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Barack Obama is the best candidate to make change happen.

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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 02:47 PM
Original message
Barack Obama is the best candidate to make change happen.
I hear this frequently from average voters. I read it frequently -- just read it here on another thread about the Superdelegate from Wisconsin who just endorsed Obama - can't recall his name.

I think it's pretty clear that even the powers that be have known this for some time:

From March 2007
A Manifesto For the Next President

Zbigniew Brzezinski has written a new book that might be a foreign policy manifesto for Barack Obama. Its message is that America can recover from what Brzezinski calls the "catastrophic" mistakes of the Bush administration, but only if the next president makes a clean break from those policies and aligns the country with a world in transformation.

~snip~

The most intriguing part of Brzezinski's book is what I would describe as the Obama manifesto. (He doesn't call it that, but I don't think he would quarrel with that characterization, either.) Brzezinski argues that the world is undergoing a "global political awakening," which is apparent in radically different forms from Iraq to Indonesia, from Bolivia to Tibet. Though America has focused on its notion of what people want (democracy and the wealth created by free trade and open markets), Brzezinski points in a different direction: It's about dignity.

"The worldwide yearning for human dignity is the central challenge inherent in the phenomenon of global political awakening," he argues. His worry is that America -- enfeebled by "material self-indulgence, persistent social shortcomings, and public ignorance about the world" -- may not get it.

The next president, Brzezinski writes, will need "an instinctive grasp of the spirit of the times in a world that is stirring, interactive, and motivated by a vague but pervasive sense of prevailing injustice in the human condition." Is that person Barack Obama? It's impossible to know. The man is still largely a blank slate. But Brzezinski has described the challenge of future American leadership with unusual clarity. If we don't pick a leader with these qualities, Brzezinski warns, we will miss our second and perhaps last chance.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/03/a_manifesto_for_the_next_presi.html


From August, 2007:
Aug. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of the most influential foreign-policy experts in the Democratic Party, threw his support behind Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, saying the Illinois senator has a better global grasp than his chief rival, Hillary Clinton.

Obama ``recognizes that the challenge is a new face, a new sense of direction, a new definition of America's role in the world,'' Brzezinski said in an interview on Bloomberg Television's ``Political Capital with Al Hunt.''

``Obama is clearly more effective and has the upper hand,'' Brzezinski, who was President Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, said. ``He has a sense of what is historically relevant, and what is needed from the United States in relationship to the world.''


~snip~

Clinton's foreign-policy approach is ``very conventional,'' Brzezinski said. ``I don't think the country needs to go back to what we had eight years ago.''

``There is a need for a fundamental rethinking of how we conduct world affairs,'' he added. ``And Obama seems to me to have both the guts and the intelligence to address that issue and to change the nature of America's relationship with the world.''


~snip~

Brzezinski also sided with Obama, who was criticized by Clinton as being ``irresponsible'' and ``naïve'' for saying he would meet in his first year as president with leaders of adversaries such as Iran and Syria. ``What's the hang-up about negotiating with the Syrians or with the Iranians?'' Brzezinksi said. ``What it in effect means'' is ``that you only talk to people who agree with you.''
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aOqL38D5EntY&refer=home

Yes, Obama has some powerful people backing him who think he is the best candidate to make change happen, as well as an overwhelming number of average voters, as we've witnessed by the size of the crowds he draws.

Why does this scare so many DUers? Isn't this what we needed and wanted?
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caledesi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 02:49 PM
Response to Original message
1. Fired up! Ready to go! nt
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Hope And Change Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 02:51 PM
Response to Original message
2. It is...
I hear this frequently from average voters. I read it frequently -- just read it here on another thread about the Superdelegate from Wisconsin who just endorsed Obama - can't recall his name.


State Dem chairman Joe Wineke.
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:02 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. Thanks
couldn't recall his name so thanks for clarifying :hi:
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candice Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 02:54 PM
Response to Original message
3. Can you define what change he's going to bring about?
It isn't a change to have another inexperienced learn-on-the-job (I'll hire people) occupying the White House. Been there, done that.

Hitler drew big crowds.
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 02:55 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. You're comparing Obama to Hitler now?
Please stop.
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ArizonaJosie Donating Member (63 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:05 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. That was a lie!
And you know it! The point was that big crowds mean nothing.
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:06 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Then why didn't the poster just say that?
Edited on Sat Mar-01-08 03:08 PM by Emit
Why use Hitler as a comparison?

edited to add, I do not think that was a lie I wrote. She was comparing the size of Obama's crowds to Hitler's. The comparison was between the two men.
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MagsDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:20 PM
Response to Reply #8
14. I think it WAS a lie you wrote - and a specious accusation
But that's what Obama supporters do; much like Bushbots do, in fact. What you have in common is an inability to think critically.
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:55 PM
Response to Reply #14
19. Obama draws big crowds. Hilter drew big crowds.
What does that really mean?

