Could Barack Obama change the tone of politics?

[Ladyhawk]

If so, how?

As a lone liberal among fundies and Republicans, this question is of considerable interest to me. When I realized that anger was tearing me apart, I stopped watching the news, stopped going to political / atheistic sites, stopped anything that could be feeding my anger. I realized I was letting the shrill voices of the left feed my anger and cloud my judgment. I was as guilty as the members of my family who let Rush, Bill O'Reilly, Hannity and Pat Robertson do the same to them.

I don't know why I've been hanging out here for the past few days, but I can see by reading posts that many of you are feeding your own personal grudges. For you, it may be fairly harmless because anger hurts the angry person more than it does anyone else. Still, it doesn't calm discourse, or allow us to proceed in any manner that will allow the future to be different from the past.

I know anger can be an instrument of change, but at this point the nation is tearing itself apart. I, personally, don't know how to balance my anger (much of it righteous) with a tone that might facilitate change. I'm rethinking where I hang out (on the Internet) and how I conduct myself when debating those who disagree with me. Getting pissed doesn't work...at least for me.

Obama makes vague promises about changing all this (or perhaps he has been more specific and I simply missed it while I was recuperating). Could someone enlighten me? How does he plan to unite America?

[nichomachus]

1. Maybe people will stop calling people on the left "shrill" Buh-bye now.

[Ladyhawk]

9. Funny how you should demonstrate exactly what is making me uncomfortable. Ironic. n/t

[EFerrari]

2. Ladyhawk! So good to see you.

:hi:

Right now, Obama is being smeared up one side and down the other. The anger you're reading is in response to him being burned in effigy, being called a terrorist, being disrespected in awful ways.

Only a few more days to go.

[Ladyhawk]

12. I understand the anger. Believe me, I do.

In fact, I think anger may be a necessary stage some of us have to go through in order to reach a place where we are at peace with ourselves. A big problem is when the original (or similar) anger-inducing action happens over and over again. For example, the right is not letting up on the smear campaign.

My family didn't even attempt to respect my boundaries until I broke off communication with them a couple of times and they realized I was serious about avoiding certain topics. I'm attempting to keep those boundaries functioning.

Unfortunately, I cannot set up boundaries with the entire right wing except by turning off hate radio. Now, if only right-wingers would turn it off, too.

I've turned off Malloy, Randi Rhodes and others I find shrill and unhelpful because their effect on me is negative. Others may not be poisoned by so much negative talk. I am. It doesn't matter if these shrill pundits speak the truth or not. It's the way they speak it. It doesn't exactly make me more reasonable. If I continue to listen to things that make me unreasonable, I'm no better than dittoheads getting off on Limbaugh's "Three Hours Hate" show.

To be honest, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this truth I've discovered. A caveat: It may not be true for everyone. Maybe certain people can live with an amount of anger I find toxic. Maybe it motivates them to change things. Me? I am too sensitive. It merely wears me down and makes me depressed.

[EFerrari]

20. I can't listen to that either. I've got the Big Filter on.

Understood!

[Ladyhawk]

21. BTW, good to see you again. HUGS! n/t

[Why Syzygy]

3. He is running an honest campaign for starters.

No personal attacks, not even against the horror Palin. He has been building a bipartisan network behind the scenes to get the best people in the right jobs. He won't hire any neo-cons. If he can truly keep the cons away from policy, we have a chance and a hope.

[EFerrari]

4. That's a very good point. His campaign has tried to stay above this

and they have done a great job.

[The Wielding Truth]

5. Have you been to an Obama Rally? It is so respectful and

inclusive. He is unifying and any time we would get a little revved he would cool us down even the chants.

If you remember that these RW bigots are so afraid. We must remember that and treat them firm and kind.

[Wetzelbill]

6. He'll be polarizing just because he's a Dem

His personal actions are good for the tone, he's a thoughtful guy, never gets angry etc. But they Right will try to take him down like they did Clinton.

It will help Obama that Dems will be firmly in charge of both Houses of Congress. Maybe enough Republicans will go along to get lots of good legislation passed. That's the only shot at changing the discourse. The Dems essentially need to be so powerful that it enforces a type of Pax Romana on the GOP.

[Doodler71]

7. It's not his job to unite America. It's ours.

He can't force people to unite. There is no magic spell or quick dance move that will unite America. The people of America must unite themselves. The country is polarized due to the absolutes preached by churches and political leaders. People tend to fear being outsiders or fringe so they identify with a group. The groups have become more and more defined and the further the groups are apart from one another in ideas and commonality the harder it is to unite.

We, we the people must reclaim common ground and look for commonalities and common purpose that demonstrates we are better united than apart.

[Ladyhawk]

10. Good point, but the right leader would help, I think.

My family was torn apart by political strife. I've tried to make things better, but until both sides can calm down a bit, I don't think we'll see much progress.

[LWolf]

8. Apparently not.

For as long as I've a breath left, I'll be speaking out from the left, opposing the center and the right.

As long as that's categorized as "shrill," the tone of politics is not going to change. Obama isn't going to help the left, and neither, obviously, are many of his supporters.

[Two Americas]

11. that is the problem

"Transcending the partisan divide" and "reaching across the aisle" and "moving beyond the political battles from the past" has always, always, meant disappearing the Left - eventually it means literally disappearing Leftists.

[LWolf]

13. It's good to see that I'm not the only one

who's noticed.

[Ladyhawk]

14. There must be a way to change that.

I don't have any suggestions. All I know is I personally can't stay angry any longer.

[MtUpWithWngsAsEgles]

15. No need to be angry

You control what you can and you do what you can do. Above that why get angry. I look at the news outlets as pure entertainment.

