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• Saturday, November 29, 2008 12:45 PM

  @DalTex

  I read your post and just shake my head, as I do when reading about others who go on and on about Obama's supposed total lack of Progressive creds.

  Have any of you ever checked out Obama's pre-politics record? The work he did for non-profits, for housing advocacy groups? For voting rights? Have you?

  Do yourselves and me a favor and Google. You'll see the record of a guy who worked as an advocate for normal, working people, not financial elites. For real people. If that's not progressive, I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about. Look at Raul Grijalva, tapped to run EPA. Not progressive enough for you?

  He's trying not to duplicate the errors of the Clintons -- by getting in people who know and have been embraced by the system. I think he's choosing, in a climate of utter financial catastrophe, the most wary and politically canny approach possible to effect real change.

  The question is whether Obama himself will be able to steer the agenda, and judging from his campaign, it looks pretty fucking possible to me.

  Remember how people were howling for Obama to go for McCain's jugular when things looked bleak? Remember that? Nearly everyone thought that he was a weak, naive puppy with no stomach for a fight, with no guiding principle or vision. And what happened?

  He stuck to his guns. He took a longer, more strategic view, he paced his campaign with foresight and calm and won in a landslide. Now I watch as people knee-jerk once again to his every decision and I can only think, "well, yes, I'd prefer more instant "change I can believe in". But after seeing the guy in action, after considering his formative years in public life, I think I'd be a fool to throw in the towel on him.

  Especially before he's even taken office.

  —edmond dantes Read edmond dantes's other letters
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