Obama
I’m writing this on Tuesday morning. I feel in my bones that Obama will win. I don’t think this would be worth a bean if the GOP wanted this election, but I don’t think they do–I think that’s why they allowed the McCain/Palin campaign to represent them–so I don’t think they will rig the vote. So I am 90% sure we are going to have a Black president-elect tomorrow. 40 years after civil rights. Wow.
It is of course an interesting thing that a Black man raised by White people got this far–he was free of the awful effects of internalised racism and multi-generational trauma that is still such a wound in the African American community. He grew up with a sense of entitlement that just isn’t there for many Black people. (As a White person I am basing this on conversations with African American and non-American Black friends, as well as on reading the political and social commentary of many Black and African American writers and thinkers.)
I am really hoping that Obama, at the head of the country, will provide a role model and a living proof that you really can go as far as you want, if you have the talent and the sticking power, that will transform the country and raise a whole new generation of Black kids to set their sights high and know they can do it. Up till now, most of the Black men in TVs are actors playing pimps and criminals. Imagine the effect of seeing Obama on the screen every day, day after day, proving that there IS hope, and that the larger world of power and influence IS available to everyone, just like Martin Luther King imagined it would be.
On the other hand, I’m really hoping that Obama doesn’t get shot (aka lynched) by some white supremacists with a very different agenda. Just as Bhutto got killed by Islamic fundamentalists, disgusted by the continued presence of a woman in the democratic process. I was no particular fan of Bhutto, who was as corrupt as she was powerful, but I wanted her to be voted on, not removed from the agenda.
Shelby Steele has written about how Obama cannot win (in the larger sense of the word) since he represents an icon of redemption–a pedestal from which he can only topple when things move from the world of symbol to the world of real politik. But I hope he is wrong, that Obama manages to find some wiggle room. The same wiggle room Tony Blair found–the left loathed him for a centrist cop out, but most of the country breathed a long sigh of relief throughout most of his tenure, after the crushing regime of Thatcher.
By the time anyone reads this, I expect to be celebrating. And then will begin the long haul toward reform. Building a better country takes long work, and we will need (paradoxically) to drop our great shining hope and get our hands in the dirt in order for that hope to materialise.
Nov 05, 2008
Interesting thoughts on the election. But believe me, the republicans did want to win, they just didn’t have many options, and in the face of Obama’s extremely well-run, historic, and charismatic campaign, they had very little chance to begin with, and plenty of opportunities to fail in various ways, the duality of evangelical pandering/ racist base-riling that was Palin was the final straw for them, one of many. But don’t forget that Obama conquered the right-wing Democratic machine of Clintons as well, an accomplishment that was pivotal and demonstrated the effectiveness of Obama’s grassroots movement and ground operation. Also, “they” did try to steal it, but “they” can only do that in states they control. There is a lot of work that needs to be done on election reform, but they actually did not have the power to pull off any big fraud this time, partly because of the large margins of Democratic victory but mostly because of Democrat-run state governments and their protection of the voting operation, but even more importantly the grassroots election protection operation that was deployed everywhere by the anti-voter fraud operations.
Nov 05, 2008
The thing that gives me hope is the degree of volunteerism that Obama generated. We need citizen auditors all over the federal government to figure out how to unwind the massive corruption. It will take constant pressure from Obama’s grass roots to advocate for this and to carry it through.
That Obama’s celebration was open is also a good sign–what a contrast to McCain and the way the Republicans have done things after Reagan.
I also hope Obama will support small business. The accusations of socialism made him say he would, and he is now in a better position to carry through than any mainstream Republican would have been–the Nixon-going-to-China syndrome.
Leaders who remain popular over time are those who can maintain some humility. My prayer for Obama is that he can do this. If he is seen as a team by those who wish him harm, he will be less of a target because taking him out would not advance their agendas. I sense Obama is aware of this and has no intention of being the kind of leader who is a tree under which nothing can grow. Sharing power carefully and asking overzealous supporters to cool it will serve him well.
If he can do this with grace, it will be like putting conflict-resolution and negotiation skills first on the curriculum in schools that know they have cultural differences to resolve from Day 1.
If the kindly Americans some in the rest of the world have met and yearn to have more of are to thrive, setting the tone of kindly problem-solving must start flowing out from those who think of themselves as leaders and who get lots of face time with the press. There is hunger and thirst in the rest of the world for becoming like toned-up, skilled, kindly nerds. I hope the Obamas can serve as role models for those who have such strivings.
I believe the pictures of Reagan working on fence-building and that sort of thing were part of the reason he was so successful. Clinton understood this, I think. People want to work, and the best part of each soul wants to be healthy.
If Obama speaks to that part of each person, he can even jaw down the pharmaceutical industry to make health care what we call it rather than disease-promotion, which it so largely is now. Not another cent should be plowed into health care until do-no-harm is put into practice on a much larger scale, another place where we will need citizen auditors.
Thanks for this posting for me to riff from.
Nov 05, 2008
The man is half black half white–but have we really made good progress when the color of the skin or gender is still an issue. Hopefully people looked at issues and facts not the skin color. How many of you who voted checked the voting records of the senators –not only on enviromental issues but also issues like partial -birth abortions (if you don’t know what that is or how it is done–educate yourself)—an back to enviroments stuff—will the wars ever stop as long as this country supports other countries by buying the oil an gas they sale—why hasn’t there been a MAJOR push for cars like the AIR car—most people don’t even know it exists…including the majoity of all our newly elected officals…
Nov 05, 2008
Interesting. I resent the previous poster who talked about Republicans trying to “steal” the election. Look at the facts:
ACORN registers 275,000 people in Cuyahoga County, Ohio when census data shows that fewer than that actually live there. Their registered voters have names like Mickey Mouse. The FBI is investigating ACORN in 13 states for violating RICO statutes.
Ohio’s Secretary of State tells the US Supreme Court she is unable to clean up the voter rolls of bogus and duplicate registrations. Another democratic officeholder in Ohio investigates “Joe the Plumber’s” personal tax and other records using state resources because she doesn’t like it that he had the gall to ask Obama a question. She dutifully releases her findings to the press. (Her efforts would make Goebbels proud) So much for personal privacy and individual liberty.
Black Panthers with billy clubs station themselves outside of polling places in Philadelphia.
Oh, and Obama forgoes his previous pledge to abide by McCain-Feingold… and his campaign cannot prove whether donations received are really from US citizens or from foreign (and by federal law, illegal) sources…
And you accuse the Republicans of attempting to “steal” the election?
You insult the 49% of your fellow Americans who voted for Mr. McCain by implying that they wanted anything but a fair and balanced election.
I personally assisted people to get to the polls — even though I knew they were not supporting the same candidate that I was. More imporatnt than the short-term view is the long-term view that American democracy works.
The US really is a country of laws.
Just because one feels a transient political interest in enforcing some laws but ignoring others does not make this right, legally or morally.
I applaud the idfea of audits for corrupt practices, etc. As one who has actually audited though, you will have to find some pretty well-educated folks to take on this task. Using the power of the government against private citizens is an abuse of power we should never tolerate.
I do hope sincerely that the acrimony and ad hominem attacks so notable in this election cycle subside so people can actually constructively discuss the issues and how to solve them, and WE, as a country, move forward. But then again, we have all noticed that when there is no rational argument or constructive point, it is easier to resort to name-calling rather than thought… is this because public education in this country no longer teaches people how to analyze and understand issues? Or is name-calling just more fun? There are many issues that were glossed over in this campaign and the media did not report on… our free press let us down. Now the president-elect will have to deal with these issues (like partial boirth abortion, which 90% of Americans oppose) because he was elected by a majority, but a very nominal one… not exactly a thunderous landslide. It will take all of the talent God gave him.
Slate had a good description of how McCain lost the election and dates. September 15, September 25, and the date of the last debate. I think the fiscal crisis was the turning point.
AS FAR AS the green ideas of this community are concerned, it will be interesting to see what really does happen in years to come. Will home-based solar power actually be made economically feasible? Why don’t I have that in my home now?
Will the US adopt nuclear power the way France has?
We cannot continue the energy status quo.
Me — I want to see windmills on the shore of Lake Erie.
And I would like our oil that’s off of the continental shelf to be drilled by us and used by us, and not exported to China. I would also like to see peace in Darfur (a war that is being financed by Chinese petro-dollars…)
Good luck to us all and good luck to the USA.
Nov 05, 2008
“It is easier to resort to name-calling rather than thought”.
Good point, M.
Elections get very tribal. Now, as both Obama and McCain said, we have to start the real business of pulling this country, and this planet, out of the hole we have got into. Much less romantic, much harder, and we will need everyone in the community of people who are trying to do it.
There is so much we CAN agree on. Many disagreements, I find, are not so much about what needs to be achieved, but on what we think needs to be done to get there. For example, who doesn’t want clean air for their kids to breathe? Or a reduction in crime and violence? Where we differ is what we think we need to do to achieve those.
Re partial birth abortions, for example, there is common ground in that all of us, pro-choice and pro-life, want to reduce these. No-one likes the idea of a partial birth abortion. But where some, for example, think a blanket ban is the way to go, I personally think lots of free, available, non-shaming sex education and reproductive health advice, plus free contraception and early screening, is the best way to cut abortions–and also achieve reductions in STD transmission, and the cost of treating people once they have one.
So, M, I’m glad you posted, even though you and I are on opposite sides of many issues. Sounds like we would have some common ground if we were on a working committee, if we could get out of the way of our own emotional reactions to the issues.
Nov 05, 2008
OK–
You said, “free, available, non-shaming sex education and reproductive health advice, plus free contraception and early screening, is the best way to cut abortions–and also achieve reductions in STD transmission, and the cost of treating people once they have one.” No doubt there are studies that support this contention, just as there would be studies that controvert it. Depends on who does the study, the cultuural context, etc.
Here’s one million-dollar question: who pays for this sort of program, who administers it, etc. Is it compulsory or voluntary? Do you allow parents to opt-in or opt-out?
