Did You Watch Obama Last Nite? What Did YOU Think?

I missed it. Thanks for expressing your opinion. :)

By the way, just for those who may misinterpet the my line "for the for first time in a long time," I want you to know, I have worked hard when able to do my part for this country in my small way. I have worked very hard for our troops. Something that is very important to me. What I am saying is that for the first time in a long time, it is going to matter, again. Bigger, broader, and it will count. Our officials have shown that they have missed much about us. What we do, how WE support our country. He has seen this. I do not feel he will lose sight of our strengths, and our struggles. This is a good thing.

Hopefully that will make sense. He touched on many things that I have dealt with through this battle with this lung mass. Through being a single mother, to being a concerned American, that no listened to. That feeling for me, is gone... I hope it is for you. And yes, he is just man, but he is willing to tackle this job. Inexperince? Well, experince so far has not been so favorable for us. End of that argument... Ellen B

I watched the first 10 minutes and thought I would vomit.

Sorry Marilyn that you felt that way. What a way to ruin an evening. Glad it did not affect me that way. Ellen B

I think it is very revealing how people react to this broadcast. It says little about the candidate, but it is like an inkblot test in that people project all sorts of things onto the candidate. Two people hearing the same words and seeing the same image react in such different ways.

What do you bet that people saw what they expected to see and heard what they expected to hear. :-)

Sen. Obama is an extraordinary leader. He brings out the best in people, not the worst. (Marilyn's remark above only proves my point).

He has the best interests of everyday Americans at heart. His is a wonderful American story. That he had to tell his story like this on television (in such a beautiful way, I might add) is a reflection on the smear mongers who have tried to create a false impression of him.

Look at the movement for change he has created -- so much optimism in the face of two wars, the worst economy since the great depression. His call for personal involvement resonates with me, and with the millions of others who will bring about the change our country so desperately needs.

A 10 for you for having the courage to speak out.

And if I could give one for a comment Donna, you would also get a ten. We cannot even disagee without a level of aggression.. And you are right, he does speak eloquently. And I am glad. He projects that he is trying to reach everyone. It is sad that many want for us what we have had for the last eight years. Maybe they will think about our boys not being home again this year, and Afghanistan looming on the horizon.

As far as two people viewing the same, and thinking differently, if we all acted on that alone without judgement, or thinking for ourselves, nothing would get done, for one reason or another. It is finding the largest area of common "bond" that is going to help us now, and the rest of the world NEEDS to see that in America once again. Ellen B

I haven't seen it yet (time zone issues), but will watch it tonight and come back to comment.

I watched the whole presentation. It was so nice to see him speak without being surrounded by thousands and thousands of supporters (or non-supporters, too). Just one-on-one, privately. No slurs to the Republicans, no criticisms, no "defending" himself against the slurs and lies he's endured during the campaign. He spoke directly about his plans and ideas for his presidential term. This is a man with solid convictions and the absolute will to lead US as WE turn this country around and put it back on track. I'm proud to be a supporter of the Obama/Biden ticket.

Will there be disappointments from his administration? Of course. I'd rather be disappointed by truth than blinded by the lies of our current administration and the loss of any more of our freedoms.

Thanks to those of you who have stopped by, and David, I look forward to your intelligent synopsis. You know I respect all opinions, yours definitely included. This is a critical time for us. Ellen B

You are "Spot On" Bonnie. I could not have said it any better. That was so great. Just him speaking out. Thanks for your opinion. Ellen B

"I watched the first 10 minutes and thought I would vomit. "

What an ass.

Prima Donna, Obama does not have the best interests of average Americans at heart. If he did, he would not be choosing the tax plan he did. Raising taxes on businesses will result in some moving to more business friendly countries, some downsizing, and all will raise their prices. That's what businesses do when their taxes increase. They pass on the increase to consumers.

CJ, everyone got all bent out of shape when they thought Governor Palin spent too much on clothing. To me, Obama's spending money on that infomercial was a million times worse. Think of all the people who could have been fed with that money. That's what liberals claim to be worried about - people eating and saving their homes.

It's mentioned time and again that Obama has more people at his rallies. Of course he does, since he rents bigger places to put them. That costs money. Obama surely knows how to spend money. And he'll keep doing that in the White House. More government and more programs means he'll need more money. He won't get what he needs from raising taxes on the rich, so he'll have to raise your taxes as well. But you'll be fine with doing your part to help the people who pay no taxes, right?

Hmmmm, either watch a politician (snore........) or workout???? I worked out. I do agree with something Marilyn said though. I would favor the candidate who donated those millions of dollars to charities and stopped boring us with those stupid ads.

