A President Like My Father
Over the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.
My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.
Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.
We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country - just as we did in 1960.
Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.
Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people - known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics - to become engaged in the political process.
I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.
Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.
I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.
I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president - not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.
Caroline Kennedy is the author of “A Patriot’s Handbook: Songs, Poems, Stories and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love.”
© 2008 The New York Times
If the young generation is so important why don’t we nominate Captain Kangaroo; he was certainly inspiring. To be honest I’m a little tired of the “give hope to a new generation” thang. How about convincing us world-weary jaded bastards? If anyone can see the real thing, we will.
(P.S. As a west-coaster who’s always trying to play catch-up to 5Am eastern risers, let me just thank the Academy that I was chosen No. 1 — at last!)
Obama Rules: Symbolic Pandering isn’t new politics and can only get you in trouble
An Open (and titled) Letter to Obama
Mr. Obama,
Some free advice.
When you’ve gotten yourself in trouble, it has been when you’re off message, ad-libbing, and, most informatively, when pandering to the right.
• Punjab Senator (I mean, what were you or your surrogates thinking?)
• Reagan (I know, I know…you didn’t say what your opponents are saying you said. I even know what you were trying to say – that the Clinton’s are really a part of the Reagan legacy – but you were still pandering to a pretty reactionary rag.)
• Anti-Gay preacher dude (Again, what were you thinking? You can’t win the Democratic nomination without the gay vote.)
• “Illegal Aliens” gaffe in televised debate (There’s less written about this than there should be. But, just so you know, that phrase is the same as the N-word in the Latino community. And how can you say you’re about the future when you use archaic language like that?)
• Nuclear talk
• Macho war talk
• etc.
Rule #1: Symbolic pandering to the right (see above examples) isn’t the new politics that is your core message. When you get into trouble, it’s when what you say is out of character and you’re out of your element. No need for the symbolic indulgences to reactionary forces. Let your ideas, values and core message keep winning over those soft republicans, independents, and new and ‘non-traditional’ young voters.
Rule #2: Answer the Clinton’s attacks with your core message. They’re afraid of you. You really out-organized ‘em in Iowa, and you were about to in New Hampshire until the corporate media did their job and alerted the establishment to your “wave.” The Clintons understand these things called elections are about change. Remember the famous haiku that got Bill Clinton elected the first time?
Change in Direction
(It’s) The Economy, Stupid
Don’t Forget Healthcare!
I actually think the Clintons also understand that there’s just no going back in time. They know that there really isn’t a DeLorean with 1.21 gigawatts and a flex capacitor that can take them Back to the Future. That was a movie, not a campaign theme. And it’s an old movie at that. They are no longer a change in direction. They’re part of what’s gotten the economy in the mess that it’s in. And they want us to forget they failed on healthcare.
Rule #3: Don’t sell a corporate agenda with the language of grassroots social movements. When you get into office, represent us – not the corporations or the rich. Be that rare public servant that says what they mean and does what they say. I know it’s a leap of faith, but there’s hope.
Maybe yours come Election Day,
ipenek– “To be honest I’m a little tired of the “give hope to a new generation” thang”
Yeah … lets just stick with the morally repugnant, ethically challenged, apathetic older generation. They’ve been doing a helluva job so far.
Hi,
Whoever is the Democratic nominee, and whoever is the next President - WE NEED TO BE A MOVEMENT!
Lyndon Johnson did not sign the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act because he was a great leader - he signed them because the power structure of the US was threatened.
Richard Nixon did not sign the National Environmental Policy Act because he was a great leader - he signed it because the power structure of the US was threatened.
And Bill Clinton did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING good, because there was no movement threatening the power structure of the US during his presidency.
Whoever is President, we need to threaten the power structure of the US. Not because we have a visionary candidate, not because we vote for or against anyone, but because we are acting and mobilizing and creating our own reality. Candidates and Presidents will only follow us if we lead.
Blogging is not useless, but it is only one piece of the puzzle. We all need to be organizing in our communities, building a popular movement that truly threatens corporate power and the war machine.
So i ask myself - what do i feed with my daily activities? What does my work, and my money, and my life build? Who am i working with, and what are we building? Words are important, but if my actions feed the monster, my words cannot compensate.
Are we building a movement? What are we building?
Oh nonsense. Just because Obama runs meetings that pulsate like pop concerts and carry people away on a wave of hysterical enthusiasm, it doesn’t mean he has the brains, the knowhow and the integrity to run the country. He’s already compromised on everything from nukes to Palestine, so we know he’s just another political opportunist out to buy votes where he can. Nothing will change under him - he is already sending the people with the real power the signals they are waiting for.
If truth be told Bill Clinton was more like JFK, however Bill could never match JFK’s record with respect to the excesses of prescription drugs and sexual experimentation.
On January 22, Amy Goodman interviewed the legendary activist, grace Lee Boggs. Boggs, 92, marched with Dr. King and with Malcolm X, and she spoke excitedly about the Barack Obama phenomenon. Reminding us all of the perils of top-down leadership, especially in the U.S.A., where charismatic, principled leaders are so often gunned down, never to see the promised land, as Dr. King predicted in his own case. One need only think of the fates of JFK to RFK to MLK, Jr., Malcolm X, the Black Panthers, and many others who gave their lives for the cause. Don’t forget that Dr. King gave his “Beyond Vietnam” speech, in which he connected materialism, racism, and militarization. For activists, it may even be a more powerful speech than his “I have a dream” speech.
This is why Grace Lee Boggs expressed excitement about the candidacy of Barack Obama, who is bringing thousands, if not millions of new voter, of young, energized, optimistic youth, tired of the same old party hacks and quacks. Grass roots organizing is much harder to snuff than individual leaders of movements. While she admitted that the policies articulated by Dennis Kucinich are much closer to the policies she favors, she still maintained that this surprising, multiracial, energetic campaign was promising, even surprising.
Given that none of the front-runners have distinct or exemplary policies, nor do any of them have progressive voting records, perhaps we should listen to this wise activist and worry about the policies down the road. After all, the CEO of our country can do nothing without consulting the corporations, the congress, and the realm of the possible.
For all of these reasons, I am ready to join this grass roots phenomenon, preferring the audacity of hope over Hope, Arkansas!
It seems with his victory in South Carolina, Obama is now the “new inevitability” - for however long that will last - but while I’m not as deeply jaded as perhaps ipenek is, I’d like to nonetheless make a case (to gyptian and others) for being skeptical.
First to the subject of this article by C. Kennedy: The kind of “inspirational hope” Obama has given us this far is based purely on his rhetorical abilities, as was JFK’s. When Barack gives specifics, he’s far less inspiring (see solak’s list). “Charisma” if you will, is a mere talent and like any talent, it can be polished and improved. It is not necessarily a sign of a person’s true character and rarely an indication of his or her verisimilitude. So I (as a professional speechwriter) and others are naturally mistrustful of all this vision and inspiration, simply because we know how easily it is manufactured, like the characters in a movie or a campaign for a product. Why else are his “early adopters” among Media and “Dream Factory” types like Oprah Winfrey and David Geffen, not to mention outright propagandists like Karl Rove? The past 20 years have left a lot of us wanting for substantive politicians, who are more about the realities of political discourse (issues) and less about their carefully managed media images.
Ronald Reagan, as Obama pointed out, was the apotheosis of this feeling over substance, not JFK. Also we sometimes forget that even G.W. Bush was charismatic to his original base with his plain talking charm and “Aw Shucks” simplicity of character. It was of course playacting, but at the time it had a wild effect on Republicans and ultimately Americans, who preferred his Regular Guy to the academic reserve of Gore and the patrician aloofness of Kerry.
None of these political personae ever amounted to anything more than propaganda, but it took bitter experience for Americans to realize it. “Morning in America” turned out to be the beginning of a great day for the rich and powerful and the beginning of a long dark night for liberals and progressives. Bush’s “base” turned out not to be the dope who’d rather have a beer with him, but the richest of the rich, who would never allow an average Joe into their club. Even J.F.K who is the subject of this article had an inspirational style and charisma that outshone his reality and was largely untested by the kinds of scrutinizes politicians fall under today. We should never forget JFK’s tenure was quite brief – enough time to inspire, but not enough to be tested ideologically and pre-dating the communications revolution, certainly not long enough for skeletons to be found in his closet by the nascent scandal media.
