Barack Obama For President

From the very beginning -- back when our torture chambers still had that new torture chamber smell; and before our chief executive's incompetence exploded like an M80 inside the clenched-fist of the world -- George W. Bush has been an embarrassment.

We know his disgraceful deeds and policies. But it's his utter lack of quality; his unsubstantial presence; his marble-mouthed oratorical retardation; his inability to inspire greatness; and his empty-suit absence of intellectual curiosity which preordained him to be the worst President of the United States in modern history.

Admittedly, when it comes to the presidency, my personal level of idealism rests somewhere between Frank Capra and Aaron Sorkin. I'm a presidential geek. One of my life goals is to work in the White House for one week. My Dad's old office at the Treasury Department used to look out over the east lawn, and when I was a kid I used to imagine that one day the president would invite me and my Dad for a ride on Marine One.

But after seven years in this Dark Age, I've almost forgotten what it was like to have a real president occupying the White House: a president who, even if I disagreed with his policies and ideology, dignified the office with a stature that symbolized the awesomeness of America.

Emerson wrote, "Every hero becomes a bore at last. Perhaps Voltaire was not bad-hearted, yet he said of the good Jesus, even, 'I pray you, let me never hear that man's name again.'"

We seem to experience this routine with almost every two-term president. But President Bush was never a hero in the first place and only grew more ridiculous with each subsequent crime against the Constitution, against human decency and against democracy itself. If there's any justice left in this nation, history will record that President Bush was an entirely inadequate tool; a bungling villain whose early popularity grew out of a traumatic and patriotic need to support the office regardless of who occupied it.

And when the flood waters literally rose up and washed away the disguise, the slack-jawed poseur was revealed -- the "bore" who had always been there, but who had been previously and cynically costumed in cowboy drag. Some of us recognized the charade from the beginning, but it required a second national tragedy, this time in New Orleans, to alert the media and the rest of America to his criminal incompetence.

American history is inextricably tied to the presidency. It's how we mentally assemble the chronology of our past. For going on eight years, we've endured a chief executive who never should have ascended to this post. Consequently, this decade has been an aberration; a time when Americans somehow championed an illegitimate, Orwellian hooplehead and, naturally, we suffered for our lack of vision. This is how most of the first decade of this century will be remembered.

Yet our generation is being offered another chance here -- an opportunity to set things straight and elect a president who not only illustrates the historical qualities of the office, but who also defines an energetic new approach.

The next president has to be Senator Barack Obama.

Senator Obama's intelligence, passion and quality of character can inspire us to recapture our own potential for greatness. And after all these years of darkness, there is no alternative other than to correct our trajectory with someone who can elevate our common goals -- the American Dream. For the American Dream to survive, this era demands a new president who will include all of us in the debate over our future, whether or not we agree on every issue.

And I'm proud to say that I don't agree with the senator on everything. But it doesn't matter because this campaign is about much more than individuals and their pet issues. This is about the reacquisition of an ideal -- of a benevolent greatness which has been stolen away from us.

I see in Senator Obama an historic character who fits within my persnickety and idealistic template for the presidency -- and this time around, it happens that my idealistic choice has a realistic chance to win. So this isn't necessarily an endorsement based on ideology, but an endorsement based on that which is required from an historical perspective.

The alternatives on either side of this campaign are ultimately redundant to what we have now.

On the Republican side, each frontrunner represents a rage-inducing aspect of the present Bush regime. The Romney Unit represents the Paris Hilton fiscal policy of the Bush administration; Giuliani is the unstable, crazy-ass hubristic gunslinger; and Mike Huckabee is the cross-bearing fundamentalist who floats in the same fantasy world as Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort.

On the Democratic side, John Edwards is a tough call because he has the right idea. But there was a thing with Edwards from 2004 that I can't seem to shake. And I've really, really tried. During one of the primary debates, Howard Dean stood up to answer a question. As was the campaign fashion at the time, Dean rolled up his sleeves. Then, behind him, I spotted John Edwards whose eyes suddenly widened at Dean's sleeve-rolling as if to say, Oh crap, I should roll up my sleeves now or else I won't be awesome like Howard. Then he quickly rolled up his sleeves. It was an awkwardly candid moment which revealed a lack of originality and, for my admittedly nitpicky tastes, a little too much of the staged illusion of it all. But most importantly, I imagined him exhibiting the same derivative behavior when voting with the president on Iraq.

Senator Clinton, meanwhile, is certainly more intelligent and centrist than President Bush, but there's a secretive, calculating DLC side to the senator which drifts too dangerously close to the universe of Dick Cheney than the fresh approach her husband, President Clinton, offered in 1992.

