Odd question in this title, I suppose: Is Barack Obama the Messiah or the Anti-Christ?
I pose this silly question as hyperbole — I personally believe he is neither. He’s a very capable young man (I can say that since I’m officially an Old Guy past 60 now) in a very, VERY difficult position. If you’re a praying person, you ought to be praying he will do well at that job, for the sake of us all.
I live in a part of the U.S. often jokingly called the “buckle” of the “Bible Belt.” (I prefer a more amusing designation — belly button of the Bible Belt belly. Heard that from a friend once.) So I’m accustomed to letters to the local newspaper such as one today by a very concerned, elderly lady (I’m basing that on the photo accompanying her picture. She appears over 60 like me.) who seems to think many see Obama as the anti-Christ while some see him as the Messiah. For the record, her fearful letter indicated to me and other readers that she probably leans more toward the anti-Christ designation.
Amazing, isn’t it, how such fear mongering as Obama’s opponents specialized in during the election can twist the minds of so many people? He used the phrase “share the wealth” while shaking hands with the infamous “Joe the Plumber” — so millions of people are absolutely convinced he’s a socialist. In reality, the “socialism” he was pushing at Old Joe basically involves restoring 3 percent higher maximum tax rates — rates which were in force under President Clinton.
I won’t even get involved in the more tedious and absolutely outrageous silliness of anti-Obama folks who (here’s another “Messianic” image for you) virtually crucified the man on a cross of sedition because he was one of thousands who associated with a “domestic terrorist” who really ISN’T a domestic terrorist.
So good luck, President-Elect Obama, and may you prove to be a successful, capable leader for our sakes and the sake of the whole world. And for those of you still trying to cast the guy as either Messiah or Anti-Christ — Reality is calling you back. Hello? Hello?
Just remember, ‘change’ means that it is apparently okay to earmark a couple hundred million bucks and pass it with nominal – or no – discussion on the floor, some of which will go directly back to campaign donors.
It was a pretty sad election, with the winner being a guy who never crosses party lines ( pledges to work with republicans ) , says one thing ( change ) while doing another ( earmarks ) , has no experience ( attended congress what, less than 200 days? ) , was never affiliated with or experienced with the military ( we are in a period of prolonged war ) , ran against a war hero ( POW for half a decade, think he knows a soldiers perspective? ) , a guy who DID cross party lines, a man who spent decades working in the government and has a policy against using earmarks.
Sorrowful, just sorrowful.
Obama/Mondale 2012! “Time For A Change!!”
Thank you, Really. I mean REALLY, thank you. (Great username, by the way.) I appreciate what you’re saying about Obama. Nice antidote to the “kool aid” or messianic aura many see surrounding Obama.
I know in the past that I’ve tended to “rant” about some conservative/right wing candidates and viewpoints. So your comments are a worthwhile adjustment to my own attitudes.
As I tried to say in my post, I don’t view Obama as either Messiah or Anti-Christ — I view him as someone who’s facing a real mess and may or may not have the skills to deal with it all effectively.
And I love your “Obama/Mondale 20012!! Time for a Change!” sarcasm.
I always find it funny, too, when I hear some Republicans blaming everything that’s wrong with the country on Jimmy Carter — even though we had Reagan I and II, Bush I and Bush II-III between Carter and the present. I had no idea such a lame president as Carter was could have such amazing, enduring impact. (Sarcasm there.)
cue: this is where you discuss everything that is wrong with everyone else, but you ignore the earmarks, for God’s sake, don’t mention the earmarks, drop the earmarks, for you might be cast as a non-believer and you will -never, ever- be invited back onto Air Force One. Remember, it’s not about his actions, it’s about his vision, keep telling yourself that.
Obama/Mondale 2012!! Time For A Change!
I came across an old Carter/Mondale campaign button the other day.
It said: “Time For A Change.”
If you need a visual, yes, I am laughing my ass off right now.
Supporters of Obama go on and on about what a great guy he is, about how he’s going to ‘change’ the way things are done in Washington, yet they steadfastly refuse to discuss the 180 million or so in earmarks that he created in his first two years in office, earmarks which were documented on congresses’ .gov web site – and you can’t get a whole lot more objective than a .gov site, can you – especially when congress is dominated by his own party.
