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</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/opinion/19brooks.html?ref=opinion[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/opinion/19brooks.html?ref=opinion</a></p>
<p>Oh, I think he gets the nomination and wins in the fall. He has a terrible time getting all the troops out of Iraq. Pakistan is a mess. The economy falls apart - much worse than now. Because of the poor economy and lack of revenue, he can’t do the health care thing. No Republican appointee leaves the Supreme Court. He gets rebuffed by Democrats on getting lobbyists out of Washington. There are several terror attacks in the U.S. The earth gets warmer.</p>
<p>I think all of this as a reasonable scenario. And you know what? I’m satisfied. There is an African-American President who galvanizes the Black community, and especially Black youth to chart a new path. He opens a new door in race relations in this country. And he talks good. </p>
<p>If that’s all that happens, my hopes are well satisfied.</p>
<p>My prediction: Obama gets the nomination, but loses in the general election when many of the Independents and Republicans he has supposedly gotten to support him go back to McCain and all the young voters don’t turn out.</p>
<p>“And he talks good.” – not in his own words, though… seems no politician can think of something to say themselves (except Deval Patrick…)</p>
<p>I love the way conventional wisdom keeps belittling “hope”. Obama does a pretty good job of explaining exactly what he means by hope and why it is important to him and for the country. Yeah, it is easy for pundits to laugh it off. But it looks like the voters are not so cynical and that is what matters.</p>
<p>"I think all of this as a reasonable scenario. And you know what? I’m satisfied. There is an African-American President who galvanizes the Black community, and especially Black youth to chart a new path. He opens a new door in race relations in this country. And he talks good. “”</p>
<p>And even more than that, he seems to be galvanizing youth in general and reenergizing many older folks who had given up hope in America.</p>
<p>“I love the way conventional wisdom keeps belittling “hope”. Obama does a pretty good job of explaining exactly what he means by hope and why it is important to him and for the country. Yeah, it is easy for pundits to laugh it off.”</p>
<p>I agree with you. FDR was another president who was known for his ability to inspire others through his speeches and charisma. And like Obama, he was a Harvard and Columbia grad (though he went to Harvard first, Columbia for law school).</p>
<p>I by no means am naive when it comes to how realistic an Obama presidency can be. He (as is any other candidate running) would inherit a horrible situation that took us eight years to get into; I expect after a year or two for people to start griping that he’s not doing what he said he would do. I think he will hit walls when it comes to his hopes for Iraq, the economy, health care, etc. but I think ALL of the potential candidates will hit the same wall; what I do believe is that he is more likely to listen to both sides, try to instill a new way of doing politics in this country, and hopefully restore the reputation of this country throughout the world. I think he has the humblest approach to public service and the rest of the world will judge us by our leader. I think he can be the catalyst for long-term changes that won’t all necessarily take place during his tenure, if he is elected, so yes, it will be tough, and not everything he promises will happen. Two steps forward, one step back… it’s got to start somewhere.</p>
<p>
‘Hopes’ won’t accomplish anything - only concrete plans will.</p>
<p>Concrete plans won’t accomplish a thing. The world is full of concrete plans, and plans buried in concrete.</p>
<p>(I think Obama has WAY too many.)</p>
<p>Of course the concrete plans are only the starting point but they’re something tangible that can be debated, championed, amended, and approved or rejected. People can decide whether they like them or not. The terms ‘hope’ and ‘change’ mean nothing since everyone will have their own interpretation of what they mean.</p>
<p>I wonder if the 20,000 people who saw Obama speak in Houston this evening feel the magic fading? </p>
<p>20,000?!</p>
<p>Time will tell, I guess. Two weeks to be exact.</p>
<p>Also, I wonder if the people who continue to donate to his campaign are feeling the magic fade?</p>
<p>NYT:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/us/politics/20obama.html?hp[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/us/politics/20obama.html?hp</a></p>
<p>Obama fundraising is so great because it is powered by small individual donations from ordinary people like us. I don’t want anything back for my $100 except a chance to see him get elected. </p>
<p>Contrast that with the Clintons who use ex-Prez Bill and Hillary to attend power-fundraiser-dinners where they tap well-heeled donors who obviously are angling for some paybacks in a future Whitehouse- whether it is a stay at the Lincoln Bedroom or something more. </p>
<p>If Obama looks like he is losing, people will donate more, if Hillary looks like she is losing, the donors will hold back, for after all they are looking at their donation as an investment.</p>
<p>I guess this is the year of the grassroots. The other candidate who has done well with the grassroots is Ron Paul.</p>
<p>“Of course the concrete plans are only the starting point but they’re something tangible that can be debated, championed, amended, and approved or rejected. People can decide whether they like them or not. The terms ‘hope’ and ‘change’ mean nothing since everyone will have their own interpretation of what they mean.”</p>
<p>But he has huge numbers of highly detailed concrete plans. Way too many.</p>
<p>Of course, we all remember our Fearless Leader’s plans to fix Social Security, Medicare, balance the budget, cut spending, end pork spending, etc., etc., ad nauseous…</p>
<p>In the end this article actually helps Hillary. The media is running with it and now they are questioning the hard facts. I think Hillary now needs to run with it, and see if she can gain traction.</p>
<p>For myself, his speeches are becoming redundant and I now have no desire to hear him speak anymore. It is all rhetoric, show me how he will accomplish this…ENOUGH WITH THE LINE “CHANGE”…start showing me how you will change, and please make sure the dollar signs add up. </p>
<p>A pundit said today (democratic in regard to Hill’s plan and his) when it comes down are you willing to pay more taxes? Are you willing to pay money out of your pocket to pay for their health insurance? Our DS’s gf has no health insurance and wants Obama. I asked her if she knew his health insurance plan. Her reply was no, but she will not vote for Hillary. An anti-vote is not how anyone should select a president.</p>
<p>I guess I’m kinda odd–I haven’t heard any speeches by any of them, not one. I read to decide whom I like. And I like what I’ve read of Obama, better than either of the other two. So it’s not about a good speaking voice for me, and I am sure I am not alone.</p>
<p>Co-sign everything teriwtt said.</p>
<p>My expectations are modest. We’ve driven this country into an iceberg. Putting a better captain in charge of the ship is a necessary first step to fixing the problems, but it’s going to take a lot of people’s effort and a lot more than 8 years to get back to where we were. All I expect from Obama is that he’ll do the best job possible under the (very grim) circumstances.</p>
<p>“An anti-vote is not how anyone should select a president.”</p>
<p>May be too late.</p>
<p>I think there is a risk that Obama may be another Jimmy Carter.</p>
<p>But do I regret voting for Carter in 1976? No.</p>
<p>Where we were, you mean with the stock market crashed, massive layoffs in the tech/dotcom fields and elsewhere, and people plotting to attack the Twin Towers? Yes, those were the good old days.</p>
<p>Yep. I still prefer Carter to Ford. And what Republican administrations have done to this country–especially the current one–only make me feel more secure in my opinion.</p>
<p>Wow…so 18% mortgage rates were okay with you(current rate is 6%). Gold at 870 --8/79 (@ current price now is 925 —almost 30 yrs later), gas at the same cost (inflation), unemployment rates in the 7+%, (4.9% as of 2/08) and of course our citiizens being held hostage for over 400 days because we had no respect? Yep, the boycott of the Olympics left every country quaking in their boots 
</p>