I was heartened, obviously, by the Presidential election results. Not that I expect Barack Obama to wave a magic wand, sprinkle a few unicorn farts here and there, and make everything wonderful. He wasn't my first choice for the job, either. But after he defeated Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries, I came to admire a great deal Obama's unflappable calm and his tendency not to do stupid things he would regret later. I agree with his critics that he has a great deal to learn on the job; but from what I have seen of our President-Elect so far, I am confident that he is smart enough to learn what he needs to learn and strong enough to do what he needs to do.
I was heartened, too, by John McCain's concession speech. This was the John McCain who had so impressed many moderate Democrats as a Presidential candidate in 2000, and as a potential (so it has been rumored) running mate for John Kerry in 2004. I would have voted for a Kerry/McCain ticket. If this John McCain had been the one who ran for the Presidency in 2008, I doubt I would have voted for him. But at least I would have felt like I'd had a genuine choice. All the same, the class which McCain demonstrated in defeat made me proud to be his fellow American. In the wake of Obama's victory I observed apparent aberrations like Alec Baldwin (of all people) praising McCain, and Jonah Goldberg (of all people) praising Obama.
At the risk of citing someone I consider one of the most gratuitous assbags in American political discourse today, let me quote Goldberg's postscript:
For those who disagree, I'll have a lot more commentary on this tomorrow. Trust me, I understand where your head is at (at least most of you). I am very disappointed and deeply worried about the future of the country. Deeply. But you only have one president at a time.Well stated, Mr. Goldberg. Mutatis mutandis, I felt precisely the same way in 2000 and 2004. Back then, I appreciated very much those conservative friends and acquaintances who understood that my dissatisfaction did not mean that I loved our country the less. It would be churlish not to extend the same courtesy to the other camp this time around. I recognize that this isn't the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, and that it's rather foolish (thanks for the correction on that one, Jason) to hope that the political sniping will all go away now. Hell, we're all doing a little partisan sniping down at the Bus even as I finish this post off. But I remain optimistic that we can move America forward a lot faster if the sniper teams can move even a little bit closer toward each other. And I am optimistic (admittedly, a little more cautiously so) that Barack Obama is capable of leading America in this process.
So off with the bumperstickers... and on with the task with doing our best for the nation we all love.
2 comments:
I was taking a break and I'm glad I checked in on you.
It would be nice if America could be moved forward and the "sniper teams" could move closer toward each other. The optimism you feel today, because your candidate won, is the same optimism others felt when Bush won in 2000 and 2004. It helps one be optimistic if it is your candidate who wins the election and you are riding a wave of success.
You'll find out, just as Bush supporters found out in 2000 and '04 that what the election "winners" are hopeful about is quickly dashed.
It is for ideological reasons different parties and people clash and those ideological reasons didn't cease simply because your candidate won, or, in the past, my candidate won. The country is still ideologically divided, that hasn't really changed and, in my opinion, Obama's message was so superficial people who are less politically attentive heard inspiring words and were inspired to vote for a man they knew little about. That's, again, just my opinion, and not biased, it works on both sides of the aisles. Many people don't vote out of understanding platforms but rather in a popularity contest and it's very obvious that Obama won the popularity contest hands down.
Further, Obama has promised change and yet in his cabinet he is seeking some of the same status quo Washington insiders who have worked there for years.
Will he change us into a more liberal-minded country? Maybe. Will he change politics as usual? Doubtful. Will he be more successful at pushing his policies forward than, say, Bush was at selling the American people on the new Social Security plan he launched shortly after his election?
We all know in order for things to get accomplished in Washington it takes bi-partisan effort. The problem is, in the concession arena, this party wants that party to do all the giving or that party wants this party to do all the giving.
I say, their inability to get much accomplished just MIGHT not be such a bad thing, coming from my, much more Conservative viewpoint.
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." -Mark Twain.
Thank God they tie each others' hands!
:)
Well written and stated, as usual.
I have just one thought to add, and concerns the issue of "sniping."
IMHO, there are many who see any kind of opposition or differing opinion as "sniping," "negative campaigning," "slinging mud," or some other unacceptable form of political discourse [I am not saying that this is Joe's view--just that his comment reminded me of this issue]. But I think that they are not realizing that opposition, plainly stated, is a time-honored and important part of the tradition of "civic discourse" going back to the Greeks, and maybe even earlier.
One can have strong opposition to another's views and policies and not be guilty of any inappropriate, misdirected, or unpatriotic behavior. It is those who feel weakest about their beliefs who seek to close off dissenting views. Those who feel secure in their positions welcome input from the other side, because they are sure that they can answer any objections.
So--our strength does not lie in the fact that we are all saying the same thing. Our strength lies in the fact that we can have strongly differing views and still work together harmoniously together when those who differ from us hold the reins of power at the moment.
I will not be saying anything negative--anytime soon, anyway--about the new president or his policies, even if I might disagree with something, for one primary reason: I do not yet have tenure.
But I hope here to strike a small note for the value of reasonable debate in a free society. We need to encourage it.
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