Obama and Huckabee win in Iowa

[SpyridonOCA]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/caucus_rdp

Can you dig it?

[kamikat]

Huckabee scares me and I don''t think Obama is electable by the general voting public. I still don't know what to think.

[Dorothea]

I think it shows how much the US citizens want total change. They are tired of the same old Washington politics and politicians. They want fresh faces and fresh outlooks, away from the establishment.

Obama's win in Iowa was a historical event, which I think was great. I don't agree with his political stances, but do respect him. He's made quite an achievement last night....in a state that is 95% white, it was amazing!

According to Laura Ingraham and others there watching and wandering the causus rooms of both parties, the room must energized, full, and fun was Obama's according to Laura. The republican rooms were quiet and organized and somewhat boring, she'd said. There is real excitement and a movement for Obama.

Huckabee had a wider lead that people thought. Again, he is different and not the typical republican, imo. The deflation of Romney last night will make it better for McCain in NH.

Very interesting so far.

[SpyridonOCA]

Huckabee scares me and I don''t think Obama is electable by the general voting public. I still don't know what to think.

Why would Obama not be able to win a general election?

[Nichole]

It's been rumored that Obama is (or maybe raised) Muslim. Any truth in this?

[Nichole]

Nevermind................I just researched and answered my own question!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^

[buzuxi02]

Considering Obama's middle name is Hussein and lived many years in Indonesia, i'd say he was atleast one time a muslim.

Regardless, it seems populists ideals are drawing the people this election year. And personally i hate populist concepts.

[AxionEsti]

As I understand it, Obama was raised by two Muslim men, his real father, and a step father. He has stated he's not Muslim, and attends some type of Christian church. However, by family members being Muslim - his mother converted to Islam many years ago - I can see he would have more appreciation for that faith than otherwise.

[buzuxi02]

As I understand it, Obama was raised by two Muslim men, his real father, and a step father. He has stated he's not Muslim, and attends some type of Christian church. However, by family members being Muslim - his mother converted to Islam many years ago - I can see he would have more appreciation for that faith than otherwise.
Well Obama's entire name, first middle and last suggests he has definate muslim roots. So family on his paternal side would indeed be muslims. AFAIK Obama's father was a lapsed muslim after they divorced, his mother who was an atheist remarried another muslim of indonesian descent and moved there during his teen years.

[Akathist]

Does anyone know these two candidates prolife or proabortion stands?

I thought I heard that Obama was pro abortion and that he even voted for a law that if an abortion resulted in a baby being born alive that he doctors didn't have to try to save the baby. (Maybe he was in Illinois at the time?) I am having trouble recalling.

I don't know about Huckabee.

I used my DVR to get the latest debate but I have not watched it yet. I thought I would turn it on and put the volume up while I did my housework this week.

[tekiahteruah]

Obama has stated that his father was raised a Muslim but was an atheist, and his step-father had "little use for religion." He himself had a conversion experience of his own and was baptized in a United Church of Christ church. As for his names, his middle name is of course a traditional Muslim name, but his first name is not specifically a religious name-- it means "blessed" and has semitic roots (think "baruch" in Hebrew.)

[buzuxi02]

Does anyone know these two candidates prolife or proabortion stands?

I thought I heard that Obama was pro abortion and that he even voted for a law that if an abortion resulted in a baby being born alive that he doctors didn't have to try to save the baby. (Maybe he was in Illinois at the time?) I am having trouble recalling.

I don't know about Huckabee.

I used my DVR to get the latest debate but I have not watched it yet. I thought I would turn it on and put the volume up while I did my housework this week.
From what i know all the candidates in the front running (Hillary, Obama, Edwards, Mccain, Romney, Guliani) are all pro-abortion (to some extant) except for Huckabee.

