Comments on: Obama Speech: Raise Your Expectations http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:01:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Masson’s Blog - A Citizen’s Guide to Indiana » I Got This http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-122202 Masson’s Blog - A Citizen’s Guide to Indiana » I Got This Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:19:36 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-122202 [...] if Obama gets beat, it won’t be because he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. I like Oliver Willis’s description of Obama: One of my personal maxims has been that politicians will disappoint you. The ones you [...] [...] if Obama gets beat, it won’t be because he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. I like Oliver Willis’s description of Obama: One of my personal maxims has been that politicians will disappoint you. The ones you [...]

]]> By: Exclusive: Footage Of Sen. Clinton’s Hunting Experience » Oliver Willis http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-90960 Exclusive: Footage Of Sen. Clinton’s Hunting Experience » Oliver Willis Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:32:12 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-90960 [...] I said before: Michael Jordan, Joe [...] [...] I said before: Michael Jordan, Joe [...]

]]> By: Rex Mundane http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88277 Rex Mundane Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:32:49 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88277 Jane, Sherry, while I appreciate that you're trying to satirically exaggerate the sort of racist overtones that Clinton now and McCain presumably will implicitly inject into the discussion, I really think these characters you've invented are a bit too ridiculous, quite frankly. I mean Jane, while I appreciate your pathological need to invent things he said and did in order to accuse him of failing to meet an arbitrary test in a ridiculous metaphor, even the most inbred of racist twats knows how not to overuse the exclamation mark and the CapsLock, so your reliance on them is a bit of a giveaway. And Sherry, while I like the outlandish conspiracy theory as a refreshing return to the "JFK wants to sell the U.S. out to the Vatican" irrationality of yore, coupled with the "Thankfully most people are not stupid blind sheep" comment right before making an incredibly stupid argument, your overuse of the ellipsis sort of exposes the fraud, rendering the hidden calculating sanity underneath the racist idiot facade all the more obvious. Jane, Sherry, while I appreciate that you’re trying to satirically exaggerate the sort of racist overtones that Clinton now and McCain presumably will implicitly inject into the discussion, I really think these characters you’ve invented are a bit too ridiculous, quite frankly. I mean Jane, while I appreciate your pathological need to invent things he said and did in order to accuse him of failing to meet an arbitrary test in a ridiculous metaphor, even the most inbred of racist twats knows how not to overuse the exclamation mark and the CapsLock, so your reliance on them is a bit of a giveaway. And Sherry, while I like the outlandish conspiracy theory as a refreshing return to the “JFK wants to sell the U.S. out to the Vatican” irrationality of yore, coupled with the “Thankfully most people are not stupid blind sheep” comment right before making an incredibly stupid argument, your overuse of the ellipsis sort of exposes the fraud, rendering the hidden calculating sanity underneath the racist idiot facade all the more obvious.

]]> By: fafaroo http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88192 fafaroo Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:58:15 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88192 "ACTIONS FOR 20 YEARS SPEAK louder than words delivered just to get a vote." Anyone who would write this, let alone believe it, didn't hear a word of Obama's speech. Obama clearly explained that he attended Wright's church because it was Wright's sermon, "The Audacity of Hope," that started him down the path toward a deeper relationship with Christ. As I've said elsewhere, that's a pretty profound relationship between two people and Obama clearly stated in his speech that he could never reject Wright, no matter what his POLITICAL opinions may be, because Wright had such an important impact on Obama's SPIRITUAL life. Obama spent 20 years keeping the two things separate and distinct. The Right and Obama's critics on the left would now like to collapse them into one and the same thing. Why? Because they want to transform Obama into a "scary black man" who'll "hand everything over to Africa." Fer crying out loud ... “ACTIONS FOR 20 YEARS SPEAK louder than words delivered just to get a vote.”

Anyone who would write this, let alone believe it, didn’t hear a word of Obama’s speech. Obama clearly explained that he attended Wright’s church because it was Wright’s sermon, “The Audacity of Hope,” that started him down the path toward a deeper relationship with Christ. As I’ve said elsewhere, that’s a pretty profound relationship between two people and Obama clearly stated in his speech that he could never reject Wright, no matter what his POLITICAL opinions may be, because Wright had such an important impact on Obama’s SPIRITUAL life. Obama spent 20 years keeping the two things separate and distinct. The Right and Obama’s critics on the left would now like to collapse them into one and the same thing. Why? Because they want to transform Obama into a “scary black man” who’ll “hand everything over to Africa.” Fer crying out loud …

]]> By: fafaroo http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88188 fafaroo Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:46:54 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88188 "Obama just wants to win and hand everything over to Africa…I do not trust him." Whoa. This is satire, right? If it isn't, one thing you can always count on with the hard right. They will always out themselves as the bigoted idiots they are. They can't help themselves. Oh sure, it's all code words and innuendo at first but when push comes to shove and they realize that the rest of the country is passing them by, out come the fangs. “Obama just wants to win and hand everything over to Africa…I do not trust him.”

Whoa. This is satire, right? If it isn’t, one thing you can always count on with the hard right. They will always out themselves as the bigoted idiots they are. They can’t help themselves. Oh sure, it’s all code words and innuendo at first but when push comes to shove and they realize that the rest of the country is passing them by, out come the fangs.

]]> By: Duros62 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88187 Duros62 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:35:46 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88187 He never said that, Bill. Anyway, thanks for stopping by. He never said that, Bill.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by.

]]> By: Duros62 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88186 Duros62 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:33:20 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88186 Wow, I didn't know Grandpa Munster was still alive. What is it with Republican web pages and why do they all SUCK? Wow, I didn’t know Grandpa Munster was still alive.

What is it with Republican web pages and why do they all SUCK?

]]> By: Quaker in a Basement http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88185 Quaker in a Basement Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:27:19 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88185 Maybe <a href="http://www.richmondcountyrepublicanparty.org/" rel="nofollow">this </a> is the Sherry Barnes who has come a-calling? Maybe this is the Sherry Barnes who has come a-calling?

]]> By: Duros62 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88177 Duros62 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:16:45 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88177 Who is this meat-pie Sherry Barnes and why should I care? Who is this meat-pie Sherry Barnes and why should I care?

]]> By: Bill Shore http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88174 Bill Shore Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:57:43 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88174 Sorry, but the see no evil (in your own church), hear no evil (in 20 years), does not cut it with some of us. He lost the vote in the general election that he got from me in the primary. This man is too egocentric, and now proven himself to be a poor decision maker. I will vote for Hillary or Nader if necessary to be abel to sleep at night, if this man is elected. We have reached a sad crossroad in this Nation. Sorry, but the see no evil (in your own church), hear no evil (in 20 years), does not cut it with some of us. He lost the vote in the general election that he got from me in the primary. This man is too egocentric, and now proven himself to be a poor decision maker. I will vote for Hillary or Nader if necessary to be abel to sleep at night, if this man is elected. We have reached a sad crossroad in this Nation.

]]> By: SpiderJ http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88172 SpiderJ Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:39:02 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88172 You know, I'm all for cogent and reasoned arguments against Obama, but Sherry Barnes seems to be doing mad libs at best and Making Shit Up at worst. <i>Excellent speaking skills with another stolen speech.</i> Stolen from whom? <i>ACTIONS FOR 20 YEARS SPEAK louder than words delivered just to get a vote.</i> Whose actions are you talking about? <i>It is especially hard to listen to knowing Obama doesn’t even believe in those words.</i> Oh, was that you, Ms. Barnes, with the magical polygraph machine aimed at Senator Obama? <i>Thankfully most people are not stupid blind sheep…</i> Nope, just enough to have sold us up the river to King George the Foolhardy and his cabal of warmongering criminals. <i>The hole was only dug deeper to show that you cannot address prejudice with prejudice, we should already know this. Anytime favoritism is shown, it divides, easy math.</i> I'd like to counter this point, but I'm having trouble figuring out what it is. <i>Obama just wants to win and hand everything over to Africa…I do not trust him.</i> This is a new one. Hand over everything to al-Qaida, sure, that I've heard, but hand everything over to Africa? <i>We need an AMERICAN leader that will support the best interests of ALL AMERICANS…</i> Barack Obama <i>is</i> an American, you cretin. You know, I’m all for cogent and reasoned arguments against Obama, but Sherry Barnes seems to be doing mad libs at best and Making Shit Up at worst.

