not that my endorsement means much of anything, but . . .

Obama

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83 thoughts on “not that my endorsement means much of anything, but . . .”

  1. Indeed! I used to really like Hillary, but her & Bill are just getting kind of over the top. Barack’s going to be here in Saint Paul this weekend!

  2. Do not forget that Obama has never won an election when his opponent didn’t drop out.
    He was elected to the U.S. Senate after his opponent Jack Ryan was forced out because of unproven rumors of a sex scandal.
    He was elected an Illinois State Senator after paying lawyers to force all other opponents off the ballot.
    He first ran for Congress the same (2000) year Hillary did. His opponent wouldn’t drop out. Obama was creamed 2 to 1.
    According to David Jackson in the Chicago Tribune:
    “A close examination of Obama’s first campaign clouds the image he has cultivated throughout his political career: The man now running for president on a message of giving a voice to the voiceless first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it. His overwhelming legal onslaught signaled his impatience to gain office, even if that meant elbowing aside an elder stateswoman like Palmer.”

  3. It seems like this election began years ago — probably because it did — and I’ve been pretty much undecided for most of it.
    When Chris Dodd stood up for our constitution at a time when nobody else was willing to do it, I took a good look at his record, and felt like I could fully support him.
    He dropped out the following week, so I went back to Undecided.
    Edwards seemed to “get” populism and shared many of my beliefs — at least, it appeared that way. The more I watched him speak, the more disingenuous he appeared to me. I don’t know exactly what it was, but he seemed inauthentic to me, and that turned me off.
    I have a lot of reasons to not support Hillary Clinton, leading among them her unwavering support for the disaster in Iraq and her representation of the Establishment. I’m also not thrilled about the prospect of 24 years of Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton rule.
    So I started paying closer attention to Barack Obama, and I noticed something: every time he spoke, I felt inspired. I believe in him in a way that I couldn’t believe in Clinton or Edwards.
    When Edwards dropped out today, my choice for president became clear. I went to Old Town, and signed up to volunteer for the campaign. I believe that Barack Obama is the best candidate running for president who can begin to repair the damage inflicted on my country by George W. Bush. I miss my country, and Barack Obama gives me hope that I can get it back.

  4. My calculus is even simpler, Wil. Hillary will lose in November — too many Republicans hate her and her husband. Obama may or may not beat McCain, but he has a chance, and so he gets my support in the primary.

  5. Pocket change?
    change of underwear?
    what kind of change? Change to what exactly?
    That is what I want to know platitudes are wonderful, but how about some concrete ideas?*
    * Former Hill Staffer and cynical bastard I ask this of anyone I’d consider to vote for, not specific to Senator Obama.

  6. Welcome – he’s smart, he’s motivational, he will bring this country in the right direction. Obama will surround himself with smart people on his cabinet, so it’ll be Team Obama with him leading.
    @ beyond ken – his first congressional run was against a strong incumbant. his loss had nothing to do with his capabilities. the neighborhood liked their congressman so they voted to keep the incumbant.

  7. Andrew,
    my calculus is the exact opposite. The Republicans who hate Hillary won’t vote for any democrat. She only has to win over the independents. And my fear with Obama is that he’s untested. His Chicago real estate pickle (while not much of a scandal by itself) could be the tip of an iceberg. We just don’t know the guy. Yes, Hillary’s got her warts, but we know ALL about them.

  9. I was actually wondering about this earlier today. Yesterday I cast my early-vote for him in my state’s primary.

  11. It’s funny. My father has been a life long Democrat (that would put his party leanings at 71 years of age). He came by it honestly, having a mother and father who fought for civil rights in the late 50’s (they were white BTW).
    Two nights ago, he sent me an e-mail urging me to vote for Obama. He has NEVER been this fired up about a candidate in my memory. He himself said that this is the first time since Kennedy that he has felt so inspired and hopeful.
    Of course, I listen to my daddy! Actually, I already voted for him by mail, but it was great to hear my wise old father be so enthusiastic.
    Go Obama!

  12. The bottom line is that although I’d be happy with either milestone (first Female US President or first African American US President), Hillary inspires such hatred from Republicans that she’d almost certainly lose to a relatively moderate McCain and perhaps even to Romney.
    Heck, I’m not even sure I’d choose her over McCain, because I think he has more integrity and that’s important to me.
    If we want a Democrat in the White House, and I certainly do, I think it’s going to be Obama, as long as he doesn’t do something stupid or some skeleton doesn’t pop out of his closet.

