I understand the fervor of getting behind a candidate...

[misanthrope]

Look, y'all, I voted for Obama, mainly because Edwards was gone by then, but some of the out-and-out worship I read of this guy around here is dangerous. You're setting yourself up for a big disappointment if you don't keep things in check.

Sure, he's a brilliant orator. Yep, I love to watch him speak because he's so good at it. You're right, I can sense the charisma and the whole "thing" that is carrying him thus far.

But he's just a human, a far from perfect human and his supporters need to understand that. He's going to fail in some regard as we all do. And if you've elevated him to worshipful status, you're going to crash.

The comparisons and out-of-control hyperbole are not a good sign. When I read comparisons of Obama to JFK and MLK, I get the feeling that what some of these posters are identifying as men who sat in the Oval Office or marched on Selma are in reality mythologized archetypes and images in their mind. That happens when time passes beyond a mortal lifespan, legendary people take on a greater being.

To hold Obama up against that is not fair to him or you.

The reality is that the accomplishments of an MLK or Malcolm X despite the complexities of their normal frailties is, in a way, much amazing and inspiring. It means that we can do what they did, though we only see our faults.

Just watch it unfold and remember it.

[KittyWampus]

1. I am mainly looking for a competent executive who can win with an actual majority

[TwilightGardener]

2. Yep. Not looking for a savior, but for a good--even great--Dem President.

[mac2]

4. Obama may not win big but once again leave us in

a 50/50 split ( a planned one once again).

[Egnever]

3. All i want is his tech policy instituted

He does that I am a happy camper. The rest will follow after that is in place.

[mac2]

5. I want him to honor and bring back our rights and Constitution

that means getting off the Faith Based Charity wagon.

[judaspriestess]

6. he does shit on the pot like the rest of us

[stillcool]

7. I haven't seen it...

the adoration, idolization etc., Quite the opposite. Here is what impresses me:
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=3931
http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3a2984
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=8385d348acbab84e&ex=1355806800&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BS030017
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

[AtomicKitten]

8. I don't worship him, in fact, don't agree with him on everything.

But he is a spectacular Democrat and candidate, and I am very happy to vote for him.

[mac2]

9. He's not a movie star who we shape to be our hero

but a representative of the people. Which people are the problem. I think him a corporatist and anti-democracy elite tool.

[AtomicKitten]

10. well, you would be wrong in an epic way

and particularly in comparison to what else is on deck

[mac2]

11. Not acceptable for a President of our country

I'm sick of the bad choices picked by the media and the DLC.

[AtomicKitten]

13. ah, but he isn't DLC

Hillary is

[mac2]

18. They both are

Who supported Obamas campaign? Emanuel (D-IL) of the DLC. It is a win, win for either Obama or Hillary. There is no real candidate who is a Democrat. It's all hot air.

[AtomicKitten]

22. Again, Obama is NOT DLC, and here's some info for you:

http://www.blackcommentator.com/48/48_cover.html

Please stop spreading false information. Thank you.

[NastyRiffraff]

12. Excellent post!

I'm afraid a lot of people are going to be hurt and disillusioned when (not if) Obama makes a mistake (if he wins the nomination & the WH). People are holding him up to an impossible ideal, setting him up for failure in their eyes.

He is NOT as good as JFK, FDR, MLK. Not yet. He may one day be...I don't know. If he does get the nomination, I hope so. Personally, I don't think he has it in him, but if he wins the presidency, I hope I'm wrong.

Remember, JFK, FDR & MLK all had their faults, but did amazing things in spite of that.

It's like someone said about putting a woman on a pedestal, like some men say they want to do instead of recognizing her equality. Yes, she's up high, but there's not much room to move around, and it's all too easy to fall off if you misstep.

[misanthrope]

14. Yeah, but without the pedestal how else...

...are they supposed to look up her skirt?

