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Disclaimer--I am still in observation mode - so that I can maintain as much objectivity as possible, as I analyze this country's possible futures. This will be my honest take on the Clinton live satellite forum and Barack's Rally in Boston. Not a play by play, nor in depth - but a general takeaway after viewing both events and rereading some positions of each.
If you have read their respective policy papers, you might have realized that there is SO MUCH that is very similar, or with slight differences, or different angle of approach. BOTH of them are discussing so many issues that we progressives have been pushing for many years - health care, environmental and energy production interrelationship with jobs and economy are spoken of in ways that would make FDR's ears perk up, if not dance. We are riding the change train, and as silly as that may sound, you can't have a movement without big themes and broad strokes for people to rally around. A long list of “things to do” are necessary, but not enervating to the footsoldiers that will win it. To win, one must inspire. Did either of these events succeed?
I can easily hear the detractors faux complaints:
“It was staged! Mischief!”
Of COURSE it is staged - try producing a country wide sat show without a hitch. If is wasn't “staged“ it would be sheer chaos. That's just the reality of production, baby. My only complaint is that the website has no player controls, the user can't pause or rewind to check a good part, etc. Bad interface choice. Maybe they will fix that.
“I bet they were planted questions! Mischief!”
Were the people plants or too friendly an audience? That is SO not the point - the question is “Were the questions good?“ I would say yes - compare to any of the “debates“ - they were often specific to the different areas' needs, including drought and other specific energy questions. The last “superfriendly“ debate was brought to us by “clean coal“ and had not ONE energy/environment question.
Bonus points:
No pundit gotchya bullshit questions.
What a relief.
I could go through the thing, but this post will already be too long. Just watch with open mind, and enjoy.
If you are a supporter, you should be proud. If not, it should be a comfort that if she is the nom, this shows that she can be strong and personable. She CAN put out a case for the future in ways that McCain can not.
Pleasant surprise question one wouldn't hear from Timmeh:
What will you do about outsourcing and no-bid contracts for govt projects , esp like Katrina and Iraq.
Sen. Clinton called Blackwater “the tip of a very dirty iceberg“ - a great quote.
Sounds like she could be serious about dealing with that christofascist outfit, but boy, does THAT need to be done carefully.
She got to talk about outsourcing of govt contracts, and the questioner emphasized iraq cronyism, so she hit that real quick.
I love it when these accountability issues pop up. So much better than the “snub” or “crying” etc etc
Her comments on jobs, energy conservation and production were quite solid, and showed knowledge of detail about available technologies. I half expected her to mention straw bale or composting. Victory gardens. She like she was just brimming full of ideas ready for deployment.
As a sidenote, on Saturday, IIRC, Bill was talking about adapting a sod roof and solar panels to the church in which he was speaking, paid for by low interest govt loans paid by the savings themselves. Even DLC center left is now talking like a green. Ain't that cute as hell? Set aside the fact that Clinton/Gore should have done this, the dems are FINALLY ready to take on that whole 20th century thing.
Gore woulda, Kerry woulda, and now either Hillary or Barack WILLA.
High speed rail. Contrast to GOP who want to abandon rail.
So many things - makes the pugs look like the dinosaurs they are.
So Hillary did great. The crowds were enthused and real, and asked real questions. The answers were thorough and detailed, within the confines of the format.
We all win on this. The more the world sees two candidates talking up hope and change and innovation, the better for dems, the party of ideas for the 21st century, and the better for us all. America is back.
It is apparent that this format is where Hillary shines. One of her main challenges is the years of demonization, and when America sees that seh not only DOESN'T have horns, she is so quick minded and sharp, funny and often spontaneous (yes, detractors, it happens)--If she is the nominee, we need to get her in this format against McCain. She would FLOOR him. Of this I have NO doubt.
Barack Obama's rally, a format in which HE is most comfortable, was also inspiring and informative - to the degree you can BE informative in that format. These two formats cannot be compared directly, as they each have different criteria for success. As others have stated here, I would LOVE to see Obama in a similar format, and I think he could do quite well. I also think he needs to start sprinkling in more informative explanations and more thoughtful venues. I have seen some, and he is good at it. People need to see more of that.
His background as an organizer, professor, orator and constitutional lawyer are apparent, and serve us well. He understands the issues, and has amazing ideas for opening up got to the people. Rather than telling you in detail a list of things he will do, and hand them down from above,he shares his principles and direction, and asks us to help push for bold action from the bottom up. This method is organic democracy in action, and that inspiration in his supporters are not cultlike “give me power and I will do this” but a deeper democratic “together we can work out the details and succeed together” - he is bringing people back into the loop. That is empowerment.
Hillary's event showed her brains and heart and humor - it was primarily informative and, if you GOT it, inspirational.
Barack's event showed his brains and heart and humor- it was primarily inspirational and, if you GOT it, informative.
See, there is no need for a supporter of one candidate to dismiss and insult every little thing that other candidates do.
It makes you look small.
It MAKES you small.
Don't play it small, people.
What you will miss by playing such games is too important. Our future is too important.
BOTH candidates said the same thing and showed it - when they are addressing real issues and not attacking in dirty ways. I don't care if they jab a bit and differ, but the real issue before us is clear. They both know that, and both have still failed at times. so have so many here on DU. It is time to move beyond that. Time for grownups, some would say.
It is a shame that folks here are so tied up in tearing each other down that they cannot see that clearly. And the real tragedy is, that being too tied up in either side, to the point of being able to see the bold and historical change of era and not jusrt pick a side, but truly savor the long unrealized potential of a real democratic restoration.
Folks, you know we were ROBBED of that change the world was ready for in 2000, and again in 2004 - lived through the fearmongering and homeland color codes and voter caging, Diebold, Brooks Brothers riots, on and on... Let us not wallow in recrimination, nor tear each other apart in the ruins of this poor country after the assault and rape by the neocons. Do not scoff at our fellow democrats, be they old vets in the struggle who have SO much to teach, or the fresh new faces who were as young as 10 years old - 10 years old! - when the Bush regime grabbed power. They are now adults, ready to be embraced as equals in this fight, and bring in new ideas and skills in addition to their own special points of view. And everyone between - we need every vote, and to act rudely or drive away someone who is your potential ally is not just petty, it is stupid - beyond stupid, it deadens the soul.
We should cherish this chance, and respect our brothers and sisters and all our candidates.
They, and we, are making history. It's our time now.
There will be muck aplenty in the general, and as we drag these regressive republicans, as mean and fearful as they are, into a better future for ALL of us.
If your skills are only to TEAR DOWN, then go to the rightwingers' sites and give them bloody hell!
IN that role, your snark and pettiness can shine, and you will wear them down and waste their time.
Dilute THEIR resources, not those of your fellow dems.
Here on DU, we should be strategizing and changing minds, honing arguments and predicting attacks; calling out bad media and creating our own, debunking false propaganda and digging out their dirtiest secrets. We should e building alliances and sharing information, rising to a higher level of organization using the new social media tools and methods to make our voices heard.
However this works out, don't tell your grandkids you spent so much time snarking at a fellow dem.
I, for one, plan to be as clear headed and open hearted as I can be.
I know I am not the only one. We talk behind your back.
Please join us in taking the HIGH ROAD into history.
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