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Monkey on his shoulder...
Joy Behar on Larry King the other night spread this meme to us: that women some generations ago who were not themselves purely beautiful would carry a pet monkey everwhere, so in comparison, they would themselves (so they thought) look so much more attractive.
Obama's monkey is the Bush administration. It makes Obama look fantastically good!
I personally think he is exactly what this country needs--from the expression of hope and his personal charisma, to his intelligence, education, global life experience... His calm groundedness... His patience... His powerful intention to make of the Presidency (not just of himself) something much closer to the ideal than it has been in decades.
The folks at whom I glance askance are the ones who are already diving like raptors on every possible niggly thing they can, trying to undermine the best opportunity in decades for America to recover its ideals! Just because on the wagon their band rides around on, it's just cool to dis anyone who is popular, who is riding high, and anything they stand for.
posted by
Ciel
on January 27, 2009 at 1:41 AM
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ginnieb
Thanks. I appreciate it.
posted by
Talion_
on January 23, 2009 at 7:26 PM
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Excellent post....
...
posted by
ginnieb
on January 23, 2009 at 4:03 PM
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adnohr
Thanks.
posted by
Talion_
on January 21, 2009 at 8:52 PM
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hardilaziz
As long as he avoids any major scandals, he will make a difference. How long the difference lasts is the big question.
posted by
Talion_
on January 21, 2009 at 8:52 PM
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BC-A
Thanks.
posted by
Talion_
on January 21, 2009 at 8:49 PM
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Well said!
posted by
adnohr
on January 20, 2009 at 8:56 PM
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I think Obama is like a whiff of fresh air. I don't know whether he'll make a difference or not but we must give him reasonable time to perform. The USA must return to its original glory NOW!.
posted by
hardilaziz
on January 20, 2009 at 7:25 PM
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mousehop
I never bought into the "empty suit" line of criticism. He had too many interviews, too many unscripted responses to be anything other than highly intelligent, thoughtful, and capable. I agree. Substance is not a major issue.
posted by
Talion_
on January 20, 2009 at 7:04 PM
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Excellent!
posted by
BC-A
on January 20, 2009 at 6:51 PM
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Talion, I love your take on Obama. It fits with mine. He is an educated, capable man, with both enough confidence and enough modesty to listen to others, and consider their opinions before making decisions. Substance, I suspect, will not be a problem in his administration.
posted by
mousehop
on January 20, 2009 at 4:17 PM
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Pat_B
Well, let's hope no one stumbles upon his kryptonite. I too enjoyed the speech (I shot hooky from work today to see it). It won't go down in history as one of the best, but so much about this is historic, that really doesn't matter.
posted by
Talion_
on January 20, 2009 at 1:17 PM
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Nautikos
President Obama's skin color is important, but the the alpha and omega of why I supported him. I wouldn't vote for Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton no more than I would vote for Alan Keyes. The fact that he is a liberal far supercedes his race for I am a liberal too. As far as the substance issue goes, though there is truth in that argument, but ultimately from a conservative, it rings hollow. If President Obama had years of experience as a senator or governor, if he had an extensive public record, as long as he remained a liberal, honestly, would you support him? (As much as you could being a Canadian and all.) Which brings us to his message of hope and change. The rift between conservatives and liberals has grown too wide. Instead of being alternative paths to the same destination, liberal and conservative have become two warring factions locked in a perpetual tug-of-war. Nothing gets done and everyone suffers to some degree. Maybe, just maybe, this idea of politics can change. Maybe we can bridge the gap between the two. I don't believe every conservative principle is wrong no more than I believe every liberal one is correct. I don't want liberals and conservatives to agree on every issue. Believe it or not, I don't want the GOP in general and conservatives in particular to go extinct. We need a two (or more) party system to ensure varying perspectives and necessary checks and balances. What I want is for liberal and conservatives to be adversaries, competing hard for their ideals, but not enemies who believe winning means the utter destruction of the other side. President Reagan and Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neil opposed each other tooth and nail, but frequently had dinner at the end of the day. That's what I want, not just from President Obama, but from every other one from now on. I want the kinder, gentler nation (for treating each other, not our foreign enemies) President Bush I spoke of. I want the compassionate conservatism President Bush II spoke of. I want what's best for America. Maybe, just maybe, this is the first step towards that goal.
posted by
Talion_
on January 20, 2009 at 12:20 PM
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Talion
I don't give a rat's ass about a man's or woman's colour, but politically I am a conservative, an endangered species these days, lol, and Obama is a liberal. I understand the symbolism involved here, which is fine, if there were more, if there were some substance. There even may be, but I haven't seen it. There must be thousands who would have brought both! I don't know Dems too well, but among Republicans there would be (and may be in the future) Condi Rice, for example...
I find personality cults in politics not only distasteful, but also dangerous. Of course, it wasn't entirely Obama's fault that the adoring media have turned him into a 'celebrity', but I have a sense that he didn't find that role too uncomfortable. Let's hope he finds a way to transcend it, the sooner the better. And I do wish him well! 
posted by
Nautikos
on January 20, 2009 at 10:45 AM
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In a way he is a superhero. Presidentman...
Loved his speech!
posted by
Pat_B
on January 20, 2009 at 9:53 AM
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