Marilyn, with all due respect to your opinion, history has shown that this is OUR country, and it is our job to pay for it. He is looking at the "Big Picture". I suppose you think our dollars going to Iraq has been so smart. Have you read Dave McGills article about the troop deaths in Afghanistan? Again, they did not have the adequate equipment needed. And I for one am for programs that will keep us surviving. And I ask you respectively about John McCain's tribute to himself about being a POW> Of course I respect his serving, of course I respect what he went through, but he should be one of the first to mention our still missing MIA's, and I believe ALL our soldiers should get the respect he asked for because of his service.

Money is always spent in campains. It is not a new thing. And many have done so in the past. I am glad that Obama has so many supporters, and that many of his donations have come from some who are not so wealthy. Did you really study his tax plan? The web site is available. The name escapes me right now, but I am only on my third cup of coffee. If the situation was reversed, would you be so upset? And as far as money goes, Mrs. McCain has her share of it. DO you really think she understands the results of higher milk costs? Or gasoline for the average American? I just do not see it, and more importantly, I do not feel it. But I respect your views, that is our way. Ellen B

Hi! Adam, thanks for stopping by. Working out is a great thing, but this is such an important vote. All the muscle or health you have will not bring back a lot of what we have lost, only a new direction and planning. It takes awhile to get into a situation like what we live in today, it will take awhile to get right again. We are going to have to be intelligent about it. Knowledge is power now. Ellen B

I thought it was awesome and that is why i am voting for Barack.

Loved it. He's such a good, decent man, the kind this country deserves, not the other kind we've gotten stuck with.

Marilyn,

In all due respect, if he had not spent the money on the campaign, then he would be in trouble legally. The money was raised for his campaign. There is a major difference between advertising and false advertising. Why did the campaign feel that Gov. Palin had to be dressed up like Office Barbie to be a viable vice presidential candidate? what you are saying is that we should cave in to big business, so they continue to let Americans work for what ever wage they choose to pay, or they will leave the country. Last time I checked, Obama said he was going to give credit to those companies that kept their jobs in America. i wonder what tax reforms you are reading. There is propaganda on BOTH sides of the issue, but the fact is, everything John McCain has said, IS NOT NEW. Are there things that have concerned me about Obama? sure, but McCain is a continuation, with cosmetic changes, not solutions, of the problems we are already facing. I don't know about you, but I am tired of busting my tail, and watching my kids do the same, to have everything taken away by some corp.

I think that Marilyn asks qustions that should be thought about very deeply.

Obama should be made to give his sources of his electioneering funds. They outstrip any amount that any candidate has ever had before. You know of course that he may not recieve funds for his campaign from overseas.
How would you feel if you discovered that most of his funds came from Islam radicals who in turn received it from the gross overcharging for oil by the Arab states.
Obama is spending more money on his October TV commercials that McCain has for his whle campaign.
Have you read Obama's books and what he says about the core Americans.
Read Amy H's recent article and see the real Obama.

Well done Marilyn M. You're a wise and brave lady. The US will soon be depending on realists like you.

Thanks Marilyn, but I will stick with working out instead of listening to the garbage coming out of both candidates mouths. But you keep fighting the fight! You are awesome!

Of course he should disclose. The election is so close now tho Fred, I feel this was his way to introduce himself, as himself to those who have not been able to get around so many opinions, or see him. And as far as where the money has come from, do you honestly think after 911 that our government would not detect this? That is the scariest thought about this administration to date. We all have our opinions about the two men in question. And that is ok. I just do not agree with those who continually go after this man instead of what is wrong. We have plenty of watch dogs. In the past eight years tho, it appears some were thrown a steak, as a diversion. Ellen B

By the way Fred, I wrote an article about Government fraud in the military before I became so ill. I have not heard anymore about it since. The DOD was allegedly investigating it. IT appears some members of the military were ordering things that went to outside parties. It was in the billions. I hope you look that up, since this budget, speaking of money, has us trapped in repayment for a long time. What a diservice to our wonderful soldiers.

I do not hear anyone complaining about how that money was lost. If you speak of spending, I would think as it is our largest outlay right now, where it is going would be paramount. I know it is not going to our troops so have the best of equipment. That is evident in the brain injuries that have occurred to so many, and to the private sector, (Operation Helmet) that has tried to save them, with DONATIONs. Ellen B

Fred and Marilyn,
Hundreds of thousands of normal everyday Americans have donated to the Obama campaign hoping for change. I'm proud that some of my dollars helped to pay for that ad.

It's a fundamental difference of opinion. Democrats believe that by focusing on the middle class (the group that does the most to support businesses), all will prosper. If each middle class family has a bit more money to spend on products, business will benefit. When the businesses benefit with higher sales, higher profits will be realized. When businesses have higher profits they can expand and create jobs. Everyone wins.

I believe that if no one's buying, businesses suffer. They cut back benefits, wages, and jobs to help compensate. They are still making money, but the people who work for these companies suffer.

