Obama's online muscle flexes against him

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

The man of Change is saying and doing all the right things to get him elected. He gets angry when questioned about these issues stating he has not reversed his positions. He has reversed his position.. He is not the MAN we believed in from the beginning. I was offended yesterday by his remarks when WE go oversees we can not speak the language, for one thing, Europe is the size of the U.S. and it is easier to learn the language because it is like travelling from FL to NY and speaking French and Italian becomes second nature.. we should focus on teaching are children the basic skills in our schools which are failing big time and his elistist comments made me very upset yesterday. America is America and not Europe... we have major problems at home so lets stay focused on OUR problems ENERGY,our YOUTH, JOBS, and a host of many other problems and do not belittle us because we are not international. Obama appears to want to be the President of the WORLD lets take care of the United States of America and stick to your core values that we the people voted for you to be our Democratic Nominee....

Wow ! Who knew that he was just another typical Chicago/Cook County profession hack who'll say anything just to get elected ? /sarcasm OFF.

Who Knew.....indeed !

Between this and the Lieberman story maybe democrat voters should consider that there is a real threat that our government is protecting us from. Why else would Obama and Lieberman be working with their politcal rivals? Unless there was something bigger at stake.

Sen. Obama Is Finally Getting A Taste of Change He Can Believe In after flashing that middle digit one too many times to his HOPEful hard working supporters and financial backers!

Many had warned them; now they are learning about "Fast Eddie", his lack of conviction,
his untrustworthiness, his bag of tricks, and his hidden always morphing agendas.

It's scary.

People don't like to be lied to. People that voted for you and gave money to you really don't like to be lied to. A classic Chicago politician all the way!

It is really too bad he has chosen this. It was his position on issues like this that had me supporting him.

OTOH, I am sure Hilary and McCain are both on the same side.

It is really too bad The Constitution is taking such a beating.

Obama or McCain. The same brain twister. Why do people contend to think that Democrats and Republicans are two different parties? In reality, presidential hopefuls, be it all political hopefuls, run the line on all issues in order to have power. To them it's not about helping fix the country. It's power, money, exploitation, etc. They continue to destroy the true beauty laid down in our Constitution by calling on blind and ignorant views that lead to a fractured society. Obama, wake up, your fake. McCain, please. Tell us lies we can somehow believe. Hah. Vote? Vote for a system that is not about equality for all parties running? Censorship and Media coverage of two people. What brain-mush. Hah.

Before the election is over, you won't be able to tell the difference between Hussein Obama and John McCain!

So much for change you can't believe in LOL

Kim1860 - I understand and agree with what you stated were the problems in the US and the importance of focusing on them. At the same time, we can't turn our blinders on and pretend the world doesn't exist. We are not isolationists, we are not Myanmar (aka Burma). It is true that many in the US don't ever take the time to learn a foreign language. The rest of the world sees this as arrogance. Other countries teach a foreign language starting in grade school. The ease of learning a new language doesn't depend on your geography, it depends on when you start. Its proven that children have an easier time learning a new language. While it might not be as important as math or reading English, it will better prepare our children to go out in the world and be successful. Learning another language and culture promotes understanding. I don't think its elitist to want a peaceful and compassionate world.

I don't know what these flower children are getting so worked up over. If they think he can win with the crazy left vote alone, they're sadly mistaken (which would actually be a consistent trait). Anybody who believes this sudden run to the center is anything but a smokescreen hasn't seen his voting record. So cheer up lunatics, he's still the same Communist dirt bag he's always been, he's just trying to put on a fancy dress before he comes and blows your house down. This is the guy who thinks you're rich if you make 250K/yr.

Obama offers what America needs right now, change. After 8 years of failure, do we want really more of the same?

KIm1860, Your isolationist response just proves the arrogance of the American people in not knowing, wanting or trying to fit in with the world community. Based on your silly statement that Europes countries are all so close so that is why they learn other languages is rediculous. Let me ask you this, since Canada (a bi-lingual country in English and French) and Mexico are our neighbors, do you speak French and Spanish? I didnt think so.Did it ever occur to you that perhaps the reason Europeans learn their neighbors languages is out of respect and to better their own education and knowledge of other cultures? Of course you didnt. Learning a second or third language is as much a part of a good education as math, science and geography. Americans travel around the world and expect other cultures to accomodate them in english all the time. This arrogance is what gives us a bad name - just for one example. It has also been proven that learning and speaking a second or third language cuts in half the chances of getting alzhimers disease! Your Americans are superior elitist attitude will only further our reputation as arrogant Americans.

No kidding we have problems at home - apparently we Americans shouldn't be expected to speak multiple languages when we can't even master writing our own English(see above). And Kim1860: Speaking French and Italian is not second nature for most Europeans.

Obama's comments were meant to point out our country's inadequacies in properly understanding and addressing other cultures, which is part of what has gotten us into the international messes we are in today. I happen to think that his international experience and outlook will make him a much better representative of and leader for the U.S.

"Obama appears to want to be the President of the WORLD lets take care of the United States of America."

The guy hasn't shown competence to improve Illinois, let alone the US. I'm jealous....I wish I could get considered for a promotion without producing results in my current position. Of course, I don't work in gov't.