Romney claims he has "converted" to "prolife" (simply a strategy to woo social conservatives this election year) but all his records while an elected official in Massachussets shows he defended abortion rights. Others such as Thompson thinks it should be a states right. Ron Paul leans against abortion but has a mixed record on certain abortion issues. Some of the candidates support abortion out right, others support it but would not use taxpayer money to fund it, still others only reject partial birth abortion, etc etc etc.

This website (if you know how to maneuver it) shows all the stances the politicians have:

OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the Issues (http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm)

[kamikat]

Why would Obama not be able to win a general election?

To be completely honest, I don't think the general population is ready to vote for a black dem, just as I think the general population is not ready for a female dem. I think that the first female or black president will have to be Republican. Both blacks and women have reputations for being more liberal than the general population, so voters automatically will assume that any black or female candidate is more liberal than they are. If the black or female candidate is a Republican, it is less likely that he or she will be assumed to be more liberal than the general voter.

[kamikat]

For the record, "Barak" is a hebrew name, not a muslim name. I remember distinctly during the Christmas vigil reading of the geneology of Christ that one of the names read was "Barak".

[kamikat]

What concerns me most about Huckabee is that he is a baptist minister.

[Xpycoctomos]

I like Hukabee a lot and I was very excited to see him win in Iowa. But, apparently only one or two non-incumbant candidates who won the Iowa Caucus also went on to become president. So, I question the true significance of the Iowa Caucus. Not saying it doesn't matter, becuase it does offer a jump start to candidates.

One reporter said that this year, what mattered much more than who won was who exceeded and didn't reach expectations. Huckabee, although thought to possibly win, exceeded expectations because of how much he won by. Romney wasn't evena close second so that hurt him, but if he had come in second by one point, I don't think anyone would have really considered that bad for Romney. Ron Paul actually pulled in 10% which is quite significant.

I like Hukabee and I will tell you why. I know that I will disagree with him on certain issues and I know that he apparently has a poor spending record. But I DO think he is honest. I DO think you are getting what you vote for. I DON'T at ALL believe that is true for Romney. I think he is nothing more than a run-of-the-mill washington Polititian who will be nothing more than an asterix in a history book (which may be a good thing). He seems so fake... so perfect... but too perfect. I agree with the new England newspaper which says he lacks conviction. I don't see any yet, at least.

Don't get me wrong, Huckabee is a polititian too and I don't expect him to come through on all of his promises. Part of that, though, is because I think he might be a bit surprised at how tied his hands will be when he reaches washington. He wants to do away with the Federal Income tax and offer a fair tax. I don't think it will happen. He would be only a president and while that offers a lot of special power and even influence on Capitol Hill, it's not enough to overthrow a corrupt system that has dug it's roots so far into the American social system.

I also like Huckabee's stance on abortion. It is truly pro-life. He has stated that pro-life is not simply about roe-v-wade. It's about helping people in desperate situations realize that there are other answers. THAT's pro-life.

That probably scares fiscal conservatives because that probably means that he believes in social programs to some extent. But,I don't care becasue i don't claim to be fiscally conservative or liberal. I think both sides have their great points nad terrible short-comings.

But, with all of that said, I don't think Huckabee will go far. I think he will soon find himself down with Ron Paul and others.

The people who win the States are the Run-of-the-mill polititians with money. It will be Romney, Giuliani and McCain who will come out on top. Huckabee will be but a memory. I hope I'm wrong.

Obama might make it all the way. I would love to see Hillary lose... but I think that's Schadenfreude??? So I will leave that one.

I don't think Obama is a visionary any more than Hillary or McCain. he talks about change, but it's the same old change everyone's been talking about. So, becuase of this, I think Obama has a good chance. So does Hillary and so does Edwards. Kucinic never stood a chance because... he cares too much. Just like Ron Paul. Huckabee isn't as "fringe" as Rob Paul.. but in the end, his "naive" idealism about real tangeable change (like doing away with the IRS) will catch up to him.

But, as it stands right now, I think it will be Hillary vs Romney in '08. If such is that case... I guess I will vote against Hillary and for Romney... and then fall asleep because we will have just elected one more boring ineffective president (regardless of which one wins).

