Obama's friends

THX1138

Mel-As I said before no one cares or should I say no one who has a vote cares get over it move on he is going to be President.

dhimmitude sucks

yep, the obama campaign should be a total shambles by now, but somehow he seems destined to be the democrats choice du'jour. Quite how is a total mystery to me.

Do the democrats really not see this stuff, or can they not allow themselves to see it?

I hope the mainstream media in America is not too cowed to report it.

THX1138

Martin Peretz at the New Republic thinks Obama's kosher as does the great majority of the rest of the Jewish vote.

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=7abbeec1-c614-44d7-aabb-92c0329a85da

The money quote

"In a one-on-one race, Obama outperforms McCain among Jewish voters 61 percent to 32 percent--a margin that has grown by six percent over the past month. Once Jews hear more from Obama, I predict this margin will grow at a brisk clip."

And unlike Melanie they can vote.

steve

Great attack Melanie. I look forward to the parallel piece about John McCain’s part in the Keating 5 and his seeking out the endorsement of Rev John Hagee, a pastor who has made anti-Catholic comments, who said that the persecution of Jews throughout history was due to their “disobedience and rebellion,” and who said that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for New Orleans’ sinfulness.

Alcibiades

"In a one-on-one race, Obama outperforms McCain among Jewish voters 61 percent to 32 percent--a margin that has grown by six percent over the past month. Once Jews hear more from Obama, I predict this margin will grow at a brisk clip."

That's a silly statistic and Martin Peretz should know better. Because what it leaves out is the large attrition rate of American Jews supporting the Democratic nominee from the 2004 election. He's off by a considerable factor from John Kerry.

Brian O'Connor

What is missing in this discussion is how slickly McCain is playing the game.

With all Obama's baggage, McCain has moved even further left, to occupy more or less a central left position.

He'll attract not only the conservative base but also independents and a bunch of democrats who are uneasy about Obama.

Consider: i) Global Warming is settled science, and man is responsible for it; ii) he recognizes that most Americans think he was wrong wrt his stand on immigration (a lovely, non-committal lateral arabesque which leaves him plenty of room to revert to his previous position — aka the McCain Kennedy amnesty act — once elected); iii) he was against Bush's tax cuts because, he says now, they were unaccompanied by spending cuts; iv) he sponsored, with űber leftist Russ Feingold, campaign finance reform, a bill which curtailed much political free speech until parts of it were overturned by the Supreme Court.

In addition, McCain has a proven record of reaching across the isle, which will appeal greatly to independents, plus he has a proven record of being against pork, which will appeal to almost everyone.

So here's what conservatives are faced with: if they vote for Obama, they'll get him and, perhaps, John Edwards or facsimile thereof offered up as a Supreme Court judge, and many others of their ilk for other federal judgships; a waif who honestly thinks that he can "dialogue" with the dictators of North Korea and Syria, the thugs of Hamas and Hizbollah, the autocrats of Russia and China, and the theocrats of Iran to bring Peace in Our Time, as though they will swoon before him like our mainstream media, even as he invades Pakistan and disses Israel; a person who, like McCain, believes in Global Warming and will take the country on a suicide mission, alone, to lead the way to Global salvation by imposing draconian restrictions on US business; a person who believes in the righteous might of the UN, or at least it's rhetoric; a person who earned his fides with the sleaziest, most anti-American and corrupt Chicago politicians and arguably the nastiest race-baiting preacher the city has to offer (which is as bad as it gets in the US); Obama has the most liberal voting record in the senate, or close to it (not once has he initiated an across-the-isle reach).

The fact is this: McCain is a realist who will prosecute the war on terrorism; he's a staunch ally of Israel; and he probably won't nominate anybody as far left for a judgeship as everyone Obama would; he will raise taxes, but probably not as high as Obama is want to do.

In my view, as much as I dislike McCain, I'll vote for him, and in the general election, it'll be McCain by a landslide. Look for Obama to go down in flames, much like McGovern and Dukakis did in their turn.

jose garcia

"Mel-As I said before no one cares or should I say no one who has a vote cares get over it move on he is going to be President".

care too explan why?
his true antiamerican background is coming out bit by bit, i woulndt be surprised if he doesnt even win against hillary at this rate.

Frank Pulley

Brian O'Connor

A perceptive analysis from a shrewd eye on the ground. Sounds like good news to me. Thanks!

Ian C

Brian O'Connor - your thinking seems broadly right to me also. McCain's week spot is the GW thing (but low onthe agenda of importance anyway) but he is doing (I reckon) what John Howard should have done in Australia and made it appear that he will do something without being alarmist. He has a foreign policy credentials like no presidential candidate since the 1950's and will be trusted to make things happening Iraq and Afghanistan that Obama will not be. He just needs the right VP to run beside him whereas Obama has to have Hillary as VP to have a chance - v.unlikely as she is not going to agree to get her next chance at the Presidency when she is 72! The current stuff will be peripheral by Sept 1st - except for the sort of stuff that Melanie has highlit here, of which there is likely to be much, much more.

Ellen

Obama's is a sort of catacomb election campaign, isn't it?

Skeletons popping out every five minutes.

A terrorist supporting friend here, a "God damn America" pastor there. And character references being supplied by Hamas.

Based on the election of Blair, he won't be found out before polling day, but America will wake up to this fraud one day.

steve

Obama has largely weathered the controversy and a recent poll has him 7 points ahead of McCain despite these problems and the continual attacks on him by Clinton. Another poll found that McCain's association with George Bush is more damaging to him than Obama's with Rev Wright. McCain also has considerable baggage going back decades that will be kicked over during the next few months. Plus there is his age and his health problems (serious case of skin cancer). All of this combined with the economic downturn and the continuing problems in Iraq mean that it will likely be a major Democratic victory this fall.

