Obama = GW BUSH

He even uses his old theme music at his rallys!

Bush was the new face, he was going to change the way america worked. he was going to give people their money back, he was going to save medicare , fix education, and reform social security. Do you people remember that!! He was the supposed savior for the republicans. Obama is what Bush was for the republicans, for the Dems. Great hope!

Hillary reminds me of FDR. He social stances, universial heathcare. the government creating new jobs. very socalistic view points.

McCain reminds me of Teddy.
War veteran , not backing down. tough and tried. Honor for the country. Ready to lead head and heart first, but not nessarily smart.

The only possible answer to Hillary's silly complaint is to refer to other hopeful words from past American leaders. Obama isn't afraid to motivate and lead America to higher goals. Much ado about nothing. Hillary just tried to take the focus off her average, uninspiring talk.

i just finished watching the roundtable from This Week's sunday program and i am struck by the fact that no one mentions that Hillary Clinton, if she wins TX, PA, and OH would essentially have won every electoral-rich big state, the ones needed to make a Democrat President -- CA (55), TX (34), NY (31), PA (21), & OH (20). If you add in FL (27) and MI (17) she's got a corner on the market. The only electoral rich state won by Obama was his home state of IL.

George help us out. With you background and knowledge you can provide a real view ofthe latest flap and nonsense about borrowing lines from another's speech or using someones policy ideas. Why do all candidates have paid speechwriters? This would be a great issue for ABC to cover in depth. The great speeches of the past were generally not the candidates or politicians words. The majority came from skilled wordsmiths who were paid to write speeches. Peggy Noonan wrote some great stuff for Reagan. Pat Buchanan was a paid writer for Nixon. Bill Clinton and George Bush have had paid political sppech writers. The candidate or politician never has a disclaimer about the speech being written by someone else. The just give it and get the credit for using someone else's words. The same thing paid with policy advisors. The Clinton camp would have you believe that Hillary has been locked up in a room for months at time coming up with new and great policy ideas. As you and I know, this is not the case. Policy analysts put together most of the major policy ideas that come out of campaigns. I believe this topic would be most instructive to the general public and let them have an understanding about what goes on behind the scenes in campaigns. The speeches Obama gives and the solutions Hillary promotes are in many instances not their own and certainly not something the candidate just thought up while sleeping last night.

Help us George!

Mike B
Alabama

George,

I think there is a need for some balanced guidance on the primary process for 2008 (not fixing it going forward yet). I don't know the answers, but as a reasoned and balanced pundit, and moderator of a very balanced and insightful round table each week, perhaps we can get around this. I tend to vote for Democrats and like both candidates, and it's not the fear of a split party that bothers me but of large populations of voters feeling disenfranchised. Below are the questions bugging me.

If either candidate gets their way, someone is disenfranchised. Voters are set to lose. By granting MI and FL their delegates, they got what they wanted and their punishment becomes moot. (aside argument - why can't they vote when they want? What's democratic about that rule DNC?) If they get to vote again, they become bigger king/queen-makers than they would have been originally. If they caucus, not every voter that went to the polls can/will make it, and their vote is lost. Both sides are taking undemocratic positions. If it stands as it is, millions of people's votes don't count and probably a couple million more (who originally stayed home, conscious of the delegatelessness) never had a say in this historic, dramatically close primary.

What is the solution? What is worse in democracy than votes not counting or prevented from being cast?

