The Sleep of Monsters Produces Reason

Change is seeping into our consciousnesses and Hope is entering our lives like amber rays dispelling the murk of a drugged sleep, the one which we endured so helplessly, so long.

The movement headed by Obama is becoming an unstoppable juggernaut, fueled not by his leadership alone but by the gathering momentum of those individuals who feel the totality of the movement's righteousness within them. Obama is the face of the movement; the people are the movement.

And while we are relishing our Obasm, we must nonetheless be aware of the opposing forces who peer jealously across the widening breach, who are becoming even more embittered, even more determined to prevent this movement from succeeding. Starting from its warped, hardened kernel of an ideology, the Bush/Neo-Con jihad on democracy has been nothing less than catastrophic, a global socio/geopolitical plague. And it's not just the obvious villains we have to be concerned about. There are the appeasers in our midst, the DINO's who continue to reward Bush's treachery with unimpeded funding for the disgrace of Iraq and immunity for his flouting of the law. And there is our own knee-jerk cowering in the face of an enemy openly courted, recklessly wielded and described as impregnable by Bush et al.: Fear. Knowing we would forever shudder and weep at the images branded into our brains, Fear is probably the most brutally effective weapon BushCo had -- has -- in its arsenal and is used with the same alacrity with which Saddam used poison gas on the Kurds.

Likewise, there is a realistic understanding of Obama as politician. We know that he must do certain things in order to survive the caustic climate of government; that he must promise, cajole, threaten and perform, speak the lingua franca of American bureaucratic push me-pull me and that while his vision for America is virtually without fault, obviously he himself is not. But it is his humanity along with his and our acknowledgment of same which gives this movement any hope of success.

And although we have learned the hard way, having painfully witnessed BushCo's trampling of nations, with Obama we got damn lucky. And we'd better appreciate that lest this moment slip away and a long time passes before another one comes.

So it is now our duty as newly deputized agents of Change and Hope to protect this American movement with the fierce devotion of parents who have recovered their kidnapped child. The boogeymen had their way and now it's time to let them know unequivocally that it will not happen again.

It's good to be awake again.

Comments

[4U2consider]

You are bringing "the people" into the equasion to lower your own idolatry quotient; but I'm a people and I won't vote for someone who wrongfully threw their hat into the ring. Either Obama's completely self serving or so arrogant as to believe he's all that. (Third choice: doesn't know what he doesn't know - or THAT he doesn't know something/s.) He has nothing with which to fulfill your dreams; your dire need for your dreams to be fulfilled have warped your sense of reality. Adore him if you must but prepare for the fall for which you are setting yourself up.
P.S. It is incomprehensible that your devotion is so extreme you are pre-forgiving him any errors when you wouldn't give anyone else - like Hillary - an inch of grace.

[Rayscomad]

I, perhaps foolishly, believe the american public is a little wiser to Bush & Companys continuous pounding of the fear hammer against their weary foreheads. However I've been proven wrong about that too many times to fully believe in our ability to see any light peaking through the dark heavy clouds that have been covering us.

Obama is what I know I've been waiting and hoping for, faults and all. He gives me enough hope about our future that I'm almost ready to believe in that hope as something real and not just some foolishly idealistic happy place I just try and run to.

[percyveer]

It sounds to me as if Mr. Weber has read one too many scripts, judging by his purple prose. Or, alternatively, has been inhaling something, as he seems to be flying without "Wings". Perusing his bio leads me to hazard a guess that he has been overusing the nutmeg grater.
Alas, I am afraid that all this will end in an "Orgasm of Tears".

[RENREVARD]

There is no good agrument for support of the FISA BILL! The Constitution was here long before any of us. If the Rule of Law,the Constitution and the American citizens are not worth fighting for than what the HELL is ?

[JonathanDS2U]

I am among the variety of Obama supporters who don't mind disagreeing with Obama on several important issues, because I have confidence that whatever he ultimately chooses to do, his choice is informed by a sense of wisdom.

That said, Obama's path to the White House does not appear as a straight line to me. After the clock runs out on Bush and he exits the freeway, the clock on Iran and nuclear weapons capability will continue to tick. It will speak to the new president, not Bush, it will land in his lap, and I wonder whether the weight of it might not be enough to affect the presidential election. It would be wonderful if our enemies had no impact on our decisions, but not all fears are grounded in psychology alone.

[ld]

This is a good piece of writing. You are pretty much the only Obama optimist I've read who also recognizes "we must nonetheless be aware of the opposing forces who peer jealously across the widening breach, who are becoming even more embittered, even more determined to prevent this movement from succeeding." I very appreciate the realism about the right-wing.

