Obama widens the circle.

[saltpoint]

...I naturally give Obama the win on points.

And it's not just a political bias.

It's personal. It's personal because we were shown last evening two models of adulthood.

McCain's model is the Farmer MacGregor model, the prickly owner of the garden Peter Rabbit is warned about not trespassing in. McCain was not quite as unstable last night as I think he might actually be beneath all that blinking, but he was certainly authoritarian.

He was authoritarian and arrogant, as evidenced by his repeated effort to cast Obama as someone who "doesn't understand" or who is wet behind the ears.

There is a kind of authoritarian personality that is not only arrogant but because it refuses to examine itself, never updates itself, and therefore is punitive.

McCain is Farmer MacGregor, pitchfork at the ready, prepared if elected to bomb defenseless populations to advance an unexamined political objective.

Obama remains the community organizer adult model, "community organizer" used here not as a perjorative as Palin would have it, but as a salt-of-the-earth noun, the essence of a Constitutional republic.

Neighborhoods are stronger under the Obama model than under the McCain model. Whole countries are stronger with stronger neighborhoods.

Obama many times, when he responded to a point, immediately widened the circle of his response to include McCain's contribution and voice. "John is absolutely right" or "Senator McCain is right" came out of his mouth with the same frequency as "What Senator Obama doesn't understand" came out of McCain's.

If I'm in the market for a problem-solving adult, I'm going with the guy who thinks other voices and viewpoints might contribute to the discussion, even if I disagree with that viewpoint, because the wider the circle, the more likely a solution might be cobbled together.

The wider the circle, the greater the arena for possible solutions. As Kurt Vonnegut once told the Indianapolis STAR, "If you limit your choices, you lower your odds."

In the widened circle, the naked are clothed and the hungry are fed. As opposed to McCain's model, where the helpless are bombed.

I already agree with Obama fiercely on the issues. But I like him as an adult model especially after 8 years of pre-emptive hostility and overt neglect of the Middle East and New Orleans. McCain offered nothing at all to suggest that other nations' response to Americans might improve from our current bleak standing.

Obama turned his face to Lehrer, to McCain, and to the audience. McCain just stood there blinking, refusing to even look at Obama, talking tough, his Farmer MacGregor pitchfork menacingly within reach.

After photographs of earth were taken from space, the entire planet is a network of neighborhoods. I prefer someone who knows how to build one.

[RagAss]

1. Brilliant post !

[Hope And Change]

2. Nominated!

[chelsea0011]

3. K & R'd. Nice writing there.

[treestar]

4. Great post! And that is exactly what right wingers do, they limit

their choices and try to pretend reality will play along, all just because they are afraid of not having an answer right away.

[saltpoint]

20. Yes. And in recent times, the media have been complicit in that game.

Which makes it so frustrating for us.

Air America has been a real plus toward the goal of counter-balancing the rightwing media, but we need more pressure brought to bear upon the Hannitys and O'Reillys and Humes.

That bunch.

[rzemanfl]

5. By the time I read this and recommended it, it had gone from

zero to the greatest page. Well done.

[Coexist]

6. wonderful post.

[Jack Bone]

7. Great Observation!! K&R

[speedoo]

8. K&R. Great stuff, the truth. Thanks. nt

[pdxmom]

9. Obama has walked the walk, in terms of his promise to work towards

bipartisanship, while McCain, though boasting about working in a bipartisan manner, was nothing but contentious. He gave Obama no credit for any area where they might agree. As a matter of fact, he went out of his way to be partisan, by twisting Obama's position on issues, such as the Georgia/Russia conflict, to make it look like there was disagreement, when there was none.

[saltpoint]

10. Yes. In McCain's authoritarian world, there has to be an enemy.

He measures himself by allowing the Other to be the enemy, justifying his authoritarian response.

And my god -- all that blinking McCain did. When he loses this election, he should do ads for Murine.

[JBoy]

11. This is a great piece. Thanks for this. Rec'd!

[FrenchieCat]

12. Awe Man!

Error: You've already recommended that thread.

[saltpoint]

13. Thanks, Frenchie Cat, and good morning.

I'm thinking we're going to kick McCain's sorry butt somethin' fierce in November.

[FrenchieCat]

18. I'm thinking it is a dire necessity......

a matter of life versus death.

