It's really odd how the same folks who used to sit around and mutter about the popular and pretty kids in high school are the first ones to fall madly in love with the popular and pretty ones in national politics.

What a horribly written article. Obama has the ability to go into great detail on any single issue that ANYONE can bring up. That, and he has the ability to greatly inspire and motivate people for change. Just wait for the upcoming debates; you will see how much "substance" he has, and of course you already know he has style, which people seem to hate. I guess having style and being motivational is a bad thing these days.

I know one thing, throughout his entire campaign, he has focused on what he is going to do and why the things he is going to do are right, rather than why his competition is wrong. It seems like the Billary campaign can't say a single sentence without mentioning Obama. Why don't they stop trying to create a civil war and just focus on their own campaign? I know, they can't keep their eyes off Obama, but really, enough is enough.

People that say Obama is all talk simply haven't done their research. They are following the gloomy trend and the ignorance just makes Obama supporters like myself even more supportive. So, thank you for throwing hot coal on to the fire that is powering the unstoppable Obama train that is going to crush you all.

When he actually manages to inspire me, maybe I'll hate him, too. /sarc

Seriously, Obama seems like a pretty nice guy, but I have never heard him say anything solid. Sure, he has his issues lined up front and center at his website, but his speeches are designed to help people decide without thought. It's like a subliminal message, only instead it's in your face.

"Just embrace the words "hope" and "change" and we'll do all the real thinking for you," is what Obama's campaign is all about. The underlying truth here, is he can't make any real promises to his supporters, only that they will be comforted with above words like a bedtime story.

To top it off, Mrs. Obama is assuming office with her own acceptance speech (about her husband?). It doesn't get any more surreal than that.

Wow. I find it amazing that Ryan in number 2 comment can't see that he is verifying the theme of Ms Fiano's post.
"just wait" "you will see"
I don't hate Obama. Seems like a nice guy. I can say the same thing about my Mom or brother but I wouldn't vote for them to be president.

Cirby, excellent point!

The Emperor Has No Clothes and it's starting to come to light, and the gullible, fawning masses don't like it one bit

Cirby, it's funny that you mention popularity. A year ago, or maybe 2 years ago, if you would have asked an average person on the street who Barack Obama is, the average wouldn't have known. On the other hand, everyone knows Hillary Clinton and has known her for the past several years.

Who started their campaign as a well-known, popular political figure? and who started their campaign as an average state senator?

Yes, Obama is obviously popular now, but it did not start out that way. Hillary was always the popular one.

Now, I can't say whether or not Barack Obama is pretty, but I guess I will take your word for it buddy.

I think Obama is inspiring in many of the same ways Reagan was in 1980. He is no doubt a gifted orator whose style many find refreshing, reassuring and, yes, hopeful after an administration, much like Carter's, in which the wheels have come off. I think 1980's Reagan Democrats will become 2008's Obama Republicans and, as Ryan says, sweep him into the White House, assuming that he can withstand Hillary's last ditch machinations, that is.

LaMedusa, I understand what you're saying but I look at it as a positive thing. I understand what he's doing with his words.

The thing is, I've always believed that the ability to be a great speaker is one of the most important skills to have. Often, speaking *is* the action that can accomplish things and ultimately being people together.

I see how Obama has captivated people using "just words" and this is why I believe he will make a great global diplomat, something America seriously needs right now.

There's no reason that the Obama Administration years can't be great for America.

As for the lack of specificity of Obama's policies? Obama has a list detailed policy position papers on his issues- Senate site.

Mark Kleiman who teaches Public Policy, at UCLA, says "Obama is ferociously smart", and believes he would be the "smartest president in the Oval Office since Jefferson."

There's no reason that the Obama Administration years can't be great for America.

While I'm not uncomfortable with the prospect of an Obama Presidency, statements like these are merely wishful thinking.

There are plenty of mistakes the best people can make which could be bad for America.

My main question concerning Obama is where will he get his advisors/Cabinet from? There are very few Democrats with the kinds of experience needed, and most of them were members of the Clinton administration.

Smart? Detailed? Specific? Maybe that explains Obama's success. I think the electorate may be on to something.

Ricardo, the reason I said "just wait" and "you will see" is because I believe he will go into more specifics on his issues in these upcoming debates.

Obama started his campaign being specific on issues, and people said he didn't inspire enough. This was quite a while ago. Well, since then, he has adapted to more inspirational speeches. Now many are saying he inspires a lot but isn't specific enough.

Judging by the past, I think he will start once again giving the people what they want and revert back to a more detailed and specific approach, as long as the questions in the debate make it appropriate to do so.

This is just my prediction. My two cents. :)

Hitler inspired and millions died.
Castro rambles and the country is in shambles.
Osama inspired and thousands of Americans died.

Osama Obama inspires and rambles and billions will die and the country will fold to Islam and be in shambles.

Whoops, accidently posted with the name Ricardo on post #13, meant to reply to Ricardo, not impersonate him. lol.

There should be a reply function on these comments.

- Ryan

People that say Obama is all talk simply haven't done their research. They are following the gloomy trend and the ignorance just makes Obama supporters like myself even more supportive.

So, thank you for throwing hot
coal on to the fire that is powering
the unstoppable Obama train that is
going to crush you all.

How appropriate Ryan, the threat of you
and your Obama train crushing those who disagree.
Are you wringing your hands in hysterical
anticipation of crushing someone? What camp
are you from, Pol Pot, Mao, etc.?
Your politics are not grounded in stability,
true morals, truth, transparency and the
high standards of our Founding Fathers.
Yours is the doomed path of the USSR, China,
or Cuba. I just don't appreciate the fact you
are adamant in flushing those of us who know
better down the toilet with yourselves.

Obama supporters are younger and usually more connected to various information sources that older Clinton voters are not connected to.

WHy does hillary claim to have so much experience? She was first lady... yes... a ceremonial position.

in that time she was given a couple tasks like universal healthcare. she failed.

she has been in the federal senate for two terms years. 18 of the 20 bills she passed were about renaming federal buildings. One of the bills she passed was ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court. the other stuck. 1 bill in 8 years.

Obama on the other hand was in the state senate for 8 years before he even tried for the federal senate. so he actually has 4 more years of legislative experience then Clinton. unless being in the national legislature counts for double.

while obama was in the state leg, he passed close to 400 bills. He had around 90 percent pass rate.

The reason people think obama doesn't have experience is because they don't know him.
It's undersantable. My spell checker wants to change his name to Broccoli Osama.

They assume she has more because she claims more. she is older. but they were both lawyers.

he has a masters degree in international relations from Harvard where he later taught law.

do some research. have any Hillary supporters done that? or are they just taking her word for it. Hillary's base are people who by in large do not have research skills.

Young people (computer savvy) and educated people are obama's base. don't tell us we don't understand the issues. Don't tell us hillary speaks substance and obama does not when you have not done the fact checking.

Hey, this is off topic, but I just came upon a wonderful Obama website at http://obamawill.com Very nice.

My wife - who has favored Clinton - took a look and said it was the first Obama thing that made her like him. Go figure.

"as long as the questions in the debate make it appropriate to do so"

So he'll answer questions as long as they are appropriate, aka, decided upon by the liberals in the old media.

... undersantable.. good ol spell checker. I still should have proofread it.

Maggie,

met·a·phor
-noun 1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance.

I see you like facts, as you mentioned that it is a fact that I am flushing you down the toilet. Well, here's a fact for you - America is over 9 trillion dollars in debt. The train I am on is aiming to crush the very ideology that has gotten America into this situation in the first place. If you are lying on the track, well that's not my fault now is it.

jeff bryant, if you're going to tell people to do some research, make sure you've done your's. Obama did not teach law at Harvard. He was at the University of Chicago, and he was a lecturer of constitutional law.

"Everyone likes feeling inspired and hopeful, but those are not the qualifications needed for President for most Americans."

