To me the most telling figure in the MSNBC poll is not just the tiny lead Clinton now has - a mere 3 percent - but the data analyzed by age. Among the over 50s, Clinton leads by 32 percent to 18 percent; among the under 50s, Obama leads by 41 to 26 percent.
You see in this the old politics versus the new.
I'm unconvinced.
So far, I see in this a possibly naive belief in a "new politics", a natural idealism among younger voters, possibly. There might be a few conservatives pushing a candidate likely to accomplish the least and disappoint a whole slew of folks, for a number of reasons.
No one has yet to show me how the math of a "new politics" stacks up. Show me that, and I'll re-consider. As it is, it's just ... a dangerous thesis, a false hope.
THE CONSERVATIVE SOUL
While the GOP struggles with its own demons, there are signs that Liberalism in America is near a crisis-in-motion. Any part looks weak, after having been in the wilderness for a while, but there are signs everywhere that the Democratic party is ready for ... spiritual renewal, to put it charitably.
THE POLITICS OF BLOCK-AND-TACKLE
Besides, if the other side doesn't want to 'heal' (co-operate on some level), isn't play nice surrender-ish (i.e., giving up ground in good faith that you are never going to get back)?
Is there a candidate who can forge a coalition to take the Democrats past block-and-tackle, away from basic re-election politics, and put some real political risk on the table, either outright or as a stretch goal?I'm not sure that person is either Obama or Clinton. It might be Edwards, Biden, or Dodd, though.
Below is the tag cloud for Clinton and Obama's Jefferson-Jackson speeches. There is an obvious difference in their message.
At the same time, I'm not sure either of them is inspiring (rhetorically), especially, within the Haiku of their own message. Clinton is restrained, almost to a fault. Obama doesn't seem to have a firm "liberal" ideology, or at least one that is easily identifiable. He seems to be a liberal with a pragmatist bent. That's very unlike Reagan, who was about as big-picture an Exec as you can get without utter caricature; yet he's running on a Reagan-like inspirational message, "An America that believes in itself, again", after a period of standstill.
"I HAVE A DREAM"
I understand (I think) what Hillary is about. With all the caveats about power-seeking, she's about pushing back conservatism and asserting progressivism, in a broad-ranging and systematic way. So far, she seems to understand how that symphony is scored, in the current day, and is getting the balance just o.k., overall, not much better.
If Barack were to write an "I Have a Dream" speech, what would it be, for the times we are in now? Do our times not permit such a thing?
We need to be healed? Yes, but what then? And why should we believe that the pathologies that brought about the sickness, namely the Republican devolution and creation of a "culture war", and more besides, is going to atrophy? Besides, if the other side doesn't want to 'heal' (co-operate), isn't play nice surrenderish (giving up ground in good faith that you are never going to get back)?
I'm gonna get you health care and a tax-cut for the middle class? O.K., but are we talking just tapping the issue that needs attention or are we talking about a singular empowerment politics, straight up, or a "listen" and deal politics?
Perhaps, reading Obama's book would provide a full answer. I'd hate to think that it was required, however, if only because most adults don't read books, in this country, although they will sense these questions, even without being conscious of them.
READY FOR POWER POLITICS?
No candidate ever seems fully prepared for the Presidency. However, how Obama will translate a campaign based on the politics of Hope, in which he seems to earnestly believe, into a governing philosophy seems a unique challenge.
He has a politics of power, but what will he do about and with power politics?
...to be continued...
Obama, Jefferson-Jackson - is there a strong emphasis?
able against america american answers asking believe bring called campaign chance change children college common country courage democrats difference doesn't election equality ever failures fear fight fought four future gave georgebush government hard harder healthcare hear illinois industry instead insurance iraq jobs journey judgment lead leaders leadership lives lobbyists lost million moment nation needs offer ok opportunity party people policies popular president problems promised purpose race raise reach reason republicans rudy running send somebody somehow something stand states stood stop streets support talking telling ten think threats tired today troops united victory voted wage war washington wasn't worker world year
created at TagCrowd.com
Clinton Jefferson-Jackson dinner:
afford america americans arkansas around attacking believe better bush campaign care change child children choice civil companies continue country crisis death democrats department deserve economy eight election energy ever experience failed family feel fighting fought future george gets going government governor healthcare heat helped house insurance interested invisible iowa iowans job justice kids labor lead leaders leadership million needs night ohio people policies president prices progress protect proud ready really rebuild reform republicans restore rights rising science senator seven single speaker stand states support sure system thank think tonight tried turned united wait war win woman women work world years
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Edwards [forthcoming]:
