Some Thoughts On Barack Obama, John McCain, and Ron Paul
by John Corderman
(libertarian)
Saturday, February 16, 2008
While Hillary Clinton attempts to bail water our of her boat, and while John McCain sits in his boat--confident of victory and smirking at his success and turn of fortune--unaware (for some reason) that he, too, is wet up to his waist--Barack Obama moves forward all across the nation like a stalking horse, running faster and faster and gaining strength and inevitability as he goes. In modern American political history, he has no equal--in so far as his ability to not only come out of nowhere, but to also threaten to win the presidency by a landslide of potentially historic proportions. He seems to embody all of the formidable vigor, charm, and rhetorical optimism of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, while simultaneously having a mastery of political calculus and strategy on par with Richard Nixon, plus the ability to come in way under the radar to win when and where conventional wisdom says he can't or shouldn't.
Although it is early in 2008, and so many things can and will happen between now and November, Obama has that rare ability and instinct to evolve with changing circumstances in the manner most advantageous to his chances. For instance, there is no current likely Republican or Democrat nominee that can beat him in a debate. Hillary Clinton may think she can, and even thinks that she has, but she is deluded as her present situation makes clear.
In a debate with John McCain, Barack Obama will, with all due respect, mop the floor with him. McCain, as evidenced in even the most recent debates with his Republican counterparts, is not particularly compelling, exciting, nor intellectually or rhetorically competent enough to engage someone with Obama's gifts, let alone mount a defense against him. The absurdity and inanity that passed for a "debate" at the Reagan Library in January, will simply not be credible in a debate against Obama.
McCain, though sincere in the "rightness" of his positions--particularly on the war--will come off as somewhat of a dolt to the wider audience as they watch Obama go to work on him. McCain's penchant for the goofy grin will also not play well and he will simply come across as an idiot, at worse, or out of touch, at best. Barack Obama will do to John McCain what Ronald Reagan did to Jimmy Carter in 1980 and Walter Mondale in 1984--except ten times worse--because most people who watched those debates knew that Carter and Mondale were at least intelligent men in their own right. I expect that while voters will certainly pay tribute in public to McCain's heroism earlier in life, they will then go quietly vote for Obama on election day. John McCain simply does not have the rhetorical gifts and basic instincts required to shield himself from humiliation against Obama--particularly in a one-on-one encounter.
I am not unserious in my suggestion that McCain consider employing the old Lyndon Johnson approach to avoid having to fight the enemy--which is to conjure up a manufactured reason not to debate him at all. Johnson did this to Barry Goldwater in the 1964 Election and this decision was tied directly to his overall campaign strategy of painting Goldwater as a crazy fanatic, unworthy of the respect of granting a debate. Frankly, it's a strategy McCain might want to think hard about--if not to help his electoral chances, but rather to simply protect his personal dignity.
Indeed, if John McCain was a principled conservative--instead of an all-over-the-board pro-war opportunist, I can see any number of scenarios that McCain could rally around to credibly avoid debating Obama. But this is not the situation, and John McCain will be smashed in any debate with Obama--although McCain probably won't even know it.
Barack Obama is a socialist--and he's serious about it. He has America's ear. I cannot think of any more charismatic and immensely popular bearer of Socialism in recent American history that is so ideally positioned to win the Presidency. He will have no credible conservative, or other, opponent this election. One would have hoped, and would have reasonably expected, that there would have been at least a strong competing force to counter Obama and his disturbing ideas and destructive agenda for our country--but there isn't. And having no viable other choice, the American People are going to elect what appears to be Hope, but what is actually, Catastrophe. It will be a landslide comparable perhaps to 1936, 1972, and 1984.
I cannot express how much I hope I'm wrong about this, but whether it's Obama or McCain, the only difference is if the United States travels to her death at 100 miles per hour or 75. We haven't many more miles to go.