Ravi

Its interesting that the list of marks against Obama shown at Harry's Place was posted at 5Live messageboards (BBC) and that post was "Hidden" by the moderators. This just indicates the naivety of BBC Moderation. Now that Melanie has also commented on the same it will be interesting to see if the BBC recants.

Rick Harold

Hillary is the best choice , yes she will probably drop out , then what . Rezko could along with some of these other names bring down Obama , who is nowhere near the squeaky clean image he attempts to portray , The media was against Hillery , showing biased up until recently . Obama voted on the Patriot act and there is no doubt he would have voted the same as Kerry and Clinton on the War issue , which was and should be recognised as Bush Administrations abuse of power .
The most realistic approach would to have Obama as Clinton's VP . This would give him some great learning skills and keep him away from these sleazy people he has been fraternizing with . Clinton has shown she can win those Red States . Together they would form a great ticket , divided and Obama will lose in November . I have switched over from Obama , after going to three rallies , where nothing was said . Clinton hit on the issues , not with broad strokes but clarity. Yes a vote for Clinton would win in November but this mass hypnosis is what it appears , unrealistic . I receive many emails praising Obama for issues he has not mentioned and talk about him as a profit . In reality he is a standard Politician nothing new at all . Clinton has the best plans and ready to go now. There is plenty we do not know about Obama and the more we learn the least likely he is to Win in November . All should reconsider .

Verity

I find Obama horrifying. Empty and self-regarding. An empty, narcissistic actor along the lines of the dreaded Tony Blair.

Not only does he have the names mentioned by Ms Phillips diminishing his lustre by association, but what about his lovely wife, Mrs Ticked-Off who, after being involved for years in the "diversity" industry is now scolding American voters who intend to vote for someone other than her husband? The air of entitlement wafting around Obama and Mrs Ticked-Off if really quite distasteful.

As he doesn't have a coherent message, one can only guess that there is a broad swathe of voters who are congratulating themselves on their broad-mindedness by voting for a "black" (50% white) candidate.

I find it baffling, but then, the Democrats do put up some strange people. Remember Walter Mondale? What was that all about?

If I were an American, I'd hold my nose and vote for McCain as clearly, he will be a one-term president and then we can start again, preferably with someone who has served as a state governor.

Not one of the three candidates has any chief executive experience.

Brian O'Connor

Steve:

Obama has only temporarily weathered the good Rev. Wright.

Just wait until the Reverend's rantings become part of the general election, played against Obama's dissembling and twisting, first to declare that Wright was no big deal; then to proclaim him — in his best morally relevant rhetoric — not much different from his uncle and racist white grandmother neither of whom could not be discarded; and finally — after 23 years in Wright's church, after having exposed his daughters and wife to him Sunday after Sunday, after having contributed to him and his church $26,000 in 2006 — that he disavowed him.

Obama either knew what Wright was for those 23 Church-going years, in which case he either agreed with Wright or was too timid to confront him over his racist rhetoric, or Obama was unable to grasp what the true mind of his spiritual advisor, his surrogate uncle, is. Which is worse?

Mark my words: just as the Dems tried to bring the "full force" of President Bush's alleged National Guard privileges against him in 2004, the public will be reminded of Obama's past associations with Rezko, Wright, proudly defiant ex-Weathermen, etc.

I do not accept your point about the economy. If the economy is bad, most voters are will be highly unlikely to want to see her taxes raised to support Obama's egalitarian agenda.

True, we all want an end to the war, but not at the cost of cutting and running. It's meaningless to ask: "Do you want the war over now?" (Who doesn't) or "Was it a mistake to invade Iraq?" (A do-over isn't possible).

The only real question is this: "Do you want to bear the global political costs and the moral costs of pulling out of Iraq precipitously?"

Given that things are going much better in Iraq now than they were a year ago — especially given the recent Iraqi government's more or less successful efforts to suppress the Shi'ite militias — in Basra and Baghdad, there's more reason now to hope for a favorable outcome than in the past 3 years.

McCain has acquired strong leftist credentials; a reputation for actually working with people across the isle; he's the penultimate war hero with impeccable military credentials; and he continues to separate himself from Bush.

His age and health won't matter: he's established himself as a tireless old war-horse who remains quick of mind and physically powerful.

He's the perfect candidate to defeat a clueless Obama.

Brian O'Connor

dhimmitude sucks wrote: "I hope the mainstream media in America is not too cowed to report it."

The MSM is in the tank for Obama (witness this week's fawning Newsweek article by Wolf and Thomas, plus comments on it here: http://tinyurl.com/3ortlx ).

But I'm not worried at all about that. The alternative media — blogs, YouTube, etc. — has come of age, as even Bill Clinton learned to his dismay while campaigning for Hillary.

reader

Acropolis Review has some good stuff on Obama.

Verity

"Reader" writes "Acropolis Review" has some good stuff on Obama.

No, it doesn't.

Either "Reader" has failed to understand that The Speccie is a conservative publication and its readers opposed to a Blair Mark II anywhere on the planet, let alone the United States, or she/he thinks it is playing a clever trick and people visiting will be knocked over with enlightenment when they visit its dreary page.

Here is the last sentence on a stream of praise for this candidate: "You can support this unprecedented campaign for transformative change HERE."

Wow! Not just change, but transformative change for those who want their change spiked with a little extra transformative oomph! Transformation you can believe in!

paul quite-tall

Mel's problem with Obama: he just may not attack Iran at the behest of the Israel/AIPAC axis. Not obedient enough.

paul quite-tall

Mel's problem with Rob Malley (one of the Bill Clinton mid-east negotiators): Malley spilled the beans on the so-called "generous offer" from Ehud Barak.