Barack Obama and Kingdom of the Dismal Numbskulls
When he gave his speech at the DNC in 2004, Barack Obama stood out as easily the best speech of the night, upstaging even John Kerry (not really a feat?) I remember that I was in the middle of shooting This Divided State. I sat in my living room and watched the DNC in its entirety. The night was full of passion, hope and ire. George Bush had flushed the country away in only 4 years. The Democrats had a decorated war hero running for president. He was fluent in many languages (even English). He was intelligent and well spoken. He had an air of change around him. Many of us didn't see John Kerry, we saw a better future and a more stable society.
And he lost.
To a war criminal.
And now Barack Obama takes the stand. And he makes John Kerry look like a bumbling forth grader. He's passionate about unity, patriotism and change. He wants to help the poor with universal health care. He wants to focus on our suffering education system. He wants to have meetings with those who are at odds with us and he wants to talk to them about solving problems diplomatically. He gives speeches that bring tears to our eyes. We look to Obama and see a better future and a more stable society.
Deja Vu.
Is there a dismal pattern developing? Has America woken up yet? Are we still scared shitless? Are we still clinging to the candidate with the biggest gun? Are we still susceptible to falling for childish Republican "Swift Boat" arguments? Will we actually give a damn about Reverend Wright? Sweet Jesus, I hope we've woken up. God, I sure hope we have.
Barack Obama faces a Republican War Machine that has been backed into a corner and will fight like a rabid animal to remain at the top. They will fight dirty and with no remorse or dignity. They never do. They will spin, spin, spin and spin every ounce of dirt on Obama and they will throw that dirt into the eyes of American public, hopefully blinding us long enough for another win.
Barack Obama is the super hero we've all been waiting for. Swooping out of the sky with a vision to save America from its descent into madness.
Let's hope that doesn't hurt him come November.
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We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the superheros we make it happy.
Barack Obama is a prophet and as such, he is a messenger; however, he is not Messianic. He will ask each of us to plant our own individual stakes in the work to come.
I liken Obama less to JFK and more to FDR. The problems he will face when he takes office in 2009 will be nearly of the magnitude of those of that faced FDR in 1933. Students of history know that FDR faced monumental obstacles from the bastions of privilege and weatlh; these interest groups had a profound investment in the status quo.
What saved FDR and enabled his vision to be realized? The greater majority of America; FDR had THE PEOPLE behind him. Let us not forget that Barack Obama is human, a remarkable human to be sure, but he will need ALL OF US to assist him; the forces arrayed against progress in 2009 are formidable.
Ignorant people are the only things still manufactured in this country.
I honestly think Obama will be able to cut through the "throwing of the dirt into their eyes":
the politics of fear used to attain more power for a few, the blanket of false patriotism covering up the wicked realities, the "talking point" repetition used so often over the last eight years, the other tried and true tricks of dirty politics - if he can cut to the core truth of not "having" to wear a flag pin to show your patriotism but doing so by your actions and your principles - and if he can help people to truly understand that..... if he can show that so-called 'experience' doesn't mean you always made the right decision (or that you didn't vacillate back and forth as McCain has), then we all have a chance at turning our country around.
Have faith. Believe. Go out and volunteer as much as you can. Donate as much as you are able and talk to your neighbors. Help Obama and the DNC to give you back your voice and your country. Along with it, will come global respect for America and Americans. Remember, nobody gave him a chance 15 months ago. He did not even have much respect in the Senate. Yet here we are. He is on top of the ticket. America is excited. And so is the world. So, just do your part. Obama is smarter and tougher than we all thought. He has surprised us at each turn. Thank you for a great article.
We're a culture that loves "cool".
Barack is cool, McCain is not. Barack is Pepsi, who just beat out Coca Cola Clinton, McCain is lukewarm lemonade made from that dried powder with the chunks that sits for years in the back of your pantry.
Barack is Batman, McCain is Mr. Freeze, an apt name not only for the 100 years he wants to spend delivering a ideology to some of the most tribal, elitist fundamentalists on the planet, but because he has a tendency to freeze like a deer in headlights when in front of the cameras.
The newly awakened youth vote couldn't get excited about Kerry. I respect him, but that shot on the sailboard was almost as bad as Dukakis in a helmet. Barack is smoother than both those candidates, unflappable, although Hillary and Stephanopoulous did expose his tendency to ruminate a bit much when under the glare of the debate forum spotlight.
