Saturday, March 1, 2008
Another Reason Obama Will be the Next President
Another stellar example of Obama's leadership credentials are in his handling of attempts to tie his campaign to Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan endorsed Obama. And Obama clearly denounced it (and rejected it after clumsy bullying by Hillary Clinton during the last Democratic debate). Then I hear (from Republican friends) that Obama is "meeting with Louis Farrakhan" and he "is probably a closet Muslim." This is the sort of shitstorm that probably awaits Obama from the Republican slime machine. But any honest person has to admit that there was never any doubt that Obama doesn't share Farrakhan's views. That said, honest people are in short supply during presidential elections. Obama must continue to calmly and rationally swat down ridiculous accusations like these. All indications are that he will continue to do so.
On the other side of the aisle we have Granpa Munster, John McCain. He was recently endorsed by John Hagee, a man who's views are every bit as reprehensible as Louis Farrakhan's. Yet McCain refused to reject the endorsement. Why? Because McCain covets the religious right vote thinking that he cannot win without it. He is probably correct. But this difference between McCain and Obama is compelling. When confronted with an endorsement from an abhorent individual, one bravely denounces it, the other embraces it.
And that is another reason why Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States of America.
On the other side of the aisle we have Granpa Munster, John McCain. He was recently endorsed by John Hagee, a man who's views are every bit as reprehensible as Louis Farrakhan's. Yet McCain refused to reject the endorsement. Why? Because McCain covets the religious right vote thinking that he cannot win without it. He is probably correct. But this difference between McCain and Obama is compelling. When confronted with an endorsement from an abhorent individual, one bravely denounces it, the other embraces it.
And that is another reason why Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States of America.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Why Barack Obama Will Be the Next President
The following comes from WatchBlog: Democrats & Liberals. It neatly summarizes a big reason why Obama has won over the hearts and minds of the Democratic party.
After hearing so much about her “throwing the kitchen sink” at Obama, I was amazed to see Senator Clinton wilt not from Obama’s attacks but from his cool, calm, and complimentary rhetoric. At the Democratic Debate last night, he answered all her charges in an even, confident voice and where possible he complimented Clinton.
Clinton started where she had previously left off dressing down Obama on his "shameful" ad about her healthcare plan. She went after him hammer and tong. To every charge, Obama responded in a clear, measured tone. And each time Clinton atacked Obama's response, and then Obama retorted. They kept at it for several cycles until moderator Brian Williams stopped it and declared that they had taken up 16 minutes on healthcare. Clinton did not let go; she claimed that the subject was important.
After this first exchange Clinton attacked again and again, but with less vehemence. With his cool and reasonable responses, Obama had calmed her down. When Obama denounced Farrakhan but failed to reject Farrakhan's support, Clinton made a big to-do about the difference between "denounce" and "reject." So Obama smoothly replied that he "denounces" AND "rejects" Farrakhan's support.
Much discussion had taken place before the debate about photos of Obama dressed in Somali garb in Africa. So this came up and Clinton claimed she was against this sort of thing and that she would fire anybody in her campaign who distributed such photos. Obama immediately said he takes her at her word. No more was said about this. You could see Clinton relax somewhat at this point.
At another point, Obama took the opportunity to praise Senator Clinton: Senator Clinton has campaigned magnificently. She is an outstanding public servant and I'm very proud to have campaigned with her.
Slowly you could see how Obama softened Clinton up. At the end she finished graciously.
I have read several assessments of the debate. Some dwell on the conflict, others dwell on moderator Russert's nastiness, still others on who won. I came away marveling how Obama turned an angry attacker into a more relaxed person.
Cool Obama. We need such coolnes in the White House.
I've wathced many of the debates and I agree whole-heartedly with this assessment. I started this cycle as a Hillary supporter and now, I have been won over by Obama's demeanor, ability to remain calm, grasp of the issues, and ability to communicate. Many (myself included) thought that Hillary Clinton would run away with the Democratic nomination. But Barack Obama has run a phenomenal race and is winning. And I don't see anyway that Hillary Clinton can make a comeback. At this point, I find myself hoping that Obama wins in both Texas and Ohio next week - - and I will be voting for him in the Texas Democratic primary.
