This should be obvious, but I thought I’d get it out of the way.
For all my caterwauling and messing with my own head, I see that this is what to do now. Hillary Clinton is my age, and my generation needs to LET GO… We’re too corrupt and set in our ways. We know too many people. We think we know how it is, how politics works, what things are made of, and that’s an automatic trap. So Obama it is. I haven’t read a single policy statement or heard a single speech, but that’s where I am.
I don’t think we need any debates. In a perfect world, Hillary would just drop out. Yeah, yeah, I know. But the election is over, as far as I’m concerned, and think of all the time I’ve saved. No, seriously: I’m assuming that the fates have enough sense to see that the world needs a younger, black American president with a name a pedicab operator in Karachi or a seamstress in Rio will never forget. Geez, he even has a grandmother in Kenya who doesn’t speak any English. This is rather more huge than people have bothered to notice, but it’s there. I sense an opportunity for inner change on a planetary level. Whether or not Obama is part of that, seeing him run makes me feel it, and that’s important.
In the ole U.S. of A., the process is potentially our transformation and salvation, so much so that I don’t even have to like him. I probably would, though, if I paid attention. And just the thought of participating in the Great Bonfire of every hackneyed, bitter stereotype that ever made me hate my fellow countrymen would be reward enough to get me to vote. Yes, I’m going to vote. It’s come to that at last. The symbolism of a massive repudiation of the last eight years would be a very powerful thing, so the ritual must take place.
Call it voting as a spiritual act. That’s really how I’m thinking of it.
UPDATE: Obama is a Leo, born Aug. 4, 1961. That absolutely seals it for me. 
Comment by Robbo
1 January 31, 2008, 10:51 am o'clock |
Speaking from the opposite end of the baby boomer generation, I’d like to point out that we’ve only had 2 shots at this, (Clinton and W.Bush). Frankly (because we got screwed so badly in 2001) I’d like to think we boomers deserve at least one more do-over before we’re put out to pasture.
Comment by John H. Farr
2 January 31, 2008, 11:02 am o'clock |
Sorry, I completely disagree. Time to stand aside. Hillary is old-school with too much baggage. As much as I like her, she will not do.
And there isn’t anyone to “put us out to pasture,” anyway. I’m not even talking about pastures, I just mean we shouldn’t be in charge. Something like “wise elder” comes to mind instead. The true grace possible here is in realizing this and stepping back voluntarily.
Comment by Tammi
3 January 31, 2008, 11:32 am o'clock |
I was JUST having this discussion with my husband last night when I heard the Guilliani dropped out and is throwing his support behind McCain.
I said: I never thought McCain would be a frontrunner for the Republicans. I don’t like anything about him..and, even though I am not a Republican I thought those that were would choose someone different to give the Dems a good match. This is the universe working in mysterious ways to make sure we have a Democrat in office.
AND, THEN, my husband said, (and, he IS a republican): If it is McCain, I am voting for Obama. My jaw dropped! My husband has never even considered voting democratically since becoming self-employed 10 years ago.
I concluded the discussion with: SEE! That is my point. The universe is working her magic!!
Changes are afoot and I feel they are GOOD!
Comment by John H. Farr
4 January 31, 2008, 11:36 am o'clock |
I concluded the discussion with: SEE! That is my point. The universe is working her magic!!
Changes are afoot and I feel they are GOOD!
That’s what I think. Virtually none of the old rules apply, either.
Comment by K.J. Webb
5 January 31, 2008, 12:54 pm o'clock |
On the personal level, McCain’s an attractive guy. So is Obama. Neither of them is very ideological and both are capable of thinking thoughts that don’t fit the approved line of their respective parties and constituencies. Both are awfully smart, and I think there has to be a correlation between smarts and independence. No doubt the great political struggle ahead will reduce both of them to caricatures and mouthpieces for particular agendas. Sigh.
As I get older I care less and less about ideology and more and more about character. A long time ago the Greeks thought that was the most important part of it all. Well, maybe politics IS the greatest test of character, and maybe we are about to see who REALLY has the royal jelly. Gee, we may actually have intelligent and civilized discussion of differing positions. Could that be possible? Only in utopia, I reckon.
As for Hillary, with all respect for my old friend, Farr, a person’s a person for a’ that, never mind the generational thing, which is sort of caricature in its own right. I like the young getting excited about Obama, but it’s not so much his being young as having that certain winning manner of address we call charisma - yes and being smart, unideological, a guy capable of bridging lots of divides. I shouldn’t talk about him that way, however: those are not expectations anyone can fill in the political world that exists now or ever.
Comment by John H. Farr
6 January 31, 2008, 1:40 pm o'clock |
McCain is attractive on a personal level? Are you completely out of your bleeping mind???
Comment by K.J. Webb
7 January 31, 2008, 2:22 pm o'clock |
I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder. However, I think your reaction here is more to stuff you don’t like in his policies, which is another matter. But tell me, what about him personally makes you so emphatic on this point?
Comment by John H. Farr
8 January 31, 2008, 3:07 pm o'clock |
He’s a mean, lying sonofabitch, Ken. Who needs more than that?
As for policy, how about “less jobs, more wars”? The man is Bush on steroids. He doesn’t have a fucking clue.
Comment by K.J. Webb
9 January 31, 2008, 3:40 pm o'clock |
He lies less, rather than more, than most politicians. That’s why the “straight talk” epithet is always used about him. Remember how he apologized for having defended the confederate flag in South Carolina eight years ago? He did that after the battle was over and when none of these things any longer made a difference to him. He said something to the effect that “I fell below my own standards of integrity when I took that position. I did it for political advantage when I knew the position I took was wrong.” What other politician has had the guts to say anything like that?
Mean? He’s somewhat grim and steely in demeanor but also given to unpredictable witticisms. The grimness may have been earned. Whatever you think about the Viet Nam war (well, I know what you think because it’s what I think) the guy had the guts to tough it out during 5 long years, refusing chances to get out of the Hanoi Hilton when he knew it would be used for propaganda purposes given that his father was a prominent Admiral or some such. Man, that too took guts and served no purpose except personal integrity.
He hasn’t been afraid to kick Republicans in the teeth and to make common cause with Dems. That’s why Limbaugh hates him.
And he’s got a really beautiful wife who has had problems and whom he has supported.
Is he wrong on campaign finance? Is he wrong on immigration? –Well, these are merely policies, not character issues, but you might not disagree with him so much there. You probably didn’t disagree with him so much when he was Rumsfeld’s worst enemy. The surge? Well, the guy advocated it long before it had a shred of popularity, and that advocacy was largely the reason he almost dropped out of contention. Not saying he was right, just saying the guy has guts.
Just my opinion of course. Fire away.
Comment by John H. Farr
10 January 31, 2008, 4:27 pm o'clock |
Kenny, the truth is, I can’t afford to get into this.