Shug on 19/2/2008 at 04:44

---

can I come too

aguywhoplaysthief on 19/2/2008 at 04:52

---

I'm not sure what I am supposed to be convinced of.

That he will be better at pushing his agenda through than Hillary Clinton? I already agree with that, but since I'm opposed to most of his agenda (as detailed on his website), I don't find that a valuable trait.

I think he is the Left's best chance at making the country a more leftist country (which any "common ground" between him and Republicans would be), which for those of a certain point of view is great, but trying to portray his campaign as somehow greater than ideology or "the partisan divide in Washington", is rather disingenuous, as he is clearly a person with a strong ideology. I think that if he actually talked about it more, he would encounter far stronger opposition, but then that's what the general election is for I suppose.

EDIT: to address your edit, I think supporting him because he is the best candidate for your ideas is perfectly reasonable, I don't have a problem with it. What I have a problem with is that tone of his campaign, and the tone of his speeches, which don't center around his principles.

For example, let's take Reagan. A charismatic fellow who was a great speech giver, and hit on many of the themes that Obama does. The difference (and this may be because I wasn't actually old enough to pay attention to the Reagan campaign when he was actually looking to be nominated, so am looking back with that eye on things) is that Reagan was rather open with his philosophy, and it was obviously part of him. He convinced people to become conservatives. If I were 15 years old and saw Obama on TV, he wouldn't convince me to be a Democrat, or to even know what being a progressive is all about.

Scots Taffer on 20/2/2008 at 00:10

---

Obama makes me want to be an American.

Scots Taffer on 20/2/2008 at 10:25

---

congrats dude, time and dollars well spent - here's hoping

Fringe on 20/2/2008 at 16:53

---

Doesn't really seem like. By Hawaii's turn in 2004, the nominee had essentially already been decided, right? Voting in a meaningless election isn't really motivating for people to get out.

What's been really amazing is the turnout in Democratic primaries compared to turnout in Republican primaries. Those kind of numbers say that the Republicans are already expecting to lose.

As they should.