Our lives begin to end the day we become
silent about things that matter.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Won't Back Down
Monday, May 04, 2009
I Am A Cultural Tourist
I just returned from the 5-day American Association of Museums conference in Philadelphia. Good times. My favorite thing about this conference is that the museums of the host city open their doors to attendees, and there are events every night that allow us to explore... so I can now highly recommend the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Independence Hall to anyone who might be heading to the City of Brotherly Love.
This being a conference, of course, I attended a wide variety of educational sessions during the day. Most were about the sorry state of the economy, blah. But one of the best sessions I've ever attended was on the last day - about being a year-round advocate for your museum among elected officials. The panelists shared their personal experiences of visiting the Hill to advocate for their museums with local delegations, and there was a staffer from a Rep's district office sharing the inside story, as well. There was a lot of good practical information about how to weave advocacy into all of an organization's year-round plans, and I think most in the audience thought it was very helpful.
Since I have a very particular point of view on - and a real interest in - this topic, I actually stood up and asked a question for the very first time at a conference. I asked the panelists if they had any advice for those of us who live and work in the great, under-represented District of Columbia. After a few sympathetic sighs and nods, the panelists actually gave some really good advice that I'm going to start using, both to advocate for museums and other causes I support:
1. Don't ignore Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and her office. She can be a strong internal ally for your cause, since she's paying attention to how other members of Congress are voting on issues and she can lobby from the inside. Get her and her staff involved.
2. Even though DC residents don't have voting representation, we need to think creatively about ways in which we ARE constituents of lawmakers in other areas. For example, if I'm a member of a museum in a different state, I can advocate on behalf of that museum (and the field in general) to the lawmaker representing that district. As an alum of universities in 2 different states, and a contributor to both their giving programs, I can write to those lawmakers on issues of higher education. My family lives in Indiana, so I can rope them in too.
3. Just like in "regular" fundraising, you can never say thank you enough. Thank elected officials who voted the way you liked on key issues - again looking for those constituency ties mentioned above.
My own trick for the last few years has also been to write to the leadership of both parties in both Houses. Sometimes I've even gotten a response... even a form letter means someone read and recorded my opinion in a database somewhere.
Thinking about all of this stuff after the session, I thought the most useful "hook" I might have to use in advocating for my field - arts & culture - is that I am an actual cultural tourist.
For those of you outside the field, trust me - that's a major buzzword. One of the biggest arguments cultural institutions make for both public and private funding as that we are economic generators. People who come to museums or go to theaters, etc., spend money on their tickets and buy in the shops, but they also spend money on parking, at restaurants, at hotels, etc. And the major marketing trend of the last decade has been to promote the arts through cultural tourism - literally, reaching out to people in different markets who like to plan their travel to destinations with strong cultural offerings. So institutions in different cities often band together to promote the city as a whole, attracting visitors to come visit and sample the wide variety of cultural destinations and spending their money in many, many ways. We like cultural tourism, and so do elected officials or anyone who cares about bringing new money into their local markets.
Well, my Mom and I take an annual fall trip, have been for about 8 years. We've been to Boston, San Francisco, Santa Fe, New York, DC, Charleston, and soon Louisville, Chicago, and probably Philadelphia again. And we are textbook cultural tourists. We specifically plan to visit a different city each year, and our main goal is to visit the museums, take the historical tours, see the parks and landmarks, go to the theater, and sample the restaurants. Spending money all the way.
So -- my new strategy for advocacy is to write to those lawmakers that represent the cities I've visited as a cultural tourist, offering real feedback on how a vibrant cultural scene makes an impact in their cities. I like it, I like it a lot.
This being a conference, of course, I attended a wide variety of educational sessions during the day. Most were about the sorry state of the economy, blah. But one of the best sessions I've ever attended was on the last day - about being a year-round advocate for your museum among elected officials. The panelists shared their personal experiences of visiting the Hill to advocate for their museums with local delegations, and there was a staffer from a Rep's district office sharing the inside story, as well. There was a lot of good practical information about how to weave advocacy into all of an organization's year-round plans, and I think most in the audience thought it was very helpful.
Since I have a very particular point of view on - and a real interest in - this topic, I actually stood up and asked a question for the very first time at a conference. I asked the panelists if they had any advice for those of us who live and work in the great, under-represented District of Columbia. After a few sympathetic sighs and nods, the panelists actually gave some really good advice that I'm going to start using, both to advocate for museums and other causes I support:
1. Don't ignore Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and her office. She can be a strong internal ally for your cause, since she's paying attention to how other members of Congress are voting on issues and she can lobby from the inside. Get her and her staff involved.
2. Even though DC residents don't have voting representation, we need to think creatively about ways in which we ARE constituents of lawmakers in other areas. For example, if I'm a member of a museum in a different state, I can advocate on behalf of that museum (and the field in general) to the lawmaker representing that district. As an alum of universities in 2 different states, and a contributor to both their giving programs, I can write to those lawmakers on issues of higher education. My family lives in Indiana, so I can rope them in too.
3. Just like in "regular" fundraising, you can never say thank you enough. Thank elected officials who voted the way you liked on key issues - again looking for those constituency ties mentioned above.
My own trick for the last few years has also been to write to the leadership of both parties in both Houses. Sometimes I've even gotten a response... even a form letter means someone read and recorded my opinion in a database somewhere.
Thinking about all of this stuff after the session, I thought the most useful "hook" I might have to use in advocating for my field - arts & culture - is that I am an actual cultural tourist.
For those of you outside the field, trust me - that's a major buzzword. One of the biggest arguments cultural institutions make for both public and private funding as that we are economic generators. People who come to museums or go to theaters, etc., spend money on their tickets and buy in the shops, but they also spend money on parking, at restaurants, at hotels, etc. And the major marketing trend of the last decade has been to promote the arts through cultural tourism - literally, reaching out to people in different markets who like to plan their travel to destinations with strong cultural offerings. So institutions in different cities often band together to promote the city as a whole, attracting visitors to come visit and sample the wide variety of cultural destinations and spending their money in many, many ways. We like cultural tourism, and so do elected officials or anyone who cares about bringing new money into their local markets.
Well, my Mom and I take an annual fall trip, have been for about 8 years. We've been to Boston, San Francisco, Santa Fe, New York, DC, Charleston, and soon Louisville, Chicago, and probably Philadelphia again. And we are textbook cultural tourists. We specifically plan to visit a different city each year, and our main goal is to visit the museums, take the historical tours, see the parks and landmarks, go to the theater, and sample the restaurants. Spending money all the way.
So -- my new strategy for advocacy is to write to those lawmakers that represent the cities I've visited as a cultural tourist, offering real feedback on how a vibrant cultural scene makes an impact in their cities. I like it, I like it a lot.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Spending the Weekend with Laura and George
I have spent the last 48 hours fascinated by the lives of Laura and George Bush. Well, not really their lives, but fictional versions of their lives -- as imagined by Curtis Sittenfeld in her latest bestseller American Wife.If I wasn't already a huge fan of Sittenfeld through her earlier books, Prep and The Man of My Dreams, I probably would not have chosen to read this one. I mean, really, the life of Laura Bush and the ups and downs of her marriage to W? That doesn't sound like something I'd enjoy, because what is there that we don't already know from years and years of bio pieces and from our own opinions of the pair? Well, this book is proof of what a really good fiction writer can do -- she can take a familiar story and make it seem new, even turn it into a page-turner where you're actually wondering what will happen next even if you already know.