I simply think it’s important to realize that Obama may have a considerable talent as an orator and speech writer (Does he write his own? Does he have a coach?) But does he have the stuff it will take to restore our position in the world and enough experience to know how to make it happen? Andrew Sullivan seems to think so, and more or less bases his entire support for Barrack Obama on the man’s face. (Even my reserved support for him goes deeper than that.) But it is not an “old guard” attitude to suggest the world is ugly and getting uglier. We live in a time of WW (world war) preconditions: Our economy is sliding down, down, down as anti-democratic forces are running amok around the planet prompting allied (NATO) Generals to start talking about abandoning their prohibitions against “first strike” nuclear options. I don’t believe we can be inspired about any of this. And I don’t think a right-of-center smooth talking candidate can pull it off. Despite Obama’s seeming cakewalk through race-obsessed South Carolina, his campaign is apt to let some pretty vile features of the American character out of their cages (race and misogyny in his case, gender in Hillary’s) when the “glow” of these victories will be far off indeed. It’s apt to make for a pretty uninspiring environment.
Now that Bill Clinton seems to be single-handedly deep sixing Hillary’s campaign, Progressives will be faced with a candidate who is disturbingly right of center and well educated, being set against McCain (in all likelihood) a veteran and a straight talker who will appear moderate compared to the other Republicans. Amerircans will be making that kind of choice.
As for Obama’s politics, I like solrak’s punch list of things Obama should do to shore up his candidacy, but little of it appeals to Progressives. Re: the now famous Reagan statement - I don’t agree that he got misquoted. I think he said what he said and that’s what was reported. His failure was in ONLY saying Reagan inspired America after a time of darkness WITHOUT SAYING that he nonetheless disapproved greatly with Reagan’s ideology and the damage it did to our current way of life. Why not even say t helped sow the seeds for our current political and economic situations? He could have said it and still hit Bill Clinton for not doing enough to halt it. THAT was the suspicious omission to me and that is why I am very hesitant to embrace him as a candidate. That’s much worse than pandering!
Finally, Obama’s and his supporters’ arguments that this is somehow some kind of generational thing really offends me and my intelligence. It even shows up in these comments. It’s this naïve, ahistorical assumption that somehow the Red State / Blue State ideological conflict is a legacy of the Vietnam War that was somehow cooked up in some dorm room in the 60’s. Ahistorical is almost too kind. This conflict reflects the bitter struggle for power over common people and their desire for self-determination by authorities and institutions that have a vested interest in keeping them in place. It’s called politics. When Obama and his supporters make this all about my generation and their generation they sound like a gaggle of ignorant 60’s hippies and that must make the Republicans very happy indeed.
solrak: abso-friggin’-lutely brilliant! That nail didn’t bend one bit! And I’m glad you hit it the way you did.
And…webwalk, you’re on the mark, too. Threaten the power structure. That’s the way things get done in this version of democracy. But we need to threaten with our votes, our wallets, our voices, and even our bodies at this point. The opposing side has seen all of these threats before, and has been actively engaged in preparing defenses against them. This time the fight has to be even harder, even more empassioned. This time, the fight must equal or exceed the passions of 1776. Nothing less than the future of a free America is at stake.
I’m not warmed up yet to Obama. I’m not warmed up yet to Edwards, either. I’m still smarting from the pasting that Kucinich received in this dirty primary process, but there’s no way someone like Clinton could ever restore what was great about America. She’s the wrong choice, and I can only hope that the folks out there excited about a female president can look past the genders and see the character of Hillary Clinton as the beast that it is.
“Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life”
Obama’s interview in Christianity Today: a magazine of evangelical conviction,
(http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/januaryweb-only/104-32.0.html?start=1)
with related links to a string of recent articles published by the faith based communities causes many to do more than raise an eyebrow. I am thoroughly convinced the Senator needs to be thoroughly scrutinized for his belief in perpetuating faith based initiatives from within the infrastructure of government and the White House.
Obama’s mark as a great orator is loosing steam. The American people want more substance than eloquence. We understand our next president must have a pre-existing, substantive world stage background. It is critical that our country obtain a truly strong leader equipped with knowledge, experience and mistakes otherwise known as a portfolio without the fat to manage the most delicate and troublesome relationships that are imminent within our domestic and global boardrooms. The nation does not have the luxury to hire our next CEO on a promise to inspire us rather than to intelligently devise strategies for repairing the fallout of this preeminent war-torn-to-shreds economy with proven success for implementation.
The American people are looking to hire an individual who does not need on the job training in the first two years, four years or eight years. Sound familiar? The US is facing the worst of times in the history of our nation. Everything imaginable is at stake for “a new generation of Americans” and for those of us who are living here right now struggling to makes ends meet without any guarantee we will have the most basic of necessities when we are old.
Thank you Caroline Kennedy for submitting your letter of recommendation for Senator Obama. However, the hiring committee is looking for a milieu of qualifications for the position we are seeking to fill. Mr. Obama is no doubt an exceptional individual. However, it would serve him well to first acquire the necessary skills, scars and sage wisdom to run the most powerful country in the world. We welcome him to resubmit his resume in the future for upcoming positions we may have available.
Oh…and, uh would you let him know the hiring committee feels it important that you convey our dismay at his unabashed self-portrayal as a living, breathing Martin Luther King reincarnate. This indiscretion currently on his resume not only appears blatantly fraudulent but serves to denigrate MLK’s selfless contributions as a civil rights activist and a martyr.
Thank you Walt for sharing the depth and scope of your knowledge and opinion. “as anti-democratic forces are running amok around the planet prompting allied (NATO) Generals to start talking about abandoning their prohibitions against “first strike” nuclear options”, leaves me with further pause.
Thanks Caroline, we’re going to follow American Idol and concentrate on “just the singing” as you’ve recommended.
Hello — it doesn’t matter that much who’s President. The Corporatocracy is going to call the shots or “replace” them. Without a citizen movement — can Obama inspire that? — little will change for the better.
Good for You Caroline… I am in TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH YOUR ARTICLE… AS A WOMAN, MOTHER AND NOW GRANDMOTHER TO 6 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, IT IS NOW TIME FOR A MUCH NEEDED CHANGE IN OUR COUNTRY.. I AM GOING ON THE OBAMA BANDWAGON FOR SURE.. FOR ALL THE OLD FARTS THAT ARE BEING NEGATIVE, TAKE A CHILL PILL.. TIME FOR THE COUNTRY TO REUNITE ! GRANFORCHANGE IN WISCONSIN
Obama and Clinton look the same on policy so where’s the beef?
Much ado about nothing!
Obama’s keynote address at the 2004 DEM convention was the first time I felt hope and pride for my country in a long, long time. This nation desperately needs that kind of leadership. Obama seems to have a sense of the goodness of this nation.
Bush is such a fool. We have lost all our credibility under his administration. He consistently makes wrong decisions. Everything Bush touches turns to dust.
Thank you Caroline for your public endorsement.
People will pay attention to your opinion.
“it doesn’t mean he has the brains, the knowhow and the integrity to run the country. He’s already compromised on everything from nukes to Palestine, ”
Seems like a blueprint for the construction of more of the murderous ninnies that are ruining the country right now.
“Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar.”
I’ll say - or better yet, let’s have Ralph Nader say it - “Not a Dimes Worth of Difference!”
Let’s elect somone who wants to increase the military, continue our great tradition of military adventurism abroad, and usher in a new, new era of Reaganism. Oh yippe - I can *hardly* wait.
But what if McCain beomces our next Pres? Oh well, what’s the difference? Yawn.
Positives: Obama has put in time as a street organizer. He’s smarter than any guy with a square lump on his back.
Negatives: He’s taking a lot of garbage money. He supports nuclear power which uses as much carbon as it saves, just to grab the campaign dollars.
Dear Caroline,
How time seems to fly. I first knew of you when you were a small preschool child and your little brother a toddler. Now you are all grown up, with teenagers of your own! Your parents were the most glamorous couple in the whole country even elipsing media and sports stars in their celebrity. Then came that awful day in Dallas and our country has never been the same since because more than your father’s hope, idealism, and celebrity died that day in Dallas.
The truth of the national security state in all its vile and perverse ugliness was revealed to the American people in that dreadful day in Dallas and in the subsequent coverup of the investigation of the murder of President of the US–your own beloved father–by Republican and Democratic political leaders. The Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches of the government, were also implicated in this sorry affair. All of them falling prostrate at the feet of this monolith which your father tried in vain to reform only to be destroyed for his efforts.
All of that being said Caroline, let’s get real about the current field of Presidential contenders because there is a worthy successor to your father’s political legacy and it is most definately not Barack Obama (which is to take nothing away from his own idealism, charisma, and celebrity).
He is young, handsome, has a bunch of kids, a father who was very wealthy and prominent in his own right, is of controversial religious persuasion, and even held high political office in Massachusetts and his name is Mitt Romney–ugh! About all he lacks is a politically vicious and resourceful little brother who is willing to subsume his own identity for the sake of the campaign and a incurable terminal disease like Addisons to cultivate a determined fatalism that “the future is now because there may not be a tomorrow for me” attitude. That more than any twaddle about “Camelot” is the true courage and legacy your very brave father left this undeserving country.
I think the time has come to question the American Dream and the American Ideal - first we need to look at just what these dreams and ideals are.
In a nutshell the American Mythology is that God gave this land
to us, his new chosen people - and we took it. Now what we did in the taking isn’t so pretty, so we create a mythology of Brave Frontiersman fighting Godless Savages.
And then we created “Freedom” for all - even though Europeans had rid themselves of pure chattel slavery a thousand years before and we found that we needed to resurrect this practice as a practical concern. So we took the people out of Africa, ripped from their families, and gave them our beneficence. Never have so few done so much for so many.
And now other people have *our* oil and threaten *our* energy supply. So we need to take it again, fighting the Godless Savages of teh Mid-East, the dead-enders, who stand in the way of God’s Own Plan(tm) (GOP).
Yes, yes, we certainly do need *inspiring* preachers to lead us God’s Holy Work.
Bring it on Obama!
I wonder if it is the same folks who were sayin vote for Dennis are now sayin Obama can’t win.
I see the same kind of lies about Obama that Bill puts out.
Obama does not support nuclear power.. That will be up to us and he will listen to the people more than anyone who has a chance to win.
Caroline Kennedy is right on!
I have read commom dreams comments enough to know that any one who tries to convince cynical old farts is a masochist… you will have to fend for yourselves.
Oooh - what tasty cynicism you cook up ipenek, oldbadgertoo, kalia and others! Yummy! Let’s just all sit on our asses because we know there’s no difference between the candidates! (like, in 2000, was there any difference between Gore and Bush? - except for little things like eviscerating the people of Iraq, our civil rights, our reputation and the middle class for that matter!) And what does good oration give you? Hope? Look at the wonderful oration of George Bush! Despite his eloquent, moving words, look at the how little he’s accomplished!
So, let’s all remember all the candidates are the same and there’s no reason for hope …
And if you really do believe that, just sit on your butts and be quiet and let others will work toward moving the country in the right direction. Obama won by a landslide in S.C. as he will in November - and we will be able to tell the world that America is back.
Evrybody likes to point out that Obama spoke against the Iraq war. But what is his stance in regards to American Militarism in general? Does he want to increase the military. Yep. Does he stand behind teh Bush Doctrine of pre-emptive strikes? Yep. Likes the idea of staying in Iraq now that we’re there? Yep.
Promotes the American Myth that we are God’s Chosen who need to fight the Godless Savages? Seems to be so.
bigjoe.. You lie about Obama like a Clinton and Republican … go ahead vote for McCain.
I lie? You mean I don’t give it just the right *spin* that you’ld like to see.
When NeoCons liek Robert Kagan praise Obama who canbe against him?
See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/27/AR2007042702027.html
Also check out Tom Hayden’s latest heer on CD:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/01/25/6631/
But I understand the point - anyone who doesn’t like your candidate is a fill-in-the-blank __________ (liar, racist, closet conservative, moron, illuminate, lizard-alien).
“I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president - not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.”
Well Caroline I must say I believe you have been duped. There is more to leadership than a deep voice projecting empty platitudes. I have yet to find any real substance as this man continues his feel good, empty rhetoric, while shamelessly pandering every now and again. Makes me want to check my wallet every time I hear him speak.
But it is not really relevant any way he will never be elected to the presidency! and all those hopeful supporter that have become part of the process because he moved them so, what will become of them when this reality comes crashing home? Will they continue to work for “change” whatever that means? Or will they go back to watching American Idol?
I wonder what odds my bookie is giving that a man named Barack Husein Obama will be elected president of the USA in 2008?
The Kagan article is just so illuminating to us illuminati. Let me quote:
——————
Okay, you say, but at least Obama is proposing all this Peace Corps-like activity as a substitute for military power. Surely he intends to cut or at least cap a defense budget soaring over $500 billion a year. Surely he understands there is no military answer to terrorism.
Actually, Obama wants to increase defense spending. He wants to add 65,000 troops to the Army and recruit 27,000 more Marines. Why? To fight terrorism.
He wants the American military to “stay on the offense, from Djibouti to Kandahar,” and he believes that “the ability to put boots on the ground will be critical in eliminating the shadowy terrorist networks we now face.” He wants to ensure that we continue to have “the strongest, best-equipped military in the world.”
Obama never once says that military force should be used only as a last resort. Rather, he insists that “no president should ever hesitate to use force — unilaterally if necessary,” not only “to protect ourselves . . . when we are attacked,” but also to protect “our vital interests” when they are “imminently threatened.” That’s known as preemptive military action. It won’t reassure those around the world who worry about letting an American president decide what a “vital interest” is and when it is “imminently threatened.”
Nor will they be comforted to hear that “when we use force in situations other than self-defense, we should make every effort to garner the clear support and participation of others.” Make every effort?
Conspicuously absent from Obama’s discussion of the use of force are four words: United Nations Security Council.
Obama talks about “rogue nations,” “hostile dictators,” “muscular alliances” and maintaining “a strong nuclear deterrent.” He talks about how we need to “seize” the “American moment.” We must “begin the world anew.” This is realism? This is a left-liberal foreign policy?
Ask Noam Chomsky the next time you see him.
——————————–
Ah - I begin to see the light!
Well, in defense of Caroline’s remarks, ol’ Camelot was a dangerous US imperialist too.
Remember the Bay of Pigs and Vietnam.
Remember, more importantly, Jack’s placement of nuclear missiles right on the Turkish-Russian border - this threatening act, not the Russians’ reasonable response in Cuba, is what took humanity to the brink of annihilation.
As as a child, I lived well withing the “total destruction radius of a 5 MT device” of the Pentagon. The local DC area street maps even had radius circles drawn out from the Pentagon in those days. Maybe I was a bit of a precocious 6-year old in those days, but I will never forgive this imperialist Kennedy for that time of terror. Every time they tested those god-awful yellow death-sirens, I knew my mother and father would helpless to save any of us.
bigjoe
Maybe America should just fail.
The real war is in the economy and competition between areas for economic dominance. Right now the rest of the world is decoupling itself from America and its love of debt and loss of a manufacturing base.
The stock market has been proped up by soveriegn funds from other nations imo. So the idea that the US economy is a capitalist system is not true. The US economy is dependent upon China and its use of US dollars under that government’s control.
The Chinese government is buying up parts of US companies. What if the Chinese government decides to influence US politics much as these companies have already infiltrated the US government and its policies with their lobbyists?
So while America is building up a powerful military the economy of the US is being taken over by other nations…and could influence America from within.
bigjoe…
OK maybe you are not lying… you are quoting what someone else is pointing out and quoting.
Every speech has a context and I like to judge what a speaker says by what I hear him say in the total context of the speech or debate.
I read the article by Tom Hayden… I just don’t spin what Tom said like you do. You are spining someone elses spin.
I judge Obama on what I hear directly and in full context….
I don’t need to believe in someone elses spin.
I was for Kucinich. I might vote for Obama, I won’t vote for Hillary.
I agree with lpenek. It’s not that Bush lacked vision or was poor at managing important symbols. It was far deeper than the abstract/ephemeral arena — Bush’s damage and the Democrats’ acquiescence went deep into the socio-economic reality of this country.
So we’re THROUGH with talk and vision. Now is the time for action and substance.
Given that Obama missed a lot of votes in ‘07, courted AIPAC, and supported Liebermann, what are we to make of his actions?
Cynical old farts.
Is there any reason to be optimistic? The reality is Democracy is dead in America, corporations choose our candidates (like Obama), rhetoric rules, a steady decline in the life styles of the average American have occurred for three decades now, our government is responsible for the deaths of over a million innocent Iraqi’s, over 100,000 unnecessary operations are performed every year in America because of a profit based health care system, over 300 million guns are lying about with a country that still has the industrialized world’s highest murder rate, a class of poor that is below any rung of society in Western Europe, a nation that spends half of its tax dollars on the military and homeland security, an illiteracy rate and general ignorance of the general populace that is lower than that of many third world countries (or of Americans in 1776!) and a culture of consumerism that is accelerating the destruction of our environment with no end in sight.
