My daughter is crazy for Obama. Heck, the half the world is crazy for him. I myself have admired how he has handled himself throughout the primary and now into the (pseudo) general election. During the primary, his message was always incredibly well crafted and carefully managed. For example, McCain indicated at one point that he would keep the troops in Iraq as long as is necessary to ensure victory. Obama, hours later, posits that McCain is the candidate of “perpetual warfare”.
This control and clarity lasted until just a few weeks after Hillary gave up the ghost and now it seems like his message and campaign are in a muddle. There can be no denying he was very successful in Europe recently but here at home it isn’t clear that the trip was a good idea. Obama was speaking to hundreds of thousands over on the continent and looking very presidential whilst speaking in front of the Victory column. McCain was in the dairy aisle with cheese falling on him yet the polls have largely evened up.
I believe it too early to draw a conclusion from all of this. This is pre-season and will be forgotten in a few weeks time but, as in football, a general tone for future direction and success is set during this time and what goes on matters. I’m supporting my Republican brethern but I also believe that this will be a historic election in terms of participation and public discourse. I’m looking forward to it.
August 5, 2008 at 11:11 am
Most of us would share the prayer of Rev. F.M. Bristol
when he delivered the invocation at the 1884 Republican
Convention – “May the coming political campaign be conducted
with that decency, intelligence, patriotism and dignity of temper
which becomes a free and intelligent people.”
Alas, history reports that the prayer went unanswered that year with
Henry Adams observing – “We are all swearing at each other
like demons”. Terms like “Sleek-faced Hypocrites, Political
Hermaphrodites, Brawling Pharisees and Holy Willie Snakes”
were recorded – and was just between Republicans.
Hopefully, we will do better in 2008, especially with Virginia
apparently being “in play” for both parties and the nation
facing so many urgent issues.
And Andy, thank goodness for your daughter and other young
citizens who care about politics and their government.
August 5, 2008 at 12:09 pm
From what I have been hearing out of Obama’s mouth, he should be crowned the “KING of FLIPFLOP”. Has he yet to stick to solid statement other that he wants change . If this man wins, we all lose .
August 5, 2008 at 2:50 pm
While I initially was impressed (apparently like you were Andy) by Mr. Obama, now that he is the presumptive nominee BOTH he and McCain seem to be moving back towards the extreme ends of the spectrum. This actually seems sorta backwards from years past, where to get the nomination one had to play to the right or left wings, and them go “centrist” to win in the General. That said, from what I read so far, Obama DOES INDEED seem to be “flipping” on far more positions than does McCain.
August 7, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I feel sorry for whomever has taken the old bait and switch from Obama. Clearly he can give a good speech. Knute Rockne could also give one hell of a pre game speech, and as much as I admire his coaching career, I think he would not have made much of a President.
No offense to your daughter Andy, but people need to look beyond the “good speech” and look at exactly what Obama stands for and who he associates with. So far, we know he attended church that was run by an Anti- American and racist. He associates with a terrorist from the weather underground. He has had to throw his Grandmother under the bus along with his rapper friend Ludicous. All of this of course was missed by the MSM because they were blinded by the glow coming from Obama, the savior of the World.
Do we really need someone with such a faulty judgment in the White House?
August 10, 2008 at 8:15 am
Well, put your mind at ease. Hillary Clinton is doing everything she can to ensure the democrats lose the upcoming election. For whatever reason, her narcissistic side just never fails to amaze me. May the good lord grant that I don’t have any friends like that.
August 10, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I hope so. I should add regarding my comment about the MSM, they missed the story or more likely ignored his associations until well into his run for the White House.
Oh, and I see now that he has scrubbed his website of some of his opposition to the “surge”. I suppose he thinks that now that he has had to admit the surge has done some good, he can simply wipe away his former stance and all is well. The old Soviet Union Commies did the same type of scrubbing of people all of the time. I guess he is just copying his idols.