Obama visits Denver

The Rocky

Published January 30, 2008 at 7:48 a.m.
Updated January 30, 2008 at 5:31 p.m.

Here are excerpts from Obama's visit today to the University of Denver:

1:20 p.m.

Democratic White House candidate Barack Obama today said rival Hillary Rodham Clinton is too polarizing to win the presidency and she has taken positions shared by President Bush and Republican candidate John McCain for political expediency.

Obama depicted Clinton as a calculating, poll-tested divisive figure who will only inspire greater partisan divisions as she sides with Republicans on issues like trade, the role of lobbyists in politics and national security. At the same time, he elevated McCain, fresh off victory in Florida's crucial primary, as the likely Republican nominee.

"Democrats will win in November and build a majority in Congress not by nominating a candidate who will unite the other party against us, but by choosing one who can unite this country around a movement for change," Obama said, speaking as rival John Edwards was pulling out of the race in New Orleans, leaving a Clinton-Obama fight for the Democratic nomination.

Obama said he understands voters might feel some comfort at the idea of returning to another President Clinton after eight years of Bush. But he cautioned voters not to buy the argument that Clinton's experience is what the country needs.

"It is about the past versus the future," he said. "And when I am the nominee, the Republicans won't be able to make this election about the past.

"If you choose change, you will have a nominee who doesn't just tell people what they want to hear," Obama said.

"Poll-tested positions, calculated answers might be how Washington confronts challenges, but it's not how you overcome those challenges; it's not how you inspire our nation to come together behind a common purpose, and it's not what America needs right now. You need a candidate who will tell you the truth."

--Associated Press

12:45 p.m.

Presidential hopeful Barrack Obama is getting rock star treatment. Even though he has left the floor of the Magness Arena, about a dozen supporters are waiting for the opportunity to meet him. Word is, he is conducting a television interview nearby.

“I would like to meet him and shake his hand and see him up close,” said Brandon Dahl, 22, who lives in Boulder. Dahl said the speech was great. He was on the floor, but he had a hard time hearing everything Obama said.

Dahl said he is going to go home and watch the speech because he TIVO’d it.

The workers are now folding tables and chairs to clear the arena for tonight’s appearance by former President Bill Clinton.

--Daniel Chacon

12:19 p.m.

More from outside Magness Arena:

Shawheen Young, 33, said he hasn’t decided which presidential candidate to support but that he’s “definitely” leaning toward Obama.

Young, who rode his bike to the event, said Obama’s pledge to fight global warming hit home.

“These are the types of changes that I think people” need to start making, he said, referring to his decision to bike and not drive to today’s event.

Although Young hasn’t decided which candidate to support, he said Obama stands a better chance against John McCain than Hillary Clinton if McCain wins the Republican nomination.

He called Obama the “better match.”

--Daniel Chacon

12:10 p.m.

The thousands of people who attended the Obama event are slowly making their way out of Magness Arena.

Many of the attendees said they were inspired by Obama and his speech.

“I thought it was incredible,” said Denver Councilman Paul Lopez.

“I identify a lot with Sen. Obama,” both as a community organizer and elected official, he said.

Lopez said he agrees with Obama’s “vision of fundamental change.”

“What better time than now,” he said.

--Daniel Chacon

11:57 a.m.

Obama wraps up his speech to loud applause, followed by Stevie Wonder's rendition of "Signed, Sealed Delivered."

--Michael Gunstanson

11:56 a.m.

“We can choose new leadership because there is nothing we cannot do,” Obama said in his closing remarks.

--Daniel Chacon

11:52 a.m.

“Colorado, our moment is now,” he said.

--Daniel Chacon

11:49 a.m.

Obama said he will put an end to the Iraq war if he wins election.

“When I am president, I will immediately begin to remove our troops,” he said. "I will finally put meaningful pressure on Iraq’s leaders to reconcile.”

--Daniel Chacon

11:45 a.m.

