Even though I'm a Mac guy, here's a Windows take on Barack Obama.
He is the 'ctrl-alt-del' candidate.
He is the guy people are looking to restart, reboot, Washington DC and all that it has come to symbolize.
It is ultimately something that he cannot really accomplish and unless those expectations are lowered - or he sets out clear milestones for success - he may well win in November but then find himself unable to make much headway.
After all, George W. Bush came into office on the heels of the Clinton scandals, pledging to to do for Washington what he had done in Austin - bring Democrats and Republican together. Recall his speech the night the Florida vote was finally decided by the Supremes:
Tonight I chose to speak from the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives because it has been a home to bipartisan cooperation. Here in a place where Democrats have the majority, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to do what is right for the people we represent.We've had spirited disagreements. And in the end, we found constructive consensus. It is an experience I will always carry with me, an example I will always follow.
I want to thank my friend, House Speaker Pete Laney, a Democrat, who introduced me today. I want to thank the legislators from both political parties with whom I've worked.
Across the hall in our Texas capitol is the state Senate. And I cannot help but think of our mutual friend, the former Democrat lieutenant governor, Bob Bullock. His love for Texas and his ability to work in a bipartisan way continue to be a model for all of us.
The spirit of cooperation I have seen in this hall is what is needed in Washington, D.C. It is the challenge of our moment. After a difficult election, we must put politics behind us and work together to make the promise of America available for every one of our citizens.
I am optimistic that we can change the tone in Washington, D.C.
The tone, obviously, wasn't changed - it actually changed for the worse. While it is easy to blame that all on Bush, to do so would be to miss the reality that Washington was invested in his failure to change the tone. For to change the tone would have meant changing the way that Washington does business - how speeches are given and lobbying is done, how careers are advanced and TV news shows are spun, how debates take place and lives are lived. That is massive change. For better or for worse, Barack Obama is seen as the who can change all of that. Ahh, the audacity of expectations.
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Sheesh, I go away for a few days and my name is abused and I'm accused...
of what, I ask ye?
I would title this post: "HOW LOW CAN THE MONEYCHANGERS GO?"
I think a focus on this would be fair, being that Rev. Wright got so much media attention.
One of McCain's fundraisers has said some interesting things about women. I've tried posting it on some of the more obnoxious blogs here on Beliefnet. I'll tone it down a bit.
First here's the web address to get to the Associated Press article on YAHOO:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080614/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_fundraiser
Here's some actual parts of the article:
"Questions from the media prompted Republican John McCain to cancel a fundraiser at the home of a Texas oilman (who has already raised 300K for McCain) who once joked that women should give in while being raped.
The Texan, Republican Clayton "Claytie" Williams, made the joke during his failed 1990 campaign for governor against Democrat Ann Richards. Williams compared rape to the weather, saying, "As long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it." He also compared Richards to the cattle on his ranch, saying he would "head her and hoof her and drag her through the dirt."
Williams' comments made national news at the time and remain easy to find on the Internet. Even so, McCain's campaign said it hadn't known about the remarks."
Is our media really liberal? I guess we'll see how much they cover this in comparison to Rev. Wright.
Like I said before, I don't think Obama's perfect. But, I really wonder why the hell Republicans have somebody like this raising money.
McCain's also had folks working on his campaign that have lobbied for the brutal Burma regime.
I've heard that a big guy had to resign from Obama's campaign. I say good. I'm tired of creeps getting so near, or actually occupying the top positions.
David,
Let's give Obama a little more credit. The involvement of younger voters in the voting process continues to rise, and we should admit that Obama is at least partially responsible for this increase. OK, so Obama's no Ralph Nader, but at least Obama's calling for *some* change, one small step at a time...
Brian,
If Clayton Williams were an angry black man, you bet the 24-hour news channels would be playing his comments 24/7. Alas, he is not, and white Texans with neanderthal views on women's issues just don't drive ratings like angry black men do.
Where are Hillary's supporters on this issue? They have accused Barack Obama of being sexist, without offering a shred of evidence (unless you think Obama is responsible for what Chris Matthews and other media blowhards say), yet they have been strangely silent on this story, and others like it.
What's going on?
Peace.
Quetzal,
Obama may be going at it incrementally like you suggest. He won my heart after I discovered that he opposed the Iraq war while he was running for Senate. And I don't think it was just a speech.
At the time of Obama's senate campaign, Bush's pre-Iraq approval ratings were 60%+.
I've taught in the Denver Metro area (which is quite tame in comparison with some urban areas) and I believe that every leader should have done work with folks on the lower rungs like Obama.
As much as Republicans have been beating war drums and as much as McCain has gone along, I don't think McCain learned much from being a POW. He's even flip-flopped on torture.
Truly, I think McCain and the war machine (Haliburton, Blackwater, Lockheed Martin, etc.) will take us to war in Iran. The folks whose business is war and oil don't care how long we're in the Middle East as long as tax payer funded government contracts keep coming.
McCain will call for the draft claiming that because he was a POW he has the moral authority to do so.
If we've learned anything in the last 7 years - it's that when Republicans say they want war; you better believe it!
Maybe Obama's doing the best he can. I don't know. If somebody wants to pay me to do analysis, then maybe I'll make a better call.
I do think it's incredible how he brings Blacks, Latinos, Whites, and all the other beautiful ethnic groups together. I witnessed it working on the caucuses here in Colorado.
aquaman,
You raise great questions! I think the MSM is corporate, not liberal.
I think Hillary campaigned like a Republican. How else do you explain, "We can obliterate Iran." and "I'm the candidate of WHITE, hard working WHITE people."?
Maybe she and McCain are nice people in person. Maybe they're not. Like I said above, I don't know.
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