Do You Think Barack Obama Represents â??Changeâ?�?

[dragonrider]

In an election where a vast majority of people think the country is on the wrong track, itâ??s to be expected that politicians will try to present themselves as representing â??change.â?� Barack Obama has presented himself as representing â??change you can believe in.â?�

The change message is popular with Obamaâ??s supporters and they almost always cite the need for change when they talk about him. Some think he will end the Iraq war and get the economy on the right track. Some think he will change government priorities to favor people who have been ignored by this current administration. Some think he will change the perception of the US around the world. Some think he will focus on environmental issues that have been ignored by this current administration. Some think he will restore some individual constitutional rights that have been curtailed during this administration.

Others have called it an empty slogan with no specifics. Some think that all politicians answer to the same masters and nothing ever changes. They donâ??t think an Obama presidency will change anything.

And others have agreed that Obama represents change, but change in the wrong direction. Some disagree with his policies and think he represents a change for the worse. Some think his policies on the war will be a strategic mistake. Some think his economic, tax, and fiscal policies will cause economic problems.

So what do you think? Does Barack Obama represent change? Also be sure to answer the same question about John McCain in the McCain thread. http://boards.cannabis.com/politics/...ts-change.html

dragonrider Reviewed by dragonrider on 06-11-2008. Do You Think Barack Obama Represents â??Changeâ?�? In an election where a vast majority of people think the country is on the wrong track, itâ??s to be expected that politicians will try to present themselves as representing â??change.â?� Barack Obama has presented himself as representing â??change you can believe in.â?� The change message is popular with Obamaâ??s supporters and they almost always cite the need for change when they talk about him. Some think he will end the Iraq war and get the economy on the right track. Some think he Rating: 5

[psteve]

I'd like to believe that the change IN MY POCKET might be worth something again some day. No chance of that with Mcdrain.

[daihashi]

I don't think Obama represents change.

He hasn't shown a history of bipartisan support.

He constantly is either a No Vote or has contradicted issues he has claimed to be strong on (you have to look at his voting history)

For a man who has so many ideas and is a representative of change he sure seems to do poorly in debates. He honestly seems like a bumbling fool. You would think that someone who is the messiah of change as they claim to be would have something on the tip of their tongue just waiting to share it during the democratic debtes.

For a person who is for change he sure has turned down John McCain on several invitations for debates.. for visiting Iraq together etc etc. If we want change then we need both parties working together. This does not give me any type of inclination to believe that Obama is going to work toward that goal. Quite the opposite.

I don't think he is very strong in economics. He has all these ideas and plans to put programs and services in place but my question to him is... where is he going to get the money for all this? It costs money to do things peope.. and who do you think pays for that? We do.. through our tax dollars. While I am in support of government sponsored programs and and services.. I don't exactly support the thought of being taxed more than I already am. The US needs more export goods. As it stands right now what is our major export and how much of it are we exporting? Is it any wonder that the American dollar is so low? We tax American companies for producing goods inside the united states but we don't tax imports equally.

I guarantee you if we began taxing imports more and gave incentive for American manufacturers then the domestic economy would pick up, people would have reason to buy American again and the dollar would strengthen....

but let's not do that. let's tax tax tax and make people poorer and the dollar weaker.. all in the name of neo-socialism.

I could go on and on.. I do not see Obama for change he suggests he stands for; however I do believe that just about anything would be an improvement over Bush

[daihashi]

I'd like to believe that the change IN MY POCKET might be worth something again some day. No chance of that with Mcdrain.

It's not always the amount you have in your pocket, but rather the value of that amount.

Do you believe that Obama is going to strengthen the value of the dollar?

[dragonrider]

I think Barack Obama definitely represents change, and I think it will be for the better.

Environmental issues are very important to me. Out current adminstration has worked hard to WEAKEN environmental protections and has worked AGAINST my state's efforts to address environmental issues. I think Obama will focus on environmental issues that have been ignored by this current administration.

I think Obama will improve the perception of the US around the world. Bush has destroyed our image internationally, and Obama will restore that.

I think Obama will restore some individual constitutional rights that have been trampeled upon by the Bush administration.

I think Obama will bring back the fiscal responsibility that Bush lacked. Bush inherited a budget surplus, gave it all away as tax cuts, and drove this country deeper into debt than it has ever been before. Obama will get us back on track.

Obama will definitely change the direction of the Iraq war. But I'm not sure if I agree with everything he has said about how he will handle it. I think out of necessity his strategy will have to be more nuanced than it has been in the primaries. I think he is smart enought not to do something totally stupid, but this is one area where I'm not sure I agree with all the changes he has proposed so far. And i'm not sure he would even be able to accomplish all the changes he has proposed for the war even if he wanted too.

[jessejames12345]

I agree totaly. For once, we are going to have a president that inspires us and makes us proud to be american again. This is an exciting time

[daihashi]

Environmental issues are very important to me. Out current adminstration has worked hard to WEAKEN environmental protections and has worked AGAINST my state's efforts to address environmental issues. I think Obama will focus on environmental issues that have been ignored by this current administration.

I think Obama will improve the perception of the US around the world. Bush has destroyed our image internationally, and Obama will restore that.

I think Obama will restore some individual constitutional rights that have been trampeled upon by the Bush administration.

I think Obama will bring back the fiscal responsibility that Bush lacked. Bush inherited a budget surplus, gave it all away as tax cuts, and drove this country deeper into debt than it has ever been before. Obama will get us back on track.

