Re: I Saw Barack Obama Today

Quiet, Chris Bellomy <cbellomy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> -- I'm transmitting rage.

James Schrumpf <jaspammenotschrumpf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Quiet, Chris Bellomy <cbellomy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> -- I'm transmitting
rage.

David V. Loewe, Jr <daveloewe@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:37:49 -0000, Chris Bellomy
<cbellomy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

He gave a speech at Reunion Arena in Dallas today. I took the
train and rode over there at lunchtime to catch it.

The place was mostly packed. Basketball capacity there used to
be ~17,000. I'd say there were about 15,000 in attendance. Crazy.

The speech was the standard Obama stump speech which we've seen
on TV before. It was still a different experience to be there
in person for it. I'm pretty jaded (excuse the obvious) so I
wasn't jumping to my feet like most were, but it was still the
finest political speech I've ever seen in person. And I've seen
a few.

Proudest moment for me was the now-standard part of the speech
where Obama lauds McCain's military service and calls him a hero,
right before invoking the call for change. After he described
McCain as a national hero, the crowd broke out in applause. I'd
never seen that before at a political rally, where the opposing
candidate was shown such respect. My jaded heart was moved. That's
the people that we're supposed to be.

I think maybe finally the post-Vietnam generations are moving us
past the hippies vs. hawks culture war into a different kind of
era. I hope so.

The Baltimore Sun is reporting that he blew his nose - and got
applause for it.


http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/even_blowing_
his_nose_obama_ge.html

http://tinyurl.com/2dpl6o

Confirm or deny?

Oh yeah, it happened, but the applause was more of a mix of
laughter and wry cheering. It's one of those things that's
very human if you're there but hard to explain to others.
Kinda like a lot of David Letterman humor, really.

I know there's a lot of desire to fuel "Obama cult" nonsense
at the moment, but compare Obama supporters to the Ron Paul
types and I think you'll get an idea why that's a ridiculous
charge. Lots of people like him a lot, but they aren't exactly
lining up to bring back the gold standard and end fluoridation
of drinking water, if you catch my drift.

You gotta understand that liberals/progressives have been
waiting a long damn time to get a candidate with Obama's
progressive resume and formidable personal charisma. Since
John Kennedy, in fact. There's a real hunger for a reversal
from the Bush years, and it's manifesting in enthusiasm for
this candidate. So the crowds aren't really about him; they're
about *them*. After years of Jimmy Carter / Walter Mondale /
Michael Dukakis / Bill Clinton / Al Gore / John Kerry, there's
finally a candidate who has all the political tools, and the
will to do good with them. It has been a long damn time in
the desert for us.

What's his "progressive resume"? What bills has he authored?

S.J.RES.23 : A joint resolution clarifying that the use of force
against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use
of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or
any other provision of law.

S.453 : A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections
Passed out of Committee and now on the Senate Calendar for
Feb. 22, 2008

S.1084 : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income
veterans;

S.1324 : A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from transportation fuel sold in the United States

S.1389 : A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation
to establish a Climate Change Education Program;

S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270
(Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and
sequestration technology by the Department of Energy.

S.2030 : A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by
persons other than registered lobbyists

S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates,
leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or
arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions
collected or arranged.

S.2044 : A bill to provide procedures for the proper classification
of employees and independent contractors, and for other purposes

S.2147 : A bill to require accountability for contractors and
contract personnel under Federal contracts, and for other purposes.

[cb note: the last two were about Blackwater abuses]

S.2433 : A bill to require the President to develop and implement
a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign
policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty,
the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of
the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the
proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live
on less than $1 per day.

S.1977 : A bill to provide for sustained United States leadership
in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce
global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and
related material and technology, and support the responsible and
peaceful use of nuclear technology.

S.AMDT.1041 to S.1082 To improve the safety and efficacy of genetic
tests.

S.AMDT.3073 to H.R.1585 To provide for transparency and
accountability in military and security contracting.

S.AMDT.3078 to H.R.1585 Relating to administrative separations of
members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder.

S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates,
leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or
arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions
collected or arranged.

S.AMDT.524 to S.CON.RES.21 To provide $100 million for the Summer
Term Education Program supporting summer learning opportunities for
low-income students in the early grades to lessen summer learning
losses that contribute to the achievement gaps separating low-income
students from their middle-class peers.

S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270
(Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and
sequestration technology by the Department of Energy.

S.AMDT.905 to S.761 To require the Director of Mathematics, Science,
and Engineering Education to establish a program to recruit and
provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are
interested in careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.

S.AMDT.923 to S.761 To expand the pipeline of individuals entering
the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to
support United States innovation and competitiveness.

S.AMDT.924 to S.761 To establish summer term education programs.

S.AMDT.2519 to H.R.2638 To provide that one of the funds appropriated
or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a
contract in an amount greater than $5 million or to award a grant in
excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee
certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant
that the contractor or grantee owes no past due Federal tax
liability.

S.AMDT.2588 to H.R.976 To provide certain employment protections for
family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces
recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.

S.AMDT.2658 to H.R.2642 To provide that none of the funds
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to
enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to
award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective
contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal
tax liability.

S.AMDT.2692 to H.R.2764 To require a comprehensive nuclear threat
reduction and security plan.

S.AMDT.2799 to H.R.3074 To provide that none of the funds
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to
enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to
award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective
contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal
tax liability.

S.AMDT.3137 to H.R.3222 To provide that none of the funds
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to
enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to
award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective
contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal
tax liability.

S.AMDT.3234 to H.R.3093 To provide that none of the funds
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to
enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to
award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective
contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal
tax liability.

S.AMDT.3331 to H.R.3043 To provide that none of the funds
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to
enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to
award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective
contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal
tax liability.

There's more, especially from his Illinois legislature days,
but that's an ample answer to your question, I think.

Considering he voted "present" about 95% of the
time in the Illinois legislature,

That's standard practice in Illinois according to the rules of
that body. You won't find *any* Illinois legislator without a
ton of "Present" votes.

and that he's only been in the US Senate
for a little over one term, I don't see where there's an impressive
"progressive resume" anywhere.

It helps if you, you know, look.

Perhaps the fact that he trots out the standard lefty agenda in every
speech is making you think he's actually accomplished something
somewhere?

Perhaps the fact that he has an impressive record as a community
organizer, civil rights attorney, Illinois legislator and U.S.
Senator has something to do with it. Just perhaps.

You've been spun, man.

cb


Spun? I'm not impressed by that. Maybe 453. You think the rest means
much?

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
James Schrumpf http://www.hilltopper.net

Play like your couch is on fire!
.

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