This is a work of fiction, loosely based on the story of the Bushes but with a great deal of their personal and inner lives imagined by Sittenfeld. The "American Wife" is Alice Lindgren, a quiet, reserved Democratic-leaning librarian from small-town Wisconsin who marries Charlie Blackwell, the charismatic but somewhat layabout scion of an elite Republican dynasty. Some of the familiar highlights of the Bushes' story are in here -- the tragic car accident, the alcoholism, the domineering mother-in-law, the baseball team, the Karl Rove-like advisor, the Presidency -- but the author takes some license in developing Alice's early years to flesh out a character who seems fuller than what any of us know about the real Mrs. Bush.
From this framework of history and biography, Sittenfeld builds a story of two very human characters and their very realistic marriage, all told from Alice's perspective. American Wife draws in the reader and raises questions about what one person's rights are in making decisions for a couple, and what one's responsibilities are for living out your beliefs. But I think Sittenfeld's biggest triumph is in making this story seem so authentic. While the characters and story are so familiar, it's easy to get so wrapped up in Alice and Charlie that you forget what the outcome is -- the story of their lives is so engrossing you forget that Charlie will someday become President.
I can't recommend this book enough -- if anyone else out there reads it I would love to discuss!
Next up? Since I feel like there's really only about 2 weeks left (squeee!) to read anything in the "Bush oeuvre" and have it still be relevant, I'm finally cracking open Secrets of the Tomb: Skull and Bones, the Ivy League, and Hidden Paths to Power. I think I hear Pacey calling me...
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Yippee!!!!
Hooray!
Yabba dabba doo!
Woohoo!
Woot!
Bam!
Hot diggety dog!
Yowza!
Now, the next stage of the fun.... Cabinet-stakes! Stay tuned...
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Holding My Breath
I'm getting very concerned. Concerned about overconfidence.
I've heard it so many times lately.... from very smart people, people I know and people I listen to on podcasts and people I read in the papers. People who are accepting all of this as a foregone conclusion.
I am not going to jinx it. I'm not 100% confident that Obama has this whole thing wrapped up.
The closer we get to election day, and the more stories we hear about registration irregularities, voting machine problems, undecided voters, wingtip warriors, margins of error, the Bradley effect, and intimidation tactics, the less confident I feel.
I was so passionate and optimistic and active in 2004, and Election Night just broke my heart. I've become a much more cynical person since then, both about the American electorate and about the problems in our voting infrastructure.
I *hope* Obama wins easily on Tuesday. I *hope* Democrats do really well on all the down-ticket races and boost our numbers in both Houses and state offices. I *hope* the results are definitive enough that we'll actually have some resolution by Wednesday or Thursday. I *hope* the public accepts the results and that the President-Elect, whichever one wins, starts right away on leading a national healing process. I *hope* moving beyond the election helps reduce the national anxiety a bit and the economy sees a bounce.
I hope all of these things. But I do not *know* that any of them will happen, and I refuse to set myself up for heartbreak yet again by assuming anything before it actually happens. And I *hope* the rest of the voting public does the same, cuz we still need every single vote to be cast.
Voting is one of the most precious things we can do as Americans. It's a right, it's a privilege, and it's a responsibility. People have fought and died to ensure that we can exercise that right, and the future of our democracy depends on it. Though we have our own share of problems with the process, problems that we need to address to restore voter confidence and boost participation for a new generation, I still believe there's nothing more important than for all of us to fulfill our civic duty by showing up at the polls.
I'll be watching until the last vote is counted. When all is said and done, I really, really hope to be celebrating the start of a new chapter in our shared American story.
I've heard it so many times lately.... from very smart people, people I know and people I listen to on podcasts and people I read in the papers. People who are accepting all of this as a foregone conclusion.
I am not going to jinx it. I'm not 100% confident that Obama has this whole thing wrapped up.
The closer we get to election day, and the more stories we hear about registration irregularities, voting machine problems, undecided voters, wingtip warriors, margins of error, the Bradley effect, and intimidation tactics, the less confident I feel.
I was so passionate and optimistic and active in 2004, and Election Night just broke my heart. I've become a much more cynical person since then, both about the American electorate and about the problems in our voting infrastructure.
I *hope* Obama wins easily on Tuesday. I *hope* Democrats do really well on all the down-ticket races and boost our numbers in both Houses and state offices. I *hope* the results are definitive enough that we'll actually have some resolution by Wednesday or Thursday. I *hope* the public accepts the results and that the President-Elect, whichever one wins, starts right away on leading a national healing process. I *hope* moving beyond the election helps reduce the national anxiety a bit and the economy sees a bounce.
I hope all of these things. But I do not *know* that any of them will happen, and I refuse to set myself up for heartbreak yet again by assuming anything before it actually happens. And I *hope* the rest of the voting public does the same, cuz we still need every single vote to be cast.
Voting is one of the most precious things we can do as Americans. It's a right, it's a privilege, and it's a responsibility. People have fought and died to ensure that we can exercise that right, and the future of our democracy depends on it. Though we have our own share of problems with the process, problems that we need to address to restore voter confidence and boost participation for a new generation, I still believe there's nothing more important than for all of us to fulfill our civic duty by showing up at the polls.
I'll be watching until the last vote is counted. When all is said and done, I really, really hope to be celebrating the start of a new chapter in our shared American story.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Seriously???
And the GOP vice presidential candidate is..... who?!?!?
This announcement was pretty shocking, as much for who it is as for the fact that politics can still shock us.
Not only is the "hey, look ladies, vote for me cuz I picked a girl!" tactic incredibly insulting, but this pick is even more terrifying because Sarah Palin's such a far right conservative that she's practically Mike Huckabee in a dress.
That worries me a lot -- that so much of the attention will be focused on her gender, and what that means as a strategy, or her age (only 11 years older than me!), that we'll lose sight of her ideology. And that's not an ideology we want to ignore, because it's about as conservative as you can get. Not only is she anti-choice, she believes in teaching creationism! she wants to drill in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge! She hates polar bears!
Which is worse, the overt pander to women or the sly pander to the extreme wing of the party that McCain needs to win over?
And the problem with pandering is that people do it because it sometimes works.
Obama and Biden better keep hammering home all of the great stuff that came out of this convention, all of the reasons why we need a Democrat in office and can't afford - as a nation, as a society - another 4 years of the Neocon Bush approach. The 527s are already starting to get the word out about Palin's super-conservative stance on the issues, and that can't get lost in the talk about what a risky, "maverick" choice she is. And, Obama better take every opportunity possible to put Hillary out front and center, reminding everyone that it's not about voting for a woman but about voting for the issues that we believe in.
This announcement was pretty shocking, as much for who it is as for the fact that politics can still shock us.
Not only is the "hey, look ladies, vote for me cuz I picked a girl!" tactic incredibly insulting, but this pick is even more terrifying because Sarah Palin's such a far right conservative that she's practically Mike Huckabee in a dress.
That worries me a lot -- that so much of the attention will be focused on her gender, and what that means as a strategy, or her age (only 11 years older than me!), that we'll lose sight of her ideology. And that's not an ideology we want to ignore, because it's about as conservative as you can get. Not only is she anti-choice, she believes in teaching creationism! she wants to drill in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge! She hates polar bears!