Maybe it is more pragmatic to back the bill. I was never so sure about the immunity issue because of a company cooperating with the government or presidential administration.

It would be nice if legislature were laid out in a more simple manner that could be parsed by the public or at least by the news, but even the news will only give you the highlights of a bill and their highlights may not be yours.

It seems that the RNC is succeeding in their distracting from the real issues of this general election, even with this poor job of reporting of the facts. Last night I heard a senator say that this bill going up for a vote will put an end to warrentless wire taps, that the bill will specifically insist on FISA court approval to wire tap Americans, even those oversees.
Again the media is using an anonymous source to claim that Senator Obama’s own supporters are turning against him, anyone including RNC operatives can access the senators web-site to make claims and the media just falls into this distraction.
This is part of the FISA Bill that is going up for a vote, it looks like oversight to me.

`(g) Certification-
`(1) IN GENERAL-
`(A) REQUIREMENT- Subject to subparagraph (B), prior to the implementation of an authorization under subsection (a), the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence shall provide to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court a written certification and any supporting affidavit, under oath and under seal, in accordance with this subsection.
`(B) EXCEPTION- If the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence make a determination under subsection (c)(2) and time does not permit the submission of a certification under this subsection prior to the implementation of an authorization under subsection (a), the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the Court a certification for such authorization as soon as practicable but in no event later than 7 days after such determination is made.

One thing that is clear, Obama supporters expect him to be[Perfect]. And if he's not, there is tremendous [desent]. In the real world; however, the powerfullest country in the world is controlled by: Men of Ideas. No one is in a vaccum of leadership. You act, for the most part, with compromise. You have to lend a certain way to get others in power to lend for idea's and policies you support. This is how things get done in Washington. Obama's brilliance is that he is a great "compromiser" and good at working with others and creating a consensus. This was a weak point for George Bush. A weak point for McCain. Look, if you don't like this, vote for someone who's perfect. But, stop trying to make this man [Perfect].

posted by Kim1860:
"...we should focus on teaching are children the basic skills..."

Kim -- It is "our". And whether we like it or not, our children are behind culturally as compared to most of the developed world. Addressing this issue does help us within the USA, though I would agree that other educational issues should be address in tandem.

To: Kim and Paulie..Great posts!!!..It is becoming more and more evident that Obama the person is not the same as Obama the Candidate..His wording the last several days makes one think that if elected his personality will be that of a tyrant..Short fused to say the least. His way of talking down to the people is very degrading and certainly has started removing the halo that so many had placed on his head..If the people cannot even question the issues without his getting offended now...What later???I don't think other Countries will appreciate his " you are not listening to what I have said" tone either...His elitism and speaking to people with disdain will be his downfall......Perhaps if he spoke from the mind and heart with his answers and not prepared answers his translations would not get lost in his rhetoric........

Obama didn't change his position. His main platform has always been about "Change."

I guess that let's him "Change his mind" while still being consistent. Watch, he's going to "Change" the constitution.

don't worry folks, Obama will soon come out and say that he did not say what they said he said.

At some point you folks are going to realize the guy is just an empty suit. . . Good orator, perhaps, but his only intent is to promote the one thing he cares about -- himself. Glad to see his liberal left friends are seeing this.

I was all about Obama. Then, as the article notes, he backtracked on FISA, one of the most important constitutional issues of our time. Then he came out in support of "faith-based initiatives" (read: your tax dollars going to pay for someone else's attempts to proseltyze you).

Gosh, if I wanted another George Bush, I would have voted for him in the last two elections. What's the difference between you and McCain, Barack? Seems like skin color . . .

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW OBAMA WAS OUR SENATOR (IL). HE SAID THE WORD 'CHANGE' 32 TIMES IN HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH. WHAT HE TALKIN' 'BOUT? CHANGE WHAT? ALL I HEAR IS MORE GOVERNMENT HAND OUTS FOR THE LAZY. HIS KIDS DON'T SPEAK FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE THIS BAD ATTITUDE. OBAMA? NO THANKS!

Big deal, egotistical politician named Obama takes for granted the people who put him where he is.

Obama changes his positions as often as some people change their shirts.

In order to not only keep the momentum he has but gain more votes, he has become the man he decried. Even though his faithful legions will stick with him to the end (like Charles Manson's), the truely free thinker's have begun to notice the sham of Obama. The pandering of Obama. The trickery of Obama. What's next? Of course the tried and true political maneuver of "creating the boogyman". Anyone who happens to notice the flips of his main platform positions are evil "swift boater's" and to those who haven't noticed yet, well believe you me there good fella, this is all a hoax dreamed up by those nasty Republicans and don't believe a word they say! He'll tell you again just want you want to hear, go ahead and ask him. Just don't expect the same answer to the same question asked by someone else down the road. Now we are hearing from his columnist liberal mouthpieces about the republican trap being set? Heck, all Mr. Obama has to do is keep raving about how great he is and that he has all the answers to all the Worlds problems (this is becoming a global election don't you know). When he rarely gives a definative answer (instead of rhetoric), these are the times he get's clobbered by the non-followers and now even his own are gnawing on his legs for flipping on major platform positions. This guys not changing his grand plan due to "the changing reality on the ground" or altering his positions to reflect changing circumstances unless you consider the "changed reality on the ground as the need to gather more money and votes therefore, trynig to appeal to those who wouldn't vote for you in the first place. The changin circumstances are likely the fact that he has wrapped up the nomination and now he has to leave the far left and gravitate towards those evil doers to try toget their votes and money. In the words of the miserable E. J. Dionne (kool-aid drinking columnist for the Washington Post) be a hawk or a dove, but not a chameleon.

