AP: Obama rises from political obscurity to verge of history

:)

and humbled that I'm able to witness and participate.

I would have been thrilled with just Hillary running - that in itself is a huge step - I never would have foreseen this.

When I was growing up (I'm 55) we'd half-heartedly say there would someday be a woman as President. I don't know how firmly we believed that, though. A black candidate wasn't even a consideration! No one thought to even ask "do you suppose an African American could become POTUS?"

As I look back over this campaign, I recall being told about Obama by a co-worker. She predicted I'd be impressed (I hadn't seen his speech at the last convention.) I honestly think in the back of my mind I thought that he might do well, but that the odds were against him because of his race.

He's a unique human being. He's energized portions of the populace that heretofore didn't have an interest in becoming involved in the political process, he's won over people like me who initially supported another candidate, and he IS exhibiting that he really wants change. His stand on the gas tax holiday is small example -- (not going along with the knee-jerk pander to the people stance).

At a time when I am so ashamed of my country, I'm at the same time so proud of all my fellow Americans in that we've come this far in such a relatively short period of time.

:grouphug:

:hug:

Obama is a tranformational leader at a time when our country needs one.

...to envision the scene of Durbin taking Obama aside and saying that.

:kick:

And all those that worked and donated are a part of it. K/R I'm proud to be an Obama supporter.

:thumbsup:

where people like him once couldn't even vote, and where they were once considered property - chattel, and where they've been oppressed and misunderstood for far far too long, and STILL are, in too many ways. Their votes have been discounted and taken for granted but they've loyally given them to the Democratic party for a long time nonetheless.

I think women have had and still have these same issues in this country as African Americans and other people of color: social, legal, and financial oppression, they didn't used to be able to vote either, or own property -- and women are still largely considered the property of men in many ways - in servitude to them - lesser human beings by virtue of their sex, and deserving of myriad forms of abuse and derision because of their sex - the same way people of color are deemed to be deserving of similar abuses because of their race.

I only wish the issue of sexism had been addressed to the same extent the issue of racism has in the US but it hasn't - not yet. And NO I'm not suggesting Mrs. Clinton lost because of her sex. She lost because she ran a bad campaign. However, that doesn't mean that we don't live in a sexist society nonetheless and that this issue also needs to be dealt with as racism has been. We STILL have quite a ways to go on both of those 'isms before we can say we've completely evolved beyond them.

BUT THIS IS PROGRESS - tremendous progress! I'm proud as Hell that the Democratic party has had both a female and an AA candidate for President in 2008. It's astounding. We should all be proud of our party and our candidates - both of them. They have both fought tremendous odds to get there and that they succeeded to that point in spite of those odds, is deserving of our respect.

black to be the nominee of the democratic party. From there history will be made as he will become the first black to lose the presidency. The first comment is truth, as for the second november will tell whether it is right or wrong, but please do not say this is racist. When does the truth become racial?

unreliable. Why should the millions of people who came to their own decision heed your constant criticism.

... of the guy seeking an argument, but going into the room providing only contradiction.

The posts are more comical and ridiculous than anything else.

have to stop posting your hateful, racist crap.

Oh, just because you don't like it when it's pointed out that you have a history of posting blatantly racist crap doesn't mean that we'll stop pointing it out.

and give it to the LEADER. That mind-set has got to go. It is fascist at its core. But more than this, it is a manipulation that is actually dangerous--to you and to "the chosen one."

I've been reviewing and analyzing Associated Pukes coverage of the South America left, and one thing that is remarkable about it is that they NEVER credit the people, the grass roots, the leftist and progressive organizers, the social movements or the voters, for the amazing, peaceful, democratic, LEFTIST revolution that is occurring all over the continent. Everything to the Associated Pukes is "strongman" vs "strongman." But if you know the facts and the truth of the situation, you know, for instance, that Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, owes his power--and, indeed, his life--entirely to the people of Venezuela, tens of thousands of whom came out of their hovels, during the 2002 (Bush/U.S.-supported) violent rightwing military coup attempt, surrounded Miraflores Palace (the seat of government), and by their sheer presence--in highly dangerous circumstances--and their demand that their Constitution be restored, paralyzed the coup organizers, gave pro-democracy elements in the military time to coordinate, and defeated the coup. And that is just one example--the most dramatic one, the most pivotal one*--of what is happening in South America.

You ever hear about that from the Associated Pukes? No. Instead, they give you the impression that the Venezuelan people are stupid assholes who have--somehow or other--repeatedly elected a "dictator." They don't tell you that Venezuelan elections put our own elections to shame for their transparency--nor credit those who made that happen. They don't tell you of the social movements and grass roots organizers who labored for years to create the political infrastructure that could overcome the U.S.-supported oiligarchy and its foaming-at-the-mouth rightwing corporate news monopolies.

