What all that work shows is that he's at least aware there is a problem with the way the country is running and that he's initiating possible solutions. This is the only thing of substance a congressman or senator can really aspire to do with their office -- offer the topics up for debate.

So what exactly are John McCain's substantive accomplishments?

Glen... Your assessment that Obama has done nothing of substance indicates that you are simply uninformed, and have not bothered to do any research into the matter on your own.

Sigh...

Here you go:

Sen. Obama's record of achievements during his 8 years in the Illinois State Legislature can be seen in bullet point graph form here: www.nytimes.com/imagepages...RAPHIC.html and in narrative here:
wizbangblue.com/2008/01/13...er-side.php
Highlights from the more than 800 bills that he sponsored during his time in the Illinois Senate:
Health Care and Public Health: 233 bills. With which he was able to extend healthcare in Illinois.
Crime Corrections and the Death Penalty: 112 bills. Was KEY in reforming a flawed death penalty system resulting in saving 13 lives.
www.cnn.com/2007/POLITIC...h.penalty.ap/ (By the way, NOBODY wanted that reform. The Governor of Illinois promised the Police Department that he would never do such a thing. The Police Department was dead set against it. He had no next to no support from the Illinois legislature and YET, he was able to get those bills passed UNANIMOUSLY! Think that was an easy thing to do? Okay, maybe it was a little easier than sponsoring MEMORIAL LEGISLATION!!!!!!!!)
Poverty and Public Assistance: 125 bills. A bill that would provide job skills training for recipients of federal aid.
Economy, Business and Finance: 97, Education: 62, Infrastructure and Public Works: 35, Administration: 21
Civil and Human Rights: 60 A bill to ban discrimination on sexual orientation.
Ethics: 21 A bill that would ban nearly all gifts by lobbyists and banned personal use of campaign money.
Environment: 20 A bill that required utilities to purchase a portion of their energy from renewable resources.
Gun Control: 15 A bill that would require applicants for a firearms identification card to meet with law enforcement as a part of the application process.
Immigration: 1 A bill that would create an office of immigration assistance to provide education and outreach services.

As a member of the 109th Congress, he co-sponsored the enactment of conventional weapons control and transparency legislation. He made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
In the 110th Congress, he sponsored legislation on lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism and care for returned military personnel.

AND... for those who STILL have a problem with Obama's 100 or so 'present' votes, apparently it is still not widely known that the Illinois legislature is a different animal than most. In the ILLINOIS legislature, the 'present' vote can be used for a number of reasons having to do with STRATEGY. It takes finesse when applying this methodology. As evidence I offer his use of the 'present' vote when working with Planned Parenthood. They actually ASKED him to vote 'present' as a part of their political strategy.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0...60.html Here's another article about the 'present' vote.
www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16...6mikva.html

<<Obama has done nothing of substance
sorry >>

Except..... Obama authored 152 bills in his first year as a senator. He co-authored 427 in the same period.

It is clear Glen that you are repeating talking points in a robot like manner rather than researching his record for yourself.