With Obama now being the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party many have asked, or will ask that question. The New York Times ran a pretty good story on Senator Obama today, with a focus on his evolution from a constituency of “reformers” as he began his political life, to an evolution where his pragmatic side has shown through. The Times shows several strong examples of this “evolution”, including his strong ties to Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago. My sense of the story was that Obama has always been a pragmatist, but simply moved incrementally and cautiously as he learned some important political lessons from the very rough and tumble world of Chicago politics. His evolving position on the Israeli-Palestinian question caused a Palestinian supporter, Rashid Khalidi, to say
“I’m unhappy about the positions he’s taken, but I can’t say I’m terribly disappointed.” He added: “People think he’s a saint. He’s not. He’s a politician.”
A pretty good profile that does more than skim the subject. Read the Times article at this link.
Bill Manzi.com 
Your Honor,
The way many people have taken to him I would label him as “Messiah”.
People have clung to him in fixated worship before he ever promulgated one policy or principle.
Remember the folks who “flocked” to his speeches (sermons) in Hew Hampshire where he spoke in gospel tones of “hope and change”. (I never understood what that meant.)
I will finish the analogy by observing him being crucified (sort of).
Since the middle ages messiahs have risen resulting in the death of thousands of people who follow them. They too followed them out of desire for hope and change.
I am strictly an issues and vision guy.
Jules
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Jules
Funny, that sounds exactly like current president and the people who support him. And what is wrong with people who hope for change? Isn’t that what we all want with every new president?
From everything I have read Obama is not the saint his supporters make him to be, but on the other hand I believe he has addressed issues directly but the media only concentrates on his flaws (see the last debate) instead of actually asking him pertinent questions or focusing on his actual ideas for improvement. He laid out some concrete issues and solutions he wanted to implement for veterans in a speech in WV, but the media barely mentioned it. Kind of like when they report every thing that goes wrong in Iraq but never report the successes.
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Derek,
George Bush never made it to the swoon level like this fellow Obama. He seemed to have been a somewhat successful governor and a person I hoped would carry forward conservative principles.
1. He has been crucified from the day he took office. That much comparison is true.
2. He began to disappoint many of us when he ignored the border issue, raised spending (a conservative no-no) and is now pushing the global warming fraud. I support his defense policies including the wars.
3. Obama is an enigma to me except for being the countries number one liberal. He will raise taxes, and make the government more intrusive in our lives. For that alone I won’t vote for him.
4. Hope is meaningless for it is a word made to obscure the principles and vision to bring it and that other word, change, about. Obama has said nothing. On the other hand his wife has said a lot how she feel about this country. I wonder if he feels the same.
5. Now, Derek, here’s my conundrum; John McCain is very much the same stripe. No matter who wins, including Hillary, there will be a liberal in the white house.
By the way, can you remember any election when some candidate has said they will bring change?
Jules
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Well Mr. Mayor, to answer your first question. I don’t believe Obama really knows fully who he is. Is he an idealist? Yes. A pragmatist, too be sure. And the pragmatist will always overrule the idealist. We should ask is Obama a “dulpicit-ist”?Mayor, you have a keen eye for political “aura”,does Barack have charisma? I haven’t seen it. A “Messiah” he is not. I did read the TIMES article. We need only recall the names: Jesse Jackson Jr., Richard Daley, Antoin Rezko, and of course Weather Underground ‘mad bombers’ Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn. Odd isn’t it their names were not hi-lited? Yes Obama is a Pragmatist.
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Bush’s defense and wars have managed to trample all over the constitution, but that is as much congress and the senate’s fault as his. As for government intrusion, it can’t get much worse. The Patriot act allows them to spy on all of our phone calls without cause, you practically need a rectal exam to fly, and now, despite all the real issues this country has, congress is now pushing a video game bill so the government can decide which video games my kids can’t buy as opposed to me doing it? How much more intrusive can they get?
I’ve read up on Obama, and he actual does have some good ideas, especially in the area of veteran’s rights (and he has backed those up with bills in the Senate) which this country is sorely lacking in, for shame.
As far as taxes go, I don’t see how any upcoming President can avoid raising taxes. The last 4 administrations have severely overspent us. The so called fiscal conservative has left the building.
Mrs. Obama comments, people have twisted her words to make it sound like she has hated America as opposed to being happy that people are willing to vote for who they think is an ideal candidate regardless of the color of there skin, especially considering the raw deal blacks have gotten through the centuries.
And yes I realize every presidential candidate has promised change. That speak what a majority of the people want to hear.
One thing I agree with you on; global warming is a fraud. I push for environmental change because I believe it will reduce our dependency on foreign oil, it creates jobs, and clean air and water should be available to all. But any movement that tries to blacklist anyone who disagrees with it has serious problems.
Hey Mayor, you never told us who you voted for, Clinton or Obama? Any chance of revealing that?
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Derek,
The NSA phone taps involve foreign calls only. You got to put down that little red book and stop declaring preprogrammed thoughts.
U.S. phone taps require a warrant still. Now your people have cut off the foreign calls too.
Be alert to your surroundings.
You must like to pay taxes. I don’t
In case you aren’t aware of the fact, Mrs Obama was recorded saying those things. I saw her and heard her. You can’t use the “taken out of context” excuse here. She has said many things since, also recorded, She agrees with the good reverend.
Gland to see you haven’t fallen for the global warming fraud (people cause global warming). Living green is fine and nobel. Forcing legislation that taxes or burdens us with restrictive rules is criminal.
Derek, you forgot to include John McCain in the list the mayor can choose from.
Jules
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