[Abedgebeefs]

Click

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama declared himself a candidate Saturday for the White House in 2008, evoking Abraham Lincoln's ability to unite a nation and promising to lead a new generation as the country's first black president.

The first-term senator announced his candidacy from the state capital where he began his elective career just 10 years ago, and in front of the building where in another century, Lincoln served eight years in the Illinois Legislature.

"We can build a more hopeful America," Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery. "And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States."

Obama did not mention his family background, his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia or that he would make history if elected president.
[...] He is a pretty-boy candidate and nothing more. A clinton without the savvy and the experience with politics.

It won't take long for Hillary to turn this into a blow-out.

I would guess he is doing this for the experience for his next attempt.

[ballingham]

Click



He is a pretty-boy candidate and nothing more. A clinton without the savvy and the experience with politics.

It won't take long for Hillary to turn this into a blow-out.

I would guess he is doing this for the experience for his next attempt.

Ummm... hi there.

Ummm... have you seen his voting record?

Yeah... so umm... his voting record screams pro-Bush and pro-war.

Wait... I bet you watch FOX News.

[Andoror]

I have it from an inside source that the only reason he was nominated to the senate was to become Hillary’s running partner…

[unsamiSlini]

Let the smears begin!


.... Oh wait.

[Peterli]

Let the smears begin!


.... Oh wait.

A man is a good man, until he announces his intentions to run for high office...

[24MurinivaMak]

"I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness, a certain audacity, to this announcement," Obama said. "I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change.

"Each and every time, a new generation has risen up and done what's needed to be done," he said. "Today we are called once more - and it is time for our generation to answer that call." He spoke of reshaping the economy for the digital age, investing in education, protecting employee benefits, insuring those who do not have health care, ending poverty, weaning America from foreign oil, fighting terrorism while rebuilding global alliances.

"But all of this cannot come to pass until we bring an end to this war in Iraq," Obama said. "America, it's time to start bringing our troops home. It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil war." Obama's address was steeped in American history.

He talked how previous generations have brought change - fighting off colonizers, slavery and the Great Depression, welcoming immigrants, building railroads and landing a man on the moon.

He repeatedly referred to Lincoln and his success in moving a nation. He said it is because of Lincoln that Americans of every race face the challenges of the 21st century together.

"The life of a tall, gangly, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different future is possible," Obama said. "He tells us that there is power in words. He tells us that there is power in conviction. That beneath all the differences of race and region, faith and station, we are one people. He tells us that there is power in hope." Yes, there is hope.

Obama for President.

[Abedgebeefs]

Obama stands no chance of being president. You'd be best to back Angry Hillary.

[24MurinivaMak]

I disagree. Obama stands a great chance of becoming our next President. He is the shining light we all need after all this time in the dark gloomy hole George W Bush as dropped us in.

[ballingham]

Obama stands no chance of being president. You'd be best to back Angry Hillary.

Lots of Democrats are cashing in their chips vying for the big chair in the Oval Office. It makes strategic sense.

Right now they are dealing with frustrated Americans willing to vote for anything that isn't Republican.

At least they have credentials. Take that mayor of NY that wants to run for President. What's his qualifications? Well, he did bullhorn speeches like Bush after 9/11.... that's it! He wasn't even questioning or inquiring about the toxicity of the smoke and debris left by the tragic event that was immediately cleared and deemed safe to breath. Subsequently, it was unsafe to breath and many Americans became seriously permanently ill due to the hasty and suspicious clearance of the aftermath. When I read stories about it, I saw that mayor's name no where to be found. He seemed like the most uninvolved mayor I have ever seen in the face of a tragic event. For some reason, people regard him a hero. I find that very insulting to the intelligence of the American people. He just made grandstanding speeches.. that's it folks!

As for McCain, that two-faced scumbucket doesn't have a chance in hell in being elected. He has been outed as being an obvious panderer to the religious base and has been such a horrible flip-flopper that people can't tell which lobbyist's ass he'll be kissing the next day because it is ever changing. See what I did there? I gave valid reasons why this man wouldn't be elected and it had nothing to do with him using a government plane or a school he went to when he was a itty-bitty kid.

There are valid reasons not to vote for Obama, but you're oblivious to those reasons because you blind allegiance to the Republican party has voided all possible relevant thoughts and concerns on this man just so you can prove to yourself that your a true trooper to a fallen disingenuous political party.

[Cyclicymn]

Obama stands no chance of being president. You'd be best to back Angry Hillary.

I don't know. I think they both have about equal chances.

Both quite SLIM that is

Of course it WILL be fun to watch the extreme political correctness that is FORCED by these candidates (a black guy and a white woman).

As always, democrats don't fail to bring us entertainment.

[ballingham]

I don't know. I think they both have about equal chances.

Both quite SLIM that is

Of course it WILL be fun to watch the extreme political correctness that is FORCED by these candidates (a black guy and a white woman).

As always, democrats don't fail to bring us entertainment.

The funny thing is that Republicans spend more time trying to insult and belittle Democratic party candidates, but you guys have no idea which Republican to stand behind.

Name me the Republican currently 'bidding' for the Oval Office you support. I'd like to know who...

[YpbWF5Yo]

Anyone paying attention to Hillary knows that she has an uphill climb to the White House, no matter how much money she has or who her husband is.

Anyone with the blood of Iraq on their hands, including the War Queen, is going to have a difficult time convincing liberals and anti-war Americans to follow them. Republicans aren't going to vote for Hillary under any circumstance. Without liberals and antiwar voters who put the democrats back in power in 2006, and who are now booing Hillary, it's going to be difficult for any democrat.

Obama has a better chance than the rest of the democratic field because he's about the only one who opposed the Iraq horror from the beginning. That being said, his latest remarks about Iran are already giving pause to many who are hoping for sanity from their next president.

[YpbWF5Yo]

I don't know. I think they both have about equal chances.

Both quite SLIM that is

Of course it WILL be fun to watch the extreme political correctness that is FORCED by these candidates (a black guy and a white woman).

As always, democrats don't fail to bring us entertainment.

The "entertainment" of the democrats is far preferable to the disaster of the republicans.

[ballingham]

Anyone paying attention to Hillary knows that she has an uphill climb to the White House, no matter how much money she has or who her husband is.

Anyone with the blood of Iraq on their hands, including the War Queen, is going to have a difficult time convincing liberals and anti-war Americans to follow them. Republicans aren't going to vote for Hillary under any circumstance. Without liberals and antiwar voters who put the democrats back in power in 2006, and who are now booing Hillary, it's going to be difficult for any democrat.

Obama has a better chance than the rest of the democratic field because he's about the only one who opposed the Iraq horror from the beginning. That being said, his latest remarks about Iran are already giving pause to many who are hoping for sanity from their next president.

For the most part I agree with you except about Obama being against the war from the beginning. Please keep in mind that what he says into a microphone and what he votes for are two different things. I'm trying to look up an example, might take me a while. But I do vividly remember him making impressive remarks to the press then doing an about face when a vote regarding Iraq hit the Senate floor.

[YpbWF5Yo]

For the most part I agree with you except about Obama being against the war from the beginning. Please keep in mind that what he says into a microphone and what he votes for are two different things. I'm trying to look up an example, might take me a while. But I do vividly remember him making impressive remarks to the press then doing an about face when a vote regarding Iraq hit the Senate floor.

I believe that Obama has been consistently against the war from the beginning when he called it needless and made-up. It's why the antiwar crowd loves him. Of course he wasn't in Congress when he first oppossed the war, but he has been consistent .. and correct in his analysis.

[bettingonosports]

I disagree. Obama stands a great chance of becoming our next President. He is the shining light we all need after all this time in the dark gloomy hole George W Bush as dropped us in.

I disagree Sam. No matter how positively ideological we might be, the US is not about to elect a black man as President. Despite all the PC, there is still an inherent level of racism abounding.

[24MurinivaMak]

blackascoal: I agree with you.

conformfailure: If Obama voted to fund the troops in the past two years, that's not the same as voting for the war. He was against the war from the beginning.

noahath: I have to believe that there are more good and intelligent people in my country, than ignorant and stupid ones.

[bestonlinepharmasy2]

I disagree Sam. No matter how positively ideological we might be, the US is not about to elect a black man as President. Despite all the PC, there is still an inherent level of racism abounding.

I'm not so sure about that, Noahath. Although I've heard similar sentiments from others I think the majority of America has had enough of the bullcrap and is ready for a change in attitude and perspective. I also believe Obama represents a change in attitude that this nation sorely needs and it's a change that I see America increasingly supporting. The neocons are on their way out and they know it- that's why they have been so vehement in their responses lately. Don't believe it? Look at EricOKC's response to Solletica when he suggested she leave our country. How reminiscient was that of the "Love it or leave it" refrain of the conservative war supporters of that era? I think we've all seen that movie before- and this is just another re-run.


Gem

[bettingonosports]

noahath: I have to believe that there are more good and intelligent people in my country, than ignorant and stupid ones.

Hmmm, like I said, we can be idealistic in our thinking, but the reality is that when it comes to voting in elections, common sense and rationality tend to go out the window. People often ignore the issues (eg education, health, etc) and focus on divisiveness (eg gay marriage, immigration, and ... race). I would dearly love to be proven wrong though. I can only hope that I am.

[bettingonosports]

I'm not so sure about that, Noahath. Although I've heard similar sentiments from others I think the majority of America has had enough of the bullcrap and is ready for a change in attitude and perspective. I also believe Obama represents a change in attitude that this nation sorely needs and it's a change that I see America increasingly supporting. The neocons are on their way out and they know it- that's why they have been so vehement in their responses lately. Don't believe it? Look at EricOKC's response to Solletica when he suggested she leave our country. How reminiscient was that of the "Love it or leave it" refrain of the conservative war supporters of that era? I think we've all seen that movie before- and this is just another re-run.

Gem

I would love to agree with you Gem, but we only need to look back to last Nov and see how much of an issue race became in Tennessee. To say that we have moved beyond that I think is a bit premature. Like I said to Samantha though, I would dearly love to be proven wrong.