Comments on: Enough with the “historic election”

By: Workin' Joe

Workin' Joe — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:12:03 +0000

Yikes–the list of items to address is frightening. Even to make good initial steps on these will be quite an accomplishment. Here’s my list of why I think Obama has a chance to be great:

1. He will put competent people, not idealogues, in key government positions. Good, strong people at the departmental level will change the tone of those departments and lead to better performance throughout.
2. I truly believe that Obama is acting on our behave, not just consolidating power for himself. He understands the Constitution and will not twist it to increase his power.
3. He is highly intelligent and pragmatic. He will operate from his brain, not his gut. How refreshing is that?
4. He will reach across the aisle to achieve solutions, not just because the Dems didn’t achieve 60 Senate seats, but to attack all these issues he’ll need a broader base. I think he’ll make a big push to bring along the moderate Republicans.
5. He will work more than a 7 hour day and will not take two years’ worth of vacations. I’ve seen photos of his Chicago home: doesn’t appear to need any brush clearing.

Maybe I’m projecting my wishful thinking. I’m 49 years old. This is the first candidate that I’ve donated money to, and the first time I went door knocking. But I’m optimistic.

By: Sovereign

Sovereign — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:15:54 +0000

The term-limited, circumscribed, figurehead nature of POTUS will also make it impractical for Obama to live up to the hype. Many people think that the president truly “runs the country” and therefore can bring about Epic Change. This just isn’t the case.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:41:16 +0000

His success has a lot to do with his relationship with the other democrats in power. Presidents aren’t dictators…they can’t just will things to be done. If GW Bush would have had the benefit of a Congress with a spine, particulalrly the other Republicans, things may not have turned out so bad for him.
Obama may be the poster boy for hope right now, but it’s really up to the government as a whole to get things done.

By: Wendy Redal

Wendy Redal — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:13:59 +0000

This is so well done, Brian. I like the rhetorical power of the repetition (something black pastors do well). I’m not sure what signs the second commenter, Chuck Connors, is reading that point to “a huge letdown for the American people” — that sounds pretty premature to me — but time will indeed tell, and that’s a big and daunting laundry list you’ve lined out. I don’t envy the new President Obama in the slightest, though historical greatness is often honed in crisis.

By: Chuck Connors

Chuck Connors — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:57:53 +0000

Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. However, people thought that John F. Kennedy with his service in WW II, experience in the House and the Senate, good looks, charm, and his Harvard education was “The One.” Those weren’t enough. If it hadn’t of been for his assassination and the consequent legend of “Camelot,” Kennedy’s administration would have gone down in history as mediocre at best. From what I have observed, Barry Obama is no John Kennedy. All signs point to a huge letdown for the American people.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:53:40 +0000

My gut feeling was most people were celebrating about how hope defeated fear, to put it in grandiose terms. That it happens to be an historic election is just an excuse to celebrate hope trumping fear.

Or, and this is more likely, the news media isn’t quite ready to relinquish election news coverage for other newsworthy items.