“My job as commander in chief will be to keep you safe,” Obama said. “We also have to have a commander in chief who will deploy our military wisely.”

--Daniel Chacon

11:42 a.m.

The crowd started to chant, “Yes we can! Yes we can!”

--Daniel Chacon

11:41 a.m.

Obama continues:

“When I am president, we won’t any later to start doing something about global warming. Together we can solve the issue of climate change."

--Daniel Chacon

11:38 a.m.

Obama shifts to the topic of education:

"When I'm president we will rally this country to world-class education. We won't just talk about how great teachers are, I will reward them with more money and more support. I want the highest standards in our schools."

--Michael Gunstanson

11:36 a.m.

More from Obama's speech: "It is time for a new generation of leadership. That time is now.

It is time because the old politics just will not do.

I have met Americans all across this country that cannot wait.

The real choice isn't about regions or religions, black vs. white, its about the past vs. the future. When I'm the nominee, the Republican will not be able to make this election about the past.

I'll make sure CEOs can't dump your pension with one hand while they get a bonus with the other.

It is time for new leadership for those Maytag workers who are now competing with teenage kids at the local fast food restaurant because the factory they gave their lives to is no longer open.

I want to give the tax cuts to the working people.”

--Daniel Chacon and Michael Gunstanson

11:31 a.m.

The crowd has risen to its feet numerous times during Obama’s speech.

“If you choose change, you will have a nominee who doesn’t take a dime from Washington lobbyists,” he said.

Their days of “setting the agenda” will be over if he’s elected president, he said.

--Daniel Chacon

11:30 a.m.

"It is time for a new generation of leadership. That time is now," Obama says.

--Michael Gunstanson

11:28 a.m.

“We need fundamental change in America,” Obama says. "We're going to change the political map."

--Daniel Chacon and Michael Gunstanson

11:27 a.m.

As Obama speaks in Denver, John Edwards announces in New Orleans that he's out of the presidential race. He said he won't endorse anyone today.

--Michael Gunstanson

11:26 a.m.

Obama continues: "We need to do more than turn the page on the failed Bush-Cheney policies. We have to turn the page on the politics that made those policies possible.

"Divisions and distractions that keep us from coming together to deal with problems like health care year after year. Cronyism that gave us Katrina. Fear and falsehoods that led us into a war in Iraq that should never have been waged."

--Michael Gunstanson

11:23 a.m.

"There is one thing we know for certain in November," Obama said. "The name George W. Bush will not be on the ballot. The name of my cousin, Dick Cheney, will not be on the ballot. The era of Scooter Libby justice and Karl Rove politics will finally be over."

--Michael Gunstanson

11:20 a.m.

Obama continues: "In America, the future isn't what somebody else tells us it is ... it is what we decide it is going to be. That is what America is all about."

Looking ahead to Denver in August, he said, "If you put your trust in me, I will stand up at that convention and say our divisions are behind us and our time for change has come."

--Michael Gunstanson

11:16 a.m.

Speaking of John Edwards, who was exiting the race as Obama began his speech: "John has spent a lifetime trying to give a voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling. He has consistently made us focus on who matters. The New Orleans child without a home. The West Virginia miner without a job. The families that live in that other America that is not seen or heard or talked about in Washington. His campaign may have ended, but his cause lives on."

-- Michael Gunstanson

11:14 a.m.

"Ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they are given the opportunity," Obama says.

--Michael Gunstanson

11:12 a.m.

After getting multiple rounds of thunderous applause from the crowd, Barack Obama started his speech by thanking everyone from the hundreds of people waiting outside to Federico Pena and Caroline Kennedy.

“Thank you everybody for being here,” he said.

--Daniel Chacon

11:08 a.m.

"You know, this looks like a Democratic convention crowd. Except you guys don't have the funny hats yet. We'll have to get you some funny hats," Obama said as he began his stump speech.

--Michael Gunstanson

11:07 a.m.

"What an amazing crowd," Obama says as he takes the stage.

--Michael Gunstanson

11:07 a.m.

As Barack Obama prepares to take the stage, crowd estimates are getting clearer.

A campaign official said there are actually between 1,500 and 2,000 people outside, not the 10,000 estimated by campaign staffers earlier.

--Daniel Chacon

11:06 a.m.

"City of Blinding Lights" by U2 is being played before Obama takes the stage.

--Michael Gunstanson

11:05 a.m.

The introduction of Caroline Kennedy triggered huge applause and cheers from the packed audience.

“This is a really special moment in time for me,” she said, adding that Barack Obama possesses the same “sense of hope and inspiration” that her late father did.

--Daniel Chacon

11 a.m.

Caroline Kennedy, daughter of JFK, is introducing Barack Obama, who is about to take the stage.

--Daniel Chacon

10:46 a.m.

A campaign official said Barack Obama will address the Magness Arena crowd in 10 minutes.

The official said Obama is outside addressing the overflow crowd, which has been funneled to the campus lacrosse field.

--Daniel Chacon

10:35 a.m.

Thousands of people showed up too late to get a seat inside the Magness Arena for a chance to see Barack Obama.

Campaign staffers are checking with the fire marshal to get a crowd estimate, but some say there are as many as 10,000 people outside.

“It’s representative of the enthusiasm that we’ve seen from volunteers and supporters in the field,” said Josh Freed, a campaign spokesman.

“People are energized by the senator’s message,” he said.

Among the people who showed up too late is 28-year-old Josh Gabrielson, who was told by his friend that the event was tonight.

Gabrielson was among the last stragglers in a long line making their way to the front of the arena.

“It’s hard to find a parking spot,” he said.

Bus driver Fred Johnson, who drives the national networks around the campaign trail, said there are people “everywhere.”

“There are more people on the other side than there are here,” he said, observing the line on the north side.

--Daniel Chacon

10:32 a.m.

Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith, dressed in a suit, said talking at the campaign rally for Barack Obama was "nerve-wracking." He said he met the Illinois senator privately back stage and "was more nervous then than I am now."

He said the country has been on the wrong track and that Obama was the candidate for him -- though he admitted to being a novice at politics. In fact, he was a last-minute arrival for the rally.

"We need change very badly," he said. "And once I found out about this, I said I had to go just to be a part of this."

The crowd roared its approval as Smith spoke. And then Smith left the stage while Federico Pena introduced Mayor John Hickenlooper, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter and former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart. They all waved to to the crowd.

Meanwhile, everyone was still waiting for Obama, who is more than 30 minutes late for his appearance.

--David Montero

10:15 a.m.

Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith has taken the stage. "Like they say we want change, we need change, very bad. Very bad," Smith said. "Once I found out about this, I said, 'I have to go' just to be a part of it. And I ended up on stage in front of you guys." He said he would have gotten a haircut had he known he was going to speak.

--Daniel Chacon and David Montero

10:10 a.m.

Thousands of people have flocked to Barack Obama’s campaign rally.

A campaign official said there are about 9,500 people inside the Magness Arena and another 3,000 in an overflow room.

But that’s still not enough space.

The campaign is setting up speakers outside to handle the overflow crowd.

--Daniel Chacon

10:04 a.m.

The Magness Arena is packed, and the audience is getting a little restless.

But people are passing the time in good fun, from chanting “Obama! Obama!” to doing the wave.

--Daniel Chacon

9:48 a.m.

Sipping on a $2 cup of coffee, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennett is among the thousands of people waiting for Barack Obama to show up.

Like countless others, Bennett used the word “excited” to describe his feelings about Obama.

“We’re really excited about this campaign and what it means to Colorado and this country,” he said.

“And,” he added, “my wife is obsessed with Barack Obama.”

--Daniel Chacon

9:34 a.m.

Denver Councilman Chris Nevitt just made it into the Magness Arena and said there are “tons and tons and tons” of people waiting to get inside.

“The line is around the block is 10 people thick,” he said. “It’s astounding.”

Nevitt said the crowd speaks volumes about Obama.

“The guy just has a capacity for exciting people,” he said. “People are excited. There’s no other word for it.”

Nevitt, who used to teach political science at Arizona State University, said people see Obama not just as any candidate.

“This is a unique opportunity,” he said.

--Daniel Chacon

9:25 a.m.

As he prepared to speak in Denver this morning, Barack Obama told reporters that John Edwards had exited the race in a “classy” way. “I think he’s run a great campaign,” said Obama, whom aides said also spoke with Edwards Tuesday night and asked for his endorsement.

In a statement from his campaign, Obama said Edwards “spent a lifetime fighting to give voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling, even when it wasn’t popular to do or covered in the news.”

“While his campaign may end today, the cause of their lives endures for all of us who still believe that we can achieve that dream of one America,” the statement said.

--Associated Press

9:19 a.m.

Former Denver Mayor Federico Pena has taken to the microphone and is introducing distinguished guests, including Gary Hart, Ed Perlmutter, Peter Groff, Chris Romer and Michael Hancock.

“I want a president who can reunite the American people, and that’s Barack Obama,” Pena said, generating loud cheers from the audience.

“I want a president like Barack Obama who has the good judgment and courage and strength to have said in 2002, ‘The war in Iraq was wrong,’” he said, generating even louder applause.

Pena said he doesn’t just want a Democratic president but one who can bring “bold change” to America.

“That person is Barack Obama,” he said.

Next Tuesday, Pena said, Colorado has the opportunity to elect “the next American president.”

--Daniel Chacon

9:12 a.m.

Colorado Students for Barack Obama have taken to the stage and are playing a trivia game with audience members.

Among the questions: What was Barack Obama’s position on the war in Iraq?

“No!” yelled audience members.

The students are flinging campaign T-shirts to members of the audience, many of whom are holding blue and white Obama campaign signs.

The Magness Arena is filling up but is nowhere near capacity.

8:49 a.m.

With the song "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones blasting, the Magness Arena is starting to fill up.

Among the who’s who of attendees is Gary Hart and Denver Councilwoman Marcia Johnson, who are both busy chatting.

Others are less well known.

Littleton resident Kevin Williams, 41, said he came with a group from the Colorado Cross Disabilities Coalition.

“We’re all supporters of Barack Obama, interested in his health care policies,” he said. “He’s figuring out better ways to address issues for people with disabilities than the other candidates.”

Williams said Obama stands a great chance of winning the presidency.

“The momentum during the primary has been amazing,” he said.

8:46 a.m.

A light stream of people is making its way into Magness Arena.

Denver City Council President Michael Hancock is talking to Veronica Barela, president and chief executive of NEWSED, a community development corporation.

“This is the most exciting thing that’s happened in Denver since we got the Democratic National Convention,” Barela said.

“This is like ’68,” Hancock said.

Obama supporters are starting to chant, “Yes we can! Yes we can!”

--Daniel Chacon

8:28 a.m.

Former Denver Mayor Federico Pena, a national co-chair for the Obama campaign, just walked onto the floor of the Magness Arena. He’s on his way to his seat.

--Daniel Chacon

8:09 a.m.

Except for several dozen members of the news media and campaign volunteers, the Magness Arena at the Ritchie Center is still largely empty.

Bayonne Holmes, who has been working in Obama’s Denver campaign office, is among the select group that has already secured a spot in the seats behind the stage where Obama will speak.

Holmes, a Denver native, said she’s inspired by Obama, who she compared to former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln.

“I believe in all his thoughts and ideas,” she said.

Holmes also said it’s time for change in this country and that Obama is the person to make it happen. She said Obama can unite a nation.