[saltpoint]

19. Agree. I keep thinking of the cretins McCain would appoint to the Supreme

Court and then I whip out the check book and make another donation to Barack Obama's campaign.

[Ninga]

14. Dear OC, a thoughtful and pitch perfect anaylsis. Thank you for weaving your

tapestry of words into a picture we can surely see if we close our eyes and ponder.

A tip of my coffee cup to you this lovely morning.

:donut:

[saltpoint]

15. Damn, Ninga, don't make me blush here -- I only posted to get out

of having to clean the garage!

- - -

Great to see you on DU this morning. :hi:

[Ninga]

16. Hands on hips, foot tapping, she says....get to the garage and quit resting on your laurels!

The garage awaits the poet!

:hi:

And if you do as good a job of cleaning the garage as you do writing then....

:toast:

[saltpoint]

17. No!! I don't wanna clean the garage!

Well, ok -- I do it if we get Florida and Ohio.

[CitizenLeft]

21. Beautiful post.

Thank you. :)

[knowledgeispwr]

22. Very Thoughtful Post

Obama's pragmatic and measured approach is one of the characteristics that I most appreciate in him as a candidate. Kicked and Recommended!

[bleever]

23. Very well said.

Quite a contrast in characters.

K&R.

[yowzayowzayowza]

24. Good frame. K&R.

[Usrename]

25. Widen the circle.

Bravo!

[Kaleko]

26. Spot on, Crusoe. This should be read far and wide.

[MadMaddie]

27. Nicely put!

There is such a stark difference and people got to see that difference last night!

[notaboutus]

28. You put in words what most American's felt last night

While MSM pundits and journalist based it on who took the most jabs. Obama is about Building America Up not tearing his opponent down. McCain was negative and aggressive. Obama was on message and presidential. MSM always wants to put the people down for how they pick a president. Well after listening to them last night. MSM needs to be put down about their "values" and how they judge a debate.
The reason they were so wrong and the American people got it right is because we wanted answers and a person who could improve our world standing not a hawk full of put downs and condescension.

[blondie58]

44. welcome to DU, notaboutus!

[notaboutus]

48. THANK YOU

[saltpoint]

47. Agree -- the pundits really stumbld on this one, evidently.

In the error of Watergate, the media were journalists and investigative reporters.

There's been a sharp and sad decline in that level since then.

[BklynChick]

29. the last line of your post gave me the chills, so true! k/r

[eilen]

30. I'm tired of the "Father Knows Best" routine

Honestly, he was channeling my alcoholic control freak father who "knew better" and refused to be open to anything anyone had to say. His way or the highway. Explosive temper, he even grit his teeth like him. I could just hear him saying "I've been 40 before but you have never been 68." "You just don't get it."



I'm sure other people had the same vibe hitting them.

[beltanefauve]

75. You are definitely not alone. n/t

[quantass]

31. This feels like a well-written, smart article in some big newspaper. K/R

[1corona4u]

32. Spot on OC, as usual!!

:hi:

[Cha]

33. This is totally brilliant, Crusoe!

That's what many were saying in the wee hours of the morning in so many words and I really like the way you put.."Obama Widens the Circle".

It seemed everything he did last night was to show his contrast to mccain..especially the temperament.

I didn't see the debate but I saw a clip of mccain last week on morning joe's and between his monotone, insulting mika, and lying..all he did was blink. Which was extra noticeble because palin had just been on with charlie gibson saying "Ya don't Blink".

[saltpoint]

49. True. We went from Palin not blinking to mcCain blinking himself into

an authoritarian stupor.

This GOP ticket is a couple of unstable folks!

[Rose Rosetree]

65. Just not blinking or really not THINKING?

Old Crusoe, you've caught my eye yet again with your comments
about blinking.

Isn't it a terrifying thought that some voters would LIKE
Palin for saying she doesn't blink, didn't hesitate at being
nominated, etc.

Just in case you're up for a bit of aura reading, my favorite
exploration of Palin so far was done here, AURA READING OF
PERSONALITY KID SARAH PALIN,
http://www.rose-rosetree.com/blog/2008/09/25/aura-reading-auras-sarah-palin/

It's a chance to explore the aura of a true narcissist.

They don't come with labels, you know. The need to spot such
things is one of the reasons to learn to read auras in depth
and detail.

