Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Barack Obama's inaugural address...



If he actually makes good on these words, and those that oppose such ideas purely out of political incentive or spite can be quelled, then maybe all the suffering of the last eight years may not have been in vain. Obviously for those who have lost family in unnecessary wars, who have lost friends in preventable floods, and who have lost their financial security to the mythical infallibility of 'the free market', there can be only so much rejoicing. But for those whose main loss has been only their faith... faith in the promise of our country, the intelligence of its citizens, and the morality of our people, we can only hope that this will not be a prelude to overly cautious 'centrism' and four-to-eight years of bending over backwards to appease a vocal minority who would never stand by us. We, as liberals, progressives, and as American citizens have a president, we have congress, we have an overwhelming electoral victory, a sweeping mandate, and the political capital that comes with it. To quote Thom Hartmann, "Activism begins with you, Democracy begins with you, get out there, get active! Tag, you're it!"

Game on...

Scott Mendelson

2 comments:

  1. "a vocal minority who would never stand by us"

    Like the liberals stood by Bush the last 8 years?

    Scott, I've got no problem with your thoughts and think that this is definately a time for rejoicing if Obama was your guy.

    However, if there is any chance for the unity and coming together that your candidate and party proposes, then I ask you to examine your commentary and ask how insulting it really is to the other side. Your list of comments:
    - The last 8 years have been years of suffering due to Bush and Republicans.
    - Family members lost loved ones in vain (unless Obama redeems them) for unneccesary wars due to Bush and Republicans.
    - Family members lost loved ones to preventable floods due to Bush and Republicans.
    - People have lost their financial security due to Bush and the Republicans.
    - People have lost faith in the promise of the country due to Bush and the Republicans.

    How is this kind of general attack against the other side supposed to engender community and moving beyond partisanship?

    I don't care to go into the whole ordeal, but you do realize that Obama has been in the Senate during much of the 8 last years. That democrats have been in power of Congress the last 2, and was a close minority for most of those others? You realize that many democrats, including Hilary, all thought the Iraq war was right at the time? Additionally, I don't see how a Democrat as president would have prevented the financial meltdown either.

    I guess unity means getting behind the idea that all of America's ills are caused by Bush and the republicans, and that unity is rallying around Obama and the libs. How do you embrace someone whom you feel is not only wrong on all points, but is torching the whole country?

    ReplyDelete
  2. "a vocal minority who would never stand by us"

    Like the liberals stood by Bush the last 8 years?

    Scott, I've got no problem with your thoughts and think that this is definately a time for rejoicing if Obama was your guy.

    However, if there is any chance for the unity and coming together that your candidate and party proposes, then I ask you to examine your commentary and ask how insulting it really is to the other side. Your list of comments:
    - The last 8 years have been years of suffering due to Bush and Republicans.
    - Family members lost loved ones in vain (unless Obama redeems them) for unneccesary wars due to Bush and Republicans.
    - Family members lost loved ones to preventable floods due to Bush and Republicans.
    - People have lost their financial security due to Bush and the Republicans.
    - People have lost faith in the promise of the country due to Bush and the Republicans.

    How is this kind of general attack against the other side supposed to engender community and moving beyond partisanship?

    I don't care to go into the whole ordeal, but you do realize that Obama has been in the Senate during much of the 8 last years. That democrats have been in power of Congress the last 2, and was a close minority for most of those others? You realize that many democrats, including Hilary, all thought the Iraq war was right at the time? Additionally, I don't see how a Democrat as president would have prevented the financial meltdown either.

    I guess unity means getting behind the idea that all of America's ills are caused by Bush and the republicans, and that unity is rallying around Obama and the libs. How do you embrace someone whom you feel is not only wrong on all points, but is torching the whole country?

    ReplyDelete