'The Audacity of Hope'

Does Sen. Obama pay Jeff Zeleny to shill for him, or does Zeleny do it for free? Tribune readers wonder.

Hey, Sen. Obama again proves he has nothning better to do than write books, and dream of running for President. Cliff

I could have sworn that I voted for Obama to be a State Senator, not the State Poet Laureate. I guess there’s just not enough pressing issues in the Senate that he needs to fill in the time with writing books.

I can only hope it is as great a read as his last book. He is an excellent writer, thinker and will be a great senator.

Lasko,

If you voted for Obama for State Senator, you were at least one election too late - he's a U.S. Senator.

Why is it that when a fresh face with progressive good ideas comes to the forefront, the right wingers come out of the woodwork to denegrate them? Why can the right not just stop spouting hateful and fearlaced slogans and listen for once?

What he's proving is that he has a very powerful voice and message to put out there, whether he does that thru 30 second sound bites on TV or thru Books, you know those things made of paper filled with all sorts of words. Stop complaining and be happy that a Democrat is getting his deserved praise and attention. He's only been a senator for 2 years yet he's one of the most popular politicians around, why is that? If you're a democrat, stop and think if this is a good thing? I would say so consdering today's politics are run more like a popularity contest than a debate on the issues.

I agree with his black policy, but don't agree with his white policy.....after all, I'm a guilty white male.

Cliff and Lasko,

Yeah, there is so much more important work to be done in the House and Senate;

Pass the English Only law

Pass Gay marriage amendment

Rename French fries to Freedom Fries

Pass flag burning ban

Continue to knock down the wall between church and state

Pass the Save Terri Schiavo law! (talk about brain dead)

Cut more taxes while spending even more money, thus running up the $9 Trillion public debt even more.

In other words, continue to carry out the slightest whims on the aptly named 'Movement' Christians.

Obama is nothing but an empty suit. His ideas border on socialism. He is so popular because the media and the DNC has made him out be the All-American boy. He has an interesting background, but his ideas for this country are scary. He acts as the serious politician while Durbin, Schumer, etc... throw all the bombs

To Whom it May Concern,

After failing to hear back from Senator Obama's office about my query, perhaps this forum may get somebodys' attention.

I found the $1.9 million dollar advance that Senator Obama received troubling. Similar to the $8.0 million dollar advance that Senator Hillary Clinton received shortly after she took office, and similar to the $4.0 million dollar advance that congressman Newt Gingrich was forced to return about ten years ago (house laws are different than those of the senate).

Whenever a sitting US senator receives that much money from any entity that they are in principal supposed to regulate, the specter of corruption invariably comes up.

Sincerely,

Lars Ewell

At least he's doing something constuctive in writing books in his spare time. He's not going on free trips to Scotland, Hawaii or Puerto Rico! I agree with C.Morris...find something worthwhile to vote on...and all these legislators have college degrees and these are the laws they want to pass?

Go You White Sox!

Same old same old. It doesn't really matter what anyone says anymore, the first thing someone asks is, liberal or conservative? All answers are based on this and this alone. Personally, this is the problem with us as a nation, nothing else, party line, party line, party line...

Does anyone truly believe that the busy Obama is writing this book himself, "holed up in his apartment"? Or, like Hilary, has he hired a ghostwriter? Most reporters might ask these questions. Jeff Zeleny does not.

Yes, Juice I’ve been saying that for a while now, that the divide in this country is more due to the partisan language than anything else. I’m sure we all know who is to blame for the partisan rhetoric. It started in the 80’s with Newt Gingrich and the slander campaign he engineered to take control of the congress for the Republicans. Now it’s Karl Rove and most of the House and Senate Republicans that continue to use that same tactic to keep that control. Remember President Lincoln said a house divided will fall.

Terry,

All American boy? Wow, that's an interesting one. Apparently you haven't been listening, as neither the media nor Obama have hidden his half-Kenyan parentage. In fact, Obama is proud of his Kenyan heritage.

By the way, which of his ideas, specifically, do you find "scary" or "socialist"? If you're going to criticize, please give us some substance.

Sen. Obama received the book deal on graduation from Harvard Law School years ago, before he was remotely involved in politics; it was based on the fact that he was the first black editor-in-chief of the Harvard Law Review. Some of you should realize that law entails a lot of writing; many lawyers write in order to make sense of the complex situations that they deal with every day. The books are just memoirs. Don't worry about the advance - it's small potatoes and he's probably already spent it. Lars - Is Obama really the first politician you think of when you think 'corruption'? Christ.

Deer protest for their righs
with a number not yet verified they protested near the university of Illinois. It is said they only want to be able feed where ever they want to and to be able to provide for their young

Hey, Cliff and Lasko,

I'd be happy if Bush READ a book.

(Note: Audio-books don't count.)