[Cha]

66. I just used your OP title to

describe to my son how Obama did in the debate last night. He's been at a surfing camp in Indonesia for the last 6 weeks and gave me a call from Thailand tonight.

Of course, he wanted to know some highlights of what Obama's been up to and what I heard about The Debate. He's a newbie to politics..Crash Course Obama 101 but even he knows that it's the Independents and the disenchanted Republicans that Obama needs to bring into the Circle now.

[saltpoint]

84. zidzi, I'm happy for you that your son is far away doing something

wildly exciting.

I'm not sure it get too much better than that in the world of adventure.

By the way, by virtue of visiting Indonesia and Thailand, your son is now instantly more qualified than Sarah Palin to be the leader of the free world.

[Cha]

100. LOL..Oh, he'd make a way better

VP than palin. He's smart..he's voting for Obama, isn't he.

[crazy_vanilla]

34. unfortunately, some Americans are too dumb to see the subtleties and graciousness

of Obama.

[PatSeg]

35. You really summed it up so well

I think the body language alone told the entire story.

We've already lived eight years with a screw-up guy trying to live up to his larger than life father. We don't need another one. There are so many similarities between the two, it is flat out eerie.

[grantcart]

36. Your brilliant essay reminded me of the classic American gothic

I thought somebody must have photoshopped McCain/Palin on these faces but all that came up was this

[blondie58]

45. LOL. grantcart! too funny!

[saltpoint]

51. Hi, grantcart. No kidding -- Sarah and John would be perfect on

that Grant Wood picture.

[foo_bar]

37. K&R for the Beatrix Potter ref

Vonnegut did a spoof of Pierre Rabbit ("The Smart Bunny" via Kilgore Trout, breakfast of champions) in which the hippety hopping protagonist suffered from an overly large cranium, leading the MacGregor figure to conclude she was inedible (after much existential drama on the rabbit's behalf, to use "existential" in a context other than "threat to Israel").

[lelgt60]

38. Beautiful post...we can learn by listening to the viewpoints of others...

Even ones we rarely agree with.

I have to say, in my short time posting (not a short time viewing) here on DU, I get quite annoyed at people who voice the desire to kill, get rid of, eliminate, or even just shut up people they don't agree with. People like McCain, O'Reilly, Gingrich, etc. It just doesn't seem ...democratic.

Now, I'm not trying to eliminate people's right to rant, and I recognize the frustration, but what I love about Obama is he sincere effort to listen to those types and find some sort of common ground. If you saw his interview with O'Reilly, he constantly said "Bill - here's where we agree". Now that doesn't mean we should give some people an open mike (notice I left out Hannity) and let them drown us out for hours on end. But we should occasionally listen, realize the other person is human, and see if there is common ground. It's often only when another person realizes you value them as a human being that they are willing to really listen to you and perhaps change their opinion.

Progressive means progress - make today better than yesterday.

.

[blondie58]

46. a warm welcome to DU, leigt60!

and I like that quote- Progressive means progress - make today better than yesterday.

[Samantha]

39. It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood(s)!

Last night we saw what might possibly be in the governance of the United States, which serves as a role model to many other countries. And what we saw was diametrically opposed to what we have had to swallow (and often choke on) these last eight years. If only it comes to be, this neighborhood and those we talk, yes, talk to will be kinder, better places. In time, perhaps our model, as you put forth the word, will become everyone's model.

We will all be proud to be Americans again and to have someone with the stature of Barack Obama be our spokesperson. I personally cannot wait. I believe the world can hardly wait either.

Great thread. Recommended with gusto, Old Crusoe.

Sam

[saltpoint]

53. Hey there Sam.

And thank you.

If McCain tells me we have to bomb some country, I likely won't believe him unless he makes an extraordinary case. He hasn't so far.

If Obama tells me we are all stronger if our neighbors are stronger, I will believe him, and I'll help in the project.

What a stark contrast voters have. I think Obama won the night, and I think he'll win the election, too.

[babylonsister]

40. What a great post, O_C! Thank you for sharing, and for your

eloquence. You speak for me, too! :hug:

[hisownpetard]

41. Beautifully written, OC! Love it.

:hi: :loveya:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

42. the pitchfork is an excellent description

[blondie58]

43. wow- wonderful post, Old Crusoe!- and I love the references to

Beatrix Potters characters- they are timeless. Thank you for stating this so eloquently. The thought of McCain getting into office and dealing with the other world leaders scares me to death. We cannot let that happen.

