If elected, he is NOT going to start out his term as Bush did in 2004 stating “the electorate gave me a mandate — now listen up!” That was insanity, and Obama knows he needs both teams on board to move the country forward. Bush ruined the GOPs chances in a big way, and his narrow-minded worldview didn’t help.

I know fellow Republicans generally don’t care for things like this, but do you understand what this election will mean to the entire world? I mean, really — do you see what new options will be on the table? Options for effective peace talks in the middle east. Options for full unilateral support when we need it. We can also finally come to the table on Kyoto as we should have done years ago. Australia just ratified their support after elections last year. It’s been far too long for us to hold out.

There is no need to assume he’s going to expand government or raise taxes — although as stated in a previous post — I think either candidate would be forced to raise taxes eventually. There is no way to bring down the debt. Not from dismissively stating that ‘pork barrel spending’ is the only culprit. No — face it — we all are leaving a massive debt on future generations. To give a tax break to us in a time of war (wait, two wars!?!) is insanity. Bush has shown zero fiscal responsibility.

He’ll have to make cuts and much of his first term will be seen as extremely unpopular on both sides. Regardless, he and his team deserve a lot of credit for bringing so many new people into the American political process.

I’m hoping (again, if he wins) in his first term he dashes affirmative action and race based preferences. After all, he would have won the highest office in the land and this would be seen by all as a great equilibrium measure and truly bring everyone together.

Just my two cents, ‘folks’ !

Listen, folks. Democrats’ idea of “working across party lines” is getting Republicans to agree with them on Democrat ideas, i.e. raising taxes, expanding government.

I never see a Democrat “work across party lines” to accomplish something the other party thinks is important.

What’s so great about “working across party lines” if what you accomplish is the same leftist policies you started out with?

Chris, your statement that “John McCain is the only candidate …” paragraph is really untrue.

Senator Obama sacrificed quite a bit to serve as a community organizer, something many of us would guffaw about but this is actually quite a noble and humbling endeavor. How many in the GOP (or Dems for that matter) would sacrifice a well-paid gig to hit the streets and turn people’s lives around.

He also works across party lines and I sincerely hope to see many Republicans in his cabinet. Colin Powell’s endorsement sent shivers down my spine.

Oh, and his life could not be a more amazing example of what others will follow. It truly is an amazing, inspirational story for any kid to follow. Not to dismiss McCain, but I think both candidates are there pretty equally in terms of awe and inspiration.

My final thought is that he is more of the conservative than McCain. See this:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-31/obama-is-the-true-conservative/

is this true? i can’t find any information about it but my neighbor’s brother is a police officer and warned her to stay home tomorrow.

now I’m afraid to leave my house tomorrow!

I know he had to do something to excite the GOP base, but that wasn’t why he won the nomination. He won it because a lot of moderate Republicans didn’t like the direction the party had taken.

I think if he’d picked someone else as VP and stuck to his guns as the Mavarick he was he would have capture a lot of moderate democrates and been in a much stronger position.

Palin may have excited the more radical elements, but she drove a lot more potential voters away.

For an honest conservative/ libertarian assessment of why the selection must be Barack Obama, read the world’s the Economist’s editorial on the subject:

http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displayStory.cfm?source=most_commented&story_id=12516666