[candymarl]

15. Thanks

You've just expressed how I've been feeling. I've been surfing several websites lately. I've posted very infrequently. I was leaning toward Hillary. I noticed that any defense of her, based on facts not on emotion, was attacked viciously. I also defended Obama when I spotted a misrepresentation of what he said or did. I was praised by Obama supporters. Hillary supporters who disagreed were attacked viciously. There is an aspect of hero-worship in the Obama support that I don't find in Hillary supporters. I leaned her way for practical reasons based on years of following politics. It's apparent now that she's losing, badly. I'll gladly vote for, donate to, Obama. When I expressed this opinion elsewhere I was again attacked by some Obama supporters for lack of enthusiasm. I was feeling hopeless and yes, hurt. Damned if I did or didn't. Then I got angry and considered not voting at all. Then realized that would be well, stupid. It would behoove Obama supporters not to gloat too much. It hurts to lose. Remember that. I suggest commiserating with Hillary supporters and then getting to work to get Obama elected. I was taught to be gracious in both victory and defeat. Sorry for the long post. Just had to get that off my chest.

[misanthrope]

24. I see the nastiness on both sides.**nm

**

[eridani]

16. Even if Obama gets the White House, we have a whole lot of work to do

We will not be able to roll back 30 years of conservatism without a hell of a lot of pressure from the bottom. Ditto for Clinton.

[Usrename]

17. I don't know, people have been traumatized for a long time.

It's still happening, every day we're traumatized further. Just look at today: a very sick, two week old baby dies while locked in a room while trying to clear customs by Homeland Security; the Senate votes to grant amnesty to the criminal communication carriers; our military launches into tribunals against tortured defendants using coerced evidence and no one even attempts to stop it or even speak out about it; Nancy Pelosi refuses to allow any possibility of impeachment in order to at least try to put and end to all of this madness.

I think normal people should get very emotional about selecting our next president. It's inhuman not to have any passion about this.

[marions ghost]

20. you are right about the reason

that people are looking for a "savior."

We are a population that has been abused and traumatized by our own government. People see a way out of the darkness if Obama takes the reins.

The OP's point is a good one though. You don't want to elevate Obama to a god or rock star. That's excessive emotionality and invites a crashing return to earth. All the MLK, RFK analogies are misplaced.
These are different times.

It will take a team effort to turn this country around.

[calico1]

19. Ii think that a lot of the people who voted for Obama

are exhausted and emotionally wiped out by the last 8 years. They see in Obama someone who is so charming and inspirational. He is new and fresh and doesn't have the baggage of Clinton or any other people that have been in politics for years. They feel that it will take someone totally new and fresh to clean up Washington. And they see Obama as some kind of savior or hero that will do this.

The problem with this kind of mentality is that if you imagine someone as what you want them to be and they turn out to not be that way or not exactly that way, then you are in for some major disappointment. I do think that he has a number of supporters who know his limitations but still feel he is the best choice. But based on some of the stuff I have seen and heard and read I really think that a lot of his supporters are making him into what they want to believe he is, rather than like him for who he is. And if I am right about this then he is going to disappoint a lot of people because the kind of worship he has had sets impossible standards for him to meet.

If he becomes the nominee, and I feel strongly now that he will be, I do hope that unlike Bush he realizes his lack of experience and limitations and makes good choices for his cabinet. Bush filled his with cronies and had cronies make decisions that they had no experience or expertise in.

Whoever the next President is he or she will face some major challenges thanks to the disaster Bush left behind. It's important to keep in mind that it's going to be tough going there for some time to come so realize that Obama should he be our next President will be a human one just like every other one was. Lincoln wasn't perfect, neither were Washington, Jefferson, JFK, FDR or any other one. The next one won't be either.

[mac2]

21. Ya but this time you know before he is elected he ain't

what he seems. He has been in Congress with little to show for it. He went along with it all. No stand up for what we wanted in the election 2006.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

23. Great point about the cabinet appointments

I think you nailed it re: Bush. Obama talks in his speeches about how "heck of a job" isn't acceptable in his administration.

Also I love your avatar! :hi:

[alcibiades_mystery]

25. This Obama supporter votes for functionaries

Not personalities.

Obama would be a better functionary than Clinton.