Tiresias, I agree. I took the fact that Obama comes from the tradition of University and I mistakenly translated that into “formidable intellectual”. I was actually thinking the same thing on my drive home from work – what evidence is there that the guy really is “intellectual”, beyond the fact that he carries himself that way and speaks calmly? There is no evidence of it.

>> Except, of course Captain Maverick, who will continue to be as much of a problem as possible at all times. (I love the way he hasn’t said a word about his campaign’s trashing of Sarah Palin. This is a guy who arose in wrath any time someone on his own campaign mentioned Obama’s middle name; his association with Wright; his association with Ayers – but not a word about his own people’s trashing of his running mate? What kind of an a***hole is this man? John McCain needs to be sealed into a bottle and sent out with the Japanese Current.) >>

I agree completely! And I’m glad to repeat your entire comment, because I like every single word. It’s shameful and inexplicable that McCain has said nothing.

I don’t see there’s much to “wait and see” about. Look at the people Obama’s put in place around him for this transition. What price Bill Daley (brother of the Patrician of Chicago); Federico Pena? John Podesta? Rahm Emmanuel?

This isn’t a question of trying to read a crystal ball – we know exactly who these people are: switchblade-strapped-to-the-forearm political thugs, every one.

Reports are drifting out about this Oval Office meeting, too. Can’t give you a site, but apparently Obama got in there and started dictating to Bush what he “expected” him to do over the next two and half months.

Mike, #1 – he formed hiimself into a “formidable intellectual.” Really? I’ll grant you that he took on the appearance of an intellectual, but before I buy that one you’re going to have to cite me an example or two of “formidable intellect” at work. Beinig the first-ever editor of the Harvard Law Review to never write an actual word doesn’t qualify.

conservatives were _not_ vulnerable…

sheesh.

Maybe. I’m not sure that would be a good thing, but maybe. I doubt it, but maybe.

Others are already making their judgements, though.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2008/11/03/arab-paper-obama-s-historic-intifada-allows-islam-impose-its-poi

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122636726473415991.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Obama was very quick to discard public financing when it was expedient to do so, and to jettison Reverend Wright like so much ballast when that was in his interest to do so. We might find in the months to come that President Obama is willing to toss over his former antiwar and civil-liberties-for-terrorists allies too, while soothing them with a few gestures and a lot of soothing, high-sounding but ultimately empty words. Wishful thinking on my part? I don’t know. But there’s a gulf between getting elected and actually having to govern (or rule, as one of his staff termed it) and keep in mind one of President-Elect Obama’s first appointments was to make the Human Icepick his chief of staff.

I must say your message confuses me.

On one hand you mention “all the ugly intimations and innuendos the Left has done these past 8 years with President Bush.”

Then you say, “I bent over backwards to give President Bush the benefit of the doubt even as the circumstantial evidence against President-elect Obama is paltry in comparison to the circumstantial evidence against President Bush.”

What circumstantial evidence? Evidence of what?

See the source of my confusion?

Then you say, “Besides, I don’t think the good Lord will rap my knuckles on Judgment Day for not being judgmental enough toward President-elect Obama… considering his injunctions against judgment in general anyway.”

What injunctions are those? I pray you’re not saying that Jesus lied when he said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” I always took that to mean that we could finger the fruit (”judge”) and say, “Looks rotten to me.”

Please help me in my confusion.

Thanks.

I am also going into the “watch and wait” mode with respect to President-elect Obama. You have rightly pointed out that he hasn’t done anything yet, and there is no use in criticizing him for a job he hasn’t entered yet.

At the moment, I have the luxury of giving President-elect Obama the benefit of the doubt because (a) he’s going to be President anyway and because (b) I’m truly sick and disgusted with all the ugly intimations and innuendos the Left has done these past 8 years with President Bush.

I would not like to commit the same travesty of injustice toward President-elect Obama as the Left has consistently done to President Bush, especially because I bent over backwards to give President Bush the benefit of the doubt even as the circumstantial evidence against President-elect Obama is paltry in comparison to the circumstantial evidence against President Bush.

Besides, I don’t think the good Lord will rap my knuckles on Judgment Day for not being judgmental enough toward President-elect Obama… considering his injunctions against judgment in general anyway.

I just want to say how much I appreciate the effort you put forth in developing coherent, thoughtful, and thought-provoking posts. I will look forward to reading your thoughts on strengthening conservatism.

Deana

I am, however, still working on my idea to help strengthen conservatism in exile, and will soon go live with it, even if it’s in full Beta mode. I’ll need input from people, so I can’t keep in the shadows forever.