Best of the Web Today - WSJ.comYou're not supposed to judge a man by his associates - though there's sure a lot of people who are willing to do that. You're supposed to judge a man by his actions - and so far, Obama's actions lead me to think that, like I've said before, he's tried hard as anything to be a blank screen people could project their fantasies on.Last October the Associated Press reported that Barack Obama had made a decision not to sport an American flag pin on his lapel:
Asked about it Wednesday in an interview with KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Illinois senator said he stopped wearing the pin shortly after the attacks and instead hoped to show his patriotism by explaining his ideas to citizens.But did anyone notice that when Obama gave his "major speech on race" Tuesday--the one necessitated by the revelation that his "spiritual mentor" had, among other things, called on God to "damn America"--he did so amid a row of American flags? We checked the video and counted eight of them, of which four are visible in the photo nearby."The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.
"I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest," he said in the interview. "Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testament to my patriotism."
Looks like the plot's changing, though. Can't say I like it - and I sure wouldn't get the DVD.
One real drawback to the Eternal Campaign the Democrats have instigated - it gives us PLENTY of time to see what the candidates are like. It's not like the whirlwind courtships of the past, where you had just a few months to get a feel for the candidate. That's akin to meeting someone in Vegas, getting hitched - and waking up the next morning and going "Oh, man. What've I done?" Now we've got plenty of time to examine the candidates.
And it's NOT working to their benefit.
When you add in the identity politics angle, things get worse. The Dems have really, really painted themselves into a corner with Hillary and Obama. They've been going for the niche market - when they need to get the middle. And neither of them are terribly appealing to the mid-range voter. Their only real hope is to completely slam the Republican candidate, McCain, before the election... but they're spending so much time and money trying to kill each other to get nominated that there's not going to be any left for the election.
We'll see what happens. But the Dems have severely wounded themselves this election cycle.
J.
Comments (5)
I don't know if you are really not supposed to judge a person by his associates. It's true that some of the people who decide to associate themselves with you may not be truly representative of what and who you are but type of people you decide to associate yourself with is a much more reliable indicator.
otpu
Posted by otpu | March 21, 2008 5:28 PM
Posted on March 21, 2008 17:28
I'm trying to judge him by his actions... and who he associates with results from his choices and actions.
I'm very much unimpressed by Obama at this point. It may be that Obama makes it and Hillary gets shoved aside - but things are at a point that either resolution will be bad for the Democrats.
I really think the Democratic Party is going to split on this. It'd almost be funny if it weren't so serious - we are best served by a competitive political system - and the Dems going the way of the Whigs isn't a good thing at all.
J.
Posted by JLawson | March 22, 2008 12:46 AM
Posted on March 22, 2008 00:46
>>...the Dems going the way of the Whigs isn't a good thing at all.>>
Not sure I agree here...I don't disagree either. I agree that we need a two party system. More than two could be ok, but probably would end up being paralyzing - so two is better. One is unacceptable also - as well as improbable. Apparently more people identify themselves as Dems than as Repubs, so it puzzles me how the Dems could just fade away. Even if they did, I suspect that Repubs would split, so that we'd go back to the old Conservative-liberal alignment without the socialists. But...more people identify as Dems...so how is this likely?
In any case, I haven't gotten to Fair Tax yet. "Liberal Facism" is very slow reading. Very worthwhile - very enlightening. I had no idea about some of this stuff - but still, very slow reading.
That's in connection to the above because the book really does show the lineage between facism and the present day progressive/liberal thought process. It explains a lot of what appears to be irrational in their responses. Doesn't make it less irrational, but at least there's an explanation!
Posted by suek | March 22, 2008 12:17 PM
Posted on March 22, 2008 12:17
A hypersonic super pig made an emergency landing at Dobbins AFB in Marietta today, film at 11.
No, not really, but something almost as amazing did happen.
I was in the local Borders this afternoon and they had "Liberal Fascism" on the 20% off best sellers table. Only two copies left but it was right there, front and center.
otpu
Posted by Otpu | March 22, 2008 8:41 PM
Posted on March 22, 2008 20:41
I couldn't buy LF at Barnes and Nobles - their computer _said_ they had _one_ copy in the store, but it was nowhere to be found. I had to go to Borders. No problem finding it there.
Much to my annoyance, I discovered I could have bought it for $10 less at Costco the next week. Still there at 15.95, by the way.
I also learned that B&N has a website that carries the same books as their stores, but for less. Gotta pay shipping, of course, so maybe it evens out.
Posted by suek | March 23, 2008 1:22 PM
Posted on March 23, 2008 13:22