Obama's plan will give tax credits for every job that every business creates in America. They will get an additional credit for basing their business in this country, instead of overseas. Not to mention the jobs that will be created by improving our infrastructure, something that benefits us all, even businesses.

If you believe that continuing to give credits to the wealthy thinking that their savings will trickle down, that's fine too. I personally believe that after going that route for 8 years, it hasn't worked. It's shifting the tax burden, put simply.

It's a difference of opinion, pure and simple. There's no need for hateful comments by anyone or smears against either candidate. Pick the philosophy that you believe in and vote on it.

Ellen,
Thank you for your post. It's beautifully worded. It's nice to have hope that good things will come. I believe that we will win this election. I say "we" because it's people like us having hope in the future for our kids and their kids that will make it possible.

Thanks Lisa, and you go girl. You are right about his thoughts, and it has way more possibility of helping us have work here at home once again, than selling out to pay cheap wages overseas. I wonder often how they save on transpotation making our products away from home? Especially with the flucuations in fuel that we have had. Must have been some kind of corporate break, and the wrong kind. Ellen B

I am a small business owner, Marilyn, and a conservative former Republican. I will benefit more from Sen. Obama's tax plan for a number of reasons. That's why we have a whole group of Main Street businesses (yes, they are even located on Main Street) who are working hard to make sure Sen. Obama is elected. One even donated her storefront as a Get-out-the-vote headquarters for the next four days. As business owners we all recognize that:

* the only beneficiaries of the previous administration, and of McCain's tax plan and policies, are large corporations and the wealthiest 1% in our country.

* the deregulation and hands-off policy McCain has fought for his entire career has caused a financial meltdown that now means it is more difficult for small businesses to get loans. Why should they, and we, have to suffer because of the lack of oversight in Washington.

* Sen. Obama's health plan has incentives for small businesses to provide quality, affordable health care to our employees.

* And may I remind you that Sen. McCain has had 26 years in Washington, so he had his chance to change it, and didn't. Instead, he was part of the problem. He even admitted recently that he shares the same "philosophy" of government as George Bush.

You really ought to take a more careful look at Sen. Obama's plan for change instead of repeating the lies I just heard in a McCain speech in which he told the people of Defiance Ohio that Sen. Obama is going to raise taxes on working class Americans and "spread their hard-earned income" around. That has been factchecked and disproved by every reputable news organization in the country. But he keeps slinging that mud, knowing that some of it will stick with the uneducated who don't bother to get the facts.

Fred, I am beginning to suspect that Amy H. and Marilyn are actually one and the same. They (he/she) have tripped up a couple of times.

Please do read Obama's books in their entirety. I have read them cover to cover, and I have read McCain's and Joe Biden's biographies, too. Amy/Marilyn choose to pick out isolated statements, or perhaps just pass on the ones someone sent them in an email.

See how quickly the discussion degrades with the negative attacks? Why not state the positive things your candidate has done or will do to make our country a better place? I haven't heard that once in a campaign that has dragged on for many, many months.

MM,

Is that sour grapes I smell??

If McCain could raise the money Obama has, he surely would have rejected federal financing and would rent out football stadiums. Alas, he can't, so he resorts to ridiculing it.

This is hilarious. Nobody said that Palin should be disqualified because the RNC bought her a $150,000 wardrobe. Most of the talk about that related to the hypocrisy of her rhetoric about "real America," and the fact that real America doesn't spend $150,000 on clothes from Nieman-Marcus and Saks. More particularly, real America doesn't shop like that with donated money that the people donating expected to go toward things like paid television spots to advance the campaign. You know, the kind Obama produced and is discussed in this post.

I don't know Ellen. I went to the Economic Roundtable event that Obama did with the Governors and such. The Governor of Michigan was there. She spoke about a refrigerator factory in a small town in Michigan that had closed. The factory closed because they moved headquarters to Mexico were they could pay workers $2.00 an hour. The factory employed half of the population of the town it was located in. Can you imagine? In a small town there aren't many other places to go for work. The Governor successfully lobbied for a company who manufactures wind turbines to come into the abandoned factory. She gave them a tax break (like Obama wants to do) for hiring local workers. The factory was so successful that they built a second location in the very same town. Home prices went up and everyone was employed. The other local businesses, restaurants etc. also flourished due to the money that the workers were making. It's a win win.

Giving tax breaks to companies who outsource is selling out Americans. The economy needs to be built from the bottom up, not the top down.

The snake-oil show was pretty much typical Obama ... eloquent and empty.

In a pre-scripted half hour one would think there could have been more actual details with specifics and less flowery hot-air.

