's embarrassing habit of mucking up history and geography.

For an obviously smart guy, he's constantly making flubs - man, they better just be flubs, and not indicative of a genuine lack of knowledge, because that would be downright terrifying.

Posted by Sweetbubba at July 20, 2008 10:31 PM

comment #15

D.Z. says ...

Bubba: "McCain has tons of flaws and I don't support him, but at least he doesn't have Obama's embarrassing habit of mucking up history and geography."

McCain thinks Czechoslovakia still exists...

Posted by D.Z. at July 20, 2008 11:44 PM

comment #16