Race is a touchy subject for a liberal, especially a white liberal. Even more so for a white liberal female who cast her primary vote for Hillary Clinton.
It's hard to know where to start, in expressing how I feel about the likelihood of our first black president. But I feel excited.
I feel proud to be an American.
Sometimes I catch a few minutes of the Michael Baisden Show while station-surfing on the way home from work, and get caught up in the excitement there. Yeah, I know I'm white. I check out sites like The Root and feel the same thing.
Maybe part of it is the proverbial guilt. My maternal grandparents hailed from western South Carolina and western Virginia, (Falwell country) respectively. And, of course, I voted for Hillary, so there's that.
But although guilt breeds a sense of responsibility, it doesn't tend to breed excitement.
Part of it is just about Barack Obama himself. He has a certain something, a certain aura of leadership, a certain authenticity, a certain down-to-earth intellectualism (versus Al Gore's and John Kerry's more detached, off-putting variety) and, of course, a certain charisma. There's something in his voice that's both soothing and inspiring, and he has the (admittedly handsome) but furrowed brow of someone who doesn't take decisions lightly, a steadiness and a quiet confidence. These are the qualities that won him all three presidential debates.
I like the guy, as I have since I saw his keynote address four years ago. I liked him even when I cast the primary vote for his opponent. But now I'm on board.
It took a little while to get enthusiastically on board. I was a Bill fan since witnessing his first inaugural, and have wanted to see Hillary run since it was first tossed around as a remote possibility. It took some time to move on, but I've moved. I don't regret my primary vote, but I think my fellow Democrats made the right decision, and I look forward to following their example on Tuesday in the general election.
And part of it really is about race. I want to see unity in this country, and I want to see real healing, and I know that the former can't come without the latter. And I know how deeply Barack Obama feels and believes this (as a crucial aspect of his own identity, no doubt) and that gives me hope that we can see both, and maybe sooner than most of us thought we would. That's the sense I got after hearing his Philadelphia speech.
So, yeah, I'm white. Yeah, I voted for Hillary. And yeah, I'm excited about our first black president, excited about racial healing and reconciliation... and excited about electing Barack Obama.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Google-head: The Atlantic Asks...
... Is Google Making Us Stupid?
Umm, maybe... although I think, in reference to one of the author's points about ever-changing technologies, the emergence of the computer keyboard with easy delete key is probably an improvement over the typewriter with regard to fluid thinking... certainly with regard to editing (and, yes, verbosity.)
But, sure, I plead guilty to increased stupidity, and I blame no one but Google. But I'm glad it's not just me.
The article was also interesting for its discussion of the impact of the mechanical clock (I've never been a fan.)
And finally, it was enlightening to learn the extent of Google's ambitions... Much as I love Google, it's a wee bit scary to think that their long-term business plan may be to implant their product in our brains, or even supplant our brains with it... Not sure how I feel about that one.
Umm, maybe... although I think, in reference to one of the author's points about ever-changing technologies, the emergence of the computer keyboard with easy delete key is probably an improvement over the typewriter with regard to fluid thinking... certainly with regard to editing (and, yes, verbosity.)
But, sure, I plead guilty to increased stupidity, and I blame no one but Google. But I'm glad it's not just me.
The article was also interesting for its discussion of the impact of the mechanical clock (I've never been a fan.)
And finally, it was enlightening to learn the extent of Google's ambitions... Much as I love Google, it's a wee bit scary to think that their long-term business plan may be to implant their product in our brains, or even supplant our brains with it... Not sure how I feel about that one.
Monday, October 27, 2008
And with just one week left...
... it's time for the weird-shit phase of this two-year campaign season.
OK, I should say the weirder-shit phase.
McCain volunteer faking ATM mugging/"B for Barack" knife attack.
I'm sure the McCain folks are going, gee, thanks, Ashley; that really helped. (She's sure not Bush's Ashley.)
I mentioned this earlier as only a rumor, that some evangelicals actually believe that Barack Obama is the anti-Christ. But, no, sadly, it's more than a rumor. In fact, it's even made its way into Snopes.
And then, beyond weird, into scary. I just hope these loser kids are an anomaly.
OK, I should say the weirder-shit phase.
McCain volunteer faking ATM mugging/"B for Barack" knife attack.
I'm sure the McCain folks are going, gee, thanks, Ashley; that really helped. (She's sure not Bush's Ashley.)
I mentioned this earlier as only a rumor, that some evangelicals actually believe that Barack Obama is the anti-Christ. But, no, sadly, it's more than a rumor. In fact, it's even made its way into Snopes.
