Comments on: Introducing Barack Obama, The Politician

By: Rob_N

Rob_N — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:10:04 +0000

Robert, it’s unclear whether Mike was talking to you or I.

I agree with your reply though, in principle.

More specifically for me, Mike, I agree with Obama’s proposals in the main — thus my support for him. My driving political value (there’s a lofty phrase) is more about progress than inspiration, leaving our nation and, if we can, our world a better place for my kids and (I hope) future generations.

Obama doesn’t “inspire” me to some higher level… Rather, I support his proposals and recognize that I he supports many of the same values and principles I do.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:51:24 +0000

I don’t know that my driving political value is inspiration. I think you know me well enough to know that I’m not a wide-eyed kid. That said, I think that the ability of a politician to inspire is, and rightly so, an important skill when they’re looking for the job of leading the free world. I think the U.S. needs an inspiring leader. The myth of the US is just as important domestically as it is abroad. I don’t think we should insist on the mundane or discount the “inspiration” factor of a politician as quaint. Inspiration matters. I’m a policy wonk too, and as a friend once told me, “I like the fact that Bill Clinton is willing to fight dirty for me.” Well, I think that Obama’s ability to be shady, coupled with his ability to inspire, instead of being contradictory is a necessary skill set for the highest office.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:29:58 +0000

But that’s just the problem, Rob. You’re driving political value is inspiration … which is exactly how politician take advantage of taxpayers.

By: Rob_N

Rob_N — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:45:09 +0000

PS: Re your point about “the left” and Bush/Rove… Most times I see references to Rove it is to Rove himself, not conflation with Bush. In the instances where there are discussions involving the two men, it almost always has involved cases of Rove speaking for the administration (ie, speaking for Bush) when he was still on WH staff.

If you know of anything different, please link directly to instances where this is not the case so we can discuss some particulars. Thanks.

By: Rob_N

Rob_N — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:42:00 +0000

Mike,

McCain is claiming to be something “new” and has lately taken to trying out a throw-Bush-under-the-bus tack.

I agree with Robert, there’s hero worship going on — on both sides, let’s be honest; just as there always is in every election — but that said I do agree with Obama’s policy proposals much moreso than McCain’s. And, yes, I’ve read up on most of those proposals. Then again, my values and principles differ from McCain’s as it is (though I’m more in line with the 2000 version of Mac than the suddenly rightward-lurching 2008 version).

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:42:45 +0000

I get a little surprised when the Obama true believers, (and I gotta admit that I am one) are shocked or feel “hurt” when Obama does what politicians do. I’ve heard a few lines of shadiness vis. obama from his political past, particularly with the Chicago machine. Honestly, it makes me like him more. I’m hoping this “change” he speaks of doesn’t run squarely into political reality. I admit there’s quite a bit of hero worship out there but it’s nice to a least have a candidate that makes me want to care.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:19:04 +0000

Good point Rob. And I agree with you, that McCain is also a politician, prone to putting politics above the public good. But last I checked no one is pretending that some how he’s something “new” or something different.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:18:28 +0000

Also, on the Obama/Axelrod association. The left has been doing it for years with Bush/Rove. And certainly you would have to agree that who a person has in his inner circle is important, right? If Obama supports the Con Con, let him come out and say it.

By: John Powers

John Powers — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:12:20 +0000

Sen. Obama supported Gov. Blagojevich as well. I think he did in his first election as well, when Blago was not such a known quantity.

JBP

By: Rob_N

Rob_N — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:00:04 +0000

When did Obama become Axelrod?

I agree with your point, but the two are not one.

As to your larger point, politics can suck but I’d rather have two (or 3 or 4 or 5…) choices in this Republic than 1, or none. That said, as you well know one can replace McCain everywhere you wrote Obama and plenty of examples of similar such cynicism can also be found.