May 22, 2008 - 3:19pm
Obama and America
By Michael P. Riccards
Category: President
Somehow, something unheard of is happening—a novice politician and senator Barack Obama is going to receive the presidential nomination from the oldest political party in the world. Somehow, in a nation with such a long and brutal history of race relations, a black man or at least a man with a black father is making a very serious bid to govern a historically white nation. Somehow a guy with a Muslim name is being talked of as commander in chief. The nation has come a long way since the Selma march. How did it happen?
First, Obama has promised Americans a different type of politics, one very different from the Lee Atwater-Karl Rove brand of Republican slander against which the Clintons were forced to toughen themselves. Sometimes to beat our enemies, we have to do as they do.
Second, the Clintons, with their long record of racial concerns, did not expect to face a young black man in the presidential candidate. Hillary, adopting the Mark Penn strategy, decided that she was really the heir apparent to the White House before she ran in her first primary. It would be over by Super Tuesday, so she neglected raising money and putting troops on the ground in other later states.
Third, she neglected the differing dynamics of caucuses, the silly personalistic style of politics that the coffee clatch Democrats put in place in some states instead of the secret ballot. She believed that she could establish a sense of early momentum that could roll over the Bidens, the Dodds and the Richardsons. She did these, but she never figured that Obama would do so well with his simple slogan, “yes, we can.”
Hillary Clinton, and her husband, misjudged the temperament of the American people. They not only wanted someone who knew the system, they were fed up with the system. The revulsion toward Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the rest turned to a disappointment at the pathetic Democrat controlled Congress and spread out to the whole Washington political establishment. Obama began to win even in white states like Iowa and New Hampshire shattering the illusion that he, in Bill Clinton’s unfortunate phrase, was just like Jesse Jackson. Bill, once the best strategist in the game, lost his touch. It has been a long time since 1992 and he was so busy making money that he lost his populist roots.
Obama is clearly favored by the college educated, the wealthier, the more independent Democrats, while Hillary has gotten the bread and butter lower class Democrats, the working class Democrats, or as she inelegantly said—the white Democrats.
Periodically, the American people respond to rhetoric, and Obama went from being a University of Chicago professor to a really clear and convincing orator. He consistently refused to get in the gutter to play the game, and so it is difficult for other liberal Democrats to slug it out with him. He was helped immensely by a fawning media that wanted to prove that they were hip and tolerant, and that they could see another John F. Kennedy on their beat. When Caroline Kennedy went over to Obama, the liberal media was elated. It is one thing for Teddy Kennedy to approve of you, but another when the last child of Camelot weighs in. She did for Obama in the middle of the campaign what Oprah did for him in the very beginning—she raised his status and gave him a bigger audience. The vague idealistic message, however, was his and his alone. Now he is left standing, facing the elderly patriot of another era—John McCain. The oldest man running for president is facing one of the youngest in a true generational contest. The outcome is not clear, for Obama will have to carry the very states he lost to Hillary: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and Florida. Surely we know that race is important, but so too are the bad economic times, the demise of the middle class, the fuel and food squeeze, and that interminable war in Iraq. Obama will portray McCain as Bush III, while once again the Republicans tell us his life story.
Michael P. Riccards is Executive Director of the Hall Institute of Public Policy – New Jersey.
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Our Greatgrand Nation
Dear Fellow Americans,
Our Greatgrand Nation, the United States of America
is facing and will face very critical and substantial
"Challenges" in coming, months, years, and next
decade[s].
It is very critical and very important that we the people of the America get interested, involved, and engaged in choosing and voting for our next President.
The following criteria will guide and help us to a right candidate. The candidate we choose must have following characteristics.
1. A clear and candid " Vision
and Mission" for our Nations present and future.
2. A " Strong Character and significant
Integrity".
3. The sound and sustained "Presidential Temperament" and " Judgment".
4. A least "Washington exposure" and "real connectedness with the people and future
generation".
5. One who "Inspires us up" rather than
"Tears us Down or divides us".
6. One who is not based on sexism, racism,regionalism,ageism, or any other ism and as well as who attempts to " bring us together ".
7. A foreign policy of mainly "USA Centric".
In my professional, political and personal opinion,
the only candidate that meets all the above
characteristics and has shown constant and consistent
coolness, calmness, and connectedness { PRESIDENTIAL
TEMPERAMENT } is Senator Barrack Obama.
As an independent registered voter since 1980. I voted
for Carter, voted for Reagan, voted for First Bush,
and second Bush in 2000 and In the process last
interest in Washington politics and I stopped voting.
Getting disinterested and disgusted in our political
process and stopping voting. That was a very very bad
decision in any circumstance, particularly under
present circumstances.
This time we can not afford to stay on side lines and
let "Washington" stay the same.We can not afford our
Greatgreat Nation to become less than what we are,
what we were and what we can be?
We need to send clear, careful and candid message to
the world and some time 24 hour partisan divisive
media, that We the American people will set the agenda for our future and America and Americans will be back.