Allow me to offer two points with respect to this story.

First, I find it sad that when faced with questions about or criticisms of his stated positions, Obama makes a prepared speech and the media and his supporters swoon over his words. For example, when questions arose around his church association he gave a largely vacuous speech in Philadelphia full of generalities and platitudes and some in the media equated it with Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Admittedly the man is eloquent. But if you read the transcript the passion is gone and it becomes hollow, without substance. The “Obama moment” that Jon Pincus in this article speaks of is gone.

Secondly, John McCormick does a disservice to his readers when he describes Obama’s recent pronouncements as “more moderate” and it is nearly galling that he quotes Obama’s use of the word “refine” in any of these instances when he now offers positions that are 180 degrees different from earlier statements. Compare this with the facts stated later in the article by Douglas Holtz-Eakin regarding public financing, debates and the D.C. handgun ban and you have to believe that “more moderate” is correct only in the extreme. As in, right-wing Evangelicals are ‘more moderate’ than left-wing Socialists.

I was initially indifferent to Obama but over time I have found him committed to only one position in particular. As he wrote in Audacity of Hope, "I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views." It’s not that we haven’t been listening, Mr. Obama. It’s quite the opposite. We’ve been listening too well.

This change of position is hardly a revelation. Anyone who thinks that we can completely change the way our government has been doing their sneaky, sleazy business for the last 30+ years in just the first year or two that Barack Obama is in office is probably too out of touch with reality to make a responsible, informed vote in November anyway.

Big Brotherism is here to STAY! Get a pen, write it down. The wiretap thing is the least of it. You know for the government to wiretap me wouldn't really mean anything to me. I'm not selling dope, I'm not a member of a subversive radical group, I'm not in a militia, and I'm not a threat to anybody. And I'll bet the only people who really do object to wiretaps are the people who are involved in illegal activities in the first place.

All of a sudden the Iraqi people seem to have gotten a wake up call and now want to take their own country back, well good for them. It doesn't mean that Obama is changing his position about bringing our troops HOME, it just means that he's willing to adjust the time frame so we can notch a success in Iraq, rather than yet another dismal failure. And frankly, after all the fine young people who have lost their lives over there I can think of no better tribute to their sacrifice than for their brothers in arms to return home victorious. That's not unreasonable.

Basically the bottom line here is that the world is a dynamic place. Conditions and circumstances change from day to day, sometimes from minute to minute. So to assume that taking a dogmatic inflexible position on any issue will prove effective for the solution of problems is sophomoric at best.

That's why I'm not alarmed by Senator Obama's occasional shifts in position. Demanding inflexibility is an unreasonable expectation, and childishly unfeasible. Especially when the core tenets of his proposals remain intact.

Kim posts she is 'offended' that Obama again points out the truth - When Americans travel abroad, they expect the rest of the world to communicate in English.
Of course, Americans don't need to know any other language.
What arrogance and false positioning to cloak a glaring inadequacy.
Poor Kim and her many clones.

Obama was with Daley against guns in Chicago now he has flipped on that,how come no one has asked Daley about that? Are they afraid Daley will go nuts and pull his hair out ? That would be good TV.

I have grown to really, really despise this guy and his deceitful pandering. He's for public campaign financing…..no wait, he’s against it. He’s against nuclear energy...no wait, he's for it. He supports the DC gun ban, but wait, he commends the Supreme Court for voting it down. He's against gay marriage yesterday, and for it today when speaking to a gay rights group. Obama is one of the most contrived and deceitful candidates to slide down the garbage chute in years. Obama is hollow. He stands for nothing.

I understand your argument, this isn't Europe, and we aren't a stones throw away from dozens of other countries. But the fact is, this is America. We are the most diverse country on the planet, and Americans come from every walk of life from just about every other nation. That's part of what makes it so great.

I agree about focusing on problems at home, but the language issue also applies to living in the US

You know angry John McCain would fly into one of his rages if his supporters ever did such a thing. He expects to be followed blindly and without question. He is there to command, not serve.

It's nice to see a different attitude. Obama is far from perfect, but he does have some things going for him.

Obama's agenda is not an American agenda. Period.

The question is one of trust. Do you trust Obama on questions of core values, or must he explicitly state actions he will or will not take? For instance, do you believe it is a core value of his to want to end this war with Iraq? Or must he explicitly state timelines and troop numbers? Do you trust him on wanting to protect personal privacy, or must he pledge to act or vote a certain way on a specific bill?

If you trust him on his core values, then you must trust him to be guided by those values to the maximum extent possible when faced with real world, messy choices.

