Opinion
Obama the better choice
Chaim Landau
Published: 22.10.08, 18:17
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1. Historical mistake about to be repeated
Jake   (10.22.08)
During the 2000 election, I was a university student in the UK, and I remember watching the debates between Al Gore and W. It was a no-brainer that Al Gore was the better candidate, with a clear record, who knew his stuff, and though not very charismatic, at least could be expected to maintain stability and carry on the legacy of prosperity and growth created by the Clinton years. As for W, I could hardly believe that someone with such a thin resume and dubious record had ever made it that far. It was laughable. His entire campaign was based on punchy sound bytes like "Fuzzy math". And yet, the American people bought it, and W was elected president. Now, in 2008, I can honestly say, the roles have been reversed. Obama has taken the role of Bush. He relies on punchy sound bytes, star appeal, but he has a thin resume and a dubious record. McCain, if nothing else, had his mettle tested under duress, in the prison camps of Vietnam, where he refused to be released early on account of his father's senior position, despite the torture he suffered. Also McCain has an excellent record as senator, of bi-partisanship for the good of the nation as a whole and not just the Republican Party. Not long ago, Joe Biden had nothing but praise for McCain and scorn for Obama. Yet it appears that the American people are about to hand Obama a resounding victory in the elections. They will regret it, as they regretted 8 years of George W. Bush and 4 years of Jimmy Carter. I support neither the Democrats and Republicans. In 2000, it was crystal clear to me that Al Gore was the candidate who should win. In 2008. it is clear to me that John McCain is the better candidate to become president.
2. landau's obama
elliot ,   usa   (10.22.08)
believes in appeasement like other lse luminaries--a strong america is based on peace thru strength--an america which does not fight for itself by staying on offence will not be much help to anyone else...bsides the muslim terrorists will never believe obama is a crusader--not being grads of lse they will see him as a brother!
3. Tell me Mr. Landau, what are you smoking?
Stewart ,   U.S.A.   (10.22.08)
4. Very good!
Thomas ,   US   (10.22.08)
Hardcore leftist Obama victory with the help of Jewish Soros and Co. money portends bitter awakening for Israel. Your obsession with Marx will be your ultimate demise. Enjoy it.
5. Fawning over Obama by so-called "pro-Israel"
Neil ,   USA   (10.22.08)
intellectuals is tedious and boring. It's a pure leap of liberal faith. Nothing new here.
6. Wrong
Yaron ,   USA   (10.22.08)
Sorry to say but this all sounds good but is far from the reality of an Obama presidency. Obama has too many unexplained affiiiations with unsavory characters and has not REALLY been clear on the proportion of Americans who would receive tax relief. While 95% is a number used in the debate, the truth is that those who don't even pay taxes will receive a "tax break". Where I come from, that is welfare and moves us more to a socialist model. Americas is STILL the only superpower in the world but we have stumbled in our ways in recent years. The first business of the next US president MUST be a full review of our foreign policies and our approach with the Arab world specifically. It is high-time that we back our words with deeds in the US and stop doing business with the most totalitarian regimes in the world. The only thing I would agree with is that Israel benefits when the US is strong and will suffer when it is weak. But don't fool yourself into believing that Obama can deliver the goods....he is an amatuer at best and a brilliant politician but he has tabled an agenda that is just not practically sound.
7. The Danger that is Obama
Roxy ,   Israel   (10.22.08)
The author forgets conviently about the disreputable company that Obama kept/keeps like Bill Ayers a domestic terrorist, that church he used to belong to, and what about ACORN the get out the vote for Obama group that has been getting ficticious names on voter registrations across the USA. Something is not Kosher about OBAMA..you need to look further into his associations, he is not who he claims to be and will endanger us all! Vote for MCCAIN if you want an honest leader from a Military background which is what will be needed very soon.
8. I Disagree!
Nick ,   Hollywood Fl.   (10.22.08)
Your degree and your statement are garbage!
9. landau wants the zero and not the hero!
jason white ,   afula,israel   (10.22.08)
Maybe he will have wright as his spokesman,ayers as secretary of defense, farakhan as his Jewish adviser and brezinski as secretary of state. obama will be the worst president in the history of the U.S., but will prbaby be impeached after they find out about his deal with acorn and other far left groups. This is one snake oil salesman and regrettably Jews are stupid to work, support and vote for him. But landau, will you and the democrat "Jews" say Kaddish for Israel?
