UPDATE: (February, 2009);  This piece will be updated on a regular basis;

Last update:  April 25, 2009

"America can be described in one word...freedom."  Dwight D. Eisenhower

 Since I started writing seriously, in August of 2006, my policy has been to stay away from writing about politics and religion, etc.  But, I make an exception here with this piece, because of the extrodinary circumstances, in which the events in the political arena have unfolded. 

I have not been that much involved in politics during my lifetime, because I have been turned-off to all the self-serving politicians...all the scandal and corruption that is within the borders of politics...in other words...the stench of politics, etc.

I am not a Republican nor a Democrat...but I look at whether or not a person is a liberal, moderate or conservative.  That's how I vote...for a moderate or conservative...never for a liberal!   

"Politics...when I am in it...makes me sick!"
William Howard Taft

But, so many politicians have let me down over the years, and the biggest let-down, was when I voted for Richard Nixon in 1972.  I think many American's feel the same way I do, because more than 50% of them don't even bother to vote.  The year 2008, may have been an exception, because we had the first woman and the first Black-American running who had a real chance at winning the Presidency. 

I read a short article many years ago, which said, that YES...America will have a woman President of the United States...and that will all come about, because of the Internet.  The Internet will allow the woman to raise the money needed to be a viable candidate for President of the United States.  The article didn't mention anything about a Black-American running for President.   

Barack Obama must have read the same article, because I think a big reason why he won the Presidency, is because he used the Internet in a wise and effective way, to raise the money he needed to stay in the race, and eventually win it. 

"He who serves his party best...serves the country best."  Rutherford B. Hayes

On the other hand, Hillary Clinton went after corporate donations, in which there was a cap, and soon ran out of money, and had to lend herself money to stay in the race. 

I think one (of several) reasons Hillary Clinton lost the race, was because of her arrogance!  I saw the interview of her in late 2007, whereby she was leading in the polls, and I think she lost because of the following reasons;

1)  In that interview, she proclaimed that the race would by over by February, 2008 after Super Tuesday.  More than a dozen races are held on Super Tuesday, and (amazingly) she didn't even prepare for after Super Tuesday! 

2) Because of this attitude, she ran out of money, and had to loan herself money to stay in the race and be competitive. 

3) Barack Obama was a little-known Senator from Illinois, and she mis-judged the capabilities and organizational strengths that he brought with him to the campaign.  

4) I think Bill Clinton, hurt Hillary Clinton...more than he helped her, and I think she could have done better by herself.  Bill Clinton, put his "foot in his mouth," several times during the campaign...which all added up to her loss, etc. 

5)  I really think, that because Bill Clinton is a former President and Hillary Clinton is a former first lady...that they were going to simply dance their way into the White House again, and take over the country... with Hillary being the first woman President...and they got surprised!  The American people said "NO!" 

6) There was in-fighting in the Clinton camp, and several high-level people left the campaign.  This was not good for organization strengths...nor for volunteer/employee morale, etc.

"It is easier to do the job right...than to explain why you didn't do it."  Martin Van Buren

It was the wise use of the Internet, that propelled Barack Obama to victory, and he raised a record number of money in doing so.  Small donations, from millions of people all over the United States...which allowed him to stay in the race and eventually win it! 

And, the article was right...only it was not a woman who did it...it was a Black-American,  who used the Internet effectively, and did it.  Barack Obama collected a record-breaking amount of money, and he did it one dollar at a time over the Internet. 

I remember several years ago, when Elizabeth Dole, ran for President.  She quickly ran out of money and had to drop out of the race, etc.  If Elizabeth Dole and Hillary Clinton had used the Internet, like Barrack Obama did, they may have done better in their campaigns! 

"It is not strange to mistake change...for progress."  Millard Fillmore

Barack Obama came out of obscurity from the state of Illinois, and he used the Internet, not only to raise an immense amount of money, but to get himself known by the American people and to state his positions on various issues. 

Most of us are not that familiar with Barack Obama, but one of the first things I have noticed about him, is his self-confidence.  It gives him a very good appearance that he is confident about his abilities, with a "can-do" attitude!  Because of this, he has WOWed millions of Americans and people around the world, and inspired them to show up and get out during the campaign and to vote!  This was important for his win...get out the vote! 

