Okay guys. The reason I even logged on in the first place was to make this post so here goes:

Up until now, I haven't made a final decision on who I'd vote for between the three remaining candidates. Before I go further, here is a little insight. I've always wanted the opportunity to vote for an exceptional person for President. Unfortunately, exceptional people just don't seem to run for the office in large part do to the "no stone unturned" type of scrutiny.

In 1992, I saw and was persuaded by a brilliant politician who was seemingly promising to be what I was hoping for. Though I truly believe his heart was in the right place, he proved to have some deficiancies that just made the discourse intolerable. Nevertheless, I voted for him both times and in large part, approved of the job he did.

In 2000, I liked John McCain and found him to be very refreshing. When Bush beat him, I pretty much lost interest and eventually ended up voting for Bush, which I now regret.

In 2004, I heard bits and peices of what I was looking for in John Edwards, prior to him joining Kerry. I ended up voting for Kerry, in large part due to Edwards.

This time, both McCain and Edwards were just different guys, obviously scorned by the system in the past. They were more against things than for them. Since it's been down to three, I've been changing my mind often though when it comes down to the best handle on the big picture issues, Clinton couldn't be more solid and I'd been leaning heavily towards her.

That was enforced by what I heard from Obama's pastor. I'd found him very refreshing but lacking in depth and this seemed to make him just another guy tellin me what I wanted to hear. I rejected the media focus on the race issue when claims of racism were pointed at Clinton. It seemed Obama couldn't be challenged on ANYTHING without the opposition bein called a racist. After all that, the now famous pastor just topped it off and his radical bigotry and hateful rhetoric sealed the deal. I was gonna vote for Clinton.

That was until today! That speech is the most impressive, straight forward to the point, no bullshit, tell it like it is, let your balls sag to your heels regardless of the response speech I have ever heard by a politician in my lifetime!

All I can say is a big WOW, over and over, followed by finally, a guy that has the sas to let them sas and tell me the truth, not just what I wanted to hear without asking for my vote.

Sorry, but at this point, I am mostly speechless. I feel so relieved I can't even express it in words!! What absolute BALLS!!!! I have never heard anyone, black or white, politician or not, just straight tell it like it is, not worrying about who he offends, not avoiding the problem entirely by covering it up with feel good rhetoric, TAKING THE MOST DIVISIVE ISSUE IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, STRAIGHT ON!! AND WITH BIG, HUGE, MONSTROUS NUTS!!

The issue of his pastor is over for me. With all the bullshit form one side or the other you usually hear in this type of situation, that ends up makin it worse, finally somebody puts it on a level everyone can understand. I just can't get over it!! I seriously had no intention of voting for him before that speech. He was exciting, refreshing, but we've heard all this before and been constantly disappointed.

Finally, an honest, tell it like it is, fuck spin and polling and political correctness. Finally, a guy grabs the toughest possible issue by the nuts, throws it on the table, and says let's have a real, honest discussion and work this shit out!

I am now a believer in the "change we can believe in" motto. If this is an indication of how he will deal with all the divisive issues that are constantly ground to a halt by demagogues, OBAMA HAS MY VOTE!

What did he say in his speech that convinced you?

The whole speech convinced me. He spoke the truth without worrying about votes. The whole speech was straight talk 100% without worrying about pleasing everybody.

It was risky and it might not get over with some people BUT it did with me. I get what he was saying.

I didn't hear his speech...what exactly did he say that was straight talk and risky?

You have the exact speech to back up your decision changing?
What speech?

Was it the speech that was made prior to him deleting the New Black Panther Party page on his campaign website??

If you didn't hear it then I would be waisting my time to explain it to ya. YOu didn't hear it and you don't wanna hear it.

Good bye.

i heard and read the speech and it is just another politician saying anything to save his own ass and get elected.

__________________
"If you want the government to give you puppies and rainbows, don't pout when you're picking up dog shit in the rain"
--Skull Pilot


...being permitted to vote for politicians who enact unjust, oppressive new laws magically converts the stripes on prison shirts into emblems of freedom.
--James Bovard

It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error.
-- U.S. Supreme Court, in American Communications Association v. Douds, 339 U.S. 382,442

Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.
- Wendell Johnson

I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
-- Thomas Carlyle

I take it you can't answer the question.

I can't speak for that other guy but I especially liked the part where he revealed the horrors of being called a n*gg*r by his own grandmother. Killer, moving stuff I tell ya, really!!

He never said that.

Like truth has anything to do with the smear campaign I've been watching...

they should get their own racist house in order.

__________________
"Trust none of what you hear And less of what you see" Springsteen

When the Founding Fathers protected our right to free speech, I think that meant we were supposed to use it.

Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi was the world's most unhinged lunatic. He's now dead. So that moves Ann Coulter up to first place - David Letterman

O, when she is angry she is keen and shrewd; / She was a vixen when she went to school, / And though she be but little, she is fierce. — Shakespeare

51 days left http://www.backwardsbush.com/

I wasn't quoting him.

He did communicate the underlying point.

No he didn't. He said she made some stereotypical remarks. He didn't say she made them about him.

Not nice of her, for sure. But not much different than fathers making sexist remarks about women around their daughters. You know, like women suck at math, etc.

Yup

This is actually the first time Obama did something I didn't admire.

Not that it would stop me from voting for him if it comes to that.