  13. @Jimbeaux: But running Hillary as the candidate will bring those Republicans to the polls to make sure she doesn’t win. If it’s Obama, more of them might stay home. I’m not counting on Obama switching any GOP votes.

  16. Unfortunately Obama’s idea of economic reform is to raise the Capital Gains Tax, which will basically result in an economic disaster for this country. He also supports drivers licenses for illegal immigrants which is a hot button issue for many people. It would be nice if we, as a country, could afford to pay everything for everyone, unfortunately it’s far from reality.
    Obama is certainly better than Bush and I really WANT to support him, but his economic policy is terrible. Right now this country needs a good economic leader, but I doubt we’ll find one in the next election. I guess as long as we get out of Iraq, I’ll be happy.

  17. After Edwards bowed out today, I shifted over to the Obama camp. The media just ignored Edwards, that’s what killed him most I think. He’s had a profound effect on the nature of the campaign by forcing the two main candidates to talk about poverty, unions, etc.

  18. You are not alone… I was in the Obama camp since at least last January. I don’t support Hilary because she doesn’t exactly treat my area of the state as if it exists. And she says she tries to support all of New York… pfffttt. If she does end up somehow winning the dems nomination, I’ll still probably vote for her though but it’ll be close if McCain wins.
    Edwards I never viewed as much of a candidate, especially considering the ’04 election. I must admit he has improved in my eyes a bit but not enough to count for me.

  19. In response to the poster that said “we just don’t know the guy.” I followed Wil’s link to Barack Obama’s web site. I hit the button that said “issues” and I found a “Senate voting record” with verifiable testimony of his fight to keep our presence in Iraq to a minimum, his serious questions during the run-up to the war, and his plans for what to do to ultimately end the “war” in Iraq. It said all kinds of stuff about this guy, Barack. Funny that. I guess my point is, I took a few minutes to learn a little bit about the issue, and now I know more about Barack than I did before, even though I have been submitted to hours of mainstream media coverage. So, ultimately I want to say thank you to Wil, and I’d also like to thank the above poster.

  20. Being Canadian, I can’t vote for anyone to help you guys out of the quagmire that’s become of what you call a country these days.
    However I think if anyone can do it it’s Mr. Obama. As rachel h said above, he reminds me of Kennedy too. Not that he was perfect, but he was a damn site better than anyone since. He does have that same inspiring quality that’s been missing from politics for decades.
    Having said all that I’m cynical enough to think that some bigoted blankity-blank will take offense and spawn another slew of conspiracy theories about his assassination. 🙁

  23. I’ve been hoping for an eventual Obama/Edwards ticket for a while now… I like Edwards, but he just isn’t quite as inspiring as Obama. I think he’d make a great VP though. Hillary would be a disaster… she would bring out all the nut-job conservatives… not the reasonable, I-disagree-with-you-but-we-can-work-together-for-the-best-for-the-country types, but the Hillary-killed-Vince-Foster-with-her-own-hands types… these are people who are NOT going to be fired up about John McCain, and may just stay home rather than vote for him, unless WE give them a reason to, in the form of a Hillary Clinton nomination. She just has waaay too many unfavorables, to use West-wing speak. And personally, I just don’t find her inspiring, and if you can’t be inspiring, then I need a little more experience than she’s got… IE, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, etc… I could support them, but not Hillary…

  24. You know what I’d like? A president without speech writers. A leader who gets up there and says what he thinks, not what someone told him he thinks. I’d like someone who’s doing the JOB of president, instead of running for the next election. And it would be great if all candidates got the same amount of air time & there was a cap on how much they could spend on their campaign. That way no one gets lost in the crowd and no one buys an election. Oh and I’d like to be able to look at my President and not feel ashamed. That’s kind of a biggie.

  25. I will say this for Obama – he’s the only remotely decent person the DNC has fielded on the national stage for POTUS since before Truman.
    Of course like any good Democrat, he’d be an unmitigated disaster as POTUS. But meh – if the country can survive a Clinton, Carter or LBJ, it can survive four years of Obama.

