Sorry to be obnoxious, but here's one of my old posts from Saturday, March 17th, 2007 or around 20 months ago. I ask Tensk to make a one sentence joke to compensate for the length here:

The Portland Freelancer's early pick for Obama to win the Democratic nomination and then the presidency, is based on the Elvis factor - what happens when the American People take to someone. The crowd of 10,000 that gathered in Oakland this weekend to see him, is significant. You don't get that many unless there's something very charismatic happening.

It's much more than this racist talk of him being articulate. When Barack speaks - unlike with Al and Hillary - you don't have the cringe factor. I have met Al and Hillary. Al can be so boring it makes the paint crack. Hillary is not dull but she had better reign in her ambition a little and start sounding like a better candidate or this thing will be over by the summer. Her phony southern accent last week was an embarrassment and it sent the cringe meter into earth orbit.

When Obama addresses a crowd there is an air of greatness, like you're watching footage from another era in politics. Of course, W. - who, like Hillary, also breaks out a phony accent on the campaign trail - has lowered the bar so far that it might be hovering somewhere between the planet's crust and the mantle. People are ready for greatness again. We have to listen to these leaders every day - why not make it inspirational and fun?

The only fun part of a W. speech is waiting for him to screw up. His act is old and pathetic - especially since he's disgraced the country so badly. People want to like their leaders, not feel ashamed of them. The Dixie Chicks were way too kind just saying W. was an embarrassment. Don't you want to send an American leader to other countries that will wow them and make them wonder why they can't have a leader that together? It's time we excelled again and it all starts with a connection between the People and the personality.

I think America is beginning to take to Obama and it's going to be very obvious very soon. This is a star. This is Elvis. The Portland Freelancer has spoken.

Obama will hopefully displace role models that peddle black hate via their "music" even while they flash as much bling as they can. The excuse for failure because of some mythical Whitey should now fall on deaf ears. The less I see of mimicry, by youth, of drug thugs the better. The fruits of this change will take 10 to fifteen years to mature.

Will the droopy pants fad fade?

Edward's voice made/makes me nauseous, forcing me to turn off whatever device was playing it. In contrast I could fall asleep to the oration of Obama, regardless of what he might be saying.

On federal policy, Congress will dominate, as it always has.

Obama will be a good leader, if not a great one.

It now will be seen if Obama can please the people that got him where he is now, as well as those that Sarah Palin has convinced he is a Muslim terrorist!

He won't be able to do much with a Democratic Congress as spineless as they have been, especially in the last two years.

Jack

Nice posting. You do a great job here but sometimes let your cudmudgeonly-ness take over.

I know we're both old, wizened, and a bit burned on the past, but this is a great time to look to the future.

Hate to say it but I called this a year ago. Obama looked way sharper, more motivated and overall ready to run a productive campaign. America had turned so red, despite the Bush years, it took every ounce of organizing the Obama group had in them. Lets keep this movement going folks! Volunteer, make phone calls, knock on doors - the next few years will be very very important to solidifying a strong working class political base!

"Obama will be a good leader, if not a great one."

You are going to just love:

* Skyrocketing Electricity prices

* Bankrupt coal power plants (read: blackouts)

* Cap and trade (read lost jobs, skyrocketing home heating, electricity and gasoline prices)

I'll avoid following up on "air of greatness, like you're watching footage from another era in politics." as it reminds me of Europe in the 1930s.

Ladies and gentlemen, the President-elect is the greatest politician in America today -- if not the world. Let us hope and pray that he is anywhere near as good a leader.

I echo that second line. Quite frankly, I don't know anything about Obama, and I doubt that anyone else does, either. Therefore, I distrust him. However, I will respect him. He is my President.

As for McCain, I had to wonder what the Republicans were thinking. I can respect his service and his dedication. That doesn't mean that I want him in charge.

I hope that Obama can prove himself able to deal with the trials that history has thrust upon him.

"...pray that he is anywhere near as good a leader"

Praying? does this mean his presidency is based on hope and a prayer?

A reader writes:

I was so glad to see your above titled post. This is what I saw way back during the primaries when I emailed you asking why you supported Edwards. I saw Obama as the gifted politician and statesman you now recognize. You told me Obama could not win, offered to buy me lunch if he did, and then told me not to bother you again... ;-)

I won't hold you to your promise about lunch, but I just had to say. . . I was right. Your praise for Obama is very eloquent.

I'm breathing deeply and freely for the first time in years. How great to feel proud of America again, and to once more feel the respect of the rest of the world. Isn't it exciting to look forward to what Obama will do.