If they can get you see Hugo Chavez as a "strongman"--and not the honest, open-eyed, fought-for CHOICE of the vast majority of Venezuelans--then they can more easily convince you, as they are trying to do now (with a pack of lies, psyops, manufactured intel and covert activities that I believe is being orchestrated by Donald Rumsfeld**), that Chavez is a "terrorist-lover," so that, when the Bush Cartel finally gets Oil War II: South America under way, you will think 'oh, it's just that Chavez guy, who has harmed no one, invaded no one, and has not even jailed anyone unfairly, and has been running a scrupulously lawful, beneficial government for ten years, dictator, terrorist.'

You won't care if the peoples' peaceful, democratic revolution is toppled, and replaced with actual dictators and terrorists--like those in Colombia (Bush-U.S. ally) who chainsaw union leaders and throw their body parts into mass graves. You won't care if REAL democracy is overthrown in Venezuela, in Ecuador, in Bolivia, in Argentina, in Paraguay (which just elected a leftist), because you have been vastly misinformed about what it is that you are looking at. You are not looking at a "strongman." You are looking at a strong, well-organized, passionately democratic PEOPLE, who have--by their own blood, sweat and tears--put Chavez in power in Venezuela, and put Rafael Correa in power in Ecuador, and put Evo Morales in power in Bolivia, and put Cristina Fernandez in power in Argentina, and put Fernando Lugo (the beloved "bishop of the poor") in power in Paraguay (of all places!). It is they whom the global corporate predators want to overthrow, not "dictator" Chavez. But because the Associated Pukes have written the story this way--that it's about "Chavez, the dictator"--many north Americans and other first worlders won't know what the fuck is really going on in South America if the Bush Cartel succeeds in overthrowing democracy there.

Similarly with Obama, they--the Associated Pukes and their global corporate predator puppetmasters--crown him king and can bring him down at any time. It's not YOU. It's not your hard work and determination. It's not a grass roots REVOLUTION. It's "history choosing him"--replete with these little historical turning points, that are supposed to thrill you as a SPECTATOR.

I'm not saying don't enjoy the moment. I do. I love seeing true political talent succeed--someone who respects, and connects, with ordinary people; someone who is intelligent and skillful, whose heart seems to be in the right place, and who, together with his family, presents a stunningly refreshing image of our country and who we really are. It is definitely fun to feel swept up in an historical moment of greatness. But the true importance of this moment is NOT Obama being "chosen by history." The true importance of this moment is Obama being chosen by YOU--the activists, the organizers, the grass roots and the voters, the PEOPLE, who have GIVEN him this moment.

I can't tell you how happy I am to see the PEOPLE defy the crowned choice of the powermongers who have nearly destroyed our political party (not to mention our country). And the issue--the most important one--is the PEOPLES' revulsion at this goddamned war. That is why Obama is successful. That is why people have flocked to his campaign. He opposed it early and publicly, and he is the only one left standing who did so. Seventy percent of the American people now oppose this war and want it ended--a whopping, epochal anti-war majority (up from an already significant 56% just before the invasion--Feb '03, NYT poll; other polls 54-55%). And they cannot get their voices heard, and cannot get the collective, democratic will of the American people obeyed. I don't know if Obama will obey the will of the people, once in office--nor yet, if he does intend to obey our will, that he will be permitted to do so (to be elected, and to implement it). Odds are that he won't be able to. The forces against the American people and our will, on this matter (and others), are ferocious. But it is nevertheless crucially important to the future of our country and our democracy that we have an activated, involved citizenry. That is more important than any leader. That is the true story of this campaign. And the Associated Pukes are already trying to take that moment away from YOU--to de-activate you, to disempower you, to demoralize you and disenfranchise you AGAIN, and to brainwash you that it's all about the "chosen one" and not about the power of the PEOPLE.

-----

*See "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," the fabulous Irish filmmakers' documentary on the 2002 coup attempt in Venezuela (available at YouTube).

**(read between the lines) "The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chávez," by Donald Rumsfeld, 12/1/07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113001800.html

Antidotes to Rumsfeld:
www.venezuelanalysis.com
www.BoRev.net

by a republican-owned media which is now proceeding to pull him down from the heights.

has donated 100+ million to Obama? The Republican media has been voting for him in primaries and caucuses?

Obama's rise was due to internet and Iowa where people actually get to watch the candidates in person rather than rely on a whore media.