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10 Character Traits That Make Barack Obama a Candidate For the 2008 Presidential Election a Winner

We've all heard great public speakers in our lifetime. My favorite public speakers I've had the pleasure of hearing was when I was younger. The two that stand out for me the most are: John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King.

The U.S. election is beginning in less than 28 hours (here in Atlantic Time Zone - Halifax time) from now and I believe that whoever is elected, of the two presidential candidates, Barack Obama is a much better persuasive public speaker.

The first time I ever heard of Barack Obama was during the 2004 Democratic Convention for John Kerry. He stood right out of the crowd. Then and now, Barack Obama has 10 character traits taht puts him in the category of being one of the great public speakers.

1) TEMPO. Have you ever noticed that Barack even when flustered, seems to keep an upbeat and fluid tempo? U.S. voters respond to his ability to "keep the conversation" moving.

2) EYE CONTACT. When Senator Obama speaks, he looks at the whole audience. His eyes are constantly scanning and he wants everyone in the audience to know that he is speaking personally, to them.

3) VOICE INFLECTION. Barack Obama alters his pitch in his voice - up and down - depending on the sincerity of the problem or jovial account of the joke.

4) DEMEANOR. There is a "swagger" or a confidence that exudes from his veins. Not everyone has to agree with what he says, but they do have to respect it. His demeanor plays a major role in that understanding.

5) BODY LANGUAGE. When that finger gets pointing, the audience understands the importance of that particular issue.

6) PAUSES. Barack lets what was just stated to "sink in" to the audience. He pauses when necessary to give the focal statement exact power.

7) VISUAL IMAGERY. Senator Obama paints a picture for the crowd. He tells detailed stories. He allows the listener to get involved.

8) PREPARATION. Okay, okay, your speeches would probably be much different if you had a teleprompter in front of you as well. However, Barack is intelligent enough to have done his homework before he hits his target audience.

9) KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. If you've followed Barack Obama's campaign, you know that he distinguishes greatly his speaking style depending upon whom he's talking to. He'll change his tempo and style if he's speaking with a crowd in Iowa as compared to one in Miami.

10) CONFIDENCE. You can't coach confidence. Barack has it! Whether that confidence rubs the wrong way to some, is yet to be determined.

In conclusion, GREAT Presidential Candidates have had the following character traits; tempo, eye contact, voice inflection, demeanor, body language, pauses, visual imagery, preparation, knowing your audience and finally confidence.

This I believe will give him all the votes from the U.S. countryside and all the needed electoral votes to election him to be our next U.S. President!!

Don't forget to VOTE on Tuesday!!!

Posted by Ann-Marie Clements Luxury Homes Realtor Saint John, Quispamsis, & Grand Bay on 11/02/2008 07:57 PM

Comments (82)

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82 Comments on 10 Character Traits That Make Barack Obama a Candidate For the 2008 Presidential Election a Winner

NOV

2008

A good public speaker does not qualify someone to be President.

He does have a presence and unschooled natural appeal. No matter who wins we have change coming and a historical election.

Does this mean Obama gets the female hormone vote?

I agree, Ann Marie, that Obama is a very good and even charismatic public speaker. That is enticing to many people. hmmm... I wonder if that would work on our listing presentations. heehee

I voted last week so all efforts on both sides is wasted on me now.

Pretty bold post but from the looks of things you may be right. We will have to wait and see.

Hitler was also considered to be a good public speaker.

Some of the greatest con artist of our time have been great talkers. Get me someone with a track record of success who is not an attorney or a banker.

He is much like any Southern Preacher and they can be quite good. Its not how you say it, more of what you say. Then if you can do what you say is another thing. Americans are not very good at math and suspect this is Obama's weak spot.

Anne-Marie, What an exciting time in History.

Senator Barack Obama will be the Greatest President of our Lifetime. I am so Proud to vote for him.