  26. I pray that Barack Obama is the choice for the Democratic party. Hillary Clinton would be a disaster. On the other hand I think that John Edwards was the only candidate who had a chance to defeat John McCain. `I predict that John McCain will be the next president of the U.S.

  29. I voted for Obama yesterday.
    I don’t understand the Republicans hate for Hillary, since she always goes along with them & supported the war. She’s by far more conservative than any other democrat.

  30. Good choice there Wil. Fortunately I voted for McCain yesterday. I guess that is one of the differences between Pasadena and South Pasadena.
    I will be supervising 15 polls in Pasadena next Tuesday, so I will keep it honest for you.
    But even with your post, I still love you. Aww. Ain’t that sweet?

  33. Hate to break it to you Wil, but your endorsement does mean something to a lot of people. How many people who come to your site end up going to other sites, buying stuff from other sites/places, buying stuff from you, and do/goto/see a host of other things you recommend? Even if it was 10%, out of 200,000, that is 20,000 people who completely respect your opinion and follow your advice.
    Unfortunately, they don’t let Canadians vote in U.S. elections, or I’d probably be influenced by this endorsement, as I have been by so many others from you…

  34. I would like to humbly suggest that anyone who thinks Obama lacks substance or that he champions change without any content at this point in the race has made no effort at all to investigate Obama’s positions. Obama is a particularly substantial, pragmatic politician with, if anything, far more of a bent toward the specific, laborious details of getting things done than most.
    Check out XKCD’s rather eloquent post endorsing Obama for an excellent explanation of some of the issues closest to many of us:
    http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/01/28/obama/

  35. I was talking about this with my wife who has been fully behind Obama whilst I have been caught between him and Edwards.
    I have been a fan of Obama’s since his Anti-Iraq war speech in 2002 but also like the things Edwards has stood for also.
    What do you think of Obama/Edwards08 ? Think they can run together?
    Also I believe your endorsement does mean something. As does mine, Especially to our family and friends. I added mine to my blog. (I stole the picture and uploaded to my site)

  36. Mike Cohen as a someone who has followed her for over a decade, Hillary plays moderate, but she is one of the biggest socialist in the Democratic party. If you actually listen to her over the long term it’s obvious.

  37. He fired me up, back in 2004 when he spoke at the Convention.
    Then he completely failed to live up to his own words.
    Now he talks of change, of course, what that means depends on who he is speaking to. Perhaps one day he can say something straight without contradicting himself. I did miss the FISA vote – did he actually vote, or did he wait and see how it would turn out before he voted, as he has done in the past. Sorry, not standing up for what you say you believe in, but making political decisions for political gains…makes him just another politician I can’t trust.
    This election will suck.

  38. The only candidate that I actually thought wanted meaningful change was Edwards, and he ended up having to drop out because the media has all but ignored his campaign.
    Obama might make a good president, but nothing he has said has given me any confidence in him. And Clinton, well, I have no problem with the idea of a woman as president, but if she’s ends up getting the nomination, I’ll vote for a third party since I consider her only slightly better than Lieberman.

  40. Wil,
    I am so happy to see this! I had never felt the need to join a campaign before, but 2 days ago I threw my hat in with the Obama camp and sent them some cash.
    Hillary provokes a visceral reaction in me that words can’t describe. My TV. She makes me want to hit it.
    People have very short memories or were not paying attention before, and the last few weeks are a constant reminder of what a vicious, vile, underhanded piece of work she truly is. I have disliked Hillary since 1989 and am glad that the rest of the world is starting to pay attention and are seeing the real Hillary.
    If she gets the nomination things will get *ugly*. I have stocked up on popcorn just in case.
    I wish Obama had more experience, but at least he isn’t HER. I would eat glass before I would vote for her.

