That is exactly what struck me when I was in Iowa last week. These people are serious about change and are not being distracted by the silliness of Washington politics, nor by the manipulative nature of 24/7 news programs. They show up and listen to everybody. Obama and Edwards both seems to be touching something a little deeper than usual.

it’s true. We’re a wholler, better people in this way than we were.

On the other hand, hope is not a plan.

But hope is a wonderful thing, and that picture is eloquent indeed.

“On the other hand, hope is not a plan.”
Nope, but we’ve had neither hope nor plan the past 7 years. It’s kinda nice to have at least one.

I’m sorry, I must have missed the part in the Civil War where all the white guys didn’t fight other white guys and slavery was ended by the white guys that won the Civil War.

It is indeed a beautiful image showing that at least some people have made some progress in this country over the years and it’s a shame we just can’t leave it at that.

And Donny, that remark has anything to do with the conversation?
For those who say “hope is not a plan” – look at Obama’s position papers on foreign policy, health care. There is a plan.
I don’t know if I’ll vote for him. But, I am hearing that he and Edwards are the only ones many young people can support. Hilary’s people seemed rather grim in Iowa and much older than the many young people in the campaigns of Edwards and Obama. Not seeing much talent out there – but we are pretty hopeless right now. Dreaming of an American that has its rights intact, it’s reputation intact, and its’ economy running with the thoughts of all Americans in mind (instead of just pharmaceutical, defense, and oil companies allowed to have a seat at the table).
The longing we have for leadership at this moment – real leadership instead of a group of really incompetent Bush acquaintances. Bush barely passed in every course he ever took. Ran businesses in the ground, couldn’t discipline himself enought to stick with the National Guard. Obama was first in his class at Harvard Law – and spent several years organizing people to make changes in Chicago. Bush once said, I don’t understand poor people. Obama has given them voice and power in their lives. Edwards talks about the biblical imperatives – caring for the poor, the widow, the orphan. Romney and Guilianai talk about who they would torture next and which rights they would go after next – not quite that blatant, but almost.
Ron Paul is an interesting man. But I’m not sure he has any understanding of health care at all. Doesn’t think we should be in the health care world at all.
Huckabee – good man, no great intellect, but a fine spirit – a bit Trumanesque.
Poor McCain – I just keep waiting for the moment a camera catches one of his famous tamptrums. It’ll be a bit like John Dean’s scream. All over.
Perhaps the most interesting non front runner is Dennis Kucinich. He’s so honest, you have to look away. He’s my secret favorite candidate. Wished I could have heard him in Iowa. But he’s not running in Iowa. REally wanted to see Dennis and Elizabath come strolling out.
Almost all of us (and yes, Donny, we know as always you are the exception) just want this administration over. It becomes more painful every day to see the level of deceit and incompetence in every department, every appointment. It will take years to clean up the deficit mess that Bush created – all by his very own self. It will take years to regain the friendship and trust of most of the world. We’re not even feared anymore – The rest of the world has watched this trainwreck and aren’t responding well to bullying, intimidation, and violence – diplomancy in action these days.
The level of incompetence of this administraion is sort of like leaving home with a bunch of high school kids in charge. They mess up everything, go high drama over any incidents and make up stuff to stay out of trouble. Then they waltz away to college and drink their first semester away while the family cleans up the mess,
The Kingdom of God is always one of hope for the seeminly impossible, it is about forgiveness and about rejecting vengeance. It is about recognizing our firm connections with others, the poor, the marginalized, the invisible people. Human behavior will do anything to aboid the Kingdom of God. We like our vengeance intact, we really like having groups more marginalized than we are – and that forgiveness thing – “right after I get some closure” is the trite and meaningless phrase used to justify vengeance these days.

You’re right, David, in many ways the “angry white male” (and he is clearly angry, but from a far different perspective than your old party would have us think) supporting Obama breaks as many stereotypes as does Obama himself.

I think that guy w/ the sign is my Uncle Earl from Oklahoma. He’s never voted Democrat in his life, so is this not a clear sign that the anti-Christ is fomenting confusion in the U.S. election campaign?

The only stereotype broken is that white men are angry at black men. It only exists in Democrat politics. The fomenting of hatred, and the ignoring of reality, is the only thing driving the Dems to wins in any political race.

Donny:
It exists in lots more than Democratic politics.
Read your history books. (And get out a little.)