As voting goes on, I offer in support of those who are queasy about Barack Obama. They may be wrong but they have a right to be heard!
And on the Hillary side of the Democrats' delicate dance, an issue that surfaces intermittently but never quite gets the attention it deserves - the .
Mike Huckabee is still the wittiest of the candidates, musing as he cast his vote: "Now, who should it be..."
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I think Obama himself made the point that people don't come to rallies and such to hear minutiae about policy. They go to events to be inspired, to understand the character of the man, and to choose the man who they want to run the country. When the policies if the two candidates are so similar, what is the problem with making a choice based on character?
Perhaps he is 'unprepared', but he has vowed to have advisors who know what they're doing on a practical level, and he's accepted his weakness in controlling the bureaucracy: he wants to set a vision and inspire.
I also think there's a tendency for commentators to cite the vagueness of his speeches as evidence that he has vague ideas. If you actually take the time to read his policies, you see that he is very specific plans. And, more than that, when he gives the emotive speech about a "united America" or whatever, there's an elitist assumption that it's just rhetoric. But if you look at some of his more detailed stuff, you see that he really does know what he means.
For example:
Even as an atheist, that speech on religion makes sense to me; it is perhaps the most reasonable thing I've seen on the interaction between religion and politics from a political leader.
I just find the sweeping claim that he's just a great orrator with no susbtance quite ignorant.
Birmingham University are also carrying on blogging throughout the evening!!
It is the same old "style over substance".
People want 'the right person' for the job, but are always swayed by the pathos of the message and not the content!
This 2008 race is full of pathos and little else. The loser will be the american public, not the candidate with lest votes...
I make the assumption that the 1 in 20 Democratic voters in Georgia is not lacking in reading and writing ( or Perhaps even listening) skills that they actually believe John Edwards is still in. Therefore can someone please explain it to me.
~ Confused Englishman in California
With regard to that essay: I've never met any British people who felt embarassed about mourning Princess Diana. But I agree with you, even ultra-pessimists like Christopher Hitchens and the guy who made the comparison do have a right to be heard.
Anyway, I think Barack Obama is a breath of fresh air in this overly-cynical world. And I hope he wins all of the states tonight. Not just the ones today but the ones yet to vote and the ones which have already voted. In fact, I hope they just give him all the delgates, even the Republican ones and then I hope he's appointed joint president of America and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
On the Republican side - what's John McCain up to? Why does he keep winking at everyone all the time? Everytime I see him on the TV, whether it's in interviews or adressing an audience, he's always winking at people as if to say "don't you worry. I've got it all covered." What's all that about?
And why is Mitt Romney allowed to spend millions of his own dollars on campaigning? Why isnn't there a law preventing people from buying the presidency?
Justin, you're a glutton for punishment- I imagine the Obama fans that have already grumbled in your story comments will soon explode in ball of mild discontentment.
I'll be interested to see exactly what they DO say, though. Both the media and Democrat voters seem to be giving Obama an easy ride right now- the Republicans certainly won't if he wins the nomination. If he wins, I imagine the Louis Farrakhan issue will be a particularly effective stick to beat him with unless he takes action before the Republican candidate does.
It is hard to believe that many political commentators seem to have forgotten that, when the Clintons took the White House in the 90s, they could hardly be called experienced in foreign policy or national policy. Yet they were the choice of that era.
One has to ask why Obama inspires so many young people. Maybe we are young. We are not stupid as to be driven purely by rhetoric or "poetry", as the Clintons implied in many occasions during this campaign. Obama inspires because he gives the power to change back to the people. He inspires because he tells us that cynicism should not be given a place in democracy. He inspires because he asks us to take responsibility for the future of this country.
The political machine of this country doesn't require an expert to run it - it has its own course. But to have this machine run as it should, we need a new attitude - an attitude that the Clintons cannot provide.
There's a hero If you look inside your heart You don't have to be afraid Of what you are There's an answer If you reach into your soul And the sorrow that you know Will melt away
And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you
It's a long road When you face the world alone No one reaches out a hand For you to hold You can find love If you search within yourself And the emptiness you felt Will disappear
And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you
Lord knows Dreams are hard to follow But don't let anyone Tear them away Hold on There will be tomorrow In time You'll find the way
And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you
America will elect the biggest inspirator. Enron, Iraq, Citicorp, housing market bonds, are all affecting the economy. Leaving the lesser fortunate part of the national divide in a financial squeeze. And also eroding medicare and social security. After being starved under Bush, voters will not have confidence in a strong economy with a republican victory. So the next president will be a democrat.
Hillary Clinton is both loved and hated. She can mobilize her sympathizers, but will soon reach a limit. Those who are sceptical to her, are very sceptical. She will not be able to typo them around, on matter what sweetening policy she might present to capture them. Their scepticism is towards her character, not her platform. She is regarded as arrogant, too politically correct and blunt, by a whole lot of undecided voters.
Not so with Barack Obama. He is a fresh breath, he has no history of strong antagonism or dislike. He is like a young inspiring prince. He is regarded as a man who understand what is important for America and each of the nations individuals. He is also acceptable for a large portion of republican voters. Almost as a European king, for the whole nation. For socialists and conservatives.
A young inspirator acceptable to both democrats and republican is what America will settle for. The lesser of many evils.
Krumsky Lumsky, Trondheim, Norway
Justin Webb's article expressing concern about Obama is based on the premise (mostly) that Obama is not experienced to manage the Presidency. Well, not many first presidents have had exposure to that all-important position and perhaps we should measure Obama by his capacity to grow into the position, rather than by what he may or may not bring to it.
Justin , seems everyone is focusing on the winner in the Democratic race wellk has anyone thouht of the posibilty of Barack being Hillary's running mate?
well if Barrack were to win then Hillary would be a nice choice for VP since she has to claims to experience then she wolud use it to help Obama gain his experience. this is just a thought.
To David Jordan, who wrote: "I make the assumption that the 1 in 20 Democratic voters in Georgia is not lacking in reading and writing ( or Perhaps even listening) skills that they actually believe John Edwards is still in. Therefore can someone please explain it to me."
If you're asking why Edwards received votes, you may be forgetting that many ballots are cast absentee weeks before the election. If you vote early and your candidate drops out, your vote is still counted.
#4 - At least some of Edwards' votes will be absentee ballots etc that were sent in before he dropped out of the race.
#5 - Many people would say that a candidate spending his/her own money on the election is much better than taking massive donations from corporate interests. Not many people complained about Ross Perot spending millions in the two 1990s elections.