Me, I'm for none other than OBAMA, and I'll be the 1st to admit it!!! :party: :believe: :fireworks:

(...if i was old enough LOL!!!!) i would totally vote for Obama!!!!!

I'll be old enough, but I support Ron Paul and he doesn't have much of a chance..sadly.

I guess it would be Obama otherwise. But I just pray that the final race is not Guiliani and Hillary. Oi, that would be the absolute worst :eww:

Sorry Hillary here. I like her spunk!

Hilary here, too. But I guess first we have to wait to see who the actual candidates will be, right? LOL!

I will be voting for John Edwards. Like him & his policies.

You know who I am supporting. I've been writing about Obama in these forums for nearly a year lol.

Obama here, too. If Hillary wins the presidency I will be so disappointed in this country.

Urmmm I have yet to decide who I would want..but if Hilary wins, I am moving uggh not a fan of her..I hope she isn't the democratic candidate I couldn't deal lol!

Obama! And he's just been called the winner in Iowa! Yes!

Obama supporter here!! I'm happy he won Iowa, I've been keeping up with the caucus!

I like him too! I have a pic with him from 2003 :)

ELLIOTT YAMIN!!!!! VOTE LIKE YAMIN IT!!


oops, so used to voting for him;)

I don't like any of 'em this year, liked Duncan Hunter but he is not a contender so I guess I will stick with Elliott...

;)

So am I, I am watching Barack speaking right now, it's very exciting, for me anyway.

I am happy for Barak as well. If John can't get the nomination, I'd love to see Barak get it. Hillary is ok, just don't have any connection with her, so to speak.

Very inspiring speech Barack Obama gave.

It was thrilling to hear that Obama won. Hopefully he can maintain this momentum. :)

:hooray: Obama's got momentum behind-the-scenes!!! CHECK IT OUT:
BarackObama '08 If you're wishing to support him, JOIN IN!!! :cheerleaders:

LET'S BARACK HIS BOAT FOR '08!!!

I watched Obama's victory speech via YouTube. It was definitely realistic and inspiring to watch. He invoked some of the greats of the past with that speech....this kind of reminds me of FDR and the whole New Deal era. Our country was not sure if we wanted a leader who would truly change the social landscape far beyond just Washington. I think our country is ready for that REAL type of change that Obama can bring.

I don't know if someone can qualify this statistic, but was it really reported that over half of those who voted for him were 30 or under? If true, this speaks volumes about tapping into a segment of the potential voting population that has not been awakened enough to be vocal. I think this maybe the candidate that gets the young people to the poll booths and more actively civic thinkers too! :)

I agree SMR!!! OBAMA'S got it going on!!! He not only has the population of our youth, but TOO has CONVERTED/ADDED alot of NON-voters (like myself, included!) to his VOTING FORCE!!! :believe: To me, it's much the same as ELLIOTT YAMIN!!! I'm ALL for CHANGE - musically, politically, etc., etc.!!! LET'S DO THIS!!! THE TIME'S AT HAND, OR NOTHING ELSE NEW CAN HAPPEN!!!

I'm with you yellin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey...sign me up...I wonder how many Etrainers will get cabinet posts???

This definitely is quite a race on the Democratic side. It was very sad to see Obama lose to Clinton by just a few percentage points. His message resonates so truly and it was clearly a close vote for New Hampshire voters. Still, his speech he gave yesterday was equally honest, captivating, and grateful for everything as the one in Iowa.

I've come to the conclusion why I can not support Hillary Clinton and strongly support Barack Obama. Hillary seems like an alright enough candidate who provides a clear plan. Still, I feel like her becoming President promotes the partisan stalemate that is currently in place. She does not give the sense that she has the capacity to unite the two party's to achieve goals still not accomplished by Washington (IE better/more equtiable education, healthcare, and Energy policy). It would just mean more of the "I'm right and you are wrong" mentality that has been a staple of politics over the past 7 years.

Furthermore, I have heard her critcize Obama on television by saying things like Obama is just "all talk". Well......so is any politician who has yet to emerge victor in their respective race. The goal of the race is to articulate your political philosophy, stances on foreign/domestic policy, and personal convictions in the most honest and effective way possible. It is not until a woman or man is in office that we will know if he or she merely "talks the talk". In fact, Obama was an opponent of the War in Iraq before it became the more popular position. Especially in terms of the Democratic party, and to me, this shows that Obama is willing to stand up for his convictions even when it may not be the popular opinion.

Plus, the Bush and Clinton families have had Presidential power in this country for long enough. I am ready to see new leadership with the strength, inspiration, and conviction to breakthrough the gridlock in Washington to get some NEW things done. I thought former President Bill Clinton did a fine job as President in the early 90's. However, it is time for a new track for America. Bill Clinton said something to the effect that Obama's beliefs are like a "fairytale". Well, you need to start with a dream that you turn into a reality. Obama is a dreamer, but is also practical with the diligence to see through these tough times. Our country is ready for a vivacious leader like Obama to take back this country for the people!

There is a lot of talk of change across both Republican and Democratic campaigns for President. In my view, the current President and Hillary Clinton represent past political times. We are entering into a new climate that requires not only a change of ideology, but also a change of leadership. I love the United States and know there is so much potential waiting to be realized as reality. In my eyes, it shows we dare to step outside the box and typical tradition to achieve what was once seemingly impossible by giving Obama this nomination. While Hillary is a great candidate in her own right, I feel the US is ready for something and someone new. We need to shake up the system and institute positive change through strong and unified leadership.

This is why I will Barack the vote in the Feb 5. primary in my state :rocker:

I couldn't agree with you more. I can't believe women fell for her staged crying. I think that is how she got the votes. I am a women by the way. Obama is still ahead in delagates. I hope he will go on to win. We need a President who will always take the high road.

Well, I was impressed with Hillary in the debate on Saturday. Altho, I felt all of them did well....except for Richardson. As for her tearing up, I didn't feel it was staged at all. She does have experience & she is a very intelligent woman. I like Obama, but do agree with the sentiment that he does not have much experience. The current President had NO experience in the Senate or the House & it shows. I also feel that voters in New Hampshire were miffed that the media was stating how they were voting...days before they even voted. Tends to upset folks who like to think for themselves. Personally, I still think it is too early to tell WHO will actually win the nomination. I still prefer Edwards & I find it extremely annoying that the media acts as if he isn't even in the running. But, that is typical of the media. They present what THEY want & it is left up to the viewer to accept it or take the time to look for the ENTIRE story. ugh.

No matter who wins, they are gonna have a long, hard road of cleaning up & making amends with the world. Not an enviable position.

SMR, you've been reading my mind. Well said. I guess right now I'm looking at integrity, hopes and dreams to get us where we need to be and want to be, not experience. While I don't have that much against Hillary I just think that the political climate in DC will not allow her to get anything done, it would just be a continuation of what Bill went through and this country needs action not bickering and finger-pointing. I'm also not sure she's capable of winning against the whole thing and maybe Obama isn't either because some voters will throw in the race card (grrrrrrr!!!!!) but he sure inspires me.

Yes, Bush had no experience either but he's an egotistical moron, IMHO, plus I'm not sure he really won the last election.

In any event, we need a change in attitude, mind-set and a refocus on who the President represents (the people not special interests, corporations and oil companies).

I agree RM. I truly like Barack but I am fearful of his lack of experience. SMR stated that we need to shake it up, and get some fresh meat in there. But I do not want to have to teach the president how to run a country. We've been doing that for the past seven years, and look where it has gotten us. I personally do not think Barack is ready to run the country, a few more years would do him wonders, because right now all of his ideas for the country are just that ideas. It relates me back to my high school days when two girls were running for President of the student body, and one who was fairly popular and promised for new fancy athletic equipment and more high priced food for the cafeteria. Knowing that our school could not even begin to afford either, she was voted in because of her "ideas" none of which actually became implemented. And because she was popular.

What we need is someone with a good track record of public relations, and a heck of a lot of experience. While I'm sure in time Barack would do great with both, I do not know how ready he is just yet, and that makes me a bit worrisome. The biggest problem I have with Hilary is going along with SMR in stating about the family dynasties. I don't like the fact that she's running because she's Bill's wife, but I do think she will ultimately have the power to make some changes. But as of right now, I feel she is being more targeted because she is a woman, than Barack just because he is of color. People want change, they do not want to see another southern white man in the office.

What we need is to stop making decisions just because they are a woman, or because they are of color. We need to pick the best candidate no matter what.

I truly thought Joe Biden would have been a good choice, had he have been more popular. He was one of the few to give a levelheaded and honest response after the assasination of Benazir Bhutto.

As for the Republican side of things, I would honestly choose John McCain. I have not been keeping tabs on the others running, besides what I've read and seen of Rudy Guiliani, and Mitt Romney. Neither whom I think should be allowed anywhere near the office of presidency. Don't even get me started on Ron Paul, who seems to think his running for office is a big joke.