Speaking of which, President Clinton said this week that Senator Clinton would dispatch the first President Bush on a world tour in order to repair America's reputation abroad. First, 'the hell you say?! Second, wouldn't that be just like a Cheney -- to use a Bush as a political tool. Seriously, we can't have this. Not even as a speculative talking point. Not any more.

This is what we're desperately trying to escape, goddamn it. This is why it's imperative that Senator Obama win the nomination and ultimately the White House itself.

Naturally, the day might arrive when President Obama becomes Emerson's bore. One day, years from now, we'll likely be lamenting the traditional media's "Obama Fatigue" narrative. But, by that time, I think we'll be prepared for the next era in American history. Hopefully, after two terms and eight years, President Obama will hand over his legacy to his vice president. But for now he's the historical antidote to the darkness and division we've endured for too many years. He's our best hope to restore the national equilibrium and to fulfill both the expectation of greatness the presidency deserves and, thusly, the greatness of America.

And no. However awesome it'd be, I'm not saying these things in exchange for a flight aboard Marine One. I mean, I wouldn't turn it down, of course... but that's not why.

--
Bob Cesca's Goddamn Awesome Blog! GO!

Comments

[janvoght]

i love that we have good choices this time. a seasoned experienced woman, an energetic man of color interested in vision, future, and the common man. i would love to see obama as president with clinton as his vp.
i thought, possibly the other way around would make better sense, because of experience sake, but if barack would consider this blend, i think our country would have the best team willing to work for our country. i dont think hilary wants to be vp, but i dont know if she would accept obama as her vp.

[May2002]

Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Clintons, Clintons.

No thanks.

[NewAmericanCenturySucks]

Why Bush-bash? It's like an audience member getting really steamed at a ventriloquist's dummy.

Reagan was the original dummy. The folks who eventually begat PNAC saw value in the popular perception of incompetent leadership, under cover of which they could make considerable ideological headway (and insider profits).

Bush's bungling is a carefully cultivated image, designed to fool us into thinking that America is rendered impotent by its own incompetence. In point of fact, PNAC marches steadily toward its strategic goal of putting the world's resources into US pockets - by whatever means necessary. Iraq's oil is now under US control; your precious natural gas pipeline now runs through Afghanistan; only Iran remains unmugged.

The goal itself is monstrous; the tactics despicable. Meanwhile, all you "good cops" exude nothing but apathy, impotence, or misdirected anger. Do you secretly WANT America to run roughshod over international laws, treaties, and trade agreements? Is that why you are so bloody pathetic?

Fix your shameful foreign policy. The patience of the civilized world is at absolute zero.

[Rockwell]

Your dissection of the Bush presidency is poetry. But you've not sold me on the Obama band wagon. I sent $$ to Obama's campaign some months ago but I've settled on Edwards.

[artgirl]

I've noticed there are an unusual number of posts to this article Bob.....an­d many respond they think John Edwards is a better choice. The R's will eat up and spit out Obama if he's the one who gets the nomination. The D's need to WIN and can't afford an "iffy" choice.

I'm in the Edwards camp with the hope he'd get Joe Biden as his V.P. That's a dream team that could WIN and could hit the ground running in January 09!

[CornBred]

I believe Obama would accomplish more in foreign policy for the US between his November '08 election win and his January '09 Inauguration than HRC or Edwards could in their first year as President. This belief is due to the fact that world will most certainly breathe a collective sigh of relief that we FINALLY course-corrected ourselves and chose the guy who was right from the beginning. Obama as president-elect tells the world that we know we screwed up (ie, just about everything we've done since 9/11 has been counter-productive) and we're now ready to make it right and lead the world properly again. Add in Obama's soft skills and international heritage (yeah, all that muslim, "secular madrassa", africa, hussein, indonesia stuff that Hillary and Mark Penn thinks is gonna work) and the world actually sees themselves in us for the first time which goes a long way in getting them to trust us again. How long will it take Bill and Hillary or any other presidential contender to pull that off.

The Iraq War was not just a vote, my friends. It was quite possibly the biggest strategic mistake by the US ever. (I challenge anyone to come up with a bigger mistake that has already and will CONTINUE to cost us more long term problems than Iraq. Muslim fanatics don't fight short wars, people. The sunni-shite battle has been going 1300 years.) We've got the chance now to show 6,000,000,000 people around the world that the old America...­the one they ALL respected.­..is back and better than ever.

I'm voting for Obama largely because of this issue. We all vote based on what we each see as our country's problems and opportunities. I simply think our single biggest problem right now (home or abroad) is the cumulative damage that the last 7 years has done and some guy named Obama just happens to be our best chance to repair it.

