A comment on the ignorance of young voters –

[Political Essayist]

When I drive to work I have to pass a community college. The dorm windows are visible from the road and I often see small Barack Obama campaign signs while driving by. “Change we can believe in” and the like. I constantly wonder whether or not these students know what they are supporting.

Barack Obama has made change a central theme in his campaign. I do not deny that the senator from Illinois can bring change – it is the type of change that I am more worried about. Every presidential candidate will change this nation one way or another, but it is the kind of change that will define their contributions to the world. Has Barack Obama brought real change during his political career? From what I have read, only one of his bills has been passed by Congress. And what exactly did he do as a state legislator? You never hear about things like this.

A lot of Obama’s supporters come from the college crowd. A lot of Obama’s supporters come from the inebriated, “Whoa, dude, and she, like, lifted her top, and like…!” crowd. A lot of Obama’s supporters come from the equally inebriated, “And I, like, lifted my top, and, like, oh, my God, and like…” crowd. Have you recognized the point I’m trying to make here?

I believe it is time for everybody to realize that Obama will win the presidency this year. The Republican Party is in shambles and there is nothing John McCain can do about it. As a Democrat, shouldn’t I be happy about this?

I am happy and I am not happy. I am happy about the fact that the Democratic Party will obliterate the Republicans in November. I am not happy about the fact that Barack Obama will be leading that revolution. Barack Obama does not have the political experience necessary to lead this nation during these difficult times. There was only one person who had such experience…

Joe Biden.

Joe Biden’s plan to withdraw from Iraq was the most logical and could have been most effective had it been implemented. The bill was supported by nearly 30 Republicans in the Senate. Such bipartisan support cannot be ignored. The carelessly rushed withdrawal advocated by Barack Obama will lead to disaster in the region, and probably in America, as well. But that doesn’t matter. Hope and change. Hope and change. Hope and change.

I wish to go back to the days of Wilson, Roosevelt and Truman. The Democrats of the early- and mid-20th century were actually competent. The Democrats of today – Clinton, Obama, and Dean – are an embarrassment not only to the party but also to the nation.

We may win back the presidency this year, but it will take a very long time for us to win back our principals.

[pittypat65]

 to these nieve students He is fool's gold.  They have to learn the hard way. He will do nothing for them. Guess they feel he understands them as he used drugs or whatever. He is a very dangerous cantidate. Not good for this country,he will bring about change alright but not what they bargained for.  Too bad we will all have to suffer.  Vote McCain 08!!

[Gunit Hussein Sangh]

it's understandable why conservatives have this opinon of Obama ... they've been so used to their depreseed, doped-up republican politicians it's just difficult for them to understand Obama's different from the folks they're used to cheering ... like st. McSame -- who is the kind of politician that will promise the moon and then give them a few crumbs from a moon-pie.

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

joe biden???  is he the clean and articulate one

[scarlett]

it's understandable why conservatives have this opinon of Obama ... they've been so used to their depreseed, doped-up republican politicians it's just difficult for them to understand Obama's different from the folks they're used to cheering ... like st. McSame -- who is the kind of politician that will promise the moon and then give them a few crumbs from a moon-pie.

I have always voted democrat. I'm tired of their lies. what has out congress done? nothing, they lied. Obama is not fit to be a senator let alone president of this country.

[Peter1469]

it's understandable why conservatives have this opinon of Obama ... they've been so used to their depreseed, doped-up republican politicians it's just difficult for them to understand Obama's different from the folks they're used to cheering ... like st. McSame -- who is the kind of politician that will promise the moon and then give them a few crumbs from a moon-pie.

I have always voted democrat. I'm tired of their lies. what has out congress done? nothing, they lied. Obama is not fit to be a senator let alone president of this country.

I hope that you are not disappointed by McCain.  I certainly would be, but that is because I know that he will not cut government to its constitutionally mandated level. 

[scarlett]

Obama said he would meet without preconditions,now is trying to weasel out of what i heard him say.When bush spoke the other day concerning this subject, obama's name was not even mentioned yet he too offense. Guess the guilty dog barks loudest.  

[scarlett]

it's understandable why conservatives have this opinon of Obama ... they've been so used to their depreseed, doped-up republican politicians it's just difficult for them to understand Obama's different from the folks they're used to cheering ... like st. McSame -- who is the kind of politician that will promise the moon and then give them a few crumbs from a moon-pie.

