Who do you WANT to be President of the USA

[Falcaonet]

Obama!
Really hope he wins.

[randolph]

If people want to believe in the American dream again and give the US back it's credibillty then it has to be Obama! It would be huge watershed for millions of black people living in the West, and a sign that America had arrived at a place that it always has claimed to occupy - ie eqaulity and respect for all!

It is almost painful to see how desparate Hillary now looks, a cornered bully, the fear in her eyes as she lashes out! 'It's mine, it belongs to me, I did my time, I'm part of the right set, now just shut up and give the Presidency to ME!'

It must be terrible for her, waiting, biding her time, waiting for the moment and then just as she makes her play some new kid comes out of nowhere and runs off with the prize!

[wjfox]

^ Hear, hear.

[xote]

Hillary and Barack are practically identical, so if you really think that personality makes such a huge difference in terms of how the country will be run day to day, then....

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by randolph

If people want to believe in the American dream again and give the US back it's credibillty then it has to be Obama! It would be huge watershed for millions of black people living in the West, and a sign that America had arrived at a place that it always has claimed to occupy - ie eqaulity and respect for all!

It is almost painful to see how desparate Hillary now looks, a cornered bully, the fear in her eyes as she lashes out! 'It's mine, it belongs to me, I did my time, I'm part of the right set, now just shut up and give the Presidency to ME!'

It must be terrible for her, waiting, biding her time, waiting for the moment and then just as she makes her play some new kid comes out of nowhere and runs off with the prize!

So America to get your "approval" and be deemed not racist and enlightened has to vote for the man YOU deem appropriate for the job? Why doesn't have the UK have to vote in an Indian as PM? Or Germany have to vote in a Jew? Are those country's racist backwater filth's who don't deserve "credibility" if they don't or haven't? Why this is a referendum on race for outsiders instead of one in which domestic and foreigners POLICIES for Americans feel most comforable with I am not sure. Silly me, I thought elections were supposed to ideally be about policy and not about identity politics or for the sport of sanctimonious hypocritical outsiders to lay down judgment as if on some high above perch.

That is what really bugs me about this whole campaign, if Obama doesn't win it will just be used as disgusting opportunistic vitriol as proof of the deep down embedded racism in the U.S for not picking "the obvios candiate" (in some minds eye) for extremely lazy politically disgruntled psedo-analysist.

[Man G]

Originally Posted by Mancunian Monkey

What exactly is Obama offering other than this so-called 'hope'? He talks about 'change' but what change? He won't even back universal health-care which Hillary will.

Obama picks up what I call the 'High School Musical' vote - over-excited late teens and twentysomethings who don't really know how the world works and treat politics as though it's an episode of American Idol.

That video just about sums up why Obama cannot be taken seriously and we all know that if he gets elected, his die-hard fans will just end up being let down because he cannot achieve the things they want him to achieve.

For once I agree completely with you!

[Mancunian Monkey]

Miracles do happen after all!

[TheRhino]

Originally Posted by randolph

If people want to believe in the American dream again and give the US back it's credibillty then it has to be Obama! It would be huge watershed for millions of black people living in the West, and a sign that America had arrived at a place that it always has claimed to occupy - ie eqaulity and respect for all!

The American Dream has never gone anywhere. This is one of my biggest complaints of the Democratic Party. It tries to give us that image--that the U.S. is a hellish dump where nobody can succeed.

Part of the American Dream involves self-reliance--not dependency on government, which is the goal of that party. Yes, Obama would make people like the U.S. again--but should that be our only goal in electing a leader? The U.S. isnt the Prom Court in high school. Its serious business being the leader of the free world--at the helm of the worlds greatest military and diverse economy. I am not convinced he is up to the job with recent wild comments about how he wants to attack Pakistan (an ally) and break away from NAFTA (a shot at our bro, Canada).

I appreciate your optimism though.

[randolph]

You are right - it is a serious business being the leader of the free world- why then did America elect Bush two for two terms?(someone who would not stand a chance of election in Europe) It is, of course true that America will choose it's president, but don't assume that no one else will have opinion about the choices America Makes - Many parts of the rest of the World have to put up with it's foriegn policy and war mongering so naturally we are interested. Sorry to admit it but many people outside of the US feel that it has lost a great deal of it's credibility and integrety over the last 8 years. Electing another Clinton after Bush and Bush Junior does, from the outside, look odd for a democracy. I am not someone who hates America, on contrary I am often having to defend it to the many people who do. I would rather the US than Russia or China was the dominiant power in the world.

As far as Obama goes then I have to be the first to admit that I know nothing of his policies - I know no more of Clintons either. My comment is a straightforward one - I don't seek to avoid the issue of race but takle it head on and my personal feeling is that a black president would be a great thing for the world and for America. It would be a watershed moment in history, a moment when people, and especially black people, could believe that the past was behind us and that it really is an equal and fair world, where aspiration can not be thwarted by race or class. Of course I conceed that Obama must have realistic and attractive policies that the electorate can relate to. I am not saying he should be elected purely because he is black. I am saying that if America choose him then his race bring with it a legacy that will ultimately outwiegh his politics.

[Man G]

So to put America's racist past behind it, they should elect someone for racist reasons? Makes sense...

Surely people should be elected on the basis of merit, not because they happen to be the 'right' colour, whether that's black, white or whatever.

[randolph]

If you read what I was saying you will find that I say that he can not be elected purely on race , but must have policies that the electors want. I will reapeat myself if it was not clear - if elected (on policies and merit) the fact that he is black will bring with it an additional, co-incidental but profound, legacy for millions of people around the world and especially in the USA.

