Wow. This passage written by Obama in 2004 just blows me away.

[milkyway]

In the Preface to the 2004 edition of "Dreams from my Father" when speaking of poverty, 9/11, and the government response, he writes:

I know, I have seen, the desperation and disorder of the powerless: how it twists the lives of children on the streets of Jakarta or Nairobi in much the same way as it does the lives of children on Chicago's South Side, how narrow the path is for them between humiliation and untrammeled fury, how easily they slip into violence and despair. I know that the response of the powerful to this disorder -- alternating as it does between a dull complacency and, when the disorder spills out of its proscribed confines, a steady, unthinking application of force, of longer prison sentences and more sophisticated military hardware -- is inadequate to the task. I know that the hardening of lines, the embrace of fundamentalism and tribe, dooms us all.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781400082773&itm=4#EXC

Like many people, I have been torn between Edwards and Obama. My deep respect for John Edwards, and Elizabeth, and the seemingly Clinton-like triangulating of Obama have prevented me from giving my full support to him. But Barack Obama is growing before our eyes. Watching him speak at the New Hampshire dinner tonight, he seemed a different person to me, one who after Iowa was aware of the tremendous historical responsibility he will soon have, one who sees the future with eyes wide open, aware of the burdens he will bear. Like Bob Dylan in the 60's, a gifted man and history have converged as if they were always meant to meet at this singular point.

I think almost certainly that Barack Obama will be our next president. The passage quoted above shows such a humane, progressive understanding of our times. My doubts about Barack Obama are melting away.

[JanusAscending]

1. " A gifted man and History are converging..."

Thank you for this, as I've felt this to my very soul since I first heard he was running. (basically because of his 2004 keynote speach!)

[DesertFlower]

3. same here.

i heard him speak at the 2004 convention and it was like OMG -- who is this guy? the more i see and hear, the more i like him. reminds me of the excitement when RFK was running.

[Mojorabbit]

9. I told my hubby in 2004

after we watched that speech that he would some day be president.

[NEM]

2. Repubs got the candidate they wanted, In Iowa...Barack Obama

I don't want people to get the wrong idea, here. Barack Obama is a dynamic young politician, with a brilliant future ahead of him.

But, he is the Republicans dream if he becomes the Dems candidate in November.

The South is as racist as ever, albeit much is covert.

The "Mormon Belt",. Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho,.Arizona, Colorado, Eastern Washington, Northeast California, will never vote for a man of color, never.

Even in staunch dem cities like Boston , NYC, Philly, they are overrun with covert racism....in Boston for example, the Irish will never, for the most part, vote for a black man. They will vote Republican.....even though they are democrats by nature.

I have nothing against the Irish. My second wife was 100% Irish, my 3rd is 50% Irish....but the truth is the truth, anti black is vast and very prominent in Boston, NYC and Philly.
And other major northeast cities.

I am a realist, and far from a racist.

And, I will vote for Obama if he is the candidate...but I believe it will be one of the biggest mistakes the Democrats will ever make.

They are in position to take over the White House, and the congress with, perhaps an even wider majority, and they will put it ALL in jeopardy of Obama is their candidate.

Barack Obama is the GOP's dream in November.

[DesertFlower]

4. the polls say he is the one who

can defeat anyone of the repubs.

i do worry about the racism too.

[JackRiddler]

25. What did the polls say in Jan. 2004? 2000? 1996? 1992? 1988? etc.

If you believe in week-to-week polling, please tell me how often the one who polled best in January was still number one the day after the election.

[dysfunctional press]

33. actually, i thought that it was edwards who polled best against all the repugs.

:shrug:

[AzDar]

35. That's certainly what I've seen. Edwards beats EVERY Repub handily.

[Zueda]

5. How often does any Dem pick-up the "Mormon belt"?

My take on this issue is that most folks who won't vote for a black man won't be voting for a Dem anyway. And what few that won't will easily be countered by Barack's ability to inspire and motivate new voters among the youth and independents.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

40. As an Arizonan, I can tell you that the Mormon factor is being greatly overestimated here

There are definitely local areas where they are a huge factor, such as the city of Mesa. But AZ is growing at an exponential rate, with thousands of people moving in from all over the country daily. We're outregistering the Repubs 3 to 1 right now.

[Genevieve]

6. You say "anti black is vast and very prominent in Boston, NYC "

i am a native New Yorker - i have lived in the heart of New York City my entire life.
Maybe in New York State, where they still vote predominantly Repug-
but not in NYC, where the vast majority of us Manhattanites are true liberals and NOT racists.

[JackRiddler]

26. Spectacular provincialism of the Metropolis

Yeah, the majority of white people left over in rent control or who otherwise can afford to live in Manhattan below 100th St. have successfully convinced themselves of what you're saying, and are among those who will vote for a black man to prove they are not racist (even if they might be).

Now take the train out to Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx - never mind Long Island or New Jersey where just as many people live - and get to know the white people and the non-African immigrant communities who live there. You will discover, sadly, a very different picture of the racism still very much alive in New York.

This city elected Giuliani, remember - not by a fix, either. The CITY.

[LibraLiz1973]

7. Obama is not a winning candidate and the Thugs know it

and are fully encouraging his campaign.

The race card is probably the last card they will play with him- they have so many other things to use first.

[Hutzpa]

28. Like what?? n/t

[ellisonz]

50. Ahh...the central premise of the Edwards campaign.

[Tinksrival]

11. Pasty white Iowa disagrees with you

How will we ever know if we don't try. When will be the the right time and the right place for you.

The time has come and go.

The time is now.

Obama is the man to bring us back together.

Obama can erase those fears

IT CAN HAPPEN.


I for one hope it happens now.....in my life time.

[GenDem]

46. Exactly!

He won in Iowa! Iowa -- where a lot of white people live.

[cali]

15. yawn.

more racist claptrap. After Iowa, I'd think some of that might melt away. I should have known better.

And he's not young. He'd be 47 years old by the time he was sworn in. He's solidly middle aged.

[never_get_over_it]

21. He is fairly young to be President

everything is relative - I think that he would be the fifth youngest President.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

23. Yeah, cause everybody in the south is so goddamn hot to trot for Hillary Clinton.

I don't see any way we don't lose the south wholesale in this election. They sure as hell aren't voting for a black man and they sure as hell aren't voting for "Hitlery" either.

[Hutzpa]

29. Edwards......

there are some here that would led you to believe Edwards will carry the South, he was in the ticket 2004 and we lost the South miserably...soo what difference does it make who is the lead man,
they can't even vote for their own son, that tells me the South are just plain Rethugs anyway(racist), so no matter who wins, the South is not going to change if they don't want to. period!!

[Fla Dem]

30. Enough Bostonians voted for a black candidate for Ma. Governor, whether Irish or not. n/t

[Arugula Latte]

38. The Repubs wanted Hillary. She is the one who inspires the other side to vote.

Believe me, they are shaking in their boots at the prospect of Obama.

[Blue-Jay]

41. We appreciate your concern.

[Hutzpa]

44. I don't know but to me you come across as suspect

I have nothing against the Irish. My second wife was 100% Irish, my 3rd is 50% Irish....but the truth is the truth, anti black is vast and very prominent in Boston, NYC and Philly.

THAT is such a racist statement it makes my blood boil, example:- like a white man being accused of racism and him pointing out that his best friend is black WTF!!!

I think YOU in particular don't want to see change, you wants to keep the same ol crap, same ol status quo, YOU are suspect in my eyes, you hear the word change and you've gone all 'murky' soiling your pants......the truth is bro (notice I used the word bro, because we are in the same forum) people like yourself hate changes, you'll acknowledge the status quo because you are comfortable with divisions, its a way to hide your weaknesses.

P.S

Now...I'm waiting for you to tell me about your charities you've been involved in and how you've donated to black and Irish charities .


:grr:

[HughMoran]

49. Tweety actually said something smart WRT Obama. He said purple states would go his way

I tend to agree with him. I think Obama will be able to take the marginal states.

You do realize that a Dem wasn't going to win the southern and western states anyway, didn't you?

You're all wet.

[woo me with science]

8. Oh man.

Wouldn't it be fun to spring that passage on Bush one day and ask him to read it out loud and then say what it means?

[killbotfactory]

13. LOL

:rofl:

[JBoy]

24. Ha!

"Dull complacency. It means you're complacent. And not very sharp."

[woo me with science]

39. Touche. nt

[Fading Captain]

10. "growing before our eyes" -- Too much melodrama in the Obama Camp

eom

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. No kidding!

:eyes:

[BenDavid]

12. Same old ad hominem crap this guy has been serving up since

he began. Change, Change, Change. TO WHAT, TO WHAT, TO WHAT?? This guy has no experience, no ideas, no plans, no direction, only 'change?, whipping up the emotion of anti-establishment without a plan. He will have to change a lot before I would feel comfortable with him making decisions and quite possibly the Taliban with their finger on the nuclear button. This situation in Pakistan really brought things into focus. Who would you trust with your life? That IS what it comes down to? I want experience, strength, ability, direction and wisdom. Sorry, none present with Obama.