Kim1860. The first time I heard Obama's ad where he said he will change the world, I thought...what? When I heard it a second time, I realized he really thinks he will do that. His supporters may be ok with that, but I'm not. He doesn't plan to put all his focus on the U. S., because that won't help him to rule the world. Obama is a legend in his own mind, and he has more confidence than he has ability. Unfortunately his supporters don't see him that way.

Obama also promised to withdraw troops if elected.
Now he's saying that he can't and will not. Obama is a gifted speaker at best, but lacks brain power. He has no firm stance on any issues because he just repeats what "advisers" tell him the issues are and what people want to hear.
If I knew he would focus on issues closer to home...like generational welfare, murder, gangs, drugs, immigration issues I would vote for him. However, I have doubts he would even know how to address these issues. He has rose colored glasses on and is also blinded by his desire to be the first non-white President of the U.S.

Haven't we learned anything from posting on "The Swamp", by now !! Didn't we have, throughout the primary season, the false postings of Republicans, playing Democrats, badly!! Even, Senator Clinton's supporters played supporters of Senator Obama's, or Republicans, or even Libertarians and what did that get any of them, nothing. Senator Obama is going to take positions on issues that I, and his supporters, are going to disagree with, that is part of the political equation !! Given his the re-thinking of issues and his stance on those issues, he still is not anywhere near the King of Flip-Floppers, Senator McCain is !! Why is it flip-flopping for Senator McCain and re-thinking of an issue, for Senator Obama, because, when King Flip-Flopper, Senator McCain does it, he does it to be popular with the voter!! The same can't be said for Senator Obama, he re-thinks his position and his website is bombarded with lies, distortions, innuendoes and more lies, all brought to you by the, not too, Swift-boaters and The RNC !! I say to Senator Obama, keep thinking and don't get locked into a bad position, like President Bush has with his illegal and immoral war and occupation of Iraq.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

ex hillary supporter s are not the only one s voting for mc senile in nov obama is a liar he lied to us about change in washington and when he clinched now it s same old washington tatics

H.L.Mencken. defined a demagogue as "one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." I believe this describes Obamas recent policy changes on Iraq, Wright, Ayers, NAFTA, gun laws, and many, many more changes to come. As Tony Blankely said"change you can believe in or change we cannot keep up with."

The headline is misleading. The purpose of the group is to ensure that Obama doesn't abandon the progressive Democrats who helped win the nomination for him. Don't think of this as opposing Obama. Think of this as keeping him on the right track.

The only difference between this group and other groups is our chosen medium. In this age, the choice of medium is critical to spreading the message. The organizers of this group chose a medium that the Obama campaign can't ignore and can't delete. The campaign's response, encouragingly, has been to respectfully address the group's concerns. So far, so good, for both the group and the campaign.

One of the organizers, Mike Stark, has pledged to keep the group going to address other issues should they arise. I've pledged my support by joining the group. I would encourage other progressives to do likewise.

I encourage everyone to read the postings of Obama supporters at mybarackobama.com. You'll find some of the most insane, disgusting, anti-semitic ravings ever seen.

For example:

"THOSE WHO SPEAK AGAINST THE OBAMA FAMILY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN NAZI NEO CON REPUBLICAN RATS WHO’S OWN BLOG IS SO FILLED WITH HATE THAT THEY HAVE TO BRING THEIR FILTH TO OUR BLOG! GO HOME YOU FILTHY NAZI NEO CON REPUBLICAN RATs AND TAKE YOUR TRAILER TRASH WITH YOU!!!"

Or this:

"Ladies and gentleman, Barack Obama is not a saint as you would believe. He will sell America down the river for Israel if given an opportunity as president elect."

Or the revelation that numerology and the number 11 are running this country: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samvafadar/gGBrFb

Or the "truther" who claims Hillary Clinton (!) was responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

"Why didn’t Hillary Clinton evacuate the World Trade Center???
By Erin Platt - Feb 23rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm EST

... When the first plane hit - she was NYC’s senator - WHY DIDN’T SHE CALL AND TELL THEM TO EVACUATE THE WTC TOWERS IMMEDIATLEY!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!????????? ??????????????? ????????????????? WHY????????????!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! How many lives could have been spared!? Bush should be charged with negligent homocide (because of the Aug 6th PDB memo and the intelligence from the G8 summit- and Clinton should be charged with involuntary manslaughter! PERIOD!"

www.littlegreenfootballs.com has patiently catalogued these and many other examples of the pure nuttiness of Obama's supporters.

I just wanted to point out that the main issue is the capitulation on the FISA legislation. Obama's "move toward the center", though not endorsed by most of his supporters, is somewhat expected. However, on this particular issue, which is actually a black and white, right and wrong issue, and is actually a bipartisan issue, he is choosing the wrong side; the side most blatantly against the interest and opinion of the american people. On top of that, his rhetoric used to justify his actions is absolutely despicable and misleading.

How much do you want to bet that the RNC is sending its backers to Obama's website to wreak havoc? It's just the latest way that they can dodge the real issues facing Senator (cheated on my wife) McCain.

FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP.......

Actually this is an example of what makes Obana so good. He's taking what could be a heinous law on wiretapping, and by cooperating bipartisanly, adding safeguards that will reduce potential for abuse. Very similar to the work in the IL Senate regarding videotaping confessions. No one should object to wiretapping bona fide enemies, and no one should support wiretapping the public or political enemies. The extremes on both sides would choose one over the other.

