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.
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Gary, I would not lay on this on Barak Obama, things like an agent of change for race relations, or a renewal of the democratic party, or better international relations. The man, if elected may get more used than appreciated. I have not known any one to sit down and really talk with Barak Obama on what he personally thinks is important, or what he wants to emphasize if elected. What really happens is more often not what is predicted, although usually there are so many predictions that someone gets it right.
I would love to talk with Barak Obama on what is really going on with his political policy thinking, instead of reading all the official stuff on his web site, or hearing the carefully scripted statements in debates, forums and silly interviews.
I remember hearing a reporter list all the consultants for a past presidential candidate. There were: a clothing consultant, a grooming consultant, several speech writers, and policy analysts, pollsters, and a company that did focus groups, and a body language expert, and a language expert for selecting the right way to speak in different parts of the country. After all that, I wondered, where is the real candidate behind all that grease paint and roar of the crowds, and the twists and turns that commentators place on the candidate.
Mark John Hunter - Alpena, Michigan
"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."
This sounds remarkably like the hoopla about "moving at internet time", "all the rules have changed" common during the Internet boom/bust in the early days of this century!
I'm impressed by Obama too but lets have a grain of salt here. He could be WORSE than Bush-r3 as difficult as that may be to imagine.
INCOMING>>>>
Gary Hart has succinctly put his experienced finger on our present situation saying:
"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."
Many of the partisan screamers that have responded herein, on both sides of the proverbial isle, can not be reached by the quiet and thoughtful logic born out of Mr. Hart's experience and reason. One Clinton partisan even resorts to the Rovian tactic of smearing Senator Hart's personal integrity, and calling those who agree with his article "lemmings". This is the politics of division and derision that have cost our beloved country its self respect and its standing with the informed people of the world. This election is not simply about electing a new leader, it is about transforming the mindset of our entire government so that it reflects not only the "better angels" of our national legacy, but the good character and spirit of "we the people."
Shame on the petty name callers and slanderers who do nothing to elevate the discussion, and only seek to impose their own narrow and uninformed views.
Well said, couldn't agree more.
even without a million dollars of high-end electronics, you hit the target.
In 1976, after Watergate and Nixon's dirty dealing, including his pardon from Ford, America needed an honest, bright, Washington outsider who could really make the right changes. Along came Jimmy Carter who's mantra was "I will never lie to you." Even though he was a democrat, he had no allies in his own party, nor in the other. He had a very difficult time getting legislation to the floor let alone getting it passed. He truly was a nice guy, and he was truly honest, but he never should have been President. He lost his re election bid by a landslide. We need a competent president who has been there and can get elected for a second term. Not someone who in four years will start the new "Reagen Revolution," because of his incompetence.
My husband was in the military at the Pentagon during the Carter years. Although a liberal progressive, he has little respect for Carter's presidency because he was a micro-manager and really didn't have the internal tools for the job. Any comparison to Obama is quite inappropriate. He has demonstrated an ability to hold his ground on his priorities while listening to the opposition and avoiding the partisan name-calling that has so poisoned the legislative process. I wish America could see him as we experienced him in Illinois.
To boot his wife is an adminstrator,sharp, and will make a great first Lady.
TO ME - mind you in my opinion, I as a Black female, who is also an American. I feel as if he too has transcended me - I WILL NEVER VOTE for him - but then he doesn't want nor need my vote. HE HAS TRANSCENDED ME (A BLACK WOMAN).
I wonder why! The guy has not done much in public life, after all, at least at the national level?
Your a black woman and that makes you more credable than any one else?
I'll see your Gary Hart endorsement and raise you a Joe Wilson endorsement any day of the week. It seems to have disappeared from HuffPost so here's the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-wilson/battletested_b_86355.html
From this side of the pond, what bothers me most about Mr Obama is his evident lack of skill in dealing with an unforeseen question. His set pieces, his "oratory" are great, but it smacks just more than a bit of an actor who has learned his lines well and gives a great performance. I don't see leadership as much as I see cheerleading. Enough of empty rhetoric: what changes? Where? When? How and at what cost?
DrMikeC,
You make excellent, excellent points.
We need more voters to exercise more critical thinking, and less emotion.
My overlaying problem with both Hillary and Obama - is their embrace of socialism.
Quite possibly so many are leaving the Democrat and Republican parties (and registering as Independents) because they're subconsciously fleeing the socialistic mores in both.
We're not babies, and don't want a government babysitter. We want instead, an honest working partner!