Please Everyone Vote on Tuesday. Obama/Biden '08

You need to add another which is probably the most important in a public speaker. Tell people what they want to hear and they will listen. Truth or reality is immaterial. I have watched thousands of public speakers and that is the key to their effectiveness. It is astonishing and scary what people will believe as when one speaks from authority, it has to true, right?

Also to be fair I am only going to vote once. No one is paying me to go vote nor will I get anything from voting.

I believe that the last 8 years will give the next presidential election on Tuesday a record number of voters out to the polls to vote and be heard unlike 4 or 8 years ago, where many U.S. citizens didn't even bother to vote..... The times are changing!!!

;>)

Hey, Anne-Marie, my esteemed Neighbor to the North (and east) -

In addition to speaking skills, he appears to have good leadership presence, and poise under a lot of pressure.

Years and years of specific foreign relations experience is not a prerequisite to being a good leader, and many of our best presidents have not had extensive experience.

Take Mr. Bush, for example - he barely traveled outside of the U.S. before he was elected. But perhaps he is not a good example - many here are trying to forget him, right?

BTW . . . I knew it was only a matter of time before some right-wing cracker brought up the name of Hitler in this esteemed community. From PA, nonetheless! I'm disappointed in you, Mr. Above All Financial Services!

Guess we can't get away from the hard-core GOP's messages of Fear, and Hate, no matter what we do.

Well, I guess if you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bull****!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

No matter what happens, I pray for real change in Washington. We need folks who think about the good of the country....and not about bwhat will get them re-elected.

So we might not like the results of all the CHANGE, but listening to him speak will make it so much easier to take!.....

Hi Roxanne,

A good public speaker can help negotiate future treaties and persuade people to move forward, especially when dealing with other countries that we like and dislike.

;>)

Hi Connie,

He does have a very natural presence and it will be a very historical election either way.

;>)

Hi Shirley,

I voted 3 weeks ago and went to the U.S./Canadian border to Calais, Maine to make sure that Michigan (our last U.S. residency) received our 3 absentee ballots (3 out of the 4 in our family) in time to make our votes count. Our 16 yr old really wanted to vote, but was 2 years underage. LOL

;>)

@ Dean you are disappointed in me yet you are the one using derrogatory terms? What does being from PA have to do with anything? Spell it out so we can all know exactly what you meant.

My point was that being a good public speaker does not in itself qualify someone to be president because... ah never mind. You people don't really care about facts anyway.

Hi Justin, Charismatic presidential candidates have usually preformed well in our society. They usually can get things done, since they have persuasion and intelligence to know how to perform effectively. Many changes will probably come to our country, but I believe we need that change for our country's survival. ;>)

Hi Above All Financial Services (since you have no-name),

I see what you were trying to say, but where Hitler had much baggage that was never addressed and where he brought it with him to power, Barack has had time to unload his baggage and deal with it. Many people can't deal with "any change" but as you have noticed lately, we are in dire need of change, since we have shocked our economy and country's citizens right out of the global market, because WE DIDN'T CHANGE WITH THE GLOBAL SOCIETY! Sometimes, changes is inevitable and NOW is the time to change this country back to its core values, before we cease to exist!!!

;>)

Hi Eric,

To be an attorney or banker, you have to have critical thinking skills with many analytical skills. In order to have critical thinking and analytical skills, most of those people are EXCELLENT in Math & Science....

Since the last 8 years, there really hasn't been any analytical thinker in the White House, except for the VP, it's probably time for a changing of the guard!!!

;>)

If being a great orator is all it takes, then there are many who have missed their calling.

You need much more than that. Being honest would be a real good start.

Hi Linda Mae & Dean,

I think "It's about time" we definitely change the guard in the White House, and I think Obama has the charisma and the intelligence for the job at hand..... The reorganization of our country for the better!!!

;>)

Hi Tim M. & Tim & Pam Cash,

I agree honesty should be a "major reason" to vote, but the last 8 years, we haven't had "honesty" and much more diversion to the "real issues" that our economy flatlined.

