Taken from the Chicago Tribune. The aura of Mr. Smooth Dennis Byrne October 21, 2008 Aura: (n.) A general impression produced by a predominant quality or characteristic: air, ambience, atmosphere, feel, feeling, mood, tone. A single word explains why Barack Obama might be president. Aura perfectly describes the Democratic candidate. An aura, the dictionary says, is the distinctive, but intangible air that surrounds a person. It derives from the ancient Greek, meaning breath or gentle breeze. I particularly like the third definition, which says an aura is "the supposed emanation surrounding the body of a living creature, viewed by mystics, spiritualists and some practitioners of complementary medicine as the essence of the individual and allegedly discernible by people with special sensibilities." Those of us with below-average sensibilities can only ponder how Obama has managed to establish a cult of personality the way no other presidential candidate has, except perhaps John F. Kennedy. Yes, Obama says what many Americans want to hear and how they want to hear it. But something is creepy about how Americans are running to embrace what is essentially a method. As ethereal as Obama's aura might be, nothing in the Republican quiver can fight it. Past or present affiliations—be they with violent radicals, racist ministers, convicted fixers and the corrupt Chicago political machine—can't fight the aura. Obama's aura overcomes his inexperience, his most liberal voting record and his outright deceptions (e.g. reneging on his pledge to take public campaign financing, and thereby limiting his campaign advertising). We could have 10 more presidential debates over the differences between Obama and John McCain on foreign policy, Immigration, the economy, government ethics and so on, but it wouldn't matter. Intricate policy differences between the two don't matter, because only aura counts. Because of his aura, Obama can engage in a presidential debate, and his aloofness and one-note message of "change" will be misinterpreted by burbling commentators as thoughtful, calm and intelligent discourse. His aura explains why his handlers can get away with slamming McCain for his allegedly negative campaigning, even at times when he is simply disagreeing with Obama's policies. We are about to elect a president because of how he makes us feel, not how he makes us think. That says a bundle about an undemanding electorate. Yes, Obama has policies, and he enunciates them eloquently, and a lot of people support them; but notice is mostly taken of his delivery, not of his substance. Voters, never, ever have elected a president with policies this far to the left; rare, indeed, is the senator or congressman who is further left. (Note to conservatives: Stop calling Obama a socialist. It doesn't do your cause any good, and besides, he isn't, in the strict Marxist definition of the state owning the means of production. Obama is just a Hyde Park liberal, a sui generis kind of extreme leftist who uses words like "sui generis." Talk, instead, about how McCain is mainstream. Although, I also doubt that McCain's more centrist positions can stand up to aura either.) Having aura is fine, but electing a president based on whether he or she possesses it shows curious understanding of how democracy is supposed to work. Yes, tens of millions of Americans will feel wonderful when Obama is elected and maybe the stock market, the housing market and the rest of the economy will boom from that good feeling. I hope so, because that's just about what has been guaranteed by a vote for Obama, and I can't wait. But there's this. After the aura has burned away—like the early-morning summer mist disappears before a rising sun—the president needs to make tough, on-the-run and wise decisions. It is then when a president's basic inclinations surface, about whether to involve the government more in your life, take more of your money or, in the face of our enemies, speak softy and carry a little stick. And then, the pathological definiti
Excellent stuff there. I already voted early and Aura had no effect on my vote. I have two stickers on my truck, one is a Bowhunting.com sticker and the other is a "Vote NoBama" sticker. Soon I will be back down to one sticker and hopefully we won't be on our way to an Aura filled presidency. It is amazing how this pied piper can do no wrong in the public eye, yet a man with over 20 years in the political system that served years in a prison camp for his country can so easily be hated. One thing that scares me is that if the Pied Piper is elected we'll see an assassination attempt on him and it will fuel the anti gun crowd. He is leaving himself an easy target at Grant Park, perhaps this cocky smooth talking idiot will be tougher on foreign policy than he his own safety. As for the sheep that follow this herder, I pity you for being so easily swayed by smooth talk. A lawyer is a lawyer in my books and I don't trust a single one of them!
Well if my fears are confirmed and they elect O-bomber, duck and cover. Because the stuff is headed for the fan. I think that racial unrest will become worse than what it was in the 60's "Yes, Obama has policies, and he enunciates them eloquently" Eloquent??? Have they not heard him bumble around when the tele prompter goes down? He reads pretty good. But he is anything but eloquent. God save us if he is elected.
here's a little info to pass on to your undecided friends... http://www.obamacrimes.com details of a lawsuit against obama and the democratic party over obama's qualification to be Pres... it'll be interesting to see if it gains any traction
What some people fail to understand is, with his previous "friends" and associates, he could not get a Top Secret security clearance. Yet, some people want to put him in control of our national security. I vote we all elect Pat Paulsen for president! (Joke for the older people in the crowd) Who else remembers Pat?
I am still trying to find a 'WISCONSIN FOR BLAGO IN ILLINOIS' sticker That way you keep him. HAHAHHA Gets in his best Karate Kid position ready for jas!
Blago is dillusional, he has an approval rating of 12% and is blaming the economy and George Bush for his low rating! Doesn't he get it??