Is Obama the Return of Idealism in Politics?

[Bullet1987]

I was watching a very good special on CNN last night about the parallels between 1968 and 2008. The parallels between the wars and political atmosphere, etc. The assassination of RFK and Eugene McCarthy, etc. It dawned on me that maybe Democrats haven't faired so well over the past 40 years because the passionate voters that supported the Party left en masse after '68. The Democratic Party basically committed hari kari and probably paved the way for the Reagan Revolution when the big whigs nominated someone that the People didn't want. There have been inspirational candidates since '68, but none have ever been given much of a chance even though they had support. Obama is changing that. Maybe it's because we've had 8 years of the biggest screw-up since Richard Nixon? Maybe because the country is tired of neocon fearmongering and want to be inspired? Who knows...but I think if Obama can win he can bring something back into politics that we haven't seen in nearly 40 years.

[papau]

1. NO - indeed that is the myth - but reality is a Daley machine pol that used race in every contest

[Bullet1987]

2. Please go away...we want unity.

Not bitter Clinton folks threatening to vote for a rethug.

[rucky]

3. This is just a return to normalcy.

What we the people expect of a leader.

After 8 years of Bush lowering the bar, though, I can see how normal would seem idealist.