Sometimes, and history has should us this, SHOCKING THE SYSTEM, is what is needed to change the direction that society is heading. Lately, GREED & MONEY have overtaken our society. All POWERHOUSES have eventually falled (Greeks, Romans, England, Germany and Russian) if they don't pay attention to the details surrounding them. If we don't change now, we are going to lose many more jobs and financial catastrophy will follow. We should be reading the signs and paying attention before we can't change the direction it's going....

;>)

Hi Loren,

I also agree with you, we need to change much of Congress, and get "fresh blood" that has our needs in their sights. Many of the re-elected Congressmen & women need to get a signal that we "want change" by voting them right out of office. This will send a clear message to all new members that "we've had enough of their crap" and that we will re-vote them out after one term, if they don't get their act together and vote for the good of the U.S. public as a whole, and not just for their constituents....

;>)

Ann-Marie...

There is a comment on this post that contains a derogatory racial slur which is a violation of AR guidelines. You might want to consider deleting it.

Whoops! You forgot something. He doesn't have any Experience.

Ann Marie - For the record my name is Michelle. Although according to Dean Moss it is "right-wing cracker". Is this the core values you're talking about getting back to?

Obama IS certainly a well coached and gifted speaker. But, there is nothing in that making him a great President. It doesn't make him honest or ethical. Being a great speaker doesn't mean that he has the better ideas. Being able to electrify a crowd doesn't mean that he is a better decision maker. The ability to read from a teleprompter doesn't make one a leader.

He isn't ethical, honest, the holder of the best ideas, a great decision maker nor a proven leader.

He has done ONE thing quite well... He has campaigned.

As an example, he certainly speaks better than Stephen Hawking, but does that make him a better astrophysicist? He speaks better than Ross Perot... but can he build a billion dollar business?

He speaks exceedingly well, but doesn't really have anything to say until he learns to tell the truth.

People so quickly dismiss one of the more important qualities in a President, and that is figurehead. Whether we want to admit it or not, policy isn't the only thing that is important that a President does.

We have suffered for the last 8 years with a moron that can't speak, and stands for devastating policy positions. Last time we had someone that was at least a great speaker, but bad on policy, was Ronald Reagan, and look what happened. He's basically a pin-up model for the conservatives out there. His economic policies lead to disaster, but the guy was such a good communicator, he convinced people that he was right.....despite how bad the country went down the drain.

With Obama, we have what we had in Bill Clinton, someone that can speak, and someone with good judgement in policy. We saw the greatest period of success under Bill Clinton. Obama is better in almost every way from Bill Clinton, so I can't even imagine the potential success we will have under his administration.

NOV

2008

Anne Marie, why is it the opposition always brings up hitler when trying to make their point? I think, when historians look back on the bush administration they will conclude that he and cheney came as close to being hitler as anyone can get. Afterall, hitler is the one who lulled the people, then used a real crisis to keep them in terror, resulting in his election as leader, then systematically took away their civil rights. The only difference between hitler and bush, was the holocaust. However, one could say bush launched his own holocaust in Iraq.

Hi Richard,

THANKS Richard!!! I agree there is a racial slur in one of the comments, but this is close to the end of the election line, and I don't want to be like the "______ majority" group, who does delete when they don't like a comment posted, whether it's deragatory or not. But I did consider it, but then I realized they are entitled to their opinion. LOL

;>)

Ann-Marie I hope your right. Thanks for this post! It's time for changing of the Guard!

Hi Steve,

Experience comes with patience & thought provoking ideas!!! When you get a presidential candidate who can THINK ON THEIR FEET, you are also getting a candidate who wil, if elected, be able to do the job of the presidency. After all, most presidents didn't have too much experience for the job, they did it as it came.

For example, look at what what Bush did, was he ready for the job? and yet, many voted him in only based on the party ticket. That's pretty sad, plus 4 years into it, they re-voted him back in based on the "Party Ticket". I think, no one should vote just on the party ticket. People should vote based on what's happening to the country and vote on the future leader's qualities.

The reason I don't care for McCain, is because he was a POW, and has a lot of baggage that could come out in a very unusual way. The mind can play tricks on you, especially after being a POW for 7 years.

