From a friend in the military, with a particularly interesting comment on Iraq

From a friend in the military (who usually votes Republican), with a particularly interesting comment on Iraq:

Obama's achilles heel is Iraq.  I stand heartened that all of the blood, all of the effort, has finally paid off with results on the ground.  We Americans are going to win in Iraq.  Americans will NOT tolerate a loser...  Obama can not be seen to be willing to lose Iraq at the political expediency of disavowing a "Bush policy" and running for the hills...  Huckabee is firmly behind the surge and winning...  this singular issue is the one issue which perhaps is the widest gulf in policy between the two men....  Economics they are very similar.

Re. his comment on Bloomberg, he's right that a Bloomberg run would hurt Obama (or any Democrat) more than Huckabee (or any Republican), but I don't think Bloomberg will run if it's Obama.  He's MUCH more likely to run if Sen. Clinton is the nominee (esp. if Huckabee is as well).

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Whitney...... congrats on Obama's GREAT victory.  I must say that I stand here gap jawed and shocked at how convincing it is - caucas hyrogliphics aside.  Just a great great victory.  In the aftermath, as an "independent" undecided voter who is sizing up the entire candidate field I have now honed in on the likely winners and torn through both their policies and their aura.  Here are my immediate thoughts:

 

1.  Obama is a great orator.  He inspires.  He moves people.  It is a captivating delivery.  It reminds me of Kennedy. 

 

2.  A great orator will overcome a great system where it counts.  I think that Hillary is now desperate.  She will pull out all stops to stem the tide in NH.  If she loses there she won't be able to stop the momentum.

 

3.  Edwards is a scary man.  Yes the election is about CHANGE.  But Obama's change is hope.  Edwards' is confrontation.  I don't see confrontation resonating with the masses.

 

4.  Huckabee won despite being outspent 15-1...  one should never underestimate the Christian get-out-and-vote power... Huckabee separates himself from EVERY other Republican candidate due to his faith - I think he will win the Repub primary.  The rest of the pack is way too similar.

 

5.  A Bloomberg entry will hurt Obama a lot more than it will hurt Huckabee - to me that's the great wild card.  Will Bloomberg run?  If he does, all bets are off. 

 

6.  My mother, age 80, (lifetime dem) says if it's btwn Huckabee and Obama, that she will vote for Huckabee.

 

7.  Me... an independent who usually votes Republican....  will vote for Obama over Huckabee - how's that for topsy turvy?  There is definitely a baby boom vote going on for Hillary and it will later go to Huckabee.  The generation battle has begun.

 

8.  Obama's achilles heel is Iraq.  I stand heartened that all of the blood, all of the effort, has finally paid off with results on the ground.  We Americans are going to win in Iraq.  Americans will NOT tolerate a loser...  Obama can not be seen to be willing to lose Iraq at the political expediency of disavowing a "Bush policy" and running for the hills...  Huckabee is firmly behind the surge and winning...  this singular issue is the one issue which perhaps is the widest gulf in policy between the two men....  Economics they are very similar.

 

9.  Obama's message - that America is a WE....not an us vs. them...  that it's a UNITED states of America....  he is the best candidate I've seen in a LONG time...perhaps my entire life.... that seems serious about bridging those gaps and pulling us together as one...  I hope he does it, for if he does, this force is the most powerful force on the earth today.  More powerful than our very capable military.  More powerful than our adversaries.  More powerful than our challenges.  That's what I now see in Barrack Obama.

 

10.  On this day in January 08, I think Barrack Obama will be the next President of the United States.