I normally don't do this: I don't outwardly favor one candidate over another. But those of you who have talked with me of late, know that even though I am still on the fence regarding some issues, I am leaning towards Barack Obama for my presidential vote. Despite this slight leftist turn, I was disappointed in his performance at the debates. The following is a message I sent to his campaign staff. I'm sure my suggestion is but a single drop in the ocean of correspondence his campaign staff has with Americans, but it is my hope it will have a lasting ripple effect.
~~~~
The following is a op-ed piece in the NYTimes and I believe it is worth the read for the campaign.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/opinion/21dowd-sorkin.html?_r=3&em&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
I agree mostly with this article. It was an entertaining read, despite a description of Sarah Palin that was a little far fetched (don't get me wrong, I still think she's nothing but a cheerleader who thinks she's running for class president). But all in all, I agree. I know from the primaries that Obama is cool and collected which is a necessary trait; but I want to see him get--albeit controlled--pissed off on my behalf. This country has gone through so much in the past 8 years, that we need a president that will get angry on our behalf. I want an advocate. He needs to mirror the frustration of the middle class to complement his plan for change. People en masse vote with their emotion not logic--as a Political Science Master's student, I know this to be a given, especially when they're on a fence; which is the case with many independent voters right now-I know because I and my wife are two of them.
I watched to debate in Mississippi, and quite frankly, I had to fight off the temptation to misinterpret "calm and collected" as "cold and disinterested". This was easy to do when I know the difference, but many who are just now tuning into your campaign may not.
We've gone through 8-years of economic downturn and wartime strife, and I for one am frustrated and upset about it--is it too much to ask for a president who is an advocate and is demonstrated as such?
Damnit, Obama, get fired up during those debates, get pissed. America deserves it.
~~~~
I welcome opinions and thoughts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I personally think, no matter who is elected, we're still screwed. Maybe I'm the worm in the apple but I believe the US has already peaked. The outside world has started to hate us ever since the 60s and its only been downhill from there.
Obama promises a shitload of different things. And, while it may be illogical, am a little unnerved by someone who has such 'celebrity' status among the US and EU. Obama is making a lot I mean ALOT of promises, and he better deliver on them or there's going to be a fuckload of hurt, betrayed, people.
One thing I've learned from working on intelectual properties is that you can't make something everyone will be happy with; you can only strive to get as big a bell curve as possible of possitive response that will out shout the negative. The problem I see with Obama and McCain, is that they all promise all this shit and most of the time, I never see it happen. Most Americans forget about what the incumbants' platform was by the time a year of the electee's term as passed. It just seems like all you have to do is look like you're doing what you said you'd do for the first half of the term and then when the people get complacent you go off and start doing what you really want, or what the corporations with the biggest dollar desire.
I'm voting for McCain. Maybe I'm wrong, and Obama is better. But in my gut I think Obama is a really bad idea. I'm not thrilled with McCain either, but to me, I feel he is the lesser evil.
You are certainly entitled to your vote, and you are right that only time will tell who will be the best candidate.
Regarding campaign promises--I had this conversation with Mom: yes, presidents offer a lot on the election table, and unfortunately, people don't realize that congressional compromise is needed to pass those initiatives into law. An initiative rarely looks the same way when it comes out of this meat grinder called Congress. This is why, I urge mom, and anyone else I talk with, to think of these things, not as promises, but as intentions; this is what the presidential candidate would ideally try to pull off if they were king. Obviously, we are not a monarchy and therefore, these promises have a very large caveat called Congress. I think that's what's most important to bare in mind when hearing each candidate debate and grandstand.
Therefore, with issues aside, what is left is how that candidate leaves their audience feeling. I would love, in addition to the policy intentions, I had a candidate with the expression of passion that reflected the middle class outrage that justified said policy intentions.
Post a Comment