Think about it for a moment...the Clinton's have ruled and owned the Democratic party for years, and Barack Obama, just rolled over them and left them in the dust!   

"The only thing we have to fear...is fear itself."  Franklin D. Roosevelt

Q:  The issue of experience for Barack Obama? 

A.  My only answer to the experience factor, is that George W. was given a second term by the American people, and look how things turned out...a paltry 22% rating for him, etc.  At this point, George W. had four years experience as U.S. President, and look what happened?  The do-nothing U.S. Congress was not much better! 

Q.  So, who's responsible for the mess at hand?

A.  The American people (who voted for George W.) have to share in the responsibility, because they gave him a second term!  It can be no other way!   

Unlike the sixties, where American's raised hell all over the place...there was not a whisper out of American people in 2007-2009, when things began to fall apart!  

"If you want to make enemies...try to change something!"  Woodrow Wilson 

Experience (or lack thereof), will always be a factor, in politics, but one thing is certain...Barack Obama is smart and he's educated!  I also think what his confidence in himself, does for the American people, is to give them HOPE!  Hope for a better tomorrow!  The American people have been lacking in hope during the last few years, and have not had much hope in their leaders!  And, that's because of the do-nothing Congress, which has ratings at an all-time low, American's feel abandoned by their leaders, and need new hope in their lives more than anything else!   

MY TWO-CENTS...continues...
for whatever it's worth...

THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS...and BEYOND! 

THE NEXT SEVERAL PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL RATINGS OF 2009 WILL APPEAR HERE... 

January 23, 2009:  The first report card is in for Barack Obama, during his first week in office.  The approval rating by the American people is 68% and that's 4 points shy of President Kennedy in 1960, but higher than every other President since that time, which I think is very good!   But, this is the honeymoon season, and the honeymoon will be over soon. 

February 23, 2009:  The second poll came out on this date, and it again showed a 68% approval rating for Barack Obama, which is the same as last time.  Polls also show that President Obama gets high marks in reaching over the isle from Republicans, and Republicans get low marks in reaching over the isle to the Democrats, etc. 

March 17, 2009: The latest polls found Barack Obama's approval rating dropping.  An average of the six public polls in the past few weeks; Pew; Gallup; Rasmussen; McClatchy; IPsos; Newsweek and Fox put Obama's approval rating at 60.3 percent.

"You can fool all of the people some of the time...and some of the people all of the time...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time!"  Abraham Lincoln

Barack Obama brings much hope with him, and only time will tell as to how he does as President of the United States.  But, I'm certain that if he handles the Presidency as well as he handled his campaign to get there...he could be one of the great Presidents of our time! 

April 25, 2009; FIRST HUNDRED DAYS:

On this date...the polls show 62% approval rating for President Obama...down from 67%...but the numbers are still high.  A high number of Americans think the country in now going in the right direction. 

*                              *                            *

OBSERVATION(S);  It is said that a picture is worth 1,000 words, and I got a sneak-peek at the first Cabinet meeting of Barrack Obama, and had a chance to look as some of the faces around the table.  People with looks of surprise; perplexed; doubt; amazement; uncertainty; curious; skepticism; resentment; disdain, etc.  The roles have now been reversed...as White folks are now taking orders from a Black man!  But, Barack Obama has won the mandate (in over-whelming fashion), of the  American people and nothing else matters! 

And, for those of us, who lived through the turbulent and violent 1960's, can remember when Blacks were repressed, etc.  Change doesn't come easy...and I would very much suggest that ALL Americans have to work together to make it all work in this society!   Republicans; Democrats; Whites; Blacks; Hispanics; Asians; Native Americans and ALL other PROUD Americans! 

Put your pettiness aside (if any); put your hatred aside (if any)... because if this financial-melt-down is as serious as I think it is...the Great Depression could seem like small potatoes! 

SITE MAP For Hopelessly Lost Souls;

Copyright; 2008; Jerry Aragon/The Humor Doctor
Website name; humordoctormd
http://humordoctormd.homestead.com