Which is worse, the overt pander to women or the sly pander to the extreme wing of the party that McCain needs to win over?
And the problem with pandering is that people do it because it sometimes works.
Obama and Biden better keep hammering home all of the great stuff that came out of this convention, all of the reasons why we need a Democrat in office and can't afford - as a nation, as a society - another 4 years of the Neocon Bush approach. The 527s are already starting to get the word out about Palin's super-conservative stance on the issues, and that can't get lost in the talk about what a risky, "maverick" choice she is. And, Obama better take every opportunity possible to put Hillary out front and center, reminding everyone that it's not about voting for a woman but about voting for the issues that we believe in.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Convention Watch: The Big Night
And there we have it, Barack Obama is now officially our nominee.
I'm not sure why, but I had a little harder time paying attention tonight and just didn't get as much energy from the speeches - perhaps I'm suffering from convention fatigue? Perhaps some of the energy dissipated in that huge stadium crowd? Dunno, but I feel a little bit deflated, cuz I expected the events on stage to be more exciting.
Early Speeches - Alas, I missed out on some of the earlier speeches, only paying enough attention to hear Tim Kaine quote the Bible (not my favorite strategy) and to note that Bill Richardson needs a haircut.
Al Gore - Oh, Al, why weren't you yourself back in 2000?!? If you'd been passionate and funny, instead of just smart and wooden, you just might have made more people like you and it only would've taken a few... But I love ya, Big Guy.
"Real People" Speeches - These folks were great! I loved the recovering Republicans explaining why they're now voting Democrat, and the "Barney Smith - Smith Barney" line was just utterly priceless! Plus, in his intro, Biden seemed a little more rested tonight. His speech last night was good, but he seemed to be in a bit of a daze... looks like he's acclimating to his new Mile-High Life.
And, finally...
Barack Obama - The tribute film was good (Sam Waterston, is that you I hear?), but I wished it had a little more warmth and humor about his life rather than being more about Obama's community organizing. I think the really revealing tribute film for Michelle Obama is what started me out liking her a lot more, cuz hearing her family background and stories from her Mom and brother really softened her image. I think Obama still needs a little humanizing, since most of the "movement" has put him on such a high pedestal.
As for the "Temple of Obama" ? I didn't really get a temple image out of it, but I did see what I heard was one of the ideas... making it look like a government building behind him. But why? It was kind of an odd backdrop.
Now, here's what I found surprising. To me, the first half of his speech - the rhetoric about Bush and McCain - came off as pretty darn flat and repetitive of a lot of things people had been saying all week, often in much more passionate voices. Where was the new great orator of a generation? Is he exhausted, or having a hard time projecting to the huge crowd, or just not as fervent on nuts-and-bolts than on lofty rhetoric? Did he need Brian Schweitzer to give him a pep talk? But he did bring in two new sound bytes for attack ads - I liked the "Eight is Enough" thing, and the "You're On Your Own" thing.
He did start to step it up in the 2nd half, talking more about the issues and his plans. The crowd was certainly with him all the way, and I like actually hearing some real specifics from him rather than "kumbaya" kind of language. (One of the historians afterwards said it "sacrificed eloquence for electability," and I think that sums it up.) I have to admire his Kennedy-esque stance on ending our dependence on foreign oil. Let's hope he gets the chance to make it true. His attacks also got a little more passionate towards the end, talking about foreign policy, Afghanistan, and Iraq. And I liked the part about the Democrats' legacy of defending this nation. (When in doubt, name check FDR, I say.) "Patriotism has no party" is a smart line, too. But sadly, for whatever reason, I was finding it very hard to pay close attention to every word... and what was that country song played at the end??? Not quite the same as the U2 song that ushered him on. The mood just didn't seem to fit...
In the end, I was a little disappointed in his speech, but that may just be cuz I (and probably millions of others) expected it to be The Greatest Speech Ever Given. It was a stump speech, and a pretty good one, so let's hope it got the job done.
So... another DNC Convention draws to a close. And sweet Lord, I hope that the next 2 months produce much better results than the last two go-rounds.
I'm not sure why, but I had a little harder time paying attention tonight and just didn't get as much energy from the speeches - perhaps I'm suffering from convention fatigue? Perhaps some of the energy dissipated in that huge stadium crowd? Dunno, but I feel a little bit deflated, cuz I expected the events on stage to be more exciting.
Early Speeches - Alas, I missed out on some of the earlier speeches, only paying enough attention to hear Tim Kaine quote the Bible (not my favorite strategy) and to note that Bill Richardson needs a haircut.
Al Gore - Oh, Al, why weren't you yourself back in 2000?!? If you'd been passionate and funny, instead of just smart and wooden, you just might have made more people like you and it only would've taken a few... But I love ya, Big Guy.
"Real People" Speeches - These folks were great! I loved the recovering Republicans explaining why they're now voting Democrat, and the "Barney Smith - Smith Barney" line was just utterly priceless! Plus, in his intro, Biden seemed a little more rested tonight. His speech last night was good, but he seemed to be in a bit of a daze... looks like he's acclimating to his new Mile-High Life.
And, finally...
Barack Obama - The tribute film was good (Sam Waterston, is that you I hear?), but I wished it had a little more warmth and humor about his life rather than being more about Obama's community organizing. I think the really revealing tribute film for Michelle Obama is what started me out liking her a lot more, cuz hearing her family background and stories from her Mom and brother really softened her image. I think Obama still needs a little humanizing, since most of the "movement" has put him on such a high pedestal.
As for the "Temple of Obama" ? I didn't really get a temple image out of it, but I did see what I heard was one of the ideas... making it look like a government building behind him. But why? It was kind of an odd backdrop.
Now, here's what I found surprising. To me, the first half of his speech - the rhetoric about Bush and McCain - came off as pretty darn flat and repetitive of a lot of things people had been saying all week, often in much more passionate voices. Where was the new great orator of a generation? Is he exhausted, or having a hard time projecting to the huge crowd, or just not as fervent on nuts-and-bolts than on lofty rhetoric? Did he need Brian Schweitzer to give him a pep talk? But he did bring in two new sound bytes for attack ads - I liked the "Eight is Enough" thing, and the "You're On Your Own" thing.
He did start to step it up in the 2nd half, talking more about the issues and his plans. The crowd was certainly with him all the way, and I like actually hearing some real specifics from him rather than "kumbaya" kind of language. (One of the historians afterwards said it "sacrificed eloquence for electability," and I think that sums it up.) I have to admire his Kennedy-esque stance on ending our dependence on foreign oil. Let's hope he gets the chance to make it true. His attacks also got a little more passionate towards the end, talking about foreign policy, Afghanistan, and Iraq. And I liked the part about the Democrats' legacy of defending this nation. (When in doubt, name check FDR, I say.) "Patriotism has no party" is a smart line, too. But sadly, for whatever reason, I was finding it very hard to pay close attention to every word... and what was that country song played at the end??? Not quite the same as the U2 song that ushered him on. The mood just didn't seem to fit...
In the end, I was a little disappointed in his speech, but that may just be cuz I (and probably millions of others) expected it to be The Greatest Speech Ever Given. It was a stump speech, and a pretty good one, so let's hope it got the job done.
