Obama is so refreshing in the world of snark! Thanks for the article links!

I don't know much about American politics but would like to comment on two things that have been mentioned:-

Religious nation and the Iraq war.

Omly yesterday I read in some blog that 6,50,000 Iraqis have died in the war in Ira which is about 2.5 per cent of the population. The same blog stated that the US Deparment of defence says that 2754 American soldiers have been killed in the Iraq war.

Considering that the United nations and most of the world was against it, the Iraq war was an insult to democracy by the leader of the free world. It could be rated as one of the biggest blundrs in the entire history of mankind.

Brilliant intellectuals like J.krishnamurthy have distinguished how a religious mind and being religious in the ordinary context are two entirely different things. This is in the case of normal individuals. By what stretch of imagination a country which causes so many deaths without any justification be deemed religious? I have always been an admirer and follower of most things American but where Iraq is concerned, the United states has badly flattered to decieve.

Another son of a rich lawyer,

like we think change is going to come from you . . .

yeah

Peace

Dave: Thank you for introducing a positive political personality as Obama.

Mallika: Based on the Dave's blog and the cited pages, Oprah may be on to something.

Dave: Yeah, man--just watched Senator Obama on Oprah, in spite of the fact that I do not often watch much in the way of mainstream TV shows--but....has been said, he's a breath of fresh air I'd also love to see take 2008.

He's one of very few from either of the dominating parties that is potentially a divine "wild card" for the entrenched morass of American politics--which ultimately affects the rest of the world one way or another.

Mallika: Oprah did extract a promise from Barack that he would announce his candidacy on her show, should he decide to run after devoting himself to the issues and elections at hand.

When Oprah and Co. were on Larry King Live a few weeks ago, there was talk that "she" should run for president, at which point she asked all those who felt that way about her to put their intentions behind Barack Obama as a candidate for president. Dave

Go Barack.
Love,
Donatella

Hi Dave,

Yep, Obama is a liberal, but I think he's the kind of liberal that doesn't want to stick a knife in the side of those with a conservative bent. People on both sides of the political aisle have a tendency to objectify those with what they consider a radically different political philosphy. We break into the "us and them" camp. Even the term 'extremist' is sort of meaningless...what it really means is that anyone that has a REALLY different viewpoint then I do is extreme. Using that terminology, anyone could be and is an extremist. I get the real sense from Obama's speeches and writings that he has somehow avoided the trap; he seems to be able to see an opinion as an opinion and seperate that from the individual. This is an admirable and difficult to attain (and maintain) quality. The late Senator Paul Wellstone from Minnesota was a similar sort of guy. He was a guy that could argue with you about politics (he was an unapologetic socialist), but when the smoke cleared could sit down with a hardcore conservative, have a beer and genuinely like the person. No matter where you stood on the political spectrum it was hard not to like and respect Paul because he was genuine. Paul had his views and would fight for them, but somehow knew that they were just views and that at the end of the day what was really imporant were people.

I get the same sense from Obama. Although I have some real differences in my political views, he's still a guy that I could get behind for President. Especially since I really don't fit into either camp. Historically I've been a hardcore conservative, but over the last few years I've seen my viewpoint flip flop all over the board. Even here at Intentblog, I have noticed that I post one opinion and then argue with myself and those that agree with me, several posts later :).

Thanks for posting Dave.
Peace,
Scott.

I have such mixed feelings about Obama. On the one hand I want to send him money my time and my well-wishes, and on the other hand, I'm stumped about the efficacy of his recommendation of accomodation. And statements he makes about being "uncertain about uncertainty" make me wonder if accomodating absolutists means that ultimately you cave on everything...or if from this he concludes that if you reconcile and adjust to absolutists you're allowed a few of your own absolute beliefs with no compromise. Because I believe we can afford to cave on everything in the world but two things: incurring the sort of debt that conservatives so liberally accept (I fail to see what it is conservatives conserve), and, secondly, doing nothing about climate change.

I can't identify him, really, as a friend or foe (my foes would do nothing absolutely concrete about either of these issues). If his republican counterparts insist on the absolute certainty that there is no connection between human activity and climate change, what is he going to do? Make nice?

Is it worth fighting for?

Because I don't think climate change is something we can afford to screw around with and I believe there is no middle position when it comes to gambling with our childrens' future.

I might be reading all this wrong, and I look forward to reading his book to get a sense of who he is and if he's got the backbone that Lincoln had.

Because we're going to need that now.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Interestingly, today's New York Times contains an essay entitled, "Run, Barack, Run." The author, David Brooks, writes: "Whether you’re liberal or conservative, you should hope Senator Barack Obama runs for president."

In the Guardian earlier this week, Cass Sunstein wrote, "Obama has a genuinely original and independent mind.... Among Obama's most noteworthy characteristics are his reluctance to demonise people, his refusal to resort to cheap arguments or accusations, and the genuine respect he shows both to voters and fellow politicians. His new book, The Audacity of Hope, speaks of 'deliberative democracy,' and he practices the deliberative ideal, acknowledging when issues are difficult and attempting to anticipate, and to appreciate, the best arguments by the other side.

It is too early to know whether and when Obama will run for president; he's been on the national scene for just two years. But at this point his potential seems unlimited, and it will be exciting to watch him develop."

Agreed.

Thanks for posting this, Dave. Go Barack!

Obama is someone I could really get behind. I think the title of his book is appropriate.

Love, Kristin