I kind of just miss the good old days when people threw their hat into the ring only 11 months before the election.

Watch out for Newt. He can blow are 3 of those stiffs away. I'm scurred.

He can blow all 3 of those stiffs away. I'm scurred.

What about SAFN better known as South Asians For Nader.

From a South Asian perspective I have a very hard time embracing Obama, and Nader even more. Their protectionism would not be good for the Desh or for the poorer world at large. You might as well vote Buchanan.

Their protectionism would not be good

Please elaborate where Obama would resort to protectionism (ie. what sector/s)? What clues you in on this (ie. Obama's speeches, or protectionist congressional counterparts that would have his ear)? Would it be similar to Bush's steel tariffs which were decidedly political or a measure more about trade? I'm genuinely curious. Are we assuming there will be a Democratic congress in '08 as well? As far as I can see into the short run, I think an Obama Administration would have no choice but to carry on with a triangulated economic policy.

I've been reading Obama's first book ("Dreeams of our Fathers"), and I have to think that he'll be pretty sensitive to the complex ethics of protecting American labor vs. encouraging business & development in the developing world. At least in that first book (written more than a decade ago) he seems to have a kind of globalized awareness that the protectionist dems usually don't have.

In the primaries, he and the other Dems are likely to talk a lot about the evils of outsourcing and the imperative to protect American jobs. But that's just what Dems do to rally the troops (just as Republicans go on and on about "the culture of life," though they wouldn't dream of actually moving to de-legalize abortion).

Obama at least has personal experience (i.e., of Kenya) that will make a difference as to whether he ends up actually enacting a policy that could end up hurting the third world.

Obama at least has personal experience (i.e., of Kenya) that will make a difference as to whether he ends up actually enacting a policy that could end up hurting the third world.

Righto. One of my primary passions is primary product US trade policy vis-a-vis developing nations. Obama offers at least a smidgeon of a chance that the Executive branch could get behind more poverty alleviating development policies. At least a smidgeon of a smidge. And given the broader institutional inertia towards poverty alleviation, that's all I want.

Instead of acting to implement the will of the people (which seems clear) it feels like there are a bunch of Presidential hopefuls out there using “non-binding resolutions” as a means to define their candidacy in relation to their opponents

May be they are all cursed (blessed) with the responsibility gene. Hopefully, some of them actually have a brain and can actually think and act strategically instead of looking at the daily polls. As Churchill tld us it is hard to look upto a leader who constantly has his ear to the ground. (I am paraphrasing)

Churchill tld us it is hard to look upto a leader who constantly has his ear to the ground.

Pfff. Keep ya ear to the streets. The boardroom has its forum.

I see the interest as a good thing. Its never too early to be engaged in the political process, as long as there is substance to the process. Obama's speech was interesting in his use of linking his candidacy to American history. Bill Clinton made a similiar speech during the convention before his first win. I'm looking forward to the stump speeches of all the candidates. It is I have to say, quite nice to see Barack linking his candidacy to people like FDR and Lincoln. As an indian person, it is nice to know we can all share in the positive history of our nation, and find ourselves to be kindred spirits with our fellows

And so, in February of 2006, a full 22 months before the next Presidential election, I bring you news of South Asians for Obama (SAFO)

I don't care how early it is. I am just hoping for some non-pandering, centrist with ideas to generate good, equitable growth in the economy, return to multi-lateral foreign policy, and enact strong measures to save the environment (like tax gasoline more)....

....damn this is some good ganja I am smoking.

and enact strong measures to save the environment (like tax gasoline more)....

Obamania is reminiscent of the Carter candidacy of the 70's, which I vividly remember as an extremely effective spindoctoring campaign that was meant to reposition a two-term state senator and a governor into a simple peanut farmer. It resonated with the voters because simple peanuts were just the right medicine for a country that felt screwed by Watergate and a lying administration. I can see the parallel in positioning Obama as the Everyman in a post-Bush, post-Iraq, post-Halliburton-contract era.

The manipulative techniques of the Carter campaign notwithstanding, the product being sold wasn't bad, and like a nutritious jar of peanuts, Carter did remain a decent man in the White House to the end and became an even greater man after his presidency. Perhaps Obama is, indeed, the man of the people we think he is, though the dirt digging phase of the elections is yet to begin. Let's hope he passes with flying colors.

I really don't have an issue with the man. I am more concerned about the way we choose our president - all sound bites and TV profiles, very little substance. For example, I felt a wee bit manipulated by Mr. Obama as he gave us viewers 60 minutes(?) a tour of the projects in Chicago and claimed that he had trouble flagging down a cab as a black man. First of all, he was not raised in no project, to use the lingo. Secondly, if he did visit the Chicago projects as an Illinois politician, he certainly did not have to use a cab. Minor stuff, but there was a spin. Et tu, Obama?

Let's keep our "brown pride" in check as we carefully evaluate Mr. Obama for president.

Although I love Obama, I think he has much chance to get elected.
Because most Americans are superficial and idiots, they will not "like" the not very glamorous family of Obama.
Its absolutely ridiculous that the American presidential candidate has to show up with his wife (like Obama last week in '60 minutes'). Also ridiculous is that American presidential candidate has to be religious. Ofcourse just like in old days the "king" is the protector of the religion.

This society elects their 4 year (potentially 8 year) KINGS (otherwise known as President) based on their image. The intellectuals dont matter, the average person only looks at height and "personality" of the candidate. Absolutely ridiculous polls about "which candidate will have you have a beer with" will be conducted routinely. What does it matter whether Obama smokes or not?? But it is going to matter, and this type of superficial things are more importnat at the end of the day.

my last comments first line should read "Although I love Obama, I DONT think he has much chance to get elected."

Why not pick this bone here...

but how exactly is taxing gasoline more going to protect the environment?

Your comment assumes that energy consumption is somehow mandatory and static. In fact, its very elastic to price. So, the guy who can't afford $2 gas is probably going to find a more efficient way to live his life...like using public transportation. Using a 20mpg car is not some birthright. I understand that any increased taxation should be a gradual thing, so people can adapt to it over time.

Such a tax is also a very good way to assign the correct cost to consuming gas. Tax gasoline and pay for the war you are fighting to preserve your supplies of gasoline. That way, my income taxes can be used for better things.

let's hope he flushes all that scary "new american century" stuff down the toilet.

sepia master saar,

clearly we needs the obama in india.
we are stuck with this madam sonia (pbuh) onleee.

thanking you saar.

I don't care how early it is. I am just hoping for some non-pandering, centrist with ideas to generate good, equitable growth in the economy, return to multi-lateral foreign policy, and enact strong measures to save the environment (like tax gasoline more)....

That would be one great day if it happened. And yes, that is very good ganja if it made you just dream that!

Probably not the right place to pick this bone, but how exactly is taxing gasoline more going to protect the environment?

Well for starters, all the SUV kissing people out there might realize that their poor babies don't really need to watch their DVDs and lie around in a car the size of a football field while they fiddle with their cell phones. Their kids can easily get used to smaller car and they too. So Yay! for more taxation on gas. As for the person who cannot afford the $2 a gallon, he can take the darn bus or if the public transportation sucks, even better reason for the Govt to develop a good one. Anyways, on the same front Ford and Chrysler are showing huge losses in the last quarter, hopefully now they will develop more fuel efficient cars.

Skepmod and Ardy joining the Pigou Club? Welcome.

So, the guy who can't afford $2 gas is probably going to find a more efficient way to live his life...like using public transportation.

I'm guessing you live someplace urbanized where driving is probably not a necessity in the first place. Raising gas prices will cause lifestyle adjustments, but not on a large enough scale to do anything positive for the environment. There are all sorts of arguments for raising gas prices, financing the war mongering in the middle east, but there are more direct ways to protect the environment than raising gas prices.

As for the person who cannot afford the $2 a gallon, he can take the darn bus or if the public transportation sucks, even better reason for the Govt to develop a good one.

Glad to see you recognize that good public transit does not exist everywhere. =) There is still the issue of rural transit and farmers. The original contention that raising gas prices was a good way to help the environment. I think there are better approaches. For one, making the gas guzzler tax a real penalty. Hit them when they buy the SUV's and hit them every year when the tag is renewed. That directly affects the people driving the shiny new land barges without penalizing the college student who is driving his 1992 civic hatchback that already gets 30mpg.

Combining a more aggressive gas guzzler tax with gov't pressure on automakers to restrict the displacement of vehicles designed for passenger transit would slow the use of fuel inefficient vehicles that are already on the road while reducing the number of fuel inefficient cars produced & sold each year. All with minimal impact on the people who are already driving fuel efficient cars.

SkepMod:

Population distribution and density patterns outside of the East Coast and certain other big cities don't lend themselves to efficient public transport. Take a city like Detroit, for example. Most people aren't commuting downtown from homes in the suburbs-- they live in one suburb and work in another. And there isn't enough of a flow between any two points to make light rail or subways feasible.

Then consider the situation in a medium size city, like say, Green Bay, WI. It's not unusual to have people commuting to work from a county away, and again, and even if they were all headed to some central location they're too thin on the ground to make mass transport feasible. Post-war growth of American cities tended to spread people out, largely because of cheap gas but also because of interstate highways and the growth of suburbs in themselves. Short of actually forcing people back into the cities three generations of demographic trend isn't going to be reversed by increasing availability of public transport.

If there's going to be serious effort to reduce carbon emissions its going to have to start at the back end.

Speedy

Sorry for the late notice, but I've posted information regarding the SAFO kick-off event in DC (the event which Abhi referred to above). More informaation about the event">http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/safo2008@gmail.com/DCKickoff">event is on the events page. I hope DC-based folks can make it!