Obama: "I like dissent...I like getting diverse viewpoints. It is how I make decisions."

[jefferson_dem]

Obama says it's time to open up White House
By JOEL CONNELLY
P-I COLUMNIST

Sen. Barack Obama is keeping his cool in the hothouse of a presidential race and promises if elected to reach out with carrot and stick to those who have hot words for this country.

Polls show the first-term Illinois senator gaining on "Hillaryland," the formidable and once seemingly inevitable political juggernaut that has spent years plotting a Clinton restoration at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Obama jokes about his good fortune. At least he did at the end of an interview at Sea-Tac Airport on Tuesday evening before his appearance at a Seattle fundraising event.

"It was over," Obama laughed, referring to commentators' early fall take on the Democratic presidential race. Hillary hagiography ran through The Washington Post and the U.S. capital's commentocracy.

"I don't believe the punditry when we are down, or the hype when we are up," he added.

The Obama campaign has started to resemble the assassin-aborted 1968 insurgency of Sen. Robert Kennedy, a campaign that crossed the racial chasm of the times and appealed to both blue-collar whites and ghetto blacks.

In his approach to governing, too, Obama evokes RFK, whose friends ranged from Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Maxwell Taylor to anti-Vietnam War activist Allard Lowenstein.

Obama promised to throw open the White House to a diversity of opinions, to invite debate before critical decisions and name people to senior positions who are "not necessarily members of my party."

"I like dissent," Obama said. "I like getting diverse viewpoints. It is how I make decisions. Get people with a wide range of views together -- try to get agreement on the basic facts. ... That's the model of decision-making I would adopt."

<SNIP>

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/343225_joel12.html?source=mypi

[baldguy]

1. Thats how any rational thinking human being makes decisions.

[Tellurian]

4. Except when they don't show up for a controversial vote

isn't that the norm for Obama? When he might make the wrong choice or be criticized for it...he elects to sit the vote out, again, HOPING no one will notice! Obama's favorite: "NO VOTE" aka "PRESENT"

[baldguy]

8. If Obama is the nominee, will you vote for him in Nov?

[baldguy]

13. No reply? You've got to THINK about whether you'll vote for the Dem candidate for President?

[Tellurian]

16. If Hillary is the nominee will you vote for her in Nov?

[baldguy]

18. Yes. I've already voted for her - twice. She's my Senator.

[Tellurian]

19. I will support and vote for whoever is the Dem nominee..

[Bitwit1234]

2. Gee what a bunch of wind from him

Decisions....are those he made to skip over 140 votes so far this year in the senate...More than any body else except Tim Johnson who had a serious injury.

If his decisions are to skip the hard votes what in the hell would he do as president stick his head in the sand when ever things got tought.

Give me a break. Doing is the thing, saying is the game and Obama is good at that, isn't he.

[polichick]

3. Yeah, WHAT decisions?? Smoke and mirrors. nt

[Connie_Corleone]

5. Maybe you should try posting something POSITIVE about your own candidate...

and quit trolling Obama threads.

He's running for president. Of course he's going to miss a lot of votes. McCain has missed more votes than Obama. That's what happens when you're a senator running for president. Any nitwit knows that.

They ALL have missed votes. NONE of them were present to vote on the Mukasey nomination. Obama said it was a mistake for him to miss the Kyle/Lieberman vote. At least he didn't make excuses.

Edwards missed a lot of votes when he ran for president in 2003/2004.

[NWHarkness]

6. Translation:

Don't worry, conservatives, I'll make sure you have a seat at the table.