[jefferson_dem]

50. Old Crusoe! You're a DU Treasure.

Thanks!

:kick:

[Dinger]

52. Will The Circle Be Unbroken . . .

And keep getting bigger!

[BeyondGeography]

54. Civilization...it's a good thing

:kick:

[saltpoint]

80. : )

:thumbsup: :hi:

[yellerpup]

55. Great piece of writing.

Thanks for bringing it here. K&R! :dem:

[crossroads]

56. Kudos! Well said! nt

[GrannyK]

57. Profoundly astute insight

Thanks for sharing your observations of human nature. We all share the need for greater understanding of an enlightened viewpoint.

[mtnsnake]

58. I enjoyed that very much!

Thanks! :thumbsup:

[rg123]

59. That was

a fantastic observation. You should send it to all major news corp editors and see if it could get printed

[saltpoint]

82. Hello, rg123, and welcome to DU.

This is a good site.

Welcome.

[AwakeAtLast]

60. One of the best posts I've read on DU!

:applause:

Enthusiastic K & R!

:kick:

[kestrel91316]

61. I don't know anyone who could have said it better. BINGO.

[mzmolly]

62. Very well said.

Happy to give this rec. #86. :hi:

[graywarrior]

63. God, I love this.

Thank you so much for writing this.

[Rose Rosetree]

64. Aura reader definitely finds McCain unstable

Although I enjoyed every word of your post, I especially noted
where you wrote, "McCain was not quite as unstable last
night as I think he might actually be beneath all that
blinking."

I have to tell you and others here that I have done minutely
detailed aura readings, face readings, and empath-merges of
all four ticket candidates. I couldn't agree more that McCain
is highly unstable.

Many details are available at posts at my blog, including my
take on last night's debate,
http://www.rose-rosetree.com/blog/2008/09/27/aura-reading-empath-merge-presidential-debate/
, and I would summarize it this way:

McCain has chronic rage. He has learned how to feed on the
rage. (May not approve of ethanol as a fuel, but somebody
ought to ask him about motoring up on stored anger!)

Aurically, fighting makes him stronger. So does speaking to
build up his myth about being a "Maverick."
Otherwise, he's energetically depleted. 

On this surface, this particular debate, McCain didn't reveal
his instability or his fatigue, but his aura diminished during
the course of the debate, and by the end he had about 1/20th
of Obama's vitality.

[saltpoint]

83. Very interesting approach to the debate, Rose Rosetree.

I'm not versed in your area of expertise but can follow in general lay terms.

McCain's performance was a 7.5 on the political testosterone scale. I thought Obama bested him on points alone, but there was a sense of 'we' in Obama's remarks. McCain led his own 1-man phalanx while Obama asked everyone to sit in a conversational circle.

Agree with you -- again in lay terms -- that McCain seemed to lose altitude toward the close of the debate.

[pnwmom]

67. Wonderful post, Old Crusoe!

So if McCain is Farmer MacGregor, who is Sarah Palin?

The McCain campaign is treating her as if she's the Princess bothered by the pea.

[ClayZ]

68. Beautiful!

Thank you!

K and R

[Lifelong Protester]

69. fantastic post

yep, I'm putting my money on the community organizer, a guy who knows what community means.

[JeffR]

70. One of the best posts I've ever seen on DU

wow...

[TrogL]

71. Wow - if you don't know what authoritarian is, click link

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

[CANDO]

72. Your analysis makes for a brilliant LTTE, may we use it?

It may be above the comprehension of your average knuckle dragger, but those thinking souls of independent mindset might be persuadable.

[saltpoint]

78. Sure, but be sure to credit DU.

This site sanctions our exchanges and I value it for that reason, among many others.

Thank you.

[juno jones]

73. well said. K&R n/t

[zeek 463]

74. what I liked about mcshame

every time he answered a question he smiled like he just pulled one over on you..LOL he's a jerk off !

[K Gardner]

76. After all this time, you still make me weepy:-) "In the widened circle, the

naked are clothed and the hungry are fed."

OC, I've been trying to figure out a way to verbalize all day the ridiculousness of the criticism of Obama's tendency to AGREE with what he can .. from everyone. You have SO hit the nail on the head. Every pundit, surrogate and journalist should be FORCED to read this and then hang their head in shame, utter shame, for repeating that ridiculous "meme".