These partisan media outlets are trying and will try their best to deprive, decieve,dupe, and derail us. let us stay involved, engaged, and express our opinion freely and vote.Our Nation will get it right this time to protect, preserve, and promote our future.
Some of these partisan media and pundits are trying
their best to deny us better future and continue focus our weaknesses and generate bitter future for us and our Greatgrand Nation. Our nations people will see thru. Unfortunately { Our Greatgrand Nations people
are persistently and constantly subjected to this
Psychological Terrorism" without common people’s
knowledge.
The common and regular people do not have time to see
thru and sort thru this psychological terrorism
perpetuated by some of these partisan media outlets.
I find it tragic, unfortunate, and sad [ Probably they do not care about our Greatgrand Nation ]as they claim that they do it in the interest of our Greatgrand Nation.
We the Americans should not and would not to allow
Some these partisan media outlets psychologically
terrorized, traumatized and silence us this time nor
any other time in future.
I am sure that we will get it right this
time and elect Senator Obama our next President.
Let us remember that our Greatgrand is consists of
family, friends,fellowships, faith, funds,foundation,
fun, and future with fairness and freedom and without
fear, favor, or failure .
We can not afford to lose any of above. Let us stand
up, be counted, save, build our Greatgrand Nation for
centuries to come. I am sure our Greatgrand nation and its diverse people. will reclaim, regain and restore global economic, social, moral, and power status of USA.
God Bless our Great grand Nation and its diverse
people.
Our Greatgrand nation needs present and future
stability, security, safety,sustained progress and
restoration of our due status in this perilous Global
World at the all levels.
Yours sincerely,
COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall M.D.
Forensic Psychiatrist.
Disables American Veteran.
Las Vegas Nevada.
Cell: 951-505-6975
Hillary is going to the convention
this is going to be bloody, not over yet!
Obama a leader???
Well akhajawall. If you really think that Barak Obama holds all those qualities, you either haven't been paying attention or are just a plain fool. Given that you must have some intelligence to have earned an MD, I'll presume the former.
Obama is a great speaker and motivator, no doubt. But, look beyond those well spoken words for any real meaning and you'll find none. This man has not articulted any vision for the future of this nation, has loosley defined domestic polices nothing short of Socialism, and has hinted at foriegn policy that would be disastrous for this nation.
It's a good thing your are retired Colonel, otherwsie I'd have to question your ability to command.
The "novice" has earned it...the "experienced" have blown it.
"...a novice politician and senator Barack Obama is going to receive the presidential nomination."
Judging from the campaigns, Barack Obama has exemplified sophisiticated political and management expertise. Obama's campaign has demonstrated the "novice" as a resilient and masterful tactician who gathers, manages and marshalls resources consistently in service of his overall strategy. As well, he has shown the intellect, energy, character and calm demeanor needed in a leader facing the many shifting challenges we face.
In contrast, the "experienced" Clintons have mismanaged their campaign finances, haven't had a Plan B when "inevitability" didn't pan out (sound a bit like our Iraq policy?), changed identities on almost a monthly basis, relied on divisive rhetoric and disingenuous nastiness.
Gee, that sounds a bit too much like George Bush!
Ad Hominem absurdities
Obama is not the only gifted one.
NorthJerseyGuy's penchant for empty flaming and boilerplate namecalling is evidence of his own particular talent -- self-parody.
Ad Hominem absurdities
Obama is not the only gifted one.
NorthJerseyGuy's penchant for empty flaming and boilerplate namecalling is evidence of his own particular talent -- self-parody.
No Way Obama
"I will stand with the Muslims when the political winds turn in a ugly direction." Barack Hussein Obama, The Audacity of Hope
Enough said.
Full Quote -- don't be fooled
"Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific reassurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."
Idiot
The Muslim religion is a religon of peace, much the same as Christianity and Judaism. All three worship the same god, Allah is simply an arabic word for God, just as Jehova is in Hebrew. Muslims worship moses and abraham as important, and jesus as a prophet. We are all so much alike its sad most people don't know our similarities. I am a Catholic, but I happen to be educated, and comments such as yours are nothing more than baseless fear mongering. Read a book.
Who is Obama?
Apparently, he is "a novice politician and senator Barack Obama is going to receive the presidential nomination from the oldest political party in the world." This revelation was given us by the blessed Michael Riccards, who just woke up and read a few issues of The New York Times to summarize his deep thoughts for us the illiterate masses of New Jersey. Thank you Mr. Riccards for these revelations. I would recommend that you read comments by Bodoc (congratulations!): "Judging from the campaigns, Barack Obama has exemplified sophisticated political and management expertise. Obama's campaign has demonstrated the "novice" as a resilient and masterful tactician who gathers, manages and marshalls resources consistently in service of his overall strategy. As well, he has shown the intellect, energy, character and calm demeanor needed in a leader facing the many shifting challenges we face."