So, sure, he sent earmarks back to his campaign donors, but just ignore that and swallow the ‘change’ kool aid as you ignore the fact that your candidate WAS part of the problem to begin with.
How many earmarks did McCain have over the last 10 years or so? You may not have agreed with everything McCain has done in the past – but at least congress had adequate time to discuss every single piece of legislation he proposed. Can you say the same for the President Elect? Well, uhh, no.
So, do you suppose the line item veto will at last be passed, now that one party controls congress and the executive branch? Don’t count on it – because that would force Obama into the role of accountability, and he so dislikes that.
Obama/Mondale 2012! Time for Change! LMAO!
You’re right that moderation doesn’t sell newspapers — and our city is only one minor example of the many cities in the U.S. where newspapers are going bankrupt or nearly bankrupt. (Most people are starting to get their news from television or online sources, so papers are a dying breed.)
Our particular newspaper, “The Springfield News-Leader,” offers weekly opinion columns titled “From the Left” and “From the Right.” When many of us began urging less polarization and more moderation, they started a “From the Center” weekly column. They’ve gotten such poor results that they’re about to drop that feature.
Sadly, too many people who hold opinions and want to express them are either “right” or “left,” with little being said or read from the “center.”
I love discussing the differences of opinions, but I am in total despair about how the vocal ones on both sides insist on screaming their point while holding their hands over their ears while others scream back.
I keep thinking about how we need some good moderate sites for discussion, but I guess we both know that moderation never sold any newspapers, did it? Of course I think the U.S. would be a great place to start a newspaper. :>)
Thanks for your comment, Judi.
As you’ll see above, we’ve got some differences of opinions here at the old blog about Obama. Which is great. That’s what America’s all about, isn’t it?
You’re very gracious with your remarks about me and about Obama.
Funny, too, how that “buckle of the Bible belt” designation gets moved around, isn’t it? Reminds me of another cliche I hear a lot: “If you don’t like the weather here, just wait 5 minutes and it’ll change. We have the most changeable weather in the country.”
I’ve heard that exact comment spoken passionately by natives of Nebraska, Colorado, southern Idaho, Washington State, and South Dakota. All convinced it originated with their particular region.
LOL!
Thank you, Gary, for a reasonable look at our new President elect. I am very much an Obama fan, but I cringe when I see the “twisted” thinking that wants to paint him as either evil or the new Messiah.
It’s unfortunate that the example he’s setting of taking the high road is so misconstrued as weakness by some. I marvel at how people who consider themselves good God-fearing Christians can be so hateful when they spit out the reasons they fear him (other than the fact that he’s black, which of course, has NOTHING to do with it).
Anyway, it’s good to see someone with intelligence I respect point out that he’s actually not extreme at all – he’s just a brilliant young man who has a way of motivating and inspiring. Our current President has moved the bar so low that it’s actually hard to tell how qualified Obama is for this huge challenge, but he certainly would have to really screw up to be worse. I predict good things for the next few years.
PS: I thought that we were the “buckle of the Bible belt” here in Arkansas
Seriously, how do you REALLY feel about it all??
LOL! Thanks for the comment. I’m not exactly clear on what you’re talking about, but that’s all right. I’m not always clear on a lot of things.
Disagreement is what blogging is all about right?
I wish you’d be more specific about “pays his campaign donors with tens of millions of dollars worth of last minute congressional earmarks …” in relation to Obama as President-Elect. Sort of pre-judging what he’s not even done, aren’t you??
As for “money taken from those stinkin’ rich people …” that puzzles me, too. I haven’t followed his massive campaign donations closely, but what I have heard or read told me that much of the huge amount he raised was from thousands of fairly low-dollar donors, rather than just a bunch of big-money people.
Perhaps you’d care to share more?
If you are expecting change from a guy who pays his campaign donors with tens of millions of dollars worth of last minute congressional earmarks, then congratulations, you are only a few weeks away from your dreams coming true!
But, I’m sure you don’t mind – that is, as long as he’s paying those donors with money taken from those stinkin’ rich people that are already funding 80% of the budget.
Go you!