“He’s talking about all people,” she said. “That’s the only way it can happen.”

--Daniel Chacon

7:48 a.m.

Hundreds of people are descending on the University of Denver for a chance to hear presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama speak this morning.

Motorists are scrambling for parking.

There’s a line hundreds deep stretching from the entrance of the Magness Arena at the Ritchie Center to almost East Asbury Avenue.

Thornton residents Eva Henry and her daughter, 24-year-old Danielle, got up at 5 a.m. to attend the event, called Denver Community Gathering for Change.

“I just woke up,” Danielle said.

Eva Henry said she’s going to an event for Sen. Hillary Clinton next.

“Call me a nerd,” she said.

Former President Bill Clinton will speak at DU tonight.

--Daniel Chacon

• January 30, 2008

  8:15 a.m.

  Bot writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• January 30, 2008

  9:27 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  junglegymco writes:

  LOL - Yet another wacked out nut job trying to make sure their tiny-minded KKK backed psychosis somehow gets attention. NotChasB, try some real news and actually reading something other than survivalist literature and "Do you know God?" pamphlets. All of these LIES are just that; falsehoods spread by bigots. GO OBAMA!!!!!!

• January 30, 2008

  9:47 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  rickg19611 writes:

  Looks like the kooks are terrified of the latest poll numbers....

  MCCAIN CRUSHING OBAMA AND HILLARY BOTH BY HUGE MARGINS!

  So the kooks are searching desperately for some way to trash him.

  Democrats are once again finding a way to choose loser candidates like Obama/Hillary. Maybe some day they'll learn to stop selecting puffball empty suits that only appeal to the radical leftwing kooks.

• January 30, 2008

  10:23 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  T1anda writes:

  junglegymco....ok so then Obama himself is a liar right?? He is sadly a memebr of the ALL black Trinity Church of Christ on the southside of Chicago. Go to the church's website and you will see that they describe Obamas church as follows:

  "We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian. Our roots in the Back religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting, and permanent. We are an African people and remain"true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. The website also declares.."We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.

  Suppose one of the other presidential candidates was a member of a church with a self-description that read as follows:

  We are a congreation which is unashamedly WHITE...Our roots in the WHITE religious experience are deep, lasting and permanent. We are a European people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization.... We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a WHITE worship service and ministries which adderess the WHITE community.

  Trinity Church sounds like the KKK in reverse doesn't it junglegymnco??

  If, as Obama clearly implied in his speecdh to the UCC denominational gathering, faith deserves a role in public life, how does he reconcile the racial inclusiveness of his political speech with the unvarnished exclusivity of the church where he worships??

  Isn't Obama the fellow who said at the DNC July 27th, 2004.... Quote: There's not a black America and white America and a Latino America and Asian America;there's the United States of America! Obama, attends a church that make this declaration look a bit foolish doesn't it?? So who's smooth talking and lieing here??? Google his pastor and mentor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr. and decide for yourself if this guy is a crackpot or not.

  Many Democrat's go completely quiet whe Obama chooses to give his allegiance to a church with a decidedly ethnic character.

  Barack Obama Quotes: I cannot swallow the whole view of Abraham Lincoln as the Great Emancipator.

  March 14th 2007... No one as suffered as much as the Palistinians( a little Muslim sympathy here?)

  Of course all of this I posted here concerning Obama, junglegymco, is just lies, right??

• January 30, 2008

  11:11 a.m.

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  nimbusco writes:

  OMG... a black candidate belongs to a black church! Guys, the white churches of American excluded blacks for hundreds of years. There is, like it or not, a black religious tradition in this country, a black musical tradition, etc. The white traditions in this country certainly exist, but they are never referred to explicitly as such. One of the privileges of being white in America is never needing to qualify your experience with a racial term. The traditions of the white churches in this country are, indeed, European in origin. Everyone knows this, but they are referred to as the "American way", with everything else implied to be "foreign" or "other". There is no shame in following a tradition that has African elements and taking pride in it.

• January 30, 2008

  11:39 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  junglegymco writes:

  NotChas -

  So you were raised in 5 points - so what? You're still white, no doubt, or you would GET the whole race issue. The website you link talks about a "COMMITMENT TO AFRICA" and "TRUE TO OUR NATIVE LAND" - how is that racist or even anti-American as your pea-brain would argue?! What's frightening is that you don't even recognize your own racism. The argument that "if we used the word 'white' where the church uses 'black'. . ." is COMPLETELY devoid of the experience that people of color have suffered through in this country, both historically and currently. It's not a fair comparison and completely denigrates the utter truth of the history of black Americans.

  T1anda - Also obviously white and willing to use whatever means necessary to justify your own prejudice. The context of the website is pretty clear to anyone with an IQ over 50 that they are PROUD of their black heritage and remain true to its ideals and wish to address injustice and provide for equality. oooooooohhhhhh - so scary. I'm betting the farm that you have NEVER attended a black church service and have NO IDEA the style of worship.

  Obama doesn't by the whole of Lincoln as the Emancipator. Big effing deal! Maybe you should try reading history - Lincoln did NOT emancipate the slaves solely out of the goodness of his heart.

  And Obama acknowledges the suffering of the Palestinians? Again, big effing deal. Do you think they HAVEN'T suffered?

  Both of you need to listen to more than Fox News and listening to Rush Limbaugh - there's a whole news world out there just waiting!

  The fact is that Obama is a decent, hard working, caring AMERICAN who happens to be black. It's time for you to stop trying to find the wacked-out "slippery slope", specious lies and look at the character and actions of the man.

• January 30, 2008

  1:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Barron writes:

  Hey people, how about some real issues here? I don't give a hoot about Obama's church. As anyone knows, the most segregated hour in America is 11:00 on Sunday. Intelligent, thinking people know that by saying a commitment to our mother land means a commitment to African American traditions. How about the economy, or $4/gallon gas? How about burned out soldiers fighting a war that never should have been? How about teachers who aren't paid squat and pay for school supplies out of their own pockets? How about the subprime lending crises and people losing their homes left and right? HUH?!?! No, instead slack-jawed, knuckle dragging CRETINS want to focus on such non issues as, well, he goes to a black church!!! SO WHAT!!!!! I would ALMOST GUARANTEE that the writer doesn't even bother GOING TO CHURCH!!!!

• January 30, 2008

  1:15 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Barron writes:

  The other thing (I just got back from the rally) - look at the pictures. A true rainbow coalition. All you racists? Stay in your small, fetid corner and continue to stink. The American people are not buying what you are selling. You can drink all that grape kool-aid by yourself.

• January 30, 2008

  1:29 p.m.

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  Spencer writes:

  little early for polls regarding November election. 2 months ago Rudy G had a 20 point lead in florida

• January 30, 2008

  1:33 p.m.

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  joggle writes:

  Good post Barron. Let's stick to the issues please.

• January 30, 2008

  1:37 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  joggle writes:

  Let's do a few substitions in NotChasB's comment:

  Barron

  If your white and don't care about this demagog's INSULT Church your as big a INSULT as junglegymco. What do do think he really wants to do for you you, you INSULT. Another INSULT being led out sea to drown in his own INSULT. Barron your a INSULT that would cut off you own nose to spite your INSULT face. The only pressing issues that should concern you are INSULT. I "Would" Guarantee that you are a INSULT or INSULT that should go to church so you can get a clue and know what your talking about. If you think Obama and Hillary are going to solve all these problems, you really are a Democratic INSULT!

  Wow, how enlightening NotChasB. Thanks for all the insults, I now have a much better idea of who I should vote for.

• January 30, 2008

  1:44 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Barron writes:

  Joggle - huh? You are using the one word over and over so much that your rant doesn't make sense. And please, use spell check.

