Politics as Transcendence

Only once in a very long time does politics become more than politics, that is something more than partisan struggle, vote bartering, or arena of ambition. In ordinary times, ordinary political leaders suffice, more or less.

But on rare occasion, old arrangements and conventional wisdom come unstuck. This happens in periods of rapid if not revolutionary change. We find ourselves now in one of those periods. The forces of globalization, information, eroding sovereignties, and transformation of war ensure that traditional leaders and conventional politics can only muddle through at best and fail badly at worst.

But periods of upheaval also offer opportunities, opportunities to change our methods, our ideas, and our leaders. The rare leader capable of transforming threat to opportunity is one who welcomes transformation and sees it as a chance to abandon tradition and convention, to transcend that which is stale, unprofitable, and ineffective.

Periods of transformation require experimentation, innovation, and daring. America is a nation much more conservative than it thinks itself to be. Thus, its default position is to resist a forward leap even while applauding itself for its creativity. Al Capone said it best: "We don't want no trouble." But transformation is trouble in the best sense of the word, trouble that causes us to adapt to new conditions and circumstances and create new ways of governing.

Through some miracle of timing, luck, and good fortune Barack Obama has seized the moment. His mantra of "change" has been largely co-opted by lesser figures. He is in fact an agent of transformation. He is not operating on the same plane as ordinary politicians, and this makes him seem elusive to the conventional press and the traditional politicians. His instinct for the moment and the times is orders of magnitude more powerful than the experience claimed by others. Experience in the old ways is irrelevant experience.

In an age of great transformation, experience of the past is worthless because it is a barrier to the breakthrough gesture, the instant response in crisis, the instinctive bold decision in the face of totally new circumstances.

Some see Barack Obama as the long awaited champion finally come to slay the awful dragon of race. And they are right. Some see him as a new start for the Democratic Party and national politics. And they are right. Some see him as the walking embodiment of internationalism, ready to restore an honorable and respected place for America in the world. And they are right.

I see Barack Obama as a leader for this transcendent moment, the agent of transformation in an age of revolution, as a figure uniquely qualified to open the door to the 21st century and to convert threat to great new opportunity.

Comments

[AF]

Maybe it's the writer in me but I wish Obama would show us, not tell us. Show us with his words in stead of telling us.

He told the Reno Gazette: "Nobody can inspire the American people better than I can." That just clinks when it hits my ear. He could reword this as "I will work to both inspire the American people and ask them to inspire each other." Or something.

There is a latent narcissism there that he really needs to watch in his statements.

All achievers are narcissists, but Reagan would have never said "I inspire people." Reagan just would have done it.

[DietrichMoody]

It's futile showing people like you his actions, because no matter what, he will always loose in your mind. He'll do A- minus work and you'd proclaim and complain that he should be doing A+.

Check out the way he Presides over his campaign, choses the leaders around him and enforces his message. But you are not even seeing these actions - and you will not, no matter what.

[AF]

One criticism and you say it's hopeless to show "people like me" his work.

Constructive criticism isn't welcome I guess.

[lip11]

Obama has said this already - he said it last night in his latest victory speech.

And comparing Obama to Reagan is a vicious insult to Obama.

[AF]

But Obama said Reagan was a great guy and a great leader - Obama would love it.

[JasonEverettMiller]

You have to take the subtext along with the question that was asked - nobody running for president can inspire the way he can and bring this country together across bitter partisan divides.

This is true. Nobody running for president has had the same kind of inspirational effect as Barack in a great many years.

He is running for president. it is up to him to tell us why we should elect him. The whole process can be chalked up to narcissism, but to me that is too cynical by half. I forgive all them their egos - I just don't forgive them their votes.

Obama '08!

[alkamm]

Sometimes the mantra of showing rather than telling is a distinction without a difference. What else have we but words to show and tell? That being said, politicians are narcisstic in this country, latent and blatant.

Yeah, I wince when I hear anybody telling us how inspiring he or she finds him or herself, but we reward the bold and the confident.

Once Obama takes the helm, he'll inspire, if his words, his demeanor, his temperament, and his ethical sense approach what he shows us when we "read" him. Like all politicians, we can never have enough positions laid out, principles held, or even flips flopped. Most of us hope candidates will transcend their positions and we'll give wiggle room to our favorite politicians.

Obama is roughly analogous to the creativity within a great novel. He's not too heavily didactic, and he prefers to engage his readers with a bold clarity by holding to larger questions and answers rather than outlining tedious, simplistic policy positions.

[lldem]

AF,
How much do they pay you republican trolls to post on this site? I notice your profile was just created today.

[AF]

Believe it or not, some Democrats are lukewarm on this guy. I know this upsets a lot of people but he is not everybody's idol. He's a nice guy. He's got an interesting life story. He's transcending race.

