Democrats and caucus-goers chose Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton and then criticized Palin for being too inexperienced for the number two spot, yet felt Obama had experience enough for the number one spot. So I think the whole Obama fascination has more to do with intrigue than substance. He votes present (he has his reasons) more than anyone and he votes liberal more times than anyone when he does vote.

I’m not venting because my candidate lost. Obama won and he should have his day in the sun. I’m simply pointing out there is less to Obama than meets the eye, in my opinion. Regardless, conservatives must get behind him and support him to the best of their ability without entirely compromising their principles.

If Obama doesn’t bring in real professionals like Bill Clinton (for Secretary of State for example), a good Secretary of Defense (Collin Powel or Stormin’ Norman), some good Republicans (Ron Paul), and third party candidates (Ralph Nader or Bob Barr), I think History will look upon him as just another Democrat, who was also the first black President. Obama needs to bring in private sector people as well who understand the concept of fiscal responsibility, principles of lean management, and rule by consensus (Oprah for Secretary of Education and some genuinely good high level business executive like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet). We also need to get scientists involved in such social issues like abortion to determine when life begins as a basis for real legislation on the abortion issue. It’s time to get serious and run our government like a business. We need diverse opinions, not yes persons.

IMHO…

Sure Obama will be remembered as a living symbol, a point of arrival of the fight for civil rights of the minorities in the United States. This will remain in historical book [the first Afro-American President, like the first man on Moon; it's simply historical].

A part this, which is really an important sign of change and of positive developement of the US political system [and of US electorate] ....

now it comes the amusing part: to build an administration and to govern

Actually Gomisaburo, Obama risks not to meet the expectations of who voted him [and also of the rest of the Americans, since the entire country expect that the President will do something about the general crisis, regardless his political membership].

In my opinion there are even too many expectations about the incoming administration. So far, in his brief political activity [Obama became Senator only 3 years ago ... and now he's the elected President], he has showed to be pragmatic and to have a certain capability to fascinate. After the primary elections, the endorsement of Sen. Clinton helped him a lot [there are still many supporters of Mrs Clinton who are simply waiting to see what the President will do ...].

But to sit in the Oval Office is an other matter: not only for the responsability, but also for the daily pressures coming from all sides. Will Obama be able to act following his own program?

Gomisaburo, nice to see you here:) We should start at the beginning I guess. The lack of experience was actually a Republican issue regarding Obama and then they picked Palin...

I have to say this topic might be just a few years early. I may not be thrilled with Obama, but I'd like to see what he does in the first year or two before I decide how he'll be remembered by me.

In the meantime, I will sincerely hope for the best, because the whole world really needs it right now.

As a sideline, I would have hoped though didn't expect it, that a "honeymoon" period would have occured on Wall Street just after the election. If the current slump continues until his inauguration, Obama could face insurmountable obstacles to his Presidency before he ever takes office. Some of this slump, imo, could be directly related to his proposed tax plan. Of course I'm probably wrong.

Kirk,

Thanks Kirk, good to see you too. As for the point, I recall the lack of experience being very much a Democrat issue first during the primary debates. As for after the debates, Democrats tried avoiding the issue, though the issue did prevail in blogs. So I'll give you half credit. However, I also saw pundits bringing it up often. Anyway, that was kind of a side bar issue. It was just hard not too mention it since my view remains that interest in Obama has more to do with fascination than substance. After all he did vote present at a higher rate anyone, more liberal than any other democrat, and he does have a real, not perceived, lack of policy experience in the number of Bills he authored or “sponsored”. As Bill and Hillary seemed to believe from as far back as Ohio, the whole Obama-nation fascination was something of a “fairytale”.

But that’s the launch pad for my real question, how will Obama actually be remembered by future generations not overcome by intrigue. I kind of agree with Miss. The first couple of years will say a lot. After that we will probably have a good idea about it.