• January 30, 2008

  1:44 p.m.

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  Francesca writes:

  I don't know if I would want to be laying claim (particularly as a presidential candidate) to a church that unashamedly touts itself as true to the cradle of civilization - in other words the land between two rivers... Mesopotamia... that is today is known as Iraq and part of Iran. Interesting.

• January 30, 2008

  1:48 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Barron writes:

  PMSXpress - Oh, you mean where the Garden of Eden was?

• January 30, 2008

  1:56 p.m.

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  Diff writes:

  -"NotChasB"-
  Looked it up in a dictionary
  1) fool, 2)backwater idiot 3)racist nut
  REALLY!
  Right there in my Funk&Wangnel

  I think the CHANGE need here is overdue

  Obama 08!

• January 30, 2008

  2:04 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  joggle writes:

  Barron, you misunderstand my post. I simply copied NotChaseB's post and replaced all of his insults with INSULT to point out how vacuous his post was. The last line in that post was 100% sarcasm by yours truly. I left the original grammatical and spelling errors on purpose.

• January 30, 2008

  2:16 p.m.

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  FL_transplant writes:

  Why are you all stuck on race? You sound like the biggest bunch of cry babies.. why don't we talk about something meaningful? Or do you all use this forum to complain because no one else will listen to you in person?

• January 30, 2008

  2:19 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Barron writes:

  NotChasB, you need therapy. You can't have a civilized conversation without insulting someone; now I get what Joggle was saying. I know the type you are - you probably beat your kids and wife (oops, I mean baby-mama) and engage in road rage. You can't talk about issues, because you aren't bright enough to know what they are. And I refuse to engage in a racial fight with you; I'm better than that. You are making stupid assumptions. Go smoke some more weed.

  Obama 08!

• January 30, 2008

  2:23 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Barron writes:

  Sorry, Joggle, I did misunderstand.

• January 30, 2008

  2:40 p.m.

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  Diff writes:

  Na...
  I would not waste my best in this case....

• January 30, 2008

  3:06 p.m.

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  joggle writes:

  Who's Keith? If you're referring to NotChasB I agree, there is absolutely no point to feeding the trolls.

  Anyway, onto the issues:

  "Create a government authority to address the subprime mortgage "crisis." In other words, bail out people that were too stupid to read and understand a contract, and WAY over-spent on a loan they KNEW they couldn't pay back. Great use of my tax dollars."

  The potential problem is the credit crunch that banks are experiencing. This is similar to what happened leading to the great stock market crash of 1929 and its immediate fallout. In that case people were investing directly into the stock market with loans (at a much higher rate than the practice of short-selling). Once a sell-off started, they were unable to repay their loans to the banks leading to many banks going out of business since they, in turn, were unable to get loans to stay in business.

  It is important to keep the banks afloat since a lack of faith in them can have a serious impact on the economy. It's also important to try to protect people from their own ignorance when possible since, in numbers, bad decisions by them can affect the rest of us and ruin their own finances which were probably shaky to begin with. That's why the SEC was formed and a lot of regulations were enacted after 1929 to perform this role and act as a safeguard against unwise and unlawful business practices. The truth is these people should not have received these loans in the first place but there was a lack of incentive for banks to hand out the loans since, from their point of view, all of the loans were insured or owned by other banks so that the bank handing out the loan had little financial vulnerability.

• January 30, 2008

  3:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Oh_Wise_One writes:

  Barron- "All you racists? Stay in your small, fetid corner and continue to stink." That's not very tolerant of you. Racists need love to, ask your Dad.

• January 30, 2008

  3:13 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  rickg19611 writes:

  Obviously, the RMNs has turned into a cheerleading section for Obama.

  Not one piece of NEWS in this story... just statements that make the "reporter" appear to be a giggling 13 year old school girl describing the guy she has a crush on.....