And then, beyond weird, into scary. I just hope these loser kids are an anomaly.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Al Franken may win a Senate seat.
Why?
Because he's good enough; he's smart enough; and doggone it, Minnesotans like him.
Or, maybe it's in part because of Norm Coleman's bailout vote.
Actually, both candidates have high unfavorability ratings, and the independent is doing relatively well.
Because he's good enough; he's smart enough; and doggone it, Minnesotans like him.
Or, maybe it's in part because of Norm Coleman's bailout vote.
Actually, both candidates have high unfavorability ratings, and the independent is doing relatively well.
Further Developments...
... in memory research:
Elephants never forget, but now mice may be a different story...
Elephants never forget, but now mice may be a different story...
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
"Health": "An Extreme Pro-Abortion Position"
... says McCain in last night's debate:
Watch it and weep at the thought that this guy could have been (uh, I mean, could be, in a worst-case scenario) appointing judges, whatever he may say about no litmus test. And on to the issue of health care, the fact that he shows such contempt for the idea of women's health, per se, is frightening as well.
Will this cost him moderate pro-choice Republican, Democrat, and independent women voters, Chris Matthews was asking on MSNBC today.
I sure as heck hope so.
Just again, the example of the eloquence of Sen. Obama. He's "health for the mother." You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything. That's the extreme pro-abortion position, quote, "health."
Watch it and weep at the thought that this guy could have been (uh, I mean, could be, in a worst-case scenario) appointing judges, whatever he may say about no litmus test. And on to the issue of health care, the fact that he shows such contempt for the idea of women's health, per se, is frightening as well.
Will this cost him moderate pro-choice Republican, Democrat, and independent women voters, Chris Matthews was asking on MSNBC today.
I sure as heck hope so.
I'm not superstitious..
... but still, I hate to say it's in the bag for Obama.
As Colby King said on "Inside Washington" last week, we could still "have our hearts broken."
But after last night's debate, I'd say something dramatic would have to happen to lose it for him.
Knock on wood it doesn't, because it would have to be bigger than Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, and ACORN, if that's the best they've got.
He may not have convinced Joe the Plumber, but he's convinced enough of the rest of us to relax a bit.
As if he's ever not relaxed, as Mark Shields was complaining last night. He moves us, but what moves him?
I see this as an attribute. We need a president who keeps his cool, in these times. And we could use someone who doesn't want it so damn bad (as McCain does, as Hillary did, and Bill, for her) but who's doing it, as with the old notion of the philosopher-king, out of a sense of calling or responsibility rather than personal ambition.
As Colby King said on "Inside Washington" last week, we could still "have our hearts broken."
But after last night's debate, I'd say something dramatic would have to happen to lose it for him.
Knock on wood it doesn't, because it would have to be bigger than Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, and ACORN, if that's the best they've got.
He may not have convinced Joe the Plumber, but he's convinced enough of the rest of us to relax a bit.
As if he's ever not relaxed, as Mark Shields was complaining last night. He moves us, but what moves him?
I see this as an attribute. We need a president who keeps his cool, in these times. And we could use someone who doesn't want it so damn bad (as McCain does, as Hillary did, and Bill, for her) but who's doing it, as with the old notion of the philosopher-king, out of a sense of calling or responsibility rather than personal ambition.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
On the other hand...
... I wonder if Biden is being too generous, after reading this harsh but informative Rolling Stone article.
Quote du Jour: Joe Biden
Despite Joe Lieberman's dismissal of Biden's remarks here as "psychobabble" on MSNBC today, I think it was right on the money, speaking to the better aspects of McCain's character at the expense of his present campaign style.
on the "Today Show" this morning, talking about McCain's use of the term "that one."
on the "Today Show" this morning, talking about McCain's use of the term "that one."
SEN. JOE BIDEN: When John knows that he's on the attack, and this, and he's not feeling good about it, John never looks you straight in the eye. John doesn't go and refer to you by your first name.
I think it's part of this whole thing -- if you notice, John didn't make a whole lot of eye contact last night because I think John, when he's on the attack mode and making the other guy a bad guy, it's just not his style.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Well, thanks to McCain's divergence...
... from his campaign's talking points as of the last couple days (Bill Ayers, etc.) I still haven't finished my beer. If it weren't for "My friends," I'd still be completely sober.
But not "taking the gloves off" as he'd promised still didn't win him this debate, even in the town hall format he so famously favors.
If he's determined to have definitively lost this one, this could be the beginning of the end for his campaign.
