Keeler,
What interesting things you chose to say in your post. I’d like to address one part, if I may
WOW, an Obamican is born! Weby I almost fell off the couch when I read that going fishin is intrigued by Obama! Per a previous conversation from a previous time you should understand that going fishin represents a tribal almost instinctive reactionary slant to modern american conservatism (written in the kindest manner possible believe it or not). To read in his own words that enlightenment (O.K. maybe enlightenment is a stretch) has arrived via the Senator from his home state almost brought tears to my eyes as the laughter born from the comprehension of his words words rang in my head!!
Consider this-what is this section but an attempt to paint me in a tribal fashion? Words like Obamican and “a tribal almost instinctive reactionary slant to modern American conservatism” put me in a group of your own label, one which you consider wrongheaded, per our old discussions, and one which is not your group. That’s tribalism in the modern world. It’s exactly that approach to politics that Obama is running against, making your assessment of me rather ironic, don’t you think? We've known each other thirty years, haven't you realized by now that I am not that easily categorized?
I don’t feel that I have come to see the light at all. I just have been mightily impressed with what Obama has done thus far. Just because I voted Republican in the past doesn't automatically wed me to every Republican candidate and failure, does it? I’m not sure if we ever discussed it, but I have actually voted a split ticket in every election for the last twenty years, and voted for both Senator Obama and Senator Durbin in the last election. Hardly the right wing reactionary that you portray.
I mostly voted Republican because I believed, after working in social work settings, that the best government is that which governs least. That was a major tenet of the Republican platform. (They can't really say that anymore, can they...) Weby and I will disagree here, but the concept of enlightened despotism is an old one. I contend that the enlightened part will always fade, leaving the despotism. I've seen the quality of government bureacrats up close. I haven't been too impressed. Yet, these people can change your life with the wave of their pen, or the tickety-tack of their keyboard. I find it hard to believe that you would not agree, given your experiences with the petty fiefdoms at some of your places of work.
I also recall many conversations with my good friend Professor MacDonald about how we would have to hold our nose to vote in the last two elections, no matter who we chose. I haven’t been happy with the candidates proffered by either of the two parties in years. That’s why I am happy to finally find that a major candidate has inspired me to believe that he may be able to lead as no one has in decades. He just may be able to rise above the fray.
With that said, I do still have some reservations. He is from Chicago, and that smacks of the old party machine. I don’t get that feel from him, but I do note the proximity. I also worry that once in office, he will experience the fate of Grover Cleveland. Cleveland ran as a reformer (Change!), and as a Democrat pulled significant Republicans into his camp to win the presidency in 1884. (sound familiar?) yet, once he got in office, the pressures of the position led him to seek compromise positions. Those compromises left both his supporters and his critics unhappy, and ultimately led to a foundering of his presidency. He declined to run for a second term.
Thus-Obama may look strong right now, but it is no slam dunk. The road is long and rocky.
BTW, did you see that the beagle got "Best in Show" at the Westminster Kennel Club? He bayed long and loud after he won, too.
Hope everyone is well on your end.
And remember-whether you fish, or work, or go ambling off on your own, you can always change your mind.
AI
