Let’s Face It, He’s a Political Phenom
In 2004, I watched Barack Obama give the keynote speech (part 1 | part 2) at the Democratic National Convention. I told my mom, and later I mentioned it to Meredith (who I had just started dating), that he would be the next President of the United States.
Little did I know that he would be SO good at politics. He’s a phenomenon, sweeping the country with enthusiasm and passion. Empty though his rhetoric is, the man inspires. He gives people goosebumps, has and amazing following, and has followers with religious devotion to his campaign. Take a look for yourself:
You gotta admit … it’s hard not to like the guy. But please, don’t vote for him. You know why (and it has nothing to do with his race or his name).
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“But please, don’t vote for him.”
Don’t worry…
OK, I won’t.
I got the same feeling back then. How did Hillary ever get the ‘inevitable’ tag if half the country was saying that about Obama before ever taking national office?
The debates (the earlier ones, I tuned out once it was down to Clinton, Obama and Clinton) did show that he has some concrete policy plans. I think it was in the second debate, Edwards actually lambasted Obama (I support UHC, but I was just as disgusted by this as y’all libertarians) because his universal healthcare plan was not mandatory for everyone. A universal, universally mandatory healthcare system might be one thing under a single-payer plan, but what Clinton and Edwards are proposing is pretty much what Romney set up here in Massachussetts. Everyone has health insurance, because guess what, you’re penalized if you don’t. As I said, that would be bad enough if it were a single-payer system so that everyone could afford it, but it’s not and they can’t. That’s ludicrous.
So Obama’s positions on the pressing issues of our time are about as well elucidated as, and not all that different from Clinton’s, though occasionally those differences are key.
I think the media has set up a false dichotomy here. Depending on the source, Obama either has no substance on the issues and thus is unfit, or else he has less substance but better judgement. I think a better summation is that Obama has about as thorough a grasp of the issues as the rest of the field and basically toes the Democratic party line- but he is different in that his campaign is almost entirely not about issues. The charge that he doesn’t have clear policies is ill-founded, but the charge that he’s running entirely on the power of his own personality is not.
PS:
Sorry, in all likelihood I’m changing my registration back to Democrat and voting for him (I registered Republican to vote for Paul, figuring he needed GOP votes more than Independents). The choices aren’t nearly bad enough to make me refuse to vote for the lesser of evils.
“The choices aren’t nearly bad enough to make me refuse to vote for the lesser of evils.”
Oh George, you are enviably niave. My friend, there never was a choice, that is the greatest deception of all. Politics is a mirage, like professional wrestling it’s entertaining but not real.
Sorry…
Oh no, I’d bet you’re right… but they do have to keep up appearances. A Democrat has to do a few liberal things, and vice versa. If it’s all a sham, voting certainly can’t hurt anything, and it might be somewhat useful if the people in power at least have to pretend to value the same ideals I do.
Kind words, George, thanks. I have found the Scriptures that foretell the Democratic ticket. It will be Barak for president and Hillary his running mate. Barak’s inexperience makes him nervous so he will ask Hillary.
Judges 5:8 - And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go!
God’s Word, as relevant as ever!!!
===)))
I’m still trying to figure out the “you know why” thing.
@david
you know, by my ambiguity, it is conceivable that one could possibly construe that as anything, including his race. I’ll clarify in the post in just a minute.
If you follow this blog, you know that I’m a libertarian. So although Obama may be inspiring, his eagerness to direct America toward MORE social programs, MORE government handouts, MORE subsidies, MORE entitlements, etc. should be extremely frightening to the taxpayers.
I mentioned this on another blog recently, and it would serve us well to all think about this long and hard.
The Constitution doesn’t guarantee us the right to water … just the right to go find it.
The founders fought and died for the right to be self-sufficient … to be free.
@Rick Frueh
???
Judges 5:8 = “They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?”
@Nathan Does this concern you?
@oneaustin
Here’s what bothers me about it. I generally get a bit frustrated at the fact that politics is more about digging up ancient history, political correctness both in your past statements and those of everyone you ever knew, etc. But the more and more that surfaces about this Pastor guy, the more I find it to be relevant. Here’s why.
Obama has done a very good job of getting away with being non specific on pretty much anything. What frightens me is the possibility that Obama espouses (albeit secretly) the same sentiments as his pastor. I understand that the two are just friends, and there is a good possibility that he disagrees with the entire “race vs. race” junk that comes from Wright. But his propensity to ignore issues like these are concerning. Assuming he has substance, he needs to start campaigning on it. I’m sick and tired of his ambiguity.
I’ll post something later today that should be funny, but illustrates a point.
@oneaustin
As promised, illustrative parodies of the Obama campaign. Forgive the source, but it’s not too far from the truth.
http://tinyurl.com/3dn4vh
http://tinyurl.com/2o863g
Too funny!
We’re in the same boat. I’m so tired of it all, I would just about vote for the first candidate that gives me a reason to vote for himself/herself instead of a reason not to vote for another.
Have a great weekend!
Dugg down for linking to Limbaugh.
Wait… this isn’t Digg!
Well, well… shame on you then!
;)
@George
ha, this is MY blog buddy! :-)
Actually, this is Paul Shanklin, but yeah, it’s hosted through Limbaugh. Regardless, although slightly hyperbolic, this is a pretty fair parody. I wish SNL would do one like this. Now THAT would be funny (and effective).