[killbotfactory]

14. What was "ad hominem" about the quoted passage?

Do you even know what that means?

[Hutzpa]

31. Oh stop....you know that will give him an headache n/t

[cali]

16. Who would I trust with my life?

Obama. Edwards. Clinton. In that order. Over any repuke.

Why don't you stuff your bullshit.

[Skidmore]

19. K&R cali's response because

I couldn't have responded better.

[H2O Man]

34. It may be

that the bump-on-a-log or the stick-in-the-mud mind-set will prevent some from grasping what he is saying. But his message is as positive and evidence of an open mind, as your's is negative and suggesting of a closed mind.

[milkyway]

48. H2O Man, have you read this book? If you have, I'd be interested in your opinion. In

just reading this preface, Obama is clearly a deeply thoughtful person. The idea that the disorder of the powerless is treated with dull complacency by the powerful until it spills out of its confined space (and disrupting the world of the powerful) and is then met with steady unthinking force is such a profound statement that stands in stark contrast to the nonsense that passes for discourse nowadays.

I do still have my doubts about Obama. Sometimes it seems he's more a concept than a set of policy positions. And he seems to have mastered the Clinton triangulation strategy of never giving the wingnuts anything that would give them a clear shot at him. But when I come across things like this passage, I can imagine the great possibilities of his presidency.

I think it's best he's running for president this year instead of waiting. I heard Barack say recently that his wife says it's good to run for the presidency now because they're not that far from being normal people (meaning it wasn't too many years since they were a typical middle class family), so they still remember what it's like. Barack has a line about how some people say he needs more "seasoning" and he needs to have all the hope boiled out of him. I agree with him. The longer he's in Washington the more enmeshed with the powerful he will be come. I want a President Obama that isn't too far removed from the person who wrote this passage.

[milkyway]

17. kick.

[creeksneakers2]

20. Obama inspires n/t

[defendandprotect]

22. If you want single-payer health care, NO on Obama ---

[Pastiche423]

32. And no on johnnyboy and no on Clinton

So, who do you say yes to?

[JanusAscending]

43. Did you even WATCH the debate tonight?

He is no longer for single pay healthcare, so stop the bullshit!!

[Hailtothechimp]

27. Sure hope you're wrong.

If the nation as a whole does not want the kind of better tomorrow that Obama wants, then maybe this isn't the nation we thought it was.

[defendandprotect]

45. Is Obama for single-payer health care --- ??? Is he #2 on taking money from health care industry?

Just behind Hillary?

The "for profit" health care industry?

[killbotfactory]

36. Do you know what this says to me?

That's right: SOFT ON CRIME. Run with it Clinton, run with it.

[Arugula Latte]

37. I've had a similar process.

The Barack Obama who spoke at the '04 Convention -- Wow. I was ready to follow him to the ends of the Earth. When the campaigns got under way, we sent him a bit of money. Then I started being somewhat taken aback by a few things -- his seeming semi-pandering to religious crazies, his support of Joe Lieberman, the DLCish stuff. We turned to Edwards. However, I realized Edwards would never inspire the passion of Obama (and he did vote for the IWR). None of these candidates is 100% perfect; I'm a realist. I think Edwards is a very long shot to make it to the nomination, and as I turn back to Obama, I am again struck by how magnetic, inspiring and uplifting the man can be.

If he is our nominee, I will be a proud and enthusiastic supporter.

[loyalsister]

42. He understands the world in a way the other candidates can't

"the embrace of fundamentalism and tribe, dooms us all."
That's what he gets. That's why he can be so unbelievably transformational for our country.
That's where he is different from the other two candidates.

Obama may quietly be in favor of single payer, but he knows that stark warlike partisanship does not get a healthcare plan near what Dennis Kuccinich wants passed.
He knows that talking about how different people who are poor are from everyone else is not going to lift us up.

He knows these things because of his personal experience as a minority.
He also knows that only a minority of the country feels rage against the administration.
He knows how to negotiate and bring people together because he had to fit in despite not being a part of the group.
It's easy to speak to the choir with talking points downloaded from the internet.
It's more difficult to appeal to the country with a platform that addresses universal problems and cares.

[cooolandrew]

47. EXACTLY. The election of Obama will be historical and momentus. His record speaks for the people.