[spiritedbrunette]

Obama, Obama, Obama.....­I am sick to death of hearing how likable he is, how he will change everything. Give me a break!!! How have so many people forgotten back in 2000, the candidate who talked of change, the one voted most likable who everyone wanted to have coffee with...the good ole boy!!! Well they got him and look what his inexperience and ego got us! Bush said the same things just to get elected. This man is no different. I watched Obama after he got elected to the Senate as he said absolutely he was not interested in running for president. That he would fulfill his term in the Senate without a thought of that. What bull!! I don't like him. And all of you wishing, wishing for him to win. Be careful what you wish for!!! He or his staff cry foul everytime someone goes after him. Good Lord nothing that has been said would even register compared to what the Republicans would do to him if he wins the nomination. If he crys over having his middle name Hussein come out to the public. Well he will be hysterical by the time the election gets here. The republicans want him to win so they can destroy him in the national election. Come one people....­get serious. Get behind someone who can actually win the general election.

[LeftCoastOracle]

I agree that Barak Obama is bright and inspirational but I can't agree that he would be the best next president because his health care plan is sadly lacking and he doesn't seem to me to be tough enough to get in the faces of corporate America.

So I'm voting for John Edwards because his health care proposal is the best one (save Kucinich's) and he understands that the only way we're going to enact it is to get in the faces of the insurance and pharmaceutical industries and tell them how it's going to be.

But there's an even more important reason to vote for Edwards: polls say that he's the ONLY Democratic candidate who could defeat ANY of the Republican candidates and we can't afford to pass up a sure thing.

[tt351]

Great article, however, as a 63 year old female I hoped to see a woman President at some point in my life. This may not happen and I can't understand why of all the countries in the world we are so backwards - when we should be ahead of them all. The pundits say a woman can't win or a black man could never win. Other countries have and had women running their countries. What is wrong with us? I could vote for Hillary or Barack. I see in them the ability, and intelligence to unite the true spirit of our country, and steer us in a more positive, forward direction. We have suffered through 7 years of the divisive, arrogant reign of President Bush. It is time for change.

[dsigeorge]

Beautifully put!! My hope is that the great light of America is not too dimmed by the recent past to permit our dreams to be reached. We must get out there and work for the restoration of our freedoms and our respect in the world, and we must give to make sure this happens.

[May2002]

We are living in a different era.

Many greate companies now are run by CEOs or founders at their 30s and 40s.

Young president has more energy and more adaptability for change and more relevance in this fast moving world--remembering now we are connected by Internet 24/7.

[clifwest]

Mr. Cesca,

Trying to find out who you are led me to Dummie Funnies, thank you. It is always interesting to have both sides of every issue discussed and evaluated. Although I have been a registered Democrat for fifty-three years, I never take anything at face value. I hold with the idea that if something seems to be to good to be true, it probably is. Your endorsement of Senator Obama is noted, but I will make up my own mind on November 4, 2008.
Since I never vote a straight ticket, my choice for our next President will be based solely on how he or she performs when the mud really starts flying, and it will. Information on you seems to be restricted, but I will keep trying anyway since you have peaked my curiosity.

[chameleon]

Barak may just be the fresh face and "new genre" of politician that would make a great leader. I *wholeheartedly* disagree with those who say "He's too young"/"He's too inexperien­ced"... Hogwash, I say!

Bill Burke
http://www.phoneportals.com

[rodeogirl]

Once again, mainstream media (that means you)
dumbs down their choice to two, maybe three
canidates if I think real hard but it makes my head hurt. Play the primaries for all they're worth. Remember, Dodd stood up to Reid.
Richardson's supports and Equal Right Admendment. Ask Hiliary if she would challange the status quo to support an ERA. Why would she? She's been out of the basement all her life. I'm getting really sick of this two pony race.

[Rubiconski]

Hillary Clinton Lovers, here is a history of MAJOR failures and BAD JUDGEMENTS: 1) NAFTA - took away millions of jobs - BAD JUDGEMENT 2) Clinton HealthCare - Total FAILURE - No excuses, and don't blame the Reps, Hillary just could not get it done. 3) Iraq war vote - Supported Bush - he even complimented her - BAD JUDGEMENT 4) Iran Vote - BAD JUDGEMENT 5) Candidate of experience - BAD JUDGEMENT, so now she is a candidate of Change - copyright violation ha..ha.. 6) Sheehan attack - Hill asks pardon from Obama - double play 7) Bob Kerrey apologies to Obama - SHE CANNOT EVEN MANAGE HER OWN CAMPAIGN, HOW WILL SHE MANAGE THE COUNTRY? 8) She brings bubba Bill - he declares World tour with Bush - and Bushes wack him, no world tour - Democrats now look stupid because of the Clintons..­.The Clintons are an embarrassment, Please go away and do some philanthropy like GORE. We love that man, he at least knew when to QUIT !!!