[Oe List ...] pulling strings

Tue Feb 5 00:14:11 EST 2008

Marsha, thank you for this. At least you have a clear-headed political bias. I'm still bewildered. 

  For me Obama's something of a political lightweight, if you look at his Senate record, and yet he may be able to attract a lot of younger voters who've dropped out of the political process. 

  I was around for JFK--I sat near him when he spoke at Duke as a Senator, and was very caught up in the new political era after 8 years of Eisenhower--but, after the election squeaker pulled out by Mayor Daley's deceased voters in Chicago, he didn't really have a national consensus around his political agenda, nor did he have adequate Secret Service protection to complete his term. It took LBJ's political horse-trading skills to get the legislation that JFK could never have won. So if the electorate votes for "change" in a big way, that doesn't necessarily do diddely on Capitol Hill.

  I've never been a Clinton-basher, and I'd hate to see her lose to a male candidate of either party just because there are so many Clinton-bashing and misogynist voters. I also hate to see her stumbling as a former front runner just because she may lose the minority/young vote to Obama. Not to mention Bill continually stepping into the spotlight to fuzz over the issue of who'd be running the show, which arouses a lot of fear and indignation over a 'restoration', further undercutting her need to stand on her own two feet.

  I believe the Democrats would have a stronger candidate in November without Obama zapping Hillary's momentum in the primaries. If the country could just get behind the option of voting for the first female presidential candidate, I think it could happen. What fuzzes that over is that the younger political upstart happens to have a father from Africa, throwing into play a set of competing political images. And thus the Repubs may "divide and conquer" just like they did with Gore vs. Nader in 2000.

  The worst outcome is that Obama drains the Clinton majority on one end while the Clinton-haters and independents for McCain drain it on the other, so that whichever candidate gets the nomination will have an uphill battle against the forces of the more-of-the-same Republican candidate.

  Problem is, Obama doesn't really offer a programmatic political alternative to Hillary. It's just a personal one. He's saying,"My turn!" while she's saying, "No, you know damn well it's MY turn!" So it's really about political egos.

  She does have a much better health care proposal that will mandate universal coverage--something he hates, but she's been working on it since Obama was barely out of law school (big clue!).

  McCain may not be the world's worst nightmare either, but I wouldn't vote Mr. Green Nader on principle and give the Republicans another term or two.

  I'll vote for any Democrat who gets the nomination--I'd even vote for Zervigon if he were running for Prez--but I can't predict which candidate can best overcome the conservative voter bias against the very idea of a woman or black man in the White House.

  I think tomorrow's going to be a nose-and-nose battle for Demo delegates, while McClean noses out Romney. But I don't see a Democratic landslide in November, and I don't know which way to lean to best influence a potential squeaker. I guess the moment in the booth will be the moment to hold my nose and decide.

  Marshall

Marsha Hahn <mhahn013 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
        v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}        st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }                I hesitate to jump in on this topic because I’m aware that we have plenty of non-Americans on this list, and I try hard not to charge blindly down the America-centric super-highway.  Plus, I’m not sure how much people want to use this forum to talk politics.  That said, this is an important presidential race that has the potential for impacting so much of the rest of the world, for better or worse.  So I’m gonna stick my neck out.

  If you are an undecided (American) Democrat looking for input, I offer a story and some reflections.  Maybe you will find it helpful.  All others, read on or delete as you wish.  I won’t be offended, nor do I mean to offend.

  Five years ago I met Barack Obama when I was in Springfield (Illinois state capitol) for a “Social Work Lobby Day” (read: social work students wandering around the state capitol buildings hoping to recognize and introduce themselves to state lawmakers.)  As luck would have it I was wandering with a very assertive, politically knowledgeable young woman who recognized Obama as the Senator from the district that housed the University of Chicago, where we were students.  We stopped him on the sidewalk and talked for several minutes.  We were hoping to get traction for some potential legislation that would benefit social workers and the demographic we tend to serve.  Obama, it turned out, was knowledgeable about the topic, and gave us thoughtful, candid advice that included his opinion that the legislation could not succeed in that year.  He explained why and went on to suggest ways to position it for future success.  Not one word of BS.  No pandering whatsoever.  Just very
 informed, practical, respectful feedback and suggestions.

