There's something about this picture that really bothers me.I've been haunted ever since the democratic primary when I cast my vote for Obama. Momentum was on his side and I got caught in the wave like everybody else. It's not that I don't like him - but, as I heard someone say recently, it wasn't his turn. Dammit - it was Hillary's turn - she'd earned it, deserved it, knew exactly what she was doing and was about to fulfill so many things she tried to fulfill before the boy's club pushed her back into the kitchen. Well, I'll be damned if they didn't do it again. Here we go taking a backseat to the boys...again.
That said, there's absolutely no denying that Barack Obama has the ability to rally the troops, as it were. It is a skill that all great presidents have had - Lincoln, Kennedy, Clinton. It is a sign of great leadership, in my opinion. And while Clinton and Obama sounded identical on many levels, he has managed to unify people inside and outside the democratic party as no one else ever has, and doubtless few ever could. He is a smart, confident, competent man and I believe him.
I miss Hillary and I don't think I'll ever get over not voting for her but I trust Barack Obama to do what's right, to be a stand up guy for everyone, to be the man who makes sure my veteran parents are never denied health care, or someone's children are never denied a decent education, or that people are allowed to love who they want without fear of persecution, that women will be paid the same as men and given the same opportunities, that our civil liberties are reinforced without closing our borders, and that we fight only the wars that really have to be fought.
Now, wouldn't it be great if his first act as president would be to strip Dubya and Cheney of all their assets to help repay the money they've flushed down the toilet with Haliburton and the rest of their snake oil debacles....or, better yet, why not use those assets to rebuild New Orleans! And just after seizing the assets, try them both for high treason against the United States and send 'em to Guantanamo....or maybe Anthrax Island. Or maybe just lock 'em in a sound proof cage in the middle of Capital Hill where they'll have to watch the country grow into what it's capable of instead of being reduced to the lowest common denominator they left us.
I'm extra proud of the Democratic party, too. I came away from this convention feeling as if we are the party of the educated, the kind, the tolerant, the compassionate, the understanding, the caretakers and caregivers, the strong. We're a good bunch and we are made up of every facet of American there is. How cool is that?
I still don't like that picture though.
Posts