[polichick]

9. It's enough to make me puke - kissing up the way abused spouses do. nt

[polichick]

7. "name people to senior positions who are 'not necessarily members of my party' "

Forget it ~ he's delusional if he believes Republicans are to be trusted. Hillary made the same ridiculous error in announcing that she'd ask Colin Powell to help us repair our reputation.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

26. while that might refere to republicans

it can also refer to these ones:

Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, Green Party, America First Party, Centrist Party, Independence Party of America, Marijuana Party, Peace and Freedom Party, Prohibition Party, Reform Party of the United States of America, Socialist Equality Party, Socialist Party USA, Socialist Workers Party, Workers World Party, Working Families Party, American Party, American Centrist Party, American Fascist Party, American Heritage Party, American Patriot Party, American Reform Party, American Whig Party, Christian Freedom Party, Christian Falangist Party of America, Citizens For Reform Party, Commonwealth Party, Communist Party USA, Democratic Socialists of America, Expansionist Party, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Independent American Party, Jefferson Republican Party, Labor Party, Liberal Democratic Party, National Federalist Party, National Nihilist Party, National Socialist Movement, New American Independent Party, New Union Party, Pacifist Party of America, Party of Commons, Personal Choice Party, Populist Party of America, Progressive Labor Party, Revolutionary Communist Party, USA Socialist Action, Socialist Alternative, Socialist Labor Party, United Fascist Union, Workers Party, USA, World Socialist Party of the United States

Admittedly i have no idea about what 99% of these parties are, stand for or for that matter if they are still active(got the list from wiki)

Only reason I'm listing them is to point out there are more then two parties around even if we never hear about them(a number of these are obviously right out but included for the sake of being as complete as possible even if this is not the full list)

[ellisonz]

28. Secretary of Defense William Cohen.

You do know who he served under, right?

[TwilightGardener]

10. Obama is open-minded and pragmatic. I would expect him, of all candidates, to use

talented people no matter what their party affiliation.

[Evergreen Emerald]

11. "open minded and pragmatic" what is the basis for that characterization?

[TwilightGardener]

17. He has reached across the aisle numerous times to

co-sponsor legislation, because that's how you build consensus and get things passed. I never get the sense from him that he's got the "football team" mentality of party politics. He'll take advice from anybody who knows a thing or two, even if it's a Repub like Colin Powell or Dick Lugar--as long as he ends up with good legislation and good policies, I don't care if he consorts with GOPers.

[insanad]

21. Unifying vs Polarizing

I saw a post a few days back from some little child that said, "Barack is boring". Boring...What kind of toddler is playing on the net when he should be potty training so he can get out of diapers and onto his colors and numbers? Barack Obama is anything but boring. He electrifies me when I hear him speak. His halting and soft tone are part of his charm. He THINKS before he speaks. That's something our "off the cuff" chimp idiot president couldn't even imagine. The only time Bush says anything mildly intelligent is when a TelePrompter or ear phone are dictating his words.

I'm in awe of Barack Obamas messages. I'm inspired to do good because of what he stands for and will emulate as a president. I'm enthused by the future of our nation and its impact on the world when he gets elected. I believe and will do all in my power to help this come to pass. Our nation needs him. I need him.Teachers need Barack Obama. Kids need Barack Obama. The world needs him to help heal and unify the great wounds and the hideous wrongs that have been inflicted on us in the last 8 years. It's up to us Americans to rise up and do our best to help elect him. Together with his leadership we can all benefit from the great things he believes, represents and will instigate in his great legacy as president of the United States.

[babylonsister]

22. I love your post, insanad. Thanks so much. nt

[insanad]

23. Hi again Babylionsister

Usually I'm flaming someone I don't like like Mitt Romney and the Mo's but it's gratifying to write something positive and so easy to do in regards to Obama. I'm involved in canvassing and the caucus here in Vegas and things are getting very consuming. I suspect it will get even more exciting right after Christmas. I've never been so passionate about politics but thanks to Bushco and his crook co-horts, I am so angry that I feel like I HAVE to do something. Supporting a good candidate is the best way I can show my patriotism and belief in the future of our once great nation.

And thanks for being the best picker and gleaner out there for information on the WWW. It's a big place and easy to get lost.

[silverweb]

25. What a wonderful post.

You've expressed what my family and I feel perfectly.

