Bill Moyers on Obama..

[elizm]

I don't know many people whose opinions I respect more than Bill Moyers...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/20/205821/936

Who do you see as a key figure in the time ahead?

I wish I were wise enough to answer that question. Who would have thought that an obscure black preacher from Montgomery, Alabama would become Martin Luther King? I believe that elites have to let go. Hillary Clinton would make a good president, but the same old crowd would come back with her. But when I look at Barack Obama, I think about John F. Kennedy, who leaped over Hubert Humphrey's generation to bring in fresh voices and fresh ideas. I keep thinking that we need to let that happen again. People say, "Obama is so inexperienced." No, he's as experienced as Lincoln was when Lincoln went into the White House. Lincoln had two years in Congress and eight years in the state legislature. Obama represents a generational metaphor. He opens up new gates so that younger people can feel that there's opportunity for them, that they can come in with him and create new possibilities. That's what's important. I've been around a long time in journalism and politics, and I come down to "Put not your trust in princes, they will disappoint you every time."

[JNelson6563]

1. That's quite a statement

:toast:

[flpoljunkie]

2. Was surprised to see this came from dailykos, but no so much when I read your link. Thanks, elizm!

Bill Moyers on Obama
by snout

Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 06:18:25 PM PDT

I'm not sure if this has been diaried yet, but the new 40th anniversary issue of Rolling Stone is out, and it is tremendous. There are great interviews with many of the great voices of our time, among them one of my personal heroes - Bill Moyers.

Of course I'm on record here as a strong supporter of Barack Obama, so I was happy to see Moyers weigh in on him. While many here at Dkos seem to be strongly invested in seeing Obama in negative terms, Moyers seems to see what I see. As a break from all of the tearing down we've been doing here, I thought I'd share some positive words.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/20/205821/936

[iamjoy]

3. Experience Is Overrated

now I'm backing Edwards, not Obama. But I do like Obama.

And if any one wants to say Obama is inexperienced, I would remind them that forty years ago, the most experienced people got us into Vietnam. As for the current mess in Iraq, that was also the most experienced people.

So, I'm willing to give a relative neophyte a chance.

[Greyhound]

4. Every President (I believe) has said, in effect, that there is nothing that can prepare

anyone to be President, and history would seem to indicate that experience has nothing to do with whether one becomes a good one or a bad one.

[abluelady]

5. I Agree. I Would Prefer Brains Personally. eom

[chimpymustgo]

6. I do like Obama! Hoping for an Edwards/Obama ticket. What a team!

Two fabulous men, with great wives and families. What a White House Christmas picture that would be.

I think those two could really clean up this country - get us, and the world back on track.

[Catchawave]

37. Bill Maher picked that team :)

:party:

[MasonJar]

7. I have heard Obama speak twice and he is dynamic. I believe

that all of our candidates will be more than just "good" presidents. Although I think it is time for a black or a woman, I also believe that the next pres MUST be a dem. The GOPers have cheated and lied and villified and reigned with supreme incompetence and bravado. It is time for a democratic president and so whomever the dems choose I will be front and center to support and work for.

[Bucky]

12. So "gives a good speech" equals "will make a good president"?

"Most of us enjoy preaching, and I've got such a bully pulpit!"

Okay, Teddy, so presidents have to have the ability to inspire the country. But is someone's ability with rhetoric any indication of the ability to govern wisely?

"They misunderestimated me.... It's not the way America is all about."

Well, George, you raise (or at least illustrate) a good point. But my question really is, how do you know politician isn't just some smooth talking Elmer Gantry? How can we judge someone's capacity in leadership and decision making in all areas based only on how well they speak in public?

"What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions."

Certainly he's eager to show that, Ari. That's why they all speak to crowds rather than just to TV cameras. But again, how does speaking ability equate to decision making?

"Legislation is the result of long consideration, whereas judgements are delivered on the spur of the moment, so that it is difficult for the judges properly to decide questions of justice or expediency. But what is most important of all is that the judgement of the legislator does not apply to a particular case, but is universal and applies to the future."

So the person who speaks well necessarily thinks well and judges well? I guess that makes sense. But what of the charlaten, the con artist, the hypocritical moralist?

"Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion."

Oh, Charlotte, we're not even on the same page.