What’s there to be cynical about?
Yet here comes along a new politician with a short and dubious track record (he caved in to the medical industrial complex in Illinois) who talks all about change and hope while never mentioning the publics true opponent (predatory corporations) or the solutions required to reverse this nasty state of affairs.
Voting for Obama is like voting for Britney Spears.
“but because we are acting and mobilizing and creating our own reality. Candidates and Presidents will only follow us if we lead.”
In John Steinbeck’s novel , “The Moon Is Down”, the German-Nazy commandant whose troops were occupying a small un-named Norwegian town threatened to execute the mayor and councillors in turn if the railway saboteurs were not fingered . It may be Hollywood but the mayor and council quietly replied that he would be forced to execute the entire population because each citizen would step forward and become mayor. Such was the community spirit and the phenomenon that every citizen had service and leadership skills .
This idea completely dumbfounded the commanding officer whose military background programmed him to command unquestionably from the top down : If he was removed , his inferior officer would less capable than he and so on down the chain of command . The idea that ANY soldier under his command would be as brilliant as he was completely unthinkable.
I can’t find the above quotation’s author but in nut-shell she/he is saying like John Steinbeck , Americans , never mind who is elected , get off the couch and be the change you want to make , one town at a time .
PJD,
Thanks for posting the letter.
I must say that Obama is not being even handed at all in this letter.
There is no urging for talking about a cease fire between Israel and Hamas.
The only way to win war in modern times is to end war.
I hope Obama keeps to the promise of talking to enemies… if he wants to find Osama, talking to him about a cease fire would be the best way to find out where he is and if he is even still alive or a ghost…
If none of the candidates come clean on this, I may cast my protest vote… We got about 9 months …We’ll see.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal under the following citation:
Have we gotten to the point where we have so little respect for our brave soldiers that no one thinks it’s a significant difference between Obama and JFK that JFK was a real hero and Obama is just a blathering speech-maker?
Will some contributors please re-read my post on Kennedy. (he was called “Camelot”) Kennedy was a warmongering imperialist who brought humanity to the brink of destruction. So my fear is that Obama might very well be a Jack Kennedy.
Barf!
Anytime I see a candidate trying to be JFK, I just want to barf. Because that alone tells me they are a shallow phony. They are such a phony that they can’t stand on their own two legs, but have to instead pretend to be a long dead President.
Obama is all smoke and mirrors. He’s full of lots of nice sounding talking about ‘hope’ and ‘change’ and not being divisive. But there’s nothing underneath. He doesn’t say why we should have hope with him in charge. He won’t say how things will change with him in charge.
Surely a candidate that just spread BS around and won’t say what he’ll actually do should be regarded as highly dangerous.
And there are clues that this is very dangerous. The corporate money that’s backing him, and that you know he won’t disappoint. And the fact that when he slams people for being divisive, its always the left he slams. Its always those evil 60’s that are bad. That last time that the people in the country really tried to stand up and stop corporate rule, that’s Obama’s example for what’s bad and he what he wants to stamp out and prevent.
He never speaks of the divisiveness of the right. The horrible splitting of this nation into rich and poor. He never calls that excessive. In fact he walks around talking about what a wonderful uniter Ronald Reagan was.
This man is all smoke and mirrors and a new face put on the same old corporate rule. Be happy with your Obama puppet replacing the Dubya puppet. Even pretend he looks like your old JFK doll in the closet that’s getting a little worn from time. But don’t fool yourself that this man isn’t a puppet. Just the very basic fact that he refuses to tell you what he really wants to do as President should scare you badly.
I like Caroline Kennedy! To think that what we have today is the result of what we lost yesterday is telling. If we are to have a new day as Caroline states, it will be because americans get up off thier asses and do something. Take a stand, notice that homeless guy and actually do something to create equality and justice.
Obama is the face on a very skillful campaign. He plays on the fact that most people just see in a Pres candidate what they want to see. In this sense, they’ve mastered the propaganda techniques that Bush used. Just a small example: a majority of people who voted for Bush think that he supports Kyoto.
Obama is very good at this. He throws lots of words out that test well with the pollsters and the focus groups. “Hope” and “Change”, etc. While doing this, he’s careful never to spoil anyone’s illusions. So to all voters he always looks like what they want to see. He looks good, and he sounds good. And he rarely says anything of substance that could break anyone’s illusions. So people see what they want to see.
He steals the rythyms of a black preacher. Thus people hear that and think he’s another MLK Jr.
Thus its no surprise that a Kennedy sees JFK. Everyone sees what they want to see. And JFK is what a Kennedy would want to see.
But Obama never talks about the poor or poverty.
Obama is better than Clinton and might be able to energize people enough to elect him..but I suspect Hilary will get the nomination because of the Bradley effect and her connections.
Then she will most likely lose to the Republican especially if its McCain. I have this weird feeling we are going to see an “incident” october surprise courtesy of Bush as a gift to McCain.
alt January 27th, 2008 7:44 am
It seems with his victory in South Carolina, Obama is now the “new inevitability” - for however long that will last
The vitrol on this site is beyond belief.
Mighty Whitey just can’t stand Barack on Any level.
well, I voted for my first African American President yesterday and I’m PROUD to have done so!!
The Clintons, like the Bushes need to go away, please. We are tired of you, please MOVE ON OR GET OUT THE WAY… PLESAE, GO AWAY!!!
I regret that some of my fellow “progressives” (and the righties who come on CD to contribute “junk” messages) feel the need to slam a personality or bring up what is really very unimportant details when someone like Ms. Kennedy writes such an important piece. This article is her opinion, her belief. I value what the Kennedy family has meant to America, the sacrifices they made. Who amongst us can throw the first stone? Who amongst us can say OUR family did so much for America? Do your research, people.
And as I said, this article is Ms. Kennedy’s opinion, her belief. She is an extremely well educated woman, and I’m willing to listen.
Side note: I have her book, A Patriot’s Handbook, on my computer table. I have dial up so while I wait for this slow machine to work, I read some of the book. It’s excellent.
Peace, people. And remember - it begins with each of us.
Juliann
Senator Obama:
You have brought me over to your camp. I had been for Kucinich because of the war and the impeachment movement he was leading. Then he moved his support for you and I was mystified, and decided to support Edwards. I have been fighting with my conscious because I could not understand how Kucinich could be for you and why I was so angry at all of the politicians. Edwards has a good message about the poor and forgotten working families. But now, I have been listening more closely to you, and have found peace in my heart, because you reached me with your message of unity, irregardless of color, financial status, or gender. Most of all your example of steering clear of the false assumptions you listed in your So. Carolina victory speech is the leadership that I can follow. You have my vote, and my pledge to work for your election come November. I urge the Mexican American voters in California to do the same. Afterall, we have the same concerns that men and women, White, Black, Brown and Yellow or Red, have. And one more thing, Californios and anyone else that is reading this: haven’t the years of George W. Bush, and Bush senior, with their token bad appointments because of color or ethnicity, reflected badly on us all? Isn’t it better that we have leaders who look beyond our color, language, creed, and gender, and treat us all as the Americans we all are? Vote for Barak Obama in your primary and in November.
OBAMA IS A REPUBLICAN BAIT, why democrats don’t get it? No Candidate of the left has ever made it in an American Election. Obama is not electable in the American heatland the support of Kennedys for him would be another nail in Democratic Party’s chances of winning the next election. With demcrats divided, and Clintons in disarray there seems Republicans are the only winners. Just like in the past a minority party of organized true believers has been successful to fool the disorganized Democrats that they should vote with their liberal hearts rather than a strategy to win the presidency and get the vote of over 100,000,000 of voting white moderate Americans.
REF: Rule #3: Don’t sell a corporate agenda with the language of grassroots social movements. When you get into office, represent us – not the corporations or the rich. Be that rare public servant that says what they mean and does what they say.
I am extremely concerned about Obama’s relationship with corporate America. He has accepted many of their large donations and therefore will be baholding to their agendas. At this point in time, we are in dire need of someone who will side with “we the people” and NOT with “we the corporations and the wealthy”.
Ok everybody doesn’t like somone BUT Obama is the best chance we are going to have this season to get somone that mostly says the rite things and can win so get behind him.
I would vote for Mr Dressup over Captain Kangaroo - and the Friendly Giant as Vice President. I can picture that warm fireplace right now.