After hearing so much about her “throwing the kitchen sink” at Obama, I was amazed to see Senator Clinton wilt not from Obama’s attacks but from his cool, calm, and complimentary rhetoric. At the Democratic Debate last night, he answered all her charges in an even, confident voice and where possible he complimented Clinton.
Clinton started where she had previously left off dressing down Obama on his "shameful" ad about her healthcare plan. She went after him hammer and tong. To every charge, Obama responded in a clear, measured tone. And each time Clinton atacked Obama's response, and then Obama retorted. They kept at it for several cycles until moderator Brian Williams stopped it and declared that they had taken up 16 minutes on healthcare. Clinton did not let go; she claimed that the subject was important.
After this first exchange Clinton attacked again and again, but with less vehemence. With his cool and reasonable responses, Obama had calmed her down. When Obama denounced Farrakhan but failed to reject Farrakhan's support, Clinton made a big to-do about the difference between "denounce" and "reject." So Obama smoothly replied that he "denounces" AND "rejects" Farrakhan's support.
Much discussion had taken place before the debate about photos of Obama dressed in Somali garb in Africa. So this came up and Clinton claimed she was against this sort of thing and that she would fire anybody in her campaign who distributed such photos. Obama immediately said he takes her at her word. No more was said about this. You could see Clinton relax somewhat at this point.
At another point, Obama took the opportunity to praise Senator Clinton: Senator Clinton has campaigned magnificently. She is an outstanding public servant and I'm very proud to have campaigned with her.
Slowly you could see how Obama softened Clinton up. At the end she finished graciously.
I have read several assessments of the debate. Some dwell on the conflict, others dwell on moderator Russert's nastiness, still others on who won. I came away marveling how Obama turned an angry attacker into a more relaxed person.
Cool Obama. We need such coolnes in the White House.
I've wathced many of the debates and I agree whole-heartedly with this assessment. I started this cycle as a Hillary supporter and now, I have been won over by Obama's demeanor, ability to remain calm, grasp of the issues, and ability to communicate. Many (myself included) thought that Hillary Clinton would run away with the Democratic nomination. But Barack Obama has run a phenomenal race and is winning. And I don't see anyway that Hillary Clinton can make a comeback. At this point, I find myself hoping that Obama wins in both Texas and Ohio next week - - and I will be voting for him in the Texas Democratic primary.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Hey God, What's the Deal with Figs?
Jeremiah 29:17
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
Psalm 78:47
He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
Matthew 21:18-20
Now in the morning as he (Jesus) returned into the city, he was hungry. And when he saw a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it, but leaves only, and said to it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon has the fig tree withered away!
Mark 11:12-14
The next day, when they came from Bethany, he (Jesus) was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if perhaps he might find any thing on it: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said to it, No man eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.
I wonder, do Christians eat fig newtons?
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
Psalm 78:47
He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
Matthew 21:18-20
Now in the morning as he (Jesus) returned into the city, he was hungry. And when he saw a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it, but leaves only, and said to it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon has the fig tree withered away!
Mark 11:12-14
The next day, when they came from Bethany, he (Jesus) was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if perhaps he might find any thing on it: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said to it, No man eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.
I wonder, do Christians eat fig newtons?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Biblical Wisdom, Part 9
1 Samuel 18:25-27
And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.
Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
Hey, if I only needed 100 foreskins no way I'm gonna go out and double it. Getting a hundred of those suckers would be hard enough (no pun intended)... I s'pose it only took one foreskin (my own, lopped off when I was a baby) to win over my wife.
And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.
Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
Hey, if I only needed 100 foreskins no way I'm gonna go out and double it. Getting a hundred of those suckers would be hard enough (no pun intended)... I s'pose it only took one foreskin (my own, lopped off when I was a baby) to win over my wife.
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