I guess you guys have forgotten about Theodore Roosevelt and the bully pulpit? How about Reagan as the great communicator? A president needs a plan and has to rally the American spirt and will behind his vision. Yes, that is what most Americans feel as important qualifications, and if you want to know what his platform is then go to his website.

D-Hoggs,

What I mean is whether the questions in the debate will be relevant or not, or if they will pertain to pointless drama that has come up the past few days such as Clinton accusing Obama of stealing 5 to 10 words from his friend, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who actually told Obama to use the words, or the recent situation when Bill Clinton elbowed a man in the face because the man told Bill that he is harming the democratic party with his childish behavior.

Ryan, your post did not infer the use of
a metaphor, did it.
Just how do you and your train plan on
balancing the budget. Raising the income
tax, increasing government spending in more
social services? Your ambiguous accusation
of the nation's debt does infer it's all
someone else's fault. You believe punishing
those who pay taxes by raising them more is
going to cure this country.
It would be better if our federal government
was to return to its original purpose, which
was not universal health care, attempting to
abolish poverty world wide, throw taxpayers
money after other countries moral issues as
in battling AIDs. I believe the activation of
the Monroe Doctrine would be a good thing.
As to your train, historically it's already
a train wreck. The sad thing, you are one of those who never learn from your mistakes.

ryan, the man is trying to become leader of my country, any and EVERY question is relevant!

Is anybody else sick to death of all the "trains" and "expresses" and other such nonsense that politicians are "on", and that people like ryan actually get excited about?

"A president needs a plan...and if you want to know what his platform is then go to his website."

Isn't this exactly what Kerry supporters blabbered non stop when asked what in the hell it was their candidate stood for exactly?! "Go to his website". Why is it that Kerry and Obama can't talk about what they believe?

The best thing that you could do for America is wholeheartedly support and embrace an Obama Presidency.

D-Hoggs,

So you're saying you would rather hear about why or how party X is attacking party Y, instead of real issues at the debate?

Go research and see how many times Obama voted "present" on many of the tough issues. Obama is an empty suit, and the country will soon know it. What I love is it shows the democrats have an empty field in which to choose from if this guy (who borrows those "great" speeches) is all you have.

Can't wait till the debates and they ask Obama is he shares his wife's view that he hasn't really been proud to be american until now.

No, I'm not saying that, didn't say, and am not saying it. I am saying that anyone trying to be the leader of my country should have complete transparency, and answer any question asked of him/her at a debate, with no qualifications from you on what's "makes it appropriate" for him to answer straight.

"Can't wait till the debates and they ask Obama is he shares his wife's view that he hasn't really been proud to be american until now."

What your missing though Jo, is that that statement makes liberals proud.

Ladies and Jellyspoons,
I come before you to stand behind you
To tell you of something I know nothing about..

Obama is a good public speaker but for some reason hearing him talk reminds me of the above poem from elementary school.

D-Hoggs, c'mon now. I'm not trying to define the term "appropriate." I was assuming that most would agree by what I meant as appropriate or not appropriate, such as a question like "So, Mr. Obama, what is your reaction on the Clinton's charge of plagiarism toward you?"

I agree that any question on any political issue is appropriate. Transparency is a big issue to me as well. Have you watched the 1 hour video of Google interviewing Obama? He describes in great detail how he plans to create transparency within the government with great ideas that no one else has thought of such as a search engine dedicated to openly and publicly allow anyone to track where and how America's funds are being spent. This is just one small point in the interview that I liked but of course there is more details in the video.

"Why is it that Kerry and Obama can't talk about what they believe?" dhogg

He has repeatedly. There have been 18 debates where he has discussed his platform, the platform differences with the other candidates and why he thinks his ideas are better. If you think he hasn't talked about what he believes in then you just haven't been paying attention.

Obama's distracters can't beat him on the issues, so they have to make-up phony controversies. This is just one of several and it will back fire.

Scrapiron makes a valid and important point.
I'm not sure why people haven't learned from the past about following simply because someone happens to be charismatic. Obama hasn't inspired me with