In conclusion, experience is a plus, but not everything!!! The ability to analyze and use critical thinking skills and diplomacy is much more important for a leader, especially for an EFFECTIVE LEADER....

;>)

Hi Lane,

Obama has a few things the other candidates don't have; undergraduate & graduate degree with high honors (not "C's" only), the ability to think before he reacts, and most importantly, diplomacy, which to be a "WORLD LEADER" you must have. The other candidates really didn't get their graduate degree without a whole lot of "C's" in their transcripts, that to me says a lot of what the other candidates don't have and couldn't earn even if they wanted to. Obama didn't have a "rich oil daddy with connections", but he did have the ability to "think outside the box", something that is needed in "today's global world". You have to change with the times, or the times will gobble you up!! That is very well displayed right now with our economic meltdown....

;>)

Hi Mike,

I'm 100% on your corner... I can't figure out why they voted Bush back in, even after he gave them a miserable 4 years. I bang my head against the wall, when i think, Why would you vote him back in for 4 more years, when he only used "fear" and "diversion" to run the country. No policy he made ever helped the American people, but it did help many croonies and his very rich friends. Some people can be a "little slow" when it comes to realizing what's happening to them or should I say "reading the tea leaves"....

;>)

Ann-Marie - you know about Obama's transcripts how? He hasn't released them. He also hasn't allowed his thesis and many other school period writings out.

All he has shown an ability to do is speak well with a teleprompter.

He hasn't shown an ability to work with people with whom he disagrees... he has a 97% Democrat voting record, unlike McCain's 79% record. He hasn't been a part of any controversial legislation in the Senate... the only things he has clamped on to have been almost procedural.

But more importantly, all of his pretty words don't add up. Look at just the tax cuts...

At the begining of his campaign, and up into the primaries... it was $300k
Then for the general election it was $250k
ten days ago it was $200k
two days later Joe Biden said $150k
four days ago, Gov. Richardson said $120k

He has almost $1trillion in new spending planned, but he could only come up with one thing to cut... Iraq. Maximum savings from that would be $120billion... and a lot of experts are saying that it is closer to $50billion. So, he still needs to find $900billion dollars, or the budgets from Bush are going to look balanced in comparision.

Of course, Barney Frank wants to see defense cut by 25%... I'm sure that Iran, Al Queda and Hamas would all love that.

Lane - And this is exactly the shady stretch-of-the-truth that the Republicans have mastered, that unfortunately people still allow themselves to get the wool pulled over their eyes and actually believe.

The fact is, Barack Obama has NEVER wavered on his tax policy. What the Republican ticket likes to do is switch around his words so it appears so.

Barack Obama has consistently said that families making below $250,000 annually will not see a tax increase. Nothing in that statement says anything in regards to a tax cut....but it does say that their taxes will not be raised. The $200,000 figure are for people filing single status. This has been the consistent policy ever since Obama unveiled his tax policy.

Families making below $200,000 will see a tax cut. This means that families making between $200,000 - $250,000 will not see a decrease, nor an increase...they will stay the same. Although families making below $200,000 will see a tax cut, families making below $150,000 will see more of a tax cut.

This has been the written policy for months now. However the McCain campaign or FOX News wants to warp it, the fact remains that this has been the written policy, and it has not changed.

Oh...and in regards to his transcripts, unless Obama was either at the very bottom or one away from the bottom....Obama still did better than McCain did in school. I doubt the President of the Harvard Law Review was the class bottom feeder.

Mike D., thanks for clarifying the tax issue.

The right has jumped on the words uttered by Biden and Richardson as if they were the last bus out of the Holocaust.

As of today Obama is SOLID in his Tax Cuts exactly as you state. NOTHING has changed.

These people NEVER cease to amaze me. They attempt so DESPERATELY to win Votes AGAINST Obama NOT For McCain.

Why????? Could it be McCain has No platform to speak of???????????

