But the last few weeks have really turned me off her. As you may or may not know, I was a Joe Biden supporter. I like Joe's understanding of International affairs and his view on the economy. But that's no longer a choice. So, as I look at the options before me, I consider: Obama, Clinton, Edwards (even Kucinic has left the stage, taking his hot wife away in his UFO).
Let's start with Edwards. As much as I liked his performance at the last debate ("How do these personal attacks help children or people without insurance?") and admire his passion - I have concerns about his ability to get anything done. He seems to have the impression that being "right" is enough. But - anarchist that I am - know enough to know that having the masses on your side may get you elected, but won't get laws passed.
Obama has risen in my estimation. He has shown intellect and passion and a desire (if not quite yet the proven ability - see next) to unite people. If people honestly believe that the country is in a hole after Bush's eight years of foreign and fiscal policy, do they think that we can get out of it through incremental measures? Can we get out the way we got in? Not to buy into the "Change" crap, but honestly, the world is different than 1992. The economy is different. International relationships are different. Interpersonal relationships are different. But politics isn't.
Except that I think Obama has the desire to tackle things differently. Not in a man of la mancha way, but in a profound and pragmatic way. Obama has the ability (which I think Edwards lacks) to convince everyone that his policies are winners. Since Americans love and follow a winner, I think he has the ability to change the way laws get made and to change the relationship between the government and the governed.
Except that now there's Hillary. Dragging down anyone who dares to get in her way. Where was she four years ago? If she's got 35 years of experience and Bush is so awful, why did she wait until 2008 to run? Now she's baiting Obama, forcing him down the path of politics as usual.
And maybe that's gonna happen anyway. Maybe when he got to be president, the overwhelming ugliness of bi-partisan behavior would kill all the dreams of better. Maybe Bill and Hillary think that they're saving us from ourselves. They certainly got creamed by the Republicans for the first two years of Bill's presidency.
But if you kill the dreams, you never have a chance of being better.
So, no. I can't support Hillary. The ugliness of her reaction when she lost Iowa. The arrogance of her tears (crying for the stupidity of people who didn't vote for her, couldn't they just see what was best for them). The ugliness of her lust for power. The pure Karl Rove-edness of South Carolina. (I'm putting Michelle Obama's letter below for those who haven't seen it.) You can't fix America's problems by being a liberal Bush. You've got to find a new way.
If she wins the nomination, I'm not sure that I could vote in November.
Or maybe I'll vote for Ralph Nader. Maybe it'll be time for a write in.
End Post
----------------------------
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: What we didn't expect
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:53:07 -0500
From: Michelle Obama
Reply-To: info@barackobama.com
To: Lola
Lola --
This Campaign Relies on You
We knew getting into this race that Barack would be competing with Senator Clinton and President Clinton at the same time.
We expected that Bill Clinton would tout his record from the nineties and talk about Hillary's role in his past success. That's a fair approach and a challenge we are prepared to face.
What we didn't expect, at least not from our fellow Democrats, are the win-at-all-costs tactics we've seen recently. We didn't expect misleading accusations that willfully distort Barack's record.
Barack Obama isn't relying on a former President of the United States to campaign for him.
He's relying on us -- you, me, and hundreds of thousands of people like us who are giving whatever they can afford to support this movement.
Please stand up in the face of these new attacks. Make your first online donation of $50 today and own a piece of this campaign:
*https://donate.barackobama.com/relyingonyou*
Barack's unwavering opposition to the war in Iraq, his outspoken support of women's rights, and his call for leadership that will transform our party and our country have all been mischaracterized in the past two weeks.
We've seen disingenuous attacks and smear tactics turn people off from the political process for too long, and enough is enough.
It's time for a change. It's time for a new kind of leadership and a new kind of politics in our party and in our country.
And while Senator Clinton has a former president in her corner, I'll put my faith in a movement of a whole lot of people who are ready for change.
South Carolina votes in 48 hours, and more than 20 states will make their voices heard in less than two weeks on February 5th. Now is the time for all of us to step up and take personal responsibility for making change happen.
Please make your first online donation of $50 now:
*https://donate.barackobama.com/relyingonyou*
Thank you,
Michelle
Donate
Paid for by Obama for America
2 comments:
I'm sorry, so the candidates wife criticizes Hilary for campaigning, and you find that compelling? Hilary didn't run 4 years ago because the good people of NY elected her to be their Senator, and she had the integrity to work hard to do a good job for them and prove what she could do before she asked them to trust her that she could do the job as president. As a resident in the state where Obama took the job as Senator, and immediately started looking for a job as President, where he has completely failed to do anything for the people of Illinois in his role as Senator, I find it downright exemplary that Hilary proved herself before she asked anyone to beleive she could accomplish anything.
I think the Obama's are being as political as Bill- and yes, I think Bill should shut up. But while I agree the Clinton's were persecuted while in office by the Republicans, two things should be noted-1. The country was in great shape while Bill was President, and 2. He always had the power to shut down the special prosecutor, and he didn't do that- probably for political reasons, but quite possibly because he didn't have anything to hide. After 8 years of examining his every crevice, what they found wrong with Hilary and Bill was not a deception of the country (unlike Reagan with Nicaragua and Bush with everything).
And Obama is using the race card for everything he can- his minister from his home church, which declares itself unapologetically Afro-Centric and unapologetically Christian (the subject of my next blog) saying Bill did to African Americans what he did to Monica.What??? In what way?? that went unsaid.
Why is Obama a member of an "unapologetically Afro-Centric" church? That should give us pause- no white candidate could attend an "unapologetically Euro-Centric" church. Where was the condemnation by Obama of this minister?
But I digress- Hilary rightfully raised the Rezko fiasco, which we in Illinois is not a distortion of his record.
The Clintons are very agressive, so it's easy to act like poor me, which Obama has done. Hilary was not smart enough to skirt Obama's tactic, but it's Obama playing the game.
And you know what? I really may vote for Edwards. He's smart, he's dedicated, he has only shown integrity. I don't agree with everything he says, but that shouldn't be the determining factor. If he won the primary, can he win against Huckabee, Romney or McCain? I think he can.
No Michele's accusation that Hilary has mislead the people is really a smokescreen in my opinion. As an Illinois resident who is only represented by one Senator as her state falls apart, I am completely unimpressed by Obama, no matter how he spins it.
I have to admit that I am a bit conflicted about this whitehouse race, for one thing who would want this presidency? The economic and foreign policy woes to be inherited by the next president will almost certainly ensure a single term and inevitable tax hikes will ensure a less than flattering place in the history books. On the Clinton/Obama stuff, I am leaning a little towards Barak, however I fear the the situation in Washington will require someone who can play the kind of hardball politics that are now the standard, surely an idealist will be eaten alive? Depressing really ... no?
Post a Comment