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TechnoratiMorning Again in America
It's time to gush! Later for the analysis of all the hard choices faced by our next president, Barack Obama, but for now, let's just thrill, unabashedly, to the sound of those words. Heck, both he and we deserve a honeymoon, at least for a few paragraphs of this column.
It is "Morning Again in America," to reclaim and revise the slogan from the 1984 campaign of President Ronald Reagan, only this time the promise of an American renewal is in the hands of a moderate post-Cold War leader who embraces, rather than denies, the diversity and complexity of the modern world. It is difficult to imagine Obama ever asserting the arrogant jingoism that has come to mark Republican stewardship of this nation in the eyes of the world.
How refreshing for Americans to have elected a leader who was among the first to reject the imperial hubris that led this nation to invade Iraq over the objection of most of our allies. A leader who had the courage in the midst of a hotly contested primary election campaign to refuse to play the inveterate hawk in order to qualify as commander in chief, and instead had the audacity to advocate efforts at dialogue even with those we despise. The dead hand of Joe Lieberman has been lifted from the party that he betrayed. It is hoped it is also the end of the road for the neoconservatives who had rallied around John McCain as their last best hope for establishing a Pax Americana.
On the all-important domestic front, with our economy crumbling, it is reassuring that the man whom what's-her-name from Alaska derided as a "community organizer" does indeed have that background. It is not a guarantee that he will be mindful of those suffering most in this economic downturn as he turns to deal with the banking mess, but it is a start.
The Reagan Revolution of rampant deregulation of the economy in the interest of big business is over. Not because Obama has anything to do with the "socialist" label that the Republicans attempted to stick on him, but rather because a decisive role for the federal government is at the heart of the Bush bailout and the vastly expanded military economy a President Obama will inherit.
Big government is now officially a partial owner of big banks, and although we might bemoan that state of affairs, our collective credit card has already been swiped. The pressing issue is: What do we taxpayers get in return for bailing out Wall Street? Will the goal be to make the financial swindlers whole at the expense of ordinary homeowners? Or will it be the reverse of what the Bush administration has been doing? What is not in doubt, after the banking meltdown, is that the state will play a decisive role in the economy; what must be decided is: Whose interests will it serve?
If Obama turns to the Wall Street Democrats like Robert Rubin, the Clinton-era treasury secretary who led the crusade for deregulation, then he will betray his own fervently expressed concern for the fate of ordinary folks. The change we need is a divorce from the financial moguls who have dominated both parties. That's what progressive politics is all about.
We have a chance to move in that direction, thanks to the election of Obama. Not because the man himself is the second comingche, like all politicians, will have to be watched—but because of the movement he created around his candidacy, which I believe will hold him accountable.
The word of his victory came as I was making a brave effort to try to teach my large class at the University of Southern California, and from the cheering of students throughout our building as Obama reached the Electoral College delegate number needed to become president, you would have thought USC was just picked No. 1 in the BCS poll. Make no mistake about it, this is a victory of these students' generation—a generation that is no longer mired in the divisiveness and arrogance that had come to dominate the lives of their elders.
Politics will never be the same. The fat cats and back-office politicos are out, and grass roots—youthful and Internet-connected—will dominate in the future, as they did on Tuesday. President-elect Obama knows that, and, at least on this night, I fully expect him to be true to those who took him on this journey.
It is a night also to remember the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the man who did so much to make that journey possible, along with the other heroes of the civil rights movement like John Lewis and Jesse Jackson, who did so much to keep hope alive.
25 Comments so far
Show AllYes, yes, yes, we expect Obama to be the go-along-to-get-along company man. When business as usual gets its way, we grumpy cynics will rock on our porches and crow, "I told you so".
Here's the deal. Something good happened. There are human beings in the world that will live longer because McCain and the neocons will not be bombing them.
We have a victory to celebrate. The neocons have been defeated. However they have not been eliminated. They are still lurking and plotting to seize power again. Our efforts should be directed at removing those vile thugs from our government and preventing them from ever influencing national policy again.
We have another victory as well. McCain will not be appointing more right wingers to the Supreme Court. This is the other great difference that will mean something very real soon enough.
We have a long struggle ahead to slow the creep of fascism. It could be a lot worse.
It's morning in America, and time to get to work.
http://davedubya.com
It is my belief that the problems before the world population are too big to be corrected in time to stop a massive extinction of humankind.
Mr. Obama, though a just and kind man, cannot free him self from the controlling forces which, I believe, brought us to this brink.
We are doomed; but it is entertaining.
Day One on my odyssey to keep Obama from turning into a dud:
Job #1 for Obama:
Hire Dean Baker as your economy person! One of the few economists who saw the Crisis coming! Remember, Mr. Pres. --Wall Street is not the people's (aka Main Street) friend!
Say no to the Clinton Wall Streeters who were at least half responsible for the Crisis. Say no to Rubin, Summers... Also say no to the University of Chicago Milton Friedmanites...
Might as well say no to the neo-cons as well--Dennis Ross, et. al
Dr Wu, the last of the big-time thinkers
Good points. Maybe James Galbraith for Secretary of the Treasury. I can't speak to Dean Baker as I haven't heard of him. Definitely agree about Summers, Rubin and no more Friedman trickle down or shock doctrines and no neocons. And no more Reagan, Gramm, Clinton deregulation. Unfortunately, Rahm Emanuel is a bad omen.
While I'm savoring Obama's victory I must say it isn't quite morning again in America. For our Gay and Lesbian citizens it isn't morning again in America. Once again an election has provided them, not with comfort, but a slap in the face. For thousands of unemployed Americans it isn't morning again in America. For the innocent in prison and facing death it isn't morning again in America.
I don't see the real morning in America in my lifetime.
Thank you for speaking up for gay people, among others. We've been screwed - again. Oh, yes, I am bitter, even as I hold out some hope that Obama can somehow fix this mess. I got very little comfort from this election, except for the following quote, which I found in another CD article:
"Andrew Sullivan, the Atlantic Magazine columnist and blogger, and a long-time advocate of gay marriage, said it best at the end of a long, moving, and bittersweet night: 'We must never let popular votes affect our own internal sense of our worth, our equality, our dignity as human beings. Our marriages are real; all that is at issue is whether a majority will recognise them in law. The next generation already does. We shall overcome.'"
You're welcome. I have believed for a long time that gays and lesbians should have the chance to have their loving unions legally recognized like my wife and I have had ours legally recognized.
Some of the same sex couples just married in CA have been together for 30, 40, even 50 years. I can only imagine what vindication they have felt to know that their relationships were now just as valid. Now it might be taken away. I couldn't even come close to thinking how it would feel for my parents to be told their marriage wasn't valid after 46 years.
Help reduce the deficit - TAX CHURCHES!
I'm not clear why so many of you are complaining about Scheer's comments. All he is saying is that we have a better chance with Obama than with McCain to push for populist vs. corporatist policies. He's not saying that Obama will make this change. Some of you may be right that there is no chance but it's just a matter of how much time you give to make a judgment.
I'm hoping but am also a bit skeptical. Rahm Emanuel for Chief of Staff is not a good sign. Obama's failure to address change in the underlying philosophy on foreign policy, support of FISA, support of faith-based funding and backtracking on offshore drilling, "clean" coal and nuclear energy are also other indications. But we need to see what he actually supports.
For those of us who want more progressive policies, we have to find a way to put pressure on him and the Dems. It will be difficult with all the corporate influence and the Blue Dog Dems but we should try to be involved to whatever degree we can rather than concede the philosophy or sit back and hope for the best. And, of course, each of us will have our own tolerance for which issues and to what degree we will accept compromises. The fate or our democracy may depend on what we do and what actually happens.
It should be easier for us to influence him than for the corporations, given that so much of his campaign cash came from individual citizens giving less than $100. We just have to make sure we keep up the pressure.
I was very doubtful about Obama, for all the reasons you mention and I only voted for him because I'm a yellow dog. I guess we'll see.
I also was dismayed by the choice of Rahm Emanuel, the DLCer, but the Chief of Staff is supposedly there to keep the staff in line, which he probably can do. On the bright side it takes him out of Congress;-)
Your second paragraph corrects the error in your first: i.e., that we have a chance of pushing progressive policies with Obama in the White House. Obama's policies will be set by the people who financed his enormously expensive campaign, and they are not progressives, I assure you.
As I tried to indicate, you may be right. I'm just saying that with McCain, there was no chance and with Obama, we may have a chance. But we need to try to hold his feet to the fire. I'm sure he received a lot of corporate money but he also received a lot of grassroots money. With proper pressure and his desire for a second term, he may be more susceptible to the influence of we the people. We have to at least try before conceding defeat.
Also, while the corporatists may be less willing to change our arrogant and hypocritical foreign policy, they may want to tone down the militarism and advocate more diplomacy. Also, they may be more willing to support the restoration of our Constitution, accept some regulation and address the environment and global warming. We have to wait and see and everyone must decide for themselves if they are okay with the compromises.
Whatever the chances, this is probably our best in a long time.
THANK YOU ! I wished more people would learn to understand these realities rather than jump to conclusions so hastily.
Terrance Mitchell
Redfield, South Dakota
Who will bell the cat?
To invoke another RR favorite: let's trust but verify. BO is still a Big Corp Favorite, don't forget...
Meanwhile, the big question is: which "charity" gets Palin's $150,000 worth of designer duds?
A Christian one, naturally. Probably one that forces women to have children instead of access to abortion.
-----------------------------------
I think, therefore I am dangerous.
Yep, its a great day for Americans.
