Candidate File: Obama, Barack H.

Discussion in 'Politics' started by Tiassa, Feb 25, 2008.

  1. Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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    Source: New York Times
    Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/opinion/24kristof.html
    Title: "Obama's Kenyan Roots", by Nicholas D. Kristof
    Date: February 24, 2008

    Going all the way to Kogelo, Mr. Kristof failed to get an interview with Mama Sarah, grandmother of Senator Barack Obama. Nonetheless, he brings us some reflections:

    The article includes a video segment, not quite two and a half minutes, from Kristof and cameraman Naka Nathaniel.
     
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  3. Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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    Barack to the Future

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    (Image by Daniel Heller, via Slog)
     
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  5. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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    Young Barack al-Hussein attending al-Qaeda training camp

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    Obama's Very Black Father​
     
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  7. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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  8. Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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    Vote Bob ... the Builder

    Source: The Independent
    Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinio...-america-vote-for-bob-the-builder-778589.html
    Title: "Change. Hope. America. Vote for Bob the Builder...", by Mark Steel
    Date: February 6, 2008

    One of Britain's funnier voices on Senator Barack Obama, American politics, and voters:

    And I suppose I should warn our more sensitive or prudish readers. You can print the word "shit" in British media.

    Sometimes it seems as mysterious to me that our neighbors abroad should be so mystified by our political process. Especially so astute and comedic observer as Mr. Steel.

    We have to be sold on everything. That's part of it. Our culture revolves around spending, around buying and selling. Part of what confuses American voters is that they're not actually putting down money on the vote itself. So they're not looking at it quite the same way as if they were, say, buying a hooker: "Yes, but just how good, can you make me feel? And how will you do it?"

    The candidates, for their part, are trying to sell us on ideas, so that we will vote for them. There is a reason American politics have such an irrational tone about them; just look at our advertising. I mean, I was sad to learn that the gay Guinness ad got yanked for controversy, but compare that degree of creativity to the shite we get in the on our side of the Pond. Have you ever seen our car commercials°?

    Okay, one more for nostalgia: Jason Alexander ("George Costanza", Seinfeld) for McDonald's, circa 1985.

    Point being, American politics is a consumer game, and American consumers are accustomed to ... well, yeah.

    Give us an honest politician and we'll run him° out of town.

    Now add in the special interests. These people invest tremendous amounts of money in electing politicians, and expect a return on their investment. A contract here, a tax break there. Maybe a loosening of safety and labor laws. In Washington state, for instance, we are having trouble regulating payday loans; the Consumer Protection Committee chair, Rep. Steve Kirby (D-Tacoma), who received political contributions from the industry, is quashing bills°. Everything in our political process is about buying and selling.

    I mean, for all the criticism American "capitalism" receives, both at home and, more directly in this instance, abroad, I would think this aspect of our politics would be clear. There is a reason everything sounds like a sales pitch during election season. That's exactly what is happening. And in a culture accustomed to nickel-and-dime fine-print technicalities, the best thing for the politicians to do is stay just vague enough that, while it sounds good, they're not actually saying anything.

    Or maybe I'm reading him wrong. Maybe he's just playing to his audience, a bunch of bewildered Brits. Or, maybe, he doesn't actually give a damn, and is simply playing for laughs.

    In fact, that might be it.
    ____________________

    Notes:

    ° car commercials — Okay, admittedly, that one's over twenty years old, but I actually watched that ad on KTZZ-22 when I was a kid. And, come on, look at how shady the politician is in the next spot. I remember that campaign, too. Oh, yeah, Cal was eventually kicked out of Washington.

    ° him — If the politician is female, we'll pause before we get out the torches and pitchforks in order to ask, "But is she hot?" Before you go thinking that suggests a solution, it simply won't work. Put a hot chick in office, and nobody will take her seriously. The whole point of electing her would be to brag about how hot she is. ("Your mayor is terrible!" Yeah, but she's hot!)

    ° quashing bills — Regarding Kirby, see Josh Feit, "Petitioning the Governor". The latest bill died in committee (Feit, "Oly Outrage Pt. 2"). See also, Niki Sullivan, "Payday loan limits not likely this session".
     
  9. Ganymede Valued Senior Member

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    I see where Obama gets his million dollar smile from. His father has a very warming and presentable smile.
     
  10. Exhumed Self ******. Registered Senior Member

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    Awesome pics + captions there

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  11. DeepThought Banned Banned

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    LOL!

