Barack Obama

Hope you fans don’t mind a little politics in your saloon. I’m just curious about what people think about Obama, especially those of you outside of the states. I’ve been in his corner for quite a while and follow the election/primaries pretty closely. It is shaping up to be a pretty interesting general election in November with the older John McCain and the younger Barack Obama. Truly a generational contest.
Thoughts?

It will be much of the same, regardless of who wins.

The ruling elite in the United States have done a good job of convincing people they really have a “choice” in elections. Nothing could be further from the truth. We live in an oligarchy, where the winners are selected by monied interests, knowing full well they’ll continue to do the bidding of their corporate masters.

Obama is another one in a long line of 'em. Militarism and the expansion of the industrial capitalist machine ad infinitum

For example, Obama is said to favor expansion in Iraq via private forces. Blackwater thugs. And why not? It’s good for business. The business of the United States is opening markets and attempting to sustain non-sustainable growth. Obama knows this. So does McCain.

Although I’m not so deluded to believe that anyone running for president isn’t a corporatist hack to a degree, I have to say I’m rather surprised at the whole Obama phenomenon in that he’s not playing the same ol’ b.s. to an extent that the others do and have. It’s strange that when he speaks, he actually sometimes talks to Americans with the understanding that they actually can grasp complexity, as opposed to the usual talking-to-you -like your’e-an-idiot that most pols (esp. McCain and Bush) does. It’s gonna be interesting to see his speech at the Democratic Convention in Denver. I have press credentials, so I’ll be in the audience.

Saw a black american comedian on UK TV last night and had to laugh at something he said about Obama. It went something like:

" a black man finally gets a chance at being president just when the country ain’t worth a shit anymore."

Yup, it is refreshing to listen to a pol who doesn’t insult your intelligence. You’re lucky to be in the audience. I understand that the acceptance speech is, by coincidence, on the date of the 45th anniversery of MLK’s “I have a dream speech”. Should be electrifying to say the least.

the problem for any candidate is, that the country is divided among so many lines, that no matter which political spectrum you belong to, you have to win over the center to win the election. That’s why Obama is talking religion now, that’s why he’s talking guns and national security, that’s why he talks tough on Iran.
Same with McCain, if it wasn’t for the moderate center, he would sound a lot more like Karl Rove, although he’s one of the most moderate Repulicans and a man of character.

the two candidates are very different, and both are a quality choice for America, if you compare some of the previous races. to us Europeans, the whole process might look really screwed-up at times, but a country that size, with that sort of diversity and political divide, it’s gotta be messy and as a president you won’t be able to cater to everyone. whoever wins, will be a compromise president. tough on national security, yet green on climate issues, more protectionist than previous administrations, etc…

on a sidenote, if you want to blame anyone for the mess that is American politics, blame cable news. that’s the most shameful part of american political culture these days (and it has been for years). i applaud the wide spectrum of free speech late night talkers and commentators, but if you look at what the majority of people are actually watching at the center, those aren’t news, that’s preaching to the converted. to all the non-americans in here; have you ever watched Fox News? scary horrible … shudder

I daresay you are absolutely right Seb but what amazes me is that issues such as Religion, security and guns are considered neccesary elements in order to appeal to the centre in U.S politics. That’s far right stuff over here.

yeah, but that’s what most non-Americans tend to overlook. They see a western country and think it’s the same, but it couldn’t be more different. the United States is not Europe with Pick-up trucks, guns and millionaires, there’s a lot more to it, and that makes politics so complicated, especially with a political “first past the pole” system with only two big platform parties

All this political talk makes me want to go watch a SPAGHETTI WESTERN! On a lighter note; Sebastian, you almost described Texas: “pick-up trucks, guns, and millionaires,” but you left out oil rigs, cattle, good-lookin’ women, toothpicks, and wide open spaces… ;D

yeah but even that is a generalization. where does the liberal artsy Austin, TX fit in?

We fit Austin in the middle of the state so we can keep those “liberal, artsy” politicos surrounded.

LOL! Now that’s funny!

The case with Obama in the States is very similar to that of Lewis Hamilton here in the U.K. I don’t know how to word this without sounding like something i’m not but they keep going on about first black this and first black that but they never mention that the pair of them are half white.

Look at these two screenshots from Winnetou and the Half-breed:

[/URL] [URL=http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=elchunchokeomahaut6121eb7.jpg]http://imageshack.us

And yes, Yodlaf, they never mention they’re half white !

Here, here. That’s where I’m at. Just pop in a spaghetti and drift away.

The average joe in the U.S. has no say in what happens in our “selections.” These candidates are all handpicked and supported by a cadre of powerful and wealthy politicos and corporate moguls. They give us a few choices of “approved” candidates, meaning, candidates they know will return the favors and do their bidding.

Candidates like Obama throw the masses a few bones, making them think there’s going to be change, but just wait.

Sounds like a good time to watch the trilogy…I’d trust El Indio before I’d trust an American politician!

Hey, why no love for industrial capitalism? I’ll take that over financial capitalism any day (first step, hang all the bankers and speculators). And much, much better than pre-industrial agriculture and hunter-gathering. But then I’m a crazy European socialist who loves technological progress and detests the nature-worshipping ideology of eco-zealots and primitivists.

I’ll vote for Tuco!

Yeah, but Tuco might have the same problems that Obama faces with the xenophobic right-wing voter that is unfortunately still a major presence here - he’s not lily white. I can just see the Republican attack ads questioning if Tuco is an illegal immigrant or something.

McCain’s going off the deep end now, with his latest ad comparing Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. A shameless, honor-free prick. He’s always been that way, though. This “maverick with integrity” has always been a media creation. He’s been a corporatist, warmongering hack from the get-go. He’s not an honorable man, never has been.

[url]Barack Obama - The Good, the Bad and the Rest of US - YouTube - I really like this ad. Barack as Clint? Why not! :smiley:

Very nice.

[quote=“lordradish, post:17, topic:1040”]Yeah, but Tuco might have the same problems that Obama faces with the xenophobic right-wing voter that is unfortunately still a major presence here - he’s not lily white. I can just see the Republican attack ads questioning if Tuco is an illegal immigrant or something.

McCain’s going off the deep end now, with his latest ad comparing Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. A shameless, honor-free prick. He’s always been that way, though. This “maverick with integrity” has always been a media creation. He’s been a corporatist, warmongering hack from the get-go. He’s not an honorable man, never has been.[/quote]
you can say what you want about paris hilton, but her response to being used in the spot was her second best onscreen presentation, of course after one night in paris.


unfortunately the great " i am paris hilton, and i approve this message" part is missing, i love that about the campaign videos. So if anybody wanted to produce a fake video to show the other candidate in the bad light could they not cut this approvement behind it as well. Waht is the use of this?