It's that time again. What do I ask Barack Obama?

Email Print posted by jarett 04/09/2008 08:39:49 PM EST

Google Technorati del.icio.us digg reddit
If you like this story, digg it!
As I type this, I'm at an Obama rally.  The man himself goes on in an hour and a half.  Questions will be taken, I THINK.

No guarantees.  But does anyone have some good suggestions?
< Remember Patrick McHenry? | Petition to Gov. Crist to help Erin Markes, young Mother with sick child wrongly arrested for abuse >
 Display:
It's that time again. What do I ask Barack Obama? | 50 comments (50 topical, 0 hidden)
Gotta type fast (none / 0)
Ask him if the Monica Lewinsky scandal has hurt his chances of becoming president.  It'd be hilarious, and you would make the news for sure.
Or you can make him buy into Republican framing before they even have a chance to frame things by asking some of Lanny Davis' questions.  Wow, Lanny annoys the shit out of me.

by Spencer on 04/09/2008 08:56:49 PM EST

Lanny Davis (none / 0)
Spencer, Davis annoys the s**t out of everybody. What more did you expect from the Wall St Journal? It's only going to get worse, once the Murdoch death squads suck out any credibility (and profit) it ever had, then toss it in the garbage and move on. Until then it'll just be another version of Fox, except in print under the guise of a quality publication. The sad thing is, it will take most people a while to figure this out.

by Verified1 on 04/10/2008 05:30:47 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Ask him (none / 0)
Why is John Edwards being an idiot? Shouldn't he have endorsed you already and ended this thing? Also, shouldn't he tell his wife to stop bashing your health care plan on tv?

Thanks,

Jarett

by ihavenobias on 04/09/2008 10:19:21 PM EST

Credibility of the Edwardes (none / 0)
I know I keep harping on this, but y'all really need to be more skeptical about John Edwards having anything but his own self-interest in mind. And as folksy as his wife seems to be, I suspect her intentions by association. I would not be surprised one whit if the Edwardses are holding out for a big fat reward for before they endorse anyone. We in NC have seen him operate for a long time. He would not be re-elected here. And it's not because of his political views.

by Verified1 on 04/10/2008 05:18:46 PM EST

[ Parent ]
If he's smart (none / 0)

He is waiting for the right deal.

I assume he figures that if the race is still on come NC he has a card to play.  I am hoping he wants to be AG. 

by ProfRich on 04/10/2008 05:41:02 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Edwards' Ambitions (none / 0)
I think you might be correct, Rich, and that he does want to be AG. And he'd probably be good in that role, at least for a few years. His oversized ego would shine if he could get that appt. But I suspect his goal is really the Supreme Court. Lifelong power that he won't have to work too hard to get or to maintain. Edwards is an opportunist at heart and NC is likely going to be a nice win for Obama. So unless the Clintons are promising him the moon, I'd be surprised if he doesn't come out for Obama after the NC primary. 

by Verified1 on 04/11/2008 06:20:36 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Edwards future (none / 0)

Seems like AG would be a nice stepping stone to the Supreme Court. 

I fail to see what good endorsing someone after the NC primary is and I really fail to see what an offer from the Clinton's is worth.  SHE HAS LOST.  They could offer him a Cheney-esque VP job and complete control of the Newly dictatorial justice department but I just don't think they can convince President Obama to honor that promise.

Certainly Edwards is familiar with the phrase "confederate money" cause that is what the Clintons are writing political favor checks on. 

by ProfRich on 04/11/2008 10:17:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Edwards and NC (none / 0)
Rich, I cannot read Edwards' mind obviously but I suspect he is politically more sympathetic to HRC, thus Elizabeth's recent venture into the Hillary's Superior Healthcare Plan discussion. The problem here in NC is that HRC is very unpopular, especially with NASCAR voters. She is generally seen as slippery and untrustworthy. Most of them will probably vote for McCain anyway. If Edwards was to endorse HRC now, he would be risking suicide for his own future political career, especially since she is in all likelihood going to lose the Dem primary here. Edwards also has nothing to gain at present by endorsing Obama. But once Obama is the winner here, it's going to be interesting to see if he'll use the Voice of the NC People argument. Edwards is, far and above, the most fun-to-watch aspect of this NC primary.

by Verified1 on 04/11/2008 05:48:37 PM EST

[ Parent ]
It's probably too late, but (none / 1)
You should ask him if he is ready to join the front line in the War on Christmas. 