We have always been a leader in helping others. But we have to help ourselves now. I see who is giving us loans. The alarms went off in my head when McDonalds went to China. Not that this was wrong, they like the product. But I think of my small town. It had one shoe factory. I was a foreman there. There were two women Class "A" foreman at the time. First we made our own outsoles, from start to finish. Suddenly one department after another left. Our company started to buy outsoles from Brazil. Eventually, several plants in Southern Missouri, and a few in Illinois shut down. My small town has not ever come back. It was a sign of the times. I was allowed to stay on for awhile, got busted back to an assistant foreman, ( I had just bought a home, quite an achievement back then, as a single mother of three who depended on me) then busted back to general plant.

Soon we went from three shifts running maximum production, to two, then one. I watched as people who had worked their most of their adult life lose their jobs, then their second care, then their homes. Many left with what they had scraped together to go to the first oil rush, and call for workers in Oklahoma. Many came back and went on welfare, and some still have not recovered. Back then it was easy to "buy American". A solid cure if all participate. It is tough now. I too lost my home. I managed to sell it for a tiny profit, and moved my family to the next town. They too were losing their garment industries, their purse factories, and so on. Ben Franklin chains left. And so on.

This happened in the late seventies. This process has accelerated over the years to where we are now. Talk about a "Trickle Down". I have felt this effect more than once with subsequent jobs, with insurance problems, and loss of rights. I too am ready for a different direction for this country. One that is for this country. So many have made enough money, some with the blood of our boys on our hands. It is time for a gear change. And more hard work, but this time for us. Ellen B

Robert, thanks for your clarification. It was needed. Ellen B

I think it was a waste of money

Sen. Obama has shared detailed plans for the past 18 months. They are widely available and analyzed for all who care to read them.

Last night, the focus was on the American people. The stories clearly showed that Americans who are striving to provide for their families connect with Sen. Obama, and they long for a leader who can put our nation back on course. Sen. Obama has class, dignity and integrity. And despite the unthinkable lies that have been thrown at him, he continues to maintain his calm. That's the kind of steady leader I want steering our ship.

I am proud that whatever small donations I was able to make to Sen. Obama's campaign over the past few months helped to tell that story. As a matter of fact, I think I'll go make another donation now, to help some of the other Democratic candidates who are running on the same ideas.

Never, ever, thought I'd be saying this -- I was a died-in-the-wool Republican for 30 years.

I missed it. Drats.

You are a woman of substance, honesty, and courage Prima Donna. Ellen B

Oh! Peter, it must be somewhere on the net. Please try to catch it. I would love your opinion. Ellen B

It's funny how now all the Republican's talking points are trying to make us find some hypocrisy in Obama's campaign spending with Palin's Republican bought wardrobe. Funny how the talking points all herd together at the same time like that (and don't make sense).

I have slow speed - it took me FOREVER and a day just to watch 4 minutes of an old BBC Joan Crawford interview- ha ha. I was sort of getting it one word at a time. ha ha

Peter you are such a hoot. I love it, and you made me smile. :))))) Ellen B

The 30 second ads from both candidates are vomit inducing enough, why would anyone want to watch a 30 minute ad?

This publicity stunt has cinched Obama's fate. Regardless of what else is presented over the next four days, he wins or loses by this infomercial. hillary did the same thing back in February during the primary season ... and we all know how well that turned out!

I respect your opinion Mr. Bill, and I like you, you know I do. I really do not know anyone on here I do not like. But we all have different ideas, from many walks of life, with a lot of experience under all those belts.. I feel he did this to reach the many he wanted to, give them an idea of his plan, and could not get to. I enjoyed his time on TV., and I listened with my mind and heart. I am sorry you got sick. The last eight years have made me sick. So I know that feeling. Hope you feel better soon. Ellen B

Here is a link to the video on YouTube. More than 740,000 people have watched it so far today.

Thanks Donna. I hope Peter sees it. Ellen B

I really enjoyed reading your article/response. I did watch it and had similar thoughts.

Okay, I've watched the whole thing.

First off, for those who are commenting without actually having watched the video, please go and do so.

Secondly, only a complete political and social cynic could not be moved by the piece. No matter what your politics, it would be impossible not to feel the real struggles that the people profiled are going through. And they do represent real America. These are the people that are truly affected by the financial meltdown, the plant closings, the chronic illnesses, high energy and food prices. The guys on Wall Street will have to switch from the Mercedes to the BMW. But normal people don't have the cushion. They feel it immediately.

I'll mention one more thing that struck me about the video from a policy perspective. Again, people differ on whether they think the specific proposals he mentioned are good or bad. I personally think they are irrelevant, at least with respect to whether it ends up being $200,000 vs $250,000, $1000 vs $1500, yellow vs fuschia. Neither candidate's proposals will be enacted as is; they all will be vetted through the process whereby Congress (who actually passes the laws) tweaks (or perhaps manhandles) them into final shape.

No, what I think is important is the philosophy. Barack Obama reiterated what he's been saying all along. Education is important. Most of his proposals have to do with making it easier for people to attend college, helping people in lagging industries like auto manufacturing and steelmaking learn new skills, helping companies retool to make newer technologies. His ideas revolve around moving forward into the future, not trying to recapture the past.