Politics is the art of the possible. Die-hard purists on the left are to be admired for their passion, but they should be warned that a mutiny will likely result in 4-8 more years of McBush. All the smug self-righteousness in the world won't soften the pain and suffering such a result will inflict on the working men and women of America.

Megan, if that's true then why doesn't Barack Obama speak spanish? Do his two precious little snowflakes study Spanish? Didn't think so.
More do as a I say, not as I do from Barack Hussein Obama.

If there is one thing you can count on it is CHANGE. It looks like the winds of change have taken a new direction. Typical Windy City Politics. How many issues will he flip-flop on if elected Prez.? I hate being lied to.

The Internet has changed a lot of things, and the Democrats. who were the first to develop a net presence effectively, seem to have forgotten a lot. In part, the Net makes it easier to stay aware of the details of political debate. At the same time, it permits people of like minds to find each other. While once, people who disagreed with the party leadership or the candidate could be shut out of the discussion, this no longer applies.
This seems significant because the PUMA coalition, Democrats who oppose Obama, are also using the Net effectively. Instead of licking their wounds before returning to vote the party line, those who feel that the Illinois Senator was given the nomination undemocratically are also finding a unified voice, making it less likely that there will be party unity this autumn.

While Senator Obama may well win the election, career politicians had best learn the importance of more open communications, and a system that offers everyone a voice.

Isolationist mentality? The US is the most hated country in the world not because of our isolationist mentality; the rest of the world hates us because of our Imperialist mentality. How many other countries in this world have over 700 military bases in over 170 countries in this world. Read what our CIA has done since its inception. We created the Taliban and Al Quada; over threw governments in Iran, Indonesia, Korea, China, Chile, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many, many more. It has been documented that our elitist bankers have funded both sides of every war we have been involved in. Our Constitution is hanging by a thread and if you people honestly believe that Obama or McCain or anyone else in our invertebrate Congress can change that, think again.

Ask yourself; where did Obama come from? He rose from relative obscurity to the panacea of all political and economic woes worshiped by the corporate elite of mainstream media. Obama is a puppet, look at who is advisers are. Zbigniew Brzezinski; self proclaimed Soviet smasher who created the Taliban to force Soviet Russia into their own Viet Nam. Brzezinski has made it his lifelong goal of the complete destruction of Russia and its sister states. Obama has been indoctrinated by his Russia hating ideals since he attended Columbia between 1981-1983. We are headed for WW III with Obama at the hand of Brzezinksi. Obama is a puppet of the CFR/Trilateralists/Bilderberg/NWO regime. McCain is a puppet of the Military Industrial Complex. I support none of these war loving banking big business puppets.

Um, not ALL Americans are idiots, Senator Obama. I am a native born American. I actually learned to speak French, German, Italian and Spanish. Surprise! And I have traveled all over Europe and North America and SPOKE the native language of those countries.

Don't assume that everyone is as arrogant as you are, Obama. I certainly don't think that everyone should accomodate me and speak English when I come around.

It is interesting to see the L. Ron Obama supporters spinning to justify the ever-changing Obama. It is kind of like debating with Moonies about their chruch.

"Organize Against Him"? I'm really sick of how the media has been portraying this as some sort of mutiny. It's ridiculous! I'm one of the "thousands" of Obama's supporters who have expressed concern over his position on FISA, but I would never say that we are "organizing against him". We are protesting his position on one issue - that's hardly organizing against him. I support Obama - but that doesn't mean I won't offer dissent when it's warranted. The fact that I can do so on Obama's own website only proves the difference between Obama and McBush.

Kim1860, lookup oversees in your dictionary, then lookup overseas. When a bill is changed or adjusted then it needs to be reconsidered, the immunity is now part of compromise legislation which is being worked out. And Scott, Canada is bi lingual only that two sections of Canada speak different languages, French, and English. Americans which travel to the French spreaking area will have a hard time if they dont speak French as the people, for the most part, even if they know English will not speak it to you and have been known to be somewhat rude in that respect. The English speaking area is not versed in French, for the most part. Canada may be bi lingual in that two areas speak different languages, but the people, for the most part are NOT bi lingual.

hard to believe another negative obama article. Do you people ever write about important issues.why doesn't the tribune come out and just say that you indorse mcsame. Are you
really journalists or just a mouth piece for the republicans.It is almost like rupert murdoch bought the trib.

Chicago Yooper, when do you normally restock the bunker?

You must be one of those people who want everybody to approve of or like you. Clearly you expect the same from your country.

B. Hussein Obama - An empty suit with BIG ears.

It's bad enough when the Trib's editorial board lies, but when one of their reporter lies it's even worse. It is not an "anti-terrorism wiretap program," it is a WIRETAP program that has worked without probably cause, sweeping up massive amounts of data from innocent Americans who have done nothing to warrant examination by any law-enforcement body. It is spying on Americans at the behest of the President, done completely without judicial oversight and completely in secret.