I can only hope that quality men of indisputable principle, courage, and integrity, like Ron Paul, will rise up and start running for office and winning. And I hope and pray that Dr. Paul will prevail in his own congressional race, as once again the Republican Establishment is seeking to wipe him out, and in so doing, proving beyond a doubt how far they have fallen in their collective betrayal of the U. S. Constitution and their willful and violent assault upon our most sacred Liberties.
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Posted By: Michael McDonnough
Date: 2008-02-16 02:14:28
I happen to agree with you overall in this article. I am afraid that quality men of indisputable principle, courage, and integrity, like Ron Paul are as rare as hens teeth in politics. The profession does not call many of them and accepts even fewer of them than are called.
The destruction of our once great republic is it seems set in stone by those who have sought such a fate for it for a long time. The will of the people is so weak and bloated with rot that it is of little concern to the establishment. They mold it quite easily to their designs. When I watched the returns come in from one state after another I realized that it is over for this nation.
This nation just has far too few citizens that are not too historically blind, mentally lazy or stupid, or simply too corrupt to form a majoirty that can bring this nation back from the brink. It is a damn shame but that is what the evidence of my own eyes would suggest.
Chin up John, America needs a little socialism, compassion for its everyday citizens not all of whom are possessed by a passion to "reach the top" grab the ultimate "American Millionaire Dream", most are just common folk wanting their tax dollars to stay in the country rather than squandered 'socialistically' on the military and tinkering with other countrys' and their Sovereignty. Obama will return a new respect for America if the people are intelligent enough to choose him...
good luck...
your neighbour to the North watches with a hopeful eye :-) but given you guys chose Bush twice... we are holding our breath you don't get freaked out by McCain's fear mongering.
"Senator Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has not endorsed either Senator Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton in the presidential race. But on Thursday, February 14, he is trying to rush Obama’s “Global Poverty Act” (S.2433) through his committee. The legislation would commit the U.S. to spending 0.7 percent of gross national product on foreign aid, which amounts to a phenomenal 13-year total of $845 billion over and above what the U.S. already spends."
Speaking of the average American citizen , you say correctly that "most are just common folk wanting their tax dollars to stay in the country rather than squandered ..." by the Bush/McCain neoconservatives. But with our nation already 9 TRILLION dollars in debt, we don't want "President" Obama (or the UN) undermining our sovereignty or squandering it overseas either!
Astute essay: So sad and maybe prophetic, though I think it is too early to make a prediction with 100% certainty.
The saddest truth is that collective America is not prepared for the responsibilities and obligations of liberty. Those of us that seem to have a grasp on libertarian principles are in a minority against those that have accepted socialist dogma, knowingly or by default, to be the only social reality. Even among R Paul supporters few can provide a cogent defense of liberty without alluding to their particular brand of mysticism. The influence of philosophy pervades even the non-intellectual masses. In a mobocracy, populist sentiments rule, even in the face of common sense.
As to my dear Canuck: America needs a little socialism like someone needs a little cancer. No, friend: America needs compassion, charity, respect and love for all mankind, tolerance and above all freedom to live one's life with dignity and honor.
Posted By: Jon M. Burgett
Date: 2008-02-16 09:17:58
Ron Paul is actually pulling me from Obama. I must hear the candidate say he has contempt for the new world order agendas, like the NAFTA Superhighway. Barack really does capture the spirit of a lot of Americans, but I am afraid he is still too close to the establishment on some issues. If Hillary wins the nomination, i will not vote Democratic, and if Ron Paul is on the ticket, I will vote for him no matter what party. Non interventionist policy, I like it. No new taxes, I like it. Seal the borders, I like it. Cut spending, I like it. Crush the New World order, I like it.
Oh yeah, why is no one covering the Benazir Bhutto claim that Osama bin Laden was murdered by Omar Sheik? That would cut 50% of John McCains stump speech in half, right, since Osama is dead? Wake up people, check out the FEMA "concentration camps that number past 500 bulit, and more under construction. Can they really say those are to organize us in a time of crisis? Absolutely not me, atleast. Thanks, God bless you all.