So... another DNC Convention draws to a close. And sweet Lord, I hope that the next 2 months produce much better results than the last two go-rounds.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Convention Watch: Night 3
Jim Lehrer & Co. are laughing as we all watch all the Bidens of Delaware hug and say good night... so there we have it, night 3.
Some more reactions...
- Harry Reid - Oh, Harry. Why are you so boring and uncharismatic? Is there room to make Hillary the next Majority Leader???
- John Kerry - Oh, hush. I'm still pissed at him for losing 2004. He's never been a very passionate or approachable speaker... so why was his speech for Obama more engaging than any I remember him giving for himself?
- Bill Clinton - Oh, I still love the guy. He did exactly what the Obama campaign needed him to do, but even more so he reminded us all what it was like to have a President who was SMART and who TALKED TO US about the real issues. I remember thinking his State of the Union addresses were like college courses in current affairs, and his speech tonight reminded me what it felt like to *learn* from our President. He has such a grasp of everything - everything - and I always trusted that he could see the big picture and steer our nation on the right course. Not like the bullies who moved in to the White House afterwards. Darn that 22nd Amendment! Bill had a lot of great lines, and a lot of things that Obama's folks can just lift and put right into their campaign commercials, but my favorite was how the rest of the world has always been "more impressed by the power of our example than the example of our power." What a perfect line.
- Veterans Tribute Film - Well, that was powerful. Spielberg and Hanks use their powers for good, and this film combined with Patrick Murphy's speech amongst his fellow soldiers were great... and the whole theme of the night helped the Democrats position the party as the people who take care of our veterans. I think that's a really strong theme, and they need to keep pushing it to undo the damage of the Swift Boaters (yes, you, T. Boone Pickens!) and balance the strong personal story of Senator McCain.
- Beau Biden -- That right there looked like a future nominee. He was fantastic, and brought everyone from Michelle Obama to delegates on the floor to this viewer to tears. Good luck to him in Iraq, and let's all watch his political future.
- Joe Biden - That was a strong speech, and I thought it was great at striking the chords of Democratic values. We believe in the simple American dream, that we all have an equal shot at achieving whatever we set out to accomplish, that no one's any better or should be more privileged than anyone else. This was true Workin' Class Joe, and I hope it goes a long way towards winning over some of those Rust Belt folks that we need to win the general election. It wasn't the best delivery or the best rhetorical speech of the whole convention, but it may just be the tops for heart. Seeing Biden's mom and hearing her life lessons, and seeing the entire Biden family gather at the end -- it was all very warm and moving. We all love to see good families.
- Another surprise appearance by Barack Obama - He's pretty good at those live, friendly moments... and this time there wasn't a cute 7-year-old upstaging him. He wrapped up the night nicely, and for the first time I finally heard a good reason to move the convention to the huge stadium tomorrow night. So far, it had all sounded like very expensive hubris, but I get his grassroots explanation. I hope they keep up the "big tent" theme tomorrow night.
So, on we go to Thursday, when Obama accepts the nomination on the anniversary of "I Have a Dream." It should be quite a moment. So far, the Clintons have really been the stars of this convention, so I hope he's able to take the spotlight in as gracious and inspiring a way as they have.
Some more reactions...
- Harry Reid - Oh, Harry. Why are you so boring and uncharismatic? Is there room to make Hillary the next Majority Leader???
- John Kerry - Oh, hush. I'm still pissed at him for losing 2004. He's never been a very passionate or approachable speaker... so why was his speech for Obama more engaging than any I remember him giving for himself?
- Bill Clinton - Oh, I still love the guy. He did exactly what the Obama campaign needed him to do, but even more so he reminded us all what it was like to have a President who was SMART and who TALKED TO US about the real issues. I remember thinking his State of the Union addresses were like college courses in current affairs, and his speech tonight reminded me what it felt like to *learn* from our President. He has such a grasp of everything - everything - and I always trusted that he could see the big picture and steer our nation on the right course. Not like the bullies who moved in to the White House afterwards. Darn that 22nd Amendment! Bill had a lot of great lines, and a lot of things that Obama's folks can just lift and put right into their campaign commercials, but my favorite was how the rest of the world has always been "more impressed by the power of our example than the example of our power." What a perfect line.
- Veterans Tribute Film - Well, that was powerful. Spielberg and Hanks use their powers for good, and this film combined with Patrick Murphy's speech amongst his fellow soldiers were great... and the whole theme of the night helped the Democrats position the party as the people who take care of our veterans. I think that's a really strong theme, and they need to keep pushing it to undo the damage of the Swift Boaters (yes, you, T. Boone Pickens!) and balance the strong personal story of Senator McCain.
- Beau Biden -- That right there looked like a future nominee. He was fantastic, and brought everyone from Michelle Obama to delegates on the floor to this viewer to tears. Good luck to him in Iraq, and let's all watch his political future.
- Joe Biden - That was a strong speech, and I thought it was great at striking the chords of Democratic values. We believe in the simple American dream, that we all have an equal shot at achieving whatever we set out to accomplish, that no one's any better or should be more privileged than anyone else. This was true Workin' Class Joe, and I hope it goes a long way towards winning over some of those Rust Belt folks that we need to win the general election. It wasn't the best delivery or the best rhetorical speech of the whole convention, but it may just be the tops for heart. Seeing Biden's mom and hearing her life lessons, and seeing the entire Biden family gather at the end -- it was all very warm and moving. We all love to see good families.
- Another surprise appearance by Barack Obama - He's pretty good at those live, friendly moments... and this time there wasn't a cute 7-year-old upstaging him. He wrapped up the night nicely, and for the first time I finally heard a good reason to move the convention to the huge stadium tomorrow night. So far, it had all sounded like very expensive hubris, but I get his grassroots explanation. I hope they keep up the "big tent" theme tomorrow night.
So, on we go to Thursday, when Obama accepts the nomination on the anniversary of "I Have a Dream." It should be quite a moment. So far, the Clintons have really been the stars of this convention, so I hope he's able to take the spotlight in as gracious and inspiring a way as they have.
Halfway There
My reactions to the DNC Convention so far???
Ted Kennedy - The tribute was very moving, and that speech was amazing considering the circumstances. I hope the Old Lion of the Senate is able to see this through, cuz it made for some really nice symbolism and ties to the history of the party.
Jimmy Carter - Love him! Why didn't he speak? He is telling CNN right now that he didn't think he needed to make a speech and instead made a film about New Orleans. Okay, I'll accept that, but I still wish he spoke... we've only got 2 former Prezzes, we should use them both!
Michelle Obama - Really great. My first real glimpse of her, and I was thrilled at how smart, strong, compassionate, and sincere she was. A really polished and heartfelt speech, and - not to take feminism back a few decades - but she looked fantastic! And while I thought the hook-up with Barack Obama and Michelle and the girls was a little weird (get that microphone away from the little one!), it definitely personalized them all. Right now, I kinda wish Michelle was the one running... I could get very excited about voting for her.
Music Cues - None too subtle... really, "Sweet Caroline" for Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg? How did she not grit her teeth? And "Isn't She Lovely?" for Michelle Obama? Is that supposed to be a signal to "play the pretty wifey role" ???
Bob Casey - Still glad you took Santorum's seat, and you had a few good lines. (Heheh. Sidekick.) Why can't you change your views on choice?
Mark Warner - surprisingly bland and boring.
Deval Patrick - Great! Is there room for him in a national role?
Scheduling - *way* too late. I'm too old to be all fired up at midnight. I'm so dragging in these mornings.
Coverage - Best remedy to keep from poking your own eyes out? Click away from the rabid maniacs on the cable nets and watch the coverage on PBS. Better for your own health, and the nation.
Hillary Clinton - Oh, my gal. I cried... and cried... and cried... starting with the tribute film through about the first 5 minutes of her speech. I guess this was the first time that the pain of the loss hit me, and she was just so awesome out there that it hurt. She's smart, strong, strategic, and gracious, and she looked like my President out there. She made it about the issues, and even though some Monday morning QB's are complaining about it right now, I think that's the best thing she could've done. All those Hillary supporters who need to be convinced to vote for Obama probably aren't gonna be as moved by "I've gotten to know Barack, he's great" as they will be by "If you supported me cuz you believed in these issues, you should support him too." She was reasoning with them, not patronizing, and I really appreciated it. Plus, she was tough -- I loved her Twin Cities crack, and the Harriet Tubman section was great. It took me a long time to wind down from her speech last night cuz it was just so darn good, and so bittersweet.
Bill Clinton - Ah, the last wild card. I'm really looking forward to his speech tonight, cuz I'm sure he's gonna rock it no matter what he says. Bubba is super-smart and I'm betting he won't do anything to take the blame for anything that may come in the fall. Plus, the look of love on his face while watching Hill last night said a thousand words.
Favorite Moment So Far - In the Hillary Clinton tribute film, during the talking heads part, when Bill Clinton spoke and he was identified onscreen only as "Hillary's Husband." Boo-yeah! :-)
Now, your turn. Thoughts?
Ted Kennedy - The tribute was very moving, and that speech was amazing considering the circumstances. I hope the Old Lion of the Senate is able to see this through, cuz it made for some really nice symbolism and ties to the history of the party.
Jimmy Carter - Love him! Why didn't he speak? He is telling CNN right now that he didn't think he needed to make a speech and instead made a film about New Orleans. Okay, I'll accept that, but I still wish he spoke... we've only got 2 former Prezzes, we should use them both!
Michelle Obama - Really great. My first real glimpse of her, and I was thrilled at how smart, strong, compassionate, and sincere she was. A really polished and heartfelt speech, and - not to take feminism back a few decades - but she looked fantastic! And while I thought the hook-up with Barack Obama and Michelle and the girls was a little weird (get that microphone away from the little one!), it definitely personalized them all. Right now, I kinda wish Michelle was the one running... I could get very excited about voting for her.
Music Cues - None too subtle... really, "Sweet Caroline" for Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg? How did she not grit her teeth? And "Isn't She Lovely?" for Michelle Obama? Is that supposed to be a signal to "play the pretty wifey role" ???
Bob Casey - Still glad you took Santorum's seat, and you had a few good lines. (Heheh. Sidekick.) Why can't you change your views on choice?
Mark Warner - surprisingly bland and boring.
Deval Patrick - Great! Is there room for him in a national role?
Scheduling - *way* too late. I'm too old to be all fired up at midnight. I'm so dragging in these mornings.
Coverage - Best remedy to keep from poking your own eyes out? Click away from the rabid maniacs on the cable nets and watch the coverage on PBS. Better for your own health, and the nation.
Hillary Clinton - Oh, my gal. I cried... and cried... and cried... starting with the tribute film through about the first 5 minutes of her speech. I guess this was the first time that the pain of the loss hit me, and she was just so awesome out there that it hurt. She's smart, strong, strategic, and gracious, and she looked like my President out there. She made it about the issues, and even though some Monday morning QB's are complaining about it right now, I think that's the best thing she could've done. All those Hillary supporters who need to be convinced to vote for Obama probably aren't gonna be as moved by "I've gotten to know Barack, he's great" as they will be by "If you supported me cuz you believed in these issues, you should support him too." She was reasoning with them, not patronizing, and I really appreciated it. Plus, she was tough -- I loved her Twin Cities crack, and the Harriet Tubman section was great. It took me a long time to wind down from her speech last night cuz it was just so darn good, and so bittersweet.
Bill Clinton - Ah, the last wild card. I'm really looking forward to his speech tonight, cuz I'm sure he's gonna rock it no matter what he says. Bubba is super-smart and I'm betting he won't do anything to take the blame for anything that may come in the fall. Plus, the look of love on his face while watching Hill last night said a thousand words.
Favorite Moment So Far - In the Hillary Clinton tribute film, during the talking heads part, when Bill Clinton spoke and he was identified onscreen only as "Hillary's Husband." Boo-yeah! :-)
Now, your turn. Thoughts?
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Worth the Wait?
And the winner is........Delaware's Favorite Son, Senator Joe Biden!
So, was it worth the wait? With the answer turning out to be Biden, yes, I think so. I really do believe he'll be a strong addition to the ticket, for all of the reasons we've been discussing in the comments below. I knew in my heart it wouldn't be Hillary, and the dark horse candidate that a few of my contacts started talking about breathlessly in the last few days -- Big Al Gore himself -- seemed very very unlikely. So Joe really does seem the absolute best choice from among Obama's short list.
And I have to say, I'm impressed that Obama (and/or the people around him) recognize that there is a need to bring Biden's type of strengths to the ticket. I'm so glad that he didn't pick Bayh or Kaine.
But.... the question in my post title actually refers to two things. Are today's events going to prove to be worth the absolute media frenzy surrounding the MATMOAT? (aka the MOST ANTICIPATED TEXT MESSAGE OF ALL TIME).
Full disclosure, I'm a little ticked that after days and days of anticipation, and after being subjected to all kinds of Democratic fundraising calls since signing up, I NEVER EVEN GOT the stupid text message. Not at midnight, or at 2:30 am, or at 3 am, like some people I know. Zip, zilch, nada. So in my personal opinion, this PR tactic was a big darn tease.
But why did they wait until around midnight on a Friday night to release the announcement? Doesn't that go against all of our usual beliefs about maximizing the news cycle? Who - other than inside-the-Beltway types like me - really watches the cable talk shows on Saturdays? (I assume most people have more interesting lives and are actually out *doing* things on the weekends rather than obsessing over the talking heads.)
And having the rally on a Saturday afternoon also doesn't seem to be the best timing for attracting a huge audience. Sure, it gives the networks lots of time to put clips and segments together before the Sunday talks and the Sunday papers will have great materials. Maybe that was the point, but it just doesn't seem to make much sense for attracting a live audience.
What do you all think? Did this Campaign 2.0 tactic live up to all the hype?
Photo from http://biden.senate.gov/press/gallery/
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Veepstakes
Oh, the lines are burning up with buzz.... who, oh who, will be number two? And who, oh who, will be the other number two?
Well, dear readers, here's your chance. If you read this post before any announcement is made, go ahead and lay your bets.... Who will Obama pick? Who will McCain pick? Put it right there in the comments section and let's see how we do. If you read this after the announcement, then what do you think? Good picks, bad picks?
Here's my take on it all...
All this talk of veepstakes just reminds me how much has changed since 4 years ago, when I was so engaged in the election process and was working hard, and I was cheering and jumping for joy when Kerry announced his pick. Yeah, John Edwards. I was so psyched and hopeful and sure we were going to win. That was then.
I'm considerably less engaged in this year's process and a lot more jaded. I doubt there will be any jumping for joy tomorrow when I finally get the text announcement (yes, I signed up, and now my cell is ringing every 3 hours with a dang poll/fundraising/volunteer call.) There's only one outcome that will really shock me, and it's the one I'd like best so I doubt it will happen.
My guess? If I had to put $10 down on it, here's how I'd bet:
$5 for Richardson
$3 for Joe Biden
75 cents for Kaine
75 cents for Bayh
50 cents for Hillary
I think Obama needs someone a little older and more established, with significant foreign policy experience. Both Richardson and Biden offer that. I like them both... but the reasons why I like Biden probably are what would make him less attractive as a #2. He's tough, he says whatever's on his mind, and he's a wee bit crazy. (IMHO, of course.) Richardson brings the great resume as well as the potential to engage a new set of voters and a new geographic area. Sure, people have said that it's too risky to put Richardson on the same ticket as Obama (too much barrier-breaking?), but my thought is that anyone who wouldn't vote for a doubly-diverse ticket probably wouldn't be voting for Obama in the first place. So why not?
Sure, Kaine and Bayh are both emerging leaders in the party and could each help swing key states... but I don't think they add much weight to the ticket. Obama doesn't need another young, new face - he needs a little balance.
And while I would be thrilled to have the Dream Ticket become reality, I really, really, really doubt it will happen. Would they really announce her speaking scheduling at the DNC convention as a big fake-out? I don't expect it to happen.... and I don't really think it would be Obama's best choice anyway. But I sure would love to see Hillary become the first woman VP.
So there's that.
On the McCain side? I'm guessing Tom Ridge -- he's probably way too moderate for most of the GOP conservative base, but he could help a lot in a key swing state. Maybe it'll be Romney instead, who creeps me out. Otherwise, I really don't even know of any of the other names in the mix. Who else is a contender to be McCain's #2?
So what do you all think?
Well, dear readers, here's your chance. If you read this post before any announcement is made, go ahead and lay your bets.... Who will Obama pick? Who will McCain pick? Put it right there in the comments section and let's see how we do. If you read this after the announcement, then what do you think? Good picks, bad picks?
Here's my take on it all...
All this talk of veepstakes just reminds me how much has changed since 4 years ago, when I was so engaged in the election process and was working hard, and I was cheering and jumping for joy when Kerry announced his pick. Yeah, John Edwards. I was so psyched and hopeful and sure we were going to win. That was then.
I'm considerably less engaged in this year's process and a lot more jaded. I doubt there will be any jumping for joy tomorrow when I finally get the text announcement (yes, I signed up, and now my cell is ringing every 3 hours with a dang poll/fundraising/volunteer call.) There's only one outcome that will really shock me, and it's the one I'd like best so I doubt it will happen.
My guess? If I had to put $10 down on it, here's how I'd bet:
$5 for Richardson
$3 for Joe Biden
75 cents for Kaine
75 cents for Bayh
50 cents for Hillary
I think Obama needs someone a little older and more established, with significant foreign policy experience. Both Richardson and Biden offer that. I like them both... but the reasons why I like Biden probably are what would make him less attractive as a #2. He's tough, he says whatever's on his mind, and he's a wee bit crazy. (IMHO, of course.) Richardson brings the great resume as well as the potential to engage a new set of voters and a new geographic area. Sure, people have said that it's too risky to put Richardson on the same ticket as Obama (too much barrier-breaking?), but my thought is that anyone who wouldn't vote for a doubly-diverse ticket probably wouldn't be voting for Obama in the first place. So why not?
Sure, Kaine and Bayh are both emerging leaders in the party and could each help swing key states... but I don't think they add much weight to the ticket. Obama doesn't need another young, new face - he needs a little balance.
And while I would be thrilled to have the Dream Ticket become reality, I really, really, really doubt it will happen. Would they really announce her speaking scheduling at the DNC convention as a big fake-out? I don't expect it to happen.... and I don't really think it would be Obama's best choice anyway. But I sure would love to see Hillary become the first woman VP.
So there's that.
On the McCain side? I'm guessing Tom Ridge -- he's probably way too moderate for most of the GOP conservative base, but he could help a lot in a key swing state. Maybe it'll be Romney instead, who creeps me out. Otherwise, I really don't even know of any of the other names in the mix. Who else is a contender to be McCain's #2?
So what do you all think?
Friday, July 04, 2008
Independence Day
Happy Fourth of July, everyone! To celebrate the 232nd birthday of this nation that I love, that enables us to be free yet also requires our constant support and guidance, some words of wisdom from a prominent 19th century leader and thinker, Carl Schurz:
"My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."
The man who in times of popular excitement boldly and unflinchingly resists hot-tempered clamor for an unnecessary war, and thus exposes himself to the opprobrious imputation of a lack of patriotism or of courage, to the end of saving his country from a great calamity, is, as to "loving and faithfully serving his country," at least as good a patriot as the hero of the most daring feat of arms, and a far better one than those who, with an ostentatious pretense of superior patriotism, cry for war before it is needed, especially if then they let others do the fighting.
– Carl Schurz, "About Patriotism," Harper’s Weekly, April 16, 1898
"My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."
The man who in times of popular excitement boldly and unflinchingly resists hot-tempered clamor for an unnecessary war, and thus exposes himself to the opprobrious imputation of a lack of patriotism or of courage, to the end of saving his country from a great calamity, is, as to "loving and faithfully serving his country," at least as good a patriot as the hero of the most daring feat of arms, and a far better one than those who, with an ostentatious pretense of superior patriotism, cry for war before it is needed, especially if then they let others do the fighting.
– Carl Schurz, "About Patriotism," Harper’s Weekly, April 16, 1898
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Hand Gun Debate: Go!
Another 5-4 decision from the Supremes... this time on one of the most polarizing issues in our modern culture. For the first time, the Supreme Court has ruled on the issue of gun rights, and upheld the Second Amendment interpretation that individuals have the right to bear arms.
The case overturns the DC hand gun ban, and likely makes the statement that other municipalities can not use the same strategy to try to curb gun violence in their communities.
So here's where I say I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.
My instinctive reaction as both an American citizen and a resident of the District of Columbia?
Dangit. In the balance of individual versus community rights, the leaning-conservative Court has sided with the individuals. Yet we still all have to live with the collective social contract... and hope that we don't run across anyone with a gun.
I've never understood the reasons WHY America has such a strong view on the right to bear arms. Sure, we've got our history of the Wild West and the minutemen of the Revolution. But why do we need weapons now? I'm not talking about hunting rifles.... that's fine. Communities like DC aren't laying awake at night trying to figure out how to get the hunting rifles off the streets. Why does this country's citizens need assault weapons and hand guns and all those other scary things that I don't even know about? My understanding is that Europe, in general, doesn't have gun violence because, in general, they don't have guns. What's the big difference in our country?
There's definitely an element of game theory here. And I understand that as long as the 2nd Amendment stands, and as long as the police have guns, then bad guys will have guns. As long as the bad guys will have guns, some good guys will feel the need to have guns to defend themselves. And then if all those people have guns, absolutely the police need guns to make sure they can enforce the law. Circular, cyclical, how do we get out of it?
Of course, as a DC resident, I still have a bit of resentment about how our municipal decisions become national decisions. And I wish there were a lot fewer guns out on the streets of the District. I haven't seen one myself - knock on wood - but I do have friends that have been held up at gunpoint in our nation's capital. Scary.
I don't see the guns going away, much as I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it so. But then how do we better enforce current or new gun control laws?
Thoughts, smart people????
The case overturns the DC hand gun ban, and likely makes the statement that other municipalities can not use the same strategy to try to curb gun violence in their communities.
So here's where I say I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.
My instinctive reaction as both an American citizen and a resident of the District of Columbia?
Dangit. In the balance of individual versus community rights, the leaning-conservative Court has sided with the individuals. Yet we still all have to live with the collective social contract... and hope that we don't run across anyone with a gun.
I've never understood the reasons WHY America has such a strong view on the right to bear arms. Sure, we've got our history of the Wild West and the minutemen of the Revolution. But why do we need weapons now? I'm not talking about hunting rifles.... that's fine. Communities like DC aren't laying awake at night trying to figure out how to get the hunting rifles off the streets. Why does this country's citizens need assault weapons and hand guns and all those other scary things that I don't even know about? My understanding is that Europe, in general, doesn't have gun violence because, in general, they don't have guns. What's the big difference in our country?
There's definitely an element of game theory here. And I understand that as long as the 2nd Amendment stands, and as long as the police have guns, then bad guys will have guns. As long as the bad guys will have guns, some good guys will feel the need to have guns to defend themselves. And then if all those people have guns, absolutely the police need guns to make sure they can enforce the law. Circular, cyclical, how do we get out of it?
Of course, as a DC resident, I still have a bit of resentment about how our municipal decisions become national decisions. And I wish there were a lot fewer guns out on the streets of the District. I haven't seen one myself - knock on wood - but I do have friends that have been held up at gunpoint in our nation's capital. Scary.
I don't see the guns going away, much as I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it so. But then how do we better enforce current or new gun control laws?
Thoughts, smart people????
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Tide is Turning
Hmmm.... what's been going on in the grander scheme of things lately?
* The news seems to be all election, all the time.
* Tell-all books hit the bestseller list, and former insider loyalists who I happen to know personally are cracking lame duck jokes.
* The Supremes delivered a third strike, ruling that the way things have been going down Gitmo way are unconstitutional.
You know what? It's starting to feel like we're finally reaching the end of an era. The Bush Administration is coming to a close.
We don't know yet who will win in November - though I have a pretty good sense of the outcome, as long as we don't royally screw things up, again - but what we do know for sure is that come January 20, all of us - an entire nation - can and will collectively show George W. Bush and Dick Cheney the door.
It'll take a while to wipe that smile off my face. :-)
* The news seems to be all election, all the time.
* Tell-all books hit the bestseller list, and former insider loyalists who I happen to know personally are cracking lame duck jokes.
* The Supremes delivered a third strike, ruling that the way things have been going down Gitmo way are unconstitutional.
You know what? It's starting to feel like we're finally reaching the end of an era. The Bush Administration is coming to a close.
We don't know yet who will win in November - though I have a pretty good sense of the outcome, as long as we don't royally screw things up, again - but what we do know for sure is that come January 20, all of us - an entire nation - can and will collectively show George W. Bush and Dick Cheney the door.
It'll take a while to wipe that smile off my face. :-)
Monday, June 02, 2008
The Never Ending Story
Back to TVF16S's regularly scheduled programming.... thank goodness!
'Twas the night before primaries...the last ones! Some folks who've known me to be a lot more involved in politics in the past have been asking lately where I stand on the Big Dance (the Madness that didn't actually end in March). So, a little free-form riffing:
As many of you know, I started out in this story as a big believer in John Edwards. His "Two Americas" and his earnest approach towards poverty, education, health care, and his own regret about his war vote really resonated. I found him inspiring and uplifting, and finally in my life I was eager to *believe* in someone. Alas, some of his views turned out to be really disappointing (you can't speak out of both sides of your mouth, saying that you believe in the Bible that says that being gay is wrong, but wait! your wife and daughter support gay rights), and suddenly I found it impossible to support him any longer. This just added to my disillusionment, which has been growing since the horrible events of November 2004.
Slowly but surely, I found myself really warming to Hillary Clinton, seeing in her a strong reflection of my mother and all of the lessons she has imparted about being a strong, independent woman. I've enjoyed going through a bit of my own feminist reawakening, and I honestly think I'm a stronger person now because of it. Hillary's views on the issues are closest to my own, and the pragmatist in me likes her no nonsense, practical, "get it done" approach. After years of "compromise" which I've just learned means that the Democrats bend on the issues most important to us, I was really looking for someone who would take charge and do some of the arm-twisting needed to enact real policies.
Perhaps feeling a bit burned by Edwards, I've grown really suspicious of lofty talk and big promises - there's very little that's quantifiable in a political campaign, but I think that lofty talk is the most ephemeral of it all. So, that's a big part of why I have leaned more toward Clinton than Obama.
But, alas, this primary season has gone on way too long. (Something about dead fish and relatives starting to smell after a while?) And it has just gotten too ugly, too protracted, with too many desperate attempts to justify strategies on each side. While the campaign season of 2004 got me really excited, engaged and inspired by my idealistic belief that I had an impact... the campaign of 2008 has just really turned me off.
One of the saddest side effects, in my opinion? Colleagues and I were talking tonight about how much Bill Clinton has tarnished his post-Presidency image. Has he forever lost the ability to be the elder statesman, the global philanthropist? I've always been easily charmed by the guy, and even I've been turned off by his gloves-off approach.
All personalities aside, the more I've studied this process the more outraged I've become at the CRAZY way we select our nominee. Primaries, caucuses, superdelegates, popular vote, rules, what else? Sadly, I can't think of any better way to do it - so I think we're left with a cobbled-together approach that just takes the best of all of the worst things we've tried in the past. Blech. And I'm not even going to get into how disgusted I am by the media!!!
Okay, with all of this being said.... I'll end on a positive note. I *firmly* believe in every citizen's obligation to participate in our government by voting. There's so very little that we citizens have to do to uphold that contract we have with the government - really, it's just taxes and voting. And the latter is so much more interesting and fulfilling.
So, putting my personal qualms aside - and they really are just personal, they're not about the issues - I will gladly vote for Candidate Obama on Election Day. And for as ugly as this race has been, I still strongly believe that an overwhelming majority of Americans is both fed up with the direction the Republicans have taken this country and engaged enough to actually make it to the polls come November. With all of the sniping and the finger-pointing behind us, I really do have faith that the Democrats will win - and win big - this year.
I don't have it in me to dedicate a lot of time, energy, heart and soul to the fight this time around, but I still think it's a fight we can win.
'Twas the night before primaries...the last ones! Some folks who've known me to be a lot more involved in politics in the past have been asking lately where I stand on the Big Dance (the Madness that didn't actually end in March). So, a little free-form riffing:
As many of you know, I started out in this story as a big believer in John Edwards. His "Two Americas" and his earnest approach towards poverty, education, health care, and his own regret about his war vote really resonated. I found him inspiring and uplifting, and finally in my life I was eager to *believe* in someone. Alas, some of his views turned out to be really disappointing (you can't speak out of both sides of your mouth, saying that you believe in the Bible that says that being gay is wrong, but wait! your wife and daughter support gay rights), and suddenly I found it impossible to support him any longer. This just added to my disillusionment, which has been growing since the horrible events of November 2004.
Slowly but surely, I found myself really warming to Hillary Clinton, seeing in her a strong reflection of my mother and all of the lessons she has imparted about being a strong, independent woman. I've enjoyed going through a bit of my own feminist reawakening, and I honestly think I'm a stronger person now because of it. Hillary's views on the issues are closest to my own, and the pragmatist in me likes her no nonsense, practical, "get it done" approach. After years of "compromise" which I've just learned means that the Democrats bend on the issues most important to us, I was really looking for someone who would take charge and do some of the arm-twisting needed to enact real policies.
Perhaps feeling a bit burned by Edwards, I've grown really suspicious of lofty talk and big promises - there's very little that's quantifiable in a political campaign, but I think that lofty talk is the most ephemeral of it all. So, that's a big part of why I have leaned more toward Clinton than Obama.
But, alas, this primary season has gone on way too long. (Something about dead fish and relatives starting to smell after a while?) And it has just gotten too ugly, too protracted, with too many desperate attempts to justify strategies on each side. While the campaign season of 2004 got me really excited, engaged and inspired by my idealistic belief that I had an impact... the campaign of 2008 has just really turned me off.
One of the saddest side effects, in my opinion? Colleagues and I were talking tonight about how much Bill Clinton has tarnished his post-Presidency image. Has he forever lost the ability to be the elder statesman, the global philanthropist? I've always been easily charmed by the guy, and even I've been turned off by his gloves-off approach.
All personalities aside, the more I've studied this process the more outraged I've become at the CRAZY way we select our nominee. Primaries, caucuses, superdelegates, popular vote, rules, what else? Sadly, I can't think of any better way to do it - so I think we're left with a cobbled-together approach that just takes the best of all of the worst things we've tried in the past. Blech. And I'm not even going to get into how disgusted I am by the media!!!
Okay, with all of this being said.... I'll end on a positive note. I *firmly* believe in every citizen's obligation to participate in our government by voting. There's so very little that we citizens have to do to uphold that contract we have with the government - really, it's just taxes and voting. And the latter is so much more interesting and fulfilling.
So, putting my personal qualms aside - and they really are just personal, they're not about the issues - I will gladly vote for Candidate Obama on Election Day. And for as ugly as this race has been, I still strongly believe that an overwhelming majority of Americans is both fed up with the direction the Republicans have taken this country and engaged enough to actually make it to the polls come November. With all of the sniping and the finger-pointing behind us, I really do have faith that the Democrats will win - and win big - this year.
I don't have it in me to dedicate a lot of time, energy, heart and soul to the fight this time around, but I still think it's a fight we can win.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Political Odds & Ends
In the midst of the Madness and my living-situation preoccupation, just a couple of things...
* Credit where credit is due... though I wasn't able to watch it live, I just read the entire transcript of Obama's speech on race, and it's pretty brilliant. I particularly like this line: "This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected." Jon Stewart said it pretty well that night, that finally (paraphrasing) "an elected official spoke to Americans about race as if they were adults." Kudos to the Senator and his team for such a real, honest discussion.
* Alas, the primary struggle continues, and I'm still just disgusted that for the foreseeable future, MI and FL won't have their delegates count. I've blogged about this before, and I don't care about the asinine party rules and rulings that brought this about in the first place. Knowing what it feels like to be a disenfranchised, non-represented American voter, it just burns me up. It sounded like the mail-in primary idea was a good option... even though I'd love for both states to go Hillary's way, I recognize that the original faux-primaries were slanted in her favor and a re-do is the most fair way to go. It doesn't look like that's going to happen... I hope at least they're able to assign delegates based on some apportionment by the national results or something. What a mess.
* Finally, I learned something disheartening while I was home. One of the things I was most excited about in 2004 was that, for the first time ever, all 4 of us in my family were supporting the same candidate. Bush and his war had killed any last vestige of my Dad's lifelong Republicanism, and had finally motivated my brother to get engaged and speak articulately about politics. Good stuff, right? Well, turns out it wasn't all as rah-rah as I thought. I just learned that my brother didn't vote for Kerry in '04... in fact, that he still has never even registered to vote. Wha?!? In this family?
Apparently my parents didn't know, either, and it led to a somewhat tense discussion one evening as we all watched Hardball and Bro revealed he still wouldn't be voting this year. Dad gave him the "well, then you can't complain at the outcome" speech, and Bro launched into a surprisingly heated diatribe about how the 2000 Bush v. Gore election just "proves" that votes don't count, and the people don't matter in politics. He said that election taught him that it's all corrupt and has made him think voting's a joke, so he doesn't plan to ever do it.
Well, that actually stumped the 3 of us talkers... how do you argue against that extreme cynicism? Any attempt we made to talk about having and using your voice, and that voting is both a right and an obligation, etc., he just shot down. So, while he has been paying attention and learning how to articulate his own strong progressive views - especially in his own field of education - he's not doing anything about it. How do we combat angry apathy?
* Credit where credit is due... though I wasn't able to watch it live, I just read the entire transcript of Obama's speech on race, and it's pretty brilliant. I particularly like this line: "This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected." Jon Stewart said it pretty well that night, that finally (paraphrasing) "an elected official spoke to Americans about race as if they were adults." Kudos to the Senator and his team for such a real, honest discussion.
* Alas, the primary struggle continues, and I'm still just disgusted that for the foreseeable future, MI and FL won't have their delegates count. I've blogged about this before, and I don't care about the asinine party rules and rulings that brought this about in the first place. Knowing what it feels like to be a disenfranchised, non-represented American voter, it just burns me up. It sounded like the mail-in primary idea was a good option... even though I'd love for both states to go Hillary's way, I recognize that the original faux-primaries were slanted in her favor and a re-do is the most fair way to go. It doesn't look like that's going to happen... I hope at least they're able to assign delegates based on some apportionment by the national results or something. What a mess.
* Finally, I learned something disheartening while I was home. One of the things I was most excited about in 2004 was that, for the first time ever, all 4 of us in my family were supporting the same candidate. Bush and his war had killed any last vestige of my Dad's lifelong Republicanism, and had finally motivated my brother to get engaged and speak articulately about politics. Good stuff, right? Well, turns out it wasn't all as rah-rah as I thought. I just learned that my brother didn't vote for Kerry in '04... in fact, that he still has never even registered to vote. Wha?!? In this family?
Apparently my parents didn't know, either, and it led to a somewhat tense discussion one evening as we all watched Hardball and Bro revealed he still wouldn't be voting this year. Dad gave him the "well, then you can't complain at the outcome" speech, and Bro launched into a surprisingly heated diatribe about how the 2000 Bush v. Gore election just "proves" that votes don't count, and the people don't matter in politics. He said that election taught him that it's all corrupt and has made him think voting's a joke, so he doesn't plan to ever do it.
Well, that actually stumped the 3 of us talkers... how do you argue against that extreme cynicism? Any attempt we made to talk about having and using your voice, and that voting is both a right and an obligation, etc., he just shot down. So, while he has been paying attention and learning how to articulate his own strong progressive views - especially in his own field of education - he's not doing anything about it. How do we combat angry apathy?
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