Can anyone name one thing that Senator Obama has accomplished in his life that qualifies him for President of the United States and Leader of the Free World?

He scares you.
That's a good start.

Another one from the McCain action list!

Easily done:

The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act
Introduced by Sen. John McCain in May 2005, and cosponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy. Barack Obama added three amendments to this bill.

While the bill was never voted on in the Senate, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Acts of 2006 and 2007, respectively, drew heavily upon the wording of this bill.

The Lugar-Obama Cooperative Threat Reduction.
Introduced by Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Dick Lugar and Sen. Tom Coburn.

First introduced in November 2005 and enacted in 2007, this bill expanded upon the successful Nunn-Lugar threat reduction, which helped secure weapons of mass destruction and related infrastructure in former Soviet Union states.

Lugar-Obama expanded this nonproliferation program to conventional weapons -- including shoulder-fired rockets and land mines. When the bill received $48 million in funding, Obama said, "This funding will further strengthen our ability to detect and intercept illegal shipments of weapons and materials of mass destruction, enhancing efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism."

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006
This act of Congress, introduced by Senators Obama and Coburn, required the full disclosure of all entities or organizations receiving federal funds in FY2007.

Despite a "secret hold" on this bill by Senators Ted Stevens and Robert Byrd, the act passed into law and was signed by President Bush. The act had 43 cosponsors, including John McCain.

The act created this Web site, which provides citizens with valuable information about government-funded programs.

Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act

This law helped specify US policy toward the Congo, and states that the US should work with other donor nations to increase international contributions to the African nation.

The bill marked the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor. Following this legislation's passage, Obama toured Africa, traveling to South Africa, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Chad. He spoke forcefully against ethnic rivalries and political corruption in Kenya.

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
In the first month of the 110th Congress, Obama worked with Sen. Russ Feingold to pass this law, which amends and strengthens the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.

Specificially, the changes made by Obama and Feingold requires public disclosure of lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills.

The House passed the bill, 411-8, on July 31. The Senate approved it, 83-14, on Aug. 2. At the time, Obama called it "the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate."

Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act

Following the Republican-sponsored voter intimidation tactics seen in mostly black counties in Maryland during the 2006 midterm elections, Obama worked with Sen. Chuck Schumer to introduce this bill.

The bill has been referred to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Obama said of the bill, "This legislation would ensure that for the first time, these incidents are fully investigated and that those found guilty are punished."

The Obama-McCain Climate Change Reduction Bill

The Obama-McCain bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., would cut emissions by two-thirds by 2050.

Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007

Introduced by Obama, this binding act would stop the planned troop increase of 21,500 in Iraq, and would also begin a phased redeployment of troops from Iraq with the goal of removing all combat forces by March 31, 2008.

Explaining the bill, Obama said it reflects his view that the problems in Iraq do not have a military solution. "Our troops have performed brilliantly in Iraq, but no amount of American soldiers can solve the political differences at the heart of somebody else's civil war," Obama said.

Amendments to the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill

Obama worked with Sen. Kit Bond to limit, through this bill, the Pentagon’s use of personality disorder discharges in the FY 2008 Defense Authorization bill.

This provision would add additional safeguards to discharge procedures and require a thorough review by the Government Accountability Office. This followed news reports that the Pentagon inappropriately used these procedures to discharge service members with service-connected psychological injuries.

"With thousands of American service members suffering day in and day out from the less visible wounds of war, reports that the Pentagon has improperly diagnosed and discharged service members with personality disorders are deeply disturbing," said Senator Obama. "This provision will add additional safeguards to the Department of Defense’s use of this discharge and mandate a comprehensive review of these policies."

The Comprehensive Nuclear Threat Reduction provision

Working with Sen. Hagel and Rep. Adam Schiff, Obama authored this provision, which would require the president to develop a comprehensive plan for ensuring that all nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material at vulnerable sites around the world are secure by 2012 from the threats that terrorists have shown they can pose.