He managed to be less visibly hostile than in the first debate, yet still came out with lines (like calling Obama "That one") that made him look boorish, if not vaguely racist.
Obama, for his part, answered well and looked more presidential than ever. IMO his only missteps involved consistently talking longer than necessary despite the time limits and thus contributing to Tom Brokaw's despair. When he told Tom he was doing a great job or whatever, it really did echo the "You're likable enough, Hillary" moment.
In fact, all in all, I think Tom Brokaw had the toughest night, what with everyone ignoring his red lights and even blocking his teleprompter view at the end with their awkward handshake.
But not "taking the gloves off" as he'd promised still didn't win him this debate, even in the town hall format he so famously favors.
If he's determined to have definitively lost this one, this could be the beginning of the end for his campaign.
He managed to be less visibly hostile than in the first debate, yet still came out with lines (like calling Obama "That one") that made him look boorish, if not vaguely racist.
Obama, for his part, answered well and looked more presidential than ever. IMO his only missteps involved consistently talking longer than necessary despite the time limits and thus contributing to Tom Brokaw's despair. When he told Tom he was doing a great job or whatever, it really did echo the "You're likable enough, Hillary" moment.
In fact, all in all, I think Tom Brokaw had the toughest night, what with everyone ignoring his red lights and even blocking his teleprompter view at the end with their awkward handshake.
Friday, October 03, 2008
So, yeah, the debate...
... was actually pretty interesting, much more so than last week's featuring the top of the ticket.
I suppose the greater liveliness was mostly owing to Sarah Palin's "Gidget goes to Washington" personality (as one of the PBS pundits so aptly put it.)
Honestly, I'll admit that it's hard not to find her perkiness somewhat endearing, even at the same time that she's grating mercilessly on one's nerves, and even with a litany of her despicable policy positions at the back of one's mind and the image of Tina Fey on the couch with her laptop, undoing a few bobby pins. And I'm sure, if I can grudgingly admit that, her fans must have been in hog heaven, so to speak (so much for that elevated tone I've been promising, but I'm working on it ;)
To be fair, her thoughts on the civil union/gay marriage issue were as progressive as Biden's.
The obvious fact that she didn't directly answer a large proportion of the questions, and that the studiously subdued Biden kicked ass (in an entirely gentlemanly way) on most of the ones she did answer, seemed irrelevant to Republicans who were just drawing a breath of relief that this wasn't a repeat of the Couric disaster, and also to Democrats who, in Mark Shields' words, were "disappointed that she didn't implode."
Yeah, I guess we were, although it would have been painful viewing if she had, kind of like watching Gidget wipe out.
Palin's strategy was evident in the following, which verged on an insult, and certainly must have irked Gwen Ifill, although Ms. Ifill stayed cordial (despite the McCain camp's accusations of her partiality) and did a great job, I thought, and even seemed to be enjoying herself by the end:
And talk straight to the American people, she did, straight in the camera, straight to the base, and any undecided Gidget fans that may happen to be watching...
I suppose the greater liveliness was mostly owing to Sarah Palin's "Gidget goes to Washington" personality (as one of the PBS pundits so aptly put it.)
Honestly, I'll admit that it's hard not to find her perkiness somewhat endearing, even at the same time that she's grating mercilessly on one's nerves, and even with a litany of her despicable policy positions at the back of one's mind and the image of Tina Fey on the couch with her laptop, undoing a few bobby pins. And I'm sure, if I can grudgingly admit that, her fans must have been in hog heaven, so to speak (so much for that elevated tone I've been promising, but I'm working on it ;)
To be fair, her thoughts on the civil union/gay marriage issue were as progressive as Biden's.
The obvious fact that she didn't directly answer a large proportion of the questions, and that the studiously subdued Biden kicked ass (in an entirely gentlemanly way) on most of the ones she did answer, seemed irrelevant to Republicans who were just drawing a breath of relief that this wasn't a repeat of the Couric disaster, and also to Democrats who, in Mark Shields' words, were "disappointed that she didn't implode."
Yeah, I guess we were, although it would have been painful viewing if she had, kind of like watching Gidget wipe out.
Palin's strategy was evident in the following, which verged on an insult, and certainly must have irked Gwen Ifill, although Ms. Ifill stayed cordial (despite the McCain camp's accusations of her partiality) and did a great job, I thought, and even seemed to be enjoying herself by the end:
PALIN: ... And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people..."
And talk straight to the American people, she did, straight in the camera, straight to the base, and any undecided Gidget fans that may happen to be watching...
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