Dear Obama,
Please vote "no" on H.R. 6304, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. I oppose this expansion of the executive branch's spying powers because the bill does not do enough to protect the privacy of people whose communications are being monitored. I am also greatly concerned that the bill leaves too much discretion with the Executive Branch, damaging FISA's checks and balances.

In addition, please vote "YES" on the Dodd-Feingold amendment, which would strip telecom immunity from the bill entirely. If telecommunications companies broke the law in order to assist the warrantless wiretapping programs, they must be held accountable.

The courts, not Congress, should decide if a company broke the law. Surveillance laws must effectively target terrorists without risking the rights of innocent Americans.

Everyone agrees that the government should be able to collect the communications of terrorists, but the government also has a duty to protect the privacy of innocent Americans. I hope that you will work to uphold the fundamental freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution and that you will oppose H.R. 6304.

Thank you all for your summary of today's anti-Obama Republican Talking Points. Much more amusing than checking the list at McCain's site.

I disagree Chica de Agula. First Quebec is the only Canadian province to officially speak French, but all the signs in all of Canada are in French and all the kids learn French in grade school and high school. They almost all know it some degree. I have been to Canada to several provinces probably 50 times and lived there twice for a few months at a time.

Also In Quebec, if you TRY to speak a few French words, they will accomodate you and be nice. It's only the jerks that don't even try to be nice that have problems. I think you are confusing the stereotype of the FRENCH in France not being nice to Americans, which is also not true 99% of time when you try to speak a little French.

Obama's position on FISA endangers civil liberties, and it is great to see those that supported him take him to task. This shows that there are a significant amount of Obama supporters that realize we are a country of laws, not of men (or women), and know that supporting a candidate does not mean drinking the koolaid also.

At the same time, it is lame that Republicans support these same terrible FISA reforms but yet criticize Obama for being on their wrong side of the issue. These Republicans need to stop drinking out of the Karl Rove punch bowl, and realize they potentially have two candidates working for them. If I were them and I disliked civil liberties in favor of more executive power, I'd make supportive comments for Obama's current position on FISA. That way you get what you want regardless of who gets elected.

@thunderdome

"Then he came out in support of "faith-based initiatives" (read: your tax dollars going to pay for someone else's attempts to proseltyze you)."

First of all, people who don't pay taxes have no inherent right to any taxpayer's dollars paid. "Your tax dollars" only applies to people who actually pay taxes. People who don't pay taxes, who only drain society, don't have a "right" to tax dollars, and certainly less right than "none" to complain about how a real tax payer uses an educational voucher.

Second, no one can "proseltyze". Thank God in my Catholic school, I learned how to spell. We had spelling bees weekly through eight grade, and we were safely prosletyzed to].

In order to "proseltyze you", they would have to be knocking on your door and telling you to convert, or telling you why you are wrong.

Ironically, this is the first time a Democrat has ever said anything I could even begin to get behind.

To paraphrase Ms. O'Bama, "This is the first time I've ever been proud of a Democrat". And likely the last.

John Elert
Chicago

Lies, lies, lies. What we're not being told is the cyber terrorism being waged right now against al Mighty Obama is none other than Bush - Cheney - Rumsfeld - McCain. We need to impeach these 4 Texans as soon as possible before they wage more cyber terrorism against al Mighty Obama.

Here is the text of Barry O'bama's editorial board meeting with the Trib.
on Patrick Fitzgerald. Barry never actually says he will keep Fitzgerald. Will he back pedal on this just as he has gone from a threatened filibuster of FISA immunity to a proponent of the phone companies?

Tribune: In the question that Bruce [Dold, Tribune editorial page editor] asked about the difficulties of coming up in Chicago and in the Chicago political way. When you were here several months, maybe a year ago, you said—either here or, I forgot, outside or where outside, I think it was right here in the room—that if you were, you know, that you would reappoint or seek to maintain Patrick Fitzgerald as the United States attorney. . . .

Obama: I think I said it here in the boardroom.

Tribune: Given the investigations that are going on now, if you're elected president.

Obama: I still think he's doing a good job. Yes.

Tribune: Would you keep him? And why would you keep him?

Obama: I think he has been aggressive in putting the city on notice and the state on notice that he takes issues of public corruption seriously.

Tribune: Does that position of wanting to keep the prosecutor in the job, does that, perhaps do you think it threatens or compromise any other political entities here in Chicago?

Obama: I can't speculate on that . . . I can't.

Tribune: I can.

Obama: You can, yes. [laughter]

It's idiotic to say that there is no difference between Dems and Republicans. That attitude gave us Bush over Gore. Dems are awful, but they different from the pukes.

Nice attempt to spin this as a negative for the Obama campaign, but it'll be good to have a president who encourages dissent, even if he doesn't always bend to it.

And here is some reverse spin on the article's choice of words. (Perhaps you might say that we are now entering a "no spin zone"?)

"terrorist wiretap legislation" = "illegally spying on Americans with no accountability or oversight"

"lawsuits that challenge cooperation with federal authorities in warrantless wiretapping" = "corporations must willingly ignore the Constitution if criminal federal authorities ask them to"

"civil libertarians worry could infringe on the privacy rights of others" = "people who understand their Constitutional rights and know that those rights are about to be taken away"

Scot S. Blakeley,

Are you that niave?

