Power of Our Example

Awakening to vision and audio

I was up last night as I always sleep with my television on, my dreams of sound and imagination just eases into the reality of vision and audio with the hope I have not arrived from a terrifying Steven King saga.

I prefer to sleep with news channels on rather than music channels, I do however remember a time I had the gospels playing back during me sleep, it sometimes made those stories and events alive and vivid.

Anyway, I got up to CNN’s coverage of the Democratic National Convention when Bill Clinton was about to speak.

Taking time to accept Obama

So much had been made of Bill Clinton being sour about Hillary losing to Barack Obama, he has been one of the most ardent supporters of his wife’s bid for the nomination and who can blame him?

It also took time for me to realise that Obama was at the head of a movement whose time had come rather than a motivator for a campaign to fulfil an ambition.

As Bill Clinton came on stage, one could see that that he was still well liked, there was lots of adulation and the ovation went on for minutes that he had to entreat the people to stop and sit down for business to continue.

The talk that matters

He finally got to say his bit and it was vintage Bill, the Democratic Party today appears to be blessed with at least three very prominent people who have found the key to the use of words to inspire people, the other two being Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Bill Clinton successfully linked the relationship between a strong America at home and a secure America abroad as he forcefully backed the candidacy of Barack Obama for President.

I have the feeling the Hillary Clinton might not make another run for the White House if Barack Obama takes the Presidency in November.

Example of our Power

However, what I found the most striking about Bill Clinton’s speech was when he said “People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.” [1]

This subtle use of and juxtaposition of words speaks volumes, just as certain people would attempt to view the failings of Bill Clinton as a poor example of moral rectitude, the example of power he has portrayed has been for the good in many places.

The judgement call for Americans is the preparation for posterity and the beginning of history – it would ask if America would be viewed as projecting the power of example as to have become a civilisation in its own right or whether the example of power has made them no better than vandals, Barbarians and plunderers whose self-interest left the world in great turmoil as we have today.

Under siege or higher purpose

The weight of history need not fall on the shoulders of Americans today but the future that begins today provides a path that can make a whole difference towards the troubles America faces today – Where “the American dream is under siege at home, and America's leadership in the world has been weakened.”

Shall they and the American dream remain under siege with a continuation of the policies of the last 8 years or shall America’s leadership in the world be strengthened with the advent of a man who “has a remarkable ability to inspire people, to raise our hopes and rally us to high purpose?”

A place called hope

That man was Bill Clinton 16 years ago and he has passed the baton today to Barack Obama; the alternative, for all intents and purposes falls far short of that higher purpose because the passage of time seems to have vindicated the measured and insightful views of Barack Obama than the belligerent machismo of John McCain on the war in Iraq, the timetabled withdrawal of troops and talking with Iran.

Being the most powerful country in the world, the responsibility that comes with that position is self-evident – the example of power has won wars but we are still in battles and the power of example has saved lives and won victories in the most intractable situations.

We have Bill Clinton to thank for articulating in words the clear purpose of the day and the duty Americans have to assure and safeguard their future and that of those after them by electing a man that embodies our hopes rather than one that accentuates our fears.

Source

[1] Democratic Convention, Bill Clinton Speech Transcript - Democratic National Convention Speech Transcripts - Zimbio:

Those Super Delegates

The incessant electioneering

Roosevelt at MoThanSkin highlights in his blog an issue I have been thinking of writing about.

The nomination of a presidential candidate from the Democratic Party in the States is driving us to distraction as wins and losses are used to prognosticate the future of the world.

Interestingly, since the GOP has concluded their selection in Senator John McCain, he has had no additional new coverage.

The battle between Obama and Clinton continues apace and it might have to come down to the Super Delegates.

Delegates by individual right

The Super Delegates are current or former officeholders or party officials of the Democratic Party; they are delegates by virtue of a completely separate process from the primaries and caucuses that pervade our newswires.

It appears this nomination would be deadlocked by reason of the primaries and caucuses not being able to decide decisively in favour of either candidate and hence the job of decision-making would fall to the Super Delegates.

Some commentators are suggesting that the Super Delegates vote according to the decision of the electorates, in that case, there would be no need for Super Delegates that there should be ways to break the deadlock through the primaries and caucuses.

The Super Delegates are delegates in their own right, they have already by virtue of some election or selection within the party to make decisions for the good of the party since they already work within that framework.

Super Delegates are independent

No Super Delegate is facing an election, a recall or vetting by the electorate in these Presidential primaries, hence they are not necessarily beholding to the outcome of the primaries before the Democratic National Convention.

To assume that a Super Delegate needs to follow the desires of an electorate voting for a candidate and representation that is not aligned to the continued electoral significance of the Super Delegate is to try and renew the mandate of the Super Delegate through an unintended process.

The function of the Super Delegate in the convention where a deadlock is looming is to break it by voting according to how the Super Delegate has been persuaded of the candidates and what is best for the party which includes the hierarchy and the people in general.

The independence of the Super Delegate must be assured and promoted in view of the weight of their responsibility and duty at the Democratic National Convention.

If the people cannot decide

If this vote changes the expected tally of votes, it would mean that the candidate might have been able to persuade the general public but not the party machinery. Anyone who would be a Presidential candidate needs the party machinery most of all to push their candidacy to the goal of claiming the Presidency.

It is incumbent on the Super Delegates to note that they have an obligation as delegates to the national convention to be persuaded by reason of their convictions regarding the candidate and not be externally influenced by the primaries or caucuses which are of no particular concern to them.

The rules do not need new interpretation

There is no reason to attempt to rewrite the rules in the middle of the game just because a situation has developed that would put the definitive result out of the hands of the primaries into the hands of the Super Delegates.

The rules are clear about the role of the primaries and the role of the Super Delegates and no where does it state that either should respect the intentions of the other.

The Super Delegates should be at liberty and will, without being under duress to follow their own minds because that is why they are Super Delegates.