Mr. Obama, people see right through you. You think you can only be two faced by saying one thing and voting another? Well, you're wrong... your no-votes are even worse.

Learn from DENNIS KUCINICH. Grow a pair.

Obama is just another clog in the corporatocracy. A bought and paid for Dem who will jump when his corporate handlers tell him so.

Kucinich, Nader, Gravel, maybe Richardson, and Al Gore circa 2003 are the only progressives worthy of our vote.

I'm not a great fan of Obama, but he is preferable to Ms Clinton.
I've been wondering if the pace is getting to him. He appeared in the Democratic debate this week and I immediately thought he didn't look as well as usual. Someone did say he's been unwell, I think.

This is a ridiculously long campaign and one would need an iron constitution to stay the course. The others seem to be doing alright, so far. Perhaps Obama's lack of experience is showing a little here ?

2lyons: "Learn from DENNIS KUCINICH. Grow a pair!"

Hear! Hear!

Obama is just another "politics-as-usual" politico with lots of rhetoric, no experience, and all the right moves in front of an audience. I truly fear that if people don't soon TRULY "GET IT" and stand strongly behind the only TRUE PROGRESSIVE, "PEOPLE'S CANDIDATE" in Cong. Kucinich, then we are TRULY doomed.

http://www.dennis4president.com/home/

Gore/Kucinich 2008!

What promises are being made to the rich and famous to back Obama and/or Clinton? I know of absolutly NO rank and file Dems who support them!

They are both shills for corporate America. Clinton is no different than Bush when it comes to wars. Obama has no experience.

Other candidates have the Dem rank and file interests at heart as well as experience (I am NOT talking about Kucinich here) like Richardson, but the bought and paid for corporate MSM ignores them.

Like James Bowlin, I'm a member of MoveOn. And like him I was disappointed by Obama's choice. But I also issued words nearly verbatim to Obama's statement on his decision when I called my own senators, noting that a vote would be a colossal waste of time.

I was also disappointed by Obama's absence during the Iran vote. However, I have made note of the references to his health that day. And I expect to hear from Obama himself with regard to this at some point.

I witnessed Obama say last week at a rally in Shenadoah, Iowa, "I will make mistakes." And as a citizenry, I believe that's one of our biggest failings. We expect all these candidates to be perfect; to always get it right. These people are not epic heroes. They are humans.

I can tell you as a local level public servant (school board), the decisions you make will always make someone angry or disappointed. You're trying to balance the needs of many groups. You will never ever get it "right." As my husband noted, few people are as perfect as Dubya.

How about we concentrate on the overall vision? If we're going to pull America out of this mess, we're all going to have to work together -- Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Green Party, Libertarians, everyone!

Frankly, I'm too disaffected to be of much use in judging candidates. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to comment that over the years I've noticed that people sometimes get ahead by mastering the art of "not being in the room when it happened".

To conjure up a dusty cultural icon taking this penchant to a homicidal extreme, it might be called the Mack the Knife syndrome. The less acute variation involves disingenuously managing to avoid taking a definite position; I find it hard to trust or support a person who always contrives to build wiggle room into his or her positions. Which is practically a definition of "politician", alas! So now I'll go out the same door I came in.

CMiner:
Getting liberals to work together is like herding cats. It's the downfall of the progressive movement... each of us has a different perspective on the problems we face, and there is no avenue to unity of action, nor does there seem to be a desire for an "overall vision". We spend our energy sniping at each other on the internet, instead of walking up and down the streets pounding on our pots and pans and protesting the actions of this administration, as Molly urged us to do.

"If we're going to pull America out of this mess, we're all going to have to work together — Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Green Party, Libertarians, everyone!" ...... When all the coastal cities are awash, and radioactive dust encircles our beautiful planet, there will be peace on earth.

Folks like Mr. Capuccino from the Jar and Alberto Speedy Gonzales do tremendous harm to minorities in the US.

Barack Obama spend some time in the Senate ending the war now.

As disappointed as I personally am by Obama's choices over the past few months, I also understand the realities of politics. I am sure his handlers are carefully advising Obama how to appear to respond to hot button issues. I'm not saying his handlers are right - I think Gore's handlers misjudged the situation to Gore's destriment (though Bush would have stolen the election anyway). What I am more disturbed by is the Hillary juggernaut especially in light of her blatant support of Bush's militaristic goals. She is the one you should be disappointed in, James Bowlin. Obama has a high hurdle to overcome with that one. And he's going to need all the help he can get.

commonman03 - if we are all "common men" amongst men (and of course, and perhaps much more importantly, women), then why do any of us need "handlers". Can't we just have a bit of integrity.