It is a true shame that we are going to socialism. I wish more people understood that means the end of private property. Welcome to a state where you don't even own yourself. Your very body and all that you create with it belongs to the government. Way to go America, we are throwing away the Liberty our ancestors fought so hard for, as if it was an easy task to get it back once it's gone. Do you really want to condemn your grandchildren to fight the great wars for Liberty all over again? Don't think for one second that it won't come to that, because history shows no deviation. I weep for the future generations of Americans who will have to fight and die to regain the freedoms that are being so carelessly cast aside today.
Give me Liberty or Give me Death, is not just a feel good slogan reserved for holidays. I'll see you at the march on DC.
I do believe Obama would crush McCain in a debate and a general election. This is because McCain is incompetent and irresponsible. He's running to play tag-team and continue Chenny's agenda. On the oher hand, Obama is credible to americans who are stupid due to mis-information or no information as to what Obama is about and what he stands for. “Global Poverty Act” (S.2433) is one thing about Obama that if americans were informed and understood that they're going to be paying a UN TAX and that he calls for the irradication of the second amendment on this bill, they would be having second thoughts. Never mind the marxist distribution of 0.7 percent of OUR NGP!!!
Obama in fact follows the Das Kapital by Karl Marx; NOT the Constitution of the United States.
I tell ya, something is brewing in this country; you ain't seen nothing yet.
Posted By: Jeremy Friesner
Date: 2008-02-16 11:47:30
The reason socialism (as you call it) looks so attractive these days is that Republican-style capitalism has failed the American people so completely. If you guys can't deliver, you can hardly blame the American people for looking for solutions elsewhere. Problems like poverty, health care, and global warming aren't going to solve themselves, and it's become clear that the free market has little interest in solving them.
If you really want to know what obama is about. Read this article. It is about Zbigniew Brzezinski whom obama picked for his top national security advisor. http://www.wanttoknow.info/brzezinskigrandchessboard
Barack Obama works for the globalist cabal the Council on Foreign Relations, just like McCain and Clinton. Make no mistake, McCain is being set up to lose this election. If the GOP wanted to win, they would not have ridiculed, marginalized and ignored the best candidate this country has ever had for the office of POTUS - Ron Paul. I hope and pray that if we reach the point where the Republican nomination is no longer even a remote possibility, Ron Paul will be drafted by his supporters to run a 3rd party or independent candidacy. If this does not happen, we are already planning to organize a massive "write-in Ron Paul" campaign. He is the only one who deserves our support.
Please watch this short video. It explains who the "liberals" and "conservatives" really are - "neo-cons"...they pose as liberals and conservatives to deceive the voters. They all work for the CFR. Except Ron Paul. Tomorrow (Presidents Day) is a money bomb for Ron Paul. Please support the only honest person running for President. This is likely our last chance to stop the forces of evil. Ron Paul is the only one who has a chance to stop them, and he needs our help. [link edited for length]
This country and the world desperately need Ron Paul to be the next POTUS. There is much more at stake here than loyalty to a corrupt party that has completely abandoned its own principles. The future of our country, and perhaps of humanity itself, is at stake in this presidential election. We may not have another chance to stop the forces of evil, as they are accelerating their agenda for the destruction of America. They are poised to destroy our national sovereignty with the North American Union, which will lead us into the fascist global dictatorship they call the New World Order. They have already reduced our beloved Constitution to "just a goddamned piece of paper" under the reckless reign of the Bush regime. It is time to stop the insanity and support Ron Paul for president. Ask yourself these questions: If not us, who? If not now, when?
Ron Paul has called upon us to march on Washington DC. This is perhaps the most important thing any of us will ever do. It is time to stand up and be counted and be part of history. We will be judged by our actions in this critical time. We have an incredibly brave and strong leader in Dr. Ron Paul. He alone has the will and the ability to right this sinking ship of state. Please support his candidacy and march for peace, prosperity and freedom in DC this summer, date TBA. I would not miss it for the world. Let's roll!