Despite my apathy, I still love voting, I love the process and I will be up on all of the major election nights eagerly watching the outcomes, similar to how one might watch American Idol.

Xpy

[Xpycoctomos]

I'm not trying to badger you, but why does that concern you?

[Dorothea]

Does anyone know these two candidates prolife or proabortion stands?

I thought I heard that Obama was pro abortion and that he even voted for a law that if an abortion resulted in a baby being born alive that he doctors didn't have to try to save the baby. (Maybe he was in Illinois at the time?) I am having trouble recalling.

I don't know about Huckabee.

I used my DVR to get the latest debate but I have not watched it yet. I thought I would turn it on and put the volume up while I did my housework this week.
Obama is pro-choice, just like all the liberals and liberal Democrats in the Democratic party.

Huckabee is pro-life.

I watched the debates last night and Saturday night, and here's my opinion of it that I posted on another forum:



I watched the debate Saturday night. I didn't like all the bickering. I also thought Romney looked dishonest and slick the whole time, as well as last night. Then I see Fox News interviewing a room of undecided Republicans, and the majority liked Romney, and I'm thinking, "What?! He was horrible Saturday night, and not that great last night because I don't believe anything he says." Folks, he DOES NOT come off as truthful to me. He seems to have a smirk on his face the whole debates. http://209.85.12.227/11921/19/emo/Loser.gif Ugh. And then I listen to a few of the republican pundits on the news and then even on talk radio, and they all think Romney did well, and were going on about the immigration issue with regards to Huckabee and McCain. They were backing Romney getting on McCain. I'm not crazy about some of McCain's stances, the immigration one is one, but while they were going on about this, I was thinking, "At least we know where McCain stands, and that he will be and has been honest about his record and stances, for the most part, as far as I could tell." Ugh. Although Guiliani seemed to give the answers we conservatives like, I have a hard time getting past his social views, and his idea that if he were president, he'd add 10,000 troops more into Iraq and Afghanistan. He wants more troops over there. Just as Gen. P. is talking about bringing around a quarter of them home by the end of the summer, with no replacements. http://209.85.12.227/11921/19/emo/icon_bash.gif Anyway, I thought Thompson was pretty good at both debates. He was calm, stayed on the topics, what he wanted to do, and even was polite to all the candidates there, even when he ribbed a couple. Huckabee struggled in the last debate. Well, that's what I got out of them. :)

[kamikat]

I'm not trying to badger you, but why does that concern you?

Were you talking to me? The reason it concerns me is just the principal of the thing. Men of God shouldn't be in politics. Does he have enough separation between his governing and whatever governing body of his church is?

[buzuxi02]

For the record, "Barak" is a hebrew name, not a muslim name. I remember distinctly during the Christmas vigil reading of the geneology of Christ that one of the names read was "Barak".
Basically a middleeast name. But because Obama is of Kenyan descent his name demonstrates his muslim roots not a hebrew or middlestern or arab roots. Right now he is a rock star with all the momentum. It doesnt matter what his stance on the issues are, hes the media darling, the charismatic superstar. For instance during the democratic debate he claimed the improvements on the ground in Iraq wasnt due to the troop surge but because democrats won seats in the last election and iraqis know the U.S. will be pulling out soon, so the faster we pull out, the faster Iraq will be pacified. He has no clue. He believes pulling out is the best leverage America has into scaring the Iraqi factions into peace. This is a bizare notion.
I still like Guliani, he's the only candidate who has a chance of defeating Obama, the best plan on immigration and security, is effective in crime prevention. And still wants to get Bin Laden. Giliani is the only true fiscal conservative. Well his stance on social issues suck, thats where i hope the GOP establishment reign in on him.

[Xpycoctomos]

Were you talking to me? The reason it concerns me is just the principal of the thing. Men of God shouldn't be in politics. Does he have enough separation between his governing and whatever governing body of his church is?
Xenia, sorry, when I click on "quote" it doesn't seem to do anything.

