View Full Version : "The Audacity of Hope" (Barack Obama) is an excellent read
footstepsfrom#27
05-28-2007, 02:33 AM
I'm half way through it now...been reading a few pages a day. Reguardless of whether you're liberal, conservative or independent, this is simply an OUTSTANDING book you won't regret reading. This guy is extremely intelligent, but more important...he's saying things about the state of affairs in this country that we just don't hear today from politicians, but wish we did. However...this book is about much more than politics. You may or may not agree with his politics, but you'll find yourself wishing we had more candidates who speak like this.
L.A. BRONCOS FAN
05-28-2007, 04:29 AM
Thanks - I'll check it out.
BroncoBuff
05-28-2007, 05:57 AM
Right on .... this reminded me to check my SPL library site, and voila! After waiting in line from #152, the large-print edition is now available.
He wrote another book before this one too that is well-reviewed.
Obama is a politician... 'Nuff said.
When you read anything by a politician, your load-o-****-o-meter ought to be pegged...
footstepsfrom#27
05-28-2007, 11:08 AM
Obama is a politician... 'Nuff said.
When you read anything by a politician, your load-o-****-o-meter ought to be pegged...
Read the book before you draw that conclusion.
Spider
05-28-2007, 11:17 AM
I just cant get passed the coke usage .............
Anyone who believes anything a politician says is an utter fool.
footstepsfrom#27
05-28-2007, 01:14 PM
Anyone who believes anything a politician says is an utter fool.
Dude seriously...read the book first...it's not what you think it is.
Anyone who believes anything a politician says is an utter fool.
Well, of course he is a politician, but there have been good politicians in America’s and England’s past. I have always respected those few that seemed to be able to look past their own personal power, were defined by values beyond their party, and appeared to have the best interest of the people and country they serve at heart.
Lincoln, Churchill, FDR come to mind.
Not sure how many here like Obama over Hillary on this board – and why, but would be interested on folks take on support for one or the other.
As a conservative, I wouldn’t walk over broken glass, and through barbed wire to vote against Obama, and that may be a factor to consider when choosing a canadate, who will mobilize your base, and who will not mobilize the opposition party.
footstepsfrom#27
05-28-2007, 01:34 PM
I just cant get passed the coke usage .............
Well it was almost 30 years ago when he was a teenager, and he himself brought it out in his first book...not like he was tryinig to hide it.
If I see it for free at a used bookstore, I might waste my time on it... After I get the other billion more-important things in my life done.
footstepsfrom#27
05-28-2007, 02:04 PM
Well, of course he is a politician, but there have been good politicians in America’s and England’s past. I have always respected those few that seemed to be able to look past their own personal power, were defined by values beyond their party, and appeared to have the best interest of the people and country they serve at heart.
Lincoln, Churchill, FDR come to mind.
Not sure how many here like Obama over Hillary on this board – and why, but would be interested on folks take on support for one or the other.
As a conservative, I wouldn’t walk over broken glass, and through barbed wire to vote against Obama, and that may be a factor to consider when choosing a canadate, who will mobilize your base, and who will not mobilize the opposition party.
I'm considering voting for him. I'm a Libertarian at heart, but we all know that's really nothing more than a statement vote and I certainly don't see anyone else in 2008 that interests me. Against Hillary he's a no brainer...I can't stand her any more than I can Bush. Obama is first of all, possibly the perfect candidate for the current times....he's young and energetic, extremely intelligent, has a record of impressive achievement outside politics, and though he's served in the Senate, he might hold appeal for people who are sick of the lifetime professional politicians like Gore and Clinton or the elitist types like Bush. Best of all, he's got life experience that's international, having lived abroad in Indonesia as a kid and was raised around a multicultural environment in Hawai.
He's obviously a dark horse (no pun intended) due to race, but he may be the least objectionable minority candidate that's yet appeared on the national scene in the minds of some white voters who otherwise would not consider voting for a minority. He's not polarizing due to race like Jackson is, and while he is a liberal, he seems extraordinarily willing to examine his own ideas and respectful of other views. If I had to describe the picture of him that I'm getting from reading his book, he's the antithesis of Bush. Where Bush comes off as ignorant and intellectually clumsy as well as arrogant and haughty, Obama seems not only highly intelligent and articulate but very much at ease in front of the camera. On Letterman a couple of weeks ago he came off as a pretty genuine guy...a major plus IMO after the current debacle. He has a quiet kind of presense about him that is the exact opposite of Bush's phony, cue card demeanor.
footstepsfrom#27
05-28-2007, 02:07 PM
If I see it for free at a used bookstore, I might waste my time on it... After I get the other billion more-important things in my life done.