That won't be a problem against McCain. Barack will run circles around him in a debate, like Bugs Bunny around Elmer Fudd.
Lets see what other pop culture references are there...I'll think of some.
Obama will lose because of his lack of experience. He has less than three years inthe U.S. Senate most of which he was absent because he was campaigning. He was head of the committee on oversight for Afghanistan and has not held one single meeting. These are the things that will doom him. And it's not racist to say Obama has less national experience than McCain. It's the truth. If you cry racism at every criticism of Obama, you will turn voters off. No one likes a crybaby.
Expereince is overrated. Bush had expreience after 4 years, but did he get any better? The President has a Cabinet and other advisors with lots of experience. The President needs to be a leader and a decision maker. We need a President with common sense and a hopeful vision for the country.
The Hillary supporters will learn to let go - someday..
No one likes a whiner either.
Try checking facts some time.
Obama has 11 years of experience in elected office as a state senator and U.S. Senator (Clinton had 7). During his short time in the Senate, he has already built up a fairly impressive record:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633%3Chr
He is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on European Affairs.
If there's anything worse than a troll, it's an ignorant troll.
Another Republican voicing the party talking points.
Cheney had lots of experience... so did dummy Rummy suppose you try to make the experience case now!
It won't work this year. Wanna know why?
Young people and the Internet. They know McCain might mean THE DRAFT!!
Last time out, they were pretty much asleep. Plus they've awoken and are ready to roll. .
If you're looking for a dismal developing pattern, look no further than the latest call-ins to NPR. Several callers, who identified themselves as long-time Democrats and Hillary supporters, said they were voting for McCain in November because of his "experience." My own bullshit detector leads me to conclude that "experience" is a cover, a justification, a weasel-word, more acceptable and comforting than the real reason for their conversion: "Obama's black!" Pure and simple. Of course, NPR, ever polite, never pressed, never asked those probing questions which we all know should've been asked and which needn't be ennumerated here. Yup, watch this pattern, this closet racism develop in the run-up to November.
It seems to be that when someone constantly sees racism, it's usually due to over-compensation. They want to make sure that everyone knows they don't pay attention to race, so they feel it necessary to point out how racist everyone else is.
This is not to say that closet racism doesn't exist or that there won't be some people who use "code words" to cover the true cause of their opinions. But if we just accept that "experience" means "experience" and isn't a cover for racism, those cover words lose their power. After all, it's highly unlikely that anyone will publicly admit to not voting for Barack simply because he's black. They know that someone will do it for them by pointing out the magic "code words." If someone wants to use an alleged lack of experience to cover for racism, let them. It's easy enough to refute those specious arguments, leaving those people without a leg to stand on.
I think it has less to do with racism, than sour grapes. I think these Hillary supporters make this threat as a way of convincing the rest of us that Hillary is our only hope. It's a veiled (or not so veiled threat) that says "If you don't pick Hillary, we'll make sure you get McCain".
Ehhhh, I don't think it's racism. They're just mad he beat Hillary.
I don't see Obama so much as a superhero but as a messenger.
The Republicans know that if people are afraid, they slip into despair and depression leaving them unmotivated (malaise) and willing to be led by the rose ring from one day to the next. You know you're really depressed if you can identify the make and model of a handgun by the taste of the end of the barrel and the NRA is there to provide samples for GOP-sponsored taste test.
Obama's real strength is also one of the most important qualifications for the job he seeks; his ability to communicate and motivate. He speaks to us in a way that lifts us from our malaise, has us put down the remote, and stand up with hope for our futures. We can do the rest.
The experience argument is stupid. Obama will surround himself with the best minds for each of his charges. His judgment is evidenced by his meteoric rise from obscurity to nominee, a feat that requires tremendous skill and precision, especially while maintaining his poise and grace. He is very presidential.
It won't work if the american people won't let it. This year there must be outrage, visual and verbal outrage when the republicans start this stuff.
Yes! absolutely! All of his supporters or anyone who is just voting Democrat this year MUST be very vocal about every drop of blood they try to draw. he can't do it alone.
So I'm not only bitter, I'm dumb too.
Speaking as a voter for whom the Democrats really don't give a hoot about, you are dad gum right I will vote for McCain this fall and then every blue dog Democrat I can find. I'm looking for a bumper sticker that says "Split Your Vote".
From the middle ya'll both (Democrats and Republicans) look extreme.
My sentiments exactly, sir. From your pen to whichever God you worship!
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