Michael
Tallahassee, FL

It does seem somewhat amazing that the issues that face our elected officials haven't changed much over the years. It makes a person think that we may going around in circles and being led by those that we elect to get things straightened out. A look at the rehteric being put foreward by the current candidates kind of reflects the disconcern for effective and economically efficient resolve to the issues being faced by all of us. " Citizens ".
Medical care for everyone is a dream that only our political community thinks will work. If all of the fraud and misuse of the current systems were controlled we would take a long step toward affordable medical care. Then eleminate the waste and duplication between the systems and create a consistant oversight process that insures efficient and effective management and we might have a chance at affordable medical care and insurance. The only effective control of misuse and abuse of Social Services is if everyone pays for them. Eleminate the give aways and strive to create work for those who need it so they can pay for what they need. Stop giving our freedoms, rights, and opportunities to people who have no intention of respecting those who gave them.
Our economy is in a shambles and the only thing we hear is that our candidates will STOP the bleeding by keeping jobs in this country. Just how is that going to happen when we give away our educational system to anyone who wants an advanced education except our CITIZEN'S CHILDREN. As citizens our children and grandchildren should be receiving the advantage not non-citizens from anywhere. When it costs in excess of $35,000.00 a year to obtain a college education just who is benefiting? I think the financial insititutions making the loans and collecting the interest/profits and our government by providing jobs for people to make the laons so a student can be so far in debt by the time they graduate it will take them ten years to repay their opportunity. What happened to the free education for anyone who wanted it? We better find out if we want to kepp our manufacturing, research and development, technology and engineering companies in this country. Then again we have to be able to provide a work force that is willing to work and respect those who give them that opportunity.
Which one of the CANDIDATES will have the courage to attack the real problems this country faces and stand up to the SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS and insure that all of the CITIZENS benefit from our GOVERNMENTS actions?

This morning, Will... stated that Americans are not in despair. He needs to remove himself from "the (his) circle" and see whats going on throughout America - people are losing their homes, struggling to pay utilities and gas prices. In our country, our citizens are choosing between groceries and gas. He (Will ...) may not call this despair and on the world scale it may not be but on the American scale of a desirable standard of living, for many it is. Americans are struggling!

Once again, participants in the Round Table discussion perpetuate sexism.Ongoing references continue to be made to"Senator" Obama and "Mrs." Clinton.In this way the media is part of the "fluff" over "stuff" wave that is happening in the Democratic Party.

I've been watching "This Week" for 20 years but today's episode 2/24 was the by far the worst conversation I've seen. For George Will to say "there's no despair" and for Cokie Roberts to say that the "young" voters won't turn out in the general election both were calloused and catty,respectively. "Meet the Press" swims circles around TW. Bye, ABC.

George why haven't you reported on the alleged incident involving Larry Sinclair and then state legislator Barrak Obama in November 3-8 1999? We need to find out if this stuff is true. The media must let us know.
whitehouse dot com

As a 49 year old white female, I was totally offended by Cokie Roberts' comments this morning regarding people only voting for Obama because he's a "pretty face". His well thought out policy positions & unmatched ability to inspire are the reasons people are supporting him. I'm a living breathing feminist & to me it seems like a betrayel to the feminist movement to vote for a candidate just because they're a woman. The head of NARAL & many other feminists (including myself) are voting for who we think is the best candidate - Barack Obama.

Geroge Will, ;what country were you referring to when you said there "look around, no ones in despair." You must know a single family who has a relative in Iraq, or has lost their job or is worried about foreclosure, or who can't afford health care, or who can't afford to send their kid to college or who can't afford to fill up the car for work.

I guess it just shows who is out of contact with America.

Geroge Will, ;what country were you referring to when you said there "look around, no ones in despair." You must know a single family who has a relative in Iraq, or has lost their job or is worried about foreclosure, or who can't afford health care, or who can't afford to send their kid to college or who can't afford to fill up the car for work.

I guess it just shows who is out of contact with America.

Shame on you, Cokie Roberts!! It was so obvious the morning you are a STRONG Clinton supporter. Downplaying the young voters and suggesting that women are only voting for Obama because he is young and cute. In the words of Ophra "i am not that small." I am voting for Obama for his positions on issues as well as his ability to inspire people in a positive way. And because unlike other canidates, I DO NOT BELIEVE HE IS AN INTELLECTUAL SOCIOPATH!!

Cokie: I know you are upset, but come on! Are in touch at all? Do you watch the debates? Do you listen to the news? Not too long ago, the young vote was what everyone wanted. Now Obama has it and it is a bad thing? They are unreliable and won't show up when it counts? Do the primaries not "count?" And GW: I usually like you. I have migrated from being a very conservative republican (I went to Bob Jones University in 1992) to being a very informed, interested American, but I have still appreciated your analysis of this race. Until now. What was in your coffee this morning? I am so glad you seem to be immune from the diseases the state of our economy has inflicted. What vaccine did you get?