Obama is a new breed of politician: he is brilliant, articulate, thoughtful, humble, open-minded, willing (and eager) to consider opposing views and genuinely dedicated to the ideals of America as opposed to the mud-slinging of Washington politics. His fresh voice is something to be listened to above the melee, whether or not you agree with him. He is seeking to communicate a complex message to his constituents in Illinois and his admirers around the country - a message which does not translate well through a sound-bite on cable news or a 30-second add. Instead of joining the incomprehensible political fray and contributing to the partisan rot of American ideals, I suggest we all take a deep breath and LISTEN and THINK. Obama's message is not just for liberal voters - a huge part of it is for conservatives as well, calling all corners of America back to the discussion rather than the battle. Who can complain about that?

Here finally is an intellectual bipartisan-A rarity anywhere to be found in Washington these days. Furthermore, he's honest and speaks in complete sentences! Doggone were lucky.
cal

Senator Obama has been in favor of increasing taxes from day one he has stepped foot into the Senate. By definition, taking more money from individuals and passing on to the gov't is Socialism. Dienne, do we need to get mor simple?

Terry,

First, thank you for actually elaborating a criticism. Second, how do you propose to pay off (or at least pay down) the national debt? Or would you rather just let our kids and grandkids worry about it?

Terry, you don't need to get "mor simple", but it would be good if you could learn to spell. So you believe that raising taxes is, by definition, socialism? Then you would call Ronald Reagan's "revenue enhancement" socialism, would you? Or Bush the elder's tax increase?

Nobody achieves success in a vacuum. Those who benefit the most from the system should return more to the system. Or as the Bible (that rabid socialist document) says: "From those to whom much has been given, much will be expected".

There is a story about someone who saw a vision of hell: people sat at a table with bowls of food, and spoons much too long for the people at the table to be able to manage to get the food into their mouths. So the people starved with the food in front of them. Then he saw a vision of heaven: the same table, the same food, the same spoons -- but the people fed each other. Every individual for himself leads to hell.

Terry, what is it called when a president cuts taxes in a time of war, slowed economic growth and record deficits? STUPID! Escpecially considering most of those tax cuts were given to corporations thru massive subsidies, to rich people thru extate tax cuts and capitol gains tax cuts. I don't know about you, but I don't know to many people making 50k a yr worrying about capitol gains taxes!!!!

This shows how out of touch the GOP is, Hastert, said that if you make 40k a yr and have 2 kids you don't pay taxes so that's why this newest tax cut they gave themselves and their friends won't affect normal americans, we already don't pay taxes. You republicans are a shameful people, full of hate and greed.

It's only a matter of time before the rest of this country awakens and sees what a mess they have caused. Keep voting with your wallet Terry, your kids will thank you.

Terry,

Having lost two corporate jobs to 'right (wing) sizing', half my pension, and my retiree medical insurance, I would gladly vote for socialized medicine.

I pay $2,400 per year just in premiums, plus another $3,000 if I actually use it. And this is low compared to what many must pay in the 'private' insurance markets.

Bring it on.

"Hey, Cliff and Lasko,

I'd be happy if Bush READ a book.

(Note: Audio-books don't count.)

Posted by: Jorge from Bloomington | May 20, 2006 2:37:54 PM"

Well, we know he can get all the way through "My Pet Goat" all by himself, without help.

John,

"My Pet Goat" all by himself"

Ouch!! Good one! Truth hurts!

You have inspired me to present 'Bush Brew' one more time.

Here’s a little rewrite of ‘Strange Brew’ by Cream. (Disraeli Gears, 1967)
My apologies to Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and E. Clapton. Enjoy!

Bush brew, kills what’s inside of you

He’s the Prez of us in electric red
If he has his way we may all end up dead
Boo-Hoo,,, now what ya gonna do
Bush Brew, Y2K did it to you

On a vote in the middle of a raging sea
He whipped Al’s a#%, that’s the way it must be
Although,,, Gore really won the score
Bush brew, stir up the right wing stew

Bush and Cheney even Tom DeLay,
They will teach us all how the big boys play
Dems lose,,, reduced to clowns and booze
Bush brew, he didn’t give Kerry a clue

Mephistophoeles aka Karl Rove
On his advise into Iraq we dove
Hey now,,, Redux: Apocalypse Now
It hurts, his name must really be Kurtz

Bush brew, kills what’s inside of you

Chad,

I think that you are incorrect about the timing of the $1.9 million dollars. As far as I can tell, that deal took place after he had been sworn in as a US senator.

Do I think of corruption when I hear the name Obama? I did not used to, but this deal has given me some pause.

If I think this way, I can imagine that his potential republican opponents would certainly make an issue out of it, as they should.

I would love to hear back from his office that he donated all of the money to charity. Unfortunately, that seems unlikely.

regards,

Lars

comments are free but facts are sacred.U are an epitome of hope for the less privileged from Africa.