Hey Fran,

Spearshaker here, AKA Gary...

I would say, please don't worry your pretty little head. The 2006 midterms proved what a watershed moment this is in American politics. Prior to that election, I was not alone in my growing cynicism, what with Bush v Gore in 2000, and then Ohio in 2004. For the first time in my life, I had begun to think the whole system was rigged. Those bastards are prepared to do anything to hold on to power. So imagine my surprise. We actually won. As Steven R. pointed on Daily Kos, there is a groundswell that will make 2006 look like peanuts. Honestly, I have not felt this sort of enthusiasm in American politics since '68, with McCarthy and Bobby Kennedy inspiring a younger generation. Anyway, we're doing all we can here, up/over.

Oh, and let me know what you think of Hofstadter when you get your hands on it.

My best,
S/G

Posted at July 18, 2008 1:53 AM in response to This year, can we prove Karl Rove wrong?

Thanks for coming back, Fran, for your kind words and delighted to know you're ordering Hofstadter's tome. It is one of those things you go back to all your life, and it is always new and enlightening. Enjoy, and let me know when you post. I'll stop by and give you a good word.

Posted at July 17, 2008 11:31 PM in response to Lincoln, Obama and the Dirty Little Business Of Getting Elected

Fair enough, Fran. Maybe I got a little carried away in the heat of the moment (isn't that fun to do?) but the latest Quinnipiac poll http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1284.xml?ReleaseID=1192&What=&strArea=;&strTime=0, taken between July 8-13 shows Obama leading nationally by nine points. It may not have factored in this latest snafu, but Obama has weathered enough of such negative press and misinformation about him to warrant optimism, I think. I certainly feel that way. I'm duly impressed at how Obama flourishes amidst difficulty. He's one cool cookie, as they used to say. By the way, I'm working on a more historical blog, which goes to that issue, and hopefully you'll come to give me your views on that, as well.

Peace,
Gary

Posted at July 15, 2008 9:24 PM in response to Surprise...The New Yorker Cover Snafu is Just Another Obama Silver Lining

About the theme song, I know. My point was, for many people who never really let their hair down in the sixties, (ie, never inhaled) the early seventies became their version of it, and this muddying of the cultural waters occurred. Then again, I don't know if you could get away with having the Jefferson Airplane's The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil as your theme song. Be nice to hear, though...

Posted at April 4, 2008 12:24 AM in response to The Clinton Chronicles

I very much appreciate your support and insights. As I just noted in another reply, listening to Obama without the media filter, you can't help but think, hell, we've got nothing to worry about. We've got a long way to go, but this thing is as good as done. The super delegates will coalesce around Obama after Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina, Hillary will fold and it will be the old, gray haired man of the past versus youth and hope. Not much of a contest, but while we're biting our nails, let's hang onto that hope...

Posted at April 4, 2008 12:17 AM in response to The Clinton Chronicles

Thanks, you're too kind...

Posted at April 4, 2008 12:09 AM in response to The Clinton Chronicles

Far out, Indiex. You went from a scathing review to lauding me in the course of three hours. I love it! On your point here, I watched the Obama interview with Matthews (AKA Tweetie Pie) and I was struck once again with how clear, sincere and forthright Obama comes across without all the filters. He made one particularly lovely observation about John Kennedy, with respect to Obama's own foreign policy chops. Kennedy got into the most trouble (Bay of Pigs) when he was not cautious, and showed his greatest character (The Cuban Missile Crisis) when he used restraint in the face of danger. I think it was in large part his ability to be unflappable in times of crisis, and I'm beginning to believe Obama has that trait.

Once again, peace brother...

Posted at April 4, 2008 12:08 AM in response to The Clinton Chronicles

I understand and respect your concerns on this point, and in years past would have agreed with you wholeheartedly, but it seems clear to me that Obama has truly transcended the old political templates and flourished despite all that's been heaped upon him. To put it more succinctly, if he can survive and thrive, despite all the Clinton machine has thrown at him, why wouldn't that be a model for how well he'll do against McCain and the Republicans? I don't pretend to stand in awe of Obama, but he's doing something I doubt any of us could have imagined one year ago. In any case, thanks for your thoughtful comment. Spearshaker

Posted at April 4, 2008 12:00 AM in response to The Clinton Chronicles

On the relative merits and particulars of the various Rocky movies, jed757, I confess to being a novice. I'm glad you liked them. I didn't. To each his own. My point was, for Hillary to embrace this heroic persona of Rocky, without acknowledging what a sad franchise the subsequent movies had become was cherry picking, in my estimation, and too much of a parallel to her own sad campaign for me to ignore. I never meant to put old Rocky Balboa down. Go Rocky!

By the way, I have a nephew named Jed. That wouldn't be you, would it???

Spearshaker

Posted at April 3, 2008 11:55 PM in response to The Clinton Chronicles

Hey Indiex,

Don't really know how you arrived at such a notion, where you were going with it, or why, but my disgust with the Clintons has nothing to do with my political bent. In fact, my point was, Bill and Hillary are acting more like Republicans than the Republicans. Perhaps our difference of opinion comes under the heading of, whatever, but I would be most interested to hear you articulate more clearly how you arrived at your conclusion. In the meantime, as we use to say back in the '60s, peace brother...

Posted at April 3, 2008 11:45 PM in response to The Clinton Chronicles