Hillary's turn to announce next?

Source: - http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/01/16/obama_to_enter_2008_white_house_race/

Democrat Obama enters 2008 White House race



By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent | January 16, 2007

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois jumped into the 2008 White House race on Tuesday, promising to bring Americans together and "change our politics" with a campaign that could make him the first black president in U.S. history.

Obama, a freshman senator and rising party star, formed a committee to begin raising money and hiring staff to campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to succeed Republican President George W. Bush.

He plans a formal campaign announcement in his hometown of Chicago on February 10.

"Our leaders in Washington seem incapable of working together in a practical, common sense way. Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can't tackle the big problems that demand solutions," Obama said in a video message announcing his bid.

"We have to change our politics, and come together around our common interests and concerns as Americans," he said.

I agree that Obama's speeches are great. I, as all were, tremendously enthusiastic about the Junior Senator from IL when I heard him first at the DNC Convention. He seemed bright, brilliant and the one to unite a divided country. He talked a lot about hope and his book has received good reviews. Mind you, I have not read it.

However, since his entrace to the Senate, he was seemingly quiet under a Republican leadership of a 'do nothing rubber-stamp' congress. He talked a lot but has always echoed the talking points of his colleagues at the democratic side. For example, Senators Reed and Levin introduced a legislation of a orderly phased redoployment of US forces from Iraq in 4-6 months and it talked about a political solution not a military solution to the abyss in Iraq. They were criiticized heavily and were labeled 'cut and runners'. Obama was quiet. It was one sane Republican Hagel who stood up at the Senate floor and denounced the attack. It seems rather absurd that the attacks of such nature on a non-binding resolution which needed bi-partisam support from both sides of the aisle would need a republican senator to defend it and denounce such attacks. Where was Barrack then? And now all of a sudden we see him coming to every talk shows and commentaries in news media blabbering as if it was his idea of what he now calls 'political acoomodation' of US forces.

I think it would be a mistake to vote for Obama just because of some of his speech and catchy slogans. He needs to prove what he is capable of. There has been enough 'political slogans' and phrases. Remember the young governer from Texas? Nothing to show for in his Governership yet he had pitchy speeches and promises that are yet to be kept.

For those who missed it, this is Barak Obama delivering the keynote speech at the Democratic national convention in Boston in 2004:

Thanks captain for Obama's Speech...It was one of the best speech I have ever listened..He has a great potential to attract people...

Neutral wrote:

"Ashu ji,

good to see you around....is it not a ringt moment for a Sjha veteran like Ashu to present an objective analysis of current politcal scenario in Nepal?"

******

Neutral-ji,

I would be the first one to tell you that my so-called "veteran" status on Sajha gives me SOME
experience in handling debates and discussions,
and in occasionally nudging and shaping the flows
and the content of some of the conversations.

But beyond that, I would NOT extend the scope of my
so-called "veteran" status.

The beauty of Sajha is that most of the time, after you shrug off the fluff, it's the quality of your ideas
that matter, NOT your "veteran" status. And most people
recognize that -- one way or the other.

As for political comments, there are two ways to look at them:

1) Playing to the gallery, saying the popular things,
and getting wah-wahs and thinking that you are a cool/clever guy, or

2) Quietly, persistently and honestly, if laboriously, influencing thinking at the highest levels by creating allies, winning over skeptics and pushing for a larger positive agenda that you think benefits most people.

Either one is fine.

But for now, let's just say that I personally find the sheer difficulty (i.e. time, efforts and patience required) of the second process very, very attractive .. . to invest my time in.

Other than that, Sajha, like those utterly dark
chocolates that my wife catches me snacking on from
time to time, remains a thoroughly guilty pleasure.

Back to Obama, please.

oohi
ashu

How favorable is his Middle name 'Hussein' for 2008 presidential election?
Barack Hussein Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

Having Hussein as middle name of a US president would probably work as a shoothing balm over this festering wound of the world we call Middle-east. That is if the ignorants of America get over it.

I have read both his book ,"The audacity of hope " and one about his father.He comes as a person who can climb the race, class and age barriers.
As he said in his annoucement speech for the campaign, he is a common sense guy and that is what we need right now.
Have any of you read that article in NYT about $ 1.3 trillion dollars expenditure in Iraq?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/business/17leonhardt.html?em&ex=1169269200&en=0d6743c864e8ea1b&ei=5087%0A

The next election in the USA is quite a GREAT EXPECTATION for me.

Is it this soon that people of USA will vote for Black (minority) or Woman as a president to rule their nation?????

I doubt it....

It is indeed very interesting how his middle name is going to play out. As he likes to say he was a "skinny kid with a funny name." He also mentioned that his parent could have chosen to name him something else but believed in the "tolerant and accepting nature" of American society when they chose to name him Barack Obama.

He needs to get this message out in force - clearly he needs to shape his campaign to appeal to the better nature of Americans - and not to their fears. He did a good job with this in the Illinois senate race and I hope he can do so again in the national race.

But all is fair in love,war and politics. I am sure his opponents will use the Hussein card - it could work but it could backfire too. Obama's candidacy is an opportunity for whites in America to forever lay to rest the notion that elements of racism still linger in this society. I personally feel his stand on the issues, rather than his race, is what will make or break him. Those people who wont vote for him because of his race would prolly not vote for God if God were black and ran for President so I don't think Obama needs to be too worried about them. The key is the middle - those independents and moderate Republicans who voted for him the last time around - and there I think he has a fighting chance.

---

This podcast from On Point on WBUR Boston and NPR discusses his candidacy.The program is 45 minutes long.

Source: - http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2007/01/20070117_a_main.asp

Program excerpt:

Obama: Presidential Contender

And then there was word of an Illinois legislator and Congressional neophyte, just two years in Washington, who turned his attention to the presidency in a time of national crisis. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

Expect to hear a lot about Mr. Lincoln as neophyte Illinois senator Barack Obama makes his newly-minted run for the White House. Yesterday came the first formal signal that Obama -- African-American, with a story all his own -- is going for it.

Next month, in Springfield, Illinois, where Honest Abe made his "house divided" speech, Obama will make it official.

This hour On Point: from the Land of Lincoln, Barack Obama sets his sites on the White House.


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