Bigjoe - that is a damning article on Obama’s war stance. The problem is that the “Evil reptilian kitten-eater from another planet” is presently Premier of Ontario - his real name is Dalton McGuinty. I tell you, what works one place is often tried elsewhere.
Premier=Governor
RE: - Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things.
Brian Mulroney also had that “special ability” - you can hear it when he speaks - like Obama and Kennedy - larger than life:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071212/mulroney_testifies_071213/20071213/
RE: - Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar.
Now I know Carolyn is just blowing smoke out of her ear. The message is “Don’t worry your pretty little head about the issues, they are not important!”
Wasn’t Kennedy close to the rat pack? I am not talking specifically about being associated with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin or Sammy Davis Jr but wasn’t the Corporate Mafia involved some how? My memory is very vague on this issue.
RE: - If truth be told Bill Clinton was more like JFK, however Bill could never match JFK’s record with respect to the excesses of prescription drugs and sexual experimentation.
So you are saying that “Hillary Primary Aftermath (3:07)” depicts JFK moreso than it depicts Bill?
http://www.sketchcom.com/seasons/season15/080111.html
There is also a spoof of the three party leaders trying to cry like Hillary but on this week’s episode rather than last week’s.
BTW - what do you know of the sex lives of Canadian Politicians? I’m sure we’ve done worse!
RE: - The kind of “inspirational hope” Obama has given us this far is based purely on his rhetorical abilities, as was JFK’s. When Barack gives specifics, he’s far less inspiring
That is why I recommend the Mulroney test - Mulroney , like Reagan, was a master at this type of emotional manipulation. I can just picture the stereotypical American watching the interrogation of Mulroney and wondering why we are being so mean to such a wonderful honest man. But I am starting to wonder whether this stereotype of Americans being easily lead by rhetoric is wrong. Is it?
RE: - Obama’s keynote address at the 2004 DEM convention was the first time I felt hope and pride for my country in a long, long time. This nation desperately needs that kind of leadership. Obama seems to have a sense of the goodness of this nation.
I watched that live too. It was inspirational, but there were parts of it that started to slip dangerously close to right-wing rhetoric - at the time I thought I was imagining things with that observation. I got the impression then that Obama was not just offering a better future but blaming the poor for their situation - that they did not work hard enough or were not inspired enough or did not take advantage of opportunities enough - but it was mixed with the truth that we can all do a bit better that we are. There was an internal battle at the time whether this talk was more motivational or more blame - and I decided it was more of the former but could not completely dismiss the latter.
RE: - I wonder if it is the same folks who were sayin vote for Dennis are now sayin Obama can’t win.
It is probably only the Obamites that are spreading that message hoping to benefit from the back-lash against it. I have to admit that the idea of a Black President or a Woman President is sexy - it makes us feel good about ourselves as a nation and morally superior to other nations who have never had a Black President or a Woman President. But Obama is no El-Farouk Khaki (wikipedia) - there is no substance behind him.
RE: - Well Caroline I must say I believe you have been duped. There is more to leadership than a deep voice projecting empty platitudes.
Maybe Carolyn believes that tax cuts for the rich will save the world - they will definitely benefit the people she grew up knowing. Why do we always assume that those doing the duping are being duped!
RE: - Actually, Obama wants to increase defense spending. He wants to add 65,000 troops to the Army and recruit 27,000 more Marines. Why? To fight terrorism.
Let’s ignore the fact that if one was really interested in fighting a war against terror, one would be recruiting more police officers rather than more soldiers and putting the NRA on the list of terrorist organizations.
Let’s focus instead on Obama’s failure to distinguish between COMBAT missions and peace-keeping or disaster relief missions. What is important is not just how much one spends on the Military but what one spends it on. I would like to see Military uniforms being both more comfortable and more bullet proof because that would be useful no matter what the mission. And you do need special aircraft if you are going to deliver food packages to places where the places to land are not so good.
The only way to beat the republicans is at thier own game. Don’t play fair. If you work for a corporate whore, quit and figure out something else to do. Working harder for a corporate pig just makes the pig fat. Work smart or not at all.
We have nothing to fear but the Clintons themselves.
This is an election about who we are, who we want to be. If America does not regain its can-do, we’re in it together, no man is an island spirit in its greatest traditions, it will soon fade into a shadow of its former self. Here is an analysis of the latest on the Clintons versus Obama. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/27/14512/4399/221/444226
REF: Obama is full of lots of nice sounding talk about ‘hope’ and ‘change’ and not being divisive. But he never says why we should have hope with him in charge. He won’t say how things will change with him in charge.
Obama has refused to tell us the exact changes he will make and how he will bring about these changes. All we hear is he will bring change. We need specifics. We need to see his blueprint for change in order that “we the people” can make an informed decision. Edwards has layed his plan out on the table in great detail for all of us to see and examine. Now we need to see the exact plans for both Obama and Clinton. Both of them have spoken in great generalities. The time has now come for each of them to get very specific. Then and only then can “we the people” make an informed decision of who we believe will be the best person to be the leader of the free world.
PJD. Thanks for your posts. I remember vividly being in elementary school and having our teacher explain what we were to do when the sirens would blare during the Bay of Pigs debacle.
The drills, you must hide under your desks chidren, if in the hallway back against the wall and hunker down, children. When outside you hit the dirt, throw your body face down on the ground and DO NOT MOVE!
The fear we had, our parents would never be able to get us in time if it ACTUALLy occured. We were frightened and given to a PTD reaction after, I am frightened to this day by those memories. We had a Bomb shelter, remember them?, 3 miles away, we had our supplies at the ready.
No I do not ever want that to happen again, I will never vote for a pro-death penalty, pro-Israel, pro-Reagan talklabout, not ever.
“Who do you want to nuke, Barack?”
Barack replies,
“Nobody, right now.”
You gotta love that disclaimer, “right now”
The only thing I really like about him is that he was the only candidate that would speak to or acknowledge Mike Gravel’s presence.
If you look at his backers and financial support he looks little better than Clinton. In this aspect he has some appeal to me because he hasn’t be around long enough to be as corrupted as Clinton.
Somebody please tell me what he has really done to stop all this imperialist warmongering?
He supports ethanol production! This is just another scheme to concentrate energy production, starve more people, and pollute the environment further.
Heck, I’d vote for Ron Paul before Obama but he’s just another lousy SOB that admires reagan too. I might cast a vote in Obama’s favor but only to try to thwart another declared republican presidency. It seems like by the time the general election gets here we’ll only have a closet republican and a declared republican from which to choose.
So much for real change. Bill Clinton and George Bush gave us plenty of change. I don’t know if the world can stand much more change.
Apologize for grammatical errors, keyboard broken, working with half real keyboard and the rest I am using a virtual keypad. ‘PTSD and children’, it should read. As well as ‘talkabout’. sorry
Jacob Freeze -
“Have we gotten to the point where we have so little respect for our brave soldiers that no one thinks it’s a significant difference between Obama and JFK that JFK was a real hero and Obama is just a blathering speech-maker?”
I got to that point in 1960, when I left the military (some of the dumbest and most belligerent people I have ever met) and returned to the real world. The military credential as a political litmus test just beggars reason. Please explain to me how finding yourself getting shot at in some foreign jungle, or getting that zillion-to-one opportunity to act like John Wayne, somehow confers upon you the intelligence, the education, the moral aptitude, the political skills, the vision to become an effective president. If we are going to test and compare the candidates, let’s put them all on torpedo boats, open fire on the whole batch at once, and see who gets the JFK bravery medal. Then let’s see who gets the best grade in world history and who can pass freshman English. Let’s see who can name the most foreign heads of state or describe the major logical fallacies or win the most support for a social initiative without bribery or bullying. Let’s not forget diplomacy skills and conversance with foreign languages and cultures. And enough IQ points to grasp legal principles. And enough wisdom not to dismiss what you don’t understand as fictitious or threatening. Maybe even some creativity and compassion.
The job of soldiery is duty, pure and simple. The brain of a soldier contains a list of gung ho imperatives. Soldiers do what they are told. They are not called upon to create a better world, but to barge into the shell blasted, chlorine reeking battlefields inherited from their soldier fathers. Their courage is part of the brute ammo that we hurl at the enemies we accrue when virtues like the ones listed above have gone missing. Soldiers like John McCain who believe that the world needs military solutions are advocating for the reptilian part of human nature, the bloody, combative, inertia that has taken us through our murderous history to the brink of nuclear annihilation. To hell with soldiers.
