Comments on: The Standing Eight-Count http://www.irreverentview.com/national-politics/the-standing-eight-count Political commentary with an edgy and "irreverent view." Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:46:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: joepanzica http://www.irreverentview.com/national-politics/the-standing-eight-count#comment-19 joepanzica Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:51:25 +0000 http://www.irreverentview.com/national-politics/the-standing-eight-count#comment-19 Winning may be the only point, but there are different ways of winning. One way is to stoke up divisions, fears, resentments, and self righteousness. A related way is to use negativity and cynicism to undermine any opposition or sense of a possible alternative. Appealing to people's hope for a positive change could end up leaving most people disillusioned. It could also unleash untapped energies for realistic, but much needed reform. I have only just started to look seriously at Obama. There are some questions and some definite warts. But so far, the more I learn . . . the better I feel about his possible victory - with all the challenges that are sure to come in consequence. Winning may be the only point, but there are different ways of winning. One way is to stoke up divisions, fears, resentments, and self righteousness. A related way is to use negativity and cynicism to undermine any opposition or sense of a possible alternative.
Appealing to people’s hope for a positive change could end up leaving most people disillusioned. It could also unleash untapped energies for realistic, but much needed reform.

I have only just started to look seriously at Obama. There are some questions and some definite warts. But so far, the more I learn . . . the better I feel about his possible victory - with all the challenges that are sure to come in consequence.

]]> By: jstifler http://www.irreverentview.com/national-politics/the-standing-eight-count#comment-15 jstifler Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:26:52 +0000 http://www.irreverentview.com/national-politics/the-standing-eight-count#comment-15 Gee. Maybe it's just because this morning I heard NPR playing a recording of Bobby Kennedy's speech in Indianapolis in which he told the crowd the news that Martin Luther King Jr. had just been killed, but I'm inclined to agree with the idea that Obama's ability to articulate ideas that unify voters is precisely the point of his candidacy. You may then argue that if he unifies voters he wins the election, and that winning is indeed the (only) point, but it seems to me what we are already getting out of this campaign is the renewal of notion of leaders who actually can appeal to American ideals and make us more caring, less cynical. I hope that possibility exists independent of who actually wins. Gee. Maybe it’s just because this morning I heard NPR playing a recording of Bobby Kennedy’s speech in Indianapolis in which he told the crowd the news that Martin Luther King Jr. had just been killed, but I’m inclined to agree with the idea that Obama’s ability to articulate ideas that unify voters is precisely the point of his candidacy. You may then argue that if he unifies voters he wins the election, and that winning is indeed the (only) point, but it seems to me what we are already getting out of this campaign is the renewal of notion of leaders who actually can appeal to American ideals and make us more caring, less cynical. I hope that possibility exists independent of who actually wins.

]]> By: Taylor http://www.irreverentview.com/national-politics/the-standing-eight-count#comment-10 Taylor Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:14:47 +0000 http://www.irreverentview.com/national-politics/the-standing-eight-count#comment-10 Winning is the only point of a political campaign. And if you actually believe Obama isn't practicing the "win at all costs" philosophy, you're an ignorant and blind fool. Just ask Hillary Clinton (who is of course a smear queen herself). The problem with politics in America is we elect scumbags to do the job of a statesman. And of course since we're not surprised when they act like scumbags, they get away with it. And we re-elect them. Dems/Repubs, they're all the same. They all suck and are ruining America. But I'm not fooled by Obama. We know what we'll get with Clinton. McCain has a lot of warts, but he's probably the only person in the race for all the right reasons. Winning is the only point of a political campaign. And if you actually believe Obama isn’t practicing the “win at all costs” philosophy, you’re an ignorant and blind fool. Just ask Hillary Clinton (who is of course a smear queen herself). The problem with politics in America is we elect scumbags to do the job of a statesman. And of course since we’re not surprised when they act like scumbags, they get away with it. And we re-elect them. Dems/Repubs, they’re all the same. They all suck and are ruining America. But I’m not fooled by Obama. We know what we’ll get with Clinton. McCain has a lot of warts, but he’s probably the only person in the race for all the right reasons.

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