Rising from the Ashes of the Bushes

More than hilarity with Hillary

I must have been way behind the curve when I heard Hillary Clinton campaign with Barack Obama early this morning.

Something the presidential campaign seems to offers us a number of perspectives expressed in fetching words that one cannot ignore the import of what is being said.

Little did I know, when Hillary Clinton said, “America will rise again from the Ashes of the Bushes” [1], she had said this a few times before [2], and it gets to the heart of the matter.

In the cases of Bush 41 [3] and Bush 43 [4], their tenure might well be recorded in history as that of poor stewardship – of the economy, of opportunity and of American prospects. They have made a bonfire of every fabric of what exudes American supremacy, status and independence.

They may well go down in history as instigators of change, not so much because they advocated change, but because they created the circumstances in which the people could no more abide the continuation of their policies, the time for radical change had come.

The Republican approach

What I found most striking about Hillary Clinton’s speech was that she moved beyond the context of making John McCain a personification of George W. Bush and simply used the more effective blanket coverage of Republican policies.

John McCain might well have the fine defence of saying that he is not George W, Bush but it would be apostasy to declare that he is not Republican.

As I have hoped, a few more people are voicing an opinion about John McCain’s judgement [5] in selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate and there have been no more a damning assessment of the lady than from General Colin Powell [6] to suggest that she is not ready to be President because that is what a Vice President is supposed to be.

The voice of reason gets aired

The voice of reason seems to be getting louder and clearer to hear within the cacophony of negativity and distractions that pervade every organ of interaction and communication.

It is comforting to hear that Senator Obama is by no means a terrorist, that being a Muslim does not make you a un-American or unpatriotic, that taxes should be reviewed and the issue of redistribution as propounded by some is disingenuous and if Obama were a socialist, one wonders what would be said of the $700 billion government bailout of private enterprise banks.

Reason should and must prevail, this starts from the top at the White House and this allows me to end this piece with Hillary Clinton’s words again – sending the Republicans back to Washington to clean up the economic mess was like “sending a bull to clean up the china closet” [2] – that does not need any further explanation.

Sources

[1] Hillary Clinton: US will 'rise from the ashes of Bush' if Obama is elected - US Election, World news - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

[2] Hillary: America Will Rise Again "From The Ashes Of The Bushes" – Huffington Post

[3] George H. W. Bush - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[4] George W. Bush - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[5] Im-Palin-g McCain's picket [akin.blog-city.com]

[6] Powell endorses Obama for president - Meet the Press, online at MSNBC- msnbc.com

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:

No race issues about Obama or Clinton

Boldly going

One could be forgiven for ignoring the obvious and hoping that things are a lot different but the reality is hitting people in the face like a Mike Tyson fist on the rampage but a solitary confinement from society awaits anyone who dares to give it voice.

Geraldine Ferraro was one such person who treaded where angels fear to tread by observing that Barack Obama and his hold on the Democratic Presidential Nomination ticket thrives on race.

Imagine another truth

Her statement was probably without malice, it had a bit of forthrightness and having been a vice-presidential aspirant to Walter Mondale may know a bit about measuring the dynamics of American politics.

Now, we all want to be as altruistic as Utopia would allow us and see no colour in the colourful and vibrant campaigns to represent the Democratic Party in the presidential elections but if our naivety beclouds our vision for a hope and inspiration that takes us to a new place we land with a death defying thud in some interesting stuff.

Recorded history

The Harper’s Magazine is a publishing institution that has existed since 1850, during one of my searches; I came across a list of race related events in America since the year 2000, 124 in all.

You only have to read through a few to realise that the obvious does offer the warning of air-displacement as the Mike Tyson fist of realities hits you smack-bang in the middle of the face.

Fearfully burning crosses

But leave out the cynicism and the negative connotations that indicate America is in bondage to race related angst then read that Bob Allen, a one-time member of the House of Representatives who was a co-chair of Senator John McCain’s Florida campaign offered oral sex to a man in a park because he was afraid of black men.

Fair point, the things that really bother us and make us do irrational, if not criminal things, the police however did not buy his bull and he got convicted having earlier sponsored a bill to curtail sex in public parks – what a killjoy. Event recorded 3^rd of August 2007.

The last race related event on 2007 recorded on this site refers to a white family finding three burning crossings in their backyard in Florida. Event recorded 3^rd October 2007.

Bald hairstyles

None have been recorded for 2008, in fact, from the site which appears to veer into prognostication, the next two race events are recorded on the 8^th of July 2020, the first of which warns of the dangers of cornrows causing permanent bald patches.

As the Houston City officials distribute a Ghetto Handbook which is an interpretation of prevalent hood-speak.

I could not care less about the permanent bald patches, I have no hair, but anyone who dares say there is no racial undertone and obviousness about the presidential nomination might well have their cornrows pulling out their brains.

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.

He´s Barack but she´s back

Polling falsehoods

Once again the mystery of American electioneering unravelled before our eyes as the results came in for the New Hampshire presidential primaries.

As it transpired Senator John McCain, 71, took the spoils for the Republicans whilst the big-spending Governor Mitt Romney who was governor of the neighbouring state of Massachusetts came in second.

As for the pollsters, there is a dividend of democratic resolve that they and the news agencies are not willing to pay and they obscure reality if not will the result to a situation that should not normally exist.

First, they put Senator Barack Obama at double-digit percentage points ahead of Senator Hillary Clinton and they were baying to give the nomination to Senator Obama – this did not turn out as they expected and we now have to hear a lot of excuses.

Then, they declared the result for Hillary Clinton with 40% of the vote to be counted and only a 3% difference between Clinton and Obama – it got me worried that things could still change.

Dummies guide to false predictions

There is probably an art or dare I say, a science to psephology, but I am only convinced of the historical significance of this study than for the prognostication that derives from trying to predict with any accuracy the will of the people, because it no doubt gets abused in contemporary commentary.

This whole impatience to declare a result before every single vote is counted bothers me especially when we are regaled with the phrase – “Too close to call”, if it is not clear, why not then wait till it is all done – it was what made a complete mess of the 2000 Presidential elections.

Beyond that, too much credence has been given to the youth vote; but it is one thing to attract pop concert audiences, it is another thing to take them to ballot box afterwards – it is possible that the message of change was still not convincing enough to persuade the young to get off their fat arses and move beyond the entertainment of great oratory.

A Moses not Joshua

Senator Obama inspires me with his talk of change and it sounds very much like change I can believe in, but when everyone starts to speak of change because of the groundswell of interest that Senator Obama brings to this contest, we begin to look into how that change can be made – that is where we need an agent for change.

Somehow, drawing on Scripture for buttress a point, Senator Obama sees the promised land and he would lead the political debate towards the change required in the way things are done in Washington, but it requires a Joshua to take us into that promised land – I see Moses talking and Joshua is waiting somewhere in the wings and no, she would not be doing the ironing as one sexist heckler opined through a placard protest – even America still has a long way to go on these matters.

Two states and 0.5% of the American population down, 48 (Maybe 49) to go and still 99.5% to decide.