10. Kids, brace yourselves for global unrest & turmoil..........
Cameron ,   USA   (10.22.08)
that will stagger if Obama takes the helm. Hard to pick a worse choice for someone to cover one's back while marching through a rather cold world full of unpleasant folk with rather unpleasant agendas You know in your gut the real, honest reason why they welcome and want an Obama presidency. They smell an indecisive, weak sister, and will play him like a fiddle as Rome burns, in the finest Carter-esque tradition..
11. Obama vs McCain
Brod ,   USA   (10.22.08)
Anybody who thinks that Obama would be better than McCain does not know what he or she is talking about. The differences are obvious. Obama is a rookie and a weak leader in the face of Islamist-Jihadist manipulations and challenges. McCain is a strong, experienced, and tested leader. Contrary to Obama's crap to lump McCain with Bush, McCain is far different from Bush and will never follow Bush's missteps and mistakes. Those who support Obama and if he wins will have to suffer the consequences of their support. Time will tell. But it will be doom and gloom for America and the world.
12. Jake #1. Unfortunately elections in America have become ...
Stewart ,   U.S.A.   (10.22.08)
media events driven by a very biased media. Instead of the best candidate winning, you get the one who comes across best on the boob tube. No one really cares about the issues although they claim they do. They are wooed by the one who has the best TV charisma; the one who is the slickest orator. Sad but true.
13. Landau is wrong.
I. Barr ,   Detroit   (10.22.08)
Much about Obama is concealed. As an American I am not fooled by nice speeches. Obama is an American brand of Communism. He is an inteligent racist , a student of anti Semitic anti Israel teaching. I hope that I am wrong but to make him Mesiah as Lois Farakhan did means not to allow any criticism of his actions. Sell your dollars.
14. Another coolaid drinker
James ,   USA   (10.22.08)
How long is the beast allowed to have authority in Revelations? Revelation Chapter 13 tells us it is 42 months, and you know what that is. Almost a four-year term of a Presidency. All I can say is 'Lord, Have mercy on us!' According to The Book of Revelation the anti-Christ is: A man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything.. Do we recognize this description??? Obama said on Meet the Press that he would befriend the terrorist nations and they will magically become our allies. Terrorists endorse and fund Obama. Whose side are you on???
15. Obama wants to drown Jerusalem into a drain
(10.22.08)
16. CHAIM LANDAU NEED MORE DEGREES TO UNDERSTAND....
(10.22.08)
17. Landau support barak HUSSEIN obama...shame on him
(10.22.08)
18. Who is the USA?
Moshe ,   Israel   (10.22.08)
19. A Strong America
Moshe ,   Israel   (10.22.08)
Mr. Landau makes an excellent point in his claim that what Israel needs is a strong America, and that the pro-Israel leanings of the President are less important factors. I believe that for the most part the actual policies towards Israel are mostly dictated by Real-politic and not ideology.The problem is a Obama led U.S. will be a copy of a EU democracy without any unique character defining it . the difference between the U.S and other western countries has not only been in its superpower status, but in it's vision for the world and its vision for itself. An isolationist U.S.A would quickly loose whatever moral leverage it still has and will eventually -as radical Islamo-fascism hopes and states-it will eventually dissolve into chaos. To make a strong America we need a Leader with a Vision of American Uniqueness and American leadership, not a carbon copy of Western Europe.
20. What a bunch of talk back morons
Robert Gardner ,   Washington, D.C.   (10.22.08)
I find it interesting that the American political model has been expedited to Israel. First, as opposed to actually deal with the substance of a debate, violently and erroneously libel the messenger. Second, make bold statements without any evidence at all to back up your claims. Third, appeal to heuristics or other supposedly shared notions of identity. Landau's piece is prescient, well-written, and presents a concise opinion (respectful disagreement anyone?). Also, to believe that McCain is some great military leader is to have seriously drank the Kool-Aid. He is a child of privilege with literally zero appreciable achievements. Vote Obama/Biden -- for America
21. Strength and goodness
Daniel ,   Formerly Israel   (10.22.08)
The strength of a nation is not measured by temporary economic shocks, and it is certainly not measured by international approval. What differentiates a strong nation from a weak one is whether it respnds to economic shock with resolve and hard work and rises out of the ashes, or whether it reverts to socialism and gives up the chance to grow to avoid the risk of shrinking. A strong nation is one that identifies its enemies without fear or self-doubt and pours all its force into self-defense. A nation that drains the money of the upper classes and redistributes it to the lower classes is weak, because it is unable to grow economically, and a nation that relies on the approval of other nations for every foreign policy decision it makes is weak because it lacks the will-power to defend itself. What Landau is actually talking about is that he thinks Obama will make America a good nation. He, like the leftists that put Israel in its own strategic hole think that all nations that have a corporate-driven free market and an assertive foreign-poicy are evil, sighting the example of Nazi Germany, and that those with socialist economies and submissive foreign policies are good, sighting scandinavia. But in realilty goodness and strenght are not necessarily interrelated, as shown by the example nineteenth century Britain a strong, but very liberal (and ergo good) country, and Cuba, a patheticly weak but never-the-less brutally opressive country. You can't buy goodness with weakness Mr. Landau, and even if you could, all of that goodness is worthless without the strength to defend it.
22. McCain is the better choice
Shaul ,   Silicon Valley, USA   (10.22.08)
Mr. Landau is delusional. In my opinion his premise that America has declined in the past eight years is wrong. But more importantly he clearly doesn't understand what makes America great. It isn't the economy or even its military. (Although it is preeminent in both) What makes America great it the extent it adheres to its core principles of Justice, Freedom and Liberty. Obama would be an unmitigated disaster. McCain is the better candidate to ensure America lives up to its highest callings.
23. Elitist Liberal
Dan ,   USA   (10.22.08)
Landau is simply an idiot or a socialist/marxist idiot. Obama will be Israel's and America's worst nightmare.The problem with guys like Landau is they are globalists and elitists with no true loyalty to any country, even the one they live in.
24. Obama is worse then Jimmy Carter.
e.m.Jordan is Palest ,   s.f   (10.22.08)
Obama the man that Louise Farrakhan called him the Messiah, Hussein Obama the man that has support of the entire Muslim nations, Obama the man that will change his idea every minute once he have said Jerusalem will not divided and later he has changed his mind, once he has said that he will negotiated without condition with Iran and later he has changed his mind, With McCain America will be more save but Obama will bring disastrous to entire world, By the way Obama have said he is going to attack to Pakistan too.
25. LANDAU LIKE IRAN PREFERS OBAMA
(10.22.08)
26. Fools
Gershon ,   Land of Israel   (10.22.08)
There are fools between Jews and they vote for Barak Hussein Obama. What is worse: weak friend or powerful enemy?
27. YOU MUST BE JOKING??
Darrin ,   USA   (10.22.08)
You think NObama and his anti-semite buddies like Rev. Wright and Ayers etc are better for Israel?? this must be a joke !!!!
28. Obama
DR ,   Israel   (10.22.08)
For Jews to vote for Obama, or support him, is as destructive to the Jewish people today as it would have been for a Jew to vote for the National Socialists in Germany, 1933. His "friends" and supporters are among the most rabid Jew haters in the world. Even Iran, which would like to launch a devistating first strike against Israel, is giving him support, as is Jackson, a well known hater of Israel. It seems that no one ever learns from history, especially those of our own people who can support this candidate.
29. Iran, Obama and a Dream
ZachJonesIsHome ,   USA   (10.22.08)
The Haaretz Article, Top Iran officials recommend preemptive strike against Israel, has triggered the need to repost an article that I wrote some time ago about a dream I had when Iran was testing their missiles. I light of Sen. Biden’s recent remarks that Obama would be tested by our enemies, I ask the question, “What would Obama do?” http://zachjonesishome.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/what-would-obama-do-haaretz-article-top-iran-officials-recommend-preemptive-strike-against-israel/
30. Franklin Roosevelt said raising taxes is the WORST thing
Rivkah   (10.22.08)
that can be done in a depression and he was US President during the Great Depression. But that is what Obama wants to do: raise taxes during a depression! Look at the ELS English Bible codes on McCain at www.revelation13.net if you want to know who God's choice in this election is: McCain.
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