A Very interesting article and comments. The bottom line is, we’ll most likely have a Republican president again if Obama or Hillary are the Democratic candidate. For a running mate? Forget Edwards, he pooped in his mess kit, by running TV ads saying he is the only one of the three who is adult enough to be the president. How could he now support either of them and be credible? __ He couldn’t. I can see the Republican TV ads smearng that sceniro. I dunno, it don’t look good to me. Obama is on a roll and now Ted K has also endorsed him and he is a great orator. Hillary has a few major problems.
There are too many problems when we allow inspiration to guide our selection of presidents when one considers the mentality of voters who are most susceptible. Consider Regan: demolition of rational environmental programs, idiotic statements (”Mr Gorbechev tear down that wall”)econimic blunders.
Then, Bush 2– unprecedented environmental sellouts , character assinations, this ill conceived war, mission accompolished, and the list goes on.
Need I say more.
PJD, I’m glad you pointed that out. JFK didn’t stop the Vietnam conflict, in fact he turned up the heat with American “advisors,” and how many times did we try and off Castro?
If the Kennedy’s want to help they can start by giving away their fortunes and living like the rest of us.
As a young man, I thought the world would change after Kennedy acquired office. That didn’t happen, but events seemed to be moving in a positive direction. Unfortunately that election and its outcome is the exception rather than the rule.
I find the vitriol from Camp Clinton very revealing. Hillary had her chance to make a break from her husband’s style of politics, but she chose not to, even using many of the same people we came to despise for their hyper-partisan (if not outright lying) ways years ago. Her character is forever marked by her choice of these unworthy tactics.
Who would be the better president as concerns the war in Iraq? George W. Bush himself has endorsed Hillary on this point. Is there anything more to say?
I recall that the relatively unknown Bill Clinton was largely elected on hope and proved, to very many of us, to be a big disappointment as president: his (and Hillary’s) out-of-touch read on healthcare reform; his misplaced foreign policy priorities; his failure to build a strong Democratic governing coaltion; and, last but not least, his “permanent campaign” governing stye.
By contrast, Sen. Obama really seems to “get it.” He has a track record of accomplishing bipartisan reform. He is not burdened by the ideological battles of the sixties, or the tired, old politics of the Clinton era.
And, of course, I have not yet even mentioned the well-documented problems in Bill Clinton’s personal life or his troubled marriage to Hillary. Is it just me, or have we not had just about enough finger-wagging from ‘ol Bill?
True, the econmomy eventually performed very well in the nineties. Bill (with a big assist from Bill Gates) did get some things right. But look at the flawed trade deals (the lack of environmental and labor provisions) he signed. And recall, too, that our current subprime mega-crisis stems directly from the decision by Bill Clinton and Bob Rubin to deregulate the banking industry, removing longstanding New Deal protections.
“Perhaps Dr. Dryasdust may rail at the emotionalism that in a dramatic moment blots out the record of a man’s factual achievements and over-writes the page with poetry; but he will rail in vain. Wiser men than Dryasdust will not rail. Instead, they will weigh the wisdom of him who, if he were allowed to write the songs of a nation, cared not who wrote its laws. There are times in the history of a people when a symbol is worth more than a sage; and there is much reason to believe that Americans are living through such a moment. We have acquired wealth and power beyond the dreams of the men who founded the nation; but that we still possess the high hearts of the group that met in Philadelpha long ago is, to put it mildly, open to doubt.”
“… when a nation has gained a symbol that can release the generous impulses of its young men and women it is fortunate beyond comparison.”
[From “The Legend of John F. Kennedy,” by Gerald W. Johnson, (c) 1963, The New Republc; (c) 1964, Caedmon Records, Inc.]
The article is more of the usual American BS (and stupidity, infantility, etc.), and not that this is meant in any negative sense about or towards Obama, but that Ms Kennedy’s words are poppy-crap bs.
All the present candidates say that they will consider military solutions “to protect American interests”. They do not elaborate what these interests are. I see these interests as protecting the American corporations who are all over the world raping and pillaging the earth for its natural resources, stealing these natural resources from the local citizens, ruining their environment, dislocating local citizens who are in their way, exploiting third-world people for cheap labour, buying puppet governments, etc. etc.
The first step towards avoiding terrorist attacks and earning respect from the world is to apologize for all their plundering, pillaging and killing - their imperialism - throughout American’s history.
The next step is to crack down on all these corporations (and government agencies protecting them) and allowing other countries to determine their own destinies.
The present candidates continue to perpetuate the myth that America became “great” by its own ingenuity and hard work. The “greatness” came through imperialistic/militaristic exploitation of other countries and people. (not to mention their own people - the slaves of yesteryear, drug companies making a killing off sick people, the likes of Walmart corporation, the banks, - the list of corruption and exloitation is just too long) The greedy quest for profit is not just harming citizens of other countries - it is harming American citizens as well.
So whenever I hear any of the candidates say “we will protect American interests” I see them as lackeys for the corporations.
obama’s a power freak, who wants to massively increase the military and maintain the military occupation of the ME. read his own words:
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86401-p40/barack-obama/renewing-american-leadership.html
hang a sword over all their necks: email Kucinich and ask him to stand as a write-in candidate.
reply@kucinichforcongress.com
I really should not take the bait, but when someone writes something as ignorant as “”If the Kennedy’s want to help they can start by giving away their fortunes and living like the rest of us,”" I have to respond.
I believe it was on a Wayne Dyer tape that I heard that if all the money in the world (and yes, yours also, ‘theleverer’) were divided equally amongst all the people in the world … within 2 years the once wealthy would be wealthy again, and the once poor would be poor again. That’s because the ambitious will continue to be ambitious; and the lazy will continue to be lazy. (And don’t think I have ANY illusions about Joe Kennedy Sr because I do not.)
I am a secretary, always have been. When I have more bills to pay, I take on a second job, just as the men and women I have always worked for have worked 60-90 hour weeks to get where THEY are.
Stop whining, Americans. STOP WHINING! Get out there and make something of yourselves. Get an education. Work smart. And give back to society!!! For a bunch of people who whine so much about crass commercialism, an awful lot of responders on CD sure do want something for nothing.
Juliann,
Yes, Miss America. That’s a good girl. Pull up your own bootstraps. But what if you don’t have any boots? What if someone stole them? Who would hire a bare-footed secretary?
That depends upon how big her boobs are.
Obama is likeable and especially attractive to the young, to minorities, and to the ignorant. Actually, it doesn’t matter who gets the ticket, but I hope it’s not another 8 years of Republican cowards who fail to vote for children’s health or to opt for getting out of Iraq. As for Kennedy, we all need a refresher course regarding his Bay of Pigs, and Viet Nam. I prefer Ike. Think we will ever get a President that has principles according to our Constitution? Not if Kucinich and others like him are barred from the media and vote.
Juliann,
Yeah, and the salary from your second job (which you work on weekends or after getting home from your workday 10 hours later) GOES ALL TO TAXES! I know — I’ve been there! And what do you mean “WHEN” you have bills to pay. When is there NOT bills to pay? Do you pay rent, pay utilities, car repairs, food, etc? And get an education?? With what money from a secretarial salary pays for that?! I know — I tried and got into debt up to my ears!
Just because things are going your way at this moment, don’t think you are above hitting rock bottom. You people never think of the way other people’s lives are — just as long as it’s good for YOU, you feel fit to judge everyone else. So stop GLOATING that you think you’ve got it all together. Nothing is for certain in this world, and your job can be gone tomorrow and, in this market, you could find yourself interviewing your socks off with no offers in sight.
Sweet girl. Touching column. And the clearest thinking I have read today.
Jeez, I’m sorry, Caroline, but I don’t *want* a president like your father.
I can’t help myself - a few more pieces of advice for Obama: (Mind you, this and previous advice is about winning and doesn’t necessarily always, always reflect my political views. Like, for instance, I’m against greenwashing. More about me.)
- Make your campaign 100% green like those major music shows of late. (Carbon offsets for all those plane rides[yuck], no more gas guzzling SUV’s or big buses, all things recycled, solar power at your events, etc.) The publicity will make up for the difference in $ for ads - which people mostly hate btw. There might not even be a difference in money, so you can buy ads about your green campaign.
- Propose a Century of Education - 7 generations. All public institutions and initiatives should have a focus on education. Call it a grand human experiment, connect with world leaders and provide the leadership and challenge them to do the same. It’s time the world’s priorities change in a way that’s reflected in some significant percentage of the world’s economy going towards relevant educational opportunities for everyone for the next century.
ipenek / gyptian
It’s amazing to me that you’re able to casually dismiss millions of people with your stupid generational generalizations.
l. silvertongue
Jeez, I’m sorry, Caroline, but I don’t *want* a president like your father.
