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Reply to Posted by supero>>: "Hey you guys may like this new Obama video. It's right on the money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o166Eb_puo
Lots of back and forth there!"
Posted by supero
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I looked at the YouTube you had a link to expecting something useful and was disappointed!

Here are some quick comments on that video...

1. the "present" votes have independently from Obama been clarified and confirmed as being part of a strategy to fight old-politics games where there were attempts to sucker people who objected to certain laws to vote their opposition to "mother and apple pie" named bills. He courageously took a stand against the Iraq War when there was a war-fever and it was very popular to support that bad adventure. So it is completely unfair to imply that he voted 'present' because he was afraid to take a stand.

2. He is not the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Senate Committee as labeled in the video. He is the chairman of a sub-committee that did NOT have any central responsibility of oversight and which had under the previous chairman met only once every many months. So it in no way should be blown up to imply that the Iraq War or the war in Afganistan was hurt because this sub committee did not meet. However he was still involved in other committees and contributed in them.


All this has to be seen in the light that in the last year he has been working day and night to be the candidate of the Democratic Party for the highest position of President where he can have to most impact and contribution to a country and people he loves dearly. He was NOT playing hookie to go of on pleasure golfing trips, or spending time on his side businesses or hobbies.


I could go on but let this be enough to show that this video is very flawed. I invite you to be open minded and review it and question if the things it says are true and fair. You are reading and spending you time in this blog and possibly other blogs because you care and understand your civic responsibilities. Please ask, evaluate critically and cooly so that you can inform yourself based on your critical thinking.



Let's go beyond the 'old divisive politics' that have given us grid lock and no action. Let's move forward to build a strong coalition that will allow us to face the challenges that stand before us both in our country and in our world!!

Posted at March 7, 2008 5:56 AM in response to Report: Obama Adviser Calls Hillary A "Monster"

On the question of commander-in-chief (CIC) we have to be careful that we do not emphasize it too much. It should definitely be a dimension that we have to measure against for Presidential candidates.


However, by any stretch of the imagination, it is not the only or the most important dimension we should use. If we give it undue weight and importance it would lead us to ruling out more qualified candidates and choose only those who have extensive military experience or who have worked closely with the military for a long time. If we push this to the extreme the best qualified would be career two-star or above generals who can provide the military leadership across the various armed forces services.


If I would take a quick stab on what are the important qualities of a commander-in-chief it would be: good judgment, a good understanding of world politics and dynamics, courage, cool-headedness, and a deep understanding and care about the potential consequences and costs of decisions one is making.


This is by no means a complete list. However, I believe coming up with such a list is something that we should generate so that we can move beyond meaningless "Life Experience" labels that don't help shed any light on this topic.

Posted at March 7, 2008 5:14 AM in response to Report: Obama Adviser Calls Hillary A "Monster"

Good points - I like your logical responses that is winning the discussion without being provoked into going to name calling or getting upset.

Posted at March 7, 2008 4:42 AM in response to Report: Obama Adviser Calls Hillary A "Monster"