Thanks. I’m glad to see that Palin’s spokesperson denounced it. Not surprsed to read that the audience was loving it, though.
I emailed the country with my disdain. I don’t care if they immediately delete it, it will clog one aspect of their server hopefully.
email is halfway down the article in one of the comments.
What’s even more depressing are the responses to the piece. I truly like my Doper bubble, but there is so much ignorance and outright stupidity out there-- it’s appalling.
I am having the oddest sensation, centered in my chest but spreading up behind my forehead. Sort of a vague glow, accompanied with thoughts like perhaps, just perhaps, all is not darkness descending to doom, that good people can rise against fear and horror, and, with courage, overcome. “Overcome”? Why does that word ring a distant bell?
I vaguely remember feeling like this before. but then those good men were murdered, and the Forces of Darkness were everywhere triumphant. Of course, I was much younger then, and filled with inchoate sensations I had no name for.
But its back now, and its pleasantly disconcerting and erodes my default mode of pessimism. Anyone else have this odd feeling? Has it a name?
Herpes?
Would you settle for Hope?
I have the same feeling and it scares me. Rather, I am afraid to allow it house room–I felt the same way 4 years ago. Surely, I thought, we would get rid of this stupid man who has not been a leader in any sense of the word. But we didn’t. And so, I cannot trust to hope until after Nov 4. 
Even as I voted last time, I suspect Kerry was going to lose. I only had a little hope that time. That and I really did not like Kerry. I like Obama and I like Biden better than Kerry or Edwards and I really think they will win. I also think Obama can change America. His personality is dynamic, you might agree that is the opposite of both Kerry and Gore.
Ditto. I don’t believe anything I feel, not until Nov 5.
Rejected title for Obama’s second book: The Audacity of Would You Consider Hoping Just a Tiny Bit Maybe?
Been a long fuckin’ time, my friend. So long that I’m sure somebody will screw it up.
I sometimes think cynics are romantics who have had their hands burnt too often because we’ll always sneak a touch of the stove to see if it’s still hot.
I forgave Kerry his stiffness–he is a truly learned man. Why NOT have someone fluent in French in the White House? It’s stuff like that (and the lovely upstanding pillars of the community the swiftboaters) who kept him out. Oh, and the voter fraud and whatever else. It’s all so old and tired now.
What I want more than anything is to be able to go about my small world and business and know that my country is respected and also that it is a vital part of the worldstage-one of the good guys (if we ever were). I want my kids to go to college (and they will), but also to be able to hand them a halfway decent world when I’m gone. I cannot say that today–I am ashamed of my country and know we are worse off then when my parents were my age. My income will never exceed my parents, for one example. I can only hope that my life long ambition to travel will be an option upon retirement, but it looks doubtful now. What retirement? I’m not really a Boomer-born 1962–there will not be much Soc Sec for me…
I’d like a President who is smarter than I am, who is better read, who is better versed in the subtle ways of diplomacy and the necessary (occasional) saber rattling. I think Obama is that person (if he’s not killed, may god have mercy on us all); but I know that Washington is too fat, too entrenched and too self-serving to be radically altered. It will take time–2 administrations at least. And through his term (if he gets into office), the GOP will be there, harping on every word and looking for any possible bit of dirt to throw. I remain impressed by Bill Clinton, not because of his “way” with women, but because he managed to lead despite the shit smears and the crap thrown at him by the so called “moral majority”.
Oops–sorry, this is not Great Rants…
I understand, but Kerry did much to hurt himself and I didn’t really consider him smarter than me. I do think Obama, Clinton, Bill Bradley and Carter are.
I actually do make more than my parents and I am a little younger than you. I do think our children will have it tougher as I fear America has reached its apex, but it is still possible the whole world will improve enough if we can navigate the next 20 years successfully where they will be fine, they just won’t be ridiculously better off than most of the world’s population.
For good or for ill, Reagan changed America in 8 years by a huge amount. Theodore and Franklin both changed the country by large amounts and in different ways. Obama appears to be of their ilk and not Carter’s. I think he can change the country again and for the good. I guess Bush changed it also, but only for the worse, the far worse. It will take much of Obama’s time to simply undo the damage that Bush/Cheney did.
I look forward to Obama having both houses and changing our economy and our place in the world back to a positive one and handling global warming before it is far too late. Bush already cost us much in these areas.
Jim
From your lips to the Ears, Sunny Jim.
Perhaps our children and grandchildren will have better lives, but simpler lives. Less of a headlong devotion to grasping for loud, shiny crap and more of a sense of worthy belonging. Perhaps we will stop offering our chidren avarice and greed as worthy moral compasses.
We are still the most powerful single nation in human history. Perhaps we will set ourselves to being the most just and most generous. And, glory! what a morning that would be!
Well, let’s hope this NPR article finally puts a stake in the heart of the “Ayers is a domestic terriss and Obama’s best friend, OMG!!” meme:
Unfortunately, plain truth and fact does little to settle a lynch mob:
McCain’s letting it get all out of hand as well, doing nothing to stop the craziness.
All I have to say is that the Secret Service had better be hyper vigilant in watching over Obama…
Yes. Perhaps I was wrong to bring up income, but I wanted a shorthanded way to express myself. I’d like to see a more charitable and just world. I don’t think you need to weave your own clothes to be a good person, but I do think you need to pay that weaver a living wage. I am sick that we consume 20% of the world’s energy, yet have only 5% of the population. It’s wrong. I am no fan of communism, but the essential construct: from each according to his ability, to each according to his need, makes some sense. I am contemptuous of unfettered capitalism and conspicuous consumption.
I’d like America to work with its neighbors (not just keep Mexico as some kind of poor hanger on, but truly invest in the country and allow Canada to shine a bit more, eh) and the EU to work on global problems: finance, environmental impact-global standards on some things would be good, immigration and basic needs. And together, the First World should help the Third: Africa (all of it) is a disgrace and a heartbreak. Darfur, Somalia are only two of the horrors that make up “modern” Africa. The Middle East needs some guidance, not more sanctions, more military and more reasons to hate us. The Russians were defeated in Afghanistan–what makes us think we can succeed? It will take decades of social building to even start. India should join in with the US and the EU as well. And China? No idea, really–things are happening so fast over there, I can’t keep up. I know this all sounds like we should hold hands and sing “Kumbaya” but seriously, I think we (the world) need to get serious about getting along and working to solve the issues that may kill us all.
It’s all so overwhelming in many ways–who would be President?
Sorry to ramble so. This election has made me both apprehensive and philosophical.