What ages are you looking at? Are these adults? Are they teens? What is the cultural and philosophical context? Lastly, does “contraception” really reduce “abortion” on demand? (I mention this because there is a fuzzy line on this, depending on one’s outlook.) Or should people who are not in a long-term relationship abstain from sex?
Once you de-couple sex from love and the innate dignity of the human being, have you helped society or harmed it? And what is the psychology of that?
I doubt we will ever answer these questions sufficiently. Most people agree on the ‘good’ of the objective, but not the mechanisms of how it should be achieved. This is consistent in our political events.
Nov 05, 2008
Not quite, M. I said, “I personally think….. and then all the rest”. Ie. I was not claiming absolute truth for my point of view. I was leaving room for you (or others) to differ without either of us attacking the other, or feeling the need to get defensive of their different truth.
Nov 05, 2008
Oh my dreams… and your dreams come true of a real democratic american state. Colors does not manifest the real political need of the Americans; a strong, visionary , truly just & liberal,young economist Barrack Obama got it. The highest position of the land now in the hands of african -american president elect.
Kudos…congratulations and God bless the USA, Asian countries & our economy as a whole. May your stay in power brings goodwill to the third world country like us the Philippines.
Nov 05, 2008
Love your site, I will check back for more info like this.
Nov 06, 2008
On Tuesday night I cried with joy along with my fellow volunteers filling the Oakland Marriot convention center floor. We’d completed a last push 36 hours of calling to get out the vote. We won, but I believe America and the world won. As Obama said, not red states and blue states but the United States.
But on Wednesday morning I cried and have not stopped since. I went to bed married to my partner and the mother of my step son, I woke up unmarried. In our eyes, the eyes of loving family and friends and in the eyes of our church we are married. But I will fight like mad for my marriage. Now that we’ve got our country back I will not stop fighting till I have my marriage back.
The Christian right is neither in my book and they just ticked off the wrong woman.
Nov 06, 2008
Dita, I am so sorry that Prop 8 passed. I know that the friends whose wedding I went to this summer remain married in my eyes. I think that if the sponsors of that bill had to pay the major part of 70M to squeeze it through, then they are fighting a losing battle, and that by the time my nieces are my age, bans on gay marriage are going to seem like an anomalous and obselete affront to civil rights, like miscegenation laws. Good luck with the fight–millions of us, gay and straight, are with you.
Nov 06, 2008
Thanks Rachel.
And according to some news/research marriages held before the election are still valid. Even if not, K and I can go to Connecticut soon, Canada …. hey, it could be our vacation plan for the next few years. Go where we can wed.
It’s worth a try because at my job I get an extra day off to get married, so if I have to do this multiple times whoopeeeee!
Yet I don’t want to draw anything away from this victory. It is a win for all, red or blue,
I’m excited and hopeful for our country. And in a side note progressives running across the country made gains. Of the 111 running for public office endorsed by the Victory fund over 70% won. Progressives running for dog catcher to senate to …. we made gains.
The country is ready for a change and if you’re in one of the battleground states a break from being called around dinner time, and I need a break from calling YOU
I am looking forward to the next eight years because I hope Obama serves another term, I think with our help he’ll do well.
He’s been handed quite a mess.
As one of the first things he’ll need to tackle is energy independence this group and our ideals may help.
Nov 06, 2008
They have not annulled the 17,000 existing marriages yet, so take heart. But I like your Connecticut idea. A gay friend of mine and his hubby are doing just that–getting married in every state or country where they can. It has them taking vacations in all kinds of places, and they did California last year!
Nov 06, 2008
That’s a great idea!
I’m envisioning the RV’s one sees on the highways of this great nation of ours with a map with stickers on the back, the states they’ve been too. Ours would have “married in” above the map. This might have to be on the tandem since I’ve always wanted to bike tour Vermont.
Nov 18, 2008
What I want to know is how we can support Obama going forward. I volunteered some for his election – making phone calls and holding a house party to recruit supporters for GOV.
But I don’t know what to do now that he will be in office – keep calling his office to petition for stronger environmental measures? I too was excited about the volunteerism that he inspiried during the campaign – but what do those volunteers do now? Hopefully not just tune out…
Avida
Nov 18, 2008
I love the energy of all the ideas that seem to be flowing so fully since President Elect Obama’s election. One of the historic actions that is underway in this transition is the website http://www.change.gov
P.E. Obama’s team is actively soliciting input, campaign stories, and job applications from anyone and everyone who cares. Isn’t it refreshing to be asked for our opinion and active participation in bringing about the change we envision for this country and the world? I so appreciate that they have taken responsibility for creating a way to communicate directly and interactively with the people rather than waiting and then blaming “the mainstream media” for not delivering their message as so many leaders have done in the past.
One of the reasons I believe Obama was victorious is that millions of people claimed ownership of the campaign with small donations of money, time, snacks, cell phone minutes, frequent flier miles and prayers. This collective energy is one of the greatest assets Obama has access to moving forward in these difficult times. In the days ahead, I expect us all to be called upon to offer solutions to the problems we feel most passionate about, to draw upon the strength of the connections that were built during the campaign and roll up our sleeves “being the change we want to see in the world”. -Pamela