Has anyone coined the phrase "Obamania" yet? Cause if they haven't, I want the credit.

[Bucky]

He's getting a lot of free hype the likes of which we haven't seen since, well, since Schwarzeneggar's first run for governor in 2003. I don't like outsiders dicking with our democratic process (note the small "d" there). It doesn't matter that Obama's right on just about all the issues (note "right" means agrees with me in particular). I like the guy and I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. But the free handjob he's getting from the media, who then go on to report how people are "spontaneously" getting all worked up about his potential candidacy, just feels wrong.

"He's a mystery candidate" and "Just who is this Obama guy?" are the phrases the TV newsies read off their teleprompters. But there's no reason in the world the same hype couldn't have been generated about Vilsack or Kucinich or Biden or Moon Unit Zappa. The more discerning voices I hear from, the people who tend to form solid opinions early on in the selection process, aren't clammoring for Barack. They're asking "What has he done?" and occasionally "Why him?" I hope I don't sound too wonkish if I'm not satisfied by the usual answers like "He's a Great Communicator" or "Because he 'gets it'."

It feels like outsiders are telling us who to like; it feels like a really clever marketing scheme, orchestrated from quarters unknown. Sort of like the Hillary hype from last year. There's this sudden groundsurge for the candidacy of someone whom no one I know of was all that pumped up about before the hype started. I think he'd make a pretty decent president, but I feel that way about a lot of potential candidates. Frankly, the bar's been set pretty low for the past six years.

I trust Senator Obama and I'd trust President Obama, but I just don't trust this process. It smells wrong.

Seriously... Why him?

What has he done?

[kiahzero]

1. He's done nothing.

Oh, wait... he has pissed on Dems who don't share in his religious fervor. I guess that's something.

:shrug:

[MrTriumph]

2. And if his campaign fails will you call it a 'Obamination'?

And if he pulls a trick as the campaign closes, will it be an 'Obtober Surprise'?

[quinnox]

3. He is the current hot political celebrity

that is all really, it is mostly hype. He won't get the nomination in my opinion. But, I don't think there is any kind of conspiracy behind his high level of exposure right now!

[Bucky]

4. Yep, I google it and found this priceless quote

"Did you mean to search for: Abbamania?"

Then on one of the links, I got something pithier:

Missy sighed. "Do you know nothing about politics except what you learn from Oprah? Who, incidentally, just announced that Barack is her--quote--favorite guy for president."

"That woman is a genius," Sissy said.

Missy held up her newspaper. "But is her premature endorsement front-page news?"

"Hon, front-page news is anything that grabs the reader and moves him inside to the ads."

I see it now. Hyping Barack Obama is how they're grabbing the readers and selling the ads. Once again, I love my country.

[WI_DEM]

5. what did JFK do before he was nominated?

he was considered a light weight in the Senate even after 8 years in that chamber who authored no important legislation, was considered a playboy and missed lots of votes. But he was exciting, fresh and new and motivated many people in politics and went on to be elected president. I wouldn't count Obama out.

[Bucky]

8. I'm not counting him out at all (as you know if you read my words). I'm asking why he's "in."

Yes, the Kennedy comparison is there. But Kennedy's election, frankly, was a successful crapshoot. Like Lincoln, he was longer on natural talent than genuine experience. I'm looking for a Harry Truman, who was just about as prepared to run a government as any man in history. He was schooled by (and somewhat sponsored by) a corrupt machine. He spent the war ferreting out war profiteers and highlighting defense boondoggles until he was made VP by a dying man.

Kennedy took over a well managed goverment in a time of peace.

Obama's experience is also comparable to Jimmy Carter's and Dubya Bush's experience. The first was a brilliant man who still made elementary mistakes in office before learning how to do the job right. We still live with the consequences of his early errors. Bush, of course, made astounding errors that will haunt our country for the rest of this century.

[seriousstan]

6. Too late, it's already been coined....

Against Obamania
http://blog.zmag.org/node/2803 Tue, 2006-10-24 18:52

http://www.humanevents.com/rightangle/index.php?id=18404&title=obamania 11-28-2006 @ 11:20 PM

`Obamania' isn't everyone's cup of cappuccino September 27, 2006

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0609270308sep27,1,972634.column?coll=chi-navrailnews-nav

http://www.obamania.com/

I got 17,500 hit for the word on google.

[Atman]

7. Too hard to pronounce...you have to read it two or three times

to see where to place the emphasis. A good viral "coined phrase" is one which just seems natural, flows of the tongue...I still can't figure out how to say "Obamania" and make it sound like it's about Obama. Here's why...

oh-BAH-ma.

oh-bah-MAY-nee-a.

They don't sound connected. Obamania could be about Keith Olberman. A good catch phrase just sounds right, without having to think about it or even read it. Ironically, oh-BAH-ma-na-shun actually works, because phonetically it sounds like the word it is meant to imply. Obamania doesn't.

:shrug:

.

[SoCalDem]

9. I'll claim Obamariffic

:P

[seriousstan]

12. Nope, already been coined.....

Best of the Blogs . . . It's Obamariffic! October 24, 2006

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:zLTQx3xWqjQJ:www.bestoftheblogs.com/2006/10/best-of-blogs-its-obamariffic.html+Obamariffic&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

Obamariffic! Wed Jul 28, 2004 6:36 am

http://jonathan.pearce.name/mohtalim/viewtopic.php?t=658&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=&sid=98cb5df5b30a9c019a0fcf50267e0a52

[kcass1954]

10. I saw Obamarama somewhere on DU yesterday - that's my favorite! n/t

[msongs]

11. there is no obamania except perhaps in your own mind. he is on a

book tour, and that always generates interest if the person is a celebrity. will happen when bush writes a book LOL

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm