Tell It To the Judge
Plastered all over the media yesterday was the news that Barack Obama, when he was a student at Harvard Law School, ran up 20 parking tickets that went unpaid for years until just before he announced his candidacy. Digging into the past of a candidate by his opponents has become a cottage industry, and I suspect that anyone so pure as to be able to get through this draconian vetting process without the uncover of a single transgression is too much of a doofus to hold public office. Get real, folks, everyone's done something wrong, sometime in their life. The tragedy is not, however, that someone as qualified as Obama to be president could conceivably be so tarnished by the Swift boating that will inevitably be used against him that he won't stand a chance. The tragedy is that this kind of crap is all that remains in the slime pit of American politics. Now, I am not yet a supporter of any candidate, announced or otherwise. The elections are more than a year and a half away, and a lot can happen in the meantime. But I will say this, whether one likes him or not, Obama is one of the people most qualified to be president that we've had running in a long time. He's highly intelligent, well-educated, thoughtful, curious, open to new ideas, communicates brilliantly, uses his communication skills to bring folks together, genuinely cares about people and their lives, has an awareness of the world that is rare in American politicians, and works well with others to bring about change. Notice I didn't say likeable, appealling, good-looking, religious, or charismatic, which seem to be what the pundits keep talking about ad infinitum, and which have become the major considerations for most Americans. And, as far as I know, he never had a DUI.
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:34 AM
10 Comments:
Déjà vu. Let’s not forget that way back in the days when he was our number one national hero, and before he became the unfortunate spokesman for the half-truths and lies of our current president, General Colin Powell was being thought of as the first African-American president of the United States. Powell declined all invitations, wisely so, knowing full well that whatever dirt there was – or could be created--he would surely be a victim of the political process. Well, now it’s Obama’s turn.
Should we not a point a finger at our insatiable 25/7 news media; they churn out stories, preferably scandals. It matters not whether there is any basis of fact whatsoever in their accusations.
Most of us know very little of the man Osama, particularly where he stands on a number of critical issues. But what we do know is that the pundits and time-fillers are grinding their axes ready for the next kill.
I want to know more about his views on the issues. I have heard him speak and I agree that he is a wonderful communicatorwith a lovely way of saying much about nothing of importance and does he even know anything about foreign policies? I wish like il professore that Colin Powell would run. Now there is true presidential material. Frankly, I don't think either side has a good candidate. I really do not like any of them. On that sad note, will change the subject.
John, this cartoon is indeed all shapes and angles, it is great. Also love her look of outrage at what she considers is an injustice. Commentary sharp as always.
Great cartoon John. Looks like New Yurk to me except there it would have been a meter maid Ithink. Well below the radar of the national press is Bill Richardson. If we looked at accomplishment rather than rhetoric he would really be worth supporting. Speaking of thetoric reminds of one of senator Phil Hart's last speeches He alluded to solutions to several critical national problems then ostentatiously turned the page and read a parenthetical comment from his speechwriter that this was his last day at work and he didn't have time to finish. A wonderful man! When they were in hospital together he used to push Bob Dole's wheelchair! roger
Quote il prof: Most of us know very little of the man Osama, particularly where he stands on a number of critical issues :Unquote
Now there's a freudian slip... obama... osama? *wink* LOL
Is it true that he was raised as Muslim and spent time as a child in Indonesia? (anyone find that a little bit scarey?) Maybe it's just me.
Jean, that rumor is exactly the kind of slime pit filth I've been railing against. Obama did spend some time as a child in Indonesia, because his mother married an Indonesian, and as far as I'm concerned that experience of the world beyond America's borders was valuable in shaping him. (Unlike with young GWB, who didn't even want to visit his father when he was ambassador to China.) And while there Obama attended a Christian school. What's scarey is that there are creeps spreading this stuff and nobody can stop them from contaminating our political process.
Had forgotten about Bill Richardson. Maybe he is smart and lying low for awhile. Still do not understand how Hilary let a 'shoo-in' slip out of her fingers. Obama is still a question mark for me. No one on the Republican side so far as I know right now could win. Wished there was a third party for those of us who have had it with both sides of the fence.
Had forgotten about Bill Richardson. Maybe he is smart and lying low for awhile. Still do not understand how Hilary let a 'shoo-in' slip out of her fingers. Obama is still a question mark for me. No one on the Republican side so far as I know right now could win. Wished there was a third party for those of us who have had it with both sides of the fence.
Thanks for your views, Lee. I think the real point, is not who might or might not be a viable candidate, but fixing the process so that candidates' views can be made known without their having to constantly respond to the lies and distortions offered up by the opposition. Candidates have websites where we can find out a lot about their views, and Google (a plug for the host here) provides a great way to learn more about the records.
Sorry John... didn't mean to be the perpetuator of slime pit filth! Actually... that's a first for me! LOL
Don't worry, Jean, no way I was laying that at your doorstep. We're all the victims of these sleim meisters, 'cause in the end it's about who gets chosen to be a world leader. Our fate's in their hands.
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