In the end, I don't honestly think it is going to come down to who is the best candidate but who is the most popular. It's a shame, but I hope to be proven wrong if Barack wins overall, that he will not need to be trained. It would definitely help this country out, plus I think he is a very good speaker! (Something of which we are sorely lacking in right now.)

Berkana, I think Obama is totally different than George Bush. Both on the political level and a personal level. As you stated, Obama is a talented speaker with a gift to inspire and motivate people with his words. IMHO, this is exactly the type of individual we need at this point in our history. A person who embodies the innate qualities of a powerful leader with conviction, but still knows how to work as a group in our Democratic government. I am so tired of Bush blaming congress in every public speech he makes and the general back and forth between Liberal and Conservative constituents that permits no positive change to happen.

Also, Obama has spoken extensively about Ethics reforms to stop Lobbyist from buying the votes of Senators and Congresspeople. Obama in various debates has called Senator Clinton on taking money extensively from PAC's, Special Interest Groups, and Lobbyist. This is the exact notion Obama has consistently been working towards changing. How can Hillary say she is a candidate of moral change if she takes so much money from the special interests? And as far as experience, he will have his V.P. and others who will hopefully be a great team with wisdom for him to draw from.

Morever, his experience of living in diverse places has given him experience not afforded to by other candidates. He comes to this race with unique perspectives and has not been bogged down in Washington by the politics of fear and partisan bickering. This is the main reason I support Obama. I believe his novelty to the world of politics brings a refreshing new turning of the page in the United States history. Do I think he will solve all of our problems? Of course not. Do I think he is a fresh face who will work with others well to promote the well-being of our nation as an effective leader? You better believe it. It's not that I strongly dislike Hillary, I just feel Obama brings something different to the table that will ultimately be better for our future over the next 4 or more years.

And RM, this quote: "No matter who wins, they are gonna have a long, hard road of cleaning up & making amends with the world. Not an enviable position".
These words were never more true. I totally agree and really hope our nation picks the person who will best be able to do those things. JMO, but I think Barack Obama is the person to do it.

ETA: Also, RM, I agree about your comments on John Edwards. I was watching MSNBC and all they seemed to talk about was Clinton and Obama. It seemed unfair for them not to give more time and analysis about his stances, platforms, and how he is doing in the race thus far.

I have no doubt that he is a complete opposite of Bush. It's just the fact that he hasn't had much experience other than his own term, is what makes me nervous. I do have faith in him, but it is still a nervousness of which I cannot shake.

It's alright. We are all entitled to our opinions and that is cool. No matter what ends up happening, I just really hope we get an honest, strong, and healing leader that helps alleviate the challenges we face. This country has been through so much in the past 7 years, and I would like to see things improve for all of society.

I wholeheartedly agree.

I'll dive in on the issue of Barack Obama's experience. As is frequently the case in the world of politics, candidates hammer home the same lines over and over and over again, hoping that the repetition of these phrases some how accumulates into an agreed upon version of reality.

So here are the facts on Barack's experience:

1. Barack has 10 years experience in public office, more than the two Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton (6-plus years as Senator from New York) and John Edwards (6 years as Senator from North Carolina). Barack's first eight years was spent in the Illinois Senate before his two years (and counting) of service in the U.S. Senate. In Illinois, he introduced, voted on and passed bills, debated with his colleagues, and arduously worked to satisfy his constituents. Most important of all, he learned how to work across the aisle, and get things done.

2. In the U.S. Senate, Obama is unique among Senators in that he serves on three of the four Senate Committees dealing with foreign policy issues including the Foreign Relations; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs committees and is the Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Relations which is responsible for U.S. relations with European countries, the European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (i.e., NATO).

3. He was a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1993 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. (I find this experience particularly relevant given the recent watering down of Constitution principles).

Interesting comparison with Bobby Kennedy. Kennedy was 42 at his death, and Obama is 46 now. Both were attorneys and went to Harvard. What they chose to do with their law degrees was very different. Kennedy seemingly was groomed for politics. At a very young age, he managed his brother’s Senate and Presidential runs, then went to work as a Congressional lawyer -- a family affair. So professionally, Kennedy had more experience working in Washington and more help by virtue of his last name. Obama chose to work as a civil rights attorney and community organizer after graduating from the top law school in the country. Like Obama, Kennedy was still in his first term as a U.S. Senator before he started running for President. Obama, though, had more experience as an elected official, which he has been for 10 years now.

