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Congratulations To Barack Obama


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As a footnote to the first African American being elected president, a reporter for Fox News (the Republicans' own TV news network) says that Sarah Palin didn't even know that Africa is a continent.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/p...i_n_141653.html

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As a footnote to the first African American being elected president, a reporter for Fox News (the Republicans' own TV news network) says that Sarah Palin didn't even know that Africa is a continent.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/p...i_n_141653.html

Now that she's been clued-in, I guess she will be looking over the ocean for them, as well as the Russians from the Alaskan shores. It is hard to imagine, short of a comedy sketch, Palin as President - or even VP.

It has been claimed that Obama would not have won but for the internet. This was the major source of his funds and he also made good use of email marketing. However, it was the YouTube videos of Palin that really won the election. :rolleyes:

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As a footnote to the first African American being elected president, a reporter for Fox News (the Republicans' own TV news network) says that Sarah Palin didn't even know that Africa is a continent.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/p...i_n_141653.html

It hard to believe she could so completely clueless but then again she seemed not to know who the Prime Minister of Canada was and her states only land border is with that country. This was after she was supposedly given a crash course in foreign affairs. I wouldn´t be surprised if they taught her the name of the PM of Denmark but just assumed she knew who was Canada's head of state.

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Some highlights of the Wikipedia bio of the far-right nut whose rant Craig posted:

“Boortz went on to write speeches for the segregationist Governor of Georgia, Lester Maddox.”

“Boortz's post-9/11 politics include support for the US-led War on Terror, a more aggressive foreign policy,[26] and the USA Patriot Act.”

“Boortz hosts the nationally-syndicated talk show, The Neal Boortz Show, where he routinely criticizes politicians, Muslim extremism,[2] the homeless, public schools, liberals, people who he deems liberals, people who oppose the Iraq war, teachers, private citizens, people he disagrees with, smokers, the obese, welfare recipients, and people who drive at or below the speed limit.[5][8]”

“Boortz controversially refers to public education as "tax payer funded child abuse" and accuses parents of child abuse for sending their children off to "government schools".[35]”

“Media Matters reported that Boortz called the Islamic prophet Mumhammad "just a phony rag-picker" and said it was "praiseworthy to recognize Islam as a religion of vicious, violent, bloodthirsty cretins."[39]”

“Boortz has also very harshly criticized certain victims of Hurricane Katrina who misused FEMA relief money, referring to them as "worthless parasites" whose displacement from New Orleans was "just a glorified episode of putting out the garbage."[44] After the Virginia Tech shootings, Boortz again blamed the victims, saying, "When the history of this event is written, we will have 25 students standing meekly waiting for this guy to execute them." [45]”

Though out of fairness I should point out “Boortz has sided with liberals on some social issues, with limitations, such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and civil liberties,”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Boortz

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Guest Stephen Turner
“Boortz hosts the nationally-syndicated talk show, The Neal Boortz Show, where he routinely criticizes politicians, Muslim extremism,[2] the homeless, public schools, liberals, people who he deems liberals, people who oppose the Iraq war, teachers, private citizens, people he disagrees with, smokers, the obese, welfare recipients, and people who drive at or below the speed limit.[5][8]”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Boortz

Now there's an equal opportunities Nazi.

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Obama ran an outstanding campaign and deserves the opportunity to staff the Cabinet and work to advance his political agenda with what should be a favorably inclined Congress.

I have to particularly give credit to Obama and his campaign advisors for deftly playing political jujitsu with HRC and disposing of her in the primaries.

How many of us assumed (and perhaps feared) this time last year that she would be President-elect today?

Not only has Obama silenced the Clinton political machine, he has potentially relegated it to the bins of history - all of which is no small accomplishment from my perspective.

And, to her credit, HRC was an indefatigable fighter. Her drive was incredible.

She reminded me of a boxer who refused to quit fighting when getting pummeled by his opponent, even though by doing so he jeopardized his health.

Obama now owns the Democratic Party. The Clintons may fit in the equation somewhere, but their clout and influence are vastly diminished.

Don't be surprised, though, if the Democrats in the Senate replace Harry Reid with HRC.

But, make no mistake, the most crestfallen person this election cycle is not John McCain, but William Jefferson Clinton.

He was panting to get back to the Oval Office, but will have to settle for being a senior statesman (whatever that entails).

Edited by Christopher Hall
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...JUAN GONZALEZ: Congratulations are pouring in from around the world for President-elect Barack Obama after his historic victory Tuesday night....

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AMY GOODMAN: We’ll leave that question there. Mahmood Mamdani and all of our roundtable, thanks so much for joining us. http://www.democracynow.org [11/6/08]

Interesting post, Peter.

Further disturbing news today is that Obama will ask Australia for more troops in Afghanistan. From Jeffrey Bader, China expert for the Brookings Institution and advisor to the Obama campaign:

"Given that Afghanistan-Pakistan is at the top of the foreign policy agenda.........we would be looking to have different allies to make a contribution".

A report in today's SMH also claims that the US Ambassador to Japan called on Tokyo to make "a greater contribution" to military operations in Afghanistan as the President-elect takes office.