I could see Obama working towards Environmental issues.. which is great.

I don't think Obama will improve the perception of the US around the world. He is a good speaker, but the guy doesn't even take the time to prepare for debates? And if he did prepare and still did that poorly then that speaks even louder for the type of president he will become.

Bush did inherit a budget surplus but everyone seems to ignore the fact that the economy was already going down rapidly. I am not saying Bush didn't contribute and amplify the problem, he did.. there's no denying that, but we would still be in this downward slope.

If anyone does market analysis they can tell you that the market works in a sloping trend that repeats itself. There are ways you can predict this trend and take measure to try to counteract it. The Clinton administration was warned several times

So if you're using the republican ticket to be able to point your finger at McCain then I think you should look elsewhere. The problem began at the end of the Clinton administration, Bush screwed it up worse.. both Individuals are to blame for this.

Most of your post I agree with on some level.. but I still don't feel strongly enough about Obama... at the same time I don't feel so strongly about McCain.

They are both weak candidates whom are not ideal for the American people.

[psteve]

It's not always the amount you have in your pocket, but rather the value of that amount.

Exactly.

Do you believe that Obama is going to strengthen the value of the dollar?

No, We'll be screwed for decades because of bush, but McAnal would not even try.

[daihashi]

Exactly.No, We'll be screwed for decades because of bush, but McAnal would not even try.

meh, to be honest I'm not sure either one of these two particular candidates can help us on that front.

All we can do is wish and hope and try to guess who's going to screw us over the least at this point... at least that's how I feel after seeing the two major candidates we have to choose from

[Psycho4Bud]

I think Barack Obama definitely represents change, and I think it will be for the better.

We disagree already....like Carter, this "would" definately be a change for the worse.

Environmental issues are very important to me. Out current adminstration has worked hard to WEAKEN environmental protections and has worked AGAINST my state's efforts to address environmental issues. I think Obama will focus on environmental issues that have been ignored by this current administration.

GREAT...so much for nuclear power or drilling for oil in the U.S.. Building additional refineries....what about the one tooth chipmunk that might be affected? So much for additional power resources. I'm sure when we split from Iraq that 2.5 mill. barrels/day won't effect the price of oil either. Just saw a poll that stated 61% of Americans want us to drill the hell out of Anwar for oil...and other sites in the U.S.; can't do that when we are protecting our enviroment with a "green" hand.

I think Obama will improve the perception of the US around the world. Bush has destroyed our image internationally, and Obama will restore that.

Explain how? IF he was to pull out of Iraq he'd lose any respect from any country in that region. Likewise with our allie Israel. Do you think that this would gain the respect of China OR Russia...hell no. If improving the perception means that we turn into a nation of runners that leaves our allies hanging...then I'd have to agree with ya. Not something I'd call for "the good".

I think Obama will restore some individual constitutional rights that have been trampeled upon by the Bush administration.

And when there is a terrorist strike in our borders then he can blame it on Bush for stirring the world pot or not going after Al-Quada...how many Al-Quada in Iraq are left as compared to the ones sent to Allah? How many terrorist attacks have happened since 9-11? What major changes have you had to make in your life since your constitutional rights have been trampled on? What party is behind the "no smoking" policies that trample on alot of our rights?

I think Obama will bring back the fiscal responsibility that Bush lacked. Bush inherited a budget surplus, gave it all away as tax cuts, and drove this country deeper into debt than it has ever been before. Obama will get us back on track.

9-11, Katrina, the Afghan war, Iraq war...but this surplus would have remained with a Dem? I suppose it could have if handled like either Carter or Clinton..."BAD OSAMA! Now don't do that again ya hear?"

And if anyone thinks that free healthcare, college and all the rest of the empty promises like pulling out of Iraq is going to save money they really need to take a look at the costs and ask themselves where this cash will come from: higher taxes OR a larger budget deficit?

Remember, this is the same Jr. Senator that has racked up more than $200,000,000 in earmarks in 3 years.

Obama will definitely change the direction of the Iraq war. But I'm not sure if I agree with everything he has said about how he will handle it. I think out of necessity his strategy will have to be more nuanced than it has been in the primaries. I think he is smart enought not to do something totally stupid, but this is one area where I'm not sure I agree with all the changes he has proposed so far. And i'm not sure he would even be able to accomplish all the changes he has proposed for the war even if he wanted too.

I ask this question frequently but seem to NEVER get a response. How many troops will it take to protect over 100,000 civilian workers, our diplomats, Embassy, and the Iraqi nationals that were loyal to us? As stated in a debate, this is his plan...the rest of the personnel won't be coming home but instead will be based out of Kuwait...just incase Al-Quada returns or our troops remaining are getting slaughtered.

Another issue is the "genocide" in Somalia he promised to cure. How many troops will that take? And while we're in Africa why not help our his cousin in Kenya?

Anybody can talk it up about "change" but without the full support of congress and senate the president is very limited in what "change" he can really do. Obama has NEVER reached across the aisle in order to make concessions...how much of his plan does anyone think he could really accomplish?

The rational part of me wants McCain to win for obvious reasons and the other part wants Obama for the Med. M.J. and also to see all the lil' dems cry when they face double digit inflation, unemployment, and interest rates just like in the days of good ol' J. Carter.

Have a good one!:s4: