Obama is a very composed speaker, and he employs very eloquent speech writers. Yesterday's speech was heartening, but please, PLEASE don't confuse it for anything but a demonstration. This is Obama showing us what he could be like if he were President. The flags in the background, the CNN breaking coverage, the THIRTY SEVEN MINUTE dismissal of the preacher's remarks--which he has already openly and publicly dismissed...this is a show.
I'm torn. I like the guy--I really like Obama. I like his energy, I like his rally cry, I like his policy. But the showboating...it's terrible. TERRIBLE. The SNL appearances, campaign t-shirts for sale in Urban Outfitters...it's so slick. It's so marketed. And worse, his political ciriculum vitae is pretty brief--the 2004 Democratic National Convention speech is basically the biggest thing to his name. He was elected to the Senate by a landslide victory of 70%, but his biggest competition was Jack Ryan who was revealed to be embroiled in a massive sex scandal during the election and Alan Keyes who didn't even LIVE in IL--he's born, raised and officed in Maryland. Tough, tough competition there.
I don't know. I hate to be the only twenty something not on the bandwagon. Everyone I know my age at home adore him. But so far, no one's giving me really compelling reasons to love him. People have really, really lame reasons for supporting him as a presidential candidate. Reasons that you should use for your Wii ("he's awesome"), or Dane Cook ("he is so personable"), or Stephen Colbert ("Jon Stewart LOVES him!") or David Beckham ("he's pretty sexy, actually"). Twenty-something reasons. Naive reasons. Stupid reasons.
So what do I do? Clinton is robotic. She is. And her withdrawl policy is weak. But Obama promises things I don't know he can deliver. His education plan won't work, and I don't think he's given enough attention to healthcare. These candidates--they're just faces. Where's the politic? Stop with the Jay Leno appearances. Stop with the playing dress-up President in CNN press conferences. Get down to business. The US newspapers have pages of home foreclosures where it once had columns. The interest rate has been dropped for the second time this year--my salary has gone up $6,000 since February simply becuase I'm paid in €. That should scare you. We are the richest country and yet the most poorly medicalized. And worst of all, we are hemmoraging money for a war we shouldn't be in and a recovery plan we have yet to establish. Things need fixing fast. The view is frightening from over here, guys. Really scary. I wish you could follow it all from this side of the pond--I think it's shaping the way I'll end up voting.
I'm torn. I like the guy--I really like Obama. I like his energy, I like his rally cry, I like his policy. But the showboating...it's terrible. TERRIBLE. The SNL appearances, campaign t-shirts for sale in Urban Outfitters...it's so slick. It's so marketed. And worse, his political ciriculum vitae is pretty brief--the 2004 Democratic National Convention speech is basically the biggest thing to his name. He was elected to the Senate by a landslide victory of 70%, but his biggest competition was Jack Ryan who was revealed to be embroiled in a massive sex scandal during the election and Alan Keyes who didn't even LIVE in IL--he's born, raised and officed in Maryland. Tough, tough competition there.
I don't know. I hate to be the only twenty something not on the bandwagon. Everyone I know my age at home adore him. But so far, no one's giving me really compelling reasons to love him. People have really, really lame reasons for supporting him as a presidential candidate. Reasons that you should use for your Wii ("he's awesome"), or Dane Cook ("he is so personable"), or Stephen Colbert ("Jon Stewart LOVES him!") or David Beckham ("he's pretty sexy, actually"). Twenty-something reasons. Naive reasons. Stupid reasons.
So what do I do? Clinton is robotic. She is. And her withdrawl policy is weak. But Obama promises things I don't know he can deliver. His education plan won't work, and I don't think he's given enough attention to healthcare. These candidates--they're just faces. Where's the politic? Stop with the Jay Leno appearances. Stop with the playing dress-up President in CNN press conferences. Get down to business. The US newspapers have pages of home foreclosures where it once had columns. The interest rate has been dropped for the second time this year--my salary has gone up $6,000 since February simply becuase I'm paid in €. That should scare you. We are the richest country and yet the most poorly medicalized. And worst of all, we are hemmoraging money for a war we shouldn't be in and a recovery plan we have yet to establish. Things need fixing fast. The view is frightening from over here, guys. Really scary. I wish you could follow it all from this side of the pond--I think it's shaping the way I'll end up voting.
Yikes.....Don't hate me for this post! Good Wednesday!
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