I am flummoxed by this. I do not believe anyone has been more critical of Obama than I have. I even have said that I do not believe he is a purist libertarian, and that he would not do well in an election held in a libertarian collective against genuine classical liberals. I haven’t praised him for superficial things like his impeccable sense of style or his confident bearing. What little praise I’ve given him has been for matters of substance.
At the superpower level fear and respect go hand in hand. That’s not likely to change whether Obama wins or McCain does, to be honest.
-XT
Retaining superpower status does involve an amalgam of the two. That level of respect in the mix is going to change, whether McCain or Obama is selected. The study suggested that Obama might raise the level to greater degree, which is not an inconsiderable thing.
As I said, it’s one of the reasons I MIGHT vote for Obama in November. But whether he balances more respect with less fear, there will still be fear and respect when it comes to the US from both allies and nations not allied to us. It’s part of being a super/hyperpower and is likely to be with us until we aren’t one anymore.
Sort of like the Brits and French are these days…and the Germans. Most of the fear is gone (as is a great deal of the respect, though not all) compared to the days when those nations shook the world. The Russians have also lost both fear and respect since the downfall of the Soviet Union…though they still have some of it.
-XT
Really?
Emphasis added.
But I think the issue people are seeing is more the over the top praise you are heaping on him, such as the hyperbolic title to this very thread. Similarly, when you praised his standard issue Democratic economic proposal as bold and stunning.
“Barack Obama: Great President, or the greatest President?”
You and I go back aways, John, and I’ll readily concede that sometimes I can be given over to hyperbole. But what’s remarkable, I think, is that in this case I’m not. Barack Obama really does inspire people. It’s an objective fact. I’d suspect the judgment of any person who’d say otherwise. His managerial skills are objectively phenomenal. This isn’t hyperbole; it’s just fact.
A report that he spoke and then people left would be inaccurate for its omissions. It is a fact to say that there were gathered thousands, and tens of thousands, clinging to his words and breaking into cheers at every opportunity when he would pause to breathe. If that is not an inspirational man, then what is it? No, I cannot give you a pass on the charge of hyperbole here, because it isn’t.
With respect to his bold and stunning policies, I believe I explained in quite some detail why the words apply. Tax cuts are not Standard Issue Democratic Economic Policies. Free trade — no not NAFTA, free trade — is not SIDEP. Unreserved praise of the free-market and what it has meant to America’s greatness is not SIDEP. Fiscally responsible pay-as-you-go policy is not SIDEP.
The greatest black president so far 
I have to agree.
Many people like to bash “Obamatons” but for my part for the first time since I started voting 20 years ago I have a presidential candidate I will not be holding my nose about when pulling the lever (or in my case punching the chad).
No, I do not agree with all of his proposals. But for the first time I see a candidate who I think will actually listen to various proposals, stir it around in his head and put forward the best solution cherry picking the best ideas wherever they may come from. I may not agree with it, the solution to whatever may be gimped by political realities, but I genuinely think he is not hidebound to an agenda or overly beholden to special interests that he will try to put the best solution forward.
His policies may not be “stunning” or “unique” but they will be honest and pragmatic and workable. Whether they pan out remains to be seen but I genuinely believe, in his heart, he wants solutions that make sense rather than solutions that benefit a special interest group. He could get it wrong, probably will, but it has to be better than the overt cronyism of the Bush era.
In short, his heart is in the right place. His priorities are in the right place. The foundation is there which is a damn sight better than what Bush and now McCain seem to be offering. Starting from base principles Obama is less likely to get it wrong.
I wouldn’t argue against the idea that Obama has inspired lots of people in the US. Whether he “inspires the world” is debatable, but the evidence in that poll does not support the claim for the reasons I gave above.
From PBS’s News Hourdiscussion with Mark Shields (a veteran Democratic analyst) and David Brooks (same on the Republican side, but not a shill for the Pubs):
In that thread, I gave the analysis from my local paper, which said the same thing. Democrats routinely tout tax cuts for the middle class and tax increases on the wealthy. Obama may talk a good line about free trade, but then he turns around and rants about businessmen “shipping jobs overseas”.