[Two Americas]

17. yeah

Well I thnk we are being whipped up into anger. I don't get angry about it - not in that way. There is some kind of anger that we are vulnerable to that consumes us I think. That is mostly because it is misdirected, maybe? We get angry about the wrong things and at the wrong people. We are being steered to feel that way, in my view.

[Ladyhawk]

18. I think some people feel all emotions more strongly.

I think I'm one of those people.

[Two Americas]

24. understood

Nothing wrong with that.

:hug:

[dysfunctional press]

16. if he can inspire/motivate the populace to expect/demand and above all- WORK for change...then yes.

ultimately one man can't do it all- but it only take one good man to get the process started.

[babylonsister]

19. He already has changed the tone, by staying pretty much

above the fray, and being an inspiring candidate. When was the last time we saw one of them?

I love Senator Kerry and Al Gore, but they were not as inspiring as Obama is. I know the times contribute to that, but I've been amazed.

[politicasista]

23. Self-delete

Maybe I am just thin-skinned. :shrug:

[babylonsister]

25. No, you are a dear.

I'm moving on as gently as possible. I adore Kerry, he would have been awesome! :hug:

[politicasista]

27. I am getting there

I know that sounds strange to say with 17 days left. I will be here on 11/5! :)

And I agree with your post. :hug:

I never said my reasons for wanting Obama to be president, but I will spit it out (lol!)

Gore and Kerry are still cool too :thumbsup:. But I am really inspired by Barack and Michelle. Not because I am an AA woman, but because they are a young family, class with integrity, and challenge us to do better and be better. I want a president who is going to look after all Americans and be respected abroad. Another thing is they know how to lift people up, which is what is sorely needed after these 8 long years.

What I should have said, was that I am sure that Gore and Kerry would agree with you :). I think Obama has inspired them, just like he has with Biden, Hillary, and other Democrats. He is a candidate like no other (or many would say since JFK or RFK).

I am very impressed with his Tiger Woods-like campaign (aka wear your opponent down and go for the victory. :patriot:). He always has a smile, no matter what the situation is. His calm, cool demeanor speaks volumes.

He is also technology skilled. I get at least 3 to 5 e-mails a day from the campaign than never before (and this only my second election--2004 was the first :)), and here in red state TN, he has 2 ads that are running and this isn't even a battleground state. (Thanks Chairman Dean! :patriot:). And the Ohio case is even better. The O campaign is definitely on top of things! :)

To make the long story short, that's one of the reasons I am inspired by Obama. :hi:


P.S. I am sure Gore and Kerry will be playing a positive role in the Obama Administration.

[babylonsister]

30. Great post, politicasista!

There are so many reasons I'm inspired, and you've captured many of them. I jumped on this bandwagon last January, and have not been swayed since.
He is not flaw-proof, and I will criticize when I think it's warranted, but I just need to see Obama win first. He will be ever so much better than the alternative, and we can work out the discrepancies, hopefully. He claims he will listen to us; that's more than we've had for the past 8 years.

[politicasista]

34. Thanks babylonsister!

:grouphug:


I agree with your last paragraph. :) Yes, Obama isn't flaw-proof, and there will be demands for accountability from him and our Dem leaders, but we need to see him win. And I hope that Obama will win (pray for no election drama this time!) because we need an adult in charge. Something we haven't had in 8 years.

Thanks again. :hi:

[morillon]

22. He takes steps to unite America every time he talks.

His language is very inclusive. In the first debate, people made much of how often he began his response with "I agree with Senator McCain." He would then go on to say where he *differed* with McCain, but he started out making it clear where there was common ground. This comes across in everything he does.

He doesn't *plan* to unite America. He *is* uniting America. Already.

[babylonsister]

26. I agree. Thanks! nt

[Ladyhawk]

28. God, I hope so.

To be honest, I really didn't trust Obama to begin with, but something funny happens to me every election cycle: I start feeling hopeful. :)

I hope he's the real deal. I hope he wins. I hope he can help us fix what's wrong.

There's so much wrong. I believe at one time we had compiled a list of important things to address. Election integrity, global warming, the war in Iraq, energy dependence, health care and the economy were at the top of the list. Mr. Obama has got his work cut out for him.

[morillon]

29. I've known several folks who started out not sure about Obama.

Two were Hillary supporters. One supported Edwards. Another liked Biden best.

But once it was clear that Obama would be the nominee and they got to see him taking questions from average, everyday Americans, they started to feel hope. After seeing him in the debates, they were absolutely convinced he would make an amazing president.

I've been watching him very carefully, and I have my own reasons for being skeptical of anyone who's that charismatic. It can be a very dangerous thing, as I've learned from experience.

But one thing I've noticed with Obama is that he's very careful in how he wields that charisma. He knows he has it. He's even somewhat self-deprecating about it. But I get the strong sense that he wants to make the case to us on the FACTS, on what's morally right about his approach -- not because the person doing the talking is persuasive and an amazing speaker.

He also doesn't seem to come from a place of needing to be adored. Destructive, dangerous charismatic types often DO need adulation, and most folks can sense that, particularly if they've been burned before. I don't get that feeling of "danger" at all from him.

[bemildred]

31. His winning might. Politics is all about winning.

If a positive tone wins, and a negative tone loses, we will have fewer negative campaigns. And it ought to be that way, a politician who resorts to negative campaigning will resort to that sort of unprincipled distortion when in office too.

[Kazak]

32. It's time the adults took over the controls.

Yes, I think so. I don't see America uniting, sadly, but it definitely time for reasoned governance.

[blaze]

33. Obama's demeanor, alone, will help

We've had years of shrill leadership and it's poisonous effect is evident.

I believe that Obama's calm and reasoned approach will slowly, but steadily, begin to permeate the rest of the country.