I take it back...don't bother.
The single best thing any politician can do for us, The People, and the nation, is to commit suicide in a most public and painful fashion.
I'm considering voting for him. I'm a Libertarian at heart, but we all know that's really nothing more than a statement vote and I certainly don't see anyone else in 2008 that interests me. Against Hillary he's a no brainer...I can't stand her any more than I can Bush. Obama is first of all, possibly the perfect candidate for the current times....he's young and energetic, extremely intelligent, has a record of impressive achievement outside politics, and though he's served in the Senate, he might hold appeal for people who are sick of the lifetime professional politicians like Gore and Clinton or the elitist types like Bush. Best of all, he's got life experience that's international, having lived abroad in Indonesia as a kid and was raised around a multicultural environment in Hawai.
He's obviously a dark horse (no pun intended) due to race, but he may be the least objectionable minority candidate that's yet appeared on the national scene in the minds of some white voters who otherwise would not consider voting for a minority. He's not polarizing due to race like Jackson is, and while he is a liberal, he seems extraordinarily willing to examine his own ideas and respectful of other views. If I had to describe the picture of him that I'm getting from reading his book, he's the antithesis of Bush. Where Bush comes off as ignorant and intellectually clumsy as well as arrogant and haughty, Obama seems not only highly intelligent and articulate but very much at ease in front of the camera. On Letterman a couple of weeks ago he came off as a pretty genuine guy...a major plus IMO after the current debacle. He has a quiet kind of presense about him that is the exact opposite of Bush's phony, cue card demeanor.
I also think that one of his biggest assets is that he is thought of by many as an outsider to Washington Politics, who ever we get, we will elect someone who can string two sentences together...
The single best thing any politician can do for us, The People, and the nation, is to commit suicide in a most public and painful fashion.
Are you really drunk today?:TJnPopps:
yavoon
05-28-2007, 06:02 PM
barack seems like a good option to me. it would be nice to say our president is smart again. and I dont want this dynastic hillary crap. what would that make it? bush/clinton/bush/clinton? no.
Not drunk, Bob (I don't drink), just being a realist. There hasn't been a single politician for decades that deserved anything other than contempt and disdain.
Obama is no different. Anyone who wants to be President ought to be forbidden from running for the job.
Spider
05-28-2007, 06:37 PM
Well it was almost 30 years ago when he was a teenager, and he himself brought it out in his first book...not like he was tryinig to hide it.
I know , and I admire his courage , and perhaps I am being to harsh , but bad judgment once , chances are it will happen again , I cant rail against Bush for Drug use , then excuse Obama , Drug use is drug use , and they both showed bad judgment , if it had been weed I could over look it , but Coke is a serious drug .........
Spider
05-28-2007, 06:38 PM
The single best thing any politician can do for us, The People, and the nation, is to commit suicide in a most public and painful fashion.
Funny I was hoping the same thing for that Child molesting hero of youres Ted Nugent ......
Ted Nugent ain't my hero.
Spider
05-28-2007, 07:40 PM
Ted Nugent ain't my hero.
Man trick ?
footstepsfrom#27
05-28-2007, 07:57 PM
I know , and I admire his courage , and perhaps I am being to harsh , but bad judgment once , chances are it will happen again , I cant rail against Bush for Drug use , then excuse Obama , Drug use is drug use , and they both showed bad judgment , if it had been weed I could over look it , but Coke is a serious drug .........
Bush had his problem well into his adult years. This kid quit drugs, went to Harvard, became the only black editor of the Harvard Law Review in their 104 year history, got his doctorate and teaches constitutional law at U of Chicago...He didn't come from money and seems to understand the country. Much of his book focuses on why American's are so diviided and what we can do about it. The most impressive thing about The Audacity of Hope is that he's candid about his own failures, usually credits other people for his sucesses and talks about why he feels he needs to understand people who don't agree with him.
I wish he posted in this place. ;D
Spider
05-28-2007, 08:01 PM
Bush had his problem well into his adult years. This kid quit drugs, went to Harvard, became the only black editor of the Harvard Law Review in their 104 year history, got his doctorate and teaches constitutional law at U of Chicago...He didn't come from money and seems to understand the country. Much of his book focuses on why American's are so diviided and what we can do about it. The most impressive thing about The Audacity of Hope is that he's candid about his own failures, usually credits other people for his sucesses and talks about why he feels he needs to understand people who don't agree with him.
I wish he posted in this place. ;D
I am still leaning to Ron Paul , he has the same understanding without the drug use ...... it is a great thing Obama did with his life , but Coke isnt just something you try ......
BroncoBuff
05-29-2007, 06:52 AM
Dude seriously...read the book first...it's not what you think it is.
I love the way all the Junior-Rove GOP hit-men went ape-sh!t about Obama's remembrance in the book of reading a story in "Life" magazine as a boy about a black man who so hated his blackness that he tried to bleach his skin. The Junior-Roves went crazy after an exhaustive search of Life magazine archives found no such story. Chris Matthews of MSNBC said he and others there were contacted by numerous Republican operatives about a year ago, breathlessly revealing this apparent fabrication.
Obama's people did a search of theor own, and ... EUREKA! The article was actually in Esquire magazine - at precisely the time Obama recalled in the book, and the article contained exactly what Obama remembered. :~ohyah!:
Bronco Bob
05-29-2007, 11:20 AM
I love the way all the Junior-Rove GOP hit-men went ape-sh!t about Obama's remembrance in the book of reading a story in "Life" magazine as a boy about a black man who so hated his blackness that he tried to bleach his skin. The Junior-Roves went crazy after an exhaustive search of Life magazine archives found no such story. Chris Matthews of MSNBC said he and others there were contacted by numerous Republican operatives about a year ago, breathlessly revealing this apparent fabrication.
Obama's people did a search of theor own, and ... EUREKA! The article was actually in Esquire magazine - at precisely the time Obama recalled in the book, and the article contained exactly what Obama remembered. :~ohyah!:
To which the Rove-ist attack machine could easily respond that if Obama
lied about the name of the magazine, subtituting the name of a wholesome
magazine like "Life" for a risque magazine like "Esquire", what else is
Obama trying to cover up? Hilarious!
bendog
05-29-2007, 11:50 AM
Can't trust a man who'd lie about a magazine. He might lie about womd and start a war, for God's sake. (-:
I initially liked Obama. And would still vote for him. But, as much as I dislike her, I think I'm for Hill. I think she'd put the professionals and adults back in charge of the DOS and CIA and DOD.
Bronco Bob
05-29-2007, 01:48 PM
Can't trust a man who'd lie about a magazine. He might lie about womd and start a war, for God's sake. (-:
I initially liked Obama. And would still vote for him. But, as much as I dislike her, I think I'm for Hill. I think she'd put the professionals and adults back in charge of the DOS and CIA and DOD.
Love her or hate her, with Hillary you pretty much know by now where she
stands by now. Basically if you liked Bill's eight years, you'll like Hillary.
If you thought Bill's eight years were an awful time for America, a complete
disaster, you probably won't like Hillary in charge either.
One thing is I doubt is she will be caught doing any muff diving and getting
impeached for it, she seems to clever for that. ;)
(So where did this idea she was a lez come from, because she seems to
have larger testicles than most of the men in politics?)
Love her or hate her, with Hillary you pretty much know by now where she
stands by now. Basically if you liked Bill's eight years, you'll like Hillary.
If you thought Bill's eight years were an awful time for America, a complete
disaster, you probably won't like Hillary in charge either.
One thing is I doubt is she will be caught doing any muff diving and getting
impeached for it, she seems to clever for that. ;)
(So where did this idea she was a lez come from, because she seems to
have larger testicles than most of the men in politics?)
I think you are right.
I didnt like Bill for the same old re-hashed reasons, I hate the idea of him getting into the White house, and wonder what he will "assigned to do." When I vote for a president I want them to lead the country, I dont really see it as a "two for one" proposition. I dont want to see a never ending legacy of Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton. I know, one thing I want new blood.
BroncoBuff
05-29-2007, 03:04 PM
Drat ... just got back from the library and it was Obama's first book "Dreams of My Father" that was waiting for me. I'm still #31 on the "Audacity" waiting list.
Well, at least I can read them in sequence. I'll take copious notes to see if he slips up and contradicts himself betwen the two books. I'll report back.
footstepsfrom#27
05-29-2007, 11:22 PM
Drat ... just got back from the library and it was Obama's first book "Dreams of My Father" that was waiting for me. I'm still #31 on the "Audacity" waiting list.
Well, at least I can read them in sequence. I'll take copious notes to see if he slips up and contradicts himself betwen the two books. I'll report back.
I got mine at Target.
Obama is on Letterman tonight...rerun from about a month ago. Even better...so is Halle Berry. :thumbs:
Bronco Bob
05-30-2007, 11:09 AM
I got mine at Target.
Obama is on Letterman tonight...rerun from about a month ago. Even better...so is Halle Berry. :thumbs:
So which one do you think is prettier?
BroncoBuff
05-30-2007, 12:07 PM
So which one do you think is prettier?
That's an easy one... but which one is the better writer? Even easier.
I gotta tell you guys, this man is an astonishingly talented wordsmith. I'm 60 pages into "Dreams of My Father," and his prose flows like a raging river ... seriously! I thought Anne Rice was good with a sentence, but this guy so artfully uses punctuation to sub-reference and sub-sub-reference so beautifully and rhythmically, and his word choice and imagery draws you in in every sentence. Like any good witing teacher will tell you, just because a sentence is long does not mean it's a "run-on" sentence.
I've actually put the book down and clapped out loud a few times ;D
Play2win
05-30-2007, 12:35 PM
That's an easy one... but which one is the better writer? Even easier.
I gotta tell you guys, this man is an astonishingly talented wordsmith. I'm 60 pages into "Dreams of My Father," and his prose flows like a raging river ... seriously! I thought Anne Rice was good with a sentence, but this guy so artfully uses punctuation to sub-reference and sub-sub-reference so beautifully and rhythmically, and his word choice and imagery draws you in in every sentence. Like any good witing teacher will tell you, just because a sentence is long does not mean it's a "run-on" sentence.
I've actually put the book down and clapped out loud a few times ;D
Wouldn't it be nice to have some intelligence in the Oval Office, for a change...
If Obama actually wrote any of his books, I'd be stunned.
I suspect ghostwriters at work.
BroncoBuff
05-30-2007, 01:12 PM
You're joking, right? He wrote this book while he was in law school in 1991. I'll grant you he has editors, for sure.
But I'm telling you, I've read a lotta authors, and this guy's words really do flow, like a raging river. I suppose it could be subjective on my part, but I don't usually color such appraisals regardless of my feelings for the author. For example, Michael Crichton was my favorite novelist though the 90s, but I always admitted he's nothing special as a wordsmith.
Rohirrim
05-30-2007, 01:20 PM
Raise your hand if you're glad you don't live in Wigs' world. :wave:
bendog
05-30-2007, 01:36 PM
One thing I'll give Obama is that he'd be hell for the violent muslims to figure out. How can a guy with a middle of the road / upper middle class muslim dad in indonesia fit into mainstream America and get elected potus.
If I was sure he'd bring back the adults at State, Defense, Treasury, CIA, etc .... Inexperience is OK, so long as the guy's got the gravis to filter info and make good decisions. JFK was OK. Carter - micromanager. I'm just not sure on Obama.
Bronco Bob
05-30-2007, 11:45 PM
Wouldn't it be nice to have some intelligence in the Oval Office, for a change...
Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar and lots of people still didn't like him.
L.A. BRONCOS FAN
05-31-2007, 01:45 AM
Raise your hand if you're glad you don't live in Wigs' world. :wave:
:wave:
I probably don't own enough guns, and I don't have the obligatory Ken Starr shrine in my basement.
:D
What's the prob, Ro? Disappointed that someone doesn't fall all over himself worshipping some scumbag politician?
You wanna know how to tell when Obama is lying?