And I found this interesting analysis from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/weekinreview/18lizza.html. Historically, experience has never been highly correlated with success in the White House. Since the nation’s founding, says Fred I. Greenstein, the presidential historian at Princeton University, there have been some highly experienced candidates who turned out to be subpar presidents (James Madison, Herbert Hoover), and others who turned out to be above-average presidents (Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan).

Similarly, he says, there have been candidates with little government experience who were poor presidents (Jimmy Carter) and others who exceeded expectations (Woodrow Wilson, Dwight Eisenhower).

“I don’t think you’d find any obvious relationship,” Mr. Greenstein says.

So as you ponder this information, I wanted y'all to know that I will be spending much less time on this site, as I am now working for Barack Obama so I'll have little time to check in here. Right now I'm en route from my home in Northwest Washington, driving across the country, literally through snow, wind and rain, to help Obama win in South Carolina.

I'll check in when I can. Meanwhile, I hope you all research the candidates beyond what the mainstream media is spinning to you so that you can make well-informed choices.

Thank you for elaborating upon the experience and credentials Obama brings to the table, Movin'. Good luck with your travels to South Carolina. I hope the people of S.C. elect him for this nomination. I will be campaigning around my area in Illinois. Many people assume he is a lock in my state, but that is FAR from true. I will not underestimate the connections and push for Hillary to win the ticket in IL either.

Thank you Movin for backing it up with pure stone cold facts. You are right about it becoming "reality." I appreciate the info.

Very educated voter....great job!

I like Obama and McCain...I like anyone you crosses party lines to get something DONE!

I like people of integrity who say what they think.

I like people who listen to other opinions...Obama scores high points here!

I don't like micromanagers, and I am afraid that is what Hillary is going to become in the white house.

I really don't want Bill to have access to the oval office again; I don't want him around the President any more than I want George around the President. I want a fresh start with no old guard...guarding some so called "legacy". I don't mind experience, but there is all kinds of useful experience....

Including the list you just gave us...very cool

THANK YOU, movin'!!! I just saw John Kerry this am on George Stephanopholis' political talk show on ABC, and he too (JK), filled in Barack Obama's credentials of experience!!!
I'm so glad you're actively in this important movement!!! Me, I'm doing some online support, i.e., signing up as a registered user of barackobama.com and donating when I can, I've got as many Obama myspace supporters as friends I could find, and I've posted some stickers on myspace page hopefully to get this candidacy ball running!!! OBAMA REALLY NEEDS TO BE THE NEW PRESIDENT ELECT FOR 2008, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT CHANGE (UNFORTUNATELY SINCE HE FIRST USED THIS WORD, NOW EVERYBODY JUMPED IN & HAVE TRIED TO WEAR IT DOWN!), IT'S ABOUT LOOKING AGAIN IN A BETTER DIRECTION THAT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, ONLY TO BE SHOT DOWN!!! I DO SPEAK LITERALLY HERE!!! THIS TIME ONLY WITH MORE POWER BEHIND HIM I DO SURELY HOPE!!!
I will again repeat myself when I say check out the link below if you're interested in working behind the scenes for Barack Obama!! It's important that we as dedicated supporters of Obama carry him in whatever way possible as far as possible, and because I spend alot of time online, I will do what mostly I can to spread the word!!!
A "fresh start" is a good analogy, here, dtrowbridge!!!

I'm leaning towards Romney, but will be happy with Thompson, as well.
Have a couple of suggestions for VP: Duncan Hunter, Newt Gingrich, Condi Rice and in my wildest dreams.... RUSH Limbaugh :awe:

:harleywoman:

I saw Obama speak at a convention I was at in Chicago last year , so if he wins, I can say I saw a President ! His speach at the Iowa Caucus, was electrifying ! I liked Edward's speach also, it was hearfelt. I don't know who I will vote for , don't care for politicians in general, they all say we need a change ! No Kidding !!! :think: What we really need ..is a third Party !

What WE Obama supporters NEED is more undecided voters like YOU to give VOTING A CHANCE for once!!! C'MON, P-L-E-A-S-E!!! Go to the LINK in my SIGNATURE (below), SIGN UP, AND THEN VOTE THIS YEAR FOR BARACK OBAMA!!! You WON'T be let down!!! Let's DO this!!!
I immediately took to Obama last fall in '06 when he came here to Richmond to speak for our local VA democrat, and KNEW then, HE needs to be our next PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.!!! I went to his website when I found him, and told him so!!!