———
Geez there is a lot of Kennedy bashing on here. And not surprising given the systematic trashing of Kennedy by Chomsky and COckburn. I used to believe these two. Then I did something dangerous for official leftists: I actually read books about the Kennedy administration and the Kennday assassination. SInce then I have read about 300 books about the assassination but more to do with the structure of the cold war, intelligence and media.
Chomsky and Cockburn are simply wrong. This is not to say that there are not plenty of bellicos sounding things and actions that JFK undertook. BUT THEY NEVER TALK ABOUT THE PERMANENT NSC AND INTELLIGENCE AND MILITARY BUREACRACY that jfk ran up aganst. Go ahead and read Common Dreams contributor Gareth Porter’s The Perrils of Dominance. Read Prof John Newman’s JFK and Vietnam, Read David Kaisers JFk and vietnam book, read the Howard Jones Oxford University book on JFK and Vietnam. ALl of them say the JFK WAS VERY LIKELY GOING TO pull out of Vietnam. Jones intro even states he went into the research proving he was going to prove the oppostie.
Or you could belive newsweek magazines cover stroy from 1991 on JFK, a movie that was reviewed six months before the movie came out.
Kennedy is not easy to understand. Recall the the CIA was 13 years old when he came to power. Eight of those years it was given free reign under Eisenhower. Think about THAT when you think of JFK s situaiton.
There is a reason why Chomsky and Cockburn ONLY want to talk about the Missile Gap campaign of kennedy in 1960. Otherwise they would have to talk about the MUCH MORE COMPLICATED kennedy vs Permanent inte an millitary buroc, interactions that occured during two of the most DENGEROUS AND CONTENTIOUS MOMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY: The Cuban Missisle Crisis and the Bay of Pigs.
Anyone who REALLY reads about the ACTUAL KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION from actual historians knows that the Chomsky and Cockburn line is a gross simplification and a gross distortion. When one reads about the history of left-gatekeeping CIA connected magazines like Encounter and the similarity to The nation,….. well there are more !
Also another very usefull book is James Carrol s House of War. There has been so much disinformation published about kennedy. Yes he was in many ways as bloody as most other prez, but that is only the third of it. You HVE TO READ ABOUT BETWEEN 1961 AND 63. Also read Joan Mellens book . Go to good leftist Ralph Schenmans site called TakingAimRadio.
The left-gatekeepers have created a straw-dog about the kennedy assassination.
The new book published by Harvard U Press in March by David Kaiser will put Chomsky and Cockburn to shame. And by the way I am a great admierer of the Chomper, except for his categorically insane comments about JFK.
Like Pandora, I, too, would like to believe in hope and sometimes it seems all that’s left in America. No doubt the charismatic OBAMA is capitalizing on that. I feel skeptical. If he’s the only choice besides McCain, well that will not leave me or the rest of us with much room.
Great posts: ALEX NOSAL, CO MARC, BIG JOE, NOTSONAIVE
and VOXCLAMANTIS: Damn, you’re good! Love your writing lately!
Hillary is the one who’s been beaten up so much she’s actually had to take a position and own up to it. No one is forcing Barack to say what changes he’ll make or how he’ll lead. I did not start out as a Hillary fan; I was undecided. Now I’m becoming a Hillary fan because my long latent feminist anger is being aroused. If Barack weeps, he’s being passionate, if Hillary weeps,she’s either too weak to be president or she’s being a phony. In this country we really haven’t come to terms with what we expect from women. Many claimed to hate Bill for his womanizing ways yet those same people seem to hate Hillary, supposedly the victim of Bills’ philandering ways, even more than they hate Bill. She can’t win because women are not judged by the same standards as men. Third World Muslim nations have elected women as their leaders but I fear we’re not evolved enough to do that here in the USA
Jiliann,
Among the industrial nations, only in the US do people have to work 60-90 hours a week to “get ahead”. Please get this dreadful American Horatio Alger nonsense out of your mind! Do you thing ANY rich man - especially ones like Bush, EVER works as hard as your do?
Capitalism NEVER rewards hard work - it rewards selfishness and scheming-ruthlessness. As a socialst, there is one thing I would work 90 hours a week, and even take up arms and fight and die for - an economy that rewards solidarity and generosity - rather than greed, swindling and ruthlessness - where being good is the only way one can be. But I certainly won’t sell 3/4 of my sweat and being to a capitalist who will get rich while I get a few crumbs, dreaming of the day I can be a rich man exploiting others in the same way.
Can anyone write a better script? 8 FUTURE years of national rehabilitation by a man named Barack Huessein Obama to remind G.W. Bush and his Neocons of the ABOMINATION of Iraq; the ABOMINATION of killing the leader that they put in power; the ABOMINATION of having Poppy bush and Donald Rumsfeld providing Saddam Huessein with the gas he used on the Kurds, the ABOMINATION of KATRINA down in NAWLENS, the ABOMINATION that the Constitution is “just a Goddamn piece of paper”, the ABOMINATION that Americans should be wire tapped on phones and personal computers, the ABOMINATION that the media that uses the peoples air waves are an arm of a paranoid government…….thank you, REPUBLICANS, for ALLOWING ALL OF AMERICA TO EMBRACE YOUR OBAMA….NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hhillary Clinton will be George “dubbya” on steriods. Is there anyone out there who doesn’t believe that all of the powers he illegally usurped will only pave her with a golden precedent to continue to do the same? Who else besides a woman who has ALREADY been in the White House for eight years would feel as entitled as that madman whose father happens to be her husbands long time business partner?
Truthseeker (who wrote “”You people never think of the way other people’s lives are — just as long as it’s good for YOU, you feel fit to judge everyone else.”") and others - first of all, “Truthseeker,” I am not now nor have I ever been part of a group called “you people.” Try to get over your bigotry.
I’ve been working since I was 11 years old (boxing eggs); I was raised on welfare. I am now in my 57th year. I don’t believe in taking handouts. I wasn’t smart enough to finish a college education but I’m an excellent secretary. When I’ve been able, I’ve donated money here and there ($50 or so) to college freshmen and women to help defray their book costs. I believe in people and their ability to always raise themselves up. My mother, the daughter of an immigrant coal miner, raised us to believe that. Sometimes raising ourselves up has to do with living by our values and ideals, not material goods.
Yes, I pay rent, utilities, car repair, groceries … my last vacation was in 1989. I have no pension plan. I live alone with my cats. I have a disease that will take my life. I could do better financially. I could finish college, learn another skill. We could ALL do better. My message remains the same: Stop whining. Stop expecting someone else to take care of you. Do something for others when you can.
Just what do some of you who respond on CD want? And can you answer that without stating what you would take from others? Can you answer with what you would do that would build our nation up, that would build for the future, that would strengthen this country? I just don’t read it in many of the letters on here.
Stop looking for scapegoats and someone (like me) to snipe at. It does no one any good.
Peace.
Hate to have to stick a pin in the Obama balloon, but talking constantly and even inspirationally about hope and change won’t bring it about. The problems in this country are so deep-seated and entrenched that it will require perhaps two or more decades of sacrifice and a complete change of consciousness in the populace just to mend the damage done in the past three decades since Reagan became president. Just changing the American health care mess into something reasonable and affordable will be an incredibly painful process in which many, many thousands of people employed by the private insurers will have to find new work. Is the country ready for the sort of sacrifice that will be necessary? I don’t see any evidence of it. Rather I see a country divided into around 20% progressives, 50% confused centrists, and 30% proto-fascists. More likely is financial crash, mass confusion and panic, state-of-emergency and martial law declared and dictatorship here in the good old US of A.
Thank-you Juliann,
Like I wrote I am working for a society where people don’t have to resign themselves to a short life of hard toil like you have. Such a society that has at least partially been achieved in some other countries (Norway, France), so there is nothing impractical about it.
And, by necessity - it starts with making the rich and powerful (wealth and power are same thing) less rich and powerful.
Paul D.
Pittsburgh
Ginger - what do you think the odds are that Obama will actually tell us what he stands for before sub-prime Tuesday?
RE - I have a disease that will take my life.
I hope that you will not suffer much and be secure in the knowledge that your children and grand children will be ok.
RE: - Forget Edwards, he pooped in his mess kit, by running TV ads saying he is the only one of the three who is adult enough to be the president. How could he now support either of them and be credible?
Sometimes it is the right move to poop in one’s mess kit - and sometimes no one can tell the difference.