Joshua Bolten, George Wanker Bush's chief of staff, supposedly comes into the Offal Office every morning and says to The Great One, "Thank you for the privilege of serving." What the Wanker wants served now is a long row of shot glasses filled with Jack Daniels. Keep on drinkin', you MoFo, float out of Warshington on a fragrant cloud of alcohol fumes and don't ever ever come back. Perhaps you will now grace the nation by committing suicide with Saddam Hussein's pistol which you love carrying around and showing to everybody.
Sioux Rose
MORDECHAI: Whether it's poetic justice or my belief that (eventually) all things come full circle, I had the exact same thought about Saddam's coveted pistol!
This article is embarrassingly naive. The truest thing it says is, "If Obama turns to the Wall Street Democrats like Robert Rubin, the Clinton-era treasury secretary who led the crusade for deregulation, then he will betray his own fervently expressed concern for the fate of ordinary folks..."
- There is no question but that Obama will do exactly that. He'll pick a Rubin clone as Treasury Secretary; all his economic advisors are Rubin clones. No US president can pick anyone for Treasury Secretary that Wall St doesn't like, and they don't like anyone who isn't 100% on their side.
"...Politics will never be the same. The fat cats and back-office politicos are out, and grass roots—youthful and Internet-connected—will dominate in the future, as they did on Tuesday..."
- Baloney. The fat cats actually won last night. The youthful & naive believers just haven't recognized it yet.
I knew it was going to happen. People so angry they can't be happy. We all know that Barack Obama isn't the savior of our nation. We all know he isn't the progressive we all wanted. But you have 2 choices.
1.)You can take this small bump in a different direction and run with it. Try and continue the path of change.
2.) You can remain bitter (at how F'ed up the USA is), and continue the negativity and nothing will ever change.
If you can't see that the entire world is celebrating a new path then you are a fool. Its not the best path. But this illusion of a new path (I do admit it is an illusion). Will give hope to those that will forge an actual new path. Not just Americans but people all over the world.
People can argue back and forth about World War 2, who won, why we went into it, etc. But one thing you can't deny is because of the symbolism of that time. Many REAL changes occured through out the world.
So I say this to all the people angry we only have a 2 party system. If McCain was voted in you would be screwed and you know it. With Barack you might be screwed also, but at least Billions of other people have hope. So either get positive and try and use Barack as a Platform to start your own changes. Or just sit and be negative and leave the rest of the world to rejoice.
O Rei de Reis
Well, you're right about one thing. We do need to improve our lots. It's time to get back to focusing on local elections because without more people taking local reps seriously, we're stuck in a two party mess where both parties know they're in no danger of getting replaced. I voted Nader but like 8 years of Bush, I shouldn't have any problem dealing with 4 or even 8 years of Obama. If Obama surprisingly turns out to be better, highly unlikely given his likely cabinet picks, then maybe I'll vote for him in 2012. But I'm not holding my breath.
"I knew it was going to happen. People so angry they can't be happy....(blah blah blah)...'
- First of all, you're confusing 2 very different things. What the "entire world is celebrating" has nothing to do with Obama's politics. It's perfectly possible to be happy that a black man won, and that McCain lost, without having any illusions about Obama. He's just as much the candidate of the corporate oligarchy as McCain or Bush.
Secondly, your assertion "But you have 2 choices" is simplistic & ridiculous. There is room for lots more than 2 choices. The 2 you suggested don't begin to cover the field.
You write, "So either get positive and try and use Barack as a Platform to start your own changes. Or just sit and be negative and leave the rest of the world to rejoice."
- What oversimplistic tripe! I don't have to "get positive" or "be negative." I can be happy about the good parts of this, without entertaining any naive illusions about it. On the surface, there are some pleasing aspects. Beneath the surface, it's a victory for the status quo. It's hardly necessary for me to close my eyes to that.
I know its a victory for the status quo. Thats the whole point I am making. But there are only two directions we can go in Forward or Backward. McCain would have been backward, Obama is also backwards if not a very very slight move forward.
But the key point is the "Illusion" of progress. Which will gives hope to the rest of the world and changes peoples ways of thinking. Now that Barack has been elected. Offcials all over the globe are feeling positive. Which makes them want to engage the US and they might slightly let there guards down so that legislation can be a two way street.
People hate GWB and the Reps so much. That when ever they speak it gives people the chills. Even if they happen to have a good plan for something.
So sure we know the truth about Obama. You and I are both very intelligent. But the only difference between us is. I feel positive that this "illusion" will give me the ability to push for more progressive ideals where as. With McCain I would have had no chance. And neither would anyone else. So sure we need to do away with the 2 party system. With McCain we had 0% chance. Even if it was only a 5% Chance with Obama. Thats better than 0%.
And I am being simplistic because You and I both know all the policy aspects of Barack that we don't like. So it's no point in bringing them up. So just know that for the most part we agree that Barack is not a change for the better as far as policy.
Did I make my point better that time RichM?
Thank you for admitting it is only a small bump! (;
LOL, Well I do have two eyes :)