Ok, my 2 cents on the nomintation
I take it from Caro’s post below with the “Who’s the Uniter” graphic that she supports Hillary, and Stranger and Invictus weigh in on the loss of Edwards and why he seems irreplaceable. And I don’t want to diss either of those postions.
But hey, we’re all Democrats, so let’s keep with the chaos that we seem to relish. In other words, I’d like to put in a note about why I’m for Obama.
I’ve always liked Edwards’ pitch, but that appeals to those of us that actually believe such a thing as class exists in this county. He’s right. But the public doesn’t believe him, and the Repubs would tear him up on that count as some kinda socialist. He plays right into their “class warfare” narrative that has more traction than I can understand. I think he’s been a good candidate, but never really electable. The primaries show that, and if it's the media's fault or his financials or whatever...well, that's the bottom line.
As for Hillary…I’m sorry to confess it, but Clinton fatigue is at the top of my list. I can’t stand the notion of staying in a 20 year cycle where Rush and his minions merely have to dust off their old copy to continue the slurs and misrepresentations that we’re so familiar with by now. And frankly, I don’t see her as offering anything radically new in legislation, nor do I see her as able to rally any sort of base.
So why pick Obama if, as many have said, he’s not that different from Hillary? Well, I agree with Stranger about his vagueness and his seemingly naďve attempt to reach across the aisle. But you know what? I take that as politics. Yep, about as serious as we all took ol’ GW when he said he was a “compassionate conservative.” I didn’t buy that then, and for the same reason I don’t take Obama too serious on that now. He’s said that at the end of the day there are certain things he won’t compromise on, and I guess I take that on trust.
Well, I know most of you have your heads exploding at this point saying “you’d vote for a liar?” No, I don’t think it’s that. I don’t think Obama is naďve, having done community level organizing and working in the Illinois legislature. That’s not the background of a naďf. But I think Obama does have a chance to change at some fundamental level the narrative we’ve lived through the past 20 years, and that’s something I really, really want.
I’m tired of this shit. And I know Evil Republicans and Stoopid Wingnuts will never go away, ever. But they’re going to have to retool in a major way for Obama that might just expose them for the asshats that they really are. Hillary’s part of the story now, so no new attack would be considered surprising. And I know many, many people have said “hope is not a platform” about Obama, but even at my advanced cynical age right now, I think it’s the best chance we have. Maybe that’s just “wishing for a pony.” But I haven’t seen anyone like Obama come along in all my voting years—hell yes, I voted for Paul Tsongas!—who at some level really made me think he could follow up on the promise. Maybe not. But, even if I became completely disappointed with these hopes, I doubt he’d compromise and dither any more than Hillary would. I’ll take that chance, because do I think he'd be worse than Hillary, even on her worse triangulating day? Not really. Could he much better. Yes, I really think so.