[Grandrose]

8. Thank you Mr. Moyers....

I have for many years admired Bill Moyers, his statement brings joy to my heart!
Win, lose or draw...Senator Obama has brought a breath of fresh air to the political scene. :)

[saltpoint]

9. Why doesn't Bill Moyers ever talk about people who own chicken-plucking factories?

Huh!?

[Bucky]

10. Well that was random.

I'm a little bit more concerned with journalists who don't do chickenhawk plucking themselves.

[saltpoint]

11. I was alluding to Dubya's admonition to Tipp City, Ohio voters this week

on how owning a chicken-plucking factory -- Dubya's phrase, not mine -- was the key to understanding why you can't get some people to work certain jobs.

By not praising the thousands of times I've loved what Bill Moyers has to say, I was attempting through facetiousness to praise the thousands of times I've loved what he's said.

[babylonsister]

20. Hey, I got it, O C.

:D Did you see the dim one on KO last night? He is SUCH an embarrassment! x(

[saltpoint]

22. Hey there, babylonsister. I missed him on KO, but am really beginning to

think the wheels are coming off his little wagon. Maybe he's just thick as a brick, maybe he's hitting the sauce again, maybe demons are speaking to him in dark, intermittent messages.

I have no idea what's wrong, but I think the next step is for Laura and Josh Bolten to arrange an itnervention on OPRAH.

We're there, I think.

How ya doin' these days? A good Saturday evening to ya.

[Jack Sprat]

23. because only Dub can relate

to the many problems facing chicken plucker factory owners. Many of these poor factory owners have been forced to submit to providing facial masks for their employees to allegedly protect them from viral lung infections. It has similarities to problems once faced by pesticide moguls (bug sprayers) like Tom Delay, whose entrepreneurial genius was inhibited by environmental laws and concerns. :evilgrin:

[saltpoint]

24. Yep. Even tough Texans like Tom DeLay have to watch out for those

chemicals in the bug spray.

You just can't be too careful.

[Laurab]

13. That IS quite a statement

I saw Bill Moyers on Bill Maher last night - he was quite impressive, and since he worked for JFK, knows something about what he's talking about. Time will tell if he's correct, but at this point I share his opinion about Obama. John Edwards is ok with me, but Obama, at this very early point, I find quite inspiring.

[Clarkie1]

14. I agree, Obama represents so much that is hopeful and positive.

There is a great potential, and we can only hope that that potential is fully realized.

[dansolo]

32. The only thing that concerns me about Obama

Is the same thing that concerns me about every candidate--namely, what are the type of people that he is going to surround himself with. I'm talking about more than just who he selects as VP. I am not convinced that he has the force of will to surround himself with imminently qualified people, and be able to oversee them properly.

[Colobo]

15. Awesome!!! Gobama!!!!

[RedEarth]

16. kr

[jakem]

17. Obama / Moyers '08

What would happen to this country with two smart people of integrity at the top?!

[elizm]

28. Be still my heart...

... I would think I had truly died and gone to heaven....Obama/Moyers08. What a sweet dream.

[illinoisprogressive]

18. wow. Carolyn kennedy was spotted at obama speech today at the sharpton event.

wondering what she must think

[AtomicKitten]

19. Obama exudes hope

... a mantra embraced by all generations.

He is the quintessential breath of fresh air in politics.

[Colobo]

29. Yes he is!

[THUNDER HANDS]

21. what makes a great president?

How would anyone know, we haven't had one in our lifetimes.

[saltpoint]

25. In that last sentence there, is Moyers likening Obama to a prince undeserving

of trust?

I'm pretty sure I'm missing something there and could use some help.

Otherwise it seems to me that Bill Moyers is praising Senator Obama, understandably so, and with a wizard's perspective. Moyers has been in or around or an observer of government since the Johnson adminsitration.

And he has one of the best minds on earth.

I like this post because it brings us to one of our civic duties: to listen to our elder wizards when they exalt our aspiring next-generation leaders.

I would imagine that Senator Obama would be thrilled to have the praise of Bill Moyers, and I think he deserves it.

[jakem]

26. I would have thought prince refers to...

candidates that assume they will receive their 'rightful' position in government as president...

[saltpoint]

27. Hi, jakem, and thanks for that. I got stuck for some reason on that

last sentence, and was only hoping it wasn't intended to slam Obama.

But I just can't picture Moyers doing that under any circumstances. Moyers is one of the most affirming souls we have. One of the very smartest, too. And my god can that man write.

Thanks for the clarification. I appreciate it.