Excellent speaking skills with another stolen speech.

Stolen from whom?

ACTIONS FOR 20 YEARS SPEAK louder than words delivered just to get a vote.

Whose actions are you talking about?

It is especially hard to listen to knowing Obama doesn’t even believe in those words.

Oh, was that you, Ms. Barnes, with the magical polygraph machine aimed at Senator Obama?

Thankfully most people are not stupid blind sheep…

Nope, just enough to have sold us up the river to King George the Foolhardy and his cabal of warmongering criminals.

The hole was only dug deeper to show that you cannot address prejudice with prejudice, we should already know this. Anytime favoritism is shown, it divides, easy math.

I’d like to counter this point, but I’m having trouble figuring out what it is.

Obama just wants to win and hand everything over to Africa…I do not trust him.

This is a new one. Hand over everything to al-Qaida, sure, that I’ve heard, but hand everything over to Africa?

We need an AMERICAN leader that will support the best interests of ALL AMERICANS…

Barack Obama is an American, you cretin.

]]> By: Obama is no Mandela « Angry African on the Loose http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88168 Obama is no Mandela « Angry African on the Loose Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:57:07 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88168 [...] out to reflect. And last night I read his speech. Without his voice to influence me. Just words - black on white. And I am sorry to say. But Obama is no Mandela. Obama is not the American [...] [...] out to reflect. And last night I read his speech. Without his voice to influence me. Just words – black on white. And I am sorry to say. But Obama is no Mandela. Obama is not the American [...]

]]> By: social democrat http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88154 social democrat Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:13:35 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88154 "He’s not calling on us to start the Apocalypse early by bombing Iran or China..." Indeed! If I recall correctly, Falwell and Robertson had far worse to say about America's culpability for 9/11. But I guess they get a pass because they speak from their "faith." Or maybe they get a pass because God speaks to them directly. In any case, their later "apology" was pretty tepid. I'm 57 years old, and I've never seen or heard a politician speak with this kind of candor about America's "original sin" (I've called it that many times) in my entire life, MLK and RFK excepted. I know that a large portion of our citizens don't have the attention span required to listen to or read the entire speech, and will rely on the reichwingers to interpret it for them. It's their loss. “He’s not calling on us to start the Apocalypse early by bombing Iran or China…”

Indeed! If I recall correctly, Falwell and Robertson had far worse to say about America’s culpability for 9/11. But I guess they get a pass because they speak from their “faith.” Or maybe they get a pass because God speaks to them directly. In any case, their later “apology” was pretty tepid.

I’m 57 years old, and I’ve never seen or heard a politician speak with this kind of candor about America’s “original sin” (I’ve called it that many times) in my entire life, MLK and RFK excepted. I know that a large portion of our citizens don’t have the attention span required to listen to or read the entire speech, and will rely on the reichwingers to interpret it for them. It’s their loss.

]]> By: SpiderJ http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88150 SpiderJ Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:38:33 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88150 Zing! Zing!

]]> By: Duros62 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88149 Duros62 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:19:34 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88149 <i>The only time politicians speak with this kind of candor about their personal ideals, not just their political ideals, is when they’re being written by Aaron Sorkin.</i> Or when they're under indictment. The only time politicians speak with this kind of candor about their personal ideals, not just their political ideals, is when they’re being written by Aaron Sorkin.

Or when they’re under indictment.

]]> By: Sherry Barnes http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88144 Sherry Barnes Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:25:22 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88144 Excellent speaking skills with another stolen speech. ACTIONS FOR 20 YEARS SPEAK louder than words delivered just to get a vote. It is especially hard to listen to knowing Obama doesn't even believe in those words. Thankfully most people are not stupid blind sheep... The hole was only dug deeper to show that you cannot address prejudice with prejudice, we should already know this. Anytime favoritism is shown, it divides, easy math. Obama just wants to win and hand everything over to Africa...I do not trust him. We need an AMERICAN leader that will support the best interests of ALL AMERICANS... Excellent speaking skills with another stolen speech.