"The entire planet is a network of neighborhoods."

Bless you, OC.

[NanceGreggs]

77. This is an absolutely spectacular piece of writing ...

I am truly in awe.

:patriot:

[saltpoint]

79. Nance, I can't do what you can do, and

you do it consistently.

Thank you.

I don't know what's in store for us this next month or so, but we could be looking at a very historic sea change n the life of our country.

I'm hoping to see a lot more states light up blue on the media's election night maps.

[JeffR]

81. It is a groove to see this post at the top of the Greatest Page

where it damn well belongs.

[saltpoint]

85. JeffR, thank you.

I look over your name and all the others in this thread and wish we could all gather for an election night shindig.

The logistics would be a nightmare but people's posts on this site have made U.S. politics a lot easier to bear.

[JeffR]

86. And on election night

we're all gonna be together in spirit and the good vibes will be like champagne. To paraphrase the sainted Elvis Costello, clowntime is over.

[saltpoint]

87. I like it.

"Clowntime is over." That is perfect.

[OakCliffDem]

88. K & R. McCain has a dangerous temper n/t

[olegramps]

89. McCain is Bankrupt

After his "My Friends" and rapid blinking a smile in which he looks like he has gas, McCain is bankrupt.

[opihimoimoi]

90. AWESOME....K&R

:toast:

[janet118]

91. Belittling vs. finding common ground

McCain belittles his opponent and picks fights over points that are inconsequential and often not even true.

Obama finds areas of agreement his opponent and intelligently highlights points of differing views.

I've worked with both kinds of leaders and can testify that the Obama's kind works, McCain's doesn't.

[moondust]

92. Mr. Inclusive will win.

Republican exclusivity has failed again, as should be expected.

[kmdemqueen]

93. He reminded me

Of loose cannon. Someone who would need anger management

[happygoluckytoyou]

94. If I'm in the market for a problem-solving adult,

[calimary]

95. Beautifully written!

NICE!!!

I too prefer the guy who knows how to build a neighborhood by getting in there with an open mind and rolling up his sleeves, rather than bomb it out of existence in thoughtless, narrow-minded detachment.

[Historic NY]

96. If you can't look your opponent in the face how can you stare down dictators.

John Insane showed his condescending ways in full force during the debate. His under the breath horse-shits show what his foreign policy acumen would be.

[saltpoint]

97. Yep. Plus, what if the dictators he's meeting with aren't afraid?

I'd feel quite a bit better if Obama were running the meeting on our side. Also, he could bring Joe Biden along for qualified support.

I don't think McCain would have that support option with HIS vice presidential nominee.

[LatteLibertine]

98. Very good post

NT

[Ellipsis]

99. Nice.

...DOG EAT DOG
It's dog eat dog, ain't it Flim Flam man
Dog eat dog, you can lie, cheat, skim, scam
Beat'em any way you can
Dog eat Dog
You'll do well in this land of
Snakebite evangelists and racketeers
You could get to be
A big wig financier...


The times begin to "change."


Saw your post late last night... wonderful to see it this more with so many recs

[Imagevision]

101. McCain actually believes he won the debate - just what I need in a prez! senility!

[mloutre]

102. "Error: You've already recommended that thread."

Damn. I hate it when that happens.

[saltpoint]

104. Hey you.

Mighty nice to see you.

We're gonna win this one for sure.

[Old and In the Way]

103. Late to the Party, as usual.

Extremely insightful post....I think you've explained exactly why Obama did so well in the debate, in spite of the fact that no knockout punches were landed.

[saltpoint]

105. Old and In the Way, thank you.

I like it that the tv pundits had to revise their assessments after viewers weighed in, and like it that independent focus groups broke toward Obama after the debate.

That's a trend we can ride a long way these next 5 weeks.

:hi:

[Condem]

106. Will the circle be unbroken, Crusoe?

Beautiful post, sir!

[saltpoint]

107. Hi, Condem. I think of you there in Iowa, which seems to be turning blue

this time as you predicted early on.

And that is purely good news.

McCain's campaign so far has been erratic at best. I'm hoping we can keep him on the run and on the defensive for the next 5 weeks.

Might as well run up the score!

[Condem]

108. The whole Big Ten is starting to look good for the man, Crusoe.

Still, lots to do. We cannot get complacent for a minute.