Hey we all know that Cheney has been like a father figure for GWB - that GWB’s purpose was to put a kinder gentler face on the policies of Cheney and his friends.
Why would Edwards want to be VP?
The big criticism of Gore’s environment policies is that he didn’t do more to implement them when he was VP. And the common answer was that he was muzzled so he couldn’t.
Being VP is only good for Edwards if the President lets him run things. Do you see either Hilarious or Bam Bam doing that!
thank you caroline kennedy for your thoughtful endorsement of obama,
i agree that he appeals to many as a human being who is energized and capable of leading all of us. this point is reinforced by recent polling showing obama faring better in the general against mccain (the republican candidate closest to the center / ie center right) think of a man in his mid 40’s, from a multi racial background running against a man in his 70’s whose ran for president several times. this contrast is being reflected in the recent polling (realpolitics.com polls). the democratic luminaries are supporting obama in hopes of broadening the democratic base (the youth). dean was effective (incorporating inet) and in many ways obama’s insurgent campaign is the resurgent manifestation of the dean campaign in 2004. in every race IA,NH,NV,SC thus far record amounts of democratic voters have turned out to vote. the question in november (as it will be framed for us by MSM) will be status quo experience (mccain/clinton) or undefined change (obama/edwards). yet as the convention approahes the party will solidify that policy, and the candidate will tow the dems line (hopefully edwards, who already has influenced the tenor of the discussion, will have input). at this point character will be critical, even the NYT’s acknowledged obama’s character in their endorsement of clinton .
cinton on the other hand brings intense (i believe intense is an understatement) scrutiny and animosity from all (rt,lft,cntr)don’t be surprised as the clintons continue to politically self destruct. we’re all waiting. act 1 scene 5
jullian- i also work, sustain myself, no kids, one cat; i try…….. but i disagree w/ w dyers statement that if all the wealth in the world was redistributed it would return to the hands of the few in a couple of years.
that’s ridiculous. 1. it’s never happened 2. it’s absurd to hypothesize what that world would look like without a radical reconception of what life is. however there are numerous examples of traditional peoples sharing and living in a more altruistic society.
vote your conscience in the primaries but if theres a brokered convention (ya notice how michigan and florida might be in play at a brokered convention, in clinton’s favor?) in denver, please encourage edwards to pledge his delegtes to obama to prevent a clinton coronation.
Just like Jesse Jackson, Obama will lose unless he gets specific with proposing what the majority of this country want, and while no one else is touching it. C’mon Barack, before it’s too late and you will never catch up. Right now, propose at least amending the Patriot Act, Homeland Security and the Military Commissions Act. And propose single payer health insurance. And also ending the blockade of Cuba. You’ll sweep the country with that. Hillary will have nothing to top those proposals. But you must state them first, before she gets a sniff of what they will mean to her campaign if she states them first.
When our system of government turns from rule by the will of the people through the usury power of money, hope will be crushed …as our free trade policy is doing diligently every single day of the year, every year.
Caroline Kennedy’s weighing in?
And we care because?
In the 90s, as impeachment clouds gathered, she wrote that column saying Bill Clinton should be impeached for sex. But she never mentioned, then or since, her own father’s sexual conduct. No one can bring that up to her, no one can ask her about that. It’s off limits.
Her whole life has been off limits. She’s done what exactly? Grow on Ari O’s dime. Oh, okay, that’s while I listen to her.
Her brother at least attempted to make contributions.
The other thing that really bothers me is that we keep hearing if Hillary gets elected it will be a dynasty. That may be a worthy complaint. But if we think so, why are we supposed to care what someone from the Kennedy dynasty thinks?
In a column she chose to write, she can’t outline one concrete reason why anyone should vote for Obama. I can’t figure out if she’s that dumb or she thinks we are?
But I really don’t worship at the Cult of Kennedy. I didn’t clip photos of her mother when she died (or of Princiess Di). Give me an endorsement from someone who matters because they’ve dedicated their lives to public service (elected office, etc.) or because they’ve been for workers. Don’t give me the ‘inspiration’ of a wealthy, well off heir because she or he will not speak to me.
Does Caroline have a crush on Obama?
Goal #1 is to get the neocons out of the White House. If Obama is an inspirational speaker, then more power to him. An Obama candidacy will have a problem with a certain set of single issue voters - white racists.
A lot of the criticism above is derived from the necessity to appeal to the audience in front if him. He can’t do anything of he doesn’t get elected. Lets vote for him and trust he brings in good people, builds a coalition in congress, and starts a restoration of our republic.
He is a clean slate. No room full of incriminating papers. No Whitewater or Rose Law firm scandals. No connection to the filthy rich power brokers. No sleazy sex scandals. He is less beholden to lobbyists than any other candidate. No religious litmus tests for public policy and scientific fact. He appears to be an intelligent, energetic, honest young man with great leadership capabilities who would run the government with passion, professionalism and respect for the people.
Well, one thing Obama has going for him that Clinton doesn’t,
he’s got the Kennedy family and John Kerry backing him.
But, he’s got right wing pundits like George Will, Andrew Sullivan, Robert Novak,
Chris Matthews (said to be a leftish), and Robert Kaplan.
Crazy world seeing them all together with the “youth vote” ta’boot. Crazy world having
Obama and Clinton being pitched as the only viable “democratic” candidates.
I feel for all the young people who eventually will get sucked up into all of this hype and convert,
“born again” into the role of a foot soldier for Empire. All this crap about the younger generation
being the bright tomorrow… god, help us. it’s all canned heat. don’t convert.
i’m not saying younger gen sucks, I’m saying the hard-sell to our younger friends is a con-
the hard-sell is the canned goods
must be late
~VAUDREE~ Evidently you don’t know how politics works here in America. The one selected by a party chooses a running mate, not a person to be the president, but one who is deemed most desirable to garner votes, __ it’s called a slate. Would Edwards wish to fill that role? Well, he did it last time, I don’t have a clue if he wants to this time, if he does, he messed up. Finally, you say it is sometimes desirable for one to poop in their mess kit. Really? __ For example?
Why is it, when I offer a mundane opinion, you almost always want to tell me I’m wrong? If I say up, you say down. You often write very good blogs and you also are often a busybody. __ Yackity-yak.
~BBR-001. I tend to agree with your last post, except you claim Obama has no skeletons in his closet. __ Really?
We’ll see, if he does, Hillary and Billy will be dragging them out for full view. Then if he wins the nominatin, The Repugs will drag them out again, and any others Hillary and Billy missed. The fact is, we don’t know much about Obama. I’ll say one thing, if he’s as good a man as he comes across in his speeches, he is a hell of a good man, a Statesman. We’ll see as time goes by. There will be tons of dirt thrown, we’ll have to determine if any is credible dirt. We may be very surprised.
This is really cute, you guys. All this oohing and ahhing over absolutely nothing. I must ask, exactly what on earth makes any one of you think that our votes matter? They didn’t the last two times, this one will be no different. It’s all well and good to speak of “Change” and “Hope for a new day”, but it just comes off like an old sick drunk at a tent revival, eyeing the communion wine as his wife tries to hide the bruises. Make the smart choice this year: stay home, turn off the TV, and pray you have a job in the morning.
zookini -
‘generational generalizations’ are the favourite topic of just about any political commenmtator especially in an election year.
Clearly it touched a nerve with you. So which one of the morons are you … the old geezer or sprightly teen ?? Lemme guess …
Maybe an alien? Maybe not.
My thanks to Caroline Kennedy. I think she is right about what the country needs, right about what she sees in Senator Obama. And so right about the importance of hope and direction for the young people of America. Apparently a huge number of people in South Carolina thought so too.
This country hovers on the edge of a precipice.
We owe our children a leader who will inspire them.
Stop bickering and start enabling this to happen.
A brave woman who lost her father in a terrible moment we all still wish did not happen puts herself in the public eye in behalf of her father’s legacy, and she is greeted by scorn?
We are better than that. Caroline, don’t mind them; we are better than that. I am so proud of you. You are your father’s daughter.
Another president with a thing for pills and swinging with multiple chicks; cool!
zookini,
I’ll stop generationally generalizing when the candidates do. A democracy is supposed to appeal to the needs of all citizens, but of course none of us are that naive. If you don’t think Hitlery and the Obaminable Snowman aren’t pouring over demographic Excel sheets you need to leave Dupesville, baby.
Kem Patrick:
I’m sure he is less than perfect. He might have a horrble presidency like Jimmy Carter’s, even with the best intentions. He does this a little, but its refreshing to have a candidate that h