• January 30, 2008

  4:01 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Whoa writes:

  It is just as wrong to vote FOR someone based on their race/gender/etc, than it is to vote AGAINST someone based on their race/gender/etc.

  We the people are moving and we are moving towards Obama.

• January 30, 2008

  4:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Francesca writes:

  Sure Barron. If you believe in that sort of thing and that it ever existed.

• January 30, 2008

  4:18 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  joggle writes:

  I agree with you Whoa, although Bill Clinton wasn't wrong when he said something to the effect that some people were going to vote for Hillary because of her gender just as some were going to vote for Obama because of his race (just look at the interviews Bill Maher did in LA recently on his HBO show--some people came right out and said they were voting for Obama because he was black or not voting for Clinton because she was a woman, although at least that guy said he wasn't planing on voting to which Maher replied "Good" or something like that).

• January 30, 2008

  4:24 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  junglegymco writes:

  NotChasB -

  Wow - that you're not white is even more disturbing. And you definitely need to look into anger management courses.

  Even so, after all of your spouting, the line that is the most telling is when you write, " I am an Independent voter and have been sitting out the presidential elections after slick willie."

  If you haven't been voting, you have no right to complain. If you're not voting this time either, then more's the pity on you.

  But the larger picture are the issues: I especially like Dan2's thoughts, although overall I would say that it's a bit thin. Some of his economic arguments are not entirely true and are micro, not macro based. Anecdotal evidence is shaky and unreliable at best, but if it's true that he would pay more taxes, then it's understandable that he would be reticent to vote for Obama. As they say, all politics are local. But Dan misses some of the big picture.

  So to that . . . Dan, yes, the subprime mortgage crisis is VERY similar to 1929. The run on the banks, while liquidity based in 1929, is nearly identical to the bottom line effect the sub-prime mortgage crisis: banks fail. As a small business owner, you certainly must know that you need to turn a profit in order to survive. Large corporations can take a loss for only so long before they either collapse or re-structure. And although the borrowers may have only been paying interest, when they default and a flood of houses hit the markets in foreclosure, it drives down prices (basic supply and demand curve), which in turn causes the banks to take a loss which ultimately results in their failure. If your bank fails and no one buys it, guess what happens to the money you have in it? If you have less than 100k, you'll be covered by FDIC (or similar), but look at the S & L debacle of the 80's and what it cost to the economy and consumer. Better to be penny wise, than pound foolish. The arguments that the "free market" will take care of all ignores some basic economic tenants (i.e. - what is the price for clean air? Absolutely free markets would have us buried knee deep in soot and working 75 hours a week).

  That you might pay more for health care is undetermined. But if by paying $500 a year more helps to insure more people and keep costs down, is it worth it? A personal question, but one in which I personally would say Yes.

  It's tough to tell someone without shoes to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." The role of the Federal government, in my mind, is to provide protection and assistance to those less fortunate, and to keep things from turning particularly nasty in tough times. The decline of the the dollar is a result of multiple factors, not just coming off of the gold standard. There are interest rates, balance of trade issues and deficit spending that help contribute to its decline. Government needs to be a force that drives change, not be sidelined by inactivity and impotence.

• January 30, 2008

  4:33 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  my3pugs writes:

  So much chaff, so little substance.
  "You're an idiot"
  "No, you're an idiot"
  You know, some people will have a problem voting for a man with darker skin, others will have a problem voting for a woman. Democrats should have stuck with what wins, the Southern Baptist white man. Since 1964, that is what has worked for them. I guess there weren't any available. Hilary is divisive? You think Obama won't be divisive?

• January 30, 2008

  6:38 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  benn writes:

  The repukes sound scared...

• January 31, 2008

  8:06 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  T1anda writes:

  Chas B. You expect all of that from an empty suit, inexperienced,consummate, politician??? Bwahahahaha!!

  I've got a slogan also!

  ObombaN'JesseN'Louis the Three Louseketeers!!

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