I have always voted democrat. I'm tired of their lies. what has out congress done? nothing, they lied. Obama is not fit to be a senator let alone president of this country.

I hope that you are not disappointed by McCain.  I certainly would be, but that is because I know that he will not cut government to its constitutionally mandated level. 

McC ain is the only choice I have. What else is there? Ron Paul? I think not. Besides, I like McCain and he has the experience.

[Vermouth]

Joe Biden’s plan to withdraw from Iraq was the most logical and could have been most effective had it been implemented. The bill was supported by nearly 30 Republicans in the Senate. Such bipartisan support cannot be ignored.

What was Biden's plan for withdrawal? I don't remember it.

[John Salinger]

Joe Biden’s plan to withdraw from Iraq was the most logical and could have been most effective had it been implemented. The bill was supported by nearly 30 Republicans in the Senate. Such bipartisan support cannot be ignored.

What was Biden's plan for withdrawal? I don't remember it.

Biden’s plan calls for the federalization of Iraq, giving Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis breathing room in their own regions. The key points include:

1. Giving Iraq’s major groups a measure of autonomy in their own regions. A central government would be left in charge of interests such as defending the borders and distributing oil revenues.
2. Guaranteeing Sunnis – who have no oil rights – a proportionate share of oil revenue and reintegrating those who have not fought against Coalition forces.
3. Increase, not end, reconstruction assistance but insist that Arab Gulf states fund it and tie it to the creation of a jobs program and to the protection of minority rights.
4. Initiate a diplomatic offensive to enlist the support of the major powers and neighboring countries for a political settlement in Iraq and create an Oversight Contact Group to enforce regional commitments.
5. Begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces in 2007 and withdraw most of them by 2008, leaving a small follow-on force for security and policing actions.

The Biden-Brownback Resolution passed the Senate floor 75-23 on September 25th, 2007, including 26 Republican votes.

(God bless Wikipedia.)

[Peter1469]

I like Biden’s plan to federalize Iraq.  However, the rest of it is off base. 

For one, we have already empowered the Sunni tribes, even the ones that fought us.  They are the Sons of Iraq.  I hung out with some of them last week.  Very enthusiastic young men; they are on board so long as the money flows into their tribal areas.

It will be hard to implement policies to empower “minorities.”  Iraq is essentially a nation made up of numerous tribes.  The national government is corrupt (probably worse that our Congress).  The Sheiks hold the power.  When there is an election here, people go to their Sheik and ask who they should vote for.  When we have a contract for a specific task, if a local Sheik is not onboard there will be no people bidding on the contract.  An Iraqi that does so risks his life.  We need to empower the Sheiks and use them to create stability. 

We need to end our fetish for the idea that all governments should look like ours.

[Mr. Ed]

And we need to end our fetish for nation-building.  Most, if not all, of our foreign policy disasters have been facilitated through cultural ingnorance.  Obama has a leg up on McCain in this particular, and very crucial, aspect of constructing a foreign policies.

[Peter1469]

And we need to end our fetish for nation-building.  Most, if not all, of our foreign policy disasters have been facilitated through cultural ingnorance.  Obama has a leg up on McCain in this particular, and very crucial, aspect of constructing a foreign policies.

I agree that we should not “nation-build,” at least by the military.  We are unsuited to it. 

I have no problem with nation-defeating.  Once we crushed the military resistance in the initial phase of the war we should have installed another strongman to keep order while we set up strategic bases in the south-eastern desert in order to block any attempts by Iran on the oil fields of the Persian Gulf. 

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

And we need to end our fetish for nation-building.  Most, if not all, of our foreign policy disasters have been facilitated through cultural ingnorance.  Obama has a leg up on McCain in this particular, and very crucial, aspect of constructing a foreign policies.

I agree that we should not “nation-build,” at least by the military.  We are unsuited to it. 

I have no problem with nation-defeating.  Once we crushed the military resistance in the initial phase of the war we should have installed another strongman to keep order while we set up strategic bases in the south-eastern desert in order to block any attempts by Iran on the oil fields of the Persian Gulf. 

exactly

[Vermouth]

We need to end our fetish for the idea that all governments should look like ours.

Absolutely!