And the Tears Flowed like Wine

Save us Obama! I would like to savor this moment in time and space when the stars are aligned in cosmic splendor about the center of the known universe, the United States. One moment, I must still my racing heart and catch my breath.

Digby

First of all, congratulations to Senator Obama. This is a truly historic moment for the Democratic party and for America. When I was a kid (yes, back in the stone age)and when he was born, Barack Obama wouldn't have been allowed to stay in the same hotels or get a drink in a bar or buy a house next to a large number of white Americans. Last night, America took another huge and necessary step in putting that awful history behind us. It was long overdue, and was made possible through the tremendous sacrifices and courage of many people who didn't live to see the day. I am grateful that I did live to see it. I will do everything in my meager power to help him Obama win this campaign. The election of the first African American president signals the end of the era of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Nothing could be more fitting.

Also, congratulations to Senator Clinton, who in my view showed Democrats what a fighter looks like. This is the closest primary in history and despite what the bloviators and the gasbags have been saying for months, she had not only a right, but a duty, to fight on until the end for the half of the Democratic party that supported her. Clinton too was an historic candidate who inspired millions of people and she has my admiration. .

Tis amazing, with one fell swoop Obama has banished racism from sea to shining sea. Incredible as this may seem it must be true. Obama surely has the Midas touch. And Hillary the heroine of the day has nobly fought and inspired millions with her racist innuendos and usage of every dirty trick in the book. She has certainly earned the respect of many a gasbag.

M.J. Rosenberg

It could have been a case of terrible timing. The first speech after claiming the nomination is delivered at AIPAC. Talk about your tough crowd.

But Obama won them over. He received standing ovations, cheers and even some tears (when he talked about the Holocaust and about slain Jewish civil rights workers, Michael Schwerner and Andy Goodman who were murdered in Mississippi with James Chaney in 1964).

Obama won AIPAC over without dropping his commitment to the two-state solution or engaging in the Palestinian bashing that is normal in that venue.

So how did he do it? It turns out the timing was perfect. Suddenly there is an awareness of the dimensions of Obama's accomplishment. And people want to be part of it. (The AIPAC crowd has a huge contingent of students who are not exactly enthusiastic about returning to the campus in September as McCain supporters).

Super Obama does it again! But what did Obama say to deserve the laurels cast in his direction?

Mother Jones

I will bring to the White House an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security. That starts with ensuring Israel's qualitative military advantage. ...I will ensure Israel can defend itself from any threat, from Gaza to Tehran. ...


As president I will use all elements of American power to pressure Iran. I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything.


That starts with aggressive, principled tough diplomacy with clear eyed understanding of our interests. We have no time to waste. ... We have tried limited, piecemeal talks, outsourced to other parties. It has not worked. It is time for the US to lead ....


I have no interest to sit down just for sake of talking. But as president I would be willing at time and place of my choosing, if and only if it advances the interests of the United States. It is time once again to make diplomacy succeed.


(Choice to Iran will be clear). If you abandon your nuclear program, your support for terrorism, and your threats to Israel, there will be economic incentives. If you refuse, we will ratchet up the pressure.

(And it will be clear to the world) that the Iran regime is the author of its own isolation, and that will strengthen our hand -- with allies, Russia, China ...

This reminds me very much of the buildup to war with Iraq where Bush insisted there was no time, diplomacy had been tried and failed and I note how Obama has fine tuned his willingness to speak with Iran from unconditional talks to a time and place of his choosing and only if it advances American interests (Israel).

Iran has no nuclear weapons rather it is Israel who does as President Carter recently revealed Israel has a minimum of 150 nuclear weapons. So how is Iran a threat? What in the world is Obama talking about? While Carter is no angel and bears responsibility for creating the types of policies that have helped lead us to our imperial endeavors as they presently exist clearly a score of 150 (Israel) and 0 (Iran) should cause one to question Obama’s sanity or honesty or both. This is change? Anyone who has been paying attention to the murderous Israeli expansion of territory must surely be forced to admit that the conflict between the Israeli and the Palestinians has been a fairly one sided affair. The people imprisoned in Gaza by Israel have been suffering living in squalor and famine while the Israeli steal their land. So what is Obama talking about? Please, these are rhetorical questions. It is quite clear that Obama is cementing approval from the American Establishment and the Israeli lobby.