Spider
05-31-2007, 09:14 AM
Raise your hand if you're glad you don't live in Wigs' world. :wave:
I got my hand raised ;D
Raise your hand if you're glad you don't live in Wigs' world.
In my world, politicians are treated appropriately - as the scumbags they are.
Why, in your world, do you go all mushy and moon-eyed over them?
Play2win
05-31-2007, 09:29 AM
Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar and lots of people still didn't like him.
It seems like years, no decades, no centuries since he was there...
You have to give Bill that, he was smart, and very capable.
Unlike the polar-opposite of the current worthless buffoon now in the Oval Office.
Spider
05-31-2007, 09:30 AM
In my world, politicians are treated appropriately - as the scumbags they are.
Why, in your world, do you go all mushy and moon-eyed over them?
LOL , in your world W*GS everythin is upside down ..........ass backwards .....
alkemical
05-31-2007, 09:34 AM
If I see it for free at a used bookstore, I might waste my time on it... After I get the other billion more-important things in my life done.
Dude, you're turning emo......
alkemical
05-31-2007, 09:35 AM
The single best thing any politician can do for us, The People, and the nation, is to commit suicide in a most public and painful fashion.
Is Bud Dewyer your screen saver?
alkemical
05-31-2007, 09:35 AM
barack seems like a good option to me. it would be nice to say our president is smart again. and I dont want this dynastic hillary crap. what would that make it? bush/clinton/bush/clinton? no.
Did we really vote, or was it an illusion of competition?
alkemical
05-31-2007, 09:47 AM
In my world, politicians are treated appropriately - as the scumbags they are.
Why, in your world, do you go all mushy and moon-eyed over them?
So, what sort of gov't is run to replace the status quo, and whom shall run it?
LOL , in your world W*GS everythin is upside down ..........ass backwards .....
Explain.
Is Bud Dewyer your screen saver?
That's 'Robert "Budd" Dwyer'.
alkemical
05-31-2007, 11:24 AM
That's 'Robert "Budd" Dwyer'.
I stand corrected on spelling merits of the Late Robert Budd Dwyer, my apologies.
So what sort of gov't should we be using Wags, and whom shall run it?
So what sort of gov't should we be using Wags, and whom shall run it?
That little thing called the US Constitution pretty much covers all the bases.
Certainly the behemoth we have now doesn't qualify.
I believe libertarianism is a big step in the right direction. The Tweedledees and Tweedledums of the GOP and the Dems are leading us down the very wrong path...
alkemical
05-31-2007, 12:24 PM
That little thing called the US Constitution pretty much covers all the bases.
Certainly the behemoth we have now doesn't qualify.
I believe libertarianism is a big step in the right direction. The Tweedledees and Tweedledums of the GOP and the Dems are leading us down the very wrong path...
Earlier you stated that people who want to run for president, are the type of people who should not be. (I don't nec. disagree with you). So how do we remedy the situation of this said problem (of getting the love/greed of money/power out of people who want it) in a democratic society?
We are still to the root square of dealing with those who love money and power and not their duty.
So how do we remedy the situation of this said problem (of getting the love/greed of money/power out of people who want it) in a democratic society?
Reduce the power of the State to disable the ability of megalomaniacs to screw with us.
alkemical
05-31-2007, 01:38 PM
Reduce the power of the State to disable the ability of megalomaniacs to screw with us.
This still goes back to square one. If it's a republic/democractic gov - the people will still vote - meaning the majority gets it's say in the matter.
Spider
05-31-2007, 02:24 PM
This still goes back to square one. If it's a republic/democractic gov - the people will still vote - meaning the majority gets it's say in the matter.
minor details ;D .......... But yeah , our system has faults , but I havent seen one better yet .........
L.A. BRONCOS FAN
06-01-2007, 12:44 AM
It seems like years, no decades, no centuries since he was there...
You have to give Bill that, he was smart, and very capable.
Unlike the polar-opposite of the current worthless buffoon now in the Oval Office.
:thumbsup: ^5
Can I get a big "amen?"
L.A. BRONCOS FAN
06-01-2007, 12:45 AM
In my world, politicians are treated appropriately - as the scumbags they are.
My, oh my.
Sounds like somebody has some serious daddy issues.
:D
LABF has an Oedipal complex about Bill Clinton, methinks...