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Is This How You Want to Win?
Let us imagine for a moment that the source of glee to so many of you in the last days, the Frontgate, is what actually turns this election around. For the purposes of this thought experiment, we may ignore that just before we were not too worried about McCain's attacks as it is only August.
Obama wins, almost in landslide numbers. But did we succeed? Was the victory because of progressive merits and an informed electorate or merely another example of the astounding capability for stupidity the public often displays? Does it matter either way?
Aside from any personal preferences for actually achieving change in the election itself, not merely after, may we examine the issue of whether President Obama will be as successful getting progressive legislation through if the electorate will have been allowed to get through this election without bothering its brain because someone made a funny about McCain?
Or, on the other hand, does Frontgate becoming the watershed indeed devalue our victory otherwise? Perhaps we have already succeeded in converting enough people away from ignorance, inspired enough of the youth and the disaffected? Or is there a possibility that Frontgate merely gives pause to voters and allows them to take a second look at Obama?
Comments (8)
I think that it's not just about houses but about being willing to go toe-to-toe with McCain. Sure it's low-information least-common-denominator BS---but I'll gladly take it.
The thing I wring my hands over is the VP choice. If Obama wins with an Evan Bayh --- or, for me, anyone who supported the Iraq War resolution in 2002 --- then I'll feel like it's less of a victory.
August 22, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
At this point, I don't care how we win. I know we're better than they are. Yeah, I said that.
August 22, 2008 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
After the pain - and stupified shock - of that night in 2004, I'll happily take any win we can get.
Only when we have grown-up leaders are the citizens going to start thinking differently. Between Bush and Fox News the steady message to the country has been: "Don't trouble your weary brains. We'll tell you what to think and how to vote. Why don't you go watch the latest human soap opera on TV, or go shopping, and leave the governing to us."
August 22, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
After the Supreme Court giving it to Bush in 2000 and the Swiftboating in 2004, I'll take victory just about any way we can.
Besides, Obama has done everything possible in trying to keep this election on the issues. If victory happens to turn on some unflattering story about McCain, well he kind of brought it on himself.
August 22, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think John McCain created an opening in his armor by using the ...he was a POW argument one too many times and yes we do need that vulnerability to deal with him because the fact is he should not be president if his years as a POW have affected him so. It gives us a more ethical way to bring this up, perhaps not the Obama camp itself but the people, to question many of his mistake and his lust for war and how they may relate to real concern that the american people actually should be considering before giving this man power over it's military.
August 22, 2008 7:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never thought Obama should or would get elected just by standing there looking presidential. The "change" he's been talking about isn't about unilateral disarmament. It's about getting people involved and invested, and keeping them that way throughout his presidency.
I also don't expect that he'll entirely succeed at the second part, but he's going to bring us a long way towards something resembling democracy again. But I do expect him to succeed at the first part: he's going to get elected by matching every Republican blow with one of his own.
August 22, 2008 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
This election is not about who wins. It's about who loses.
August 22, 2008 9:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Winning as opposed to what? Losing. And it isn't just a matter of "losing an election." Every time we fail to win an election we lose fundamental American values. Even a "conservative" or "compromised" Democratic administration and/or Congress is almost always better in every way than the Republican alternative. Our Constitutional Republic cannot afford another Republican administration. Regardless of how Obama wins, he needs to win; we need him to win; we need to win. Bitch-slapping our way to the White House is far better than the waterboarding this nation has gone through in this last round of Republican theocratic fascism.
I hereby give Barack Obama permission to bitch-slap Mr. Cindy McCain all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
August 22, 2008 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
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