And furthermore, he has been straight that this isn't a free ride. His proposal to help kids go to college, for example, comes with a commitment to serve the country in some way. He is clear that we, the citizens of this country, have an obligation to work hard to bring to fruition the goals that we all set. That he'll "keep us in the loop" as far as putting the hard choices out on the table so that we know it's not some arbitrary decision molded by some lobbyist in a back room deal. He reminds us that some of the objectives we set will take a long time to integrate into society. He gives us hope for the future, yet is up front that it's not an easy path forward.

We are all in this together. Too often we whine about "the government," then go ahead and reelect the same old same old every single time. We say we want change, but we so often are afraid to vote for change. Or we vote, then ignore the workings of our government until the next election. Or worse, we reward the very pandering we say we don't want from our elected officials.

One thing he said struck me. "This is our time." Yes, it is. It is my time, and your time, and everyone's time. And it's high time we took an active role in making the future of this country as great as we have been in the past.

I watched the game

herd should be heard

(I should know better)

Thank you David. As always you objective, and your comments are laced with your totally intelligent thoughts. I so appreciated you coming back. And I agree with you. Hands for us will be something new this time, and it is high time we do it. Ellen B

Peter, I thank you for your take on this matter. I sense there is more there. But I shall wait to hear from you somewhere. You are my here for following through. Thanks so much, and keep us smiling. Ellen B

What matters to me is that we, as Americans, or many of us, still can respond after what we have been through the last eight years, can still unite and respond to positive thoughts, in the face of many mountains to climb. Ellen B

Good article, Ellen. Don't be put off by people who burn up so much energy degrading Obama. It says quite aa lot about them. Like what they are telling you often without recognizing it is that they feel the policies we all just sufferd through for eight years are fine with them. Their comments often yell to the world they have little or no integrity like having the audacity to mention all that money spent on a political ad which could have been given to the poor. How true but I thought last week that would be socialism and you know no one wants to be socialist. And just for added fuel I bet they didn't tell REagan that when he was spewing his moonlight and sunrise talks during his candidacy. To add even more fodder for their spills I love hearing them say they have no idea what he is going to do when all they need do is read his agenda. What I see Ellen is pure and simple dispise for Obama with not a lick of substance to hold it up whiah they willl admit. Every bit of complaint they give about Obama they ignore in their love for Mc Cain. How so dispictabe.

Jimmy Carter was in office when Foreign Policy started to go. He was also in office when our plants began to shut down, and move overseas, taking our jobs with them. You may want to read what happened to me in this thread. Going back does not help. As far as unemployment or employment, it depends on who compiles the statistics. Often part-timers are considered employed as if they can support themselves this way. Looks good on paper, as well as low paying jobs, for many with college education. Ellen B

Corecctemundo Spencer, it is so often the case.Thanks for the comments folks, you know I respect and learn from all of you. Ellen B

It was very well done!
It is amazing how he inspires Hope!
Something so very much needed in the Nation right now.
We truly do have a choice of Hope over Fear.
Hope is such an important source of energy that helps inspire us to unleash our Potential.
We are so beaten down by these past eight years of lies and sham and deceit and disgrace.
McCain Palin is such a drain on the American psyche. Fear and lies and deceit. Just so very tired of it!
Obama is the one to lead this nation into the 21st Century, the way we already should have been lead eight years ago.

I was concerned about the spot. It seemed a risk.

He did so very well. Nicely done!

"Obama's 30-minute primetime infomercial was seen by 33.6 million viewers across seven networks -- including CBS, NBC, Fox, Univision, MSNBC, BET and TV One.

That's 70% more people than watched the conclusion of the World Series last night on Fox (19.8 million)."

That was a great comment David, and it is nice to know that so many Americans chose to listen to one of the cadidates. I know how important our sports games are, and I also enjoy them, but this is just a little higher on my list of priorties. Ellen B

Sorry I didn't get a chance to see the infomercial. We were blocked out by all the local networks here in Cleveland Ohio. But I'm aware that youtube.com have it. Will take a while to load because I have slow speed, and my audio stopped working.

CJ, everyone got all bent out of shape when they thought Governor Palin spent too much on clothing. To me, Obama's spending money on that infomercial was a million times worse. Think of all the people who could have been fed with that money. That's what liberals claim to be worried about - people eating and saving their homes.

Marilyn M., Oct 30, 2008, 10:03am EDT

umm Marlyn that money that Obama used is supposed to be used for running his campaign and advertising for him being the better choice. I think that was what he was doing with the infomercial wasn't it? Now as for Palin and her 150K spending spree. I don't think buying $1000.00 dollar hand bags for her daughter is related to the campaign in any way. How about you?