I believe our country IS in crisis ... there is despair .... just ask those who have lost their homes, have lost their jobs, have lost their healthcare!
However, there is a difference between rhetoric and substance. Obama's campaign has consistently told the people that the people have the 'voice', and 'the power' to change things. His whole campaign revolves around 'the people'. I read on his blog under Ethics' issues that he refers to the White House as "MY WHITE HOUSE". That goes against everything he has told 'the people'. Once again, I find rhetoric - not substance - works. We had it 7 yrs ago when G. W. said he would bring Change and he would 'reach across party lines and unite the country'. That's exactly what Obama is saying. Yes, he speaks eloquently but he is using other peoples' ideas and other peoples' plans. I have a gut feeling we're in for 4 more years of 'the SAME'.

While I won't try to predict who will win the Democratic nomination, I will venture the prediction... If Obama wins the nomination and election, he will be a "one-term-wonder."

He will have won because of an enthusiasm for change. When the electorate realizes he cannot deliver, he will be abandoned as quickly as his support grew!

And this will give the presidency back to the Republicans in 2012.

I would like to see George Will try to live on 50K, gross, with 2 kids and no healthcare. Go to Iowa where Maytag has closed and try to find a job that offers the same pay and benefits, or Michigan or Ohio where factories have closed in every industry.
He should just talk to someone who isn't making salaries in the high 6+
figures,like his Washington beltway buddies,and spend time in that person's neighborhood.
There are millions of Americans in despair in this country with no hope of their government helping to restore good paying jobs unless something drastic changes there soon.
I loved the White House pinning their hopes, economically speaking, on the service industry. Needless to say it was down and will continue that way, because no one has extra money to eat out or travel. And have they ever looked at what the service industry pays? BELOW MINIMUM WAGE in most cases...make it up in tips is the mind set there.
When was the last time most companies could afford to give a raise? Or decided that profits, if by rare chance they had any, belonged in their pockets and not in raises or growth.
And the saddest of all are the vets who have the worst healthcare in the country. They are neglected and underpaid after putting their lives on the line for us, while a 2 year idiot congressman gets the best healthcare in the world for life and a pension to go with it!
This country is completely screwed up while guys like George Will,who live in a glass bubble,think that there is no despair out here. Get in the car George and take a ride around the REAL country!

George, I always enjoy your program when I am at home and not at church. I happened to be home this week and I heard Ms. Roberts say that she had spoken to Billie Jean King and that Ms. King had said that to see Hillary not win makes her feel like all of her work through the years as a women had been in vain. And, it appeared as though Ms. Roberts agreed. Although I like Hillary, and I too am a woman, I must point out that there has been a much longer struggle for equality among the African American community. All of the things we have worked so hard for (even decades before Ms. King was born) have lead up to this moment. That is that we as African American's also poccess the qualities needed to be President. For many years we have prayed and worked hard to be given a chance. I was insulted by her comment. Don't get me wrong I love the Clinton family but I just felt that her comment was inappropriate and without consideration or thought. There are some quotes that are best left on the lips of the originator.

Cokie wants everyone to believe that Barack Obama has done notthin while in the US Senate and wants everyone to notice Hillary Clintons vast accomplishments while reaching "across the aisle" to the other Party. This is unfair. Obama, in his short time in the Senate did work with Republicans to pass major ethics reform legislation to make transparent the coffers, and the sources, of all of our elected officials. Obama has a long record of working with the other party to get things done.

Clinton has fought alot.

The frustration of Cokie Roberts, Billy Jean King, and Gloria Steinam is understandable. They need to give credit to Barack Obama, he has run a wonderful campaign. Predicting it's crash comes across as petty. If Cokie would admit she is a supporter of Hillary I would respect her alot more. Her efforts to appear as an objective voice at the roundtable are self defeating.