  41. Seriously, I have never understood what Hillary or Bill Clinton could possibly have done to make people want to eat glass. I was 12 when Bill was elected to office and I just remember my life being better after he got into office. I had lived through Reagan and Bush1 and it seemed like my mother could never get ahead.
    And maybe I’m too optimistic about politics, but I think that most of the people who put themselves through the scrutiny and hell of running for anything more than dog commissioner are doing it because they beleive that they have the answers that our country need. I have found that I disagree with most Republican platforms as a whole, so I don’t normally vote for Republicans. The thing that I hate about political seasons is that most people forget that.
    I have fond memories of the Clinton administration so I probably would have voted for Hillary if I had not been mesmerized by Barack’s speech at the convention 4 years ago. Not only am I excited to vote for him, but I have gotten almost everyone around me to vote for him also. Including my very conservative in-laws who haven’t voted for a Democrat in 24 years. (Apparently, they keep track.) He reminds me of the way my grandfather used to talk about Kennedy.
    I have already volunteered at my local Democratic office to do my part in getting Obama elected and turning our country around.

  43. Wil, I’m so glad you posted a political-based entry. It allows me the opportunity to give you and others a link to a story regarding Bush and Cheney you might find interesting, if you haven’t heard about it already. The town of Brattleboro, Vt. could have a ballot initiative in March to vote on, which seeks to authorize Brattleboro to arrest Bush and Cheney for crimes against the Constitution. Here’s the link: http://news.aol.com/story/_a/arrest-bush-petition-ignites-firestorm/20080130091809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
    By the way, as a voter who is not party-affilitated, my vote for president was a toss up between Edwards and McCain. With Edwards out, my choice just got a lot easier!

  44. wow, a left coast liberal backing a leftist liberal.
    I bet none of you could state 10 things Obama has stated he would do for “change”.
    He’s an empty shirt with no experience. If he were not a minority he wold have been gone long ago.
    Under a leftist expect your taxes to skyrocket, your salary to stagnate and America to be weaker.
    The last thing this country needs is Obama. He would be a worse train wreck than Carter or Blow Job Bill.
    Personally, I wish Cheney would run.

  45. Hillary’s problem is not that she inspires hatred in Republicans — as has been pointed out, Republicans will vote Republican. (The more conservative ones may not vote for McCain. They may actually stay home. But I think that is regardless of whether Clinton or Obama are the Democratic nominee.)
    I know Independents who are tired of the GOP, but who will not vote for Clinton. They’d probably vote third party with Romney. Which doesn’t help or hurt Clinton, but I worry that McCain might convince them he’s still moderate.
    On a sidenote: Go Brattleboro!

  47. “Personally, I wish Cheney would run.”
    Oh please, please, please let the man with an 18% approval rating run. 😀
    I was for Kucinich, then Edwards, now Obama. I don’t like his statement on faith, and I don’t like his plan to take money from NASA’s Constellation program to pay for science and math education (WTF?), and I don’t like his support for “clean” coal, but he’s better than the alternative, who I think represents and in some ways caused the spineless we’re seeing in the Democratic congress.
    What I wouldn’t give to be able to vote for someone who I think would be best, not the lesser of two evils.

  48. “He would be a worse train wreck than Carter or Blow Job Bill.”
    Even if I accepted that Clinton (one of the most popular presidents in US History) had a train wreck of a presidency, the idea that either Carter or Clinton’s legacy was less damaging to the nation as a whole by comparison to Bush borders on the delusional, IMHO.
    ABC News summed it up best about Clinton: “You can’t trust him, he’s got weak morals and ethics — and he’s done a heck of a good job.”
    Even forgetting Bush’s damage to the Constitution, diplomacy and the Iraq war, the disaster that he’s made of the economy is enough to tar him. Under Clinton, I saw economic growth…even after the tech bust of 1999-2000. Under Bush, I faced unemployment TWICE and I don’t have a single friend who didn’t find themselves unemployed once or more on his watch.
    As for citing Obama’s lack of experience….given the track record of folks who are out there now, I don’t know that I’d count that as a negative.

  49. So I started paying closer attention to Barack Obama, and I noticed something: every time he spoke, I felt inspired. I believe in him in a way that I couldn’t believe in Clinton or Edwards.
    Wil, that is PRECISELY how I feel, too. (I even described it in so many words to my wife yesterday.)

  50. Wil, I’m glad to see you’ve joined me and tens of thousands of others in supporting Barack Obama. I’m sure you knew when you posted this that the wingnuts would come out in droves, but if we’re going to see this campaign through to the White House we’re going to have to stand up to the people who say change can’t happen, that hope is an illusion and that America still has promise.
    As Obama said recently in South Carolina: “Yes. We. Can.”

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