Pedinska claims that I can't know the reason why Obama was chosen as the Democratic candidate.

I did not. This is what I said:

but how you know this is The Reason for his candidacy is just beyond me, unless you'd care to share.

I asked you how you know this is the reason. And I asked you to share. Can't wasn't in there anywhere.

I admire Jesse Jackson and agree that neither the country nor the party treated him with the respect he deserved. But you took me to task for stating that Obama has legislative experience, which I would think is germain to any campaign for the office of Presidency. Can you quote to me the legislation that Mr. Jackson has sponsored in his career?

I think what we disagree on here is what kind of experience we want to see occupying the highest office of the land. Senator Obama was a community organizer and civil rights attorney before he became a state Senator, but you fault him for not having been a founding father of the civil rights movement, or some such. I think that's unfair.

There are two noteable differences between Obama and Jackson. Jackson had a substantial record which was subject to intense scrutiny, derision and disinformation. And Jackson is an African-American descendant of slaves.

There are more than two. Here are two more: Jesse Jackson's admirable record was forged in the bowels of the civil rights movement. Obama's, through no 'fault' of his own, was forged in the bowels of Chicago in the years that came after. And Obama has a legislative history which, if we pay attention to it, tells us much about his own priorities.

I recognize that these are things that you have spent a great deal of time thinking about. It's there for anyone to see. What I don't understand is why you persist in acting like no one else here can do the same. These are discussions we need to have, and they need to happen now. There needs to be recognition that the people in this forum, indeed across the land, are paying attention this time around. And no one, Barack Obama included, will get a free pass if the will of the people is not taken into consideration.

I am sick of the quality of jobs in a world in which all the quality research money in my neck of the woods is increasingly spook and defense.

Indeed, this is happening in my woods as well. Infectious Disease research is increasingly about which bugs can be used by the t'rrists, while funding for research into AIDS or public health initiatives has flatlined or decreased. The biggest $$ holders in my department are doing research on Tularensis and multi-drug resistant TB, as well as other, nastier things that aren't talked about much.

We do, indeed, both support Obama at this moment in time. And it is recognized that the crucibles which forged this consensus we share were very different.

If I were thinking as you, then I would be questioning why Hillary Clinton is the first female candidate. I'm not convinced she is the best my gender has to offer. The reason I don't is similar to Ondelette's - I am voting based on issues which I feel are important at this point in history - race and gender aren't my primary concerns at this juncture. Militarization and corporatization are.

I guess I just don't understand what purpose is served, if Obama is really who you support, by unfairly comparing him to other Black leaders who never even tried to run.

Jesse ran, in spite of the party. So instead of asking us "Why Obama?", maybe you should be asking those leaders you admire why they didn't run. Just a thought.

A resume is not the sole component of leadership.

This is something that definitely got lost in the brouhaha, and it is not a minor thing.

And now I am done 'bleating' on this particular topic since I am apparently just another sheep in dissent. ;->

Heeeee haaaaaaw! (That was braying)

And that for the last time, you incredibly DUMB people, is MY POINT...

...but at least we know the difference between a sheep and an ass.

Is It Raining?

Or did I just walk into the middle of a pissing contest? Sigh.

-- totallyblase

...but around here it would be snow. But not the kind you should eat, as B always warns us. ;->

I have neither the necessary, ahem, directional apparatus, nor the desire for, a 'pissing contest'. I do, however, take umbrage at being called a "sheep" after all efforts at dialogue were dismissed out of hand.

Harrumph!

PDA, your corollary is a boulder of truth in the stream of UT consciousness.

Osteomyelitis is nothing to mess with (ok, I know this sounds like the broken record version of previous discussions, but you know me...).

Did you ask about the culture? Just curious. Don't want them prescribing antibiotics blind at this stage. If they haven't done one, THEY NEED TO!

Shall I send Seth to give you some purr-medicine?

Call anytime. Please.

Rove says: Free Don Siegelman!

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/26/rove-confronted-with-free-don-siegelman-banner/

--Anonymous

If you look carefully at the video, Rove did not want to even touch the banner once he saw what it said. Moreover, once he read it, he tried to roll it back up!

This is Rove's achille's heel, and he's smart enough to know it.