I am still stunned that after nearly electing George W. Bush twice, this country has elected Barack Obama. Happy about it, but stunned. There is loads of commentary around the web – much more eloquent than anything I could come up with at the moment. (One selfish thought I had was that at least we don’t have to move – another 4 years of a crazy Republicans in the executive branch and I don’t think I could have stayed in town.)
Steve Benen asks the question I always wonder about – what would it take to get those who like to proclaim that the U.S. is a ‘center-right’ country to think otherwise. What kind of evidence would be sufficient? How would we know if the country shifted away from being ‘center-right’ (whatever-the-f-that-means, anyway)?
Would a Democratic Congress do it?How about a Democratic President with a Democratic Congress?
How about a Democratic President, Democratic Congress, and a Democratic majority among the nation’s governors?
How about a Democratic president, Senate, House, governors, and polling data showing Americans support universal healthcare, are pro-choice, oppose the war in Iraq, and support the Democratic agenda on everything from the environment to the minimum wage to international diplomacy?
And John Scalzi provides a useful reality check, lest anyone expect truly great progress under Obama.
Your next president is going to disappoint you. Barack Obama does not fart cinnamon-scented rainbows. He is not trailed by angels and unicorns. Reality does not reshape itself to his wishes. Dude’s a human being, and a politician, and he’s going to have to work with other human beings who are also politicians. Per point 2, some things you want him to do he won’t be able to do, and some of the things you want him to do he won’t want to do, so they won’t get done. He will make mistakes. He will make errors. He will be caught flat-footed from time to time. He will be challenged by antagonists, foreign and domestic, who will have an interest in seeing him faceplant. He will piss most people off. His approval rating will drop below 50%. He is going to disappoint you. Get used to the idea.
Simply halting the various insanities of Bush-Cheney will be very welcome. After that, I’d put energy, infrastructure, and fixing our horrible health care system as areas where I’d like to see some real effort. Obama was a Constitutional law professor, and notwithstanding his FISA stance, I have some hope that he knows and understands the value and importance of civil liberties and human rights.
Here’s the text of Obama’s acceptance speech. I thought it was very good.
This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.