Can you imagine Bill-O tommorrow if you did.

"SEE, I TOLD YOU IT'S A LEFT-WING CONSPIRACY TO ELIMINATE CHRISTMAS."

Then as 8pm approches, point Olbermann to this blog and have him do his #1 story on how O'Reilly has finally snapped (again) and lost his sense of irony. 

by richardshort2001 on 04/09/2008 11:40:21 PM EST

Superdelegate #1 (none / 0)
Ask him if he'd consider Ted Kennedy as a running mate should he win the nomination and McCain chooses Mitt "flip flop" Romney as his VP running mate.

Kennedy4Prez

by tiggerporn on 04/10/2008 01:15:39 AM EST

Superstomach #1 (none / 0)
Ask him if Ted's liver will survive four more years.
beached whale

by KenTX on 04/10/2008 01:38:19 AM EST

[ Parent ]
AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGHHHHH (none / 1)
KEN

WHY

by jarett on 04/10/2008 02:38:55 AM EST

[ Parent ]
disgraced (none / 0)
disgraced

by tiggerporn on 04/10/2008 11:18:42 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Thought! (none / 0)

If McCain ran with Romney he could introduce him by saying, "Now we all know I am a massive flip-flopper that makes John Kerry looks like the most consistent man in the world but give it up for a man that makes me look like Old Faithful (and I mean OLD!).  Mittens Romney!."

I would enjoy that. 

by ProfRich on 04/10/2008 11:24:45 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Update (none / 0)
There were no questions taken, but I got full (shaky in parts) 720p video of the whole thing.

I'll post a likely heavily-compressed version of it sometime tomorrow.  First, homework!

(MY THESIS IS DONE YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS)

by jarett on 04/10/2008 02:39:54 AM EST

The Senate did not (none / 0)
have access to U.S. intellegence either and many of them still voted for it, at least not the intellenegnce that was the truth. The only thing they saw was those lies that Colin Powell brought to the U.N. We all saw that and most of us were like yeah, let's bomb 'em to hell. Obama saw this and STILL spoke out against the war.

by mijoh on 04/10/2008 09:34:32 AM EST

[ Parent ]
This is revisionist (none / 0)

I can promise you I knew this was bullshit in 2002/2003 before the invasion.  Germany, France, Russia, China andmost other countries knew it was bullshit.  Cenk, Ben and Jill knew it was bullshit.  Every truly progressive in America knew it was bullshit.  The Senate pretended it wasn't bullshit because they thought Colin's dog and pony show would sell in middle America so they went along.

Anyone who pretends that there was no way to know this was total nonsense is either clueless or lying.

This is a silly question the only point of which is to justify Hillary's framing of the issue and buy into Republican spin to boot.  Preposterous. 

by ProfRich on 04/10/2008 11:08:55 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I got a question from Bartcop (none / 0)
1. You stated that you were not in the Senate in October 2002 when Bush rammed through Congress
the resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq. But you also stated that “perhaps the reason I
thought it was such a bad idea was I didn’t have the benefit of U.S. intelligence.”

This implies that you might have voted for the war if you had been in the Senate when the vote was taken.
Why then do you condemn Hillary and other Senators who voted for the war authorization resolution
when you admit the possibility that if you had been in the Senate you would have done the same?

by LORD FOUL on 04/10/2008 08:36:28 AM EST

Hmmm (none / 0)

"I didn’t have the benefit of U.S. intelligence.”