A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.

"It is imperative that we build and sustain a truly global effort under an aggressive timeline to secure, consolidate, and reduce stockpiles of nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material to keep them out of the wrong hands. The comprehensive nuclear threat reduction plan required by this provision is an important step in that effort," Obama said of the provision.

---> Love these questions where the implication is maybe I can justify voting McCain and somehow maybe not look like an ass for doing it.

Not gonna happen.

A lot of cut and past there Missing, but what has he accomplished that would qualify him to be Leader of the Free World?

How about we limit responses to one profound thing that matters?

He's Not George W. Bush.

He outed Billary in the Democratic Primaries! That's a plus for sure!

And he's not John "W" McSame either.

Obama was a Constitutional law professor. Plus, I share his views on what our priorities should be.

Can you name one thing that Abraham Lincoln accomplished prior to 1860 that qualified him for President of the United States and Leader of the Free World?

Tell us DJ what makes McSame qualified for the job?
Give us YOUR best cut and paste......

McCain Qualifications:

See (George W Bush)

I'm with Vitalogy. What I've seen so far, in terms of character, smarts and ability to manage, is plenty for President.

I did the cut 'n paste because yesterday people were saying your question would come today. It's been that way a few times now.

Might serve to get you off that rightie echo chamber. --then again, it might not!

One profound thing?

Graduating Harvard Law School.
Undergrad at Columbia Univ. another top tier school.

Unlike Bushie boy. Got a history degree at Harvard undergrad, and and MBA at Yale. No law degree. No degree in economics or international studies or anything the least bit challenging. Not to mention needing his Daddy's help to get into Yale after his track record as an undergrad boozing and snorting.

Clearly, the Republicans no longer care about qualifications for nominees, Bush being the proof.

McSame? Flip flopping on key positions he spoke out in opposite tenor negates his experience ... what has he done that he still maintains position on?

The choice this fall: another Republican phoney with his hands in the pockets of the lobbyists and special interests or
a Democrat with fresh ideas and not owned by special interests.

Landslide alert to all the right wing authoritarians. Better find a hole to crawl into next November, because the shift in the other direction will hit full throttle.

Deane, just tell us what specific qualifications YOU require as a Leader Of The Free World, and I will try and meet that criteria. But to leave it open and vague just so you can shoot it down isn't going to cut it. You get to call the shots and make the rules. You set the standard and I will try and meet it. And if I can't, I will say so. How's that?

Besides, did you even read Missings post? Or did you dismiss it because you thought it was all cut and paste. Therefore, somehow, not worthy?

14 responses and not one thing has been offered.


"did you even read Missings post? Or did you dismiss it because you thought it was all cut and paste."

I certainly read through it, but I'm not going to try to put that stuff together to try and make it say something about something he accomplished. The poster can do that. It's just cut and paste anyway.


"I did the cut 'n paste because yesterday people were saying your question would come today."

Seems to me to be a very basic and reasonable question. sorry it sends you guys into cardiac seizure.

Right. 14. I said I am willing to, if you can set any rule. So keep counting. Do you want an answer or not? I think you just like counting.

16

17

Bullshit.

"What I've seen so far, in terms of character, smarts and ability to manage, is plenty for President. "

That's three things.

Here, let me spoon feed you:

1. Obama has maintained the high ground, despite a lot of low rent trash being thrown his way. Ran a solid primary and played pretty damn fair ball throughout.

2. To do this requires a significant measure of good character and the smarts to know what all the options are and think through the implications.

3. All of this manifests in his primary campaign. He's got more individual REGULAR doners, and has essentially a 50 state infrastructure built up as the race demanded.

All of these things are more than enough to demonstrate that he would be a fine president.


Maybe you just needed a few more words.

Now, you might not think those things are qualifiers, but I do, and that's exactly what you asked for.

If that's not enough, then let's hear your criteria; otherwise, this is just noise.