That is pure rhetoric designed to further the myths about what socialism really is. Americans WANT and NEED universal health care. Americans WANT and NEED an educational system. Americans WANT and NEED support for those that are incapable of supporting themselves such as the elderly, handicapped, and the youth. Societies are judged by how their weakest members are treated and by that standard American society is in trouble. Americans actually do care about one another and care about the world though. Greedy soul-less pigs already inappropriately blessed with riches only seeking more are bringing this hybrid Democratic/Republic/Capitalist/Socialist wonderful country we have right into the toilet. Socialism is not scary, pure socialist governments are scary just like our government would be if it were purely capitalist (and it is almost there, mixed with a wonderful flavor of fascism to boot). And I believe you have it exactly backward anyway, voters are leaving the parties because they are tired of empty rhetoric and lies, not because they are afraid of too much government spending.
CHECK OUT OBAMA'S WEBSITE, THEN LET US KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT WHERE? WHEN? HOW? WHAT COST?
Hey Brick,
If you hit that CAPS LOCK key on the left side of your keyboard again, you can use both lower and upper case characters. Just trying to help out. It's funny. I thought it was only the Ron Paul acolytes who didn't know about the CAPS LOCK key. Just goes to show you.
Cheer leading, yes you have hit on it and we are his team. I was looking for the right words and gosh that is mighty empowering!!!
Cheer Leading, the only thing in common with Bush but for his humanity.
He has to stay with focussed talking points and on message; this is state specific to the election process. if there were simulations for the Presidency, Clinton would fail because of the Iraq vote and Obama would pass because of his opposition to the war.
Gary Hart hits this right on the head regarding this moment being a very pivotal time in history, not only in our country but globally. The Clintons and McCaine along with the entrenched corporate/political establishment represent the old disfunctional modus operendi that clearly no longer works. Hopefully, this may be the dawning of a new age. Fasten your seat belts!
You hit the nail on the head Gary. Ever since the 60s America has been struggling to shed the skin of an old and crystallized consciousness to a more homogeneous humanity. What is happening now is obviously a part of the evolutionary plan no matter how undesirable it might be to those monkeys who who are stuck in old attitudes and customs, and this new racial type is far more a state of consciousness than color or physical form but which will eventually and inevitably develop changes in our physical characteristics and attitudes.It is the time for the New World Servers to take their place on the world stage, those that think humbly, speak wisely and work ceaselessly, for the betterment, not of their individual tribe, group or party, but for the whole of humanity. And that ain't no monkey business.
Why does my heart jump for Obama but my brain and gut fear him... Is it because of the here-to-date soft and distant rumblings of youthful indiscretions pertaining to his possible drug use during his not so long ago youth? Do those whispered questions of him selling drugs have a basis in truth? I don't know. What I do know is that we are at a point where we have to replace the Republican control of the White House... As much as my heart is stirred by Obama's words I am frightened by what I don't know. With Hillary... America and I already know what they are going to say against her... and we are bored to the point of tears with the old-news the neocon smut-mongers have manufactured against her. She can't be "Swift Boated".... because she's already beaten the best of their lies back.
My soul is torn... do I trust the passion I feel welling inside me when listening to him speak about his dreams?... or do I pay attention to the gnawing concern in my stomach that we know so little about him... have something to worry about?... Is this man as we are currently seeing him as good as he seems. If we follow our hearts and choose him as our candidate in the general election we will more dirt than America can handle come bursting forth from the slime squads destroying any chance we may have in to win in November? How many years can we afford to have the enemy controlling the White House?
I haven't made up my mind yet... but I am worried and I am determined to learn all I can about him,
The reason your mind and gut are troubled is because they've been fed a steady dose of fear for a long time. As with any relationship, it's hard to trust again when someone betrays you. Our leadership has lied to us, stolen from us, sent our children to fight a war that these bullies started, padded the pockets of their cronies and treated us as if we're imbeciles. That's why intellectually you don't feel comfortable. But your heart knows better. It recognizes sincerity, thoughtfulness, compassion, and a determination to bring a real change to this nation and world. Obama understands the human spirit better than any presidential candidate in recent memory. I want a leader who leads with his heart and doesn't use fear to control people.
This is exactly what I find troubling. He "understands the human spirit better than any presidential candidate in recent memory"???? Seriously? First of all, if you did your research, you would know that David Axelrod has even used this "yes, we can" playbook before. Even his campaign slogans, and playbook aren't unique. Please stop painting Senator Obama as some sort of savior. He is a politician, that's all. Perhaps he would be a succesful one, if elected President, only time would tell. First, he would have to do more than "unite" one portion of the democratic party, in order to win a general election.
Oh, and you buy Bill Clinton's lighting a joint but not inhaling. You are a plant.