I would be more concerned if he weren't govenor for that last... 12 (??) years. I actually like how he does a good job at not skirting the issue of his personal faith, yet still knowing that he is serving a public office. I think he is TRULY compassionate (I don't know of any other candidate has done that for me... certainly not our president at all) and the part of his faith that he DOES allow into his political life is the idea of love and forgiveness. I think he truly believes in that... and perhaps we can use a president who actually takes on the message of Christ. I think that is also why is so sincere about being pro-life. I don't see that in any other candidate. I think he is interested in just plain helping humanity... be human.

Aria, I didn't see the debate but I agreed with all of your general impressions of the voters, the candidates and all of that from everything I have seen. I have no vie on Fred Thompson, however, because I haven't really heard much from him.

I can't believe I missed the debates! :(

Xpy

Good thing for you tube.

[Xpycoctomos]

Basically a middleeast name. But because Obama is of Kenyan descent his name demonstrates his muslim roots not a hebrew or middlestern or arab roots. Right now he is a rock star with all the momentum. It doesnt matter what his stance on the issues are, hes the media darling, the charismatic superstar. For instance during the democratic debate he claimed the improvements on the ground in Iraq wasnt due to the troop surge but because democrats won seats in the last election and iraqis know the U.S. will be pulling out soon, so the faster we pull out, the faster Iraq will be pacified. He has no clue. He believes pulling out is the best leverage America has into scaring the Iraqi factions into peace. This is a bizare notion.
I still like Guliani, he's the only candidate who has a chance of defeating Obama, the best plan on immigration and security, is effective in crime prevention. And still wants to get Bin Laden. Giliani is the only true fiscal conservative. Well his stance on social issues suck, thats where i hope the GOP establishment reign in on him.
youre hoping for the GOP to save him? The GOP doesn't care. The GOP cares 1) about fiscal conservatism and if there is time and it doesn't hurt too much 2) social issues. That's made apparent by the fact that people are willing to vote for him.

[kamikat]

Ok, xpy, this is what I'm afraid of:
But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view.
from http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Huckabee_Amend_Constitution_to_meet_Gods_0115.html
Sure, it may sound good, but the question is: who's version of "God's standards"? There are so many interpretations of the Bible and of God in our country. Would you want Mr. Huckabee, as a trained baptist minister, to determine what God's standards are?

[Xpycoctomos]

Ok, xpy, this is what I'm afraid of:

from http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Huckabee_Amend_Constitution_to_meet_Gods_0115.html
Sure, it may sound good, but the question is: who's version of "God's standards"? There are so many interpretations of the Bible and of God in our country. Would you want Mr. Huckabee, as a trained baptist minister, to determine what God's standards are?
I can see your point, but although that is the first time I have ever read that, it doesn't surprise me. Following Huckabee and the issues he tends to hound on, I think that he is referring to issues like gay marriage and so on. There is nothing in his political past or present (that I can see) that would show him interested in banning alcohol sales or giving Christians tax-exemptions.

I understand your point and I think it is valid... but i look at it this way. I respect a man because he follows his convictions. Most polititians don't... or I don't believe in their convictions at all. I actually agree with Huckabee's convictions for the most part. So, while I would have trouble if he were, say, a motivated mormon (which Romney is not or doesn't appear to be in any way... so, his faith is a non issue for me since it is for him too), he is a motivated Christian and yes, that is not Orthodox but protestant, but the differences between the two make no practical showing in the decisions made in public office. So, I am attracted to Huckabee for the main reason you are scared of him. Becuase he is motivated for Christ... and I don't get the feeling from anything he has ever done that he has ever used that conviction to trample on anyone's personal rights or freedom's as an American. I think he is very balanced.

Anyway, I totally respect where your coming from even if I don't agree with you on this point here.

God bless.

Xpy