Thanks for printing how many of us feel this century. Here’s hoping by uniting as bloggers we make a difference. Who cares what anyone is wearing…

Dorothy from grammology
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grammology.com

I was watching a rebroadcast of the Larry King show on Tim Russert last night. One of the most poignant comments of the evening was that Russert did not embrace the cynicism of Washington but rather, remained optimistically skeptical.

Can we neutralize our expectations a bit, allow skepticism into the campaign, and realize that Obama is not the embodiment of perfection?

It seems like there’s an unspoken hatred of Muslims that the bulk of the masses pretend to ignore with a “nudge nudge wink wink”.

I don’t think I’m following the election as closely as you are.. or are as emotionally invested.. From where I’m standing it’s pretty clear that Obama is an authentic kind of politician… the sort I can believe in more then others.. the sort I wish there were more of.

My feeling is that politicians are pragmatic political animals.. They have to deal with the political realities as they are. Obama has impressed me with how… well over and over again I feel like there is the question of what’s good politics versus whats good government.. and my feeling is that a great leader.. tries to lead us towards the good government side.. even if its difficult politically… and whenever I see a politician behaving that way.. I become a fan. And I’ve found Obama doing that over and over again.

To my way of thinking.. Obama is like.. a lot better then what I think we could reasonably expect from a politician.. and these few little things here and there.. they don’t really bother me all that much.. cause over all.. he’s still better then I feel I should expect.

I should say that.. isn’t Obama’s money coming from a lot of smaller donors anyway? Kinda like Dean? So my feeling is.. that those kinda donations don’t have the same ethical baggage as.. the conventional thing.. I mean the conservative shtick about money being speech almost seems to hold water in this sorta context.

I don’t have a problem with image management as a part of a campaign.. I think its an important part of communications and.. well state craft.. so I mean you better be good at it..

So to image manage a rally or a whatever.. it doesn’t really bother me all that much… though there are limits.. But frankly.. considering the amount of BS of trying to paint Obama as a radical Muslim that’s been going on.. I can sympathize with why they’d want avoid adding fuel to that fire..

At the same time.. I think this election is probably more about authenticity then any election I can remember.. I imagine part of that is.. a reaction to having Bush.. the way we tend to elect candidates that are different from the last president.. plus there might be something to the increasing influence of social media.. where authenticity is more important then ever to brands..

So in this context.. the BS about Muslims and terror and trying to link obama to it.. to this kind of prejiduce system that the right is trying to use to manipulate voters.. I just imagine the efficacy of those tactics are wayning… at least for this election cycle.

All of which is made more dramatic by.. well.. McCain. Here’s a guy who fought for election reform to hopefully improve the quality of the debate? Umm.. can he really rely on swift boat style campaigning? I mean.. I don’t know that that works too well with his brand… which has already taken enough of a hit since he started running..

Still.. I supose its fare to say that.. reason doesn’t play as big a roll in how folks vote then we might like it to…so idk.

But that’s my 2 cents anyway.
cheers

The way the press ate Howard Dean and his wife alive merely for her professional choices and his enthusiasm at his own rally as a sadly accurate example… saying nothing of the resultant cannibalism within the Democratic party itself.

No question, in the few short years since Dean’s run, there are a whole lot more potholes out there and the Obamas know they have to watch their step. However, while I am an ardent supporter- from the relative safe and objectivity of home north of the border- I am disappointed to see him/his staffers pandering to what The Right, with the eager aid of the press, might potentially- perversely- discredit him with.
Certainly, I realize the importance of perception, particularly in this polarized and paranoid political climate; and I don’t mean to be a Pollyanna, but in the spirit of ‘hope’ and ‘change’, perhaps working so bloody hard to create and maintain a fragile facade of perfection is more damaging than just stepping up and forgoing a little of the contrived image control. I’m just hoping they don’t shoot themselves in the foot skipping around trying not to offend.

I am sure that if those two women with the head scarves had been seated behind Obama, the GOP would have turned that image into an attack ad that we would see every day until November.