Comments on: Obama Looks to Be Apparent Democratic Presidential Nominee http://jscafenette.com/2008/05/07/obama-looks-to-be-apparent-democratic-presidential-nominee/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:05:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Guss http://jscafenette.com/2008/05/07/obama-looks-to-be-apparent-democratic-presidential-nominee/#comment-9163 Guss Thu, 08 May 2008 08:58:16 +0000 http://jscafenette.com/?p=3577#comment-9163 What we say about either candidate will be factual, backed up by other publications and we will not get involved in race-baiting or rumor mongering. =))=))=)) What we say about either candidate will be factual, backed up by other publications and we will not get involved in race-baiting or rumor mongering.
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]]> By: Sue http://jscafenette.com/2008/05/07/obama-looks-to-be-apparent-democratic-presidential-nominee/#comment-9156 Sue Thu, 08 May 2008 00:25:48 +0000 http://jscafenette.com/?p=3577#comment-9156 "Finally–let me get to the point of this post–they complained about the lack of attention to issues by the candidates; the attention to race and gender and their belief that all 3 candidates were pandering to whatever voters were available." David, could we please "borrow" these young adults and send them on a national tour so they can spread their obvious common sense and political savvy? Thanks for sharing this story. It gives hope that the next generation moving into the political spectrum will show an intelligence which has on some levels been lacking recently. If you ever do find out the meaning of "Street Law" would you kindly fill us in. I have never heard of that either and would be very interested to know exactly what it denotes. Sure is an interesting name for a high school course. “Finally–let me get to the point of this post–they complained about the lack of attention to issues by the candidates; the attention to race and gender and their belief that all 3 candidates were pandering to whatever voters were available.”

David, could we please “borrow” these young adults and send them on a national tour so they can spread their obvious common sense and political savvy?

Thanks for sharing this story. It gives hope that the next generation moving into the political spectrum will show an intelligence which has on some levels been lacking recently.

If you ever do find out the meaning of “Street Law” would you kindly fill us in. I have never heard of that either and would be very interested to know exactly what it denotes. Sure is an interesting name for a high school course.

]]> By: David M. http://jscafenette.com/2008/05/07/obama-looks-to-be-apparent-democratic-presidential-nominee/#comment-9152 David M. Wed, 07 May 2008 19:09:02 +0000 http://jscafenette.com/?p=3577#comment-9152 This is a difficult article for me to comment on, but I had a wonderful experience this week that touches on these issues. I was invited to speak at our local high school for Law Day. I didn't know what to expect, but I found myself talking with two honor classes entitled "Street Law." I'm not sure what that really is, but I expected the students to be interested in juvenile crime issues or fairly trivial matters. First of all, almost all the classes were Hispanic and Native American. I could identify two students as clearly Anglo (they were blond). The students ranged in age from 16-18. I was supposed to talk on "The Rule of Law" but luckily for me, they were armed and ready with questions. They had read the interview with Justice Scalia and had questions about him and majority, minority and plurality decisions of the SCOTUS. They asked about the Patriot Act; Guantanamo; waterboarding; White House e-mails and visitors' logs. I was so proud of them. Luckily I did know that all three candidates support closing Guantanamo and thought water boarding was torture. I tried not to express my own opinions, but helped them see both sides of every issue. Finally--let me get to the point of this post--they complained about the lack of attention to issues by the candidates; the attention to race and gender and their belief that all 3 candidates were pandering to whatever voters were available. I even had a student who listed earmark projects for Arizona that McCain supported. I had no idea what money he brought to Arizona. I was so delighted to speak with them--and did remind them that pork, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder. The young women did not see why Senator Clinton's gender mattered. I was able to remind them that in very recent history, female sports were not equally funded and that did catch their attention. What a wonderful and refreshing experience and apparently, like every Senator, John McCain brought money home to Arizona. I'm really going to have to re-think earmarks and pork. We tend to want to put everything in a tidy little box and sometimes it just doesn't fit. This is a difficult article for me to comment on, but I had a wonderful experience this week that touches on these issues. I was invited to speak at our local high school for Law Day. I didn’t know what to expect, but I found myself talking with two honor classes entitled “Street Law.” I’m not sure what that really is, but I expected the students to be interested in juvenile crime issues or fairly trivial matters. First of all, almost all the classes were Hispanic and Native American. I could identify two students as clearly Anglo (they were blond). The students ranged in age from 16-18. I was supposed to talk on “The Rule of Law” but luckily for me, they were armed and ready with questions. They had read the interview with Justice Scalia and had questions about him and majority, minority and plurality decisions of the SCOTUS. They asked about the Patriot Act; Guantanamo; waterboarding; White House e-mails and visitors’ logs. I was so proud of them. Luckily I did know that all three candidates support closing Guantanamo and thought water boarding was torture. I tried not to express my own opinions, but helped them see both sides of every issue. Finally–let me get to the point of this post–they complained about the lack of attention to issues by the candidates; the attention to race and gender and their belief that all 3 candidates were pandering to whatever voters were available. I even had a student who listed earmark projects for Arizona that McCain supported. I had no idea what money he brought to Arizona. I was so delighted to speak with them–and did remind them that pork, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder. The young women did not see why Senator Clinton’s gender mattered. I was able to remind them that in very recent history, female sports were not equally funded and that did catch their attention. What a wonderful and refreshing experience and apparently, like every Senator, John McCain brought money home to Arizona. I’m really going to have to re-think earmarks and pork. We tend to want to put everything in a tidy little box and sometimes it just doesn’t fit.

