Thread: Has anyones opinion of Obama changed since his "world tour"?

Originally Posted by timberrr59

From sources in Iraq, I know that he did not visit the troops.

Yeah, that's what McCain's newest ad apparently says, while showing photos of Obama playing basketball with the troops. McCain also criticizes Obama for not visiting the wounded, but McCain also kicked things up at the Pentagon to prevent the scheduled visit from taking place.

You're kidding, right? Like those who disliked him because of his political positions are now going to like him? Ditto when McCain did the same thing months back.
Look-we all have our own political points of views and agendas. Absent some mind-blowing bombshell, no one who holds a deeply held political viewpoint changes their point of view based upon something like a visit abroad.

The Obama haters are still Obama haters.

Mine haven't changed at all. I would vote out of party IF we had a good choice, but Obama isn't it He has said he wants change, but doesn't proceed to tell what his plan for change is. So far the only changes I've seen from Obama are the flip flops. If I could've voted in the Democratic primary, I would've voted Clinton over Obama. I'm not happy with McCain as a choice, but he does have more experience than Obama as far as Military matters are concerned.

I did not have a very good opinion of Obama before his "Coronation Tour," so it could have hardly gotten worse. Yet it did. I think that an American presidential candidate taking his campaign or - in this case - cult of personality tour on the international circuit tactless. He can pander to foriegn leaders over the phone, via email, video conferencing, etc. Only Americans can vote in American elections, why go elsewhere to air our dirty laundry? (Americans and our illegal aliens!) He is clearly trying to evoke memories of and equate himself with JFK and Reagan. A little presumptuous since he has yet to be elected (transition team notwithstanding!).

Brokaw interviewed him on Meet the Press this morning. Interestingly, Obama is aware of the many challenges which face our country but his prescriptions for fixing were all ... ... ...wrong! Listening to him was like waking up from a coma, the lessons of last 45 years unlearned because as though they never happened. Take the worst parts of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and Barney Frank, add a heap of arrogance, an unhealthy dose of a messianic complex and, for good measure, soaring narcissim and what nightmare do you have on your hands? Barack Obama!

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

The above post proves my point exactly!

Actually, it doesn't do any such thing. Had Obama had an epiphany on said tour and come to see things my way it is conceivable (in theory) that I would consider supporting him. That I would doubt his sincerity is another question altogether.

I am a registered independent and, in a philosophical sense, socially liberal and economically libertarian. I believe in the smallest possible government, maximum individual freedom. I strongly oppose any government infringement of civil liberties or encroachment of person or property. There is no justification for the coercive state our government has become. Unlike many on the left (and right!), I don't believe that the extreme concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few derives from racial and social inequity but rather from state intervention.

That said, it is up to either party to win my support, this is the essence of campaigning (again in theory). The one who seems to best merit my vote gets it. It is that simple, In fact, there are Democrats I would vote for before McCain. Unfortunately, they are deemed too "conservative" for many in their party. Yet if the Democrats were to nominate a candidate who did not stand against everything I believe defines a proper relationship between a populace and its democratically elected government, I would have no problem voting for a Democrat. I would, however, have a problem with any Democrat or Republican who embarks on a worldwide Coronation Tour before winning the election.

To specifically answer the posted topic, my opinion of Obama went from negative to more negative. For a frame of reference, I am also negative towards McCain, just less negative about him than Obama.

By the way, I was not aware that a person's quotability was determined by their political orientation. A quip is just as insightful, a barb is just as sharp whether it is said by a Democrat, Republican or Soviet. (Stalin had some great quotes as well.)

Before this gets locked...

My opinion hasn't changed- just gone down a notch. I didn't like him to begin with, so he was firmly in my negative zone. To me, it's pretty ballsy and presumptuous to go on a world victory lap (c'mon, that's what it was) well before the election. In everyone else's place of work, instead of getting you promoted, that usually gets you fired.

Ok guys, the approach of closing threads is not going to work, and new threads will get the same problems.
So here is what we will do.

We reopen this thread, and let it run its course.
But the discussion will remain on-topic about whether you changed your mind about obama or not, and why.
No potshots at each other about other candidates, communism or anything else that is not relevant.

Failure to do so will result in a 3 day ban.
Uncivil behavior against each other or a mod will get the same result.

"I did not have a very good opinion of Obama before his "Coronation Tour," so it could have hardly gotten worse."

"In the United States today, we have more than our share of nattering nabobs of negativism. -Spiro T. Agnew"

I believe the post above you is from someone who neither supports the democrats or republicans!

Yeah, sure.
They poster doesn't like Obama and still quotes Spiro Agnew.



...

Let's get back to this precise topic . . .

Has anyones opinion of Obama changed since his "world tour"?

I found it refreshing to see an American politician met by cheering, enthusiastic crowds who were waiving American flags instead of burning them in protest. I believe he helped establish himself as someone to whom world leaders can relate.