Ellen,
This is an excellent post and there are some great responses. I did see the show and I think that it was a fantastic hammering down of what this man has been saying all along. If some of these people that are so against him would put aside their preconceived notions and actually listen to the man or better yet read his plan and compare it to McCain's plan than be totally honest and unbiased with themselves they may see that he has the best plan. Somehow I don' think a lot of them will do it, though!

You are spot on Bob! I love the intelligence this site holds with it's members. Such a good group., All of us so different in the same world. Finding common ground about the election should be easy for us tho. And more so because of the last eight years. Thanks for your excellent comment. A side by side comparison would do the trick, unless someone has not been following some of the issues. Ellen B

No....I feel like with the state of our country, if this many has millions to spend on a 30 minute commercial to talk about himself, he does not understand MY NEEDS one bit. Just my opinion, but I absolutely refused to watch.

I am sad you missed it Tom. He did not talk about himself per se. What he did do was let us know what he wanted to do for us, all of us, not just the chosen few. And if it takes money to let all of us know how he feels, then he must spend it. Who is running the third rate movie for us right now, and how? With money that is how. I see it as fighting fire with fire. IF you could study his concepts, and really listen to him, it might at least cause you to look at the two plans. They all spend money. Who said they would stop all the campaign cost? But who charges for it. Look at the cost of three minutes during a Super Bowl? That is a ball game. This man is fighting to win the job, the highest office in the land, and he wants to win. That is just how it is. After he gets there, you may be happy. You should read his plans, and see if your needs are in there. I am not middle class. No tax break will come my way. I am disabled. No perks for me if he is elected. But I have to think about this Country, and the world around us. My grandchildren and theirs. I guess you are angry that he does not have a rich wife, and still many want to hear and support him. I respect your opinion, but he does not set the price for tv time, at least not as far as I know. Thanks for coming by and your honesty. I am glad you did. It is not just your opinion Tom, it is how you feel, and we should all think of each other at this critical time. Ellen B

I didn't watch the program. I've already voted.

I notice throughout this conversation that the conservatives/republicans are typically angry. They sound so annoyed and angry and negative. Are they all jealous of Obama's success? Sounds like it. My advice is: Take a chill pill or a cold shower and accept the fact that Obama is a better leader, a more consistent leader. McCain winds his way around and however mavericky he is, he is inconsistent. And McCain's excessive use of smearing and raising himself by putting down others is disgusting.

Viva Obama!

I did NOT watch him!

I had tears in my eyes to as I listen to a man who is going to lead this country into the toilet. By the way the only thing Obama and JFK have in common is that they are both good looking. Politically they are worlds apart.

Linda W.... Check back on job growth of every presidential administration since WWII.

You will note that the Democratic administration with the worst job growth record of all Democratic administrations had better job growth numbers than every single Republican administration during that period.

Thanks for your input Capt. Seaweed, and Robert A. This is a fact I have tried to voice many times, it just does not seem to register with many. Thanks for your comment. Ellen B

A 10 to you, Ellen. I liked Obama's infomercial very much, although I have been more inspired by his speeches right from the beginning of this campaign. I read both of Obama's books and I believe he means what he says. He is a leader who has appeared on the scene exactly when he is needed. I think the fact that he is half black is an asset. especially in the eyes of the rest of the world.

Marilyn - I'd feel sick too if the only hope I had was placed in a confused old man and a shrill harpy who is more concerned with advancing her own career than the good of the country.

Thanks for coming Ruth. You are correct in stating his charisma, and his appearance at the right time. While I try to stay informed at all times, it was pretty dificult over the last eight years. Thank God for honest and brave reporters, and there are many, because now I again want to really listen to the ideas the man has. We needed him now, yes, and I think that the world will be very receptive, to and America who can come back and be what we were, in every area with a lot of work, and that is what we are, the role model for being United and working hard for our own Country. I appreciate your opinion. Ellen B

Watch Obama? Why on earth would I watch Obama? I also don't watch other blowhards like Dubya and Colin 'The Liar' Powell...I don't willingly set myself up for hoodwinking.

Sorry you feel that way Felix. I feel my time was well spent. It is the least I can do to me for our Troops, trying to learn all I can about our candidates. I respect your opinion, but I do not agree with it. That is what we are about anyway, and this is a critical time for this country. I watch it all, as much as I can. Thanks for coming by. Ellen B

The least you can the for your troops is vote for an antiwar candidate...not one who not only will keep them in Iraq, but, has stated intentions of expanding the war against Iran and Pakistan. I've learned all I need to learn about Johnny Mac and Bammy...I'm not buying into their' lies.

It is a critical time in our' country and it's very sad one of these two bozos will be heading the ship of state. We're are practically guaranteed a demotion to third world status.

Ron Paul would've been great at this moment in time both domestically (the economy) and abroad (the war(s)). No, I've heard and seen all I need to on the Greenhorn and the Hero. Thank you, but, no thanks...they should both take a slow boat to China and do the nation and the world a great deal of good.

