Lawrence Goodwyn: The Great Predicament Facing Obama

[some guy]

I think this is a good interview. It has some interesting historical perspectives, so whatever your feelings on the current President, the article has bits you might enjoy.

It also ends with more optimism than I personally feel, but that's okay too.

http://www.alternet.org/news/148582/lawrence_goodwyn%3A_the_great_predicament_facing

<snip>

Jan Frel: It seems there's quite a bit of disagreement about what kind of president we have on our hands.

Lawrence Goodwyn: Well, Jan, we are in the midst of the shakedown cruise of an historic presidency. If I may risk understatement, it has taken quite a while for Barack Obama and his diverse constituencies to begin to understand one another. I believe both still have some distance to travel. Early on, things were pretty wild, but many people have learned many things and a measure of calm can finally be seen around the edges of the national anxiety that engulfs us all.

In general, it is quite apparent that the politics of the Obama era has been far more volatile than most observers remotely anticipated. But as a historian, I bring to this confused setting the hopelessly long view that is endemic to my calling. Long views are by definition remote, distant and therefore tending toward a measure of calm. They are by no means inoculated against error, but they provide room for engaged reflection not easily found in the heat of battle.


So let me present a calming conclusion. In my opinion, the energy among the democratic faithful to make the journey is still there. While ordinary folks have been put through a lot, do not underestimate the resolve that remains for the long haul. Unanticipated poverty is an enormous energizer -- and most of all for people who understand their own fate to be utterly undeserved. In due course they will see through the sleight of hand and empty content embedded in corporate sound bites. I am talking about millions of Americans, many of whom wavered and many who did not. It will take some more time for this to become clear. But it will happen.

</snip>

[Skittles]

1. I hope he is right

I am disillusioned but in no way am I giving up and I hope it is true of a lot of voters that they retain "....the resolve that remains for the long haul"

[some guy]

2. As do I.

(hope he's right.)

I think I'm way past disillusioned and deeply into cynicism. But I really can't seem to give up either.

:shrug: I'm still alive, I might as well strive for the sort of world I want to live in while I'm in this one - even if I some times feel I'm in it all on my own.

I sometimes see glimmers of other people who seem to want the sort of world I do. Maybe I glimmer for some one else. . .

[Skittles]

3. I guess it's just that I know what the alternative is

and I truly resent some DUers throwing that up as if I DIDN'T freaking know it