Welcome to DU, insanad!

I'm proud to be part of Team Obama with you! :hi:

[insanad]

29. Thanks and I hope I can make a small difference

This is a new experience for me to be involved in anything political but some part of me gets great pride from standing behind someone so impressively intelligent and worthwhile. In a world where there is little hope left, he has given me enough to believe in the future of our nation if we can elect and support him and the ideals that he represents. I hope you will have success in your efforts as well. It looks very very good for him in the primaries and upcoming caucus events. I'll actually be glad when its all over and the real action can start taking place to change things that are so badly in need of repair. Then the real work begins.

[silverweb]

30. "Then the real work begins."

And there's plenty of it... repairing the years and years of damage to the very foundations of this country, to say nothing of beginning to repair our now-abysmal standing in the international community.

As Obama said, it begins with one person standing up, then a dozen, then a hundred, then more. Each of our individual small efforts add to that groundswell and if we keep growing and keep moving forward, we'll make the progress we need.

[insanad]

31. War President

Bush wanted to be known as a War President and he's got it in spades. He's lost the war in Iraq which he started, losing the war in Afghanistan which he neglected, the war agains ignorance, of which he's the postor child, the war against our lack of national health care, which he's vetoed and squashed and in essence devalued, the war against pollution which he and his contributors have massively created, promoted, and defunded in the programs to keep our air, water, and land clean. Bush will go down as a war president for sure. Barrack Obama or whomever inherits the mantle of responsibility and complex mess that is left in the wake of Bushco and his corrupt cronies will have to have a lot of courage, fresh ideas, and massive support of the American people and world community to help right the wrongs, heal the wounds, and put our nation back on a good track.

I believe it will take enormous personal, financial, and social sacrifice on the part of our nations people to help get these things corrected. We've been the Paris Hilton of nations, spoiled, impetuous, shallow, and consumptive. Our massive homes, gas hogging cars, gluttenous menu's, and resource consuming practices will have to go. It's time to tighten our belts in every way. Perhaps if we're careful, frugal, thrifty, and responsible we can get out of this mess. If not, as Rome fell, so shall we.

[Adelante]

12. Transparency and accountability in government critical

I'll say.

Obama would open up not only the White House, but also the government as a whole.

A former Harvard Law Review editor, he won a case before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Ahmad Baravati, a Chicago broker fired for becoming a whistle-blower when he witnessed fraud.

Obama praised laws on the books, but added, “The problem is we haven’t had a very accommodating administration.” He argued that President Bush presides over the most secretive and insular administration since Richard Nixon resigned the presidency 33 years ago.

“Transparency and accountability in government are absolutely critical if we are to restore public trust in this nation’s leadership,” he argued.

[antiimperialist]

14. I like dissent, as long as it doesn't come from Paul Krugman

In which case my campaign will dig up old articles in which he praised me.

Barack Obama.

[BigDDem]

15. "Present"

[BenDavid]

20. Obama, another Jimmy Carter? Is this guy for real?

"He didn't want to enrage the "other side". You think he could stand up against the Right Wing smear machine? They has the public believing that he has Muslim ties, was schooled in a Madraseh, then there's that thing about his middle name. He has no record. Anything they throw at him will stick. The public does not know him, and he cannot fight back. He wants to work with the "other side". No, that's not the way this works, dear. Obama would need the South, and we know how that's going to go over. The guy needs more experience in the Senate, and then watch his ilk turn on him when he actually has some votes to his name. People already say that he reeks of Jimmy Carter all over again with this naivety of everyone working together and getting along. The man has no idea what he's up against. Experience is what we need and Obama ain't it."
This was posted by fightindonkey and concur with this post.

Ben David

[JanusAscending]

27. I hate to tell ya but....................

Your bigoted post made me even more positive of my choice in '08 !!! GO BAMA!!!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Nimrod2005]

24. I think this guy is getting my vote.....nt