[TheRhino]

Originally Posted by randolph

You are right - it is a serious business being the leader of the free world- why then did America elect Bush two for two terms?(someone who would not stand a chance of election in Europe)

Bush had experience in leadership. The first election was close and the second was up against a terrible candidate. America cannot vote for someone because it will make Europe happy. Ronald Reagan was not beloved in Europe at all, but he was one of the greatest American Presidents. In regards to Europe, their dislike of us now is pure hypocrisy because they went along with Iraq, the war on terror, stance against Iran, and pretty much everything else aside our signing of Kyoto--which as we later find out is a joke.

It is, of course true that America will choose it's president, but don't assume that no one else will have opinion about the choices America Makes - Many parts of the rest of the World have to put up with it's foriegn policy and war mongering so naturally we are interested. Sorry to admit it but many people outside of the US feel that it has lost a great deal of it's credibility and integrety over the last 8 years. Electing another Clinton after Bush and Bush Junior does, from the outside, look odd for a democracy. I am not someone who hates America, on contrary I am often having to defend it to the many people who do. I would rather the US than Russia or China was the dominiant power in the world.

Again, we cant let the world decide who our president is. The world wants a weaker America--a more castrated America. They basically want America to always do their bidding and never do anything for itself. And I dont think thats fair.

I dont particulary want another Clinton or Bush in office either and am glad you like the U.S. over China/Russia. Some people on this site would deem these nations heroic and the U.S. the world villain for its actions in Iraq. Which of course is bogus because we only took down a hated dicator with the support of much of the free world!

As far as Obama goes then I have to be the first to admit that I know nothing of his policies - I know no more of Clintons either. My comment is a straightforward one - I don't seek to avoid the issue of race but takle it head on and my personal feeling is that a black president would be a great thing for the world and for America. It would be a watershed moment in history, a moment when people, and especially black people, could believe that the past was behind us and that it really is an equal and fair world, where aspiration can not be thwarted by race or class. Of course I conceed that Obama must have realistic and attractive policies that the electorate can relate to. I am not saying he should be elected purely because he is black. I am saying that if America choose him then his race bring with it a legacy that will ultimately outwiegh his politics.

A black president would be alright if he was up to the job and not just some good talker. This country is unusual. We sit there and sing praises of black Democrats like Obama, but ignore high ranking blacks appointed by Republicans such as Condelezza Rice, Clarence Thomas, and Colin Powell. America doesnt think of black Republicans as being "black" enough and that it b.s. Condelezza Rice would make a better president than Clinton or Obama. Not only is she a better politicain, she is black, a woman, and wasnt raised in Hawaii like Obama. She was born to sharecroppers in the Deep South, something I think is more of a incredible story than whats happening with Obama. An ignored story because she isnt a liberal.

[randolph]

Actually I agree with you that Rice and Powell are credible Presidential candidates . I , for years, have told sceptical friends that I thought the first black president would come from the right, just as Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister came from the right. The right has often been pragmatic about it's leaders. I for one wouldn't have been surprised to see a Rice/Clinton race but it wasn't to be.

I don't agree that Europeans want to choose The US president. America is a self contained economy, which should be free from the fear of invasion. Yet it seems so often irrationally fearful and insecure. Hence, perhaps Americans have a rather inward looking frame of mind and a very uniformed world view. We worry when this is manifest in it's leaders as American foriegn and economic policy will effect us all. This was the case with Bush2. (But not so with his father.)

Just for the record I recognise that Reagan was a great President, under rated in Europe. He was good with the economy and formed new relationship with the Soviet Union that lead the way for the end of the Cold war. Again, often I find myself defending him to europeans who disliked him.

[Rigadon]

Is Powell on the right? I suspect he's too tarnished by the whole WMD thing anyway.

[Kara]

Actually when he expressed interest in running, a group threatened to kill his wife. I'm fairly certain that's one of the major reasons he hasn't run.

[randolph]

He was a posible candidate for the Republicans - I seem to remember? He is tainted by the whole Iraq debarkle, which is a shame as he was cornered into it against his better judgement.

There were threats made against his family as I recall. Have times changed enough that Obama could feel more relaxed about possible assasination by disgruntled whites? Any US citizens care to say?

[Noostairz]

barack obama describes america's relationship with britain as a "special, special relationship" and "inviolable" - correct answer president obama. i am that link.

hillary needs to nail texas and ohio, otherwise: GAME OVER.

[Rigadon]

Originally Posted by randolph

He was a posible candidate for the Republicans - I seem to remember?

Well yes he's beome part of the Republican party but I wasnt sure if that was due to his politics or just due to the history of his career.

Anyway not that interesting I suppose given that he wont ever run.

On topic Hilary's been finished for a while-will she finally give it up if she loses Texas?

[randolph]

As an outsider looking in, and someone who went to a betting shop 12 years ago and tried to put a bet on her becoming president one day (they wouldn't take the bet) She now looks almost unelectable. She is coming across really badly, arrogant, desparate, vindictive. As I said before you get the impression she feels she is 'owed' the Presidency. I don't see her standing down, she will cling on to the bitter end!

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by randolph

He was a posible candidate for the Republicans - I seem to remember? He is tainted by the whole Iraq debarkle, which is a shame as he was cornered into it against his better judgement.

There were threats made against his family as I recall. Have times changed enough that Obama could feel more relaxed about possible assasination by disgruntled whites? Any US citizens care to say?

He likely will be on edge but then any President should. Supposedly there have been some threats at Obama already but it is not like it's unheard of in the U.S. for there to be an attempt. However I would guess there are more fanatical leftist militant types who loathe Bush and would like to take him out then avid racist that would hate to the depths in order to try to kill Obama so I think Obama has a more then a fair chance of going unscathed. The sad fact is that it only takes one wacko unfortunately with any deep seated litany of reasons though.

I will say I don't think it helps that Obama's wife makes issue about the fear or threats they have gotten.