ACTIONS FOR 20 YEARS SPEAK louder than words delivered just to get a vote. It is especially hard to listen to knowing Obama doesn’t even believe in those words. Thankfully most people are not stupid blind sheep…

The hole was only dug deeper to show that you cannot address prejudice with prejudice, we should already know this. Anytime favoritism is shown, it divides, easy math.

Obama just wants to win and hand everything over to Africa…I do not trust him.

We need an AMERICAN leader that will support the best interests of ALL AMERICANS…

]]> By: Enlightened Liberal http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88138 Enlightened Liberal Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:54:23 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88138 Funny that all these chickenhawk Republicans can castigate Wright for hating America, when Wright defended America as a Marine in his youth. Why do conservatives hate the troops? Funny that all these chickenhawk Republicans can castigate Wright for hating America, when Wright defended America as a Marine in his youth.

Why do conservatives hate the troops?

]]> By: jojo http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88128 jojo Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:07:53 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88128 Your exclamation key stuck there, Jane? ;) Your exclamation key stuck there, Jane? ;)

]]> By: R P Bird http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88124 R P Bird Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:02:56 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88124 Thanks for putting it up. Exhilarating speech, wow. I saw clips of it on Countdown, but somehow it seems more powerful as prose. I'm reminded of FDR and the Rev. King. Like you said, this guy's up to the job. Now to Rev. Wright. I don't know what the fuss is about. The snippets of his sermons certainly have many things in them that I would disagree with, but nothing I haven't heard before. My God, compared to the incredibly dangerous and inflammatory remarks of many preachers on the religious right, compared to the horrific abomination of the prosperity gospel and other modern-day heresies, this is milk-and-cookies stuff. He's not calling on us to start the Apocalypse early by bombing Iran or China, he's not calling on us to steal money. he's not calling on us to burn down clinics or assassinate doctors, he's not calling on us to shun the poor, he's not calling on us to take with both hands and give nothing back, and he's not calling on us pray for God's vengeance on others. Preachers on the religious right have done all these things and more, much more. So what's the big deal? Thanks for putting it up. Exhilarating speech, wow. I saw clips of it on Countdown, but somehow it seems more powerful as prose. I’m reminded of FDR and the Rev. King. Like you said, this guy’s up to the job.

Now to Rev. Wright. I don’t know what the fuss is about. The snippets of his sermons certainly have many things in them that I would disagree with, but nothing I haven’t heard before. My God, compared to the incredibly dangerous and inflammatory remarks of many preachers on the religious right, compared to the horrific abomination of the prosperity gospel and other modern-day heresies, this is milk-and-cookies stuff. He’s not calling on us to start the Apocalypse early by bombing Iran or China, he’s not calling on us to steal money. he’s not calling on us to burn down clinics or assassinate doctors, he’s not calling on us to shun the poor, he’s not calling on us to take with both hands and give nothing back, and he’s not calling on us pray for God’s vengeance on others. Preachers on the religious right have done all these things and more, much more. So what’s the big deal?

]]> By: SpiderJ http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88121 SpiderJ Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:44:24 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/03/18/raise-your-expectations/#comment-88121 Jack - I think if you get bogged down in certain details of his speech you'll find things to be critical of. What I find incredible about the speech is the things he touched on and spoke about eloquently <i>at all</i>. The only time politicians speak with this kind of candor about their personal ideals, not just their political ideals, is when they're being written by Aaron Sorkin. It was refreshing. Jack – I think if you get bogged down in certain details of his speech you’ll find things to be critical of. What I find incredible about the speech is the things he touched on and spoke about eloquently at all.

The only time politicians speak with this kind of candor about their personal ideals, not just their political ideals, is when they’re being written by Aaron Sorkin. It was refreshing.

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