For those of you who don't like Obama or simply don't get it, Ann-Marie's purpose of this blog isn't to say that his ability to speak alone qualifies him for President. Open derriere, pull out head. Geez!

Ann-Marie - While I too like his ability to speak I feel that Bill Clinton does a better job of reaching the masses. A few weeks ago I listened to a clip of him campaigning in FL and I remembered how smooth the guy is. I saw him as a combo of Obama and Palin. He had the knowledge of Obama and the ability of Palin to reach the average person. Although I find Palin far from being qualified to be up top, I do like that she can break down an issue so that most people understand. Clinton is one of the best at that. An unfortunate example of the opposite is Al Gore who is a very smart guy but can't be understood by most.

Dean - While Dissent does not have any guidelines against speaking disparagingly about a state, region, city or the like, we do frown upon use of the word "cracker" in the racial sense given that it is directed at another AR member. We don't believe in censorship however, we'd like you to consider a modification of your own post. Thank you.

Ann-Marie- It is funny that you changed your mind about censorship and deleting comments because I seem to recall it being mentioned that another AR member had his comment deleted when he happened to prove your information wrong:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/734808/Heres-a-LIST-OF-BOOKS-that-Sarah-Palin-POSSIBLY-WANTED-TO-BAN

comment on 10/13/08 @ 10:03

I don't care if the word cracker remains though. It is more of a reflection of the person who wrote it than it is on me.

-Michelle

P.S. - I'm glad that you finally figured out how to spell Obama's name correctly after seeing perhaps 100's of posts or comments about "O'bama"

O'Bama is how we Irish spell it. >:-)

It is odd that you compared him to 2 people that were assassinated in the sixties. Everyone talks about change, the only change we will get is a new person in the White House. The Politics and Politicians never change, only the faces do. I have been voting since the sixties and I guess I am just tainted. It is nice to hear people think things will be different.

Hi Lane,

Mike did a great job clarifying your questions!

;>)

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the great clarification to the people who were confused on the facts!!!!

;>)

Hi Michelle,

Try not to be too mean toward others. Accent the positive and minimize the negative... We all make mistakes and some of us try to learn from them. I'm actually learning this in friendly and lighthearted Atlantic Canada... Nothing is worth getting aggrevated about. Life is way too short!

;>)

Hi Linda,

Can't wait til tomorrow. I'm watching Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash in a few minutes. It should be hysterical!!! ENJOY!

;>)

Hi Tchaka,

I agree with you. In my last blog before this one, I wrote that I'm going to see former President Bill Clinton on November 25th in Moncton, New Brunswick and I can't wait to see him speak. I too thought Bill Clinton was a wonderful speaker. Both Clinton & Obama both have high IQ's... and it shows in their speaking ability. I also agree that Clinton & Palin can speak to the "general public" more easily and the "general public" will come to listen to them.

Now, for my enthusiam, CAN'T WAIT, CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

;>)

Hi Joe,

The only reason I brought up JFK & MLK was they were very effective speakers and they got the country moving and "thinking outside the box". Nothing else was intended.

I believe that "things have to change", because in the last 8 years, NOTHING WAS DONE!!!! Just "lies" & "diversion" of the problems we were having.... I believe the American public day after day, are starting to realize that. (I hope they are, at least...)

It is now a GLOBAL SOCIETY and we need to change with the times. We are Americans and when put against the wall, can reason it through quickly and effectively, through boycotts, petitions and riots if necessary. Our leaders can read between the lines and probably will change before that happens again.

;>)

Ann-Marie, I heard Clinton speak in 96, and Obama a few weeks ago. Both are awe inspiring speakers and great motivators. Enjoy!

Ann-Marie...

I really like your style ... you are a great debater and you make us all think before we write because we can't slip anything past you! The election is tomorrow ... it will be some kind of day!

ann-marie and everyone else I just wanted to share with everyone this article which writes about fact checking of both candidates. Check it out at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081103/ap_on_el_pr/fact_check_campaign_s_most_wanted

Mike and Ann... isn't it great. We are going to likely have a President that plays the "It depends on what the meaning of the word IS is" game.