  I had never heard of this man before, but I was so taken with his candor and intelligence that I came home raving to Pat (husband) about this fabulous state senator I’d met.  When he ran for U.S. Senate the next year I supported him, needless to say.  Illinois may lean Democratic overall, but when you get outside Chicago there are a heckuva lot of Republicans in this state.  Those Republicans voted for him in droves.  White farm folks from little towns downstate loved him.  (It didn’t hurt that the Republican Party lost its first candidate to a sex scandal, and then imported someone from Maryland in a ridiculously misguided attempt to put up their own “black” candidate.)  Obama won with 70% of the vote.

  My reflections:

  Obama does have the capacity to unite the country and appeal to people’s better natures.  Inspiring people is not just wishy-washy stuff.  It’s good and it’s real.  It energizes people and has the potential to engage them into positive action.

  Obama is appealing to young people.  This is a very good thing.  We need them to engage.  They’re next in line to be in charge.

  Obama is not perfect.  Politics is never a perfect process and compromise is an essential factor in getting anything done.  That said, Obama seems to have held onto his center pretty well.  I’m betting that he can move some dirt.  He has been attracting smart, seasoned policy people (including some from the Bill Clinton era).

  If nothing else sways you, then consider the pragmatic view.  If you’re a Democrat and you want to win the White House then for God’s sake, vote for Obama.  McCain is very likely to be the Republican nominee.  Polls indicate that in a McCain-Clinton race, McCain would attract most of the independents and some Democrats, while Clinton would attract almost no Republicans.  In a McCain-Obama race, independents would be split.  I’m betting that Obama can get a lot of those independents and some of the Republicans.  Also, Obama has coattails.  He can help other Democrats win.  We need a filibuster-proof Senate.

  Okay, now go and vote your conscience.  I’ll still love you no matter who you choose.

  Marsha Hahn

---------------------------------

  From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of W. J.
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 6:28 PM
To: dialogue at wedgeblade.net; oe at wedgeblade.net
Subject: [Oe List ...] pulling strings

    I'm bewildered. I was for Hillary, but the more I look the scarier he gets. Did you read about the Kazakhstan uranium deal in http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31donor.html?em&ex=1202187600&en=d99ce5d428ceda0f&ei=5070 ? 

    This ain't more Borat yuk-yuks, folks. This is misusing political clout, big time, to benefit cronies. And he can do it in spades if he's sleeping with her (supposedly) in the White House and travelling the world on corporate jets. Not to mention his overriding Hillary's opposition to endorsing the corrupt regime in Kazakhstan. Sure, let him make her foreign policy. We know the governments in all those --Stans are corrupt, right? <wink wink> And OUR government officials are all squeaky-clean--at least the Democrats are, right? So what else is new? 

    Take a look at this guy's string-pulling fingers:

    If you read the NYT about Oh-bama, you get the message that our prince of righteousness is in fact, unwilling to confront the new-kew-lur Powers That Be in Illinois that pay his bills. 

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html?ei=5070&em=&en=546128723b04748a&ex=1202187600&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1202083210-4Acur2iU7ibBlsZaxREYMg

    So my vote comes down to: which is the least worst of all these evils? We know that, hey, the Demo's are gonna throw their political weight around to benefit corporate interests just lke the Republicrats. Only they may have a slightly more populist tinge, if Edwards makes it to V.P., of even if he's dumped. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/opinion/01krugman.html?em&ex=1202187600&en=bef391f10ddb3713&ei=5070

    But folks, it's all in the vote-swinging political rhetoric, all in the flash of the Kennedy dynasty vs. the Clintonian dynasty, all in the glitz and the star power that hooks the younger generation, all in the promise of anything other than last year's Republican pizza.

    So what it comes down to for me is: Mr. Oh-bama can wave the flag, but I fear he's pretty much a lot of hot air where the rubber hits the road. I guess I'll have to hold my nose and vote for Hillary, in hopes that she can grow the cojones to restrict him to the usual First Lady tea party stuff in the East Wing. But I'm not betting on it.

    Marshall

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