We didn't vote to get into this mess, so we won't vote to get out.

[raybear]

We're watching season two of 30 Rock at home, which just came out on DVD on netflix, and last night was one of my favorite lines (though that is a contest I don't really want to have in regards to that show). Tracy has gotten back together with his wife Angie and to keep him from cheating, she's following him everywhere and also managing all creative control of him on the show, saying they no longer want to perpetuate any black stereotypes. Liz Lemon says, "well, he's playing Barack Obama in another sketch" and Angie says, "no, we support Kucinich."

I supported Kucinich in the primary. I might even vote for McKinney, depending on my mood in a few weeks, since Illinois is obviously going to go to Obama. Compared to the Harvard man, both of these people are a little, um, nuts. I'm not ignorant. I'm not even without shame. I am often more of a pragmatist, I have to be to love the drama of national party politics the way I do. Do I want Obama to be our president? Of course. Do I think there will be an Obama-led revolution¹? Hell no. Do I think there are lots of racist mtherfckers who will never vote for him? Yes. Do I think that explains every reason he might not win? No. Here are a few more concrete ones why he might not pull it off. ² And why people like me aren't necessarily 100% excited to vote for him. And why Obama should be paying attention to this if he wants to win the election.

Please pay close attention to the footnote about liberals voting solely on cultural issues just as much so as the pro-life gun-toting creationist do. Hello, how much did we love Clinton even though he destroyed welfare and bombed children in Iraq and signed a federal law to ban gay marriage. Not to be all debbie-downer in a period of questionable morale, but what can I say? I don't own any stocks and I don't own a home, so I don't really have anything to freak out about. I am probably not alone. I guess I feel like, I can do both -- I can watch the debates and follow the strategy and participate in the race.....and I can be critical about what it really means in the longterm as well. And lately, I've been lazy on this latter part. I know, I know, let's just get him elected and then we'll deal with it, but what can I say except: I don't believe you.





¹:thanks, anjiyama.
²: thanks, jettison.

Comments

[jettison.livejournal.com]

I know, I know, let's just get him elected and then we'll deal with it, but what can I say except: I don't believe you.

I've been trying to say this to myself re: the bailout. It was necessary at the time, I've opined, yet this guy will have to show his true colors once in office and fix it up. Right? Bueller? Bueller?

The lack of willingness of liberals to not only question, but openly deride Obama for what is blatantly "bootstrapping", and possibly even an affinity for the ol trickle down theory, is absolutely more offensive to me than a conservative with a solid, well thought out (if, in my opinion, misguided) stance on why they would want to vote for McCain. Abortions for some... giant corporate bailouts for contributors? Really? I hate to think that celebrity excludes one from accountability, but, in light of a recent argument over whether it's OK for Ashlee Simpson to have a white-trash themed party (the counter-arguement: celebrities don't know people that might be offended by the term and are therefore absolved, PS what do u care poor person LOL), I feel that we are holding our leaders to the same goddamn standards.

Not about politics at all...

[vfc.livejournal.com]

I didn't even know you two were LJ friends! This makes me very happy.

Re: Not about politics at all...

[raybear.livejournal.com]

remember that time you posted a chat of us being super snarky and I said "I'm sure all your lj friends are going to rush out and add me right away because I'm so charming in this"? well, jettison added me moments later. i was, of course, smitten.

[foxycoxy.livejournal.com]

this country needs a fucking kick in the pants. I'm almost glad the stock market is tanking and pulling some of my assets with it. Something better will arise out of this capitalistic bullshit. I've been reading up on solidarity economies and am probably going to go to a conf in the Spring.

[crafting-change.livejournal.com]

well said

[anjiyama.livejournal.com]

Ah sweetheart, I know we just have to go forward. I have been thinking that if we can get to the second term with Obama, then we might see some good things. Some good things would be really great.

xoxoxoxo!

[raybear.livejournal.com]

one step at a time -- bitter with the left foot, hopeful with the right. tears will probably stream down my cheeks when he gets elected. but then i'll be ranting the next day about some fcked up bill he signed. such is progress!

[magdalene1.livejournal.com]

Great article, and the interviewee is totally right about the "being lectured" thing (I find Obama's speeches to be really, really, really boring and I don't want to hear his fucking voice again until January) though if Obama used "fiery rhetoric" he'd become the scary black man and that wouldn't work either, so what's he supposed to do?

I'm going with "Not perfect, but better than what we've got."