Why even say that?

There is a much deeper meaning to this comparison that I took exception to.

Not cool, MagsDem, to support the comparison of our Democratic candidates to Hitler. Not cool, in my book. But, hey, that's just me. You obviously have no qualms about supporting the analogy, so much so that you attack me, instead. So now I'm a liar, like a Bushbot, and I'm unable to think critically -- all because I'm an Obama supporter first who took exception to a poster who compared him to Hitler. Resorting to ad hominem attacks. It's not a pretty sight here on DU these days, is it?
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ArizonaJosie Donating Member (63 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:21 PM
Response to Reply #8
16. He made a good point
And used Hitler to drive it home. Excellent!
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 04:28 PM
Response to Reply #16
21. Not cool
in my book to revel in that kind of comparison

just MHO
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 08:07 PM
Response to Reply #16
26. I see ArizonaJosie is no longer with us. n/t
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MagsDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:18 PM
Response to Reply #4
12. I think the poster means big crowds don't indicate Obama
would be a good leader on issues, or that he even knows jack shit. They are meaningless when it comes to the question of whether he is qualified. But you knew that -- you were just trying to make a specious suggestion to defame the poster.
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:19 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. So now you're a mind reader?
I think the poster could've made the point and left Hitler out of it. That's what I think.
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MagsDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:21 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. No, I can think critically, and I understand an analogy
Which is not, by the way, a comparison.
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:29 PM
Response to Reply #15
18. I think if you look up the word 'analogy'
you would find comparison, or some variation of the word, somewhere in the definition, no?
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Rageneau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:08 PM
Response to Reply #3
9. He;ll bring GOOD change. Not bad change. Pretty change, not ugly change.
Obama will only do good, never bad.

He will only make wise decisions, never foolish ones.

He will always want only the right things, never the wrong ones.

Obama will be for all of the people, not just some of the people, but he won't let the majority of the people run over the minority of the people, either. No sir.

Internationally, he will only make friends, never enemies.

Domestically, he will improve everything, not make anything worse.

Politically, he will work with Republicans, not against them.

As Chief Executive, he will hire only the best people, never the worst people.

Militarily, he will be like Gustavus Adolphus and not like Adolph Hitler.

When Obama is president, everything will be better. Everything will taste better, everything will smell better, everyone will look better. In fact, the whole world will just keep getting better and better and better every year.

How much more definite a platform could you possibly want?
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:12 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. lol.
A bit thick, dontcha think?

Neither candidate offers a panacea for all our ills.
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MagsDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:24 PM
Response to Reply #10
17. BO supporters seem to think he does
Why else would you nominate a man who has never demonstrated that he can accomplish any of the things he claims he will accomplish? You fell, hook line and sinker for a guy who started running for president before he had finished a month in the senate.
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Emit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 05:27 PM
Response to Reply #17
23. fell ... for a guy who started running for president before he had finished a month in the senate?
Obama was sworn in as a senator on January 4, 2005 ... ... In February 2007, Obama announced his candidacy for the 2008 U.S. presidential election. LINK

I think that's a bit longer than a month, isn't it?
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ArizonaJosie Donating Member (63 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:04 PM
Response to Original message
6. There is no way to tell.
It is all a gamble with a blindfold on.
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MagsDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:16 PM
Response to Original message
11. Based on what?
He's the best candidate to make change happen based on what, exactly? Because he says so? You are placing your faith in someone that has no history or background of demonstrable experience that would indicate he can change anything. And you're in for a rude awakeneing in November when the voters reject another on the job trainee like we had with Bush for president.
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BlueStater Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 03:59 PM
Response to Original message
20. There's absolutely no evidence of that at all.
Good grief. I feel like my party is being conned the same way the GOP was conned by Bush.
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DemGa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 04:30 PM
Response to Original message
22. Throw the dice -- it's a gamble-----nt
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Evergreen Emerald Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 05:28 PM
Response to Original message
24. Actions speak louder than words. Obama has a history of inaction
and lots of words.
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ElsewheresDaughter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-01-08 05:31 PM
Response to Original message
25. I have about as much "Hope" in Obama's "Change" as I had in Bush's "Compassionate Conservatism"
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