At least two or three people who spoke with Obama a year ago have reported the same thing. That when they challenged him on experience, he replied: "Just watch my campaign."

Point, set, match. What we are watching is the final blooming the Internet campaign that in 2004 seemed to propelling Howard Dean to the White House. Dean came up short - the "scream" didn't help.

Whatever the final result, Obama has transformed American politics. Hopefully we can never turn back. The most direct example is the fund raising. One of the valid complaints against Hillary was her reliance on the big ticket contributors of “old politics.” The fact that he was able to actual out raise Hillary and right now has a financial advantage is a historical development. The major advantage of the insiders, their ability to out spend and even bankrupt outside voices has been shattered.

The unprecedented nature of this coupe is demonstrated by the insane comment by “aidtab” that Obama is secretly being supported by Arab oil. Since oil independence is one of Obama’s principal “specifics,” “aiditab’s” comment is either clever satire or blatant stupidity.

A couple decades a go Alan Toffler spoke of the dawn of an information era in “Third Wave.” One of his more visionary projections was a new, more direct democracy.

Brothers and sisters, welcome to the future. Whatever the results of this election, can there ever be an election in the future where any candidate will be dismissed because he, or she, doesn’t have the support of Wall Street or other insiders? Will there ever be an “inevitable candidate.” Will the first primary, the ability to raise big bucks, ever again be an “insider” stroll on the beach?

There is another aspect to the democratization of the Internet. The rebirth of field organizations. It is not enough to bury the opponent in TV ads. The perfect of example of a failed old style TV campaign is Mitt Romney. First, the democratization of Internet fund raising will make that more difficult. Second, it appears that superior local field operations are another key to Obama’s success. But those precinct operation were also the result of superior use of the Internet.

Of course, that doesn’t mean every candidate will be equal. I only hope that the disappointed followers of HRC aren’t permanently blinded from what is there in plain sight. Dean showed the way in 2004, but it took a particularly gifted individual to take the next step. I only pray, that next step ends in the White House.

And maybe that’s point. We face extraordinarily daunting problems that threaten to overwhelm us. The sub-prime crisis is a symptom of the collapse of our entire-economic-financial structure that involves the collapse of manufacturing, the trade deficit, the collapse of the dollar, the tax cut subsidies to the wealthy who have not reinvested their good fortune in America but squirreled away their wealth in Cayman Island hedge funds.

To resolve those problems, we need a leader of extraordinary ability of both intellect and communication. America, God loves us. We’ve found one.

Maybe.

http://johnklotz.blogspot.com

“Without a vision, a people perish." R. W. Emerson

Maybe I just don't get it, but HRC's latest salvo is the dumbest - and most discouraging yet. She just doesn’t understand what real leadership is about.

All of the great US Presidents were first inspiring leaders. It was Teddy R who referred to the White House as a "Bully pulpit." Long before the New Deal kicked in, it was FDR's rhetoric hat restored hope to millions of Americans impoverished by the Great Depression. Lincoln, at Gettysburg, redefined America for generations to come.

JFK inspired a generation with rhetoric that will ring through the ages including his masterful address at American University which noted the common humanity of all of us who "cherished our children's future.

Any great work must begin with a visions and we desperately need leadership that can lead us toward a vision.

In 1962 with JFK and in 1968 with MLK and RFK, gun shots stilled the voices of the greatest visionaries of my time. Carter had the right ideas and the right policies particularly as to oil and the environment, but his inability to inspire, led to his downfall.

In 1993, a majority of Americans supported some form of universal health care, but the inability of HRC and Bill to inspire, prevented the Clinton administration from capitalizing on that support and in 1994, the Democratic majorities vanished in Congress because there was no vision and the phony "vision" of the Contract with America carried the day.

Emerson said it and HRC obviously doesn't get it. We have lacked vision and we have perished. But now we have another chance. I only hope we take it with Obama.

johnklotz.blogspot.com