Once anyone is swayed by handlers then they have been "handled" and most likely are being manipulated.

Heavens, can't we just be who we are.

The fact that this vernacular is sometimes seen as the "norm" speaks to just how ridiculous it has all become. It don't matter. Time will tell.

Peace,
Ken Hausle

Anniesse, Obama was sick the night of the debate, I heard one of the msnbc anchors talking about it when they were doing the after debate rundown. Cold or flu or something/..

Stop making excuses for Obama. Hiding out during those crucial votes is worse than openly panderiing to the Lobby, like Clinton and Lieberman. We have no business playing peek-a-boo with presidential candidates while they are authorizing, by commission or omission, the most heinous war crime in history. Biden had the courage to vote no, and Gravel had the courage to call out the Israel-firster Clinton on her vote. Let's write Obama off and move on.

Here's my letter to Obama.

Obama, why is it the only candidate who will not run to Israel and profess his/her undying allegiance to the phony baloney democracy is the Honorable Dr. Ron Paul?

PS He really is a doctor!

cosmos,

You're right. It's hard to get a "herd" of liberals to agree on anything. Maybe we could best stop the war if we could get our Democrats to raise taxes to pay for it in real time. Some say that's all Democrats know how to do, and if they did, it would indeed be a war stopper

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch.'
Ben Franklin

Would the real Obama really stand up ? Long ago when I was a kid in sports one coach said it so well, " You play like you practice. " As a senator not voting is like what you would be like if you were in the oval cell. No show and leave it to others. However, I am now thinking if you had been there you would have voted for Bushitler's plan. Come Nov 2008 we will need a person on that ballot who will be there and lead this country out of war. You have played your hand.

commonman03, CMiner,

I'm not disappointed in Hillary because her stance has been consistently right-wing and pro-war. I'm not at all surprised that she voted yes where Obama merely abstained. I'm hopeful that Obama could be a real alternative to the Clinton machine. I agree that it might be Barack's handlers that are telling him to avoid hot button issues but if his abstentions were politically motivated, I think they were a mistake.

Seeing the Democrats running to the _right_ during primary season makes me despair for our future. Is there anything that can stop an attack on Iran now? I feel it's inconsistent to have my Obama bumper sticker next to the one that says "Attack Iran? NO!"

War is real and this is not a rehearsal. I'm not condemning Obama but I am suggesting a course correction.

--
James Bowlin

It's amazing how quickly a candidate that showed so much hope could get stuck in the mire and drop into the sewer. Barak fell even faster than Ms. Clinton, who was already half-way down.

Those who vote for corporate puppets are hypnotized by Dracula like Mina and Jonathan Harker.

Dear Obama,

You coward.

Dear Obama,

Quit polishing those senators' shoes. The man can't ride ya if you stand up straight. Make a stand.

hp said "Here's my letter to Obama.

Obama, why is it the only candidate who will not run to Israel and profess his/her undying allegiance to the phony baloney democracy is the Honorable Dr. Ron Paul?

PS He really is a doctor"

First, why do I care if he's a doctor, unless the President is now in charge of gynecological exams I don't see that as a Presidential qualification. Next, he is a gynecologist that wants Roe v Wade overturned, hardly progressive ideals there, especially considering one more wing nut conservative Justice WILL overturn Roe. Also, he is most CERTAINLY NOT the only candidate that doesn't kiss Israel's ass. Kucinich and Gravel are two for starters. And last but not least he's a racist asshole, please take your libertarian craziness and go.

it makes me sad to see obama talk about the war on terrorism as a means to display his toughness. he toes the party line and doesn't want to appear to be any less of a prick than bush when it comes to killing foreigners.

like the others, he glibly refers to the mass murder of folks who live in other countries.

it looks like he is going to lose and then he will join powell and rice to become the third utterly disappointing black person to reach the national stage of our body politic.

i had higher hopes of him.

