Obama For President

I think he would make an excellent democratic nominee, and hope he would be an excellent president. I feel the same about Sen. Clinton. Richardson is not going to get the nomination, but I find him to be decent as well. Edwards is my least favorite of the 4, but I would also vote for him. I would like to see a Clinton/Obama ticket, or vice versa. My most important issues are the environment, women's issues and national security. Obama and Clinton are actually quite close on those issues (though Obama does try to distinguish himself on the Iraq situation; I don't find it terribly compelling, however, b/c he wasn't in the same position as Clinton when the Iraq vote occurred, so saying he was always opposed to the invasion means less to me--I was always opposed on a personal level all along, but can't say that I would necessarily have voted against the resolution authorizing force all those years back if I was in the U.S. Senate). I can't help but feel more comforted on the women's issues front (and no, not just talking abortion!!!) by a woman. Both score very high on environmental issues with LCV. Health care is also quite important to me, but I haven't been able to make a decision on how I feel we could improve it in this country...maybe if I do, that would swing my opinion of who I prefer.

On the republican front, I would honestly be able to support a McCain candidacy if he aligned with my views on women's issues. Can't get behind Huckabee...I find him to be personally appealing, but think he's an amateur...his comments concerning Pakistan after Bhutto's assassination spoke volumes to me. I also am leery of someone as president who interprets the Bible literally--not sure of his take on the actual age of the earth, but if he doesn't agree with mainstream geology, physics, chemistry, biology, etc...I don't want that person as the head of the Executive Branch (in effect, head of the NSF, NASA, etc...).

At any rate, I think Obama would be an excellent nominee. I am not compelled by the "change" argument, I don't give a hoot about "change," I want ability, intelligence, etc...that said, electing America's first black or first female president would be quite a change!! At any rate, I find him to be intelligent, thoughtful, creative, motivated, charismatic and having a very sound understanding of the laws of the nation that as president he would be responsible for executing (I believe he lectured Con Law in Chicago for a while...big bonus for me). His views are similar, in most cases, to mine. I would vote for him, and do so happily. But he's not currently my candidate of choice!

Maybe with someone like Barack Obama, the country can leave the eight year nightmare known as "Bush 43". Maybe the country won't be run by special interest groups, the banks, the oil companies and the pharmaceutical manufacturers. Maybe we can get the troops out of Iraq and save the lives of men and women who deserve the very best from their country's leaders, not the worst. Maybe we can finally have national health care, the kind of excellent health care that VP Cheney gets whether you have pre-existing conditions or not. Maybe we can save our land from the companies who do not believe in environmentalism, and poison our air, land and water. Maybe we can find common ground with countries around the world without bombing them first. Maybe we can encourage businesses to show some initiative to grow without hurting the futures of the poor and the middle class. Maybe we can truly be the country we can be, without the hurdles and barriers that this administration has placed on all of us. Maybe Barack Obama is that person. Maybe Americans can be color blind for once when it comes to our future. As far as the country going down the sewer, that is too late, George W. Bush has already done that, and maybe Barack Obama can lead us out of the wilderness and into the light.

Hello norpole and everyone else,
In your comments above MAYBE was used a lot and rightfully so, b/c we can't for tell the future. But we can look at ones past. Let's look at RON PAUL's past , he is the one candidate who voted against the war, has NEVER voted to increase taxes or voted for an unbalanced budget, voted AGAINST congressman receiving a raise and is against the US intervening in foreign countries, (that means no nation building). Barack is completely the opposite.

Our freedoms are being reduced drasticly no other candidate supports the US Constition and the Rule of Law ( which means if it is law the government had better obey it) like Ron Paul.

WE do not need more government, we need less in fact RON PAUL is the only candidate who wants to reduce the federal government. THE ONLY ONE! Now is this man a threat to the establishment? ****** right he is. If you work for the fed you could, you might have to get a job in the private sector if Ron Paul gets elected. oh well. FOX News left him out of the Debate Saturday Night.............Why???? b/c he is a threat to that very establishment. Faux News. We report you decide! How can the good people of this nation make an informed descion when we don't have all the candidates and the facts?
Do yourself and everybody you know a favor and go to and read www.ronpaul2008.com and www.youtube.com him there is a ton of good info there. Videos from eLIB3RTY and aravoth are epecially informative.
The next 24 hrs are very important in New Hampshire, let us watch and see.
I look forward and welcome all feedback.

Mark you have hit it right on the head. There is no doubt in my mind that Ron Paul would be an excellent president. He is strong on integrity, something both of the Clintons lack as inveterate liars. Hilary does not have the experience and neither does Obama, not by a long shot. I have no problem voting for a female or a minority, as long as they have the qualifications....find me one qualified and I have zero problem with them. If people really want to elect the best person as POTUS they owe it to themselves and this country to research ALL of the candidates with an open mind, and screw party lines, screw what your union tells you to do, your daddy, your wife, your physic dog, what ever. Do whats best for this country. Ron Paul has what it takes to keep America strong and Americans proud.

One nation under God

How many people out there bought Hillera's phony tears yesterday?? She took that one right out of Ellen Degenerate's playbook. I wonder how Hillary got that book? And Hillary say's she is qualified because she spent eight years in the White House. Well, so did the "Pastry Chef", let's elect her too!!!!

I don't think he has enough experience, lots of charm, but not enough international experience.

It also doesn't sit well with me that he took his oath of office on the Koran, and his father is a radical muslim in Kenya.

Just my opinion.