It looks like the new Administration will step up activities in the Afghan--Pakistani theatre, while scaling down in Iraq.

How stupid do they think people are? The war on terror is a fraud--most informed people know this. Now it looks like America will be looking to other countries for a greater contribution towards America's folly. Incredible.

Edited by Evan Burton
Removed long quote
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Obama didn't wait long to make his first crucial appointment. Those of us concerned with the continuation of the nonsensical "war on terror" are not exactly comforted by his choice. Rahm Emmanuel will be Obama's chief of staff. Emmanuel is, I believe, an Israeli citizen. He voted for the invasion of Iraq and can almost certainly be expected to pressure Obama to not only continue our meddling in mid-east affairs, but to attack Iran as well. I doubt very seriously that he will be in favor of rescinding the odious Patriot Act, which ought to be one of Obama's very first "changes."

If some of the other names I've heard mentioned as potential cabinet members, like Richard Rubin and Warren Buffet, actually join Obama's administration, then I think the "change" we were promised is not likely to be meaningful.

Obama has an incredibly difficult job ahead of him. I certainly wish him the best, and hope he succeeds. However, when he names someone like Emmanuel as his chief of staff, the doubts I've had about him all along just grow stronger.

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So what do people think are the "significant" changes that Obama will make? Things that will particularly mark his Presidency?

We hope that he will act in a sane and rational manner. If he does, that will really shake things up around here, after being governed for the last eight years by a bunch of small-minded dummies.

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Obama didn't wait long to make his first crucial appointment. Those of us concerned with the continuation of the nonsensical "war on terror" are not exactly comforted by his choice. Rahm Emmanuel will be Obama's chief of staff. Emmanuel is, I believe, an Israeli citizen. He voted for the invasion of Iraq and can almost certainly be expected to pressure Obama to not only continue our meddling in mid-east affairs, but to attack Iran as well. I doubt very seriously that he will be in favor of rescinding the odious Patriot Act, which ought to be one of Obama's very first "changes."

If some of the other names I've heard mentioned as potential cabinet members, like Richard Rubin and Warren Buffet, actually join Obama's administration, then I think the "change" we were promised is not likely to be meaningful.

Obama has an incredibly difficult job ahead of him. I certainly wish him the best, and hope he succeeds. However, when he names someone like Emmanuel as his chief of staff, the doubts I've had about him all along just grow stronger.

Just as Raymond was correct in telling Craig he was being premature in his prediction that Obama’s presidency will lead to unmitigated doom you are jumping the gun in your critique. He counts among his advisors people not very popular with the “Israel lobby” like Brzezinski and Powell and at one time at least was friends with Khalid Rashidi.

Do you have any evidence Emanuel is in favor of invading or attacking Iran.

What’s so bad about Buffet and Rubin, is your philosophy, “God forbid that someone knowledgeable about the economy advise the next president?

Oh and a minor correction though he may well have spoken in favor of invading Iraq as a congressman he would not have had the opportunity to vote for or against it, only

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The Obama Mandate, by Paul Krugman

This year, however, Mr. Obama ran on a platform of guaranteed health care and tax breaks for the middle class, paid for with higher taxes on the affluent. John McCain denounced his opponent as a socialist and a “redistributor,” but America voted for him anyway. That’s a real mandate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/opinion/07krugman.html?em

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Obama didn't wait long to make his first crucial appointment. Those of us concerned with the continuation of the nonsensical "war on terror" are not exactly comforted by his choice. Rahm Emmanuel will be Obama's chief of staff. Emmanuel is, I believe, an Israeli citizen. He voted for the invasion of Iraq and can almost certainly be expected to pressure Obama to not only continue our meddling in mid-east affairs, but to attack Iran as well. I doubt very seriously that he will be in favor of rescinding the odious Patriot Act, which ought to be one of Obama's very first "changes."

If some of the other names I've heard mentioned as potential cabinet members, like Richard Rubin and Warren Buffet, actually join Obama's administration, then I think the "change" we were promised is not likely to be meaningful.

Obama has an incredibly difficult job ahead of him. I certainly wish him the best, and hope he succeeds. However, when he names someone like Emmanuel as his chief of staff, the doubts I've had about him all along just grow stronger.

Rahm Emanuel is an interesting character. He actually was a volunteer in the Israeli Army during the 1990s Gulf War. The Israeli press boasted today that "Israel will have its own man in the White House". Although Jews only make up 2% of the US population, they have always been a highly successful lobby group that can deliver the vote. For example, 78% of Jewish voters supported Obama in the election. To be fair to the Jews, they have always been active in the Civil Rights campaign and are natural allies of Obama.

It is claimed that Emanuel is not unlike LBJ in the way he controls Congress. On the surface, the signs are not good. However, it is possible, the appointment of Emanuel, might give Israel the confidence to agree a peace deal in the Middle East.

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Emanuel, might give Israel the confidence to agree a peace deal in the Middle East.

John, these were my exact thoughts when I heard he was COS. Having someone with you who can 'speak the language' can certainly help you to communicate better - Let’s just hope the message is both a positive and a peaceful one.

Steve

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