But if he says one more time that some "light will shine down on you tomorrow and you'll know to vote for Barack Obama" well it will get old in the general election.

[MPeter]

What a beautiful piece. Thank you Senator Gary. One can only hope that the Clintons and their hang-ons will realize what this moment means for us andthe world, and get out of the way. Obama is trannscendent.

[outnow]

Hillary will be no Joan of Ark. She squandered her credibility pandering and posturing in a destructive proves of triangulating that paved the way for the neocons to take over from the neoliberals and their free trade agendas. Move over and allow the wave of transformation to occur in this country and the world.

If a former board member of Wal-mart would be that person, I would be totally amazed. A former union-busting attorney has an epiphany on the way back to Washington? I doubt that could ever happen.

The greatest thing that Hillary could do is to move over and allow the transformation to occur, not try to be the anti-Bush placeholder until the next GOP or even Mad John McCain tries to get even with the world for what he thinks occurred in Vietnam in his twisted mind.

[demigod]

OK - you can do it yourself. So much for your "unity" crap. Go do it yourself. You can start by learning how to spell transcendent. If Obama can't work with the Clinton Democrats, who are dedicated to the Party, what in hell makes you think you can work with Republicans ? But hey, you can do it yourself. I'll get out of the way.

[funnybones]

With "Monkey Business" and Donna what's her name, he'll do a great job.

[EngineerBill]

Note to Obama campaign. This would make a perfect Obama for president commercial. Bravo Gary!

[hawkai]

Agreed! Obama represents the NEW and Clinton and McCain are the old, stale, and tired.

VOTE FOR REAL CHANGE! BARACK THE VOTE!!!

[Pneumaticus]

Some see Barack Oprama as the platypus of platitudes, and they are right.

[GeorgeWRumscroft]

Yes, much better to promise tax cuts for the rich as the solution to every problem.

[sugarmoes]

some see pneumaticus ass the jackass of all jackanapes, and they are correct.

[TomSutpen]

How poetic.

[JasonEverettMiller]

He has a long legislative record that can easily be Googled.

His long years of experience in both DC and Illinois informed his answers in this 52-minute uncut interview with the editorial board of the SF Chronicle that was very illuminating, even for an Obama supporter: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=0&f=/c/a/2008/01/18/MNSNUH8DR.DTL.

Get informed and then go vote for Obama! The only choice if we want to win in November!

[Herrington]

McCain used the word platitudes in his address last night. It was obvious that he was begining to sharpen his knives for Obama already. But McCain represents the party of paltitudes. Reagan sold a brightly colored empty box of platitudes about greatness and a bright future to the Ameican people while sneaking out the back door with huge bags of cash for his friends. Bush contiuned the tradition but used the front door, seemingly unconcerned that he would be seen.

The use of platitudes to describe and discredit Obama's message will blow up in the Republican's faces. This because of the nearly endless list of vague promises of prosperty and security that results have shown to have been as insincere as a line from a carnival huckster. "Everyone is a winner" in the game that is America.

[knixphan]

Let's unload the knife-drawer of truth, and hurl it at McCainbush. Take the revolution straight to 'em.

[Caprityme]

Sen. Hart, well said!! I totally agree!

[InformedMisery]

I've always admired Gary Hart. I think he is one of the smartest politicians we've ever been fortunate to have in office and afterwards as part of the public discourse. So I cannot for the life of me figure out how he could be so hoodwinked by the cult that surrounds Barrack Obama. He really is nothing unique. There is a fervor surrounding him that is usually reserved for rock stars, and serious politicians like Gary Hart should be uneasy about the American Idolization of our politics. We need a capable leader in the White House. If elected Obama will go the way of Clay Aiken, popular one moment and a has-been the next.

[danyll]

Why are people who support Obama members of a "cult"? I think you should choose your words carefully. Just because you don't agree with his "personality", doesn't give you the right to degrade his supporters. Can we stop the playground name calling?

[unclewilly]

Thanks for a measured, thoughtful assessment. I'm looking forward with great interest to Obama's inaugural address. He'll have the opportunity to make history with that one.

[sfbayani]

Thanks for this.
Dreamers like Obama will always intrigue traditional politicians like Hillary Clinton and John McCain. They would only make comments that those who follow Obama are some followers of a cult. But isn't that dreamers - those who that are able to see the unseen and understand the unfathomable - that keep the world moving?
So, trash the so-called "tra-pos" (short for traditional politicians, and in Filipino, that means, rags) and welcome the transformational campaign of Senator Obama!

[Ohg]

Barack Obama exemplifies the the hope of America. James McBride wrote "The Color of Water" - a story of success in spite of prejudice and discrimination. Barack Obama is the color of water....
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/02/11/barack-obama-the-color-of-water/

[Davwbaird]

This has been one of the great blog posts of our time and the discussion that have followed is reason for hope.