2 posts tagged “politics”

Politics or Leadership?  That's what it boils down to, this race.  The race for the nomination and the one to come for the presidency.

I've lived my entire voting life with only the choice of politicians to vote for, because I didn't vote for Reagan.  I voted for the politician instead and while I would do it again today (given the same choice) I'm praying that I won't have to.

That is what the Democratic Party machine isn't fully grasping here.  For the first time since Robert Kennedy's campaign they have a candidate that leads and speaks to peoples' hearts and not a career politician that has accrued power and favours.  LBJ was a politician of the highest order and yes, he could work that machine like a mutha and signed off on some serious shit but you know, he also signed off on some serious shit.  Vietnam War, everyone.  I know he didn't get us into it but you know he kept our country in it, against our will and behind our backs.  That's politics, people.  I think he was a smart man that became an incredibly smart politician and we can only surmise what would have happened if he hadn't been the Vice President to a Leader.

I want some leadership.  The politics of the last twenty years has made so many of us a cynical and fearful bunch of voters who only care about keeping ours safe from the have nots and hating the haves, even if all they have is something different than us.  That's some kind of sad, right there.  We keep getting pitted against one another and another Republican is just going to be about more of the same.

The voters know it and the frustration has led to things like term limits because we know that the system needs to change.  The thing is, it's not going to change by changing the rules that politicians play by.  It changes by changing the politicians themselves. 

Hillary is an excellent politician and she deserves more than just credit for learning and playing the rules to her advantage.  She would make an excellent career politician if she were given the room and a chance to work at keeping the Republicans in check.  She's just not a leader, is all.

*I wandered across this today and think it's one of the most interesting things I've read on just how Obama's campaign has changed politics, forever really.  http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/2/14/182615/431#readmore  It's titled "Process vs Policy:  Organising"

The inevitable nomination of Senator Clinton seemed to take the tiniest stumble during the debate.  She showed herself to be a master of sidestepping but that shouldn't come as any surprise, she's had years and years to hone that skill.  Always give yourself the grey area to retreat to, CYA no matter what.  I am less than thrilled that she's been getting endorsements from her fellow legislators, the whole "experience" thing.  I'm sorry, if she's going to cite her years as First Lady as part of the deal then she should also take responsibility for her missteps too.

John and I disagree about my longing for Obama to get the nomination and I acknowledge that a large part of my wish is exactly the fact that he's not as steeped in business as usual.  I recognise that it's a scary proposition for him to learn on the job but that's what most everyone else does, isn't it?  The closest job there is governor of a state but other than that, it's about being smart enough to choose advisors who can front for you and grasping that at the end of the term it's going to be your name that gets written down in the books.  I think that Obama is more than smart enough to grasp that.  Plus, most importantly to me, he's not yet reeking of the backroom deal.

I'm so fucking weary of this administration and it's determinedly arrogant stance on all things Bushie.  I'm even willing to eagerly trade in for yet another political dynasty but oh my, how I wish for a true change in attitude.  We love to hark back to JFK in our political canon and you know, I wish there was a graceful way to make that correlation between Obama and Kennedy.  Without the being shot to death though, pleasepleaseplease.

I doubt it's going to happen though, because the Clinton juggernaut is in full force and Hillary has the added punch of Bill, a huge bonus.

I'm still going to dream though, cuz someone told us that it ain't over till it's over.