I do respect your' opinion Ellen...I'm just putting in my view.

You are a nice guy Felix. I know you do not know me very well, but I am big on our troops. I do have my own opinion as well as everyone else, and learning who and what all of thinks helps me in my decisions, right down to the vote. Our country is made up of so many different ideas, and respecting each other is a must.

The campaign for me has had a lot of attempts for rhetoric that bore and say nothing. I feel Barak Obama has a lot to say. To get us out of this mess, (what a job) is going to take a man/woman who will not sway from their basic ideals. I don't think he will.

As far as the troops go, I would pray that they get the leadership they deserve. That will end that situation. It has gone on so long with so many getting involved, there is no easy or fast pullout. It will require really deep thought. I think Obama can do that. Ellen B

Felix, I agree with you that both candidates have demonstrated a willingness to increase military activity. Unfortunately, any candidate making statements about reducing our military presence and policies driven by militarism would be committing political suicide due to the public's reverence for anything military which is constantly packaged with the flag and buzzwords like "freedom" and "liberty."

And Felix, I also noted your Barr icon. Are you aware of Barr's efforts with ultra-conservatives Bruce Fein and Richard Viguerie in the American Freedom Agenda, to rein in the Bush administrations violations of Constitutional authority. Here's some of what they've said: "We are conservative scholars, activists and writers. We do not favor a crippled executive or enfeebled government. In a time of danger, checks and balances make for stronger government because the people will more readily accept a muscular authority if barriers against abuses are strong. If at some future time Congress, in turn, aggrandizes power and invades the executive or judicial domains, we will be equally alert to sound the alarm. But today, the clear and present danger to conservative philosophy is the White House."

They are referring to an administration John McCain supported.

...and by the way Felix. I agree with you about Ron Paul. He's the only candidate who was bold enough to cut through the massive amount of propaganda encrusted crap.

Since I am in France, without satelite access to American stations, I had to wait to see the infomercial on youtube. I was very impressed; I've watched it twice, even though I mailed my absentee ballot back to Colorado on October 21st. This video confirms my choice of Obama.

What concerns me are the subtle efforts at disenfranchisement, the not-so-subtle culling of registered voter rolls and the current problems with voting machines changing the votes to Republican.

In my case, having been a registered Democrat for more than a decade in Colorado and having voted in every presidential election since becoming qualified, what disturbed me was discovering in September that I had been removed from the voter roll in my County in Colorado. I repeatedly called my county officials, to the point that I am now on a first-name basis with the woman handling the overseas mail-in ballots. By federal law, I have a right to vote there, even though I have moved out of the country, possibly indefinitely.

While my registration record was reactivated, my ballot was mailed out with a 6-digit non-existent postal code on the envelope. Eventually the French government managed to deliver the ballot to me. Now the Colorado website is showing that they have received my ballot. This is a relief.

Colorado Governer Bill Ritter was on the Rachel Maddow show, following her interview with Obama last night, and he has indicated only one-third of the mail-in ballots have been received. I wonder how many were incorrectly addressed.....and of the typos - how many were on registered Democrats' envelopes, versus rgistered Republicans. There are only three mail-delivery days left - Saturday, Monday and Tuesday - as the ballots must be in the election officials' hands by Tuesday night...

BTW - the Rachel Maddow interview of Obama is GREAT - full of details regarding how he will handle specific challenges. Take a look: The Rachel Maddow Show

I think we are basically in agreement, Robert.

I am a conservative and constitutionalist....The Bush White House has trashed our' Constitution with the help of the Congress, I might add. There are a few defenders like Ron Paul and Russ Feingold...but, Dubya, said it all when he stated:

"Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,' Bush screamed back. 'It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!"

No president, with the possible exception of TR has had such contempt for the Constitution and pushed so hard for a unitary executive.

The Jose Padilla Case went mostly unnoticed by people not realizing the terrible implications. Here's a short list of assaults on our Constitution:

1. The executive branch has declared that an American citizen can be apprehended and locked up with no arrest warrant, no reading of the charges against them and no need to inform their loved ones as to what has transpired.

2. A citizen can be imprisoned for an indeterminate amount of time, even for life, with no right to challenge their detention, to make a phone call or to retain a lawyer.

3. Federal officials can secretly enter your house with no warning and with no need to show a connection to a terror investigation.

4. The federal government can wiretap your phones, monitor your web usage and scrutinize your library habits and e-mail without probable cause.

5. We have tortured and sent detainees to other countries to be tortured.

6. Our elections are no longer assumed to be fair.

7. Our government routinely uses fear to intimidate, manipulate and control us.

8. The executive branch makes policy based on the secretive counsel of their corporate donors.

9. The administration selectively disseminates information to the public through a network of media sycophants operating under the guise of news organizations.