Miss,

I deal in a business deeply affected by market conditions at the very basic level of our economy (construction) so I have strong hopes the markets will rebound. I’m going to be curious to see how Obama uses Executive Orders (EO’s) since I would like to see prices go back up (around February if possible – I hope). Market prices in areas of interest to me have fallen, pretty much across the board (Gomisaburo gulps), an average of 80%. That is intensely huge by anybody’s standard and enough to give Sanford a real heart attack. Whatever Obama does, he needs his plan to create incentives for businesses (large and small) to expand their operations. So I think the first few years’ successes will be largely affected by his ability to get things done despite the fact that “Washington” has not really changed. EO’s (as I’ve heard pundits talking about) could be a way for him to succeed. What he actually does with the EO’s may be another story. Regardless, he needs to be smart about who he appoints as chief advisor on the economy. We need some professional, industry leaders with real world experience (not politicians) to fill that role in my opinion. I was also encouraged by his starting the website change.gov, but we’ll have to wait a bit to see what he does on the “people” front as well.

By the way, does anybody watch the TV drama “Heroes”? Biden reminds me of the person the “company” assigns to keep you honest if you are a regular Joe selected to do some work for them. Obama’s a new, naive guy unaffected as of yet by the harsh realities of how things work in Washington. So they assigned Biden to serve as his “sidekick”, someone to make sure Obama doesn’t get all excited and actually start changing things (I’m just being funny here...not serious).

I think he will be remembered as a skinny Mussolini.

A man who wrote a book on Narcissim:

Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/13/2008

Barack Obama appears to be a narcissist. Granted, only a qualified mental health diagnostician can determine whether someone suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and this, following lengthy tests and personal interviews. But, in the absence of access to Barack Obama, one has to rely on his overt performance and on testimonies by his closest, nearest and dearest.

Narcissistic leaders are nefarious and their effects pernicious. They are subtle, refined, socially-adept, manipulative, possessed of thespian skills, and convincing. Both types equally lack empathy and are ruthless and relentless or driven.

II. Behavior Patterns

The narcissist:

* Feels grandiose and self-important (e.g., exaggerates accomplishments, talents, skills, contacts, and personality traits to the point of lying, demands to be recognised as superior without commensurate achievements);

* Is obsessed with fantasies of unlimited success, fame, fearsome power or omnipotence, unequalled brilliance (the cerebral narcissist), bodily beauty or sexual performance (the somatic narcissist), or ideal, everlasting, all-conquering love or passion;

* Firmly convinced that he or she is unique and, being special, can only be understood by, should only be treated by, or associate with, other special or unique, or high-status people (or institutions);

* Requires excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation – or, failing that, wishes to be feared and to be notorious (Narcissistic Supply);

* Feels entitled. Demands automatic and full compliance with his or her unreasonable expectations for special and favourable priority treatment;

* Is "interpersonally exploitative", i.e., uses others to achieve his or her own ends;

* Devoid of empathy. Is unable or unwilling to identify with, acknowledge, or accept the feelings, needs, preferences, priorities, and choices of others;

* Constantly envious of others and seeks to hurt or destroy the objects of his or her frustration. Suffers from persecutory (paranoid) delusions as he or she believes that they feel the same about him or her and are likely to act similarly;

* Behaves arrogantly and haughtily. Feels superior, omnipotent, omniscient, invincible, immune, "above the law", and omnipresent (magical thinking). Rages when frustrated, contradicted, or confronted by people he or she considers inferior to him or her and unworthy.

Narcissism is a defense mechanism whose role is to deflect hurt and trauma from the victim's "True Self" into a "False Self" which is omnipotent, invulnerable, and omniscient. This False Self is then used by the narcissist to garner narcissistic supply from his human environment. Narcissistic supply is any form of attention, both positive and negative and it is instrumental in the regulation of the narcissist's labile sense of self-worth.

Perhaps the most immediately evident trait of patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is their vulnerability to criticism and disagreement. Subject to negative input, real or imagined, even to a mild rebuke, a constructive suggestion, or an offer to help, they feel injured, humiliated and empty and they react with disdain (devaluation), rage, and defiance.

From his book "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited":


You can find the whole article at:
http://www.globalpolitician.com/25109-barack-obama-elections

you are all kicking the guy before he even falls,which i pray he wont,because if God hands is on him,he will lead us all into a bright future,so i pray he will be the head and not the tail,he will be above and and not beneath.