Missing, you need to reread the question.

Chickenchoker, if it isn't simple enough for you as asked, you probably shouldn't attempt to provide an answer.

Deane is noise. He asks, we answer, he ignores.

Deane, make a reasonable contribution instead of just being an annoyance. That's all you really hope to accomplish anyway, isn't it? Asking questions the answers to which are easily found with a simple search with the only intent to reject everything presented by well meaning people who happen to disagree with you on most political issues.

Anyway you parse it, a post such as you made here is a waste of energy. It's not even credible enough to be ranked as noise.
Noise at least has some credibility.

Typical RWA.

So Andy, you can't come up with anything, right?

Deane, where were you with this question in 2000 when an inexperienced Republican was running? Of course, in 2000 you didn't give a damn how inexperienced or idiotic your candidate was because he happened to have an (R) behind his name.

Let's compare Obama in 2008 with Bush in 2000:

- George Bush had a familiar name and first ran for office less than two years after his daddy was president and had all his father's fundraising contacts; Barack Obama had a funny, unfamiliar name and rose up on his own (you Republicans call this "self-made" and supposedly admire the quality).
- George Bush made his mark by being given a sweetheart deal to attach his name to the Texas Rangers while his daddy was President and wound up making millions on a $500,000 investment; Barack Obama made his name by defeating a well-known Republican pundit, Alan Keyes.
- George Bush started his career going into the oil business with the help of his father's friends and wound up being unsuccessful in all his oil ventures, a failed businessman; Barack Obama came out of college and became a community organizer, a civil rights attorney, and a lecturer of constitutional law.
- George Bush won only two political campaigns before running for president, both statewide campaigns; Barack Obama won election to the Illinois legislature numerous times and won statewide office once.
- Bush went to Yale business school; Obama went to Harvard Law School

So who at this point in his president run is the most qualified to be president, Bush in 2000 or Obama in 2008? Clearly Obama.

So we shouldn't hear a peep about Obama's "inexperience" from Republicans who supported a less experienced Bush in 2000. Any Republican who claims Obama isn't experienced enough to be president is just another right-wing hypocrite. Like Deane.

Andrew

I've read several reasons listed. Are you blind or just dumb?

Hey, I'm happy with Obama. No need to justify that beyond the excellent discussion here.

(this isn't so excellent)

You are the 23 percenter, you tell us why he shouldn't be President. That's where the real burden is. Let's not even hide that fact. Put it right out there on the table, here, right now.

McCain isn't even close to Obama. No comparison at all.

And, his accomplishments demonstrate he's totally not a person that's going to serve us well as President.

So, sell it buddy, or go off and grumble. Obama gets it BY DEFAULT, leaving the burden on Republicans to justify their continued existence in the white house.

They are the party that sucks. They are the party that hosed up the nation, they are the party that lied, corrupted, you name it.

At this point, even considering a Republican for President means not only reaching parity with Obama, which isn't even on the table, but going above and beyond to assure us that we are really going to see changes that will do us some good.

This isn't some simple matter where a coupla trick questions or a rumor makes the difference. That's only for close choices. This isn't close at all!

This is like black and white, new vs old, same -vs- different, establishment -vs- up and comers.

Burden is on you, not any of us wanting to see the place run better.

So Andrew, should a take it from your post that George Bush is your new standard of excellence, and that so long as someone just comes close to him, they're OK. Is that what you're implying.


"I've read several reasons listed. Are you blind or just dumb?"

Which are they?


26 posts and no answer.

27 posts and you're still a dumbshit.

I'll requote myself. "Obama was a Constitutional law professor."

This fact meets the criteria to be considered both an accomplishment in life AND qualifies him to be president.

Landslide alert to all the right wing authoritarians. Better find a hole to crawl into next November, because the shift in the other direction will hit full throttle.

I don't think so.

I can't predict who will win, but I think it's going to be very close. Perhaps decided by 1 or 2 states like a couple of previous elections.