Anyway, you asked why someone would say you need to take off the rose colored glasses, and I explained why. Ask anyone on this board who is not a die-hard Obama supporter and I think you’ll get the same answer. It’s been brought up a number of times.
I’m not really interested in debating that subject, but just giving you info to answer your question.
One thing I think we desperately need in this country is for party members to take the blinders off and start looking at the person. Look for honest quality candidates who are sincerely interested in working for the welfare of their fellow citizens. At least then we can have an honest debate between conservatives, moderates, and liberals. We’ve tolerated too many lies and it’s up to us to draw new boundaries and enforce them. We have to ask more of ourselves than swallowing the talking points from either party.
I think that’s why some republicans are willing to take a chance on Obama. In another thread someone else spoke of his father being a life long republican who has never voted democrat. Of Obama he said " I know a great man when I see one"
I hold some conservative views myself and think *honest * debate between parties about ideals and problem solving is what makes this country stronger. Unfortuntely the poltical system and citizen complacency has allowed for too much corruption and our media is no longer doing their job. We need to move back to toward honest debate about the issues instead of politicians like our current admin who talk a good game during the election and then pursue their own agenda and don’t give a rats ass about the average citizen.
Let’s reject dishonest sound bite politics and bullshit lies circulated on the internet and on TV. Let’s truly look at the individuals and give them some points for charecter even if we don’t agree with all their policies.
Given the choice we apparently have this election it seems clear to me that Obama is correct choice.
I am a big Obama fan and I admit to worry over this.
I think it is important for a country to have a strong middle class and the poor/rich should be minor fringes. It is clear that the middle class has been shrinking in the US and the divide between rich and poor has grown.
That said I do not like the Robin Hood approach and looking at Obama’s proposed policies that is what it looks like.
But then I compare that to McCain’s proposed policies which want even greater breaks for the already rich and leaves some scraps for everyone else.
I dislike both but I dislike McCain’s continuation of clearly failed “trickle down” policies more.
The claim in Gulf War 1 was that Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait, and that Bush Senior was not an idiot.
Despite a Republican saying it, they were actually true.
The claim in Gulf War 2 was that there were WMD’s in Iraq (including a thriving nuclear program), and that Bush Junior was not an idiot.
Clearly these were both lies.
I agree. I favor free enterprise because I believe it promotes innovation and encourages the entreprenuer. I want to help people but also promote personal responsibility rather than entitlement. Still, we have to deal with the country we have now rather than vote according to ideals we have yet to achieve. We don’t have free enterprise because large cooperations buy laws and policy in their favor. We need to build opportunity for the average working person to acheive the basic needs for a decent life. When too many jobs cannot provide a living then somethings out of balance.
So, until we can effectively address those things, taking a bit from the haves to help the have nots seems like the lesser of the evils. The great thing about this country is we can change and adapt.
If it pleases you, I am willing to replace my “bold” with your analyst’s “refreshing”.
“And, you know, it’s kind of refreshing to hear somebody say, “Base taxes on ability to pay.” It’s sort of an old and established and, I think, valued tradition.”
Objective analysis, not cherry picking, is what pleases me. This is standard Democratic fare, and sounds oddly similar to a certain phrase that is generally anathema to classical liberals: “from each according to his ability…”
But whatever floats your boat these days.
Presumably the pollsters did call some people with these views. The results in your OP don’t show 100% confidence in Obama.
Communism is the standard Democratic fare? Let us set aside that rather ridiculous claim, if only to point out that Republicans also tax according to ability — those who are least able pay more than they can afford.
Leaving us with the fact that what you know — “Most of the people I know feel that Obama is all style and no substance” — doesn’t mean much overall.
Have you done much objective analysis of where and to whom the billions heading toward Iraq are going? Once we’ve done that then we might have less reason to complain about Democratic spending habits.
Yeah, let’s leave that aside since I never made that claim.
Yes.
I’m not complaining about Democratic spending habits.