English is the common language in Europe. It has nothing to do with 'fitting in'. It is all about business. There it is a necessity.

Here we have the same thing, it is called SPANISH. Look at the store shelves next time, you'll probably find many items in multiple languages.

Money talks, it's not about being super human beings and learning another language. Get real. The only reason the Mexicans living in the US have learned our language is out of necessity. Your niave if you think it is because of their superior education.

The way I see it too many people in this world are too far to the left or too far to the right, especially politicians. The professional staff that support politicians, at least at a local level, are often more balanced in their views. I look at Obama and see someone more like a local professional staff person, but with the real leadership ability (and because its necessary in this world...political ability) to be the most effective type of President. So what if he is leaning more toward the right on this issue or toward the left on some other issue? He is a politician that uses that role to do the correct thing, whether that is more right or more left.

These anti-wiretap organizers will make a nice addition to the jihadi sympathizers, anti-Semites and 9/11 Truthers that make up the rest of mybarackobama.com.

Not hard to find, just search for it. Yikes.

Foreigners move to the US and don't learn English and that seems to be okay, but Americans not learning another language are damned?! Why. Why are Americans penalized for only knowing one language? Yet anyone from any other country it is okay for them to only know one language? Hypocrisy!!

I enjoy a political leader is is willing to "move toward the center" because in reality, we are all somewhere in there too. Very few Americans reside on the right or left. We are together in the middle! I believe that's the CHANGE Obama refers too. To stop the bickering between politicians and start to tackle the problems affecting American. The fact that Americans can't speak a second language is just on more way the rest of the world see us as blatantly disregarding the rest of the world. Just like we support war criminals being help accountable to a UN court, EXCEPT when it involves American. No that's not arrogance, that's blatant disrespect.

Sorry Jay, my grandparents along with hundreds of thousands of immigrants came here at the turn of the century and they had to learn to speak english. I cannot stress enough that people coming here from other countries, whether legal or not, should not have the right to expect us to learn their language. And I completely resent anyone from other countries to speak any language other than english in public. I would take my children out of any school that tried to teach them spanish. I do not want my children learning any language other than that of "my" ancestors.

Does anyone know how many languages Obama speaks? I don't remember reading anything about that.

No where in the world do more people, speak more different languages, than right here in our wonderful country, the U.S.A., thanks to our melting pot heritage. Once again, the "empty suit" Obama shows how dumb he really is.

terrorist wiretap legislation" =
"illegally spying on Americans with no accountability or oversight"
Posted by: Erik | July 9, 2008 12:01 PM

Poor Eric, he's as dumb as his messiah Obama.... doesn't have a clue how FISA works, and yet he seems to think he knows what he's talking about....Eric please cite the "ALL" the Americans who were illegally wiretapped while "IN THIS "
country.

Obama would have to basically murder someone (and then I'd even consider the circumstances) before I'd vote for McCain. Period!
They are all politicians who want to be elected. It would be impossible (and I'd be very suspicious) to agree with everything they are saying and doing.

Scot S. Blakeley,

"Let me ask you this, since Canada (a bi-lingual country in English and French) and Mexico are our neighbors, do you speak French and Spanish?"

Idiot, ever been down near the border or in a dominate French province? You will multilingual people there.

Also, all of Europe is accessible in a day by the majority of Europeans.

Canada and Mexico are not accessible for most Americans. America is vastly larger than Europe.

Think next time. You are the typical left winged loser that wants to accuse everybody of being arrogant when the reality is you don't have a brain.

So, has Mr Flip! Flop & Waffle
Liar in Chief Wannabe Liberal
Democrat Barack Obama done
his daily quota of Flips! Flops!
And Waffles! Yet Already Today? Some "Change You
Can Believe In" there Barack
Obama as you have already lied so many times you cannot
even remember which lie you
told who by now! No Obama!

"...his international experience and outlook will make him a much better representative of and leader for the U.S."

Obama having 'international experience' is a gross overstatement by Obama-ade drunking liberals.

Michael, he doesn't speak Spanish. But all of our kids, of course, should learn it.

"@thunderdome

"Then he came out in support of "faith-based initiatives" (read: your tax dollars going to pay for someone else's attempts to proseltyze you)."

First of all, people who don't pay taxes have no inherent right to any taxpayer's dollars paid. "Your tax dollars" only applies to people who actually pay taxes. People who don't pay taxes, who only drain society, don't have a "right" to tax dollars, and certainly less right than "none" to complain about how a real tax payer uses an educational voucher.

Second, no one can "proseltyze". Thank God in my Catholic school, I learned how to spell. We had spelling bees weekly through eight grade, and we were safely prosletyzed to].

In order to "proseltyze you", they would have to be knocking on your door and telling you to convert, or telling you why you are wrong.

Ironically, this is the first time a Democrat has ever said anything I could even begin to get behind.

To paraphrase Ms. O'Bama, "This is the first time I've ever been proud of a Democrat". And likely the last.

John Elert
Chicago"

John,

What's the point of your posting? That I am a bad typist?

I would have thought your Catholic education would have taught you the weakness of an ad hominem attack. Mea culpa for my spelling error.