]]> By: Sue http://jscafenette.com/2008/05/07/obama-looks-to-be-apparent-democratic-presidential-nominee/#comment-9148 Sue Wed, 07 May 2008 13:24:19 +0000 http://jscafenette.com/?p=3577#comment-9148 What a shame that at this point in our history a piece like the one you have written is necessary. Race continues to be an issue which affects the otherwise clear thinking of many. If we cannot look past the color of ones skin and evaluate the person on their merits than are we really able to offer a fair assessment? Should Obama actually be the nominee for the Democrats, my hope would be that we can have a race based on those things which will affect all of our lives. Here is the question which those who have looked to bring down Senator Obama should ask themselves..why is it you would forgive the known behaviors of the Clintons yet attempt to destroy Obama? Most admit that on policy they are equal. If you consider the difficulties of the recent past for the Obama campaign I suppose you could make the argument that they are also now equal in the "character" department. Based on what I have heard this morning the Clinton's are continuing on. I find it remarkable that Obama has had the fortitude to soldier on against this formidable machine. He has not taken on one opponent but an entire family of Clintons in every state and while he has had difficulty with certain blocks of voters has held his own against odds which most would never have given him a chance. Whether I support a candidate or not, I must give credit where credit is due and this is one of those situations. What a shame that at this point in our history a piece like the one you have written is necessary.

Race continues to be an issue which affects the otherwise clear thinking of many. If we cannot look past the color of ones skin and evaluate the person on their merits than are we really able to offer a fair assessment?

Should Obama actually be the nominee for the Democrats, my hope would be that we can have a race based on those things which will affect all of our lives.

Here is the question which those who have looked to bring down Senator Obama should ask themselves..why is it you would forgive the known behaviors of the Clintons yet attempt to destroy Obama?

Most admit that on policy they are equal. If you consider the difficulties of the recent past for the Obama campaign I suppose you could make the argument that they are also now equal in the “character” department.

Based on what I have heard this morning the Clinton’s are continuing on.

I find it remarkable that Obama has had the fortitude to soldier on against this formidable machine.

He has not taken on one opponent but an entire family of Clintons in every state and while he has had difficulty with certain blocks of voters has held his own against odds which most would never have given him a chance. Whether I support a candidate or not, I must give credit where credit is due and this is one of those situations.

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