My letter to Barack Obama (had I given him money which I haven't just yet) would go a bit differently. Though I do agree that missing votes isn't a great thing (Obama has missed 25% compared to say Kucinich's 11% - see http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress), it isn't my major problem with his campaign. I'd rather see him clean up his message on a few points:

1] Fully commit to no first use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances and make an honest commitment towards following our obligations as a signer of the NPT to move towards nuclear disarmament.

Obama said on the Daily Show he was vindicated when Generals told the press nuclear weapons are worthless in the ridiculous hypothetical thrown out in one of the debates. But he can go further.

2] Lay out a more aggressive plan for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

When I heard Robert Scheer on the Left Right and Center say all 3 top Democrats can't even say they would get us out of Iraq before 2013, I was surprised (I'm a little behind on the news lately). That is enough for Scheer to say he can't support any of these 3. Richardson has promised an aggressive timetable - why can't Obama?

3] Join Edwards in pledging to use Public Financing

I'm not crazy about Edwards for many reasons, but he's right on this one.

4] Pledge to get employers completely out of the Health Care issue.

I prefer Single Payer, but whatever we do, we have to end this moronic employer based system where people who lose their jobs or need to change jobs have to worry about whether they can still be covered.

Obama isn't perfect, but he seems a heck of a lot better than Clinton and just as likely to beat a Republican in my opinion. As much as I prefer Kucinich (and will probably vote for him again), I don't think he is as likely to win a general election. Richardson is despised by Scheer for the Wen Ho Lee case, but I like some of his views. Dodd is supposed to be good on labor issues, but he doesn't make a strong impression on me yet. I don't like Biden and Gravel is good fun in the debates but has less of a chance in the general election than Kucinich. I wish I had the perfect candidate to oppose Clinton (who I absolutely abhor and will vote Green if she wins the nomination), but I'll take what I can get - for now, that is Obama. Maybe I will write him.

Dara Parsavand

PS The author's comments on TV watching being the biggest divide in the United Sates (we are talking about the US right, not all of North and South America?) are stupid and should be left off the letter to reduce its length. I watch TV (Bill Moyers, NOW, The Daily Show as well as shows I usually disagree with such as Washington Week - and some other shows just for fun). If that puts me on the wrong side of the biggest divide, then the author intends to alienate a whole lot of people besides me - why exactly?

How in the heck Obama thinks he is going to be the one to take on all the problems of the USA and her poor standing in the world is beyond understanding...We have a 9 trillion dollar and climbing national debt,a declining dollar value, border security problems, national defence issues and funding , jobs in America issues, closing of two war fronts, social security, medicare and medicaid, preventing more wars in the near future, peace negotations in the middle east, The coming Russia and Chinese military problems ( they are re-arming )Iran, Syria, Saudia Arabia, Egypt,Pakistan,India,African wars and famines, then there is the Kyoto Accords on Global Warming that the UN is all in favor of, but the US is a hold out on. This and much much more, and a JUNIOR SENATOR thinks he has all the answers????
This guy is such a spinless and weak knee'd milquetoast, that he needs someone like Oprah to hold his hand, and give his campaign a B.J.
He has NO PLAN or REAL IDEAS.
He is an arrogant, glib, smarmy, mullatto who feels he can con his way into the Oval Office...
I hope the real power brokers behind the throne of the presidency give him his walking papers real soon.
Obama IS NOT: a Skull and Bones man, a Mason, a member of the Bilderburger group, a Tri-Lateral commmission member, a Jew, or a Multi Billionaire.
He is nothing but a Half Black WANNABE!
Do not fall for his smooth crap act!
AND tell Oprah that she is not American royalty, dispite that fact that she thinks she is!
She is all crap too.

A LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA - DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Dear Mr. Obama,

If you truly believe all of the things you profess to believe then I
feel that there is only once sensible course of action: throw your
full weight behind the candidacy of Dennis Kucinich and hope that he
will return the favor by asking you to be his running mate.

This is the truly revolutionary thing to do. Such an act would
convince the majority of Americans that you really do stand for hope
and change. It would also convince the vast majority of the world's
population, who are a good deal more savvy about such things than we
are, that we really are going to take our collective fingers off the
proverbial trigger.