    Now tell us how intelligent he looks.
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2008
  12. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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    DeepThought: "Now tell us how intelligent he looks."

    Shall I compare him to a W?
    He's more lovely and more temperate.
    He's like McDLT vs. Hamburger Helper.
     
  13. Exhumed Self ******. Registered Senior Member

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    lol. I was going to say, "please just ignore the troll"... but that was hilarious.
     
  14. Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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    The Spirit of '76?

    Source: The New York Observer
    Link: http://www.observer.com/2008/turning-obama-jimmy-carter
    Title: "Turning Obama Into Jimmy Carter", by Steve Kornacki
    Date: February 25, 2008

    As history seems cyclical, and given the stumbling Congressional leadership that only recently, in the House, has attempted to even pretend to show some courage, it would be supremely unwise to write off the GOP. As Steve Kornacki notes of the 1976 contest between President Gerald Ford and former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter:

     
  15. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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    In secret ritual, B. Hussein, Obama receives Evil-Muzlin-Terrist Poison-Stick​
     
  16. Exhumed Self ******. Registered Senior Member

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    Heh. I can't believe the desperation and Limbaughesque methods the Clinton camp is showing. If this actually works I won't be able to express my disappointment. I don't see any of the news media calling her on the obvious. There has been an avoidance of going beyond the accusation that the Clinton campaign released the photo.

    I can't believe there was nothing on her feigned outrage. It is easily shown to be hilariously wrong, and sad. :/ I wonder what Obama will do tonight? I don't think he can stick to the high road completely, given what Hillary is doing. That would be like how John Kerry initially thought the swift-boat story wasn't worthy of his attention.
     
  17. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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  18. Buffalo Roam Registered Senior Member

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    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3284825.ece

    Exclusive: Obama fundraiser linked to corrupt Iraqi
    Reported 01/31/2008 by The Times

    King Abdullah IISunday Times Rich List: Nadhmi AuchiAn undeclared payment of $3.5 million (1.75 million) from a corrupt Iraqi-British businessman has landed Barack Obama's former fundraiser behind bars.The payment, disclosed in court papers, is the first time Mr Obama's ...


    An undeclared $3.5 million (£1.8 million) payment from a corrupt Iraqi-British businessman has landed Barack Obama’s former fundraiser behind bars.

    The payment, disclosed in court papers, is the first time that Mr Obama’s long-serving bagman Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a Syrian immigrant to the United States, has been linked to Nadhmi Auchi, the Iraqi-born billionaire who is one of Britain’s richest men. The relationship is a potential embarrassment for Mr Obama, who has made his opposition to the Iraq war a central plank of his campaign.

    The Tony Rezko documents
    Court papers describe Mr Rezko as a close friend of Mr Auchi. The two are involved in a large Chicago land development together. But it is unclear how long the two men have known each other or whether they were linked before the 2003 Iraq war. Neither side would discuss their relationship.

    The Times has, however, discovered state documents in Illinois recording that Fintrade Services, a Panamanian company, lent money to Mr Obama’s fundraiser in May 2005.

    Fintrade’s directors include Ibtisam Auchi, the name of Mr Auchi’s wife. Mr Auchi’s spokespeople declined to respond to a question about whether he was linked to this business.

    Mr Rezko, to be tried for corruption this month, had his bail revoked on Monday after he disobeyed a court’s instructions to keep it informed of changes to his finances. Prosecutors feared that he could try to flee abroad.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2008
  19. Buffalo Roam Registered Senior Member

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    Limbaughesque? :roflmao: you need some education, this is pure Clinton from start to finish.

    Rush has a far more subtitle touch in his repertoire, than something as ham handed as this.
     
  20. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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    I'll second James Millar's comment on your Limbaugher-smelling Times article, BR:
    John K. Wilson debunks this smear well, over at Daily Kos.

    OK let's watch the debate.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2008
  21. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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    Hillary is not starting off well- She'd better either get it together, or get off the stage.
     
  22. hypewaders Save Changes Registered Senior Member

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    Maybe I'm the only one watching here, but if you're looking for a better internet feed than MSNBC's disgraceful one, it's here at cleveland.com.
     
  23. Exhumed Self ******. Registered Senior Member

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    I'm watching...! Obama is killing her! (!!) Russert sort of is too

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    She's had some wet eyes so far, and is getting smashed in content.

    Hillary in this debate, basically =

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