10. The administration has selectively suspended habeas corpus rights.

11. The government has decided to use satellites to spy on US citizens.

bravenewfilms.org/blog/10313-the-malignant-legacy-of-george-bush

Yes Felix, the lack of reaction to the Padilla case illustrates the public's lack of understanding about what rights have been taken away - Constitutional rights. In what abstract realm wouldn't this be called tyranny?

Aside from the implications of the removal of rights that were guaranteed to the public by the Constitution, just look at what happened in that case. They charged a guy, intentionally drove him so crazy (and I mean insane) that he ended up as a zombie who thought the case wasn't fair to George W. Bush, then they convicted him - not of anything he was originally arrested for. This can happen to an American citizen.

Robert and Felix, you two did some talking.. It was great, a lot of great thoughts in there.
And Susan, your story is sad, and being heard more frequently already. I also voted absentee. I thought I may be in surgery. And have not heard yet if my vote got there. It is coming in from everywhere. So sad, with the election so close, and the Champion country of the World for Democracy, in the eyes of many, (Well used to be. This was a great chance to change the scars from the last eight years, many from the first Florida fiasco) that here in the Show Me State we are already having problems with long lines and lost addresses, and the same scenario you have dealt with, these should not be happening in 2008. Ellen B Thank you for your commments.,

I was impressed.

Robert,

I followed this case very closely realizing the implications to our' civil liberties. I, being puertorrican and also, like Padilla born in Brooklyn was originally angry at Padilla for his' actions aware of how the actions of one individual that belongs to a minority often reflects negatively on that minority. Yet, as I followed the case it became clear that Padilla was being used as a dry run assault on the civil liberties of all American citizens.

They picked Padilla carefully with 'malice and afore-thouhgt', if you will, this was a premeditated hatchet job on our' Constitution and our protections from government. Even though Padilla is, in fact, a citizen...he is not viewed as such by the American people...few are aware that Puerto Rico was given full citizen status and rights since 1917 under the Jones-Shaffroth Act. We're the government to use this trial run a white American or a black American the people and civil defense groups would quickly take note, but, latino ('illegal') makes it a whole different matter. Few took note and even fewer came to his' defense...fewer still read the implications being written on the wall. He was charged by the judge that he first came before as an 'illegal enemy combatant'...handy word that 'illegal' when connected with a hispanic...who was this judge? A fellah by the name of Michael Mukasey...who subsequently moved up the ladder of success.

Alberto Gonzalez and George Tenet made red alert headline about 'dirty bomb'. A bogus and entirely unsustainable accusation, but, SENSATIONAL. Forever after Jose Padilla was linked to this image of him as a terrorist thwarted by our' Homeland Security from detonating a radiological 'dirty bomb' in Chicago. As you have pointed out they locked him up for three and half years without having charges leveled against and systematically driven insane.

" It is also extremely important to note that the torturous acts visited upon Mr. Padilla were done over the course almost the entire three years and seven months of his captivity in the Naval Brig. For most of one thousand three hundred and seven days, Mr. Padilla was tortured by the United States government without cause or justification. Mr. Padilla’s treatment at the hands of the United States government is shocking to even the most hardened conscience, and such outrageous conduct on the part of the government divests it of jurisdiction, under the Due Process clause of the Fifth Amendment, to prosecute Mr. Padilla in the instant matter.

"All of that was done by the Bush administration to an American citizen detained on U.S. soil – without any charges ever being brought against him, let alone convicted of any crime. All along, the Bush administration insisted it had the right to abduct and detain U.S. citizens indefinitely and deny them access to any courts or even to any lawyers, to either contest the validity of their detention or the legality of their treatment. That is still the Bush administration's position,"

For entire article go to: http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig7/greenwald1.html

People still don't realize the implications of this case...what was allowed to be done to citizen Padilla can now be done to any of us. The dry run was successful...a precedent has been set.

"The Padilla case is a sobering lesson in how much leeway the President has to imprison and detain people for long periods of time in violation of the Constitution. The fact that the government's story about why Padilla was a threat has changed so frequently should give us pause the next time the government asserts that we should trust it when it rounds up U.S. citizens and claims the right to hold them indefinitely for our protection. Padilla may well be a very bad fellow, but we have a method of dealing with such bad fellows. It is called the rule of law, and we should not surrender it so readily merely because the President desires it."

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2005/11/23/the_padilla_debacle.php

Robert over the past five years I have made many postings on my blogs and to groups on the Padilla Case and it's implications to our' civil liberties as American citizens...they response has been negligible to put it mildly, yet, one day people will take note...unless something is done to restore the serious damage done to our' Constitution.

Check out, if you will, one posting I made here at Gather on this issue as it concerns habeas corpus:

"No One Is Truly Safe"

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?memberId=64738&articleId=281474976817156

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