I question the use of the word "benefit" in this context. 

by bfaul on 04/10/2008 10:58:29 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Slow down (none / 0)

He did not say he would have done the same.  He said "perhaps".  This is different.  This is so easy to get out of.  All he has to do is say that since then he has had a chance to see what evidence they had access to and it was not sufficient or say there is no way for him to know what information they had access to so who could say.

Next question. 

by ProfRich on 04/10/2008 11:20:53 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Interesting (none / 0)
Since then?

Shouldn't a prudent politician be aware of all the facts before speaking for or against a policy, especially involving a policy as important as war? I wonder what he would have looked like if WMD had been discovered. (his excuse would have been that he lacked the intel.)

It is quite clear that we were misled, deceived and lied to. Not only by Bush but by people like Colin Powell. Clinton, Kerry and others did what they thought was right, to protect this country.

My fact loving friends can't seem to tell the difference between an authorization for the use of force and an open declaration for war. If you want some real intelligence on this issue, look for Ambassador Joseph Wilsons' article in the Huffington post. He explains how the authorization came about, what is was supposed to do and how Bush exploited it.

by LORD FOUL on 04/10/2008 04:27:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Unfair (none / 0)

I agree with the second point (it was not a declaration of war) but the first seems unfair to Obama.  It seems like you are asking Obama to say how he would have voted if he knew this information that he still doesn't know.  He says maybe I would have voted for the bill.  Then you attack him for that answer? 

What possible answer that makes any sense at all could he have given?  Its preposterous. 

by ProfRich on 04/10/2008 05:48:12 PM EST

[ Parent ]
A guess vs judgement (none / 0)
I am not trying to be unfair. Obama claims that he has better judgement because he was right about Iraq.

What was his opinion based on? or was he simply taking an anti-Bush position (and safe position) in a very liberal district? Isn't that a fair question?


Hillary brags about experience and Obama supporters rightfully question that experience (I have no problem with that)


Obama brags about his judgement and so his judgement, in my view, should also be fair game.

by LORD FOUL on 04/11/2008 08:24:11 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I don't buy it (none / 0)

Because as I said earlier every progressive in America called bullshit on this vote and this war.  It would be one thing if we were all duped and now we want to rewrite the history but that is not how it happened.

Somebody who likes to cut and paste could fill this forum with editorials, articles and audio clips of progressives decrying the war and this vote at the time it happened.

And of course by saying this about Obama you are saying it about me, my parents, Molly Ivins, Cenk, Ben and Jill, Jeanine Garofolo, Rachel Maddow, a number of Senators and House members and 10s of 1000s of other folks.

The problem with this argument is that it first requires you completely ignore what was happening in America in the spring of 2002.

Did you support this war when it began? 

by ProfRich on 04/11/2008 10:08:06 AM EST

[ Parent ]
No I didn't (none / 0)
 but I also didn't have access to the "so-called" intelligence and I wasn't being briefed by Colin Powell (who at the time actually had credibility). and the safety of the American people were not my responsibility. (it is easy to be for or against something until you have an actual stake in the event.) Most people "believed' that the Patriots were going to win the Super Bowl based on the intelligence. A handful "believed" the Giants were going to win. Does that handful now have superior judgement over everyone else?

If Bush/Powell were telling the truth the "war" wouldn't have started. The inspectors would have been allowed to finish their job. Iraq would have been determined not to be a threat.

by LORD FOUL on 04/11/2008 03:44:11 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Still not buying it (none / 0)

I knew damn well Powell was lying when he went to the UN.  Did you not?  What did they hear that changed their minds?

133 House members and 23 Senators voted against it.  That is too many to blame it on pacifists who are always gonna vote no, isn't it?

Look, I know she is your girl and you feel the need to pimp her spin but I try pretty hard to call the Dem on Dem stuff like I see it and this argument holds no water with me.

Besides I already let her off the hook because it wasn't really an authorization of war.  But no, Hillbots have to now say not only was she right but it somehow proves Obama is terrible.