[darcy]

Wake up, Mr. Weber. You've been had.

[truthynesslover]

Fool me once shame on you fool me twice.... WE wont get fooled again!!!Obamo 08

[bluegreen]

The fear tactics must be countered with hope but also reason. One thing to remember is that between the time of the attack on the USS Cole, the WTC in 1993 and then again on Sept. 11, there were years in between. What propels these attacks is time and luck and it doesn't really matter who is in office. When we didn't react forcefully enough to the Cole attack, bin Laden issued a statement that we were a weak country that didn't have the stomach to defend ourselves. After 9/11 of course it was, America is a country that will use any excuse to attack. It doesn't matter what bin Laden says, although it seems the neo-cons are obsessed with what he says. If there is an attack during Barack Obama's term, it won't be because of Barack Obama. I do think that having someone smart in office, surrounded by smart people, who all know how to engage the world beyond our shores, is of invaluable help, and it seems like the majority of Americans agree with me. Main thing, let's not let a fear of terrorism pick our next president. As we did in '04.

[jhNY]

Sorry to say so, but it's hard to juxtapose the calculated pol's statement that is Obama's FISA posturing over the weekend with all your lauding of a new tomorrow filled with hope. For a kinder wiretapper with a heart of gold?

[Heidfeld]

Exactly.

The funniest part about all of this (and all of the other hard Obama truths that are coming out...) is that it is actually showing just how straightforward Hillary was.

Say what you want about Hillary (that she is brilliant, tough, insightful...), but you always knew what you were getting with her. Obama? Who the f---ck knows?

[Triciann]

I don't think some of these bloggers understood Steven Weber. Let's make it simple for them: You are wasting your time. Kick and scream like small children having a temper tantrum. Obama supporters are quietly smiling. You can't change our minds. We know what we want.

[Heidfeld]

Will you smile as he loses and gives us 4 more years of Bush? Just curious.

[Tubby]

Ah, yes Steven! You so remind me of the gullible yokels under Elmer Gantry's tent!

Obama and Michelle must laugh their asses off in the bedroom!

[Shaddup]

I'm still worrying about making it to Nov. Bush wants more war. Cons want more money. What can we do about it?

[eden4barack08]

pressure Congress for IMPEACHMENT!

[dwmulenex]

Not so fast. Barack is not the annointed ONE, or even the keeper of the flame. He's crisscrossing himself more than a catholic priest faced with a basement full of vampires, and with just about as much real effect. Obama had better look inside himself and decide if the new, slicker, all improved Barack he's selling us in ads has iany connection to the guy whose "new" policy positions are looking as stale as the stable of (Bill) Clinton advisers spewing them out is old. Bad positions, too slick image, campaigning by polls and outspending do not authentic a leader make. Give Angelina Jpolie's great tattooed back anyday. This Obama, were he a beer, would be Barack Light, less change, less fulfilling, too much talking head. Keep it up, and McCain will veto him with McWar, an Iraqi Pale Ale with just a touch of light sweet crude.

[bryansmith]

I don't think that anyone sees Obama as an infalable mesiah, but he does represent, in so many ways, a step forward. I think he is that pragmatic progressive we have been waiting for.

The next president will be met with unprecidented damage to repair. But understand that he only has real power where we need it most: foreign policy.

The rest is up to US and the people we elect to congress. The president can only do domestically, what congress lets him do. He can propose all he wants to, but in the end, he has to win public support and votes in congress to accomplish domestic goals.

The next president (as with all presidents) should be elected based on their ability to solve foreign policy problems, the greatest of which is our tarnished image abroad. Towards that end, there is absolutely NO ONE that is better suited than Barack Obama to be a game -changer and re-grow our once significant coffers of political and moral capital in the world. There is no one else who, on DAY ONE, can improve our image in the world and begin the process of adjusting to a post-soviet union, post 9/11, post neo-conservative world.

[knixphan]

Not this time, cons. Not this time.

You won't frighten us with 'socialist' name-calling.

You cons say 'socialism'. We say 'civilization'.

YES WE CAN!

[Tubby]

HAH! No you can't. Obama is wimping out daily. If he *does* get in, it will only be because he became a neocon LITE ;-)

[CyrusBeaucephus]

Cons hate civilization--they have held onto every idea like the Divine Right of Kings, Slavery, and Witch Burning with a death grip, only to finally concede hundreds of years behind the rest of us. Its what they do best