We'll see.

"I'll requote myself. "Obama was a Constitutional law professor."

That's it huh? OK, I guess if that's what you want to go with.

Oh, by the way, what did he accomplish that is noteworthy. Professors are a dime a dozen. Ward Churchill is a professor. Is there an accomplishment of any kind attached? Or are you saying knowing what the Constitution says is all it takes? Just asking.

Maybe, maybe not not.

The real punishment will be on all the downstream races. The Republicans are going to take another spanking on those.

Forget the house, Dems own that for a good long while. The Senate is closer, but maybe Republicans will preserve a strong minority at best.

" "I'll requote myself. "Obama was a Constitutional law professor."

That's it huh? OK, I guess if that's what you want to go with. "

You asked for one, you got one. How many do you want? And this is not rhetorical; What criteria would you endorse as valid? Name it. If it doesn't meet your criteria, then so be it. But don't pretend your request hasn't been aswered.

He has become the Democratic nominee. How's that?

He's expressed a desire and ability to engage allies on a diplomatic level. How's that?

He's been elected a Senator. How's that?

I suspect that you'll dismiss all of those. That's fine. Just tell me a specific trait that you admire and I'll try and meet it. You get to call the shot.

Shoot the ball.

I'm really enjoying the Deane paranoia about Obama. Remember long ago when it was Hillary he was afraid of?

Deane writes:
So Andrew, should a take it from your post that George Bush is your new standard of excellence, and that so long as someone just comes close to him, they're OK. Is that what you're implying.

Not at all. I'm implying that you are a two-faced partisan to pretend you really care about a president candidate's experience, since, I presume, you voted in 2000 for a candidate less qualified than Obama.

Admit it, Deane: lack of "experience" is only an issue for you if the candidate has a (D) after his name.

Andrew

President of the Harvard Law Review would be another accomplishment.

But, I don't need accomplishments to judge who I want to win; I look at the policies. I'm hard pressed to side with McCain on any of the major policies.

"Deane is noise."

Adjust your squelch control and he'll go away.

Vitology, there are several members of this forum who could come up with similar policies, perhaps you. Are you or they qualified to be leader of the free world?

Technically, I'm qualified, since I'm over 35 and I'm a natural born citizen. Whether I could convince others to vote for me is another thing, and the same would apply to the others here.

Exactly!

BTW, in that department, Obama RULES. His organization is the envy of every self-respecting politician, and of more than a few not so self respecting.

Nicely done Deane. Working the Dodge list huge, hitting more than a few of Andy's top 10 too.

Get after it, maybe we can add a new manifestation or two to the list!

(waiting, pen in hand)

I know Bush is President of the United States, but who is currently Leader of the Free World?

Score a big for the high school teacher!!

Dick Cheney fancies himself leader of the free world. George W. Bush is simply his marionette.

Good one!

Get your own Popeil Pocket President! Order now! Supplies are limited.

The strong resume thing is a red herring. He may not have served in the military, been a governor or a United States Senator for 5 terms, but he possesses a caliber of leadership which is desperately missing in the country. I mean really, compared to his predecessors, Abraham Lincoln lacked a resume that would engender much confidence – especially given the time in which he was elected. But he turned out to be the greatest president of the 19th century and one of the best presidents of all time.

Senator Obama has overcome one of the greatest barriers which continues to plague this country, which is race. And to deny it would show unparalleled ignorance on the subject. Plus he’s one of only five African-Americans to serve in the United States Senate. Not only is his service in the US Senate historic, but his candidacy as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president historic. And on the issues, he’s head and shoulders above Senator John McCain.

Given his life’s experience in America, he’ll govern with compassion and understanding of how public policy can affirmatively work in people’s lives – in much the same way President Franklin D. Roosevelt governed.

For the generation ahead of me having an African-American becoming president is simply amazing.

For my generation it's exciting.

For my kids it's the norm.