[nolabels]

34. He-he, I am jumping on your original bandwagon

In the dissection of verbiage, being a prince seems to indicate immaturity and entitlement. Coming from Moyer's it would seem more a slam on the system than that of the prince though. My interpretation of it also says, watch out people because you a going to be disappointed because no one person can turn an entrenched system. The panacea, the magic pill, the one correct answer never works out in the end

[saltpoint]

39. Hi, nolabels. I think you and jakem were a lot more sure-footed

with that passage than I was. You know how it is with us old folks. One minute we're following the bouncing ball and the next we've taken the wrong turn on the County Road.

Voters like to think their choices are the better choice, the ore informed choice. But as enamored of Reagan as his voters are, they likely could not have explained the death squads run under his government's offices in Central America. How could they have liked those?

There was a time when Bill Moyers had been considered for a run for the presidency. I suppose he is past prime age for the U.S. political campaign zone, but back in the day, it would have been a potent candidacy: he's a Texan, and by no means the kind of Texan Bush is. He's a certified Baptist minister. His government experience dates to the Johnson administration. And he could write all his own speeches.

And here's the kicker: he's a hell of a nice guy to boot.

[IndianaGreen]

30. Obama offers the potential for a New Frontier, while Hillary represents the past

While it is true that we see the Clinton years with great fondness, particularly when compared with the disastrous Bush regime, neither Clinton is the answer to the 21st century problems that Bush has created.

[DeepModem Mom]

31. K&R

[ripple]

33. kick for Bill and Barack

:kick:

and not a bad way to spend my 1,000th, either. Nice analysis, Mr. Moyer. :-)

[SaveElmer]

35. "Hillary Clinton would make a good president, but the same old crowd would come back with her."

Yeah here is what that "same old crowd" brought us last time...

The Strongest Economy in a Generation. Longest Economic Expansion in U.S. History. In February 2000, the United States entered the 107th consecutive month of economic expansion -- the longest economic expansion in history.

21.2 million new jobs were created since 1993, the most jobs ever created under a single Administration -- and more new jobs than Presidents Reagan and Bush created during their three terms. 92 percent (19.4 million) of the new jobs were created in the private sector, the highest percentage in 50 years.

Fastest and Longest Real Wage Growth in Over Three Decades. In the last 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased 3.7 percent -- faster than the rate of inflation. The United States has had five consecutive years of real wage growth -- the longest consecutive increase since the 1960s. Since 1993, real wages are up 6.8 percent, after declining 4.3 percent during the Reagan and Bush years.

Unemployment was the lowest Nearly the Lowest in Three Decades.

Highest Homeownership Rate in History.

Lowest Poverty Rate in Two Decades. The poverty rate has fallen from 15.1 percent in 1993 to 12.7 percent in 1998. That's the lowest poverty rate since 1979 and the largest five-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years (1965-1970). The African-American poverty rate has dropped from 33.1 percent in 1993 to 26.1 percent in 1998 -- the lowest level ever recorded and the largest five-year drop in African-American poverty in more than a quarter century (1967-1972). The poverty rate for Hispanics is at the lowest level since 1979, and dropped to 25.6 percent in 1998.

Largest Five-Year Drop in Child Poverty Rate Since the ‘60s. Under President Clinton and Vice President Gore, child poverty has declined from 22.7 percent in 1993 to 18.9 percent in 1998 -- the biggest five-year drop in nearly 30 years. The poverty rate for African-American children has fallen from 46.1 percent in 1993 to 36.7 percent in 1998 -- a level that is still too high, but is the lowest level in 20 years and the biggest five-year drop on record. The rate also fell for Hispanic children, from 36.8 percent to 34.4 percent - and is now 6.5 percentage points lower than it was in 1993.

Improved Access to Affordable, Quality Child Care and Early Childhood Programs.

Increased the Minimum Wage.

Enacted Single Largest Investment in Health Care for Children since 1965.

Extended Strong, Enforceable Patient Protections for Millions of Americans.

An environmental budget that included a record $1.4 billion for Lands Legacy -- a 93 percent increase and the largest one-year investment ever requested for conserving America’s lands.

So much more on the environment, families, the economy, education, crime, etc.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/wyldwolf/6

[paulk]

36. yes. I thought it strange that Moyers, who I have a great deal

of respect for, listed one of HRC's best selling points as something detrimental.

[Catchawave]

38. I'm thrilled whenever any respected journalist

writes positive about any Democrat ! The tide is turning :D