Here are a couple things you should look forward to. There will NOT be tax cuts for people making over about $75,000. It could go lower...

And the fun one is to look for the "one time" tax on all retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth, etc.). And of course the companion... a change that effectively kills Roth IRAs and makes them taxable like the income from a traditional IRA.

Obama has a trillion dollars to try to raise, and he doesn't want to cut anything.

Perhaps you haven't been listening to the man. He wants to cut Iraq in order to save money and lives.

Lane, Could you please provide a reliable link for this information on taxes as I have been unable to verify this statement.

Everything I find from the Obama Camp still states $250,000 for couples and $200,000 for singles will not see a penny in tax increases but will receive tax cuts..

Thanks

Ann-Marie - I did accentuate the positive, I said I was glad that you finally learned to spell the name of the candidate you so strongly support .

Funny that you are going to chastise me for being "mean" yet I have yet to see you address the fact that someone called me a derogatory term and made a slur against the entire state of Pennsylvania. Oh, wait you did address it only to say that you won't delete it because you don't believe in censorship yet as I pointed out you clearly do, when it fits your agenda.

@Tchaka - Real Irish will be voting for McCain. :)

Michelle

NOV

2008

Lane - I suggest you put in your unique situation, and then make up different scenarios and plug them in to Obama's Tax Cut Calculator found at http://taxcut.barackobama.com You can also find out about more of the specifics of his tax plan at http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Factsheet_Tax_Plan_FINAL.pdf and then also at http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Tax_Plan_Facts_FINAL.pdf

Mike... you are missing the point. The tax cuts in the plan WILL NOT actually be implemented. It is that simple. Chuck Schumer was backing off of them 10 days ago... he actually get s a vote in the Senate... Obama doesn't. And there is NO way that Obama's plan can work as he thinks and deliver the results he expects.

Besides, there are a lot of people that will get a tax cut under the Obama plan... when their job goes away.

Lane - We can all do the typical cynical posturing that everything a candidate says they will do will never get done, but that is the difference with the Obama campaign. He has instilled the hope in us that it will happen. If the Democrats get the filibuster-proof majority in the Legislative branch, there is nothing stopping change from happening.

Will they still have debate? Of course, but at least something will happen and not be the paralyzed mess of the last 8 years.

And if you need any proof about the Obama tax-plan working or not, just rewind the tape back to the 90's where we saw over 20 million jobs created.

It's plain and simple, Obama's policies have already been proven to work. Reaganomics has proven to fail. I sound like a broken record, but the message hasn't landed yet, and NOBODY has been able to prove me otherwise. All I ask Lane, is for you to provide us with just ONE example of Trickle-Down Economics, when applied in real life, not resulting in some massive financial catastrophe here in America. Just one! You have 28 years to find JUST ONE example. Not on paper, not in theory....in real life.

By the time you can find me one, President Obama's tax policy will probably already have been implemented and we will be all writing about how we can't keep up with the booming real estate market and all of the business we will be having because of our booming economy.

Mike - I believe Reagan practiced trickle-down economics in South Africa in the form of Constructive Engagement. That didn't result in a massive financial catastrophe in America. Ok, so I cheated. :-D

Tchaka - After a quick Google of "Constructive Engagement".....I can now give you an LOL! ;-)

Mike - I still cringe every time I run across the name 'Chester Crocker'!

I sure hope Obama is able to turn this ship around - if I end up paying more taxes because our economy's better and I'm raking it in, I won't mind one bit. And if Lane minds, we can invite him and others to meet up with you in Vegas for a boondoggle write-off. Yeah!

Hi Mike & Tchaka,

There are tons and tons of people gathering in Chicago right now. IT'S VERY AWESOME!!!! I believe that this will be a difficult (due to the last 8 years) but productive next 4 years.

;>)

Hi Anne-Marie! This is so exciting....such a buzz in the air. At the voting place people were laughing and talking and it was so positive and exhilarating. Back to watching the news!! :)

Ann-Marie...

It looks like Senator Obama has prevailed. Now let's all get behind him and move forward to fix America!

NOV

2008

Hi Pamela,

I couldn't believe how the Grant Park in Chicago looked last night and not one person was arrested. AWESOME!!! Our country is in dire need of this change. It's all upward bound from here on....

;>)

Hi Richard,

I agree, all of us Americans should work for the good of our people!!! I just heard that Kenya (where Obama's father was from) just made it a National Holiday. That's historical, when another country celebrates our successes.

Even all the Canadians thought it was AWESOME, we can learn a lot from other countries, since they see things differently from us.

Thanks Richard, now let's make some $$$$ and sell, sell, sell.....

;>)

Mike... I'll make this VERY easy for you. Look at 2003-2006. When the Bush tax cuts were instituted, the stock market came back, jobs jumped, unemployment tumbled, tax revenue, the GDP and the per capita GDP all turned good. This was coming off of the Clinton Recession and 9/11. It lasted until the Democrats took control of the House and Senate.

Contrast this with the first two years of the Clinton Administration. GDP was down, revenue was down, employment was down... What changed? A GOP controlled Congress.

Now, the last Super Majority for the Democrats was under Carter. How did that work out?

Really? Or could it be the war machine that jump started everything? Should we compare to 1941-1945 instead?

Nice try on the GOP controlled Congress. Really nice try. Slick even.

Hi Lane,

I believe we will have to see what happens from here. But the fact that 8 MILLION more people voted this time compared to 2004, sends a HUGE MESSAGE to all of the politicians. WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF BOTH OF THEM, and change needs to occur from a bipartican lesgislature.

This could be a wonderful change for the U.S. comeback financially and morally, with acceptance of diversified people and financial accountability.

I see SUNSHINE in our future....

;>)

Lane - As a REALTOR®, how can you possibly point to what happened in 2003-2006 and call that a success?!? Sure, it may have been a quick and easy way to make a buck, but if you happened to stick your head out the window in the past 2 years, it has been nothing but one giant disaster from the inflated "successes" of the very time period you boast. How many people were taking treasure baths in 2003-2006 and are now trying to figure out how to pay the water bill so they can actually take a real one.

That is exactly what trickle-down economics creates; inflated and false success just waiting for someone to sneeze the wrong way to pop. Oh...and no way you can compare government involvement in the dot com burst to the housing collapse. Apples to oranges.

Try again.

Mike - I was thinking apples to wood blocks. ;-)

NOV

2008

I don't worry too much about Obama and change. I do worry about the Obama, Pelosi, and Reed combination. Sorry folks, but not a good chemistry.

NOV

2008

Hi Ann-Marie. Did you see this?

Hey,

Want a free Obama sticker to celebrate our victory? It's designed by Shepard Fairey, the artist who created the iconic HOPE poster. And MoveOn's giving them away totally free--even the shipping's free.

I just got mine. Click this link to get your free Obama sticker:

http://pol.moveon.org/shepstickers/?id=-7164019-2xeA6Lx&rc=

NOV

2008

Ann-Marie here's an article about why John McCain lost the race at

http://www.slate.com/id/2203763/?GT1=38001

NOV

2008

Ann-Marie... isn't it odd that 8 million new people voted, and that is almost the exact same number that voted Obama into office?

Mike, maybe we should go back to the successes of the Carter Administration? Or would you prefer the tech bubble of the Clinton Administration? Or, maybe if the Democrats hadn't worked so hard to allow the GOP to make some changes to Fannie and Freddie back in 2003, we wouldn't be in this pickle now. But, Barney Frank knows best, right?

What it comes down to is that Obama is NOT making much in the way of changes. He ran on populist philosophies that failed under Carter and Clinton... We'll see how well things look in a couple of years. Look forward to seeing the GOP gaining numbers in Congress.

NOV

2008

Psssst... let him get in office first.

DEC

2008

Great article, I love the blog.

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What does the graphic say?