The thing about Obama is not specific policies, nor is it narcissism or cultism, nor is it mere emotion although that is a component. He has a radical proposal at its heart: that we have an actual democracy and the demos, the people re-engage, stop slacking off and leaving it to the 'professionals,' the politicians and lobbyists and pundits that have done such a stellar job. He solves the core conundrum at the heart of modern America... where literally every mention of the country begins with self-congratulation about our wonderful freedom and values and system, but no one actually uses any of those to accomplish anything. Half of people don't even vote and look who was elected President the last two times... a feckless, soulless moron who has caused immeasurable harm throughout time and planetary space for seven solid years. McCain is more of the same, he has sold out to get a promotion... voted for torture yesterday. Hillary thinks we need to replace the dysfunctional Dad with UberSoccermom and have nice meetings where she explains to everyone how to be good and nice and they all agree to a new set of rules and punishments handed down by her, for which she gets credit. Obama says, you want it better, show up and get to work, and I'll coordinate and contribute, but it doesn't happen until we all get to work. And that means setting aside about 90% of the baggage that people are bringing to the situation, because that will lead to more of the same. If transformation were not needed, we would not have the insane problems we do. The enemy is us, WE need to change, and the way we do that is by participating, and people are responding to the person bringing that message because they know that is the only thing that will work. It is only hard to understand or articulate if you have spent so much time as an American 'fish' that you can no longer sense the American 'water' and how polluted it is, the sickness it causes.
I don't think I have read a better understanding of the situation than that Gregpanfile. I know some (above) consider it socialism. I would call it living in civilized society.
Then why do the people who live in these alleged "civilized" societies flee to America?
Better look at what's made America such an attraction to those living under the choke hold of socialism.
You both have hit on it. Its a form of cheer leading. Hunter and gathers had to work together and reconized diversity as a survival mechanism. Our sickness has been doing the opposite. We are sick to our souls. The time is now. Yes We Can.
Politicians should not be allowed to profit during or after their jobs, kind of like felons.
"Experience in the old ways is irrelevant experience."
Great sound byte --for stupid teenagers.
But the "old ways" are still the ways of Washington, which is why Obama is still just a clueless beginner. Some people may actually, intellectually wish to be led by a street preacher, but if I wanted 'transformative' I'd become a Scientologist.
I'd prefer someone who can effectively run this country. I'll leave the messiahs to the sheep.
Besides Hart, if you had been smarter as a politician, and not cruising around on your bimbo party yacht the "Monkey Business" you might have had some chance to effect change yourself. But you wasted the opportunity. So why should we listen to another warmed-over Nader?
I trust you are right Gary and hope that there will not be just a transformation of speaches for public consumption but pragmatic and honest ideas and actions in a world where chaos and anarchy seems to be inevitable.
We are living in a world where the scarsity of food,water and health for a great number of people is as great as the vorasity of those who will not be satisfied until there nothing left for anyone, perhaps the reason for the accelarated investments in space?
What I know is we can no longer continue in the same pattern of lies and deception of power grabbing and tyranical actions where the weak is expendable and power and corruption are the policies of the day.
I am a 58 year old white male, I consider myself a middle of the road Democrat. After the Supreme Court destroyed the democratic election process in 2000, I became very depressed, I vowed that I would never vote again in a national election. Then came Senator Obama, it was like a ray of sunshine that awoke something in my spirit. I felt hope and inspiration. I am now affraid that that hope will be dashed by the establishment party figures who are attempting to seat the Michigan, and Florida Delegates. To do so would be a betrayal of the trust placed in our party by the voters who support them. It would be seen as the (political) assasination of Senator Obama, which at this point in time would destroy the hope of millions as the assasination of Dr. King did. It could set off riots such as we saw in the sixties. If the rules are changed now to suit the Clintons, I will not vote for Hillary, and I will not for another Democrat in the future.
Why is it so hard for some people to wrap their minds around the concept of transformative leadership? Are we such narrow-minded cynics that we can't even concieve of anything other than bitter partisanship and favor-trading? Don't be so fearful, plebes.
I think its hard for them because most people only care about themselves.
Yes, most of us have become complacent and we cannot wrap our narrow minds around a movement that want to move forward by changing the way things are currently done in DC.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who say that they want real change, but are actually afraid of it.
What these people are really saying is that they are more comfortable with the more traditional, old ways of doing things, because they understand it. The partisanship, bickering, and gridlock that has so long been a part of government is familiar to them, and they really don't understand how government will function without it.
When Hillary Clinton takes the gladiator stance and says that she will fight the Republicans to the death, this is the type of rhetoric that they understand.
When Barack Obama says that, together, we can change the mindset that keeps the gladior fights going, and can reach another level of consensus that will actually get things done,
they say, "Huh?" It's incomprehensible to them.
They FEAR real change, they believe it cannot happen, they DOUBT. Theirs is the mindset that will keep us mired in muck for another generation.
Obama 2008
It's regression towards the mean. Obama's trying to cause a peak shift in the mean.
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