I am not sure what you are trying to say, but it appears you think I am a parasite who does not pay taxes.

I will not justify that with a response, but I will point out that the true parasites are the religious institutions. Unlike corporations and individuals, they pay NO taxes. Nonetheless, they are now feeding from the public trough.

Further, every dollar a religious institution receives from the real taxpayers like me, is a dollar it can divert to other efforts, such as the conversion of unbelievers. I am aware of few religious organizations which are not devoted to obtaining new converts -- Jews, maybe? Bahai?

Tell me John, why should a Muslim fund a Catholic education? Why should an Evangelical fund a Jewish education? Why should an atheist fund any of that?

Chica de Agula, I live in canada and i couldnt disagree with you more. There are many french communitites throughout Canada not just in Quebec as you suggest. Canada has two offical National languages and they are english and french. ALL students must take both languages during their school years. So what the heck are you talking about. And Batboy, I never saw any selves in Kansas in spanish or any signs in english whil ein many european countries. So perhaps you should travel more often to places not so populated to find out? get lost man you have no idea what you are talking about. Oh and by the way Mr know it all, the word is spelled NAIVE not NIAVE! so who's the uneducated one here??

Batboy and Jeff:
La última risa está en usted dos perdedores correctos ignorantes de viento!
I speak English, je parle Francais, Ich spreche Deutch. Y obviamente hablo Spansih también! Typical of you right wingers to assume you know everything. Again the last laugh is on you. I hope everyone else is enjoying our conversations.
Adios perdedores!

November can't come soon enough to rid ourselves of this astounding con man Obama.

What a Republican President should mean:
Shepherd, protector of the flock regardless of cost.

What a Democratic President should mean: Slave to the Will of the People, Guardian against tyranny.

Of course, no one has ever chosen the latter as a model for his term. Reason: Lack of proper education of the masses OR righteous presumption of a leadership role?

Don B, No one can cite any Americans who were illegally wiretapped because the information on who was wiretapped is secret. It has been classified as secret by the same people who authorized the allegedly illegal wiretaps. There is no accountability or oversight. At least in Nixon's time we had some Republicans in Congress who stood up for the law and the Constitution.

Posted by: RFB-IL | July 9, 2008 12:17 PM

Should the people who live in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas all speak Spanish since they were settled by Spanish speaking people?

Vaya Con Dios!

Why is everyone so surprised that the man with the silver tongue can speak out of both sides of his mouth? Its not too late. Hillary should be the Democratic Party's nominee.
She can and should win the election in November. Obama can't and shouldn't win.

Isn't it time for the Superdelgates to open their eyes and ears and admit they have made a grave error ???..Obama might be great in Hollywood as an actor but to run our Country. NOT!!!..CHANGE YOUR VOTE NOW!!!!

I told you so.

Do you people not understand how government works? You have to compromise. One party or one viewpoint will not be 100% in control and will not speak for 100% of all people. If we get a president that pushes the agenda for congress to issues that are important for MOST people then we will ideally get a lot of good stuff done. Life is always about compromise. Moving positions to the center is what a good politician does in a general election. Do you go through your life, never altering your ideas or views on things? Do you want a President that just decides things? Like the "decider" did? And no new information will change their mind? I don't think we can handle that. I think we need someone who actually thinks about things and evolves with the new information.

I'm an Obama supporter, but the FISA bill bothers me, and I'm dismayed by Obama's about-face on his promise to oppose retroactive immunity on warrantless surveillance.

And I must urge my fellow Obama supporters who don't think enough of us [who are upset at Obama's lack of support for Feingold-Dodd's amendment to strike telco immunity] exist, try reading salon.com's Glenn Greenwald's columns on the matter, especially today's, and the commenters. Also visit reddit.com to find more like-minded people.

Glenn Greenwald, in particular, has been a supporter of Obama's, but it drives him absolutely crazy to witness what he sees as a general capitulation to the Bush regime's wishes by the Democratic Congress.

That's just Obama being Obama. It's very funny watching the uninitiated discover this as we have.

But, in seriousness, the left wing kooks in the party nominated him; now they won't let him move to the center to win the general election. By nominating him and by doing this, they are just helping McCain. And this is why we have lost the White House for all but 12 of the last 40 years.

Obama's definition of the word-

CHANGE=
-
FLIP FLOP

"Do you people not understand how government works? You have to compromise."
When has Obama, the Chicago Machine Politician, ever compromised on anything and not just voted as Harry Reid told him to? Puh-leaze, this isn't compromise. This is the bad theater of pandering for votes.

To the Editor/s of this post:

Why do you publish comments such as Batboy's name-calling diatribe against Scot Blakeley? Like Batboy, I disagree with Blakeley (and a number of other posters), but have the wit and vocabulary to do so without resorting to insults. What is an "over-the-top personal attack" ? Do you really screen out anything? Batboy is not a solo offender, just one of the more blatant.

Obama is doing what politicians do, nothing more, nothing less. In fact, he is doing what what any thinking person does -- adjusting. While it might be convenient for the voting public to have each candidate's position on every issue chiseled into granite, this will not happen. His goal is to win the office, and he will do whatever it takes to accomplish that. This is wha