Aside from the "middle eastern" decent, and the uncanny coincidences involving his name(s), what can you guys say about Barack Obama?

He is largely the most unique candidate to the presidency in a while. Aside from the green party's Nader and "I-created-the-internet" Al Gore. He takes a stand against partisanship, lobbyists, and cooperate funding of politicians. He's decidedly against the Iraq war, yet supported the war in Afghanistan 100%. He's for raising the Pell Grant maximum to over 5,000 dollars, and raising the money that goes into the education system. He calls for Americans to be volunteers in their community, and refuses to accept donations from anyone but individuals.

Is this guy for real, or is he truly the most agressive, and intelligent politician we've seen in some time?


www.barackobama.com

Fine, he's black, against the war and anti-lobbyist. Not exactly presidential material. I really hope he doesn't win based on the 'diversity vote.' IMO he's too inexpeirenced, but I hope to see him next time. Also, he didn't support the Anti-Iraq vote that came before the elections (as many senators didn't).

I think the rap against his experience is not only bull****, but dangerous bull****.

Look at most of the candidates, and past presidents. Mostly they're lawyers who served rich people before running for Congress or the Senate. If they've spent twenty years in Congress but have never even worked deeply in their constituency, why is that experience?

Barack Obama has a decade in the Illinois State Senate. Look at his record there, it's dynamic and impressive. He also spent a decade as a professor of constituional law. Also he was a civil organizer. He worked with poor people, he worked with the destitute. Obama got people voting, helped to make sure that programs to aid them were effective and consistent.

Hilary has eight years in the Senate in 2008. So? Obama has four years in the senate, and ten in State Senate. That's almost twice and much experience by years.

==

I like Obama. Recently he's (so far) the only candidate to speak out for Palestianian rights. He connects with people in a way others can't because he's worked with them before. He understands the law and the Constitution, he taught it at the University of Chicago. I think he's exciting, qualified, and one of the best candidates in years.

As far as Democrats go I think Obama's a pretty good candidate, though I probably wouldn't vote for him simply because I think government should be trying to do less than it currently does rather than more.

As in less care an supported for the poorest of the poor and the uninsured or less oil wars?

Less care and support for the poorest of the poor. Those services should be funded by State governments (if at all), not the Federal government.

I'd just like to point out public education spending has been going up forever. At the same time loans for students have been capped by the federal governmnet. I'd like to know what his website says about that.


Gavik,
here is a record of Obama's bills this year. Don't worry, it doesn't look like he wants to cut social spending




Bills Sponsored by Barack Obama

Quote:

A concurrent resolution honoring the life of Percy Lavon Julian, a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry and the first and only African-American chemist to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/31/2007) (5) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 1/31/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. 2. A concurrent resolution condemning the recent violent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and members of civil society. Sponsor:[IL] (introduced 3/29/2007) (5) Committees: Senate Foreign Relations Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. 3. : A resolution celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/28/2007) (4) Latest Major Action: 3/28/2007 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. 4. : A bill to authorize resources for a grant program for local educational agencies to create innovation districts. Sponsor:[IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) None) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 5. : A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry. Sponsor:[IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. 6. A bill to authorize resources to provide students with opportunities for summer learning through summer learning grants. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) (1) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 7. : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) ) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. 8. : A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) (3) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. 9. : A bill to state United States policy for Iraq, and for other purposes. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/30/2007) Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. 10. : A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/31/2007) (11) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 1/31/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. 11. : A bill to require accountability and enhanced congressional oversight for personnel performing private security functions under Federal contracts, and for other purposes. Sponsor:IL] (introduced 2/16/2007) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/16/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. 12.: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 2/27/2007) 1) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: 2/27/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. 13. : A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 2/28/2007) (30) Committees: Senate Armed Services Latest Major Action: 2/28/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. 14. A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 in order to measure, compare, and improve the quality of voter access to polls and voter services in the administration of Federal elections in the States. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/1/2007) Cosponsors (None) Committees: Senate Rules and Administration Latest Major Action: 3/1/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. 15. : A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and for other purposes. Sponsor:[IL] (introduced 3/6/2007) (6) Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Latest Major Action: 3/6/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. 16.A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and for other purposes. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/6/2007) (6) Committees: Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 3/6/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. 17. : A bill to assist aliens who have been lawfully admitted in becoming citizens of the United States, and for other purposes. Sponsor:[IL] (introduced 3/7/2007) (3) Committees: Senate Judiciary Latest Major Action: 3/7/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. 18. : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to facilitating the development of microbicides for preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and for other purposes. Sponsor:[IL] (introduced 3/8/2007) (12) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 3/8/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 19. : A bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, transfer, and export of elemental mercury, and for other purposes. Sponsor:[IL] (introduced 3/15/2007) (1) Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works Latest Major Action: 3/15/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. 20. : A bill to secure the promise of personalized medicine for all Americans by expanding and accelerating genomics research and initiatives to improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis, increase the safety of drugs, and identify novel treatments. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/23/2007) (1) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 3/23/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 21. bill to require Federal agencies to support health impact assessments and take other actions to improve health and the environmental quality of communities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/29/2007) (3) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 22. : A bill to promote healthy communities. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/29/2007) (2) Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 23. To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/11/2007) (1) Latest Major Action: 1/18/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 41 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. 24. Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/12/2007) (1) Latest Major Action: 1/12/2007 Senate amendment submitted 25. Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/12/2007) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/12/2007 Senate amendment submitted 26. Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 1/24/2007) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 1/24/2007 Senate amendment submitted 27. To require consideration of high-risk qualifying criteria in allocating funds under the State Homeland Security Grant Program. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/5/2007) (7) Latest Major Action: 3/6/2007 Motion to table amendment SA 338 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 58 - 41. Record Vote Number: 62. 28. to provide $100 million for the Summer Term Education Program supporting summer learning opportunities for low-income students in the early grades to lessen summer learning losses that contribute to the achievement gaps separating low-income students from their middle-class peers. Sponsor:[IL] (introduced 3/21/2007) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 3/23/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 524 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. 29. Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/22/2007) (6) Latest Major Action: 3/22/2007 Senate amendment submitted 30. To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/22/2007) (4) Latest Major Action: 3/23/2007 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 599 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. 31. to To appropriate an additional $58,000,000 for Defense Health Program for additional mental health and related personnel, an additional $10,000,000 for operation and maintenance for each of the military departments for improved physical disability evaluations of members of the Armed Forces, and an additional $15,000,000 for Defense Health Program for women's mental health services. Sponsor: [IL] (introduced 3/27/2007) (12) Latest Major Action: 3/29/2007 Proposed amendment SA 664 withdrawn in Sena

I don't know about Obama. He doesn't seem to have much in the way of real plans or ideas yet. Whereas Edwards has concrete plans for most of his positions, which I like. Overall, if Obama can come up with some concrete plans over the next few months, he might have a chance.

Hmm, I like Obama. The only thing is, I haven't really seen him say anything in regards to issues. Other than the Iraq war.

Also, he did vote for the Patriot Act, which removes the idea that he is some how different than the rest. But, other than that he seems enthusiastic. He can't assume the nomination like so many bigwigs. If he wins, it will be issues, not his skin that makes him the victor- but thats it, where are the issues?