George,
I have been a long time fan of Cokie and Steve Roberts. However, Cokie continues to bash young people. Prior to the Iowa Caucuses she made light of the involvement of young people in Obama's campaign and they proved her wrong. Today she did it again, saying their involvement would not last through the General Election in November. Get off it Cokie, young people have been the catalyst of countless movements, including the civil rights and anti-war movements of the late 6o's. She also took a vicious jab at Obama today basically saying he has nothing to offer the American people. She has shown that she is obviously supporting Hillary. Her feminist slip is showing at the expense of objectivity. Is she now a political consultant like Donna Brazile or a journalist? She is confusing the public.

The "no despair in America" comment followed by a half chuckle was a low mark for your show George, which is usually slightly more refreshing than the Sunday Fox show. It is unbelievable that someone would say that today when were seeing the culmination of the Bush Agenda in it's final, destructive stages.

I lost my job of nine years, i have no health care, my recent natural gas bill was $100.00 more than the same month last year even though I used less and it's colder this year, and we have a President who wants to continue the war, and continue to destroy our environment.

I feel I don't have that much to complain about compared to some, but I am worried, seriously worried about my future in this country where the rich keep getting richer and then make comments like that. What kind of person would make a comment like that with all the problems the poor and middle class have today?

That was completely insensitive and ignorant.

I would like to know why I don't see jounrlaists of the major news shows asks presidential candidates these questions. I think many voters would like to have some answers in a debate?

1. Why does our officials allow insurance companies to partially cover visual and dental policies when eyes and teeth are part of the human anatomy? Even Hyprocites knows this. Does the insurance industry? Do employers?

2 Why do civil service jobs for local, regional, state, and federal positions provide copies of written evaluations for employees but private corporations are not required? I think all employees should be able to receive at least one copy of each personnel evaluation. Some even recognize that copies of evaluations can be used as references.
If there are concerns about privacy, I think a compromise might be to send these copies to the employment office or state agency and they can keep the information confidential.
3. A disability does not necessarily wnd at the time an individual becomes employed; however, many benefits end at that time. Also people lose advocacy even when disabilities exist and they need help from an agency after they work for a designated period of time. I think a better solution to this would be to have clients pay for visits that were free at the time of unemployment. I also think visits for the employed might be restricted to four unless extenuating emergency circumstances exist. I think when one is not earning money, even if one is "technically on a payroll on medical leave" one should still be able to see a caseworker. If one does have some source of income and insurance, one might be asked to provide a copay. I also think one should be able to see the same caseworker who really knows a client well over having cases transferrred from one agency to another.

George Will.... Strongly disagree with the notion that the Republican policy of winner of a state take all delegates should be adopted by Democrats. I believe the reason you gave was to give a clear cut winner. That is so wrong! If candidate 'A' wins 51 of 100 delegates in one state and 1 of 50 delegates in another state, that candidate would have earned only 52 out of 150 candidates. However with winner take all, he/she would have been awarded 100 out of 150 delegates. Meanwhile candidate 'B' wins 49 delegates in each state for 98 delegates but would have been awarded only 50 delegates. What is clear cut or -more importantly- fair about this where the candidate who earned 52 delegates beats the candidate who earned 98 delegates? Outside of the twisted Republican thinking anyway.

I just viewed the March 9 This Week and I would ask that you tell Sam Donaldson to just shut up every now and then. On several occasions he cut George Will off in mid-sentence, to go off in a direction of his own and Will never did get to complete his thought. Will is by far the most interesting commentator on the panel and if Donaldson won't let him complete a thought, then get Donaldson off the show.

Hello George,
It seems as if you and your roundtable are living in an alternate universe. let me bring you back to the Clinton's campaign of racial undertones and religious divisions. African Americans would not vote for a CLinton if she had Jesus on the ballot. And we don't think putting Barak underneath her is a compliment quoting a republican strategist from fox news putting Barack at the back of her bus is not flattering. So if you and your pannel want to join Clinton and her racial insults and say we will all rally behind her if she wins well, John McCain start picking out the curtains because it will be a cold day in he__. Republicans can win the white house without the African American vote Democrats cannot and will not!!!

Did the Clinton campaign pay ABC or just Cokie and Sam. Oh, I forgot Cookie and Sam are part of the tired Washington establishment that Obama rails against. I trust you will give equal time to Obama supporters in the future. Pat Stenstrom

I was disgusted by George's questions (or lack of questions) for Governor Crist of Florida. Perhaps the most outlandish thing I've heard so far is Governor Crist saying that the votes should be counted "as is" and there shouldn't be revotes in Florida and Michigan. What about all of those people who didn't vote because they knew their voices would not matter? Crist is playing politics because he is a Republican. George missed a golden opportunity to push him on this and the issue of disenfranchising all of those "non-voters". I was so disappointed in George's silence - I'm usually such a big fan of is. Isn't it the job of journalists to ask the tough questions?

I am pretty disappointed. I know George is biased toward Hillary, but to have Crist and Levin on, and allow them to repeatedly state that the only fair and right thing is to throw out the rules and seat the delegates, allowing the original primary votes to stand. How can that be fair, when there was no campaign in either state? George had a number of opportunities to raise that question, but didn't.
Also, no one seems to be challenging the assertion that Hillary should get the nomination, even if she doesn't get a majority of the delegates, because she has won "the big states." It's a specious, empty argument. She did win a majority in many of them (it's not accurate to claim that she won Texas...she did get a majority in the primary, but lost the caucus and lost the delegate battle there). However, it was with mostly registered Democrats, and most of them will vote for whomever hte nominee is. The fact that between them they brought out more voters in those big states means that either one of them might beat the Republican in the general election...not winning a primary in those states doesn't mean you won't carry the state in the general election.
What we should be asking is not whose getting the votes of Democrats who would vote Democratic anyway, but who is bringing out people (independents, young voters, crossover Republicans) that have not come out for a Democrat in many years (if ever)? That's the candidate that will not only carry the traditionally Blue states and the swing states, but stands a good chance of bringing out enough votes to take back a lot of Red states as well.

It seem to me that all of the comment about this Races, is going in Hillary way and your are just trying to Rob,Steal the election from Mr.Obama, I'm surpise at you George I watch your show faithfully every Sunday and I thought you were better than that, Not surpise at all from Cokie and Sam comment,Mr.Obama and I believe that the people have spoken and all of your should stop trying to shoot down his Destiny.

Cokie Roberts keeps saying that all there has ever been on the tickets have been white men, but not only was their a Native American, Charles Curtis, as the VP on the Republican ticket in 1928, but the Hoover-Curtis ticket went on to win the election.

To All,
I want to know what the canidates are saying not there pastor or advisors. When I hear you on the news say women vote for Hillary Blacks vote for Obama so wrong. The voters are smarter than that. For me I am a single Jewish women in Ohio who voted for Obama in primary. In the nov election I will vote for Obama. I am sick and tired of all in Washington fighting not passing any new laws for the middle class. I am a nurse who works two jobs my choice. My oldest son in Iraq he's choice. I do not blame Wasington for anything. I just want unity to get things done. Obama has not been there to p/u bad habits. I believe Obama is the only one who can unite the parties. Thank you.

To All,
I want to know what the canidates are saying not there pastor or advisors. When I hear you on the news say women vote for Hillary Blacks vote for Obama so wrong. The voters are smarter than that. For me I am a single Jewish women in Ohio who voted for Obama in primary. In the nov election I will vote for Obama. I am sick and tired of all in Washington fighting not passing any new laws for the middle class. I am a nurse who works two jobs my choice. My oldest son in Iraq he's choice. I do not blame Wasington for anything. I just want unity to get things done. Obama has not been there to p/u bad habits. I believe Obama is the only one who can unite the parties. Thank you.

George Will believes, like many in Fundamentalism Christian Republican religion, that African Americans and other minorities should be thankful and should "love" America because they were given the right to vote and because they should be thankful that they are no longer slaves. These right-wing Christians look at the world through "white" eyes and discount the discrimination and oppression that stills exist (or try to reinforce it). It doesn't matter what your Fundamentalism Christian Republican Sunday-morning preachers tell you folks, the United States is not perfect and it is not only irresponsible but it is immoral to look the other way to the corruption and other problems that exist.

I just want to comment on Donna Brazil's remarks about understanding where the preacher's rhetoric comes from. She became an apologist for racism when she minimized the preacher's remarks. Being a minority and a woman, I also understand the anger, frustration, and disappointment of living in a racist society.

However, stating that women leave the church uplifted with their hats on the other side of their heads doesn't justify the remarks of a racist preacher. Despite our national problems, I would rather live here than anywhere else. Our constitution doesn't promise equality. It promises the opportunity for equality, and we, as a nation, continue to struggle toward that end.

Unlike this preacher, Martin Luther King uplifted people because he was a true minister and man of God. Ghandi uplifted people. This preacher is a minister of hate and division. He doesn't uplift, as Brazil claims or as Martin Luther King did. This preacher fosters a sense of entitlement that cripples people.

Since he has been Obama's preacher for 20 years, what does that say about Obama's judgment and true feelings, especially in light of the slipped out remarks made by wife? Obama's weak defense that he was unaware of the preacher's remarks strips the veneer of honesty from his campaign, especially in light of his non-action as Committee Chairman on Afghanistan, his many absentee votes, and the Iraq, NAFTA, and Rezco situations. He is not a victim of the Clintons or the press, as Brazil indicates by stating that the kitchen sink is being thrown at him. He is a victim of his own convictions and actions. His wife's remarks weren't taken out of context, as she states. They were a slip of the tongue that exposed her true feelings, which happen to mirror those of the preacher.

Like Brazil, I also understand the origin of the hateful, divisive remarks, but I also understand the origin of remarks made by Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Farrakon, the KKK, and others throughout history. However, I never would b an apologist for them.

The fact that Obama didn't want his minister of 20 years to make the prayer invocation for his campaign proves that he was very familiar with the preacher's convictions and remarks. Political expediency put the preacher in the closet. Isn't that politics as usual?

Obama likes us to think Clinton is negative, but, no matter how subtly he injects it into his speeches, I'm intelligent enough to see his negativity as well. I think his self-righteousness makes it even more unpalatable than Clinton's side

When Obama first came on the scene, I supported him and was going to vote for him because I also was enchanted by his youth, vigor, and intelligence, However, the illusion shattered when he said he would invade Pakistan not only as a defense against actual attack but also as a preemptory strike. As soon as he said that I changed my mind. How is he any different from Bush if he would conduct the second peremptory strike in American history?

I then reluctantly decided that I would vote for Clinton. However, as the campaign proceeded, I have fluctiated between not voting or, for the first time, voting for a Republican.

The problem is that, although I think McCain is the most moral and honorable of the three, I have changed my mind again because I don't support his positions. Therefore, for the first time, and at 59 years of age, I probably will not vote in the presidential election.

Ms. Brazil don't blame the "machine" if Obama loses. Obama has his own machine, as all politicos do. You denigrate the intelligence, compassion, hope, and judgment of myself and many others if you do so. Why isn't it possible that if Obama loses, it will be because of his own duplicity and positions? Yes, race will be a factor, but he already has proven that he can be supported by non-blacks.

I truly pray that the best candidate wins, be it, in alphabetical order, Clinton, McCain, or Obama. For the sake of our country and future generations, I probably will end up giving voice to my opinions by voting, but instead of being joyful, it will be painful because right now I do not admire either of the Democrats.

Some say both democrats together would be a dream ticket. I think it would be a nightmare of political expediency, calculation, and politics as usual.

Obama was forced into a racial corner by biased reporting, I notice Rod Parsley pastor of Mc Cain is not mentioned or confronted, where are the sound-bytes on him, or Hilary Clintons serving as a black panther attorney is not being mentioned, to put Wrights comments in Obama’s mouth is un-American and just an excuse for institutional racism. We need the next leader of our country to be intelligent beyond race, with integrity, which is lacking in Washington, we have had eight years of “Spin” politics. Obama is a breath of fresher air, Notice the fresher not fresh, because all politicians operate in a broke system and most are forced to some degree of consuming
The position. Assuming sounds too sexual, and first they take the position then the position takes them in politics, Politics the art of broken promises.

Every knows at least one fool, a family member or neighbor that doesn’t transcend to their own views, but guilt by association is un-American, I do think Obama being honest may hurt his chances because Washington doesn’t believe in honesty
From Los Angeles Jeff Jackson