Well, let me briefly - seriously - explain what I mean. And, you can be sure I'd love to elaborate!

Senator Obama has rested his campaign on the foundation of his superior judgement on Iraq. In particular, he has presented himself as the only one who “was against this war from the beginning” while suggesting, if not explicitly stating, that all of his presidential rivals “voted for war”. Certainly, the vast majority of the electorate and most of the media (mainstream and otherwise) and blogosphere have taken this up - hook, line and sinker!

However, Senator Obama was emphatically NOT the only one among his rivals in the US senate at the time who was against this war from the beginning or the only one predicting the dire consequences of military action against the Saddam regime. And, a vote for the October 2002 resolution authorizing the use of US military force (AUMF) CANNOT be equated with a vote for war. To do so would betray a critical and fundamental misunderstanding of what that resolution was all about and of the context within which that vote took place. This is really what sticks in my craw the most, I must say.

To be sure, one would be hard pressed to find another senator - at the national or state level - who was more prescient or insightful with regard to the AUMF and all things related to Iraq (among other issues) than Senator Biden, the leader among Democrats on foreign policy, national security and constitutional issues with impeccable and unimpeachable credentials in these realms which were wholly unmatched by any of his presidential rivals - of either party!

Frankly, I don’t believe that Senator Obama actually believes some of his own rhetoric on this, particularly his characterization of the AUMF. If he did, then I would have very serious doubts about his competency to be the next POTUS - not that competency in that office has been in any great supply of late.

Senator Obama is fully aware that this general election - and, indeed, primary season - will be won or lost on issues related to foreign policy and national security and he has been wildly successful in portraying himself as having superior judgement on Iraq in order to compensate for his obvious paucity of foreign policy prowess.

But, as I said, I am willing to forgive him for his disingenuousness on this issue if he demonstrates that he truly does have superior judgement by asking Joe Biden to be his running mate AND by broadening the scope of that office with a new title such as Vice President with Special Portfolio on Iraq!

"And, it is the disingenousness demonstrated by Senator Obama on Iraq - in particular, the October 2002 resolution authorizing the use of US military force in Iraq - that has prevented me from enthusiastic support for his candidacy."

How was he disingenous on that? In what way? I don't follow.

Michale...you may call me anything you want, just don't call me late for dinner.

@BLaws

Nice story, but I too feel compelled to respond to a couple of things you said.

I also saw the Obama speech at the 2004 Dem convention as it happened and I still have a very vivid memory of it. I remember saying, after his speech and after my jaw drop subsided, that this guy will be presidential material. I wondered out loud where the Democrats had been hiding him! I also understood, of course, that a great political speech and phenomonal delivery does not a president make. But Barack Obama was impressive, nevertheless.

One aspect of your story jumped off the page for me - your disdain for disingenuous. You and I are cut from the same cloth on that score - as are most who make this site such a great one! And, it is the disingenousness demonstrated by Senator Obama on Iraq - in particular, the October 2002 resolution authorizing the use of US military force in Iraq - that has prevented me from enthusiastic support for his candidacy. He will redeem himself, in my book, if he asks Senator Biden to be his running mate.

As for off-shore oil leasing...if Obama supports NEW leases for off-shore drilling, then that will demonstrate to me that he does not understand this issue. Frankly, I don't believe he will support NEW off-shore drilling - I should think that Senator Biden has already set him straight on why supporting new off-shore drilling is not necessary or even wise.

As for getting over partisan politics...that is just one more reason why I believed Senator Biden was the most qualified and best equipped to be the next POTUS.

"That is why I support Senator Obama.. He is not going to be a DEMOCRAT President..
He is going to be an AMERICAN President…"

Little bit of my background to share, Chris is aware of it but your comment compells me to share with everyone...

I live in Cincinnati, a historically Republican city. My father was a strong conservative Republican in the Reagan mold (not this new crap). He used to come home from work fuming about "the damn Democrats did this" or "the damn Democrats did that". He listened to Rush Limbaugh daily. Hell, so did I. So by up bringing I always considered myself a Republican.

I had never really followed politics before, other than casually paying attention during Presidential races. The closest I got to following politics was watching "The West Wing", which I really enjoyed. But even then I didn't really follow politics.

Still considering myself a Republican, and having liked John McCain back in 2000, he was my favorite at the time. What really got me paying attention was when my staunch conservative Republican father said he was supporting a Democrat! I couldn't believe it. He told me about the 2004 convention speech so I went and watched it on YouTube and instantly saw why my father liked him. So I started paying attention.

Still considering myself a Republican I started noticing that the more I watched, the more I was repulsed by the Republican commentators and politicians on TV (well most of them). The constant lies, ad hominem and straw man attacks, and the endless distortions. There was almost no honest policy debates, just constant attacks, smears, and distortions. My personallity is one that can't stand disingenuousness or lies. So the more I watched, the more I was driven from the Republican party.

I registered Democrat before the Ohio primary to vote for Obama. Now, there are some Democrats that are over the top, as there are some Republicans that are honorable (Michael Smerconish, Ed Rollins, Kevin Madden, etc). But from my view I just saw a GOP party that was no substance just lies and attacks, and policies that where hotbutton issues that sounded good but they had no intention of doing anything about. It was all about simply winning and keeping power. As Rush says... "It's not about working with Democrats, it's about defeating them".

So, as you can imagine, I really gravitated to Obama's message of working together and not politics of destruction. What gets me is the people getting all worked up over a few of his positions... FISA, gun ban, death penalty, etc. They need to get over this rigid side vs side fight that isn't working. FISA was a compromise. Hell, I agree with civil immunity, cause any lawsuits would only hurt citizens on their bills and would only benefit the lawyers.

I predict that Obama will sign off on off shore leasing at some point... in a compromise deal that will result in major funding of alternative energy projects. That's why he supported the 2005 Energy bill.

People need to get over their far one sided politics. Hell... I'm a socially liberal fiscal conservative. I don't support any party anywhere close to 100%. But I guess that's also why I am supporting Obama.

Let me post here what I posted on HuffPo here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-rice/my-brother-was-killed-wit_b_113305.html

That is why I support Senator Obama.. He is not going to be a DEMOCRAT President..

And all the political bigots on BOTH sides of the aisle will learn that their bile-infested and hatred-fostering time has past...

Michale.....