This letter is associated with the following article:
Letters
Monday, November 24, 2008 12:00 AM

Barack Obama, honeymoon killer?

The Clintonites in his Cabinet, forgiveness for Lieberman, the creeping signs of centrism -- progressives aren't ready to panic, yet.

Read other letters about this article

  • Monday, November 24, 2008 07:33 PM

    Obama's message is unified with his choices and policy

    Hope, change, unity - a government of intelligent, experienced people with the expertise that is needed to be the most effective and efficient at solving our problems and improving the living conditions in our country including: the economy, security, education, health and human services, as well as making the best decisions for our role in the world and future generations.

    The Clinton Administration was the most socio-economically successful administration we've ever had. They created 22.5 million jobs. The poor got richer and the rich got richer. It benefited and increased income for all income levels.

    Go help a lot of poor people survive.

    And then tell me which was more helpful, "pragmatism" or "ideology." Ideology is not bread - it is the idea of bread.

    (And that's a metaphor - for those who will take it too literally.)

    Ideas themselves don't feed hungry people. Pragmatism does. When it's a matter of survival or fixing problems, it's a matter of what works most efficiently and effectively.

    It's very nice to be able to afford to sit back and contemplate ideological issues, with a full belly, and warm shelter you can call your own.

    But in no way does ideology by itself trump pragmatism - when pragmatism is for the greater good. Ideology often just slows it down. (Or makes it impossible to achieve success or resolve.)

    The bottomline is: Barack Obama, at this point, with his comprehensive intelligence and experience, truly knows a lot more about what it takes to govern successfully, and who will be the most helpful to him, than any of his critics.

    Those of you who keep insisting on labels and ideology are missing his point. He's not interested in all your labels - he knows better than to waste too much precious time in endless ideological arguments. He wants to do what works. Because that's what actually brings hope, change, and unity to fruition.

    He's the real deal.

Most Active Letters Threads

516

The crazy, irrational beliefs of Muslims

Tom Friedman explains the real problem: stupid Muslims think the U.S. is about war and aggression.
426

A key British official reminds us of the forgotten anthrax attack

A vast array of establishment and expert sources do not believe this episode was really resolved.
370

The face of rotted Washington

Evan Bayh demands more debt-financed war - fought by others - while boasting that he's a stern "deficit hawk."
210

Is Obama's civil liberties record understandable?

Was it unreasonable to expect him to adhere to his commitments regarding the Constitution?
174

Bigotry wins in Switzerland

By voting to ban the construction of minarets, Switzerland apes the most extreme intolerance in the Muslim world

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon