The Republican attack machine tried to claim that Obama is an elitist. Nothing could be further from the truth. As David Maraniss has pointed out, Obama grew up middle class, sometimes lower middle class. But never did he have what Warren Buffett calls “the divine right of genes” which enables the very wealthy to pass on to their children a preordained place in the world. No, Senator Obama obtained his success through his own efforts. No silver spoon, or CIA daddy to help him along. His achievement is difficult for older people to comprehend. So it is not surprising, but still absolutely insane, that Senators Clinton and McCain try to tag baggage from the 1960’s on his person. I mean, he was just a baby when JFK’s head was shot off. He had not turned seven when MLK and RFK were taken from this violent world. I wish he would have said when media was calling for Rev. Wright’s head, that “His opinion is not my opinion” and be done with it. But such is not the case in the hideously brutal world of politics.
Obama’s wife, Michelle, his “rock” as he sometimes refers to her, I have always liked, from the first time I saw her campaigning in Iowa. Down to earth and smart and funny, I thought hey, if this woman would represent the United States as First Lady, I would certainly be proud.
I really do wish I could support Senator Obama, but his foreign policy views make that impossible. Examining his positions on Israel, Afghanistan, and the so-called war on terrorism, is really just liberal interventionism. A term that has been used to describe that foreign policy expert, Senator Joe Biden, who famously said: “the Arab nations have known there is no daylight between us and Israel.”
I simply can not buy into this garbage. Just as I would never vote for Senator McCain. I still wonder why Obama and Biden keep praising the ancient warrior, even as they attempt to defeat him in the election. A recent poll now claims that 23% of Clinton supporters now back John McCain, for whatever it is worth.
People who will not vote for these turkeys have every right to observe the action. The pageant Presidential election only comes around, once every four years, like the world cup.
I am the beer doctor and I approved of this message. Peace.

Sorry Beerdoc, this post may have been ‘illuminating’ 20 years ago. By now, most of us have figured this out.

What’s ‘illuminating’ is that a ‘gleeful non-voter’ would even go through the trouble of keeping up with a system for which they have such cynicism and disdain.

The average ‘apolitical’ person doesn’t even bother to pay attention, let alone post to political blogs. I smell the standard rat troll.

Meantime, I’m delighted that Senator Kennedy made it to the Convention. He also made it a point to show up for an important vote not long ago, despite his health. I wish him the best, and since I’ve not quite devolved into total cynicism, I appreciate his and his family’s long standing contribution to Americans.

I sure wish he were up to speaking long enough to replace the Clintons at the Convention. But, I’ll appreciate whatever he does offer, even if it’s just being there.

Beerdoc

I have been hoelessly misguided from time to time, and I can’t say as I liked it.

But I digress. It would have been nice to see a healthy Ted at the convention. The vibrant oratory of the Kennedy’s sustained the party for nearly 3 decades.(and pissed off the repugs, too) Whether it was Jack, Bobby, or Ted, they always gave the most stirring speeches at the conventions, and were capable of moving a sometimes passive democratic electorate to action. They helped the liberals and the centerists to common ground.
But alas, no more.
The dimmo party needs what Jack called a new generation of leadership. We thought it would be the Clintons, but they just ended up being all style and no substance. Then we(perhaps unfairly) tried to project that role onto Obama as early as 4 years ago.
Maybe that’s why we are becoming dissolutioned with him. We wanted him to be a Kennedy.
In the Oliver stone film “Nixon” there is a scene where he is standing in front of the portrait of JFK and uttered these lamentable lines,“when they look at you, they see who they want to be. When they look at me, They see who they are.”
I think that is the gap that Obama needs to cross. he needs to get a guilt ridden, tired old country, to break out of its funk, to look forward again with optimism, instead of dread.
He needs to end every appearance with these words, “Hey America, Wake Up! Do you want this tired old, cold war demagoge to take you back to the 1950’s? Or do you want me to lead you into the 21st century?”
If he still loses after that, well, at least we’ll know what direction we’re going in.

A Poetical Reflection by a Dervish on the American Political Circus!

Whoever lives for banners, drums and glory
Is dead; this dervish understands this story,
And calls it windy noise-winds vainly flap
The banners, hollowly the brave drums tap.
Take heed! Don’t gallop on the horse of vanity!
Don’t pride yourself on your false nobility

They skin the leopard for his splendid pelt;
What’s good a leader when the ones led have slept!

Please note the that the “hoelessly” in the quoted post, is actually hopelessly. My eyes are bad, but still that typo is funny.

I found this comment on the Washington Post web site, by Bethel1421. See if you find this illuminating:
“As a gleeful non-voter, I find this entire situation deliciously gratifying. Seeing the ardor of Clinton-versus-Obama rhetoric on both sides simply underlines the fact that our conceptions of representative democracy is hoelessly misguided. This campaign has devolved into this state from an original idea of allowing simple representatives from various constituencies appear as candidates, but has instead forced together the seedy reality of the American electoral system. Clinton supporters are obviously upset that the traditional “money and prestige” basis of most elections has been overtaken by a process of popularity and like-ability. Obama supporters claim to be living out a Utopian electoral ideal of populist support, all the while ignoring the manipulated nature of Obama’s image. In either case, what is very clear is that neither of these candidates represent anything or anyone, but have merely learned how to manipulate a mass-public who is jaw-agape stupid, willing to throw support behind an extremely elitist group of people consumed by ambition - and all in the name of a scared right and trust given to all Americans to elect their leadership.
excerpt from the Washington Post.com, August 25, 11:11 am by Bethel421

Goodbye Beijing, Hello Denver:
Nice segue?  Not!
But I do wish the Senator Kennedy the very best.