OBAMA DOING OKAY IN THREE FRONT RACE
BO's struggle with the media outlets, who have absolutely no idea how to cover race in America, plainly, continues. Most of them are waiting for polls, I would guess, to tell them how to continue their coverage.
Obama put forward a major speech on Iraq, today, leveling criticism at John McCain.
When you have no overarching strategy, there is no clear definition of success. Success comes to be defined as the ability to maintain a flawed policy indefinitely. Here is the truth: fighting a war without end will not force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. And fighting in a war without end will not make the American people safer.
Sadly, he continues to call it "the war in Iraq", rather than "our prolonged, violent nation-building exercise".
There is a LOT in the speech. I'm not sure it was a exceptionally carefully vetted speech, on a topic that is going to be THE issue, if the McCain camp have their druthers. Sadly, he continues to call it "the war in Iraq", rather than "our prolonged, violent nation-building exercise".Here's another for instance, right idea, wrong wording, yes?
What I've said is that we cannot seize opportunities to resolve our problems unless we create them. [uh-oh] That is what Kennedy did with Khrushchev; what Nixon did with Mao; what Reagan did with Gorbachev. And that is what I will do as President of the United States. [oh, snap]
He is getting along down the road of channeling the exhaustion with the war in Iraq into other pursuits, something that may well have currency with frustrated voters (it's a psychological offramp that doesn't involve "surrender", on just says, "I choose something different, now"):
I have no illusions that any of this will be easy. But I do know that we can only begin to make these changes when we end the mindset that focuses on Iraq and ignores the rest of the world.
PATRIOTISMI think Obama ought to take on the challenge of redefining "patriotism".
For example,
"Abroad, our Patriotism should be marked by our humility, not our hubris, by our willingness to work alongside others to help them solve their problems and our problems. Invective and bullying is not what made the face of the American GI a largely welcome one the world over, in the last century. Our strength is an allied strength, not "shock and awe". We can never forget that our country is an invitation, not an empire. Our challenge is not to build more missiles in the 21st century, but to listen and understand those who seek our allegiance, so that we can apply our influence smartly, not bluntly.
Domestically, our Patriotism is defined by how well we bring people together to solve our problems, not how loudly we stand up to condemn our fellow citizens. We send our officials to Washington, not for gridlock, but to compromise and to make a way forward, the American way forward. Patriotism is understanding that America cannot rise up if it is divided against itself. We cannot solve our long-term problems, like medicare and even social security, as a house divided, and not a people who ultimately view their Patriotism as "freedom" or "low taxes", rather than as 'one Nation, under God'."
Domestically, our Patriotism is defined by how well we bring people together to solve our problems, not how loudly we stand up to condemn our fellow citizens. We send our officials to Washington, not for gridlock, but to compromise and to make a way forward, the American way forward. Patriotism is understanding that America cannot rise up if it is divided against itself. We cannot solve our long-term problems, like medicare and even social security, as a house divided, and not a people who ultimately view their Patriotism as "freedom" or "low taxes", rather than as 'one Nation, under God'."
With a judgment-contrast on Iraq; a forcefully articulated and fully developed sense of the use of diplomacy (that extends well beyond this trap of having it defined as meeting with dictators - ahem!); and a vision of Patriotism rooted in his overall theme of Hope and change, he has a good shot against McCain.
He can tie this in with questioning McCain on diplomacy. McCain is not convincing when he talks about diplomacy, I don't think.With a judgment-contrast on Iraq; a forcefully articulated and fully developed sense of the use of diplomacy (that extends well beyond this trap of having it defined as meeting with dictators - ahem! - and beyond what I've written just here); and a vision of Patriotism rooted in his overall theme of Hope and change, he has a good shot against McCain.
Last, Obama has to realize that the Right has come so far in pursuit of getting George Bush to the end of his term without having "surrendered", that they are now offering up left-liberal defenses of the war. We are fighting for freedom-based security, the dignity of mankind (especially women) - see Bush's speech to Religious Broadcasters last week. We'll see what McCain does with this.
HILLARYIn separate news, Hillary threw a tantrum today in Michigan.
She's turned into the patron Saint of self-disenfranchised voters. Wake me up if someone cares.
The DNC through its processes and leadership, not the campaigns, should be making decisions about what to do on revotes. What the heck else are they paid for, anyway?
Taking a grievance to the public court on the matter isn't terribly healthy for the party, is it?