Right now statistics show that the country is deeply disgusted with not
only the war but; the lies, the erosion of civil liberties, the so called war
on terror, the corruption of the media, the criminality in Washington, the
gangsterization of the private sector, the military complex and election
machinery. Many are demanding impeachment and we are all hungry
for a real democracy and an end to imperialistic doublespeak. We are all
pondering how those who kill, maim or torture millions around the world
over many decades through media manipulation and war could possibly
be held accountable. The answer escapes most because we are all ultimately
held accountable, through our actions. None are uninvolved.

With all due respect you do not appear to be on the path to providing us
with the complete legal and ethical overhaul this country, and even more
so the rest of the world, truly deserves. The song and dance the democratic
leadership is peddling is only mildly distinguishable from that which the neo-cons
are offering and everybody seems to knows it on one level or another.

If you remain on your current course your ability to change the system
from within will come up against the brick wall of the corporations who put
you in power in the first place. The only thing that might provide
you with the power to change the country for the better would be the
people themselves but they are not truly activated because you are cueing
them with a wink and a nod that you are not really about change in the
grand sense. Only enough change to be able to let some steam out of the
pot before spiraling down into a lame duck president mired in age old scandals.

The motivation of the people will be sapped significantly by our
bitter acceptance that you were just another politician who talked big
about change and hope but implemented and inspired very little of
either. We will have come to accept that hope does not come in the
form of handsome politicians who talk tough to get elected but
otherwise pretty much do what the ultra elite tell them to do.

You may score a few points with the people for normalizing relations
with the rest of the world and even more points from the elite for
helping to usher in their fabled new order but that certainly
isn't going to give you the kind of legacy historians will want to
write about fifty or a hundred years from now. At least not write
about kindly. History is of course a much more brutal adversary than
republicans and progressives. History may just look at this time in
America and see two types of people occupying all points of the
political spectrum. Those aiding and abetting fascism and those doing
everything in their power to reverse our decline into a culture of
death and imperialist destruction.

If as you read this letter you take a deep breath and look into the
depths of your being, the part where you ponder the world your
children and their children will be left with, if you dig deep enough
you may awaken to the merit of this suggestion. If when you search
down into that personal space you have a most important epiphany and
come to understand what is at stake and what is good, then you may actually
take this outlandish concept to heart. If you do, the very next day historians
will sharpen their pencils to write about the unfolding of one of the
most noteworthy events in modern history. Far bigger and broader and
earth shattering than simply becoming the first black president - and
that's saying a lot. That's how big such a move would be.

Your readjusting to such a clear position of integrity and courage
would be such a large scale act of humility and grace that it would
stand to eclipse all of the horrible events of the past few years.
Such a statement would show that you really are worlds apart from
Edwards and Hillary and give the American people the chance to step up
to the challenge and emulate your gesture by, themselves, doing what
needs to be done.

Your sudden act of clear, breathtaking leadership would encourage
people not only to support Kucinich's candidacy but also, even more
importantly to; start boycotting major corporations, start taking part
in the electoral process, start helping their neighbors get back on
their feet financially and otherwise transform themselves into better
people who are busy going about the business of creating a better world.

By singling out the one man who has been saying and doing the right
thing for the people of the world from the very beginning of this
national nightmare, you will be singling yourself out for the most
authentic form of political redemption. By embracing the man who has
implemented impeachment proceedings, and who accepts zero corporate
funding and who has the only truly not for profit universal healthcare
plan, you will be dramatically and unequivocally transforming your
words and positions into actions. Nothing would so boldly and
effortlessly place you among the truly heroic history makers of our time.

This is a time where we desperately need a new generation of founding
fathers and mothers to assume the reins in public life. So far, there
are only twenty-four signed on to Kucinich's impeachment bill. It is a
start. We could use a Senator! By placing your weight behind Kucinich,
who would institute a truly incorruptible, peace seeking, environment healing
administration you will be taking a much more profound position of leadership
than by seeking the presidency yourself.

By backing Kucinich you would instantly become part of a broad
tapestry of citizens who are leading America through perhaps the most
significant transformation in her entire history. A growing coalition
that will help the world move toward peace and cooperation. By
becoming part of this team of truth seeking advocates and protectors
of the greater global community you will allow history to smile upon
you. You will also be, after eight years of Kucinich, elected for two
terms as the person who people trust most to make sure we don't slide
backwards after all of our hard work.

It's a hard decision. We certainly know what your handlers would say. Good luck.

from:
http://stormglass.blog.com/