Letters to the Editor
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a change in process is inspiring
but then watch how he executes it. I'm surprised, Joan that you didn't connect the dots between your description of Obama's purpose and the way he handled the ABC debate and running away from reporters that you pointed out later in your blog.
Why do you think people like me don't believe Obama? I've read Lakoff, I love Sirota's essays, I adore Glenn Greenwald's points, I have (until his sexism showed up) always adored watching Keith Olbermann as a breath of fresh air. So I'm no Progressive dummy. Obama's words are truth to power. I think its refreshing.
And then you watch what he does, and what he says in off-handed remarks and I go, wow, this guy is working hard to say what he means, not mean what he says. And he loses me.
And I don't believe he'll change the process. He's taking on the media, the media readers, the politicians; all at the same time. Meanwhile, we have two wars and other shit going on that is not stopping for us to sort out a "new process". This guy is inexperienced and new to executive leadership, so what makes me think he can solve all of our urgent needs, plan for our longer ones and totally and fundamentally change the political process paradigm all at once? And is that a priority right now, anyway?
I think Obama is a classic case of idealism getting ahead of practicality. Since we are exiting an American chapter of pure ideology from Dubya, we need to focus on making things work again. I don't want to spend another 8 years unraveling a sick, dysfunctional monster that is our media, the politicians and private industry. We don't have the luxury to do that now.
While I'm writing this, I'm looking at this ad on the side of this page that says, "REGISTER NOW TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA" and I kid you not, the graphic designer has put in subtle shining rays of light emanating from his head. puh-lease.
I find Hillary's stark perspective of I'm-a-politician-and-I'm-in-a-political-battle-and-I'm-not-perfect actually more refreshing. I'm expecting gaffes from her and she doesn't disappoint. But with Obama, he's presented as some perfect package, when I know that he's another politician on the national stage, just like Hillary, just like them all.