Let it go. 

by ProfRich on 04/11/2008 04:06:09 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Nah (none / 0)
No, I didn't "know" Powell was lying and no, I didn't believe everyting that was being said either.

You would have to ask each individual why they voted the way they did. But I'll bet (without knowing) that very few were in "vulnerable" districts

I'm not trying to pimp or spin anything, the request was for a "question" for Obama and I presented one.

I never claimed that she was right, her mistake was believing that Bush had any intention of actually using inspections and diplomacy to solve the so-called issue.

I only stated the fact that she did not vote "for" the war as many of her enemies claim ( and I credit you for being one of the few who don't)

How does my question make Obama terrible? Why do you assume that I think he is terrible? or that I am trying to "make" him look terrible?

Did I ask about resko? (Obama himself admitted he used poor judgement)

Did I ask who's decision it was to label her as a racist?

Did I ask about Wright?


Did I ask about Mich & Fla? (McCain just did)

It was a simple question that deserves to be answered.




by LORD FOUL on 04/12/2008 08:41:44 AM EST

[ Parent ]
My final word (none / 0)

I think you don't like Obama because that is the impression that I get from reading your posts.

I find it hard to buy the "she was vulnerable" when she is incredibly popular in a blue state and the election was almost four years away.

I think it is a loaded question trying to imply he is being dishonest or is ill-informed.

I think the answer is obvious to anyone who recalls the events of 2003 clearly.

There, that about covers it. 

by ProfRich on 04/12/2008 09:59:59 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Ok (none / 0)
It is not that I don't like Obama. I see a lot to like about him but I also see flaws.

I simply have concerns about his ability to win in November.

It is loaded because you know the answer to the question.

He was not privy to the intel and was not in a position to give an informed opinion on the matter. Yet he has portrayed himself as having superior judgement. While at the same time criticising her "vote" for the war, knowing full well the intent of her vote was not to go to war.

If that makes you uncomfortable I am sorry. Actually it makes me feel a little better about him. He is no different than her. He will tell little white lies and allow his surrogates to do the same (like labeling her a racist).

I wonder if he should win the White House and he starts compromising with the Pubs will his supporters turn on him like they did Mr. Clinton?

by LORD FOUL on 04/12/2008 10:55:06 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Ask Him about the Bush Depression (none / 0)

how he plans to counter the coming Republican generated depression.

Also ask him for special energy credits for people who live on boats and generate their own electricity...just a though. 

by MRFred on 04/10/2008 08:57:53 AM EST

suggestion (none / 0)
Go solar MRFred, there are credits for that.

by bfaul on 04/10/2008 10:57:03 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Great (none / 0)
So once again a republican controlled government and its policies will have created yet another depression. Granted, it probably won't be as bad as the last one, but still.

Then again they love Jesus, Babies and the Flag, so I might have to vote republican anyway.

by ihavenobias on 04/10/2008 11:04:46 AM EST

[ Parent ]
This is what they do (none / 1)

Give conservatives control and they gut the country to take all the profit they can from it and leave the carcass to rot.  Then the grown ups have to come back in and bring it back to life until the voters get tired of being responsible, vote in the cons and they rape the country then people decide they need it fixed and on and on and on.

See: 1980s + 1990s, 1920s + 1930s.  1870/80s + 1890s.

When they start talking trickle-down or supply side that means we are all about to get royally fucked by the rich. 

by ProfRich on 04/10/2008 11:53:52 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Yep (none / 0)
Massive tax cuts for the rich, massive deregulation, massive subsidies for large corporations, slashing programs that help the poor/middle class and or passing laws that hurt them (bankruptcy "reform", etc.) and the list goes on and on.

Eventually things go to hell for the bottom 80-90% of Americans until someone comes in to clean up the mess.

by ihavenobias on 04/10/2008 01:38:51 PM EST

[ Parent ]
They bitin? (none / 0)
5 AM here, waking up, put on the coffee, left over bacon and egg sandwich from yesterday morning, doing my push ups. Usually I get the paper now, lately I've been checking TYT first. Thanks MR. FRED, great article, in the middle of it right now, checking out his blog too. Good stuff.

by tiggerporn on 04/11/2008 05:06:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
ask (none / 0)

Ask him to help us understand why he thinks small town American is composed of racist, xenophobic, nativists who cling to religion rather than reational thougt.

 

barak 

 

 

 

HALP US BROK O'BOMBA-- WE R STUCK HEAR N ALTOONA.

 

by acroso on 04/12/2008 06:43:30 PM EST

or ask him. (none / 0)
Why do conservtards listen to what Sean Hannity says about a speech instead of the actual speech?

by richardshort2001 on 04/12/2008 07:19:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
aww (none / 0)
Aww....that picture was too offensive?

by acroso on 04/12/2008 08:47:56 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Obama's new fashion line. (none / 1)
uppity

by KenTX on 04/13/2008 12:34:46 PM EST

[ Parent ]
heh (none / 0)

Wasn't that bad!

 

My picture just said snob. 

by acroso on 04/15/2008 06:10:30 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Don;t feel picked on (none / 0)

We've just all written off Ken as a racist piece of shit.

Or at least I man who will promote and cheer for racism to put a few bucks in his pocket.  You can decide which is worse.

Viva la Tax Cut! 

by ProfRich on 04/15/2008 06:34:27 PM EST

[ Parent ]
some background information (none / 0)
The "Uppity Negro" movement was started by black people, for black people. They make the t-shirts. They wear the t-shirts.

Their cause is an attempt to exclude and marginalize, like the recent remarks made by Barack Obama.

by KenTX on 04/15/2008 08:31:28 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Umm ok (none / 0)

How does this make anything I said less true?

You represent yourself here as either a racist or someone who wants to promote and exploit racism for financial gain.

Live with it. 

by ProfRich on 04/15/2008 08:36:23 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Let me remind you. (none / 0)
You are the white person in this conversation.

I am a Latino.

by KenTX on 04/15/2008 08:39:11 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I am? (none / 0)

I'm white?  Huh.  Ken must know everything.

That aside.  What, you being latino makes you incapable of being racist?  Against black people? 

Minorities can't be racists? Or just blacks, like you claim Obama and Wright are, can be racists?  That would be kind of a racist thing to say wouldn't it.

If you think saying you are latino and I am white therefore I must be a racist and you can't be makes you look better you really are as Klueless as I always make you out to be. 

by ProfRich on 04/15/2008 09:04:43 PM EST

[ Parent ]
be careful with the "R" word (none / 0)
You're a white guy from Gillespie County with German ancestry. It doesn't get anymore white than that.

In fact, I feel like you're discriminating against me and my latino brothers and sisters. I am highly offended.

Therefore, you Sir, are a racist of the lowest order.

by KenTX on 04/15/2008 09:11:44 PM EST

[ Parent ]
No I'm not (none / 0)
I am not from Gillespie at all.  Don't assume you know people, especially right after trying to bust the for doing the same to you.

by ProfRich on 04/15/2008 10:39:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
So you're from Hays County (none / 0)
And if you're related to any of the "Mannings" or "Farmers" from Dripping Springs, then you and I are double cousins.

So be nice to me!

by KenTX on 04/15/2008 10:41:54 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Nope (none / 0)

Travis.  But since you are begging for mercy and all I guess I'll be nice.

 

by ProfRich on 04/15/2008 10:58:17 PM EST

[ Parent ]
You should (none / 0)
pretend you're this moron character all the time.  Then we can call all of your typos, talking points, and horrible ideas "satire".

by Spencer on 04/13/2008 03:57:08 AM EST

[ Parent ]
It's that time again. What do I ask Barack Obama? | 50 comments (50 topical, 0 hidden)
 Display: